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Title: A Gathering of Heroes
Series: Record of Lodoss
War: The Grey Witch Saga #1
Author: Ryo Mizuno
Author: Ryo Mizuno
Artist: Yoshihiko
Ochi
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 214
Words: 7K
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 214
Words: 7K
Synopsis:
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Chapter
1 introduces to the world of Lodoss and how a generation ago 7 heroes
fought against the dark god and re-chained him. That story is told by
a blind bard to an elf named Deedlit. They are then attacked in
daylight by goblins, something unheard of. We then switch to the
dwarf Ghim, who is taking leave of Neese, a high priestess. Neese's
daughter Leylia was kidnapped 6 years ago and Ghim means to find her
and rescue her. We are also introduced to Parn and Etoh, a young
knight and priest respectively. Parn has seen goblin attacks in his
recent journey and is trying to rouse the villagers in defense. They
ignore him so he and Etoh go after the goblin band themselves.
Chapter
2: Parn and Etoh fight the goblins but only succeed because Ghim
hears the sound of fighting and helps them. Parn is wounded with a
poison knife and Ghim takes him to the sorcerer Slayn for healing.
Slayn apparently knew Parn's father in the past. They all decide to
go on a quest to find out why the goblins are active in the day. We
switch to the city of Kanon, where a castle lies. Guards see a fleet
of battleships approaching from the dark island of Marmo. The
sorceress Karla appears and destroys the fortress, allowing the fleet
to unload all of its warriors. Last off the ship is Emperor Beld, one
of the 7 heroes, who has become an evil villain.
Chapter
3: Beld reveals to Karla that he intends to rule the entire island of
Lodoss. Parn and Co are now in Allan, capital city of Allania, one of
the kingdoms of Lodoss. The kingdom is celebrating the birth of the
new heir. Parn sees a woman being attacked and comes to her rescue,
only it turns out to be the elf Deedlit, who takes care of business
all by herself. Parn is instantly smitten. Slayn meanwhile visits his
old university only to find it abandoned and neglected. Deedlit takes
Parn out to dinner as thanks for stepping in. We see Woodchuck, a
thief just released from prison, picking a pocket and running away.
Chapter
4: We see Woodchuck making some sort of deal with the Thieves Guild.
Deedlit brings a drunk Parn back to his inn and she meets Slayn. The
next morning Slayn relates his discoveries of his old school and how
it was destroyed by a former student, one Wagnard, who turned to
black magic and was expelled. Wagnard learned some powerful magic,
returned, killed all the wizards and plundered and destroyed the
school. Parn gets angry that the wizards didn't fight back and
Woodchuck, who is having breakfast at the inn, mocks Parn for his
naivete.
Chapter
5: Woodchuck tells a tale of how it wasn't Wagnard that plundered the
school but some unlicensed thieves and how the guild wants them
punished. Woodchuck claims to know where the plunder is but that it
is now guarded by minions of Emperor Beld. The group goes off to
investigate. Slayn and Deedlit confront a dark elf while the other
explore the inside of the manor.
Chapter
6: Deedlit, Slayn and Woodchuck defeat the dark elf. Inside, Parn and
Ghim kill 3 soldiers of Marmo and find a plan that looks like an
attempt at assassinating the King of Allania. They find a magically
sealed door. The room doesn't hold any of the schools books but there
is a note signed by Karla and a picture of her upon the wall. Ghim
seems to recognize it. The group brings the plan to the King and the
assassination is thwarted. Woodchuck asks to join the group. The
chapter ends with Allania finding out about Beld's invasion and due
to an alliance made in the previous war, they must come to Kanon's
assistance.
Chapter
7: Allania has decided to barricade themselves in against Beld
instead of fighting against him. Parn gets angry and tells everyone
he's going to Vallis to see if that kingdom will mobilize against
Beld. His only way to Vallas, though, is through the Forest of No
Return. Deedlit guides them through the Forest and reveals to Slayn
that she is one of the last existing High Elves.
Chapter
8: Karla is reciting how the gods themselves warred and brought
destruction to the land and how even now humans fight amongst
themselves for more and more power. Her goal is to put a stop to the
fighting and destruction, everywhere. Beld reveals to Wagnard that
his fight is personal against King Fahn of Vallis. Parn and Gang are
on their way to Vallis when they meet Karla,who has kidnapped Fianna,
daugher of Fahn.
My
Thoughts:
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My memories of the Record of Lodoss War start with the anime and the
original 13 episode OVA. The manga came much later. In all honesty,
it is probably a good thing.
This is basically a Dungeons & Dragons campaign scenario. You
have The Group with your various “character types” and an
overarching campaign goal of stopping Beld's invasion, while each
individual character has their own little sub-goal.
The style itself is different enough from the anime that it was a bit
jarring at first. The noses are much snubbier and everyone isn't as
streamlined as in the anime. Rougher is probably the best word. It's
not bad by any means just different.
I read these 8 chapters in one collected volume, but the original
manga was released in 8 comics and THOSE covers were gorgeous! I've
included one as a sample.
★★★☆½
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