The Meager

~Besselat~

<Get out.>
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~Beddha~

*Euryale jumped back, looking at her in fright.*

"What did you just say?"
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~Goug~

Knight<If that's how this is, then I won't go down without a fight!>

*She elbows Zac to get him to let her go, then aims a sword swing at Seraph. Unfortunately, he blocks it.*
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~Mullonde~

*The only other book that even mentions him is a book about the investigations by the church--in this case, Elidibus's disappearance. It is given a single page, & mostly states that they never found anything.*
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~Eagrose~

*Sorrel arrives at the castled city of Eagrose. The castle is owned by Duke Larg, who currently commands the Order of the Northern Sky through the Beoulve family. It sits facing away from the ocean, amist an elaborate fountain moat.*

Noctis let out a long sigh, "Fine, fine," She said, backing away, "I'll be back." She said, turning to leave the Fort. Once outside she looked towards the road that brought her back to Lesalia, she really didn't want to have to go all the way back, not just yet. If she could find someone around to hire to deliver a message she would be free to continue her search, she just needed to find someone.

--

Sab furrowed her brow, Odd, for someone so important, it is odd that the investigation into his disappearance is so... barren. Trying a new strategy, Sab began to look for anything on Seraph, thinking that maybe he might know what happened to him.

--

Mortal looked up at her, confused, "Um... that I like the dress? I do, it is soft, and pretty. Then I said I was attacked, some magic man turned me into a... human, I guess, and then they tried to kill me." Mortal smiled a bit, "But you saved me."

--

Iliad uses Steal Weapon, "Stop fighting, you're going to die if you keep this up."

Zac does his best not to punch the bitch four times in the back of the head, instead he uses Plunder Gil on her.

Sorrel whistles, "Impressive" before approaching the gates.

~Mullonde~

*He is even more obscure, the only information being in that book, & old stories she was told about what an adopted servant of the church could accomplish.*
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~Eagrose~

*2 knights are standing on the either side of the gate.*

Guard 1<What do you want?>
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~Goug~

*He fails to wrestle the sword from her, so she turns on him with a stab.*

Knight<That's a fine alternative, from where I stand.>

*Seraph just lies down & goes to sleep.*
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~Beddha~

"Yeah...yeah I did. And I'm still useful! I have more healing items! Plus, I can fight. And I can lead you to a town."
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~Besselat~

*The fort does have a Chocobo-mounted messenger service, the problem is that only a Southern Sky knight with proper authentication can use it.*

Mortal looks up at Euryale, "A town, but I don't want to go anywhere... this is my home." She said, then she thought for a second, "Though it is a lot hotter than I remember, and arid. Why didn't this bother me before?"

--

Noct looks around for one.

--

Iliad dodges and tries for her sword again, but seeing her attack Zac finally decides to punch her four times in the back of the head.

--

Sab tried to see if she could find anything else about Elidibus, specifically anything that would lead to a lack luster report from the Church on someone who seemed to have been a war hero.

"Ah I thought it would be a good idea to come here and report what happened in Gariland since the two members of the order who helped fend off the 'corpse brigade' had another mission to attend to. I thought I'd do them a solid."

"I would like that," Astarte smiled awkwardly. "I come here kind of often... we might see each other again.. here."

~Beddha~

E"Humans aren't used to climates like these. Not to be frank, but if you stay here, you'll probably die. Also, there's the monsters. Even if they DO recognize you, I'm of the understanding that monster territory changes every few weeks, & not because a treaty was drawn...not that I'm saying they're violent or unintelligent, or anything!"

*She raises her hands in front of her face/chest area.*
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~Besselat~

Red-headed woman<I'm allowed to use messenger services for anything my mission would need, but...well...what is it you want?>
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~Goug~

*The knight drops dead.*

The battle is won!

Seraph JP: 500
Iliad JP: 300
Zac JP: 600

Gil: 15,000

"Alright, so who gets what?"
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~Eagrose~

Guard2<We are already aware of it.>
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~Mullonde~

Librarian<Lady, what are you looking for?>

"Ah well then sorry for troubling you guys."

Iliad looked at the dead knight, let out a sigh, and looked at Zac who quickly responded to the look with, "She was trying to stab you, and 'tell us what we want to know so we can give you to the mage' is a crappy argument to start with, don't pin this on me."

Iliad continued to shake his head and looked at the mage, "Thank you for your help, Sir. I'm sure my friend and I would be more than happy to split the money down the middle with you, 7500 gil for you, and 7500 for us."

Zac furrowed his brow, not liking that the split wasn't three ways, but he kept quiet, it wasn't like the mage didn't earn the money anyway, "So, why did you help us anyway. I'm thankful that you did, I was in a tricky spot, but I'm a bit curious as to why."

--

Mortal looked enraged for a second at the thought of losing her domain, but let out a long sigh, "You're right, though I don't like the idea of leaving my home... I'm not welcome here anymore, am I?" Mortal smiled weakly, "Alright then, would you mind if I traveled around with you for a while, at least until I can find a way to keep my territory... or until I find someplace more appropriate to stay?"

--

Noct held up a letter she had written as she went looking about, "I simply wish to send out a letter to the head of House Bell in Lesalia. I need to receive some sort of official documentation to allow me access to some things I need here. He would be willing to give me that, but... Lesalia is quite a distance away, and I'm already here."

--

Sab looked at the Librarian, "Oh nothing too important, just some things on the 50 years war, specifically anything dealing with Elidibus."

~Mullonde~

Librarian<Ah, I see. The thing about Elidibus is that he's one of those people who really became famous after he died. And there's not much to say about his disappearance, seeing that they scoured the battlefield & never found any trace of him.>
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~Goug~

"7500, eh? That is surprisingly generous. I like surprises! That's why I came down this way: I was sure a fight was brewin'. Then when this one--"

*He kicks the dead knight in the head.*

"Asked whose side I was on, I flipped this coin--"

*He reaches down & grabs his coin.*

"To decide which band of thieves to attack. And let me guess...you're here because you think you have some kind of personal grievance with them?"
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~Beddha~

*Euryale takes a step back when Mortal is being all mad.*

"I'll do whatever you want!"
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~Besselat~

Redhead woman<Do you mind being a little less vague?>

Noct furrowed her brow, "If you wish, I am searching for my brother, and a close friend. They've been gone for years, and I know they came through here. I want to know who they talked to, but I wasn't able to get that information. If I can get this letter to House Bell I will receive all the documentation I need to get what I want." Noct was going to ask if she wanted her to read her the letter in full as well, but thought sarcasm wouldn't get her anywhere, at least not in this case.

--

Mortal beamed, "You will? Thank you."

--

Iliad let out a small smile, it was true, they only had luck to blame for the mage joining their fight, "I'm simply glad you decided to fight with us, and not against us. As for them, yes, I was given a lead that this group may know something about a murderer I've been chasing for years."

Zac split the gil and distributed it between himself, Seraph, and Iliad. Iliad furrowed his brow when he realized that Zac kept 5000 for himself, and gave Iliad only 2500, but he said nothing, knowing why he kept the larger share.

--

"I had noticed that the investigation report was a bit... lacking. Still, I can't imagine that the Church would allow for someone like that to just disappear, without any idea as to what happened to him."

~Besselat~

Redhead woman<See, the problem is that my mission is about the Corpse Brigade.>

*Also, Mortal & Euryale enter the town, the latter wide-eyed & sweating nervously.*
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~Goug~

*Seraph lets out a mad cackle.*

"Oh, it's funny every time...they have NOTHING to do with you! Dycedarg Beoulve has been spreading all kinds of rumors about the Corpse Brigade in this area, so he can get the petty criminals to kill each other without his having to lift a finger!"
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~Mullonde~

<How do you suggest we find him?>

Sab let out a small chuckle, "Now, I doubt anyone can. I didn't mean to touch upon the impossible, this is all just some new musing of mine. I'm sure I'll move onto another subject of interest soon. Still, you have to admit, it is a bit odd that he managed to vanish without a trace. If he died don't you think we would have found him? Maybe he is hiding in a hole somewhere."

--

Noctis nodded, "As it turns out, so does mine. I have a feeling that they met with a member of the Corpse Brigade while they were here. The thing is, I can't figure out who, and I doubt I could get in to see him if I did."

She then noticed the arrival of the two, shabbily dressed women. That poor girl looks like she is being held against her will or something...

--

Mortal walked along, slightly upset that she was in the situation she was currently in. During the walk she started to mull one thing over in her head, whoever that magic man was, she was going to kill him. When she realized she was in a town she looked up, "Where are we?"

--

Zac was overcome with rage, "That fucking bastard, Beolve... I was almost killed for nothing."

Iliad let out a sigh, "Let it go Zac, it is a dead end, just like any other."

"The other dead ends were never meant to get us killed on purpose." Zac shot back, "So, what do we do now?"

"Well, they were saying something about Gariland before, but if they have nothing to do with us I'm not sure we should check it out."

Zac turned to Seraph, "How do you know this anyway?"

~Besselat~

Redheaded woman<Then I suppose I could help you. But if this turns out to be a dead end, I might be forced to go back to Limberry.>

"It's called Fort Besselat, it's a fort that was used during the war. Nowadays the fort portion is used mainly as a prison for enemies of the royal family. But...now that we're in town, I'm not really sure what to do. Even if we could find a mage, I've never heard of a spell that could transform dragons into humans before. Are you...quite sure you weren't just hit with a spell that befuddled your mind?"
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~Mullonde~

<Well...between you & me, that's not a very popular thing to accuse him of, but I think it's what happened. Otherwise, they probably would have found his body. Unless maybe if it was thrown into the ocean, for some reason.>
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~Goug~

<Instinct! I've been watching the Order visit seedy taverns for days now. And it's widely known among the Corpse Brigade that Dycedarg has a preference for sleeper agents & circuitous plots. Now, all of a sudden, thief gangs keep getting broken up over grudges that often turn out to be mistaken identity after the fact.>

*Once all cured up, Azuma runs off and slashes the Behemoth from behind. Taiyo begins dancing the Mincing Minuet.*

"Or maybe he really did just vanish," Sab suggested, "I don't think we'll ever really find out what the truth is, even if it is staring us in the eyes."

--

Zac ran a hand through his hair, "We can't let him do something like that!"

"And what do you propose we do, march up to him and drive a blade between his ribs?" Iliad asked, "We'll just have to be smarter from now on, check our sources better."

"If you ask me, something should be done, thieves are people after all, criminal or not, it isn't right to just lump us into a pile so we can kill eachother, it is inhumane."

--

Noctis nodded, "I'll be fine with that. Anyway, thank you for agreeing to send out this letter, it means a lot to me and my family."

--

Mortal shook her head, "No, I've fought magick men before, and this was new. I've never seen a spell like it. He even seemed pleased that it worked, I'm positive it is new. I am what I said I am, I have no reason to lie to you, and I am certainly not going mad." Mortal stopped walking and looked around, "Maybe I should ask people if they've seen him, or the group of people with swords."

Sorrel begins to return to the city.

Rhea: <I'd like that.>

*She smiles and bows to Astarte before heading out, glancing at her poster.*

~Mt. Germinas~

*The Behemoth rams Mimiru, ignoring the small cut that appears on its body from Taiyo's sparkles.*
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~Goug~

"No one REALLY cares about crap like that. You didn't seem too concerned with humanity when you were literally beating her to death. Besides, it's the nature of the beast. Humans only ever join together so they can take advantage of other groups of humans."
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~Besselat~

E"Okay, okay, I believe you...do you remember what they were wearing?"

*The woman takes the letter & approaches one of the Squires tending the Chocobos.*

Redheaded woman<If you would be so kind, please deliver this letter to the listed address under the names "Noctis Talea" & "Lilith Psyche.">
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~Gariland~

*As he's walking through the town, a male Time Mage in green robes teleports in.*

<So it's true, you are living here.>
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~Bervenia Caverns~

*When she arrives at the cave, she finds one of the guys dead at the entrance with a big gaping stab wound in his chest. Bloody footprints are leading into the cave proper.*
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~Mullonde~

<Guess you need something else to read about, then.>

*Azuma slashes it in the back again. Mimiru moves back and attacks with Aurablast while Taiyo continues dancing.*

*She shrieks and kneels down next to him, checking his vitals.*

Rhea: <Almond...>

*Standing up, tears already threatening to slide down her cheeks, she very slowly steps into the cave.*

"What do you want?"

~Gariland~

<Interesting fact. Did you know your family will pay a great deal for your return? You might say enough to supply a whole army.>
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~Germinas~

*It attacks Mimiru again, putting her in critical condition.*
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~Bervenia Caverns~

*There she finds just about everyone else dead. The ones that put up a fight have their weapons & armor broken. Everything else in the cave has been stolen.*

"I'm aware. I'm always aware that whatever amount they pay they're willing to to take back twice as much so who ever would be stupid enough to take the deal at face value... well... " he says with a non-interested tone.