The New Zodiac Braves

"Maybe, maybe not, but the fact of the matter is that I'm a human now, so I do care, and that is all that matters!" Mortal said, countering with a stream of her own fire.

Sab literally takes a second to soak in the fact that two people are breathing fire at each other in the dining room.

The two stop at the tavern.

Safian:<Locked.>

*They head off to find a police officer or some equivalent*

<Is there anything I can help you with?>
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*They eventually find a Lionsguard patrolling the street.*
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*No sooner does Senthose grab a crystal than a new one springs up, from one of the Constructs. He looks to Euryale when the haste spell hits her.*

<And you, you left your old life behind, & what did it get you? You return to find everything in ruin, & in its place, you get to be used for sex by a beast playing at being a woman. As you tread on the ashes of what was formerly your loved ones, did you ask your gods why they didn't help you? Or maybe you began to realize that there are no gods in this world at all. Really, you should thank me for killing you. I'll spare you from being sold overseas by your in-laws once Mortal is gone. But it's not too late to join me, & be remembered fondly by history.>

*As Senthose is monologuing, Lilith sets off for one of the crystals, to try to make sure he can't get it.*

~1~

*They head over*

Safian:<Um, excuse me, there's something going on in a house over there.>

*She points in the direction them came from*

<We could hear it from pretty far away.>

"We would nev-- Bah, what is the point in trying to talk sense to a man we mean to kill?" Noct shook her head, and continued her Polka.

Mortal was beginning to turn red with anger, and continued her double slashing onslaught, this time going from Rend Power to Rend Speed.

Sab heads for the remaining crystal to make sure Senthose can't have it.

<Take me there.>
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*Senthose laughs as Lilith & Sab are restored.*

<See how they make no attempt to deny it? Face it, I'm the only one in this room who can help you, because I am the only one who's been through what you have. There is no peaceful way out, in the end, the ones who survive always become like Vanessa or myself.>

*Euryale opens her mouth, but can't come up with anything, so she just shuts up, walks towards him, & pelts him with an Aurablast.*

~0~

*They head off back towards the house, making sure the guy is following them*

"That is such bullshit," Mortal said, double slashing with the intent to harm Senthose, "You just enjoy hearing yourself talk, regardless of the stupidity of what you say."

*Hearing what's going on within, he raises an eyebrow & tries the door.*
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<Ad hominem.>

*Vanessa gets up. No fool, she looks around, sees that most of their forces are dead, & downs an Elixir.*

E"Senthose...Vanessa...look at yourselves. You're in your 20's, & you stand to die, unless you can kill all of us. I'm a monk, I don't mind a bit of fighting, but what do you get out of this?"

*Senthose laughs.*

<Smarter than I gave you credit for. I'd intended to keep it a secret, but I guess it can't be helped: We seek to restore Ivalice's Golden Age. With the Zodiac Stones, aught is in our power to do.>

*They silently watch, knowing it won't work*

The Pistóliphoros by Senthose is still just chillin'.

Noct shakes her head, "You're a fool."

Mortal just double slashes at him again.

Sab begins to charge a Graviga on Vanessa.

Vanessa<Leave him alone!>

*Vanessa throws a shuriken at Mortal's back. Critically wounded, Senthose teleports to the center of the room.*

Senthose<Are you nobles still cowering in your chambers? I wanted to remove all doubt regarding Mortal's story...call it a final courtesy.>

*Senthose pulls out the Zodiac Stone & recites the chant. A blue light & charge of electricity surrounds him & explodes outwards. When the smoke clears, Senthose is now a hydra with a black underbelly & silver scales.*

E"What did you mean by 'bringing back the Golden Age'?"

*Senthose's voice is much lower, half of a roar.*

Senthose<Once upon a time, Ivalice was a democratic society. Running water was a triviality, & they had the power to heat whole homes in winter. Then Ajora came, and the Glabados Church ruined everything. With the Zodiac Stones, we can re-power the civilization of old.>

L"And you need to kill us and start another war to do it?"

Senthose<It's the cost of progress. You know too much, you must either fall in line, or be exterminated, so you can't interfere. Besides, it is the squabbling of nobles that created this Dark Age. All shall be held accountable.>

*Lilith runs up to stab him, & grabs his jaw when he tries to counterattack. Euryale makes her way towards Zac.*
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*He starts banging on the door.*

<Open up in there! By decree of the Lionsguard!>

*They both take a step back, Cassandra drawing her sword*

Divum and Dawn appear on the upper floor overlooking the main hall that sees into the kitchen, "Fine, we're here-- By Ajora, what is going on here?!"

"Oh, you know, the usual," Noct said.

Mortal spread her arms again to appear bigger, then shook her head. "Stop that..." She quietly admonished herself, before running after Vanessa and double slashing him.

Sab's still chargin' her magicks.

Azuma: "A room for the night and something to warm our friend up."

He points to Taiyo who still hasn't removed her arms from around herself.

*When no one answers, he draws his sword & starts hacking at the door.*
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E"If I can't convince you to end this folly, then I have no choice but to meet you with equal violence. In spite of all that you've done, I will pray for you."

*Senthose does something that might be a laugh.*

Senthose<I don't recall ever asking for your prayers, even if they were more than fruitless wishing against the natural order!>

*Senthose flaps his wings, & is on Mortal in hardly a second's time, clawing & biting at her back. Vanessa attacks her, not moving so as to allow Sab's Graviga to hit Mortal, even though it & Mortal's counterattack kills her again. Lilith, predictably, follows Senthose & stabs him in the side. Euryale has almost reached Zac.*

~3~
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<That can easily be arranged.>

Mortal isn't doing so well, but still turns on Senthose and double slashes his stupid, scaley face.

Sab begins to charge a Farie on Mortal.

*Cassandra goes up to the door*

<Need some help there?>

Azuma: "Okay? Also what can you tell us about Midlight's Deep? Particularly the creatures in the area."

*Mortal is counterattacked as Lilith repeats her attack & Euryale de-petrifies Zac.*

~2~
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<I can handle it myself!>
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<Only that you're still a long ways away from it.>

<Alright.>

*Cassandra takes a step back*

Azuma: "Yeah, I guessed that."

Zac looks around and sees a giant ass Senthose-Monster and asks, "What the hell did I miss?"

"We killed the robots," Noct said.

"That's-- but what about--," Zac gives up and just shoots a Barrage at Senthose.

Mortal moves around to Senthose's side and tries another double slash, trying to get into a position to avoid any kind of counter attack.

<Well, that's all I've got.>
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*He breaks a hole in the door & reaches in.*

<What in the--I can't unlock it from the other side, either!>
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L"Senthose transformed himself into a dragon!"

*After biting Lilith because I forgot to have him attack last time, he rounds on Mortal & attacks again, looking frustrated as Faerie prevents her from dying. Euryale rushes back towards Mortal. Lilith keeps hacking away at his back.*

~1~