The Valiant

*Events have not changed since the end of The Manipulative & the Subservient.*

*Taiyo continues dancing. Mimiru uses Purification and Azuma slashes Reiter with his Sleep Sword.*

As Mortal goes off to hug Euryale, Noctis catches sight what she thinks is Zac and Iliad and breaks into a sprint to catch them.

--

OOC: I'm assuming Sab and Iliad are the ones in Dorter, but correct me if I'm wrong.

They pay the man in the cloak no mind and try to continue out of Dorter without issue.

--

Zac just quietly tags along, listening to the conversation.

~Balias Tor~

*Euryale pushes Mortal away, but tries to do it as gently as possible.*

"Sorry for cutting you off, but we should probably follow her."

*She points at Noctis, who is running through the water. From her point of view, the group of people have disappeared behind the hills.*
=====================================
~Grogh~

*Reiter finally falls asleep, & is in critical condition once again.*
=====================================
~Zeklaus~

*They lose that guy somewhere along the way, & arrive in the desert. Ramza walks out of the Sand Rat's Cellar near the same area, & looks at them.*

Ramza<Sab?>

*He turns away again as 6 Behemoths stampede through the canyon, cornering some guy with thief-like clothes & a funny hat. He pulls out a sword.*

???<If it's dinner you're after...I'll feed you a length of iron!>

*He jumps to slash at the Behemoth's head, but it acts like it doesn't even notice. The man lets out a surprised gasp as the Behemoth roars & tosses its head, hurling him into the canyon wall.*
===============================
~Fort Besselat~

*Soon as they arrive, Lilith makes a beeline for the Chocobo Messenger. Roatha grabs her by the arm.*

R"Look, I've been thinking...they had to get those uniforms from somewhere. That means not everyone in the Southern Sky is loyal. I think we should keep this to ourselves."

L"Must you always be so paranoid? Just because some merchant is a two-Gil sell-out, it doesn't mean we're in any danger by contacting the Order itself."

*She shakes him off & continues to the stable, striking up a conversation with the messenger.*

*Rhea uses a Potion on Reiter. Parker casts Tanglevine on Mimiru, while Reiter slashes at Azuma.*

Mortal is displeased, very, very displeased as she half heartedly chases after Noctis... into water.

Noctis is still trying to get to the other side.

--

Sab looks happy, "Ramza, you're alive! The princess, and the church, I have learned much."

Iliad shoots a glance at the stampede of Behemoths, "I'd like to suggest we help, but something about 6 Behemoths makes me slightly wary."

--

Zac let out a small sigh, finding himself in agreeance with Roatha. He stood next to Roatha, and looked at Lilith, hoping nothing was going to go wrong.

*James nods and says he wants something to eat; Clyde declines.*

~Grogh~

*Mimiru is pretty roughed up, but still moving, after all of these Tanglevines. Reiter does no such thing as he is asleep.*
===================================
~Balias Tor~

*Euryale dives in & starts swimming after her.*

"Noctis! Wait! There could still be monsters running around! What are you DOING, anyway?"
====================================
~Zeklaus~

<That will have to wait. I can't stand by while he's in danger.>

*Ramza slides down the canyon to stand in front of the Behemoth. Both he & the stranger draw their weapons. Meanwhile, one of the King Behemoths catches sight of the other group & climbs up onto the canyon edge.*
========================================
~Fort Besselat~

*The messenger rides off as Lilith returns.*

L"It is done. Shall we continue?"

R"I...suppose."
========================================
~Warjilis~

Dancer<Like what, honey?>

*Azuma moves behind Reiter and slashes her in the back for max damage. Mimiru counter attacks. Taiyo's still dancing.*

Taiyo:<Are you okay, Mimi?>

Mimiru:<Yeah, just keep doing what you're doing.>

*She uses Chakra.*

"That went better than expected," Zac said, letting out a small sigh, "Lets get going."

--

"Zac, and Iliad, I saw them, at least I think I did. They just went behind some hills," Noct called out.

Mortal is doing her best not to drown as she tries to get across the river.

--

Sab uses haste, and Iliad throws a thunder bomb at it.

OOC: Sorry bout the wait.

Sorrel narrowly avoids being perforated by the Minotaur's pike and lashes out with a double sanguine sword strike.

James: <Fish. Lots of fish.>

*Parker uses another Tanglevine, and Rhea uses a Potion on Reiter, who, probably being awake after that hit, goes around Azuma and slashes at him.*

~Siedge Weald~

*It is slow, but it is not THAT slow. Before he can get the second attack off, it swings the pike upwards into his helmet.*
=================================
~Zeklaus~

*The King Behemoth shakes its head a little as it is struck by thunder. Down below, Ramza & the stranger move on to either side of the Behemoth, confusing it before they stab into its flanks. It roars in pain as its fellows charge them.*
=================================
~Balias Tor~

"Well, wait up!"

*As Noctis reaches the other side, Euryale treads water for a bit while Mortal catches up, then offers her arm.*

"I didn't realize you were a weak swimmer. Don't worry, the water isn't that deep."
=====================================
~Warjilis~

*She comes back with the time wasting nonsense fish that he ordered.*
=====================================
~The Free City of Bervenia~

*Roatha says nothing & just marches on. The group crosses through Beddha without incident, but in the city, they walk up on Seraph & Astarte standing around derpin' next to the corpse of a Lion Knight.*

Zac smiled broadly, "Seraph, you're doing well," he then noticed the dead knight, "Ah... I see you've run into a bit of trouble."

--

Mortal takes her hand, "Dragons can't swim, and I'm not a fan of water, so this is my first time swimming."

Noctis is waiting for them impatiently.

--

Iliad attacks with a slash, hoping his Zorlin Shape would put the beast to sleep. Sab uses Graviga on the other, random behemoths down in the canyon.

~Balias Tor~

*Euryale wraps an arm around her back & chest, supporting her & helping her kick.*

"Maybe I could teach you later? Almost there."
===============================
~Zeklaus~

*The Behemoth yawns, at which point Sab & Illiad both feel an urge to yawn. It then sits down, curls up its front legs, & lays its head down on them, falling asleep. Below, the King Behemoth Sab just attacked without provocation sees her, & takes a running jump up the canyon. As the other Behemoths have just caught up with Luso & Ramza, they both defend against their charges with shields, & attack that other Behemoth again, critically wounding it.*
====================================
~Bervenia~

R"You! You're that madman who was working with Gustav!"

S"...Who?"

R"You attacked Lesalia!"

S"...Was this recently?"

"Wait, what?" Zac was confused, "You attacked Lesalia?"

--

Iliad fire bombs the sleeping one, and Sab gravigas the one she pissed off.

--

Mortal just nods, and tries not to drown, or worse, drown and take Euryale down with her.

Sorrel wouldn't stand for that shit and reacts quickly with a Parry to prevent his head being skewered.

OOC: First use of reaction abilities in the rp I believe.

OOC: You'd be wrong.

OOC: Also, they do not always succeed.

~Bervenia~

S"Maybe. I attack without provocation often."

R"What were you trying to do in Lesalia?"

S"Like...personally, or as a group? Because I just agreed to blast castle guards with Black Magicks. I didn't ask questions."
================================
~Siedge Weald~

*It attacks again, with a downward swing.*
================================
~Zeklaus~

*For some reason, magick damage does not wake it up. The one Sab attacked is far too mad to give her a chance to let off a second strike, so it gores her, draining all of her MP in one go. It looks at her in confusion at the fact that she's unwounded. And it sniffs her.*
================================
~Balias Tor~

"There we go."

*They finally reach the other edge.*

It was kind of hard to fault someone like Seraph, especially considering his random, wanton violence wound up saving his life once before.

--

Sab takes a few steps to try and get some MP, without further pissing off the behemoth. Iliad continues fire bombing his target.

--

"Thanks," Mortal said.

Noctis began to run after the men she saw after seeing Mortal and Euryale make it out of the river.

OOC: And if I were an Orihime hater, this is where I'd say "FRIENDZONE'D HURR."

~Balias Tor~

"What are friends for?"

*Of course, when they climb up over the hill, they see the road to Zaland, but no one else is in sight.*
==============================
~Zeklaus~

*It charges her again, depleting her MP again. It then tilts its head & roars. The other Behemoth dies. Down below, Ramza & Luso succeed in finishing off that one Behemoth, but are now back-to-back, surrounded, & being charged at from all angles.*
==============================
~Bervenia~

L"Wait...Seraph? As in the Templarate Mage?"

S"EX-Templarate Mage. Also, I'm surprised anyone knew about that. I thought Mullonde did a decent job of erasing my existence. Minus the part where I'm still alive, of course."

R"I don't get it. If you have a grudge against the church, why did you work for them?"

S"I don't hold grudges, kid. I live in the now. You should try it some time. I hear living in the past keeps you from getting any older."

R"I will not be lectured by a common murderer!"

S"...Think it might be a little late to avoid that?"

Sorrel jumps out of the way and uses Abyssal Blade.

"I don't think he is quite common," Zac said, "Anyway, what happened here?"

--

Noctis shoots the two giant women angry looks and lets out a sigh, "I lost them... No. I don't even know if they were there at all. It could have been someone else, or perhaps I was just seeing things."

Mortal shrugged, "Don't worry, Noctis. I'm sure they will turn up eventually, you just have to be patient."

--

Sab throws her hands in the air out of frustration, and takes another step to the to gain MP. Iliad hopped down into the canyon and launched an Ice bomb at one of the behemoths surrounding Ramza and Luso.

~Zeklaus~

*The Behemoth charges Sab. This time, the ability doesn't activate, & she is critically wounded. The Behemoth narrows its eyes in what might be satisfaction. Down below, that Behemoth turns around & charges at Illiad. Being back-to-back, Ramza & Luso defend against most of the attacks, Ramza eventually crippling 2 Behemoths with an Abyssal Blade.*
=================================
~Balias Tor~

"I'm sorry if I made you lose them. I just didn't want you to run into a Minotaur or something, alone."

*She looks warily between her & Mortal, a pained expression on her face.*

[I feel like I'll be betraying one of them, no matter which I suggest....]

"We could follow them...but we might not find anything...so we could also keep going...& maybe we'll get clues about who you saw & where they were going...?"
=================================
~Bervenia~

S"I killed a knight."

R"...WHY did you kill a knight?"

S"...I don't follow."
=================================
~Siedge Weald~

*The minotaur finally collapses, its eyes rolling back into its head.*