The Meager

~Fovoham Windflats~

Wiegraf<We'll head to our fastness at Ziekden & reinforce it. Then, joined with our brothers & sisters in arms, we'll give the Order a fight they'll never forget!>

Gragoroth<...If any of them are even still alive.>

*At that moment, a monk comes in & whispers something in Wiegraf's ear. A pained expression comes over his face & he makes a tight fist, literally shaking with rage.*

Wiegraf<Milleuda, slain?>

Monk<The company which slew her approaches even now. What are your orders?>

Wiegraf<...We quit this place at once, & make for Ziekden! I'll stay here to venge Milleuda's murder & buy time for you to escape.>

*Wiegraf & the monk head outside. Gragoroth looks back at the woman.*

Gragoroth<...I will flee, but I do not mean to die.>
============================================
~Dorter~

<I don't know. Probably. If he did, he should be at the outskirts by now. Word just recently came in that there's a standoff with the Corpse Brigade taking place there.>
============================================
~Besselat~

Knight<Are these the Brigade troops you mentioned?>

*Lilith looks uncertainly from the knights, to the girls, & back.*

L"...No. I was mistaken."

*Several loud groans & sighs escape the knights as they depart for the fort. One of them mutters something about how Lilith should be discharged for calling them into battle against common whores. Her shoulders slump.*

*Reiter follows Wiegraf, failing to nice Rhea stays inside.*

Reiter: <I can stay and help you if your friends take care of Rhea.>

=====

*Rhea reluctantly approaches the girl and crouches.*

Rhea: <Are you okay?>

=====

Parker: <Gotcha, thanks!>

*She runs out and takes off to Zeklaus.*

"Not good that's what. I need to get my sister and mother out of here now!"

Mortal relaxed slightly, "Well, finally you see things clearly," Mortal said, "Tell me, do you know who commands a troupe of knights with red capes, and blue armored warriors with swords like you?" She asked, "She knows, but won't tell me." She once again pointed at the seemingly mute Euryale.

Noct ran a hand through her hair, "Did I miss something, what is going on?"

~Besselat~

L"I've been made to look like a fool, that's what."

*Euryale puts a hand on her shoulder.*

E"Hey, don't be like that. If it makes you feel better, I appreciate that you stuck your neck out for us."

*Lilith knocks her hand away & ties her braid back in.*

L"Well. Knights with red capes sounds like the Church of Glabados."

E"Not that we're saying they did anything wrong, mind you!"

L"...I think we should go somewhere more private."
========================================
~Brigand's Den~

"Well, I suppose that depends on what you plan to do in Dorter."
=========================================
~Fovoham Windflats~

Wiegraf<No. Go with the others to Ziekden. Or go home if you're having second thoughts. This...this is personal.>

*She doesn't answer. Gragoroth grabs the ropes behind her back.*

Thief<Wiegraf told you to leave her here.>

Gragoroth<Wiegraf has a lot on his mind. Let me deal with this. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.>

Thief<You know what happened to Gustav, don't you?>

Gragoroth<Wiegraf won't be able to touch us in Ziekden. And even if he can, what is he going to do, execute dissenters until he stands alone against the aristocracy?>

Thief<...Okay. I'm in. Are you 2 coming, or staying here?>
==========================================
~Zeklaus~

Mage<Come & get her, if you can!>

*The Time Mage teleports to the top of one of the walls, as the ceiling had caved in long ago. Once there, he begins gathering magickal energy as the archer retreats to the corner & shoots Sorrel. Outside, Roatha stands in front of Sorrel's mother, against the trifecta of knights coming towards him.*

"It looks as though they were not raised back to full health. We might have a chance."

Reiter: <...Okay. Good luck, then.>

=====

Rhea: <What are you going to do to her?>

=====

*Parker continues her merry walk to Zeklaus.*

Zac shrugged, "Continue looking for an assassin, like we've been doing for three years. Nothing interesting, I can assure you."

"Oh Zac, I'm sorry that daily battles to the death, and daring escapes by sea bore you," Iliad said, "Perhaps you should return to Lesalia, I'm sure your father would love to have you back."

"Now that would be a battle to the death."

--

"The Church of Glabados... then that settles it, I'll have to kill them all," Mortal said, matter-of-factly.

"I'm sorry, I must have misheard you, I could have sworn you said something about attacking the church," Noctis said, "Surely you can't be serious."

"I'm serious indeed! They've taken everything from me, my home, my body, damn near my life!" Mortal retorted.

~Zeklaus~

*She shows up behind Roatha & some noble woman facing off against a bunch of knights in front of some ruins. They keep backing up the hill as the knights get closer. There's also a time mage charging a spell on top of one of the walls.*

"I was hoping I'd have the chance to buy a shield before fighting knights."
=============================================
~Fovoham Windflats~

Gragoroth<If you want answers, you'll have to come along. I've neither the time nor the patience for this.>

*With that, they file out the back door.*
=============================================
~Brigand's Den~

"Yeah, I'm just going to stay here. I'm not interested in the deaths of petty thieves & backstabbers, mildly amusing though they may be."
==============================================
~Besselat~

"I'm just saying, maybe we shouldn't be yelling about attacking the church in the middle of the Fort Besselat streets. Maybe we should go somewhere more secluded. Maybe get something to eat."

At that Mortal's stomach growled, "Actually... I would love some lamb."

"Where do you propose we go?" Noctis asked, wanting to change the subject from destroying the church as soon as possible.

--

"Then this is farewell. It has been a pleasure, Seraph," Iliad said.

Zac nodded, "Agreed, thank you for all your help. Take care."

With that the two of them turned to make way for Dorter.

--

Sab woke from a nightmare where a dragon was eating her.

~Besselat~

"Taverns are pretty noisy. And we could ask for a private booth."
======================================
~Dorter~

*The first thing they notice is that there is a lot of Northern Sky Knights in Dorter.*
=======================================
~Mullonde~

*Someone is knocking on her door.*

<Sab? Sab Rosa? I have an urgent assignment for you! From the High Confessor himself!>

"Tavern?" Mortal asked.

"Where are you from again?"

"Beddah Sandwastes."

"I didn't know there were any civilizations out there."

"There isn't; none that I know of anyway."

"Who are you?"

"Mortal."

"No, 'who' are you, not what are you."

"My name is Mortal, if you asked what I was I'd answer a dra-- well, I guess I wouldn't anymore."

--

"Well, this plan seems to have failed," Zac chided as the two ducked down a busy road.

"The plan was never to avoid them entirely, but to get lost in the crowds of Dorter. So long as we don't draw attention to ourselves we should be fine," Iliad replied.

Zac let out a small sigh, "Right, but I still can't get over this whole plan of Dycedarg's."

"Are you still shocked by the immorality of nobility? Forgive me if I don't share your shock," Iliad shot back.

"That isn't what I mean, I can understand infighting, and political assassinations--"

"Oh can you?"

"Let me finish. I can understand them, abhorrent as they are, but Dycedarg plots the deaths of more than one noble family, its almost class genocide."

"It is all the same, one death doesn't weigh more than another."

"A three year search by two men was spawned from one murder. What do you think dozens, possibly hundreds of murders will spawn? How many brothers, and sons, daughters, and sisters need take up arms? Our's is a vendetta, Dycedarg invites a war."

--

Sab had changed her sheets and was just about to go back to laying down when she heard the door, "Please, come in. The door is unlocked."

Sorrel gently yanks the offending arrow out of his shoulder with a minor grunt of pain before charging his assailant. "Sanguine Sword"

Rhea: <...Okay. Re->

*Reiter walks in.*

Reiter: <I'm here, let's go.>

*Rhea nods and they follow them out the back door.*

=====

*Parker frowns at the knights in horror.*

Parker: <Okay, who are they and what did you do to make them mad?>

Mimiru:<All that work for some crappy shoes.>

Taiyo:<I thought it was fun.>

"See? It wasn't a total waste."

~Mullonde~

*A knight enters. He looks up as though he's reading something off of the ceiling.*

<"You are to prepare for departure. On the morrow, you will be given an extra set of clothes & sent to Orbonne Monastary. We fear the Princess may by warmongerers soon.">
=========================================
~Zeklaus~

"I don't even know why they're fighting on me! They know my dad!"

<And what a shame it will be once Ser Arelaz finds out how his son was killed by Order units impersonating the Corpse Brigade.>

"No one will believe that ridiculous fairy tale! Is this why you follow Gustav? Because he lets you murder & lie to your own comrades?"

*The Archer goes down like a sack of bricks, but the monks start coming after him next. Worse yet, glowing green numerals surround them & they begin moving faster. The Time Mage teleports to the unoccupied side of the building after he begins charging another spell, still with his human shield.*
=============================================
~Besselat~

L"(I think she has a touch of the madness.) Well, Mortal, just follow us. You can trust us as long as your friend can."

E"It's Euryale."

L"Okay."

*Lilith heads into the tavern & asks for a private booth for 4.*
=============================================
~Fort Ziekden~

*As they continue walking, it begins to snow. As they're travelling, they spot a company of 4 knights. The thieves tell Gragoroth to head to the fort & take control in Wiegraf's name, so he mounts the chocobo they brought, hostage in hand, & heads off.*

<You kids ready for your first battle?>
============================================
~Dorter~

*A squire runs up to report to a nearby knight.*

Squire<Dorter is all locked down, Ser! No Brigade swine will be squeezing through. What do you want to do with Zeklaus?>

Knight<We leave them be. They are on the payroll of Duke Larg & Lord Dycedarg. And I'm sure they'll see their payment fit enough that they never return to brigandry. You might say they can retire early.>

*The knight starts laughing.*

Squire<With respect, I was more referring to the reports that someone is fighting the rebels, Ser.>

Knight<Screw 'em.>

Reiter: <Absolutely!>

*Reiter and Rhea draw their weapons, preparing for battle.*

Rhea: <They could be the ones that...>

Reiter: <Yeah, I know.>

=====

Parker: <I'm going to regret this, but let's kick the guy's ass.>

*She draws her dagger, standing next to Roatha.*

Sorrel strikes at the monk that gets to him closest, "Sanguine Sword." Then he runs after the time mage.

~Zeklaus~

"Knights have strong defense. It's better to get behind them & attack from two sides."

*One of the knights manages to climb the hill & slashes at Roatha, which he narrowly avoids. The others are about halfway up.*

"As quickly as possible."

*The other monk stands in front of the doorway. Both swing their fists at him, launching what looks like orbs of warped air. The Time Mage once again casts Haste, but this time it narrowly misses the lead knight. Seeing his failure, he directs a hand toward himself, & teleports a little farther away.*

Mage<Be quick with that one. I don't have unlimited magicks, you know.>
=================================
~Ziekden~

*It being an empty plane, there's not much the 2 sides can do but run at each other. When they clash, the thieves block the knights' attacks & strike back in kind. Two manage to block with their shields & land successful counterattacks.*

Knight<5 thieves & a little girl? Is this the Brigade's much-boasted-about rear guard?>

Thief<Laugh while you yet can. Wiegraf is still out there.>

Knight<Really? I heard he'd thrown himself into the channel to be with his whore of a sister.>

Thief<I'll have your tongue for those slurs!>

*The knight sticks his tongue out & spits in his face.*

Cut through them now!

"Crushing Blow, Crushing Blow!" he attacks one then the other in an effort to cut them down here and now and chase after the mage.

"Orbonne Monastary... Wait, if the Princess may be in danger what do you need me for? I'm still a student of the art of magick." sab replied, a bit confused, and a little offput by the knight never looking at her, or forward at all, for that matter.

--

Noctis nodded in agreement, and followed along, a bit wary to the two, formidible looking women.

Mortal looked at Euryale, "Do you trust them?"

--

"Did he say the Brigade itself is under Dycedarg's payroll?" Zac asked quietly.

"It seems that way, worse yet, this isn't simply Dycedarg, but Duke Larg as well."

"Yes, I had caught that," Zac replied, "I had hoped that if Dycedarg was found out by his Lord this would meet an end, but now I realize that is a fool's hope."

"Perhaps not all is lost, the 'rebels' seem to have rebels of their own," Iliad returned, "If the Order runs the Brigade, then who is fighting who?"

Zac simply shrugged.

"Guess all that's left to do now is escort some white mage."

Mimiru:<Seriously?>

"What? With any luck we could get attacked by harriers, so you'll have something to hit. If not, it's a simple job."

*Off they go to escore some white mage jerk.*

*Kite's runs in between the two so he's more shielded from interferences and slashes at that same knight. Rhea stands back, anxiously muttering words to herself.*

=====

*Parker casts Tanglevine on of the knights still climbing the hill, running around to the one that attacked Roatha's left side and slashing at him.*

~Zeklaus~

*Once they both fall, the newly-hastened Time Mage teleports even further back.*

<You're too late. All I have to do is hit you with my Gravity spells while still out of range from your sword attacks.>

*He holds up a hand & starts gathering black energy.*
------------------------------------------
*Both knights become entangled & unable to move or act. The knight defends against her attack, but Roatha manages to stab him in the abdomen.*
=========================================

~Sal Ghidos~

<He left hours ago. Someone else took the job. You can't drag your heels all of the time.>
========================================
~Mullonde~

<Listen, lady, I only memorized what the High Confessor told me.>
========================================
~Besselat~

"You know what they say, 'don't bite the hand that feeds you.'"

*As they enter the tavern, the fat guy at the bar directs them to a hallway in back. They get a lot of disapproving looks from the other nobles.*

"I WONT LET YOU!!" Sorrel ran flat out to catch up with the mad mage before he could make off with his sister.

"Oh well. Anything new?"