Battle 7: vs Dreadnought of Bertilia Lv 17

You take a moment to catch your breath as the massive, rising plume of smoke in the distance grows ever closer.

The Dreadnought of Bertila, a veritable arsenal on legs. A few minutes ago, Castle High began performing minor boosts to the left and right to avoid the long-range fire of the fortress. Your fingers are starting to hurt from the strain of holding onto a guard rail near Castle High's open main gates, trying to keep yourself stable.

"Be ready for the worst!" Rosemary calls out over the rush of wind. "If anything happens, look out for each other until I can get to you! Just keep calm and collected, and I'm sure we can do this!"

"Panic... confusion... and deep within... the possibility of betrayal..." Zaffre mutters to himself as he looks up toward the sky, just audible enough for you to hear him.

"What was that!?" Rosemary asks.

"I'm beginning to see the story of this battle written in the heavens. I see a house of sticks collapsed and burning, and in its midst, a blade plunged deep into the heart of a beloved. Mmhhhh... I only hope these portents are of our enemies, or else--"

"YO, WE'RE ENTERING THE DROP ZONE!" A booming voice calls from a rampart above. "GET YOURSELVES READY TO JUMP, BROS!" You look back outside the gate and gasp, the might of Bertila laid out beneath you.

The amount of steel used to construct this fortress is more than you've ever seen in your life -- stairways, ramps, ladders, walls, floors, all forged from sturdy, unyielding metal. Eight massive steel legs churn and crack the earth beneath the massive structure, causing tremors that appear to shake and destroy all surroundings. It's very obvious to you why assaulting this fortress from the ground would have been impossible. You try not to imagine what it would be like if you were in a town in this behemoth's way.

"Alright, everyone check your Landing Magic Seals and goggles one last time!" Rosemary calls, retrieving her own goggles and pressing them on. "You all remember how to use the seal, yes? Just crush it in your hand before impact. Don't wait too long though, it should be active for at least 5 sec--"

"INCOMING!"

With a sudden, gut-wrenching shudder, you find the floor of Castle High angling sharply beneath you as an explosion ruptures a nearby wall! With barely enough time to secure your goggles, all you can do is turn yourself toward the open gates as you fall from the sky!!

With the wind rushing past you and your hair flying in the wind, you turn to find the rest of Regiment 1-31 beside you, and the rest of Castle High's forces not far behind. The newly-fit arcane artillery of Castle High is blasting down at the Dreadnought below, but to minimal obvious effect. You begin looking for a safe place to land. There seem to be two large, open areas to hit: one is overlooking the entire upper deck, and seems to be near the fortress' command bridge; the other is near the Dreadnought's smoke plume, probably leading toward the engines...

"Move, girl!" You hear Zaffre yell. You turn to see him kick off of Rosemary, sending her tumbling through the air-- and a half-second later, see a trail of red-hot bullets mar the space she was occupying! You hear several more bullet volleys behind you, along with screams of pain and the sound of magical counter-attacks!

"This is Gold Leader 'Far Sights' broadcasting, all units, come around for another pass!" a static-masked voice calls, as you see the source of the assault: mechanical suits with wings and flaming thrusters. They fly in front of you from several angles, coming together and smoothly entering a tight V formation as they turn back around! Their armor is painted shining gold, along with various unique markings and battle scars. The voice calls out again, "attention enemy combatants: surrender immediately or we will wipe you out."

You gulp as you fumble for your weapon: seems like the fight's going to start before you even touch ground!

You and the rest of the army are currently descending from the sky! While you are falling, your ability to move or dodge is extremely limited: any Agility-based defense rolls will immediately fail unless you have equipment that allows you to fly or hover. For reasons you'll see below, you may want to avoid getting hit! Additionally, you will be unable to perform any Melee attacks, and Ranged and Magic attacks will have reduced effectiveness -- though of course, if you can find a way to use the situation to your advantage, you can avoid these restrictions.

You will also need to pick a landing location during your actions. Your two options are The Upper Deck and The Lower Deck. As mentioned above, the upper deck is closer to the command bridge of the Dreadnought, where its leaders pilot and control the fortress. The Lower Deck is closer to the engineering areas of the Dreadnought, which control its engines and legs. This metallic behemoth will be nigh-impossible to destroy by brute force alone, so aim for a weak point! Please note: if you take damage while Falling, you will be moved to a random landing location. Try to maintain control as you descend!

Any player who does not specify a landing zone will have one randomly chosen.

You will reach the ground at the end of Turn 1, so just try to hold out! Oh, and try not to lose your Landing Magic Seal, or you might end up a stain on the Dreadnought's deck. Good luck!

...It's over.

Bran averts his eyes. He's simply not comfortable with what he's truly capable of. On the battlefield before him lied thousands of bodies and destruction he could not even begin to imagine without seeing it for himself. He had something a big picture mindset, but he tried to focus on the trees over the forest-which helped him out quite a lot for quite a while now, since he meant he could ignore all the bodies and the vandalism. But now, as the battle was over, he couldn't stop but look at the nearly wrecked castle on legs and think that he did more to damage that thing and everyone on it then everyone else here.

At least it wasn't totally destroyed... Bran consoles himself, but it falls on deaf ears. These were his own, no doubt ringing from all the thunder. That wasn't even a metaphor. Not entirely, at least. He didn't really want to hear. What exactly he was capable of along with the storm spirit he once played catch with was too much to ignore, and he couldn't help but think it was all his fault. He tried to avoid this. And to think when he started out he had only picked up magic to defend himself... Now he wasn't just a soldier. He was a siege weapon.

Right now, Bran couldn't help but feel like the only thing more fragile than his psyche was the world around him.

The moment the final weapon landed on the deck, Arthur let out a heavy breath--his arms, shoulders and back immediately falling, head tipping backwards to face the sky. Were any enemy on the deck to strike by surprise, they would no doubt have caught him with his guard completely lowered... but denying the strange power behind Severa's voice felt like denying whether or not an apple would fall to the ground if one dropped it: at least in the moment, it felt like there was no need.

After turning around, he remained still for a long moment... then, the stiffness at the corner of his lips broke as he choked back a quiet sob. Tears that had been welling up in his eyes fell all at once, rolling down, joining the rain, dripping rapidly from his jaw.

This battle was finally over... but the path he resolved to take had only just begun. Though he decided to become Castle High's protector earlier, his abilities could never truly reach a worthy level of polish if he didn't commit to them with his spirit: without accepting the terms of that grave commitment, his hesitation would limit the capacity of his effort.

It happened effortlessly--and far too quickly for him to even consider hesitating--while trading blows with Selvenade. He remembered how the world seemed to slow down... While twisting to break Bolevask's path, he thought of the man's words, of who he had become, of the reason why he had no choice but to stand there.

To stand where he was now, protecting others and offering them his strength... even if he was crying now, it brought him joy he thought he would never feel again. Yet the final commitment could never be something so easy.

Preparing to block a lethal blow from an unblockable blade, Arthur's spirit flared with the courage to face the death which awaited at the end of his path. Rather than protect himself from it, he marched towards the attack resolutely...

..determined to falter in mind and sword to nothing less than his final adversary.

Selvenade awakens with a start, his face and body coated in cold sweat. His chest rises and falls rapidly, his muscles tensing as his mind attempts to leap back into battle--!
"Easy there!" Giada cuts in before he makes any sudden moves. "Everything's alright. You're safe."
His widened eyes fall upon the engineer reclining in a chair on the opposite end of a room, a repeater rifle loosely held in her off-hand. Seeing her, his breathing begins to slow, tension leaving his shoulders as he sits back. He begins to scan the room he's within, finding stone-brick walls and a wide window, letting in rays of sunlight emerging from dark clouds. The shadowy nimbuses refresh his memory. His throat aches as he gets out, "The battle is over, then?"

Giada gives him a nod, sitting up to see his face more clearly. "Ended a couple hours ago. Some causalties on both sides. Just as many from falls and mechanical hazards as guns and swords, I've heard."

The commander-in-chief lets out a long breath, his fatigue seeming to magnify, "...and all that pain and death for nothing."

"Yeah, it really was," Giada says plainly. "At least it seems no one wants a war." She sits up straighter, stretching her arms. "Bertila will have to answer for what it did today, but I don't think that yelling about losing your homes and families will end up true."

"I wasn't--" he sit ups, before wincing, clutching at his chest as he lays back down. His hand grasps at a carefully wrapped bandage. "My injury... wait..." he looks back toward Giada with a questioning expression, "what happened to me? Last I can remember is standing up against that Silver Lion--"

"His name's Arthur," she corrects him, "and you should go thank him after this for not slicing you right in half. He knocked you unconscious, I pulled you out of that burning suit, got you some medical aid, and got the other commanders to agree to leave me in charge of watching you 'til you woke up."

"You've... been sitting here, watching over me this whole time?" His features soften, "then... you do remember me?"

She sighs, shaking her head. "Not even a little." She tilts her head a fraction, squinting, "Well, maybe a little. I sorta feel like I know... something about you, but that might just be because of how weird you've treated me. But..." she gets up from her seat, leaving her weapon behind as she approaches his bed. "I'm here because I want to know. You don't seem like the kind of person to lie, so you must have really known me." She gives a shrug, "Feels like a bit of a long shot, but I guess, if I can't remember who I am... I'd at least like to know who I am."

Giada crosses her arms, looking down, "tomorrow morning, we're going to bring you and your forces to Castle Low. You can tell them your side of the story there. And before you try anything, it doesn't matter what you say: I'm sticking with the folks up here no matter what. But with all that said..." she bobs her head around, trying to think of how best to ask the question.

"You... would like me to tell you what I know of you?" Selvenade finishes, raising a curious eyebrow.

She looks back up at him, a genuine plea, "...please?"

Selvenade takes a moment to breathe, shakes his head with a smile, and pushes himself up against the back of the bed, fully postured. As he does so, Giada takes a seat at the bed's foot, ripples of anxiety running through as she drums her fingers.

"Where to begin... well, you and I were part of the same Regiment back in the day. I was a newly appointed officer, while you were a freshly trained military engineer. That was... well, nearly eight years ago, now..." His eyed go glossy as he remembers the past.

"Our Regiment became a powerful unit, but you and I in particular became powerful allies," he nods his head. "Our styles of action and command synerigzed perfectly. My strength came in leading from the front, inspiring others with speeches and swordplay..." his eyes refocus on Giada. "You, on the other hand, caused great change from the back. You gave no grand speeches nor heroic charges, but were a leader in the small things you accomplished: leaving an injured soldier a care package, shining everyone's armor the day before a battle," he smiles, "sitting us all down for a two hour tactical dissertation, heh. Whenever I asked you why you did it all, never even giving others the opportunity to thank you, you would just shrug at me, and say you were doing your part like everyone else."

Giada's focus turned inward: she supposed all these things did sound like her enough... but could she really forget all of that? She asked Selvenade, "what happened to me? If you're the Commander-In-Chief, was I some, high-ranking person too?"

Selvenade shook his head, "you also weren't one to seek upward ascent. Though you were offered greater positions, you remained at the rank of Grand Military Engineer. You had your own team and project workshop, and told me that was all you ever truly wanted." He took another breath, "you were always a protector before anything else, Giada. On more than one occasion, I had to cover for you when you tried to chew out a high-ranking official for an unethical attack--"

"Sounds familiar," she narrows her eyes on him.

"...Yes," he slowly agrees, casting his eyes elsewhere. "...Now that you say it... perhaps if you had still been around, you would have chewed me out too, and stopped this doomed attack..."

"What did happen to me?" she asked, not particularly wanting to listen to his remorse. "Considering when I woke up here, I assume I disappeared about a year ago?"

"A year?" Selvenade turned back to her, quizzically. "What? Giada, you've been missing for nearly three years." Seeing Giada's surprise, he continued, "and you didn't disappear. You... ergh..." he puts a hand to his head, eyes shutting tight. "This... pains me to say... but you deserve to know..."

"Know what!?" she badgered.

"You had been working in a new field of advanced robotics. A voyage into some ruins in Rosalia turned up some technology you were able to reverse-engineer... you worked on creating your own machines that would be able to perform dangerous tasks and missions in a human's stead. Dangerous repairs, scouting, things of that sort. When you made strong progress, however, the military heads stepped in and commanded you to create battle-ready automatons. A metal army. You refused, of course, but their order couldn't be overturned, despite my own efforts. Thus... you destroyed your research and fled south, to Rosalia. The remains of that research... were used to create the Dreadnought." He finishes, tensing up, expecting Giada's response.

"They took the research I was doing to save lives and made that metal eyesore!?" she yelled, shaking her head in disgust. Her hands balled into fists "Urgh! No wonder I left!"

Selvenade simply nods, "you said farewell to me before you departed. Told me you may come back some day, but there was a better cause for you to help in. Some adventurers had asked for your assistance a few weeks prior. Requested your help tracking down a local villain who could control stars and ideas, tied to your research. You said a name, but it was so long ago, I can't--"

"Azure," Giada breathes, feeling her skin suddenly grow clammy, a crawling sensation running down her spine as her eyes go wide. Even only vaguely knowing its owner, the two-syllables left her lips like ice cubes. "I... I remember that name... why out everything is that what I remember?"

"Azure..."

Weapons
2x T-77 Repeater Rifle
Power: 70
+3 Agility
+2 Insight
-1 Strength
-1 Spirit
+Ignore up to 10% of enemy damage resistance
+Every subsequent attack with this weapon on the same turn gains an additional +10 Power

A potent, long-ranged rifle made from hardsteel, carbon fiber, and high-grade plastics. Its design encourages a rapid-fire assault with its armor-piercing rounds.

Piston Fist Gauntlets
Power: 65
+100 Max HP
+2 Strength
-1 Insight
+Whenever you attack successfully, attack again at half Power. Repeat up to once.

Reforged weapon of Bertila's piston-fisted brawlers. Their heavy plating and rapid-fire capability make them great for a prolonged, up-close offensive.

Armor
Armor of the Castle
+400 Max HP
+2 Strength
+2 Charisma
-2 Agility
-1 Spirit
+Once per battle, you may swap two of your stats for the rest of the battle.

The result of Giada's efforts to reforge and remake Selvenade's 'Armor of the Dreadnought'. The armor's massive plates empower and defend its wearer, while still granting a portion of the original armor's augmentative abilities. It does slow the wearer down, however.

Specialty Armor
2x Flight Booster Pack
+2 Agility
+1 Insight
+May be activated once per battle to gain Flying for two turns.

The roaring boosters of Bertila's flying forces. Though they're not as effective for those without armor made for flight, they still allow their wearer to soar through the sky for a short period of time.

Consumables

Refinement Seal
+Refines any piece of equipment or crafting material, increasing its power and abilities
-Is consumed on use

A magical seal that refines whatever it is applied to.

Shard of the Dreadnought's Soul
+Permanently increase any stat by 1 except Strength or Spirit
-Is consumed on use

An ebbing, magical item that embodies the determination and soul of those who forged and fought upon the Dreadnought.

Crafting Materials

3x Hardsteel Ingot
An ingot of Bertila's signature hardsteel, forged within their mountaintop smithies. Especially useful in forging large weapons and armor, or for reinforcing weaker, more flexible materials.

2x Advanced Electronics
Carefully engineered transistors, wires, registers, and diodes. A primary component in crafting high-tech equipment and robotics.

2x Lightsteel Ingot
An ingot of Bertila's signature lightsteel, forged within their mountaintop smithies. Especially useful in forging lightweight weapons and armor, and the primary resource in their flying machines.

2x Lightsteel Chainmesh
Chainmail forged from lightsteel, giving it considerable strength without loss in flexibility. Great for creating or reinforcing lighter armor.

1x Focusheart Lens
A delicately engineered piece of glass specifically designed to focus light or mana into a powerful laser. Allows the creation of laser-based weaponry.

2x Insta-Glue
The best adhesive on the continent, allowing for any two items to be near-permanently glued together. Watch your fingers.

1x Steam Pipe Assembly
The reclaimed pipes of the Dreadnought's massive steam-powered refinery.

1x Radio Broadcast Antenna
A piece of metal made from conductive materials that can convert energy or electricity into broadband waves, allowing that energy to travel large distances.

The morning meeting among the commanders after every battle is a ritual you've managed to get well used to by now. This morning's meeting is a lengthy one, beginning with a casualty report from Scarlett and Rosemary. Losses are something you've gotten used to hearing of as well (unfortunately), and are at least glad to hear don't extend past several dozen. Afterward, Russel confirms that he's made contact with Castle Low, and that they can see to getting the Bertilan soldiers there this afternoon. You readily agree to help with the escort, earning the thanks of the officers. Corbin gives a short explanation of the damage the castle has sustained, and confirms the Bertilans (which he doesn't shy away from calling 'prisoners') will be ready for transport in a few hours.

Finally, the eyes of the table fall upon Giada, nervously picking at her fingernails. Aware of the looks, she sits up a hair straighter, "repairs to the castle have already started, and we should be ready to move again by the end of the week. Our salvage of the Bertilan's tech and metallurgy have given us exceptional resources for upgrading our equipment and the castle. Along with repairs, we'll be adding on some hardsteel plating to up our defenses. As for the Dreadnought, it won't be going anywhere any time soon. Its engines and hydraulics are fried, and it would take a dedicated team of engineers at least a month to get it operational again." She gives a shrug, "guess it's up to the higher ups in Castle Low to decide what to do with it."

"Great to hear repairs and upgrades are linin' up!" Russel nods with a smile. A momentary hush fills the air, prompting the commander to nonchalantly add, "and Selvenade?"

"Yeah, sorry, was gonna get to that," she apologizes, rolling her shoulder. "We talked for a while last night. Heard plenty about myself and Bertila..."

She gives a recount of the previous evening's events, though her pace grows slower as she approaches the end.

"He said that I left after that... and that I joined with a group of people from Rosalia to fight some local threat. A villain who could control thoughts and stars. And when he was trying to think of his name, it came to me in an instant:--"

Simultaneously, Rosemary, Scarlett, Giada, and Russel all speak the name, a painful chill running down their backs:

"Azure."

Giada simply nods, "I thought you all might do that. Yeah... considering that thing about controlling thoughts, I wonder if that might be how we all lost our memories..."

"I'll start sending out teams to look into who... erm, that, is," Scarlett says, not particularly wanting to repeat the name again. "Must be some reports out there somewhere. It's so weird how vividly I can remember it though. Almost like..."

Russel finished for her, "like it was something we wanted to make sure we didn't forget."

Corbin sits with his hands folded, letting out a breath. "Perhaps I don't share the reaction you all do because I remember something of this Azure. As foggy as my memory is, I do remember talk of him from the town I lived in."

"Who were they?" Russel asked.

"I never saw him or anything," Corbin explains, "but he was said to be some kind of terrorist. Attacked without rhyme or reason, wiping out whole towns in an evening with his magic. That said, attacks from him were pretty spread out, only every few months, and they were so hard to predict or follow, no one bothered. Except us, apparently."

Scarlett nods, "I bet this guy's the same one we saw in that video from Del-Zum-Ri. The same one that re-awoke the Flying Fortress..."

"Azure, hm?" Zaffre says, having no such hesitation with the name. "Why a member of our ancient people would go about destroying random towns is beyond me... I'd question if he's gone mad, were it not such a poor reflection upon myself."

"So we were out trying to fight him..." Russel taps his temple, "and then... what? We all woke up here in Castle High? Did we win? Lose? Did we ever even get to him?"

Corbin shakes his head, "I'm not sure it's best for us to dwell on such impossible questions too long. We know why we're here: to protect Rosalia from the threats it's facing. No matter what might have happened, that's a fact."

The other four commanders nod in agreement.

Scarlett sighs, dropping her head into a hand. "I'll send some of the recon division out to find anything they can on this guy and report back. I hate being a piece in someone else's game, but we can't exactly drop what we're doing and go have an investigation."

Russel gives the group a thumbs-up, lightening the mood, "Corbin's right, we're here for a purpose, and no matter what, we've still got work to do. Once we fight off all the problems we're facing, we can take some time to figure this out. Right now though, we still have a really important job to attend to. So for now, everyone head back to your stations, and we'll head out for Castle Low in a couple hours! Sound good?"

With more nods of agreement, the others begin to file out of the room. As they do, however, Zaffre floats over toward you, a curious look in his eyes. "I think your place in all this intrigues me most of all. Those visions of yours were what this castle down this destiny, after all."

You begin to edge for the door as his eyes lose focus on you. Zaffre mutters aloud, "Azure... my twin. Heh. I hope whatever your plan is, you know better than to think me some pawn..."

You and the rest of the army detachment sent to escort the Bertilan forces to Castle Low make your way through the surrounding town. Your feet find purchase against a gently sloping street, the town built entirely upon a hillside with Castle Low at its top. The townsfolk emerge to watch the procession. Adults in simple clothing grimly move between looking upon the captured enemies, and the still-looming figure of the Dreadnought as they whisper silent prayers. The children, on the other hand, seem to be whispering about battles and heroes as they point out the soldiers' battle-worn weapons. A group of youths point to you in particular, their eyes wide as they marvel at your armor and weapon--you turn away before you start to stare. The townspeople seem modest, but not unhappy. Still, you can't help but ask why you don't see many guards about. The only two you've seen whatsoever are the ones currently leading the procession: a pair of women dressed in dark red uniforms, with golden belts and buttons that matched their tasseled shoulderpads, and knee-high black boots rising up beige long pants, a saber and pistol on each of their waists. You can't help but wonder where Castle Low's guards would be if not here, escorting enemy forces...

Then, glancing up, you realize you've reached the castle's gates, and feel your breath escape you. Though the castle's might and majesty were clear from afar, only by now passing through the gates of Castle Low can you appreciate its magnitude. All around you, the architecture's beauty only seems comparable to its strength. Arches and flying buttresses soar between its uncountable spired towers, the stone smoother than any silk you've seen. The castle's marble walls shine with radiance despite the patches of moss and harline cracks that reveal its ancient age. Stained glass windows among its towers and above its central keep shine beautiful purples, golds and blues, depicting scenes of sunlight bringing the earth to life and the castle standing above all the land. Proud, erect statues holding spears and halberds guard the inner wall, intricate, beauteous sigils on their chest still emanating of protective magic. Now well within the castle's walls, much of the sky's blue is hidden by towers of white and spires of red, Castle Low's majesty defying the beauty of the heavens themselves. As your footsteps echo upon a path of perfectly cut cobblestones, you can't help but find yourself small, dominated by the castle's overwhelming presence.

"Almost feels like walking into a cathedral," Russel breathes, echoing thoughts similar to your own.
"Yeah, a cathedral that could stare down a fucking army," his sister adds.
"My father used to tell me that Castle Low was built when the world was young." Rosemary marvels, doing a small spin to see it all. "To eternally protect those around it... and now, I can't help but believe it!"
"A symbol of the country's power and right," Corbin nods. "Architecture was the original means of communicating with the masses, after all. A way to send a message to an entire country without writing a letter or saying a sound: 'Castle Low watches over all.'"
"A feat of human brilliance," Giada sighs wistfully. "Kinda humbling, really. Even with all our technological power, I'm not sure we could recreate something like this."
"Repulsive," Zaffre spits, a look of disgust on his face as he keeps his eyes on their path. "Such arrogance... this castle holds no reverence for this world or its greater mysteries. It's message is one of domination..."
Corbin frowns a hair deeper, "honestly, I've never been a fan of the Castle myself for similar reasons."
Russel pouts, "oh come on guys, it's like, a protective message! Watching over everyone, keeping them safe."
Hmph," Zaffre glares at him, "the only difference between domination and protection is perspective, boy. And there is no more deceitful snake than that which fools you into mistaking one for the other."

Finally, you and the others are escorted into the castle's central chamber. You expect there to be some king on a throne, wearing a gilded crown and long regal robes, but you only find another pair of soldiers flanking a young military man. His attire isn't dissimilar from the others, sporting the same red uniform and golden details, but the numerous badges and stars on his chest and the large, golden amulet around his neck tell you he's of higher rank.

"General Toleann!" the soldiers leading your procession shout and salute in perfect unison. One of them then steps forward and continues, "presenting the rogue combatants identifying themselves as 'Castle High', as well as their captured Bertilan forces, including Bertila's Commander-In-Chief Selvenade!"

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Toleann responds, returning the salute. Despite not being much older than Russel, his voice and presence demand attention. "You and Melanna stand guard at the inner gates until you are relieved."

"Yes sir!" both soldiers once again say in unison, marching in tight formation to the procession's rear.

"...'rogue combatants'?" Scarlett asks aloud, raising an eyebrow to the general.
"Scarlett, please don't!" Russel asks her in a stage whisper.

"Yes, 'rogue combatants'" Toleann repeats, no change in his tone. "I'd been hoping to speak with you all for quite a while now, actually. Due to your... well, unique method of operation, my messengers were never able to contact you." He crosses his arms, looking among the commanders, "from what I understand, you all believe yourselves and your castle to serve Rosalia by finding and eliminating emerging threats before they can reach us. Correct?"

"Yes! Uh, sir." Russel responds.

Scarlett lets out a breath through her nose, "but you've never heard of us until a few months ago, have you?"
The general shakes his head, "I have not, no. Nor is there any historical record of a 'Castle High.'"

"What!?" Russel gawks.
"Yeah..." Rosemary sighs. "I... I'm sorry. I knew for quite a while, b-but, I only asked Scarlett to look into it recently."
"And getting struck by lightning is a good way to get me behind on shit," Scarlett adds. "But yeah. I never found a report of Castle High existing before about four months ago. Though I figured there might be some kind of historical record if we came here and asked."
Giada glared at her, "and why didn't you tell us this before?"
"I did," she responds crossly, "and said I'd look into it. Well I did, and never found anything else! Kinda hard to report on non-news while I'm already organizing a hundred and thirty people to get us the necessary information for every one of our life-and-death battles. Next time, I'll make sure to give a full fucking run down of all the things we don't know. In fact, want me to start now?"

"That's enough," Toleann cuts in, causing the commanders to turn their attention back to him. "Now, don't misunderstand me: Rosalia is indebted to you for your work. In all honesty, the amount of influence Castle Low is able to push upon the country's problems is... less than satisfactory. Though we don't lack strength, our manpower and ability to transport said power simply can't keep up with the country's ongoing problems. We do the best with what we have, but having more hands to lighten the load has been a god send. On behalf of all of Rosalia--" he strikes his breast, "I thank you."

"Absolutely!" Russel shines proudly. "I guess even if we're not 'official,' we still uphold our castle's values of protecting the country from the future. That's what we're all up there for."

"Yes, well, speaking of which..." he turns his attention to the soldiers in the procession's center, the unarmed forces of Bertila. "Now we'll need to decide what to do with these people..."

"General Toleann," Selvenade speaks up, "I humbly request that you show my soldiers mercy. They are guilty of being loyal soldiers following my orders, nothing more. The path of the Dreadnought and its devastation to your country lay squarely upon my own shoulders."

The general is silent for a few seconds before responding, "I respect your responsibility, Commander-In-Chief Selvenade, but I certainly can't just send your soldiers back to your country. And even if only following orders, the question of 'war crimes' is one that will be asked among my people for the pain and devastation you have caused..."

"...Excuse me general," Giada speaks up, "if I could make a suggestion?"

"You've all earned a voice in this matter, by all means."

"You could utilize the manpower and expertise of Bertila's forces to reinforce Castle Low's capabilities. Don't get me wrong, you wouldn't leave them unsupervised, and wouldn't arm many of them, but many of Bertila's citizens have experience in metalworking and forging. You could not only offload work onto them and let your own forces be more productive, but they could even help make you better vehicles and machines to mobilize your forces."

Corbin shakes his head, "I see what you're thinking Giada, but letting people who have killed entire towns of civilians, not to mention our own allies, basically work as sub-contractors seems... fraught."
"And seems like way more than they deserve!" Scarlett adds with a fury. "Come on, these people have been brainwashed their whole lives to hate us an our country--the moment Castle High left, they'd probably start a rebellion or something and make things even worse!"

"If keeps my soldiers out of prison cells, I will command them to serve Rosalia as you say," Selvenade offers.
"Sorry chump, but I don't exactly find you a trustworthy source," Scarlett glares icy daggers into him. "I heard your talking with Arthur in the battle. I bet you'd make that promise now, then break it and say it was 'a worthy tactic' or some shit."
"I have nothing left to offer you but my word and honor," the Commander-in-Chief offers, his shoulders and head dropping.

The Morning Commander Meeting: Giada summarizes her talk with Selvenade. In particular, she tells them how she left Bertila when a group of Rosalians asked her to help track down a man named Azure several years ago, who could control thoughts and stars. The other commanders recognize the name Azure and are similarly unnerved. They postulate this is the same person who they saw in the video from the colossus, who seems to have awoken and is piloting the Flying Fortress, and presumably wiped their memories. Corbin explains that, from his memory growing up, Azure was a terrorist who would wipe out towns every few months that authorities never thought worth hunting down--though apparently, their group did. Zaffre wonders why someone of his people would seek random violence, questioning if Azure has gone mad. Russel wonders whether they ever found Azure, and if they did, whether they won or lost to end up in the current circumstance. Corbin reminds them that they're here to protect the country no matter what, which all agree to. Scarlett says she'll have the recon division look into Azure and report back any findings. Zaffre remarks that your vision is what started this, and wonders if Azure thinks he'll be his pawn.

Entering the Castle: Castle Low is a beautiful, magnificent castle with some signs of wear and a very small number of guards. Zaffre finds it repulsive, a symbol of domination, while the other commanders marvel at it.

Castle Meeting: Commanders meet General Toleann, leader of Castle Low's military. He says that he's never heard of Castle High, and there has never been one, a fact that doesn't surprise Rosemary or Scarlett. Scarlett explains that all reports point to Castle High only existing in the last several months. Toleann then turns his attention to what to do with the Bertilan forces. Giada argues they should be put to work to improve Castle Low's failing logistics, but Corbin and Scarlett are hesitant to trust the enemy with helping their country.

The Army of the Aethon Sol - Lvl 20 Crusaders Against the Arcane

Reconnaissance Report: The Church of the Aethon Sol is a large religious organization scattered throughout this and surrounding countries. Worshiping Iros, god of light and charity, the followers of the church are usually peaceful individuals. The sole exception is their hatred of magic and its practitioners, a fact that makes their worship less prominent in this country. On rare occasion, the church has been known to organize crusades into lands they deem especially tainted in order to weed out witchcraft, though these typically only targeted specific towns. The crusade currently sweeping in from the east is by far the largest ever recorded, with troops outnumbering our army 3 to 2. A significant number of these combatants are Knights of the Aethon Sol, highly trained and incredibly dangerous warriors. It is currently unknown how they were influenced to attack the country at the same time as the other incoming forces.

Critical Information:

• The knights of the Aethon Sol are some of the best equipped warriors in the world. Their armor and weaponry are unparalleled, making causalities among their ranks very rare. They are also specifically trained in countering all forms of magic. This usually leaves their enemies with no choice but to face them in physical combat, where they are most powerful.
  
• The enemy does not have a castle, but instead a war camp that is moved every morning. If this war camp is destroyed, the crusaders will have no choice but to retreat.
  
• The enemy force outnumbers us 3 to 2, though the number of knights is likely less.
  
• The teachings of Iros place value in compassion and honor. While the very existence of this crusade brings into question these beliefs, appealing to the honor or pride of the knights may be an effective means of resolving the conflict.
  

New Threats:

• By now, the church's forces have reached their full mass, and have become a threat to the country itself. Castle Low's outer forces have engaged them, but they are quickly approaching the castle.
  
• Long distance reports have confirmed that the Divine Order has joined the ranks of the knights. These individuals are supposedly immortal and have control over life and death itself.
  
• Nearly all of Rosalia's mages that haven't already been captured or slain have gone into hiding. The magic of the mages the knights have enslaved has empowered them, putting them outside the capabilities of most warriors.
  

Potential Rewards:

• Some of the highest quality weaponry and armor available.
  
• The supplies from their war camp would be enough to sustain Castle High for at least a month, well enough time to pursue its other campaigns.
  
• NEW! Freeing the enslaved mages will likely earn a substantial reward of magical origin.
  

[/list]

The Flying Fortress - Lvl ?? Inevitable Monolith of Portent

Reconnaissance Report: All attempts to gain further information about the size or powers of the Flying Fortress have lead to mass casualties, with no survivors. Reconnaissance of the fortress has been suspended until further notice. (Scarlett note: I know it sucks, but I can't look at my agents and order them to their guaranteed deaths...) From all available information, it seems to be equipped with powerful, magic-based artillery, and contains a vast amount of power (evidenced by the spiraling purple clouds which follow it everywhere). Despite these dangers, it is the slowest moving threat, and besides destroying anyone who approaches it, is causing no harm to the country.

Critical Information:

• None
  

Potential Rewards:

• An end to a massive threat to our country and our people.
  

New Threats:
[list]
[*]The castle has begun to charge a massive conflux of mana and energy around it. The intent for this arcane power is unknown.
Risks If Left Alone:

• With no information, it is difficult to predict what will happen if felt alone. That being said, its lack of interaction with its surroundings and apparently-unchanging appearance seem to imply there is no great risk in leaving this castle alone.
  

Duelist's Rush: Name one non-Elite, non-Boss enemy who has attacked an ally this battle. You and the chosen enemy each choose a combat action or combat Skill. Each character takes turns using their chosen action until either character is defeated.

Due to the increased complexity and difficulty of the remaining fights, your Signature Technique will be the final Training Mission you are assigned. Once you've completed it, you may want to try and pick up any of the Techniques from Training Missions you haven't completed in the past.

Once you've completed all your Training Missions, congratulations! You are considered to have "graduated" training, and have achieved all the Techniques your character can! You should now feel free to take whatever actions you think are best, without having to match up with a side-objective. However, you will still have something to work toward: Milestones! Milestones are simple, numerical goals for your character to try and reach by either dealing/blocking damage or healing. If you reach a Milestone, one of your stats will be permanently increased, and a you will get a new, higher Milestone next battle. The more you beat your Milestone by, the more your stats with be boosted. Milestones do not provide as powerful of rewards as Training Missions and shouldn't really require you to change your gameplay behavior from what you would do if they weren't there. They simply exist as a minor self-goal and reward to continue having a reason to push yourself further. Go for the top damage record, Castle High!

Murmurs swell within Castle Low's pristine, vaulted heart as the soldiers of Castle High whisper their thoughts. The commanders, too, participate in discussions with their allies (Scarlett in particular needing to be pulled out of an altercation before it became violent) about what fate the Bertilans deserved. Eventually, Russel prods each commander among the crowd and, one by one, organizes a vote. Among themselves, despite the objections of Scarlett and Corbin and the non-participation of Zaffre, Russel, Giada and Rosemary appear to reach a majority conclusion.

After another minute's deliberation, Russel steps forward once more to General Toleann, who raises an eyebrow. Clearing his throat, Russel states, "General Toleann, it is the majority position of Castle High that the Bertilans be given the option to work while under Castle Low's custody. We think they would prove a valuable asset to the country, worth whatever risk it may carry."

"Hm," the general states simply, taking several long, silent seconds to size up Russel. Then, with a frown, he retorts, "Are you sure? The risks these men bring with them are more than the most obvious: what will the people of Rosalia think when they see its invaders given steady work and board? Don't you think they deserve justice for the pain they've caused?"

Russel seems caught off-guard by the questioning, taking nervous steps as he tries to adjust and answer, "--uhm, well..." The commander knows his reasoning, but on the spot, is struggling to put it into eloquent words--

With all the stealth and silence customary of her position, Scarlett, standing by her brother's side, lightly presses her hand against Russel, giving a single pat.

The commander pauses a moment and lets his face fall, his features and posture calming as he lets his nerves drop away. Taking his own silent seconds, he considers the general's questions, his own beliefs, and the beliefs he feels fit Castle High. Then, looking back up with a returned spark of energy, he explains, "I'm not sure if I can speak for everyone in Castle High, but I think we'd rather focus on a better tomorrow than a punishment for yesterday. Right now, with everything our country's going through, having more hands helping seems like just what we need." He looks back at their captives: many are nursing freshly bandaged wounds, still clothed in half-burnt clothing and armor patches, and very few look back at him, despite his words possibly deciding their fates. Frowning, he returns to the general, "we've fought slavers, doomed ghosts, savage animals and demons, but these... well, they're people, just like you and me, fighting for their country. Maybe that's not how 'justice' is supposed to work..." he shrugs, his grin growing a fraction wider, "but maybe we can make something even better than that. If we let the Bertilans and their commander work for and alongside the people of Rosalia, maybe they'll realize we're not all that different. Any maybe we can turn the end of a war into the beginning of... well, something better for everyone."

General Toleann waits patiently throughout Russel's monologue, his expression unchanging. Upon finishing, he simply asks, "you mean that sincerely?"

Russel immediately gives a strong nod in return, "sure do. Maybe it's a bit naive to place all our hopes in a better tomorrow, but that's what Castle High's all about!"

"Hmm... I see," Toleann nods himself. "Thank you. You've made my decision quite clear."

Giada perks up, "what? Just like that?"

Toleann fixes his posture, raising his commanding tone to address the entirety of the gathering. "Members of Castle High. I do not know where you came from, or why you are here: nonetheless, you've made it very apparent to me that those details are unimportant. The matter is that you've not only shown overwhelming proficiency and courage in dealing with the rising threats of this country, but have done so while bringing a lost hope to Rosalia's people." His expressions turns grave, "these past years, Castle Low has grown less capable of dealing with every threat our country faces. We ultimately were forced to deal with the most pressing issues, and leave the lesser villains and monsters to the locals to handle. I'm afraid that, over time, such directives have eroded our place in the hearts of the people."

The general slowly reaches to his side and unsheathes his sword, a beautifully crafted saber of ruby and silver accents. He drops the blade into his free hand, "I will stand by your wise judgement, Castle High. The warriors of Bertila will be overseen and given fair work toward the improvement of this castle." He looks to the enemy leader toward the crowd's center. "Commander-in-Chief Selvenade, it's my hope as well that this circumstance may ultimately lead to a better future for both our countries."

Selvenade bows, "thank you, general. If such a future may exist, I would like to find it as well."

Satisfied, Toleann returns his attention to the commanders. "Now, the six of you. If I may ask that you take a knee." Anticipating their confusion, he adds, "I think it's high time we make your castle's exploits 'official,' don't you?"

"Bah," Zaffre scoffs, floating backward with a dismissive wave. "Keep your titles, dictator."

"Ignore him," Scarlett cuts in with a glare, joining the remaining commanders in taking a knee upon the castle's crimson carpet.

Quietly smiling, Toleann asks for each of the commanders names before raising his blade, touching each of their shoulders in turn.

"Russel.
"Rosemary.
"Giada.
'Scarlett.
"Corbin."

He raises his blade over them, "as general of all her forces and governing might, I dub you each Rosalian commanders, as well as the Lords of Castle High and all her forces. In so doing, I declare all Castle High's soldiers official members of Rosalia's military. Though you will retain your autonomy, you now carry the authority of Castle Low to fight on her behalf. Take these titles and continue your mission: protect our country's future, and bring it hope."

As soon as the general's speech concluded and the commanders rose, a boisterous cheer was started from the army's back, quickly growing into an uproarious applause. As the Bertilans were escorted off to begin their assignment of duties, the commanders rejoined the others with smiles and laughs, discussing and joking about their new titles.

Even among the cheers, however, the people of Castle High couldn't help but imagine just what their own future may look like in the days to come...