The Zodiac Brave Story

*Safian and Cassandra look excited*

Safian:<Let's go kill some peasants!>

*Cassandra gives her a look of horror*

Safian:<It was a joke.>

Azuma: "Well, we're not looking to slay a god and holy relics aren't our kind of treasure, so that would be nice."

~Gariland~

*The Lionsguard don't even seem to care. They just move out.*
=================================
~Lesalia~

*After finishing breakfast, Lilith presumably retreats into her room to get ready to go to the park.*
-----------------------------------------------------------
"So...what are we going to do about Roatha? It doesn't seem like a good idea to just leave him in the guest bedroom."
=================================
~Bervenia~

<But you'll need to choose what you want me to upgrade. And, of course, it will cost you.>

"I was thinking of leaving him at a clinic, or something," Noct said, "Somewhere that would be able to monitor, and care for him better than we can." She looked at Euryale, "No offense, I'm just saying those at a clinic would be better equipped, and have more experience with this sort of thing."

--

Zac does as well, and returns downstairs to wait for Lilith.

*They follow*

~Mandalia Plain~

*The convoy travels wordlessly through the plains.*
==============================
~Lesalia~

"No, I agree. I've tried everything I know, I just can't heal him."
-------------------------------------------------------
*Lilith comes back downstairs in the same getup that she wore last night.*

*They continue to travel across the plain, Safian yawning as she walks*

Zac smiled, "Hey there. Ready to go, beautiful?"

--

"Good, then I'll try to set it up today," Noct said.

Azuma: "Her lance."

Azuma jerks a thumb at Taiyo who looks a little startled.

Azuma: "Said you're getting a new lance out of this."

Taiyo: "Err...right."

~Lesalia~

*Lilith blushes.*

L"Y-yes."
--------------------------------------------------
E"All right. Thank you, Noctis."
============================
~Eagrose~

*They arrive at the city, & make their base on a hill overlooking the sea of tents.*

<It looks as though their forces have already been damaged slightly.>

*He looks around.*

<We have enough forces assembled to make 2 teams of 4. One will strike from the rear, the other shall storm the gates directly.>
======================================
~Bervenia~

<Now, here is my condition: I want an escort to Lesalia, after the ceremony is over. After we arrive at the city, I will cast the spell for you.>

Safian:<We blew up some of their guys yesterday.>

Cassandra:<Alright. Which team should we go with?>

Azuma: "All right."

Almost thought it'd cost money.

~Eagrose~

<You and the new recruits can take the front.>
================================
~Bervenia~

*A skinny, frail old man approaches the crest of the hill. Everyone falls silent.*

<We will now begin the ceremony! If any among you feel they have the means to lead the Church in these dark times, form a line to take the throne. You will each be given a short amount of time to plead your case. Afterwards, the Cardinals will judge you on faith, intellect, courage, and other qualities necessary to preach Ajora's divine will. At the end of this day, a new High Confessor shall be voted into the Holy Office.>

So we get killed.

*Safian shrugs in acknowledgment*

Cassandra:<Right.>

The three stand back having no business with the ceremony.

Noct nods, "Don't mention it."

--

Zac holds the door open for her, and follows her out. "Its over this way," He said pointing in the direction of the park, and taking a few steps there.

~Lesalia~

*Before long, the air is filled with harp music, & singing.*
----------------------------------------------
"While you are arranging that, I believe I shall have a word with Mortal."
==========================
~Eagrose~

*The other knights set off around the hill. One of the ones left behind with them sighs.*

Knight1<All right, the enemy camp has a monk, an archer, and 3 knights protecting it. We'll do a classic pincer attack. While the tag-alongs attack from the front to draw them out, you & I will sneak around from behind, setting fire to their encampment, & destroying their weapon stores.>

Knight2<Should we not plunder them for ourselves?>

Knight1<Be ye daft? Look at them. All long bows and iron swords. We practice with stronger armaments.>
========================
~Bervenia~

*Not many take up the challenge. The ones who do say mostly the same things. Punishing heretics, increasing collection, and checking the influence of the Royals. With a few exceptions. A woman with dark robes, a blue cape, & long, blond hair identifies herself as Valmafra takes the seat.*

<I am Valmafra Lenanda, a sorceress. In addition to making good on all of the other promises you've heard today, I also bring you this.>

*She holds up a large, goldish gem.*

<This is the Libra Stone of the Orlandeu family. I have recovered it because of its importance to our faith, but also because it has great mystical powers.>

*The gem unleashes a pulse of lightning. Nothing happens, but most of the assembled mages, including Aroma, seem to take a step back in reverence. Aroma's mouth hangs slightly open, & she seems out of breath. Afterwards, Valmafra gets up.*

OOC: Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

"There was a guy here who played the harp well once, but I don't see him anywhere," Zac said.

--

"Okay," Noct walked out the room.

Sab stood, and said, "I'll join her. Farewell."

Noctab get out of the house and begin to head to a clinic that Noctis knows is close by.

--

Mortal looks at Euryale, "You wanted to talk?"

Azuma: "What the hell was that?"

Mimiru: "Sure spooked the others."

Azuma: "Didn't that guy at the temple have a similar stone? This probably isn't a good sign."

~Bervenia~

*Several cardinals loudly shush them. The next person to take the throne is a young Black Mage with slicked-back, black hair, & a faint goatee. He pulls out a blue gem.*

<I've also got me one o' them Stones. But I can make it do things!>
==============================
~Lesalia~

White Mage<Yes, what is it you need?>
------------------------------------------------------
"Huh? I don't follow. There are a lot of guys playing harps here."
------------------------------------------------------
"Yes. Mortal, where do you see us in 5 years? What are we like? How have we changed, and how are we the same?"

Azuma: "Where do we get our rock of hokus pokus?"

"I know, there was a specific one," Zac said.

--

“I don’t know,” Mortal said, “I mean, I tried thinking about it, but I’m having trouble seeing passed the present. In five years the only thing I’m sure of is that I want to be with you. Whether that is traveling, or settling I can’t say. I have one fantasy of us with a home of our own, away from all the noise of the city, but I don’t know if you’d like that, or how we’d even sustain a lifestyle like that, from a practical stand point.”

--

“A friend of mine has been passed out for a few days now,” Noctis said, “We thought it might be exhaustion, but a monk friend of ours has had no success in trying to awake him. I thought it best to bring him here, to more experienced healers.”

~Lesalia~

"Umm...okay...."
------------------------------------------------
"I was thinking of something similar earlier. The only job I could get that might pay well at all is as a fighter-for-hire."
------------------------------------------------
<Well, monks know some...basic first aid, but they can't restore people from powerful curses.>

*She has a tone like "that's so cute."*

<In any case, if you bring him into the back room, we'll see what we can do.>
============================
~Bervenia~

<Who keeps disrupting the Holy Ceremony!?>

Aroma<I think it was just an echo. Let's continue. (Be quiet! Are you trying to be named heretics?)>

*Meanwhile, a beam of light from the Stone streaks into the air. Then a brighter beam of light comes down from the sky. When it fades, one of the Constructs is standing on the hill.*

Black Mage<As you can see, Holy Saint Ajora has blessed me with the power to defend the church like no other.>

Zac shrugged, “Oh well.”

--

“Same for me,” Mortal said, “And, now that I think about it, fighting is really something I don’t want to do anymore. Ending lives… I’ve done it for so long, I’m starting to feel slightly wicked. I just want to relax I guess. And not have to worry about so much. Perhaps that is immature.”

--

Noct tried not to be upset that the lady was talking shit about Euryale, and nodded her head, “Certainly.” With that, she floated out of the clinic, and returned carrying Roatha, Sab a step behind her to the right. Noct laid Roatha down on the bed in the back room.

Azuma finally decides to lower his tone.

Azuma: "Not intentionally."

Mimiru: "We're going to be in more trouble thanks to that goon with the Construct."