Fire Emblem: Knights of Lanchester

Bump. Still working on that post bit by bit.

I've decided to take back what I said, and give you guys another chance to recruit the other retainers down the line. I realized it may have been a bit rash and unfair of me, after I promised you guys there would be no instant death flags or anything like that. So you guys can still recruit the others.

I should have the post finished soon. That new Narrate app I'm using is amazing.

The cool, crisp air passed over Lucius as he stepped back out into the courtyard, the light breeze rustling the leaves of the single tree standing amidst the stone. Despite Lady Marian's assurance that it would still take a few minutes for her retainers to gather, they found Flora waiting for them. She curtsied to Lucius and gave a low bow to her mistress before speaking.

"Your servants have gathered, milady."

And indeed, they had. Lucius's eyes found the others standing in a neat formation off to the side, and the diversity of people he saw spoke a great deal about Lady Marian's character. Lucius felt a begrudging respect rise up in his chest. At least she wasn't one of the petty nobles who only hired the poor and the desperate and then worked them to death because she could, like so many of the nobles in Grandia. No, these were people from all walks of life. He found himself studying the Duchess again, if only briefly. She was tall and thin, her cheekbones sharp and high, her nose long and pointed, like the beak of a hawk. Her hair was almost entirely white, but the white of age, unlike Dianna's rare color, and it fell behind her in a perfect braid that seemed like it had been sculpted and styled for hours. She radiated authority and bled nobility from every pore in her body, and she commanded the attention of the room like few Lucius had ever seen. Her eyes were dark and stormy and merciless, and there was a fire in them.

Not a snake then. Dragon, more like.

Turning back to the line of retainers, Lucius recognized former General Wallace Reinhardt instantly. It had been a few months since he had seen the old warrior last, but he was once Claire's mentor and as one of Lady Marion's chief retainers, he was a fixture of the court in his own right. The man had once been one of the greatest military leaders of the age, and the Captain of the Holy Knights afterwards, but now he was merely an instructor for future generations and bodyguard of Lady Marion. There was a kind of romance in being the one who trained the future knights and scions of the land, but it still struck Lucius to see how far the man had fallen. He seemed older than the last time Lucius had seen him, watching Clair and her guards drill out in the yard of the palace, and his dark gray hair was thinner now, his hairline receding. His eyes, however, remained as sharp and alert as ever, and they danced with amusement and affection as he and Claire spoke.

The next was a young man in dark brown, almost black, leathers, perhaps slightly older than Lucius. The leathers he wore looked more like they were suited more for riding and hunting than actual combat, but it was a form of armor nonetheless. His hair, a light reddish brown like autumn leaves, was pulled back in a formal bun behind his head that was the traditional style for young noblemen. Interesting. His eyes were a deep green, and they missed nothing, like a hawk. But what truly caught Lucius's attention was the magnificent, massive longbow he carried strapped to his back, and the notable absence of a quiver. The bow was beautiful, as black as midnight, like it had been carved from the night sky. From this distance, Lucius couldn't tell what kind of wood it had been forged from- or if it was even wood at all- but it seemed to hum with power, and Lucius recognized it as magic.

After the archer was a young man in the traditional regalia of a mage. From his appearance, Lucius guessed the mage was at least two years younger than him, but he couldn't be sure. His cloak was a bright yellow, but the texture made it look more like gold. His robes, on the other hand, were merely a plain brown, but Lucius could see the arcane runes embroidered in the fabric. The boy's sandy blond hair look was speckled with spots of darker brown, so that it looked like he had spent too long at the water's edge with his head in the sand. His eyes were a peculiar amber, dark and bright at the same time, and they constantly darted between Lucius and Lady Marion. Nervous, then. Uncertain maybe. Lucius's gaze moved on.

His gaze focused on the next man, his eyes narrowing a degree. He was unlike the rest, even Wallace, yet Lucius wasn't sure why. There was a... Familiarity to him that Lucius couldn't place, like he had seen the man long ago and merely forgotten until now. There was an air of quiet danger surrounding him, beyond the more obvious signs, such as the twin axes strapped to his back. He was older, Lucius decided, but not so old as Wallace or the Duchess. Early forties perhaps. His hair was a deep, jet black and streaked with the gray of age, and there was a weariness in his face and body, how he held himself, how he watched everything, that suggested he had seen his fair share of travel. His right eye was hidden under a dark brown eyepatch, but even beneath it, the long jagged scar that marred his features was plainly visible

Lucius turned back to the Duchess, and to his surprise, she motioned to Flora and the young maid fell in at the end of the line.

"You would offer me your personal servant?" He asked, keeping his tone level but partially raising a single eyebrow.

Lady Marian looked at him then, and her eyes were cold and hard. "I offer the best. When you leave here, you will leave with a representative of my household, and my dignity will allow nothing less than the best. Come."

She walked over to the line of waiting retainers and stopped in front of the first. Claire had already reclaimed her seat at the now empty table farther away- Malik had stormed off while they were inside browsing the armory, apparently.

"Wallace Reinhardt, former General of the old military and former Captain of the Holy Knights," Marian introduced, knowing he needed no introductions. "He serves as the Instructor for my knights, and the chief of my security."

She moved on, the Archer next. "Kain Valus, formerly of House Valus. Master of archery, crafts, and trade."

She introduced the mage next, though Lucius's attention was largely on the young archer, the older man, and Flora. The older man was called Griffith, and he was a former Mercenary Captain from Pharos. There was still a sense of familiarity to him, and it made Lucius hesitate, but he wasn't looking for a soldier. Or was he? What exactly was he looking for?

Then came Flora. She was a beautiful young woman, only slightly younger than himself, and he smiled. She smiled back, hesitantly, and gave a small bow.

"Flora Nightingale," Marian said, and her voice hardened ever so slightly. It was only then Lucius noticed the dark circles under the girl's eyes- cleverly concealed by just the right amount of makeup- and his smile faded.

As Lady Marion listed off the girl's skills and training, Lucius studied her more intently. There were other signs as well. But most noticeable was the mark on her wrist, almost completely concealed by the sleeves of her dress, a blotch of black against her pale, fair skin. It was a bruise. Lucius forced himself to show no reaction, but inwardly, he was reevaluating Lady Marion once again.

The Duchess asked if he had any last questions before he made had his decision, and Lucius found himself nodding. As it turned out, the archer- Kain Valnus- was indeed the last surviving member of the legendary Valnus family. They were a minor noble house who had risen from the Merchant Caste several years prior- a feat that had made them legendary- solely on their wealth and trade contracts. Their mansion had burned down in a fire, and it was thought the whole family had perished in the blaze. But Lady Marian had so happened to be nearby, and she had saved Kain- then a young boy- from the flames.

Trade. The Valnus family had controlled all of it, throughout southern Bastion, and they had been closely tied to the Republic and the Merchant's Guild. If Lucius ever had to make a deal with, say, one of the Merchant Lords of Daram, having the young archer by his side might be profitable...

And then there was Flora. Part of him already knew he was going to choose the Archer. His house was struggling financially, and he was scheduled to meet one of the wealthiest men in the world soon, a man who could fund an entire expedition into the Wilds with ease. The Merchant's Guild was well known to keep all their contracts, and with trade from Elmine closed off and the emergence of this new ore... They would jump at the chance to make another partnership in the south. But he couldn't just ignore what was in front of him... It was possible that the incident that had left the bruise on Flora's wrist had been an accident, but Lucius found it highly unlikely. Now that he knew what to look for, he saw the signs everywhere. The way she held herself, the way she didn't make eye contact with anyone, the way she flinched ever so slightly when Lady Marian came near her. No, it was all too obvious to him now. He couldn't just walk away, but he also had to be very careful... A single misstep, and Lady Marion would throw him out the gates with his 'prizes' and the girl would be even worse off. Maybe even in danger. So did he risk it? He had to decide soon, or his host would get impatient...

A: Leave the matter alone and walk away.
B: Ask to speak with Wallace alone and ask him to keep an eye on Flora.
C: Ask to speak with Flora in private, and bring the subject up gently.
D: Attempt to discreetly arrange a private meeting with Flora behind the Duchess's back.
E: Custom.

E. Speak with Wallace and have him tell you the next time Flora will leave the manor for an errand, so you can speak to her away from the Duchess.

The elderly butler who had driven Lucius and Clair to the castle stepped up and quietly adressed the Duchess. A look of supreme annoyance crossed her face, but she nodded curtly and followed him back into the castle. Suspicious, Lucius discreetly glanced over at Claire- still sitting at the table, her postion unchanged- and found her concealing a grin with her hand, not quite as carefully as she would have if she didn't want him to see. Understanding dawned on Lucius immediately.

I don't know how she managed it, but I'll have to thank her later.

Lucius turned to look at Flora for a few moments, and a scarlet blush crept across the girl's cheeks. She looked down, nervous. But there was something else he had seen in the girl's eyes, before she looked away, and it spurred him into action. It had been a small sparkle of hope.

There was no time to waste. With a purpose in his step, he turned and walked back over to stand in front of Kain Valnus again. "Valnus."

The young man gave him a quizzical look, but bowed his head slightly. "My Lord?"

"Why do you serve Lady Marian?"

"Because she is my mistress, My Lord."

Lucius shook his head. "No, that's why her servants serve her. I asked why you serve her."

The young man paused for a moment, considering how best to respond. Finally, he said, "Because I owe her a blood debt, My Lord. She saved my life."

Lucius didn't miss a beat. "And would your blood debt allow you to serve another faithfully?"

Realization lit the young man's sharp green eyes, like candles flickering to life, and he gave a low bow. "Yes, My Lord. It would."

He was quick to grasp the meaning behind Lucius's words, and there was no deception in his voice. That was good. Satisfied, Lucius spun on his heel and briskly walked to Wallace. The old General gave him a wide, toothy grin.

"Here to interrogate me too, lad?"

His expression serious, Lucius shook his head. Instead, he answered evenly, "No. I merely have a favor I wish to ask. May I speak to you in private?"

Sensing this was a grave matter, Wallace exchanged his teasing grin for a more suitable expression. He gave a small nod and allowed Lucius to guide him over to the tree, out of earshot from everyone but Claire. And still, he kept his voice low and quiet.

"We don't have much time before the Duchess returns, so I'll be brief. There is evidence that Flora is being mistreated, and I suspect it is at the hands of the Duchess."

Wallace sucked his breath in sharply, like someone had punched him in the gut. He didn't ask if Lucius was sure. "What would you like me to do?"

It wasn't uncommon for nobles to abuse their servants. It was an unfortunate fact of the world they all lived in that most nobles were pompous, arrogant, uncaring asses. This was true in the court of Elmine as well, and Lucius knew it. But here, at least, it was frowned upon. Striking or mistreating a servant was considered undignified and crude, and even had its own punishment- If the noble was caught, and if the one who caught them couldn't be bribed. If Lucius played his hand right, he could free Flora from Lady Marion's clutches.

"The next time she goes out into the city on an errand, I want you to tell me beforehand. Send a courier to my estate the day before. I will leave instructions with my retainers in case I'm not present. Devise a way to have her stop for medicine, and I'll make sure the apothecary is someone I know well. And watch her closely until then. Find a way to keep her out of trouble. I'll do the rest."

Wallace inclined his head, and a deep respect and admiration shone in his gaze. "You've grown, my boy. Your parents would be proud."

He didn't say anything more than that, and he didn't need to. Lucius knew he would do as he asked. While the old Knight moved to rejoin the others, his plate armor clanking noisily, Lucius sat back down beside Clair. She casually sipped her tea.

"Have you heard? Recent outbreak of thefts past few days. The thieves have been targeting apothecaries. Only after a single type of medicine, it seems. Strange isn't it?"

She didn't look at him. Lucius smiled. "No, I hadn't heard. Very strange indeed."

Some time later, Lucius sighed as he finished changing into his new leather armor. It wasn't particularly comfortable, but it wasn't particularly uncomfortable either. He hadn't worn armor in some time- even light armor- and it would take some getting used to again. He stared at himself in the tall mirror leaning against the wall of his private study. The armor he wore was the typical outfit favored by most Mercenaries, but it was a deep black, and embroidered with lines of dark green, instead of the more common light brown or gray. In addition, it was exceptionally well crafted, and built to provide maximum protection without penalizing his movement. To most, it would merely look like a recoloring of everyday armor; a simple Mercenary's attempt to appear special. To those who mattered, however, to those who knew the trade, knew what to look for, it was a sign that he was the best of the best- a Mercenary who rarely failed a job, and as such, could afford a lot more fancy toys. The irony wasn't lost on him.

The sleeveless dark chestpiece covered his body from just below his neck, down to his waist. His arms were protected by leather gauntlets and leather bracers. On his right shoulder, a small gleaming pauldron of polished black iron, attached to his chestpiece. On his left, a larger pauldron that could also double as a shield, without weighing him down as much as one or taking up a use of his hand. Mercenaries preferred to have both hands readily available, and Lucius tended to agree. A utility belt, fitted with leather rings to hold pouches of coin or other items- and indeed, he had a pouch of gold coins secured there, lay slanted across his chest and a second utility belt- this one a traditional sword belt- lay around his waist. The second belt held a black leather scabbard, with his new steel sword sheathed within. Light brown pants with dark green lining disappeared into two black leather traveling boots, fitted with small iron shinguards that rose up to offer his legs more protection, without the added weight and restricted mobility of full greaves. A long dark cloak fell behind and around him, clasped around his shoulders with a silver pendant in the shape of a lion. The cloak was dark green, with patches of brown, gray and black seamlessly blended in, and Lucius knew it was designed to help him blend in with most forms of terrain, especially at night. It was an art called 'Camouflage', that the Rangers of Lanchester practiced, and how Dianna had acquired such a cloak, he didn't know. But the inside of the cloak was warm and insulated, and the cowl would easily hide his face, even with his unruly hair.

It had taken him quite some time to decide what to do with his hair. The single braid would be a dead giveaway that he was a noble, as very few others ever wore such a hairstyle in Elmine. Eventually, he settled on cutting his pale blond hair short, until it was down to his neck, instead of his shoulders. He intentionally made it a bit messier, instead of the painstakingly neat and orderly it usually was, and the effect was surprisingly pronounced. It made him look a lot more like a devilishly handsome rogue than a pretty boy noble, and Lucius quickly found he liked the new look.

Beneath his cloak, he already wore a travel pack with all the necessities a wandering Mercenary might need- a Flint with a small rock of iron for fire starting, a few maps, some dried meat and fruit rolled in paper, and a few other little things. A dark green waterskin, already full with clean water, hung from his waist. He briefly contemplated bringing one of his magic tomes, but decided against it. The second sword he was bringing was risky enough. Strapped across his back- also beneath his cloak- was a leather case, usually used by musicians and traveling minstrels to carry their instruments. And while Lucius did use it for that purpose, carrying his own lute within, the case also concealed a beautiful and powerful sword, with an equally beautiful scabbard, wrapped carefully in brown paper so that no one who might be watching when he opened the case could see any part of the sword or scabbard. It was the special Light Brand he had received from Duchess Marian.

Lucius pulled on the last piece of his attire, a pair of black leather gloves, then looked over at his great wooden desk with a mix of relief and wistfulness. There was a mound of papers stacked neatly on the desk, so high that part of him was surprised it hadn't fallen over already. It was all the work that needed to be done for the Estate, and Lucius had postponed it all for two weeks, estimating that was likely how long the expedition into the Wilds would last. What couldn't be postponed he had already delegated to Garth. Valnus had already been given a tour of the grounds, and Lucius had spent some time with Erin, checking up on her and making sure she was fine. She was. The Merchant Lord and his Master of the Guard had already been informed an "Interested Party" would be stopping by tonight, and he still had Dianna's personal letter of recommendation in case the Merchant Lord doubted his story. He went over his fabricated background again in his mind.

Ike Stormbrand, age 25. Only son of a minor knight, now disgraced. His father had been killed in a duel when he was young, and all their property was confiscated afterwards. This would explain his seemingly natural talent with a sword, and his knowledge of politics. If someone accidentally stumbled upon his hidden sword, he could claim it was his father's and he had been allowed to buy it back from the Court, after making a successful career as a Mercenary. He had traveled all over, but he usually took jobs in Elmine and Daram. Not enough work in Lanchester, and Pharos was too risky. He had been hired on as a Caravan guard for a traveling circus troupe, and one of the musicians had taught him how to play. He had bought his cloak from a stall in the Grand Market in Daram's capital. Was it a Ranger's cloak? Of course it wasn't. Not that he knew, anyway. How did he know the Queen? He had temporarily been assigned to guard her during the First Thaw celebration the previous year, after saving her from an assassination attempt. Nasty business, that. Didn't you hear about it?

The story was mostly foolproof. Dianna actually had been the target of an assassination attempt last year, and it had been the talk of the city for months. As far as the general public was concerned, it was Claire who had saved the Queen, and that was the truth. But Dianna and Claire had given him details only her savior could know, and it would be enough. The only discrepancy that might be a problem was the age of his alias. But Lucius had always looked a couple years older than he really was, and with his new haircut and the growth of pale blond whiskers across his chin and jawline, he looked passable for the age of Ike Stormbrand. He would likely have to go without shaving in order to maintain the appearance, but that was a small price to pay.

Lucius sighed again. It was now or never. With one last look around, he blew out the lanterns in the study, leaving the room lit only by the soft pale glow of a round white orb. He didn't particularly care for Magictech, but Light Crystals were harmless enough. He made his last goodbyes to Garth and Erin, then slipped out into the night, pulling his cowl over his head and fading into the dark and rainy streets of the capital.

Galik Renwall, leader of the near legendary Renwall Mercenaries, and unfortunate Captain and Guard Master of an ill-fated 'Van expedition he wanted no part in, sized up the hopeful recruit. The others at the table followed the old Mercenary's example, but to a varying degree. The black clad youth- whom Lucius could now see carried two glinting steel daggers concealed in his clothing- viewed him with casual disinterest. The boy who looked like he had never wielded a blade a day in his life viewed him with ignorant contempt. The girl, however, was now staring at him in open curiosity, the light of the fire flickering across her bright green eyes. Lucius felt a sudden discomfort under the girl's scrutiny. There was something strangely familiar about her, and it caught him off guard. He quickly composed himself and the moment of discomfort faded, but not before the girl had noticed. Her eyes were even sharper than he thought. The corners of her mouth widened ever so slightly.

Galik leaned forward on the table now, mimicking the girl's gesture. It was a subconscious thing, Lucius realized, and it said the pair were quite close.

"Is that so?" The Mercenary Captain's voice was calm and unfazed, even casual, as if he were merely talking about the weather. "Lord Benevolio told us to expect someone... Special coming. Didn't say more than that. Suppose you him?"

The way the old Mercenary emphasized the word "Lord" made his feelings on the Merchant quite clear. It was a tone of mockery, that he barely tried to hide. Which begged the question, why was a famed Mercenary leader guarding the caravan of a man he disliked, into one of the most inhospitable and dangerous areas known to man? Lucius had studied the Renwall Mercenaries briefly, after he learned of the man's identity from Dianna. They were based out of northwestern Lanchester, close to the mountains and the coast, and the Pharosian border. They were a large, old group who were infamous for aiding whomever paid the most coin, whether it was bandit hunting, kidnappings, or fighting in wars. There was even a case when they had been contracted to assassinate a Pharosian noble, and as the tale goes, they had done the job so well that it's now used as a lesson in both the Dragoon Academy in Pharos and the Rangers School in Lanchester. And then, suddenly and mysteriously, they all but vanished several years ago and faded into myth, and no one knew why. No one, Lucius thought, except the people sitting in front of him.

"Yeah," Lucius answers. "You got a problem with that?"

Galik gave a short laugh. "Depends. You got any skill with a blade?"

"Enough to get by," Lucius answered promptly, allowing a trace of annoyance to creep through his voice.

The old Mercenary studied him for a few moments, then nodded to himself. "Alright then. Follow me out back and let's see what you got."

----

A couple minutes later, Lucius stood in the wide alleyway behind the Inn. He stretched a bit, but there was no need for him to do anymore than that. The four other figures stood leaning up against the wall nearby.

"Alright, boy, you got a choice," Galik began. "You can pick one of us to spar with, or you can run the gauntlet. The gauntlet is simple. You fight each of us in a row, starting from weakest to strongest, and we'll see how far you get. No killing or maiming. Winner is declared when one person admits defeat, or is incapacitated. And try not to make each other bleed too much, cause I ain't cleaning it up. So, what's your choice boy?"

Lucius looked back at the four figures, and he felt he understood the pecking order. His eyes settled on the girl. She and Galik would be the toughest fights, he knew. But the black clad youth was a mystery to him.

------
A: Spar with Galik
B: Spar with the blond girl
C: Spar with the boy in black
D: Spar with the youngest boy
E: Run the gauntlet

You'd get healed after each round, if that helps any. And it's not really about winning, since there's no way you can beat Galik right now. He's a pre-promoted Hero. The gauntlet is about seeing how far you can go. Now, the sparring matches, those you need to win(Except the one with Galik).

Just rolled the RNG. Anna says B wins. I'll update... Later. When I'm well rested, alert, and at home.

Status update.

Lucius
Lv 5 Bard
HP:20
Str:6
Mag:9
Skl:7
Spd:7
Lck:5
Def:8
Res:9
ATK 16 Hit 104 Avoid 20

Personal Skill: Voice of Taliesin(Grants x2 EXP for playing. After playing for a unit, this unit can make another stationary action, such as using a Vulnerary or tonic)

Skills: Song of Victory(Grants +3 Str/Def and +10 Rating for one turn to a unit after playing for that unit)

Weapon Level: Sword D Tome D
Items: Custom Steel Sword(50/50 Mt 9 Hit 90 Crit 0 Rank PRF Rng 1 Des- A masterwork Steel Sword specifically forged for the Duke of Dawn. Only usable by Lucius)

Holy Brand(35/35 Mt 10 Hit 80 Crit 0 Rank C Rng 1-2 Des- A special Light Brand with slightly higher Mt than normal, forged for the Knight Commandant of Grandia. It is exceptionally beautiful, and seems to have some mysterious properties. Deals Light based magic damage)

Vulnerary(3/3)

Rating: 45

Mysterious Girl
Lv 7 Myrmidon
HP:24
Str:7
Mag:5
Skl:10
Spd:10
Luck:9
Def:6
Res:5
ATK 14 Hit 100 Avoid 29

Skills: Avoid+10, Bowbreaker
Weapon Level: Sword C
Items: Dark Sword(35/35 Mt 8 Hit 80 Crit 0 Rank C Rng 1-2 Des- A sword infused with Dark Magic. Deals magical damage)
Rating: 45

And Bard Tank comes in handy for the first time. She needs four successful hits to win, while you only need 3. Also, important note: I've decided to revert back to using the Speed stat to determine if a unit doubles an enemy, instead of Rating. It doesn't balance things as well as I initially thought, and it kinda makes some classes outright useless. Like Myrmidons. That said, she still doesn't have enough speed to double Lucius.