Chapter 27B: Cog of Destiny (Lloyd)



Credits: bookwormbabe29, flameduck

Narrator:
After receiving aid from Queen Hellene, Eliwood rushes to the sealed shrine. The secret road they follow is known only to the royal family… They pass Bern’s soldiers unnoticed and unhindered. They approach the castle…

(Chapter title is displayed – Chapter 27: Cog of Destiny)

(If the side quest to “Night of Farewells” is skipped, this scene with Nergal plays after the title is displayed, and before we see the shrine)

Nergal:
“Ah, Sonia… So, you botched the assassination of the prince, did you?”

Sonia:
“Ah… My lord, it was–”

Nergal:
“The king is in a dark and terrible mood over your failure. I’ve a message from him severing all his ties to the Black Fang. And then we have Eliwood. He invaded my fortress and annihilated the Black Fang itself? Have I misplaced my trust in you?”

Sonia:
“Lo-Lord Nergal. I regret to inform you that the Black Fang is indeed no more. However, I have a plan for a new group. My next–”

Nergal:
“Ah…You believe there is to be a ‘next’?

Sonia:
“Here! Look at this!”

Nergal:
“That is…magnificent quintessence.”

Sonia:
“It comes from Brendan Reed, the Black Fang commander. He was sniffing around where he shouldn’t have been, so I killed him.”

Nergal:
“I see…This is Brendan’s– Ha ha ha ha!”

Sonia:
“Do you like it?”

Nergal:
“Yes. Yes, I do. This is strong quintessence, and yet you say you killed him? You are quite… …..”

Sonia:
“Um… What is it, my lord?”

Nergal:
“Your side… Are you injured?”

Sonia:
“Oh, yes. When Brendan resisted, he…”

Nergal:
“I see… He wounded you.”

Sonia:
“Lord…Lord Nergal?”

Nergal:
“I’ve no need for a defective puppet.”

Sonia:
“Pardon? Pu-Puppet?”

Nergal:
“Sonia, you’re a failed work. You’re no match for Limstella in any way.”

Sonia:
“!!”

Nergal:
“Disperse.”

(Screen flashes in black and red, as Sonia is killed. The scene then shifts to the shrine.)

Lloyd:
“I’ve been waiting. And now, at last, the time to bring you down is here. The Fangs let none escape.”

Black Fang:
“Lord Lloyd, the enemy draws near.”

Lloyd:
“So they’re finally here… Our opponents are strong. If anyone here is afraid to die, leave now.”

Black Fang:
“For the Reed brothers’ Fang must not fear dying.”

Second Black Fang:
“We are all with you. Lord Lloyd! Do us the honor of leading us ’til the end!”

Lloyd:
“I shall. In the name of the Fang, we will stop them though it cost our very lives. Go!”

(At Lord’s group)

Eliwood:
“I can see it… That’s the Shrine of Seals.”

Hector:
“This is strange. We’ve made it so far without seeing a single soul.”

Lyn:
“I’m afraid that’s no longer the case.”

Hector:
“What!?”

Eliwood:
“They’re out for blood! Who could they be?”

Black Fang:
“You’re Lord Eliwood of House Pherae, correct?”

Eliwood:
“…And if I am?”

Black Fang:
“We are the Fang, and we serve the White Wolf, Lloyd. You will atone for your sins with blood!!”

Eliwood:
“What!?”

Nino:
“It’s the Black Fang… They’re all Fangs. They’re alive!”

Jaffar:
“Wait!”

Nino:
“What? What is it?”

Jaffar:
“Their battle lust… It’s not normal. Get too close, and they’ll tear you apart!”

Nino:
“Why? Why do we have to fight? If we talk to them, they’ll see.”

Jaffar:
“We are no longer Fangs. No… We served Nergal. We were never Fangs. To them, we were never companions. Never.”

Nino:
“No… No… That’s not true! That man mentioned Lloyd! Lloyd must be here! I need to talk to him! Lloyd will understand! I won’t give up so easily!!”

Jaffar:
“……”

(Preparations screen is entered)

(End preparations)

(Start of battle)

(Visiting the village)

Murdock:
“Ah! You…”

Character:
“Huh!?”

Murdock:
“Go. I saw nothing. I met with no one. Wait. Take this staff. Thank you…for Prince Zephiel.”

(Got a Warp)

(Vaida appears)

Vaida:
“Here they come again, those little Lycian nobles. I’d love to take them on, but… Prince Zephiel insists it was they who saved him… Pah… What’s this world coming to?”

(Eliwood talks to Vaida)

Eliwood:
“You!”

Vaida:
“So we meet again, boy. Are your little playmates doing well?”

Eliwood:
“You’re that wyvern rider… You’re working for the Black Fang, aren’t you?”

Vaida:
“You’re wrong there. I serve only Bern. I’m here on my own personal agenda. Tell me, boy. Are you the one who stopped Prince Zephiel’s assassin?”

Eliwood:
“…What? How did you–“

Vaida:
“Hmph. So it’s true, is it? That settles it. From now on, I’m traveling with you.”

Eliwood:
“What are you…”

Vaida:
“You saved Prince Zephiel. So, I owe you.”

Eliwood:
“But why?”

Vaida:
“I told you. I serve Bern. Prince Zephiel is our future, our hope. You saved him when he needed saving, and now I will serve you.”

Eliwood:
“I see. I’ll take you at your word.”

Vaida:
“Really… Then look for me. I’ll be joining you shortly.”

(Vaida joins)

(Versus Lloyd)

Lloyd:
“It matters not who you are. It’s too late… I will avenge my brother’s death. One by one…”

(Lloyd dies)

Lloyd:
“……No more waiting, Linus. I’m…coming…”

(After map is cleared)

(If Eliwood lands the final blow on Lloyd, this scene plays. Eliwood is at the Shrine, and Athos teleports in)

Eliwood:
“Sons of the Black Fang commander… out of respect for your strength… Please…rest in peace.”

Athos:
“You pay respects to those who fell by your own hand?”

Eliwood:
“Lord Athos. This man said he was his brother’s avenger. When men war, they form allies, and they form enemies. …And yet I……I cannot grow accustomed to all this dying.”

Athos:
“There’s nothing wrong with that. Those who can see no truth save their own often lose their way. Your doubt is your strength. Keep searching for answers. That is the path of your life.”

Eliwood:
“…The path of my life…”

(If Nino and Jaffar are alive and recruited)

Nino:
“…Brother… … … …”

Jaffar:
“……”

Nino:
“…Why? Why did it…have to… come to this…? I… I don’t understand. … … … …”

(Athos talks with the lords)

Lyn:
“Lord Athos? When did you arrive?”

Athos:
“Just now… I warped in, you know? I was watching you in my scrying crystal. The most important thing is that you’ve made it here.”

Hector:
“If that’s true, why didn’t you just magic us here in the first place?!”

Athos:
“What would that have proven? You cannot hope to succeed if you cannot trust your own strength. Your own power must drive you. That is the most important thing. Now then, shall we go? Underground… Where Bramimond awaits.”

Eliwood:
“Bramimond? One of the eight legends? Is that who you’re talking about?”

Athos:
“That’s right. Of the eight legends, only Bramimond and myself remain. Your journey here was a bit of a test, I’m afraid. I had to see if you were worthy of wielding a legendary item.”

Eliwood:
“Legendary…item?”

Athos:
“That’s right. It’s a weapon that we, the eight legends, used to defeat the dragons. With it, you will be able to sever Nergal’s power at its roots.”

Eliwood:
“A weapon to defeat Nergal…”

Athos:
“The legendary items are sealed in lands across this continent. The only one capable of removing those seals is Bramimond. Now if only we will be granted this one request.”

(Athos teleports the group underground)

Eliwood:
“It’s so dark…”

Hector:
“It’s creepy… Can’t see a thing.”

Lyn:
“Shh! …Someone’s here.”

Eliwood:
“You’re Bramimond…”

Bramimond:
“… Yes, I…suppose that is me. What do you want of me, you who live above ground?”

Lyn:
“We have a favor to ask. We seek something to help us defeat Nergal…”

Bramimond:
“That is unfortunate, for I cannot grant that which you seek. Humanity would suffer were I to remove the seals.”

Hector:
“What do you mean!? The entire world is on the brink of destruction as it is!!”

Bramimond:
“The entire world!? Why would I care about that!? The whole world can burn for all I care!!”

Hector:
“By Father Sky… Your voice… The way you talk. It keeps changing. How many…”

Athos:
“Bramimond has no self. He… She… It… Yes, it is a mirror that reflects the person addressing it. It projects no personality of its own. There are as many Bramimonds as there are people facing him. …Bramimond, do you remember me?”

Bramimond:
“…Athos. Hmm, it’s been many ages. I cannot fathom why you brought these people here. Why I sealed everything away… Do you forget why? The legendary items are not meant for human hands.”

Eliwood:
“But…we can’t stop Nergal like this! We need your power to help us save the world!”

Bramimond:
“……”

Athos:
“Bramimond, remember… We, too, are human. These people, they will not be seduced by power. They came here without my aid, using their own abilities. You observed them, did you not?”

Bramimond:
“… It’s true… They seem better, stronger than most humans. And yet, humans are frail. What guarantee do I have… that they will not succumb to that frailty, Athos?!”

Eliwood:
“A guarantee? There is none. We simply ask that you believe in us.”

Bramimond:
“…… …Once… There was a man much like you. His gaze never wandered. It was ever fixed straight ahead… …… ………”

(A bright light flashes over Elibe)

Bramimond:
“… The seals have been released. You may now do as you please. I’m tired. You will let me rest.”

(The group returns above ground)

Hector:
“Ah! It’s good to breathe the outside air again!”

Lyn:
“Bramimond is certainly a mysterious figure.”

Eliwood:
“Mm… I wonder what convinced him to release the seals.”

Athos:
“Interesting that… I believe it was darkness. A completely impenetrable darkness, the nature of which is beyond the comprehension of normal men. Regardless, you must hurry. The seals have been broken. Nergal has surely sensed this already… You must get to the blazing blade as soon as possible…”

Nergal:
“How unfortunate… You’re too late.”

Eliwood:
“Ah!”

(Nergal appears)

Eliwood:
“Nergal!”

Nergal:
“At last… At last, my power is restored. Come, Ninian, Nils. This way. Open the Dragon’s Gate for me.”

Nils:
“…N-No!”

Ninian:
“……”

Eliwood:
“You mustn’t go! Neither of you!!”

Nergal:
“Would you like to see my powers here and now? You may choose, Ninian. Obey me, or…”

Ninian:
“…If I go with you, will you let my brother go?”

Nils:
“Ninian!?”

Nergal:
“One of you should prove sufficient. ……As you wish.”

Nils:
“No! Ninian! Why!?”

Ninian:
“…Look after Lord Eliwood…”

(Ninian and Nils join hands, a bright light flashes)

Nils:
“Ninian!”

Eliwood:
“Ninian! You must not!”

Ninian:
“……”

Nergal:
“The gate will open, and I will gain unlimited power.”

Nils:
“Niniaaaaaaaan!!!”

Eliwood:
“Don’t move! Nergal!!”

Athos:
“No! Get down! Both of you!!”

(The ground shakes, Eliwood finds himself in a house)

Hector:
“Are you awake, Eliwood?”

Eliwood:
“Where…”

Hector:
“Camp. You and Nils were both knocked unconscious by Nergal’s parting gift. Do you remember?”

Eliwood:
“His power… It’s so much more than before.”

Lyn:
“If Lord Athos hadn’t erected a barrier when he did… We would have lost both you and Nils……”

Athos:
“If he’d truly wished to kill you, even my power could not have saved you.”

Eliwood:
“Ninian… To protect us, she…”

Athos:
“Even if you catch him, you can’t defeat him. Not as you are. If you wish to save the girl Ninian… The power to topple Nergal lies within the sacred weapon. Do you understand, Eliwood?”

Eliwood:
“…Yes, I know what I must do.”

(The party goes outside)

Athos:
“You must go to Ostia and take possession of Roland’s blade. But before you go… take this, Eliwood.”

Eliwood:
“This is… It’s a…”

Athos:
“That’s right, it’s a Heaven seal.”

Eliwood:
“I’m sorry, Lord Athos. These seals… They do not find me worthy.”

Athos:
“Trust me. Take it, and hold it in your hands.”

Eliwood:
“Very well. ………! …It’s……!!”

(Eliwood promotes to Knight Lord)

Eliwood:
“Lord Athos!”

Athos:
“Hm. As I thought. It finds you suitable.”

Eliwood:
“…This is incredible. My body is overflowing with power.”

Hector:
“Way to go, Eliwood!!”

Eliwood:
“Let’s go. We have to get that weapon. We will defeat Nergal and rescue Ninian!!”