Norden Line (Japanese:ノルデンラインNohrden Line) is the sixteenth chapter ofFire Emblem: Thracia 776. This is the first of two chapters on the "A" route; in order to play this chapter, Leif must have headed west towards Fort Norden inthe previous chapter.

Plot

Main article:Norden Line/Script

Kempf andNikalaf discuss their strategy for dealing withLeif's approaching forces. Nikalaf chastises Kempf for underestimating their enemy and orders him to hold the bridge with his battalion until the Knights of Ulster under CountConomor arrive from the rear to trap Leif's forces in a pincer attack.

At the same time, Leif confers withAugust about the enemy's formation and wonders if the enemy could be convinced to break that formation. IfOlwen is present, she volunteers to tempt the enemy commander—Kempf—into leaving the bridge, as she has a "history" with him.

The battle begins. If Olwen talks to Kempf, she sends a string of insults toward him, making him break formation and rush away from the bridge alongside his battalion in order to kill her. If Olwen is killed or has not been recruited,Karin can also talk toIlios, and if she does, she convinces Ilios to defect to Leif's army. His only condition is that he must receive a noble title once Leonster is liberated, a dream that Karin pokes fun at him for.

If Leif visits the top eastern house during the battle, he meetsSleuf. Sleuf recalls his vision from the Tower of Bragi—the words of FatherClaud—which leave the prince confused. Sleuf explains that Leif will understand in time, then decides to join the prince's army.

Late into the battle, the Knights of Ulster under Conomor's command appear from the west, and Conomor orders them to charge. One of his soldiers questions this decision, claiming they could retake Ulster now instead of fighting for the Empire, but Conomor is worried that PrincessMiranda's safety would be in danger if they did so.

Once the battle ends,Dryas praises Leif for his success, then they discuss the fall of Leonster and Leif's subsequent escape alongsideFinn. Leif mentions how the Knights of Ulster striking from the rear made him briefly lose hope, to which Dryas responds that Count Conomor is a splendid and honorable leader. They both wonder why someone like that would fight for House Friege, but conclude that there must be some reason and that it would be best if they could avoid fighting Conomor again.

Chapter data

Chapter Data
Conditions	Unit Data
Victory: Seize the throne	Player	Partner	Other	Enemy	Third
Defeat:Leif dies	8–16+2	{{{partner}}}	{{{other}}}	40+24	{{{third}}}

Units are arranged based on their position in deployment order after Leif.

Character data

Characters
New units
Ilios Mage Knight HP 40 Inventory Bolting Meisterschwert Thoron Sol Manual Level 8 Enemy, talk to withKarin (ifOlwen was either killed or not recruited) Sleuf Priest HP 18 Inventory Mend Bragi Scroll Level 6 Visit the upper eastern house withLeif if the church was visited inChapter 15
Forcibly deployed characters
Available characters

Item data

Items

Name Obtainment Method Pure Water Visit far western house Bridge Key Visit central house Knight Proof Visit lower eastern house

Enemy data

Stats with two figures separated by a ~ are presented as a range, representing stats that vary due to random growths. The figures to the left and right of the ~ are the stat's minimum and maximum possible values respectively.

Enemy Units

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Friege Bishop 6 1 20~28 0~8 5~13 2~10 2~10 0~8 1~9 4~12 5~6 Physic •Elfire Authority: Brook • Moves to attack units in range. • OnceBrook is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Friege Lance Armor 13 4 20~35 4~19 0~15 0~15 0~15 0~15 8~20 9~20 5~6 Killer Lance •Vulnerary Authority: Brook • Moves to attack units in range. • OnceBrook is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Kempf Mage Knight 10 1 40 13 9 13 13 10 10 14 8 Venin Sword •Thoron Authority: ★★★ Action: ★ Does not move untilOlwen talks to him, at which point he begins moving unprovoked. Friege Axe Armor 10 3 20~32 4~16 0~12 0~12 0~12 0~12 8~20 9~20 5~6 Battle Axe Authority: Kempf • Does not move untilOlwen talks toKempf, at which point they begin moving unprovoked. • Once Kempf is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Friege Soldier 14 3 20~36 3~19 0~16 0~16 0~16 0~16 1~17 6~20 5~6 Javelin Authority: Kempf • Does not move untilOlwen talks toKempf, at which point they begin moving unprovoked. • Once Kempf is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Friege Archer 13 3 20~35 3~18 0~15 0~15 0~15 0~15 1~16 6~20 5~6 Long Bow Authority: Kempf • Does not move untilOlwen talks toKempf, at which point they begin moving unprovoked. • Once Kempf is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Friege Mage 10 2 18~30 0~12 2~14 2~14 3~15 0~12 0~12 4~16 6~7 Thunder Authority: Kempf • Does not move untilOlwen talks toKempf, at which point they begin moving unprovoked. • Once Kempf is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Friege Ballista 10 6 20 10 3 3 1 2 5 8 0 Ballista Authority: Brook OnceBrook is defeated, ceases attacking. Friege Sword Armor 10 4 20~32 4~16 0~12 0~12 0~12 0~12 8~20 9~20 5~6 Great Sword Authority: Brook • Moves to attack units in range. • OnceBrook is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Ilios Mage Knight 8 1 40 11 9 13 14 14 10 6 8 Bolting •Meisterschwert •Thoron •Sol Manual Miracle •Sol Authority: ★★★ Action: ★ Begins moving once he or any unit under his authority is provoked. Friege Arch Knight 14 2 20~36 3~19 0~16 3~19 4~20 0~16 3~19 6~20 8~9 Long Bow Authority: Ilios • Begins moving unprovoked onceIlios or any unit under his authority is provoked. • Once Ilios is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape; does not change behavior if Ilios is recruited, but does if he isrescued or defeated after having been recruited. Friege Troubadour 10 1 16~28 2~14 2~14 2~14 3~15 0~12 2~14 4~16 8~9 Rapier •Heal Authority: Ilios • Begins moving unprovoked onceIlios or any unit under his authority is provoked. • Once Ilios is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape; does not change behavior if Ilios is recruited, but does if he isrescued or defeated after having been recruited. Friege Lance Knight 13 3 20~35 3~18 0~15 3~18 4~19 0~15 3~18 7~20 8~9 Ridersbane Authority: Ilios • Begins moving unprovoked onceIlios or any unit under his authority is provoked. • Once Ilios is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape; does not change behavior if Ilios is recruited, but does if he isrescued or defeated after having been recruited. Friege Cavalier 15 3 20~37 3~20 0~17 3~20 4~20 0~17 3~20 6~20 8~9 Sleep Sword Authority: Ilios • Begins moving unprovoked onceIlios or any unit under his authority is provoked. • Once Ilios is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape; does not change behavior if Ilios is recruited, but does if he isrescued or defeated after having been recruited. Brigand Brigand 3 2 22~27 5~10 0~3 0~5 0~5 0~5 3~8 9~14 6~7 Hammer Ignores combat and moves to raid houses, then moves to attack units once nothing can be raided. Brook General 16 1 46 17 5 14 10 12 18 19 6 Master Lance •Armorslayer •Meisterbogen •Ridersbane Authority: ★★ Does not move; stands on thegate, the chapter's seize point. Nikalaf General 20 1 54 15 4 12 8 13 15 20 6 -- Authority: ★★★★★ Leaves the map oncepreparations are complete.

Reinforcements

Name Class Lv # HP Str Mag Skill Spd Lck Prf Wlv Def Res Cha Lck Con Mov Inventory and Skills Pirate Pirate 3 4 24~29 5~10 0~3 0~5 0~5 0~5 3~8 9~14 5~6 Iron Axe Ignores combat and moves to raid houses, then moves to attack units once nothing can be raided. Silesse Pegasus Rider 6 8 16~24 2~10 3~11 3~11 6~14 0~8 2~10 4~12 8~9 Ridersbane Moves to attack units in range; otherwise moves toward units with fewer than three allied units within eight tiles of them. Ulster Cavalier 15 11 20~37 3~20 0~17 3~20 4~20 0~17 3~20 6~20 8~9 Rapier •Javelin Authority: Conomor OnceConomor or any unit under his authority is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape. Conomor Paladin 13 1 39 13 3 18 11 4 12 13 10 Master Lance •Killing Edge •Nihil Manual Accost Authority: ★★★★ Action: ★ Once any unit under his authority is defeated, ignores combat and begins moving to escape.

Reinforcements

• Turn 5
  • TwoPirates; one from each of the longest northern isles
• Turn 12
  • TwoPirates; one from south of the lower eastern house, one from the furthest southern end of the eastern river
• Turn 15
  • EightPegasus Riders from the center-southern mountains
• Turn 20
  • ElevenCavaliers andConomor from the western border of the map

Boss data

Main article:Brook

General Level 16 Action -- Authority ★★

Stats Max HP 46 Speed 10 Strength 17 Luck 12 Magic 5 Defense 18 Skill 14 Constitution 19 Movement 6 FCM 0

Inventory Skills Master Lance Armorslayer Meisterbogen Ridersbane -- Weapon Levels A A C A -- -- -- -- -- --

Strategy

The fast method

If the player does not care for any of the chapter's valuable items, they can use Warp to kill the boss and end the chapter early. BecauseSleuf joins with an A-rank in staves, the player can giveLeif a second Warp staff to warp Leif to Sleuf's house then to the Gate, or use aRescue staff to bring a unit holding the Warp staff to the area (preferablyKarin if the player wishes to recruitIlios). Don't worry about the Ballistae - they stop attacking when the boss is killed. Doing this puts Leif, Sleuf, and any other units in the area in danger of Ilios and his squad, though thankfully Sleuf can survive two Boltings from Ilios.

The player is still able toThief aSleep Sword (preferably on the last turn if Ilios is to be recruited, as otherwise the swordless Cavalier might take hisMeisterschwert) and visit thePure Water village, with theKnight Proof village also reachable with some planning, either having a flier Warped/Rescued over, or delaying the Warp skip by a few turns and having a flier travel through the mountains around Ilios's range.

The slow method

The Pure Water village to the west is in danger to a brigand, though between their low level and only weapon being the Hammer they are no threat, so a single unit can handle them safely.

Ilios is a powerful mage knight withBolting, aMeisterschwert, and aSol Manual that can be recruited withKarin, thoughOlwen must be killed or unrecruited. It is recommended to either kill Ilios or recruit and rescue him, as doing either will cause the rest of his squadron in retreat. Some of the front-line Cavaliers haveSleep Swords equipped, which are dangerous weapons to face but if obtained can help with recruitingMisha inthe next chapter orXavier inChapter 18. Acquiring them is difficult, however, as the swords are too heavy to be stolen, the Cavaliers cannot be captured without being put to sleep, and if they get to hit a unit the unit will be put to sleep. The easiest way to get one is withTina's Thief staff (at which point the weaponless Cavalier will either steal Ilios's Meisterschwert or run away and escape), with the only other simple method being putting them to sleep and capturing them. It is possible to obtain a Sleep Sword without using the Sleep or Thief staves, however it requires having a Sleep Sword Cavalier capture a player unit with a lance and removing Ilios's weapons (either using a thief or by breaking them). Ilios will trade the Sleep Sword from the Cavalier, and he can then be recruited with the Sleep Sword.

Unlike inChapter 11,Kempf does not have a Meisterschwert and can takebonus damage. The units under his authority do not move, which makes it hard to attack him due to the ballistae from behind. His squad can be made to break formation by having Olwen talk to him, though depending on how it is done it risks her dying; this can be used on purpose if the player wishes to recruit Ilios, though this should ideally be done before engaging Illios's group with a Warp use. As with Ilios, killing him causes his entire division to go into retreat, though utilizing this is difficult to the enemy layout. The chapter boss,Brook, also has this behavior with units under his authority, which includes all of the ballstae. This can be exploited by Warping a unit to kill Brook to deactivate all of the Ballistae.

Recruiting Sleuf requires unlocking the drawbridge with aBridge Key (the middle village has one), a thief with aLockpick or the Unlock staff. He can also be reached with a flying unit or a combination of Warp, Rescue, andRewarp.

Conomor will show up on turn 20 with aNihil Manual; killing him here will cause him not to re-appear inChapter 19. Neutralizing him away is easy, as if any of his units are killed they will all run away. Additionally, if they have been lured past the 1-tile wide bridges, they can be rendered completely immobile by blocking their way out, making them easy pickings for EXP or for stealing the Nihil Manual.

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

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  Map of the chapter