Generically-Titled Fire Emblem Quest: Part 15 Summary

Part 15 Link: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/41754950/

Part 15 Summary

 -History-buff that he is, Quidel was providing exposition on the upcoming Elza Oasis, explicitly mentioning its magical barrier. Upon the heavy presence of mercenaries and mages, as well as attacks by flying bandits being common in the country, Mimon piped in with a mention of how being a wind-sage mercenary with very high proficiency was pretty much the absolute best thing he could possibly be. When Ellen asked why he didn't simply retire in luxury like he said he probably could, he implied that his job was also supporting his mother and younger sister, and that he wouldn't know what to do with himself if he wasn't fighting for something. Ellen could relate.
 -Ellen discussed the fact that Tabat was the leader of the Johalva bandits with Gorman, confessing that she personally took his life. Gorman completely understood and supported her decision, even saying he would have done the same even after knowing him for who he once was.
 -Upon the party's actual arrival at Elza Oasis' barrier, the magic-users guarding the place gave them some trouble until Katina's party vouched for the lot. In particular Biff stayed back for awhile after that to talk to the guard in question: apparently his older brother Yancy. Ellen and Nat were briefly introduced to him as Byron explained their familial bonds are somewhat strained. Yancy also brought up both Bolse's mysterious kidnapping and how apparently a Noban Duke's son, fiancee, and friends were on a "redemption quest" to find him. No one had heard from them.
 -On the way to catch up with the rest of the gang, Biff and Byron tell a bit more about their time as mercenaries, particularly in Noba, to provide context on what was being discussed back there. Noba is apparently divided into two, formerly three, duchies, Phile, Fathom, and (absorbed by Dain's Empire) Malva. To make it short, the "no-name mercenaries" Biff and Byron were a part of ended up traveling to Dain for a job: putting the revolution of Malva's relatively young, inexperienced duchess out of its misery in some pirate-filled hellhole of a port town. The son of Phile's duke wound up personally leading a foolish campaign against Dain to rescue his unsung beloved,, and was killed in the process, both dukes quietly ignoring this and every other atrocity committed by Dain upon their former countrymen for the sake of keeping their own duchies safe. The (allegedly highly xenophobic but somehow popular) duke of Fathom, meanwhile, disowned his own son a few years before that for an affair with a servant girl (that would be him and his current fiancee). This combination of events proved overwhelmingly disgusting to Biff and Byron, who decided to get the hell out of the country after that.
 -After that conversation wrapped up, the quartet caught up with the rest of the group at the Tower of Longevity, apparently the capital building of Heim... and walked straight into the middle of an argument about what should be done about getting Simia to reveal more information about her former bosses. King Drasma was all for just rushing in and capturing her like back with the Johalva bandits, while the freshly-introduced General Corneria and Mimon championing that doing so is not only an exceptionally dangerous move, but even if it did succeed, carving such a massive hole in the Vautou would also dramatically impact the livelihoods of mercenaries all throughout the nation, possibly even turning THEM into bandits forced to make end's meet. Garrus quietly implored with Ellen to help him quiet things down when the argument became a free-for-all between literally everybody who had two gold to give.
 -Still somewhat affected by Byron's tale of that duke's son's foolishly heroic demise, Ellen advised Garrus to side with Corneria on this one and suggest more diplomatic solutions to the Simia problem. The "important" characters (Drasma, Garrus, Salia, Corneria, Logan, Yvette, Monica, and Mimon) sent everyone else out so they could actually form a coherent game plan from there.
 -Ellen wound up buying a Devil Sword from an Anna who warned her of the blade's cursed properties, then spent the remainder of the day looking for a place to work out with Reese's help (as well as learning of the word "gym"). While she warned him that she would not be receptive of any attempts to hit on her, Reese proved perfectly pleasant that day, and ultimately the two couldn't even get upset when they spent so much time looking for a gym that the one recommended to them was closed. Ellen officially no longer despises Reese.
 -Ellen spent awhile in bed just... thinking about herself, after some advice from Reese about not letting herself fall into a goal-less rut, but ultimately felt too uncomfortable with self-examination once again and put it off "for later."

 Confirmed Party Members (as of end of thread 15):

 -Ellen (Mercenary Class) The player character, a young woman raised in the village of Orsin. A compassionate woman who nonetheless has her limits, protective to a fault, and perfectly fine with spending her life being worth nothing but her sword arm. The slowest to forgive.
 -Natalie/Nat (Cleric) Ellen's only living friend from Orsin, who works with staves and kept up the local church. Has a cold exterior despite being sensitive. Collects the most things. Currently a couple with Biff.
 -Reese (Knight Class) A farmhand from the same town as Ellen, Nat, and Lambert. Has a lot of zeal, but might be a bit of a slimeball. Was a notorious drunkard in Orsin village, often hitting on Ellen and trying to make excuses for her to drink with him (it may be why she never does so in general). At least, that WAS true before a near-death experience led him to turn his entire life around. The most dedicated to a goal.
 -Biff (red cavalier) Biff is enthusiastic and outgoing, but tends to be misinterpreted. A chivalrous man at heart. He and Byron used to be mercenaries in the nation of Noba. The most likely to act on instinct. Currently a couple with Natalie.
 -Byron (green cavalier) A social knight with Garrus' personal guard. Unlike his friend, he is collected and somewhat reserved. Apparently an avid baker and all-around caring person. A former mercenary with Biff before they became knights. The best judge of character.
 -Robert (Fighter Class) A loud and rude lumberjack who was with Orsin's local guard/militia. The most argumentative.
 -Jay (Fighter Class) A silent and passive lumberjack who was with Orsin's local guard/militia. The best listener.
 -Garrus (Axe Lord) The crown prince of Neir, son of King Drasma. Surprisingly timid and small-framed, but capable of waving a regal axe with relative ease. The most eager to please.
 -Yvette (Paladin) A middle-aged retainer for Prince Garrus. Often speaks in his place due to his timidness, and has a motherly quality to her which can sometimes turn scary. Personally trained Ellen and Zoe when they first became knights, apparently having done this for every newcomer to a personal guard. The loudest when angry.
 -Mitchell (Thief/Outlaw Class) A former thief who seems to be friendly enough. Has friends in unsavory places, and sometimes does something amoral, but isn't malicious. Was basically given a "use your talents for us or rot in prison" ultimatum. Wants to be a gardener. Has the best dreams.
 -Quidel (Horseman/Nomad Class) A son of the nomadic Tarvos tribe that primarily exists in the Johan region, on good terms with the royalty of Neir. Normally a friendly man, but plagued by a prejudice towards the Garou and anyone who is perceived as an enemy of the Tarvos. The biggest history buff.
 -Cheryl (Pegasus Knight) A cheerful Pegasus Rider who often acts as a messenger for Garrus, the middle child of three sisters. Has a near-supernatural ability to make the best out of even a hopeless situation and has a very open mind when it comes to new people. Claims not to experience romantic attraction. The most upbeat.
 -Stefyn (Myrmidon) A cowardly swordfighter who was tangled up in the Johalva bandits. Seems to genuinely want to reform, but Ellen absolutely despises him for killing Lambert. A genuinely friendly, sociable swordsman who is just very easy to startle, getting extremely nervous around Ellen in particular. Sleeps the least.
 -Salia (Class Unknown) Garrus' younger sister. Went to live with the Tarvos at the age of six, much earlier than younger siblings of either royal family tend to (typically they wait until they're just slightly younger than Quidel, which is to say how old she would be now). Was returned to Rakche upon her father learning of the possibility of someone targeting his children's lives. The heaviest sleeper.
 -Monica (Falcoknight) Cheryl's older sister, a significantly colder person than her sister. Apparently the personal retainer for Salia. Dutiful, having apparently practically raised her siblings after the war with Dain. The fondest of solitude.
 -Zoe (Pegasus Knight) The younger sister of Cheryl and Monica, a pegasus knight who actually detests fighting, only doing it anyway to get closer to her sisters. Set to become a member of Salia's personal guard. The prettiest smile.
 -Dama (Garou) One of the two younger children of Lady Loba, a hot-blooded speaker-of-her-mind. Childhood friends with Princess Salia. Acts more doglike than most Garou. The least shameful about scratching herself in public.
 -Katina (Mage) The daughter of Mage General Corneria of Heim, met in her early teens. Blonde, excitable, naive, and romantic, she has a lot of magical visions of her missing twin brother, Bolse, and has begun to investigate their meanings in a search for him. Falls in love the fastest.
 -Logan (Summoner) A largely-built, personable man who accompanies Katina on orders from the Mage General. Wields light magic and is able to summon the forms of living monsters to fight for him. The most optimistic.
 -Mimon (Sage) A lone mercenary and a master of the wind magic Excalibur. Was hired by the Mage General to accompany Katina. Mostly serious and thoughtful, if a bit of a showoff. Apparently fights to support his mother and sister, even though he could retire in luxury if he wanted to. The hardest to hit.
  -Gorman (Hero Class) The former captain of Orsin's local guard, before leaving town to become a mercenary shortly before the story began. He taught Ellen and Lambert how to fight with a sword, emphasizing a balance of one's physical traits. A stern but compassionate man originally from Dain, around seven or eight years his proteges' senior. Gets sick the least.

Names to keep in mind:

 -King Drasma (Wyvern Monarch) The king of the nation of Neir, and the father of Prince Garrus and Princess Salia. A warrior king who ordered his son and his small band to wipe out a notorious group of bandits. A boisterous man who is surprisingly fond of staves and healing, while also very protective of his children.
 -Khozen (Wyvern) A silver-scaled wyvern older than Neir itself, having loyally served the rightful ruler of Neir since Queen Hauteclere hatched him with the Scepter of Katri. Riding him, she was able to lead a Revolution and found Neir.
 -Hauteclere (Wyvern Monarch) The first queen of Neir. Famous for hatching Khozen and starting a persevering alliance with the Tarvos Nomads, both essential actions in a successful revolution against the Gerxel empire. Considered one of the most important figures in Teege history. Apparently banished the Garou to the mountains after the war.
 -Antiman (Nomadic Trooper, presumably) Quidel's uncle, younger brother to the chief of the Tarvos. A trusted friend, advisor, and diplomat to King Drasma. A caring man of few words. Has been left in charge of Neir in the royal family's absence.
 -Garou Tribe (Garou and Managarm, for the most part) A tribe of beastlike shapeshifters living in the mountain range between Neir and Heim. Currently led by a Managarm named Loba. Ellen wouldn't know much about them yet.
 -Vaga (Garou) The son of Lady Loba, part of the same litter as Dama was. A bit of a hometown hero, he's a quiet, broody pretty boy™ and a bit of an opportunistic scoundrel. Habitually burglarizes places, and is fiercely protective of his mother. The most unpredictable.
 -Ahua (Garou or Managarm) The oldest child of Chief Loba of the Garou tribe. Appears to be dutiful, but also gets mad weirdly easy.
 -Bolse (Class unknown) Katina's twin brother. The missing son of Mage General Corneria.
 -Corneria (Presumably something Magical) Mage General of Heim and mother of Katina and Bolse. Arranged for a meeting with King Drasma to discuss the matter of magical assassins.
 -Deadlords (Bovis: Hero, Tigris: Berserker, Simia: Swordmaster) Twelve exceptionally powerful undead warriors who are able to be summoned by unknown means. Three have been seen to be created by/working for the deaf necromancer's faction so far. Bovis is his personal bodyguard, Tigris has become a commander of undead legions, and Simia... was supposed to act as an assassin, but immediately disobeyed orders and abandoned Tigris in the Garou Mountains. Apparently there was a mistake in summoning her. The other nine have not been seen, but are suspected to exist.
 -The Vautou (Unique Class) Groups of winged bandits that make Heim's deserts their home. They were VERY recently taken over by Simia, having cut down their previous chief and asserted her dominance.
 -Laurina (Pirate?) An ex-girlfriend of Biff's mentioned briefly by Byron while recounting the duo's days as mercenaries. Apparently traveled with them awhile before breaking up with the red knight in circumstances only described as "nasty."
 -Lars (Class Unknown) The elder brother of Garrus and Salia, the true heir to Neir's throne... had he not defected to Dain during a war ten years ago alongside his mother.
 -Alexia (Class Unknown) The mother of Lars, Garrus, and Salia, former queen of Neir. Defected to her homeland, Dain, during a horrible war between it and Neir.
 -Derrick (Wyvern Lord) A childhood friend of Gorman's from back in Dain, the only one to stick up for and support him and his mother when Captain Willow tried to have them killed. Now the leader of the Emperor's Flight, the most elite Wyvern squadron of Dain.
 -Willow (Wyvern Lord) Derrick's mother, a former captain who was stationed at Traban Outpost. Physically abusive and known for her bloodthirstiness and "thoroughness," Derrick eventually saw to it that she was court martialed, dishonorably discharged, and imprisoned.
 -Yancy (Shaman) Biff's older brother. Went missing for awhile, only to have reconnected with Biff again before the story began. Things are... not strained, but somewhat awkward between the two. A more serious fellow than his brother, a reluctant stickler for rules he thinks make sense.
 -Miles (Class unknown) The estranged, disowned son of the Duke of a far-off duchy in Noba. Is apparently a respected mercenary of Heim constantly trying to redeem himself in his father's eyes without compromising his love for his fiancee. Currently off on a "redemption quest" of his own to seek out Bolse.

Deceased units:

 -Lambert (Mercenary Class, died in thread 2) The son of the captain of Orsin village's guard and Ellen's closest friend, a real showy bastard. A talented swordsman who was found half-dead after a fight with a myrmidon with Stefyn (when he was with the Johalva). He died early the next morning despite the best efforts of Garrus' knights and Nat. The least confident.

Defeated bosses:

 -Tabat (Berserker, died in thread 3) The leader of the fearsome Johalva bandits, who terrorized Tarvos valley and most recently destroyed Orsin village. Garrus' father, King Drasma, tasked him with wiping this faction out. While alive, he personally oversaw the capture of Natalie and Ellen, and was the one who ordered Stefyn to kill Lambert. Personally killed by Ellen, with the aid of Prince Garrus, in the former outpost his group had taken over. Was once friends with Gorman.
 -Incomplete Dracozombies (died in thread 5) Four Dracozombies, summoned by a deaf, fair-haired, signing spellcaster whose face Ellen didn't see. They were all in various states of incompleteness, making them look even more dead than the much more threatening complete Dracozombies. Apparently sent to kill prince Garrus, as by far the strongest of the quartet was focusing primarily on fighting him.