He's good for more than just being your dancer! Anyway, before we get into the mission, here are the two Base conversations Janaff and Ulki start with:
Janaff does appear to be bothered by the cold of Daein.
Ike asks whether he ought to be concerned over this.
Janaff scoffs at him. He was making a joke, not actually complaining about something the birds have to worry about. Any ornithologists able to back him up on this?
I mean, if it concerns your health, I don't blame Ike for erring on the side of caution.
Don't worry, Janaff, even if your joke was funny, Ike wouldn't laugh at it.
That someone being insulting Sanaki to the Senate's face and getting lucky Sanaki really needed him.
Janaff wants to know what odds we're facing.
Not great. Also not technically an answer.
Janaff is very disappointed in the pessimism on display here.
I've used Janaff in the past. Honestly, he's not great. He's a bit full of himself here.
Ike clarifies that, despite our odds, Ike fully intends on winning.
That man is the Black Knight. Ike has confidence now we're back in the alternate universe where he has stats.
Janaff is very proud of him for that one.
He's very disappointed in kids these days.
Ike is trying to imagine laguz hatching from eggs. It's a very weird image.
Janaff was joking again, and wanders off to make sure his wings are fine- validating Ike's earlier concern.
Ike knew the egg line was a joke, but Janaff did imply that birds used to hatch from eggs. I wonder at what point the change occurred.
Anyway, let's go check on Ulki.
Ulki didn't come up to introduce himself to Ike, Ike had to go looking for him.
Ulki likes to keep to himself. I imagine being able to hear the entire continent encourages that sort of behaviour.
Ike feels like he got a very good deal from Tibarn. Janaff and Ulki don't feel like characters that Tibarn should be parting with freely.
Not that Ulki believes this to be an accurate impression.
Ike certainly got the impression based on how Reyson reacted. Reyson's reactions are definitely the best barometer for how bird tribe etiquette goes.
Tibarn isn't an invalid, he can do things on his own without Janaff and Ulki trailing behind him.
The same is not true of Ike.
This sort of organisation doesn't have a lot of detail, but I assume that the bird tribe laguz are a society without much in the way of social hierarchy or capital. Everything gets done because everyone benefits from it getting done.
By "strongest", I think they mean the most physically powerful candidate.
One thing that kind of betrays this thought is this argument here. "The most physically powerful person" is not the best King, and I think a lot of people who talk about Three Houses forget this.
One thing that does hold true is that it's probably a better idea to test your rulers for something rather than just choose the latest member of a certain bloodline.
Ulki demonstrates the exact weakness. Well, mostly. Being a weak leader makes you vulnerable to defeat regardless of how strong your neighbours are.
You know how I always say that the laguz will get beaten by the beorc outsmarting them? The beorc still has to be smart. Laguz aren't dumb, they're just easily led astray by the Chaos of battle.
Idiot generals mean badly exercised armies.
Whether Ike is a weak general or a strong one will come down to how he performs. He is definitely an inexperienced one- all generals start that way.
This is just a generally important bit of advice, even if it is technically "teamwork is awesome!"
And now for the mission. We'll be skimming a lot of the details and focusing on what the bird tribe can do for us.
Janaff's introduction flows a lot more naturally. They very definitely want you to have the birds.
...Does this even get mentioned in the non-Janaff version?
This is literally true in Radiant Dawn, but in Path of Radiance, all Naesala has to make him different from other ravens- all none of them that are playable, at any rate- is his unique weapon, which has +1 Mt and +5 Hit over normal Raven strikes and gives Naesala his "can't be crit" effect. This is also the case for Tibarn compared to Hawks. I think they also have slightly different transformation bonuses.
I ran the calculations. Yes, if Tibarn and Naesala got into a fight, Tibarn would win regardless of who goes first. He can even hit guaranteed!
Titania asks for help.
Janaff and Ulki do not take well to being compared to Kilvans.
Reyson's not having pleasant memories.
This suggestion is more pertinent when the birds are available.
Makes sense. I'm really not sure how Tibarn's aides are going to help here. But they do wind up helping.
Ulki is happy to try, not that he has high hopes.
Reyson is less interested in trying peace.
Before the battle, Nasir has a reminder that Naesala and Reyson used to be friends, just to be sure.
Not that Reyson is open.
For understandable reasons.
Look, I understand why Titania asked the question, but why is Nasir insisting that Janaff and Ulki should be able to help just because they're birds? You're a laguz too, why aren't you helping?
Not really liking your opinion, Nasir, even if this is what we're going to be doing.
Ike knows what he's doing.
There's a difference between unpopular commands that you have to give and reasonable reasons not to do things.
...So if we go have Janaff talk to Naesala-
Yeah, Janaff does not like Naesala one bit.
Naesala tries to play it cool. You'd think being able to tear Janaff to pieces would be enough to do the job.
Janaff is not pleased Kilvas is teaming up with Daein. Laguz stick together, of course, they can't disagree on things!
Naesala gives the world's best defence to anything.
Yeah. Go find Reyson and see if he'll listen to you saying that particular turn of phrase. Doubt it'll help you.
Naesala is surprised to find out that it was beorc who helped deal with Serenes Forest. Janaff saying this sort of implies that going through Serenes was necessary to get from Tanas to Phoenicis, but I'm not sure how this works. Geography to a bird man must be weird.
Oh yeah, Leanne. Leanne is the sister Naesala looked after alongside Reyson, and the two are very close for what Reyson described as an infant sister. I imagine Naesala and Leanne got closer over the three year gap between PoR and RD.
Janaff gives Naesala an ultimatum.
Once you talk to Naesala, his AI changes that he will beeline to Reyson and talk to him. If he can't reach Reyson, he won't attack.
But for now, he can.
And that is a line that feels very insensitive. I feel like it's an actual line that jerks use.
Naesala may not be many things he presents to be, but he is these things.
No means no.
The insult actually changes based on whether you're playing American or European. I think the other one is "foul, bloated man."
"I didn't sell you. And even if I did, I would've rescued you right away. And even if I didn't, it wasn't like the slavery was that bad. And even if it was, it all worked out in the end!"
And victim-blaming, too. OK, Naesala's lost me. Just a tad.
At least he takes proper responsibility. In the end.
Maybe it's for the best this isn't in the main playthrough.
Reyson lets him in a little bit.
You can Talk to Naesala with Janaff or Ulki. I also don't think Naesala even knows either of their names.
Could go either way.
There are worse reasons to forgive, honestly.
Also, Reyson's not letting sleeping dogs lie here.
Just as he did in Serenes, he only changes his opinion on Naesala if Naesala proves through his behaviour that he's worthy of redemption.
Not that Naesala is in much of a position to refuse if he truly wants Reyson to think better of him.
Naesala accepts Reyson's conditions.
And writes himself a quick little "I reserve the right to do things you dont like in the future" loophole.
Because... this. Yeah, sure.
Reyson will be keeping an eye on you, though.
Reyson will make sure Tibarn doesn't tear Naesala's head off. Naesala spends an incredibly high percentage of both games with the looming threat of Tibarn arranging an emergency body reconstruction for him.
This extra bit is only if all the ravens are still alive when the talk with Reyson starts.
One of these days I'll give it to someone other than Reyson.
"So useful, that in Radiant Dawn, I equipped it permanently."
Nealuchi would probably outlive Naesala.
The Knight Ring, incidentally, is an accessory that grants the holder the ability to use up their remaining Move after taking an action. It's actually called "Canto" in Radiant Dawn and Three Houses, but Path of Radiance uses that word for Reyson's Galdrar.
"So long, Daein!"
The ravens turn into the Other Faction (hilariously, this means that they get +4 TP for Enemy Phase, and then another 4 TP for Other Phase the same turn) and start heading to the border of the map to depart. Daein soldiers can and will fire upon them, and if you can keep them alive, they're worth BEXP.
After Naesala walks out and a few ravens have made their escape, Homasa has this line to deliver.
Yeah... Kilvas just Did Not Care.
All it takes for the Daeins to lose their faith in the laguz.
Reyson did the work and Reyson deserves the credit, especially since he was the one who had to make sacrifices to get it to happen.
<<
So anyway, on the exact opposite end of the spectrum...
This conversation only appears if you viewed the setup conversation back in Chapter 13 and have promoted Oscar and Boyd (and also Oscar needs to have chosen Bows as his secondary). I burned this run's two Master Seals on getting this to work.
That's because it's that time.
Time for the "hard-to-set-up, but potent if performed" special attack of Path of Radiance! Actually, the first of two, this one's separate to the series' usual one.
This is why Oscar and Boyd have to be promoted. Rolf is in a bow-locked class, while Warrior and Paladin can use bows (Warriors have always been able to do this).
Boyd doesn't seem very happy about it.
I kinda flip on whether Oscar or Boyd is the weak link here.
"We literally just got handed these bows yesterday."
Bless his heart, "prodigy" is the only word he knows for it.
"All Snipers hold their bows the same way."
...You know, I never read the punctuation of this line that closely. Did... did Oscar guess and then choose to stay mum?
Boyd, of course, is at sea.
Ike notices the huddle and butts in.
"Engaging in skullduggery! The 'K' makes it sound badass!"
Rolf is more than happy to share what's going on.
And then Oscar and Boyd quickly airlift him out of the conversation. This goes by real fast, and while it's cute when cutscenes pull these fast ones, it's hell to even attempt to screenshot.
This isn't necessary or anything, but this next chapter has a very tempting target...
Boyd goes to chase after Oscar and Rolf, who are probably back in Crimea by now.
Special move unlocked! How it works is a little strange, but you need to have Oscar, Boyd and Rolf all holding bows and standing in a triangle shape around the enemy. The conventional method is to have one brother standing two squares away in three cardinal directions (west, east and south, eg).
In Hard Mode, Naesala comes holding this accessory. The Laguz Band is a special accessory that only royal laguz like Tibarn and Naesala can hold.
Before the battle starts (not that you had any hope of stealing this), Naesala equips his, and he is now permanently transformed with no penalty. Radiant Dawn would make this an innate Skill laguz royals just have, but here it's an accessory. Not that it means much to Naesala.
Anyway, this is a bit of a zoomout (why did I think this was usable for my purposes?), but if you can't see, Oscar is standing two tiles west of Rolf and Boyd is two tiles north of Oscar.
This is also a way to trigger the Triangle Attack!
There's no combat animation, despite the fact I'm fairly sure I turned it on, and Rolf not only hits Naesala, he crits him. The Triangle Attack Does Not Care about any kind of crit immunity, and it will also helpfully always connect. Unfortunately, the Triangle Attack was making its last hurrah here in Tellius- it's kind of taken a backseat in modern games. It's a command skill with a chance of failure in Shadows of Valentia and Three Houses. Utter blasphemy, in my opinion.
I can only wonder how Kilvas plans to deal with this.
...Oh, never mind, Naesala comes back to life and flies away anyway.
...Still worth it. (Also you can see the Kilvans are now Other units.)
Update: So somebody forgot there were other Naesala boss conversations to highlight.
Naesala: From where I’m sitting, you look to be the leader of your group. Do you like the way we fight? If you double Daein’s payment, we will be quite happy to join your cause against Daein.
Ike: Are you serious?
Naesala: Of course! We’re not with Daein for the pleasant conversations. For the right price, we’ll do as you like.
Ike: I’ve no need of an ally who would betray me for a handful of coin.
Naesala: Is that so? Then I’ve no more use for you. I suppose I’ll just have to kill you.
Ike knows the problem with bribing people into your army- the other side can bribe them out.
Lethe: Betrayer of laguz! I’ll tear those black wings off your back!
Naesala: You Gallians are with Crimea, we with Daein. We’re both helping one side. I’d like you to tell me how that makes us the betrayers.
Lethe: Crimea and Daein are not the same!
Naesala: Oh, but they are. They’re both home to laguz-hunting, laguz-hating humans. Granted, Daein’s anti-laguz sentiment is more obvious, but… Surely you realize there’s no great difference between it and Crimea… Or Begnion, for that matter.
Lethe: B-but…
Naesala: You may think yourself a warrior, but the humans have tamed you. Allow me to open your eyes!
Lethe: Ah!
Naesala needles Lethe about her friendliness to the beorc. Because man, what a jerk.
Mordecai: King of the raven folk… Why do you fight for Daein?
Naesala: Kilvas has need of much gold if we are to become more than a paltry island kingdom. Daein is willing to fill our coffers, and so we work with them. There is nothing more to it. Remember, it’s not who you work with that’s important– it’s how much they’re willing to pay.
Mordecai: So you fight for gold, is that it?
Naesala: Nothing wrong with that, is there? Everyone fights for some kind of gain. Even you, am I right?
Mordecai: That is…not untrue. But–
Naesala: No matter how hard you try, your kind will never understand the hearts and minds of ravens. You appear to be an obstinate creature… Just like your king.
Mordecai: Grrr… Grrrraaawwwl!
Don't insult Caineghis to Mordecai's face, clearly.
Naesala: You’re not of the Gallia beast tribes, are you? Laguz slaves! Bah! Instead of baring your claws and escaping, you moan and cry! What a pack of fools.
Muarim: …
Naesala: Hah! Cat got your tongue? Unless you’re incapable of speech, you’re either angry or frightened. Either way, you’re pathetic. If you’d stayed in your cage, you wouldn’t need to die here, hmm?
Wow, to the laguz slaves too? Naesala is much worse than I remember.
>>
Oh yeah, and while we're in the playthrough that has an Ike with actually threatening stats, let's hire our self destruct button if the medallion falls into the wrong hands.
Your what?
Your plot promotion?
(Yes, Volke has the same deal Ike has where he can't promote until now, but he comes at level 10+ anyway. Sothe, incidentally, can't promote at all.)
Enlisting Volke's services lets him go from Thief to Assassin, which in addition to the +2 Str/Spd, boosts his caps from 20 each. This is important, because a few lategame bosses have some nice things you might want to steal and 20 Speed won't cut it for them.
Obvious joke, but: Volke puts on a mask and becomes more open about his identity.
There's the bonus for saving the Kilvas ravens. There's apparently 10 ravens worth 30 BEXP, which means I missed one- that one must've been the one that survived but didn't leave the map. The ones that aren't healed are very temperamental about how they plan to do that.
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