Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon/Chapter 20

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Camus the Sable [CHP20] _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

"It was General Ordwin, one of the Three Heroes of the War of Liberation, who put Grust on the map. His peerless knights tamed their neighbors the barbarians in the kingdom's infancy, securing its place as one of the greatest of the Seven Kingdoms. However, the current king, Ludwik, was weak-willed and easily cowed: Doluna had little trouble forcing him into an alliance. Now he had taken ill, even as Grust suffered its string of defeats at the hand of the League. The once mighty kingdom was poised to fall..."

I highly recommend Beck, to counter the enemy ballistas. Other than that, just take your other generic team (I used Beck anyway, so that worked out).

Other than that, you may wish to use your master seal to promote units. Also, use the various stat boosts from last battle's chests. My team at this point in the game looked like:

Abel - Paladin (Level 3) - A good tank, reliable to destroy enemies

Frey - Paladin (Level 6) - Has better stats than Frey, but I keep Abel with the stronger weapons. Both of them can overpower about three units before me having to worry about them dieing.

Gordin - Sniper (Level 7) - A real tank. Last time a few units attacked him and he only took about 10 (out of 45) damage. Funny thing is that his defence is only 5 away from the arguably "broken" Level 20 promoted Wolf. His only problem is his movement and his attack, but that isn't the purpose of a tank right?

Shiida - Dracoknight (Level 1) - Just leveled with Master Seal before fight. Good to reach units that are relatively far away. Destroys generals, knights, cavaliers, paladins, etc.

Marth - Lord (Level 17) - A little low compared to what most readers might have, but he suffices for me since he has 14 attack.

Lena - Bishop (Level 7) - My healer. She also can deal anime magic damage.

Ogma - Hero (Level 1) - Also just leveled with Master Seal before fight.

Beck - Ballistican (Level 16) - Strong since I put him to use.

Nabarl - Swordmaster (Level 7) - Ouch. With 26 speed, 24 skill, 16 strength, and 21 luck, he beats all the enemies as easy as Wolf does.

Wolf - Horseman (Level 20) - A real description isn't necessary. He is my back-up just in case an enemy puts one of my units in danger.

Merric - Sage (Level 1) - A weak link in my army, but he is strong when on the offensive. His defence is still only seven though, so I rarely risk him on the frontlines.

Note that I NEVER changed classes, I kept them the way they are. That is because there is no real need to. Now, provided that the units above are a tad bit stronger than they SHOULD be. This is because I arena abused a few of them. However, I am at a point in the game where I literally rip the enemies to shreds due to me having used this "all-star" team the whole game.

What I mean by the above is that you don't need to be as strong as I was. Now, if you abused more than I have (as some readers might), then you may disregard this... :P

Anyway, when ready, start the map.

DIALOGUE

Marth: Nyna, we'll soon be launched the attack. If you have something to tell me...now is the time to do it.

Nyna: All right, Marth. As you wish. When the Doluna-Grust allied forces seized control of Akaneia, the entire royal family was killed, save me. I was given into Grust's custody- the custody of the Sable Order, to be more specific I am told Doluna wished for my execution- and with it the end of the holy lineage of House Akaneia- and Grust was willing to comply.

Marth: But you are not dead.

Nyna: That is right. I was not put to the sword. The Sable Order's captain came to my defence. His name...was Camus.

Marth: ....!

Nyna: Camus protected me, knowing he risked incurring the wrath of the Shadow Dragon. He was the one who eventually arranged for my escape to Aurelis.

Marth: ...I had no idea. That certainly explains Doluna's displeasure with him.

Nyna: I hated him, too, at first. But in the time, I found my hatred tempered by the compassion he showed me, my feelings...changed. And no, all I wish is to see him again...But not if it means you and he must fight.

Marth: Nyna... Do you... I cannot make any promises. But I will do what I can. I hope you can accept that.

Nyna: Thank you, Marth. I could not ask for more.

END DIALOGUE

First turn, use Beck to get rid of the ballista. If you don't have him, move Shiida and any other flier away until you kill it. This is because the ballista has arrowspatte and most likely will critically damage your flier.

Use Shiida's Wing Spear to defeat the generals in the vicinity.

Now, I RECOMMEND using an overpowered unit like Wolf to solo the west side. Equip him an Iron Sword and all four paladins will attack...and promptly all die. There are two ballistas randomly placed out there, killing them will solve a whole bunch of immediate problems.

Another immediate problem is the paladins to the north. They deal about 15 damage to some of my units and thus put some at risk of dieing since there are four of them. When done, move Marth up north. Use the danger zone to position them out of range of the ballistas. Then, DO NOT move Marth or anyone that is with him.

By the time you find a way to defeat them, Wolf should have destroyed the ballistas. Now, randomly assorted reinforcements will appear along with a thief trying to destroy the village in the center.

I swung in my paladins for support. The reinforcements are relatively small.

Now, use Beck to destroy the ballista next to the castle. Hopefully you have one thunderbolt left (I had exactly one left).

Automatically, Marth will decide to talk to Camus (note that this is implied and all we see is the dialogue below)

DIALOGUE

Marth: General Camus! Can you hear me? It is I, Marth of Altea! I must speak with you! Please, show yourself!

Camus: Prince Marth. I am Camus of Grust.

Marth: General, I have no wish to fight you. You know this battle is pointless; surely you must!

Camus: So long as Grust continues to support Doluna's ambitions, it does not matter what I know or think. I am a knight; I have a duty to fight for my motherland's glory till the very end.

Marth: But surely-

Camus: Prince Marth, there is nothing you can do or say. I am party to your father's murder. Are you a man or not? Draw your sword.

(Enter Nyna)

Nyna: Stop! Camus!

Camus: Princess Nyna...

Marth: Nyna, what are you doing here?! This is the middle of the battlefield!

Nyna: I know, I know... But please, Camus, listen to me...Camus, you gave me back my life. And Marth, he gave me back my kingdom. I do not wish to see that the two of you fight. It is...it is unbearable. Please, Camus, fight with us. We need your strength.

...I need it [oh snap!]

Camus: I am sorry, Princess.

Nyna: What? But, Camus!

Camus: Were my heart my master, I would do exactly as you say. But what sort of knight abandons his kingdom- his king!- now, when they need him the most? Would you have me toss away the life I have built as if it meant nothing at all?

Nyna: No, Camus, I.... I don't know...

Camus: I have lived as a knight, and I intend to die as one. There are no other roads left for me to walk. Farewell, my princess. I shall never forget our days together at the palace, few though they were. I pray you meet someone who can bring joy back into your life.

END DIALOGUE

Oh well, that conversation almost looked like we could recruit Camus. It isn't possible to recruit Camus, attacking him yields the following conversation.

DIALOGUE

Camus: With this lance, Gradivus, I am all but invincible. A pity you had to waste your life.

END DIALOGUE

NOTES ABOUT CAMUS (inspired by Amano_kun's contribution - quite a bit here is from him)

It is not mandatory to kill Camus. You may ignore him and decide to just seize the gate. However, there are three things to keep in mind:

1) You will get an alternate scene. Camus DOES NOT join you. Nyna will change her dialogue to say that Camus was not able to be found. 2) You run the risk of losing a unit if you aren't careful enough. 3) You won't get his drop, Gravidus, which is a powerful weapon

To finish the map without killing him, you must swing Marth over to the left along with Shiida. Put Marth in range of seizing the gate, then on the next turn, swing Shiida to recruit Lorenz. Move Lorenz aside and seize the gate.

END NOTE (Thanks to Amano_kun again)

Camus uses the legendary lance and packs a punch. Eliminate him with a Ridersbane + Beck combo. When you kill him, he says:

DIALOGUE

Camus: Nyna...Farewell...

END DIALOGUE

You might not be able to get Camus, but you can recruit Lorenz, the general guarding the gate. You need either Marth or Shiida. The following is the conversation:

DIALOGUE

Shiida: General Lorenz! My name is Shiida. I hail from Talys. My father has told me quite a bit about you.

Lorenz: Princess Shiida! My, look what a lovely young women you've grown into. Your father was a good friend to me, many years ago.

Shiida: General, I heard you opposed Grust forming an alliance with Doluna. Why didn't you try to stop it?

Lorenz: You think I did not try, Princess? Our king is meek; in the end, Doluna proved better at cowing him than I did.

Shiida: But sir, surely you know that Doluna intends to use Manaketes to conquer humankind! You must act now- for Grust's sake, if not the world's! Join us, General Lorenz. We can put an end to this battle right now.

Lorenz: Hmm...What you say makes sense enough, but I serve Grust. I cannot simply betray my country.

Shiida: Ah, but what makes a country?

Lorenz: Pardon?

Shiida: Is it one man- your king? Or is it the countless innocent people who make their home here?

Lorenz: Well, that's- Hmm...

Shiida: My father has a saying: "A kingless country is a country still; but a king without subjects rules naught but hills." If you disobey your king to ensure his subjects' safety, how is that a betrayal? You are protecting his reign.

Lorenz: Protecting his reign? ...Aha ha ha, ha ha! Ahh, that mad logic! I feel as though I've shed twenty years and I'm talking to your father again. You win, Princess. I yield! I will join you, in the intersts of king and country. Har!

END DIALOGUE

If you talked to Lorenz with Marth, the conversation is as follows:

(THANKS TO SUPERARC!)

DIALOGUE

Marth: General Lorenz, hold!

Lorenz: What? You are Marth, the Altean prince...

Marth: Yes, sir. The king of Talys told me much about you. He said you opposed Grust forming an alliance with Doluna, right from the very start.

Lorenz: That's right.

Marth: Then fight with us! With your help, we can defeat Doluna!

Lorenz: Forgive me, Prince Marth, but am I to just abandon my country, then?

Marth: ...

Lorenz: I know yours is the just cause. Still, I wish to remain a Grustian general, right to the end. I am fighting here because that is the way for me to honor my kingdom.

Marth: Forgive me, General, but...is it, really?

Lorenz: Pardon?

Marth: Since you are a Grustian General, then surely you fight for Grust's future first and foremost. But tell me...from where you are standing now, do you see any future for your country?

Lorenz: ...I shall have to learn to mask my misgivings better, if you can pluck them from my heart so easily. You are quite correct. If I care what becomes of Grust, then I cannot continue to stand by Doluna. So, I will stand by you instead, Prince- and hope the future is a bit easier to spot from there.

END DIALOGUE

(CREDIT TO SUPERARC!)

Note that Lorenz is a promoted general and thus, I naturally dislike him. Also note that I didn't realize Camus could deal 36 total damage to a unit with 17 defence, and since I probably won't use him anyway, I decided to not restart the chapter.

Note that I did not kill him first because I still believed there was a way to recruit him. To avoid what happened to me, it is imperative to kill Camus first

BEFORE SEIZING THE GATE, check out the village to the south you might have missed with Marth. Get the Hammerene, a good staff for Lena only.

Finally, seize the gate.

DIALOGUE

Marth: Forgive me, Nyna. I was unable to reunite you with your general.

Nyna: No, Marth, I...I should not have made such a selfish request. I am sorry, so terribly sorry...

Marth: ....

Nyna: The worst part, Marth...the worst part is, I knew it would come to this. Ever since I gave you the emblem, I just knew...Have you heard the story of Artemis's Curse?

Marth: No...

Nyna: The last time the Fire Emblem changed hands to save House Akaneia, it was not without cost. There was a princess named Artemis who loved your ancestor, Anri, with all her heart. He loved her as well- but when Medeus appeared, the two were parted forever. She cursed the Fire Emblem- called it the end of war, but also the end of love.

Now the emblem has changed hands again, and I am the one who is cursed...

Marth: Nyna...

(if you didn't kill Camus, Nyna will say something about how he was not able to be found)

Nyna: Look at me, so quick to fall apart... You lost loved ones in Altea and took it so bravely; but I cannot be so brave... Please...leave me for a moment. This is too much to bear. I need to...to confront my feelings...

Marth: ...Say no more, Nyna... Princess. I will step out. Send for me if you need anything.

Nyna: Thank you, Marth...

(Marth leaves and the bottom screen of our DS goes black for some odd reason)

Nyna: Ahh...! Camus, Camus... Ahh...no... Oh, why...

END DIALOGUE

If you have less than 15 units here, you will go to the Gaiden chapter. See [CHPF1] for more details.