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Scenario 11 -
Ho-ho-holy Langrisser

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Hundreds of years ago, the Descendants of Light reigned over Baldea, the kingdom of light, blessed by Lushiris's holy power. The legendary blade wielded by Sieghart in the days when Baldea was known as Elthlead slumbers within the castle's heart. Having breached the outer walls and entered the ruins, the companions sought the legendary blade within. But on the opposite moat, Leon and the Blue Dragon Knights had already arrived with the same intent. Once again, the volatile continent, El Sallia, has given rise to struggle for the holy sword.









Merry Christmas everyone, now lets just go straight into it. If you played Langrisser 1, then the entire introduction was a short recap as to the events and history in that game, that this builds upon. As for actual gameplay having a look at our equipment situation, the Shop choices aren't great so only Aaron gets an equipment change, with Vargas's Long Sword now in his possession as well as that Wizard Robe we found in a crater. It's pretty decent, losing 1 DF vs Chainmail and gaining a fair whack of MDF in exchange. Let's take a peek at the map for this one, as it is a doozy.



The plan is to aim for the kill everything objective - in that case, we need to get Cherie and the summons up there to blockade off access to Langrisser - Leon is still a tier 4 cavalry, so our phalanxes should be able to take care of him with minimal difficulty now, once they get into range.



Let's Sortie out, it's finally time to get our holier than thou hands upon the Might of Elthlead.





I don't feel good about this...

I am Leon, General of the Blue Dragon Knights. Please take me to see Miss Eliza.



Lady Eliza. Lord Leon has arrived.



Please enter.





She resembles you so much! I'm sure she'll grow up to be a beautiful young woman.

Oh my, Leon... You're just saying that.

I wouldn't presume.

I was angry with him... He... Vargas wanted a son.
He said he would teach him to be a great soldier.

Vargas would say something like that...



How can I tell her...?

Leon, is something the matteR? Leon... you're hiding something... Vargas!
Has something happened to my husband!? I know something is wrong!
I've seen that look in your eye before - you know I'm a soldier's wife.

General Vargas... fell in battle today.

Lady Eliza-!

I'm okay... I'm okay... My... Vargas... oh! I've been prepared for a day like this...
How... how were his last moments spent?

Your husband died most honourably. He fought valiantly to the end for our nation and for his daughter's future.
Vargas met his end as a perfect soldier...

Is that so... I need some time alone... Please leave me be for a little while.
Just a little while...

I'm sorry.

Leon and Eliza's attendant leave...

Oh... Vargas...! *sob sob*





Magnificent! That must be Langrisser!





Damn it! We need more time! Until General Leon returns, don't let them get near Langrisser! (CC:47)

Yes, Sir!

The Imperial Army!? Have they beaten us to it?

Hmmm... I don't think so. It appears the Imperial Army hasn't taken Langrisser yet...

Okay then. Let's take it before they do!

But, those who aren't Descendants of Light can't wield Langrisser, right?

Well, that's what the ancient texts suggest.

So that leaves Liana, Cherie and Fighter. Lady Jessica is a Descendant of Light too, but she isn't here.

Really... Anyway, hurry. Let's get to Langrisser before the Empire does!

So yeah, my bad with the map plan - I thought Laird was Leon... which means Laird will probably charge into the fray... and since Fighter's got our only anti-cavalry, I'll have to spell spam Laird down. Still, this doesn't change the plan too much - just means Fighter gets a head start on Leon which he needs given his slower Mv. The summons come out and we push forward. Also, if only our bods can wield Langrisser then what's the point of the Empire bothering with it? It seems to be a whole sword-in-the-stone dealio... though I guess they could excavate the stone and sword wholesale and just lock that in the Royal Treasury..?









So Aaron & Keith form up a defensive line just beyond the reach of the Phalanxes, ready to reach their lines next turn. Cherie, Fighter and Lester are heading north to take the secret tile and those ruddy fliers. Langrisser shall be ours before long. Turn 1 is done, whilst uneventful was nonetheless tactically valuable.





Yes, Sir!

Flying battalion, aim for their front lines and take out their cavalry!

Leave it to me!

Ballista, target their rear forces and lay waste to their archers!
I will personally ensure the General has a clear path to retrieve the sword.
They are strong, so don't screw this up!

Yes, Colonel!



Yes... The legends say only a Descendant of Light can.
Anyway, until Leon arrives, don't let the enemy near the Holy Blade!

Yes!









So, since Laird's orders make little sense in their details, the soldiers just pick on targets of opportunity. Let's start smashing some heads. I worry about Aaron but he'll have to do for now. Fighter and the summons move up, whilst Cherie and Lester take a detour to engage the enemy's naval force.







Cherie's Angels take out another Lizardman but are not all within range to deliver maximum damage. Lester steps up to the plate.









Lester takes out some more Lizardmen, Nixies crush them 1v1 - though we end up leaving a few on 1HP, easy to clean up next turn. Still, that's their naval force halved and suffering from major attrition. Also, Cherie and Lester aren't able to close the pocket that would entrap the naval force remnants but that's okay, it could be worse. We move on to Aaron & co. attempts to break the enemy blockade in the south.













Keith moves in to take out their back line of ballistas and magery. No support for you High Lord/Laird!





Level up! AT+1, DF+1

The angels take out two more ballista and move to soften up their commander, the mahou shoujo, Mage-chan. Her powers? Cluster firebombs. Rated R18 for extreme collateral damage.







Keith takes out another soldier thus completing eradicating Mage-chan's minions. She will fold next turn with no foreseeable problems aside from perhaps the other mage unit further south. And y'know, Laird can always decide to charge in like a straight up busta. Hein moves in to aid with his Crusaders and to play a healer role next turn, if we have survivors...





Here's where Fighter ends up - it's really slow going through the water tiles unfortunately. Liana moves over for next turn but otherwise that wraps up Turn 2.





Leon went to notify Lady Eliza of General Vargas's death.
Explaining such a thing is a delicate matter, especially since his wife has just given birth.
Finding the right words to say will be difficult.

Is that so...

Anyway, he'll be here soon. So until then, everyone do your best!

Yes, Sir!



Two things to note about this one, I've noticed for some spells the AI tends to target the AoE center on the caster themselves even when that spell can be cast at a distance. Second, Angels are 100% immune to magic damage. Aww yeah.











Ouch - poor Aaron is getting hammered out there - two bandits are gone, sayonara Solt & Peppor. Still, the damage we did appears to irrecoverable as their forces attempt to consolidate and heal but leaving themselves all the more open. Also, I was wrong - Laird heads for the castle not for the fray in the south.







Liana buffs up Fighter's Mv up to 10 and he charges forward. Thanks to being a Quick fellow, he finally enters the Castle - he can get to and blockade Langrisser, no problem. We move back to the water combat.









Level up! AT+1, DF+1



Why me...

Level up! MP+1









It looks like I'm dead... Gahh-!

And thus, the aquatic warfare is done for another map. Lester will head for the secret tile next turn and Cherie will go to support the southern front. All in all, the plan has been proceeding smoothly so far. Now to kill more support units and break the back of the southern offensive. Hein begins with a Fireball - note it does extra damage to ballistas (instead of 3HP, it does 5HP damage).







Level up! AT+1, MP+1

Aaron is getting more and more competent. He'll be our resident anti-support plus his Bandits are strong enough at this point to take out most generic commanders, if they dogpile them.



Forgive me... General Leon.

Keith moves in to shatter the remaining enemy forces or at the very least, their esprit de corps. To arms, Keith - let thine angels show them the wrath of Lushiris!





Two more ballista go down to the flaming swords of our angelic brethren. I have 3 more angels and they have 3 more units including the commander. Will I defeat them all before the turn ends... let's find out?





Note the difference in TA, given one is positioned on a plains and the other on a forest, but regardless the bonus always adds up to 25%. This includes when a flier attacks from a mountain - it becomes 40%-15%=25%.



Looks like this is going to be my last spell... Ahhh-!



Turn 3 is a great success! All that is left is the enemy airborne forces, Laird and eventually... Leon, himself. Now my plan requires a bit of changing on the fly - Lester will continue to the secret tile, the Royal SAS will move up to aid in Fighter's blockade and Hein, Aaron & Liana will heal up everyone that comes near them. Next turn will be one of consolidation and preparation for the inevitable charge of the Imperials.



General Leon!



I was playing with Vargas's child when I told her what happened to her husband...

Really... that seems like a pretty poor display of leadership when we have a critical mission here, oh well...
Lady Eliza's hospitality is towards the Generals is famous even among the troops. That must have been heartbreaking...
However, we're finally on the verge of achieving our goal.

Wars aren't fought by the unmourned... Because of this, fighting always brings sadness and pain, even to the blameless...
With Langrisser, we'll finally be able to unify the continent and establish a world of peace.

General Leon, the Blue Dragon Knights share your hopes for the Empire.

We must take Langrisser. Everyone, cover me! Laird! Wipe out the enemy.

Leave it to me!

So Leon moves up, Laird moves back down and the fliers continue their slow approach to Fighter & the summons. I guess I'll focus Cherie & Lester on taking out Laird over chasing Leon unless they can get within range this turn, which I am less than optimistic about. Valkyrie throws out a Quick for Fighter and we continue the charge.



Next turn, they will collide and the clash for supremacy of Castle Baldea will continue. Lester moves up and in another tactical decision change, I move Cherie in to blockade thus preventing Leon from joining up with his aerial forces and potentially pushing through us with pure numbers. Here's how the blockade looks:





Level up! AT+1, DF+1, MP+1

Hein heals everyone up and now they are ready to pincer Laird & Leon in a truly epic fashion. Though on the other hand, we only have the advantage thanks to our fliers and Aaron will get utterly chewed through by L&L if he happens to cough on them. Let's see how they go.



Level up! MP+1





It takes 3 Angels to kill one Royal Lancer... and these aren't even Leon's super buffed ones... I may have made a slight error in my judgement. Aaron heals up the angels hurt by combat and that is it for the south-western front. Here's the state of the SW front:



The Royal SAS should perhaps focus only on Laird and let Leon through to take on Fighter. This concludes Turn 4.













Sorry, Cherie. It was for strategic gain as an important delaying action, so... I'll let you beat on Laird next turn instead.













Obtained War Hammer & Chainmail.



(CC:48)

Laird! Retreat and regroup!

I'm sorry, General Leon...

Level up! AT+1, DF+1



We have now reached a point where our non-Fighter units outclass Laird on their own merits... my how they've grown up Aaron & Hein heal them up again and we move back to the castle. But first, Lester nabs us a secret tile.



What will you do?
Leave it alone, Take the flower, Break the plank

A flower sprite appears before you. The flower sprite beams a smile and disappears into the flower.
AT raised by 3 points!

Such a great boost and of course only a pirate after Fighter's own heart deserves it. Speaking of Fighter...









He and his men are just too much for the aerial units, he appreciates them fanning him with a cool breeze but they are otherwise utterly ineffectual. However, they do have a positional advantage over us but Freyja can mitigate that somewhat with her own abilities.





It won't take long to finish off the air forces... but if it takes more then two turns, Leon could catch up to us... which would be undesirable. Let us end Turn 5 and move ever onward to the climax. Nothing occurs on the enemy turn though Leon has finally reached the other side of the broken bridge. Freyja and Fighter aim to ground the air force before Leon closes in.







Level up! AT+1, DF+1, MP+1



The forces are completely dominated by Fighter and his men. Leon should be here in 2 turns, so Fighter has time to explode each individual unit before the commander bites the dust. Nothing much else happens in the south beyond some force shuffling and healing. Turn 6 is over.











Damn you fiends! Of all places... (CC:49)

That's another turn done and we'll face off with Leon next turn. He, of course, just moves towards Langrisser with his men lagging behind.





Jessica! How are the alliance forces?

They are finally cooperating, but they took longer than I expected...

We'll talk about this later. For now, worry about Langrisser.







We take advantage of Leon's misstep and take out his unsupported Royal Lancers but unfortunately, Fighter didn't have the range to attack Leon this turn, so he opts to go with the original plan to blockade him in. It is a perfect envelopment - Leon did swear bloody vengeance on us last time, so we should repay the favour. He does nothing on his turn, so it's time to close the trap and finish this.





Those Royal Lancers do a surprising number on our Phalanxes even when fully buffed up and Cherie & Lester can take out the other one. Now it's up to Fighter to finish off Leon as the fates have ordained.



Obtained Long Sword & Platemail.



I think he's talking to the remaining forces but there are none. Farewell, Leon.





Level up! AT+1, DF+1

Level up! MP+1

Level up! AT+1

It seems there's nobody left to interfere. Taking Langrisser will no longer be difficult.

Obtained Langrisser.

Is Langrisser the one and only weapon that can oppose the Glory of Darkness?

And those that can wield it are the Descendants of Light.

I'm excited. Let's begin the attack!

The enemy looks a bit panicked. It seems they haven't released Alhazard's power yet.

There's no other place I'd rather fight.

Excitement at last.

Fighter...

Liana... This is it for you.

Fighter! Please bring me with you! I beg of you!

No way, it's too dangerous! Besides, you promised.

I know... I promised I wouldn't interfere...
But please, bring me with you! I won't slow you down! If I do, you can leave me behind!

Liana, I would never abandon you. I see... Well, positively do not exhaust yourself.

I'm sorry... for being so selfish...

We're in this together.
To Rayguard's capital! We'll take Bernhardt's Palace!

Well, everyone! Onward to Castle Rayguard!

I'll lead a diversionary platoon against Rayguard to draw them.
No matter what, Alhazard cannot be allowed to revive. Now, on to Castle Rayguard!

Everyone! At last we shall attack the Empire!
To crush Rayguard's ambition, we shall do battle - under the divine protection of Langrisser!





And that's all, we finally got Langrisser halfway through the Light path, so not bad at all. Think of it like Chrono Trigger's Masamune - it's a good weapon on its own merits but still has potential, much like how everyone keeps going on about Alhazard being released/revived/unlocked/fed the souls of 1000 virgins. Next time, we actually head straight for Castle Rayguard and attack their outer gates.

I gotta say in this game, shit gets done with none of this "5 missions spent dealing with bandits" claptrap or other such inconsequential enemies. It's Rayguard in your face all day, every day except that one time we fought monsters for the Holy Rod. But that still had a point since Egbert showed up and technically, Sonya was allied with Rayguard and had big consequences with Rohga.