What's the harm in a little reckless besieging? Let's Play FE: The Sacred Stones

Gerik makes short work of this guy.



Using this ballista to take out these mooks turns out to be a bit of a misstep, but it is fairly effective.



I have Tana use a vulnerary, since there is no one coming to heal her. After getting danced at, I have Gerik do the same, just in case.



A fortunate critical for Artur takes down this fellow.



Joshua gets healed, and I shuffle everyone around for the assault through the gate.

The enemies only manage some movement and some ineffectual attacks. Those guys with special staves are always a problem if just for the off chance that they manage to get a status effect on someone. Luckily this one missed.



It takes him two shots, but Innes takes out the archer. I’m not messing around with the chance he gets a shot at Tana.



Artur and Lute take out this bandit. This is the last one south of the stairs on this side of the wall. All that’s left is the part inside that gate.



I have Moulder open the gate with an unlock staff, freeing up anyone who can attack to do so.

Ross’s one attack takes off about � of this guy’s HP.



Gilliam’s attack was a bit of a long shot, but Franz was right behind him to get the kill and the lancereaver. Unfortunately, this leaves my guy best able to take an attack behind the other guys.



Tana misses with a good chance to hit, but Gerik is right there for the finish.



The myrmidon attacks Ross, as does the archer in the ballista. Ross has enough HP to weather these attacks.

Recruitable myrmidon’s are always the worst, what with their lucky ability to kill just about anybody. Good thing Marisa isn’t strong enough to kill the full HP Innes. Gerik takes a small hit from the other one and dodges another bullet from the jerk with the sleep staff.



Innes takes down the soldier.



Gerik: What a mess... Looks like the guild bungled. They're usually diligent about making sure this sort of thing doesn’t happen. But here we are, two people of the same troop, working for opposite sides.
Marisa: What should we do?
Gerik: Aye, well, that's a good question... As a mercenary, your loyalty should always lie with the person paying your wages. You decide. We can cross blade if you want, but I'd rather you retreat. 'Course, if you betray your employer, you'll soil your sterling name.
Marisa: C'mon, Chief. What would YOU like me to do?
Gerik: Well, that's easy. I'd like you to come over and join my side.
Marisa: Right. Done.
Gerik: Ho-hold on... Is that it? Just like that? You know what this will do to your reputation, right?
Marisa: Uh-huh.

That’s quite a bungling, I’d say.



Marisa is the prototypical Myrmidon, with high speed and skill, but iffy strength. Still, a little luck with her strength stat and she is pretty damn good. A character I am not opposed to using, but I tend to have better luck with Joshua.



Tana takes out the priest and steals his torch.

Tana gets to go again, but she can’t take this guy out in one attack.



Marisa does a magic trick, first disappearing, then making her opponent disappear. Ta-daa!



Franz gets a bandit for a solid level up. Franz is really turning out this play through.



This Pablo seems like a rotten fellow. I hope we can do something about his misrule.

Despite some national pride, this guy’s doesn’t seem quite on board with his country’s lack of a monarchy. Of course, when you elect people like Pablo, you’re going to get some unrest.



Amelia finishes off this guy for a mediocre level up. They can’t all be winners.



Here’s a level up for Moulder as well. I really hate leveling up priests.



I forgot that this stage had an arena. Time for a little abuse. I’m not going to stay here all day, but there’s no reason not to take advantage of it. The arena is dangerous though. It is one spot where paying attention to the weapons triangle is very important. Ross here may be able to take out spear wielding knights and cavaliers all day, one myrmidon and I might as well say goodbye.

Out here in the real world, the myrmidon only gets to take a swing or two at Ross, which is still not good. Were this the arena, Ross would be in trouble.



Tethys takes a hit from a not too strong myrmidon, while Ross dodges an arrow. That pretty much ends the enemy turn.



This is why I shouldn’t have been wasting the ballista on guys I could kill anyway. A handful of Pegasus knights show up the turn after you recruit Marisa, and are prime targets for a ballista shot or two. Unfortunately, I wasted mine.



This last guy up here has a red gem I want to steal, so I pull everyone back, with a little healing on the way, and bring Colm up to finally put his light fingers to good use.



I always end up with about twice as many shots of each of Tana’s attacks than of anyone else, because the Pegasus Knight’s animation is just the best. I love it. Also, she kills that last guy on the south half. Which reminds me, there were also some cavalier reinforcements on the other side of the map that should be running into my guys soon.

Tethys let’s Innes go again purely for the exp, though if I had been paying attention I would have had Innes heal himself and Marisa moves to cover Tethys so she doesn’t get killed by the oncoming pegusi(Pegasuses?).



Damn it. I should have realized this would happen. Well, it was just a Red Gem, nothing important.



This guy makes the mistake of attacking Eirika, which is deadly. I am so happy with how she is turning out.



Even if they had connected Innes would have been in no danger, but he is dodgey.



This is the problem with Myrmidon’s especially low leveled ones like Marisa here. She is fast enough to double most enemies, and with that Shamshir that she has equipped she such a high critical chance that she is likely to kill anybody who attacks her. However, if she doesn’t dodge the attacks she isn’t sturdy enough to absorb too many hits, which will get her killed.

Luckily, there aren’t any more after this one. Marisa gets the exact kind of level up I should be expecting, but it is also the kind of level that will keep her on the bench.



Stupid Longbow jerk.



Neimi’s got her guy’s back, though him connecting is a problem. As is that level up. At this rate, by the time Neimi catches up to Innes she will at best slightly stronger than him. Her taking that hit leaves her low enough on life that a shot from the still functioning ballista will kill her.



Of course, me being the dumbass I am, I decide to heal Colm instead. He did need it too, but not as much as Neimi.



While I don’t like level ups like this, Colm stays regardless, being our thief who I keep failing to make use of.

Ross misses a fifty/fifty shot, but it’s no big deal.



Innes absolutely destroys these Pegasus knights. I wish I’d have had the forethought to bring him a different bow, the silver bow is a bit of overkill.



I have Franz rescue Neimi, then hand her to Joshua, who drops her out of ballista range. Problem solved.



I play it dangerous here, but I like to gamble. It works out for me.



Tana gets the last one, and she gets another great level up. I am so glad I get to use a Pegasus Knight, not just force a mediocre one into my party out of stubbornness.



While there is no immediate threat, there is also no sense in wasting experience that is right there in front of me. So Tethys dances for Marisa, who uses a vulnerary.

This bandit has mutually useless encounter with Ross.



Colm takes a decent hit from the archer, but nothing he can’t shrug off.



Artur gets a nice critical to take out one cavalier.



Gilliam takes a stab at another one, and takes the biggest hit he’s seen in a while. Which is still only 5 damage.



A weapon level for Moulder the Brown as he heals Neimi.

Amelia does her part, and nets a level up, which was the only reason I had her attack.



Lute gets one, as well as a point of speed.

Neimi finishes the last cavalier, Ross and Joshua team up on that archer, and Colm does nothing against that bandit.



One of the few uses for the dancer is to get characters those few extra spots they need to be in position.



Marisa gets a critical to takes out this Ranger. Rangers are a new class; much like the Nomad Trooper from the previous GBA FE’s, they use bows and swords and ride horses and are an upgraded Archer or Mercenary. Marisa gets a level for killing a 3rd tier class, but it is another typical Myrmidon level up.



Colm and the Bandit continue their ineffectual battle. Actually, Colm hits him with his second attack. This guy is the only enemy left besides the boss.

Healing, dancing and moving. It’s all getting into position for the end.



Colm finally finishes this jerk off. It is just the boss



Ross gets back to the arena, where he can easily take out anything with a spear. Too bad that level up wasn’t better.



Tethys gets exactly the kind of level that is good for her. Luck, Defense and Resistance, that is what will keep her alive in the doubly unlikely scenario that I continue to use her and let her get hit.



Next turn Ross wins again. Easy as pie.

While I am abusing the arena, I’m really mostly worried about healing everyone to gain as much experience for Moulder as possible. I made the poor decision with Ross to try to fight a myrmidon. It didn’t go well.



Joshua steps up to be the first to take a shot at the boss. I’m hoping the boss misses but failing that Franz is right there to rescue him away. Pablo tries to justify himself in the face of certain death.



I guess that won’t be necessary. Joshua scores a critical that ends the interesting part of the battle. I don’t know what mercenaries he’s calling for, because I just killed them all.



Joshua gets a pretty great level up and a guiding ring. Joshua is making it hard for me to really consider using Marisa instead, though I am not wholly opposed to both.

Ross isn’t done in the arena, though he does need some healing from Moulder. Those Pegasus Knights are easy pickings for Ross’s axe.



There we go, a nice level up for Moulder. I don’t see how I am going to get him to level 20, but he’s not really useful until after he changes class.



Ross gets a quality level up as well, making me decide it is time to call it quits for this chapter.



And Eirika seizes the castle.



Oh no, Valter’s here. After that speech to Glenn about the old general’s being ineffective, I know what’s going to happen now. I am going to have to fight Valter.



What the hell? Why does this scene even exist? How does this fit with Valter’s bloodthirsty demeanor up until this point? Whatever.

Klimt: Oh, Prince Innes! Thank goodness, you're unharmed!
Eirika: Who are you?
Klimt: Oh, where are my manners?



Klimt: P-please, please! I have no intention of opposing you or quarreling with you. I, too, have been marked for death by Pablo...
Eirika: What is this all about?
Klimt: It's a shameful tale... Carcino is a nation divided. As you know, Carcino has no king but is ruled by a council. But now the council has broken apart into factions mired in discord...
Eirika: Factions... You're saying that the whole of Carcino has not betrayed Frelia?
Klimt: Correct. The moderate factions prefer to preserve our alliance with Frelia. Pablo’s faction wishes to endear us to Grado, to surrender us to their armies. Once Pablo realized he couldn’t ply us with brides, he began to have us assassinated. Those of us who remain have taken refuge underground. We oppose him where we can. If you hadn't shown up, I'm not certain I would still be breathing...
Innes: I do recall enemy troops combing this area when I arrived... They were searching for you, is that it?
Klimt: Pablo has usurped rule of the council. We had no choice but to hide. Not all of Carcino's council has gone over to Grado's side, though... You must believe me--the whole of Carcino does not believe as Pablo does.
Innes: ...I see.
Eirika: Lord Klimt... I understand the hardships you've endured. I am pleased to hear all of Carcino is not our foe.
Klimt: I will depart at once for Frelia to explain our circumstance to the king. I think it is best if you return to Frelia as well. Pablo has considerable wealth, and he commands a vast mercenary force. I'm sure he'll send more of them this way as soon as he is able.



Gerik: Prince Innes. Tethys and I are staying with you. Is that gonna work?
Innes: Starting now, you've got a new contract, though--the pay's double. If the two of you hadn't stayed with me back there, I would not have survived. Gerik, Tethys... Thank you. You have my gratitude.
Tethys; Tell me something, Prince. Did you get...er...hit on the head during that last skirmish?
Innes: ...That's unkind. My neck is not so stiff that I cannot show gratitude. I would ask for your continued support in the days ahead.
Eirika: We both ask for your help.
Gerik: We've got a deal. Let's keep each other alive.

Even when Innes is being nice he is kind of a dick.



Tethys: I told you to wait in the inn and behave yourself, didn't I?
Ewan: Yeah, but you always run off and disappear. It's not fair. I want to have adventures, too.
Tethys: You are such an imp... I am not out here running about having fun, you know?
Ewan: I know. That's why I came to see you. I can help. My teacher finally got around to teaching me some magic. Check this out.
Tethys: H-hey! Knock it off! You shouldn't be using magic here!
Ewan: Well, I just thought maybe I could help you work is all. I can protect you now, sis. Come on, take me with you. I don't wanna stay in that inn anymore.
Tethys: Oh...all right. I'll go speak and speak to the Chief and Princess Eirika. Don't wander off while I'm gone.
Ewan: Yahoo!



Innes: The peril is self-evident. However, I have to reach Jehanna, and the only way is through Carcino. If I don't hurry, nations will fall, one after another, to Grado's hunger.
Eirika: Innes is right. And the road to Rausten leads me through both Carcino and Jehanna.



Ewan: Want me to guide you?
Eirika: ...And who might you be?
Tethys: Ewan! Shush! You know better than to interrupt people when they're talking. I'm so sorry. Please let me take my brother out of the way. Come on, Ewan. Let's go.
Eirika: No, no--wait, please. Do you really know a route through the mountains?
Ewan: That's what I said. At the top of that mountain, there's a village named Caer Pelyn. That's where my teacher lives. I'm sure he'll lead you through if you ask him nicely.
Innes: What is your teacher's name?
Ewan: My teacher? His name is Saleh.
Innes: Saleh... I've heard that name on the lips of Frelia's spy network lately. He's a powerful wielder of magic who has been fighting bandits and monsters. The spies mentioned something about a Caer Pelyn, if I remember.
Eirika: What do you think?
Innes: Hm. If my spies are accurate, this Saleh is someone we can trust.
Eirika: Very well, Ewan. Will you take us to meet your teacher?



That does it for Chapter 10. Hopefully in two weeks I'll have the next update ready. Next time: our heroine finally joins the party and we vanquish evil across the land.

Innes really isn't half the jerk you make him out to be.



Fire Emblem is a series renowned for its spritework, and I find the use of motion blur really interesting.

Innes is surly as hell and nearly every line he has in the game seem to be spoken with a sneer.

Moved to 'On Hiatus'

Abandoned

Sorry about the long, long wait between updates. Hopefully, that won't happen again. This is the chapter everyone has been waiting for, or at least everyone should be excited for. Because in this chapter our heroine finally joins our team. After last chapter’s plethora of new teammates, L’Arachel is one of the last important characters to join.



Hordes of dark creatures? That doesn't sound good at all. This is another fog of war monster fighting maps.



Come on! My teacher lives just up ahead.
Eirika: Slow down, Ewan. Let's stick together.
Innes: ...This fog's getting thick. I don't expect any more surprise attacks, but that doesn't mean we--
Ewan: Quick worrying, mister! You're gonna get left behind.



Yeah, Innes isn’t a dick at all.

Eirika: Innes, he's only a child. There's no reason to be so rude. He is helping us after all.
Ewan: That's right. Without me, you'd never get where you're going. So come on already!
Innes: Stop. Don't take another step.
Ewan: Huh? That's gonna make it awfully hard to get where we need to go.
Innes: ...What do you know about that fort? It looks like it's been abandoned for some time. Is anyone using it?



Well, I that case I am sure that nothing terrible is hiding in there.

It's been empty for ages. I've been inside, so I know.
Innes: Is that right? Then what's that sound, and where is it coming from?
Ewan: Huh? What sound? Hey, you're right... I do hear a weird noise. You could hear that? Neat! You've got really good hearing. I wonder what it is...
Eirika: There it is again. Prince, is this...
Innes: Eirika.
Eirika: Yes?



At least Innes has uses to back up his arrogance.

Tethys: Ewan, it's dangerous here. Get behind me.
Ewan: No way. I'm gonna fight too.
Tethys: No. You're too young. You're not ready for this. Are you going to do as I say or not? I don't know what I would do if you were to get injured.
Ewan: Oh...OK.

Meanwhile, inside the crumbling fort:



I do wonder where Rennac disappeared to, though. I told him not to wander off, but...
Dozla: Hmph! Lady L’Arachel, this could be trouble.
L’Arachel: What is it, Dozla?
Dozla: Look there! Through that break in the fog... Looks like we've got some nasty creatures running 'bout this place.
L’Arachel: ...I can't see a thing.



Come, Dozla! We fight!
Dozla: Gwah ha ha! My heart cries out for battle!

L’Arachel is delightfully single minded. All fortune is good fortune to her.



No map this time, because this map is quite small. I'm am going to enter the fort and move in circle.

I start with Moulder using his torch staff to light up the entrance. I am going to be using this staff a lot because it gives slightly more experience than healing, and Healers need all the EXP they can get.



Ross takes out the nearest skeleton in what is the first example of Ross absolutely owning this map.



Everybody else just crowds toward the gate.



One skeleton is close enough to take a swipe at Artur, but he suffers no harm. Other than another atrocious level up. I think this might be the last we see of Artur. There are just so many better choices available.



On the neutral turn, Dozla goes all murder on a skeleton.



My turn again. The weakened skeleton is a perfect target for Amelia.

Neimi takes a shot at this doggy. (I believe it is officially called a Mauthe Doog).



Colm finishes it off, getting a good level up. Were he anything but a thief he would be off the team already, but as the only one with his skills, for now, there is little choice.



Another torching, and a general advance. The only characters specifically placed are Gerik and Artur, who have to be a space away from the wall since that archer skeleton has a longbow.



Another skeleton hits the wall of death that is Ross. And another quality level up. His speed is not turning out the best, but it isn’t a cause for concern yet.



Colm and Artur get arrowed at, though Artur is able to dodge. Still, neither would do enough damage to be a danger



Artur takes a shot at the longbowman, but he isn’t strong enough to take him out,



Tana makes short work of the other archer.



Healing and advancing, with the newly healed Ross leading the charge.



On the enemies turn, that mostly dead archer takes another shot at Artur. Then an Eye faces the wrath of Ross’s Hatchet.



Artur finally finishes off that skeleton with the longbow.

Another healing for Ross, who takes nearly as much damage as he deals.



I use Neimi’s longbow to take a shot at this pup, but she misses.



In what turns out to be a tactical mistake, I send this group back to take out the enemies that enter from the starting point. Really with Artur already there, Gilliam would have been enough to handle the enemies. Unfortunately, I sent Lute and Amelia. After they deal with the three or so enemies they are essentially out of the battle.



It wouldn’t have been so bad if Gilliam hadn’t gotten a critical, taking away Amelia’s chance for some easy exp.



Also, if he hadn’t gotten this critical, taking another chance for exp away from the ladies behind him.



Ross continues to own on the other side of the map, taking down an attacking skeleton.



Another skeleton takes on Ross, with predictable results. Also, Ross becomes even more beastly with a level up.



And Ross takes out another Eye. Luckily that is the last one, because he couldn’t take another hit. That is the one thing to be worried about in this part of the game. My units are significantly stronger and better equipped than the enemies, but the enemies die so easily that they can occasionally get enough hits in on one character to take them down, especially characters like Ross who kill everything that even looks at them.



Lute can’t quite take out this last Revenant (the stronger zombies), but it leaves it low enough HP that Amelia should be able to get the kill.



First, I send Gilliam back to try to catch up to the rest of the group. Amelia moves into position to use her javelin, which has a 76% chance to hit and keeps from being in danger should she miss.



Which, of course, she does.



Ross gets healed, again. Moulder is getting less use out of that torch than I expected.



And Colm pilfers a Secret Book, an item that raises Skill by 2, out of the chest.

I end the turn with the team formed up into a nice tight formation, which also happens to feature Ross right where we will be attacked.



Amelia gets a second chance at that monster and takes him down. Her level up is not great, but if you’re going to get only one stat in a level, it might as well be strength.



I wish I would have thought about equipping something other than the Hatchet, because it’s not like he needs the range right now. Using it is just a waste.



Colm trades blows with this monster, one of the few he can’t get a double hit on.



The same goes for Ross, who can’t quite kill this one is one hit.



The foursome in the back are close to catching up. Still, by the time they catch up the fight will be over.



Tana finished off one of the leftover Mauthe Doogs. She gets a pretty nice level up. Tana is going to be really nice.



Gerik takes out the other one with his mighty motion blurred attack.



Colm gets the healing before everybody advances.



The enemies still go for Ross, who can’t hit this Gargoyle twice. Which is good, because that means the other one can’t attack him too.



Colm, the other favorite target of this map, takes the other shot.



Tana takes out one, giving her a weapon level.

Moulder gets a level healing Ross. It is not a particularly good level up, though.



Gerik takes out the other Gargoyle, and his level up is much nicer. I think the game expects you to use the class change item he is carrying as soon as you get him, because his stats are just crazy.



Colm charges forward as I end my turn. I’m using him as bait, while everyone else waits. As soon as I approach that door, one of those skeletons will open it and the monsters on the other side will come rushing through.



Fortunately, they clog in the doorway, with only the archer able to reach Colm.



A quick check in on the lollygaggers. They are still lollygagging.



Neimi easily takes out a Gargoyle, since they get the flying unit weakness to arrows.



Tana downs a skeleton.



Gerik takes out the archer skeleton.



Eirika is not strong enough to take out the Gargoyle, but she takes it down to just 4 HP. If Amelia wasn’t so far behind, this would be the perfect time for her to take this monster down for some nice exp. Too bad I sent her back for exactly one swipe at a monster.



Ross finishes him off instead. Because if anyone needed experience on this map it was Ross.



Colm takes a dangerous hit from one of the skeletons in the doorway. This may have been a mistake.



Luckily, Moulder is close enough to heal him. It would take three hits like that last one to take Colm down. End of my turn.

That skeleton goes right back for Colm, who takes him down and gets a terrible level up. And a chest key.



The last skeleton goes for Colm too, but he dodges.



The last monster is a deathgoyle, the stronger version of the gargoyle. Ross hits it with last use of hatchet. There comes a time in a young warrior’s life when he must leave his childish axe behind and move on to man sized axes. It is that time for Ross.



At the start of the next turn, I finally am able to talk with the wonderful heroine.



L’Arachel: Hello! So it's true! Blessings do come in threes!
Eirika: L’Arachel, this place is dangerous. You should find safe haven elsewhere.
L’Arachel: Oh, you needn't worry about us.



L’Arachel’s divine light now shines upon us, always. We now have no reason to worry again. Now that we have our hero, the real game begins.



She’s a level 3 troubadour. Really, she is low leveled enough that getting her to 20 with just staves is going to be hard without abusing the Tower of Valni. Still, her growths are good and she one of the most entertaining characters in the game. I say she is the most entertaining. I am going to use her. All the time. I might drop Moulder if I don’t need a second healer, but L’Arachel is in.



L’Arachel immediately recruits Dozla.



Dozla is straight bonkers. If it wasn’t for his devotion to L’Arachel, he would be terrifying.



This is Dozla. He is crazy. His strength and HP stats are high, but the rest are mediocre. He is absolutely usable, but as we near the end, his lack of defense and inability to dodge will likely make him a liability. He’s not very good. His stats right now are comparable to Ross’s, but Ross has better growths and about 10 more levels to use them. Really, he’s not bad, but in Sacred Stones not bad is actually kind of bad.

Gerik takes a chest key from Ross, then uses it to get a short spear from the chest. The short spear is a lance with ranged attack, a stronger version of the javelin.



While I don’t intend to use Dozla much, I’d rather he absorb some attacks from these eyes than take the chance that one of my currently weaker units gets picked off.



Moulder tops off Tana with his staff.



Tana takes out the last of the skeletons in this area, while getting another level up to cement her status as awesome.



The eyes stare ineffectively at Dozla, who shrugs off their weak attacks.



Colm heads for the other chest, using a vulnerary just in case. I put Gerik next to him to keep him from absorbing more than one hit.



Tana dispatches one of the Eyes.



While I could have L’Arachel heal somebody, there is more exp in using a torch, so that is what I have her do.



Neimi cements her seat on the bench. It looks like those calls for a Colm/Moulder pairing will likely happen.



More healing.



I’ve backed them into this corner of the map, though my forces are spread around a little stupidly at the moment.



I wasn’t fast enough to beat this skelelton to the last chest, so he nabs my Restore Staff. Luckily, if I kill him I get it back

A disappointing Level Up! for Gerik, but he can afford a couple of those.



Artur goes crazy tornado arms on the archer skeleton, killing it with a critical hit. And short anyone to heal, I waste another use of Moulder’s torch staff.



Eirika is still looking good, though her strength is falling back to earth.



Colm kill this skeleton, but does not manage to avoid getting poisoned.



Dozla starts the assault on the bottom part of the map, easily dispatching the archer.



That allows me to move Tana in without fear of an unfortunate accident.



Neimi is, predictably, not strong enough to finish hers all by herself.



Which leaves her open to this counter attack.



And this one, which she fortunately survives.



Dozla gets the worse end of an encounter with the maps boss, but has the HP to take that kind of hit a couple of times.

Artur takes out the theiving skeleton, getting that restore staff back.



Moulder is too far away to heal the wounded on the bottom of the map, so he just fires off his torch staff again.



Neimi can't kill this one, but she should be fine as long as I don't let the boss get at her.



Ross gets to one of the wounded skeletons, and gets yet another point of Strength. Ideally he would get a few more points of speed, but I’m not too worried.



Tana takes out the one that Neimi falied to finish off.



I have to move Dozla back to form a wall with Tana, because Neimi couldn’t survive an attack from the last monster here.



To end my turn, L’Arachel torches the place.



Dozla continues to not be able to touch this guy, but able to survive the assault. If just one of his three attacks would have connected, this fight would be nearly over.



To start what is hopefully my last turn, I have Neimi take a shot for minimal damage. It adds up, eventually.



Eirika is next, and while she doesn’t get the critical she would need to finish him, she does avoid what would have been a dangerous counterstroke.



A short break for some experience grubbing healing, then Ross fails to finish this thing while taking a big hit.