Crumbling Fortress (Normal)

> The bandit's base lies in the ruins of a fortress abandoned for its inaccessibility. It should be breached quickly if they are to be subdued.
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## Summary

Lord of Avillon learns that Zaira has been conspiring with Oswald to take over Avillon. Although Zaira and her conspirators get away, the knights manage to get Oswald.

## Character List

### Major Characters

* Zaira (Fire)
* Lord of Avillon
* Oswald

### Minor Characters

* Schneider (Earth)
* Johan Talede (Light)
* Fram Berge (Water)
* Charlotte Grace (Earth)
* Mu

## Dialogue

**Fram:** Who are these guys? I thought this was Therian territory! What’re these humans doing here?
**Platoon Sergeant:** The enemy is here! To your stations!
**(Lord):** It seems Oswald’s not only been conspiring with bandits.
**Schneider:** Are the bandits not our targets? I sense something much more serious afoot…
**Johan:** Their uniforms are Avillonian, but I do not recognize their faces… If they truly were our knights, I would know them.
**Fram:** So then, where’d they get that armor?!
**Platoon Sergeant:** Now that they’ve seen us, we cannot allow them to leave. No witnesses!
**Fram:** You seem pretty sure of yourselves, heh.
**Charlotte:** Highness, stand behind me! I’ll protect you!
**(Lord):'** Thanks, Charlotte, but I’ll be fine. Defeat them all. We’re getting closer.
[Accessing the Chronicles]

**Mu:** Master.
**(Lord)):** Mu? It’s been a long time since you reached out.
**Mu:** I have come with a report.
**((Lord)):** Is there something up ahead?
**Mu:** Approximated 30 humans detected. One is especially powerful, estimated to be as strong as our knights. She is with Oswald. Her name is Zaira.
**(Lord):** I remember seeing her mentioned in the Chronicles. She’s the Vice-Captain of Rhodon’s Order of the Thorns. Has Oswald… struck a deal with Rhodon?
**Mu:** I will transmit data for you to view.
**(Lord):** First name Zaira… No last name. Born into the lowest social class, she worked her way up to her position as Vice-Captain. Her current status is 'under duress, anxious'. Seems she was dispatched here. They likely made a deal with Oswald in hopes of claiming Avillon for their own… Thank you, Mu. Having access to all the information in the world in the form of the Chronicles is immensely helpful.
**Mu:** As the Chronicles’ humanoid interface, I only allow access to those who have forged a contract with me. Currently, that is only you, Master. I thank you for always allowing me to fulfill my purpose.
**(Lord):** I should be thanking you. If we hadn’t met five years ago, I wouldn’t be here.
**Mu:** …I take my leave.
**(Lord):** Watch over the Citadel while I’m gone.
[Closing the Chronicles]

**(Lord):** Now, back to the matter at hand… If Zaira grew up in the lower class, she must be fighting every day just to make it in Rhodon, where class discrimination is so prominent. If she is 'under duress' as the report stated, she’ll probably want to make sure she succeeds at her mission no matter what. It’s really a shame she has to endure so much social prejudice in spite of all her talent… It’s exactly the sort of thing I want to get rid of. At any rate, I’d better get moving. I feel sympathy for her, but I suppose our first meeting will be as enemies...

**Oswald:** Highness! Er, I mean… '(Lord)'! I wasn’t expecting to see you here…
**???:** How’d you breach the bandits’ border and make it up her so quickly?
**(Lord):** Are you Oswald’s conspirator? Allow me to compliment you on pulling his strings so well.
**Oswald:** Pulling my strings?! I’m not just acting on someone else’s orders. I’m the man who will rule Avillon.
**Fram:** If you become Monarch, the country’s as good as done for!
**???:** Perhaps we should take this opportunity to end things here. Taking advantages of a rural lord was never a plan I particularly liked.
**Charlotte:** Who’s she? She doesn’t seem to be Avillonian…
**???:** Heh, my apologies, but I feel the need to satiate your curiosity.
**(Lord):** Hah… Well, there aren’t too many powers that would scheme to such lengths. The Kingdom of Rhodon is one, and they’ve been enacting some aggressive expansion policies as of late. Wouldn’t you agree Zaira? Or should I say, the Sable Tempest?
**Zaira:** How do you know my name…? You’re even more astute than I’d heard. However, nothing will change just because you figured it out. Soldiers, defeat them and you will have fulfilled your service to the nation!
**Schneider:** You are worse than the bandits!
**Oswald:** Be careful! They may not look like much, but these knights are strong!
**(Lord):** Why put up a fight if you know that already? Defeat them all, knights.

**Zaira:** Ngh… You’re much stronger than I expected. Isn’t Avillon just a small border nation…?
**(Lord):** And you think that makes us weak?
**Oswald:** Ugh… I only lost because I haven’t fully healed from our last encounter. If I’d been in top form, things would have turned out differently…
**Fram:** Hate to break it to you, but you weren’t even that strong at full strength. You’re just… loud.
**Platoon Sergeant:** We failed our mission… Commander, let us retreat!
**Zaira:** Hmph, this outcome was… unexpected. Come, we shall return home!
**Oswald:** Where are you going?! You have to help me!
**Johan:** Shall we pursue them, Your Highness?
**(Lord):** No, let them go, We’ve Oswald here to take care of.
**Fram:** But won’t letting them go now spell trouble for us later?
**(Lord):** We’ll have to confront Rhodon regardless, likely sooner than later. For now, cleaning up our internal affair is more important.
**Fram:** You mean we’re going to attack Rhodon head on in the near future? Sounds good to me! As for you, Oswald, you know treason is one of the worst things you can do here, right?
**Oswald:** I-I was simply complying with an offer I received…!
**Charlotte:** 'Offer'? Sure you’re not mixing that up with 'trying to overthrow the country'?
**(Lord):** It’s a little late to be back-stepping now, don’t you think? Where did all that gusto go from when you were storming into the audience chamber?
**Oswald:** Ugh… The plan was perfect, too…
**Fram:** Stop whining! It’s time for your punishment!
**(Lord):** Knights, tie up Oswald and escort him back to the Citadel.