Beyond the Beyond: Update 50: The March of Zalagoon (all about that bridge)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 50: The March of Zalagoon (all about that bridge)

I was hoping to complete the next part rather quickly but as we shall see the game had some... other ideas. For now though let's just focus on the bridge that everyone's been so worried about.

Having returned to the Border Church to collect Edward and Sir Samson the team relayed what they had learned then set out.

Is everyone ready?
You bet. Let's do this!
Is it kind of creepy when the one person not from Marion is the most enthusiastic about this?
Those soldiers we fought earlier were way too close to Simone for my liking.
I'm ready. Are we just going to barge in and fight?
I don't think there's really any other way unless Sir Samson has come up with something he hasn't told me.
No. We're going to have to go in and take some of them out ourselves.
Well there you have it.

Down in the depths of the guardhouse the entire side of the Bandore garrison is gathered to gawk (and taunt) their counterparts on the Zalagoon side.

(leader) The Zalagoon soldiers aren't going anywhere! Huh huh huh!

No wonder the door wasn't locked. Everyone's busy making faces towards Zalagoon.
Somehow that doesn't surprise me at all.
You know Annie you've been saying that a lot lately.
What? It's true. Grown men making stupid faces at other people staring at them from across a bridge just doesn't surprise me.
We really have become jaded haven't we?
Are we going to do anything or just watch them for awhile?

The team's presence doesn't go unnoticed for long. One soldier turns and sees them.

Commander! Behind us! Some of Marion's soldiers!
Well I guess that answers that.

That prompts everyone to turn and see the team. You just know someone in the group is kicking themselves for forgetting to lock the front door. I wonder why Galahad's rebels haven't already attacked this poorly defended site?

(leader) What?! Where did they come from?!

Hi there! What's going on?
Are you seriously going to try diplomacy, Tont?
I figure I should at least give them the option of surrendering.

The garrison commander steps forward.

(leader) You must be out of your mind if you think we're going to surrender to anyone. They must be part of the rebellion! Stop them!

Two soldiers from the pack rush forward to attack.

Well this is just rude!

It's always interesting how overworld sprites and battle sprites differ from one another. The overworld sprites for Bandore soldiers are very green but those parts of their armor turn grey the moment a battle starts. I guess the green is to make them stand out for the player.

Just two soldiers. Are you sure you can handle this, Finn?
Do you really doubt me, Steiner?
Yes.
*makes an assortment of flustered noises* Well gee, thanks!
Always happy to help!

The swordsman in front is the team's first target. We can worry about the archer later.

As if you're one to talk about helping, Steiner. You just fly around doing nothing.
It's not like I could do much if I wanted to. What do you expect me to do, scratch their eyes out?
You're a dragon! Can't you breathe fire or something?
What makes you think all dragons breathe fire?
Less chatter more dealing with the enemy.

With multiple targets in separate groups Firedrake is an excellent option for Tont.

You want fire? *grins deviously* Oh I think I can provide that.

Edward tries to confuse the archer, since I know it will take multiple rounds to deal with them, but the archer resists the effect.

This Bandore swordsman is quite a bit tougher then the rookies that Samson killed during the prison break way back in part 8. He can actually do some damage with his attacks.

For the glory of the emperor!

Despite the overall stat upgrade for these Bandore mooks (ignoring for the moment the super archer duo) these two are only slightly stronger than the random monsters the team was fighting back in Arawn's Tower and as such are dispatched without much trouble.

There! Now are you satisfied, Steiner?
Hmm, your swing is still a bit too slow!
What?! Who are you to judge my swing?
*snickers*
Aargh!
This is bad for your blood pressure, Finn.

(leader) Humph... Looks like I'll have to take care of you personally!
You could still surrender!
Not a chance, pipsqueak.

With first pair of soldiers dead the rest of the squad rushes forward to attack.

(1) A bunch of kids? Is this really the best Marion has to offer?
(2) We just watched them kill two of our number. Are you really going to question it now?

Thus begins the real fight for the bridge against a squad of four Bandore soldiers: two sword-wielders and two archers. An astute observer might note one of these soldiers doesn't quite match the others. Now I have to quote myself from way back in update 13:

"Beyond the Beyond does more then just palette swap enemies. It will also scale sprites up and down. A monster with a bigger sprite is generally more powerful then one using the same sprite but scaled to a smaller size. This is important to remember because later the game pulls the stunt of having enemies with identical names, sprites, and palettes and forcing the player to remember which ones are more powerful based solely on how large the sprites are relative to one another. Oh and they are pretty dangerous for that point in the game and come in mixed groups for extra confusion! Thanks, Camelot."

One of these sprites is not like the others, one these just doesn't belong...

I won't spoil the surprise just yet but the team needs to focus on the two sword-wielders in front at the moment.

Finn, if someone had told you before this all started that you'd soon be fighting Bandore soldiers of your own free will would you have believed them?
No way. How about you?
I would have laughed.
The world is a weird place, isn't it?
It is indeed brother of mine. I've got your back.

The first thing that happens is Annie casts Healing Rain to wipe away all the lingering damage from the previous battle... and the trip across the border because I didn't bother to rest at any time during that.

(1) Whoa, a powerful cleric... who's still a kid?
(leader) Stop your whining and focus on the battle.
(1) But...
(leader) Whatever it is I don't want to hear it.

Fortunately this time Edward's first turn confusion spell goes off without a hitch.

(leader) Umph!
(2) Boss are you okay?
(leader) Yeah... yeah I'm fine, I think.

(leader) Powerful cleric, puh! I'll show you maggots how it's done.

There's a good chance people will be groggied despite Annie's best efforts. Good thing we've got plenty of LP!

Fortunately the Bandore side of the battle (thanks to its RNG-controlled nature) scatteres its attacks out in a haphazard fashion. This is definitely no way to run a unit but with their leader all confused can you really blame them?

Sir Samson is having none of their attitude today and easily deflects what would have been a critical hit. I love the fact that Beyond the Beyond allows for this stuff! It makes it harder for one roll of the dice to screw the player over. Overall it makes critical hits less likely to land (they have to pass two dice checks rather than just one) and although the enemy gets the same benefit I've never found it to be a problem.

You won't get past me!
Please. You mewling dogs are nothing to me.
What... I... how?

Firedrake was a good choice of spell for Tont in the last battle and it's even better early on in this one. For 6 MP Tont inflicted a total of 84 damage to the enemy party. It's hard to do better than that in this game.

The last person on the enemy side, the other archer, finally gets their first turn but Annie has barely enough health to avoid a first-turn groggy.

Aargh!
You ok, sis?
Yeah. I get the feeling I'm going to be shot at a lot before this is all over.

The round ends with Samson killing one of the enemy's front-liners. He might be slow but he does hit hella hard.

Then the next round begins and the fate of the Bandore garrison is well and truly sealed as the enemy commander turns their bow on their fellow soldier.

(leader) Hate... HATE YOU ALL!
(3) Commander what's come over you?

As the round progresses the team splits its efforts between the two remaining flunkies. I would complain about the damage from Tont's summoned fiend but the Succubus actually manages to kill the archer with that kick.

You know I could get used to having command of demons.
I've always wondered, Tont, about what happens after the spell ends?
What do you mean?
I mean the monsters don't just poof away in a puff of smoke or anything. They sort of scamper off. Where do they go?
Uh, you know that's a very good question and oh boy that guy sure looks like he's ready to attack doesn't he?
Hrmph.

Then Samson finishes off another soldier because he is apparently on a roll today. Hey I'm not complaining!

Prrarr. I think Sir Samson has been waiting for this day.
It has been on my mind.
Is this about what you expected, Sir Samson?
Hmm. There are fewer Bandore soldiers than I anticipated actually. This garrison is just a skeleton crew from the look of it.
Now they'll literally be a skeleton crew!
That is a terrible joke, Steiner.
I know! That's why I'm laughing!

The team then lays into the commander who has gone awfully quiet and doesn't seem to react to anything.

Tont's next summon is something new: a Dark Elf who casts Thunder 1. Good to know for the future even though it isn't particularly helpful right now.

The team takes a moment to assess their situation.

He's just standing there glassy eyed.
Edward I think you melted his brain.
Well... I, uh...
That is friggin' AWESOME! Do it again!
I'm not so sure I'm comfortable having this power.
Zuuuhhh...
Are we really gonna kill this guy? He's not even trying to defend himself.
If the spell breaks he will return to trying to kill us.
Aww, but can't we just take his bow and put him on a leash or something?
I think killing him at this point would be a mercy.

So what's going on? Well as hinted before one of the soldiers is not like the others. In fact they're not like the others by an order of magnitude. The other soldiers have 50~ish hit points. This one has 500+ hit points and won't die until he's finally taken a total of 518 damage. (Where the hell does Bandore find these people?) This is an incredibly nasty surprise, especially for a player that missed or had to skip the two non-boss super archers guarding the cave to Simone. This commander has the same stats with the added annoyance of being in the back row and looking exactly the same as much weaker enemies.

When the game decides to be cheap it doesn't half-ass it which is why Edward cast that confusion spell in the opening round. Then because the team was so quick at taking out the rest of the squad something unexpected happened. As before when it was down to one confused enemy the game started skipping their turns completely. I initially thought this was still ticking down the confusion timer but... nope. I let the battle carry on for another five minutes plinking away to see if confusion would break but it never did.

Needless to say this means confusion is hella broken in the right circumstances. In practice though it's actually difficult to take advantage of since it takes a round for confusion to begin to have any meaningful effect and most battles are decided by the end of the second round if not the first. In theory one counter attack was all this soldier needed to recover. That counter attack never happened and eventually I got tired of plinking away for small amounts of damage.

The Attack spell does wonders for upping damage output.

You say I don't help out? Of course I help you out, Finn. In fact I'll help you right now. RAWR!
I would be annoyed if you weren't my best friend, Steiner.

And Samson finally finishes the job after what was way too long. (Granted I was deliberately dragging things out, but still...)

Sir Bison's forces should have no problems crossing now.
We only had to do all the work.
Trust me kid, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The experience and gold rewards are nothing to sneeze at, however, as Finn joins Edward in the level 20 club. If you want another idea of how high the encounter rate is go back to update 48, look at the 3123 experience Finn needed at that point and remember that I've been fighting all weak enemies that give 45-160~ish experience per encounter since then. I really did mean it when I said you level up off of sheer volume.

Also, Finn learns Heal 2.

Hey, sis, I think I've finally gotten that incantation down.
Hey that's great, Finn.

Then Annie immediately joins the level 20 club and learns Heal 3.

I can never be sure if you're being sincere when you say it like that. Wait, what's that look?
Huh, hmm?
Oh no, I know that. That's your "I just spontaneously figured out a new spell look".
*grins*
You know you are incredibly creepy when you do that, sis.
I think Finn's a little jealous since he knows he's never gonna catch up.

Not to be left behind Tont also hits level 20 at the same time and learns Undhine, a spell that is a poorly spelled form of Undine.

*giggles* This trip has been very educational. Edward are we going to get to see you turn more people into vegetables?
I... think I'll just stick with setting them on fire for now.

Amazingly one member of the Bandore squad is still alive after the battle.

Ahh, the commander was defeated!

Terrified, the survivor runs away as soldiers dressed as Marion troops enter from the Zalagoon side.

The Bandore army is retreating! On to Marion!
That was quick.
We heard the fighting. When a scout went onto the bridge and nobody tried to shoot at them we knew something was up.

As the first soldier runs towards the stairs other soldiers in the colors of Marion follow, 9 in total.

What's going on? Why are you all dressed like that?
(1) To sow confusion in the enemy by making them think survivors from Marion are attacking.
And is this everyone Zalagoon intends to send?
(2) No. We're just the advance units. Sir Piat will be sending the regular army into Marion soon.
(1) Are you kids going to be following us?
Soon.
(1) Alright. We'll try to link up with any survivors of the Knights of Marion if we can. If you see any tell them to find us.
I think we can manage that.

A quick jog across the bridge finds the other gatehouse is still blocked by Zalagoon soldiers.

(either) Finn! You're back!
...You know me?
(2) Sir Bison told us to keep an eye out for a boy with a red bandanna.
I told you it makes you stick out, Finn.
It's just kind of weird. I could understand them recognizing Sir Samson but like I'm not even the leader of this shindig.
(1) The Zalagoon army just followed you to Marion Castle. Please join up with them and defeat Bandore.
We haven't actually gone to the castle yet.
(1) Whatever. You understand what I'm trying to say.
We really do appreciate Zalagoon's help on this matter.
Is Sir Bison going to be joining the assault?
(1) I don't know if he's going to get here in time.

Heading back across the river the team finds the gatehouse eerily silent. Seriously, the villains would have won long ago if they had bothered to arrest or interrogate anyone visiting this place. How many times has the team entered from either side only for the garrison to not care? Hell they could have prevented our sneak attack just by locking the front door, as I mentioned previously.

Of course I have Samson with me and he could in theory just break the door down but at least the Bandore garrison wouldn't seem to be completely incompetent.

On a side note a quick trip back to the Border Church reveals something else has changed while our backs were turned. The false wall has reappeared with no explanation. There is ZERO warning that this was going to happen and the false wall doesn't respond to search attempts. Hope you stocked up while you were in Zalagoon, kids, because there's no going back there to get anything you missed! The man in the church has nothing new to say.

(By the way I have no idea why someone decided to use the Marion troop sprites for the Zalagoon squad sent across the bridge. The game is usually really, really picky about what sprites are associated with each nation.)

Next time on Beyond the Beyond - we see how well the advance Zalagoon troops have fared.

Update Forty-nine | Index | Update Fifty-one