The Valiant

Zac chuckled slightly.

--

Noctis shook her head, "It is fine, lets just continue on our way."

Mortal put a hand on Euryale's shoulder, "Is something wrong?"

--

Sab hustles away from the behemoth and tries another graviga on it. Iliad throws an ice bomb at the one charging him.

~Zeklaus~

*It just kills her. Luso, in turn, kills the critically wounded Behemoth. In lighter news, the first Behemoth that was killed crystallizes.*

Ramza<Sab!>

???<Go take care of her. I think I have these guys right where I want 'em.>

*The Dark Behemoth gores Luso, knocking him into a wall. It then starts to hop away, down the canyon. That other Behemoth keeps charging Illiad, though slower & more awkwardly.*
====================================
~Balias Tor~

"No-nothing...nothing at all! You heard the lady, let's keep moving."
====================================
~Bervenia~

R"H'okay, let's start over: What are you doing here?"

S"The war is about to start . I want to see the first carnage directly."

L"The Dukes' war? The bishop+ mentioned something about that."

S"Why, yes. They've been working on starting one since, oh, I'd say, the day they were born."

OOC: +=I think bishop is below cardinal.

OOC: Bishops are collectively known as the College of Bishops and can hold such additional titles as archbishop, cardinal, patriarch, or pope.

"And people say I'm paranoid," Zac said.

--

"Uh, yea, sure," Mortal began walking off towards Lionel.

--

Iliad Ice bombs it again.

OOC: Well, unfortunately, that guy who became Cherub never got a formal introduction. So it's hard to say much about him. But he was supposed to take over after Delacroix.

~Bervenia~

S"It has nothing to do with paranoia. War is the natural state of things. Peace is an abberation. That said, the Dukes are no saints of pure chaos. Those who wage war looking for some kind of end advantage, they are fools. When the dust settles at the end of the Lion War...Ivalice will be destroyed."

L"I've heard enough. You can indulge in your sick fantasies if you so wish. But try to realize them, & I'll personally be 'a saint of pure chaos' on you."

R"Hey...I didn't think about it until now...but did anyone notice Gaffgarion's corpse was missing when we left?"
===================================
~Zeklaus~

*Ramza climbs out of the canyon & runs towards Sab, but the King Behemoth intercepts him, so he ducks out of the way & uses a Sanguine Sword on it. The Behemoth collapses as Luso chases after the Dark Behemoth.*
===================================
~Lionel Castle~

*When the trio arrive in the town, they find it to be strangely empty. So much as a casual glance will reveal that the castle is unguarded & the gates are wide open.*

OOC: Lesalia? I thought they were at Bernveria.

Zac shook his head, "I had not noticed," he said, "He was dead though, could someone have come for him while we were preoccupied?"

--

Iliad runs up on the King Behemoth and slashes at it to try and put it to sleep.

--

"This... can't be good," Mortal said.

Noctis looked around, "Looks like we just missed a large battle, but who would dare attack the church head on?"

OOC: The fuck is that? An exotic donut?

~Bervenia~

R"Who? There was no one anywhere near the castle when we left."

S"Bah. He probably became an Undead. There's nothing special about that."

R"But, if that's true, why didn't he attack us when we tried to leave?"
================================
~Lionel Castle~

"I'm sure the church has a few brazen enemies. A better question is, who could have succeeded?"
================================
~Zeklaus~

*It turns around & roars, stabbing him with its horns. Ramza slips around it & administers a Phoenix Down to Sab. Down below, Luso finally manages to corner the Dark Behemoth & kill it.*

Sorrel caries on after retrieving his chocobo.

*Azuma turns around and attacks. Mimiru attacks Parker with Pummel while Taiyo continues dancing.*

"Well, I don't think we should stick around for too long, lest we find ourselves in some predicament we weren't even a part of," Noctis said.

--

Zac shrugged, "I try not to question good fortune," he said, "Besides, how would he know we were even there to attack? We entered when he was dead, and exited after he had already left."

--

Iliad splits half the damage with the behemoth, and throws an ice bomb at it. Sab gets up and casts Haste on herself and Ramza, "Thank you, Ramza."

~Zeklaus~

Ramza<Think nothing of it.>

*The Behemoth makes a beeline for that crystal.*
===========================
~Bervenia~

S"There is something you aren't telling me. I think I should come with you."

L"That is NOT going to happen."

S"Isn't it? HELP! HELP! POOR, DEFENSELESS OLD MAN BEING BESIEGED BY HERETICS!"

R"What are you, 12?"
==================================
~Lionel Castle~

"A wise suggestion, but where to?"
==================================
~Grogh~

*After all of the Mincing Minueting, & now this, Parker & Rhea are both critically wounded, & Reiter isn't much better off.*
==================================
~Mullonde~

*At the center of the small islan is a large church with 2 towers at front, which Sorrel arrives behind. An orator at the top of the church shouts down at Sorrel to go around to the front, if he requests an audience, or to keep going to the island town if not.*

"Gotcha!" Sorrel calls back and goes to the front. He also mentally decides now was also a good time to check and see if the church needed more supplies as well.

Iliad chases it down and slashes it again, to try and put it asleep before it can get the crystal. At the same time Sab tries to get the crystal for herself.

--

Zac, having only just now noticed, asks about the girl, "Who exactly is your companion over there?"

--

"If you're still trying to make this a religious pilgrimage, we could always make our way to Mullonde."

*As James is chowing down, Clyde gets up and looks around for the thief.*

~Zeklaus~

*It keeps hopping along, & it's clear that it will get the crystal well before Sab. Meanwhile, one of the Behemoths at the canyon end far away from it crystallizes.*
================================
~Bervenia~

"I don't remember. My guess would be a prostitute, but I'm not sure why I would have one of those, as I've been shooting blanks for 50 years."
================================
~Lionel Castle~

*Euryale frowns.*

"What do you mean by 'trying to make this a pilgrimage'?"
=================================
~Warjilis~

*The patrons all glare at him as he's pumping them, snooping around in their space, & generally being annoying.*
=================================
~Mullonde~

White Mage<State your name & business!>

"Sorrel Convolt, I came to look into the matter at Lionel Castle and see if the church could use a hand as well as personally checking up on whether it needs more supplies."

*He heads to the back of the building to keep looking.*

Noct looked at Euryale, confused, "I meant nothing at all. Wasn't this a religious pilgrimage?"

--

Zac gave the girl another look, "She doesn't look like a prostitute..."

--

Iliad throws an ice bomb at it, and Sab casts Immobilize on it.

~Lionel Castle~

"Oh...well...sort of. I--uhh--that is, we--"

*She scratches her head, looking at Mortal, then back at Noctis.*

"Yes. Yes! That's exactly what this trip is. Thanks for reminding me, Noct."
==================================
~Bervenia~

"Well, instead of dressing as dancers, sometimes they get gaudy, over-showy outfits. I think it's called peacocking."
==================================
~Zeklaus~

*The Behemoth reaches the crystal & gulps it down before letting out a roar of renewed savagery. Also, the spell misses. Seeing this new development, Luso starts to climb out of the trench behind it.*
==================================
~Warjilis~

*The tavernmaster taps him on the back of the shoulder.*

<I already warned you. You're out of here.>
===================================
~Mullonde~

<Proceed inside. A Celebrant will arrive to make further judgments on your case.>

"I supply the church with 80% of their supplies. I'm not going to be given the run around by this 'judging my case' business" Sorrel said rather flatly indicating he wasn't mad just mildly off-put that he had to actually go through this process. He assumed the white mage was new.

*Clyde sighs.*

Clyde: <Very well.>

*He starts to walk for the exit, when all of a sudden James stands up and quickly swallows the food in his mouth.*

James: <No, no, no! Fuck you!>

*He takes the fork from his plate and throws it at the guy.*

~Mullonde~

*The White Mage, on the other hand, gives him a look that says "I assume you are dumb."*

<I'm sure our Arithmeticians would be quite interested to hear that. You can tell them inside. While you're waiting for the Celebrant.>
==================================
~Warjilis~

*That's when 3 Northern Sky Knights sitting at various tables stand up.*

Knight<Do we have a problem, here?>

*Clyde once again sighs and grabs James by the collar, hauling his ass out.*

Clyde: <Not at all.>

*The two of them leave.*

James: <What the hell, man! We were so close to finding him!>

Clyde: <No. No, we really weren't.>

Noct and Mortal both give her confused looks, but decide not to press the issue.

--

"Peacocking also involves the use a token, perhaps an extremely flamboyant hat, or necklace," Zac said, "As it stands, she is just wearing a blue dress. I fear we may have gone far off topic however..."

--

Sab begins casting a graviga on the newly revitalized behemoth before running off towards the other crystal, while Iliad pelts it with another ice bomb.

~Zeklaus~

*Luso stabs it. In the ass. It turns around & rams him. Unfortunately for Sab, her spell is still charging, but she manages to get the crystal, revitalizing her.*
============================================
~Bervenia~

R"Well, since this asshole is going to make a scene unless we take him with us, I guess we're taking him with us."
============================================
~Tchigolitch Fenlands~

"It figures we'd be attacked here."

*They arrive on the edge of a bubbling swamp. A log extends part-way into the center of it, with landmasses dotting it on either side. Scraggly, choked-looking plants occasionally poke out of the water. On the other side is a pair of skeletons & a Malboro.*

"Careful. The water is poisonous. Even its vapor form is potentially deadly."

Sab casts graviga, hopefully. Iliad throws another ice bomb.

--

"I guess so," Zac said.

--

"Its should be quite alright, I don't need to touch the water at all," Noct said, as she began dancing a Polka.

Mortal, once again upset with the water, waded through it to get to another landmass quickly.