Heathen Frolic

"No...no...we have some idea of what's going on here, & we'd only have to buy more for other locations, anyway. Thanks, though."

*The Al Bhed woman scoffs as Luna turns around.*

"I thought we agreed to skip Remiem Temple?"

"If you say so." Ingrid said, looking back across the plain. "The choice is entirely yours." Ingrid added in response to Luna's question.

*Ark shrugs, yawning.*

Ark: <I wasn't paying attention.>

"So, I guess we can either go see Belgemine, or continue on to Mt. Gagazet."

Ark: <Snow! Snow! Snow!>

"Whatever you want." Ingrid said, running a hand through her hair.

"Then I guess we're going to Gagazet."

*They get as far as the series of arches that start the path up Mt. Gagazet before 2 Ronso warriors file in front of the path, blocking it.*

<Heretic Luna not pass. So says Elder Belias.>

*Hitomi glances at Ark.*

[He's probably going to do something really stupid.]

Ingrid looks at the Ronso that blocked them, then at Luna, then back to the Ronso. This may not end well.

[It's either just standing around like the others and waiting for Luna to handle this or actually guard her and probably be glared at by the others. They look like giant evil plushies.]

Ark: <We need pass. Heretic Luna need kill Sin. If you be picky Sin kill you. Yaaah?>

*One of the Ronso warriors roars loudly in his face.*

"Group discussion."

*She grabs Arc & arranges everyone in a circle.*

"(The airship can't get up mountains, & Valefor probably can't carry all of us. So it's either turn back or fight our way through.)"

Ark: <Rude. (Valefor could just take us in two trips. I'm not opposed to fighting either but they look pretty tough and I don't want you ladies to get hurt.)>

*Hitomi stares at Ark like he's some kind of idiot.*

[Ronso are physically stronger than the others races and even with magic we'd most likely still be at a disadvantage. Luna's a Guado, so she might have an advantage agility wise. Trying to use an Aeon to climb the mountain might work, but they'd probably notice a large bird flying about. Maybe Luna's...]

*She shakes her head frantically like she's disagreeing with something that's been said.*

Ingrid, unable to hear what I'm assuming is some sort of telepathy that was explained some time ago, looks at Hitomi like she is a bit off by the way she just started to shake her head, but ignored her for the most part and directed her attention at Luna. "I'm not adverse to any plan of action, though fighting Ronso, at their home, seems beyond unwise. One does not fight a fish in water without expecting to be at a disadvantage. This is a big mountain however, I'm sure we don't need to go through this particular settlement only. Maybe we can find another way around, that way we don't anger the Ronso."

Ark: <This particular settlement? We're trying to enter the mountains. I'm pretty sure this is the only entrance to whatever paths might be available beyond this point, and the Ronso guard the entire mountain, not just this area.>

"(Yeah, even if we had mountain climbing gear, short of machina, there's nothing in Spira advanced enough to get us up this mountain. So we have to use the paths. And, unfortunately, all paths begin here. We could try talking to Belias, but he might refuse to see us, or even arrest us. For all we know, he may have given the order already. We should probably reach a decision soon.)"

Ark: <I don't think we have much of a choice. Let's do this. We can handle them.>

"It's already been established we'd be at a disadvantage, but you're welcome to try."

[It looks like it could be our only option.]

"I guess it's decided, then. We WILL defeat Sin. If you stand in our way, we have no choice but to fight."

*Several moments of uncomfortable silence pass.*

"Umm...did you hear me?"

<Ronso true warriors. We not strike until you make first move.>

Really, an entire mountain, an entire mountain only has one path through it? That seems like an odd situation. Ingrid shrugged. "Fighting it is then." Ingrid said with a bit of a sigh, casting reflect and protect on herself and Luna.

Ark: <Are you stupid?>

*Ark casts Haste on himself then copycats Ingrid's move to cast Protect on himself. He draws his blade and frowns at the Ronso.*

Ark: <This feels kinda wrong. You hit them first.>

"I want to know what constitutes the first move... can we just walk past them with impunity, or does that start the fight?"

*The Protects bounce off, shielding the 2 Ronso warriors.*

<You no pass.>

"Idiot."

[Now we're at an even bigger disadvantage and still at a stand still until either Ark attacks or the black mage does something.]

Ark: <Run back!>

*Ark closes his eyes and bites his lip for a second before snapping them back open and dashing towards the Ronso warriors and throwing a grenade over them at the snowy rocks.*