.:Final Fantasy:. *Darkness Descends* [BEGINS]

[Crystal Tears]

FINAL FANTASY
Darkness Descends

If only it were so simple,
to cruise through life smelling roses;
but the obstacles blacken the countryside,
and we unwittingly crush them beneath our boots.

Dreams sustain us through the madness;
goals give a finish line to our race.
Yet they change with every turn, around every wall,
and remain elusive throughout the quest.

Mistakes are made, and regrets are our luggage;
we will drag them with us to slow us down.
The victories are flashes of light, sudden and unlasting, which allow us
to glimpse the road ahead before darkness descends.

Love is bitter, yet it is the bread that keeps us.
Over and over it fills us up, only to starve us.
The people whom we love shape our destinies and our strengths,
yet leave us cold and alone in the darkness.

There are others trying to race to the end;
occasionally, we bump into one or two.
The bonds we form help us down the path less lonely
but eventually, we lose each other in the darkness.

Alone is not a bad way to be;
it clears your head and focuses you on the journey.
Cherish the short intervals during the quest you have with others,
but be prepared to walk alone in the darkness.

Long ago, it was said that a Summoner by the name of Yuna banished the creature Sin from this world. The Calm came then; one that was said to be everlasting. Though it only lasted for three years, in reality; until the now High-Summoner Yuna was forced to come to Spira’s rescue once more. But this time, from an undead threat that had long been tormented. It was then that the continent known as Spira and all its people began to get along. Governments formed alliances, and the everlasting Calm did exactly what it was meant to do.
Last seemingly forever.

It has been four hundred long years since Yuna and her Guardians saved our world for a second time. We have continued to live in peace with each other. Every uprising has been peacefully subsided, each near outbreak of war avoided and put to rest. Temples of the ancient Yevonites crumble as we become more advanced, and forget the old ways. It has taken us four hundred years to completely forget the horrors that Sin and the undead Shuyin once brought upon us.

We live on a planet named Gaia, though this is not often mentioned. It is not strange that our continent, though it is vast and supreme, isn’t the only one on our fair Gaia. Across the sea there lies another. Like us, they have been forged into a vast alliance. Ivalice is what they call their lands. Aggressive would be a kind way of expressing their leader’s personality. He sees us only as a nuisance; and honestly, we think of him and his followers as the same.
His name is Vayne Solidor, the Emperor of Ivalice, a continent about the same size as ours. Though he and our leader, the High Maestress Yunalesca (named after the first summoner to defeat Sin) have agreed on peace, everyone can feel the tension. Our warships patrol our borders constantly, and it is even rumoured that war machina have been produced.
I am a firm believer that war has merely been suspended by this treaty, not avoided.

Oh, do forgive my rudeness. My name is Maechen, and I am a scholar. For a very long time, I have recorded the history of Spira both on paper, in spheres, and in my mind. Although at this moment in time, I am not in Spira, and nor am I in Ivalice.

I am on a newly discovered continent that has no real name, for both the Emperor and the High Maestress discovered it at the same time. Both myself, and the settlers from both sides have found this place to have a different feel to it. Magicks of all varieties are here; entwining themselves around each other and those who have newly arrived. At points, the feeling is grand, and powerful. Something to be admired and respected. While other times, in other areas, particularly around the coastal mountains and central forest, it feels horrid and evil.
I fear the darker feeling has been spreading. The creatures all around have become violent, and the mortality rate is rising. People have become aggressive, especially the leaders. Both on the island, and off…

Darkness is descending upon us… I can only hope that High-Summoner Yuna hears my prayers for peace. Before it is too late.

~Maechen

Maechen died two days later in a night raid believed to be carried out by the Ivalice Empire. Emperor Solidor denied any responsibility for the act. That afternoon, the High-Maestress met with the Emperor. It was there that Spiran friendly forces (including the Maestress) were attacked, leaving the Empire relatively unharmed in the action. The war that had been avoided for four hundred years had begun.

As the Warship ‘Auron’ escaped the Ivalice capital of Archades, the massive and powerful 7th fleet of the Empire made a swift and crippling attack on the New Home City, situated on Bikinel island.

Bevelle, the rival capital of Archades, revealed its new weapons about a week later. Long-ranged missile-Machina were unleashed, flattening the fortress and metropolis of Nalbina. It was believed that Emperor Solidor’s child was visiting Nalbina at the time, prompting this horrendous attack.

Now the war turns to the un-named continent. Rich with resources that could ultimately decide who wins this tragic war, the settlers of this place nervously wait as the horizon becomes thick with the shadows of airships.

DARKNESS DESCENDS

That's right! FINAL FANTASY: DARKNESS DESCENDS has officially begun! I'm sorry for the delay, I was originally going to post this on July 1st, but there were some issues that needed to be dealt with. anyways. I give you! The RPG!

Selene Raminas

// The mountain pass was a treacherous one.The wind was constantly hollowing in your eyes and the sun’s usually bright, warm rays failed to break through the thick, grey cloud cover which was constantly pouring out giant white snowflakes, and freezing rain. The rain stung the skin while the gale force winds ate away at the flesh, making the rain seem more like daggers. Truly, this pass was something to fear, something to avoid, and something to ignore at all points possible.
// However, for a small caravan of people, this pass was the only hope for settling the small mini wars that were plaguing this continent. The caravan was lined with food, clothes and medicine, especially the renown and dearly needed Vaccine. A counter-effective drug that destroys the Ivalician Disease that seems to have flourish and taken over this continents poor countryside. There was enough in this caravan for three major cities worth, as it only took a small dose (maybe three drops) of the sacred liquid to eliminate it from the body. Each vile was about as large as a pop can, made of glass, with ‘Vaccine’ written in large bold letters on the label. The liquid was a faint, lime green color that made you think it was more dangerous then helpful.

// “Damn it!” Selene cried. Covering her face from the hard gust of wind as the chocobo kicked. It’s foot slamming into one of the other caravaners, throwing him to the edge. The large yellow bird threw its head about, squawking and crying until the leather restraints finally snapped. Like a bullet, the animal careened forward. But with another loud and scream-like chirp the feathered runner slipped. It’s large, clumsy feet catching each other as the claws grinded into the ice. Selene watched wide eyed as the bird tumbled right off. Its cry cut short by another loud gust.

// The caravan was stuck on the bridge.

// The ‘bridge’ was actually a very narrow, very slippery rock path that sprawled across the largest and deepest canyon which had been carved into the mountain by water, wind, ice, and snow. Selene had only seen the bottom of this canyon once; it was filled with broken bones, jagged rocks, and sharp, ice stalagmite. The ice that formed the actual bottom of the canyon was relatively thin in most parts, and if you managed to live through hitting the ice, you would be swept away and lost in the icy waters.
// Until you appear bloated, blue and dead at the mouth of the river Frostwyrm. Where reluctant settlers will pull you from the water and either burn your body for the Ivalician sending, or send your soul before burying you, in the tradition of the Spiran culture.

// Selene was actually from Ivalice, and wore a deep blue cape that bore her homeland’s insignia. Representing she was highly respected by the Ivalician people, but most likely despised by the Spirans. She didn’t let it bother her though, if this little mini war stopped, the Leviathan could float right past this settle meant instead of turning the Spira friendly town into a smoking crater.
// Some sort of contorted screech shot through the canyon then. The woman turned around, eyes widening as a massive bird swooped down from the cloud cover, diving towards her until it swiveled at the last instance and wrapped its thick, black talons around the traveling medic before taking off. Selene didn’t even have time to see the other then its blurred shadow, but her eyes were settled on a thirteen inch long feather sitting at her feet. The others glanced at her as she cautiously picked up the feather. It was purple, a velvety, royal purple that glistening in the small amount of light managing to come down on the path.

// “Oh god…” Selene gulped. “Vultures!”

// On cue, more birds came diving from the sky. Ranging from sizes but all were between five to eight feet tall. Their calls were echoing off the deep canyons walls, creating some sort of horrid music that sung death to everyone on the pass. Selene pulled a slender, old style pistol from the holster on her leg and pointed at one of the birds. It glared at her, opening its long, spear like beak, letting a soft, cooing call escape its mouth.
// Selene didn’t wait any longer, she fired. The small, round bullet let out a magnificent bang and then a sharp crack as it slammed into the bird. The cooing it had let escape its beak ended with an unforgiving screech, and then it fell, disappearing into the looming cloud cover below the bridge.

// It was utter chaos on the bridge; vultures were everywhere, swiping people straight off the bridge and then tossing them into the air. It was hard to believe that the bigger ones could open their mouths wide enough to swallow a person whole. But it succeeded. You could see the people trapped inside the flyers, pushing against the stomach walls while they were being digested alive. If the vulture happened to open its mouth, it was only so the people on the bridge could hear those trapped inside scream.

// “Ms. Raminas!” Selene turned, that was her name. She only got to glance at the man who had called her name before something grabbed her. The claws were careful enough not to tear into her skin, but tight enough to cut you if you dared to move. Selene watched the ground beneath her feet disappear as it brought her upwards, tightening its grip as the high, and freezing clouds above made the bridge disappear from her sight.

// She was thrown! The cruel flyer did a flip and tossed the girl high into the air. Her heart was racing, as she knew the bird was one of the larger one. She grasped her gun tighter, focusing hard to making her body twirling into a head long dive. Her blue eyes were focused on the large, black hole that was the bird’s open throat. Her thumb grazed over a small switch on the side of pistol’s muzzle. With a smirk plastered on her face, she watched the tip of the muzzle glow, small licks of flame disappearing into the clouds.

// The bang this time was muffled. An incandescent bullet fired from the muzzle, turning into a wicked fireball of various shades of orange, red and yellow. It grew large enough to be considered a threat to a person before it disappeared into the vulture’s throat and then stomach.

// One thing about a Vulture’s stomach acid, which only an Ivalician would know:

// It’s explosive.

// The curse of a bird let out a strangled squawk before green and blue flames shot out of its mouth. In an instance the bird was gone and Selene fell through a large puff of feathers. Her body was thrown out of the dive by a gust of cold wind, and she began to do dizzying loops through the air before her hand barely grasped the edge on the bridge. Her fingers began to quickly numb from the ice and her arm ached from the sudden grasping of the ledge and weight of her own body being blown about by the wind. She slipped her gun back into its holster and swung her other arm upwards. With many grunts and groans she tugged herself up enough to see the precious caravan.
// Half way off the edge!

// The sight of seeing the dark-steel crates leaning halfway out of the back of the wagon as the smooth wooden wheels grinding against the ice, making it all the more easy for the contraption to fall off, made her yelp, catching the attention of a vulture that dived at her, making her left hand slip free.
// Selene was relying on her wounded right arm to keep her alive, and as her fingers slipped. She knew she was failing.

// But her view was obscured by a man. Selene locked eyes with him in her moment of complete helplessness (which was much to her dismay). They were brown, an average colour, but there was something different about them. They had a distinctive attractiveness about them; this attractiveness seemed to cover the man entirely, though Selene was hardly noticing this due to her state. His shirt was wet and clung slightly to his body while the rain, snow and wind played with it further.
// “There’s a cliff there love.” Charming, but had a sour undertone of stating the complete obvious. With a mental frown Selene managed to catch a glimpse of the caravan.

// “Forget me, get the caravan!” She cried, not seeing his reaction due to watching the crates press dangerously onto the wooden frame of the poorly constructed contraption. He didn’t even glance at it, only stayed fixed on her.

// “Oh, but how can I leave a pretty face to drop to a grisly death?!”

// She was pulled up; her body ached from the strain it had gone through as she collapsed onto the chilly, but comforting icy surface of the bridge. She turned to the man who saved her, thank you, was about to escape her mouth until she pulled out her pistol and shot.
// He looked shocked, but snapped out of it when a large purple demon-bird slammed into the side of the narrow pass and then fell into the depths of the canyon. Selene didn’t wait, even as her body raged against her will. She darted through the chaos, narrowly avoiding beaks, bullets and other random obstacles (including a random rolling pirate) to grab a hold of a thick leather strap.

// Her arm ached as she held onto the strap. The caravan was pulling her forward, as and the crates were now putting way to much pressure on the back. Hundreds of curses shot through Selene’s mind, yet none of them seem to suit her situation was the other caravaners were busy fighting off Vultures or trying not to slip off the damned icy edge.

This entire situation seemed hopeless.

Alright, so it begins! I would like to see everyone post their interpretation of the fight before it ends. Which will probably come by my next post and such. Have fun!

[Weasel Overlord]

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn

I’m one of a kind

I’m designer!

~

The rain was nearly relentless, yet again. Sirius’ clothes, well used to being sodden by now, seemed to have given up in their attempt to stay dry, and were now plastered to every part of his body. His hair was stuck to his head, but all he could do was laugh.

This elemental weather had come at a good time, at least. For the last few months he’d been fair roasting in the heat, and with all the repairs he needed to do on the Wolfstar, the heat was extremely unpleasant. But as it was, it felt like the sky had been saving up every last drop of rain it could muster, just to pour it all down his neck in great torrents.

Not that Sirius had ever minded the rain. In moderation, he quite liked it, in fact. But he did somewhat object to great downpours that showed hardly any sign of abating.

He sighed as he pulled cream tarpaulin over a part of the Wolfstar, weighing it down with bricks so that it didn’t blow away. Brushing wet hair away from his neck, he shivered as a trickle of water wended its way down his spine.

Straightening, Sirius glanced fondly at the Wolfstar, safe and dry under her waterproof coverings. That ship was his baby. And this damn island was driving him insane! It seemed to take so much longer to fix one single thing than it ever had anywhere else. This bloody place. There was… something about it. Sirius hadn’t felt right ever since they’d crashed, almost a full year ago.

Even now, something was niggling at the back of his mind. Something prodded and poked, irritating away until he was nearly ready to tear out his hair, becoming snappish with everyone around him.

And then a voice on the wind confirmed his bad feelings, and Sirius leapt into action. There was a gunshot, muffled slightly by the pelting of the rain, and the squawk of a fiendish bird of some sort. Sirius turned his head towards the sounds and ran, one hand gripping Durrendal’s hilt, ready for the onslaught of fiends that he was expecting.

It was quite a shock, therefore to see a caravan tipping off the edge of the cliff, and a hand, whitening slowly, holding on to grass for dear life. A head appeared, slowly, and a pair of shoulders, obviously tiring with the effort of holding up an entire body.

Making his decision quickly, Sirius walked the few steps to the cliff edge and grinned down into the face of a stressed-looking girl.

“There’s a cliff there, love.” She didn’t look too pleased at this, and Sirius mentally adjusted his tone of voice as she yelled back at him.

“But how can I leave a pretty face to drop to a grisly death?” Sirius reached down and took a firm hold of the girl’s hand, bending down as he pulled her up and back onto firm ground.

A bullet rang past his ear as she took out another bird without a word of thanks, and Sirius scowled in her direction, turning on his heels and whipping Durrendal from its sheath.

Raising the longsword above his head, he cut into another vulture as it flew at him, then turned with a flourish to take out a second with a flurry of feathers and a shout.

The girl he’d saved seemed perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and Sirius decided to focus on the larger of the vultures, where his blade would be more use.

Carving a path to the rapidly escaping caravan, he grabbed a leather strap and braced against the weight of both it and its luggage, jostling the girl companionably.

“What’s your name then love?” He turned to face away from the cliff, holding tightly to the strap with one hand as he hacked at any vultures that flew near with the other.

“Selene… Raminas…” she breathed through gritted teeth, “and who… are you?” She took a careful step backwards, pulling the caravan further from the edge.

“Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn, captain of the airship Wolfstar at your service, madam Selene.” He sketched a quick bow and then snapped straight back up again to take out a daring vulture.

He wrapped the leather strap once round his wrist to get better purchase, and then dug his heels into the ground and pulled, hard. The caravan, jolted from its teetering position, came to rest on solid, flat ground at last, and Sirius turned to Selene, his teeth bared in a grin. “Nothing like a nice bit of exercise in the rain, I find. Oh, and would you credit it, here comes my first mate now, late as usual.” He waved Durrendal towards the approaching figure enthusiastically.

“Adair my man! You’re just in time to kill some birdies!”
-----
Tag-a-malag! GO Rio GO GO! *runs away*

[Pichu Luver]

I hope you be amused. ^^''''

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Adair Stroud
~-~_~-~

It was raining. But not just raining. Oh no, it was the kind of rain where it was so cold as to be nearly ice. It stung like being hit with a slingshot-propelled pebble. And just to be utterly disagreeable, at random intervals thick blinding snow would cover ones face. The infernal crystals would stick to ones beard and hair so much so that they would seem to be eighty. Any sensible creature had taken cover. But then had Adair even been counted among the sensible?

Adair is about as sensible as a Veira dropped into Mist.

As of right now though, a highly girlish tone is floating on the biting wind from the engine area of the downed ship Wolfstar. Adair would say he was experimenting with tone . . . but it's not like he much cares what anyone thinks anyway.

"Now it's raining,
Then it snowing,
Next it sooo friggin hot,
You could fry and egg on my aaaaaaaaaaass."

Adair Stroud finished tightening the last bolt with a flourish and a bowed to a non-existent audience. They would of fled from his screeching anyway.

He strutted a swagger that would do a duck proud around the ship and kicked the door that led inside. Sirius would have hit him, but then many people would like to hit him and Sirius wasn't around at the time anyway. The door opened with a whoosh and pranced his way up the ramp and practically flounced to the bridge.

Sirius while being (in Adair's mind anyway) highly effeminate and prone to being exceptionally silly had not been so naive as to leave the bridge unattended when Adair was trying to fix his ship. If he did mange to fix it and Sirius was not around, he would promptly leave the ex-socialite in the proverbial mana-wake. He knew this and one of the shrinking crew watching over it.

Adair waved cheerily and flopped into his seat. The kid barely looked up from his book. Adair turned what would work on and enjoyed the many happy beeping sounds. He raised his hands and took a few soothing breaths before turning on the engines, just to warm up mode.

A great shudder rocked the ship and it promptly . . . farted.

Adair cursed long and eloquently, not all of it English. Just every single curse that came to mind and some that didn't that he made up on the spot. Simply because they sounded right.

The crewmate was just staring at him, mouth open, and an utterly horrified and shocked look on his face. Adair--finally finished--minced over, and shut his mouth with a finger.

"Now lad you're with pirates, best loose whatever civility you thought was good for those up starting, Chocobo looking propriety types. Wouldn't do you a lick of good out here. Especially since, " Adair reached over and shut off the farting ship, "you're currently the member of a flatulent ship."

Adair, fed up for the day marched out the door down the hallway and out the top hatch. He just stood there and realized,

It was now just raining.

Adair already thoroughly annoyed shook a fist at the pouring sky. "Make up your bloody mind already! Roast us, freeze us or drown us, I don't care but PICK YOUR TORTURE and STICK with it!"

Feeling suitably unirritated now he then heard what sounded like gunshots.

"Aye, bout time I had something else to do then fix this, (he started to kick it) good for nothing, infernally, ludicrously, complex, sh--iaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

I ringing dong was heard as his head thwacked the hull. Knocked senseless he slid right down the side, to the wing to the ground.

The drop to the ground woke him just in time to feel the dull thunk of his body hit the ground.

He groaned and flipped the bird at the ship.

"Love you to darling."

He slowly got to his feet, shook himself then ran a rather left to right wobble toward the pass. His head hadn't quite adjusted itself back to seeing one image. Not a great difficulty as Adair wasn't entirely sure he always saw one image all the time anyway.

He reached the battle and raised one hand in triumph.

"I am here dear caravan people and if there is strong alcohol in that wagon . . . like . . . thingy I-iiiaaaaaaaaaa!"

His hand had of course, been grabbed by a passing Vulture.

"My air miles are restricted to use on the air ship you fiendish devil. As such," he reached over his back with his other hand and got out his sword. "I will be ending this excursion."

He stabbed the bird up through its chest right on through to its head. It shuddered and died right there and Adair realized a crucial thing,

The bird could fly.

He could not.

As the Vulture went up in pyreflies he screamed ridiculously loud and high as he fell. The luck gods must have had pity on him (or just wanted his banshee like shrieking to end) and a Vulture flew under him at just the right time. The bird squawked and banked right so he rolled right off onto the pass.

He just kept rolling as it seemed the wisest course of action and had the unusual pleasure of seeing a rather lovely lass jump right over him. He grinned stopped his rolling and stood up altogether to fast. He had a near black out and he dizzyingly wobbled and somehow managed to avoid the three birds coming for him by raising his sword and hoping for the best. The bird speared itself and Adair was happy to realize that the three birds were just one. He then heard Siruis talking behind him.

He turned and strutted over to him, (seeing rather disappointedly Sirius had already met the lovely leaping lass) and smiled charmingly and supremely pleased with himself as he was addressed.

“Adair my man! You’re just in time to kill some birdies!”.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

YAY XHINNY WE'RE LATE LET'S BOMB SOME VULTURES
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Yomu, of the explosives

You do it to yourself, you do
and that's what really hurts

On a continent without a name, in a settlement without a name, Yomu, who had no name till his grandfather decided that he should stop referring to his grandson as 'boy' and instead name him after his favourite pastime (reading; youme in old Guado, corrupted by long years of slurring Spiran speech into Yomu), sat in a makeshift tent, the skies pouring over his head, and attempted to cast a spell that he did not know the name of (if it even had a name) onto a child, limbs like sticks, hair like straw, crying out for its mother.

There was one thing they had a name for, in this place. Much thought and creativity had no doubt been put into the naming of the crippling malaise that ailed many settlers of the unnamed continent. They'd called a disease Disease.

A few weeks ago, he hadn't even known how to cast spells, let alone the proper incantations and conditions for them, but no one else could and he himself didn't know he could (the way he did it was, close his eyes and hope) and he wasn't good at it anyway, no matter what he did they only got a little bit better, and it was plain to see that they would all succumb to Disease soon.

The child's wasted form shone with a fairy glow, for the briefest, slightest moment; its breathing became less ragged, and it stopped clutching at the blanket in agony: but then the glow was gone, and though it now slept in relatively undisturbed slumber Yomu wasn't about to kid himself that he'd bought very much time for it.

"The Vaccine shipment's late," he said, resisting the urge to slump against the makeshift bed.

"So it is," scowled the woman who ran the healing tent; she was not in the best of moods - seeing ten people die in less than seven days was hard on the nerves. "Not enough fit to go have a look, either. We've barely enough men to defend the village."

"I'll go. I'm not being much help here anyway."

"Give those Ivalicean bastards a piece of your mind from me. Bloody softies likely got et by fiends, and our Vaccine sunk to the bottom of the Frostwyrm, you mark my words."

Barely enough men to defend the village, indeed - there was only one man at the gatepost, sucking on a sodden cigar. Yomu recognized him; he was Arcil, a tough old bird who had come to the unnamed continent with Maechen, like him, and had occasionally produced ancient firearms and modern explosives of dubious origin for the late scholar's inspection. The old man had all the makings of a classic arsonist and/or terrorist: he was fascinated with fire, and the means of producing it, the accompanying explosions being an added bonus. Yomu disapproved of such senseless destruction on principle, but he had been taught to respect his elders, however idiosyncratic said elders might be.

Arcil tipped an elderly hat at Yomu as the younger man passed, staff jingling. "Not so fast, young 'un - going out on your own with only a dinky little staff for defenses?"

Before Yomu could protest, Arcil unloaded a large sack of what he could only hope was legally obtained weaponry into his arms. "Wh-what are these?!"

"Somet I found in a dig. Bin meaning to give it to Maechen for a look-see but old gaffer up and died so you're the lucky one what gets it. It's loaded." Here the old man stopped to grin, and hissed, in Yomu's ear: "Got somet special in there for you, too. I bin making me little pineapples."

Yomu knew these little pineapples. Two or three of these little pineapples, thrown correctly, could well blow up an entire airship.

"Fire," wheezed Arcil through a cloud of smoke, "is a man's true weapon."

Yomu, holding what felt like a large, vaguely tubular device and a bag of what could have been the most dangerous explosives in existence, nodded mutely.

*

There was screeching overhead, and screeching quite up close.

Yomu put out a tentative hand to steady the slightly panicky young woman in front of him. He was using the adjective panicky as a matter of conjecture, as the silver-haired lady was doing a fairly good job at keeping her nervousness under check. It was just the way she bit her lip and clutched her - extremely lethal-looking, it must be said - whip. Her knuckles had gone deathly white, in contrast to the sleek, darkish handle of the weapon.

She was also quite a lovely young woman, but he didn't have time to blush right now.

"You! You're from that dratted village?!" Ah yes. There was that little quiver in her voice, as well, the quiver that meant the owner of the voice was not so very far away from curling up into a little ball and whimpering for the bad thing to stop bothering her and go away, right now, please.

Yomu was trying to focus on insignificant little details because his brain tended to shut down and not function if he focused on the larger ones, viz. there was a veritable horde of vultures descending upon the caravan, there were only five people including him and the young silver-haired lady currently active and available to fight and though one of the others evidently had a good gun arm judging by the shots and reciprocal shrieks he was hearing, the other two were close-range fighters judging by the equal amount of cursing he was also hearing. He was a close-range fighter. Silver-haired lady was a close-range fighter. He wasn't even a fighter, period.

"I said, are you from the village!" Silver-haired lady seemed to be focusing on the insignificant little details as well. At least they were agreeing on something.

"Yes, I am." Time flowed so much more slowly when you were about to die, Yomu thought with utmost clarity of mind.

"Do something!! What's that you've got in your hands anyway?! No, not the silly jingling staff! That... that sack thing!"

Yomu proffered the sack. Between himself and the silver-haired lady, they managed to disentangle what appeared to be a large, cannon-mouthed blunderbuss, with a proliferation of mysterious knobs dotted upon its sides. There was a stand, and more pineapples.

"How quaint, an oversized gun that we have not the least idea how to use."

"I think the pineapples are supposed to go in he- argh! Vulture behind you!"

A vulture swooped down, and the silver-haired lady took a sizeable chunk off one of its legs as it went past, then continued panicking. "What are the knobs all for? Which one do we press?!"

"I don't know, I'm just putting the pineapples in here, all right, and then maybe you could aim it and I'll randomly flick some of the switche- The vulture's coming baaaaack!"

"Blasted, dratted, horrible bird... I've got your bloody wings twisted now, you horrible bird, yes that's it, slip down the cliff and die, dratted avian... Aim? HOW do you aim this when the targets switch position every millisecond or so?!"

"So I'm hitting this likely looking knob on the right of it, all right? Just aim-"

The resulting explosion took out an offending vulture and a good part of the opposing cliff.

Yomu and the silver-haired lady exchanged looks of wonderment.

Then they got back to business.


note about grenade launcher/mortar thinger thing: it is not a permanent addition to Yomu's (very lacking) arsenal, though he will keep some of the bombs for emergencies and I am sorry in advance if it's not allowed
note in general: apologies if misRPed anything, my nose is shot to hell and my head feels like I've been growing cotton wool where my brains should be.

[Hyperness is a Good Thing]

>.> Stupid fever. I’m hoping my minor delirium isn’t showing in this post.
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Alya Kalani
-KABOOM-

She would have never expected anything like this. Freezing up as soon as combat ensued. Master Salaive would be ashamed. Her mind told her that these were just oversized birds, she could easily dismember one of them with her trusty whip, it wasn't that she lacked the ability - but her limbs refused to obey the higher-up mind today, and all she could do was watch as the monsters devoured humans, some of them alive. It was a horrendous sight, not like anything she had ever seen in her pampered nineteen years of life.

Alya almost shrieked out loud when she felt a slight touch to her shoulder, but managed to save herself from intense personal shame by biting her lip and turning around as casually as she could.

The sight that greeted her eyes was not a demon vulture, but a rather, what would be best described as undernourished young man, who watched her, or rather, her whip with a rather understandable apprehension.

"You! You're from that dratted village?!" she managed to say, with only a slight tremble in her voice to betray her deep fear. She stared at the man, whose eyes were darting around wildly. He seemed rather deep in thought, but when he still failed to speak or answer her, she could not restrain herself. "I said, are you from the village!" She wasn’t sure why that was so important, or why she had to have the answer immediately, but at least it took her mind off things, and she felt slightly better.

"Yes, I am."

The silence hung heavy in between them for a couple of seconds, before she, grabbing at straws as a drowning person was wont to do, noticed something in his rather strange hands – they were long and rather creepy, but now wasn’t the time to comment. "Do something!! What's that you've got in your hands anyway?!” He stared at her in confusion before he lifted his staff gingerly and looked at her questioningly. She would have stamped her foot if it wasn’t such a childish thing to do. “No, not the silly jingling staff! That... that sack thing!"

He held the sack up, and impatiently, she started working on the knots and ties, while he helped, and finally, they uncovered….something that looked like a gun. A rather large and lethal looking gun, but still a gun.

Never before had Alya regretted dozing off during her firearms classes – it was to Master Salaive’s despair that she refused to learn anything even pertaining to mechanical objects, preferring instead to master more traditional weapons, like bows, spears and the like. From the look on his face, it seemed that this odd man was about as clueless as she was.

"How quaint, an oversized gun that we have not the least idea how to use." Now that it was clear that she was about to die, the small part of her that wasn’t panicking could actually find the situation rather amusing.

"I think the pineapples are supposed to go in he- argh! Vulture behind you!”

She reacted almost instinctively, swinging her chain with as much force as she could and the dart dug into the vulture, tearing out some flesh with a very satisfying thunk. Ignoring its cry of pain as it swooped up, she returned to staring blankly at the gun. "What are the knobs all for? Which one do we press?!" She could no longer hide the hysteria in her voice, and she no longer cared.

"I don't know, I'm just putting the pineapples in here, all right, and then maybe you could aim it and I'll randomly flick some of the switche- The vulture's coming baaaaack!"

The bird was getting much too annoying, and Alya found herself ranting as she coolly dismembered it, breaking one of its wings and tearing up another. "Blasted, dratted, horrible bird... I've got your bloody wings twisted now, you horrible bird, yes that's it, slip down the cliff and die, dratted avian...” With the bird disposed of, she again turned her attention back to the man. “Aim? HOW do you aim this when the targets switch position every millisecond or so?!"

He didn’t seem to be listening, and instead seemed to be muttering away. "So I'm hitting this likely looking knob on the right of it, all right? Just aim-"

She was about to yell, when suddenly, with a slight whoomph, something shot out of the bazooka in her hands, and that something hit a nearby vulture, exploded, and caused a major landslide all within a few heartbeats.

Alya could see the awe in his eyes and was pretty sure she looked about the same – thunderstruck, mouth gaping wide open.

A high shriek of another vulture broke up the rather happy mood, and resisting an urge to giggle madly, Alya lifted the muzzle tentatively, while the strange man fiddled with some knobs again. Three blasts and several dead vultures later, the tide looked like it was turning for the five humans still alive, or so it seemed.



Ok, I didn't want to kill off all the vultures because ct might have something else planned ^_^U

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Raminas

Selene watched multiple vultures explode. Pockets of explosive debris pierced into their bellys igniting the highly volatile and flammable stomach acid. The bodies of the purple flyers fell onto the bridge, sliding off into the Frostwyrm or just sat there burning the ice and turning it into slick water on rock and grass. The tide of battle was turning, and everyone knew it.

Even the fliers.

They were moving faster, not gathering in groups as they turned their attention away from the people themselves, and onto the caravan. The leathery cover which had been threatening to blow clean off the wooden crate was being torn at the edges. The back of the caravan was shattered instantly as one of the larger Vultures slammed its body into it.

Selene’s arm was aching; the caravan was being tossed about by overly large birds in every direction. Front wheel shattered as another critical blow landed upon the caravan, even as Adair managed to take out another flyer, it seemed they didn’t want the precious cargo to reach its intended destination.

She was known for never missing, in her history of serving the Ivalician Empire, she had never once missed. It was something she was proud of, and something she hated at the same time. Depending on the situation of course, many times, she had been ordered to shoot down an innocent civilian who had escaped the camp, and though she wanted to let them escape, she aimed and fired.

She had watched the bullet hit their head, create a red spray, and then they fell to the ground.

Today was to be no different, as another large vulture dived towards the caravan; she was going to hit it. Calypso fired, and the bullet shot towards the bird and…

Missed.

Selene didn’t know what to say, her eyes stay fixed on the vulture, which did a head first dive into the back of the wagon. The back complete shattered, both back wheels shooting off the cliff as a crate of vaccine flew off the edge and disappeared into the fog below.

“Darling, you were supposed to give it the headache, not the wagon…”

Selene shot a hateful glare over at Adair.

“Shut up.” She snarled, letting go of the leather strap and heading towards the cliff’s edge.

Sirius might’ve called to her, but Selene’s mind was blank. She need one case, hell one bottle of the stuff would do. One drop saved one person, and there were a lot of drops in one bottle. She clung to the side of the caravan, of course with her aching arm; Selene was just brilliant that way.

Reaching the edge, she stretched out her free hand. The cases were mere centimetres away! But the edge was closer; tempting the gods she moved a bit closer, her finger tips touching the deep grey handles of one of the cases.

Then it hit her. HARD.

She felt a bit of the beak pierce into her side as she slid clean off. Selene let out half a scream when her free hand clenched the side of the cliff. Her arm reeked of pain once again, but in her other hand was the case. She looked down to see it had been hit, but at least seven bottles of the green liquid remained.

Selene threw her arm up, roughly placing the case on the bridge as she clambered back up. Helped by both Adair and Sirius. Her cape wavered in the wind as she wobbly stood on her own feet again. He heart was pounding and her mouth dry from her ragged breaths and gasping.

“Where’s the other case?”

“Took a tumble.”

“Great…” Selene wavered again, wincing as she took a step forward. “Just… Great… Where did…” Selene cut herself short; did she really want to question where the vultures went? Nooo: that just might ruin her luck. “Let’s just get off this damned bridge.”


She ended up leaning against Sirius while Adair carried the case, though she didn’t really trust that man. He was swaggering, on ICE. If that didn’t spell disaster she didn’t know what did. All three of them came to a halt, a silver haired woman and a scranny looking man. The woman she recognized, one of the guards of the caravan.

Alya: one of her old friends. They had both chose to guard this caravan, of course when they took the job they hadn’t expected flocks of Vultures, bandits and even a Garuda or two to come after them.

But now, holding a case that was half empty, they were safe, Alya smirked towards Selene.

“Gone and got yourself injured I see.”

Selene looked down, her eyes locking on the red stained patch on her jacket. Now she could feel her blood making her tank top underneath moist. Selene frowned and looked up at her friend.

“Hazard pay.”

“Hazard pay it is.” Alya nodded in agreement.

A low rumble echoed through the canyon, shaking the bridge. Selene looked up, the clouds with billowing away as the underbelly of a ship cut through. It was a complicated mess of metal plates and golden glowing lines of energy, Selene reached into her pocket and pulled out a small device. Alya walked over to her, scanning the screen.

LEVIATHAN
FIRST CLASS DESTROYER
T.E.T.D: 05:00

“Can you contact them?”

Selene pressed the small silver button at bottom of the device. The screen flashed red twice before returning to its normal screen.

“What’s T.E.T.D?” The scranny man questioned, as everyone had gathered around.

“Target’s Estimated Time of Destruction…” Selene murmured, and then she suddenly realized. “Alya, what was the target again?”

“Well if we couldn’t resolve this caravan issue then it would be…”

Everyone looked down the path which took travellers to the settlement. The airship’s engines roared above the wind, drowning out all the sound, and even made it hard to think. The bridge rumbled as the Leviathan flew over the narrow pass, blind to the accomplishment, Selene could hear the cannon mounts slowly beginning to open.

“Does your village have a communication center?” Selene snapped at the boy, which she had mentally noted did NOT look like anyone who would be guarding the caravan. “Well?”

“Yes, it-“

Alya and Selene took off, going faster then they ever had, desperate to beat the Leviathan before it made a fatal mistake.



Alright, early bird gets the worm in this case. The Vulture fight is over, but now it is up to whoever posts next to decided whether or not the lovely settlement is obliterated or not. If the next person chooses to leave it open, then the next lucky poster gets to choose. Etc.

Have fun~

[Hyperness is a Good Thing]

sorry wen, I made use of your character again..whack me if I misplayed him u.u

Alya Kalani
-Running-

As she ran, she cursed as colourfully as she knew how under her breath, lest someone hear. Years of being nagged for being unladylike had already taken their toll on her, she even had the appearance of running gracefully and daintily as every proper lady should.

Of course, she wouldn't know what her mother would say to her running around helter-skelter like this in a desperate to save a village and its entire population from total devastation. Knowing Lady Kalani, she would probably sniff in that infuriating manner and declare that "Saving the little people isn't what you were born to do, darling, you're supposed to rule over them." Hearing the imperious tones in her mind, she rolled her eyes, remembering again just why she had left home and headed her, a new place that was full of promise for grand fights and adventure... Of course, she had never expected people to die of it. Death only happened to people in far away places, something unknown, not right in front of her.

A little voice in her mind whispered that she was being unbearably naive, and of course death happened to everyone. Another more louder voice was berating her for choosing to wear heels - though with her inherited bone structure, it was almost imperative that she wear heels lest her legs suffer from flatter shoes.

Wind whipped through her hair as she leapt agilely, cursing idiot macho men who only knew how to kill people with their big noisy machines, touchy national pride and the world in general. She had finally made it across the narrow stone bridge, which was supposed to be good, since it meant that she was closer to her destination, but reaching the village now meant that she would have to run at full speed downhill over a treacherously rocky terrain with barely a decent path in her way, and of course, expensive high heeled leather boots on her feet. Alya whooped, more out of an adrenaline rush than anything, and took a deep breath before charging at full momentum.

She was running at full speed when she was aware of a slight "phwap phwap" noise behind her that was steadily growing louder. Her mind threw all sorts of possibilities at her, including the noise of wings of crazed flesh eating vultures seeking revenge, so with some understandable apprehension, she turned her head slightly to glance behind and beheld... The boy with the kickass gun-thing. Or more like a man, but boy persisted coming to mind.

He seemed to be running desperately, arms windmilling wildly, robes flapping in the high winds blowing, wooden sandals pounding the ground at a rather uncanny speed. In fact, Alya was even more surprised to note that he seemed to be on the verge of overtaking her, his lack of aerodynamicness seemingly failing to contribute to slowing him down.

As he sped past in a whoosh and fwap of cloth, she realised the reason for his rush. He was from the village wasn't he?

Exerting herself slightly, she sped up just a little more until she was running alongside him, leaping now and then to avoid the occasional loose rock that would send her hurtling downhill at a rather painful and unthinkable speed. Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched him as he ran determinedly, appendages flying out in all sorts of directions but still moving extraordinarily fast. Anyone who could run as fast as she could, despite the fact that she was wearing heels, was worth noticing.

"Don't worry, we'll get there in time," she said, hoping that she sounded reassuring. His eyes looked strained, and he looked far worse that he did when she had first seen him.

"WE HAD BETTER! THERE IS A VERY RARE AND VERY OLD AND VALUABLE PIECE OF MANUSCRIPT THAT I'VE FOUND OVER THERE THAT HASN'T BEEN ANALYSED PROPER-" Then he stopped and seemed to rethink. "And of course, all the women, children and old people too," he added more calmly.

So amused was she by this that she forgot to look where she was stepping, and for the first time in her life, lost her footing. Her ankle twisted with a slight wrench, and she grabbed at the nearest thing in a desperate attempt to keep herself from falling - unfortunately, the nearest thing happened to be the boy, who just happened to be running at full speed and was definitely in no condition to be clung onto by hapless young women.

With a "W-AAAAAAAAARGH!!!!" from him and much screaming from her part, he fell too, and with her still clinging onto him desperately, they slid down the hill at a great speed, bumping over turf and rocks and ledges, accelerating as they went, friction having gone on a holiday, leaving just gravity and momentum to work their magic on the pair. If anything, the slope increased, not helping things at all.

At some point, Alya closed her eyes and shut her mouth, not wanting to know what would befall her. Desperately, she knew she still gripped some part of the boy's voluminous robes and he was still alive as far as she could tell, from the occasional involuntary yelp when they bumped over a particularly large rocks.

After a while, she was aware of the fact that they were slowing down, and then, almost as suddenly as they had started, they had stopped sliding. She opened her eyes and found herself at the foot of the hill, all limbs intact, relatively uninjured except for some minor bruising, and her clothes, though incredibly dirty, seemed to be in decent condition too. Standing up a little gingerly and testing the ankle that had been twisted, she was relieved to find it a little tender, but able to bear her weight adequately.

"Well that was fun, we should do it again sometime," she muttered aloud, probably for the comic effect. Master Salaive had always said her sense of humour was a little twisted. She turned to her side to look at the boy, who was looking at up her with a rather incredulous expression in his eyes. "Get up, let's go! We've got a valuable manuscript, oh, and some women, children and old people to save!"

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

After much procrastination...

- Character use clause, invoked

Yomu, of the falls

never get caught, never get caught
...if you wanna fly high

It is a very important and vital thing that should be told, about this Yomu and his apparent lack of fear of death, this pseudo-priestly scholar, this boy; even now he voluntarily plummets from crag to crag, sleeves streaming out behind him, ragged wingfeathers of a Zu gone to seed; having lived in a city of death for much of his life, a city populated by a race that formerly numbered among the great psychopomps of Spira, in some way Yomu has come to set himself apart from death.

He is afraid of death, yes, but not of his own. He tries to save others, others including inanimate objects such as his beloved manuscripts and fully sentient beings like the women, children and old people, but forgets to save himself. He has not learnt the ways of self-preservation. He thinks always, but his thoughts always miss the most obvious point.

This may explain why he careers down the ice-covered slopes with such abandon. There is no way they are going to outrun the destroyer Leviathan if they follow the winding passage through the mountains. Yomu's mind, which at the moment he assumes to be taking a logical and orderly course by the way it suggests so calmly that if the Leviathan is moving so quickly because it is moving through air, then therefore the best action to take must be to also move through air, by jumping like a goat, moving downwards and steadily eastwards towards the intended destination.

Vertical acceleration, more commonly referred to as falling or dropping; Yomu's very logical and orderly mind proposes this, and he takes off downwards, with only a scattering of icy pebbles to mark where he once stood, having helped the silver-haired lady to her feet before leaping down ahead of the others. Their little tumble has not daunted his resolve in the least. In fact, their little tumble is probably what put the notion in his head.

At times his sleeves act as parachutes. At other times his feet barely touch the ground. Sometimes he is just barely aware that the silver-haired lady is actually keeping pace with him, and her with heels, too. Cursing from close behind denotes that the pirates have also followed, although Yomu does not know why. Perhaps misfortune attracts pirates like iron filings to a magnet. When he has more time he plans to conduct further research on such matters. Human nature might possibly be more interesting than deciphering just exactly how many courses were served in King Whatshisface's nightly banquets.

*

Communication tent, unnamed settlement, 16:09 hours...

"Request overruled. We may only respond to direct orders from Lord Solidor, except in cases of extreme exception."

"Excuse me? Do you know whom you are addressing? This is Selene Raminas!" The lady speaks as if she is not used to disobedience; in her voice the distinct tones of the well-bred individual, with a hint of steel; her voice is the kind of voice used to command citizens, servants, armies...

"We are very sorry, my lady, but we have our orders. We request that you and Lady Alya take cover immediately."

There is a rather final click, and the communication device does not respond as Lady Raminas aims several unladylike kicks at it.

The first slug hits the settlement with an impressive sound effect, demolishing a good third of the timber-and-wattle structures with ease. Yomu had half-expected it to hit the small party now huddled in the communications tent, but alas, no such luck; instead of their fragile skins a considerably less fragile swathe of settlement has sufficed as cannon fodder. Smoke and debris dominate the surroundings to the accompaniment of villagers evacuating as best they can. No doubt many have perished. He can only hope that more have fled.

As the recharging cannon glows blue, Yomu grips the shoulder of one of the pirates, the one with the shorter hair and smoother swagger, businesslike in his desperation - "Take her hostage," said with a quick nod towards the woman with the crest of Ivalice emblazoned upon her cape.

"This isn't my village, I'll have you know," drawls the pirate with a roll of his eyes, dark and mockingly endearing. "And, my dear boy, I do not plan to get into unwarranted trouble with the government."

"Without a suitable incentive, he means," grins his adjutant, running his tongue over his teeth and making sure that they are all present and accounted for.

"You can take everything we dug up, before Mr Maechen died we were always digging - old coins, and statues, and such."

"I am always resolved to sell high and buy low," the pirate says with an insincere smile. "Your old whatnot is not quite enough."

Yomu eyes the blue of the cannon's plasma, steadily growing brighter and more intense, and then, hardly daring to steal a glance at the newly introduced Alya, points to her and states: "You seem to be running short of crew, else you wouldn't be hanging about saving doomed caravans from sinking to the bottom of the Frostwyrm. There. She's yours."

"I am not yours to give away as you please," Alya starts, then relents, considering the hangdog expression of the Guado quarterbreed and the charging cannon with a growled whisper: "You owe me nothing less than lifelong slavery for this."

"Done. Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn, at your service."

"My name is Yomu."

"Adair Stroud, honorary first mate of the good ship Wolfstar - you know you looked like a vulture coming off that slope, don't you, my-name-is-Yomu? Do you lay eggs what can be fried on my behind?"

"Wait a minute, is this the only way-" Selene Raminas is cut off by the suave tones of one Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn, bowing theatrically.

"Delightful. A new crewmember, fair of face and no doubt endowed with an excellent pair of legs, judging by the way she runs, and a free deck-scrubber into the bargain," - this last said with an arm extended carelessly towards Yomu, the same arm coming round in a sudden, unexpected movement to catch the lady gunner across the collarbone, the other restraining her arms, his bandana'd assistant coming forward to nick her pistol ("just in case you try anything funny, darling"). "Kindly pass the communication device over to Adair, love? Chop chop."

I apologise for the craptastic post. :x

[Weasel Overlord]

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
i wanna fly, wanna ride with you

~

Lady Selene of the family Raminas did not look too pleased at her current situation at all, no indeed. She fumed under Sirius’ firm grip as Adair neatly stole her pistol, and held out his hand for the communication device with a grin.

“I am not going to try anything funny,” she spat, slapping the small machine into Adair’s hand.

“Well, I’m not one to take unnecessary risks love. Gotta look out for oneself, you know. Come now, Adair, contact that lovely skyship and let them know that we have one of Ivalice’s daughters held hostage. That should make them think, and maybe then they’ll stop taking pot-shots at your village there. Or maybe they won’t. But it’s better than nothing, eh? Yes, exactly. Now. Adair.”

The mate jabbed at a few buttons on the device, holding it up to his ear with a quizzical expression on his face.

“It’s the silver one at the bottom,” Selene hissed. Adair pressed it and gave a triumphant shout when the screen changed colours, and the noise of transmission filled the bated silence.

“Destroyer Leviathan, Destroyer Leviathan, do you hear me?”

This is the Leviathan. Speak.

“We have a child of Ivalice in our grasp. I repeat. One of your people is our hostage. Cease your attack on the village or she dies.”

Why should we care for the life of one single Ivalician in your hands? It is more than our lives are worth to end our mission before it has been completed.

“Selene love, perhaps you had better have a word with them.” Sirius loosened his armhold on her, and she took the device from Adair with a scowl.

“Destroyer Leviathan, this is the Lady Selene Raminas again. I am captive in the hands of pirates, one Sirius de Famfræn and one Adair Stroud. Their vessel is the Wolfstar, stranded on Unnamed Island. I repeat. I have been taken hostage by the sky pirates de Famfræn and Stroud. Their intent is to kill me unless you adhere to their demands. Terminate your mission. I repeat. Terminate your mission. Hold your fire.”

There was a brief pause, as if the crew were conferring among themselves.

Selene Raminas, do you hear me?

“Aye. Speak.”

Your situation has been considered. The consequences of terminating our mission will be upon your head. This is Destroyer Class One Leviathan. Over and out.

The little device powered down, and all eyes turned to the sky to see the Leviathan turn and power forwards, loosing the already-charged missile into the canyon nearby. With a groan of power, the airship turned clumsily once again and shot away, parting the clouds neatly with her immense energy.

Sirius released Selene with a slight shove so that she stumbled forward. He made a sharp dusting motion with his hands and straightened his still-sodden shirt.

“Would you just look at the sight of me! Soaked to the bone and helping villages in distress. I reckon it’s all your influence, my girl,” he stared at Selene. “If t’weren’t for you and your plight, me and Adair here would be stowed cosily aboard the Wolfstar, sheltered and definitely not covered in vulture blood and guts.” He paused to run a hand through his hair. “And what do you mean by telling your Destroyer chums up there our whereabouts, our names and our professions, eh? If I end up with a horde of greedy bounty hunters after my head I am holding you solely responsible, love.”

“I did not tell them your whereabouts. All I said was that you had crashed on Unnamed Island. Consider the size of this place, and you’ll see that there is very little chance that they’ll be able to find you. And I thank you for your help, but now we must part our ways. Our vaccine needs delivering to the village, and there are sick and dying to tend. You go your selfish pirate way and we’ll go ours, and good luck to you.”

“I think not, love. I was promised a pair of likely new hands aboard the Wolfstar and I am not likely to leave this place without them. So you lead the way to your village and we shall follow. As soon as you are ready to pay your debt, we’ll be there; ready to collect what is due to us.”

“That is exactly what I despise about pirates,” Selene almost growled with fury. “All you ever care about is yourselves and your damned profit! Do people mean nothing to you? Sick people, dying people, children? What sort of person must you be to resort to such a-”

“People,” Sirius interrupted, “Mean plenty to me. If they are able and willing, trustworthy, useful… Aboard ship, there is no time for the dying, or the sick. The young are never brought aboard, and the old are removed before they can become a liability to themselves and my crew. And as their captain, that is my only priority.”

“Except for snagging lovely ladies,” Adair added. “You can’t forget about those, Sirius, with their hips and their curves and their bre-”

“Yes yes, the women. That’s enough out of you Stroud. Either way, disagree or agree, we are coming with you to this village of yours. And anyway, I was promised loot,” he glared pointedly at Yomu. “So there had better be loot at the end of this road, or… or I’ll be angry!”

Yomu shifted from foot to foot, a definite look of unease in his eyes. “Er, yes, the loot… that’s what I promised, yes indeed. Plenty of loot. Only… well, it might not exactlybethemostvaluablelootyousee… it’s only what we dug out of the ground, and it’s all mucky and everything and you probably won’t like it at all or anything, but don’t forget you’ve got your two new crew members, ahehe… they’re surely worth more than any loot we could possibly dig up, but of course you can have it anyway, no matter what its worth, eh?”

“Then it’s settled. We go with you. And once all business has done, your pretty lady and yon part-Guado there will be coming back to the Wolfstar with us, and all will be well once more.” He grinned at Alya. “I hope you’re good with a spanner love.”

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Raminas

Selene couldn't believe this entire situation, this Guado man had successful bargained himself and Alya into being crewmembers, and she had been used as a hostage. They were going to go on some ship, and Selene, luckily, had been spared. Only to be left here with a bunch of Spiran loyalists who obviously won't notice that maybe half of their village was spared from the energy cannons.

Joy.

It wasn't safe here for Selene, and she wasn't about to be left here while the others disappeared. She sighed, glaring at Sirius before pushing past him to the outside of the hut... Tent... 'Building', which really needed improving. But honestly, what was she expecting? This was a Spiran settlement, scholars and pathetic little lowlifes dwelled here. She longed to be back in Archades, with the high and mighty, where she belonged really. Not in some grimy village with the opposing forces.

"You!"

Selene turned, a man, dressed in somewhat impressive robes was point at her. Selene stepped forward; approaching the man while the others exited the tent.

"You did this!"

"Did I..." she sighed, as Alya approached her and handed her the half full case of Vaccine. "Here's your medicine."

"What do we need it for?" He snarled back, Selene eyed the crest on his staff that the monk clung so dearly to. She recognized it, some large eye with what appeared to be wings, and some other fancy little design underneath it. "The tent with the sick was destroyed!"

"That's not my problem..." Selene looked at him curiously. "And just who are you to address me anyways?"

"I'M Elder Ran, and you were late, which resulted in half our settlement being destroyed."

Selene looked around, her temper was fuming and now she was thinking about running back to that tent and calling the Leviathan back.

"Perhaps you don't want this medicine?" Alya spoke up, catching the Elder's attention. He looked almost appalled.

"It is because of your kind that we have contradicted this horrid Disease!"

"And it because of Ivalice that you have the cure." Selene countered with a smile.

The Elder snatched the case, his cold eyes glaring at Selene. "Ivalician bastards, you think you own everything."

Selene turned, everyone was staring, Yomu had taken particular interest in this discussion, seeing as it involved his home. She sighed, pushing Ran away from the group, she turned to Alya. "Keep them," She gestured to the group. "Here."

"And what are you going to do?" She smirked, "Shoot him?"

Selene grinned before shoving the Ran into one of the larger tents. "Honestly Ran, you need to learn some manners. I... " She recalled the horrid plan of making her a hostage. "Effectively stopped the bombardment, and though you lost some lives, I did my duty."

"What is your point?"

"My point is; Emperor Solidor would be very interested to know if this little settlement didn't live up to their end to the bargain."

Ran's eyes grew wide. "You... You wouldn't dare... Innocent people would die!"

"Correction. Innocent Spirans would die." Selene smirked, bringing a small blue shard of crystal into view. "Do you know what this is?"

Ran examined it, and then shook his head.

"I'll give you a hint. It makes that aerial bombardment look like a Dingo scratch."

The Elder suddenly clued in to exactly what it was, and watched fearfully as Selene slipped it back into her pocket. "My interest is with my people Elder, and if you fail to comply with your end, the Leviathan will be back, but bring a fate worse then death to everyone living here."

With a reluctant sigh, the Elder nodded, and quickly sighed a small piece of parchment that Selene had brought out from inside her jacket. With that, he handed it back and quickly exited the tent. The Ivalician woman sighed tiredly as she slipped it into her jacket.

"That wasn't very polite you know."

Selene grumbled, turning to see Sirius standing in the door.

"And how much did you hear?" She nearly growled.

"Enough to know you're carrying something you shouldn't." He replied, picking the small shard from her pocket. "Dangerous thing is this," He placed it into his own pocket, Sirius smiled as he grabbed Selene's hand which was attempting to get it back. "Wouldn't want you getting hurt, love."

Selene didn't exactly know how to react, she instinctively smile, though whether it was genuine or a facade she couldn't quite decide. She winced then, the wound on her side getting to her. Sirius eyed the wound for a moment.

"Anymore then you already are, that is."

"Thank you." Selene paused, glancing at her hand he still held. "Can I have my hand back?"

Sirius let it go, and Selene sighed. Business was done now; only Sirius had the shard, something she was instructed to not let out of her sight. Which meant more of making sure Sirius didn't sell it off, trade it, or do whatever pirates do with expensive things.

"Can I come with you?"

He turned, tilting his head slightly. "Pardon?"

"May I join your crew?"

"You were appalled at the idea only a few minutes ago, why the sudden change of heart?"

Selene mentally was cursing at herself; she hated playing some weak woman, especially to a god-forsaken pirate. "You wouldn't want me to get hurt would you?"

"Well, you're right. Injuries only harm the specimen, and it certainly wouldn't do to be injuring a lady of your.. Pedigree"


Hardly believing this, Selene left the large tent fully aware she had practically whored her way onto Sirius's ship. All for the sake of that damn shard, which had been more trouble then what it's worth. And it was worth a lot. The others seemed to shrug off the idea, other then Alya, who approached Selene curiously.

"I don't think you're coming to keep me company." She whispered.

"Our dear captain has the Shard."

Alya came to a complete halt as the other's kept walking. She quickly caught up, and the two continued whispering.

"That's not good."

"No its not, and if Ghis finds out. I'm effectively dead." She whispered back to her mercenary friend. "Thankfully I was able to convince Sirius to head for Ivalice, that way I can get another shard and I won't be murdered."

"And until then?"

"Until then I'm a helpless little wench for the captain." Selene smiled, though it was ripe with sarcasm.

~~~~

Righty, so.. To Sirius's ship! I'm sorry if I played any character wrong. Hard to concentrate with the goddamn construction crew... -_-''' The next piece of plottness comes soon *pokes Kirsten* >.> You've been plot tagged. *runs*

[Pichu Luver]

This will be longish as I have to catch up.

Adair Stroud
~-~_~-~

Adair happily strutted to the village, perversely enjoying the look of fear he was causing in Selene as he swaggered along on the ice. Little did she realize that his boots had cleats in them so really, there was nothing to worry about unless he very suddenly got very drunk. Well more drunk then he was on a regular basis anyway.

He frowned; annoyed as he remembered he hadn't had a chance to get thoroughly smashed lately. 'A rather sad state of affairs that, mental note, 'get inebriated ASAP'. Preferably immediately after we get back onboard Wolfstar. Lexan won't be needing his stash, being all corpsified and all . . .'

Satisfied Adair continued on, only half an ear on the conversation Selene was having with the very foolish lady. Admittedly she walked like someone who knew how to be dangerous but she was wearing white and she was guarding a caravan. 'The coin she must spend keep those clothes white . . .' Not to mention the high heels. She reminded him of a female Siruis, but in the ex-socialite way. No one to his knowledge dressed that way if they had been born on the fringes. 'Actually the only people who dress like that and aren't exceptionally dippy are Veir-'

Adair almost stopped walking but managed to simply look like he had slipped, grinning at Selene's face as it when even more white in fear. Then of course she sent him a glare of greatest loathing, but such details were trivial to him. He looked over the woman again and nodded to himself, a bit more respect for her, even if he still though the heels were a hazard to her health.

Then of course was the skinny Hume that was made to look emancipated by the voluminous robes he was wearing. It was amazing he could even move in those things. He looked like a monk, but Adair wasn't familiar with the religions these days so who knew what he was. Although with the gun he had been useful. 'A trigger happy monk that likes things that explode. Hmm, perhaps my kind of religion.'

Adair smirked and continued on his rather pointless thoughts when a rumble sounded overhead. He looked up, and saw the underbelly of a ship. For the first time in a long time he felt fear stir in his gut. He knew that wasn't a Spiran ship and he wasn't exactly on good terms with the Ivalian government . . .

A tortured scream floated up from the back of his mind and he resolutely shoved away a memory he never wanted to think about again. He caught the tail end of the conversation the others were having.

“Alya, what was the target again?” as Selene looking at some small device in her hands. He snuck up behind her close enough to read the name of the ship. Thankfully no one was watching him as all the colour drained from his face and he gulped.

“Well if we couldn’t resolve this caravan issue then it would be…”

He looked down at the village with the others and shifted his weight anxiously. He desperately wanted to turn around and run back to the ship but he looked down at the case in his hands and sighed. He heard the cannons begin to open and he looked back up as it passed overhead.

“Does your village have a communication centre?” Selene snapped at the monkish boy. “Well?”

“Yes, it-“

Alya and Selene took off, rushing toward the village and Adair took a few steps forward as Sirius and the boy took of running. He frowned, thoughts flitting through his head before his limited conscience finally won over. He grumbled to himself, slipped one Vaccine into his coat as 'payment' (as he kept telling himself) and took off after the others.

Adair did have some amusement as he watched the boy practically flying from rock to rock, looking like some very strange and flight inhibited bird. He had a chuckle as the monk and the woman took a tumble as they were busying themselves talking. He tutted to himself, 'See Adair, you were right, heels will be the death of her. 'Tis a shame really . . .'

They get back up just as Siruis reached them and quickly surpassed him, following Selene as they entered the town and into a tent.

He got there a bit late, seeing how he was trying not to smash the bottles. All he hears is "...request that you and Lady Alya take cover immediately."

There is a rather final click, and Adair raises an eyebrow as Selene kicks it a few times in her frustration.

Just then the air on the back of his neck stand up as he feels the cannon powering up and firing at the village. A resounding explosion is head and Adair leans back, peering out the tent flap to see a third of the rather flimsy village now gone. He looks back and notices Sirius is looking at him, with a frown on his face, perhaps wondering why Adair is even there, or why he isn't hiding. Adair gives him a 'what?' look but then the robed man is grabbing Sirius's shoulder.

"Take her hostage," he says with a quick nod towards Selene. It's then Adair finally notices the crest on her cape and stares at her, thinking furiously of high-ranking Ivalice officials. Selene doesn't ring a bell so he dismisses it.

"This isn't my village, I'll have you know," drawls Sirius with a roll of his eyes, "And, my dear boy, I do not plan to get into unwarranted trouble with the government."

"Without a suitable incentive, he means," grins Adair, always seizing a chance to make a profit. 'Heck' he thinks, looking over the people there, 'it's not like I can make them any madder. They don't even know I'm alive.'

While they bargain about price, Adair looks around, wondering if there is anything to swipe. Seeing nothing he grins as he hears that Alya and the man, called Yomu are negotiating themselves into the crew.

Seizing the opportunity at Yomu's less then elegant introduction (and needing anything to take his mind off just who might be flying that ship) he says, "Adair Stroud, honorary first mate of the good ship Wolfstar - you know you looked like a vulture coming off that slope, don't you, my-name-is-Yomu? Do you lay eggs what can be fried on my behind?"

Yomu gives him an odd look, and Adair feels marginally better. Sirius seizes the opportunity and neatly restrains Selene and Adair puts down the box and swaggers forward and swipes her pistol, whispering, "Just in case you try anything funny, darling".

He admires it for a second, hand out for the talkie majigers before stowing it in his breast pocket. He of course ignores her retort as she slaps it in her hand he pushes a bunch of buttons before Selene tells him the right one and he shouts in delight then of course realizing he has to talk to these people, better be sufficiently threatening about it.

He failed and handed over to Selene. The she of course proceeded to give their names and he looked at her terrified for a second before he resolutely forced the 'always amused' look back on it. There is a pause after she tells them her situation and Adair groans, 'Oh shit oh shit they know. Why did she have to tell them my name?'

A different voice comes on and Adair slowly starts to back out of the room, recognizing it and all it means to him. Thankfully he decides to spare their lives but Adair knows for him a least his is far from over.

Sirius was giving him an odd look but Adair just shook his head. He released Selene and once their argument was over (with Adair of course adding in his piece to try and get back his aplomb) he gave her back her gun.

They went out into the village to collect their bounty and Sirius pulled him aside,

"Alright Adair what was that about?"

Adair gave a confused smirk, "Oh whatever are you talking about dear Sirius?'

He glowered at Adair and lowered his voice even more to the tone of 'do as I say or else', "Why have you looked terrified since that ship appeared," Adair opened his mouth to reply and Sirius cut him of, "A straight answer Adair."

Adair lost his grin and glared at him, anger and fear boiling just beneath the surface, "I don't have to tell you that." He growled.

Sirius crossed his arms, "This isn't--"

Adair grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward so he stumbled and was at eye level with Adair. Adair glared at him over his sunglasses, "Listen you little popinjay," he hissed, pleased at the shocked expression on Sirius's face, for Adair had never gotten angry at him like this before, "there are a hell of lot worse things out there then living a stuffy life with rich parents. You piss off the wrong people and you will pay in worse ways then dying. Especially when it comes to those Ivalician basterds."

He let go of Sirius and stepped back. He glared at him one last time before stalking off and leaving Siruis to frown at his back. He joined the others as Selene entered the tent, seemingly arguing with the Elder something or other. 'There seems to be a lot of that going on.' Thought Adair as Sirius came up and gave him one last look before following Selene.

[Emotional Faun Chiko-sai]

In which there is no furthering of plot whatsoever :x I left lots of holes everywhere so this shouldn't mess with anyone's planned posts... I hope. Again, hope I RPed people correctly.

Yomu, of the mop & bucket

gravity always wins

Yomu prostrated himself in a suitably humbling position in front of Elder Ran's dishevelled sandals, forehead roughly level with the older man's ankles. The old man needed someone to pin the blame on, now that Selene Raminas had successfully badgered him into signing some agreement or other. Yomu didn't particularly mind. He was currently suffering the moral backlash of having rushed to check on his manuscripts before learning that the medic tent had been obliterated by the Leviathan. He was lower than dirt. Lower than pond scum. Lives mattered much more than dead pieces of paper. He could have at least tried to cast his useless Cure one more time...

(&c. &c.)

Elder Ran was, at the moment, confirming this train of thought. "Never bargain with Ivalicians, Yomu, I would have thought you had the sense to know! They always double back on you in some way - most often not for the better!"

"Yes, sir."

"And what's this I hear about you running off to join that pirate's crew? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Yes, sir."

Elder Ran gritted his teeth. "Stop saying 'yes, sir' all the time, boy!"

"Yes, si- I mean, of course, sir."

"Move aside, old man. You're in my way."

A white-clad shadow descended upon him, elbowing the blustering elder aside and hauling Yomu upright by his collar. The coffee-coloured face of one Lady Alya forced itself into his vision.

"There you are. Do you have any idea exactly how long I've been looking for you, slave? There is something of utmost importance that I must speak to you about."

Yomu shrank back just the slightest bit and braced himself for the inevitable haranguing. "Yes, miss?"

"...What's a spanner?"

*

Loose earth and debris had almost completely obscured the entrance to the underground grotto where the scholars kept the results of their digs. Anticipating this, Yomu had come armed with a broom and his staff: the broom for sweeping smaller pieces of rubble away, the staff to act as a lever to dislodge the larger ones, and hands did the rest. At length the door emerged from amongst the ruin, intact and not much the worse for wear.

It was warmer inside than out, the door opening into a warren-like passage that was close and dark. Yomu felt in a hollow and found a candle; he lit it, and several other lamps that hung from the dingy ceiling. Progressing slowly downward, the passage opened out into a large, low room with many shelves, crowded with all sorts of what some might call rubbish. There were bones of all sizes; pottery shards of every shape and colour; manuscripts, his personal favourites, of course; mounds of assorted junk, and what was probably worth more than even the manuscripts - a pile of ancient firearms.

Sirius, naturally, homed in on the heap of rusting weaponry. He had the fine nose of the true sky pirate, a nose that could sniff out profits anywhere.

"In normal circumstances, I would term all of this... garbage. Those moulding parchments over there might be of some value, but nevertheless I shall not sway from the point - they are, to most bazaar stall operators, garbage. However, I see some slight redemption in yonder fine selection of cannons..."

Yomu's eyes widened. "But sir, they're not safe, Mr Arcil tried one of them yesterday and it started off an avalanche-"

"If they were safe, dear boy, I wouldn't want them. Now we can probably wire some of these up to the Wolfstar for additional firepower, and we can sell the rest. Come on, come on, pack them all up."

"Sir?"

"What is it?" Sirius was staring at a likely-looking sigil, fingering the fine mythril filigree and mentally calculating how much he could palm it off for in the bazaar.

Yomu pointed to the shelves, overflowing with books and papers. "Can I bring these along too?"

"Yes, yes." That emerald embedded in the center, maybe some five thousand gil, perhaps up to eight thousand with the silver...

"And these?" This time it was the manuscripts.

"Yes, anything you like." Eight thousand, thought Sirius, ten thousand if he pulled the sale off on a rookie.

They finished up carting everything back to the hold of the Wolfstar, assorted junk included.

*

"Tools of the trade, boyo," said Adair cheerfully, shoving a mop and bucket into Yomu's hands. "When you're done here go on up ahead to where the silly lady with the heels is fixing, or attempting to fix shall I say for she looks like she hasn't the faintest clue what she's doing, and help her out."

Just as he took the cleaning implements in hand, Selene entered the corridor, passing through on her way to wherever she was headed. On seeing Adair, her neutral expression turned into a frown; as her eyes took in Yomu, the frown acquired a sneering quality.

Yomu looked at the grinning first mate questioningly. "Excuse me, sir, but I didn't know that Lady Raminas was coming with us."

"Oh, her? She's the captain's hoor." Adair's grin grew even wider, if possible.

"What's a hoor - oh - what - um, you mean they're - no, really?" Yomu stared, then blushed as the realization hit home, then glanced back at Adair for further confirmation (he got this in a series of nods and.. gestures, shall we say), then stared determinedly at the floor and began mopping furiously.

Selene whipped round. Her glare would have frozen lesser men than Adair Stroud and Yomu Nolastname, one of whom had no reservations about laughing in her face even as she glared, and the other being completely immersed in ensuring that the metal floor of the Wolfstar shone as if polished. Exasperated, she stalked off, presumably looking for Alya, and most probably wishing that rumours could be quelled and destroyed at will.

It was going to be a long few days.

[Weasel Overlord]

Making-things-up disclaimer invoked. More commonly known as bullshitting about airships.

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn

my dearest Ophelia

what’s the reason for your silence

your lips as cold as ice

~

Sirius had no conceivable idea of exactly how he had ended up with an extra three crew members who were just so… well, useless was the kindest word to describe them. Completely and unutterably inept was another. It had been five days before they had finally knuckled down to the dirty work and a further three before the Wolfstar was in any fit state to fly.

And even now, after seven full days of engineering his ship, Sirius wasn’t entirely sure just how well she was fixed at all. This damnable continent seemed to slow proceedings until they took twice the time they would under normal circumstances, and he was mightily sick of it.

He stroked the gleaming rail absently as he stared out over the unnamed continent. He had faith in his airship. She would get them off this stinking excuse for a continent and finally back to civilisation. And not to mention the bazaars. If he knew customers – and he did – he was sure they’d go mad for the loot he’d unearthed from the mysterious unnamed continent.

But for now, he had to focus on getting the hell out of here. Sirius took a deep breath for a moment, just feeling the deck beneath him, and the gentle motions of the Wolfstar as her crew scurried about making the final preparations for flight. He felt the groaning of metal sheets as they overlapped, straining against one another as the parse crystals filled with energy. He heard the many-coloured sail-flags unfurling with a whip of heavy fabric, rustling in the gentle breeze that blessed the morning.

He trusted that Adair was where he was needed, and that the remains of his old crew were at the ready. He’d had only a little time to teach the new ones some of the subtleties of flying an airship, and he just hoped that they had taken at least a portion of it in.

He threw his gaze about the ship. Good – everyone was in position; Adair already shouting orders like there was no tomorrow. He knew there was a reason he’d chosen Adair Stroud as his first mate; for all his peculiarities, the man was still a darn good hand in the air.

Sirius became aware of a second person standing quietly beside him at the railing, her back against it as she leaned casually. Selene.

“Do you think we’ll actually be able to get off this damned Spiran-infested continent in this hulk of metal, then?”

Sirius fixed her with a stare. “My airship, love, could fly us anywhere I saw fit. She is most certainly not a mere hulk of metal.” He patted the railing fondly, “My Wolfstar could outfly any one of those oversized destroyer class tarts with only one parse crystal charged and half her sails furled. You’ll see love. You’ll see. But for now, you should get belowdeck,” he placed his hand at the small of Selene’s back and ushered her in the direction of the stairwell. “Stay out from under our feet love, that’s the way.” Ignoring the gunner’s outraged spluttering and death-glares, he strode into the bulkhead and took his place at the helm of his airship, his hands gripping the wheel firmly with the ease of long practice.

“Adair! Release First Crystal.” He didn’t wait for a response; he felt the shuddering of the Wolfstar as she stirred to his touch, and the releasing of her carefully stored crystal energy.

They lifted. Slowly but surely, they were escaping this cursed place. Sirius whooped with pleasure. “Adair! Second Crystal!” That was the one that provided the thrust that would propel them into the skies. Three more crystals and they would finally be flying again and Sirius felt elated beyond anything he had experienced in the last year. Hell, but it felt good to have his ship moving beneath his feet again.

Sirius closed his eyes for a second, savouring the rising altitude and breathing in the thinner air.

He opened them to see Adair peering at him over the wheel, a panicked expression on his face.

“Not that I’m not glad to see you having a nap at the wheel or anything, Sirius, but I really think you should stay awake for a little bit longer. We’ve just got an urgent message from some geezer called Ghis. Kinda makes me wonder if we’re taking orders from birds. I wonder if he has a wattle…”

“That’s turkeys you idiot.”

Adair looked blank. “What?”

“Turkeys have wattles, not geese. Take the wheel for a bit will you Stroud? I suppose I should go apply my wonderful brain to the situation.” Adair grinned and grasped the wood firmly. “I shan’t be long, I don’t suppose. Don’t kill us all, will you?”

Stomping into the bulkhead, Sirius glared at the gathered people. Selene grasped her little radio device like a lifeline, staring at it with an intense look on concentration on her face. Alya looked up as he entered the little room; her look of distress saying more than words could have done.

“What’s the matter?”

“A message. From Ghis. It says that no airship can leave the unnamed continent. Any that try will come down no less than two miles from shore.” Selene’s voice was quiet, but the silence in the room allowed her to be heard perfectly.

“We’re stuck here…” Yomu sounded worried. “We’re stuck… here? How long for? I thought we were going to Ivalice… What’ll happen now?”

“Hush!” Selene held up her free hand for silence, nodding towards the radio. There was another transmission.

Airship Wolfstar and its crew, this is Judge Ghis. As you have just been informed, any attempt to leave the unnamed continent will result in your deaths. Lately there has been a surge of unknown magical power forming a sort of shield about this island. This magic cannot be allowed to continue being. In return for your freedom, you will destroy its source. Our data tells us that the source is situated to the North of your current position, about two days hard flight. Go to the crater. Destroy the magic where it is most vulnerable. Then you will be allowed to leave. The fact that your crew contains no small number of notorious pirates will be ignored – this one time. You shall have your freedom; Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn and Adair Stroud. Do not dally. This is Judge Ghis. Over and out.

The silence that fell over the gathered was sudden, as each present considered the words of the Judge. A malignant magical power lay in a crater to the North. They were to destroy it in return for passage off the continent.

Sirius dropped his hand to the shard nestled in his pocket. It always felt a touch warm, but now it was near pulsing with heat. Almost as if it was eager to get to the source and unleash its destructive powers. He shuddered, imperceptibly as he considered the implications of the task laid before them.

“Destroy the source the good Judge said. So destroy this source we shall. And freedom will be ours!” He didn’t voice his suspicions that they would not get out of there alive, if the shard had its way. It was enough that the cursed stone tugged at him, day after day, night after night. He didn’t need to lay that burden upon anyone else as well.

And anyway. What better way to go out than in a blaze of glory.

[Crystal Tears]

Selene
No last words to say
Only memories remain
A farewell then, my path goes forever on

Selene stared out the glass panel silently; the Wolfstar was ripping across the landscape. Speeding towards the destination of a life time, something felt wrong. As the ship tore up from a hill and speed over the tree tops, the closer they drew to their goal, the emptier the landscape became.

“This is where Meachen refused to step…” Yomu spoke; everyone had fallen into a chorus of silence. They could feel it too, Selene assumed.

“What is that?” Alya spoke, in a hushed voice, as if trying to hide her presence from an unseen foe.

It was huge, a wall of earth and stone, forced upwards to form a protective barrier against all who dared to try and enter it. For miles around the wall, the ground was black, drained off all life baring force. The trees that still managed to stay rooted to the weakened soiled were white and dead, showing the strength of whatever was hidden in that crater. Selene stayed quiet, she felt safer this way, even Adair was silent.

The com system crackled, fluctuating on all frequencies, before a horrid screech came through. Everyone covered their ears, desperate to escape the god awful noise.

“I was born amidst the darkened crater
they were weak, yet not unblessed.
Dead to your world. Alive for your journey.”

“What in hell was that?” Alya barked; crossing her arms as the airship hovered on the verge of the crater.

“That, my dear lass…” Adair grinned, thinking for a moment. “Was rather morbid. Now seeing as I do not wish to die, I will be leaving now!”

Sirius sighed, and Selene scowled at Adair and his thoughts.

“Kardia Apo Arthro Anosios.” Yomu suddenly spoke, catching everyone’s attention.

“Pardon?” Sirius question, “Please, say it again, and this time in English.”

“The Kardia Apo Arthro Anosios, roughly translated, it means ‘Heart of the Unholy’.” The guado half-breed seemed proud of himself for knowing such a thing. “It’s said to be a small, smooth crystal guarded by those twisted by its power.”

“How do you know this?” Selene questioned, looking at him curiously.

“Oh well, I am a scholar of sorts, it was in one of the scrolls we uncovered.”

Selene turned to Alya and Sirius.

“Could this rock be the source of the magic?”

“Quite possibly, a small shard of nethecite is capable of destroying entire cities.” Alya answered, recalling some of Ivalice’s dark past.

“Then it’s valuable.” Sirius grinned. “Meaning we could rescue it from this dark crater.”

“What part of ‘guarded by those twisted by its power’ did you NOT understand?” Selene growled. “Why don’t we just blow it up?”

“Love, not everything can be solved by mere explosions.”

“This can be, probably better that way as well.” She snapped back, but seeing the dear Captain scowl ever so slightly, she shrugged. “Fine, let’s go get your precious rock.”

“Alright,” Sirius summoned Adair back, who grumbled something under his breath. “We’ll land the ship in the crater; me and the two ladies will go and get the crystal.” He turned to Yomu and his drunken second in command. “You two will stay here and watch the Wolfstar. I want her in top working order once I return.”

The ship flew as close as Sirius would allow to the center of the crater, the magic was thick in this place, and it was playing havoc with the airship’s sensors. He turned once more, staring at the two men left to watch the ship.

“Be VERY careful around her, the Wolfstar doesn’t take well to idiocy…” He glanced at Adair. “Not near her engine anyway. And neither does her captain.”


Selene stepped out onto the black sand. The entire place was dark, even the sky was clouded over with pitch black storm clouds, yet no thunder or lightning were heard or seen. She compared this place to a story that ivalician mothers told their children, if they were bad, they would be taken away by the ‘Spirit Takers’ to a sea of darkness. Kneeling down, Selene touched the sand and then quickly withdrew her hand.

“It’s cold…” She said, seeing Alya nod in agreement and let a pinch of sand run out of her hand. “This place, it reminds me of a story my mother told me.”

“The spirit taker?” Sirius questioned, looking at Selene as she nodded. “Yes, I thought this place barred an unusual resemblance to that fairy tale.” He shrugged, leading the way as they walked towards the center. “No worry, it was just a story, to make children behave.”

The center wasn’t as barren as the rest of the crater, sunken deeper into this place was a temple. Much of it buried in sand, yet one of the higher doorways managed to stay above, though Selene imagined it was probably meant to be a window. Her eyes looked over the strange pillars that surround the black temple, they had symbols on them. All glowing a faint yellow - orange mixture.
“This place, it’s evil.” Alya stated, as they stepped inside. “We shouldn’t be here, we should tell the 7th fleet to bombard this place from a distance.”

“They would listen.” Selene grumbled. “Ghis doesn’t want to take responsibility for destroying something important.”

Her friend sighed; “He doesn’t want to take responsibility for your death either.”

“That must be it.”

Selene and Alya looked towards Sirius, and then followed to where he was pointing. In the center of the room was a cylinder pedestal, with a small purple shaped heart in the center. It looked as it was made of glass rather then crystal. It was glowing, with numerous symbols floating around it. Selene stepped closer to it. Noting that it was small enough to fit in her palm.

“Should we get Yomu to translate the symbols?” Alya question, Sirius smirked, his eyes glimmering with the same orange as the symbol.

“No…” He whispered, and reached out to grab it.

The pedestal activated; a crackling bolt of lightning shot up into the air, nearly high enough to touch the extremely high ceiling.

“Sirius!” Selene cried, remembering that she owed him for saving her life twice, maybe three times. She shoved him out of the way, and the bolt hit her instead. Her body felt weird, as if she had no limbs, no way of moving.

When her feeling came back, she was floating over the pedestal, trapped in a pale orange bubble.

Alya was looking at her, and saying something, yet she couldn’t hear what. Selene gestured to her ear and then shook her head, Alya grimaced. And said something else, and then turned away as Sirius got back up, dazed.

Selene barely felt the vibration that made her friends topple over. The temple shook as holes about a foot wide opened up all over the room. The sand from outside, though most of it seemed to be going down beside the temple, some was being drained into here, disappearing into the holes.

The symbols that had been mindlessly floating around the heart formed phrases now, though no one in this room could read them. Selene cursed herself, next time she’ll let the creepy defence magic hit Sirius instead.

~~~

Mwahaha, alrighty then. Plot tag on… XHIN! *pokes her* And… *Pokes Rio* You too. I’ll pm you both the details. Sorry if I played any character wrong, been having trouble writing.