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| - | This is a long one, gonna take a bit folks <3 | + | ====== The Hopeful Tomorrow ====== |
| + | ===== Three Hopes for Humanity ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Gair, Luna, and Pipino are suddenly thrust from the aether onto a warm and squishy floor, a sudden and extreme bout of aether sickness overcoming each and every one of them, rendering them temporarily motionless as the nausea washed over them like a suffocating wave.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||There was a banging not far away from them, desperate and crazed. It would not take a genius to realize that the source of the banging was on the other side of a door at the far side of the room, a the pale blue light illuminating the room seeming to outright vibrate and shake in response to the frenzied banging. Someone was desperate to get to where the newly assembled group was, but why?|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino had been high up on some cold, icy, Ishgardian wall, eyes fixed on the land below, watching and waiting for the inevitable clash that would come soon enough. She was focused enough that her eye began to play tricks on her. Little pinpricks dotting the snows that she could not tell were real or her eye simply too tired to see things properly. She pulled up her goggles and rubbed at her eye before lowering it again and resuming her watch. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It was then that she felt that unsettling tug at her entire essence, an instant that seemed an eternity form the discomfot she felt as she landed rougly onto an unpleasantly textured surface. The woman groaned as she simply lay there and tried to will herself not to give into the sickness, but she failed, vomitting the meager rations she had recently consumed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | She winced as she heard the pounding, unable to tell if it was coming from some manifestation of physical discomfort, or from some other source. Once her wave of sickness had dissipated for the moment, she pushed herself weakly to her knees and surveyed her surroundings, | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | The banging continued and she eyed the door that seemed to be its source, not quite feeling up to making that long journey to see what was amiss. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The cold Ishgardian knight lay in a heap on the cold floor, violently brought into this new place. The nausea washes over her aggressively, | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a metallic clank as she comes to a stand, her left arm now replaced by some metallic contraption resembling an arm. Skysteel and aether combined to give her back what was taken from her during the fight to survive. As she comes to a stand, she runs a warm natural hand over her face, inadvertently tracing the scars that had found their way onto her face anew. Adding to her left eye scar was another one, though they were now both blocked out by a thick black eyepatch. A slice also runs across her left cheek now as well as a small number of indescribable minor cuts. Her face is weathered and cold, the threat beheld to them having worked it's way through her psyche as much as her body. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Miss Pipino?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Birthed from the aether, a haggard highlander lays on the warm floor after being expelled violently onto it. His coat soaked in the remnants of the aether that summoned him here, pooling in inky black puddles on the ground. He starts all at once and coughs up black bile, it is not a gentle rousing as he retches violently. Laboring to even come to his knees, he stares down into the combined pool of gastrointestinal fluid and aether beneath him. One might not entirely recognize him at first glance: he sports a massive bushy beard slaked with the mixture of his bodily expulsions. A veritable mane of hair long enough fall down beneath his shoulder blades, of which the top is gathered in a ponytail cinched by a blue cloth. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The nostrils of Gair's twisted nose flare to take in the scents around him, other than the scent of rust and salt that he lets off. Smelling as if he's done nothing but bathe in saltwater and blood for a few winters, betraying the rust on his plate armor. The brass burnishing on his pauldron is slaked with tarnish and grime, barely marking him with the familiar scales of a long gone city. *This has to be the afterlife if those two are here.* His expression soured with every droning pound on the door, he'd rather be dead in goddamn peace. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looked over her shoulder as Luna's worried touch supported her at her back before she shrugged away from under it, taking in Gair's more unfamiliar appearance with difficulty. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I do not know whether I should be flattered or insulted that you think well enough of me that I would be some herald of a heaven, or some inmate with you in a hell, Gair," she intoned, preparing her weapon to cover whoever planned on opening that door in a bored way as if it were just another mindless creature of the horde waiting on the other side that needed to be ended for its own welfare. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | She regarded Luna. "As for where we are and why, I suppose we will not know until we open the door and discover that truth for ourselves. It cannot be much worse from where we came, I wager." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her voice was confident and cold, still proper, but lacking the warmth it once had, her speech pattern falling into a near monotone as if her wit had been weathered away by the grindstone that sharpened and supported her ability to fight. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The door was not kind or strong enough to wait any longer. With an ear popping shriek, the metal door is slowly torn open from the middle before bursting apart entirely, a figure of a lalafell spilling into the room along with bright white light, ironically cloaking the figure completely in shadow—save for its head which spotted three lights glowing | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Why is it you?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The voice of a little girl broke through, now slowly cracking over with distress.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | “WHY IS IT YOU?!?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess stands up at hearing Pipino speak the man's name. "Gair? No..." She begins to slowly turn to look at the rough form of the man she once knew, a crack in her cold exterior breaking through. "So you yet live.... Praise be to Halone..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The glowing eyes narrow at the drawn blade, and the room began to shake. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Stand aside.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman does not move or falter, her shield still held out more than her blade. She does not speak. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino had the decency to at least muster some type of alertness as the girl dashed into the room, wary and ready but not at the point of willing to point her weapon at her despite it being ready in her hand. She gave Luna a careful look, as they initiated their standoff. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Moving her gaze to the girl, her eye raked over form and spotted the gem, stopping at that point. Crystals meant war, death, and infection. There was no reasoning with their bearers, a tenet drilled into her mind via her training. The elderly, weak looking women, children, anyone - they were targets for elimination that needed to be freed. Halone was at their backs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And here I was hoping you might have an answer to that question. By all means, I have a watch to keep and a city to help through another day. If you are not satisfied, perhaps you could do us the favor of returning us." She paused. "Or, keep us here, and I can send yet another message to your Master through your elimination. The choice is yours." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The once jovial asshole just stares at Pipino, fixated on her sandy blonde locks for a moment. No confusion or surprise present in his haggard features at the shift in appearance, only a recognition in the shift of appearance. *If this is hell, it's a damn gentle thing so far. But fuck this noise.* By all means this reunion should have some more sentimentality between them, but all he can offer Luna is a cold stare and lift of his shoulders. There are more pressing matters... | ||
| + | |||
| + | He picks up on the rasping of Luna's blade from it's scabbard, ingrained instinct to follow the knightesses lead. From the opposite side of the first broken crook, Gair takes up another stick of some sort of broken hafted weapon. On closer inspection, he hasn't a single blade on him anymore. Just the pair of broken sticks he brandishes in either hand. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Why is it ever us,** he can only wonder. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The shaking grew more intense, and fire began to burst from the lalafell’s body. When she spoke, her voice seemed not to come from her directly, but everywhere around them, seething over with rage. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **”Insignificant insects, you dare point your pathetic toys at me?”** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Without warning hot gusts of wind suddenly enveloped the three before throwing them against a squelching and meaty wall, pinning them there. The lalafell walked past the group to the back of the room, kneeling down to touch something obscured by her sleeves.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | “....I told you not to do it...” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino braced her stance and placed her free arm in front of her face, leaning forward as if she could avoid being swept up in the sweltering wind, failing sooner than later and letting out a cry and a gasp as her body smacked roughly against the fleshy wall, struggling against it ferociously, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess finds herself pushed violently back, flying off her vigil as she careens into the oddly fleshy wall. She struggles to hold her aetheric shield up, ever careful. She grits her teeth against the oppressive heat and maintains her wall-bound defense, ready to try and break free to protect her companions if needed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair's attentions dart around, the presence of fire forces him to hold up his broken canes in defense. As if they were hilts themselves and their threat was much longer than sight suggested. *You daft bitch, I didn't point anything at you. Yet.* Holding fast for a few moments in the face of the wind that threatens to pick him up off the ground, death it is. Hitting the wall, he thrashes against this prison like a wild animal with his companions. Ramming his jagged sticks against the wall on his imprisonment. *I'm going to add that jewel in your head to my necklace.* | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | At Gair's thrashing movements, the wind pressure increased on the entire group, threatening to squeeze the very air from their lungs in a violent vacuum. It was not to be however, as soon a figure appeared in the entrance to the room, the sound of more metal tearing as the tall and curvy female figure made room for herself to enter.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | At this declaration, | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Look at them for yourself," | ||
| + | |||
| + | The lalafell disappears into what appears to be a portal, and the three are suddenly dropped to the floor, leaving the three of them alone with the lone tall figure in the doorway, clothed head to toe in an almost impossibly tight body suit, her every curve acutely defined safe for her arms, which extended far behind her as long somewhat loose sleeves from (presumably) the wrist down. | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighed as the lalafell woman disappeared completely from view, her head pointed still to where the lalafell had been moments before, and where now only a tiny stump of what appeared to be hair remained. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Only it was not just a clump of hair, but seemingly the remains of a head as well. In fact, upon closer inspection and with the light flooding the room, the group could easily tell that what was on the floor now were the remains of what was once a lalafellin head, with a melted left ear and missing left eye. It was dissolved from the top row of teeth down, and if one were to look even further one could see pulsating veins extending from it. Indeed, it seems that the flesh that now seemed to cover most of the room was in one way or another connected to the remains of this head, which was now barely more than a clump of blonde hair and a blurred over lavender colored eye. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino fell to the ground in the midst of her own thrashing and pushed herself up to her feet, clumsily jogging over to view the remains closer, her eyes wide as she shook her head in disbelief, recognition painting her features. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “She wanted to save the world.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair slumped down from the wall, having torn himself up a bit of the flesh on the way down with his stick. Only that any blood availed from the wounds he inflicted on his prison now protrude from it, a jagged axe of frozen crimson. *More words,* he laments internally. He hacks out a rough cough as the air begins to rush back into his lungs, the sensation of being in a vacuum not at all a pleasant experience. No less ire-inducing either. He uses the sanguine weapon to push himself to a stand, which slowly begins to melt and leave a trail of blood on his advance for the door. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "They were right, there is no hope. What good could come of bringing a cripple knight, a rich girl and a dead man to this place?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna pushes back from the wall as the aero assault ceases, eyes locked on the tall figure now present. Slowly does she approach, shield held in front of her. She regards her Lalafell companion now standing with the strange ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | A scowl breaks across Luna's face as Gair speaks of them and their lack of hope, but she does not speak. Internally, she agrees with the man to some extent. What use is there for a knight of Halone broken by the world? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The tall woman is even taller than she initially appeared, dwarfing easily even some of the tallest of Roegadyn despite clearly being shaped like a toned Hyur beneath the tight outfit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You three were not the target, our high priest was.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She claps her sleeves together and lifts her leg a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Hungry? Tis difficult to be hopeful on an empty stomach.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I could eat," Gair states to nobody' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looked down once more with curiousity at the remainder of the head and sighed, transfixed as she gazed upon it. She chewed at her lip a little as she processed the woman' | ||
| + | |||
| + | She managed at last to free her gaze and walk away, eyes cast down and staring off into some horizon the others would not be able to find, lost in thought as she tried to piece some logic together. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am hungry," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna remains at the ready, her sword and shield held out. She is clearly unmoved by the offer of food. "I have naught desire for sustenance proffered by someone as shadowed and suspect as you. I do not purchase your peddled pleasantry." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looked to Luna, that one visible eye looking up at her. "It would be foolish to refuse. There will likely be battles to come and you need the sustenance, regardless of how unpleasant you find the source. I personally know I lost the rations I had eaten upon our arrival," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman does not remove her sight from the figure. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “So two to dine then! This way please!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman sucks out of the room and out of view. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair's attentions flit between Pipino and Luna bickering about food and it's source. Never mind, this is hell. In some sort of pity for Luna who was left out of the food negotiations, | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Only once the woman leaves does Luna relax, stowing her blade as the shield dissipates and the remaining aether re-absorbs into her arm. She turns to Gair finally, seemingly looking down her nose at him. "I do not desire your lingering rations, Gair. Hold onto it for yourself. I am fueled by Halone." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We all are, Luna, but she cannot do much to a body when it has not the fuel to continue." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino took one last moment to look over her shoulder at the macabre memorial of sorts that brought her here, expression full of some strange heaviness, before she stepped toward the light where the others had entered from. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Unlike the fleshy nightmare womb that the group entered from, the area outside and in the light was quite....posh, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The tall woman was already quite a distance down the hall, half skipping even as she walked. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | It had been so long since Pipino had the luxury of being anywhere clean and bright, let alone peaceful. She gawped at her surroundings as she followed the woman, gaze casting around as her boots clicked against the floor. She felt dirty and savage in such an environment, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She picked up her pace and lightly jogged a bit to close the distance with the woman. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The sanctuary." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her answer was simple. Matter of fact. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna follows behind the zippy Lalafell, taking in the sights herself. Even after all this time, such frivolous luxury... She frowns internally, maintaining her persona outwardly of ice and knighthood. The realm is under threat and these people are living a life of opulence. Disgusting. Just like highborns. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And where is this sanctuary?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Where indeed? What does it matter dear?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You are safe here." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It figures some cultist nutjobs would have a holdfast at the end of the world," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino folds her arms, drumming her fingers against her upper arm in an anxious way. "I am unsettled. I am meant to be keeping watch, to protect the city. If I am not there... they might not be prepared for the next wave. I worry over the distance, and that I shall not be returned in time." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "If you speak of below, it is already too late. Rather than worry over what is lost, it is better to consider what to do next." | ||
| + | |||
| + | The group comes to what appears to be a large cafeteria, the scent of roasted meat and spices permeating the air. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Like deciding what you want to eat! I need to tell the cooks!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And I've more crystal blighted to slaughter, you took me from **my** ship," Gair hastens to add with Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am displeased with my suddenly being plucked from my vigil in Ishgard. I am needed in the city and further, I must protect Lucatiel. If aught happens to her while I am forced away, I will not hesitate to visit such a fate upon your Twelvesdamned ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "That is more than unwise. Also quite impossible." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns, bowing in a way that made her appear a bit like a scarecrow | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am Luz by the way. Nice to meet you all. Might I have your names?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess growls further, " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Pick a sound you make with your mouth and stick with it," Gair's introduction is less than helpful. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "These two prefer ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have no preference in the food I am served and it has been long since I have had the luxury of choice. Whatever is easiest to prepare while providing the most nutrition will do well enough." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Ah, I remember you now. I thought I recognized that flavor. But seeing as choice seems strained...how about soup? I know our other guest just requested some, so I know there should be a pot ready. Easy on the stomach too!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | She motions towards some tables. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I believe I remember you as well, in passing," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna remains standing near Pipino, ready to grab her blade at a moment' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luz turns her head towards Gair, and with a hop, skip, and a jump, she disappears away into what is presumably the kitchens, leaving the group alone for now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks around the cafeteria awkwardly, he's a sore thumb here for certain.. *A meal with these two is the last thing I expected.* He shuffles over to a seat opposite of Pipino and rests his heavy gaze on her, then Luna. "Leave it to Ishgard to thrive, first Dalamud, then the cold, now this." After a breath, he homes in on Pipino to dig into her insights. "Whose head was adorning the floor, then?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino watched the woman dash away and cast her eye down to look at the table, dangling her feet idly as she soaked in the awkward silence that fell over them, until it was broken by Gair. "It was Novine," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looks at Gair for a moment. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Ala Mhigo couldn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The name rings in her mind as if it meant something, but nothing of import comes to her. *Whoever she was, such a demise is awful.* | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Ah, I thought I recognized those eyes. Yes, it has been a while since I have seen them. I'm almost surprised you are still alive young man." | ||
| + | |||
| + | The voice came from behind Gair, a woman in a ratty looking hood, unlike the residents and their clean robes. Her face was obscured by a mask, but by how silently and suddenly she seems to have appeared, one might be inclined to believe she was somewhat like Luz. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The city states had no reason to expect such an attack, Luna, and Ishgard is only strong as those from the mainland states that fled to protect her, as well as the mercy of the Dravanians that Ishgard had demonized for so long. Do not act as if Halone and Ishgard alone have kept hope alive." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Oh~ that is certainly a well enough thought out hypothesis. I would believe it to be such were I not possessed of more intimate information." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Only in the loosest definition of the word," Gair answers the masked woman that flanks him, turning about face to stare up into that mask with a dull glare. He was like some sort of predatory animal that had come to a rest, appeased by the promise of sustenance. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna looks down at Pipino, almost with a sneer. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair lets out a rueful laugh at the exchange between Luna and Pipino, throwing his own ceruleum onto the fire. "Hah! A burden well-earned by murder of Dravanians, now you hide behind their scaled skirts...Nidhogg would be beside himself with fury." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luz returns with three bowls of soup, and the hooded woman takes one, sitting across from Gair and popping off the bottom half of her mask, swifly grabbing a spoon and slirping away at the soup which seemed to consist of some sort of bird, carrots, and thick popotos. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luz sat some distance away in a posture that was almost robotic, staring straight ahead rather than at the group--possibly in some awkward attempt to give them privacy while they eat. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman snaps to look at Gair. "We fought an everlasting war brought on by our forefathers, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Now now," chimed in the woman still calmly eating her soup," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino accepted her bowl of soup and keeps her gaze away from Luna, getting increasingly irritated as she the woman continues on. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "All that's left is the slaughter," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well that depends. Do you want to fight, or do you want to live?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks pointedly at the woman after eating a good amount of her soup. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Even if you were to learn that your appearance was the botched final hope to turn everything about? The salvation for everyone? Would you be able to remain calm if you learn you have lost all you had left, and in return the promised reward was a lie? Would you even care?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman sips more soup and smiles. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "To give all for hope, and to be repaid with only despair. Are you so resolute you can deal with having your last chance shattered before your eyes?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman sneers back at the one speaking, cutting short a surely rage-filled diatribe. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Is that how it sounds? I was not asking you to feel guilt, but empathy. My apologies if even that is beyond you now." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I don't care about salvation, the only thing left is to fight and die," Gair states rather plainly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino sets her bowl down, daintily placing a hand over her mouth as she finished chewing and not starting until all was swallowed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what does the path to hope look like, I wonder? That girl... she had no faith in us to be able to do anything. We are supposedly a mistake, poor replacements for the 'High Priest,' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman finishes her soup, dropping her spoon into her bowl with a rattle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman pointedly turns her head towards Luna. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Not even my eyes can see what secrets have been tucked away in you, but if I am correct--and let us face it, I am--all of you are quite the beautiful little keys. The road to hope, if you will." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "There are no secrets to be found within me. I am a broken woman, and a forlorn knight. But I will do whatever it takes to see my companions safe and sound. I care not what that brings upon myself." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I cannot say I am all that knowledgeable about it. I only know that suddenly, there were a large number of individuals infected in Mor Dhona, and have heard theories that it relates in some way to the Crystal Tower. I cannot say how the Dark One came into power though." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I see. Anyone else hear differently? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair stares into his soup after having done naught but stir it around and take only a few cursory sips from his spoon. Pensive and glazed over in thought. "The red mist, the son of a bitch that made that beast with my face," is what he offers to the discussion. Done with it, he shoves the bowl to the side and regards Luna now. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna turns to Gair, an eyebrow raised. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Hmmm...well then...if you still want to know I can shed light on the situation. But you won’t like what you hear. It’s why I’m stalling. You three seem feral.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And how long do you think it would take to erase these last years from our bodies and minds, I wonder?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “There is value in taking time to think free of stress. But I suppose I see why you would not listen to such a detached statement in these times.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman sneers but chooses not to say anything about what Gair says, instead turning back to the woman to listen. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | At this the woman smiles, putting the bottom half of her mask back on her face. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "That is where you are wrong. But I suppose I can start at the beginning for the sake of perhaps maximizing morale later." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Let us see..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "There was an ongoing conflict most did not know about. It concerned a red drug that had been placed in brilliant fashion all over the east and west, and to devastating effect. Unfortunately for some, the effects were more extreme than anticipated, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She took a deep breath before continuing, "But in case you do not, I'll spell it out. A man named Eligor, and the so-called high priest of this place--tried to stop the spread of this drug, and likely would have if things had gone to plan. They did not go to plan. You see, his critical weakness was discovered and exploited. All it took was one of his children being snatched away for him to discard all reason and walk willingly into a trap. It was not the first trap that had been designed for him, but it would prove to have been his last. You see, the man was exceptionally difficult to kill. If one could describe it, it was almost as if he was fine tuned to adapt to deadly situations. So to counteract this, a new approach was devised: He would not be killed, but he would be lead into a room where his consciousness--or to some, the soul--would be temporarily snatched from his corporeal form and trapped within a prepared vessel. And it worked. For all intents and purposes, Eligor had been rendered mentally dead. Victory was now complete." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So with that in mind, are you sure you do not want to guess how we got here? How this is related to this eighth hell the world has become?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "He did, but the circumstances were not quite the same." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna's eyes light up. "That foul man is no more then? Blessed be Halone that there may be some light solace to this world. Were only his influence cut short so long ago rather than revived by a foolish little girl." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino tensed when she had heard that name again, her eye closing as she shook her head and listened, finding it unbelievable that after all this time, that name would somehow be in the center of her suffering yet again. She folded her arms and leaned back in the chair, opening her eye to gaze at the ceiling. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "He told a story once. One with a moral, the moral being to be less afraid of him and more afraid of his enemies, one that all his knowledge meant nothing against." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She paused a moment. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman leaned back. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well I can report that it was not a bluff." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Turns out that dear old Eligor was hiding a secret all his own. He was not the only occupant in his soul. There was some aberrant presence hiding within his own like a shadow. The moment his mind was ripped free of his body, this creature was unleashed. That creature is what you all have come to think of as the Dark One. The origin of this horror." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I hardly need to tell you much more beyond that, save eliminating some poisonous ideas. This creature is not some mindless spawn thoughtlessly attacking at any and everything. It is quite intelligent, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She pointed at Gair, Pipino, and Luna in turn before speaking. "You see, the plan was to call back Eligor' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman leans forward now and leans into her tented fingers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "A desperate offensive with naught but the three of us? Surely your veiled socialites would not pick up a blade or gun, they would rather imbibe wines and fornicate. Unless mayhap they are made of sterner material than I am anticipating." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I would," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "If it meant keeping everyone safe." She speaks quickly as if not needing to think about it. "I am no fool - there must be sacrifice. Even if it cost me my life, if it saved others..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino leaned forward again, the news battering her. Once upon a time it would have seeped deep within her skin, disturbed her, sent her into a fit of hysterics or anger. Hyterics and anger required passion, however, which she found in short supply, so she simply soaked it in, letting out little noises of annoyance or disapproval here and there at the more damning information. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How cruel to be trapped in a fate wrought by a man who was too proud, too comfortable in his superiority that he would not even give me a straight answer about his plight when asked for it. How many opportunities did he have to set this right, squandering them all under his shroud of mystery." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She eyed the other two, listening to their resolve. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Why do you think the three of us would make even a dent in that thing' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I think there is a chance for the same reason none of us have been killed here. There is a sliver of hope in our being alive." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She pointed at Gair first before tapping her finger on the table loudly. "Your ability to resist the corruption is why you have not been turned into a mindless puppet already, what with that little collector' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Were I not resistant, I could have been spared watching all this unfold," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then consider something: Was he holding back this creature when you drew blood?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | She then pointed to Pipino. "You on the other hand, your aether is similar to that from which the drug was made from. I believe he called it the hero's blood? All things considered, you are probably all but immune to the change. Speaking strictly from a pragmatic perspective, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna's right arm moves to the hilt of her blade as if ready to draw just at the mention of Pipino being torn apart, but quickly does she stop herself. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then the reverse is true," Gair pieces the slow calculus of the coming fight together. "If his shadow can hinder him enough for a stupid boy playing at hero to wound him, we need only rouse the other side of the coin to hinder the shade. We ring the bell for sleeping beauty." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Have you not been listening? The entire reason you three are here at all is because rousing him has failed. Wherever his mind has gone, it is of no help to us now." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino nodded her understanding. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have been, you failed to bring him **here**," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "As it happens, I know for a fact that the blood can act as a vaccine of sorts. But by itself, it will hardly do anything to reverse the change, only prevent it. And that is why instead of chasing shadows and wasting more resources trying to find a dead man, we instead go the more concrete route to victory." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We track down the other hero." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Lalafell tilted her head at the woman, eyebrows raising at the information. She had not expected to learn that about herself and stared in discomfort. She sat up and leaned forward, folding her gloved hands and placing them before her on the table. The small patch of her forearms that were visible were peppered with injuries, the left some minor cuts, the right the warped flesh created by a burn. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Where do you suspect they are? And even if we find them... what then?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I know where they are. The Black Shroud." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So say we make it to them successfully. What then?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Bring them back to me, and I can synthesize the blood into something of a cure. Even better, an active antibody of sorts." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How do you intend to prove that? This is a large ask you make of us." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Prove what?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You know for sure it will work. How can I trust that? I have clawed my way to where I am now at great peril and I have no intention on just throwing away my efforts just because someone pulls me here and says I ought to. Eligor' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "This is why speaking with the masses is so tiresome. You do not deny the truth of what I have said before yet now is when validity is called into question. Very well." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It was confirmed to me directly by the dark one. In a roundabout sense of course." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You cultists are just as obtuse as he, a disdain to actually explain," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Spare your puzzles and conceits, and dispense what informations we require. If you are so keen to ask us to put our lives on the line, the least you could do is speak plainly and without shade." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have dispensed the information you require. A way forward, where you had none. I have explained everything to you in full already, save what I already know you will not understand or what is not necessary." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It is not my fault if despite that you still do not understand. Perhaps ask questions rather than accuse me of having neglected to be forthcoming." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Not denying the truth does not mean accepting and trusting in it fully by any means. To be told my blood could lead to a prevention of this infection and then to immediately risk that protection on information I am being to asked to blindly trust... I think you could entertain my suspicion, surely. I was an optimist once, and if there is any hope of it, I would not throw that small sliver away idly." *She sighed and shifted her position again.* | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How was it confirmed to you?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "A lack of care for self preservation is a hell of a thing." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am apprehensive. Which is why I would know if is worth the risk. It is the nearest to suicide I have been, and that is saying much, given the times." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have. They are somewhere in the Black Shroud." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How much of the area are we expected to cover to reach them? With the Aethernet down, it is not as if we can simply teleport near to them and leave just as easily." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I expect THEM to cover as much as is needed. I'd expect you would simply, you know...not go." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess listens silently, allowing her companions to handle the questions. After a while does she speak, and it is with conviction. "If the key to salvation lies buried within the veins of some vaunted hero staked out in the Shroud, then to the Shroud I will go. I will raze it to the ground ere give them shelter if needs be. I will do what must be done. It does not appear that we have much other options as it is." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "...So they will go, and what am I doing then? Staying here?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna looks unmoved by the lack of assistance. "it is just as well that you would not be part of the tinder whilst I burn the forest to the ground." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman raises an eyebrow curiously but does not respond. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But I daresay once I share a juicy tidbit with you, you'll be so impassioned you'll leave anyway." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then share it, and stop toying with me so I can make a proper decision, or keep it to yourself if you find that the better judgment." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I find it the better judgement, I just hoped you would have figured it out by now. You'd have pieced it together later eventually either way." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She opens her arms | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am the one who created the drug. I am the one who dislocated Eligor' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino sat up straight, eyebrows knitted in confusion as she gazed searchingly at Luz, clearly seeking some sort of logic for this woman to be here. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turned her head towards Gair and Luna. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But will you?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess wastes no time in answering. "I care naught. What has happened has happened. I care to shield my girl from the ongoing horror and bring back a brighter world for her and more." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So you are fine with her staying then?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair just stares at the robed woman, eyes glazed over in thought as he pieces together the series of events. "This cure better work, for your sake." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman stands, but is quickly toppled by the sudden and extremely violent shaking of the building structure, followed quickly by Luz quickly standing up, her frown apparent beneath her headpiece. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | There was no answer as the shaking grew more intense, Despite Luz herself finding no trouble keeping her footing as if attached to the floor, the residents were not nearly so stout, short of holding onto something steadily fastened to the floor or wall, people were flying from surface to surface as the place shook and roared from below: Something had made its way in, and although distant, screams were already beginning to resound throughout the building. The Horde had arrived, and seemingly in no small number. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I must defend the gate," Luz suddenly and swiftly uttered, turning towards the robed woman before waving her arm to the group. "The savior is weak from maintaining the gate. Follow the sinner, we have maintained two airships, and she knows the way! We will repel these carriers of darkness and secure your safe passage!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | Without waiting for the group to respond, Luz walked off past the cafeteria and out of view, the shaking finally beginning to subside a bit as her tall form faded from view, followed slowly by some residents that seemed to be carrying swords and daggers, the happy appearance they gave off earlier seeming almost a lie in the face of these enraged residents. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna draws her sword instinctively, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino hopped off her chair the moment the shaking began in earnest, the Lalafell forced down to a knee as she looked about in an alert way, her head compensating for the scope of her vision she lacked in her left eye. Eventually she was able to find her feet again as Liz spoke, the cultist terminology washing over her like oil against water. She drew her firearm, a much larger weapon than she had been using three years prior and held it in a two-handed ready position. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You act as if I have ever been given answers! I know nothing about the their beliefs, teachings and doctrine, only that they are deeply bound in their dogma." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman sneers back down at Pipino. "You would work so willingly with this entire madman' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It must feel so grand to sling such arrows from atop your tower based on hindsight alone, and yet you would go with this woman knowing only what she has told us after admitting she caused this entire fate to happen? How blind, how fickle your trust and how quick you are to gild yourself with hypocrisy. You know nothing, Luna, and it is time for your self-righteous arrogance to be set aside for once." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "My **tower**, Pipino, is built upon the ashes of a thousand-fold dead Eorzeans. With the express purpose to wrest salvation and bring it upon the world once more." she snaps back. She steps closer to Pipino for a moment. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With no immediate threat in this very room, Gair doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The robed woman stood up shakily, holding onto the table for support. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “One sinner as requested exit is...” She looks around before pointing opposite of where Luz went, back towards the room the group emerged from. “....This way. Come come along now, if I’m getting torn apart, I’d rather prefer pirates to those things.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | Unlike Luz, this woman has a much less stable footing, even as the shaking had subsided. After a few failed attempts at walking straight, she fumbled to a wall that had a small collection of canes, and began using it to support her left side. How did she sneak up on Gair? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino shook her head in response to Luna, making a noise of annoyance that made it clear she had reached a point in her life where it wasn't worth arguing over matters for very long. Letting Gair's brusque suggestion win her over, the nimble Lalafell staggering here and there but managing to follow well enough after the woman warily without another word to Luna for now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I take it there is a change of plan about me staying behind with this new development," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Guessed that all on your own did you? But it’s strange, this isn’t the first attack, but....Luz said Castle died. That just shouldn’t be possible.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And who is Castle?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “We are inside of Castle right now. But her heart should be in seclusion right now precisely to prevent this situation.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | Right as the words left her mouth, there was another rumbling as the wall not far from where they were heading burst open, a large highlander man wearing a monk's garb appearing as the dust and debris cleared, a large shining crystal bulging from his shoulder. It seems there had been fighting on the other side of the wall, as clutched in the monks hand the were the now splintered bone fragments of one of the residents of the sanctuary, the previously pure white robe now dyed red with chunks of flesh, blood, and protruding bone. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino had a myriad of questions she could have asked, and opened her mouth to ask the first before the wall came crashing open, the crystalline monk charging merciless in their direction. Rather than directly engage the man, Pipino looked over her shoulder and moved to keep up the pace. She reached down and fiddled with something on the Aetherotransformer, | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Shall we keep moving? I fear lingering will attract others." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "An **excellent** suggestion. Factual. But we need to get past him. If someone would be so kind to do the honors?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Clearly not even needing the man's prompting, Luna moves to be between the monk and the robed sinner, shield raised high. Her battle stance as practiced as it was years ago. She waits for her companions to act, mind fully set upon pure defense. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The Monk seemed distracted by the fire from Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna puts her left foot down for stability, raising her aetheric shield to block the incoming strike. She pulls back her blade, preparing for a counter should she find the chance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The Monk pushed down on Luna's shield, but it seems that the attacks earlier had taken their toll. Although he puts up a lot of pressure, with his wounds and missing one arm he was hardly in any position to retaliate for now.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Plink! The crook smacks into Gair's helmet and goes end over end into the air above him, he tracks the movement and steps up onto the table to snatch it out of the air. Bearing this stick in an icepick grip, he jumps off toward the Monk with the intent to ram the wood into it's flesh again and again on his descent. An unorthodox shiv, for certain, but a great deal more brutal. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Bearing the weight of the crippled strike, she drives her blade forward with considerable force. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The force of the blows both struck true, and despite his powerful stature, the combined strength of the strikes as well as Gair's weight toppled him, forcing the man to fall on the floor squirting blood as Gair continued to stab him. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not one to miss a beat apparently, the robed woman seems to have gotten over her previous bout of weakness, tucking the cane she was using to support herself earlier and tucking it underneath her arms before running off down the hall and past the wall leading to the outside. If one were to look, they would see that they were not exactly over solid ground; the hole showed a vast expanse of sky beyond, not a battlezone. They were above the sea of clouds. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Before Gair joins the party' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna disengages, ripping her blade out of the man and following suit with the other two. She keeps her blade drawn, blood running down and dripping into a sort of breadcrumb trail. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How much farther to the airships?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We have to move up--" | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Almost like some dark comedy, right around the corner were cultists fighting the horde. Some defeated cultists turning even as the battle continued on, and the length of the long hallway leading to a set of stairs, with light spilling down from what was presumably the exit. Clearly not interested in helping the people fighting, the robed woman jumped and ducked through the worsening hellscape, heading straight for the stairs without even so much as slowing down.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Seeing that the situation was worsening and would likely worsen before Luna and Gair could make it through, Pipino took an opportunity to fire a timed explosive into the fray, aiming for the center of the turned horde. Making a quick adjustment to her firearm that caused it to steam, the air around her appearing liquid as she fired single shots into group, again attempting to aim just for the members of the horde as much as she could with precise and deadly aim. After a few moments, the projectile she had first fired exploded, and Pipino attempted to take advantage of the confusion her explosion might make to make her way through any opening she could find in pursuit of the sinner, intent on not getting bogged down in a fight here. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino did not hesitate to spring right back into her stride, darting through the opening and continuing her pursuit of the woman up the stairs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna followed through the violence, barely even slowing as the time bomb went off. She put her shield in front of her, intending to charge right through any bodies as she too moves to follow the mysterious robed woman. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair shuffles in behind and holds up the rear, more of a fast-walk that the man makes through the chaos. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Above the stairs were the great outdoors. Bright skies, fluffy clouds...and a horde of enemies fighting on a large field that was not unlike several football fields smashed into one. The robed woman was already most of the way towards a very Garlean looking aircraft, nimbly dodging out of the way of the horde that saw and charged at her like she were waving away flies.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||If one were to turn about however, they would see that the so called Sanctuary was not just a massive island in the sea of clouds, the building itself seemed to be made from scrapped airships and ruins themselves. The entirety of the structure came off as segmented and still in development despite the posh innards below. This Sanctuary was now on fire, and that fire seemed to be quickly spreading to the field.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess continues to follow through the fire and the flames, aether shield held in front of herself intent on knocking away any obstructions. *If you desire our cooperation, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino fell in behind Luna, finding herself a bit ill equipped to be a front-lines fighter. She adjusted her speed and allowed the knightess to lead the charge, keeping her eye on their right flank as much as possible as her vision inhibited her left. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair was right up there with the charge, never one to let Luna take the full brunt of anything. Dead man inside or no, some of that old pride only showing briefly. Full-bore sprinting for that airship, " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You did not strike me a thief, Gair. Not then. Not even now, I feel. You were many things - An oaf, a dullard, a clod. But one who steals, I can not imagine." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | There was little to no direct opposition on the way into the airship, where the group would have found the robed woman fussing with the controls. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Ugh....I dont suppose one of you knows how to use one of these things?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino rushed into the airship, breath coming quickly and heart-hammering from a mix of the adrenaline and effort. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I cannot say I do. Not quite the brand of machine I deal with," she lamented. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair rumbles our a rueful laugh as he follows way into the airship and takes a cursory scan around the general deck. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna follows on to the airship as well, looking around. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, it seems our choices are crash and die, stay here and die, successfully arrive to our next destination and die... I would say I am at least more comfortable with the hands to which I would be dying letting you have a crack at it," she admitted rather morbidly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well you better hold the fuck on 'an get ready for high winds," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||With all of his fumbling, the airship luckily spronked to life. There seemed to have been a bit of an autopilot protocol in place as the airship rose from the ground on its own and a monitor beeped to life above the dashboard, showing the situation behind the ship.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Things have gotten far worse in a short amount of time, and the fire had spread even further. Perhaps most strikingly, Luz had reappeared from another entrance some ways away, her previously pristine white garb now torn and dyed over with gore. Her head piece in particular was now ripped away to reveal a white-haired and fluffy head of sheep-like hair, and scant traces of bronze skin. She was being swarmed by the horde to the point of quickly being completely obscured, but stilled seemed to be moving rather easily despite this invasion of her personal being. With a final burst that was almost like a signal, the airship was pushed away from the island proper, showing that it was quite literally being swarmed by a horde of thousands from below like an ant ladder and a neighboring island. The clump that had covered Luz was now slowly coming to a white glow. If Gair was going to show off his sexy piloting skills, now was the time.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Motherfuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair stares dully into the monitor, as if he hasn't seen Magitek in an age. *Right...fucking Allags, Triclops, Garlond.* Far more surefooted on a moving vessel than solid ground, he slams a lever forward and yanks back the rudder to bring the airship into a sharp ascent. Easily slipping into his role as helmsman and ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Up, then down all of a sudden! The uninitiated to nautical or aerial travel may lose their lunch as he brings the vessel down at a sharp angle toward the island. Growing larger and larger from their point of view with the rushing wind that howls across the deck, only for it to suddenly turn into the worst teacup ride imagineable. A sharp rip of the rudder sends the vessel into a downward spiral. With Gair jamming his crook in there to secure it for the ride down, he does the unthinkable and steps away from the controls to make for the port side of the ship. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Unhinged and clearly fucking mad, red steam begins to waft off of Gair's body. He slams his palms together and the sound reverberates like a gunshot, his hands wreathed in flame and ready for a bombing run. He cackles maniacally and begins to just hurtle fistful after fistful of explosive fire down onto the island. The corkscrew maneuver sending them skirting the edge and chasing that ant ladder all the way down toward Abalathia' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Thankfully Luna thinks to grab on to the rails of the airship. Her quick choice proves to be a blessing immediately as the airship starts doing comical anime shit. Her face turns white as a sheet. **Ships are torturous enough, but to make it into such a terror-filled event....** She watches the man abandon his post after jamming a stick into the controls basically. Were she not already terrified, she would look aghast. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||As Gair fires down onto the ladder, the glow from the lump on Luz glows ever brighter, the fire from Gair's onslaught quickly engulfing the group as they spiralled down. As they continued however, they would have noticed that there was not simply fire following the ship on their descent: The tower of flesh was being turned into solid gold; the island above shown in the rear monitor also showing that the sanctuary was now a solid gold mass and quickly gaining on the descending airship. With a final burst of energy from within the golden structure, the airship is sent careening through the clouds and into the darkness below.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino held on for dear life as she feels the airship move mercilessly through the space, the Lalafell never fond of heights on even the best days, but knowing this erratically moving craft was the only thing keeping her from realizing every fear of heights she had ever had, it did nothing for her nerves. She let out a panicked cry and wrenched her eyes shut as the craft lurched about, taking the occasional peek to witness the golden conflagration before squeezing them shut again, the physics of their craft reaching | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looks over to Gair with slight panic in her eyes. "I take everything I said about feeling more comfortable with death at your hands back! If you could kindly place us into a less dangerous course, I for one would be glad of it!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mid-careen, Gair makes a dive for the rudder to retrieve his crook and stop the chaotic corkscrewing of the airship. All in all, he was rather spent for the moment from that barrage of fire. Half of his coat is burned away and singed from that show of thaumaturgy. Near-death being having returned some of the vigor and energy to his haggard features, he slumps against the wall. The sight at Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “How about instead of either,” the robed woman piped up, “you DONT turn us towards death that is assured in favor of the death that is instead very likely. Or is it too much to ask that we proceed with purpose?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess remains quiet, electing to believe in her old friend that his abilities would hold out rather than dare open her mouth and risk the sick getting the better of her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino took the opportunity to relax a bit at last, taking a moment to let go of the support she had been gripping to begin a new pacing regimen in the area behind the controls, working out her anxiety in a more physical way as she wrung her hands. "Yes, proceeding with purpose would indeed be the best, as would proceeding with some kind of plan in place." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Cute. Well any other burning questions while we are at it? I’m a living fount of knowledge!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I did just ask one and it was not meant to be cute or rhetorical. Perhaps we ought to start there." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have more, of course, but information leading to us not dying would take priority, I would imagine." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman leans forward, shaking her head. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Not much more than what I assume would be common knowledge by now really.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The Black Shroud was hit first, and whatever corruption spread could be argued to have its true foothold there. If people did not assume that life did not truly run through the wood before, they know it to be true now. The wood has taken on a more sinister form of life." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It ensnares and attacks those along with the animals and horde within." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And is just as capable of turning one as the horde." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "A true foothold...and is it possible some of the original corrupted may have lingered at this epicenter?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "No clue. But there has been a theory that there might be a seat of resistance within the Shroud. It is the only logical conclusion to make really." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "After all, why in the world would the Shroud have not expanded far more quickly? Over these years, it has clearly shown the ability to do so, and if it can in theory subsume life through the vegetation, would that not have been the metaphorical end of the game?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And yet it has spread ever so slowly. Lends some hope that our hero might be a part of it no?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It does, I suppose but... Well, if you can feel this Hero's aether so readily, could you not similarly feel aether that is not so corrupted and perhaps lead us to a safer starting point to our journey? That there are more that have not yet been turned?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | | ||
| + | "On the contrary. I've only felt the hero there. I'm not omnipotent." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, if they turn, and we are successful, we could just cure them so I am less concerned about that but..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Proud of what? Victory?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what selfish victory did you win?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I hardly think what we are living right now is much to be triumphant about." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | | ||
| + | "Oh, so you are saying I was supposed to know a man was hiding a world devouring horror inside of his body? Or that I should not have wanted to fight a man in the first place who stole my work from me?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Go back to cursing him, that sounded far more pleasant to my ears." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino sighed and resumed her pacing. "Well, if you did not know, at least it is more palatable. I still bear the man no love, you can be assured of that. But...why even start this work in the first place? What were you hoping to do with that awful drug?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Have you ever tried explaining to a chocobo where it's greens come from? The concept applies here." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Such a fount of knowledge. Too bad this fount seems to be broken. I ask a question, I receive a non-answer." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I would say most people that meet each other for the first time do not trust one another. They talk and make connections and value judgments and then trust sometimes can blossom as a result. I was attempting to ask the big questions so that I could try and hasten that process and at least feel as if I am participating in something laudable and not just being placed into some trap." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But very well, suppose it does not matter. Do you know what strength this Hero possesses that may aid us?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Fair enough, I'll make the attempt in the bare minimum then." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The problem with life as we know it today is that it is not strictly life. And I do not mean that in the sense of just simply today either, but that this perspective easily applies to what existence was like for us oh...three years or more ago as well. We do not so much exist as we do...how do I put it in a manner a chocobo might understand? We are seeds." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman nods towards Gair. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "He might even be pleased to know that his little revenant was just as prone to suicidal nonsense as his originator, but I suspect that is more due to my flaws than his. I had yet to work out the kinks in the separation process you see." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "As for the hero....I' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looked to Gair and raises her eyebrows. "It seems that I was not the only who was not fully communicating all of what I was experiencing in my experiences with Eligor. I hardly understand what she is referring to in regards to you." She stopped a moment and tapped her fingertips against her arm, processing all that was said. "And why would I thank you for something you did not know would come to be? It is not as if you knew this all would happen, as you stated yourself, so for what grand trial were you preparing those who ingest it and manage to endure it?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The preparation was admittedly for a trial much worse." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But also far more voluntary in a sense." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "If only knowing those around you have suffered as well could provide some kind of balm, but alas, it does absolutely nothing." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna just listens, half filled with fury to hear about Eligor and his cult in detail, half filled with a churning stomach. Her expression conceals her feelings, though her pallor does not. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I was brought there to be punished after my encounter with the dark one actually, so its not like I have some clear idea of exactly what the Sanctuary' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We we're too busy quibbling over who was having stew with whom, as I recall," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Sense at the end of the world. More miracles." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She regarded Gair's point with a conciliatory bob of her head, willing to take some of the blame. "If we manage the cure I daresay it will not be worth holding any of my lingering grudges." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman laughed a bittter, hateful laugh. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Names at the end of the world? People shed names like skins girl. I've forgotten mine long ago. I suppose if I must have one to suit your needs, Sinner will do. It's been working quite well these past few years. As for my mask..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She fingers the rim of her mask, chuckling a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "That is more for the benefit of others than myself. Especially you girl, if I dare say so myself. Do not forget that despite everything you have been through, I have seen it's source. Metaphorically, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then I suppose that will have to do. " She said the words with a sigh and rested her head heavily against the wall, closing her eyes. "When you had your encounter with the Dark One, what did you learn of it?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So you want the story, is that it?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I suppose if the pilot can find the time to nearly kill us all for his vanity I can regale you all with my encounter." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I would. Through it all, I have only heard the results of the encounter and never the origin." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Very well then." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It was evening when I decided I succeeded at my greatest triumph." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I told you that the hero was a particularly special case yes? Somehow, she had interacted with a fragment of Dalamud and even managed to fuse with the aether within. Miraculous I called it. But she was not the only one. There was another you see, and I found her first. A little hyuran child, whom had been...how to put it...she had not fused with the lesser moon's aether, no...she had somehow been consumed by it. Like aether sickness if it were an infection. It robbed her of her five senses and left her with severe burns--likely from being present at the fragment' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I was fascinated by this child, and through her, decided to test a number of experiments. Interestingly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But that is only important in the sense that I finally found her and took her. He hid her well, but that unmistakable mark of the lesser moon is quite distinct you see, especially in a living body. When he came to take her, confident as he usually was, I had my own trap prepared for him." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Again I do not expect you three to appreciate the true beauty of what I crafted, so let us just call it the boomy boomy soul sucky machine. I ripped his soul free of his flesh and that was that. Victory." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Only his flesh did not stay inert as it was meant to." | ||
| + | The woman leans forward now, her voice almost becoming a raspy growl, "No, he started to fly. My first thought was that I had somehow failed. He had somehow anticipated my move, but no...no, it was far worse than that. I do not quite know how exactly to explain just what occurred here. It is not that it defies explanation or something so mundane as that, but simply that it defies belief." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "My facility was under water you see. Deep underneath the waves, and far from civilization. I could not risk having the alliance send another fool my way." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But when the dark one appeared..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It immediately tried to turn us. But due to the heroes blood, something got in the way. Something just barely stopped that thing from creeping into us." She clutched the sides of her head now, rocking back and forth. "He thought my experiment was the source of the blood. Like I said, the mark the lesser moon leaves on aether is very distinct, you see. He popped her as easily as one might squeeze a rotten fruit. It was only after my prize experiment was burst into a mess everywhere that it turned to me. Eligor' | ||
| + | |||
| + | She took a deep breath before continuing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "It spoke to me." She reared her head back now as if trying to fight the memory, clearly bothered despite her earlier sarcasm. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | She began shaking her head wildly before calming down, taking several deep breaths. | ||
| + | "Annnd then I woke up in La Noscea. I tried to warn the leadership there of what was to come but until things started to get bad....well, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She shrugged. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino nodded silently, having eventually watched the woman' | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Does it still speak to you?" she asked quietly and calmly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "What a funny question." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "But no would be the fast answer." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She shifted in her seat. It seems she left out some chunks in her story, but did not seem keen on actually divulging those details for whatever reason. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You do realize that makes me wish to know the slow answer, yes?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then I'd have to direct the same question towards you wouldn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | She chuckles and turns towards the room. "None of you hear the call?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna finally finds the vigor to speak, if briefly. "I hear no ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And are you sure that this so called heralding is not the Dark One disguising itself?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She swallows her sickness for a moment, glaring at the woman. "Those who are turned are lost. Halone would not corrupt suchly. Anyone who is turned is a threat to those under my ward. They will be cleansed in holy light." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino watched the exchange carefully and then waved a dismissive hand. "Well, I suppose we shall skip the slow answer. I am afraid to hear the answer lest it be the one that has Luna cleanse the one person who knows how to fix things in holy light." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A quick release of the hand-seal. "If this ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks up from the rudder, having gone into something of a sailing trance himself. Gently making adjustments here and there to right their course for the Black Shroud. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman locks eyes with Gair coldly. "I will not allow these corrupted souls to harm those of us yet unturned. Rest assured if A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A bit of a hard negotiator now, Gair claps the rudder and bites back. "Then you can walk to the shroud, paladin. I can arrange a *very* swift descent over the port side." With a lock of the throttle, he keeps the ship on a more or less an autonomous flight path forward as he steps away from the controls. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Out of all the souls in the realm Novine has to call these three bumbling lump-heads." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "This corruption is called such not because that is what it IS but instead because of what it means for us who have not yet experienced it. Now I know that anything I say will just fly through those empty heads so instead I'll put it this way. The people that have been turned are not truly monsters, they have been improved. Even today the feats that were pulled proved they are evolving. Would you think a society of separate individuals capable of such before? No? Of course you would not. This CURE is not so much reverting them to what they were as it is disconnecting them from the dark one, and ridding them of troublesome loyalty whilst retaining their very useful improvements. I do believe you've a bloody necklace of the proof." | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And lastly, the realm is not protected. It has failed. It is gone. That you would call ONE city the realm is pitiful. Lets focus on things that matter. Like not dying, and not arguing with each other over whom is right, because time will prove the only one whom is right is ME." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna turns to the robed woman, frowning. "I do not remember asking for your foolish nonsense. We are dispatching to cultivate the cure to the sickness gripping the realm - Ishgard alone or no. I will perform that which is needed, but that does not mean I will entertain all of your shade-bent fantasies. Save your mad talk - it falls upon unwilling ears." SHe speaks, disdain dripping. After a moment, she adds, "I can not speak for them." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Very well, eject her from the ship. Her stupidity will kill us all." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Her eyes dart back to Gair, but she takes a moment of thought. "Very well. I will leave her to you should we encounter her." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner claps | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So, about that destination..." | ||
| + | |||
| + | As if scripted, the entire ship is suddenly smashed by a sudden onslaught of turbulence. Only it was clearly cannon fire, and from the ship's port just out of view thanks to a certain someone NOT manning the pilot' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner falls over onto the floor in messy fashion and in an apparent tantrum just decides to outright stay there, facedown on the floor as the ship continues to get shot at. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With the sudden rumbling of the ship, Gair rushes back for the pilot' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino finds her body jolted to the side from her sitting position, the Lalafell laying prone for the time being and deciding to stay on the floor until the ship's motion calmed. "Is the ship still flightworthy, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Still firing at the ship was an aurora class Garlean airship, but with what appeared to be some strange new upgrades. It was sleeker and darker than the older models, and while it still had the main cannon trained on the party' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The damage to the party ship for the moment was minimal as nothing critical had been hit, but one of the wings responsible for more precise movement had already been hit and the enemy ship appeared to be aiming for the engines. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Hey, Sinner, did this dumb cult ever put guns on this fucking thing? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "What part of my being a prisoner was unclear? Did you think I received tours and battle plans? But I'm going to guess no all things considered." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She crawled up a bit, coughing and still very clearly upset | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Boarding!? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | There did not seem to be a way to avoid the shots, but all the same it seems the pilot of the enemy ship was feeling whatever adrenaline high Gair was currently experiencing, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Perfect**, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How is this even a question!?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I agree! I do not much fancy the idea of trying to take control of that ship while we both are still in the air, but whatever we are doing, I suppose we ought to do it sooner than later! Not dying is still my priority!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Game of chicken it is, we ride deep into the Shroud and dare these fuckers to keep tryin' to keep connected at the hip," Gair tells the group the course of action, far more moderate than a daring boarding and slaughter of the enemy crew he had in mind. **I really wanted that gunship.** He fiddles with a few of the switches on the panel, some speakers crackling to life as he speaks into some sort of receptacle. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||There is silence at first, but after a time there is a sudden pull from the airship as the thrusters suddenly go into overdrive, and the radios within the airship crackle to life over an open channel with the voice of a gruff and wild man shrieking through.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||"You can barely fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino stares up into the sky, head darting around as if searching for the source of the device as if it were some great mystery, unaccustomed to travel in such vessels and being a bit alarmed by it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Could we **not** provoke them, Gair!?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So then, will you be leading the way? Or shall we make Gair lead the way since he prodded the hornets' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The hand covering her mouth drops once more, simply tired of having to repeatedly unclasp. "I know naught what you wish me to do in such a situation. I do not possess the flight required to whisk over to the other ship and slay them where they stand." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||There was to be no response to this, as instead of a heroic battle or foolish struggle, what instead occurred was what could only be described as sheer madness rearing its head. Actually, that was a lie. What was in fact happening, and what it would be described as was a massive clawed hand sprouting upwards from the clouds. Like several tree trunks and vines wound together into some sinful green sinew, it gripped the anchors linking the ships together. And with one unforgiving yank, it pulled them all down with an uncompromising and undaunted speed, crashing both ships into the sickly and corrupted branches of what was once the Shroud below, and knocking out everyone in both vessels.|| | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Into the Shroud ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||A few minutes later...|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Gair, Luna, and the Sinner all came to a lethargic stir, roots bursted in from the front of the ship, the enemy ship no longer anywhere in sight. The ship was not upright in the forest, but was rather being held at a strange angle by the mass of roots and branches that broke their descent. Pipino was not as lucky as the rest of the group, as the roots had already covered her entirely. Knocked out by the impact, she could not even resist as the roots slowly began to pull her from the ship.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | After a significant time Pipino awoke, feeling her body compressed in an impossible tightness that hardly left room for her to move. The ship went down, yet she lived at least. She must be trapped under some piece of wreckage, she thought as she groaned. Opening her eyes and seeing nothing but darkness. She started to panic, feeling as if she would just die here by virtue of being pinned here and never found. She lay there, lost in that unshakeable isolation and loneliness before she suddenly felt movement, the position of her body shifting, her restraints moving around her. Perhaps all hope was not lost then. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino squirmed | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair groans and pulls back his hood, **fucking hell I wish I was dead about now**. His eyes slowly adjust to the slanted backdrop that is the crashed airship, slowly trying to piece together what had actually happened. The gears in his head slowly turning after realizing that there wasn't any real climactic showdown with the gunship that had hounded them with fire and insults. "I think...we both got hit. You all better not be...uuugh, dead." He had a strange way of showing concern as he came to a stand, eyeing Luna and the Sinner. Then the roots that crawl among the bridge of their vessel. "The fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Slowly does the knightess jerk to life. She grasps at the ground with her metallic arm, lifting her head after a moment and looking around with a labored groan. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Like a cat stuck in a tree, Pipino takes in the wreckage and awesome power of the woods from on high with great trepidation, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The airship was tilted and tangled in the branches of a thick and gnarled looking tree. Previously teeming with life and the sounds of nature, The Black Shroud had become far more twisted in the passing years, the trees greyed and the leaves mottled. Instead of bountiful wildlife and vegetation, the forest floor was deadly silent save for the almost constant groaning of shifting tree bark and the echo of greenery being dragged against rough surfaces. The grass now appeared almost as a field of ashen flowers, with a light smog of pollen so thick it was visibly floating just above them like sticky but dusty webs.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The ships were still anchored to one another, but the enemy airship had clearly landed somewhere in the distance, as it was completely out of view in the shroud of trees.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino chews on her lip a bit as she looks about and crawls a bit closer to the opening in the ship that her prison had used to extract her from the ship, spying the pollen and the very dead looking remnants of a once lush and beautiful forest. "Is there a way for you to climb up? The forest has been overrun with the roots and...well, the floor by my estimation does not look like somewhere we ought to be walking at all. There is a cloud about it with a sinister look and...and all of it looks dead. It might be best to keep to the roots as they seem to be forming some kind of pathway." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The woods...or somethin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna sighs, following suit with Gair and taking off to look for some method to get to her. She also looks for crates or boxes to stack that would allow her to stretch her arm with sword in hand, holding by the blade, to allow Pipino to grab on. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner does not seem keen on doing anything in particular, keeping a silent stare on the roots and vines slowly encroaching upon the innards of the airship. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino leans back and forth trying to get a look inside the ship to be as helpful as she can. "There are a lot of roots pierced through the ship... | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Utterly unable to find any rope to pull himself up, Gair stares long and hard at the vines. "Those fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not having to venture far into the hold before discovering a plentiful supply of rope, Luna gathers it up before bringing it back to the puncture. "Miss Pipino, you will need to secure this somewhere that we may tether and climb up to you." She says, tossing one end of the rope up towards the Lalafell. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino dares to lift her hands from the root system she was perched atop to catch the rope, quickly catching the end and resuming her handhold, not too keen on the possibility of falling off even still. "I will see what I can find. Hopefully whatever I do will not shift too much," The Lalafell mused as she crawled along to find a structure branching off the main system to secure the rope to. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino finds a suitable branch and secures the rope with a secure and intricate knot, once artful fingers finding themselves comfortably and nimbly passing the rope through its motions as if it were second nature. She tugs at the rope and calls back to Luna to signal that she had prepared everything, testing the knot and its hold. "It is ready!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess gives the tether a tug to confirm it's strength before grabbing onto it and tucking her legs around, beginning the slow climb up. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair waits at the base of the rope and gestures the Sinner over. "Come now, you. We still got a chance at all this long as you still breathe." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner sighs a bit, still a bit transfixed by the vines, but obeys without protest. She grabs onto the rope and kind of...wraps herself around it a bit, almost as if tangling herself with it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair stares at the Sinner who just coiled herself up. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna has already clambered up, offering a metallic arm down to Gair and the Sinner to assist. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino takes a moment to look around at the overwhelming structures around her, on edge and vigilant, the unsettling silence broken by the occasional distant rustling. As she gazes aboutz without turning to the group, she turns and asks of the robed woman, "Are we anywhere near this hero? Or have you a heading at the very least?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “A wonderful question dear, and the perfect opportunity to preempt any other such questions.” She takes a deep breath as she begins to slowly untangle herself from the rope after accepting Luna’s assistance, clearly having to put in some effort again as her limbs seemed to be failing, similarly to how she could barely walk before. “I cannot divine this hero or their location beyond simply being within this....dense forest. It is difficult to explain to the unlearned, but to put it lightly this hero’s aether is quite literally all over the place. It is across the sea. It is in the wilds. Traces of it are even in our manly protest to facial grooming here—so it is quite exceptional that I have traced the source of that aether to this place at all. But more importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But while I cannot day for sure where the hero is, I CAN say for sure that the largest concentration of it seems to be....huh. If I’m correct it’s around where Fallgourd Float should be. That’s...strange. But even in its disgusting state I can tell where we should be headed.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns towards the southeast and points, sticking her chest out a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That way! Would have been much easier from above.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fallgourd Float, how interesting. "I do not sense aether with any particular skill. But if you say the highest concentration is at Fallgourd Float, then so be it." The woman turns from the Sinner and looks in the direction indicated, searching for some sort of path. "True it would have been easier from above, but here we are. I did not see you piloting the ship." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna raises an eyebrow while looking down at the SInner metaphorically. "We learned of pursuits more advantageous than how to pilot these contemptible vehicles. They could never have predicted the state of the world where-in a sordid trio wouldst require such knowledge. As for the Inquisition and Witchdrop, they were a regrettable time in our history. Much like your existence is upon the present." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Here I wish I couldn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Strangely enough, Gair would find no issue with this attempt. The vines themselves even seemed somewhat respondent to his direction of travel, more vines appearing and, while threateningly coiling to grab once more, were clearly also forming into a path of sorts. One might reason that not lingering was key to not being made into a forest snack. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino followed after Gair, jogging a few steps to keep up afraid that the vines might decide to choose a different path should they not stay close together. "It does feel a bit oppressive. It has been a long time since I felt the aether of this place, and it certainly did not feel like this." She shook her head, fond memories of time spent in these woods, remembering a time when it felt peaceful, when she first had her eyes opened to feeling aether around her and not just her own. "It is reprehensible, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess follows behind, keeping an eye out for threats. "That is what we endeavor to do, with any luck it shall come to pass. That we might return to the way life once was." **If we can truly go back.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Why go back when you can improve?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "There is no going back, what's dead will never rise again," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna remains silent, choosing not to voice her **seething** disagreement. Instead she continues her vigil as they meander, a strange sense filling her to see her birthplace ruined in such a way. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Not quite sure how great a Monetarist I make when there is no Sultanate left to disagree with, or a Syndicate left to support. Do not get me wrong, I know it is not like things will just return to how they were. We all went through the Calamity after all. Just... It should not be in this state." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She paused as Gair began seeking his way down. "Is that cloud safe to walk in? I suppose at least two of us are resistant to being turned, but... I am wary of the ways this forest chooses to infect others." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Oh? And why might that be?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, Luna, for the most part. I do not recall you saying anything about her that keeps her protected." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Does she not believe Halone will shield her? Is that not sufficient? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino shrugs. "There are many things I trust to Halone these days for the simple desire to not have to worry myself over them, but to keep me from being turned? Enough Ishgardians and transplants backed by the Fury have not come back from battles for me to know she is powerless to stop it. And besides, even if Luna decides that is enough, she is not the one that will have to deal with herself when it inevitably happens." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Perhaps, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||After a while, the group appeared at the outskirts of what should have been Fallgourd Float, but it was far different than 3 years would suggest. The area around the camp proper was a massive hold going down to an unknown depth, with a burning red light shining from the deepest reaches like a red star. The camp had people manning the bridges—which were now made of some heavy looking metal slabs—but even at this distance their features were obscured somewhat. They appeared to be cloaked in shadows.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess brings her hand to her sword' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino paused as she surveyed the area, once one of her favorites. She recalled sweet conversations, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She too readies her weapon. "So, where do we even begin to look? It seems like trying to find a needle within a haystack." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The shadows seemed to turn towards each other for a while before charging forward, a single shadow with a longsword charging towards the group while the rest readied arrows.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Quickly does Luna cross to be in front of the group fully now, shield humming to life from her arm and being thrust into place in front of her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Put the sword down you daft bastard before I take it and shove it down your throat!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The shadow stopped but the arrows didn’t. A volley of arrows flew overhead in a wide arc before suddenly bursting into flames mid flight, flying over the group and into the wood behind them....Where a massive wooden arm emerged from the smog of trees. The vines beneath the group’s feet began to shake erratically now, and a second volley of arrows flew over the group. Now, the previously silent wood burst into life with the sound of thousands of chittering screeches and roaring bark, and like a wave behind the group a bulging mass of wooden figures emerged, charging all at once towards the group. The shadow person with the sword was still waiting at their spot a distance away, beckoning for the group to come quickly.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | **FIGHT OR FLIGHT?** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino was shaken down to her knee and she whipped her head around briefly as she heard the unnatural din behind her. She had fought the corrupted before, but never the corrupted wood, so her choice was simple. She scrambled to her feet, gun cradled in her hand as she took the chance to dash in the direction of the man with the sword. She watched his movements carefully, a finger on the trigger needing only a hint of danger to move into action. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna turns to see what the mysterious folk could possibly be fighting other than them only to see the gargantuan forest fisty boi. Deciding that dealing with betrayal by new non-hostiles would be better than an impromptu chiropractor, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fly, with the charging shadow stayed by his vulgarity. Gair lowers his crook and makes to beat feet toward the sword bearer, taking his chances with the figure rather than the immediate murder from the surrounding trees. His boots plodding on the metal bridge. "Looks like we found someone with sense!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Up close the figure was revealed to be a moon keeper, and the moment the group all laid feet on the Slav bridge, he swung his sword down towards the vines that led them there, a series of explosions reacting with the vines and causing them all to snatch back and roll up like measuring tape. The sinner lagged behind everyone else, but at least the new group had found safety. Or the would have at least, but a new set of bow and arrows was now trained on the group while the rest fired at the roused forest.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||“Prove you’re not turned,” said the man behind them calmly, his weapon at his side now rather than trained on the group. We’ll not turn away survivors but we’ll not eat a poisoned fruit either.”|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Feeling some semblance of safety amongst resistance members, Luna relaxes a bit. "You may check us for the tell-tale crystals. We bear none." she says simply. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Crystals? | ||
| + | |||
| + | Quietly the group began to murmur about the survivors. Despite clearly being ready to lay waste to them at a moments notice, the groups presence was still causing a rising excitement. Brief hints of happiness even. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino lowered her weapon only slightly but still remained on alert, looking over her shoulder as Luna remained focused on the group for some evidence of what happened to the sinner. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, what is it you need of us? Or shall we play guessing games?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Lalafell furrowed her brow slightly, blinking rapidly before closing her eyes momentarily. She shook her head as if shaking something off before focusing her attention back on the crowd. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A figure emerged from the crowd, the shadows surrounding her far darker than the others. Slowly the shadows peeled away from her face, revealing a green skinned Xaela woman beneath, the majority of her face lazily painted over with white, and her limbal rings glowing a burning yellow. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I just need you to tell me how you found us in the first place.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We were following a vague aether signature," | ||
| + | |||
| + | Looking up to Luna, she warns her in a softer voice. "Be on your guard." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The Dhalmels before would be beside themselves with grief if they knew a tomcat would reside in these woods even after the world' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Though she doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman stares for a while, looking between each of the group’s members slowly. Eventually, a smile cracks across her painted features and she opens her arms, turning her head slightly and addressing the crowd. The tension in the air noticeably dispersed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well let em through guys! They’re on a mission!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The crowd slowly opens a way for the group to go through, revealing what was new about Fallgourd Float in the apocalypse. The wood had all been almost completely replaced with thick metal slabs which seemed to adorn the location now like a welded shell. The aetheryte in the center was of course thoroughly destroyed, but in its place there seemed to be a massive cannon—also welded to some makeshift swivel device—that was strangely aimed skyward. The Xaela seemed to be motioning towards a particularly unwelcoming looking hut to the south of the village, but the group could just as easily keep going through the village and head east if they so chose. There seemed to be a clear way out from that direction, unlike they way they came.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino hesitates in advancing forward, turning instead over her shoulder and looking rather anxious about the condition of the sinner. She appeared conflicted. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna steps towards the hut, though she stops to regard everything. "We appreciate your assistance, but I must say that time may be of the essence. If you have aught that may help us track down this so-called hero, we would hear of it. Elsewise we may need to keep moving." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair eyes the hut suspiciously and shakes his head. Murmuring to the trio of women with him, "Their worries were dispersed *too* quickly." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner shrugged following behind. “I’m for plans that don’t complicate our goa—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner was promptly cut off by having her neck suddenly grasped from behind by the Xaela and lifted from her feet, still smiling as she was before, even while her grip was clearly digging grooves into the Sinner’s pale neck. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I didn’t say you,” said the Xaela with badly concealed malice, her limbal rings burning even brighter. I believe I made you a promise last time we spoke.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You lot got any details about this hero you’re lookin’ for? Like what they look like for example?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She continued to address the group normally despite the Sinner dangling helplessly in her hand. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna moves immediately, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The moment the Xaela was touched, the tension returned to the area. Bow and arrows were immediately drawn and pointed directly at Luna and the Sinner, who was still coughing on the ground now and clearly trying to gasp for air.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela turned to address Luna, still calm despite a vein popping idly on her neck. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You even know who this one is? The rest of you are fine. No reason to harm the rest of ye.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I am aware of her part in all of this. But I am also aware that she is involved with ridding the realm of this blight. I do not enjoy her prescence any more than you, but I would not fail my duty as an aegis merely because I ill enjoy her company." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | "I do," Gair rumbles, looking on at the Sinner with a rather detached gaze. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Comforting news,” she retorted, waving her hands for the bows to be put away. “So again, this hero got defining characteristics? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I have have never been given one. Our...prisoner has led us thus far and can feel their aether, but nothing behind that. She has not met her. I had heard snatches of Hero's Blood in the past from a mutual acquaintance of ours, but, well... I have certainly never been given any details. You were much closer to him though in the end. Perhaps you know?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I know you blondie?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman crossed her arms. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "We met once, in front of the college. I had blue hair back then and was asking you about a gun he'd given me." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Huh. Alright. Well in that case...yeah, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what would that be?" she asks, sounding slightly annoyed that she has to prompt the response when she could just give the answer in the first place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “They ain’t as nice as I am, and if they pop off I’m not about to get in their way.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, we will just have to try our best not to make them 'pop off' then, will we not? I am sure it is easier said than done though." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You sure about this? Don’t need any extra information or...?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I would count extra information as aid." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman pointedly nods at the Sinner who is still hacking for air. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You three might to get away from that one. They had the extra bits ripped off already but the new ones are still enough to do what they want.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "How about weaknesses, in case they need to be disabled," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Ok yeah, we can do that. Quick question are you here to help em or kill em?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “No, but you’re a group of weirdos on a mission in the middle of nowhere, and apparently being led by a source that destroys pretty much all of your credibility. And now you just so happen to want a weakness of someone you apparently came to find. For peaceful reasons of course. Would you believe this enormous blob of shite?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "No, which is why I intend to do my part. Willing ' | ||
| + | |||
| + | In fact, Gair removes his right gauntlet and from a deep pocket he pulls out a pair of rusty pliers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino glares at Gair. "There is no reason for that behavior. The way you are acting, you might as well have turned yourself. Calm yourself so we can come to a plan of sensible action, not revel in some sadistic display of how poorly you have adjusted to this new world." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela looks at the group with squinting eyes, apparently unconvinced. If anything, mentioning knowledge seemed to amuse the woman; she was clearly holding back a laugh. Upon noticing that the surrounding forest was suddenly rustling again however, she quickly dropped her smirk, clicking her tongue in irritation and turning to the Miqo’te man that had let them in before, motioning irritably.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Fuck it, sound the horn.” She turned to the group, half growling in irritation, “You lot want a hint? Rest is a priority.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The man runs into the nearby hut and returns with a horn, taking a deep breath before running to the edge of the village and blowing it. At first there is nothing but the echo of the horn and the rattling of the forest, but after a moment the rattling from the forest is accompanied by a thunderous rumbling from below. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino places a hand to her head, and her expression falls into a wince as she hisses through her teeth. "I do not think we shall have the luxury of rest," she says with a slightly strained voice as she reaches for her weapon. "What have you awoken with that horn?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Red aether bursts upward from beneath the village like an eruption, and creatures--clearly monsters--climb up the walls of the deep crater, roaring and screeing as they come to face the forest. As if at the same time, several more of the wood creatures reappear, accompanied by a far more sinister version of the living trees, mutated wildlife, and what appeared to be people half fused with the corrupted wood. The two groups faced off for now, still staring each other down threateningly for the coming battle, when finally amongst the creatures a small, tiny figure appeared, cloaking in burning crimson aether like a veil. The tiny figure landed on top of one of the beasts from the crater, a monster that seemed to be chunks of meat stitched together rather than a living creature. From the forest, the dense gathering of the half-wood soldiers parted, bowing slightly as a figure emerged from the darkness of the forest. As the figure approached and was illuminated by the light from the village, their features became more clear. It was....|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Familiar and Strange Faces ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | One and a half ears, a long tail not so bushy anymore, Red hair not as beautiful as it once was, white streaks | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You left me to die. Through everything, I've always been there, but when I needed any of you, I was alone. " A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Ask any one of Garlemald' | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And I'd have done it again, it was my duty to protect the weak of the tribe. One I'd failed in," Gair gestures all around him. "A failure I intend to unmake." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Just before A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | She pushes herself up to her feet a bit shakily. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | One of the half-wood soldiers slowly shambles towards A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The burning figure atop the monsters--likely the hero--suddenly fades away. At the same time, an area of the black shroud to the left of where the hero was a moment ago ignites with the same red aether, initiating the attack. Taking that as the signal, all of the beasts begin to charge at the same time towards the wooden army, crashing against one another with a sickening sound of meat smacking against crunching wood. The hero seemed to be quickly rampaging through the forest, as the blazing trail of aether flaring up through the trees like an aurora quickly starting to circle the outskirts of the village stronghold. Whatever was happening, the Sinner seemed to STILL be struggling to catch her breath, and promptly passes out as the battle begins. The Xaela woman with the group had already gone off to bark orders at her shadowy subordinates, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna sneers at the revelation of A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With the chaos of the battle raging around the village, and the four of them left to linger in the relative protection of the walls. Gair looks from Luna and then to Pipino to confer for their next course of action. "So, do we just sit on the sidelines to let Rina 'an this hero tucker themselves out? Rina did say she was on that fuckin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "As it stands, helping A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Amidst the battle, several corrupted roots make their way towards the flesh creatures, wrapping around what is presumably their legs or arms, anything resembling a limb, dragging them off into the darkness of the forest. one root however makes it's way towards A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | It doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | Pipino takes the lead and begins to head toward the hut that had been gestured to in a moment of peace, not sure if they are still welcome there or not. True to her word, she assumes A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Then go, Pip, I need to...watch this. Make certain my hand ain't needed out there," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | With a wild shriek from the forest, the tiny figure bursts into the village clearing still shrouded in red aether. The figure threw a head directly at A’erina with great speed—one whom she might recognize as the severed head of her pilot—before screaming wildly again and jumping back into the forest, another wave of neat monsters soon emerging from the crater to continue the fight. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | The forest starts making it's telltale signs of moving foliage again as several roots start making their way to A' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "A meaningless contest in a dead world, cousin!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner had yet to stir, and the supposed hero was still rampaging through the wood. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | A snarl forms on the knightess' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair reaches a hand out and grabs the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Slowly, the Sinner comes to a stir from Gair’s rude shaking, kicking and moaning weakly in response. As if signaled, a moment later a loud thumping sounded at the entrance to the hut, a glowing red aura obscuring a small figure hunched over on the ground like a feral beast. The hero had arrived.` | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "No I did not lay her low. Surely she deserves such but I have not acted upon it. Mayhap I should have." she says coldly. As the sound of the new arrival occured, the woman goes into a defensive stance, aether flowing from her left arm into a shield which she holds in front of her and moves forward, readied. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, speak of the devil." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “GRAAAAAH!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The moment Pipino brought attention to herself, the hero stood up, very clearly enraged. She did not waste movement or time further, closing the distance within the space of several heartbeats and thrusting a red shrouded hand for Pipino’s left eye. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Dice** | ||
| + | |||
| + | The picture of sandy pirate Jesus himself, Gair barely gets his crook out in time. Wielding it with purpose as the hero himself tries to take Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The red figure was rather light all things considered, and after being caught was easily redirected onto the floor as if it was completely outside their realm of imagination. There was a stunned moment as the hero hit the floor, where they seemed to have completely spaced out from the attack. A moment later however, there was a slight shifting in the hips followed by the sound of a heavy object swinging through the air. Rather than trying to escape Gair, a blade had emerged from the hero’s backside before flying again towards Pipino!|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Heroic action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino saw the blade and her visible eye went wide, the Lalafell crouching low and springing sideways, rolling away from the attack swiftly and recovering her position in a three-point crouch as she withdrew her weapon from her back and swiftly fired an aetherically charged round at them, the bullet crackling and sparking with an aura of levin that made it look like a streak of lightning. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero twisted up in ways that seemed far too unnatural to do, bending and scraping out from beneath Gair’s crook before jumping back as the bullet arced towards her retreating form. The aether surrounding her seemed to take the levin bullet, but the force of it still knocked her onto her bottom. Quickly snapping into a crouched position, she continued to growl savagely at Pipino, even as the red aether surrounding her body faded away, revealing what was shrouded underneath.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Flesh that seemed stitched on and burned. Wooden limbs that bent and snapped unnaturally to an unheard rhythm, large, unblinking eyes behind a badly cobbled together mask that seemed to resemble a face, but with sharp and grinding wooden teeth constantly visible just underneath. She was covered in little cuts, nicks, and scratches all over, and smelled of burning wood. This tiny wild woman was supposedly the hero.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Heroic action** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna takes the proffered opening, rushing to find herself behind the supposed Hero. Quickly does her shield come down as she grabs the hero, hooking her arms around odd shoulders, using a foot to knock the hero's own foot into an entwined hook with Luna's own, effectively creating a tight hold. Aether hums from and around her arm, ready to be applied if the situation arises. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Hero action.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero head butted Luna hard before jumping into the air, struggling and realigning herself into an awkward backflip in mid air before the sound of an uncomfortable scraping and a pop was heard; she had removed her wooden arms and in the same instance reared herself to kick off of Luna’s forehead, launching herself yet again for Pipino while screaming and now bleeding from arm stubs mid air, aiming a diving bite for Pipino’s face.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | **Dice** | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino shields her left side of her face with her left arm, switching her weapon to her right hand only to extend it and send a short burst of flame at the Hero, hoping to catch their wooden components on fire to slow their erratic movement down and deter them from getting too close. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||The hero was indeed hit by the fire, but strangely enough her wooden prosthetics did not catch flame. The rags she was wearing however very much did. More importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela looked towards Gair and Pipino, shaking her head in disgust. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What the FUCK happened now? Where the seven hells are her arms? I thought you wanted help, not to set the damn brat on fire!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Stupid fucking way to get help ain’t it?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I cannot help anything if she's dead set on ripping my face apart," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well that face does scream punch me...” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair presents the end of his crook against his chest, looking ready to draw some sort of weapon with his stick. Ready to intercede until the Xaela steps in to grasp them and put them in their place. "Glare at me all you want, woman. I controlled that ferocious little thing with naught but a stick." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “She managed to only attack one other shite lord before you arse cracks showed up. You sure blondie ain’t a damn spy?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess recoils from the headbutt and anime facejump combo, taking a moment to recover. Once she does, her eyes dart around to locate the Hero before locating her - docile and unmoving. Absolutely perplexed but not willing to show it, she stares at the Xaela as they speak, aether still humming out of her arm idly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks from the Xaela to Pipino now. Questioning and curious, he asks of the former. "Wait, can they feel corruption or some shite?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino stows her weapon on her back and crosses her arms shaking her head. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela squints her eyes, while the hero seems to rattle in place, seemingly only now noticing she had lost her arms in the earlier scuffle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Bad blood,” she finally uttered with a mechanical sounding voice, “Must take.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | Speaking seemed to be a source of pain for the hero. She seemed to catch on something in her throat inbetween each word, like a particularly thick hair all caught on something. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Can help.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to the Xaela, shaking her head in confusion before her eye bounces between the both of them. "Help with what?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You said you know me,” said the Xaela, now raising an eyebrow and looking to the ground as if to find memories there, “so how exactly is that again?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I already mentioned it, I had met you briefly in front of the college, presuming you do not have a twin or someone who enjoys that particular method of painting your face. We spoke of the weapon I was given, and whether or not our mutual acquaintance deserved to die or not. I do not presume to know you from such a small interaction, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Had twins....but I guess that clears it up. Did you drink his blood at some point?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looked insulted and disgusted at the same time. "Of course not." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That’s the only explanation for it. If she was just pissed cause of the taint, I’d wager she’d be tearing that hooded bitch in half, not trying to get at you.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | As if summoned by trash talk, the Sinner finally sat up, rubbing at her mask like it was her face. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Looks like I’m not dead. Wonderful.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner froze around the sight of the hero, reaching out with shaking hands but not actually touching her. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Ah...such radiant aether. No wonder I could not withstand it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "So we're all acquainted one way or another 'an not killin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well I’d love to cry and all but I need blood samples. And a container to put them in actually...also a volunteer to take the concoction.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Oh, what, you mean to just... start straight away then?" Pipino asks with an eye wide with surprise behind her goggles. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Did you think I’d stall for time that is already limited?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela stood up and spit before walking away, her interest in the situation apparently having worn off. Unrestrained now, the hero seemed to close the distance on the Sinner within a blink, teeth chattering down towards the Sinner as she leaned in close. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Blood? Why?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino simply nods her understanding. "How much is needed? And... What exactly is to be done with it?" she asks, clearly a bit wary of parting with her blood without some kind of assurance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner leaned back slowly despite the hero steadily leaning forward anyway, nearly crawling into her if not for her current lack of hands. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “More than a few drops for sure but not so much you will miss it. As for what is to be done...how about we skip explanations which only I can under—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She was cut off abruptly by the hero falling over on top of her, thrashing about strangely before sitting up again. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Profit, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | At this point, everything was so out of her wheelhouse that Luna could scarcely hide her plain confusion at the whole ordeal, as much as she wanted to. "So her blood is the key to salvation then?" she asks, trying desperately to rid her face of any signs of her true feelings. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Not quite no,” the masked woman replied, still staring warily towards the hero now, “but it is the easiest method to obtain what I need to create the tool we need.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "And what tool is this?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess sighs. "You all must enjoy the sound of your own voices overly much. No one speaks plainly." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well perhaps if you used yours more, you could think to ask questions to address your concerns instead of lamenting," | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I speak plainly that none of you would get it. If you lot really need a class while the world burns by all means I’ll give it. Or I can get to work so you all can try to undo all of this mess with that fancy action most of you seem downright itching to get to.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Show of hands?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “A container for the blood samples would be lovely.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs and waves a hand for her to carry on, looking around the small hut for some type of containers, knowing nothing of what kind of vessel would be required. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Any old flask will do until we get ahold of more?" Gair fishes out one from his pocket and unscrews it, downing the no-doubt foul contents. It's months old whiskey, or some foul adjacent concoction of liquor-like susbtance. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I’d love a sterilized lab, some vials, and time. We have none of those.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She takes the bottle and observes it for a moment before nodding in gratitude. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Now I just need some blood wrists ple—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She suddenly stopped talking, staring at the hero’s stubs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Arms please.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “....” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She does not bother to stop Gair even as people protest in the distance, staring instead towards Pipino, then the hero who had yet to move. The hero simply stared her unblinking stare before repeating her words again. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Profit.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to the hero, taking the chance at communicating. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The hero simply stares at the Sinner before suddenly snapping her head to face Pipino, her voice now colored with aggression in addition to her mechanical voice. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Why should I? What I get? Pay.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Well, what is it you would like?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You will find yourself lucky to yet live much less profiteer during this." She **snarls**, this time emitting a sound rather than some sort of evidently offensive description. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Offer.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks to Luna. "No, blood has value, more than people realize. She deserves compensation if she will not willingly give it." | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns her attention back to the hero. "I have not much I can offer aside from my skills as a machinist, unless you have a taste for art," she says, half joking. "My only other thought is perhaps seeing about getting you a sturdier set of limbs." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Having gotten into a minor scuffle with one of the residents over a vase that was holding a flower or some sort of pretty plant. A crash of glass and broken earthenware can be heard from outside. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Seven hells, the flower is dead! We need this more than you!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | And the rugged man emerges back into the hut, having been only able to procure a few drinking glasses and a large vase with a broken top. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna lets out a groan much like a murderous sideshow clown, wiping her hand down her face at Gair. "I suppose I should consider it a boon that you have not changed altogether." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Xaela returned soon after, clearly pissed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I can’t leave you idiots alone for half a damn bell before you do something stupid and shite! Why the gods damned hells are you fucking with my villagers like I won’t make you eat your own legs!?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Eat my legs after we have a cure," Gair snorts in answer, kneeling down to set the arrangement of cups and singular broken vase down in front of the Sinner to start her work. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Eat my arse! Clearly nice and pleasant demeanor from me has given the wrong impression, so I’ll start over. I don’t care if it’s to stop the world from cracking in half, or that supplies round here are scarce. Touch my people again and I’ll gather some gods damned stone, pound it into dust and bricks, make some mortar, and build several fucking walls just so I can put your chocobo shite smelling arse through them! Fuck all four of you!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She looks to the hero now and stomps closer, jingling the wooden arms that had been lost before roughly putting them back into place. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “And just tell Alkaid you’ll let her sleep you deaf fucks! That’s all the lazy little brat cares about!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She lifts both her arms again and faces the group one by one, making sure to flip each of them off in sequence before turning to stomp away. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Rolls her eye visibly, feeling like her treatment is completely unwarranted. She turns her attention back to the hero. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The knightess looks poised to speak but stops herself, not wishing to rile neither herself nor the Xaela. It is by the most tenuous fiber of her being that she does, however. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alkaid the hero turned and cocked her head, clicking her teeth curiously. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “When? Is loud. Always.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair grunts and steps outside mid-rant, nobody quite able to discern the displeasure on his features, as, well. They were persistently that way. Curiously, he looks around for wet patches of ground and begins to...dig at them with his stick. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some unseen twang of guilt weighs on him as he molds some crude earthenware by hand from what remains of the soil in the area. Sitting there in the dirt like a child at the end of the world. *What the fuck am I doing?* | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Improvising a furnace to fire the clay in, Gair opts to just heat them with thaumaturgical fire. Cooking up a number of cups and one vaguely vase-length receptacle. They aren't pretty, but they' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna stands there as if she were the executioner of one's will. Anything she would have to add would not be helpful and instead colored by desperate fury. Best just to let those better at dialogue speak. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Alkaid continues to stare, before suddenly closing the distance on the Sinner again, extending an arm while blood dripped through the apparently hollowed out prosthetic arms. Despite there being no obvious mechanism to make them function, the fingers still twitched and jerked as if alive. The Sinner caught one quickly, catching the blood in Gair’s previously emptied bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **HERO’S BLOOD ACQUIRED** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | As this goes on, Gair makes for the residences he plundered. Opting to knock-and-run, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Apparently one of the houses he plundered had a little girl living there. Whatever he had destroyed had caused her to cry, but upon his somewhat crude repentance, he was rewarded with a snotty but happy smile before the little shadow child ran off to her end of the hut to celebrate. | ||
| + | |||
| + | **VILLAGE ANIMOSITY REDUCED.** | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair grumbles and kicks rocks, prickly tsundere of a Sagolii cactus he is. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Looking down at the girls curiously, Luna asks of the Sinner. "Is that satisfactory? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Still need the other sample but otherwise yes. The rest will be on me.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "You are ready for mine then?" she asks, pulling off her right glove and reaching to her waist for a small utility knife. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner nods, presenting the same bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She tucks the glove under her left arm, approaching and pushing the tip of the knife in the soft pad of her ring finger, squeezing several drops into the bottle. She does so unblinkingly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner sighs, looking the samples over while apparently working with her free hand. The blood in the bottle begins to glow and swirl about in the empty spaces of the filthy bottle. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Finally, | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dutifully does Luna bend down, offering some thin ratty bandages for Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She reached up to remove her mask and place it down nearby. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino accepts the bandages and wraps it around her wound before sliding the glove back over it, figuring it would stay in place better that way. | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===== Transformations ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | | ||
| + | ||Underneath her mask were eyes that seemed to be strained far beyond imaginable limits, as if she had lived her entire life without blinking once. Rather than pupils, her eyes seemed a massive clot of blood and stretched veins. The entire upper half of her face was absolutely covered in scale like crystals that were red and white in color, while the center of her forehead sported a large and angular crystal not unlike the ones Gair had collected, or like the vast legions of the horde that had terrorized the world. With a blood curdling scream, she yanked the crystal free from her head before smashing it into the lip of Gair’s bottle, blatantly ignoring the immediate and serious blood flow gushing now from her head.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino steps forward and upon seeing the flow of blood can think of nothing but attempting to immediately attempt to stem the flow. They need her, and it isn't like she is just going to let her bleed out before whatever work was finished. She awkwardly strides forward and attempts to put pressure on the wound with her just her gloved hand for now, ready to back off if she would be in the way. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Silently does Luna follow suit, placing her own right hand against Pipino' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Sparing you to see it will be my mercy.” She spoke without minding Luna or Pipino, the glowing blood in the bottle beginning to sparkle and hum with energy now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Hundreds, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But my spite was once again underestimated. Such a gift, to hand me the means to undo this madness!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She raised her head to look at no one in particular. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “An undying body. One that will regenerate even once abused, tortured...torn apart.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You’ll want to find more containers for what comes after.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She lifts the bottle again, gulping slowly as she jingles it. For a moment, she seemed ready to launch it towards the floor. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino screws up her face for a moment as she watches her gaze at it and makes a move to slide her hand out from Luna's and makes to snatch for the bottle, something in the words she uttered and the way she was gazing at it unsettling her. "Those words sound not like ones of a curative nature!" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner has a grip on the bottle far stronger than anything she had shown prior, as if it were her last final treasure and the source of every evil in the world all at once. Carefully she took the bottle to her lips and downed the contents, including her own crystal which protruded painfully in her throat even as it slid down visibly from the outside. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner’s eyes began to glow and cry blood in luminescent streams down her cheeks. Something was happening. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino steps back from the woman instinctively and draws her weapon as she watches, an unsettling feeling gnawing away in the pit of her stomach. She is clearly torn between just wanting to end the woman for fear she would become too powerful, and i her carry on in case it could lead to some kind of salvation. She choses the latter option. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Instinctively does Luna step in front of Pipino, putting herself between the Eorzean Exorcist Girl and her old companion. The aether hums around her arm, forming a shield down where it hangs, covering her lower body and Pipino. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The sounds of yelling and screaming rouse Gair to stand, drawn from his thoughtful stupor to peer inside and stare. The sight of the crystals turn his countenance from sour to outright furious, but he chooses to not act on it and slams the huts door shut once more. Opting to go for a walk on the perimeter of Fallgourd Float. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Bloody and fresh looking voidsent like wings painfully and audibly rip their way out of the Sinner’s back, and her skin slowly fades from it’s deathly pale to a deep obsidian in fact, it seems that her skin seems to have taken on a crystalline like quality all its own, as her flesh began to reflect light around her. Finally, long and glowing claws burst from her fingertips in bloody fashion, radiating with aether. She was glorious and horrifying. Like seeing a daemon being born before ones eyes. She was....suddenly collapsed on the floor in a puddle of her own glowing blood, screaming in agony.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gauntleted hand finds its way to the hilt of her blade as Luna reacts to the strange display. Though she doesn' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino watches the scene in abject horror, only repulsion and conflict in her mind. Was this supposed to happen? Should she try and put her out of her misery? One action or the other could change the tide and the dilemma plagues her. She steps back, weapon drawn, and decides to wait, seeing what will come of this. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||After a while the woman stands again, still very clearly in pain and suffering from the aftereffects of whatever she had done to herself. She looks off to the side briefly, although her glowing eyes made it impossible to tell exactly just what she was staring at before looking for her old cane to lean on, a triumphant smile creeping across her features despite her clearly still being in agony. || | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino gazes at the woman, clearly still on her guard. "And now this is the point where you tell us precisely how this is going to lead to all you told us it would - a reversal, a cure." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna steps aside, the aether still humming around her arm but no longer taking the form of a shield. She looks between Pipino and the warped Sinner silently, listening. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair returns to the shack with a rather large and voluminous robe in hand, from the doorway he casts it toward the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Past that point sadly,” she replied, still leaning heavily on her stick before turning to Pipino and shrugging. “I’ve already told you there’s no cure. What’s happened is not a sickness, but is instead like a...let us call it an evolution. People are evolving, but deep within what we will call the instruction manual for this evolution is obedience. Subservience. And for those even weaker of mind, the liberation from weakness and connection to, well...everyone at once is enough to cause a form of madness. “ | ||
| + | |||
| + | She displays her body now, flapping her new wings cautiously. Every movement seemed to bring her pain. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “But I’ve broken the rules. Rather than just the select few who are resistant, we should even be able to retrieve the minds of those who have fallen. We can turn the dark ones own forces back to us. We can reclaim everything!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Stow this nonsense about such predetermined evolution. You sound more as one who wishes to convince others to join their cult then one who is explaining the facts." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I spend all my time explaining to you all that explaining is meaningless because you would not like or understand it. Now I finally deem to calm down and teach as asked and suddenly I need to stop it. Whatever—you all pick where you are going next.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I’d certainly like that, but no. My surviving this transformation was already beyond my expectation. But yes, I can explain hopefully enough to satisfy without overmuch confusion.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “I told you all that I was there when the dark one appeared. Without walking through the whole story again, I was probably the first amongst what you think of as infected. I could not be turned thanks to my self improvements making my mind a natural impediment of sorts to the method, but this body was another matter entirely. Further, it is quite undying. That was part of the ideal. Sparing me to see what was wrought.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “This body cannot be destroyed unless it is erased. And now the blood of this body can undo the shackles binding the minds of the corrupted. Had we more time, resources, and manpower we could improve it but for now...this is it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “To specify, the corruption is not the problem, it is the compulsion that comes along with it. The Dark One’s aether has been pumped into the lifestream like a virus, which facilitates the turn. Keep in mind the fundamental differences between sickness of the body and sickness of the spirit here, as it will help you organize how this corruption works.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Evolution is not predetermined as our friend here theorizes, but instead is a multi-parallel response to the individual, the dark one, and outside stimuli. Some people might grow to be capable destroying walls for example. Others grow to improve cooperation. I want to describe it as a hive mind in function, but there are clear instances of individualism playing a key role in the entirety of the process. This means that rather than the aether corrupting simply the body to obey, it has instead corrupted the minds of the afflicted. In its own way, those who are naturally resistant to the change have the chance to retain some greater functions of the self, while others seem to be regulated to—“ | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman cuts herself off now, sensing she was going into a tangent out of habit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “In short, think of minds as under an aetheric lock of sorts. My aether—and by extension my blood—currently act as a key.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The best part being that Unless I’m completely obliterated, | ||
| + | |||
| + | She picks up the robe Gair provided, shaking it off a bit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Those infected... Will they be turned back to our side through a mass action or... Or is it on an individual basis? What... What do you have to do to unlock it?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Any other questions?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | After a long moment of listening to the exchange between Pipino, Luna and the Sinner. Gair peers outside of the hut and looks southward, brows knit together in thought. "If the Dark One's blood has infected the lifestream...ain' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What? That’s one of the.....actually, | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Since the origin of this separate signal is me, I’m not sure how it would remain intact unless....ah.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs, crossing her arms now. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Do you intend to force me into it directly? | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a slight spark in Luna's eye at Gair's idea. "We shall raze the Twelveswood this day then." she says, almost sounding as if there was a shred of excitement to it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The elementals guard the Twelveswood and yet they could not even watch guardian over an abandoned little girl. No matter." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What little girl?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The woman frowns. "A scared young girl bereft of family. Lost to the world and found by a monster." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “And based on what our failed pilot has said, you now believe burning the forest down is the solution to the current plight?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "I do not care. If he says we must remove the cause of the corruption, and the source is that Twelve-forsaken overgrown tree... It makes it quite simple." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Have you not cleaned your ears in the past several years? When did a tree become the source of the corruption!? | ||
| + | |||
| + | “He’s referring to the fact that the Twelveswood has font locations that are especially close to the lifestream, much like and in some cases literally being leylines. This allows for especially complex interactions with said lifestream that are not possible in many other places. In fact, the next closest place where we could do something like this would be in Mor Dhona, which is arguably currently the most dangerous place in the world!” | ||
| + | |||
| + | She turns towards Gair again, arms still crossed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “So what was your plan?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Patient enough to listen in between Luna and the Sinner, he explains to the former. "This is all nearly beyond me, but, I'm more meanin' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “You should know that while in the long term using this solution would free the world, it is almost the same as outright abandoning all those currently corrupted already. What you propose is like purifying a tainted lake, but that does not save the poisoned flora and fauna around it.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “So you want both then.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Well I can think of two methods that might work in that case.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Yes, I do. If it is at all possible. What are your ideas?" | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “First is simply....turning people slowly over time. There’s a greater chance we won’t be around to see it end but the seeds will certainly be higher that what has been started here won’t be stopped.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The second...we try to overpower the dark one directly.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “In case it’s somehow not already clear the second option has a high chance of failure.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino sighs and runs a hand through her bangs, clearly a bit torn. "And it would take long enough that battles still need to take place - plenty of people who could otherwise be saved will continue following that thing' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Far as I’m concerned I’m already dead in any of these scenarios so I’ll leave it to you three what you want to do. I’ll have my revenge either way.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair bobs his head in a nod, clearly weighing the options. "Is it possible the Dark One would feel us if we went to the center of the Shroud, possibly...send some of his strongest agents our way? I've an idea that might give us the edge on the latter of our two options." | ||
| + | |||
| + | "That is, if he fears being expunged from the lifestream." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Sinner simply looked to Pipino. | ||
| + | |||
| + | “That idea being?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Do you think it will be enough?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino looks away from the Sinner' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “What do you all think?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The end goal is the same, it matters not what the means are to me." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair drums his thumb on the hook of his crook and shrugs. "I can spitball courses of action for a sennight if you want. If we wanted a surefire way to expunge him long term, we could each take some of the Sinners blood and quit for the cardinal winds. A pilgrimage, if you will." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Gair looks toward Luna to ask. "If you lay no claim' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Luna nods at the man. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | Pipino nods. " | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Who?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "The Miqo' | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “The hero?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | "No, the one who was fighting the hero." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “....Don’t recall. Tell me more about them.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "She said that she was dead. She was blown up by a bomb. Her body looks quite awful - cracks in her body with aether flowing out of them. She said the Dark One sustains her. And she has the ability to control the corrupted creatures within the wood as if they were her pets." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Think she’s willing then?” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "Even if she ain't, if she's robbed of her connection. The Dark One's army would set on her like anyone else." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “Not necessarily true.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | “...Hmm...if only we still had aetherites...” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | "By taking on the Dark One directly, what did you have in mind? I hardly think just walking up to him and and shooting him would do much for us." | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | “If we assume the same rules that apply to the horde also have applied to the dark one, I’d say whatever we imagine is likely insufficient.” | ||
| + | |||
| + | <fc # | ||
| + | |||
| + | She sighs and stays silent for a moment, reckoning with something internally. She finally speaks up. " | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The Grand Conclusion ===== | ||
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| + | <fc # | ||
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| + | ||The group ultimately decided to sacrifice the Sinner. By dispersing her essence into the lifestream, they made certain that no matter the route THEY took, the future would be secured. The Dark One had no means to gain more followers, and those that would be born in the future would be immune to his corruption. Further, even so much as travelling through the aether would allow for one to be cleansed, further chokeholding the Dark One and its forces. The world was saved and, in time, its inhabitants would be as well.|| | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Taking the attack on Ishgard as an opportunity to bring yet more good to the many, Luna, Pipino, and Gair ultimately decided to directly attack the Dark One's seat of power: Mor Dhona. The plan was simple, end the dark one while his forces crush Ishgard, and there are no more invasions. No need for waiting on the future. What they found however was nothing short of despair. They were confronted by none other than a corrupted Aymeric, and the legion of elite defenders at his command. The three made their attempt to break through. Right as hope seemed lost however Raziel appeared, bloody and broken from the events that unfolded at Ishgard--but more importantly, | ||
| + | |||
| + | ||Unsurprisingly, | ||
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| + | ||The two had made it to what could be considered the throneroom in the end, battered and bloody from yet more minor scuffles on the way up the tower, but found themselves encountered once again by their fallen friend. Parading what was left of Luna's bones to taunt them, the group engaged yet again. A' | ||
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| + | ||As it happens, A' | ||
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| + | ||It was now Gair with the Dark One, but broken and beaten as he was, the outcome of the fight was always obvious. Each and every attack Gair attempted was repelled, deflected, and countered. Blow after blow, and failure after failure, Gair continued to stand as if possessed by his single-minded wrath. It was not Gair's final charge however that drew blood, but a spear made from his blood. Without his input. Pipino was dead, but whatever was in her eye was still very much alive. Gair's blood had come in contact with a drug years prior and, unbeknownst to him, had been growing steadily. Flowing through him without aim or command. In the moment of the Dark One's hubris, it was commanded to burst from his chest, striking the Dark one in the heart as well.|| | ||
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| + | ||The group had fallen, but in their own way they managed to succeed. Despite it costing their lives, the had done irreparable damage to the Dark One and the horde. They forced the Dark One to go into stasis to heal, and his most powerful underlings were now lost. When he emerged, he would not find a world ready to conquer, but a future in which he was the prey. The one whom would be wiped out by the very world he set out to bring to heel.|| | ||
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| - | [[Start|Home]] --> [[Character Profiles and Collections|Character Index]] --> [[Pipino]] --- [[Luna]] --- [[Gair]] --- [[Aerina]] --- [[Raziel]] --- [[Veldi]] --- [[Wisteria]] --- [[Eligor]] | + | [[Start|Home]] --> [[Character Profiles and Collections|Character Index]] --> [[Pipino]] --- [[Luna]] --- [[Gair]] --- [[Aerina]] --- [[Eligor]] |
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| + | Cameos | ||