The Zodiac Brave Story

Azuma: "Yes. Like invading spiders."

Mimiru clenches her fists and tenses up at the mention of spiders.

~Gariland~

*He asks the same, predictable question.*
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~Balias Tor~

"I'd break myself out. It just seems rude to put someone else through the effort, if I can save myself. Besides, until recently, there would have been no one to do the rescuing."
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~Limberry~

S"Who knows? Probably your mother's bedroom."
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~Sal Ghidos~

<More disturbing, but much less likely.>

Azuma: "Fair enough. Well then, we'll get out of your hair."

And the three set off on a grand adventure to the tavern. Despite the disaster that came from their last trip to one, money ain't something one often gets for nothing.

"What, am I supposed to take you seriously?" Zac asked, "I'm not going to get angry at a childish quip like that, you don't even know my mother's name."

--

"I would rescue you," Mortal said, "Should the need arise I would do everything in my power to save your life, as you've saved mine."

~Limberry~

S<Then how do you know I'm not plowing her? That's right, you don't. Checkmate.>

*Senthose teleports the pair away.*
=================================
~Balias Tor~

E"I should hope you never have to. I wouldn't want to put you through that, nor to be separated from you."

R"This is all very charming, but don't we have a holy man to murder?"
=================================
~Sal Ghidos~

Tavernmaster<Can I get you anything? Or are you looking for information?>

"That... did that make sense to you?" Zac asked Lilith, "Wait, shit, they got away, but where to?" Zac holstered his gun as he thought out loud.

--

Noctis literally jumped at the sound of Roatha's voice, forgetting he existed entirely.

Mortal is too caught up with swooning to pay him much mind, but Sab nods, "Yes, we should probably get going."

Azuma: "Information."

~Sal Ghidos~

<What about?>
================================
~Limberry~

"Slightly. We have a lot of ninja on-call, I'll see if I can dig up some information on what Senthose's latest cases might be."
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~Lionel Castle~

R"The gate stands open. I've not seen a trap so plain."

Beowulf<Nor I...Ser Aliste!>

*Aliste appears at the top of the castle.*

Aliste<Beowulf, at last! I'd near grown tired of waiting. I thought to ease your passage within, but I see my hospitality is met with scorn. No matter. I'd not intended to let you pass beyond here, anyway.>

*A pair of ninjas & a Time Mage appear at the gate, with archers appearing in the aqueducts behind the group.*

Aliste<The effects should have taken hold by now. Let us treat with steel!>

Azuma: "Anything posted? Escort services, monster slaying, children needing to be read to?"

Noct begins to dance a Forbidden Dance, Sab begins to cast Hasteja on Euryale, and Mortal dashes off for one of the time mages, double slashing at him with her ice brands.

--

"That would seem the proper course of action," Zac said as he began to turn away from the dungeon and head back upstairs.

~Lionel~

*The Time Mage begins casting a spell & runs off. Aliste teleports down to bar Mortal's path, blocking her attacks with his shield. Instead of striking back, he produces a katana, bathing his allies in green light that casts Protect & Shell on them. The blade then shatters.*

Beowulf: Lay aside your sword! I've no wish to fight you!

Aliste: Ha! Have you lost your edge in all these years of chasing after that girl?
===============================
~Sal Ghidos~

Tavernmaster<No jobs, but I hear there's treasure to be found at Nelveska.>

*Meanwhile, the ninja try to get around Mortal. One of the archers shoots Sab in the back, while another begins pulling back on his bow string. The Hasteja finally hits.*
================================
~Limberry~

*After setting the Squire who warned them to the task of gathering information from ninjas & ordering a clean-up/medical relief for the dungeons, Lilith rejoins Zac & Binah in the hallway.*

"I feel we've no need to determine our next course of action. Delita will undoubtedly order us to serve in Princess Ovelia's guard."

Azuma: "Treasure you say?"

Mimiru: "You don't even know where to find this place."

Azuma: "Near some castle. Probably crawling with untold horrors. What direction are we going in to get there?"

Safian:<Um yes, I'd like a Wizard Rod and Robe please.>

Namond:<And I'd like a Chameleon Robe and a Mythril Bow please.>

*Safian gives him the evil eye, but says nothing. I suppose Cassandra enters at this point, but says nothing*

"What makes you so sure?" Zac asked.

--

Noct is dancing, Sab either casts Hasteja on Euryale, and moves onto Mortal, or continues casting, and Mortal tries to get around Aliste, not wanting to try and kill a man Beowulf didn't want to see dead yet (gaaaaaaaaaaaaaay). If she cannot get around him, and chase the mage, she instead uses two slashes of rend weapon on him.

~Lionel~

*He blocks one with his shield, then grabs the second.*

Aliste<Good plan. One of the few things I didn't account for. But you still have to get past my defenses.>

*The ninja each slash at her. The now-hastened Euryale glances from her to Sab to Noctis. She can see that one archer is still pulling back on his bow, & now the other has joined in.*

E"I can't protect everyone...but I know someone who can!"

*Euryale raises her arms & begins whispering under her breath.*

Beowulf: Lay aside your sword! I've no wish to fight you!

Aliste: Ha! Have you lost your edge in all these years of chasing after that
girl?

*After his insult, Aliste gathers magick into his sword & swings at Beowulf. A light falls over him & the Magick users of the party can feel a vague sense of increased belief coming from him.*
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~Limberry~

"Every Province in Ivalice is now leaderless, save Zeltennia, where Delita resides, & Limberry. Why is that? Because I was put in a position to take Marquis Elmdore's place. But if I am not here, Mother can look after things for me. He chooses his pawns well."
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~Sal Ghidos~

<Aye, it is said that the hoards of the Iron Colossus, which has now been slain, lay unclaimed.>

*The tavernmaster points to a map on the wall. If Harley is too lazy to go to the OP or the FF Wiki, Nelveska Temple is to the north, past Zeltennia.*
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~Gariland~

<Anything else?>

*Cassandra steps forward*

<Add a Gold Shield, Coral Sword, and Gold Armor to that please.>

Mortal tries a rend weapon double slash again, because screw that guy and his fancy sword that Mortal can't get.

The rest do everything I previously said they were doing.

--

"True enough," Zac said.

~Lionel~

*He defends from the attacks with his shield again. By now he figures that the Time Mage is far enough away from Mortal to be safe, & Beowulf is getting close to his back, so he teleports behind him. A blue arc of mana follows Aliste's sword arc, entering the blade & flowing into him. Noctis's Dance finally activates, blinding the Time Mage, Stopping one of the ninja. A now-blinded archer fires an arrow that sails over Sab's shoulder & narrowly avoids pegging Euryale. The other one lets loose his attack, & the Manashield drains most of Sab's MP. The unaffected ninja slashes Mortal twice across the back again, but her counterattack kills him.*

Aliste: Are you truly the same knight once hailed as Lionel's finest? My
contract ends with your last breath. Stay not your hand - I shall not stay
mine.

Beowulf: Where gone is the noble Ser Aliste - the knight I once trusted with my life?

(Gaaaaaaaaaaay.)

Aliste: The man has long since passed!

~3~
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~Limberry~

*Sure enough, when the Squire comes to deliver news of the progress on Lilith's orders, a second comes baring an edict from Zeltennia. Lilith dismisses him after taking the gold-leafed envelope, & turns to the first Squire.*

"What is your report?"

<We managed to retrieve medical attention soon enough that we only lost 2 of the 7 knights stationed to guard the dungeons. As for Senthose, we hear he's been contracted by an unknown client to kill a Mortal Talea.>
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~Gariland~

<Does everyone have all of the equipment they want?>

Zac raised an eyebrow, "House Talea of Lesalia?"

--

Mortal begins making her way to the other ninja, figuring killing him now, while he can't run, would be the smartest thing to do. When she gets there she double slashes him.

Noct continues dancing, and Sab shuffles around a bit to shore up some MP.

Azuma: "That certaiy is nice to hear. Thank ya, kindly."

Whatever this Iron Collossus was

The three leave the tavern and city.

*Everyone nods, and they all pay the shopkeeper*

All:<Thank you Sir.>

~Gariland~

<Come back any time!>
==============================
~Limberry~

Squire<Yes.>

"I see...if my partner has no further questions, you are dismissed. Good job."

Squire<Thank you, Ma'am.>
==============================
~Lionel~

*He's right there, so the attacks knock him into critical. Several rocks emerge from below the ground, assembling themselves into a rock giant behind Euryale. Its eyes glow & it dissipates into green sparks, which wash over the party. The blinded archer gives up on...well, archery, & moves towards Noctis, charging a spell. The second archer shoots Sab, draining the rest of her MP. Meanwhile, Beowulf's Spellblade attacks continue to prove useless, & Aliste continues to teleport around, pulling out his MP.*

~2~
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~Zeltennia~

*They find themselves in Zeltennia, where walking through the streets, they see none other than Princess Ovelia. She is accompanied by some knight in gold armor & a white cape with a collar that's way too big.*

Azuma: "Oh man, that's awful."

Taiyo: "I think she's pretty."

Mimiru: "I think he was talking about that collar."

Azuma: "How much trouble can this get us?"

"There is no way," Zac said, "I know of no Mortal, and I am quite familiar with the House of Talea."

--

Sab furrows her brow, and shuffles around a bit more. Noct continues dancing. Mortal slices the ninja in half.

*The group head out of the shop*

Cassandra:<I saw your house....>

Safian:<I don't even want to talk about it.>

Cassandra:<Let's head to the tavern and get a job. You can take your angry out on some poor monster.>

Safian:<Right.>

*The three head to the nearest tavern*