Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Part 4: The Zofian Civil War

In which I play through the remaining three prequel DLC missions to learn about the origins of the Deliverance.


Last time I played the first of four prequel maps I found as DLC for this game. That map was all about Fernand and Clive, in happier times, bailing Slayde out of trouble with the merchants of Zofia's port city and trying to set things right with what power Clive wielded as the leader of the Knights of Zofia.

Let's see where part two picks up shall we?

Mission: Outpost Rescue

We meet a man in green armor named Forsyth. He seems to be running away from something, as he's breathing heavily. My first thought is this is immediately after Desaix's coup. Forsyth is talking to a companion, Python, who appears in blue armor.

Ah, my initial assumption was incorrect, Forsyth and Python are CHASING someone. Or someones. They were robbed overnight? No, it sounds like they were marching to save the Southern Outpost (which we reclaimed with Alm in part 2 if I remember correctly), and all their soldiers deserted in the knight. Well that's gone poorly.

I mean, pirates are just guys with axes, what is there to be scared of? Unless... you didn't give all the soldiers lances, did you?

Forsyth and Python give up the chase and report back to Lukas. Hi Lukas! I do like the voice acting in this, it's well done. Also, this is good. I've not met Forsyth and Python in the main game (yet?) and this helps me establish whose side they are on. (They're on my side. Assuming Lukas didn't murder Sir Mycen off screen which is my horrible suspicion from back when we first met Lukas... But I think that's not the case.)

Lukas greets the situation pragmatically. It's not worth chasing the deserters any further, it would be a waste of time.

It's ok Forsyth, I'm sure Lukas has a plan.

Lukas is determined to continue to the Southern Outpost with just Forsyth and Python and rescue their comrades there from Desaix's pirates. Interesting, are the pirates from the first prequel mission here again? Clive and Fernand only suspected Desaix was hiring the pirates, but had no proof. It sounds like Lukas is certain.

Python and Forsyth discuss the deserters a bit more. I hope they're walking as they talk, let's not waste time here! Apparently the ringleader of the deserters was a duke who had clashed with Lukas (Lukas is from a minor backwater noble family, Python keeps forgetting Lukas is technically a noble. Sounds like Python and Forsyth are commoners then...) Apparently the duke insulted Lukas's family and they ended up in a physical fight.

I know Python is just making up an insulting name, but I really want there to be a Duke Upjump, of the Upjump family, tending the Upjump estate...

My impression is that Forsyth is earnest but a little naive, while Python is a little more self centered and cynical, but probably has that whole "I'm still a good guy underneath the demeanor" thing going on. 

The three reach the outpost. It looks like the same map as I had before, with one central hallway and two side rooms, one side room is irritatingly only accessible from the outside. Three nameless green units (my allies but I don't control them) are there, surrounded by 7 pirates. Lukas's plan is to save the green units and flee, leaving the fort to the pirates. "We can always try to reclaim it later, so no heroics Forsyth."

Alright, this is pretty straightforward. I move ahead, using the trees for cover as I lure the first two pirates to me. Forsyth and Python rush the central hallway, and Forsyth talks to and saves the two green units up there while he and Python take out the pirates. Lukas heads around the right side of the fort, barely managing to save the last green unit there from the pirate attacking him. Vexingly, the green units didn't attack, though they at least fought back when the pirates attacked them. Once I get them all, more pirates begin appearing from behind the outpost. Luckily, there is a door I can open from the inside to get Lukas and his charge out of danger. I reach the escape point a turn before a horde of pirate reinforcements would have made my life a lot harder. I think I moved just barely fast enough, but it wasn't a difficult mission.

Fun moment was one of Forsyth's quotes as he finished off a pirate: "I'm a Forsyth to be reckoned with!"

Yay more dialogue after the battle! Lukas blames himself a little bit for the deserters. If he hadn't lost his temper with Duke Upjump, maybe they would have had the soldiers to actually recapture the outpost.

Maybe, but also I think Duke Upjump probably deserved it. They usually do in these games.

Forsyth protests, but Python says Lukas is correct, it is sort of his fault. Still, they did good to rescue the Deliverance soldiers from the outpost just the three of them. And Lukas is really happy this mission allowed him to get to know Forsyth and Python, and how reliable they are. He points out Clive specifically sent the two of them with him for this mission. Forsyth is overjoyed that Clive might put such stock in him, and marches off happily, even yelling at Lukas and Python for taking to long to get back to Clive and the main Deliverance force.

So, I like this sort of background, it helps develop these characters a bit. And I like Forsyth and Python, I hope we get both of them in the main game.

Interestingly, we seem to have jumped forward in time to after Desaix has killed king Lima if the Deliverance is already a thing. I wonder if we'll get more flashback to that in the main game of if it just isn't that important.

I get Python's bow as a reward for this one.

-----------------------

Mission: Flight from the Ruins

Clair! I haven't been able to spend enough time with you, I'm so glad you're in this. Clair is slipping away from camp while the rest of the Deliverance sleeps off a long day of marching and fighting. Her plan is to go run a mysterious errand and return by dawn. Before she can leave she is startled by Mathilda. I think Mathilda and Clive are together? Clair is Clive's sister, and I think they mentioned Mathilda in the main game.

Clair is the one in the lighter armor on the right. Mathilda gets full on plate armor. Also, I love Clair.

Mathilda had been coming to see Clair about the fight earlier that day. Clair was holding back, and Mathilda was concerned she might be ill, but seeing Clair up and about at this time convinces Mathilda that this is not the case. Clair tries to push it all off and leave, but Mathilda is not having it. It's dangerous to go alone, take this knight with you! Also, apparently Terrors are active at knight. 

"I'm not afraid of Terrors, in fact I'm going to see them!" Clair says. Are you sure Clair? That sounds like a bad idea to me. Also a bad idea to Mathilda, who decides to go with Clair and make sure she comes to no harm.

Scene break, and now the pair are in some ruins inside a shrine.  Clair knew about this place from a tale her nursemaid used to tell about an ancient underground kingdom with advanced mystical arts. Supposedly this ancient kingdom made a ring that was impervious to magic, and Clair wants to see if it's real. The ring is supposed to be guarded by Terrors, though they haven't seen any yet.

It does seem unlikely, but you ARE in a Fire Emblem game...

Clair is incensed at Mathilda's incredulity.

Again, I love Clair's voice acting. And her attitude. 

With no opposition, Clair soon finds a ring. Mathilda is too late in her realization about the details of "guarded by Terrors" as Clair picks up the ring, and a bunch of Terrors wake up. Clair is dismayed, she thought there'd be only one or two Terrors. I see about a dozen Clair. That's more. 

Alright, time to play the mission! This is an escape. Clair and Mathilda start in the center of this shrine, and to get out they have to go north, around east or west, and exit to the south. Either way there are lots of Terrors, which are apparently zombies, ghosts and skeletons, but the east passage has a lot of walls narrowing things down while the west is a straight shot. I'm going to go East then, to limit how many Terrors can attack me at once.

Again this is a relatively straightforward map, especially as Mathilda has a fantastic Blessed Lance that lets her kill most enemies in one blow and recovers 5 HP per turn for her. Clair does indeed get a magic ring that gives her a huge resistance stat, so she takes no damage from the ghosts' magic attacks. Most of my strategy is getting the right character fighting the right enemy to take minimal damage as we rush through. About halfway down the hallway, a Necrodragon appears as reinforcements (there had been some extra skeletons spawning too, but Mathilda murders skeletons...) Welp, time to run EVEN FASTER then. I get the pair out about one turn before the Necrodragon catches up. Phew! Some of those ghosts hit Mathilda hard, it was hard to manage getting around their range while not letting the skeletons target the less defense minded Clair, but we made it.

Afterward, Clair is sorry to have pulled Mathilda into her adventure. But she got the ring! Or did she? As she talks the ring disappears. Mathilda points out it was made by an underground kingdom, perhaps it can't exist in the daylight, or vanishes when above ground. 

At least you didn't turn into a Nazgul.

Clair is upset, she knows Clive has a weakness to magic and she wanted the ring to protect him. Mathilda says Clive already has the best protection; a little sister who loves him. These two are sweet together, I like them both. Well, until Mathilda says nobody knows Clive better than she does. Clair is furious. "Nobody knows him better than his sister! Who do you think you are madam?"

Poor Mathilda. "I should have known better than to say that."

I'm definitely bringing both of them along if I get Mathilda in the main game. Sorry Gray, Clair and Mathilda come first.

I got Clair's lance as a reward.

----------------------

Mission: Siege of Zofia Castle.

This one starts from Slayde's point of view; his soldiers are in position. I hope I don't have to play as this asshole. Slayde is reminiscing on Desaix's apparent incompetence.

He's so casual about regicide.

Apparently shortly after Lima's death, Desaix's forces of 3000 were defeated by 500 knights, and Desaix retreated to his fortress. Slayde is here to reclaim Zofia castle from the knights. Or rather, the rebels, as he calls them. "The Deliverance are knights no longer, merely rebels. The most powerful houses have already pledged their banners to the chancellor."

Welp, it sounds bad for Clive and company, Slayde has shown up with a force of ten thousand soldiers this time. I bet we're not playing Slayde then, Fire Emblem generally doesn't have you play as the numerically superior force.

Inside, Clive and Mathilda talk strategy. The castle only has a certain number of incursion points, so Mathilda hopes they can hold off even such a large force indefinitely. (How much food do they have stocked away I wonder...) 

Oh I'm sure we can handle a few thousand soldiers! How many do we have, five? Six?

After Mathilda leaves, Lukas reports to Clive that Desaix has done something ambiguous. Clive is disgusted, he thought Desaix still had some honor. Before I can find out what they're talking about, Clair interrupts, asking where her post is supposed to be as nobody else will tell her. Clive walks with her while Lukas heads off to do some mysterious errand.

Clive and Clair run into Fernand, who is very angry about something. He snaps at Clive, and storms off when Clair calls him on it. Sounds more like the Fernand we met in the main game. Clair says he never used to be like this. Oh, and Clive explains that we shouldn't blame Fernand, he lost his entire family. Well... that's pretty awful. Fernand was so happy talking about his family in the first prequel mission. It is a bit of a shame we don't get to meet the family themselves though, we just get a sudden "Fernand's more angry than he used to be" turn. 

It is nice that we get this much backstory at least. So far in the main game I was assuming Fernand was an antagonist.

Clive says he hopes that in time Fernand will move past his grief, and Clair agrees to try and give him the time and space Fernand needs.

We switch views again to Forsyth and Python. Hi you two! Forsyth is very upset that the Zofian nobles have sided with Desaix after he murdered the king. Python is less unhappy, pointing out that Lima was not a great king to begin with. Especially to the common people, who saw Lima feasting away his problems and doing nothing to help them while they starved. To the common people, it probably doesn't matter much who the king is, which noble is in charge, they're just concerned with survival at this point. They may even resent the Deliverance for dragging out this conflict with Desaix over some sense of "justice".  Forsyth doesn't really have an answer to this.

Lukas approaches the pair at this point and asks for their help with something. The mysterious problem he had talked to Clive about. I assume I'll find out eventually, because it's time to play the battle!

For this map, we have everyone I've used in the prequel battles; Clive, Angry Fernand, Clair, Mathilda, Lukas, Forsyth and Python. And that's it, no green units, no generic people. We're in the middle of a castle courtyard, there are a few supply points, and one main entrance. Python is near stairs onto a castle wall, and it looks like there are stairs down the other side too, near where some enemies start. There's also a wall on the other side with sets of stairs on both ends too. I have to hold out for nine turns.

The fight is both simple and difficult, unlike the previous few. Fortunately for me the enemy files in towards the central point and doesn't go up the stairs to the wall like I'd feared. Python is free to take shots at the enemies coming by beneath him without much retaliation. Unfortunately the narrow confines actually work against me, as there are mages scattered amongst the soldiers, archers and cavaliers of the foe, and they hit my people really hard. I kill Slayde, who runs at me with everyone else, but just before the end Clive falls to the mages. I succeed anyway at least.

After the battle, Clive is hopeful the enemy will fall back and regroup, but Mathilda calls out that the situation is worse. More enemy reinforcements have appeared, and they are fresh. Clair points out their banners; they are soldiers from the Rigelian Empire. Clive is further disgusted that Desaix would so sell out his own country. (Are Zofia and Rigel such rivals?) Python doesn't want to die particularly, and asks after an escape plan. Surely Clive has one? Lukas implies there is one. He tells Clive it was correct to believe in the basic goodness of everyone, even Desaix, despite being disappointed by this now. That sort of belief was the foundation of the good kingdom Zofia had been, and seeking to protect that belief means they may have to compromise on a few others. "Do as you must," Clive responds.

Slayde is outside shouting insults and insisting they surrender. If the Deliverance beg him enough he may let them merely be enslaved and not executed. "You know what these banners mean right, or do I have to use small words?" Even Rigel has recognized Desaix as rightful ruler, so who can legitimize the rebels?

Slayde is interrupted by a soldier trying to point something out on the castle wall. Slayde gets a brief Starscream moment of "don't interrupt me when I'm giving a speech" attitude, but then is taken aback. Lukas is on the wall with hostages. Apparently, Slayde had warned the Rigelians in the city to flee before the battle, but the Deliverance had taken note of them and rounded them up. "You know what this means, right Slayde, or do I need to use small words?"

Lukas orders Slayde to grant the Deliverance safe passage in exchange for the castle and the lives of the Rigelians. Slayde is furious, vowing to see all of the Deliverance dead, but he cannot risk the ire of Rudolf. Presumably a big name in Rigel? Slayde complains about Clive's lack of honor to be using hostages so. Well, sometimes when your enemy fights dirty you have to resort to a little dirt just to stay alive I suppose.

The ploy works. The Deliverance is able to escape, though their pride is sorely wounded. Clive is particularly upset at the loss. Mathilda tells Clair that the stone of the castle was half of his pride as a knight, and he has now lost it. Clair is upset too, unwilling to accept she may never walk the halls of the castle again. I suppose that has been their home since they became knights. It must be hard to be forced out, especially in these circumstances.

Fernand shouts at Lukas, furious that Lukas did not tell him about the Rigelian hostage plan. Lukas points out he told as few people as possible. Fernand is furious that they would take hostages at all, and that Lukas is being positioned as Clive's close advisor, but storms off when Lukas asks if Fernand would question Clive himself.

Clive is apologetic to Lukas. Oh, Lukas did not join the Deliverance of his own choosing, but was ordered to by his brother, interesting. Even though Lukas did not choose this path, he has decided to see it through with no regrets. Further, Lukas believes that Clive's light of righteousness will save Zofia in the end.

Clive is reminded of a prophecy of a hero arising to smite evil when the land is covered in darkness. Where is that hero now? "Sleeping, if he is smarter than we are," Clive says. I'm glad he still has some sense of humor.

Forsyth and Python also get a conversation with each other. They'll stick it out as well, though they're not nobles. Python seems mostly to want to because he doesn't know what else to do, but Forsyth has some ambitions.

Sure, I'll promote you to a knight!

Python likes teasing Forsyth. Forsyth seems to accept it... mostly.

So, I looked it up and if I beat that last mission without any losses, I get a reward. Knowing how the fight goes, I went back and did it again, this time using Forsyth better (originally I had him guarding Python, assuming enemies would come up the walls, but they never did that), and using Lukas's reach ability and Fernand's javelin better, I was able to really take the enemies out quickly, and I finished with no losses (though Lukas was close to dead and had to retreat to the supply caches at the end, right after Clair finished). My reward is Clive's Lance and Lukas's Shield, and apparently some extra support conversations (presumably in the main game?)

I also got some memory fragments, but I'm not sure how to access them. Must be in the main game as well.

And that was the prologue! Or Prequel. Or whatever. Next time I'll go back to the main game (finally)!