The Valiant

Astarte shook her head, still feeling embarrassed.

*Parker moves towards the thieves, casting Tanglevine on one of them.*

Clyde: <Any price is a good price; what's the default?>

"At least once," Zac said, eying Roatha, "Alright, Lilith, you bring up some very good points. So, how 'bout it, Roatha. I think by now it is only fair you start being upfront with us. We've done no less with you. Hell, we've practically become enemies of the state, and heathens in the eyes of our Gods together, a little openness would be very welcome."

--

Noct looks at the paper with mock horror, "How horrible, but Beoulve blood is hardly Lesalian pure." With that Noct pulls out a small book from her knapsack, and rummages around through a few envelopes until she finds one marked "Mullonde". She hands it to the man with all the smugness one can muster when handing someone an envelope, "That should make things clear."

Mortal, who had been quietly contemplating whether or not to try and comfort Euryale, looks over at Noctis shocked, "Wait, you actually-- I mean, of course you did... Official business and all! Ha... hah..."

Noctis let out a small sigh, "I got the letter from father before we left," She said, nonchalantly, "After Besselat a few years ago I thought it prudent to turn myself into a sort of... account manager, so I that I would actually have official business in a number of places around Ivalice."

--

Iliad snapped his fingers and looked a tad disappointed, "I'm sorry to have bothered you then," He said with a small smile, "Have a pleasant day."

~Finath River~

R"No. If you don't like it, then I guess this is where we part ways. I can handle Gustav alone."

*Lilith practically tears her hair out.*

L"Are you literally insane?!"

~Grogh Heights~

*Of course, moving towards the thieves puts her in the path of whoever was charmed, I think it was Reiter.*

~Mullonde~

???1<O-ho, you came prepared. How adorable. Ah. Good afternoon, Celebrant Bremondt.>

*As he was reading the letter, another Celebrant emerges from the doorway with a group of 6 White Mages. He is quite portly & has blue eyes & neatly combed black hair draping down either side of his head. Mortal should recognize him very, very well.*

Bremondt<You mean "Cardinal" and "goodbye." I am headed for Lionel, which I have assumed control of effective this morning.>

Mortal can feel her heart skip a beat then kick into maximum overdrive. Her vision blurs for a second before focusing in on the man, "You!"

Noct turns around after a small, startled jump, "Me?"

"You!"

"Him?"

"You!" With that Mortal bumrushes Bremondt, aiming to punch him in the face until his face no longer existed. Before she can get that far however Noctis grabbed her.

"Mortal, what are you doing?" She didn't know what else to do so she slapped her to try and snap her out of whatever craze she was in, but it only succeeded in hurting her hand.

Mortal tried to push Noctis off, but she simply held on, "That is the person who did this to me, made me like this!"

Realization dawned on Noctis then, "Oh! Oh..."

--

Zac simply chuckled to himself, "Happy hunting then."

Sorrel was still eavesdropping. Things were getting interesting.

~Mullonde~

???<What's she so upset about? Did you see her naked, or something?>

*Bremondt's eyes widen & he steps back, kind of pushing his priests in a clump in front of him.*

Bremondt<It's...it's you!>

???<Oh...I didn't think...ew.>

*Euryale takes a step forward, her expression having turned almost draconic itself.*

E"What did you do to Mortal?"

???<Ladies, ladies, I think this might be a good time to remind you that we're about ten feet away from the Office of the Templarate, & I can Teleport. So let's not do anything...stupid.>

*At the last word, he flicks Euryale in the forehead.*
================================
~Finath River~

*As Roatha sets out, Lilith starts walking in the same direction. He stops & turns around.*

R"I thought I told you to go away."

L"Hmph. This was my case before it was yours. You should count yourself lucky I don't order you to turn back. And you'll mind your own business if you want to keep it that way."

R"...If that's how you feel, then why did you even bother asking all of those questions? Are you stupid?"

L"Don't test me."

"People, people, please. Everyone calm down," Zac said, following along after Lilith, "So what if there are secrets? We can still be civil, and not insulting."

--

Noctis had literally no idea how to pacify a raging dragon lady, so she tried to redirect the anger into something useful, "Hey, Mortal, remember what you wanted to do, you should probably go do that now."

"I know exactly what I want to do!"

"No, I didn't mean years ago, I meant... Alright, let me put it this way. If you start a problem here I will be very cross with you," Noctis said, "I may let slip secrets you'd rather people not know. So calm down, and go read a book."

Mortal tinged pink, and let out a large huff, pushing Noctis off of her. She gave Bremondt a glare before turning to exit the room.

Sorrel glanced at her as she left and decided to follow, "So what's the story?"

Mortal turns around and gives the man a glare, "Do not follow me, I am in no mood for useless prattle at the moment."

~Mullonde~

*Euryale took a step to the door, but stopped at "Don't follow me."*

???1<Aww, you can't leave! I haven't had my fill of your righteous fury yet. Wanna hear some of the things I got away with?>

*As that guy is being an asshole, Bremondt & his priests slip down a side hall.*
=================================
~Trade City of Sal Ghidos~

*When they get to the town, Roatha immediately sets to purchasing a small boat.*

L"We're not that far now. Soon we'll know whether or not the trip was worth it."

"I'll follow you if I want to, especially since you seem to need to vent. I'm all ears."

"I suppose so..." Zac said, looking around.

--

Mortal grabbed him by his flamboyant little collar, and bared her teeth at him for a second, "If I want to vent, I'll talk with those that I care for, not some man I've never met with a silly feather in his hat."

"I'm a silly man with an information network and a well trained cabal of assassins and cutthroats with ties to very important people, and no that's not a threat. That's me offering to help."

"Yes, because now I am most definitely put at ease knowing you you're armed to the teeth with assassins. I can now see myself waxing poetically about my life's woes with you now," Mortal released him, and let out a long sigh, "God, I'm spending too much time with Noctis, her sarcasm is wearing off on me. Listen, you, whoever you are. I just want to be alone right now."

"I also don't refuse those who are in need of help, remember that" he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "There are many ways to get a hold of Sorrel Convolt, the Merchant Prince of Ivalice, head of the Convolt Family, the man known for wearing an armored hat-helm with a blue feather in it. If you call, he will listen. I promise you that" he placed his helm back on his head and waved Mortal good bye.

"I hear the the inns in this town and the neighboring ones have good mead. Perhaps you should order some Raven's Brandy if you're feeling down. You never know" he said basically giving her the means of getting in to contact with him.

Mortal felt as if that whole thing was rehearsed in front of a mirror at some point, but simply waved to the man, and headed for the library.

~Mullonde~

<Do you REALLY think you should be wandering around the cathedral isle now? Bremondt is a coward who throws money at a problem until it disappears. Forever. Whatever history your pockmarked handmaiden has with him, he hasn't forgotten. And he won't rest until there are no loose ends.>
====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

L"Do you have anything you need to do before we head out?"

"I think she'll be fine for the time being," Noct said, "We don't plan on staying long."

--

"Not particularly," Zac replied, "Do you?"

*James comes back through the crowd and stands behind Clyde.*

James: <When are we leaving? It's too crowded here!>

~Sal Ghidos~

L"Not really. In fact, we should probably leave as soon as possible. Baron Grimms probably came here after his defeat."
=====================================
~Mullonde~

<Suit yourself. You know, they say the wrath of Ajora is as swift as it is bloody.>

E"I've never heard that."

<I bet you haven't heard about a lot of things you probably should know.>

*He teleports out.*

E"...What do you suppose he meant by that?"

"I believe he was insulting your intelligence, as the Church is wont to do with most of its followers." Noct replied, "Pay him no mind on that front, however, though perhaps you should go find Mortal. There is safety in numbers, and Mortal is the only one of us who is unarmed at the moment."

--

Zac nodded, "Alright then, lets mosey."

~Mullonde~

E"I...suppose. But a strip of fabric is hardly a powerful weapon."
=================================
OOC: Calm down, Cloud Strife.

~Nelveska Temple~

*When they arrive on the scene, it's to find two summoners standing on the pillars beside them, 3 archers standing on the pillars atop the temple, & a knight leaning on the doorway of the temple. All are wearing red-and-white church uniforms, with green ascots. The sheer pillars are about 12 feet tall, except on the top of the temple, where they're a little shorter than a person. The temple is set into a mountain, with a natural staircase to the top formed to the right.*

Knight<Oh, it's you. You followed me all the way here? That's just creepy.>

R"Why are you in the Knights Templar, Gustav?"

Gustav<Are you sure you really want to do this? Dear old Daddy isn't here to stop me anymore. Argath isn't here, so you know. That's his name.>

R"That isn't what I asked about. Answer the question."

Gustav<The inquiry about my position? Surely you jest. Money, power...this was the whole point of the Brigade. And while that fool Wiegraf rots in the wilderness, those who followed me won the war.>

Summoner<Ser Gustav, something is off. I don't believe the others are mere mercenaries. That woman bears the crest of the Southern Sky.>

Gustav<Oh? And what do the pair of you want? Did I kill your parents too? They should start calling me the Orphanator.>

*His assembled minions give a slight chuckle.*

"My 'weapon' is a dagger, first off, and I don't use it because I can fly away, and dance to hurt people," Noctis said, "You punch things, which mean Mortal is the only one at a disadvantage when unarmed."

--

Zac let out a small sigh, "Listen, not that I'm in a rush or anything, but within the past few days I've been talked down to by more than my fair share, and I've run metal through all of them so far," He then turned to Roatha, "So tell me, are you still talking, or can we start getting to the point?"