The Valiant

Zac frowned, "What exactly do you plan to do with the throne anyway? Don't you people think you're all playing fast and loose with the fate of Ivalice and its people?"

--

Noct dances, Mortal tries to return back to the battle at large by going towards Euryale, Sab continues on to the crystal, Iliad throws a thunder bomb at the Geomancer.

~Yuguewood~

*Sab is full healed. A red blaze ignites over the Knight, who raises herself to a crouching position. The Dragoon lands, stabbing Noctis & critically wounding her. Seeing this, Euryale begins to dash over. While walking on a tree branch, Mortal triggers a spring-loaded pipe that spews out hypnogas, but of course, it does nothing. The Geomancer turns his attention to Illiad, casting another Tanglevine, which ensnares him to the point where it freezes his movements & actions.*

~2, 0~
=========================================
~Zeltennia~

Delita<By that point, Duke Larg & his retainers will already be dead. Then we can turn our focus to increasing standard of living in the kingdom.>
==========================================
~Dugeura Pass~

Orlandeu<That is not how honor & responsibility work, young man!>

Reiter: <I don't need a lecture on honor, he burned my friend's poster!>

Parker: <Can we just go?>

Zac raised an eyebrow, "I half expected you to be less than subtle about how little you cared. So, are you saying this a coup in favor of the people?" Zac's skepticism was at odds with his want of a good future for Ivalice and its people, "How would you go about improving their lot anyway?"

--

Iliad is tangled. Sab begins to charge a Graviga on the Knight. Mortal makes a beeline for the Geomancer, and Noct flies away then continues dancing her Last Waltz.

*Clyde sighs and nods.*

Clyde: <Maybe you should just stop and go home, kid...>

*James, almost out of breath, shakes his head and goes in for another slash at the knight.*

~Warjilis~

*The knight blocks & pushes him over with the shield.*
====================================
~Yuguewood~

*Golden sparkles suddenly emerge from Noctis. All visible enemies stop moving. Soon after, the Knight is hit by a gravity well, & dies again. Way in the back, a Summoner relinquishes a blue crystal. Euryale reaches Noctis & uses Chakra. The Dragoon is invisibly fed a potion that heals most of her wounds.*

~3,1~
======================================
~The Free City of Bervenia~

*The escort departs once the group is through the city gates. Before he goes, Roatha makes sure to ask him if he knows anyone who survived the attacks. He says that the only such thing he is aware of is a failed attack on Fort Besselat.*
=======================================
~Zeltennia~

Delita<The first step is to make certain the right person is in charge.>

*He turns to look at Ovelia.*

L"I've heard that Duke Goltanna's plan is to become Ovelia's regent. The Parliament of Nobles was originally in favor of his regency over Prince Orinus. Do you think you can get their support, to allow the Princess to rule on her own?"

Delita<I already have it. And please address her as "Princess Ovelia.">

*James, pretty much out of energy, can't do much and falls over. However, he doesn't have enough energy left to do anything else.*

Mortal, hopefully at the Geomancer now, rains metal swords down on a bitch. Sab begins to make her way over to the Summoner crystal. Noct continues dancing. Iliad, hopefully no longer tangled, begins to make his way to the dragoon to give her a good stabbin'.

--

"And what then?" Zac asked, "The 'right' people are in place, but in place to do what. As of now you are but pretty, but petty, words."

Reiter: <To Fort Besselat next?>

Rhea: <We're back home...>

Parker: <It seems like no matter what we do, we always end up going back and forth between Bervenia and Lesalia, huh?>

~Zeltennia~

Delita<What would you have me promise? And to what would I swear it upon? I recall a man who swore upon his honor as a knight that he would save the life of an innocent girl before he let loose his wrath upon the Corpse Brigade. A lofty boast to a simple favor, but do you think he kept his word? You can be as scornful as you wish, but you've no choice other than to trust me. Now, see to your orders, Captain Psyche.>

*Delita strides out of the room. Ovelia looks to the hall he just left through & frowns.*
==================================
~Yuguewood~

*He is, in fact, still tangled. The Geomancer gets taken down, but as he falls, vines attack Mortal. Sab is not even halfway to the crystal yet. Euryale takes the initiative to slip behind the Dragoon & rapid-punch her, once again critically wounding her. She jumps as someone invisible shouts right next to her.*

Vanessa<Retreat!>

~2, 0~
============================================
~Bervenia~

R"Wait, you're from here? Then why were you in Lesalia?"

S"Don't answer that. No one cares."
============================================
~Warjilis~

Guard1<So, then, if you'll just send the kid home & pass into the mansion proper, Count Minimas is waiting to address the arrivals.>

Rhea: <Reiter and I were originally from here, but... it's a long story.>

Reiter: <Fort Besselat?>

Clyde: <Alright then.>

*He brings James back to his home and then comes back to the mansion.*

~Warjilis~

*In the entrance hall is a pudgy, balding man and boy of about 10-12, both with black hair & matching purple suits with ruffled collars & sleeves. In line with him are a Dark Knight with crimson armor, a skeletal helmet over his face, & a Blood Sword; a ninja with a Rune Blade & a Coral Sword, female an archer with a Windslash Bow, a green hair Ribbon, & a Minerva Bustier; & a Monk with Guns Akimbo. As Count Minimas walks towards him, the Knight looks at him. He suddenly stops, smiling nervously. His son hides behind his back.*

Count Minimas<Umm...firstly, I want to--ahh--thank you all for joining to, umm, help protect my son from-->

Monk<What's the pay?>

Count Minimas<What? I don't know, uhh...3 thousand apiece?>

*The Monk turns to leave.*

Count Minimas<5 thousand! No, 6! Plus you can keep anything you stea--earn from those ruffians!>

*He turns back around.*

Monk<I'll take that deal.>
=========================================
~Bervenia~

R"I'm not going to just waltz up to the Fort & ask if I can talk to their leader. That would just be stupid."

*Clyde walks in.*

Clyde: <Sounds interesting.>

~Warjilis~

Archer<With all due respect, mayhap Zerro's plan was never to attack at all. Maybe he simply wanted to take some reward money from you?>

Monk<That is an outrageous accusation! What would he do with a paltry 6000 Gil anyway? He has an entire band of warriors to upkeep!>

Count Minimas<Please, please, let's not fight amongst one another! There's no guarantee that Zerro's double-agent was ever anything more than an empty boast.>

*The archer smiles.*

Archer<They do sometimes call him the Razor Wind...it's more like "Loud Wind," if you ask me.>

Noct keeps dancing, Iliad tries to start cutting through the vines with his dagger, Sab continues to the crystal, Mortal shouts, "Yes, run Vanessa, that is all you're good at you coward!"

--

Since Delita left before Zac could reply, he just stands there, arms crossed.

~Yuguewood~

Dragoon<You don't have to tell me twice.>

*She takes off. Illiad is too tangled to cut through the vines, but they are beginning to snap of their own accord.*
====================================
~Zeltennia~

L"Well, I guess we'd better move out."

Ovelia<Is there anything I can do to help you?>

Mortal gives chase to the Dragoon.

--

Zac nodded, "Alright, I suppose we should get going." He then looked at Ovelia, "No, my princess. I do not require anything."

~Yuguewood~

Dragoon<Stop following me! I'm not interested in you!>

*Sab has obtained a Crystal, which means a full heal, all equipment, or all abilities.*
============================
~Zeltennia~

L"Thank you for the offer, Your Highn--Princess Ovelia."

~In town~

L"Alright, I guess we should restock our equipment before we go."

Sab goes for abilities, because fuck Euryale, Sab is going to get Summons first.

Mortal continues chasing, "Your jokes are going to be funnier when I kill you!"

--

"Sure, do you need any katanas?" Zac asked, "I'm pretty good on gil, so I would try and help you save if I can."

~Yuguewood~

*Euryale grabs Mortal around the midsection.*

E"Mortal, no!"

Sab has learned:

=====================================
~Zeltennia~

L"I could use a few more Muramasa & maybe an Osafune or two."

*She rubs her head.*

L"I'm also thinking it's about time I got myself a helmet."

"Sure," Zac said, "But I'm not so sure about a helmet. I'd hate for something to obscure your face. Oh, how about a ribbon, I think you'd look beautiful in one."

--

Mortal kicks and struggles for a second, "Let me go, they're getting away!" She then stops and tries to sit, forgetting that Euryale is still grabbing her, "Why is everything always so hard?"

Sab fist pumps into the air after scoring her sweet loot.

~Yuguewood~

E"I don't know, but we could have gone into the next town and still not caught them. You have to remember why we came here. Besides...I don't like seeing people getting killed, & killing other people, if I can avoid it."
=================================
~Zeltennia~

L"It's not that I haven't thought about the possibility of a ribbon, but they don't offer much shielding."

"You can stop blades with your hands," Zac said, "I think you're fine when it comes to shielding. That said, a ribbon affords all manner of safety a helmet never would."

--

Mortal nodded, "You're right... I don't either. She just gets me so mad."

Noct takes the time to chuckle at Iliad being trapped in vines.

~Zeltennia~

L"It's not exactly easy to do. Besides, how often do I get hit with Status Ailments?"
====================================
~Yuguewood~

*This moment passes when the vines break. Euryale pats Mortal on the head because that sounds like something she'd do.*

The battle is won: