The Valiant

~Dorter~

*Euryale is looking completely lost.*
=============================
~Sal Ghidos~

L"I don't think you'll have to worry about that. You underestimate just how much most nobles actually feared the Brigade. At one point, they captured the Marquis and very nearly killed Dycedarg. If it looked like they were making a resurgence, no team of amateur thief-killers would dare to cross them."

"So, your contact," Iliad said, "I'm afraid we're a bit pressed for time. I have business back in Lesalia I'd like to get back to."

"Oh Iliad, finding God has really taken a toll on your charm..." Noct said.

"And you're as snarky as ever, Noctis," Iliad said, "Still, the point remains."

"I'm sorry, but I don't even really know how to get in touch with him other than Mullonde, and I don't think we're allowed back."

"We could go on your behalf," Sab said, "I'm pretty sure we're not considered heretics yet... We cut down most of the people who would sell us out."

Mortal frowned, "You seem too cute and frail to go around talking about cutting people down."

Sab flushed pink, "Its the truth..."

--

"Alright then."

~Dorter~

E"Technically, if there is an assassin after Mortal, it is unlikely that we are officially criminals."
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~Mt. Germinas~

L"I can almost see the fort from here. It feels weird, being in one of these."

R"Tell me about it."

L"How is it strange for you?"

R"I never liked the Brigade. I became a mercenary to show that it wasn't necessary. Now, here I am, having killed a Templar and donned the brigand's cloak. It's almost poetic."

S"...I look like shit in green."

"But didn't they say we're not allowed at Mullonde anymore, after our last visit?" Mortal asked.

--

Zac smiled, "I think it is a bit ironic as well. When I first left home, and was just a greenhorn who knew how to throw a punch, it was actually someone from the Brigade who taught me how to, well, act. How to be a thief, and stay hidden to the law, and how things like that worked. I never thought I would don a brigand's cloak though..."

~Germinas Peak~

R"Wait...did he go by the name Arelaz?"
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~Dorter~

E"Maybe, I don't really remember."

"I believe so," Zac said, "He was locked up at Fort Besselat. Did you know the man?"

--

"I'd rather be certain about that before waltzing back in," Noctis said.

~Dorter~

E"Okay, okay, I'm not saying we have to go back. As a matter of fact, I'd really rather not. To be honest, I'm more concerned with what we're doing over the night, than how you plan to remove Bremondt. I doubt very much there is anything I can do to help with that."
=================================
~Germinas Peak~

R"My full name is Roatha Arelaz."

L"So your father was in prison?"

R"Not that I know of. He didn't tell me anything at the time, but from what I've gathered since then, he was stationed at a cave near the Fort. Wiegraf had him there hoping to free political prisoners. But the Corpse Brigade was dissolved before they could attempt a raid."

"Uh, that is a good question actually... Perhaps you three should head back to Lesalia while Sab and I head off to Mullonde."

--

"Small world..." Zac said, "I thought highly of your father. He seemed a good man, on the opposite side of history."

~Germinas Peak~

R"Yeah, well...it was stupid of him to fall in with the groups he did. I told him again and again, if he kept that up, he would--"

*Lilith grins.*

L"YOU sound like HIS parent."

R"Ahh--s--shut up."
================================
~Dorter~

E"I hate to sound needy, but Lesalia is a really long way away, and I'm not sure there is anything there that can help. This man already broke into Noctis and Mortal's house, he could do it again. Assuming he doesn't simply kill us en route. It will be dark before we get there."

Zac chuckled a bit as well, "It sounds like you cared for your old man. I have not seen him in years, is he alright?"

--

"True enough," Iliad said, "I only suggested it to put their father's mind at ease."

"What do you suggest?" Mortal asked, looking at Euryale.

~Germinas Peak~

R"He is dead."

L"Yes...I had kind of gathered that, from the way Gustav spoke to you. Was it him?"

R"Not him exactly. Gustav was leading a team against the Royal Palace. My father was on that team. But one of the knights betrayed him. I believe Gustav called him Argath."

L"Why were they attacking the Royal Palace?"

R"Dad said something about averting the Lion War. But I don't think that was ever Gustav's intention."
======================================
~Dorter~

E"I don't know...all I know is that I'm really tired."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Zac said, feeling a bit guilty about bringing up the touchy subject.

--

"Then perhaps we should go to bed for the night," Mortal said.

~Dorter~

E"Yes. I would like that...very much."
===================================
~Germinas Peak~

R"Why? You didn't kill him."

"I said I was sorry to hear that he was dead," Zac said, "What does that have to do with me killing him? If I did I probably wouldn't be sorry to hear it."

--

Iliad tries to get a room for everyone.

~Germinas Peak~

R"I didn't ask for your logic."

L"Where did that asshole go?"
==============================
~Dorter~

*Just a few hours after going to bed, Euryale is awake again. She heads to the bathroom to fetch a drink of water.*

Zac shrugs, then looks around for Senthose, "I don't know, I wasn't paying attention to him."

--

She finds Mortal already there, doing the same, "Oh, Euryale. What are you doing up so late?"

--

At another part of the inn, Noct lightly knocks on Sab's door after noticing a small light coming out of the doorway.

Sab opens her door, showing that she was up, reading under candle light. "Hello, can I help you?"

Noct smiled, "I just wanted to talk. May I come in?"

~Dorter~

E"I was just having trouble sleeping. I thought I'd get a drink."
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~Germinas Peak~

L"Should we look for him?"

R"Why?"

"He is a powerful mage who revels in chaos," Zac said, "Probably not someone you want running loose in a Corpse Brigade uniform."

--

Mortal nodded, "Same for myself... Do you want to talk about it?"

--

Sab nods, "Uh, certainly." She backed away from the doorway to allow Noct in. Noct walked in and took a seat on the bed. Shutting the door behind her, Sab returned to her seat at the desk where she was reading, "So, what was it that you wanted to talk about?"

"I wanted to talk about you," Noct replied.

"Me? Why? We hardly know each oth... Well, I guess that answered that," Sab marked her page in her book and shut it, giving Noct her full attention, "Still, isn't Iliad your friend? Why not talk to him?"

"I already did... We've grown apart over the years it seems," Noctis said, actually a bit saddened that that was true.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Sab said, putting a hand on Noct's shoulder to try and comfort her. It seemed like a nice thing to do. Noct reacted to the gesture by placing her hand over Sab's, and smiling. Sab flushed slightly at the contact, but Noct removed her hand before Sab got too uncomfortable, allowing Sab to pull her hand away.

"Thank you, but I'm not here to talk about that," Noct said, smile lingering, "I wanted to get to know you. You've had the time to travel with my brother, and close friend. I've been looking for them for a while, so I can't help but be a bit envious of you. How did you wind up traveling with them?"

~Dorter~

E"We're probably worried about the same things."
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~Germinas Peak~

R"He is a grown man, it's not my job to control him. Besides, he should know that if he crosses any lines, we'll do to him what we did to Gustav and what we're now doing to the Baron."

"I figured..." Mortal looked a little down, "I guess it wouldn't be smart to bring it back up..."

--

Zac shrugged, "Sure, sure..."

--

And so Sab told Noct her story. Noct smiled slightly, "I would have never pegged you for someone so formidable. I'm impressed."

Sab smiled, "I'm not so tough really. I can only use one gravity based spell, and even then it won't kill on the first hit... I'm sure your sister and her friend are much more useful in a fight than I am."

Noct inched slightly closer, though Sab didn't seem to notice, "Don't sell yourself short. You took out Behemoths on your own, and helped to put away a Lucavi. I mean, my sister rushes into battle headlong, swords in each hand," Sab blushed a bit at the mental picture, "Not that I'm not right behind her, giving support." When Sab didn't react Noct lamented over the fact that support roles never get any love, but decided that perhaps she could make things easy on herself.

It is tedious building up your own image to woo someone else, but it is easy to just... be there for the rebound once that same person has a shitty self image. Noct was all about tearing others down rather than bringing herself up anyway. "You know, you would probably get along well with my sister."

Sab perked up, "Really, do you think so?"

"Certainly. Would you like to hear more about her?" Noct asked. Sab nodded and leaned in to listen as Noct went about making Mortal sound like the best thing since sliced bread.

~Poescas Lake~

*When they get to the lake, they find that a large, red eye has been scarwled on the ancient tomb. Seraph's hands are red.*

R"Please tell me that's paint."

S"You know, I honestly don't remember."

L"Wow. You're really getting into this image thing."

S"This is nothing. I found the burial chamber while you were all busy yappin'. Been paradin' the bones around the nearby towns, bragging about how they were the only remains of the Eye's victims."
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~Dorter~

E"Oh...I hadn't even thought of it, considering...everything that's happened...but did Noctis ever tell you what all of those strange lights we saw at Orbonne were about? I remember Ramza said something about the Zodiac Stones having an evil power before he left...do you think that is what the Knights Templar were looking for?"

-Some time later-

Noct stood up and walked over towards Sab's door, "It was nice talking with you, Sab."

Sab nodded, and smiled, "I agree. You're a lot nicer than you look--" Sab flushed, "That came out wrong, its just, you look like you could be really mean if you wanted to. It is kind of intimidating, but you were just being nice to me." She smiled, "I didn't have many friends at Mullonde, so it is nice to talk."

Noct smiled, "I'm glad I could be of service, Sab. I'm glad you consider me a friend. If you ever want to talk, I'll be here for you." With that, Noct left the room, and headed back to her own, leaving Sab to dream sweet dreams about Mortal.

--

"I don't know," Mortal said, "She didn't say anything about it, then Ramza dropped that surprise on us by reading from the tome..."

--

"See, and you two were worried," Zac said.

~Dorter~

*Euryale shudders.*

E"Don't remind me...I'm sorry, that wasn't fair. It's not your fault. You didn't write the book. So...do you think we should ask her about it?"
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~Poescas Lake~

R"Well...I guess he attracted attention to us. You have to give him that."

L"Forget about it! We need a strategy."

R"...I thought we were just going to jump out, surround him, and beat him to death?"

L"That isn't good enough. We know he'll have much better equipment this time around, he said so himself. We have to make sure we are similarly restocked. Aside from that, we need to position ourselves so the ambush goes well."

"Well, you're the one with any military training, I trust your judgement" Zac said, "So, what do you think would be best?"

--

"If you want to..." Mortal said.

--

Noct is back in her room, ready to head to bed, content that she has set Sab up to fail, and fall right into Noct's arms.

~Lake Poescas~

L"Well, Seraph is just going to go wherever he wants anyway--"

S"Damn right."

L"--And I should be near the brunt of our forces, so I can provide support. Roatha is the fastest, so I think he should be in a position to cut off escape. I think if you put yourself at the end of that bridge, you'll have a wide range of angles to shoot from without fear of retribution. Then Roatha and I can hide behind those pillars at the back of the fort."
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~Dorter~

E"Is there something else on your mind?"