Fire Emblem on the Forums: Sea of Crossroads [IC]

[Swordstar]

Selia gently touched the tattoo of an eye on her forehead and closed her other eyes. The cards began to glow brighter, flashed brightly, and then went dark. Opening her eyes, she reached out and flipped the first card and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

 

 

"The upside down Fool. One of the Major cards, representing a major path in your life. Where once you had two paths, you chose to head down one, sealing off the other. No longer can you return to that path and yet you exhibit hesitancy, perhaps even regret. Fear of the unknown and what might have been. But the path that lays in front of you is not that path and you cannot fall into the wonder of what might have been or else you risk falling off the path you have chosen into the wilderness. Reaching out again, she revealed the middle card and chuckled.

 

 

"The nine of wands, how fitting. You need to remember that you cannot do everything. While it is tempting to uphold the burden of the battle on your own, you need to remember in the midst of your struggles that you have others that you can lean on. Allow them to move to the front while you take a moment to catch your breath. They will not think any less of you for it." When she flipped over the last card, her eye visibly widened in surprise and a small chuckle escaped.

 

 

"I suppose you will take this as the sign you wanted me to see. The Sun. A card of hope and renewal. The battle you face is not in vain and you will have fulfillment at the end. There is joy and enthusiasm and, shockingly, optimism in your future if you can persist through the current struggles and grab a hold of them. These two together, the nine of Wands and the Sun are special. It is, if you choose to believe it, confirmation that your path is the right one and persisting in it will give your life the meaning you sought when you first stepped out on this path."

 

 

 

[Aurorix]

"The owner? I'm surprised you haven't gotten his name by now." He chuckled a bit before continuing.  "His name is Archibold Nemo. He's not the nicest man in the world and a perfect target who deserved to be stolen from. Or at least I first thought before the ambush but what can you do?" He shrugged. It seems Belros is slowly regaining his usual attitude, coming to terms with being trapped in a cell rather quickly.

[Sutoratosu]

"Never heard of the asshole or any house called "Nemo" before. Infact- Nemo literally means "No One"... great, just when I thought this mess couldn't get any shadier. But fine, what does he do, pray tell? Surely this "House Nemo" must have something they're famous for, some product or skillset? Would it happen to be having a hand in the underworld and it's many underhanded dealings, covertly killing all rivals until they're the last standing, expanding their influence until it covers all of the isles?"

 

 

[Aurorix]

"Their name sums them up quite well actually. No one knows exactly what they do, but the actions they do take are seemingly random and quite suspicious. So not they're not exactly outstanding citizens. In fact, Silver Raven's initial intel wasn't much either. I was actually hoping during the heist we could learn more about what exactly they do but then the ambush happened. But I'm sure whatever they're doing it must be big enough to warrant this kinda secrecy. I'm actually surprised suspicion for them didn't come up sooner."

[Sutoratosu]

"Geez, that was all supposed to just be sarcasm..."

"Guess I'm right though; they really do seem to be a House of criminals. Fun, we'll probably run into ol' Archibold's relatives then at some point, I doubt he's the only member of his line working on something as big as this. Oh well, just more feral pigs to be gutted, doesn't really matter anymore. They drew undo attention upon themselves by trying to interfere with the royal guard, and if that results in their pathetic little bloodline being razed from root to stem, then so be it."

"How about you tell us a bit about this "Silver Raven" guild of yours though? Considering we've run into them multiple times and probably will many more, it would be useful to know some actual background on them. And while we're on the subject... just who was this certain someone you lost when it all turned to shit? What did they have to do with all this? Were they someone important within the guild's ranks?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"See? l told you l'm getting out of here.~ You cannot refute your own work." Rayne said smiling. Though she quickly took on a more pensive look. She... wondered what it all meant. All this talk of paths. Perhaps, it referred to her resolve to became a knight of the Royal Guard. She had an easier path, a sure one. She could've simply took over her mother's guild in time, joined the family business. But Rayne was always more fascinated with the stories of The Royal Guard, the Pegasus Knights in particular. 

When she was little she endeavored to become one, it was what she'd do in life. Perhaps.. perhaps she should stop worrying about the guild's future... or at least to stop feeling guilty for letting the burden fall to her sister. Rayne knew she was meant to do this, she was meant to be a knight of the realm. She was cut out to run a guild... she missed that life though. lt was why she never forgot how to sew, why she never let herself get rusty. She still loved being a seamstress and a tailor, it was harder to give up then she ever imagined. A tear started to roll down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back of her hand.

"Joking aside... thank you. This means a lot to me to know Selia."

[Aurorix]

"Back when I was a member I guess us a "Band of Robin hoods". We stole from the rich and gave it to the poor but mainly from those who deserved it. The guild highly values "honor among thieves", it's necessary to trust the people you going to be raiding with and not have them stab you in the back. Though I guess a simple code wasn't enough to stop it. As you have witnessed things changed after I left, pilfering weapons and bringing them someplace else was not the guild way. The food, maybe, but I doubt they'll be handing out apples to kids anytime soon." Belros hesitated continuing onto the swordswomen's next question but he pushed himself to continue forward.

 

"As for the someone I lost... Her name was Leona the "Shadow Demon". She was... a really close friend to me. Apparently she had her suspicions of Rico way before the start of our mission, so once the ambush started she was able to get out and drag me with her. Though we were still stuck in the manor. Once things were relatively safe she explained to me her suspensions of Rico and his ties to another organization. She never had evidence of it, however, only he tends to disappear after every mission he's in. Then she made herself a diversion to attract all the guards to give me an opening to escape. I tried to stop her but I couldn't and all I could do was to not have her sacrifice be in vain, so I ran away. She was a pretty high up member, so her death was not taken lightly. As you already know I was set up to be the guilty party and many saw me fit for death because of it. However, others new how close we were and doubted I'd ever murder her. This became a big feud before the Guild leader stepped in. His name was Randel the "Crow's Eye", his past before the guild is a mystery but supposedly he was a bounty hunter who was unhappy with the jobs he was offered and wanted to help others in his own way. The man declared that I would keep my head but be banished from the guild. Though did I really deserve such mercy? Having someone lay their life for me just to run away right after. If anything I should've been the original one to play bait. Leona would've definitely had better chances then I ever could." He slams his fist into the stone brick wall in anger after last comment and goes quite.

[Sutoratosu]

There was silence for a moment, as Belros sulked in his cell, before...

"So you really do blame yourself then... don't think you deserve to be here now. Sometimes you just want to go back and trade places with them, or stop it all from happening altogether...keep thinking about the what ifs, the maybes."

"Yeh... Yeh I know that feeling...all too well." Something slammed on the bars from her cell down the hall. He couldn't see it, but she gripped the bars bone white, as she looked towards where he and the others were

"But listen to me: you need to snap the fuck out of it, right now!"

Spoiler

 

the words had come perhaps a bit more forcefully than intended, but regardless she continued on before the spy had a chance to question her meaning "That Self-Pity it isn't gonna get you anywhere! I get it... you keep telling yourself there was something you could've done, something you should've done to stop it.... that they're dead because of you. You wish more than anything, that you could go back and swap places somehow, that you didn't deserve to live. But the longer you keep telling yourself that, the longer you're going to keep being blind!

     She sacrificed herself for you, didn't she? She gave her own life so you wouldn't have to, bought you time that she and the rest of them would never get the chance to see... just as my Father did for me. So what are you going to do with that time?! Spend it all feeling sorry for yourself, let her, no, all their deaths, be in vain?! Or are you going to wake up and realize you can't change the god damn past, but the future is still in your reach? If you feel so damn guilty then DO SOMETHING about it other than run off trying to martyr yourself!"

"Dying is easy... It's living that's hard. But people like us? The one's they gave it all up for?"

"We owe it to the ones who died so we could go on... to see it through to the end, to do what they couldn't, what they'll never get the chance to. So stop trying to get yourself killed, Belros. Stop throwing away the chance your friend was kind enough to give you. It's not noble, and it's not going to bring you any atonement... it's just being selfish."

[Aurorix]

Cadence's words struck deep, like a lance through his gut. Each one of her points just pushing the blade deeper and deeper until it reached his core. He can't die, not yet. Not until all the regrets of himself, Leona and everyone in his guild are put to rest. While they may be different in detail and may be impossible to fulfill every single one, it's clear they all serve the same general purpose. The fiery vengeance of a once noble guild onto a certain man and his associates. If they are to crumble, they will take the other with them. He stood back up confident facing the swordswoman.

 

"Y-you're absolutely right Cadence. I can't give up yet, not until my mission is complete. Not until I end all the lives responsible for the destruction of my family. Not until my blade ends Rico's worthless life. Not until his boss pays for his crimes. Only then can I even have the thought of settling down. I mustn't do this just for myself, but for everyone they've harmed."  He clenched his fist trying to release the raw emotions erupting inside him. "Thank you for snapping some sense back into me and I wanna thank everyone for putting up with me and preventing me from throwing away what I was gifted. We must get out of here, no we will get out! Even if we all have to do what Myrdwyn's doing and pry these bars open. Not just for our sake, but to protect anyone else being harmed by these vermin! Hell, if we're going to start a fight to attract them down here I'll gladly be the punching bag! We cannot let this be out end, not by the hands of these second rate rogues!" 

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"And you still owe me a strawberry cupcake, don't you forget it!" Emilee giggled. 

[Aurorix]

"Yea, yea, you and your cupcake. Is that the only thing you care about right now?" Belros replied jokingly

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"No, I also care about you." Emilee said with a wide smile. But then she realised how the phrase could be misinterpreted and began blushing and scrambling to correct herself. "And you know I also care about everyone else! You know we are all colleagues and friends and we have so much to do out there so we can't be stuck here forever... I'm just especially happy that you didn't give up, I'm happy for you! O-okay!?" 

[Aurorix]

Belros was surprised at first, what was Emilee implying with that? Was a grimy cell really the best place to be admitting stuff like that? What should he say? He out of everything said here today this was by far the most surprising. 

 

"And you know I also care about everyone else! You know we are all colleagues and friends and we have so much to do out there so we can't be stuck here forever... I'm just especially happy that you didn't give up, I'm happy for you! O-okay!?"

 

Well, there goes Bel jumping to conclusions again. She probably wouldn't even bother with him since he's not the pristine princely type.

 

"Heh, heh, heh, oooookay then." He replied sarcastically.  "But seriously though this all means a lot to me, thank you. Just make sure you think about what you say before you say it. Lest that prince of yours out there gets jealous or something."

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

"Right I'll be careful..." Emilee answered, not fully understanding why she felt embarrassed in the first place but she did. "We should focus on finding a way out of here!"

[Zetaark]

"Yes, we should try and figure out a means to escape. Though it seems that most of our planned options have a few glaring issues," Madante sits down in his cell as he tries to think of something that could work. A few minutes pass, and it seems that he finally got some sort of idea.

 

"Yes, this plan may just wo-" he tries to say before he is cut off by a blinding flash of light. The shine lasts for a few moments, but notably makes no sound. By the time it fades however, not only are the cell doors unlocked, but a pile of battered equipment is around the center area of the holding area.

 

"...Just like that! Definitely!" Madante tries to proclaim, though his voice and face shows the same cluelessness as the others. "Now then, let us make our escape!"

 

Win Condition: Escape the dungeon

Lose Condition: All player units die

"Optional Objective": Retrieve your equipment

Turn 1

'

 

Pile Contents:

Spoiler

Lockpick (15/15)
Chest Key x2 (1/1)
Iron Lance (8/45)
Iron Sword (8/45)
Iron Axe (8/45)
Iron Bow (8/45)
Flux (8/40)
Lightning (8/40)
Bootleg Storage Co. Bag (just a brown sack)

 

Cheat Sheet:

Spoiler

 

Enemies: Health, Location, Weapon
Mercenary 1: (30/30) (P15) Iron Blade (45/45) Door Key(1/1)
Mercenary 2: (30/30) (P22) Iron Blade (45/45)Door Key(1/1)
Mercenary 3: (21/30) (B14) Iron Blade (45/45)
Mercenary 4: (30/30) (B15)Iron Blade (45/45)
Soldier 1: (32/32) (E7) Iron Lance (45/45) Door Key(1/1)
Soldier 2: (32/32) (F7) Iron Lance (45/45)Chest Key (1/1)
Soldier 3: (32/32) (P14) Iron Lance (45/45)Chest Key (1/1)
Soldier 4: (22/32) (Q22) Iron Lance (45/45)Chest Key (1/1)
Soldier 5: (32/32) (E22) Iron Lance (45/45) Door Key(1/1)
Soldier 6: (32/32) (F22) Iron Lance (45/45) Chest Key (1/1)

 

Players: Health, Location, Weapons
Rayne: (22/22) (M1) 
Belros: (22/22) (U5)  
Cadence: (22/22) (K5)  
Emilee: (24/24) (U7) 
Darius: (25/25) (Q1)  
Idei: (24/24) (O1) 
Cass: (30/30) (Q7)  
Myrdwyn: (29/29) (K7) 
Clarisse: (29/29) (K1) 
Selia: (27/27) (K3)

Allies: Health, Location, Weapons

Madante: (27/27) (U3) 
Helena: (30/30) (S1)  
Karik: (30/30) (U1)

Doors and Chests: Health, Location
Door 1: (50/50) (E6-F6)
Door 2: (50/50) (C11)
Door 3: (50/50) (E14-E15)
Door 4: (50/50) (C18)
Door 5: (50/50) (E23-F23)
Door 6: (50/50) (M8)
Door 7: (50/50) (Q14-Q15)
Door 8: (50/50) (P23-Q23)
Chest 1: (D4)
Chest 2: (H3)
Chest 3: (H4)
Chest 4: (T13)
Chest 5: (T14)
Chest 6: (T15)
Chest 7: (T16)
Chest 8: (R26)
Chest 9: (Q27)
Chest 10: (P27)
Chest 11: (D26)
Chest 12: (D25)
Chest 13: (D24)

 

Exp Tracker: 27/100

 

 

[Swordstar]

"Hmm. Apparently you weren't just talking nonsense. Well then. Shall we?"

 

Selia wasted no time, moving out and picking up the tattered tome from the ground. A Lightning... Not my preferred but it will have to do.

 

M-6, grab Lightning

[Aurorix]

"Heh, well that was easier than expected." He went over and took the lockpicks out of the pile.  "I assume none of you want this so I'll just help myself." He was about to move forward before looking back and taking the tattered brown sack.  "I think it'll be good idea to grab this too."

 

Move to N-5, Grab Lockpick and Bootleg Storage Co. Bag

[Anstane]

 

Darius shields his eyes from the blinding light. Once it fades, he looks around in utter confusion. Even the elder spirits are completely silent and dumbfounded, something that never happened before.

 

"Uuhhh...okay...well, I have a number of questions as to what just happened, but I think it'd be best to just go with it. I'll just grab the Flux tome then." Darius exclaims, stepping out of his cell before examining the magic tome. "...hrm, quite worn down. Here's hoping we can find our equipment before this stuff breaks and becomes unusable."

 

Move to P-5, grab Flux.

[Twinwolf]

"...You know, I have all of the questions, I'm just not going to look a gift horse in the mouth." Clarisse says as she exits her cell, still rubbing her head. "We've been given a chance, let's not waste it." 

M4 Pick up Iron Axe.

Edited September 24, 2017 by Twinwolf

[Sutoratosu]

10 hours ago, Zetaark said:

"Yes, we should try and figure out a means to escape. Though it seems that most of our planned options have a few glaring issues...."

"Yes, this plan may just wo-" he tries to say before he is cut off by a blinding flash of light. The shine lasts for a few moments, but notably makes no sound "...Just like that! Definitely! Now then, let us make our escape!"

 

"Oh please, captain," Cadence sighed "don't try and act like this had anything to do with what you were about to think up... you're a pretty bad liar."

"Anyway, don't know if we had backup we didn't even know about all this time, or this is actually some miracle of the goddess, but... I don't really care. It's time to make them pay." With that said she turned to Belros as the thief passed by, taking note of the picks...

"If we're lucky... and these lot are as stupid as I still think they are, then maybe they might be holding our gear somewhere nearby. Getting out of here will be a whole lot harder using just... this-" Even as she shot a look of disdain at the pile of battered and abused weapons, she reached down and grabbed the only sword out of the bunch... nicked to hell and back, it's edge completely gone in some places and horribly misaligned in others. She didn't know who the hell had owned this before it found it's way into the pile of Miraculous-Prison-Break supplies, but they sure as hell either didn't care or didn't know anything about properly maintaining their weapons. "Those of us with weapons can fight off any guards we find, Belros, while we're busy doing that, you go ahead and get to work on any doors or chests we come across.... and remember what I said; People like us can't change anything or avenge anyone if we're dead. We split up again, it's gonna be an absolute death sentence this time."

 

N7, Grab the Shoddy Iron Sword

[Pyon Pyon Kyuu!~]

Emilee looked in awe at the light instead of shielding her eyes, and put her hands together in glee. "Yes! This is a miracle of the Goddess, nothing else could have done this! A bit mean of her not to leave me a staff but... The Goddess works in mysterious ways!" She smiled and moved forward along with the others. 

 

 

Move to Q5, grab one Chest Key

[Chevaleresse]

"That works, I guess." That was. . . odd. Apparently somebody was looking out for them. Which was a bit backward, considering they were the royal goddamn guards and it was their job to look out for others. "Better get moving, though." She hefted a lance from the pile and moved toward the door. 

 

Grab Iron Lance, move to M8

[rokubiraijuu]

After his eyes adjust the sudden light, he blinks, lowering his arm from his face to see the cell doors opened, and weapons scattered in the middle of the holding area. Who had done this, and why?

 

"Wait—"

 

But the others have already begun to move, taking advantage of the sudden turn in fortune to arm themselves. He hangs back for a few moments, frown deepening. What if this is a trap, fashioned to look like a chance for them to escape? But he doubts the others will listen to him; they're just about beside themselves to dash out. Not that he can blame them; he's been eager to leave this manor ever since they first arrived.

 

With no other sensible options, he too makes his way out, thoughts on Kite as he selects the bow, worn out and frayed, from the central pile. A nomad warrior is no warrior without his horse. His knowledge of how to fight with a bow on foot is rather scant, and already he misses the fluid mobility granted him from horseback — that extended sight-line, the ease with which everything seems within bow-shot. 

 

Steeling himself, he follows after the others.

 

Move to O6 and take Iron Bow.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"See? l told you~" Rayne said, a smile on her face. She wasn't trying to rub it in or anything, because she also had no idea what in the world just happened. She wondered what could've possibly accomplished this but it didn't linger long. She needed to find Beau. lt was important that she found him as soon as she could. There wasn't a weapon suitable for her lying around so she just picked up a key instead. "l suppose we should be able to find some of equipment nearby... l hope one of my needles is in there, l'm not much help with out them l'm afraid." She saw Clarisse finally ater they first got here.

She ran towards her and smashed into her full force, hugging her. She wasn't really strong enough to knock her to the ground by accident but she'd certainly feel it. "Clarisse! You're alright!" She said burying her head into her shoulder. "l was worried. l couldn't find you...l don't know what l'd have done..."

Move to N4, pick up a Chest Key

[Twinwolf]

Clarisse made an 'oof' sound as Rayne bolted into her, keeping her feet. She patted the bluenette on the head.

 

"It's alright, it's alright - I'm sorry I didn't talk before, they'd kinda... knocked me out. I only got up a couple minutes ago... I'm so sorry for worrying you..."