The Valiant

"Alright," Zac said, "What should we do in the meantime?"

--

Noct is dancing. Sab is charging. Iliad is hopefully no longer stuck, and throws an ice bomb at Elmdore. Mortal continues to chase after that assassin.

~Riovanes Roof~

*Illiad is in fact still stuck. By how long it was last time, he can guess it will be for about two more rounds. Lettie does that childish thing where she ducks behind Agrias in the opposite direction that Mortal is going. Senthose steps in front of Rapha, swinging at Elmdore, but he grabs both attacks & stabs Senthose. Ramza & Euryale catch up with him.*
=========================================
~Bervenia~

L"We should ask the locals some questions."

*She grabs the arm of some random guy.*

L"Have you heard about the recent attacks?"

<Yeah, they say it's like a Corpse Brigade splinter group. Why? You don't think I have anything to do with them, do you?>

L"Not at all. We are pursuing them, & want to know if they've tried anything in the area."

<They say a mage was in town recruiting a few weeks back.>

*Clyde continues listening to the conversation.*

Clyde: [That archer seems kind of suspicious...]

"What kind of mage? Do you know what he looked like?" Zac asked, hoping it wasn't Seraph. Then again, he couldn't imagine Seraph being able to recruit anyone.

--

Noct is dancing, Iliad is stuck, MO' FUCKIN' METEOR, Mortal continues chasin' a bitch, per usual.

Reiter: <Ah. That's pretty smart.>

Parker: <All right team, let's go before someone sees us.>

*They start climbing up the mountain road towards the cave.*

~Riovanes Roof~

*Celia is mortally wounded after some bitch drops a space rock on her head.*

Elmdore<We will finish this some other time. Celia, Lettie! We quit this rooftop at once!>

*Elmdore teleports away. Celia does not need to be told twice so she also teleports away, rubbing her head. Lettie takes a few steps back & follows suit. Senthose ducks when Euryale swings at his head, then he teleports away as well.*

E"Come back! Why won't you face death like a man?!"

*Euryale lets out a scream & punches a roof tile, shattering it. Ramza asks if Rapha is alright, but she doesn't seem to hear him. She walks towards Marach's body.*

The battle is won:

==================================
~Bervenia~

<They said, "mage," so I'm guessing he wears robes & carries some kind of stick.>

L"Thank you for your help."

*She waits until he leaves.*

L"I'm sure you're thinking what I'm thinking: It fits Seraph's behavior, but he's not really leadership material. If it is him, I don't see how he could mobilize such an effective force without working with someone else."
===================================
~Fort Besselat~

*As it turns out, the inside of the cave only slopes upward for a few feet, at about a 35-40 degree angle. The inside of it probably is big enough for 4-5 adult dragons to fit in, but not very comfortably. There are a few small tunnels dotted here & there.*

R"The downside is that, because of the slope, you can't see what's going on below from the cave. And because it's on the opposite side of the mountain from the fort, you can't spy on the fort from here. Also, the larger cavern links to several small caves pocketed throughout the mountain, and I don't know whether or not they're safe. So don't go wandering off."

*The three nod and Rhea and Reiter sit down nearby.*

Rhea: <Does anyone want some food?>

Parker: <Do you intend to wait here and see what happens, or are you planning a move?>

Mortal makes her way back to Euryale, and puts a hand on her shoulder, "Everything is going to be alright, Euryale."

Noct put a hand on Euryale's shoulder as well, then walked over to Ramza, along with Sab. Sab asks, "Are you alright, Ramza?"

"Not to be crass, but more importantly, what exactly was going on here?" Noct asked.

--

Zac nodded, "My thoughts exactly. Seraph does have a kind of charisma, but it is not the kind that would draw people to his cause, if he has a cause at all."

~Riovanes Roof~

*Euryale throws Mortal's hand off of her & whirls around, looking furious. Then, in an abrupt change of mood, she throws her arms around Mortal, taking heaving breaths.*

E"Oh, Mortal...without you...I'd be...all...alone."

*Rapha sits by her brother's body as the sun begins to emerge.*

Ramza<I am unharmed. I wish I could say the same for everyone else. I came north because my sister Alma was kidnapped by the Templarate. I met Rapha while she was running away from the Duke. But if Alma was ever here, she is gone now. And now....>

*He looks towards Rapha.*

Rapha<Look, Marach. It's sunrise. Do you remember how we used to sit up all night talking about the future? I don't think this is what either of us had in mind.>
========================================
~Bervenia~

L"If someone was behind Seraph, the logical conclusion is Roatha. But something isn't right. After we part ways, someone just happens to continue the Evil Eye. And then the only other person who knows about our involvement in the scheme just happens to be promoted to the very office of the Order that was dealing with it. And then we just happen to meet Roatha in Bervenia. And we just happen to find evidence to point to their involvement. Why is it all so conspicuous? There is no hint of secrecy, it is almost as though the whole thing is...some manner of side show."
==================================
~Fort Besselat~

R"I'm waiting for Lilith to make her move."

Mortal tensed, and was about ready to counter punch a bitch. When Euryale hugged her she let out a small breath and held her close, "Its okay, Euryale. You'll never be alone. I'm here for you."

Noct felt horrible for Rapha, "I couldn't imagine her pain, but I do fear it." She was shocked to find herself tearing up at the thought.

Sab looked at Noct, "Are you alright?"

Noct nodded and walked over to Iliad to see if he was alright.

Sab turned back to Ramza, "Is there anything I can do to help, Ramza?"

--

"You think we're being played here?" Zac asked, "I wouldn't be surprised, but why?"

~Bervenia~

L"And by whom? I think it's pretty obvious that this 'Delita' actually plans to depose Duke Goltanna. Is this a part of his master plan? Or is he, despite what he says, merely a cog in the church's grand vision? Mayhap this is some circuitous plot of Dycedarg's? And then there are the beasts within the Zodiac Stones, who have motives and powers that we can scarcely guess at."
===================================
~Riovanes Roof~

E"Thank you."

*Ramza is about to respond to Sab, but he turns in the direction of a high pitched squeal. Rapha produces the Zodiac Stone, which is shimmering slightly, from her clothes.*

Ramza<The Stone responds to her grief. Wiegraf's heart was filled with grief and it turned him into a Lucavi. Rapha!>

Rapha<So you grieve for him as well? Thank you.>

*Just then, a beam of red light emerges from the sky, illuminating Marach's body. Several points of crimson light twist down it into his chest. As the glow fades, he coughs & Rapha hugs him, shouting his name.*

Marach<Rapha...you're hurting me.>
===================================
~Warjilis~

Archer<Are we to, mayhap, move to a more secure location?>

Count Minimas<If you think that's for the best, we can move into the wine cellar.>

Archer<My arrows don't work well in cramped spaces.>

Count Minimas<Oh, there is no need to worry about that. It is actually quite spacious.>

Clyde: <Works for me. Let's just get this thing going.>

~Warjilis~

*The wine cellar is a cavernous space of about 50l;15w;15h. About every 3 feet along the width, there is a row of wine bottle racks. The racks are about 10x10 and there are four to a row, with space to move in between them. There is nothing to note at the back of the room, except that it tapers off into a dome shape. The Dark Knight shuts the door behind him & it latches. The other bodyguards are positioned around Minimas & his son.*

Count Minimas<Why did you lock the door? It can't be opened from the inside!>

Male voice<We know.>

*Three thieves, two female, one male, drop down from the racks about halfway through the room.*

Count Minimas<H-how did you get in here?!>

*The archer looks to the side of the room, noting metal grates that peek into an aqueduct below. They are each just big enough for a person with a slim build to squeeze through.*

Archer<One of these grates must be missing!>

"I take him at his word on that one. He seems too full of himself to be used in the plot of someone else; church or otherwise," Zac said.

--

Noct, Iliad, Sab and Mortal all turned when Rapha screamed. All of them tensed, not knowing what to expect.

Clyde: [This doesn't look good.]

*Clyde runs past and stands in front of Minimas and his son, preparing to draw his sword and getting into a battle stance.*

~Warjilis~

*Just then, the ninja stabs the Monk in the back with both blades. He drops to his knees.*

Ninja<I was hoping to get the big guy, but you'll do.>

*Count Minimas whirls around.*

Count Minimas<You're the spy Zerro sent!>

Ninja<Not exactly.>

*He pulls off his mask, revealing a black thief hat underneath. He has brown hair, done in a ponytail.*

Ninja<I am the Master Thief Zerro!>

*Taking advantage of the confusion, the male thief uses Steal Heart on the Archer. The Archer jumps up onto one of the book cases & fires a shot into the visor of the Dark Knight. One of the female thieves runs to Clyde's side & attacks him. The other runs to his other side, reaching for the Count's son.*
======================================
~Bervenia~

L"Ego is no armor. But that doesn't matter at the moment. I think we should get going."
======================================
~Riovanes Roof~

*Marach eventually sits up & Rapha dries her tears. She nods to Ramza.*

Ramza<I thought your spirit had already left.>

Marach<I heard a voice call out to me in that land of pure white light, though who it was, I cannot say. "Return," it said to me. "Return to the side of the valiant--return to the one whose heart beats true.">

Ramza<I thought the Auracite was not of godly fashion, but a product of hands far fouler--a gateway, of sorts, for Lucavi into our world.>

Marach<I do not know by whose hand it came to be, but I do not believe its evil inherent. Rather, I believe it is its wielder who gives its power form.>

*Clyde attempts to evade it and slashes back at the thief.*

Parker: <All right then, sounds good.>

*She takes an apple and nibbles on it.*

Zac nodded, "Alright then, my lady. Lets get going."

--

"Well, it seems the world works in mysterious ways," Noct said.

"Ajora works in mysterious ways," Iliad added.

"Whatever you say, Iliad," Noct said.

Brave & Faith=:

~Fort Besselat~

*When they enter the central office, Lilith asks about the Evil Eye.*

Mediator<You're just in time. An anonymous man recently gave us a tip on where their base might be. We were looking to create a task force to deal with them.>

L"What anonymous man? And why the urgency over one anonymous post?"

Mediator<He didn't say. All I know is that he had a thick, black beard, and wore rusted armor. As for the sense of urgency, it is a precaution. We don't want anything to go wrong when the Northern Sky storms the fort.>

L"What? Why would they do that? Unless...do you mean to tell me--?"

Mediator<Precisely. Queen Louveria has been detained.>
=====================================
~Fort Besselat~

R"Eat while you can. The selection in the marketplaces has been getting rather scarce. Courtesy of the Dukes' ridiculous vanity projects, I imagine."
=====================================
~Warjilis~

*The thief who slipped past him snatches the kid & begins to run to the back of the room. The monk takes aim with his guns, but she ducks behind a book case, forcing him to give chase. The thief evades his strike & stabs him again before following suit.*

Count Minimas<After them!>

Dark Knight<I doubt very much that any one of us could catch up with them.>

*He is shot with another arrow, which he narrowly evades.*