Toggle Background Color
Chapter 11: To Find Elbert
Yeah we should probably do that. I'll be running back through Ch10 to grind Nils up for bizarro-universe mode, by the way, so if levels look off there, that's why.
Oh, just about.
Okay. Thanks a lot.
Also there totally is a Hector. Sort of. You'll see!
There are a lot of things that can be said about this concept. Doubtless, people will mention them. But I like the general idea.
I am sure a few of us can empathise with that. 
That is a stellar retelling. For brevity, I'm going to write out the rest in bold.
The Eight Heroes took refuge in various continents, like so... Mighty hero Hartmut laid claim to that zany military country, Bern. St Elimine preached and preached until Etruria's ears bled with her sexiness. Gender-confused horseman Hanon decided to take a crash among the Sacean plains. Barigan, well... he's Barigan. He chilled with the Illians. Ooh, pun. Berserker dude Durban decided to use his craziness to corrupt the Western Isles. Wel all know about Athos and his business in the Nabata Desert, yes? And Lycia has the cool, short guy, Roland. How he carried Durandal is beyond me. And Elibe is currently under 900 years of peace... Wait, I just contradicted myself. Oh well. Hmm... why don't we take a peek at a random country, hm?
After the Lundgren uprising dealt with by Linoan, it's Pherae's turn to feel unease. Lord Elbert, its ruler, decided to go out to lunch, and suddenly vanished. Not to mention a bunch of his trusted men, as well... One month has currently passed at this point, some people thinking he's dead. Of course, one young man believes he's okay. And that's his son!
He longs to one day becoming one of Lycia's finest, whenever that'll happen. The real game starts here...
- - -
Already we have two Lords! Wait, hang on. No we don't! Leaf is a Paladin. Their sprites are hidden behind his head.
: That's good. Thank you, Prince Leaf.
: Eliwood... Promise that you will return to me safely. I'm worried about your father, but... If anything were to happen to you... My heart could not bear that sorrow.
: I know, Mother. Please do not worry. Father is alive. I know it. I vow that I will find him and return him to your side.
: I have your word, then.
: Yes, of course.
I guess you replace Isadora, then?
: Mother, I will return. Rest easy.
- - -
I guess those are our other two starting characters!
: They shouldn't take long. They're only getting supplies.
: Hmm...
: Something wrong, Eliwood?
: I was just thinking how well Lady Linoan's doing right now. After that ordeal in Caelin, I'm merely curious.
: I'm sure she's as fine as can be. Though, we still have the Grandbell Empire to deal with... We just need to lay low for a little longer. Hmm... What's keeping those two?
- - -
: Well, your misfortune is my good luck! I have an announcement to make! As of now, this village is mine! Groznyi is your new liege! Now, bring every last piece of gold, down to the smallest fleck!
Liege of a village. Oh, how mighty. He's like one of those council members who thinks they're some hotshot because they can decide whether roads get repaired or not.
: Glenn! What's happened? Is something wrong at the village?
: Bandits have taken claim to the village!
: Ah! Bandits? Here?
: What about Lady Nanna?
: Lady Nanna is right here.
Okay I actually really like that portrait.
: Lady Nanna! Are you alright?
: Yes, I'm fine. The bandits are raiding the village and taking everything! We must go to their aid!
: Right then.
Eliwood is a Protagonist(tm): He can never say no.
: Prince Leaf! Glenn! We must aid the village!
: Right!
: Lady Nanna, stay behind us and support us when needed.
: Yes, Lord Eliwood.
: Lord Eliwood, one more thing. There is another in the village who has offered to help. A travelling tactician who was staying at the inn.
: A tactician...?
: Yes, milord. This is Aranea.
- - -
Sup Eli.
: Oh. You are acquaintances?
: Yes. I met Aranea during the trouble in Caelin last year. A fantastic military advisor, if memory serves.
Well...
: If not for Aranea, the marquess of Caelin and Lady Linoan might not have survived Lundgren's uprising.
: Oh? So that was you that helped Linoan last year? I've heard good things about you and your skill.
: Now, what brings you to Pherae, my friend?
The plot, mostly.
: Ha! Still travelling about, honing your skills? Of course... a worthy pursuit. Let's give thanks to providence for our chance reunion. We have need of your aid. Please lend us your skill.
And then we're thrown into the map! Enemy types are changed up a little, there's a Monk and a Myrmidon wandering around, and a Troubadour offscreen to the left. Let's check everyone out.
Eliwood is Eliwood. MK404 has graciously given him a few +1s in stats to help him not suck.
Leaf is the Jeigan. He comes with a rather handy Light Brand that he will not be allowed to keep.
Glenn replaces Lowen, and comes with his Einlanzer. It's not Prf-locked and can be given away freely.
In what I can only assume is an apology for forcing two Archers into the party during Linoan mode, Rebecca is replaced by Nanna, who is infinitely more useful in basically every way (and has never turned out well for me ever, out of spite, seemingly.)
The Monk is actually a Light Mage.
Groznyi is... well. Nothing special. +4 HP, +1 STR, +1 SKL, +3 SPD, +1 LCK, +1 DEF, +1 RES.
Leaf immediately offloads the majority of his weaponry onto our lordling.
Glenn too. I'm not a Cavalier fan. All mine seem cursed, for one reason or another.
Eliwood immediately gets to squandering Glenn's personal weapon.
The bandit suicides onto it next turn.
After enemy movement, our favourite Thief shows up! No, not Matthew. Karsh is another Chrono Cross dude who takes Bartre's place. So we still have someone to axe people in the face.
: And... bugger me! That's Eliwood, too!
: Hmm... it is Glenn. You're right there, Kid.
: Ah? They, those are bandits down there! Those punks must be raidin' the villages! Bloody bastards! C'mon, Karsh! Those guys need help! Let's kick their arses so hard, they'll kiss the moons!
Catchphrase count: 3. Also, being a native of England, that accent... if you can call it that... really, really grates.
: Always quick to rush, aren't you Kid? Well, I've been meaning to get my axe arm in shape!
Kid comes with a spare Energy Ring, which is much appreciated.
Karsh is a Fighter, and so he axes. A lot. Quite hard.
Like that! I'm really not a fan of that pallette.
He's also not fast enough to double, so Eliwood cleans up the mess.
That's actually the Light Mage. Light magic with a Mage sprite. Yep, it's a Light Mage. Kid is still as stabby as ever.
I feel like Nanna's battle sprite isn't as white-clothed as it perhaps should be, given her portrait.
Let's have Glenn lance a guy to show off his in-battle sprite. Grey actually kind of works on a Cavalier.
Eliwood criticals to finish the guy off, and...!
Sigh. That's our Eliwood.
Kid goes back to the village in disgust.
Woman: We've heard nothing but foul rumours hereabouts... All of Pherae is worried for his well-being. We hear tell that Lord Eliwood is going to find the marquess. This dragon shield is our village treasure? It boosts the defenses of the one who uses it. Take it, please. And may it see you and Lord Elbert home safely.
Got a Dragonshield.
Just raking in the stat boosters already.
This is what Leaf's battle sprite looks like, but I didn't actually waste that EXP just to show you it. It never happened. Shhh.
And this is what really went down. I like the Rapier's new icon, too.
I don't even know why enemies even have Hand Axes, accuracy is screwed in the player's favour way too much as it is.
Can't even counter Glenn using a lance properly. This does, of course, mean less EXP for Nanna. Eliwood finishes him. (Of course. Need to beef the Lord up.)
More like it! Keep THAT up!
Leaf's Eliwood's sword is magic, therefore he automatically wins this swording contest. Well. When he counters. He's not fast enough to double a Myrm yet.
Mostly though, using the Light Brand was to be able to counterattack this guy. Archers are really more of an enemy-useful unit.
Okay, uh, wow. Good job taking my advice literally, Eliwood. That is literally the exact same level.
Nanna moves in to heal him up before he goes to stare down the beautiful bandit boss.
: You think you can challenge me? What? Pherean knights?! But that's impossible!!! Bah! No matter! I'll deal with you!!
You overuse exclamation points, and for that, you must perish.
Good job dealing with Eliwood. Two hits later...
That was not an invitation to go back to the previous level-up format, Eliwood.
Oh, whatever.
- - -
Man: Our deepest thanks for coming to the aid of our fair village.
: Think nothing of it. It's a Lord's duty to protect the citizenry.
Unless you're a Tory.
Man: Would that were true, milord. The good folk of Laus know no such protection. Their Marquess, Lord Darin, is too busy preparing for war. He ignores all complaints of bandits and thieves.
: Preparing for war? Are you sure?
Man: I would not lie, milord. My brother lived in Laus until a few days ago. His home was torched, and he had no choice but to flee here. According to him, Laus could go to war any day now. It's all the people of Laus are talking about.
: If it's anything like the Caelin incident last year...
: You think the Grandbell Empire may be involved?
: It's a poor assumption, but I've a bad feeling about it. Hmm... it might be possible that your father is involved in this.
: My father and Marquess Laus? It seems a tenuous connection, but it's as good a start as any. Let us travel to Laus. We must learn more.
Then Eliwood rounds on us.
: Thank you for your guidance, Aranea. Where are you bound for next? If you have no destination in mind, perhaps you could travel with us. Ours is a small group, with a single purpose ? to find my father. I do not know where our road will lead, but... We would be stronger with you in our company.
Beats sitting around gettin' drunk.
: Thank you! I pray we give you no cause to regret your decision.
: Yes, village magistrate...?
Man: We know this news could mean bad news for Lord Eliwood. If it could be as bad as he and Prince Leaf say it is... There's no telling what will happen!
: Yes, I know of the dangers that wait. But still... I cannot leave Prince Leaf's side. And... with him, I hope that we may find my mother, somewhere...
Dohohoho.
Man: Keep an eye out for Lord Eliwood for us, Lady Nanna. And do take care of yourself and everyone else.
: Thank you, village magistrate. All of you take care of yourselves as well.
- - -
Characters Encountered
Eliwood
Class: Lord > Knight Lord
Growths;
HP 85%, STR 50%, SKL 55%, SPD 50%, LCK 45%, DEF 35%, RES 35%.
He's gotten 5% growths across the board, except for 10% in SPD and 0% LCK. It's sort of like an automatic Afa's Drops, but better. But he's still tragically Eliwood. I'm using him anyway because I want to. I have a soft spot for the kid.
Leaf
Class: Paladin
Growths;
HP 85%, STR 45%, SKL 50%, SPD 45%, LCK 40%, DEF 35%, RES 35%.
He's slightly worse than Eliwood, and Eliwood is only barely worth using anyways. Oh, Leaf. When will it be your time to shine?
Glenn
Class: Cavalier > Paladin
Growths;
HP 90%, STR 50%, SKL 45%, SPD 45%, LCK 35%, DEF 35%, RES 30%
There's nothing wrong with Glenn, but I'm sort of biased against Cavaliers. I do wonder why his Prf weapon isn't Prf, maybe there weren't enough Prf-locks to go around.
Nanna
Class: Troubadour > Valkyrie
Growths;
HP 55%, MAG 45%, SKL 50%, SPD 55%, LCK 55%, DEF 20%, RES 45%
Nanna is sound in theory, but I've never actually had her turn out well, as I said. I'm not sure why, and given the relative difficulty of training up staff-users I'm not sure if I should try again. Maybe. She'll see use until we get Mia back. (Spoilers, Mia comes back.)
Karsh
Class: Fighter > Warrior
Growths;
HP 85%, STR 55%, SKL 40%, SPD 45%, LCK 35% DEF 30% RES 25%
A fighter with a 5% better STR growth than Eliwood. Besides, Fighters are totally outclassed by pirates in this game. Bring on the pirates!