The Zodiac Brave Story

*Cassandra walks back to Namond and Safian, only to see a faint smile on Safian's face*

Cassandra:<What?>

Safian:<Poor Cassie. You've had a hard day of ghosts trying to seduce you.>

*Cassandra looks pretty unamused*

Namond:<Now we wait for the fisherman?>

Safian;<I think so.>

*The three head back down to where they were dropped ff*

~Brigands' Den~

*A short while later, the fisherman drifts by, a line cast into the sea. He glances in their direction.*

<Oh, you're still alive? I mean...I'm here to take you back to the mainland.>
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~Balias Tor~

*Euryale moves to hug Mortal, but when she does, she wobbles from Roatha's weight & gives up on it, looking disgruntled. Then she arrives at the edge of the water.*

"Shit."
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~Lesalia~

"Aww...wait, I'm right here. In Lesalia."

Safian:<Sorry to disappoint you.>

Cassandra:<Awesome!>

They enter the temple, Azuma still griping.

"And Lesalia is a million times better because of it," Zac said with a smile, "But I was talking about the people who live there, not those who visit."

--

Mortal put an arm out to help stabilize Euryale, thinking that she simply lost her footing, and not that she was trying to hug her.

"Is something the matter?" Noct asked, flying over the water, then back when she heard Euryale.

~Nelveska~

*As they enter the temple, a snake on the wall hisses at Taiyo, before slithering along the wall to the outside. The inside of the temple is large enough for those 6 Iron Giants to fit inside of, but not much larger. The floor is dominated by a large sink hole of loose dirt.*
===========================
~Balias Tor~

*Euryale sighs.*

"Nothing."

*She then splashes down, wading through water that goes past her waist, & quickly reaches up to her shoulders, while still trying to hold Roatha above sea level.*
================================
~Lesalia~

"We're here."

*She points to the inn.*
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~Mandalia Plain~

*The fisherman drops them back off at the edge of the plain, telling them that they'll need to go back into town to collect their reward from the job.*

*Namond waves goodbye and the group starts heading back to town*

Cassandra:<Thanks for coming Namond.>

Namond:<I'm always happy to help!>

Noct looked at her, "You know, I can help you with that. I'm not a mountain of muscle like you and Mortal, but I can fly."

--

Zac opens the door open for her.

~Balias Tor~

"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted by being called a 'mountain of muscle.'"

*So, instead, she opts to hold up Roatha.*

"Promise you won't drop him?"
==================================
~Lesalia~

"Thank you."

*She heads inside.*

Tavernmaster<What can I do for you?>
==================================
~Mandalia~

<Argh.>

*The fisherman sets off, disappearing back into the fog as the trio passes over a hill jagged with limestone rocks.*

*The three continue walking back to town*

Safian:<So, Cassie, I heard you feel in love today.>

*Cassandra nearly pushes Safian over, while Namond giggles*

"It was a compliment," Noct said, "I wouldn't insult you and Mortal to your faces like that. 'Mountain of muscle', remember?" Noct chuckled a bit, then picked up Roatha and hefted him over her shoulder, "And I won't drop him."

After a second Mortal says, "Wait... would you insult us behind our backs then?"

"Of course not," Noct said, "Sab on the other hand..."

"She's joking!"

--

"Do you have a letter for Zac Talea?" Zac asked as he closed the door and stepped inside.

Taiyo hisses back at the snake.

Azuma: "Looks like we're digging."

Mimiru: "This had better be worth it. Last time we went digging we found shoes. Not even good ones."

Azuma goes on down to the hole, the others following.

~Gariland~

*They arrive back in town without incident.*
============================
~Lesalia~

<Indeed I do.>

*He hands him the letter.*
============================
~Nelveska~

*As he moves, he disturbs the dirt, revealing a grimy golden rod protruding slightly through the center.*
=============================
~The Castled City of Zaland~

*When they reach the other side, they find the walls of the city of Zaland.*

"We might get asked some awkward questions if we try to waltz through the city gates with an unconscious person. Maybe we should just go around."

*The three head for the tavern*

"Sure," Noct said with a shrug, "Doesn't bother me any."

"I just really want it made clear that I don't insult you guys... behind closed doors or otherwise," Sab said again, having been fretting over it the entire walk.

--

Zac states the contents of the letter to Lilith, "Barring the not so subtle implication that I'm a shitty son, it seems the letter says that Mortal is an adopted daughter." Zac leaned back, a bit shocked, "Huh... I have another sister."

Azuma reaches out and grabs the rod to remove it.

~Zaland~

"I never accused you of lying."

*She begins to walk around the wall.*
==================================
~Nelveska~

*It budges about an inch, but is still firmly jammed in there.*
==================================
~Lesalia~

[Why do these names sound familiar? Oh, wait, could they be...from all that time ago? I wonder what else they went through with.]

"A sister who thinks she's a dragon."
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~Gariland~

Tavernmaster<Back already? Right, then. Here is the 30 thousand, as promised. And a bit of credit for completing the job.>

Safian: 40 JP
Namond: 50 JP
Cassandra: 30 JP

"In fact, I think quite highly of you, especially since traveling so long with you," Sab rubbed the back of her neck, "I just figured you should know that."

--

Zac quickly reread the letter, "What's this about dragons?"

All:<Thank you!>

*The three wander over to a table*

Cassandra:<What plans do you two have now?>

Safian:<I should probably check in with my Dad. So he knows I'm not dead.>

*Namond shrugs*

Azuma begins digging, the other two come to join him, Taiyo pulling as they dig.

~Zaland~

*Euryale stops to look back. Then she scratches her head, briefly puts an arm around Sab, & squeezes in a very businesslike manner before releasing her.*
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~Lesalia~

"I didn't know who you were talking about at first, but I recognize those names. I met a group of girls in a tavern in Dorter quite a while ago, near the beginning of my mission investigating the church. There was also a Euryale, but I suppose she's either left them, or not important enough to mention. Anyway, this 'Mortal' maintained that she was a dragon cursed with human form, & that Euryale revived her in the desert after she was killed by the Church Officials who cursed her. Euryale stated that she believed her story, but did not witness it, nor could she offer proof. To her credit, she could breathe fire, but I suspected there was some manner of trick behind it."
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~Nelveska~

*Taiyo can barely get the damn thing to budge.*
========================================
~Gariland~

*Whatever.*

"So, I have a crazy sister I've never met," Zac said with a chuckle. "Well, my family seems to trust her, most importantly, Noctis does, and I value her opinion. Mortal can't be that bad then." Zac then asked, "So, you know what she looks like then, Mortal?"

--

Sab's every muscle is tensed throughout the hug, expecting Euryale to snap her like a fucking twig. When she is released she cautiously asks, "Was that a hug?"

Azuma and Mimiru continue to dig while Taiyo pulls.

Taiyo: "How'd you get it to move when it was buried, but I can't when it's less buried?"

Mimiru: "Thinly veiled misogyny."

~Lesalia~

"She has white hair. I remember that was a distinctive feature of hers. Her skin was pale. She had kind of a high forehead, & a few scars around her eyes. And her figure...."

[Was much better than mine. Especially her boobs.]

"...was kind of fat."

*She spits the last line out while looking away, & rather venomously.*
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~Nelveska~

*They've now exposed that it's at least 10 inches long. It is unclear how much, or rather how little, of this is from Taiyo's pulling.*
======================================
~Zaland~

"It was. Is that strange? I guess it would be, I haven't made you feel very welcome thus far."

Azuma: "The hell is this, a lance?"