♪ Spiderweb ♪
Honestly, I'm surprised. I've heard it's been a few years since you last donated to the church.
That was merely because of the financial situation of my territory. I assure you, it has nothing to do with my dedication to the church. By the way, Dimitri... Isn't Edelgard currently enrolled at the Officers Academy as well? Yes. She's in the Black Eagle House. I don't believe she has any plans to leave anytime soon. Why not pay her a visit? I may do just that. It's nice to stay in touch with my dear niece every now and then. Of course I'm also delighted that I was able to speak with my nephew, as well. Whether through marriage or otherwise, family is family, after all. Of course. The feeling is mutual.
Who was that? That was Lord Arundel, the Regent for the Empire. He is also Edelgard's uncle. He called you his nephew... My stepmother was his younger sister. We are not related by blood, but he is technically my uncle. So, you and Edelgard... Yes. My stepmother was Edelgard's birth mother. Edelgard and I are siblings by marriage. We can delve into that topic another time. For now, let's make preparations to investigate what's happening in that village.
♪ The Spirit Dais ♪
I find it odd as well...
They likely harbor knowledge they do not wish to share. Oh yes, I'm sure of it. But I suppose we must wait until the time of truth arrives... In any case... About this Arundel. You've heard that name before, correct? In the library. Quite true! We came across that name within the library, right where the prince had been. I thought that Arundel had died... And yet, not so. He seems alive and well. I wonder what the prince had hoped to learn from reading of his uncle's charity... So many things the prince has yet to tell... How bothersome...
Gee, I wonder how Arundel is alive again after being pronounced dead.
My gods, an entire month of cursed paralogues. I guess Sothis's isn't that bad, but I'm dreading Felix's, Raphael and Ignatz's, and especially Yuri and Constance's.
Here's something that isn't cursed, mercifully.Dedue/Flayn B.
After that, skim the top layer off the pan. Be mindful of the heat.
Certainly, Chef Dedue. There is no need to call me that. Are you displeased? No, not in the slightest! I just got momentarily sleepy. It happens to me from time to time... Let me see... First, chop the vegetables. Coming right up, Che— Er, Dedue! Good. This seems a bit weird in text, but it makes more sense with voice acting—Flayn does yawn a little in her first line.
I want to feel like I am actually cooking. It is not as though I do not know the basics... He could at least let me hold the spatula sometime...
Chef Dedue, I was hoping to speak with you regarding something that has been on my mind. Speak? Surely you have noticed my skill while wielding pans and knives. Therefore, I think it is time you taught me how to cook—beyond all this water boiling and vegetable chopping business. Impossible.
But why?! All must be done in the proper sequence. And the first step here, whether you like it or not, is to learn to use the tools perfectly.
Come now! You have seen how I use a ladle! You know I'm good for it. Hmph. He has left me no option but to take matters into my own hands.
Stubborn you may be, Chef Dedue, but I will show you the true meaning of delicious!
♪ Life at Garreg Mach Monastery ♪
Oh dear.
Dimitri/Ashe B.
Ashe! Of course, I'm glad you asked. After classes conclude for the day, meet me at the training ground. I'll be waiting. And afterward, let's plan on dinner. We'll certainly have worked up an appetite.
Oh! Yes, I suppose— I mean, sure, it'd be— That is... It would be my pleasure to, ah—to dine? With you? I mean, I... Um... Ashe... I'm sorry, Your Highness! I'm just no good at this! I'll do my best to improve! Are you still worrying over what I said to you before? I'm trying to do as you asked, but it's just completely against my nature. Trust me, I understand the urge to show respect where it is due. However, that is not the case here. Yes, I was brought up in a different family and raised in a different way, but otherwise, you and I are the same. That all makes sense, Your Highness. But I just can't bring myself to speak to you in such a casual way.
Sure. When you get right down to it, royalty like you and commonfolk like me... We're all just people. But the commonfolk still rely on the nobility to keep the peace, and to keep them safe. Commoners pay the price for that in taxes and respect. That's what Lonato says. I suppose I can understand that point of view. But the flaw in your logic is that I am not king just yet. I suppose I can understand that point of view. But the flaw in your logic is that I am not officially the king just yet.
But that's not all there is to it!
Hm? I also respect you as a person.
On all accounts, I can say the same of you. But you also have a strong heart. I can't say that about myself. No matter the circumstance, you are never drawn toward darkness. That mindset of yours has done me well on countless occasions. Well, I...I do my best. So I guess...mutual respect between us is what's really the most appropriate. Precisely. Which means there's never any need to be nervous or uncomfortable around one another. It seems we may have circled back to where we started with this conversation, but... Let's at least agree that we both should learn to bend a bit. How's that sound? All right! Let's start from the beginning, then. Would you like to train with me today, Your Highness? Of course, Ashe. Come at me with everything you've got!
♪ Life at Garreg Mach Monastery ♪
♪ A Guide for the Future ♪
Enjoyed that brief reprieve from battles? Too bad, paralogue time.
This is a scary battle. No new enemies at the start of the map, but there's more reinforcements, and all of the monsters—including those goddamned birds—have Maddening stat buffs.
Our group for this. Note the three bow users.
Let's get this over with.
♪ Dwellings of the Ancient Gods ♪
Hapi's the one who has Stride this map, so she's the one that has to burn her turn to get everyone else moving.
First things first, Ashe grabs the knowledge gem right at the start, before things get hairy.
Felix completely breaks the wolf's armor with one use of Blaze. I'm moving quickly here, I want to get Adan regrouped with everyone else as quickly as possible.
This should do the trick!
A fortunate crit means the wolf gets to die on turn 1.Notice how Ingrid, noted fast unit who also has Darting Blow, still cannot double the wolf.
It's safe for Adan to move this far up, with only one wolf nearby.
Balthus also moves up as far as possible.
I think I put too much faith in crits when they're at the 40% range.
That's the spirit!
Okay, sure, crit on that, but not the 42 Crit.At least the level is excellent.
Here's a better look at the wolves' stats. 21 AS, jesus.
That one's dead, at least.
Everyone else moves up, with Ingrid acting as bait for the next wolf.
Okay, let's see how the wolf attack go—
Never mind.
Eat a Spd debuff, jerk.
You're finished!
That's not even forged.
Oh, perfect, she needed more killing power.
Why'd I put off the armor break that long? Hell if I remember.
That's all of the initial wolves taken care of.
Here come the birds.
There's the reinforcements. Compared to Normal or Hard, there's one extra giant bird.
Ashe was barely able to escape from the danger zone.
It's Dimitri's turn to act as bait.
Oh, you fools, why are you lining up like this?
That's...less than ideal.
Balthus, Dimitri, and Felix could certainly use +4 Str.
Hapi starts by debuffing this bird, and ripping one armor tile off.
Ingrid destroys several armor tiles, and inflicts armor break on the middle bird, with Blaze.
Bernie's able to inflict an armor break on the wolf. Thank the gods for archers and their ability to reach ridiculous ranges.
That's not good, period.
Dimitri kills the first bird.
The first bird being dead gives Balthus room to muscle in on the second bird, for which he gets an okay level.
One of the birds is targeting Felix, so Caspar gives him Impregnable Wall.
That dodge on the first bird's attacks saved Adan.
Unluckily for that bird, Adan's got a gambit that can inflict armor break on it with one attack.
Ashe can weather one round of bird attacks, so he forces the bird's aggro on him with a gambit.
Dimitri's interested in defensive stats, I see.
Accidentally skipped the rest of that round of combat, but while Bernadetta did not get a crit, she also managed to dodge the wolf's lethal second counterattack.
This is going much smoother than I anticipated.
Final wolf down.
One more armor break for the pile.
So close.
Wow, that was fortunate.
More reinforcements?!...Oh, right, the reinforcements repeat themselves three turns after they first spawn. Great...
I will prove myself!
At least Ashe was able to kill that bird.
Right, this calls for Ashes and Dust.
That's two armor breaks...
shrug
First time that Hapi's personal ability has really come in handy, I think.
Love me some one-shots.Also love me some Str, but I guess that's too much to ask for right now.
Even if I can't break this bird's armor this turn, Dimitri can grab its aggro.
Your eyes do not deceive you, I actually bothered to use a devil weapon.
Here we go!
Close.
Oh, by the way, I got the Gradivus forged.
...A poor first showing.
Stop skipping over things, Rea, agh! You missed the bird attacking Dimitri!
Defensive levels are popular today.
See?
Worth noting that, unlike magic, 1-2 range weapons do not burn a use if you attack with it, but miss, even at range. That's the standard for all weapons, but you'd think thrown weapons would burn a use, at least.
Ouch.
Caspar punches the wolf's lights out. All that's left is the boss!
A few turns of healing and movement later...
Hapi starts by debuffing the boss, and instantly ripping one armor tile off.
Bernadetta then burns her last use of Ashes and Dust on the unarmored tile, dealing some significant damage, and weakening the rest of the armor tiles.
Finishing off the boss's first HP bar gets Ashe even more Str, and +1 Crit. Both he and Leonie also broke the two harder-to-reach armor tiles.
Felix borrows one of Bernadetta's bows to break the last armor tile, as well as get an excellent level.
Ready to bleed?
Jesus, Balthus.
I could've passed the Gradivus to Dimitri, but he doesn't have the Lance rank necessary to use it yet.
Balthus winds it up...
And Leonie knocks it down. Str, +1 Crit, and Spd. Magnificent.
Again, that went much smoother than I'd expected.Reminder that the amount of Divine Pulse charges you get from completing this paralogue is reduced on Maddening, because Koei-Tecmo hates you.
Remember how I said Black Market Scheme nearly broke me? A Cursed Relic almost broke me, too!It's even worse than Black Market Scheme.
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