Session 27 Recap: Cooking Battle Crazy

We started with a mantor race against Maximus, who wasted no time in making his mark on Liberty Castle. Each of us jumped on one of the giant flying bugs and a tight race ensued. No one but Maximus was accustomed to racing these insects, so we had some miscommunications and false starts before the end. Daisy eked out a victory with Harold a close second, and Royce right behind. As a prize, Harold and Royce got some potch and items, and Daisy got to keep her mantor! (This gives her the ability to be a flyer unit instead of cavalry in war battles, and in normal battles she gains an extra +50 HP! We should race again soon!) Her yellow mantor has since been named Tomin, and she is still figuring out how to care for him effectively.

The next morning, we were woken by the castle proximity alarm and ran outside to find a flight of dragons landing on the lawn. Futch and Milia took the lead and pledged their dragon knights to our cause. As a special treat, the dragons carried with them the hero of the Toran republic, Tir McDohl, and his servant Gremio (think Gourry from Slayers in appearance, with a Kenshin scar on his cheek). Milia and her dragon Thrash joined us as two more stars of destiny, but Futch came out of friendship to Royce.

Caesar put our new allies right to work causing avalanches and dropping rocks on the Camaro troops at Orden castle, the last barrier between us and the land that Yuber had chosen to support. It wasn’t the most honorable tactic, but as our spokesman says, “War is at its best barbarism.” – William Tecumseh Sherman. At Orden, we found Camaro general Janell and her all-human troops standing as a last line of defense, and together we were able to bring them down without too much trouble. Janell had been opposed to the use of demons and her queen’s new policies, but she was loyal to her country and only took us defensive positions. She refused to join us at first, but when we informed her of Yuber’s crimes against the people of Harmonia and all the innocent civilians he had turned into demons, Janell saw that she had to offer us her help if we were fighting such a criminal. General Janell became the first person in Camaro to join our cause.

Back at Liberty Castle, we wandered into the kitchen for a snack and found Hai Yo being challenged to a double-battle against his old comrades Antonio and Lester.

Xavier is a wise old elf who likes his Chinese food!

April grew up like her dad Flik, and loves the same stuff he does! Isn’t that sweet?

This sexy star of Witchport used to be a Harmonian Priest General! It’s Faye!

The vampire Sierra doesn’t drink blood, but she seems to favor red sauce all the same!

Appetizer: Eggrolls (eggrolls+no spice): Sciath, Hai Yo: 10,10,10,10

Main Course: Meat lasagna (lasagna+salt): Royce, Daisy: 8888

Dessert: Hot Fudge Sundae (ice cream+chocolate sauce): Kuarjav, Harold: 9999

Total: 108

Challengers: Antonio’s Breadsticks 9999, Lester’s Ramen 3334, Fruit Fondue 2223

Total: 59

We got Recipe #37 “Breadsticks” and Recipe #17 “Ramen”, and the chefs parted on relatively good terms.

The pans were still hot when traveling cooks Mia and Nafra issued a challenge! The little ladies had heard of his reputation and wanted to test their skills against the famous Hai Yo.

This um, woman, loves to drink….blood? Does she even eat food? Um, it’s Natasha!

This ‘joker’ doesn’t take his food lightly! It’s Joker!

For one so small, she loves to eat something called French food! It’s Aila!

Leader of the Dragon’s Den and Royce’s Boss, it’s the politically correct Milia!

Appetizer: Nutella Crepe (sandwich+chocolate sauce): Harold, Hai Yo: 9,10,10,10

Main Course: Creamy Gratin (gratin+sugar): Royce, Kuarjav: 7899

Dessert: Lemon Meringue Pie (pie+salt): Sciath, Daisy: 7899

Total: 105

Muffins 8888, Full Course Special 8888, Cookies 4444

Total: 80

Mia gave us Recipe #14 “Cookies”, and Nafra handed over Recipe #3 “Muffins”, leaving us with a whole lot more sweets to choose from.

With troops from Camaro starting to pour in, Liberty Castle was upgraded to Level 4. The biggest changes are the new dragon stables on the lawn and the changes to the top floor, where every member of the Unity Rune Warriors now has a private room of his or her own design. Most have kept their personal spaces private so far, but Royce was quick to tell everyone that his room was now big enough to house Vasuki the dragon as well, and Daisy likes to keep her mantor Tomin in the corner too.

At Daisy’s insistence, we traveled back to Octavia’s cave to check up on her, only to find her ill and unresponsive. We had little choice but to take her and her zebra back to Liberty Castle and leave her in Roy’s care in the medical ward. Though Daisy still doesn’t like her, she couldn’t find it in her heart to leave an old woman to die.

Ramza’s rumors sent us first to Caleria, where we found a crowd gathered around a dancing girl. We waited until her dance had finished before approaching her, and when we explained how other non-combatants like singers and artists had joined us, Amber the dancer eagerly signed up. Later, in Adosi, we happened upon Fred and Rico of the Maximillian Knights on their way to Liberty Castle. We were able to save them the trouble and introduced them to Kuarjav, who accepted their aid on behalf of his army.

The Unity Rune Warriors took their first trip back to Crystal Valley since Pearl’s death to see the city being slowly rebuilt, refugees returning to their homes to try and pick up the pieces. Daisy immediately started asking if anyone knew of the Saint-Anicets, and one old man told her that he knew of a couple named Saint-Anicet who lived alone in a fancy house, having lost their two children some time before. Outside the house he indicated, we met a man who identified himself as Pesmerga and said he could sense Yuber’s power inside the house. He went inside with us when there was no answer at the door, and an elderly couple asked us why we had entered their home. Daisy introduced herself as Rose’s daughter; they couple reacted with anger and shifted into awful half-demon forms that they said had been granted to them by Yuber. We subdued but did not kill them, and Daisy decided to lock them up in one of our castle dungeons until they were willing to talk to her. Pesmerga joined our army when we explained that Yuber was a great enemy of ours who we had faced many times and were sure to again, and he agreed to stand guard over the Saint-Anicets until Yuber appeared again. Daisy still does not know exactly who the Saint-Anicet couple are to her, not even their names, but Viktor said that they might be Rose’s parents (thus Daisy’s grandparents), though he couldn’t be certain as long as they refused to speak. Viktor had run into Daisy’s grandparents once or twice during his courtship of Rose, but they had been less than supportive of the affair.

Needing a break, the team went to find Amber’s new dance show to relax. Royce and Daisy won 5000 potch each for their dancing skills (tips?), and then we went to the kitchen one final time. Alas, a quiet dinner was not to be, for the chef Wakai had returned once more to challenge Hai Yo. This time, Wakai was assisted by Ryoko, the sister of two chefs who had killed themselves after a defeat against Hai Yo (in Suikoden II).

The architect of your home and mine, it’s Reynaldo! He loves his pasta with red sauce!

Bryce is the bodyguard and food tester of Hikusaak. He’s learned to love the same foods as Hikusaak!

The head of security here at Liberty Castle, it’s Cassie! She loves the food of her homeland, Rokkaku!

Geddoe here is a hero among heroes! He’s traveled far and wide to find his favorite food is Chinese!

Appetizer: Spaghetti with Meatballs (spaghetti+salt): Sciath, Hai Yo: 10,999

Main Course: Japanese Curry (curry+sugar): Daisy, Harold: 10,10,10,10

Dessert: Bacon Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae (bacon+chocolate sauce): Royce, Kuarjav: 8888

Total: 109

Wakai makes calamari 6676, Wakai tempura don 10,10,10,10, cake 3333

Total: 77

Ryoko stormed off, furious, but this time Wakai accepted our offer to become Hai Yo’s apprentice (and a star of destiny). We gained Recipe #8 “Cake” and Recipe #10 “Tempura”.

Recruited: Milia, Thrash, Janell, Amber, Fred, Rico, Pesmerga, Wakai

(non-star recruits: Futch, Bright, McDohl, Gremio,

Investigations: Pesmerga, Janell, Milia, Thrash, Bazeroth