Age of Destruction: Fire Emblem CYOA

Tartarus Castle

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"This is bad news indeed," the Feroxi messenger says. "And I was instructed to return to my lord with good news, or not at all."

Paen shuffles a few of the papers in front of him meaninglessly. "I suppose you don't have the authority to negotiate these terms."

"I... have a limited amount of leeway," he admits. "If a bit more gold would change your mind."

"That's a 'no,' then," Paen says. He leans back and folds his arms. "The Valmese are sending a high-ranking diplomat to try to convince us to open our ports - the emperor's nephew, no less. He makes landfall in three days time, when we'll be escorting him to a joint meeting with Valeria in the border city of Trine. We plan to turn him down, but... If the Feroxi have someone with official authority at the meeting, maybe we can actually talk."

"My master will be arriving in four days," the Feroxi man volunteers. "She was hoping to finalize our agreement and sign some papers before moving on, but... I'm sure she'll be willing to come to this... summit."

"Oh? I had no idea," Paen says nonchalantly. "We have a procession ready to pick up the emperor's nephew. I'm sure we can prepare an escort for your master as well."

"Thank you," the messenger says. "I'm sure she'll be glad for it."

"I'll be joining the escort," the young man says. "It's only proper Valeria should send a representative. I hope I shall serve. King Paen, would you be so kind as to send word?"

Paen nods. "If you're sure you're OK with this arrangement, Sir Storm."

"It's decided then. When will we be able to depart?" the messenger asks.

Paen folds his hands. "I'll need to make some arrangements. And select someone to lead the procession... As I said, we already have a group preparing to depart to pick up the emperor's nephew."

June looks at him nervously and nods. "We'll send the prince and princess."

---

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New Recruits!

Storm

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Class: Lord
HP: 11      Str: 8
Magic: 6    Skill: 9
Speed 9     Def: 7
Res: 8       Luck: 8
Skills: Charm, Rightful King, (2 votes)
Special: Pegasus mount

Gale

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Class: Taguel
HP: 13        Str: 9
Magic: 3      Skill: 9
Speed: 12    Def: 9
Res: 6         Luck: 10
Skills: Even Rhythm, (2 votes)

Kelly

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Class: Cavalier
HP: 11       Str: 8
Magic: 4    Skill: 8
Speed: 9    Def: 9
Res: 7       Luck: 8
Skills: Discipline, Lucky 7, Locktouch

Shep

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Class: Priest
HP: 8          Str: 4
Magic: 10    Skill: 5
Speed: 7     Def: 6
Res: 10       Luck: 9
Skills: Miracle, Quick Burn, Relief

Hawke

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Class: Wyvern Rider
HP: 12       Str: 10
Magic: 3    Skill: 8
Speed: 9    Def: 9
Res: 4       Luck: 7
Skills: Str+, Lancebreaker

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For now you'll need to decide skills for your new children.  Next you'll be deciding who's going where.

Storm available skills:
1st: Relief, Healtouch, Rally speed, Lancefaire, Galeforce, Aether
2nd: Counter, Rally Defense, Pavise, Luna, Dual Guard+

Gale available skills:
1st: Prevail, Fast Burn
2nd: Underdog, Aptitude

Storm: Galeforce, Pavise
Gale: Beastbane, Aptitude

Storm: Galeforce, Rally Defense
Gale: Fast Burn, Aptitude.

"You handled yourself well, Rand."  Lily reclaims the training rapier and wipes the blood from its tip.

"You did pretty well yourself, sis.  Though, uh...  I'm not sure tackling a laguz is usually the best plan," Rand says, checking his javelin.  "I mean, Gale's one thing, but..."

"I only needed to give you a small opening," Lily says.  "I knew I could count on you to take advantage of it.

"You still put yourself at a lot of risk.  And this isn't the first time."

"I'm much more cautious when you aren't around. But when you are? I know I can fight my hardest, because I know you're watching out for me."  Lily pats him on the shoulder as he starts cleaning the iron axe.

"Even if you trust me...  I mean, what if one day you're counting on me and I screw up?"

Lily shrugs.  "I would die, probably."

Rand stops polishing his axe and stares at her.  "That's... horrible.  Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because it's true," Lily says plainly.  "But it won't happen, Rand.  I know you won't fail me."

Rand rolls his eyes.  "Oh, yeah, no pressure.  'Screw up and I die.'  C'mon, Lily, imagine how I'd feel if you were counting on me and something did happen."

"Fine, fine."  She gives him a wry smile.  "I promise the only laguz I'll tackle is Gale."

"Anytime, princess!" Gale calls out from across the arena.  The gathered recruits, unable to hear the rest of the conversation, look at her in confusion.

"Seriously, Lily," Rand says.  "No big risks unless you're sure they'll pay off."

She nods.  "I promise, Rand."

Rand seems appeased.  He goes to return his weapons while Lily checks on Mina.

"How are you doing?" Lily asks.

"I'm fine, princess," Mina says.  "Not a scratch on me."

"Thank goodness.  It looked like Gale hit you pretty hard."

"Well...  Yes," Mina admits.  "But a member of the royal guard should be... tougher.  I'm sorry, Lily, I let you down."

Lily takes Mina's hands in hers.  "No.  No, Mina.  I've never thought you inadequate.  You're more than just a guard, you're my precious friend."

Mina pulls free.  "I should still be able to hold my own, at least..." she mutters.

"You may not be the strongest warrior, Mina, but I know I can trust you completely.  Having someone like you to watch over me is a greater boon than you can know."

Mina frowns.  "I still need to be stronger.  I want to be strong enough to protect you.  You and your brother both."

"And my brother," Lily echoes.  She raises a hand to hide her smile.  "Just keep training, Mina.  Strength is something anyone can gain.  I'll be glad to help you anytime you like.  Soon you'll become the most admirable guard since... ha.  Since your mother."

Mina smiles underneath her mask.  "I doubt I'll ever be on her level.  But I'll try, Lily."

"If you'll excuse me, Mina.  I need to go welcome Gale back."  Lily takes her leave.  Mina rubs her neck.

Lily notices Gale skulking suspiciously near a storage closet.  Gale slips in and pulls the door shut.  Lily follows her, confused, but cautious.  She half-expects to get tackled the second she opens the door.  Gale's nowhere in sight.  Lily walks in slowly.  "Gale?"  There's no response.  She peers around the room, trying to find the imminent ambush.  "Gale, I know what you're planning.  Would you please just pounce on me and get it over with?"

"OK!"  A giant bunny leaps out of a crate.  Lily doesn't bother struggling as Gale pins her to the ground.  Gale always wants a hug when she gets back - best to just get it over with.  "I already got to greet Mina - now it's your turn!"  She rubs her snout against Lily's neck.

Lily giggles uncontrollably.  "Eek!  Haha...!  G-Gale...!  Stop...!"

Gale redoubles her efforts.  "Nope!  This is payback for earlier!"

"Eehehe...!  W-what do you...  Hee...!  Wha...  P-payba...  Payback!?"

"You ganged up on me!  All I wanted was some quality 1-on-1 playtime with Rand!  But you wouldn't let me have that."  She shifts back into her human form with a feigned pout.  It quickly shifts into a grin.  "Well, if you're so desperate for my attention, I'll give it to you."

"I'm...  I'm the crown princess, Gale!  I swear to Grima, I'll...  I'll have you thrown in the darkest dungeon we have!  I'll skin you myself!  Make you into a nice pair of boots and a matching scarf!"

Gale sticks her tongue out at her.  "No, you won't.  We've known each other way too long for that - and long enough that I know where you're the most ticklish~!"

"N-no...  Gale...!  Not there!  Anywhere bu- Eeeehahaha, no-o-o-o...!  Gale...!"

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End of Prologue

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As a formality...  Begin X chapter?
(A) Yes
(B) Skip it

A. Of course.

Also, hawt.

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Prologue X: Whispers in the Wind

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Sefa Forest, the night before...

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Alice lets her blue dress slide to the floor with a yawn.  She ruffles her flowing, blonde hair, pulls out her hairclips, and scoops up her nightgown.  She looks out at the dark night sky.  Normally, she'd have been asleep for hours, just now waking up for her night watch - a self-assigned duty, not her official role - but today was hardly normal.  It feels strange, she thinks, missing out on the most wonderful time of the day asleep.  Wasteful.  She tosses the nightgown aside and lies down on the bed.  She closes her eyes, but sleep refuses to come.  The small village hidden deep in the woods seems unusually quiet.

It's not often that beorc are welcomed into the laguz sanctuary, but the visitors today were an exception.  Rain, a Valerian Holy Knight who helped with the founding of the sanctuary.  Doran, another Holy Knight and Alice's... adoptive grandfather-in-law.  His children - Alice's aunt and uncle, both within two years of her age and neither related to her by blood.  A young knight recruit and her best friend - both children of Rain's former subordinates.  Another of Valeria's pegasus knights.  And Valeria's Archbishop's son.  A huge retinue of important people, off to some important meeting with some important person.  Some emperor's nephew.

---

~ Mary, Guardian of Sefa ~
Mary's village, a small town on the border of Sefa Forest, was destroyed by monsters while she was still young.  The former (unofficial) forest guardian, a laguz named Vine, took pity on her and adopted her as his own.  He trained her physically as her adoptive mother, Fumiko, taught her dark magic; she later learned the art of dancing from Charon.  She joined June's group to help put an end to the Risen, wielding the Goettia as a Shadow Dancer.  The tome twisted her personality, but she made a full recovery.  After King Paen discovered how rampant the underground laguz slave trade was, he made her position as Guardian of Sefa an official one, with the Forest recognized as a protectorate of both Carcina and Valeria.  Married to John.

~ John, Sheltered Monk ~
John was a minor member of the clergy.  After the siege of Antea, the Archbishop tasked him with aiding June's group.  He was initially naive to the ways of the world and prejudiced against both dark magic and laguz.  Slowly, Mary and Fumiko were able to convince him to open up to the world around him.  Still strongly opinionated.  Married to Mary.

~ Doran, Haphazard Tactician ~
Doran remains the commander of the Holy Knight garrison in the border town of Trine, a key defensive point lying halfway between the capitals of Carcina and Valeria.  He went missing after Carcina's initial invasion.  He was found held captive in Tartarus castle, reappearing just in time to reveal the true nature of the Risen invasion.  He fell in love with the widowed Fumiko and married her shortly after the war.  Disorganized but brilliant.

~ Fumiko, Spirit of the Forest ~
Fumiko was once a laguz slave, held as an oddity by a group of travelling performers.  As they passed through Sefa Forest, Vine destroyed the group and saved the white fox that would later become his wife.  Widowed by Vine's death at the hands of Risen, Fumiko eventually fell for Doran, finally having two children of her own.  She still considers Mary her first child, and Alice her granddaughter.  When John and Mary couldn't decide whether to teach Alice light or dark magic, Fumiko trained her in the art of anima magic.

~ Rain, Nurturing Knight ~
June first met the Holy Knight Captain in Trine; despite being total strangers, Rain helped June purchase her beloved hatchet as a birthday present.  Later, Rain and her team were the first to respond to the destruction of June's city, helping to evacuate the survivors.  Rain is a distant descendant of the Exalt and wields the Falchion from atop her pegasus.  Kind and caring to a fault.  Married to Holland.

~ Saul, Beloved Bishop ~
Saul, Archbishop of Valeria.  Saul barely escaped the fall of Antea after Horatio's betrayal, forced to abandon his beloved Charlotte, the Commander of the Holy Knights.  He worked tirelessly with Paen to unite their countries during the incident and after.  During the reclamation of the Falchion, he found Charlotte wandering the streets alongside the Risen, alive but placed under a debilitating curse.  After the war, he gradually managed to lift the curse and nurse her back to health alongside his devastated country.  When the pair declared their intention to step down in order to marry, the council unanimously agreed to allow the union.

---

Alice stretches and shifts in her bed.  As the daughter of Sefa Forest's caretaker, its Guardian, she was expected to attend all the formalities and festivities earlier.  Not that she didn't enjoy getting to see her aunt and uncle, but did that group really have to arrive so early in the afternoon?  Most of them have already left, forced to leave after only a few moments to keep to their schedule.  A few of them remain in the village.  Aunt Sylvia and the farm boy had simply wanted to see the others off, and decided to go as far as the village.  They'll be heading back home in the morning.  Not that Alice blames them for coming.  This place is so beautiful, so serene...

After a few moments of quiet contemplation, Alice sighs.  She sits up and listens.  Her father is snoring softly in the other room.  No sounds of movement.  Alice closes her eyes and focuses.  She no longer listens to the natural world, instead attuning her senses to the spirits of nature so intimately connected to her magic.  Something brushes against her arm - she can feel it tugging her towards the door.  After years of study, Alice has learned to trust the guidance of the spirits.  She quietly, carefully pads across the floor.  She pauses at the door to her room and turns back.  She takes her sun and moon hairclips, gifts from her father and mother, and places them in her hair.  Then reaches for a weapon.  Just in case.

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New Recruit!

Alice

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Class: Pupil
HP: 10       Str: 3
Magic: 9    Skill: 7
Speed: 8    Def: 5
Res: 7       Luck: 7
Skills: Studious, Tomefaire, Tomebreaker

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(A) Fire
(B) Wind
(C) Thunder
(D) Rat Spirit

Alice Skill 1: Illumination, Prayer, Rally Magic, Tomefaire
Skill 2: Tomebreaker, Hex, Anathema, Shadowblade

(Voting for Gale's 2nd skill still open - Prevail or Quick Burn)

D Tome faire and Shadow blade

(points to discussion topic OP)
SKL-based chance to use MAG instead of DEF. Druid skill.

Alice x Gale x Lily Harem???