In The Name of Love

~Sal Ghidos~

*The remaining archers shoot at him again, critically wounding him. With the ninja disabled, Lilith turns her attention to Seraph, catching his attack & stabbing him in the chest. He teleports several paces back, staring at the blood on his hand & laughing.*
=====================================
~Gollund~

R"If we can train the dragon, it might be good cover for this...stealth mission of yours."

Mortal looked determined, "Yes!"

"Calm down there, tiger," Noct said.

"Sorry, I just... I know I can make them understand, but they just don't listen."

--

Zac shoots the last archer with a barrage.

~Gollund~

E"Funny, that's usually how it works with humans."

*A knight abruptly stands up & turns to them.*

<Take me with you, please!>
====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*There were four, so this one shoots him again. Amazingly, he is still on his feet. The ninja & Seraph race past Lilith, towards the bodies.*

~2,1,0~

"No," Noct said.

"Wait, who are you?" Sab asked.

--

Zac shoots the last archer, because fuck that guy.

~Gollund~

*The knight seems to trip & grab Sab's shoulders for support. In reality, he is whispering into her ear.*

<I am known as Beowulf Cadmus. Tell not a soul, save for your fellows.>

*He stands up & dusts himself up.*

<Sorry for my clumsiness. But I really must insist. You can keep all of the reward, if that is the issue.>
=====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*Critically wounded, he shoots Zac again, killing him. He then retreats back to take cover from further shots behind the roof. The ninja takes one of the crystals before Zac's Angel Ring revives him at low health.*

S"Do your best to kill them both."

*Seraph teleports away.*

~1,0~

Zac makes his way over to the body that is about to become a crystal.

--

Mortal shook her head, "I don't want any reward, I've already said as much. I just don't think we're willing to take on--"

"Well lets not get ahead of ourselves!" Sab said, completely mucking up the subtlety thing. "I mean, um..." She pulls Noct in close and whispers, "That is Beowulf. Remember what Roatha said about Bremondt? He can help up."

Noct quirked an eyebrow, "Alright, fine, come along."

"Are you sure, Noctis?" Mortal asked. Noct responded with a simple nod.

~Lesalia~

*They are now sitting at a table in the tavern, with Beowulf having pulled up a bar stool.*

R"Beowulf, huh? And why do you want to help us."

<Your white-haired friend. From the way she spoke, I could tell. I know that she is a dragon.>

R"...Bremondt hit you with some kind of mind-befuddling spell, didn't he?"

*He looks over all of them.*

<I see. Apparently, one of you wasn't informed.>
================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*The archer moves forward to shoot him again. While he's down, Vanessa takes the crystal. Sighing, Lilith makes her way over with a Phoenix Down.*

~0~

Zac shoots the fucking archer with a barrage, then turns to Lilith, "Thanks Lilith." He then makes his way over to the crystal.

--

"It is quite a tale," Mortal said, "Most wouldn't believe me, so I see no reason to tell anyone who doesn't need to know. I heard that you had problems with Bremondt as well. What did he do to you?"

~Lesalia~

<He developed that curse to use on me. He believed that Reis would not love a monster, & so would turn to him instead. But Reis leaped in front of the spell. After she was transformed, she fled from the castle. I've not seen her since.>

E"How would you even know if you had?"

<The dragon she became is very distinctive. Its scales are a deep purple.>
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~Sal Ghidos~

*Most of the bullets go flying over a dead body. The ninja apparently realizes this isn't going to turn around, because she turns & begins running into a side-street.*

Mortal imagined the sight, "And I thought I was a looker in red. Anyway, I would be glad to help you get her back." She then extended her hand to Beowulf, "It seems I owe an incredible amount to you, in a roundabout way. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been... experimented on I guess. Point is, without you I would have never met Euryale, and Noctis. I couldn't imagine a life without them."

--

Zac gets the crystal, then shoots the ninja with a leg shot.

~Gollund~

*Beowulf reluctantly returns the shake. Somehow, it doesn't look like he feels he should be thanked for that. He lightens up a little whenever he sees Euryale rest her head on Mortal's shoulder.*

R"Do you have any idea how to turn Reis back to normal?"

Beowulf<I remember the words of the spell, but I fear I may lack the necessary power to cast it.>
====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*The ninja falls to the ground, clutching her leg. She glares at them.*

"So you'll need Bremondt to help you out?" Mortal asked, "That doesn't seem like it'll turn out well, I'm sad to say."

--

Zac rushed to her, "Seraph, where is he going?"

~Gollund~

E"Hey, Mortal...do you still have that Stone with you?"
====================================
~Sal Ghidos~

<Probably to pay a late night visit to your mother. I hear she's the talk of the town.>

"What, oh, yeah," She opens a small pouch tied to her belt to show her, not really thinking it was smart to just whip it out.

--

"You! She..." Zac shrugged, "Alright, so you got me there. Lucky guess."

~Sal Ghidos~

<It wasn't really a guess. Nobles aren't exactly known for their loyalty. Or their general moral scruples of any kind, really.>
=================================
~Lesalia~

E"I'm pretty sure it has the kind of power we'd need."

<What does?>

"Agreed, for the most part," Zac said, "I mean, there are exceptions, but overall, yea, my caste has more than its fair share of assholes."

--

"A zodiac stone would have the power," Mortal said. It wasn't hard to spot Sab clutch her bag a little bit tighter.

~Gollund~

<Fortunately, I keep a baker's dozen in my socks. Do they even exist?>
===============================
~Sal Ghidos~

<Pretending to agree with me won't fool me into telling you what you want to know. We're not as stupid as you think.>

"I'm not agreeing with you because I want you to tell me things. I could just keep shooting you in the leg until you tell me what I want to know," Zac said, "I legitimately believe you, or were you blind and deaf when Ivalice was thrown into turmoil because a couple of dukes wanted more power?"

--

Mortal pointed at Beowulf, and looked at Euryale, "See? Baker's dozen."

Noct let out a small sigh, "They exist. Now, do you think you'd be able to use one to accomplish your goals?"

~Sal Ghidos~

<...If you truly agreed with me, you'd turn that gun on yourself.>
==============================
~Gollund~

*Euryale purses her lips at Mortal.*

<If I had to march through the Underworld, I would do it.>

"I believe it will work. Remember what we saw, on the roof of Riovanes?"

"I agree nobles are by and large assholes," Zac said, "Doesn't make me suicidal."

--

"Oh yea, it brought that boy back to life," Mortal said. "I guess you're right."

~Gollund~

<Shall we be going, then?>
==================================
~Sal Ghidos~

<Then don't act like you agree with me.>

"This is a very charming conversation, but have you been listening to the things Seraph says? Does he seem like the kind of man who's out to liberate the lower class?"

<That doesn't matter, he's just along for his magic. He doesn't need to have a say in what we actually do, he only has to think that he does.>

Zac was busy trying to think about killing himself would confirm that he agreed with what he agreed with. It was quite a leap.

--

"Sure, lets get going," Mortal said, "The sooner this is over and done with, the sooner I can rest easy."

~Sal Ghidos~

"Sounds to me like you've become what you hate."

<Mayhap I have. But it is out of my hands now. The revolution will commence whether you kill me or not.>

"And who leads this revolution? Who do you work for?'

<You know, I think I will tell you. It'll be refreshing, to see the look on your faces when you realize there is nothing you can do to stop it. I don't know who masterminded this plan, but I work directly under Senthose Rasheverek. He lent the soldiers to Seraph, as a favor to an ally, who has been taking the Zodiac Stones from the greedy claws of nobles, & giving them to worthier hands.>

"Seraph's hands are worthier?"

<Says a lot about your own, doesn't it?>
================================
~Gollund Mine Shaft~

Beowulf<Reis! At last, I've found you! As I live & breathe, I shall let no harm come to you!>

*The dragon roars at him. It doesn't particularly mean anything, but Mortal can tell that it is non-aggressive.*

Syneugh<What good to you, these stones? Give them to me, & your lives may yet be spared.>

"I've never met someone with such a shitty world view," Zac said with a small sigh, "I guess that is why they call it 'extremism'. So, who is this 'ally'?"

--

Noct looked at Syneugh, "He makes a convincing argument guys, I mean, what could we possibly do against him?"

"Quit being sarcastic to the demon," Sab chided.

"Fine, fine..."

~Gollund~

*The first thing Beowulf does is to draw magick into his sword & slice down in the direction of a Plague Horror, petrifying it. Syneugh then points at him, gathering magick into his finger. He retreats into the back of the cellar as the Ochus move forward, past the petrified Plague Horror. The other Plague Horrors fly towards Syneugh, but not before glaring at the dragon & Beowulf, disabling them both.*
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~Sal Ghidos~

<I just told you, I don't know.>

"You must know something about him."

<I didn't press for details.>