>>5341304The enemy army was being led by someone known as Shahid, a prince of Almyra. Shahid was hoping to use a successful invasion of Leicester as a means of gaining prestige in order to take the throne of his country. While attacks from Almyra were always commonplace, this army that Shahid had raised was the largest on record. The battle would take place at Fodlan’s Locket, a massive fortress built over 80 years ago for just this purpose. If Claude’s forces failed to win the battle, the Almyran’s would rampage through the Riegan and Goneril territories, and the Pro-Imperial faction would seize control of the Alliance.
You briefly met with Claude before the battle began, who greeted you warmly. You’d never interacted with the man back at Garreg Mach, but he struck you as exceedingly friendly. You’d always been on the tip of your toes when speaking with high royalty, particularly Edelgard. Claude, meanwhile, seemed as approachable as any common-born folk you’d dealt with. If it wasn’t for his uniform and dress, you’d hardly know he was the leader of one of Fodlan’s three nations.
He praised your accomplishments back in Faerghus, something you were surprised he’d even heard of. As he was talking, you got the impression that Claude was a skilled orator who was used to getting his way through a healthy combination of charisma and persuasion. The Alliance Leader informed you that you’d be taking the left-most flank, covering Alliance forces from Almyran Wyverns that may seek to outmaneuver them and attack their rear.
Soon after, the battle began in earnest. From on high, you could see the massive wave of Almyran soldiers ahead, roaring and cheering. You’d heard stories about the Almyrans. Many in Fodlan considered them to be bloodthirsty savages, who valued combat above all else. Admittedly, you didn’t see much to disprove that viewpoint. The Almyran forces clashed with the Riegan/Goneril soldiers head-on. Claude’s forces were outnumbered heavily, and you worried how he might plan to turn the tide of battle. You’d heard Claude was a skilled tactician in his own right, so all you could do was fulfill the job that he had given you.
