The Great Advance/Script

Before Battle (Greil Mercenaries Hideout)
Mist Wow, how long has it been since we were here? It sure feels great to be home.

Ike Yeah, we've been away for too long... Dealing with Crimean nobles always seems to take longer than it should. At least now we can finally get some rest.

Titania Still, it was nice to be needed, don't you think? Especially for a band of mercenaries as poor as we are.

Mist You know, Ike, if you hadn't renounced your lordship, we wouldn't have to run around like this to support ourselves.

Ike Mist, I...

Mist Oh, I know. I'm just teasing you, silly. Besides, I'd rather spend my time helping people. Who wants to live like some overstuffed noble, anyway? Definitely not me! We have Father's legacy to look after, as well the Greil Mercenaries.

Soren Ike, a visitor to see you.

Ike A visitor? Who is it?

Ranulf Long time no see, Ike. I've been looking all over Crimea for you. You're never home!

Ike Ranulf! How are you, my old friend? How's everyone in Gallia? Is Caineghis well?

'Ranulf Everyone's doing great. We laguz don't take ill too easily, so it's hard not to be well.

Ike Seeing you again brings back memories. We couldn't have won the war if not for Gallia's aid...and yours especially.

Ranulf Well, same goes for you. Who knows where Gallia would be if not for Ike and the Greil Mercenaries!

Ike Speaking of old friends... I saw Princess Leanne in the Crimean royal court. Apparently, she'd been looking for me, too. She said, Please save my brothers. Do you know what she's talking about?

Ranulf So, she's heard. Let me get straight to the point, Ike. I have some bad news. War has come to us once again.

Ike What?!

Ranulf The Laguz Alliance, which is made up of Gallia, Phoenicis, and Kilvas, is setting out against Begnion. The situation has escalated very quickly.

Ike Escalated seems a bit soft. I know there are problems between the laguz and Begnion, but I thought things were getting better.

Ranulf Rafiel, the eldest son of the herons, brought back some disturbing news from Daein. He'd learned that Begnion senators ordered the herons' extermination. This spurred the laguz to strike against Begnion. That's why I came looking for you, Ike. We need your help.

Before Battle (Flaguerre) Ranulf Flaguerre is close now. It's a fortress city near the Begnion border. We'll storm the city at night and hit them fast enough that the troops inside the fortress won't have time to take their positions.

Skrimir Yes! Finally, a chance to rend my foes! But I would rather have a head-on fight. Why do we wait until nightfall, like a pack of cowards?

Ranulf ...

Ike What's our role in this?

Ranulf I want the Greil Mercenaries to act as a guerrilla force. Take out their fire mages and ballistae. They're really bad news for us laguz.

Skrimir Bah, enough talking! To the battlefield, to taste my enemies' fear! No more waiting!

Ranulf No, Skrimir. This isn't the kind of fight where a general takes the field. You should stay behi--

Skrimir Are you insane?! Oh, I'll fight! A general of Gallia does not hide behind his men! Leave this tactics garbage to the beorc. We need only our claws and teeth! I call an end to this meeting! Time to kill!

Ranulf Wait! Skrimir! Blast.

Ike Are you OK?

Ranulf Yeah. That thickheaded fool... This'll be his first major battle. Hopefully, he won't get his teeth kicked out. How about you, Ike? Are you sure about this?

Ike Sure about what?

Ranulf Well, you know... You're beorc. I'm laguz. You sure you want to take our side?

Ike The Laguz Alliance is in the right, Ranulf. The senate is actively ignoring you, and worse, they're murdering your messengers. Why shouldn't we help you get the senate's attention? I'm sure my people understand. Besides, I would never abandon a friend in need.

Ranulf Thanks, Ike.

Septimus Oh, this is lunacy! Look how meager our force is, especially considering our proximity to Gallia!

Silvano General Septimus, sir, we're only making the rounds this evening. We don't need a bigger force.

Septimus No, you're wrong! Even now, those bloodthirsty beasts are stalking us. I just know it! Believe me!

Silvano General, p-please calm yourself. You say this every evening, and yet we've never had any--

Begnion Soldier 1 E-enemy fire! We're under attack! It's those Gallian beasts! The sub-humans are attacking us!

Silvano What?!

Septimus See? See?! Now do you see, fool?! I was right! Hah, I told you...umm... N-now what do we do?

Skrimir Run down all who get in your way! Make your path of blood and bone! Advance! Advance! Advance!

Ike Yeesh, glad he's on our side! I see the family resemblance. Keep up, everyone! Let's get to work!

Skrimir Weaklings! Where is your general? Come out and fight, coward! I am Skrimir, general of Gallia! Septimus Flees

Septimus Oh no! They're drawing near! We're finished! We're doomed!

Silvano P-please, be quiet, General! You'll hurt the troops' morale! Wait, where are you going?!

Septimus To safety! I must escape to Mugill. The beasts... The beasts wish to... CONSUME ME!

Silvano General Septimus! Gutless coward! Are you scared of these worthless sub-humans?!

After Battle
Ike Are we done?

Soren Yeah. The guards are dead, and the rest of the troops fled to the east. We're in good shape.

Skrimir Bah! Is that it? I still crave blood! Find me more humans to kill!

Ike The civilians have no quarrel with us, and the soldiers who surrendered have handed over their weapons.

Skrimir Grrrrr. If this is all the fight Begnion can give, this war will be over too soon!

Ranulf I wouldn't be so sure. We won this fight, yes, but the empire has a massive army. Don't forget that there was a time when Begnion ruled over us.

Skrimir Hmph. You forget...that was before my time.

Ranulf Did you listen to a word I just said?

Skrimir Soldiers of Gallia! The battle is over! We have won! No human can stand against the laguz! We are not done yet! We'll continue to fight, kill, and crush our enemies!

Titania My... What a stupid speech.

Ike Don't say things like that. I hear that King Caineghis of Gallia was not so different when he was young. So try not to judge so quickly.

Soren I don't know. That's really hard to imagine.

Ike I'm sure that Skrimir will settle down, given time. Well, I hope so, anyway...

Skrimir Victory awaits us in Mugill! We shall attack, conquer, and celebrate our victory!

Titania Ike, I've been thinking. Is this war...something that we should really be fighting? After all, we know about Lehran's Medallion...

Soren As long as the dark god sleeps within the medallion, the world shall not war. Is that what you mean?

Titania That's right. Our ancestors made a vow, and it's our responsibility to prevent the horror they strove against.

Titania Chaos is born of strife. If the land is covered in war, the dark god will break free of the medallion and destroy the world. This war could easily spread across Tellius, and the dark god could be awakened. We were very fortunate during the Mad King's War, but it was a close call. Can we count on being lucky again? Already, we're talking about a war between Begnion, the largest nation on Tellius, and three laguz countries. That's half the known world, and it's not over yet. Have they all forgotten about the possibility of the dark god's rebirth?

Ranulf Hello, all. Sorry to interrupt. Lady Titania, Soren, you're both very perceptive. I'd expect nothing less from the deputy commander and the strategist of the Greil Mercenaries. You don't have to worry, though. The whole situation is under control.

Ranulf The medallion is under the protection of the Serenes royal family. Even if the god escaped, the herons can control it with their galdrar.

Ike Reyson, Leanne, and...Prince Rafiel, was it?

Soren Ah. Ages ago, the heron leader Lehran sealed the dark god within the medallion. His descendants have therefore been taught how to subdue it with their seid magic.

Ranulf So that's the story. We'll be relying heavily on the power of the Greil Mercenaries. I'm counting on you all.

Titania Understood. We'll do our best to see this conflict finished as quickly as possible. Right, Ike?

Ike Yes. Of course.