Fire Emblem: Last of the Manakete

[JAGwin]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
[X] Tome: Artemis suggested that maybe it would be good for you to practice with human magic; offering to get you a Thunder tome to take with you.

 

[Hestia&theCourt]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Practical Magic)

 

[Parabola]

We're trying to find Sypha, so a bigger map. We're trying to go relatively fast, so extra food would help - but food and information both can be bought, so money would be ideal. I'd pick extra medical supplies, but Ryza is still in the middle of learning Heal, so let's pick Practical Magic. And of course, if it comes to it, the best violence to take care of bandits is a dragon. So Dragon Within, as well.

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Practical Magic)

 

[Calico J]

Makes perfect sense to me.

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Practical Magic)

 

[Fish & Chips]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
-[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
-[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)

I'm thinking extra food and map for speed. We're packing light to increase ease of movement, might as well double down and bring more food (or cash to trade for food and other things) to cut down on time spent gathering food.

I definitely think we should stick to one scroll instead of two. Both scrolls have their uses. My concern is that voting time spent on reading is time that we're not exploring other options, like bonding with our companions or gathering more information. Of course that time wouldn't be a waste; our Dragon Within reading has come in handy several times already and reading more about magic has any number of benefits. But two scrolls is a lot, especially when both scrolls may end up competing with other voting options. Both scrolls have practical uses and seem interesting so I won't make an argument for one in particular.

Although now that I think about it, bringing both scrolls along would be a Ryza thing to do.

 

[Alcor]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)

I think Fish & Chips is right about one scroll over two. I can definitely see the use of Practical Magic but unless reading is an automatic action I feel like we may never actually get around to it because Dragon Within definitely feels like the more pressing issue. My hope is that money can buy most of the options I didn't vote for like food. I struggled over map vs healing supplies vs food. In theory all should be purchasable and under normal circumstances I'd leave the map but the fact that it was an offered option makes me suspicious it could be more helpful than I'm thinking. I'm not completely sold on the idea that all combat will necessarily be dragon combat so that's my reasoning for Thunder's Cry.

 

[Miho Chan]

I would like to point out, as others have, that this is going to be a time crunch scenario, and that reading time is likely going to be severely culled, if not outright eliminated. I additionally would like to point out that all of the options sans scrolls will always provide a benefit, while the scrolls require us to read them in depth to provide benefit, excluding practice time. I cannot, in truth, vote for anything involving scrolls, thus my vote is this:

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[x] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
[x] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[x] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.

As for the reason I don't include a map in this list, I feel like taking into account that Robin likely knows the lay of the land better than we ever will is important, and the lack of a Thunder Tome is only due to the fact that we're on a time crunch, and thus unlikely to be able to learn it in a way that matters.

Additionally, @SoaringHawk218, is it possible to ask Sir Robin what he intends on packing, and what we should pack? I feel like his expert opinion may be useful. Hell, Artimis' opinion is likely similarly useful.

 

[Shebe Zuu]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

-[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
-[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
-[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.

I basically agree with Mihos reasoning here - we're on the clock and shouldn't worry about reading material when we need to bring the essentials.

 

[Cute Princess]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[x] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
[x] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[x] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.

 

[Random Sanity]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.

Time is of the essence; studying will have to wait.

 

[lobonLight63]

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)

 

[AnOldIdeaMadeNew]

[x] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.

Money for info, bribery, and, if absolutely necessary, supplies on site. The map to complement Robin's skills, as he may not have been through these parts before but will know how to use terrain to his advantage and how the kidnappers might try to use it to their own. The extra medicine and food minimizes time spent foraging, gives us the ability to put off interacting with locals who might be bandit/imperial agents for as long as possible, and makes a fast getaway more likely since we have more margin on both before we have to stop to buy or forage more supplies.

For combat, we have even fewer combatants than before so we should go all out with dragon form instead of staying in our frail heart-form for battle. And as mentioned, we are unlikely to have the time to read if we want to make best speed for Sypha.

 

[Brutehunter2541]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
-[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
-[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.

 

[SoaringHawk218]

Additionally, @SoaringHawk218, is it possible to ask Sir Robin what he intends on packing, and what we should pack? I feel like his expert opinion may be useful. Hell, Artimis' opinion is likely similarly useful.

Click to shrink...

A fair question. He already gave his two big pieces of advice: pack light and don't skimp on food just because you can get it other ways. He'll probably be following his own advice (extra food, packing light, etc.)

Artemis would agree with that, and she would be a little leery of relying too much on the locals by bringing money since you're going to be functionally in enemy territory. While most villagers probably will be willing to sell information / supplies, you can't guarantee it. You also can't guarantee that there won't hostile informants in place, especially as you probably go into the Empire. She would, however, admit that she's still in an extremely paranoid mood, so that's coloring her ideas.

Another thing to mention: even if you don't choose Medicine or Food or Money doesn't mean you're going to bring nothing. It just means you won't be going above and beyond. For example, Ryza's always going to have her vulnerary that she got from her parents' stash, but she won't be setting aside space and padding for an elixir.

 

[Miho Chan]

Thank you so much SoaringHawk! I appreciate the information!

 

[Super Sentry]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

-[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.

-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.

-[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.

-[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.

 

[Eternal_0bserver]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)

[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.

 

[Shadowhisker]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
-[X] Scrolls: Artemis has offered to keep your things from home safe, but you still want to keep learning about your heritage. Each scroll counts as an item. (Dragon Within)
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
-[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.

 

[Bloody*Vermilion]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
-[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
-[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.

 

[ls2]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
-[X] Tome: Artemis suggested that maybe it would be good for you to practice with human magic; offering to get you a Thunder tome to take with you.
-[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
-[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.

 

[VagueZ]

[x] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
-[x] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
-[x] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
-[x] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
-[x] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.

 

[AnOldIdeaMadeNew]

Money could also be used to bribe people when we leave to give misleading directions to pursuing wyvern riders and the like and to reduce the chances of our manaketeness leaking out by seeding alternative explanations for the failing kidnapping. Even if we encounter loyal informants along the way, it'd add some noise to their signal.

 

[GreatWyrmGold]

Spoiler: Peanut Gallery

"Kopoi?" Dione says. "No, that's not the way he is. He may seem unnerving-"

"Creepy, more like," Artemis mutters.

"Artemis, do not needlessly poison the well of your friend's mind, that is unbecoming of a lady." Dione chides.

Click to shrink...

Ma'am, that well is full of poison already. Artemis might have diluted it.

Your thoughts race as you try to ponder all the different ways this conversation could go and how you're going to make sure that he likes you-

Click to shrink...

mood

The man glances over his shoulder. "Oi, you lot, it's not break-time yet!" he says. "You'll never be great yeomen if you slack off!"

Click to shrink...

Historical trivia that probably would have been handier a few weeks ago: "Yeoman" is associated with a type of English archer, but it's a social class which those archers were drawn from. Yeomen were farmers who owned their own land; "Yeoman Archer" is a distinct term referring to yeomen who were trained and recruited as archers. ("Yeoman" has also referred to some other groups of Englishmen, like mid-ranking servants or naval officers, but those are less relevant here.)

I'm mostly pointing this out because Robin yelling that the kids will never be great farmers amused me.

He studies you for a moment before nodding as well. "I would consider bringing some extra food. I don't know about you, but I can hunt if we need sustenance, but that'll take time. Time that I'm not sure if Lady Sypha has. If I was the bandits, I'd be beating tracks for someplace safe, so we'll need to move even faster if we're going to have a chance to catch up."

Click to shrink...

So we probably only need to pack food for one way. Which is good—if Ryza can't carry both Robin and Sypha, the journey back will take a lot longer.

On the vote:

• I'm on team "Scrolls are a waste of space, there's other productive stuff we could do". If one slot could contain multiple scrolls, I'd consider it, but...no. (Same goes for grabbing a tome—it's a good thing to learn, but we can do that later, when space and time aren't at a premium.)
• Like Robin said, a bit of extra food means we don't have to stop to buy or hunt for a while.
• Thunder's Cry is good for when we need a bit of firepower, but also control or not to look like a dragon.
• It would be nice to know where we're going, and where Sypha might be.
• Dragons have no need of money, but Ryza's a manakete. And as many people have pointed out, money can solve a wide variety of problems. (There's a risk we won't be able to buy what we need there, but I consider that a lower risk than us grabbing something we don't need that's useless for whatever happens.)

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)
[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.
[X] A bigger map. You still have the scroll Archduke Letoro gave you, and it looks very useful. However, if you're going to be searching, it might be a good idea to dig out a bigger, more detailed map to find your way.
[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.

Also, I notice that while most people are treating each item as a separate entry (just "[X]"), some are treating this as a plan vote (with "-[X]"). That's going to complicate vote-counting a bit, so I'd like to recommend people edit their votes to remove hyphens. It's not gonna be impossible, but let's not make things harder than they have to be for the QM.

 

[SoaringHawk218]

Historical trivia that probably would have been handier a few weeks ago: "Yeoman" is associated with a type of English archer, but it's a social class which those archers were drawn from. Yeomen were farmers who owned their own land; "Yeoman Archer" is a distinct term referring to yeomen who were trained and recruited as archers. ("Yeoman" has also referred to some other groups of Englishmen, like mid-ranking servants or naval officers, but those are less relevant here.)

I'm mostly pointing this out because Robin yelling that the kids will never be great farmers amused me.

Click to shrink...

...huh...

Okay, that's... a thing.

...

I like the term so I'm keeping it

 

[Unearthly Sight]

[X] Pack light, as Robin suggested. You won't be able to bring as much, but it'll make movement somewhat easier. (Top four choices will be taken)


[X] Extra money. Phoebe suggests that, if you do end up needing to get information or supplies from someone while away from Agrithe, having a good store of money will be useful. You're not quite sure how this "money" works, but you're sure Robin does.
[X] Extra Medical Supplies: While nobody got seriously hurt on your first trip, this time you'll be going straight towards the bad guys. Bringing some extra healing herbs might be a good idea if you get into a fight.
[X] Extra Food: While you'll certainly take some, bringing more might make things easier. Or at least make it so Robin doesn't have to do as much work.
[X] Thunder's Cry: While not as powerful as your dragon form, Thunder's Cry has gotten you out of some sticky situations. You also know exactly how to use it.