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UPDATE 25: THE DEATH MARCH When we last left Bolverk's Ravens, everyone was injured, starving to death, and fleeing from the literal end of the world as well as a ton of dredge.   : Fasolt said they might not care to fight. Keep moving.Nervously, the caravan moves. Dredge cautiously watch you and the humans walk by, but they do not engage. When you are well past the group, everyone around you starts cheering and telling their version of what just happened. We gain +10 renown and get to skip a fight! Sparr stays alive!  We continue the death march, still on 0 food and the giant dark orb of the end of the world not too far behind.  There are a LOT of attacks in this portion.  Since y'all decided we should be friends with the stonesinger... : He...he might be helping. You intercept Folka as she tries to get to the stonesinger's cart. She deflects your first punch with her shield, but you grab her leg with your free hand and pull. Her face smacks the ground, her nose bleeding freely. She thrashes to get to her feet but you pin her to ground with a foot. "Stay down!" you roar. The humming vibration of the stonesinger continues. More dredge appear. The stonesinger's song feels more intense, more desperate. You growl a warning. Some of the dredge stay back, but others advance.  Whatever the stonesinger did, it didn't keep us from having to fight. And...with this roster we're gonna get destroyed.  So let's call in the B Team!  Heck, Sparr's not even that bad a unit thanks to his special.  The plan: hope Zefr can boost strength while Bersi and Sigbjorn tempest their way to maimed enemies. Folka tanks, Dytch blocks, Sparr keeps the biggest nasties from taking a turn.  And there are, in fact, a decent number of big nasties. Priority targets are the enemy stonesinger, and the gloomwarden (the 16/20 big guy) and direguard. Already saw how badly drumfire can ruin things. Also note that turn queue: we have 7 units on the field. There's an allied stonesinger up after Sparr.  Unfortunately, that direguard gets first turn and I guess wrong with Folka. He walks right around my tank and maims Dytch. Fortunately Dytch was planning on spending most of the fight stealthed and just blocking pathing, so it's not the end of the world.  Some bad luck: I get the strength boosting rune from Runic Gale, but it's too far out of the way to be useful.  Still, Bersi cripples the stonesinger.  After Sparr's turn, our friendly stonesinger enters the field and starts casting...something.  He casts half of umbrage on the enemy. The "mess up your armor" half. Not the "boost your strength" half. So basically he just broke about 20 armor in one turn.  Just like Umbrage, however, the stonesinger has to maintain focus--if he gets killed (and he is targetable even at the edge of the map) they'll lose their debuff.  Maybe I should include Bersi in the A team. He only has 16 max strength, but Tempest is such a strong skill.  Eventually the fight gets to the point that the only real threat is a high strength slinger that I've not been able to get into range with. So instead Sparr just shouts nasty things at it and pushes it all the way to the end of the turn queue.  I get a little greedy passing the kills around and let our stonesinger friend get hit for armor damage. I don't know how much strength he has, but I should probably keep this from getting worse.  So Old Man Sparr and Sigbjorn take care of things.  You snort and signal for everyone to keep moving. Zefr and a few others place the stonesinger back in a cart. Alright, so he helped. But now he's back to being sick and injured. Like the rest of the caravan!  We start taking starvation deaths as we flee.  Oli was a tie, but random generator dictated we try and support him, so... : We're all going to see to that.As you charge, rocks whir past you taking out some of your fighters before they even make it to the battle.  This lineup worked well last time. Let's give it another go, and promote Bersi to 6 while we're at it, giving him Forge Ahead. Now he's a poor man's Krumr.  That's...a really dangerous lineup. Especially the vile skulker which can just move through everything and one-shot Zefr.  I've really had rotten luck getting willpower early in the battle instead of strength tiles.  The stalker disappears. It'll only be back when it one-shots someone, irritatingly.  This is more like it. Bersi can really lay down the pain now.  The skulker targets Folka and kinda ruins her day.  Bersi gets drumfired. It's kind of a hard counter to varl. Unless you can ignore strength damage, it'll maim your heavy hitters.  Really, the human units in this caravan are awful, and the varl get creamed by drumfire. Which happens here and soon enough the fight is down to Bersi and Sigbjorn.  Who, honestly, put up a pretty good effort.  But it's not enough and Bersi falls, losing the battle.  This was...unexpected. I lost this battle in my Rook campaign and Oli died. So I checked the game. Turns out that if Oli has his lucky flask equipped as his item, he cheats death in this event. And if you send him off on his own, the dredge kill the flask but not him (he returns without the flask). So basically it was a free loss for us since I never unequipped Oli's flask.  Event #4: a snow-blocked pass.  For this battle we need people who can hit multiple targets. Don't necessarily need a lot of armor. We just need to work quickly.  Remember that fight earlier where we had to clear all the barricades?  This is a lot like that. Execpt the dredge are never-ending (and that 15/24 scourge is terrifyingly powerful). So we have to take out all the snow barriers.  In practice, this means Folka tanks as best she can while everyone else tempests and tries to clear out the snow.  Folka falls, but she bought our heroes enough time.  And not a moment too soon because dear god these guys can one-shot everyone now.  We clear out the last of the snow and run like hell.  The Old Ford is visible in the distance. If we can make it there, we can recuperate a bit.  If we can make it there.  : What are you getting at? : Bah! Never mind the details! Let me take some fighters to handle this situation.Per your votes... : Don't make me regret this.: "You're too young to have regrets. I've only had two in my life. One was sleeping too close to the fire in a great hall after eating eggs for twelve days straight. I'll tell you the second another time.A dozen fighters take off with the war leader and disappear over a hill.  They don't return. We don't get attacked, at least.  We arrive at The Old Ford, one varl warleader fewer and about 70 fighters and clansmen lighter than we set out. A lot of death, but it could have been a lot worse. : Gods. Of all the places to make a final stand, I bring us to the Old Ford - a human bridge that should've crumbled a hundred years ago.  : We...need...sleep. And water... : These people will...help us. Don't...attack them.  : Mercenaries, huh? You don't look worth a drat, let alone coin.You reach for your axes but a few spearmen make clear you shouldn't. : Easy. The last thing we need is to spill each other's blood before that dark wall or the dredge get their chance, eh?Dredge. The word echoes in your head. "They...don't know what they're doing." The man makes a face and even Folka lifts her head enough to squint at you.   Bolverk and the rest of the Ravens are too exhausted to really have much say here.  And so we're treated to another Bellower dream!   : Darkness...Purple Lightning and a Dark Sun...what in the depths is this? Before we can get any answers, we awaken.  You get to your feet, head pounding. "Where are the Ravens?" you ask. "I woke you first," he says, "but the others need to get up too. I let you sleep as long as I dared, but we're almost out of time." He motions to a side table and you find your axes undamaged. "Who are you and what do you want?" you ask. : My name's Hadr, but that won't matter in a few hours. We came from Akur. We're the rearguard of the clans' army that went to challenge the king in Arberrang.: Then what do you want from me?: Well, I'm no battle leader. I'm just a skirmisher like all the rest here, and proud of myself for not running off already. Plain and simple: you know how to fight, so tell us what to do and we'll do it. We've got fighters who could use some tips or encouragement. Maybe we could build some stake-walls with parts of buildings? Up to you, but you don't have time to do much and no one's expecting miracles. Regardless of how this plays out, I'm glad you stumbled in here when you did. Hrm?  Hey, he's alive! Good choice, everyone.  Still, a lot didn't. In case you were all curious: Sparr can't die in his event. If you send him off on his own or with fighters, all the fighters die and he straggles into the Old Ford just like Krumr just did. The dredge disarmed him and sent him on his way, and he feels awful that nobody even finds an old man like him a threat anymore. The stonesinger can die in its event. Folka can kill it, or if you're not fast enough the stonesinger ends up in the battle right in the thick of things and can get killed. If it falls in battle, it dies--no injury. Oli dies without his lucky flask, though I think he comes back with some of the men if you send him off with some fighters instead of totally on his own. If Ekkill's in the caravan, he takes Oli's place and dies in all circumstances other than "you fight and win the battle."  So let's improve our numbers a bit before our last stand.  Not great, guys.  All I can think of is Ash training the peasants in Army of Darkness.   : They might take a few hits intended for us, so maybe.: Good enough, I guess. I'm not sure five hundred varl would make much of a difference against all these deedge. Really only one thing left to do: talk to Folka and make our peace with our last stand on the bridge.  Note that her nose is rebroken--it's a bit more purple and swollen. We did that to her saving the stonesinger. : If you've got something to say, say it. We'll be dead before long.: We don't have to be. We could leave. Right now.: Whoever's after us would roll through here without slowing. We'd be caught in the open.: Then we can leave that damned cart here. Let the dredge have it.: I gave an oath to-- : Start acting like a Raven!: Oh, I know - we're not supposed to feel things, right? We're not supposed to be scared when more dredge than anyone's ever seen are marching straight for us. OR when the constant sun is about to be blocked out by a wall of darkness full of warped things. It's just another day, right?Her lip trembles and she looks away, trying to collect herself. : We're not all bears, Bolverk. Or varl. Or whatever you've become. : I'd kill them and take over. You want to try?: Leading the company has never interested me or you'd have made a lesson of me a long time ago. But you know the others have always come to me for answers instead of having you rip their heads off. I just don't have any answers for them anymore. Not when they ask what's going on with you.: There's a voice in my head, growing louder. I've been fighting to keep it quiet. Bellower's voice, probably.: But Bellower's dead. His body...: He's asleep. I think the arrow keeps him that way.Folka nods. The conclusion doesn't seem too far-fetched for her. : These dreams are things he's seen. The Valka did something to betray him.: They were working with the Sundr? : They did something. Something bad. I don't even think Zefr knows what they did.The two of you look over at Zefr. The Valka stares into a fire, lost in thought.  : It means don't trust Valka.: But Zefr said Juno was killed for controlling the minds of others. She could probably make people trust her.: Not me--A scout's horn interrupts you, signalling all fighters to the bridge.  You storm off to the fighting, building your rage with each step.  In a parallel to Banner Saga 1, you can guess what comes next.  Aaaand start cutscene.  ...Nikels?  You look awful, kid.  Oh. Probably because you're a dead mender possessed by Eyeless.  Thankfully everyone heals to full in Old Ford so we can bring the A team back.  : Don't be fooled. That isn't Nikels, but Eyeless!...well, obviously, Zefr.  There's a trick to this battle: all the strongest enemies are 2x2 and stuck behind a huge wall of more dredge and also the bridge on Old Ford has some missing tiles--meaning the big guys need to walk all the way around. And Eyeless in her normal state is terrifying. But controlling a mender...all she can really do is mend armor, and eventually she'll run out of willpower and just be controlling a human corpse with no magical power. In other words: kill Eyeless/Nikels last.  I learned something valuable here: I cast Breeze on Krumr, then used Bersi to give Zefr another turn and cast Runic Gale. The idea was that then Krumr would go, have infinite movement, collect all the powerups, and just mash enemies into paste. It turns out you can't do that, though. Any buff applied by Zefr wears off at the start of her next turn. So Breeze goes away as she's casting Runic Gale. A pity.  Still, I can charge Bolverk into combat and start damaging the big guys. So long as I maintain his armor and have him get in the first strike, he's not really in much danger.  I use Breeze to get Bolverk into the enemy backranks where he can chop up slingers.  Soon enough, everyone is dead except Eyeless/Nikels, and he's out of willpower. All he can do is chip 1 armor away at a time. Which, thanks to Dytch having the Pipe Plant (+3 will on rest), I can outpace. I rest for a very long time, getting everyone back to full willpower and full armor.  And then use Cull the Weak on Nikels so that Bolverk can get first strike against Eyeless.  She's still really strong now, but I have turn advanage and at 19 strength she can't one-shot people. I can chip her armor down and wreck her with my varl.  And then I make a terrible mistake. I dash Folka up to tank the hit that Bolverk's about to take.  And forget that Eyeless does knockback on hit. And disease. Bolverk gets knocked back--as does Folka because she was tanking with her special ability. Putting all of my units adjacent to one another. EVERYONE gets diseased and will take +1 damage per turn for the rest of the fight.  So I hurry up while I still have strength. Dytch un-stealths to wreck Eyeless' armor.  And Krumr gets on the Sundr scoreboard with a massive crit. Iver 2, Krumr 1, everyone else 0.  However, instead of dying, she starts casting something. And some smaller stonesingers and gloomwarden elites are summoned.  Round 2!  Despite my being diseased, if I can act quickly I can probably take care of things. So... : On me! Today, we kill a Sundr! Bolverk might not be himself, but the Ravens love this poo poo regardless.  Oh. Turns out clearing the field and advancing all the way to the end of the bridge made this easier. I could see how this would be a challenge had we "killed" Eyeless while the field was still littered with dredge and we were halfway across the map. But we can just walk right up to Eyeless and kill her in a second.  Which is exactly what we do. Screw even dealing with the other dredge.  Your mind fills with images of Eyvind on the tower. Of dredge twisting, warping in darkness. Shaking. Slobbering. Roaring. You fight to regain control of your mind. OK yeah Eyvind hosed up big time. The dredge begin moving south along the river, not as an army but as people fleeing danger. Many of them start crossing the Old Ford bridge.  Goodbye, Folka.  Goodbye, Ravens.  It's time to go with Zefr to Manaharr with the Bellower cart. And get some damned answers.  ...which will have to wait until Bolverk's next chapter!  Because while he's on one side of Arberrang...  Alette is on the other. FairGame fucked around with this message at 22:57 on Oct 5, 2018 |
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Oct 4, 2018 01:42
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| # ? Jun 8, 2024 13:45 |
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That fight where you're just trying to bash the snow barricades to escape is, no matter the difficulty, one of the hardest fights in the game. It's also one of the few you can farm for infinite renown, but again, it's so hard I've never bothered.
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Oct 4, 2018 02:09
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Oh that mender hosed something up real bad eh
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Oct 4, 2018 02:24
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Gologle posted:That fight where you're just trying to bash the snow barricades to escape is, no matter the difficulty, one of the hardest fights in the game. It's also one of the few you can farm for infinite renown, but again, it's so hard I've never bothered. The ice breaking mission stonewalled (or icewalled?) me until I tried the Folka and Bolverk against the world strategy, which cleared it without complication in one try. Now I'm stonewalled by the Eyeless fight. The biggest problem was that Eyeless spawned where none of my units could reach her, but hopefully it'll pan out better if I position accordingly, knowing where her first spawn will be.
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Oct 4, 2018 02:25
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lightrook posted:The ice breaking mission stonewalled (or icewalled?) me until I tried the Folka and Bolverk against the world strategy, which cleared it without complication in one try. Now I'm stonewalled by the Eyeless fight. The biggest problem was that Eyeless spawned where none of my units could reach her, but hopefully it'll pan out better if I position accordingly, knowing where her first spawn will be. The Ravens only having one ranged fighter, and all their heavy hitters being varl who get in one another’s way is a hell of a thing.
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Oct 4, 2018 02:36
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quote:"You're too young to have regrets. I've only had two in my life. One was sleeping too close to the fire in a great hall after eating eggs for twelve days straight. I'll tell you the second another time. Krumr eat the eggs
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Oct 4, 2018 02:49
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Krumr will never, ever die. Can't say the same for the men he takes with him.
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Oct 4, 2018 02:52
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I'm really hoping Eyvind wasn't teaching Alette how to faen things up like he did.
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Oct 4, 2018 02:57
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queserasera posted:I'm really hoping Eyvind wasn't teaching Alette how to faen things up like he did. I wouldn't worry. I'm sure it took many years of training to learn how to do that so well.
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Oct 4, 2018 03:18
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Yeah Krumr here is a callback to the last game. In BS1 he asks to take a few varl to go off and destroy a bunch of dredge. And if you say yes, he comes back totally successful, -1 varl. So in BS2 he asks to take a couple of Ravens to go off and destroy a bunch of dredge. And if you say yes, he comes back totally successful, minus a few fighters. Krumr is the oldest fighting varl for a reason. He knows how to get out alive.
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Oct 4, 2018 04:21
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Everything that could possibly kill Krumr has already tried.
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Oct 4, 2018 04:28
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FairGame posted:WHen you are well past the group, eveyrone
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Oct 4, 2018 08:07
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megane posted:Everything that could possibly kill Krumr has already tried. I think the World Serpent hasn't had a go yet. I don't expect it to succeed. Juno, what did you do to Bolverk? Because frankly that's the only reason I can think of that Bellower is now inside his mind. And now suddenly that Webb & Mitchell sketch ("Are we the baddies") comes to mind. For absolutely no reasons.
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Oct 4, 2018 09:56
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Juno, quite pointedly, couldn't do anything to Bolverk. I suspect it's because he's a Berserk - he completely loses control in his rage, hence the chance of hitting allies. If he can't control his own mind, what chance does she have? And I guess, where his mind has that crucial blankness, Bellower is filling the gap.
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Oct 4, 2018 11:44
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Juno said she couldn't do anything to Bolverk, but that's not proof that she didn't.
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Oct 4, 2018 14:31
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 SPECIAL OUT-OF-NORMAL-UPDATE-SCHEDULE VOTE It's fairly obvious where this is headed. And this is purely narrative stuff. If Alette says she isn't interested in Egil, nothing bad happens. He's still an awesome unit, he'll still fight by our side, he'll still try and help out everything and put himself in stupid amounts of danger to save the caravan. He's a nice guy, not a Nice Guy. If Alette says she's interested in Egil, nothing good happens from a gameplay standpoint. You just have two people at the end of the world who at least have one another. He's still just as likely to die trying to help people, mind you. This isn't going to be like Dragon Age or anything like that with a weird and awkward sex cutscene. So... A.) Interested? B.) Not interested.
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Oct 4, 2018 14:38
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ALet her have love at the very end of the world
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Oct 4, 2018 15:20
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A
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Oct 4, 2018 15:20
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B. Put that boi in his place.
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Oct 4, 2018 15:39
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Amid senseless tragedy, let's have some nice things. Or A nice thing.
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Oct 4, 2018 15:45
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A Love is good.
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Oct 4, 2018 15:47
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FairGame posted:This isn't going to be like Dragon Age or anything like that with a weird and awkward sex cutscene. A
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Oct 4, 2018 16:35
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A. The world's ending, why the hell not?
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Oct 4, 2018 16:40
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A I bet it gets Egil killed. Somehow. Even though it has been explicitly said it won't. It's Egil. That's how he is.
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Oct 4, 2018 16:53
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A. Seems like a nice boy.
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Oct 4, 2018 16:53
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B. Egil's job is to get dunked on, people.
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Oct 4, 2018 17:02
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A I think Egil is one of the few left from Skogr isnt he.
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Oct 4, 2018 17:07
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A They both deserve something good
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Oct 4, 2018 17:28
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UPDATE 26: KING OF THE ASHES Back to Alette's caravan.  You're testing your bowstring and only half-listening to the man when Hakon walks up. The baker, unaccustomed to varl, falls quiet and backs up.   : I know. I'd like to believe we'll make it without any more problems, but... : That hasn't been our luck. No sense thinking things will change now.You laugh a little but notice the distant look in Hakon's eyes as he looks toward the varl tents.  : They probably wouldn't talk to a human.: Ha! You're right - we'd be at war.The thought of fighting Hakon and his varl makes you shiver. : It just seems like they were better prepared to lead our kind than I am.: That's probably just skald songs making it seem that way. Just keep them alive. No matter what happens in Arberrang, protect your people.Hakon looks at you, the confusion leaving his face. : Let's get what we need and get going. Maybe it'll be as easy as you make it sound.You give the varl an encouraging smile. It's the best you can do.  The caravan remains in sorry shape. Poor morale, low food supplies, and decimated by the Serpent's attack. The 161 varl in the caravan are probably the majority of all living varl.  : Are they getting plenty to eat? : I think so. They still have enough energy to get into trouble.: My father always told me to enjoy being young because there is plenty of time to be grown up.: It's so true, but it's hard to listen to good advice.Without allowing you to refuse, she puts a spoon and a bowl with cooked eggs in your hands. : You have to try these. It's a family recipe.You take a bite. They're good, but you don't taste anything special.  : They...they just taste like eggs.Her eyes look down with embarrassment. : Oh.: I mean, there's nothing wrong with them.The archer starts smiling. : They really are just eggs. My mother used the "Family Recipe" story on each of us kids at one time or another when we wouldn't eat.: She tried to guilt you into eating?: She tried anything and everything to raise us, feed us, keep us from getting into too much trouble. Now, with my boys, I understand why. I bet your father had to do a bit of that with you, and now you have to with this caravan. I doubt there's anything you wouldn't try to keep eveyrone alive.: You think back on all the choices you've made.: Just know what we understand and appreciate it...eventually.: Thanks, Nid. Here's Brenna's Lock, which we got from the last godstone. There's a distinct lack of Iver and Eyvind in the caravan now. We're a lot more fragile than we used to be.  Just before we head out, this happens. Husbands run out to their wives, and children scream in excitement for the parents they believed to be dead. You make your way out to greet the group as well, but Rugga holds up his hand as you near.   : I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again, Alette.: My father taught me a good deal about survival.: But didn't your father...never mind.: I'm really happy you found the rest of our clansmen.: Don't fool yourself thinking into everyone standing near that banner feels like family. : Maybe not family, but we have become a clan.: Hatred spans generations. Some of these people have feuds older than the great wars. Don't think a few weeks on the road together changes that.: What happened to you after the Serpent attacked?: I might ask you the same. Dagr and I were scattered like the rest, but we tried to help who we could. The Old Wood was like a maze, but we finally escaped, picking others up along the way. Dagr's such a weirdo.  : I started pushing everyone hard, sending only a couple men to Tolir for supplies.: We did the same thing! But our scouts haven't returned.Rugga scratches the scar around his neck. : That's odd. Neither did ours. But here we are, most of us still alive.: I bet you're tired. We can wait if you want to sleep.: I can't make that call, and neither can you. The clansmen will tell us what they want to do.This sounds like something he has rehearsed, along with his smile. : I think you should all get some food and a few hours of sleep.: The others will make up their minds. A leader guides.: I should check on the others.: Before you do...Dagr shifts slightly and you almost jump back, unaccustomed to him moving. Your heart beats quickly. : Why are you so nervous, Alette? We've had fair exchanges so far. : Now, with Arberrang just over the horizon, I want to be nearby when a young woman brings an army.His smile is genuine, and you feel more at ease. : Now we'll see about some food and rest.The governor and his guard walk toward the village. So...Rugga. At various points in the journey, we made decisions that gained or lost us points in Rugga's favor. Specifically: 1.) Deciding what to do with the burned village on the Ormsa River. We didn't let the thieves into our party, but neither did we kill them after trying to rob us. Rugga didn't like that. 2.) When we had the chance to cross the bogs, we didn't go traipsing through a graveyard and instigate a needless war with the kragsmen. Rugga liked that. It's worth noting, however, that had we instigated a needless war, Eirik would have had the chance to capture a war bear named  Spinegrinder and summon him into battle at will. We don't really need the bear (though it was enormously valuable in my Rook campaign) and it's pretty cool to have a bear.3.) When we had the chance to split the party at Lundar, we didn't. Rugga approves of that. (Note that you can split the party once you're in the city. It's just the split between horseborn/dredge (which is a war battle) that he objects to. 4.) When we were in the Old Wood, we attacked the horseborn and stopped them from wrecking Ettinbekr. He approves of that. If you do #4 AND at least 2 of (1, 2, 3), Rugga will decide Alette/Rook is a competent leader and align himself with you. In all other cases, he will betray you in this event. Dagr tries to kill you, but Oddleif never trusted Rugga and she shoots Dagr before he can get in an attack. Then you fight a little battle with the handful of folks who want to go with Rugga. After the fact, Rugga flees with a bunch of fighters and clansmen to Arberrang, leaving Dagr. You can kill him, make Hakon kill him (which loses you morale; you don't look decisive), or let Dagr go. Letting Dagr go just has him kill a bunch of people on his way out. It's also worth noting that had we let Dagr and Ludin go behind enemy lines in Lundar, Dagr survives but Ludin dies mysteriously. If Ludin's dead at that point (from Banner Saga 1), Dagr and Aleo go behind enemy lines and both survive. It's only Ludin who can die there. Pretty sure Dagr either murders him or just doesn't bother to lend aid when he gets in trouble. In our version of this Saga, though, Rugga's on our side. So we gain a shitload of clansmen--he really did get together most of the survivors of the Serpent's attack.  And we're now over 1600 strong on the march to Arberrang.  Of course, that means a LOT of mouths to feed.  So we're going to let the caravan drink their fill. If it's clean, great. If not, well...that's one way of thinnig the herd.  Turns out just fine.  Scanning the woods, you hear and see nothing. As you approach the deer, you can tell the kill was recent. A black stone, half the size of your fist, lays beside the animal. You pick it up, knowing it to be a dredge weapon. A rustle in the underbrush nearby reveals two hurlers who immediately create deep noises. They are communicating, then one lashes out and attacks you.  We've come full circle. Rook and Alette's first encounter with dredge was when a starving one tried to steal their kill. Now Alette unknowingly tried to steal some dredge's food.  There's not really much of interest. Despite being solo, we don't fight in PILLAGE! mode. Because Alette will get a turn every other turn, Overwatch is useless here. But she's still strong enough to take care of two pretty weak slingers.  By the way, she now has Mend as an extra ability. Works the same way as Zefr or Eyvind's did. But with only 10 max willpower she's never gonna be amazing with it.  : That's enough! Leave them alone."They've killed enough of ours, haven't they?" the woman asks. "Do you think they feel bad about it?" A few clansmen cheer their agreement. "I don't know what they feel," you say, "but they weren't looking for a fight. They were hunting, same as me." The clansmen seem unsure of what to make of your words. "Take the deer," you command. "Let's get moving." They all agree with that sentiment.  Almost to Arberrang. The outer gates are just atop that next hill.  Another random event. We really don't have the supplies to have a big party.  This gets us some renown and improves morale, at least.  Before we can reach Arberrang, however, we run into more horseborn.  And, like most horseborn, they attack.  With Iver and Eyvind out of the party, it's time to level Hakon and Gunnulf up to 6. The best defense is a good offense, and now that Hakon can tempest and Gunnulf can forge ahead, we will have a great deal of multiple-target flexibility.  Some of these horseborn have just insane ranges. Longer than Alette can overwatch. This is actually a kind of tough battle, made more difficult by the gaps in the bridge that Hakon and Gunnulf will need to walk around.  Oh, and these horseborn have a leader.  Who speaks...gaelic, I guess, given the names and such?  So if anyone knows what this stuff means, lemme know.  This battle gets a little weird when some of the tiles glitch out and things end up standing ON TOP OF Gunnulf and Hakon and we can't target them. Causes us a couple injuries unfortunately.  So I eventually get tired of dealing with it and just have Hakon smash their leader into little pieces.  Oh hey, yellow and blue.  And this horseborn seems to have a better command of our language.  We're treated to a cutscene. I get the feeling the horseborn were a bigger part of The Banner Saga 2 originally because honestly, she ends up something of a minor character and not one worthy of a cutscene.  But she makes a big show of surrendering.  She speaks your language with confidence. : What do you mean? And who are you? : I lead herd. I am...The next word is long, shrill, and confusing, but certain sounds stand out. : ...Canary?Canary smiles and stomps the ground rhythmically with a hoof. : That easy. "Canary," yes. And you?: My name is Alette.: Good greetings. Our stories tell of stranger who come help us. You "two legs that walk along four." My kind with you already.She points to the horseborn in your ranks.  : That doesn't make me the stranger in your stories.: You not need believe. We believe. We follow you and join your herd.: Why?She issues a slew of sounds in her native language before translating. : When sun stops and plains break and a god appears, follow two legs that walk along four. This our story. We hold true. You see these things.: The sun has stopped and I've seen the ground breaking, but what god are you talking about?: Large snake, not from this plain.The Serpent. It certainly could be a god. : You have seen the god too. You know these signs. You lead us. We follow. : Most of the horseborn we've met have caused us harm, including you. Many of my people won't want to be near your people.: Not today, but different day. Herds fight but forget.: Humans remember things a long time. Varl even longer.: Herd believes leader. We follow you. Herd grow strong.She bows again, motions to her people, and all the horseborn join your ranks at a respectful distance.  Well, that's that. Canary and her horseborn join the retinue as we grow even larger. And now we approach our final Godstone on the way to Arberrang. : They say the moon and stars are always visible at Lauga's godstone. But how? That's how. It's carved into the underside of a rocky tunnel.  The skald is not the only one smiling. A quick look around reveals grins throughout the caravan. "I see why Arberrang has grown so quickly over the years," you say, and the skald laughs.  : A truth spoken in front of Lauga's stone is supposed to ripple through the night, either strengthening a lover's resolve or carrying away undesired affection.Aleo skips away to find his wife. You hear the unmistakable clank of Egil's shield behind you.   : Yes. Beautiful.He isn't looking at the godstone. : We've come all this way. We've fought dredge, killed a Sundr. Aleo says we're destined to bring all clans together.: Aleo's a skald, Gil. Storytelling is his job.Egil shrugs.  His wonder is refreshing. You smile at him. He looks up at the godstone and takes a deep breath.  : Dont' say that. We'll keep each other alive.: Thank you, but neither one of us could have saved each other like Eyvind saved Juno.: Okay, giant Serpents aren't part of our deal.The two of you laugh a bit and Gil relaxes.  His tone is sincere. His eyes hold no expectations. : And you don't have to love me back, but I had to say it. : I was hoping you'd say that.: You...you were?: Don't act so surprised! You're a brave fighter who always treats me with respect. I hope you know I feel strongly for you too, but until everyone is safe in Arberrang...: I just needed you to hear it from me and I'm glad you wanted to hear it. If and when you know you love me too, you come find me, okay?Your eyes feel wet as you smile and nod. Egil grabs your hand and kisses it before leaving. And that's that for now. We'll have to stay alive if we want the romance to have any more entries. In Rook's scenario, there's an event here too. Oddleif comes to find Rook and they have a discussion about both being widowed and how that doesn't mean they both have to be miserable. As with Egil, you can decline, but if not, Rook and Oddleif hook up and also find some comfort with one another at the end of the world.  The time at Lauga's stone over, we head off. Next stop: Arberrang.  Oh, I also forgot to do the final training scenario and I might as well go get that renown. It's a little weird since the scenario includes Iver and Eyvind, but whatever.  It's not terribly difficult. Probably the toughest thing to do is to remember to use Aleo's Tale Worth Telling on a wounded unit, then go attack a full strength varl with it.  : ...but why are so many camped outside the walls? They must have seen the Darkness approaching.Awesome. This again.  The biggest threat has always been other humans, never the dredge. People just can't get along.  And at the first sign of opportunity, Rugga walks off. Not defecting--at least not obviously--but he's not so much following Alette as seeing her as an equal partner. He'll do what he wants.  In short, everything Juno said about Arberrang is true. Even at the end of the world, nobody gets along.  At least Ludin's still alive. That should help.  : Bring them here. Bring Adakan and the others to us.Some of the folks around the fires look half-starved and gladly join, making their way toward the supply carts. Others pack their meager possessions and fall in line. Uh...we don't really have food, guys.  Still, the caravan numbers nearly 2000 now.  "What is this?" you ask, confused by all you are taking in. "That's the Peaceful Bit," an older fighters says near you. He looks the type who has seen enough things to lack enthusiasm for much of anything. "The king's men can't kill us from the walls and we can't kill them from here." Cheerful.   Arberrang is already falling apart.  This is Frostvellr and Boersgard all over again.   : We've got an issue. I don't know why, but the other clans don't like the horseborn. Or the varl, for that matter. They're starting trouble and I'm going to stop it. It really is Boersgard again. We can only choose one even though all 3 are important. We'll go with Oddleif.   : Walk back to your fires or we'll make you wish you had.The fighters do not respond well to your threat and immediately charge.  We're surrounded and also don't have Hakon, Ludin, or Canary available to us. They've all gone on to do various things inside and outside the city. But we do have Alette, and that's really all we need.  No great strategy needed here.  As son as you find a stump on which to sit, you spot Rugga coming toward you, backed by Dagr and nearly fifty fighters. Everyone watches out of curiosity more than concern. : I've discovered what these battle lines are all about. The king's shut his people out. These clans are here to see that he feeds and protects his people as he is supposed to. And they've chosen me to lead that cause.He laughs at your incredulous look. : I'm just as surprised, but I need to talk to you in private.You nod and the two of you enter a large, empty tent. The tent flaps close, leaving you and Rugga alone, both armed.  : I'm not clear on what is happening here.: I wasn't making stuff up outside about the king. He really has shut all of us out. It started a few months ago when he started stockpiling food and slowing trade. Once the wealthy families were all pulled inside the walls, he shut the gates. The only thing he's said is that he can't feed everyone. Oh, and his archers fire on anyone who gets close.: To what end?: That's what the upcoming battle aims to find out.: You want to go to war to ask the king a question?: No, I want to go to war to make the king answer a few questions. Like why he'd leave his people outside the walls to starve.: So you plan to break down his walls?: That's the last thing I want to do. We need those walls to stop the dredge and whatever else is coming behind them. But if we have to destroy them, we will. Maybe the menders inside can repair any damage. There might be ways past those first few walls, but the Black Wall?The governor just shakes his head. : Wait, how did you come to lead the clans?: Boersgard is...well, was the largest human town next to the capital. You don't become governor of a place like that without certain skills and powerful friends.: And what are those certain skills?The governor just smiles. : So, this war is unavoidable?: Probably. I officially meet with the king in a few hours to either come to an agreement or pull our banners from his. I won't be surprised if you're invited too, the mighty Sundr-Slayer and army. If so, make your decision carefully.His tone is not exactly threatening. Not exactly. You move to the tent flaps and both of you open them simultaneously so that no fight breaks out. Well...great. End of the world on one side, humans vying for scraps on the other.  A bit of good news, though! Stravh's Bond appears in the market and we can upgrade Alette.  And heck, while we're at it the Mask of Andevettr is a upgrade for Egil, too. Before we head to the Rugga/King Meinolf dialogue, maybe our party members have some useful advice.  : It looks like you're keeping busy. : I'm playing Fox and Hare with a vole. Do you think foxes ever play Tryggvi and Vole?: No.He looks disappointed. : Do you have any ideas on how to keep two groups from killing each other? Any powders or relics or...crazy schemes?He reaches into his tunic and grabs something, pauses, releases whatever it is, and shakes his head. : People kill each other every day. Just enjoy the show.: But if it comes to war, I don't think either side will leave us out of it.Tryggvi thinks about what you are saying, tapping a fingernail against his teeth. He looks at his finger, sneers, and spits. : Killing kings requires a lot of lives. It's just as easy to kill clansmen instead. Either way, some will praise you and others will throw dung in your face. As you watch him crouch back down to the hole, you wonder what possessed you to speak to him.  Maybe our horseborn friends have better advice? Ro'Ech patrols around the two a short distance away, nodding to you briefly. : Is everything okay? : Many mans. More than we know live.You stop to look around at the thousands of tents in the fields and hundreds of homes beyond the capital's walls. : I'm from a small village. I'm not used to seeing so many people either. Scathach stomps the ground and says a few shrill notes to Derdriu before turning to you. : Derdriu forgets we are not of same thinking with mans. If you think big herd is right, we will think big herd is right.: But what do you think is right, Scathach?The male horseborn looks up at Arberrang for a few moments while swishing his tail in thought.  He points up to Arberrang. : Small fields behind walls.You thank them for talking and offer them a few calming words before departing. That was no use. Maybe Aleo?  : We've come all this way for war?: WIth luck, I might change their minds.: And be the reed that would stop the wind.: You've got a lyric for every moment, don't you?: Of course. Plenty before us have been in similar situations and written about it. : And if peace is not an option? Is there a skald song for that?: Plenty. But I'll tell you what I'd do: save the families who cannot save themselves. I can't imagine if my wife and children were left out here, like they don't deserve the same protection as others.Aleo's words flood your thoughts as you walk away.  Maybe it needn't come to that. Maybe we can talk our way out of war. We'll head to the meeting tent.  This is screaming "THIS IS THE FINAL SAVEPOINT" basically. : I'm prepared for whatever the king and clans decide.: I'm glad to hear the confidence in your voice. Just...be careful. I'll be back here with the rest of the clan if you need me.You smile, and make your way past the line of clansmen marking the boundary of the Peaceful Bit. BGM: Walls Like Mountains  : ...best we could. : Well, we've all had easier journeys.The king's cheerful mood lessens. He is about to say something when he sees you approaching.  : Who's this?: Greetings, King Meinolf. My name is Alette and I'm from Skogr.Ludin steps forward.  King Meinolf glances at you and sighs.  You and Ludin both turn red, but you temper your anger as the king addresses Hakon. : It pains me to hear you've lost so many of your hardy warriors, Hakon, but tell me: where's Jorundr's kendr, Vognir?: Vognir died protecting your son. I was Vognir's kendr. With Jorundr's death at Einartoft, I'm king of the few remaining varl.The king says nothing, contemplating the news. : Your walls are the last hope for my people. No sense in denying it.: I understand, and of course you'll have refuge here. The least I can do for bringing my son back alive! It'll be tight, but I'm sure I can find a place for you.: King Meinolf, Alette here is just as much responsible for the prince's safe return. She has quite a few clansmen... Hakon looks at you and shrugs.  : My name is Alette, King Meinolf.: And what difference does that make?: The difference between me showing you respect or not. Don't try to make me feel small by calling me girl or child. : But you are a--: What I am is the clan leader of Skogr and I've fought to save every one of my clansmen. That is why they follow me.The king stares at you and finally nods. : I can see the resolve in your eyes. You've seen things beyond your years. Unfortunately, it doesn't change how many Arberrang can support.Only now do you see Rugga, Dagr, and two dozen fighters approaching. The king's guards look concerned.  : Rugga.: Meinolf.: I should have killed you when I had the chance.: You tried, remember? : You will never enter my gates again. I'd hoped you died in Boersgard. How is it you've come to speak for all of these clans?: The people you've turned your back on? Seems they needed a leader they could trust.: Again, how have you come to speak for them? Did you fool them like the people of that rotten town you governed? : I doubt either of you will be in charge of anything when that Darkness washes over us!: I've got the Valka and menders seeing to that inside. They'll come up with something. And even if they fail, I'll still be able to watch this bastard fall to that Darkness from my walls.: There's the true heart of the Meinolf I know. Alette, look at your people out there - our people. They need food and clean water - not that poison in the river. They need protection. You cannot allow this king to keep us from safety after all this way! : A place insdie the walls alongside the varl. A place this faen man will never be allowed again.: That's enough! Both of you are bickering like children instead of leaders!: And you, giant. Joining this king after all we did to keep your people alive. Traitor!Hakon growls and flexes his grip on his axe. All parties look angry and tense...and then they look at you.  VOTE TIME!War seems inevitable. Which side will we be on? A.) "My banner, my people are my only concern." We can't save everyone. The king has offered to take in our whole caravan--including Hakon's varl. That'll still leave thousands if not tens of thousands to die. B.) "Rugga's right: too many will die here for so few inside." Just because we can't save everyone doesn't mean we shouldn't try! Though Ludin, Yrsa, and possibly Hakon (who can accept/reject Meinolf's offer of safety independent of Alette) will be really pissed off. What's it going to be? FairGame fucked around with this message at 22:56 on Oct 5, 2018 |
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Oct 4, 2018 17:51
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Save everyone!
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Oct 4, 2018 18:23
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This is Alette, not Bolverk. She'd try to save everyone instead of just saving her own.
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Oct 4, 2018 18:27
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Save Everyone you can I'd feel a lot safer taking that option if Rugga was dead though. I have a very, very bad feeling we're going to have to kill him as well.
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Oct 4, 2018 18:33
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A. If Hakon turns against us, you can bet the rest of the varl will too. I don't know about you, but the varl are cool people and we shouldn't piss them off. Also Mask of Andvettir is in the running for Egil's best item period. +2 Arm and +2 Aggro, combined with his shield wall, means he is invincible to pretty much everything so long as he is only blocking. And even if he isn't, that high ARM stat means they won't be able to get to his STR without a direct ability or a lot of breaking.
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Oct 4, 2018 18:34
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One thing you have to give Banner Saga: While I don't especially enjoy the combat, making the combat generally harder and dicier (with plenty of capacity to continue the game if you lose a fight) really works with the tone. Also, decisions in this series really feel like actual decisions.
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Oct 4, 2018 18:36
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FairGame posted:You're testing your bowstring and only half-listenign
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Oct 4, 2018 19:43
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The cryptic crazy guy said: "Killing kings requires a lot of lives. It's just as easy to kill clansmen instead." So we go for A and align with the King
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Oct 4, 2018 20:09
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New Wave Jose posted:The cryptic crazy guy said: "Killing kings requires a lot of lives. It's just as easy to kill clansmen instead." Oh holy crap now I understand the point of those separate conversations. I was kind of weirded out my first time playing because I expected them to give me either items or renown, but instead got nothing.
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Oct 4, 2018 20:48
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A. We can't save everyone.
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Oct 4, 2018 20:57
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i don't trust those horseborn.: Yellow and blue will lie to you, lie to you, lie to you...
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Oct 4, 2018 21:02
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A I really don't want to lose the varl (and Hakon's favor), and if we have to fight, it's better to fight inside walls rather than outside. Plus, if we get everyone inside the walls, the supply inside the city can't last that long with so many people. Space Kablooey fucked around with this message at 21:23 on Oct 4, 2018 |
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Oct 4, 2018 21:21
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