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11: Strung out
I was going to go back and buy more elixirs but there's a math dog in the way
and the local joint just has trash tier consumables!
We're doing it!
and by "it" i of course mean "entering the battle and hitting retreat immediately", who the fuck grinds in Fire Emblem
(you are not allowed to use photographic evidence of my arena abuse in Binding Blade against me shut up)
and also i guess get a look at that village we left in pretty good condition suddenly having fallen to ruin! 2020, am i right
Need so many fucking elixirs!
The temptation to just throw this on Garcia and let him Tank The Universe is strong but Ross logically needs it much, much more than his dad does.
Speaking of trash tier, short bow's worth a lot of money for the shittiest bow in the game. I have no idea why they thought this was reasonable! 10% crit is not a good enough bonus to offset half the uses, -1 might from an iron bow at this fucking cost (but again, slim weapons).
but we're getting off track so let's go kill Selena
(i say as if that's easily done or something)
There are so many fucking enemies on this map.
There will be no persuasion.
Only murder.
Selena is deceptively close. In practice, even if i had a good flier, there's too many guys in the way.
Oh yeah and there's this little thing!
On the plus side, we get Gerik, and more importantly his hero crest. I could just have him use it right away but he can get to Ross so quickly i'm just going to have them trade.
One move, one dance,
and watch out world, here he is! Ross finally has something resembling a def score (if nowhere near as much of it as Garcia) and can continue to grow stronger. Of course,
he is now banned from axes for life!
Garcia went left. This is going to take a while. C bows, and still nothing to use with it!
Neimi's drawing the archers from across the river.
And she can actually walk across it, so she can start on the cavs too!
That also puts her in Bolting range but we have some pure waters so why not?
Since Ross is already over on the right-ish side, he's heading down that way.
With the help of Kyoji!
no wait never mind it's just Tethys
Granted, these are just soldiers but it's a pretty decent first go with the bow and arrows.
Working as intended!
Neimi has the best res in the party, even better than the actual casters. Then again, she's promoted at 20, whereas Moulder got his bishop on halfway there and... neither of the other two is even close to it 
Gerik promotes to ranger, so i'm allowed to use him, but he's going to have to rely on swords until we find another promotion item. I know there's a master seal in 15...
Gerik's pretty huge, not quite Garcia level but he's weighed down i think one point of speed by his steel blade. Pretty good speed, too! Just not enough for this clown.
There are so many enemies.
Garcia's not getting anywhere since he's the only one fighting on this side.
And then, the pegasi start pouring in! Because 44 hostile units on the field wasn't enough already!
Honestly the reinforcements are a lot more worrying than the bolting, at least this is predictable.
The landlocked enemies are numerous, sure, but they're confined to the paths on the map same as us. The pegs just say fuck that and can charge my incredibly squishy rear line whenever they like.
That was a very dumb decision you just made!
Too bad we're not allowed to actually use this. I'm sure it's worth a few bucks, though, like maybe even a third of an elixir stack!
I put Ross there to draw this guy, who hurts a bit but Ross oneshots in return.
Bolting landed for the first time. This might get tight...
First level for Gerik is a good one! I never really... use Gerik, but he's looking to be a good addition to the team, not least since he'll be getting a horse.
There are brigands heading for the village, but i'm going to intercept them before they get to it. The village on the left... uhhh don't ask.
And here are the pegs. Three of them in range, and this situation is less than ideal.
Gonna kill the last cav first, since he's there.
I don't think Neimi will die, but... we'll find out.
Ross is fine. And since this guy's doing silly things, the village is, too.
Drew the sniper who was sitting underneath it as well
and he actually does damage! Ross doubles and onerounds, though.
This is the point where "able to take a hit" starts to become less impressive. He can, but... there's three of them and i can't kill more than one.
Can't refresh the pure water either!
That's one down. Now, the rest...
Garcia's making his way back up because Neimi alone isn't going to cut it here.
Ross and friends are too far along their way to help out.
We're in no danger on this front.
All right, now Colm won't need to take more than one hit! But there are even more goddamn pegs incoming and this is really stressful.
At least i can draw one of them with Gerik.
Neimi's not super threatened but 41 displayed hit is like a 1/3 chance or so. With multiple pegs per turn, that's going to land eventually.
Ephraim is i think level 4? He's surprisingly tanky for someone who hasn't seen any combat in, what, 10 maps... You don't need me telling you this (again) but Ephraim? Really solid character, as it turns out.
Ross' first level as a warrior isn't the best, but still decent. Strength's his only really good growth, and he's been chafing at that 20 cap for a few maps now...
Well that's a decision you're going to regret, very briefly!
I also managed to get the one i was baiting with Gerik,
and Colm dodged this turn. Something is definitely off about this perspective, Colm's sprite should be displayed over the peg's!
Duessel's drawing some fire too. He, at least, is in no danger whatsoever...
Yikes! Probably not the best idea to bait lightning spells while standing in the river, but it seems to be working out.
...oh. Well, bye to that village, i guess.
I don't think it's actually possible for me to get to it like this. What could i do...? Maybe plug the chokepoint on the right side and send the axe family west? I'm still not sure they'd be able to punch through fast enough.
But this is probably fine, right?
Just gotta keep topped off in case bolting and multiple spears.
Gerik with a steel blade doubles a peg. Pegs have really, really bad con.
Still haven't managed to visit the village, but this one is... probably safe? I think. Ross hits D bows from this, but i didn't think he'd get it this quickly so he only has an iron bow.
Uuuughhhh Colm got tagged again
but i have people lined up so he can't eat more hits. I don't like that 3% crit chance! Moulder would live, but...
Yeah, rip.
You have too many peg knights! Put some back!!
Colm lives another day, and Moulder caps his staff rank. He is still level 1! God i hate grinding healer levels!!!
This is fine,
and we're going to kill off a few more this turn
but we gotta be careful with this troub because she has a sleep staff. Also a droppable energy ring! I want to give it to Neimi but like... she's .3 nanoseconds from ramming her bullshit garbage femsniper cap as is.
Maybe it'll help if i pure water up. Sadly Garcia can not cross the river... though Colm can. I'm actually a bit surprised, i thought all promoted infantry could cross streams but it turns out Moulder can't do it either.
All this and half the initial enemies are still here. I'm pointing at this guy for a specific reason - he has a speedwing that could technically be stolen, but hahahaha no.
I'm healing Ross (and hitting C staves on L'Arachel)
and he's taking that guy out here and now.
uuuuhhhh
thanks for the +2 res! Probably goes on Neimi, she's the closest i have to a magic tank. Or maybe just sell it for elixir money...
Well shit. This again.
This is a little scary but 18 damage is quite survivable.
Yeeeeah. I looked it up and that's a barrier staff, it could have been nice (particularly since you can spam it for exp) but... i can do without and don't care to try this whole mess all over again for something like that.
On the plus side, i guess Neimi's res is too high for the troub to even get through? Because she didn't even try, and now she's dead 
At least we got a good stat booster. Not sure who should be getting this.
It's not Tethys, i know that much.
The shamans don't seem to want to move but i put Neimi in reach of this one, knowing she'd be fine.
We're getting there!
This guy drops his zanbato, Gerik might find it useful for a map or two until he promotes.
That is a lot of bulk! But we'll need to start chewing through it.
I decided to put Colm in range to draw this because Neimi needs more kills.
...needs better levels, too...
Hmmm. I didn't realize this guy had a killer lance, that's somewhat uncomfortable. Will Ross him instead. Gerik can draw the great knight.
A dragonspear! He'll drop that when Neimi kills him. Colm is fine (on a tree and fully healed).
...of course, it'd have helped if i equipped the anti-horse weapon...
There we go.
What is this, Shitty Level Hour?
With some dancing help, Ross handles the knight.
So close...
And here we go! Neimi cleanly tworounds Selena with an iron bow (and Colm support).
Does take some damage, but
if we park Seth here so the cav can't get to her, she'll be fine even if the shaman suddenly decides to move.
Seth's fine too.
You and me both, Selena.
Getting a boss kill has inspired Neimi.
Now we just need to clean up.
These three jerks haven't started moving, but they will soon.
There they go!
Garcia gets the cavs,
and Gerik gets the archer.
Oh hell yes, Garcia you beautiful beast of a man.
Floating pony!
Gerik didn't get a level but did get a weapon rank he'll enjoy for like 15 minutes before he's permabanned from swords for sword crimes.
That's deep.
But let's not get into it!
Instead, let's just point and laugh at this nerd. Look at him! What a nerd.
Well then, time to sell all of my axes!
That iron bow was in pristine condition at the start of that last map.
All of them!
Didn't even use up the hatchet, and now i'm stuck with it in my inventory. Not sure why it's considered "treasure" to be honest! I mean, it is a great weapon, just... it's a hatchet.
Then we have to remove another skirmish so i can buy more elixirs.
We're not using her. She can't even arrows!
"and like 8 billion peg knights, which made for an extremely fair fight"
anyway this map. It has Some Issues.
The fact that we start split up is one of them, we should think carefully about who's going where because we only have so many people who can even do damage
so let's just charge blindly on!
Gerik's still able to attack at close range thank fuck but he's not going to forever.
So i'm going to take this opportunity to enjoy it, and of course to train him up some more. Looking pretty solid so far!
Neimi with statstick in tow is not going to have huge difficulties.
And then we wall off with the beefy boy.
Garcia's def is hilarious but he doesn't even care to put it to use.
okay fine
And here comes this asshole!
Don't give me that look, you're still an asshole.
And we're going to have to get a move on if we want to recruit him. Which we probably do because lol Colm.
Here, go murder some soldiers.
uuhhhh i guess these guys are also in range huh
well who cares
Duessel doesn't care.
And happily Gerik doesn't have to either because this guy has a swordreaver and is still at disadvantage, you can't make this shit up! He even drops it when Gerik fillets him, not that we can use it, but it'll probably sell for like half an elixir stack so it's pretty good.
Even the remaining guy with a proper axe isn't that big of an issue.
Yes.
You can't even use that!
I don't care if we break the lancereaver here, we won't be able to use it much longer anyway.
Other side's under control, ish? This guy drops his armourslayer.
Colm can still take a hit.
Now that is a level.
This isn't important but smearszszsz. Chop!
All right i think we've done a good number on these guys, should probably send some help to the other side because we'll have to intercept the asshole on that side, there's no way we're getting up on this side before he runs off.
It's a little thick with jerks since we don't have anyone who can counter at 1 range here.
And there's more coming!
Gerik's presence should help a bit.
(Good job Gerik, this is why i don't pay you)
Garcia gets A bows off this. Maybe at some point we'll have something that requires it!
This shouldn't be an issue, we have Tethys so Ross can generally delete two guys every turn.
He's moving!
Let's see if we can intercept him.
(While Ross gets started on these jerks because he can.)
There's only one very tiny small insignificant issue.
...i'm sure it'll be fine.
uuugghhh and the bishop on the left has a sleep staff too! At least Neimi didn't fall for it, this time. Still a pretty high hit rate, though!
Ha! Nice 79% hit rate, loser!
...and then there's more reinforcements. I mean it makes sense since we're attacking their house but like chill?
Colm has a job on this map, other than being Neimi's statstick.
And then we carry him far, far away from there.
No more sleep out of you! At all! Ever!
The one on this side has silence.
Moulder isn't silenced... yet! Nice level, too bad it won't help because holy shit are you bad. That is with promotion bonuses, mind!
this is going so well, surely nothing will
oh.
Oh.
...
Well while i think about that, let's see if we can get to... nope, two tiles short, goddammit rennac.
Okay so! We'll run away, it's fine.
I can just about get everyone out of the way with some dance and rescue shenanigans,
and Ross will happily rage himself out against these archers.
That was uncomfortably close, Colm cannot take One Hit any more!
and neither can vanessa fucking hell i forgot he had a longbow i guess?
Not that it matters because
even if i had been inclined to sacrifice her, at this point i'm thoroughly fucked. GG, except the opposite of that.
SO INSTEAD.
I put Gerik on this side because he'll help clear up one side much faster than the other can manage it, and that should be enough to get me up fast enough to intercept Rennac. If it's going to help with all the other crap... we'll just have to see.
Tethys on this side also helps, so Gerik can get into position to start countering just a little faster.
He's not in much danger.
All those dudes together only hit for like 2/3 his health.
And soon, there will be less dudes!
Ross is still doing well on the other side.
uuughhhh Gerik please
Now this side is getting crowded, but it's fine, i can wall up and they can't do much about it.
Duessel will sit here for some 10 turns while Ross shoots mans over his head. Is it sporting? No. Does it work? Hell yes.
This side's much cleaner, but we're not done with the jerks yet.
Tethys is helping with that, though.
We'll need to get started on the door so Rennac doesn't just run past again.
Unfortunately, that requires us to get in range of this jackass.
But he misses!
(And i have L'Arachel with a restore in case he doesn't.)
I don't want to risk Colm this time so i had Neimi kill the guy with the key (in the middle) and open it.
Garcia gets B bows again.
And Neimi gets danced so she can keep our team awake.
If only we could deal with the druids that easily...
At least i didn't forget about the longbows this time.
Eh.
Phew.
But we are in a good position to pick this guy up when he comes into range, provided we don't get berserked right at the wrong moment.
And we seem to be doing well on that front!
So let's...
...get ourselves a rogue!
This position is kind of dangerous but
we can rescue L'Arachel out of the worst of it,
and then Rennac drops his sword because i'm not looking to cheat here.
(Or have him kill something that comes at him to make room for more things to come at him. But you know, mostly the first thing. You can't prove otherwise.)
If i kill the knight, the remaining two can't do much to me.
...barring an untimely Luna crit, that is.
What. I thought berserk guys only went after people with weapons?!
...well, he missed.
And the other one went for Neimi and also missed!
I am having the best luck with this rng and i am not ashamed, i deserve this
i mean Neimi and L'Arachel deserve it because they are Very Good shut up
The reinforcements aren't a problem with the previous enemies dealt with.
Seth and Gerik dropped Rennac below.
And L'Arachel is getting the hell out of berserk range, because i need her to unserk people if that lands.
Which it keeps not doing!
We're almost done!
There we go, one last bers
aaah. Well, it had to land eventually and
here's the cure for that!
Even got a level off it!
Time to mop up.
Ross is almost done on his side, too.
We're wearing them down, slowly but surely.
Neimi capped strength!
Level 20/7 Neimi should have 18 strength.
...and 22 speed.
With all the free roaming enemies out of the picture, it's time to get the longbow jerks done, too.
(Well, almost all.)
This is a sniper!
He's worth exp.
And he drops a longbow!
We'll put that to use soon, but first: Ross is done.
Silence guy hasn't moved, no one has been in his staff range.
He's not getting the chance.
Now Ross gets started on the guys by the doors. Might as well open it up, i don't think we need the door keys for anything else.
Now then, what to do...
That is quite a lot of magic damage, and anyone hitting this guy is going to have a good chance of getting the damage undone by Nosferatu.
But you can't counter at 3 range! You didn't think this was gonna happen did you? Moving off that pillar sure was a smart idea you had, wasn't it?!
Fucker!!
One of Rennac's jobs here will be to pilfer this guy's stuff.
It's a body ring! I know who's getting that!
Pfffft.
That leaves the middle rooms still unopened.
And there's stuff in them, so we're opening them. I mean, obviously!
Rennac outran the archer. Poor idiot. Someone's going to put him out of his misery soon.
It won't be Tethys.
But in a way, indirectly it's kind of her fault. Go ahead and blame her if you want!
I have an unlock staff! It was expensive!
Fuck you door!!
thanks moulder you are so getting benched
Only one enemy in here but the stairs are very suspicious.
Nothing's coming this turn though so let's get to looting!
Hmmm
They just had to come with Luna!
Well, it should be fine, right?
We don't have enough people to kill them, but we do have enough for a wall.
There are stairs in here too but we do have people who can kill here.
This guy's a little dangerous but i think we can handle it.
Ow! But we have a lot of healing.
Neimi does not give one hot frick about Luna's crit chance.
uhhh that's
a lot of dudes from a single stair tile?!
But honestly this is less of an issue than the lower room. Just park our archers in range to draw the enemies and the problem will solve itself.
Meanwhile, these guys keep coming!
Good eatin'.
Well okay more like mediocre eatin'. But Gerik also got A swords, which he will enjoy for 4 minutes before he promotes next map.
Score! A little worried about L'Arachel with two shamans on the left side, though...
So, Rennac, take this and drink some,
and then L'Arachel can take it from you, and get back in position, and now she should be safe.
Turns out she didn't need it, but it made me feel better damn it!
This is nothing
but do you have enough fucking shamans already?!
However, Ross has arrived now and can start helping Gerik slaughter them, so it's fine.
Not super fond of this.
Still?!
...oh yeah, there was another chest, wasn't there...
Siiiigh.
(Naturally, at this point i have completely forgotten that there's a secret shop on this level so i won't be getting any physics or killer bows even though they would have been really helpful aaa.)
Anyway for some reason i'm missing a bunch of screenshots here?? I have no idea how that happened. But i ferried Colm up and got Garcia into support range and Neimi with five support ranks easily took out Vigarde and picked up his crest. Rennac picked up an angelic robe from that chest (and, as said, nothing from the secret shop).
Then i spammed heals for exp.
I would think so after all those arrows Neimi put in him.
Ephraim's like "oh great that was the last thing i needed"
We get some weapons we can't use and told to head for the desert, which should be uh... fun, i'm sure.
It's true! Don't you eyeball me!