Update 40: Why Would You Set These Traps Oh Gods Help Me

♪ Scales of the Goddess ♪


Welcome back. Today, we take on my second-least favorite paralogue.
♪ No music ♪



♪ Guardian of Starlight ♪


I found this letter in Rhea's quarters. I believe it is intended for you.
How do you know that?
Simple. Your name appears at the top. Once I saw that, I decided not to read any further. I will admit, however, that I am quite curious. Will you permit me to read it along with you?


I asked you to take care of things should something happen, but I wished to make myself useful as well. I left a treasure at the Holy Tomb. Please take it. However, note that I set a bit of a trap to prevent thieves from stealing it. Please take ample precautions so that you are not harmed when you retrieve it. May Sothis protect you...
Judging by the rushed handwriting, she must have written this just prior to the battle five years ago. I know nothing of this treasure, but it must be quite valuable. If you intend to recover it, then I will accompany you. Shall we go?
Let's go.
The letter does indicate that Rhea laid some sort of trap in the Holy Tomb. We should bring some allies along, just to be safe.



♪ As Fierce as Fire ♪




Here's who I'll be taking along into this dismal place. Lysithea is Linhardt's adjutant, Ingrid is Sylvain's, and Seteth is Hilda's.

Here's what we're up against.

We haven't seen altered golems yet, so...here's one. They use magic weapons, meaning they can put some severe hurt on weapon users who don't have good Res—so, in my case, pretty much all of my weapon users except for Ingrid.

Swordbreaker+: Grants Hit/Avo +30 when using a lance against sword users.
Lancefaire: Grants Atk +5 when using a lance.

The Lance of Light+ has 18 Mt behind it, and more importantly, 1-3 range. Don't underestimate altered golems.

The bosses for this map are completely standard enemies—one fortress knight, two paladins, and one dark bishop. The fortress knight is kind enough to leave a Spirit Dust behind after he dies, at least.
♪ No music ♪


Let's go.
♪ Dwellings of the Ancient Gods ♪








Hey, I like that level.



That one, not so much.

But hey, a kill means Shamir gets Survival Instinct, and this time, Rally Strength/Speed to go along with it. Look at those stats, jesus.


I'll strike you down!





Jesus wept.








That's most of the nearby enemies out of the way.




Meh.


Toasty.

With some stat buffs behind her, Shamir baits out these warriors.




Godsdammit.



Alright, I can't be too mad about getting hit by 70 Hit.

too close too close too close




Thankfully, with Restore and Fortify, Felix is patched up and ready to go, and Linhardt's back at full HP, though still rattled.






I'll cut you down!



Noise erased.



whistle


Stay down.






Woah god they've got siege tomes.




Bow knights too!




Later, loser.


Going for the kill.



Nice unnecessary single-digit chance crit, very bad level.



See, Shamir? Be more like Catherine.


No time like the present to try to kill these things.



Blutgang is a good weapon.


That's one HP bar down.

You very much are, Lin.




Ooh, that's a nice reward.

Hunter's Volley: +1 Mt, +15 Hit, +10 Crit, 2 - 3 range, costs 5 durability. Sniper only. Triggers 2 consecutive hits.

Hunter's Volley is basically Curved Shot, with 15 less bonus Hit, a 10 Crit bonus, and it fires two attacks at once. Much like Brave weapons and gauntlets, the second attack comes right after the first, so if you kill the target with either attack, they don't get a chance to counterattack. Very, very useful. The only downsides to it are that it costs a whopping 5 durability, and is locked to Sniper.

I don't think we've actually encountered class-exclusive combat arts yet, so let me explain how those work very quickly. Class-exclusive combat arts do not take up one of a character's combat art slots—if they have mastered that class and are currently in that class, they always have access to it. However, as that would imply, they cannot use that combat art at all if they are in another class. There's a legit choice to be made between the raw killing power of Hunter's Volley and the increased mobility and range of Bow Knight.

I mean, I prefer the latter in every case, but you might prefer Hunter's Volley, especially on Maddening, where being able to kill enemies without being counterattacked can, at times, be preferable to out-of-combat mobility.

Uh-oh.




♪ The Dream is Over ♪


Well, uh...

Shit.

That's a problem. Godsdamned Bolting users...
♪ Dwellings of the Ancient Gods ♪


This should be...reasonably safe. The Bolting jerk acts before the altered golem does, and while he's going to target Felix no matter what, Felix is safe from the altered golem here. Monsters can't advance forward if a player unit occupies any space in front of them, and since the altered golem is 4 spaces away from Felix, it can't attack him.

...Or I could somehow have burned the right combination of RNs to make Felix dodge Bolting. That works too.

Wait, hang on, that RN was probably used to make Shamir dodge—


♪ The Dream is Over ♪


internally screaming
♪ Dwellings of the Ancient Gods ♪


Okay, new plan. I had Felix use his gambit on the lower-right tile, which broke it and weakend the lower-left one.



Remember, even if a gambit deals no damage, it still can weaken/break armor.




And that is that. Thank you, Lin.






Okay, thank the gods, I'm safe.






chunk


Abby got a counterattack cancellation proc from her Crest of Flames, so she took no damage from this.


I have to do this!


Thank you, Marianne.



Neener-neener, you can't hit me.










I love outranging enemies.



Then get Str, Shamir.


Going for the kill.


Get the fuck outta here, Bolting jerk.





Okay, let's take care of this western golem.










More Mythril, more!



What a way to hit level 30, Doro.


Alright, I can easily kill that golem next turn.


Is that all?






Bye-bye! Thanks for the good level!





Yay!




Yeah, how about you don't use that Abraxas on anyone else, thanks.


Going for the kill.



Let's do this while I'm at it.



Now that is hitting level 30 in style.





An HP bar and an armor tile! How efficient.


My blood compels me!



Wow.


Out of my sight!









I wanted to get Mythril from breaking the golem's armor, but I unfortunately had no way to break that last armor tile on this turn.









Lin, you have 22 Mag at level 28. You need to improve better.


Just the two boss paladins left.

Who are immobile. And only have 1 range. Well, that's easy.


Going for the kill.






Get! Str! How many times do I have to say it?


That's enough.


And that is that.

Got it! Ah—this seems important.

♪ No music ♪



♪ Beyond the Crossroads ♪


That much force should not have been necessary to deter mere thieves.


What kind of trap was that?
It is a little-known legend that the Holy Tomb was constructed by the goddess herself. That mirage, those guardians—I believe that trap was there from the beginning. It must have been disabled for the sake of the ceremony the last time you were there. Now, as to this treasure we've uncovered... This is an ancient Relic, blessed by the goddess and kept sacred by the church. It is both a priceless piece of history and a holy artifact of extraordinary power.
Rhea has entrusted it to you, and you may do with it as you wish. But please treat it with the utmost care.
Well, I suppose that concludes this bit of business. I shall take my leave.


And our only reward for this map is mediocre.

Seiros Shield: +5 Prt. 3 Wt. Halves damage from monsters. Restores 12%/20%/33% max HP every turn; amplified for holders of the Crest of Seiros.

This'd be a neat item if you could get it on Edelgard's route, since she has, y'know, a minor Crest of Seiros, and is the kind of unit that'd like shields. Too bad you can't get it on her route, and no other playable character has a Crest of Seiros.
♪ Corridor of the Tempest ♪











Here's the levels I got from the auxiliary battles I did after Eternal Guardian.
♪ No music ♪



♪ Wind noises ♪




Let's end this quickly.
Yes, that is most sound. I do not distrust Claude, but there is no guarantee that the other Alliance lords will not move against us. Onward, with caution.
After we cross the Great Bridge, the greatest plains in Fódlan will be before us. You do remember, do you not? I speak of Gronder Field, where we fought the Battle of the Eagle and Lion.
The ones defending the Great Bridge... It isn't my father or brother, is it?
I really want to finish this battle without seeing them. Especially my father...
Yes, I hear your father can fell a bear without even a weapon in hand.
When we run into him, I'll be sure to let you take the lead. Family matters, and all.
That's not funny, you jerk!
Should we be burning the signal of uprising?
There's no need for that, Petra. Smoke or no smoke, they'll get the idea. Losing the bridge should be a pretty big clue.
Oh no! I can't believe we're actually going to invade! If Edelgard...gets angry... Oh, I get nervous just picturing it! Stop that, imagination! Oh, and if she destroys the monastery with her army, we're all gonna die!
The hour of questioning has long since passed. I assure you, whatever happens, this will not end as it did five years ago. Back then, the Empire was able to focus its entire army on Garreg Mach. Now their front lines are stretched thin along their borders with both the Kingdom and the Alliance. Their allies have grown in number, but so have their enemies. They should not have too many soldiers they can readily send our way.
Now then, let us set forth! This shall be the first step in ending the chaos that has engulfed this realm!


Next time: we capture the Great Bridge of Myrddin.

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