Forest Village

Woman: You’re too late! Ain’t nothin’ left for you in this village. We never made trouble for no one. Honored the old laws, we did. But Desaix and them Rigelian brutes raided and pillaged us all the same! You’re with the Deliverance, ain’t ya? Then think kindly on us when ya give that dastard Desaix what’s comin’!

Young Man: Are you with the Deliverance? I’m afraid I have some ill news. One of the enemy soldiers mentioned a female knight they’re holding captive. Desaix plans to put her to death soon as an example to others…

Clive: What?! They intend to execute Mathilda?!

Young Man: I fear so, good sir knight. If she’s dear to you, you’d best march on his fortress before it’s too late.

Young Woman: Desaix’s men come here without pause to raid, pillage, and upend our lives. One of their more wicked knights even made off with some poor lass! And now the empire is trying to start a flood and put half of Zofia to ruin. *sigh* Will we never have peace?

Old Timer: Luthier and Delthea descend from the founder of our village, so they do. She was a mage, one who was said to be the champion Zofia’s finest disciple. For generations, children in their family have been born with a gift for magic, though only those in our village and the late king knew of it. So what fool told those damned Rigelians? *sigh*

Conversations

Luthier: *gasp* You there! You’re with the Deliverance, are you not?

Alm: I am. Who are you?

Luthier: My name is Luthier. Merely a humble mage from a humble village. On this day, however, I cry your aid, for my younger sister is in trouble!

Alm: What happened?

Luthier: First of all, you should know that my sister is named Delthea. She possesses magical potential beyond that of any in our village. One of Rigel’s arcanists, Tatarrah, caught wind of this and kidnapped her. He’s using his powers to control her and make her guard the northern sluice. They plan to block the sluice until it collapses and Zofia is flooded.

Alm: What?! But that would be catastrophic!

Luthier: Indeed it would. Surely you’re planning to stop them, correct? If so, I ask that you also rescue my sister. I’ll even go with you if you like. If we defeat Tatarrah, that will release his hold on her.

(If you refuse)

Luthier: Your decisions are your business. See to your own desires, then. I will be here if you find your mind changed.

(If you talk again)

Luthier: So… Will you let me accompany you or no?

Man: Soldiers of the Deliverance, I require your assistance! Gargoyles have kidnapped my daughter and taken her to the western shrine. If it is at all in your power, you must not let any harm befall her. I know I ask much, so if you manage to save her, my treasure is yours!

(After saving his daughter)

Man: I’ve been waiting for you, Deliverance! I hear you saved my daughter from the shrine to the west. I insist you help yourself to my treasure.

(If you saved the Girl from the Sylvan Shrine)

Girl: Tee hee. Thank you for coming to save me, brave sir.

Merchant’s Wife: Please, I need your help! My husband went to Zofia Castle to sell his wares, but hasn’t returned. What am I to do? Our child will be born soon, and I can’t survive without him. And actually, I heard a girl from our village was taken to the Sylvan Shrine… What if my husband was taken there as well? Oh, I can’t bear it! If you’re heading to the Sylvan Shrine, would you please look for him?

(If you talk again)

Merchant’s Wife: Did you find my husband? I think he’s being held in the Sylvan Shrine.

(If you tell her about the writing on the wall)

Merchant’s Wife: Wh-what? Aaaaaah!

Desaix’s Fortress

Fernand: Mathilda…

Mathilda: Fernand? What are you doing here? Have you come to rescue me?!

(Image of Mathilda behind bars)

Fernand: No, milady. I fear I no longer serve the Deliverance.

Mathilda: What? What do you mean?

Fernand: Exactly as I said. Sadly, Clive and I no longer share the same ideals. I have sworn my lance instead to Lord Berkut of the Rigelian Empire.

Mathilda: The general who leads our enemies? Has madness taken you?! A lance sworn to him is a lance through my heart. Don’t you care about Zofia?

Fernand: Zofia? You mean the proud kingdom whose riches fell to wild and ignorant savages? Zofia is dead to me. I have buried her and will not look back.

Mathilda: How can you say such a thing, Fernand? You and Clive were like brothers. It’s not too late to fix this. Return to the Deliverance! I know Clive would welcome you back with open arms.

Fernand: …With you by my side, I might have chosen differently.

Mathilda: Fernand?

Fernand: What is done is done. …Desaix intends to put you to death. It won’t be long now.

Mathilda: *gasp*

Fernand: On the morrow, I depart for Rigel at Lord Berkut’s side. Farewell, Mathilda.

Mathilda: Fernand, wait!

(As the battle starts)

Soldier: Chancellor! The rebels have reached the fortress!

Desaix: And damn them for it. Why can’t that Clive see reason? He would sooner have me kill his woman than lay down arms? The obstinate fool! Ah, well. It seems she is of no further use to me. …Archers! Kill that wench in the cage, but do it slowly. I want her suffering to last.

(Versus Desaix)

Desaix: It seems I vastly misestimated you. I’ll grant you that. But today you vermin will die at my hands!

(Desaix defeated)

Desaix: Damn you, Mycen… You think to…hand Zofia over to Rudolf’s pup…? T-traitorous dastard…!

(After the battle)

Tobin: We did it, Alm! Desaix is finished!

Alm: Yeah…

Tobin: Huh? What’s wrong? I thought you’d be thrilled.

Alm: I AM thrilled, but… Desaix’s dying words have been troubling me. Something about my grandfather and Emperor Rudolf.

Tobin: Huh? You sure you’re not imagining things? What would Sir Mycen and the Rigelian emperor have to do with each other?

Alm: That’s what concerns me. Something’s been bothering me lately. Something I can’t shake. It feels like every victory I secure takes me one step further from Zofia.

Tobin: Ha! Am I allowed to point out that that’s literally what’s happening? We’re a long way from Ram Village, kid. Look, I’m worried too. About my family, about everyone else we left behind… I miss them all terribly, so I get that you’re homesick. But that’s okay, Alm.

Alm: Thanks, but…I’m afraid that’s not what this is, Tobin. This is…different. *sigh*

Desaix’s Fortress Interior

(Inspecting the Elaborate Chest)

Tobin: Whoa, look at this. Hey, Alm!

Alm: You find something, Tobin?

Tobin: I sure did. Feast your eyes on this baby! You think this is the treasure Desaix stole from Zofia Castle?

Alm: Well…it certainly looks important. Should we open it?

Tobin: Whooooooa! Check the sword! That is one impressive piece of hardware! I’m just gonna—

Tobin: Hng…! Whu… Huh? This thing weighs a ton! It won’t…budge…

Lukas: This must be the Royal Sword of Zofia.

Alm: What’s that?

Lukas: Long ago, Rigel presented this sword to Zofia as a symbol of friendship. It’s a very special treasure—only one of royal blood can lift it.

Alm: Hmm… Interesting. Here, Tobin—let me have a go at it.

Tobin: You?! Pfft, please. If I can’t lift it, there’s no way that— Huh?!

(Image of Alm holding the Royal Sword)

Alm: Sometimes I don’t get you, Tobin. This thing’s light as a feather. Was this all some kind of jape? Who put you up to this?

Tobin: But…but it wasn’t a jape! Zero japes! I thought my arms would snap just trying to lift it!

Alm: Hmm. But that means…

Lukas: By the gods… You can wield the Royal Sword! …Hmm, what DOES that mean? Alm, are you…

Alm: …… O-oh, come on. It’s just some legend. You don’t actually BELIEVE it, right? I’m sure everyone can use this thing! Well, except Tobin. And…um… Look, I’m sure the Zofian royals made up a story to keep folks from nicking it.

Lukas: …Well, that didn’t exactly work out now, did it? But perhaps you’re right. Tales do have a habit of getting taller with time. Either way, it seems clear the blade belongs with you.

Alm: Are you sure? I mean, we could have other people give it a shot.

Lukas: It wouldn’t work. You alone seem able to tame this legend. And we wouldn’t want to see so fine a treasure wasted, would we? Take it.

Alm: Well…all right…

Conversations

Clive: Mathilda!

Mathilda: *gasp* Clive! Oh, how I have missed you, my sweet Clive!

Clive: Forgive me, Mathilda. I should never have left you to suffer for so long. Speak now your loathing for me, and I will gladly bear it all.

Mathilda: Oh, stop your nonsense. You did what any commander ought. Your judgment was sound. And I bear the blame for my capture, not you. I was careless. So let us speak no more of blame.

Clive: As you wish.

Mathilda: Good. Now, I wonder what comes next…

Clive: What indeed…

Alm: ……

Gray: What a woman! Yowza! …Um, Alm? You’re blushing.

Alm: Wh-what? No I’m not!

Mathilda: Ah. You must be Alm.

Alm: Y-yes, milady.

Mathilda: I would not be alive if not for your fine leadership. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Alm. And with your permission, I wish to take up arms at your side. Will you have me?

(If you refuse)

Mathilda: Very well. I have confidence in my ability to fight, but will respect your judgment. Please come find me if you change your mind.

(If you talk again)

Mathilda: Yes? What is it? I stand ready to fight for you. You need only speak the words.

Alessio: What a mess I’ve gotten myself into…

Alessio: You see, Chancellor Desaix asked me to procure him a coral ring. But what happened when I acquired the coral shards and crafted the ring? The damned Deliverance came along and killed the buyer! I sunk all I had into this coral ring. If I don’t sell it, I’ll be ruined! Er…say. Do YOU want a coral ring? It’s crafted from the finest coral fragments a merchant can scrounge up! Since you seem woefully poor… Hmm… Well, I’ll cut you a deal and part with the ring for a mere 30 silver marks.

(If you accept)

Alessio: Then we have a deal! …And thank the Mother we do! Now I can finally go home.

(If you refuse)

Alessio: Hmph. Fine, skinflint!

(If you talk again)

Alessio: Ho there, friend! Are you interested in the sale of the century? This is a coral ring made from only the finest coral fragments. And I am willing to part with it for the low, low price of 30 silver marks.

Soldier: The Rion Shield? No, I ain’t seen it. But I hear that Desaix sold off some of his plunder to Grieth.

Leaving the Fortress

(If Mathilda is alive)

Mathilda: I saw Fernand. He visited me in my cell the other day.

Clive: I see. Then you know what has transpired.

Mathilda: Yes. It feels like a different age when the three of us started the Deliverance. Though we were once brethren, we now must come to blows.

Clive: …… I wish I could stand by my choices, unwavering. I have always done what I thought to be right, even when my heart disagreed. But now I must face cold reality.

Mathilda: What do you mean?

Clive: I may have made a terrible error.

Alm: Huh? What are you talking about?

Clive: ……

Gray: Oh no. No, no, no. We’re not going down THAT old road now. Don’t you dare say that making Alm the Deliverance’s leader was a mistake. We’ve been through way too much to start in with second-guessing now!

Tobin: Yeah! I mean, I know you lost a dear friend, and that you’re hurting. But don’t take it out on Alm. He’s been doing as good a job as anyone!

Alm: Would you all please calm down?

Tobin: But Alm—

Alm: Clive is clearly privy to some information he can’t share with us. Am I right, Clive?

Clive: Alm, please…

Alm: You’ve been acting strange for a while now. Whatever secret you’re harboring, I know it weighs heavy on you. I’ve been scared to broach the subject because I could sense it was about me.

Clive: ……

Alm: But if nothing else, I want you to know this… and I will be honored for each moment I can fight for the Deliverance. …You know, a friend once confronted me about this. She wanted to know why a nobody like me would risk so much to fight. The answer was, I just wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. When Lukas came to the village, that was my “when.” Don’t you see? Every one of you has set my life moving in ways I never imagined. I want to repay that kindness. Clive, Lukas, Mathilda—let me help you. Let me help Fernand.

Clive: But he has insulted you at every step.

Alm: Oh, I’m well aware. And I can’t claim to understand his motivations for all of that. But he helped you and Mathilda found the Deliverance, didn’t he? So he deserves my respect, no matter how he’s treated me in the past. If he returns to the Deliverance, I’ll gladly welcome him back.

Clive: You would do such? I cannot speak for Fernand, but… Thank you, Alm.

(If Mathilda died)

Alm: Clive, I’m… I’m so sorry about Mathilda. I couldn’t save her. I didn’t have what it takes.

Clive: …No. You did not.

Alm: Huh?

Clive: You have ruined everything! First you cost me my best friend, and now the woman I love is dead! Is that what you would have me say?! …It will not close these wounds.

Alm: Look, I’m…

Clive: …… I wish I could stand by my choices, unwavering. I have always done what I thought to be right, even when my heart disagreed. But now I must face cold reality. I may have made a terrible error.

Alm: What are you talking about, Clive?

Gray: Oh no. No, no, no. We’re not going down THAT old road now. Don’t you dare say that making Alm the Deliverance’s leader was a mistake. We’ve been through way too much to start in with second-guessing now!

Tobin: Yeah! I mean, I know you lost so much, and that you’re hurting. But don’t take it out on Alm. He’s been doing as good a job as anyone!

Clair:The two boys will hold their tongues! My brother will not be subjected to your abuses!

Tobin: Ah…

Clair:You are a loathsome cad, Gray. As are you, Tobin. Clive has just lost someone dear to his heart. If you possessed hearts yourselves, you would leave him in peace to grieve!

Tobin: B-but…

Alm: Would you all please calm down?

Tobin: But Alm—

Alm: Clive is clearly privy to some information he can’t share with us. Am I right, Clive?

Clive: Alm, please…

Alm: You’ve been acting strange for a while now. Whatever secret you’re harboring, I know it weighs heavy on you. I’ve been scared to broach the subject because I could sense it was about me.

Clive: ……

Alm: But if nothing else, I want you to know this… I will always be grateful for the trust you have placed in me, and I will be honored for each moment I can fight for the Deliverance. She wanted to know why a nobody like me would risk so much to fight. The answer was, I just wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. I HAD to leave Ram Village. It was just a matter of when. When Lukas came to the village, that was my “when.” I want to repay that kindness. Clive, Lukas—let me help you. Let me help Fernand.

Clive: Fernand? But he has insulted you at every step.

Alm: And I can’t claim to understand his motivations for all of that. But he helped you and Mathilda found the Deliverance, didn’t he? He’s part of the reason we’ve come this far. So he deserves my respect, no matter how he’s treated me in the past. If he returns to the Deliverance, I’ll gladly welcome him back.

Clive: You would do such? …Pray forgive me, Alm. I withdraw my words from before. But there are yet matters I need time to consider.

Alm: Take all the time you need.