The Valiant

~Eagrose~

*He looks at the hand & reluctantly shakes it.*

<A Holy Knight, actually.>
=================================
~Nelveska~

S"Good thinking, I could always use free help."

N"I'll go loot the key off of Gustav's corpse."

*And so Roatha leaves the room.*

L"Don't worry, we're here to help. I don't suppose you know who those men were, or what they wanted you to do?"

Man<Not really. We were just supposed to call for them if we struck anything metallic. Then one of them would finish the excavation, and we wouldn't get to see it. They said they were Corpse Brigade, but I'd heard they were all dead.>
=====================================
~Orbonne~

"Umm...Elder Simon, you said you knew Lady Ovelia...does that mean she was abducted from here?"

*Simon frowns.*

<Yes. A small number of knights wearing the Crest of the Black Lion attacked directly. While the Princess's guard was occupied, I was knocked out by another soldier who snuck in from the back. I was later told that he kidnapped the Princess. The other knights awoke soon afterwards & simply left.>

"'Awoke'? You mean they weren't killed by the guard?"

<Oh, heavens, no! Lady Agrias isn't the type to use deadly force unless it is absolutely essential.>

"Still an impressive feat" Sorrel shakes his hand. "I suppose Dycedarg has told you our orders?"

"Anything metallic?" Zac looked at Lilith, "What do you suppose they were after? I mean, seeing excavations at Goug isn't anything new, but what could they have expected to find all the way out here in Nelveska?"

--

"That doesn't sound prudent, really," Noctis said.

"Perhaps you shouldn't advocate killing in a monastery."

"Ajora ended an entire nation, so I don't think I'm out of line."

~Nelveska~

L"I don't know."

S"Who cares?"

*Roatha comes back with the key & starts unlocking the shackles.*

R"The Zodiac Stone was gone. I think it rolled into a crevasse, or something."
=======================================
~Orbonne~

*At the statement about Ajora, Simon glances towards a staircase.*

<Mind your tongue, Young Lady. Recall, there is a difference between the judgment of humans and the judgments of gods.>

"What about dragons?"

<Ah...I have honestly never been asked that before...I suppose that applies to any mortal. The point is, anyone who justifies murder through the teachings of Saint Ajora isn't a true follower of Glabados, no matter what his rank within the church. In fact, it is a common misinterpretation that Ajora destroyed the ancient Kingdom of Mullonde. In reality, the civilization's destruction was nothing more than nature collapsing on them from the weight of the sin they had just committed.>

"Wow...I'd never thought of that before. So this means that...if something bad happens to a person, then they--"

<Must have faith to guide them through the ordeal. Sometimes, evil befalls a person simply because another has done evil to them.>

"But suppose they DID do something wrong. What then?"

<A starving farmer who steals food to live will find solace in Paradise with Ajora even over the Lord who legally owns his land and pays his stipend, but does nothing more.>
=====================================
~Eagrose~

<Yes. He gave me very detailed and specific instructions.>

"I don't suppose I can be clued in on them?"

"Lets hope it stays there," Zac said, "I'd hate for anyone else to get their hands on it."

--

Noctis opened her mouth to rebuke, but simply let out a cold chuckle, folded her arms, and stayed quiet, lest she make a scene.

~Nelveska~

R"Don't get too optimistic. There's still 10 of them out there somewhere."
=================================
~Orbonne~

"I told you he could teach us a lot, Noct. Oh...that reminds me. I wondered if you knew anything about someone who can make clones of oneself?"

<You ask many strange questions. No, I can't say as I've ever heard of such a skill...why do you ask?>
======================================
~Eagrose~

<I don't see why not. The Marquis de Limberry owes Lord Dycedarg a favor. This battle is actually staged, so that the Marquis can repay his debt in secret. I am to bring this debt back to Lord Dycedarg. But, little does the Marquis know, we've staged some details of this battle without him. Minor alterations, a sword thrust here, a parry there, his assassination by a spy in his ranks, trivial details like that.>

"Because we found someone like that on our way here," Noct said.

--

"Here is hoping those stay hidden as well. I mean, they were not gifts handed out to every madman who asked for power, so we shouldn't run into too many more, if any at all."

~Orbonne~

<I see...did you observe anything else about him?>
===================================
~Nelveska~

L"I wouldn't say that. Many Noble Houses are rumored to pass down Zodiac Stones as family heirlooms. Most of them probably made it up, but there are hundreds of noble families in Ivalice. If only 1% of them are telling the truth, that's still almost half that have been unearthed."

Woman<Do you mean to say the Stones are...real?>

*Seraph smacks her in the head with the rod.*

S"Away with you, hoboes."

"Sounds like something I would have come up with."

"Yes, but how many are likely to wind up in the hands of someone like-- Oh, who am I fooling... Lets just be thankful that we can kill these things. We have two under our belts, I'm sure we can handle more."

--

"Pretty sure they wore a yellow cross symbol, only the top part was a bit like an inverted chevron," Mortal said.

~Nelveska~

L"Hey. I want to note here, Gustav wasn't a noble. It is just as likely that a house with a true Zodiac Stone is reknowned for legitimate heroism."

R"If they are inhabited by the souls of demons?"

L"There's no such thing as demons."

R"What."

L"According to the scriptures, demons cannot be killed. We killed them. Therefore, they are not demons, just unusually tough monsters. Therefore, there is no evidence of demons. So I can confidently say that they do not exist."

R"What."

S"Demons can be killed. Everything can be killed. Even gods. Especially gods. Why do you think the churches that advocate their existance so fearfully maintain that belief?"
================================
~Orbonne~

*Simon reaches for a book & flits through the pages. He holds it open in front of them.*

<Is this the symbol you saw?>

"Yes."

<Are...are you sure?>

"Yes. What's wrong?"

<This is the symbol of the Holy Ydoran Empire. It has been out of use for nearly 2 thousand years. Only a handful of scholars could recognize and reproduce it if you even asked. Moreover, why would you? What is the point? So few remember what it looked like.>
================================
~Eagrose~

<I'm sure you will admire the plan even more when we get to Fovoham. The battle is to take place on a particular area known as Fuse Plains.>

"Well, things just keep getting more, and more interesting," Noct said. "Any idea why knights of the Holy Ydoran Empire would make their first appearance in over 2 millenia by attacking a group of traveling... adventurers?"

--

Zac shrugged, "Alright, now that everyone has taken both sides on the 'we'll run into more zodiac stones' debate, can we get going?" He looked around a bit, "I don't really feel safe in this mine."

"Interesting"

~Nelveska~

R"Oh, what's the worst that could happen?"

*A heavily armored fist the size of a ham bursts through the wall behind him.*

R"Holy shit!"

*Another one breaks out & something starts digging itself out, causing the walls to shake & debris to fall from them. Lilith grabs Roatha's hand & runs the Hell out of there, passing Seraph, who's herding people onto the boat & hitting them when he feels they aren't going fast enough.*
=====================================
~Orbonne~

"I don't get it. Are you suggesting that there was a hidden group of Knights keeping the Empire alive in secret for 2 thousand years? That doesn't make any sense."
=====================================
~Fovoham Windflats~

*It was just a couple hors' walk through the snow-buried fortress of Ziekden when they came to the rolling, windy plains. Heading past the windmill hill, they came to a large, mostly flat expanse of plains, but with a range of mountains facing in the eastern direction.*

<The Marquis's forces will be heading through those peaks. Watch for his own men to shoot him. When someone does, attack & leave no survivors, save for the ones who fired upon him.>

Sorrel had bolstered the knight detachment with some of his own men but they were ordered to hang back unless something went wrong.

Sorrel nodded, "Let's hope this goes well."

*Rhea goes to smack Reiter across the head in hopes he'll snap out of his charmed state. Parker starts backing away from the enemies, looking to Mimiru & co.*

Parker: <I think we should all get out of here!>

~Grogh~

*Reiter blocks the attack & attacks Rhea, critically wounding her.*

Knight<No need for that. Just surrender your weapons & valuables, & we'll allow you to live.>
==============================
~Fovoham~

*Marquis Elmdore, a man with black-&-red armor, complete with red cape, & long, silver hair, emerges from the mountains. Behind him are no less than 4 black-clad knights & 2 archers.*

Elmdore<I trust you are the representative Dycedarg sent?>

Holy Knight<Yes. After I return the payment to Lord Dycedarg, you can return to being his enemy. No longer will you have to skirt your armies past the Northern Sky, & make excuses to Goltanna.>

*Clyde nods and turns away, exiting the crowd with James and leaving the general vicinity. They make their way back to Warjilis.*

Sorrel remained silent.

Zac hauls ass after them, "'What's the worst that could happen?'! How about a cave in?"

--

"Either that, they traveled through time, or someone is using their name."

~Orbonne~

E"Well, as long as we've narrowed it down to the probabilities."
=============================
~Nelveska~

*The thing emerges from the mine soon afterwards. It looks like a large, heavily armored knight, but with no visible skin & glowing red eyes. It also makes clunky whirring noises every time it is used. When it "speaks," it does so in a loud, grating, emotionless voice that has a faint buzz.*

<AWAITING ORDERS.>

R"Wait...it wants orders? Maybe we can get it to--"

S"Kill all humans!"

<ORDERS ACCEPTED. COMMENCING DISPOSAL MODE. TARGET: ALL HUMANS.>

R"What the Hell is wrong with you?!"

*Roatha quickly unlocks the chains binding the boat to the shore.*
======================================
~Fovoham~

Elmdore<I trust Dycedarg will not be disappointed in this offering.>

*He produces a purple gem slightly larger than his fist from his pocket. The Holy Knight grins.*

Holy Knight<Likely not.>

*As Elmdore reaches to hand the gem to the Holy Knight, both archers take aim & shoot him in the back. Though shocked, he doesn't miss a beat in withdrawing his katana with his free hand & slicing off the thumb of the Holy Knight when he reaches out to take the gem. He then stumbles backwards & slumps over. One of the knights stabs the archer beside him before running back into the mountains.*
=======================================
~Balias Swale~

*As James & Clyde are wandering through the swale to get back to Warjilis, they encounter no less than Goffard Gaffgarion, who turns around to face him.*

<Ah, so you decided to seek out my offer after all, my boy. I apologize for the abrupt change of scenery, but then again, I did inform you I couldn't stay in Lionel forever.>

Is that... no... why would he want one of those?

Sorrel blinks a few times in disbelief.

Zac looks at Seraph, then to the robot, then to Roatha, "We can't just leave that thing! What if it runs by a small town or something?!"

--

"Sarcasm? I didn't know you had it in you, Euryale," Noct sounds genuinely enthused, and proud of Euryale.

~Nelveska~

R"It's on an uninhabited island. I think things'll be find."

*A bunch of guns emerge from its stomach & fire at the boat, causing it to catch on fire. Lilith starts beating the fire out with her cloak.*

R"Plus, fuck dealing with that."

S"Aww, he's a chip off the ol' block."
==============================
~Orbonne~

*Euryale looks away. You can't tell, but her face is reddening.*
==============================
~Fovoham~

*The Stone rises into the air & shines brightly.*

Holder of the Holy Stone...

Holy Knight<What in the world?>

Holder of the Holy Stone...merge your flesh with my spirit. Bestow upon me a body, & I shall in return grant you eternal life, wisdom, & power beyond your imagination.

*Elmdore coughs up a bit of blood.*

Elmdore<Yes...let us...join forces....>

*The Stone floats over top of him & starts glowing, gathering purple spirits & energy into itself.*

I am Zalera, the Death Seraph. The netherworld holds no sway over my commandments. And, with this pact, neither will it to you.

*The energy of the stone explodes, & all of Elmdore's knights drop dead. In Elmdore's place is a 12 foot tall, haunched over, emaciated zombie-thing flying on bat wings. When it snaps its fingers--Sorrel observes that the bones of its arms are protruding--all of Elmdore's fallen rise up as transparent, floating soldiers. He looks straight at Sorrel with sunken, empty black eyes.*

Zalera, the Death Seraph<With the knowledge of the ages, I can't help but marvel at how I could be so blind. Dycedarg is not a man who can be trusted, especially not by those who pledge fealty to him. If you escape my legion of undeath, you ought remember that well...like as not, this encounter was supposed to end with more corpses than my own.>

*Zalera teleports off of the scene before anyone can retort.*