The Valiant

Sorrel once more attacks the nearest undead target.

Zac shrugged, "It doesn't really matter, I guess."

--

"Excellent," Noctis said, "If you'd be so kind as to lead us there now; I'm tired from all of our travels."

~Sal Ghidos~

R"It absolutely matters! This slander is completely outrageous!"

L"I am inclined to agree. The Baron seems to know more about us now. He's only going to keep causing problems for us if left alone."

R"Are you suggesting we assassinate your old boss?"

L"No one said that."

R"Out loud."
====================================
~Orbonne~

*Simon shows them to the room. To Mortal & Noctis, the beds are well-decorated, but lumpy & smelling faintly of goats. By contrast, Euryale sits on one & remarks about how the Princess really lives in luxury.*
====================================
~Fovoham~

*Critically wounded, the knight crawlfloats away & throws a rock at him. The archer then shoots Sorrel, critically wounding him as well. One of the Northern Sky Knights administers a potion, which causes slight aid. The Holy Knight walks towards the frozen undead knight & starts hacking away at him.*

~1,1,1~

"I really don't see how 'slander' of this nature is a big issue," Zac said, "Besides, removing the Baron might make the situation worse. The Baron starts to slander our names, then goes missing. It'd be us they blame, for good reason mind you, and then we'd have the whole of the Southern Sky hating us."

--

Noct takes the less lumpy of the two remaining beds, and lays down.

Mortal sits down on at the foot of hers, "Well, today was... eventful."

~Sal Ghidos~

R"Counterpoint: He's a dick. And I'll have you know, just because my dad was in the Brigade, it doesn't give some snotty aristocrat with an image micromanagement problem the right to make stuff up about me."

L"Well, maybe you wouldn't be in this situation if he hadn't have been in the Brigade?"

*Roatha kind of massages his temples and rolls his eyes.*

R"Fuck was I supposed to do? Ground him?"
=================================
~Orbonne~

"Well, it can only get better from here."

*They hear the main door creak open.*

Simon<Other visitors? My, this is a surprise.>

Male voice<Others, you say? Would one happen to be a woman with white hair, & a scar over one of her eyes?>

Simon<...No, I think I would have recognized someone by that description.>

Male voice<Of course you haven't. Though, you should know, I have sources within the church who say she's a monster who has taken human form. If you care not for the laws of Saint Glabados, at least think of your own safety.>

Simon<From the monster you speak of?>

Male voice<That is probably what I meant.>

"The Brigade wasn't all bad," Zac said, "Shades of gray, I guess. Anyway, what exactly are we going to be doing now that we've pissed off every major organization with a militant branch in Ivalice?"

--

Mortal stood up, and grabbed the hilts of her blades. Noct stood up as well and shook her head, then put a finger to her lips, telling Mortal to be quiet.

~Sal Ghidos~

L"Sleep. Maybe take up drinking."

R"If no one else is going to do anything about Grimms, I'll take him down myself. Let them chase their Imaginary Brigade."

S"You know, assassination is something I can really get behind."
=============================
~Orbonne~

Male voice<So, is she sexy?>

Simon<Your woman isn't here.>

Male voice<Oh, good catch, good catch...except I was referring to the hair in your carpet. Or did you just dye your hair red recently?>

James: <What?! But that's cra->

*Clyde stops James from saying anything and continues staring at Gaffgarion.*

Clyde: <What brought this on all of a sudden?>

Zac doesn't even try to bring up how dumb that sounds, and simply shrugs, "Go ahead. I'm going to stay here for now, and get my fill of food."

--

Both girls looked at Euryale.

~Sal Ghidos~

L"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

R"If that is what it takes. Tracking down Gustav made me realize something. Two years ago, it was just me & him. I thought it ended there. But he came back, & not just for me. Those palace guards...the peasants in Sal Ghidos...that's when it hit me: If I had stopped him back then, none of them would have had their lives uprooted."

*He turns around & points at her.*

R"If you wake up tomorrow & say, 'You know what? It isn't my problem," then whose problem does it become? If they deny their responsibility, how far does the exploitation have to spread before someone finally does something about it? If no one stops him, eventually, he'll be right back to where he started. And then you might not be able to escape the problem."

S"...I just like killing people."

L"But that's...you can't...I'm not...ugh! Fine! But can this at least wait until morning?"
====================================
~Orbonne~

*Euryale averts her gaze from them & tries to make herself look as short as possible.*

Male voice<Well, when...IF you see them...suggest they take up permanent positions here as nuns. It's a cold, dangerous world everywhere else. Or so I am told.>

*Whoever it is makes deliberately loud steps & slams the door behind him.*
==================================
~Balias Tor~

Gaffgarion<Shall we say...that I have acquired a new lease on life?>

Zac shook his head, and went to get something to eat at the restaurant part of the inn.

--

Mortal makes for the door, but Noct grabs her arm and shakes her head. She figured Simon would alert them when the coast was clear.

Sorrel breathes heavily from being wounded but lashes out again since his sword steals health and all and its in his best interest to keep fighting cause of this.

~Sal Ghidos~

*The others follow Zac. Seraph hits him.*

<Were you raised in a barn, son? You're supposed to get an old man's chair for him!>

*Lilith leans over & whispers to Roatha.*

L"(Do you think we can wake up early & leave him behind?)"

*Seraph's next act is to grab the behind of a dancer carrying a bunch of trays & snicker when she falls & spills them everywhere.*
================================
~Orbonne~

*After a few seconds, the door closes & latches. A key is pushed under the door, into their room.*
================================
~Fovoham~

OOC: You know what? Screw it.

*An unnatural darkness falls on the battlefield & then a cloaked figure appears in the place of the undead.*

<Auracite was activated here.>

*The figure turns its hooded head in Sorrel's direction.*

<Using a Blood Sword on the Undead? You are fortunate I intervened.>

OOC: Oh... oh shit. Yeah Blood Sword still qualifies as unholy don't it? Whoops.

Sorrel is pretty much spent so he only can give an acknowledging thumbs up as a response.

Clyde: <A new... lease?>

Zac furrows his brow, and tightens his fist, "Hey! Leave the dancer alone! Go be a dick to a bard or something." He then bends down, and helps the girl with her things, "I apologize for him."

--

Noct checks the key before picking it up.

~Sal Ghidos~

<Oh, lighten up, would you? Why else would they be dressed like that, if not for the amusement of the patrons? And the only way this situation could be funnier is with a nice tragic twist, like she gets fired for wasting food, & has two kids who then starve.>

*At first the woman was glaring at him, but as he went on, she kind of raised her eyebrows.*

R"Look, let's not argue with...him. It won't get us anywhere. We'll just make sure this all gets sorted out, & try to keep anything else from going wrong."

*Seraph drops his giggling & expression of faint boredom & speaks directly at Roatha in a low, measured voice.*

S"You're wasting your time, kid. Everything will 'go wrong.' Just give it time."
==================================
~Orbonne~

*The key fits into the hole in the lock.*
==================================
~Fovoham~

???<Where is the stone?>

HK<Who are you?>

*The figure holds out his hand & the Holy Knight's chest plate shatters before he spits up blood.*

???<Where. Is. The Stone?>
======================================
~Balias Tor~

<Yes. And I plan to start my new business in Warjilis. There is an island off of the coast which is just crawling with brigands and monsters.>

"gone"

Zac just shakes his head, and lets out a sigh.

--

Noct returns to her bed after pocketing the key. Mortal does the same.

~Orbonne~

E"So...I'm just thinking, maybe I should take the bed closest to the door, just in case someone tries to come through. I can probably be ready the fastest."
=====================================
~Fovoham~

???<Gone...to where?>
=====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*The woman grits her teeth.*

<Can I...PLEASE...take your orders...?>

*Roatha jams his fist in Seraph's mouth before the latter can say something sassy.*

R"He'll be fine with nothing. I'll have a simple chocoburger with a side salad. Let's say orange juice for the drink."

L"I'm not feeling so well, I'll just pick at his salad. I would like a glass of anything that might make me forget this day ever happened, though."

*James bursts into the conversation.*

James: <Warjilis?! Why there? I live there!>

"Marquis Elmdore"

Mortal stands up, and begins walking to Euryale's bed, "Uh, sure, but what makes you think you'll react fastest?"

--

"I'll have the food he is having, and the drink she is having," Zac said.

~Orbonne~

"I don't have to get weapons."

*She fidgets uncomfortably, rubbing her feet together.*

"It's also a little-known fact that sleeping in the wilderness so often has put me a little...on edge when I'm asleep. I think I punched one of Noct's maids. So...sorry about that."
==================================
~Balias Tor~

<Warjilis is a major trade route. Once you control it, you control the passage of goods throughout most of Lionel. It is where Ludovich began his career, for that reason.>
==================================
~Fovoham~

*The figure teleports away without another word.*
==================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*Roatha shoves Seraph into a chair.*

L"So, what's your plan to defeat Baron Grimms?"

R"...Plan?"

Sorrel face plants the ground in exhaustion.