The Empire's Wrath/Script
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The following text is an unofficial translation by fans. There may be stylistic differences with official sources and other unofficial translations. |
Introduction
Already a day behind Dryas, Leif's forces were finally rested and ready. He was just about to march for Ulster when a most unexpected message was delivered to him. It was this moment that marked Leif's beginning down a long road of hardship...
Opening
(At Leif's location, in Leonster)
Leif: Everyone is ready, August.
August: Hold a moment, my prince. It seems someone has come to the castle... One of Dryas's men, I believe.
Messenger: Prince Leif! I... I'm sorry...
Leif: Sorry for what? What's happened?
Messenger: Th-The Imperial army counterattacked... We were... slaughtered...
Leif: Wh-What?! Where's Dryas?!
Messenger: Duke Dryas, he... To ensure some of us could escape, he... He rushed the enemy's flank. I'm sorry. He... met his end...
Leif: Dryas... He's... ......
Messenger: We weren't strong enough... Forgive us!
Leif: Th-That's absurd... This can't be...
August: Prince Leif, time is of the essence. We must withdraw all of our troops at once, before our entire army is massacred.
Leif: No... This can't be happening...
August: Prince Leif! Snap out of it! If we lose our troops now, Duke Dryas will have died for nothing! We owe it to him to save as many of our people as we can!
(In the south, Bloom arrives to speak with Wolf)
Bloom: ...Now the maggots understand what the Empire is capable of. I'll leave the rest to you, Wolf. Know that House Friege expects nothing less than Castle Leonster's recapture!
Wolf: It shall be done.
(Bloom exits the map through the south)
(At Conomor's location)
Conomor: So many of our people have died... But as long as I still live, so too does Ulster.
(At Amalda's location)
Amalda: I have a duty to protect my troops, but... Is this truly right? Ah, Father Sleuf... What I would give to hear your counsel...
(The battle begins)
In battle
The houses
The top northeastern house
Villager: Flyin' Forseti! The other knights have been hurt pretty bad, right?! Take this Heal staff, an' help them! On the double!
(Heal)
The bottom northeastern house
Villager: Pardon me, but, um... Would this book be able to help you? I'm fairly certain it's enchanted... I've tried reading from it, and it summons the most terrible storm - strong gusts that sweep up anything that isn't nailed down. So, uh... Please, just protect us...
(Wind)
The northwestern house
Villager: Is it true the Leonster army was wiped out at Ulster? Are we doomed to live under the Empire forever? Come, have a sip of this Pure Water and toast with me to the final days of Leonster. I was just about to sing of the Aed Massacre, the start of this kingdom's decline...
Villager: In seasons past, Leonster thrived with Quan upon its throne
Though less esteemed,
Travant had dreamed
Of making it his own
Quan's kin by marriage, Sigurd, was the victim of a coup
Quan had no stake
But told him: "Take
the aid I bring to you."
The limber bond of friendship was a noose around his neck
Quan planned a course
With half his force
Embarking on the trek
And so with gallant mounted knights and Queen upon her steed
He slowly marched
Determined, parched
Across the desert Aed
But oh how Travant had waited
And followed, hushed as death
His flyers would not be sated
Till Quan drew his final breath
So from the sky a swarm of foes came soaring into view
Their numbers vast,
Their dragons fast,
Their lances aiming true
The startled knights could not escape, the desert held them fast
They had to stand
Upon the sand
As bloody wounds amassed
The heart that bled for Sigurd led his forces to their end
His kingdom snatched
His queen dispatched
No respite for his friend
This world is not an ally, it is sinister and cruel
What Quan forgot
Travant did not:
The caring man's the fool
And Sigurd, he took to weeping
As Thracia took their rule
There's no other code worth keeping
Aye, the caring man's the fool
(Pure Water)
The top western house
Villager: Hornswogglin' Hezul! This place has turned into a damned warzone...! Oh, yer a knight of Leonster, right? Here, I'll lend ya my old Silver Sword. Might make the difference between life and death!
(Silver Sword)
The bottom western house
Villager: Just because the other knights were defeated at Ulster doesn't mean it's all over, right? I mean, you folks are here, so that means there's still more Knights of Leonster to fight for our motherland! But I reckon fightin' will be a lot easier with good weapons, so take this here Killer Lance. It's mighty easy-to-use, so lop off a few Imperial heads with it for me!
(Killer Lance)
The top southwestern house
Villager: I've been saving the nearby Thracians from starving by giving them a tenth of our crops. This Speed Ring is what lets me smuggle the supplies so quickly! The others are shocked by how fast I am! But with the Empire here now, it looks like I won't be able to sneak food over for a while. Why don't you hang onto it for the time being?
(Speed Ring)
The second southwestern house
Villager: Hey, are you the ones fighting to free Thracia? Ah, you have such a noble spirit! I'm so glad to have met you! Here, take this Pure Water to match the purity of your heart! Best drink it, even if you don't use magic yourself - lots of folks in the Imperial Army use spells.
(Pure Water)
The third southwestern house
Villager: So the Imperial Army has come to bring down the hammer... Surely you have comrades who've been injured. Use this - it's a Heal staff.
(Heal)
The bottom southwestern house
Villager: The Imperial Army looks to be awfully strong... You can't lose now! Please, you're our only hope! Uh, here! Take this staff! It makes your magical senses stronger, I think. That tiny staff is all that's left of my garden after my idiot brother tried to water my plants with Pure Water...
(Magic Up)
Talk conversations
Miranda talks to Conomor
Miranda: Conomor! Stop your foolishness this instant!
Conomor: Princess Miranda?! What are you doing here?!
Miranda: I was rescued by Prince Leif, and at my urging, he commanded his army to come to Ulster's aid. It cost him countless soldiers and one of his closest advisors - and what have YOU done for me?! Just what is all this?! What idiocy compelled you to make Ulster's finest knights into Imperial lapdogs?!
Conomor: Ah... You have my... deepest apologies...
Miranda: The enemy isn't Leonster, you fool! The enemy is the Empire! Command the Knights of Ulster to aid in Leonster's retreat! As ruler, I hereby declare that all of Ulster is part of Prince Leif's Liberation Army! Their mission is now our own!
Conomor: As you command, milady! Knights of Ulster! From this moment onward, we are part of the North Thracian Liberation Army! Serve Prince Leif as you would serve me! We'll take sanctuary in Castle Leonster, and plot the recapture of our motherland from there! So orders Her Highness Princess Miranda, by royal decree!
(Conomor joins the army, and his soldiers become allied units)
Sleuf talks to Amalda
Sleuf: Lady Amalda, lower your sword! It's me, Sleuf!
Amalda: Father Sleuf?! What in blazes are you doing here?
Sleuf: I came to meet with you. Prince Leif of the Liberation Army has been waiting for you.
Amalda: You... want me to betray my country? That's not even in the realm of possibility, Father Sleuf. If it was, I... I wouldn't be living in such torment.
Sleuf: Lady Amalda, a country isn't the plaything of a king or nobleman. If a country has lost its way, it's a knight's duty to lead it back. Will you stand idly by and allow evil to consume your home, all out of the fear of being called a traitor?
Amalda: It's not that simple! I have to consider what will become of my troops if I defect!
Sleuf: They can decide for themselves. But your foremost duty is to your country - follow your heart.
Amalda: Mm... I understand. Father Sleuf, I shall fight with the Liberation Army. I know what I must do: rescue the children stolen by the Empire!
(Amalda joins the army, and her soldiers become allied units)
Battle quotes
Conomor enters combat
Conomor: Forgive me... This is for Ulster!
Conomor dies
Conomor: Ulster shall yet... rise again...
Conomor gets captured and released
Conomor: To bear the shame of being taken prisoner... But I must carry on, disgrace or no. Every third thought shall be my grave...
Amalda enters combat
Amalda: Withdraw your troops! Don't die for nothing!
Amalda dies
Amalda: Fitting... A life lived steeped in blood can only end with more blood...
Amalda gets captured and released
Amalda: What am I to do with myself now...?
Wolf enters combat
Wolf: You're just a stain on my blade!
Wolf dies
Wolf: Ugh... This... isn't possible...
Ending
August: And so the Empire's retaliation begins... There's nothing more we can do. We should retreat to the castle.
Leif: August, this is all my fault... It's like I killed Dryas myself...
August: You don't have the luxury of wallowing in regret - not now. There will be time to atone to Duke Dryas after you've defended Leonster. Summon all your patience and discipline - you'll need it for what lies ahead.
Leif: ...You're right.
August: Come now, I do bring some good news. I've heard multiple reports that a large rebellion is taking place in the eastern reaches of Isaach. They seem to be putting up a good fight against the Empire, by all accounts. Do you know who their leader is?
Leif: If the rebellion is in Isaach, couldn't it be Prince Shannan? Finn told me about him... He has the most gifted sword-arm in all the world, and he's beloved by his people... In short, he's a far greater man than I...
August: Of course Prince Shannan is with the rebels, but their leader is someone else.
Leif: That being...?
August: Lord Seliph of House Chalphy. The people of Isaach and Grannvale alike hail him as the "Scion of Light."
Leif: L-Lord Seliph?! Can this be true...?
August: I believe it is - and his father, Lord Sigurd, was your uncle. The Crusader Sigurd... As recently as a decade ago, he was reviled as a traitor, but nowadays he's a popular folk hero. He saw through the Emperor's schemes from the beginning, and died trying to protect the world from his machinations. Bards spread his tale across the land, and it captivated the hearts of every man, woman, and child suffering under the Empire's rule... And so he's become more legend than man. Now, the child of that legend is fighting to realize his father's dream... The people feel hope once again. And blinded by that hope, they wouldn't hesitate to die for his cause... This is a bounty from the gods. We couldn't have crafted a more perfect opportunity ourselves.
Leif: ...... What exactly are you saying?
August: I'm saying there's a reason so many people are ready to die for Lord Seliph. It's not just because he's a strong warrior. Our era demands a hero. The people clamor for one, and so... someone has crafted Lord Seliph to be their hero. Forged him, if you will, in much the same way one forges metal into a blade - taking a man and sculpting him into what the people need. Do you understand? No one chooses to become a hero. They're willed into a hero by the people around them, shaped by the needs of others.
Leif: August... Does that mean... the people in my life crafted me to be what they needed, too?
August: Mm... You'll have to come to your own conclusions on the matter. Though I will say this... Recall that Duke Dryas lost an arm protecting you - and now he's traded his life for yours. Have you ever stopped to wonder why he did that? Why do so many people keep sacrificing themselves for you? Why do so many hail you as a hero? Think on that, and think well...
(If all civilians survived and escaped the map)
August: The prince has ordered that he not be disturbed, for the time being. You may state your business to me instead.
Man: Oh, well, uh... We fled from Ulster, y'see. The Imperials were hot on our trail when your army showed up to help us! We just wanted to give the prince this Knight Proof, as a way of sayin' thanks.
August: Leave it with me. I'll deliver it to the prince, and convey your gratitude.
Man: All right. Thank you.
