The Valiant

~Limberry~

"Not exactly. You see, katanas are customarily rated in efficiency in terms of how many bodies they can bisect on a single swing. I believe the record is five."
====================================
~Lesalia~

*Euryale folds her arms.*

"It's not like I care what you do. Just keep your negativity to yourself."

Sab thought about making a joke about Euryale not wanting negativity, but bringing along Noct, but kept it to herself. "I'd like to forget last night ever happened too," Sab said flatly.

--

Zac smiled, and shook his head, "That is a grotesquely effective way to measure a sword." He looked at Osafune and said, "I don't think two is anything to scoff at though, this is one hell of a blade."

~Limberry~

"It's not meant to be used for battle. Only a very low-ranked Samurai would use an Asura or an Osafune as their main weapon. Of course, not everyone can have a Masamune. As a matter of fact, the Marquis's is the only one I know to be in circulation. Of course, it isn't smart to advertise that you have a legendary, priceless weapon. It just goes to show you how powerful the 'Silver Demon of the Southern Sky' really is."
======================================
~Lesalia~

"Good. In that case, I'm ready to go whenever the rest of you are."

Noctis let out a sigh, "This is going to go great, and nothing bad will happen at all..."

Mortal nodded, "I believe we should get going."

--

Iliad was waiting outside of Talea estate for the merry band of gays-- gals.

--

"Perhaps one day you'll get one of your own," Zac said, "Then you could be the, uh, I don't know, Red Demoness or something."

*Reiter turns around, glaring at Roatha.*

Reiter: <He's offending my friend!>

Rhea: <Reiter, it's okay...>

*She smiles awkwardly to Roatha.*

Rhea: <I'm sorry for the trouble.>

Parker: <You're sorry!? It was his fault!>

*They walk up to one of the guards.*

Clyde: <We're here for the bodyguard request.>

~Lesalia~

*Roatha lets go.*

R"If you want to keep this going, be my guest. Even if you defeat Seraph, who by the way was in the 50 Years War, you'll have the Order of the Northern Sky all over you. And by that time, I'll be long gone."

S"You left out the part about being a church assassin. That's the best part!"
-------------------------------------------------------------
*Outside.*

"Hello...Illiad, wasn't it?"
=====================================
~Warjilis~

Guard1<You should know, there is a selection process. We are only allowing warriors who can fight reasonably well against us.>

Guard2<Once there, you'll be joined by a team gathered from the pool of accepted applicants. The Count is concerned that Zerro may try to implant one or more of his own bandits in the guard team.>
==========================================
~Limberry~

"I rather doubt that. The Marquis was given that nickname by his enemies, because they fear him so much. He's also called the 'Silver Noble' by his allies. I don't think I want to be the 'Red Noble.'"

Reiter: <Listen dude, we're not trying to pick a fight here. But we can't just watch him insult her either!>

Rhea: <Enough! I'm leaving!>

*Rhea walks off. Parker looks from Seraph, to Reiter, and then Roatha, and reluctantly follows her friend. Reiter groans an "ah, fine!" and follows them as well.*

Iliad nodded, then looked at Sab, "By Ajora, what happened?"

"It is a long story..." Noct and Sab said in unison.

"Uh, okay... Should we get going?"

--

"What's wrong with 'Red Noble'?" Zac asked with a chuckled, "It is leagues better than 'Scourge of the Saplings'."

~Limberry~

L"It makes me sound like some creeper who bathes in the blood of my servants, or something."
========================================
~The Walled City of Yardrow~

*A group of squires are picking up discarded weapons & cleaning the walls. They are supervised by a pair of knights, one male, one female. Euryale walks up to the guy, who turns around in surprise to hear someone talking to him.*

E"What's going on here?"

KnightM<We're cleaning up the remains of a skirmish. Duke Barrington had gotten word that the heretic Ramza Beoulve was coming to the north, and mobilized troops to stop him. But it looks as though they failed, I count not a single one of his number amongst the slain and wounded.>
=======================================
~Lesalia~

*Roatha exits after them.*

R"Wait. As it so happens, I could use some help."

*He pulls out a wanted poster of himself. It says that he's the leader of a rebel group called the Order of the Evil Eye, that he's wanted for the assassination of Baron Grimms, raids on caravans in the east, an assault on Fort Besselat, & conspiracy to overthrow the Crown.*

R"It's true that we were calling ourselves the Order of the Evil Eye, but that was just a temporary ruse to weed out an enemy. The more recent crimes are the work of an imposter."

Zac looked shocked, "Oh, is that frowned upon?"

--

"Ramza," Iliad mumbled to himself, "I feel like I've heard that name before."

"You have. You've met him in the desert once, fighting behemoths," Sab said.

"Oh right," Iliad nodded, "I remember you saying you were part of his troupe."

"Before he was branded a heretic," Sab quickly added.

~Yardrow~

*The knights look at them curiously. Before they can pursue it, Euryale waves at them, drawing their attention.*

E"Is there any way we can help?"

KnightF<We appreciate the offer, but the Duke has everything under control. He's even invited the Knights Templar to his castle to personally hand over the heretic.>
=====================================
~Limberry~

*Before Lilith can answer, a male Southern Sky Squire approaches, handing her a letter.*

<Captain Lilith Psyche? This is for you, ma'am.>

*Lilith withdraws it and reads it.*

L"Orders to march to Zeltennia and meet with the Blackram Knights? These can't be real."

<I assure you, ma'am, I am no forger.>

Noctis frowned deeper than usual, "Wait, you mean you captured Ramza alive, and have him in custody?"

--

"That sounds... improbable..." Zac said, folding his arms.

~Yardrow~

KnightM<We are not privy to those details.>
===============================
~Limberry~

<With all due respect, stranger, an order's an order.>

"Who would be?" Noct asked.

--

Zac raised his hands, and shrugged in defeat. "He has me there I guess. It is no business of mine," Zac said, "Far be it for me to intrude on your professional matters."

~Yardrow~

KnightM<Duke Barrington, I suppose.>

KnightF<But he is not likely to agree to an audience, with such important business to attend to.>
===================================
~Limberry~

L"Then I have no choice. I suppose I'll have to go to Zeltennia."

Bonus JP:

Mortal looked at Euryale and spoke quietly, "I would feel a bit bad if they just hung Ramza. Perhaps we can help."

--

"When do we leave?" Zac asked.

~Yardrow Fort City~

E"(I suppose we can make a detour over to Riovanes, and see if there's anything we can do.)"
=================================
~Limberry~

L"It says to mobilize right away. Guess it's a good thing I brought all of my gear."

Zac sheathed the katana and handed it back to Lilith, "I guess it is. Thank you for the lesson."

--

"Thank you," Mortal said, "Its just, I'd feel bad if there was something we could do to help, and we didn't."

~Yardrow~

E"Thanks for all of the information. Goodbye, and good luck on your clean-up."

*The knights nod at you and go back to what they're doing. The female mumbles something about her being nice for a peasant.*
====================================
~Mt. Germinas~

*Their marching was eventually interrupted by a pair of Blue Dragons in their path along the side of the mountain.*

L"Bah. I'd almost forgotten that monsters were a thing."

"Perhaps these are those nice dragons you were talking about last night," Zac said, "Remember, they have more to fear from us, than we do of them."

--

And so they left.

"So, seriously, why do you have a black eye?" Iliad asked again.

"Euryale hit me."

"What? Why?"

"Mortal hit me and I was trying to run away, and she intercepted me."

"Listen, if you don't want to tell me that is fine, but don't make up stories."

"Fine, I fell down the stairs at night."

"Ah, well, be more careful."

"And people wonder how domestic abuse can go unnoticed..." Noctis mumbled to herself.

~Yardrow~

*Euryale is mumbling back to Noctis.*

"I didn't 'hit her,' I opened a door, which she happened to be behind, due to her own sleezy behavior. It's no wonder no one believes her."
=====================================
~Mt. Germinas~

L"I was speaking in generalities, not specifics."

*The dragons start towards them.*

Zac chuckled, "Right, right." He leveled his gun at one of the dragons, and shot a barrage at it.

--

"Pretty sure--" Noct let out a small sigh, "It doesn't matter. Leave her be, she is just upset."

Sab looked back at Euryale, and Mortal. She looked like she was about to say something, but frowned and decided against it, deciding to continue walking.

~The Yuguewood~

Vanessa<Well, well, fancy meeting all of you here.>

*Vanessa is standing in front of a giant tree, still a ninja, though she looks like she has some better swords now.*

Vanessa<Do you pride yourself on ruining all of my missions? Is that what this is about?>
===================================
~Limberry~

*The other dragon roars & breaks out into a run, trying to flank them. Lilith slashes at it, & it bits her in the shoulder before blasting her with ice breath.*

Mortal looked up at her, "Vanessa, what are you doing here?"

"Vanessa? Wait, you're Vanessa?!" Sab furrowed her brow, "Well now I know why I never stood a chance, Mortal is only into those kinds of women..."

"What?" Iliad looked around, "What is going on here?"

"Don't worry about it, just get on guard. This lady is dangerous," Noct said.

--

Zac shoots a barrage at the same dragon, assuming it is still alive. If it is not he shoots the barrage at the other dragon, after moving so that Lilith wasn't blocking his line of sight.