Age of Destruction: Fire Emblem CYOA

Or better yet mix the two let's not go all in on the stragglers but, do take some potshots with our ranged units/weapons everyone else form up

"Archers! Mages! Volley!" Rand orders.  He points his axe at the fleeing enemies.

Alice and Eun'ji attack as they retreat, knocking one of the troubadours from her horse and killing her.

The enemy commander orders the paladins to the rearguard as the remaining troops pull back.  They disappear between the buildings for cover as they slip away.

"Can I go after them?" Snowy asks.

"...No, let them go," Rand says.  "We can't risk running into another trap.  Our objective is just to get Hyun'ji home safely."

"Gotcha, Boss.  So, then...  Where were we?" she asks.

"Right, the... things you were telling me.  So how about we head back to the ship to plan our next move, and you can start over again?  And explain slower."

"Ah, OK!" Snowy nods.

"Who... is this?" Alice asks.

"A Valerian knight...  Why is she here in Valm?" Hyun'ji asks.

Rand frowns.  "Right, we've got a lot to go over...  Let's gather everyone together first, OK?"

---

"...So basically I've been impersonating a Holy Knight the last few months so I could get all this information to you!" Snowy concludes.

"That's... a lot to take in," Rand says.  "And a lot to swallow."

"Assuming we believe her," Eun'ji says suspiciously.

"I don't think she's lying..." Nevyn says.

"I'm sure such a wonderful woman isn't," Suarrure promies.  "Look at that face.  How could you accuse such beautiful lips of sullying themselves with a lie?"

"...So from here we should take Hyun'ji to-" Rand begins.

"Um!" Snowy interrupts.  "Actually...  I really need your help.  After they finished with you, they were going to head to the Mila tree and deal with the Voice.  Since they failed here..."

Eun'ji's eyes widen.  "The Mila Tree?"

Hyun'ji crosses his arms.  "...Right, that's where your sister was stationed after..."

Eun'ji regains her composure.  "Please ignore my outburst, Master."

"You want to go, don't you?" he asks.

"Of course not, Master.  I would never impose-"

"I didn't ask if you were willing to impose, I asked what you wanted," Hyun'ji asks.  "I expect you to be honest with me."

"...Yes.  Master."

Hyun'ji nods.  "The Mila Tree is an important Valmese landmark, too.  If our escorts don't mind a small detour on the way to the palace..."

Rand closes his eyes to think for a moment.  "It sounds like eliminating them is a priority.  If we have a chance to throw a wrench in their plans, I'm all for it."

"It's decided then," Hyun'ji says.  "We'll re-supply in town, then set out immediately."

"Yay!" Snowy yells.  "I'm ever so glad you've decided to believe me!"

"...What we find at the Mila Tree will convince me one way or the other," Rand admits.

"Giving me a chance was enough.  I'm satisfied, Milord."

---

Choose 10.

(Rand, Mina, Shep, Kelly, Alice, Allune, Nevyn, Fei, Sylvia, Rhett, Suarrure, Hyun'ji, Eun'ji, Gin, Pixie, Snowy)

Rand/Mina A
Rand/Fei A
Kelly/Gin B
Nevyn/Fei A
Sylvia/Rhett B
Sylvia/Suarrure A
Rhett/Suarrure B
Any C

Rand/Mina A
Kelly/Gin B
Nevyn/Fen A
Sylvia/Rhett B
Sylvia/Suarrure A
Mina/Sylvia C
Pixie/Rhett C


Someone convince me who to use my last three votes on.

3 Kelly/Gin B

2 Rand/Mina A
2 Nevyn/Fei A
2 Sylvia/Rhett B
2 Sylvia/Suarrure A
2 Mina/Sylvia C
2 Pixie/Rhett C

Rand/Fei A
Rhett/Suarrure B
Rand/ Snowy C
Alice/ Snowy C
Pixie/ Snowy C
Snowy/Shep C
Fei/Hyun'ji C
Kelly/Rand C
Alice/Suarrure C
Nevyn/Allune C
Eun'ji/Rand C
Eun'ji/Pixie C


So we need a three-way tiebreaker among those last ones.

"This seems like as good a place as any for our date, right?" Suarrure asks.

"Here?  I mean, I guess a nice foreign country's not a bad start.  But what did you have in mind?"

"I thought we could go hang out at the beach?" Suarrure suggests.

"The beach, huh."  Sylvia crosses her arms.

"Yeah!  Maybe try some fishing?  I heard there's some interesting Valmese fish dishes.  I thought first we catch a few fish, then see if we can find someone to teach us how to make some?"

"Wow.  You actually gave this some thought.  I'm impressed," Sylvia says.  "Alright, it could be fun.  I've actually wanted to try my hand at spear fishing, so...  I need to get some stuff together.  Meet me on the southern side of the docks in a few minutes, alright?"

"OK!" Suarrure says.  He practically skips over to the meeting place.

Rhett arrives at the beach to see a small pile of fish in a net at the water's edge, next to a cloak and a pair of boots.  "Huh."  Another pair of fish land in the pile with a wet thud.

Two figures out in the water are hard at work.  Suarrure's hulking beast form pauses, then leaps and slashes at the water.  He sends another fish flying into the pile.  Sylvia, fox-like ears twitching, stands perfectly still with her spear point just under the water's surface.  "Ha!"  She suddenly thrusts, pulling up a pair of fish on her spear's tip.  She flings them back to the pile on the beach.

Rhett takes a seat, watching the two's competition.  They seem completely oblivious to his presence.  After a few minutes, the two come slogging out of the water together.  "Ha...  Ha...  I'd say I win, right?" Sylvia pants.

"No way!  I definitely did better," Suarrure argues.

"Oh.  You were competing."

"Rhett...?" Sylvia asks, surprised at his presence.  She pauses, then continues wading back out.

"Since I started watching, Sylvia caught 37 fish with 3 misses.  Suarrure caught 42 with 9 misses.  He also threw 3 fish into the pile that later wriggled back out while all of Sylvia's were dead."

Suarrure leaps out onto the shore, shaking himself violently and sending water spraying everywhere.  "Ha!  I win."  He returns to his normal form, still a bit damp.

"Your clothes are dry," Rhett remarks.  "That's weird.  But Sylvia's are also dry, since she didn't wear them into the water.  I think her way's better.  Because she didn't have to transform.  And I can't do that."

"Good logic," Suarrure says.

"Also Sylvia was 13% more accurate," Rhett adds.

"I guess that means I win," Sylvia says.

"No it doesn't.  I got more!" Suarrure argues.

"But I was more accurate.  Considerably.  And not far below your count, either.  If the fish were enemies, I would be more effective, from a tactical standpoint."

"I didn't realize we were being scored for accuracy!" Suarrure says.  "Plus, what about all those misses while you were trying to figure out your technique?"

"They were before Rhett arrived, so they don't count."

"Of course they do!  Enemies don't care if you're inexperienced," Suarrure says.

"But you do training beforehand, so-"

"You two are fun," Rhett says.  "How are you going to eat all 126 of these fish?"

Sylvia and Suarrure stop bickering and look at the pile.  "Oh," they both say.

"We could salt them...?" Sylvia suggests.  "They would keep a few days.  Though that's a lot of extra supplies to carry."

"Maybe we could sell some?" Suarrure asks.

"That's not a bad idea.  But I don't know much about-"

"I can do it," Rhett offers.  "I help do the bookkeeping at the ranch all the time.  And buying and selling things.  I'm good at it."

"Ah, right.  Well...  If you're sure," Sylvia says.  "Can you even carry all that?"

Rhett nods.  He scoops up the net, tossing it over his shoulder and walking off.

"Huh.  That was nice of him," Suarrure says.  "Anyway, what was next?"

"First, you can stop staring at my legs," Sylvia says.

"But they're so nice," he protests.  "Perfect from thigh to toe."

"Oh, go on, you big flirt."

"If you insist," Suarrure says.

"I was being sarcastic."

"No takebacks!"  Suarrure is quick to take the opportunity to place his fingers on her flank, tracing along as he spews compliments.  "Such lovely muscle, well-defined, and perfectly tanned skin.  Smooth, silken skin.  Running down to these lovely calves.  And with those boots gone, ah!  These tanlines reveal themselves.  Look how this alluring, pearly glow glistens with these rivulets of water.  See how even the sand itself clings jealously to those-"

Sylvia giggles, then jerks back.  "Oh, no.  Sorry, I don't want to interrupt the slew of praise, truly, but Rhett took all the fish!  We were going to cook some!"

"...Ah.  Oh, well.  Let's go catch some more.  But this time, I want to see how you do as a laguz!"

"Hmmm...  Fine.  But you have to use the spear."

"Deal."

Meanwhile, Rhett drags the load of fish towards the town market.

Pixie pokes her head over one of the rooftops along the way, tilting her head and eyeing him curiously.

"Hi, Pixie," Rhett says quietly as he walks along.

Pixie jolts, then ducks back down.

"Oh.  Did I talk too loud?" Rhett asks.  "Allune says hawks have really good hearing.  But not even the best laguz hearing.  So people talking normally can sometimes be really annoyingly loud.  I guess crows hear really good, huh."

Pixie pokes her head back out and nods meekly.  Rhett glances her way as he continues.

"OK, I'll talk like this, then.  What about other stuff?  Do you see really good?  Or feel stuff a lot?"

Pixie nods.

"What about taste?"

Pixie shakes her head.

"Do you smell good?  ...Wait, that should be do you smell well.  I could tell the first by smelling you.  And you smell fine.  I think so, anyway.  Some people think Laguz smell weird, but it just reminds me of home."

Pixie's eyes widen, then she ducks back down.

"Oh, bye, Pixie.  Wait, do you want a fish?"

Pixie slowly reappears, giving him a small nod.

"OK."  Rhett stops, rummages around in the net, pulls out a fish, and tosses it up at her.  Pixie has to stagger back, nearly falling off the roof to catch it.  She steadies herself with a flap of her wings as Rhett continues along his way.  She watches him go, then slumps down against the roof and proceeds to devour the treat raw.

"So?  Do you feel like you've learned anything?" Fei asks.

"Hm.  I wonder." Nevyn frowns.  "Do you think so?"

"I haven't really noticed you doing anything differently," Fei admits.

"I see.  I've been watching him very carefully, but I find it difficult to see anything in particular that makes Rand a good leader.  Rather, I find it difficult to express any one quality..."

"Huuuuh."  Fei sighs.  "I'm not sure I really get what you're saying, but basically you're saying you want to follow Rand but you aren't sure why?"

"Er...  Right.  More or less," Nevyn agrees.

"I wouldn't worry about it," Fei says.  "After all, I want to keep going with you without really knowing why, too."

"Really?  But... why?  I just don't understand."

"What's there to understand?  I want to do it, so I will.  I guess...  If I had to give a reason, it's because I know you wouldn't ask me to do or risk anything you wouldn't be willing to do yourself?  Or anything you know I just can't do.  Like getting up early for the march tomorrow."

"Good try, Fei.  But you know we all have to go as soon as possible.  And... thanks."

---

"Hi again," Gin says.

"Hi," Kelly answers.

Gin shudders.  "Sorry.  Did I do anything to offend you?"

"Not really."

"Oh.  It's just that you seem kind of... angry whenever you talk to me."

"A little," Kelly agrees.

"That whole spineless attitude of yours rubs me the wrong way, but it's nothing personal."

"That... sounds pretty personal," Gin argues.

Kelly shrugs.  "I suppose.  But it's not that you've done anything to make me hate you, I just don't really like you, either."

"Sorry?" Gin says, more confused than anything.

"Don't bother being sorry.  Just grow a spine.  Tell me to sod off.  Grima's sake.  Are you really going to let me talk to you like that?"

"Huh?"

"...Just forget it," Kelly says.  She turns and walks away.

Gin stands silently for a moment.  "...Sorry?"

---

Sylvia sits in her room, grooming herself to get the sand from her fur and humming to herself.

"You seem to be in a good mood," Mina says as she enters.

Sylvia jumps a bit.  "Hm?  Was it that obvious?"

Mina points.  "Aside from the humming, your tail is wagging."

Sylvia clutches it defensively.  "Well...  Yes, I'm in a good mood.  I went on a date with Suarrure and it was... surprisingly pleasant.  But what about you?  You look like you spent a nice evening with your beloved."

"Huh?  What are you talking about?" Mina asks, her face turning pink.

"You've got a dopey smile plastered across your face.  Come on, Mina.  Every knows."

"Wh-whatever could you mean?"

"That you've got feelings for Rand.  Everyone knows.  Except perhaps the prince himself."

"I, um...  I don't know what you...  W-well, maybe a little..."

"You should propose to him next time he asks if he can do anything for you.  At least ask for a kiss."

"I...!  I could do no such thing!  It would be completely inappropriate for a lowly knight!"

"His mother was a farmer and we both know he's never cared about your station.  Come on, you have to have at least thought about it.  Fantasized a little bit?"

"Well..."

"Really?  Oh, wow!  Come on, you have to tell me all about it..."

---

Next Chapter:

(A) Rand 7
(B) Lily 7

B For sure

Levi, take point. A.

B