The Zodiac Brave Story

~Zeltennia~

<Can I see it? I might be able to tell you more about it.>
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~Lesalia~

"It really is. But I'm sure it's also nice to have someone so close to you. In age, proximity, & relation."

*The Dancer comes back out with their food.*
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~Zeklaus~

*Mortal fucking heals the dragon, but makes up with it with the slash from the Save the Queen. Now mortally wounded, it backs away, breathing ice over Mortal. A skeleton also stabs her in the side, critically wounding her. The other one shoots an orb of lightning at Euryale.*

~2,2~

"Thank you," Zac said with a smile. "And yes, it was very nice. One of my best friends lived two doors down from me for most of my life. It made it really easy to get in trouble actually," Zac said with a small chuckle.

--

Mortal uses Vengeance on the dragon.

"Mortal, you may want to back away from the skeleton as well," Sab said, causing Mortal to begin to back away from it.

Taiyo puts the lance on the counter.

Azuma: "This apart of some larger thing or can we just toss it in a river and do something else?"

~Zeltennia~

<This is the Lance of Longibunne! Many adventurers have lost their lives pursuing this spear, said to be capable of piercing solid stone. Legend holds it once slew a demon that had seized control of the mortal realm.>
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~Zeklaus~

*When the next skeleton is blasted, Euryale turns a few times, roundhouse kicking it in the sternum & causing it to fall apart. The remaining skeleton blasts Mortal, killing her, but not before she slays the dragon.*

"...Probably should have been on top of that."

*The skeleton advances on Euryale. Noctis silences it.*

~3,1,1~

-3-
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~Lesalia~

"Thanks, indeed, it looks delicious."

*The Dancer leaves with a smile, but sighs as she collects the 3 Gil tip from the next table.*

"I'm afraid I didn't have many friends growing up."

*Lilith picks up a fork, twirls some noodles, spears a piece of ham, & eats it.*

"Damn, Euryale," Noct said, "You let Mortal die. Poor girl was probably expecting your help right up until her last breath, and you let her fall."

--

"I had many friends, but few were close enough to really matter," Zac said, "I was pretty much expected to make ties, and connections for when I grew older though."

Azuma: "Longibunne? I oughta toss it in a river just for having a rediculous name."

Mimiru: "Well we found it and kept our lives. Now what?"

~Zeltennia~

<No, you shouldn't! It's a priceless artefact, which carries with it much prestige. It was last wielded by the man who killed Saint Ajora, Longibunne--hence the name. They say, in addition to its formidable strength from the forge, it is now imbued with some of the Saint's Divine Power. Of course...it is much too unwieldy & old for any human to wield.>
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~Zeklaus~

*Euryale jumps towards Mortal, giving a choked scream. Mortal revives.*

"I'm so sorry, I should have healed you. I thought the skeleton would keep attacking me."

*The skeleton continues making its way towards them.*

~2,0,0~
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~Lesalia~

"I guess my mom wasn't so interested in politics."

Mortal is a bit confused, and takes a second to hug the clearly distressed Euryale, "It is alright. I'm fine, as you can see." Mortal then uses Vengeance on the skeleton.

Noct giggles a bit to herself, causing Sab to say, "Why do you enjoy causing drama?"

"Because it takes no effort, and is fun. I mean, what harm was caused in making Euryale and Mortal hug?"

Sab shrugged, then used Hasteja on Mortale.

--

"That is understandable, I guess," Zac said, "I mean, I can relate. I obviously had no interest. I was willing to drop my life to go off on a silly adventure."

Azuma: "And we can't even sell it. We risk life and limb, fighting things that should not be for...this."

~Zeltennia~

<Well, there might be some things you can do with it. Like I said, it's supposedly imbued with Holy Power. But you'd have to talk to a powerful Mage, I don't know anything about that. You should hold on to it, is my point.>
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~Zeklaus~

*The skeleton drops. Euryale hugs Mortal back.*

"It still hurts. I should protect you from that."

*Fortunately, Euryale can't hear Noctis. Also, the Red Dragon & one of the Skeletons both revert to purple crystals.*

~3,1~
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~Lesalia~

"Ah, yes, your friend's revenge."

Mortal smiled, and said, "You need not feel so responsible for my life. We're in dangerous situations to a large degree, and accidents happen. And besides, you were there to revive me. You're always nursing me back to health, so it might seem expected, but please realize that every time you make me well, I appreciate all you do for me, and all you've done already."

Sab looks for an enemy to drop a graviga on.

--

"It seemed a smart idea at the time," Zac said, "I thought I was doing something right, something just." He let out a small sigh, and shrugged his shoulders, "It was dumb, but I did get to meet you, and get swept away into an even grander adventure."

Taiyo: "We don't know any mages."

Azuma: "Or anyone else."

Safian:<I feel kind of sad.>

*They go over to check out the corpse*

~Mandalia~

*As mentioned before, the dead body is clutching a piece of wool. The man seems to have died from a large bite mark on his neck. There are similar bite marks on his left shoulder & right forearm, puncturing his armor. The ground is all torn up from where he seems to have been running around, but there is a slight trail of armored footprints coming from the southwest.*
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~Zeltennia~

<You could always ask around the towns.>
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~Zeklaus~

"Thanks, Mortal. Let's go, then."

~2,0~
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~Lesalia~

"Well, it's been a pleasure, but who knows if this is just? We've still no idea what Delita and Ovelia are planning."

Cassandra:<Maybe a dragon did get him.>

*Safian grabs the piece of wool*

Safian:<Or a demon sheep.>

Cassandra:<With massive fangs, yeah.>

*Namond points in the direction of the foot prints*

Namond:<Let's head this way.>

*They do that*

Mortal smiles, and follows after Euryale.

--

"What could we really do about it, anyway?" Zac asked.

~Lesalia~

*They leave the battlefield behind before they can determine whether or not the skeleton is going to arrive. It is late evening, early night by the time they arrive in Lesalia. The main street is strangely deserted, even for this time.*
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"Whatever we have to. We're going to have to live with it, after all."

*She looks around.*

"Hey, I'm just noticing, this place is really empty. There's only a few really high level nobles here."
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~Mandalia~

*They are now heading in the opposite direction that their corpse came from. As they go, they occasionally spot another piece of wool stuck on one of the many jagged rocks.*

*Safian goes and grabs that one too*

Safian:<Demon sheep. Just you watch.>

Cassandra:<100 gold it's not.>

Safian:<I'll take that bet.>

*They continue*

"Perhaps there is an event going on," Zac said, "I don't remember any big parades, or events happening at this time of year though."

--

"Hm, does it seem a bit empty to anyone else?" Sab asked.

Noct nodded, "Yes, but I'm not going to question why the streets are devoid of annoying people. There is a saying about questioning gifts."

~Lesalia~

"I still don't like it. What if they've been attacked again?"
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"Mayhap...."

*She finishes eating, & downs the rest of her wine.*

"That was delicious. I should get some of this to go."

*She shakes her wine glass a little.*
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~Mandalia~

*They next arrive at a loose assortment of broken wooden boards. This area has wool strewn all over it, & bloodstains in the grass. There are faint wheel tracks heading from the direction of Eagrose, & sets of footprints running every which way. In the middle of it all is a quartet of large claw prints.*

*Safian collects some more wool while Namond and Cassandra inspect the claw marks*

Namond:<Which way should we go?>

Cassandra:<I suppose we can follow the wheel tracks.>

*They start doing that*

Azuma: "Perhaps we could. But what could possibly come from this?"

"Where do you want to check?" Noct asked, "Or should we yell until people ask us what is going on?"

--

"Delicious indeed," Zac said, leaning back, quite happy with his meal.

~Zeltennia~

<...I just told you I don't know.>
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~Lesalia~

"I don't know. You know a lot more about this city than I do."
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*When the Dancer comes back, Lilith asks her for a thing of wine to go. She then starts digging some Gil out of a bag tied to the ribbon holding her sword.*
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~Eagrose~

*They have now walked all the way to the next town to the west, Eagrose, on the coast of Ivalice. They can see the boxlike white keep in the distance. Once nice, the streets are now covered with garbage & burn marks. No one is walking around.*

"Barely," Sab said, "Whenever I ask her something about the city she always says, 'how should I know', or 'the people there are dumb, so I don't go'. I think we should find out what is going on."

Noct would have crossed her arms if she wasn't holding Roatha's carcass, "Rude."

--

"I can cover the expenses," Zac said, "No need for you to come out of pocket."