In The Name of Love

~Lesalia~

Dragoon<I was Vanessa's Second-in-Command while she was stationed at Riovanes. Though that was only because of Wiegraf. After all, I did have status & seniority. I should have taken priority.>
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~Lesalia~

Ramza<There is no time to worry about it. We must pursue the Marquis.>

L"I agree. And thank you both for shielding me from that blast."

*Lilith finishes her braid, tosses it over her shoulder, & re-sheathes her sword.*

Ramza<Think nothing of it.>

"Oh, you... Uh, how have you been?" Mortal asked.

--

"I'm just glad you're alright. Now, we should probably get going," Zac said.

~Limberry~

OOC: Shit, I forgot Celia & Lettie had a bunch of Reaver sidekicks.

*The group enters the courtyard, a plane grass field with walls around it. On a wall at the opposite end, Argath walks in.*

Argath<Ha! To think my luck so fair that we would chance to meet again!>

Ramza<Argath?! How did--I thought you for dead!>

R"Did you say, 'Argath'?"

Argath<Dead? Oh, Ramza, your mind's as common as your friends! I did not die, I was reborn! Chosen by a greater power! I did not fall before, nor shall I here. That fate belongs to you!>

*Argath raises his hand. Lights descend from the sky, creating 3 Ultima Daemons around him. In addition, an Ultima Daemon is summoned on either wall beside the group.*

Argath<Come, let us kill these maggots!>
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~Lesalia~

Dragoon<Not well, I'm afraid. You killed the guy who did the maintenance for my armor, & I've yet to find a replacement. Of course I sought out Vanessa after she was discharged from the Gryphons for incompetence, but she wouldn't hear of it.>

*She looks at Euryale.*

Dragoon<You look as though you've at last mastered the art of cleanliness. Would you like a job with the Church?>

Zac shot a barrage at an Ultima daemon.

--

"Wait, what happened to Vanessa?" Mortal asked, "Is she alright?"

~Lesalia~

Dragoon<It is as I told you, she was discharged from the Gryphon Knights after she failed to stop you from invading Riovanes Castle. I know not to where she fled after that.>

"And I don't want to be your armor polisher."

Dragoon<That is distressing. Are you certain? It pays 20 Gil a day.>
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~Limberry~

*Lilith opens up the battle by using Kiyomori. The Daemon is critically wounded. It moves back, out of his range, as the other 2 jump down & move forward. While they're doing that, Orlandeu climbs on the right wall & dispatches a Daemon with Divine Ruinition. Ramza climbs the other wall & critically wounds the other with a Shadowblade. He then turns to Argath.*

Ramza<So, your soul is bartered as well. Your grandsire would be proud.>

Argath<How dare you! You, pampered and coddled from your earliest days! What do you know of our affairs? Of being made to toil for another's pleasure, near without reward? Being tred upon even by peasant filth, struggling endlessly to rise back to your feet-what do you know of this? I'll purge this kingdom of all who once dared look down on me! There is no place in the world for the meager!>

Ramza<You'll do nothing of the sort!>

*Argath notices Roatha making his way towards him & sneers.*

Argath<Ah, yes, I remember you. I did away with the worthless chattel who sired you, did I not? Now who looks down upon whom? Do you now regret not paying my name fair due?>

R"You sound just like Gustav."

Argath<Do NOT compare me to your filthy kind!>

*Argath attacks Roatha with a Shadowblade.*

Clyde: <I doubt they'd leave you alone just because of a payment. They might even come at you again just because they know that they could.>

Mortal frowned and her mind began to wander a bit to Vanessa. When she heard the Dragoon speak again, Mortal seemed a bit upset, "She said she doesn't want to do it, so step off."

--

Zac hears that Argath had killed Roatha's father and feels a pit of anger rise in his stomach. Instantly he regretted not taking Lilith up on her offer to kill him in her room. More pressing, however, were the deamons. Zac shot a barrage at the deamon Ramza wounded.

~Limberry~

*Argath turns to Ramza.*

Argath<How do you intend to stop me? You, who cannot even defend his own sister? A son of House Beoulve, and meek as a butterfly all the same! Ha ha ha!>

Ramza<Guard your tongue!>

Argath<Worry not, I'll soon send your dear sister beyond the veil to be with you! Just as I did Delita's!>

*The Daemon died on the first shot. While he was firing more, the other Ultima Daemons used the time to get closer. Two tornadoes sprouted up, buffeting Ramza & Roatha. Ramza ignored the Daemons & used Shadowblade on Argath. Roatha double-attacked one of the Daemons, critically wounding it. It is killed when Lilith jumps down & slashes it across the neck. Orlandeu one-shots the other one bringing a sword of crystal out below it, leaving Argath alone.*
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~Lesalia~

*The Dragoon raises her arms.*

<Okay, okay, calm down.>
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~Warjilis~

<Then fix it before they get the ransom! That's what I'm paying you for, isn't it?!>

Mortal kind of wanted to continue arguing, so was a bit upset when the Dragoon dropped it so readily. With a small sigh she began walking to the door, "I guess we should get going, Euryale."

--

Zac moved a few steps back and shot a barrage at one of the advancing Daemons.

~Lesalia~

*Euryale follows, the Dragoon not far behind.*
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~Limberry~

*He is now shooting blue-black busts of daemons, because I went out of my way to specify that they're all dead. Argath uses another Shadowblade on Roatha, critically wounding him as well as healing himself. All of his wounds are reopened when Orlandeu causes an orange spike to skewer him. Lilith & Roatha are in no position to retaliate, so they retreat back to the upper wall with Zac.*

Zac gives Roatha a potion, then begins to make his way towards Argath.

--

They make their way to the tavern that Noct and Sab were at. Mortal walks up to the bar and asks, "I'm looking for a really gloomy looking girl, and a small blonde one."

~Limberry~

*Ramza, as it turns out, can teleport, & does so to get closer to Argath, at which point he uses another Shadowblade on him. Orlandeu continues running across the wall in his direction. The Daemon bust behind him crumbles into dust, yielding a blood red crystal. Lilith & Roatha stay on the wall.*
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~Lesalia~

*Euryale & the Dragoon are tagging along.*

<Maybe I can hire someone here to maintain my armor.>

"Why don't you just clean your own armor?"

--

Zac gets closer and shoots a barrage at Argath.

~Lesalia~

<Armor maintenance takes up valuable time, time that could be spent on training & rituals. Besides, it's peasant's work.>
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~Limberry~

*Ramza & Argath use Shadowblade practically simultaneously, cancelling each other out. Red spikes then pierce Argath. The attack causes him to fall forward & cough up blood.*

Argath<M-mother...help...me....>

Ramza<I'm on my way, Alma!>

"You do need to spend time training. I can't argue that after seeing you run top speed away from us in battle," Mortal replied.

--

Zac looks back at Lilith and Roatha. He wondered how Roatha felt, now that his father's killer had been dealt with.

~Lesalia~

<Weren't you looking for someone? I'd rather not waste my time on idle chatter.>
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~Limberry~

L"How are--"

R"Is your family okay?"

L"Yes. I slipped them the sleep herb as well."

R"Then it's time to get Ramza's sister back."

Zac waited for them to get off the wall.

--

Suddenly Noctab, "Hey, fancy meeting you guys... who is she?"

"Remember the dragoon we almost killed?"

Noct nodded, "The one who ran away?"

"The very same."

~Lesalia~

<It's a...pleasure to meet you.>

*She spies Sab, & turns to her.*

<You're employed by the Church. How would you like to be my armor up-keeper?>
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~Limberry Castle Undercroft~

*The group ventures deeper into the castle & enters a kind of basement cemetary; the front of the room containing 4 graves, the middle being dominated by a narrow walkway over a small aqueduct, & the back a raised platform with 2 stone coffins on it. Soon afterwards, the rest of Ramza's party rejoins the group. Elmdore is at the back of the room, crouching near the coffins.*

Ramza<Elmdore! You fight a battle already lost. Release Alma, & end this vain struggle!>

*Elmdore chuckles.*

Elmdore<How could I release what I have never held? There are none but ghosts within these walls.>

*Bones force their way out of the graves, assembling into ghost skeletons & scrambling to the tops of the tombstones. Ghost knights also appear over each tombstone.*

Elmdore<But far be it for me to turn away the one Beoulve to grace us with his presence!>

*He pulls the Gemini Stone out of his cloak, & is consumed by the now familiar demonic purple light. When it clears, he emerges as a monster of sunken, decayed flesh, inhumanly tall even when hunched over, flying on purple bat wings.*

Zalera, the Death Seraph<Here dying, join my legion of undeath! Your blood, the roses on unhallow'd graves!>

*Knight Templar Meliadoul Tengille emerges from the door behind the group.*

Meliadoul<The Marquis is made a demon?! What devilry is this?>

"No, but would you like to help me organize my new library. It pays 20 gil an hour," Sab said.

Mortal raised an eyebrow, "You have a new library?"

"Concessions were made," Sab said, "I'm willing to give Noct a shot."

"For a library?"

"What, no, not only a library. That was just a bonus..."

--

"This is his the work done by the Zodiac Stones," Zac said, "This is his own doing." With that, he shoots one of the skeleton knights with a barrage.

~Lesalia~

*The dragoon kind of glares at Sab.*

<Such work is beneath me, & you know it.>
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~Limberry~

*Meliadoul turns to Ramza.*

Meliadoul<So...when you said my brother died fighting the Lucavi, you spoke true? Does my father know about this? No...my father is made host to a demon?!>

Zalera, the Death Seraph<Truth dawns within this child's naivety. Who once was hers, now kin to naught but woe. Let not such trifles weigh upon you now. Ere long you shall know darkness deeper still!>

*Zac kills a skeleton with a Barrage. Another jumps down & tries to stab Meliadoul with its hand. She blocks with her shield, & then angrily cuts it down with a wide, silver-blue blade. Meanwhile, Zalera flies closer, casting a spell that puts Ramza & Roatha to sleep. Orlandeu dispatches the 3rd skeleton, & Lilith begins fighting the last one. As it stabs at her, she grabs its hand.*

L"Marquis Elmdore, if you're still in there, you WILL shake this foul beast's influence!"

~3, 3, 3~

Sab shrugged, "We are not in the church, so why should I care what work is beneath you?"

"Last I checked you already worked under the orders of a low blood thief, so what is the difference now?" Mortal continued.

"Sure, no one show me support on my new relationship. It's fine, not like I care..." Noct muttered.

--

Zac kills the skeleton attacking Lilith with a Barrage.

~Lesalia~

E"Oh, I'm sorry, I've just been trying to ignore all of this talk about armor polishing. Congrats, Noct."

*She offers Noctis a congratulatory hug.*

<Indignities that I was forced to suffer. I cannot fathom the reasons for which Lord Folmarv brought those criminals into the fold.>

*She points at Sab.*

<And the fact that we are not in the church should only heighten your concern. You are only afforded such luxuries because you are taken into the company of the highborn, much like the monk.>
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~Limberry~

*The bullets just pelt a headstone.*

Zalera, the Death Seraph<Have you not considered that it is your so-called friends who require elimination? True, I have used the Auracite to take the form of a beast. But I am still the ruler of Limberry, & you are still under my command. In fact, as of Argath's demise, I believe you are my new vassal.>

L"...I can handle this skeleton. The rest of you, focus on destroying that Lucavi."

Agrias<No need to tell me twice!>

Zalera, the Death Seraph<What an ungrateful, treasonous child you are!>

*Agrias slashes, calling down white spears of light to pierce the Lucavi. Orlandeu advances, hitting it with the same move. Meliadoul moves ahead, but since she can't strike Zalera, she swings her blade, creating a shell of white magic that bursts up underneath the skeleton, critically wounding it.*

~2, 2, 2~

"Don't be upset because I've made better choices in life than you have. Whether my own power, or power I share through affiliation, it matters not."

Noct hugs back, because she is a sweet heart.

--

Zac shoots a barrage at Zelara, because fuck that guy.

~Lesalia~

*The Dragoon laughs, holds up her left forearm, & points to it.*

Dragoon<This piece right here costs more than your entire outfit. You might think your Sortilege & Pantherskin Bag evens us out, but I have a whole collection. You are boarded by the church, but I have my own small mansion in Lionel. And by the way? I'm only a mid-ranking noble. You think you're more affluent than I? Don't get so big-headed.>

*She points to Noctis.*

Dragoon<And if you want to counter with her possessions, just remember, if she says the word, you're out on the street with nothing. Commoners cannot inherit the properties of the nobility, even through marriage. You want to call this a "life choice," but bleat about us being born with riches & status? How hypocritical. At least everything I have is mine.>
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~Limberry~

*Zac can't get a clear shot past the tombstones & pillars flanking the walkway. Zalera flies away from Orlandeu & Agrias & uses Nightmare, putting them both to sleep. Lilith finally cuts down the skeleton she's fighting.*

~3, 1, 1, 1~

Noctis let out a sigh, "Are we done with this? I'm pretty sure everyone within earshot just loves to hear us bragging about who is richer, but personally, I'd prefer not to get followed home by a cutpurse."

--

Zac moves to try and get a clear shot at Zelara.