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Before I started this next chapter, it dawned on me that I would need to train L'Arachel up before chapter 14, lest I have to shell out nearly 10k gold for Rennac. As ridiculous as her bases are, she is still level 1, so I went to get some levels for her (and a few others) in Valni.
Ephraim: 1 level, +1 HP, +1 Str, +1 Skl
Neimi: 1 level, +1 Mag, +1 Skl, +1 Res
Artur: 1 level, +1 HP, +1 Mag, +1 Skl
Lute: 3 levels, +3 Str (capped), +1 Skl, +1 Spd, +1 Lck, +1 Res
Forde: 1 level, +1 HP, +1 Str, +1 Skl
Amelia: 2 levels, +1 HP, +2 Str, +1 Def, +1 Res, learned Devil's Pact (Immune to Devil Reversal, and gives the Devil effect to any enemy she fights with)
Tana: 1 level, +1 HP, +1 Str, +1 Skl, +1 Spd, +1 Lck
Cormag: 1 level, +1 HP, +1 Spd, +1 Lck, +1 Def
L'Arachel: 5 levels, +4 HP, +2 Str, +1 Skl, +3 Spd, +5 Lck, +5 Res

Hmm, suddenly I feel compelled to use Amelia now! L'Arachel's wonky growths are working pretty well for her, too, but she still has even less HP than Neimi, and somehow only hit her 55% Skill growth once while getting her 35% Speed growth three times.



This has been your regularly scheduled Grinding Update. Over to you, Selena.



"But don't tell him I misplaced my Bolting tome, please."



This map is still the same winding spiral river pattern, only with 100% less siege tomes to deal with--



--ah, spoke too soon. Also, it seems Eirika Lords in this seed pick up Hawkeye as a level-up skill, because the one in my first screenshot and the five or so others on the map all have it. That's three classes that have it now, in addition to Wyvern Riders and male myrmidons. You'll notice Selena is a Warrior; I'll come back to her once it's time to actually fight her.

And speaking of Myrmidons...



SKILLS:
Axebreaker: +50 Hit/Avoid if enemy is equipped with an axe.
Shove
Tomebreaker: +50 Hit/Avoid if enemy is using magic.

We finally have o- oh my god those growths

Having two different -breaker skills is good? I guess? I dunno, I really can't find any way to redeem her permanent 3 strength. Especially when she's right next to this:



SKILLS:
Spur Strength: Adjacent allies deal +4 damage with physical attacks.
Shove
Inspiration: Allies within two tiles deal 2 more damage and take 2 less damage.
Breath of Life: Allies within two tiles are healed for 20% of their max HP after this unit attacks.

Now here's someone who's been stat dumping the right way! Yes, his other bases are crap, but having two stats capped at level 10 is beautiful, and he has solid (if not outstanding) growths.



The first turn is uneventful save for this one Enemyrika with a Brave Sword. Too bad she can't drop it.



Finally, double digit Speed!



Everyone is mostly going counter-clockwise around the river, but it dawns on me that at least a few people should stay behind for Gerik and Tethys to catch up. Those few people are Kyle along with Joshua and Natasha, who are now at their B support.



I've always loved that supports like this can take place when there are no enemies that can attack them.



Kyle is good, but he's soooooo slooooooow



Gerik's Inspiration means Tethys takes NO DAMAG from this archer, but she still gets poisoned. If nothing else, she looks good as a Myrmidon.



Gerik looks... less good as a Knight.



Ahahahaha the Longbow is even worse in this seed than it was in Run 1



Kyle skips over the river to deal with some other potential threats.



Well, Gerik and Tethys can at least deal with a few of the enemies while Joshua and Natasha make their way back over...



Eh, why not?



For all the enemies that target him, the only one that's any threat is the siege asshole.



Spoke too soon!



Go away, siege guy.



And take this level with you.



Moulder also does a good job of helping clear out the front lines.



sooooooooo sloooooooowwwwwwwwww



It took three turns for Tethys to kill this archer, but she got there in the end!



And with a Rally Strength from Joshua, Gerik is strong enough to one-shot this Enemyrika.



Even with his slowness, Kyle is very much a force to be reckoned with.



Enemy Dancers definitely aren't as threatening as Bards.



Tethys manages to get A Level from attacking a Pupil. It pains me to know I will never see that 3 increase to any other number until promotion, and then never again after that.



Dancers may be speedy, but Tana is speedier.



Then she gets in position to hold off a parade of Soldiers and Dancers coming this way.



Oh for fuck's sake. It's only a Talisman, but it still sucks to see villages get destroyed when you're in no position to save them.



Tana profits nicely off all the enemies coming her way.



Good thing, too, because there's a lot of them.



Moulder kills a Thief that stole his Vulnerary, but...



Neimi finally hits level 10 from healing Tana, and gains Odd Rhythm (+10 Hit/Avoid on odd-numbered turns). Not the best skill, but more avoid on a healer never hurt anyone.



Bardin'



Sorry, did I say 100% less siege tomes at the beginning? I meant to say 200% more, because I missed that some Pupil near the bottom also had Bolting. Fun!



I sure do not miss the days where Sharp Claw Baels were potential run-enders.



Oh, that's cute, you think Killer weapons can hurt Kyle.



He's back to dodging lightning like he's in the Thunder Plains.



I'm keeping Tana and Ephraim close together so they can build up support points. They're actually making a quite capable murder couple even without a support rank yet.



Especially Ephraim! To think he started out with the bases he did...



For as wonderful as his two caps at level 10 are, Gerik struggles in a few other areas. Like, uh, actually hitting things.



And he's not getting any better at it.



Funnily enough, Moulder is a better pick against magic users than Vanessa, when normally that sort of dynamic for flying units is reversed.



Vanessa then grabs his Horseslayer to dispatch this cav and get to A in lances.



Go figure that one of the few things to actually hit Tana all chapter is a poison weapon!



But it ends up working out for her.



Hmm, nope, you're not getting any better at hitting him.



This Druid doesn't fare any better.



Joshua and Gerik help Tethys one-shot her, because why not?



It really is a shame that her Skill growth is so low and her Strength growth is non-existant, because Tethys could be solid otherwise. Especially with her ridiculous 125% Res growth...



Get outta here, other Bolting guy.



The few enemies that are left can't do much against our army.



This Enemyrika is able to do some scratch damage, but... it's Kyle.



We can at least get the Barrier staff from the other village, which is definitely nicer than the Talisman.



Ephraim hits his C support with Tana...



...then turns around for an okay level and Seal Skill.



You have a Killing Edge in your inventory. I want it, please.







Down around the bend, Tana gets another amazing level and caps Skill!



The Wight has found the Swordreaver's one weakness.



Oh well, Lute can finish him off.



...and then make me wish she didn't.



The last enemy before Selena is a Thief, meaning I have a nonzero chance to choke and lose a unit before I actually fight Selena.



Lute doesn't give a fuck, though, and runs him through. This just leaves Selena herself...



...and good lord has the game pulled out the stops on her stats. She doesn't have maxed Strength like she did in her Chapter 10 cameo, but she honestly doesn't need it. Paragon is irrelevant here, but Seal Skill and Darting Stance are pretty annoying. Her high Resistance and Warding Blow would mean that using magic on her is a no-no, but...



...this is her entire inventory. She has no ranged weapons and doesn't move. So much for another challenging boss fight...



That said, actually taking her on at melee range is basically suicide, which limits my options somewhat.



Tana gets things started. She doesn't crit, but Selena has no way of healing so it doesn't really matter.



She looks real nice with the Warrior sprite, though.



This level sucks, but...



This sure doesn't!



This stings, but I'm doing it on the enemy phase so Selena doesn't double him to death.



Kyle attempts to get in on the action, but misses.



Joshua chips in, and then Moulder takes a good chunk out too.



While I figure out who should finish Selena, Artur caps Skill from running around and undoing scratch damage.



Natasha gets a crap level off of getting the second-to-last hit on Selena, and...



...Tana gets the last one.





NEXT TIME:


Well, someone's picked a much more fitting class for himself...