Carrying the Torch/Story

Carrying the Torch - Opening

Patty	Ugh, are we there yet? This wagon ride is so bumpy. My butt hurts!
Our destination should be visible as soon as we crest this hill. I expect we will arrive in the village by nightfall.		Ash
Ced	I hope these supplies bring the villagers some relief.
Um... That's strange. Are you all seeing this?		Fee
Febail	Seeing what?
Over the hill. It looks like smoke... It is! Oh no, there's a fire in the village! Several fires, by the look of it!		Fee
Ced	Are they under attack?
Could be bandits. We had best hurry down there!		Febail
Patty	Take this—hyah! And get lost!
Hah! You will not set one foot inside this village while I'm here!		Fee
Febail	It seems we've managed to drive them back for now.
And the village does not appear to have sustained more serious damage. What a relief we arrived in time...		Ash
Ced	The fires have all been put out.
I regret to interrupt the celebration, but I followed the bandits' retreat path from the sky, and...it's troubling. The ones we fought off were merely scouts. The main force is encamped on the other side of the hill!		Fee
Febail	Then they will be back. And soon.
We cannot defend against them without reinforcements!		Fee
Patty	What do we do?! Is there time to evacuate the villagers?
Everyone, remain calm.		Ced
Fee	Right—of course, Ced.
Fee, I want you to fly to the Order of Heroes as fast as you can and find us some reinforcements. The rest of us will hole up here and fortify the village defenses.		Ced

Carrying the Torch - C

Fee	Very well—I will find reinforcements as quickly as I can. Hold tight until I return!
Take care. And may Lord Askr watch over you on your journey.		Ash
Ced	We should assume they will strike with an all-out assault while she is gone. Let us examine our assets. The village has steep cliffs on three sides. If we fortify the moat in front, we should be able to block them out.
The terrain does favor us. Numbers will mean less if they only have one way in.		Febail
Ced	Ash, Febail, I will leave it to you to defend the front.
I have no objections. We shall do our utmost to keep the point of ingress secure!		Ash
Febail	Understood. My skills are well suited to this task.
What should I do?		Patty
Ced	I want you to round up the civilians. Keep them calm and safe.
No problem! One sip of my stamina drink and they’ll feel ready to take on the world.		Patty
Ced	Flaming arrows will likely be their opening move. Split the villagers up into teams to fight the fires. And we may as well distribute our provisions to them now. We will have no time for it once the chaos begins.
You are an extraordinary leader, if I may say so. I believe I can learn a great deal by following your example.		Ash
Ced	Experience is the best teacher. It is only by chance that I have fought in battles of this kind before. This situation is not unlike what the Magi faced when we stood up to the atrocities of the Grannvale Empire.
Word of your deeds in battle spread far beyond the town where you fought. The name of the Hero on the Wind inspires hope in the hearts of all who stand against tyranny.		Febail
Ash	Then is seems we are in good hands! I have full and complete confidence in your abilities, Prince Ced.

Carrying the Torch - B

Febail	See that? Dust rising in the distance beyond the hill. They are moving.
Our preparations are thorough and complete. I believe we’ve accounted for every possible permutation.		Ash
Patty	The villagers are ready and raring to go! They’re excited to work with the incredible Hero on the Wind.
I hope you did not make too much of that title. Such high expectations will only lead to disappointment.		Ced
Febail	What makes you say that?
In truth, I could have saved a great many more lives than I did...had I not been such a coward.		Ced
Patty	Hey! Now’s not the time for this kind of self-doubt! Everyone in the village is counting on the Hero on the Wind!
She is correct. Whatever reservations you may have, I hope you can put them aside for the people’s sake. To these folk, in this dire situation, even the thinnest ray of hope will shine brighter than any beacon. Be the Hero on the Wind, Prince Ced. If only for a little while.		Ash
Ced	I understand. Even if that title is far better suited to the crusader of legend who bore my name... I will carry the burden of it for as long as I must to save this village.

Carrying the Torch - A

Febail	The enemy is here! Remember your orders, everyone, and we will get through this together!
Unequivocally! I shall demonstrate the resolve that Lord Askr and I share to defend the innocent!		Ash
Ced	I am Ced, the Hero on the Wind! The mighty gale I wield shall blast through all who dare oppose me!
Ha! It’s working! Look at them— they’re scared stiff!		Patty
Ash	They know now whom they stand against in battle. The Hero on the Wind commands great respect.
And now they will also feel the sting of the holy bow Yewfelle!		Febail
Patty	Careful, Febail! Remember they still outnumber us!
Steady! Fee’s reinforcements will be here soon. We need only hold this position until they arrive!		Ced
Patty	Speaking of, take a look up there! To the east!
Hail and well met! I hope I did not keep you waiting overlong. I had to fly without a moment’s rest, but I brought you some aid, courtesy of the Order of Heroes.		Fee
Seliph	My friends! Well done holding on until now.
You are alone no longer—we are here to help!		Leif
Ced	Just a little more, then. Keep your guard up, everyone! This will all be over soon!
Looks like you led the defense and took not a single casualty. I’d expect nothing less from the great hero Ced.		Leif
Seliph	His leadership was instrumental, but let’s not forget the contributions of Febail, Patty, and Ash. Well done, all.
A compliment from Lord Seliph makes it all worth it, don’t you think, Febail?		Patty
Seliph	We should also thank Fee. Without her tireless flying, we would never have arrived as quickly as we did.
I knew everyone here was counting on me. I could not let them down.		Fee
Ced	They say the crusaders of legend prevailed against impossible odds because they never abandoned hope. We have achieved the same here alongside these villagers. The heroes who saved Jugdral from darkness would no doubt see their determination reflected in us today. Let us carry their legacy forward as we continue to support the Order of Heroes through their own adversity.

Scenario
Turn of Fate ←		Carrying the Torch		Guiding Vision →
Fee	Patty		Ced		Febail

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