Fire Emblem - Seal of Fate II

[Xondoure]

Woman: "I don't believe anyone is in need of immediate care, but I'll be sure to let you know if anyone needs healing... What sort of supplies do you need? We don't have much, but you're welcome to anything we have."

"Just enough to maintain our upkeep, I'm sure my companions and I can work out something that will keep us on our feet without taking away from you to much. I'm sure you have much to repair in light of recent events."

[TheSummoner]

The woman thinks for a second.

Woman: "I've just the thing... a moment please."

She disappears and returns a few minutes later holding a small(ish... about the size of both of your fists put together), ornate box.

Woman: "We were going to present it to the king upon his arrival in Nagandra... but..."

She eyes the corpses of the green clad soldiers.

Woman: "Well, I'm sure if we need to, we can come up with something better to show him just how much we respect him."

She puts the box in Lillian's hands.

(The box has a Blue Gem inside of it.)

[Atrec Randier]

Gerard

"Well, they do say a little goes a long way. Why, just last week I... or was that last year? Hrmm... I think that last fighter caught me upside the head a little... Anyway, what do you know?"

[ottack]

"I know that they are called the crimson shadow and are a group of great secrecy. They also have a base near here. Thats when they found me out."

[Geno9999]

Rakken is standing near one of the corpses, looking at them and poking them with a stick. "What puzzles me the most is why these soldiers attacked your village... Is there... anything important in this place? Otherwise, I can't help but feel we caused this... *looks around* mess."

[TheSummoner]

*The woman gives Rakken a confused look*

Woman: No... I don't think theres anything here that the new king would be particularly interested in... Why would his men be after you?

[Geno9999]

Rakken suddenly straightened up, realizing that this might be one of those times that Anslem gives him that look/jab in stomach/gauntlet over his mouth/ face, which means that Rakken opened up his mouth a bit too much... again.
"Er, nothing really, uhh... Let's just say that recently we've been having... a bit of bad luck and trouble seems to be always right behind us... Oh! Excuse me!" running up to investigate a wolf carcass... a bit too conveniently.

[Mando Knight]

"A base! That's exactly what we needed to know. We'll regroup and resupply, then scout it out and raid it."

[tgva8889]

"Um...should we...go?" Katleia looks over her shoulder a bit nervously.

[ottack]

"Raid it, are you crazy? You might have helped me beat these guys but why on earth would you want to fight an entire base full of them?"

[Atrec Randier]

Gerard
"Well, for starters they're the kind of people who would raid innocents for merely knowing them. Seems fair enough to assume they would do it again, so we at the very least should pay them a visit.

[Mando Knight]

Roan's reply to Yuan carries an edge of ice. "They killed my uncle, King Orion. It wasn't even an honorable death. No reason or meaning to it at all, just bloody regicide."

Then he walks over and puts a reassuring hand on Katleia's shoulder, his voice much softer. "Is something wrong, Kat?"

[ottack]

"Wait, wait, wait, They killed King Orion? Who's your uncle, but that would make you..."

[Mando Knight]

Roan looks up from paying attention to Katleia to respond. "Yes, I am Roan Caspian, son of the current king of Taymeer, who is Orion's brother."

[ottack]

"Why on earth are you, the heir to the throne, in the middle of Baethos hunting down a group of deadly assasins?"

[tgva8889]

Katleia becomes slightly more fidgety. "I...um...I d-don't like it here. It's...not like home."

[Atrec Randier]

Gerard
"You're not alone, Kat. There's an old saying; 'There's no place like home'. That simple fact is true just about anywhere, but especially in conflict. War changes people. But at the heart of every hardened soldier, they're all homesick. Well, all the sane ones at any rate. Gerard sighed. "In any case, we should definitely be moving on." He stopped, then turned to the newcomer. "Sorry, what was your name again?"

[ottack]

"My names Yuan, and you are?"

[Atrec Randier]

"Gerard DuMorne, and the skinny one's my brother, Francis."

[ottack]

"Pleased to meet you. I soupose I'll be traveling with you for now at least."

[Xondoure]

The woman thinks for a second.

Woman: "I've just the thing... a moment please."

She disappears and returns a few minutes later holding a small(ish... about the size of both of your fists put together), ornate box.

Woman: "We were going to present it to the king upon his arrival in Nagandra... but..."

She eyes the corpses of the green clad soldiers.

Woman: "Well, I'm sure if we need to, we can come up with something better to show him just how much we respect him."

She puts the box in Lillian's hands.

(The box has a Blue Gem inside of it.)

"Thank you so much. We won't forget this kindness.

[TheSummoner]

(Blue... just lemme know whan you're ready to move on. Ditto to green, though you guys are still mid-conversation it seems.)

Meanwhile...

Rancet: I've told you a hundred times and you've searched the property from top to bottom, are you finally ready to accept that he isn't here?

Obadiah: Yes, you've been quite vocal on the matter since we arrived... And yet you haven't said a word about where he would be.

Rancet: I cannot tell you what I do not know. My orders were to tend to my Lord's affairs while he is away, not to meddle in them.

Obadiah: Very well. It appears our business here is done for the time being. Your cooperation has been noted.

Obadiah and his men ride away. As they do, Rancer mutters to himself.

Rancet: It's not as if I had much choice in the matter...

------

Obadiah returns to his camp, surrounded by his men.

Obadiah: Gilford's disappearance is suspicious, but it is too early to jump to conclusions. I want three men to head for Nagandra. If the King has not yet arrived, wait for him and as soon as you can, inform him of this development. I have a few ideas of where Gilford may be headed... and its likely he has the prince with him. Each possible location will be searched by a small party. Report back immediatly if you spot him... we do not know if he will come peacefully or try to resist, so you must not engage him with such a small force...

Obadiah outlines the specifics of his plan and gives his men their orders.

[Reverent-One]

The last of his strength used up in his final attack, Jalnir nearly collapses to the ground. With Nathaniel's help, Jalnir is able to make it back to town and the rest of the Guard. "Excuse me, Millady, I seem to have need of your talents," he tells Lillian as they arrive, thanking Nathaniel for his help.

Later, once they found some privacy, Jalnir addresses the thought on everyones' minds, "Looks like the King isn't happy about us not going with the flow. Though for his men to even attack innocents? I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it myself. Obviously, my Lord, we need to move on quickly and hope we can lose any pursuers."

[Mando Knight]

"I don't like it either, Kat, but if we don't find out what my uncle's killers are up to and stop them, we won't be safe if their plot is intent on throwing our homeland into disarray."

[Istari]

"Agreed, whether or not these men were actually sent by Caspian, we need to get a move on before whoever sent them finds us."

[Xondoure]

"I'll need to buy a new staff before we leave though or I won't be of any use to anyone.
(Sells blue gem, buys heal staff)

[TheSummoner]

(Who said this town has a shop? =P

Don't worry, you'll be able to restock before the next map and I can just keep a note that you need that staff)

[TheSummoner]

As if by fate, Roan's group stumbles across a man being hunted by the same group that had killed his uncle. After saving him from his pursuers, he informs the group of a nearby Crimson Shadow outpost. Determined to find any information they can about the mysterious group, they set out for the outpost.

Yuan leads the group northeast. When they finally arrive at their destination, the sight is... surprising. By all appearances the fortress before them hasn't seen use in atleast a decade. The walls are covered in foliage and the doors are stuck in place and refuse to budge even slightly.

------

Anselm's party departs Echara the morning after the battle. Was it because of their presence that the small town was attacked or was their Regardless, there was no choice but to continue the journey they had set out on.

Before too long, the group arrives at Port Salvan. There are several shops and taverns along the port, but little seems to be going on at the moment.


(Northern Port Salvan)

(Blue is able to resupply before the next map. Available items are vulneraries... all bronze, iron, slim and steel swords, axes, lances, bows and daggers... javelins and hand axes... all rank E and D light and anima tomes, as well as Flux. Also, both Heal and Mend staves are available.

As always, both teams are able to manage their items before the start of the map)

[Xondoure]

I'd love the mend staff for the bonus exp but it should come before the necessities.

[Atrec Randier]

Gerard surveyed the decayed ruins. "Hmm, I'm not sure, it could easily be a trap..."

(Should we sort out who gets the paladin band?)