Shin

When games have various possible pairings, it's not uncommon for various parts of the fanbase to have different opinions. As nice as is it to have other people agree with your tastes, it's not the end of the world if they don't! Remember, your favourite might be somebody else's least favourite, and quite possibly the other way around!

I'm a little surprised to see HectorxLyn not taking the lead, but I'm more than happy to see the variety in the options people have chosen! Rath and Lyn is interesting, and because of Rath's limited support pool it actually brings something nice to the table! I do have a soft spot for Kent and Lyn, I feel like it hammers home a lady and her knight vibe pretty well, on par with Midir and Aideen, along with Geoffrey and Elincia, Seth and Eirika etc.

Arrow Guard The fletcher looked puzzled by Owen's request, someone who was looking not to get hit by arrows wasn't a concept she'd come across much. "You mean you need a way to not get hit by arrows? I've never had anyone ask me that before... but I think I might know a trick that my grandpa told me about." she pondered, interested in Owen's request. "I can't do it myself... it's something fancy with a shield." She stopped for a moment, lighting up upon a sudden realisation. "I'm friends with one of the guards! I know grandpa showed him the trick! If you come back tomorrow, I can bring him over and he can show you! He's a lot bigger and stronger than you, but the technique should be the same! He's a little scary, but he wouldn't hurt a fly!" Bad Manners The doorman grinned, looking at Alain's icicle intently. Initially, he hadn't been too impressed with Alain's party trick and appeared intent on continuing to insult him. "That's right you goat-shagging librarian. I'll shove that icicle right up yer..." he began, only to stop as Alain's eruption of icicles posed a more material threat. "I think yer full of frozen shit, packed in like snow up yer arse. Lettin' it all stink out yer guts if yer catch my drift." Moving to the side, the doorman gestured for Alain to enter. "Welcome to the Cursing Horseman, yer badger nosed foot fungus. I see yer fit enough to mingle with the worst."

Have fun, remember to summon Exodia so you win!

Powerful Purchase "Heavens no, Princess. I was very much surprised to see yourself in my humble establishment." Aurus replied, pulling a notepad from his jacket and scribbling down on it furiously with a quill. "It would be poor form not recognise nobility and royalty in my line of work... I've ensured that I am as familiar with the continent's nobility to ensure that they receive the respect they so duely deserve. I had even caught word of the appointment of Baron Kearney and Lord Dougistan... although war makes it difficult to keep entirely up to date with a nation's happenings. I will personally see that your request is complete within the week. It would be poor form to keep royalty waiting! Cass makes an initial payment of 1500G! Lookabout The woman didn't appear too concerned by Serge's apprehension. Either she hadn't noticed or simply didn't care. "Don't hurry yourself, I'm in no rush." she replied, letting Serge abandon his attempts to hire her. Leaving his first candidate behind, the next young girl appeared to be complaining to one of the other mercenaries, a burly man with a scar across his face. "And then the crank broke! You just can't get reliable parts around here! Can you believe-... oh?" she paused, surprised by Serge's interjection. Giving the other man a polite wave, she turned to face Serge, gathering her bearings for a moment or two. "You look like the hiring sort, or you really need to work on your pick up lines!" she replied, straightening her belt. "I'm Vesta, I'm somewhere between a mechanic and an archer, although I much prefer tinking to getting stabbed. If you're looking for something unique, my ballista will let me get enemies before they can even respond! Problem is... it's kinda busted right now, so if you want to hire me, I'm afraid I'd have to include some funds for repairs. Two grand is a little steep, but you'd have full access to siege weaponry! Rugs and Shrugs Anthony laughed, placing his pipe down on the table. "We'll have to see how Prince Owen feels about bringing an escaped criminal along to meet the queen. Perhaps her change in attitude will allow her to overlook your mischief... unless she feels you deserve a little extra time to consider your behavior." he joked. "If you do happen to attend, I believe there should be fresh reports due about the situation in Wyke. I also fear for Myrcia, their army is far less capable of holding back Deira." Looking over at the wall, Anthony couldn't help but agree with his daughter. "They've been there a couple of months, I was looking to add character to the garden, although it took a short while to convince your mother." he replied. "The economy has been doing well here, and with one fewer mouth to feed at home, there was room to spend a little." Salutations Leaving the teashop behind, Alain was treated to the ever so familiar streets of Tytila. Going down the back alleys, it was a likely reminder of his previous life. The homeless littered the streets, their lifeless bodies slumped against the walls. As he approached the Cursing Horseman, he could see a particularly depressing gathering of drunkards passed out around the door. A large burly doorman was the only obstacle to his entrance, and knowing from his experience at the Codger, getting it often took some work. "You there, turdburgler." he barked, standing with his arms crossed. "You think a wimpy little weasel in a skirt like you can get into a place like this? What do you think?"

I read this thread last week and I disagree entirely.

Yeah, for some reason no class has a strength cap above 27. It's not too hard to chip him into range for her to finish, but if you're doing that you might as well use somebody more reliable.

She's pretty good at removing physical threats, but flier utility isn't as good in FE4 as it is in other titles and she's absent for pretty much all but the final two chapters. The Gae Bolg is really heavy and she sucks at dealing with the multitude of mages. Ironically, there are times where she does better with just a Silver Sword. If she came earlier she'd be pretty solid, but she's just kinda present without being a detriment. 4.5/10

Stirring up trouble The tea store owner was almost disappointed by Alain's choice, lifting a small bucket from below the desk. "Nobody ever seems to want the badger milk, got lots of it too." he remarked, pouring a little into Alain's tea cup. Bringing it over to Alain, he smirked at the diplomat's comments. "You know it, brother. You see it like it is, if there's someone you need a delivery for, let me know. I've been doing this for years, work for gutter folk like me ain't easy to come by." Placing the cup next to Alain, the store owner gave another short laugh. "You sort of go where your talents take you. If I ain't deliverin' tea, I'm removin' teeth. I'm... a dentist." he added, tapping his fingers against the table. "Except there ain't no charge for the customer." - To the point The guild hall was far larger than Hull's own, there were likely enough fighters present to make a small army, let alone man a few mercenary groups. The building was solidly built, and modestly decorated, carrying a valiant sort of charm with it. He was almost spoiled for choice, the sheer variety of fighters, of all shapes and sizes, was extraordinary. As Serge approached the woman, she was very quick to cut him off as he introduced himself. "Sixteen hundred pieces and not a single one less." she replied abruptly, raising her hand to him. Her gaze was cool and distant, like a bird of prey analysing its target below. "Terms and conditions must be prearranged, and my employment rights and payment schedule need to be discussed." - Bargain Hunter The jewellery store owner grinned, his eyebrows moving up and down as Cass was lost for words. "Please, call me Aurus, all the important people I know do." Aurus replied, listening intently to Cass' request. At first he appeared a little puzzled, but it appeared his love for money was more than enough to ignore the unusual details she'd specified. "Ah, yes! Of course, Princess Cassandra! Your taste and style is in a league of its own." he marvelled, hurrying over to a second display case. "No matter the size, the quality of my wares is second to none! We have the finest Myrcian silver, the most refined and untainted in the entire continent. I would be more than happy to offer the same deal as I would for the golden ones... ordinarily they would be two thousand gold more expensive, but you are not a customer I can ignore. In fact, I can even lower the deposit to one and a half thousand! One cannot say that I, Aurus, am a man who tries to cheat royalty!" - Diplomacy Morta clenched her teeth, readying a fist to punch Angus. It was the same fury he'd seen at the harpsichord recital, all hell looked ready to let loose. "It isn't a game that you play when you feel like it, Angus." she hissed, doing all she could to hold back her rage. "The Princess told me all about the stupid plan, you're the worst. You can't play around with us like that, we're not just toys that you can come back to when it suits you! You're just as bad as daddy!" Storming off, Morta disappeared into the crowd, fuming as she cursed about Angus under her breath. Nelon had remained silent for the entire conversation, although he had been placed a few feet behind the pair. Waiting patiently as she stormed off, Nelon approached Angus, putting his hand on the young baron's shoulder. "No, you need not apologise to me. Your intentions were to keep the ones you cared for safe." Nelon replied, shaking his head. "You may have said things that perhaps were best not to... but it is not always easy to speak the right words to everyone on every occasion." - Metamorphosis Anthony sat back in his chair, trying to take in everything that Sidney had said. "I hope that Prince Owen will ally his country with our own, it would bring great good to both nations to enter a formal alliance... hopefully it would allow Wyke to clean itself of its internal corruption." he replied, almost impressed by how much attention his daughter had paid to the political climate. "It is not often I speak with her Majesty, previously she had always been a timid woman, in the shadow of King Edwin... but since his death, she became far more forthcoming, making decisions of her own." he added, pondering the queen's remarkable change. "I wouldn't say she were not generous beforehand... but I had never seen such hospitality whilst her husband lived."

It's generally passable, but it tends to favour growth units such as Sophia and Amelia a little too much for my liking. Still, it's relevant for more casual players so I can't fault it too much.

Hammer and Anvil Adele seemed to have done well with the blacksmith, netting herself both a new axe and promises of a brand new Nacht. "If you come back in five days, I should have your weapon ready." he replied, placing Nacht back down on the counter. "I'm going to need to hold onto the original until then, need to get all acquainted with it and all that. You can pay then too, if you like the result. If you don't see me around, just ask whoever's at the desk that you're here for Ted's project." Ted looked down at Marcus, their difference in size and physique rather striking. "If you're not a big guy, it's probably best you have something to keep yourself safe. It's best if you play to your strengths, but never hurts to cover up a little." he replied, almost analysing Marcus as he stood. "How heavy you thinking? I could probably whip up something a little heavier than what you've got for a grand or two. If yer needed something more substantial, might take a bit longer an' be more pricey like." Trecher-tea The store owner smiled, reaching below the counter as he fumbled for something or another. "What kind of milk do you want, mister? We got cow milk, goat milk, badger milk... even fish milk. Even gots some of that fancy Wyke stuff if yer interested." Mentioning business made him far less jovial. Slowly placing an iron teapot on his counter, he slowly poured tea into th cup he'd just "cleaned". "Nah, my last lady ran off with a fella with an ass fer a face and an even bigger ass fer an ass. Both of them had an unfortunate... fishing accident. Real shame, they were nice people before they met each other. Orders are still pretty good, someone bought them a whole four ounces of tea as a present before they kicked the bucket. You wonderin' whever to buy something fer a friend?" Conspiracy Anthony listned to Sidney's grim recount of Oswald's health and Wyke's affairs. "I see, it appears Wyke is in great need of aid, it has both problems from within it and Deira from outside. Intelligence on Wyke's internal politics has always been difficult, King Oswald was always very careful about the circulation of information." he replied, letting out a small cloud of smoke from his pipe. "Duke Herman was always a massive aid to him, I swear the man would be able to tell you what you've had for breakfast. If there's some unrest from within Wyke, it is likely it was someone who could have benefited from conflict. Charlotte, I feel that Prince Owen needs to be very careful deciding who he can trust around him." Thankfully, as Sidney began to describe Owen, her father's mood appeared to lift. Intrigued by such a radically different view of Owen, he couldn't help but ask questions. "If that's how he truly is, I see him going very far as a ruler. Queen Ethel took time to adjust to ruling after his majesty passed away, but with support... she was able to stabilise a nation who had no heirs." Out of Stock The mustached man had been idly playing with his mustache until Claire approached him, looking up at her idly. "That book? Didn't even realise we still had it." he replied, tilting his head to read the cover properly. "Some nutjob left it here saying the book was evil and could only lead to no good. Those church types are always a little loopy. You might as well have it, for I dunno, maybe three hundred or so? I'll even throw in the History of Turnips for free. Nobody's ever been interested in it... well, there was this one girl from years back, she asked the same as you but never came back." One of the other mages in the store had started listening in to Claire's conversation. An older man in a brown robe approached Claire and the store owner, willing to impart some information. "I think I know the man you're talking about." he added, shaking his head. "Used to be a high profile priest in the area, but he started spouting nonsense... he lost his job ages back, but I think he's only been locked up recently. He's in the Asylum if you're interested, but it might be worth taking someone burly with you." The Asylum appears as a location! Serge began to care "That sounds alright with us, boss." Lars replied, picking up a sack from the ground. "We'll probably have a look at the market, we'll try and catch you at the guild a little later. They might ask for money up front, hopefully there's going to be some funds left to grab a fella or two." The trio left their boss to his own devices, no longer as the Reliants but as members of the Hearthfire Crew. Bling The mention of royalty made the man jump for joy, almost pushing the other customers out of the way so Cass could approach the display cases. "Royalty you say... oh!" he exclaimed, staggering back as he stared at Cass. "Princess Cassandra of Wyke! My heart cannot believe it, it wants to jump from my chest! Do not worry about making full payments! I am certain your country will return to glory soon! I would be more than happy to accept an initial down payment and for you to pay later." Gesturing at the case in front of him, there was a collection of rings of various colours and sizes on show. "If it were a royal wedding, I would recommend solid gold... and perhaps a tinted diamond, one that will coordinate perfectly with your own eyes." he marvelled, pointing specifically to a glimmering duo of rings. As expensive and refined as they appeared, one was clearly designed for a man. "Normally a pair would cost twelve thousand, but considering your status and the state of your country, I would be more than happy to only charge two thousand at this moment in time... unless you were looking for something else. Your taste takes priority over my recommendations of course!" Banjoes A-twanging Nelon was rather lost for words, it was difficult to protest against a man who likened a wild animal to a small child. "Perhaps a rather... hairy baby." Nelon replied, deciding that Angus was not worth trying to dissuade. "The night in Magon, you were rather... cheerful, your words were rather difficult to understand, especially considering my condition at the time. I'm afraid I cannot recall any mention of them, I believe you were too busy making polite conversation with Baron Esclabor." The hesitance in his words was almost too obvious, not even Emily would have been convinced by his claims of ignorance. Morta cut ahead of Nelon, walking aside Angus and scowling at him. "What did you tell him, you need to tell me exactly what you said to him that night." Morta hissed, her face red as she tried to ensure Nelon didn't hear her words. "Cei-... Baron Nelon is too polite to admit anything, if you've told him what we've done, I'll make sure that Geoffrey's not the only one needing diapers for the rest of the trip." Fletch and Stretch The fletcher's was unlikely to be a location Owen was particular familiar with. Far more like a craftsman's den than a blacksmith or an armoury, the shelves were stocked with delicate tools and half finished products. A young woman was sat on a stool in the middle of the room, leaning on a table and whittling away at a lump of wood. She probably wasn't much older than Owen, and she had been so engrossed in her work that it took her a good half minute before she noticed him. "Howdy, mister. Looking for a hunting bow? Really popular with nobility nowadays." she remarked, her eyes still fixed on her work. "If there's something in particular you need, feel free to ask, I'm still paying attention." Fletcher's wares revealed!

Alice's offense is insane, the Mistletoe means he's likely to destroy generic enemies and the skill bonus it gives only adds to it. He's up there with Celice and Lead, except he doesn't really need as much investment to get going. He doesn't quite have Leaf's utility and chapter 7 is pretty much over by the time you get him, but he still deserves a solid 8.5/10.

Hello there! I've noticed that you seem to be relatively cautious when it comes to playing FE, especially with respect to accounting for crit rates! It may be an idea to step down a difficulty level if you're not terribly comfortable with a risk of a restart. Higher difficulties mean that you're likely be facing higher hit and crit rates so you might give yourself some more breathing room until you get a hang of unit positioning. Most deaths are very avoidable! With respect to the topic, I have a soft spot for the imposters, both Samto and Shanam. Whilst fairly shoddy units, they're both pretty funny.

The old man raised a very good question, Tarquin actually had no idea who his parents were or even if they counted as parents - most of them had just been DNA donors, and he had no clue who they were. Regardless, the man appeared to be at least willing to help, although this had been the first time he'd spoken to a regular civilian before. Surely it was like talking to anyone else? Except without the military protocol at least, but which parts were protocol? As long as he was polite and didn't say anything unpleasant, even if he wanted to, he would probably be fine. "My parents aren't with me, they're somewhere else." Tarquin replied, unable to come up with anything more robust on the spot. Was it really that out of place for a boy his age to be chasing paper books? He'd been very aware of the digital editions that society had to offer, but he'd never taken a liking to them as much when he was able to turn the pages for himself. Perhaps it was stubbornness and refusal to change, but there was a comfort in being surrounded by paper instead of people. "Would you be able to reach the English for Children reference book on the top shelf for me?" Tarquin asked, looking back up at the shelf. Surely the man would go on to ask why he would want such a book at his age. He needed a valid answer, otherwise he'd only seem even more unusual. "It's for a friend of mine. He's not very good at reading so I thought I'd get something to help him improve. I've always been top of my class, so I thought I could help him." - His hawkish patrol of the cafeteria had completed, Bill had ensured that every surface had been checked, wiped down and checked again for good measure. Eating was vital to the crew's well-being, and he needed to do all he could to facilitate it. With everyone gone, Bill's next agenda was to ensure that the medical bay was sanitary. It was no good to survive a torpedo if a dirty tissue caused an infection! Removing his radio from his belt, Bill made an announcement to the other custodians. "This is Papa Koala, the cafeteria's morning sweep is complete. Moving on to the medbay. If you guys have got some time before the afternoon's round, might be worth doing another sweep in the elevator zones. Lot of uggs go through them. Over and out." Bill proclaimed, ensuring his colleagues remained suitably coordinated. Cleanliness was an art, one that needed orchestrating to produce the perfect harmony. Arriving at the medbay, armed with his mop and wet floor sign, Bill was met with quite a few people present. He recognised Mr Turner, as well as Doctor Amparo and Sergeant Hedrick... but the boy with them was a total mystery to him. Normally he would have gone and introduced himself, but he appeared a little caught up, and Bill himself had work to do! The floor needed a good mopping, and Bill was the man to do it. Giving the people present a polite wave, Bill lowered his mop to the floor, ready to eliminate the dirt that foolishly believed it could exist there.

Fit for a King "Queen Ethel has provided accommodation for yourself and Princess Cassandra in the royal palace, Prince Owen. She said it would be considered rude not to offer the best to another nation's royalty." the guard replied, one of the others passing him a bundle of papers. "Of course, any nobility that are present with yourself are very welcome to reside in the wards we have for visiting aristocrats. Many of Raewald's own nobles use them for their stays in the capital." Hammer Arm The man at the counter appeared content with Adele's offer for purchase, walking over to remove the weapon from display. "You have good taste, young lady. If you're looking for something powerful, you can't go wrong with this." he affirmed, returning to the counter and placing the weapon down. Nacht intrigued him far more though, he couldn't help but raise the weapon in his own hands to admire it. "Now this... this is a superbly crafted weapon. I can only think of a few blacksmiths on the continent who would manage something like this." he marvelled, examining the axe's head intently. "It's taken a good beating, any other axe would have dulled or cracked by now. Fixing this up might be tricky, might actually be easier to just start over and make a new one. Tell yer what, if you give me a week, I'll make another one of these for you. Probably going to cost somewhere in the grand an' a half range, maybe two tops. If you want to leave it with me, I can get my old man to try and get the design down to a tee. Who knows, we might even make it better!" Adele sends Hammer to Convoy! Adele buys the Silver Axe for 2000G! Camping Buddies Larissa and the axe brothers seemed content with their rebranding, or at least they were not showing any major objections. "Sounds better than the Reliants, I'll say that, boss." Lars replied, relieved they wouldn't have any further mix-ups. "None of that chain rubbish, we just gotta put in the effort to get the job done." There was one other matter of business though, one that Larissa was about to bring up. "Commander... as much as we're happy to stay with you, we're a little short on numbers." she remarked grimly, looking down at the floor. "We've lost three people in the space of a week, it might be an idea to try and pick up a few people... I have a feeling that it might be more expensive than it was in Wyke... maybe we should talk to Lady Herman about some additional funding?" Golden Wind Cass could already see the glimmer of gold inside the building as she peeked through the door, the counters all contained neat lines of jewelry, gold and silver treasures that were probably worth more than all of Dougistan combined. The clientele were almost a caricature for the wealthy nobility. Bloated middle aged men and women, dressed finely and embellished with more jewelry than they probably had sense, Cass appeared to have found perhaps the most expensive place she'd seen in her life. Two burly guards stood either side of the store's interior, watching Cass carefully as she approached the building. Among the nobles visiting the store stood a man, wearing what appeared to be a golden tunic and pants. The moment he spotted Cass, he couldn't help but hurry over to her, beckoning her in. "Welcome to Aurum's Inventory, my fine young lady." he charmed, his white-blond eyebrows wriggling like caterpillars. "Commoners wait for sales on goods, but people flock from across the continent to make purchases here! Luxury before practicality, that is our motto!" Princely Partner Sidney's father paced in the lobby briefly, sitting himself down on one of the armchairs. "I would have hoped that you would have picked up some manners if you've spent so much time among Wyke's royalty." he mused, tapping his pipe on a nearby ash tray. "Prince Owen has a reputation for being meek and mild mannered, even in Raewald's noble court. He sounds rather different from King Oswald. Back when you were young, I'd actually met his father, it was only briefly in a diplomatic meeting. He was a man with a real presence... he took command of the entire room, but at the same time I couldn't help but feel that we were safe with him present... tell me more about Prince Owen. It is not every day that your daughter wants to bring a prince home with her." The mention of a war turned the conversation to a more grim tone, Sidney's father needed a few moments before he could continue. "I fear that Wyke is unlikely to stand a chance against Deira, the difference in size and power is simply too great. The last reports I heard were that Hull was under siege. My belief is that Queen Ethel may be willing to ally with Wyke in order to fend off Deira... but I shall leave any formalities to Prince Owen and Queen Ethel. I am truly glad that you were able to leave before getting caught up in it all. If they were to find you with Prince Owen... I fear it would not have been something I wish to imagine." Tea Total Alain knew from his own experiences that the tea shop was located in a rather dodgy section of the city, not too far from where the lowlife of Tytila tended to gather. Passing the beggars on the street, Alain was soon at the tea shop, a small little cafe which barely stood out from the buildings around it. Sporting only three tables and one counter, the tea shop was entirely empty and devoid of any life - aside from a rather grim looking fellow manning the store. Spitting into a tea cup and wiping it with an old rag, he glanced over at Alain, giving a toothless grin. "How can I 'elp yer, sir? Need a cup of tea? We even deliver if yer got someone who's mighty... thirsty." Tea Store wares revealed! Third Wheel Possibly to Angus' surprise, Morta had actually agreed to go diaper shopping for Geoffrey, as outrageous at the concept would seem. However, she had given one condition on coming along - she was taking Nelon with her. The marketplace seemed very aware of Angus and his pet, people were actively making space for him as the trio passed through, Geoffrey present in case he were to get lose whilst Angus were away. Nelon was painfully aware of how unusual it was to carry a bear cub in public, although Morta's grumpy poker face was as difficult to read as ever - as in it wasn't entirely clear what she was annoyed at currently. "Baron Kearney?" Nelon asked, glancing about as small groups of people began to whisper. "I fully understand that you want to ensure your pet is safe whilst you make your purchases but I would recommend being more discreet. Wyke would be perhaps more permissive of such a... unique occurrence, but we must ensure our behaviour is suitable as visitors." Morta nodded in agreement. "You should listen to Baron Nelon more, Angus." Morta huffed, partly baffled by Angus' thought process. "Couldn't you have just asked someone else to get some cloth for you? Even Esclabor would have done it if he'd known you'd do this." Old Book Smell Claire's search was initially proving fruitless, whilst more than she'd been able to find in Wyke but most of it was magical theory. However, one tome had come up that had proved at least somewhat relevant. Illusions. The theory was very much beyond her, but the book appeared to be describing something very similar to Morganna's own magic. The chances were she'd need to sit down properly and read it properly, but the dusty pages even began to mention the ability to alter how the world appeared around them - an ability that undoubtedly sounded terrifying familiar. However, it was perhaps only part of the closing words, and the author had left some note about a second volume - one that didn't appear to be present on the shelves.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm definitely calling my first born Mr. Mime.

I personally quite like it! Its originality is something that I'd definitely like to see again! I guess differing opinions will differ!

I'd like it if they used his artwork for the Awakening DLC. Whilst not necessarily the most common appearance for him, I think it'd offer a unique angle to his design. It would also allow him to contrast from other bulky swordsmen too!

Relation The surviving Reliants had gathered with Serge, all of them desperate to know what he had to say. The group had taken a hit to their numbers, the deaths of Emily and Emmet were still very fresh in all their minds. Listening intently to Serge's words, Serge could see the contemplation in their eyes. It was no easy decision to make for them, despite having no part in international politics, they had all been wrapped up in it in their own way. Morganna was the first to speak, she could barely look Serge in the eye, her hands trembling as she spoke. "I'm... sorry, Commander. I can't continue like this. I knew that our lives were at risk when we took this job, but I can't keep up with everyone else. I'm not brave like Hans and Lars or passionate like Emily was." she cried, her eyes welling up with tears. "All I can see is that spear impaling itself into her middle, the crazy bard scheming to kill us all... it's too much for me. My knowledge of magic isn't good enough to survive in a job like this... forgive me." Running out of the door as soon as she had finished, the remaining trio looked at each other, the two axe brothers nodding in unison. "Boss, we know we ain't the best fighters, in fact... we're pretty shoddy compared to you and the likes of them nobles... but yer always believed in us." Lars affirmed, clenching his fist. "I feel the same, boss." Hans added, his brother giving him space to speak. "We were just a pair of woodcutters than nobody could tell apart, but yer thought we were worth keeping around. It ain't easy to be in charge of people's lives, but we don't think yer would ever make a bad call intentionally. Me and Lars, we're sticking with you... don't worry about money, once things settle down we can talk things through. Yer were decent to pay us when we were hired, figure you're decent enough to pay us at the end too." That had left Larissa, who had kept relatively low key for the duration of the conversation. Slipping forwards between Hans and Lars, she took a deep breath. "Commander, I never imagined that I'd be in a situation like this. My plan was originally to squeeze as much money from Doug before escaping to another city." she laughed, smiling gently. "If I'd done that, I would have gotten caught up in the invasion anyway... and I really wasn't doing much, just wandering from bar to bar, getting enough money to survive. You've shown me there's more to the world, and I think I'm going to stay for a little longer." "Just another thing boss." Lars added in, having one more thing to get off his chest. "How about you give us a new name? The Reliants sound pretty shitty to me. Either they're a bunch of preaching flying psychos or they're a group of cowards who run off with other people's money. Doesn't sound like the chains mean anything no more." Morganna leaves the party! Armoury It wasn't difficult for Adele and Marcus to find the blacksmith, mostly because of the large sign with blacksmith written on it, but the trio of musclar men hammering away at various anvils outside only confirmed it. The one closest to the door was a powerhouse, easily six feet tall and his impressive physique glistening with sweat from his labour. Giving them a firm nod as they passed through the door, it was difficult to tell whether he were smiling or scowling through his walrus-like mustache. The interior was something else entirely. Another titan of a man stood behind a counter, surrounded by a vast array of weaponry. All the walls were lined with blades and axes of various sorts, chained to their displays to deter any "free samples". "Welcome to the Armstrong Blacksmith, if there's something that can be forged, then we can forge it better than anyone else." he boasted, gesturing around at all the wares on display. "Weapons from the smallest of daggers to the grandest of axes. If you got something special that needs managing, we can get it done!" Blacksmith wares are revealed! Book Looker The Arcane Library was tucked rather out of the way, behind a corner near the main market square. The interior was a rather dimly lit collection of shelves, the only light present was filtering through the solitary window. There was also an unsettling smell, somewhere between a damp pair of trousers and an old man who had fallen asleep in his armchair. A few other scholars appeared to minding their own business, browsing the shelves and barely acknowledging Claire's entrance. At the far desk sat an unsettling man, one with sleak black hair and an impressive pair of eyebrows, complete with a handlebar mustache. Giving Claire a polite wave, he stayed sat at the desk, twiddling his thumbs as he stared directly at her. Arcane Library wares revealed! Dog Day Sidney's father looked across from the balcony, placing a pipe to his lips as he processed his daughter's entrance. "Ah, Charlotte, so good of you to visit, I was starting to wonder if you had tired of Wyke. I can't imagine it's terribly hospitable there, although I doubt prison was either." he lectured sternly, beckoning her closer. "I take it you did not use the main entrance? I'm sure your mother would have spotted you otherwise... and believe me, she's got nearly a year's worth of critical words for you." Walking back into the manor, he gave her a smile and a chuckle. "But I'm glad you've returned home. We've heard the news of Wyke. As much of a learning experience it must have been, no father can say he'd be happy for his daughter to be caught up in a Deiran invasion. Come sit with me, tell me of what you've been up to, your mother can have you for herself afterwards." Mark it The marketplace dwarfed Hull's own, much like the rest of Tytila did to Cass' home city. The vast array of stalls was almost daunting, with the crowds swarming in between them like insects. Many of the stalls were selling simple trinkets, nothing that Cass probably had in mind. However, towards the northern end of the market, there appeared to be a rather ornate building. It was almost gaudy, the building's frames were lined with either gold or a suitably fake alternative. The patrons leaving it appeared to be aristocrats, so at least it suggested the establishment was intended for the wealthy.

He requires a hefty investment to get going, but the final result is amazing. High mobility, good stats and skills and access to most staves and weapons really make Leaf useful for the end of the game. If you're able to send him back home and work hard on him, you can minimise the time he spends unpromoted. 9/10 - It's not quite as easy to pile stuff onto him as Celice, but the end result is arguably better.

It initially took getting used to, but it mostly works. I'm sure it'll probably be more functional as time goes on, but it's not like we have to communicate via morse code by clapping two halves of a coconut shell together!

16th April 812 It had been nearly a week since their last battle, but thankfully Owen's group had not faced any more adversity in the remainder of their journey. Leaving the savage lands of Magonsaete behind them, the plains and hills of Raewald were almost a welcome sight. Without threats of bandit attacks, it was far easier to progress. However, Emily had not stirred, her body remaining cold and lifeless throughout their journey. However, there were no signs of death or decay otherwise, it was as if she had entered an incredibly deep sleep. The walls around Tytila were vast, easily fifty feet tall, made from a sturdy stone and complete with multiple guard towers. As they approached the city, Owen's group were immediately hailed by the guards, a group of men clad in a dark grey armour. "Prince Owen of Wyke! It is an honour to welcome you to Raewald! Please, allow us to assist you! Her Highness, Queen Ethel, has instructed us to guide you until she is free to meet with you." one called out, dropping down to one knee as he spoke. The other guards joined him in his gesture. "Open the gates, Prince Owen of Wyke has arrived!" The gates to the city were as large as the walls, although made from a dark iron rather than stone. Opening slowly, the gates revealed the bustling city of Tytila. Even after a first glance, it became very clear that the city was far larger than Hull. The stalls and buildings went on beyond the eye could see, and the grand tower of Tytila castle was very visible in the background. Packed with people, the crowd had a life of its own, the busy city life keeping everyone moving. One of the guards passed Owen a small piece of paper, depicting a map of the area. "Prince Owen, I hope that Tytila has all that you would wish for. If there is anything that you cannot acquire, Queen Ethel has requested that you ask at the castle, and she will see to it personally." he added, his men aiding Sebastian with unloading the group's supplies. "Queen Ethel should be available to meet with you in the afternoon at the castle. She has requested that you only take a handful of your most trusted advisers with you, she has said that she is not usually one for large gatherings. Otherwise, you and your subjects are free to explore Tytila as you wish until then. Mr Sebastian has said that he will be more than happy to deal with unpacking and moving your supplies, but we will do all we can to assist him." The entire party is free to post! Please explore Tytila as you see fit! Remember, this isn't Wyke, you need to behave! TYTILA SHEET

Apellon gave a bow as Owen demanded his departure. "Most kind of you, Prince Owen. We wish you a well journey, you and all of you companions." he replied, grinning over at Emmet's corpse. "Except Emmet of course, I can't imagine any journey he is taking at this moment is even remotely pleasant. Although I am uncertain your path ahead is much better. I look forward to seeing you and your group again. Come, Arteria... we must continue our journey." With that both Arteria and Apellon both made their way to the edge of the group, walking towards a collection of hills in the background. After they'd gotten about a dozen feet away, Arteria turned back briefly, for one last message to Cass. "You too, Princess. I hope you can prepare for your first lesson... otherwise it might be your last and only one." she cackled, walking into the distance with her brother. Even as they departed, the pair had left an uneasy atmosphere among the group, an unspoken threat they'd given them. Owen's group had lost two of their own that day, and the journey ahead to Raewald had been made complicated by the appearance of both Malaphar, and the knowledge that their home of Wyke had been invaded. Whether or not Owen would be able to trust Queen Ethel was another story, but with the continent at the brink of war, his country needed him. However, with Earl Edion scheming as the nefarious Mr. E, could Owen even trust the people from his beloved Wyke? Act 3 is complete! Do not post in this topic, please wait for Act 4 to be posted

The remaining Reliants watched in horror as Emmet made his last stand against Owen. Larissa couldn't bring herself to watch as Owen ended their former ally, hiding behind Lars as Emmet's body slumped to the floor. The two axe men were lost for words, looking at each other as if they expected the other to say something. Morganna couldn't bring herself to look at Emmet, his neck wound forming a pool beneath him as it oozed blood. Their mourning was not too dissimilar to that they showed for Emily, but the shock of Emmet's betrayal had left them all confused. Clapping his hands together, Apellon had rather enjoyed Owen's performance, his sister wiping a tear of joy from her eye alongside him. "Bravo, Prince Owen. We did not think that you would end your own ally's life on such a whim. To think that you took away the life he so dearly tried to extend, almost poetically ironic." Apellon commended, slipping out from between the Reliants. "I must say, you're quite the leader... perhaps your country shall be fine with you at its top? Perhaps you'll cause it to crash and burn, each of your decisions leading you closer to ruin? Food for thought, but my sister and I must be departing. You would permit us leave, if I could so ask? Lady Herman's butler would prove problematic for our exit." Sebastian still had his knives at the ready, with Emmet dead, he was free to focus entirely on both Apellon and Arteria. Apellon gave the butler an settling grin, although Sebastian's expression remained as stern as before. Neither sibling moved, instead Arteria gave him a curious glance, deciding that Cass would be more entertaining to speak to. "I do love executions, Princess. It reminds me of the time that your axe severed my neck. I dearly hope that Emmet was able to experience the same ecstasy I did. The chills running down to his spine, silenced in a flash as his mind loses touch with his body." she cackled, reminiscing her previous death. "But my brother and I do need to depart, as delicious as combat would be... especially if he started playing properly. It is sad to bid you a farewell... but we shall be reunited soon."

I keep pressing the wrong buttons and ending up on pages I didn't know existed, it's amazing. Is there a way to write a post in plain text? I used to do all my codes and spoiler tags by HAND.