Pursuit of the Crystals - A Final Fantasy RP [Game Thread]

[Neuromancer]

"Doesn't matter. Prisoners can make a lot of noise, and the most they'll get is being told to shut it. Perhaps it might work for us, see how many people will check on us, and see what our odds are."

Sounds like someone's got experience with guards and cells. Best not be too confrontational about it, though.

"If you say so," Zack said with a grin, "I haven't any experience with this kind of thing, so I'll take your word for it."

A second Elezen, this one female, walked up to the cage door, examing the lock. If you could call licking examining. Zack decided he'd rather not dwell on that particular detail.

"What weapons do we have?"

"I fear that, much like the rest of us by the looks of it, I have only my arms. I believe that we-"

"I got nothing but my fists and good looks my lady. If you can get that door open however I can put them to good use."

"Magic is my current and only weapon. The others have long been confiscated. In asking that, I assume that you have a way out of this cell?"

Ah, I see we are in quite the hurry here. Best try and make up a plan so that we don't end up dead.

"As I was saying," he said with a slightly raised voice, "We should wait until everyone is awake and come up with a plan. We are few and underequiped as it is, I would much rather we have as much of an edge as possible."

He eyed the two. The Miqo'te had a certain air of mischievousness about him, be that a good thing or not he could not quite figure out quite yet. The Viera, though, that one had an aura of ...wrongness about her. He could not quite pinpoint why, but he could feel his gut screaming at him against ever depending on that woman.

Not wanting to attract her attention by staring at her, Zack instead looked at the Aegyl woman, who seemed to be picking momentum again.

"Do you really think our enemy is so powerful, to fly castles as an airship, to take our whole force captive, and then to be so stupid that they should leave us all together in a room, and be unprepared for our vengeance? I am sure they do not sit around, praising themselves, saying "We have won tonight", unaware of our gradual awakening? If that is the case, then perhaps we are the fools, so easily beaten by children."

"We know too little about our captors to rush to conclusions," he replied, unable to hold back a sigh of discontent. "Still, allow me to put it this way: If our captors are competent, which we are lead to believe given that we are in here, then we should be as careful as we can. On the other hand, if we are, as you so accurately pointed out, dealing with children, then we have little to worry about anyway."

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

"You're mistaken." Lilienne said, her voice a little strained as she kept the lion's share of her focus on the lock. "The longer we wait the more their attention will be refocused upon us. We're on a ship and we're moving, making it probable that our captors are currently occupied. And we do not need to all leave simultaneously. If just one of us disappears do you really think the guard will notice immediately?"

 

[SirDerpy]

"And I s'pose we were lucky enough to get a buncha guards who made this place magic-proof. Try tae save yor magic 'til we're out in th'open. I'd like tae keep mah hair, not lose it to a buncha hot-blooded fire-flingers."

Serena identified the source of the voice, an aged Bangaa, and reciprocated his inquisitive gaze, her red-ringed irises matching the Bangaa's. "Naturally. It is common sense not to use destructive magic when surrounded by allies. Around enemies, however..."

A thin smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "But why that should concern you, I cannot fathom. After all, you'll be losing that hair to age soon anyway, old one." She cocked her ears. "I don't like the sound of that name, but I don't have any others for you. Why don't you give me one, to fill that particular void?"

"My own is Serena Perempi." Serena bowed. "A Red Mage of Durakia."

She felt the watching eyes of another upon her. She glanced briefly to the side, catching a hume turning his head away hurriedly. Odd.

Perhaps he was just a superb judge of character. Or not. Either way, it would probably be better if she tried to suppress the urge for until they escaped from the airship.

 

[Doc Gnosis]

[delete post]

 

[TheIronRuler]

Tuck was growing restless with the commotion at the entrance to the cell, where many of his fellow prisoners gathered. He was planning on taking a nap until they would be marched to their doom, at which point he would claim to be a simple monk following an army to help the sinners after battle. A poor monk who fought in the previous battle with several deaths attributed to his hands. No plan really works twice, Tuck assured himself, remembering his own exploits and daring escape using the same line. He knew then what had to be done, and Tuck took on his familiar mask.

'I'm getting too old for this game'

Tuck took a deep breath and steadied himself. His rolled up cigarette was tucked neatly over his left ear and a box of matches in his sleeve. Tuck nearly jumped to his feet in one swing, the loud thud waking up the dead from their slumber, had Tuck been a spells kind man. He waddled carefully to the front, gently swaying back and forth, fainting drunkenness.

'The Lord works in mysterious way...', he said as he held his trusty beaten flask in his right hand and contemplated gulping down the contents, '...but why are you so mysterious? What is going on there?'.

 

[Neuromancer]

"You're mistaken. The longer we wait the more their attention will be refocused upon us. We're on a ship and we're moving, making it probable that our captors are currently occupied. And we do not need to all leave simultaneously. If just one of us disappears do you really think the guard will notice immediately?"

"Perhaps I am mistaken." he replied in a more resigned tone. "I'll be first to admit that cell breakouts isn't my forte." he paused for a second, digesting what was said to him, entertaining the idea of having someone good at sneaking scout the place. "Are you so confident of your abilities that you are certain you won't be caught? And if you were to successfully sneak around, what would your course of action be?" Would you look to save your hide or find a way out for the rest? "Finally, given the ruckus that was caused, don't you think that guards would start checking us more frequently given that they know, or are soon to know, that we are awake? A headcount would probably be enough to alert the entire ship that one of us has escaped."

Zack turned to look to the rest of the group. Most were awake, but some had still to come to. As he started to ponder how a breakout would work, his attention was drawn once again towards the Viera.

That smile. The smile she had as she introduced herself was anything but warm. If anything, he felt that if he were to look at it for too long he'd end up poisoned.

"My own is Serena Perempi. A Red Mage of Durakia."

Dangerous though she may seem, the Viera did bring about a good opportunity for everyone to introduce themselves. Hopefully without ulterior motives.

I'd rather not have her see me be mindful of her.

"Name's Zack Hewley", he replied in the most welcoming tone along with friendliest smile he could muster. "I may not be good at many things, but give me a sword and shield and I'll keep Behemoths of your back."

 

[Khedive Rex]

Percy's awoke startled and gasping for air. at the behest of a prodding stranger. There was a moment's disorientation, a second of wonder, how was he asleep on a bench and where was this darkened room? It was cold inside anyway, Percy felt it on his hands and his face. It wasn't an intolerable sensation, a quiet numbing that might have otherwise been appreciated. But there was a boy, shaking him, asking if he was "able", and Percy could only stare at him wide-eyed and say

"I ... -COUGH- ... The feeling is gone from my hands. It will ... inhibit finer works."

He looked around the room the two were conatined in. It was home to many more figures, maybe ten or so, in various stages of stir and conversation. Honestly, Percy did not love the sound of people talking he was much more at home with isolation. People always meant duties to Percy, he had never traveled with a group who did not need his arts. Why was it no one could see the world without finding agony and death? Would there never be a peace from the endless healing?

Perhaps not. Percy lifted his staff from beside his bed with hands only beginning to regain sensation. It was dark wood and seemed almost sinister to the touch, but when Percy uttered the word "Cure" it glowed with an energy that could only be called child-like a jubilant. It was the glow Percy had grown to consider family, that heat and light had been with him longer than any person he had known in his life. And it had done more to prove it's value than any person. Percy did not need to look again at the Burmecian to know he had succeeded in alleviating the boy's pain. Percy merely sat up on his bench and laid his staff across his lap. His forehead came to meet the perch of his palms as he rubbed exhaustion and frustration from his cold face. When the task was done he looked again at the Bermecian and his gaze did not break for many awkward, silent moments. Finally, Percy allowed a quiet "Hello stranger... Can you speak to where we are? I feel as though we await punishment. What ..." His gaze broke this time to listen to the sound of laughter emanating from elsewhere in the cell. Percy's eyes narrowed immeasurably and a long sigh was allowed to escape.

"What is our fate?" The words were somber beyond reckoning. Spoken as if by a man who expected the answer to be the final thing he would hear.

 

[Doc Gnosis]

"Aaah, shaddup!!" The noise the Aegyl monk made and the clamor was enough to rouse the blue soldiers from their rest. The Gria approached the party as close as the bars could allow her and eyed the party with a scowl that would've been lethal.?We've just gone through Hell and back thanks to your meddlin' and we would like some quiet around here!? She shouted, paying little heed to the disgruntled looks her comrades gave her. She probably would've had more than words if she was not as imprisoned as the party was.

The lock containing the party seemed simple enough at a glance; pin and tumbler with little in the way with complexity. The lock itself had the cold and ashy taste of iron slickened with a little whale oil. Upon further inspection the hole just kept going, long past where a the ends of a key would reach. Then there was a slight resistance in the pick, then a muted *click.* The bars still held though, and the door showed no sign of unlocking.

The room lurched a bit as the airship changed in altitude, but yet showed no signs of coming to a full stop. When the shaking stopped the rattling of a door far from where the two rooms were echoed in the hall. An additional yellow light illuminated what corners it could, showing a rusty metal floor with peculiar mechanisms dotting the walls. Then came heavy footsteps revealing a tan Seeq in brown garb and a hat surveying the halls. He had with him what looked like a torch, but had no fire in it; magical or otherwise.

One of the blue humans visibly tensed while the Gria's jaw slackened.

The Seeq turned to the party?s cell, looking upon them with an empty glance between chewing on some biscuits he seemed to have carried in his pocket. He didn't seem to pay heed to Lilliene's lockpicking, instead picking up on the bag of biscuits barely touched on the floor.

"Theez guddennuf fer yah?" His voice would've sounded like warm molasses if it was not for the atrocious slurring. He pulled another biscuit out of his pocket and chomped down on it as if to prove something. "Da cap'n wanted yall not to jus die on 'im. Dat's why hez' gave yah sumuf ar rations. Dat an' he's hopin' yah can answer sum questions of his."

 

[CharrHearted]

The Burmecian Veltis gave a look of surprise as the white mage Percy immediately awoke, causing him to push himself onto his paws in surprise. When he heard him speak, Veltis looked down at him with concern, peering at the man to see if he was broken anywhere by a glance, though he seemed to be just fine and simply getting use to waking up in such a ghastly environment.

Veltis: "Your hands have lost their feeling? Please, take your time! Your of such a great importance, if you were to push yourself too suddenly, I don't know what everyone would be able to do without you. If you need any help, ask of me, I may not be able to heal you in the way your magic can, but I will at least try to do something to assist-"

Veltis' speech was interrupted when the white mage suddenly emitted cure magic over him, Veltis felt his piercing migraine and headaches vanish in an instant while the white magic coursed through his body to heal him off any small wounds he may of had, while he was happy that the white mage had healed the pains in his body, he couldn't help but feel a little selfish at the gesture of being healed as his wounds were such a small concern, having not intended for himself to be healed, but to see if he could help the mage in anyway possible.

Veltis: "You... healed me? I'm sorry, you didn't have to do such a thing! You should conserve your strength, my intention was to aid you, not to leech off your abilities, please try to not use up too much Mana! I wouldn't want you to succumb to illness or worse, death! I am so very sorry if I appeared to be some sort of malevolent user to you!"

Percy: "What is our fate?"

The Burmecian knelt down on one knee and bowed to the white mage out of respect for him, before standing back up and holding his hands down to offer him the ability to stand, a look of worry spread across the Burmecians face.

Veltis: "I'm sorry... I would be lying to you if I knew... The only thing I know is that we're currently inside this murky disgusting jail cell... from the feeling i'm getting, we're still in the air, on an airship it seems... As for our fate, I fear the worst may become of us if we sit idly by for our enemies to come before us... It pains me to ask of your assistance should we be injured, I do not want to force you into depleting your energy, it would be such a selfish thing to do, but I believe we should come up with some sort of a plan to escape from our given predicament and escape with everyone alive, that is what I wish anyway, do you wish of this as well? Like I said before, i'm at your service to assist you in any way I can, you're vital to everyone's success, we couldn't hope to survive this without your aid."


Once the Seeq was visible from the cell doors, Veltis frowned in disapproval at that disgusting attitude of his, hearing him speak, the burmecian turned back to the white mage.

Veltis:"One moment, i'l return in a moments time, forgive me."

With that, Veltis walked towards the cell door, and spoke up to the Seeq, supporting a unhappy expression comprised of a look of disdain for the Seeq, Veltis folding his arms.

Veltis: "These aren't rations, this is nothing but despicable mistreatment! If your commanding leader feeds you this for your rations, then I pity you and your entire army from having the displeasure to wolf down this molded rotten slop. If you think we're going to say anything to your monstrous leader, don't be so sure of yourself. You're nothing but a walking drone for your captain, and it wouldn't take much of a guess to understand you and your entire crew are paid less than what i'd imagine, to your leader you're nothing but disposable pawns, is that the way you want to live? If it is, then you're life will cease just like one of them. I don't take kindly to such barbaric mistreatment of me or of anyone else here..."

Veltis knew that his breath was likely wasted talking to such a unintelligent mook, simply saying it to let off some steam he had since he woke up, he spoke out like that to merely show the others where he stands, Moving away from the cell door, Veltis returned back to the white mage percy and held his hand down once again to help him stand if he wanted.

Veltis: "My apologies for that"

 

[Khedive Rex]

There was something much colder than astonishment in Perseverance's cloudy-green eyes but it held them wide and captivated through the entirety of the young Bermecian's speech. His concern for Percy's health and mana was immediately foreign, the old white mage was certain he had not been asked questions like that in a very long time. In vague images of antique memories he knew his health had always been strictly his affair, and his mana was for others first and foremost. At least, he remembered feeling that way. And he still did if he was to be honest. Percy would heal himself only if his wound was dire and the moment was not.

The Bermician had been little help in resolving the issue of placement, but the Seeq he had told off so vigorously did provide clear direction on that subject. Percy was currently being held a prisoner. He looked around his cage with a resigned scowl, a hint of disappointment. It was large enough to hold fifteen people, all of whom were talking. The noise. The endless noise.

The fraught lad returned in a rush and re-extended his hand to assist in Percy's standing. The gesture was remarkably kind and though Percy previously had no intention of further burdening his feet and feeble knees by standing upright, he resigned himself to accepting the kindness as a matter of principle. And so with a light spring, Percy was brought to his feet. He swayed infant-like as he widened his standing posture and turned to give the room another glance. His eyes fell on the biscuits provided as rations by the poorly educated Seeq guard. It was doubtless not his fault that he and his cell were to be treated in this fashion, he had eaten the biscuits himself. Perseverance's stomach rumbled once as he stared at the staled loaves. He had no way of knowing the day, and thusly no way of knowing if today he was obliged to fast. his tongue ran once around the space in his mouth, dry like parchment and his stomach growled once more. If he could not know the day he could not in good conscience eat on that day. And so he turned from the biscuits and back to the lad.

He was standing now and that meant his back was exposed, the stains like blood running down his robes could be seen by anyone who stood behind him. Which for the moment did not include the Bermecian. Percy tried to keep this angle, for reasons he couldn't place he did not want to scare the boy. Perhaps he did not want to be worried for. Percy would meditate on it later.

"My name is Perseverance." Percy said eventually. "You are kind to ...-COUGH-... Well, everything is alright. I don't require healing." An awkward start to the conversation, Percy knew. But it was just a little hard to think, as though through a fog. He tried to remember the last time he had eaten. It was a failed effort. He returned his focus to the Bermician, "Veltis", he had caught as his weakness overtook him.

"I do not believe that our captors would bring us in bars to anything we would desire to attend." Percy eyes darted low and to the side as he nodded a few times, agreeing with his own conclusion. "If you or any of these people require healing, you will have it. I wont stand anymore death. And as a White Mage I do not have to." Percy reached out a hand a cupped Veltis's shoulder, "You may consider me an ally."

"But please." Percy added slowly to the end. "Do not apologize to me. I don't have the power to absolve you."

 

[CharrHearted]

Veltis let the old mage talk and gaze around the room, not wanting to interrupt him out of kindness, but he pondered whether it was right to offer him the ability to stand, noticing he felt burdened by the way his knees and legs were stood. Once he had finished speaking and cupped his shoulder, Veltis spoke up once again, to reply back to him.

Veltis: "My apol-"

Veltis caught his tongue before he finished, coughing gently and as if not having said it at all, decided to open up with something else.

Veltis: "Very well. Though if you feel you are too weak to stand right now, please remain seated, I should have took your physical state into account, if we need to move, I'l be able to carry you, Perseverance, it won't bother me at all to help. I'm truly honored by your kindness however, it's not often I meet kind people on the battlefield or anywhere else really, I've spent my life so far trying to help everyone I can, i'm not afraid to admit i'm a do-gooder, it's just in my nature to put myself on the line and make sure others are happy and content, without any sadness of grief placed upon them. Though when I help others, I suppose i'm not shocked to be met with silence or perhaps anger for intervening. I pride myself as a gentleman, to me there's no point in living if you don't use the life you've been granted to improve the world you've been birthed on and use what strength you have to make the less fortunate on our world flourish like they should. A world of equality and peace is my dream... Sorry, I tend to ramble on about my beliefs, it makes me appear rather arrogant, doesn't it? It's an unfortunate characteristic of mine, maybe people would call my dream naive or foolish, though if I were to never follow my true desire, then I wouldn't deserve to be in this world, sticking true to myself to the end."

Veltis smiled, seeming to be a little more relieved and calm, now that he's been able to talk to someone, his speech making him appear to be an incredible optimist and a hopeful person, Veltis immediately sat himself down on the ground and folded his legs, getting into a cross legged position, thinking deeply to himself as he closed his eyes, asking a question to the white mage.

Veltis: "Tell me, Sir Perseverance, Do you have a dream or a desire? I'm curious about other peoples perspectives on the world, it's always refreshing to gain new insights on other peoples opinions."

 

[Malbourne]

The turbulence was beginning to stir Gojo's stomach. He grimaced, his dream becoming more and more vivid by the second, and was thankful he hadn't sampled the biscuits. Between that and the outburst from the co-prisoners across the way, Gojo hadn't had the chance to return an introduction to the Viera, though given her disposition he felt it would have been a lost courtesy. At least the Gria seemed feisty enough. A good companion in battle or at least a good distraction in slow, agonizing death.

The Burmecian calling himself Veltis had cut his conversation with the white mage short to aim a jab at the Seeq outside while the others had previously been busy attending to the lock. Seemed easy enough to start a conversation with a jailer. Gojo slowly approached the bars, trying to make a space between the rest of the occupants already packed in front of the door.

"Da cap'n wanted yall not to jus die on 'im. Dat's why hez' gave yah sumuf ar rations. Dat an' he's hopin' yah can answer sum questions of his."

"Cannae say Ah've e'er seen a gorgin' blue melon atop a coupla burly shoulders sich as yors," he rasped, "but neither can Ah say it don't do yor appearance a disservice o'sorts." Gojo tried to extend a hand for shaking, then thought better of rubbing an arm against the rust-coated bars. His claw probably wouldn't fit anyway. "M'name is Gojo Eremel, o'th'Eremel clan out o'Detbrogo. An' while a fit dose o'rations dinnae go amiss, a larger sup would nae go any further amiss, if'n yeh catch mah meanin'."

 

[UnusualStranger]

Roderic couldn't help but facepalm as the Burmecian seemed to want to make demands on their jailers, even as it was obvious that nothing good would come of it. However, it at least seemed that they had stopped for the time being to help someone else stand up, which he assumed might have been someone who had been roughed up a bit more on being brought in. Roderic didn't really have the time to care, since it seemed that this fellow was one of the ones that were controlled.

Roderic knew that trying to reason was long gone at this point, meaning he would be better off keeping a close eye on the odd stick that the Seeq carried. Too many unanswered questions in this ship, meaning that he really would like to get out of this cell and find a way to get this ship down before some of the meaner things happened.

"Is the good captain going to be coming to visit to ask these questions?" Roderic asked, now curious as to what the captain would want to know about them in particular. He didn't have any answers, and he began hoping that no one else would provide any either. Though the change in altitude didn't exactly sit well with him either. When one of the others approached the bars, he almost felt tempted to stop the approach.

Course, given our track record, I get the feeling bad ideas are in plentiful supply at this point. Hopefully they either turn into something, or stop happening real soon.

When instead of trying to throw a punch actually tried having a conversation, Roderic couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at how he was actually surprised at things going a better path than he anticipated. This group was either going to go really far, or have a lot of deaths and him escaping from them.

 

[Lambi]

Waking up to whatever was going on, Yuria became confused as to their current situation. The last thing she remembered was them being under attack and attempting to take over the opposing airship, and now she was in a jail cell with some of the others from the Alexander. It seemed like most everyone else was awake, so she had probably been hit pretty hard to be knocked out for a bit longer.

The first thing she did after gaining back consciousness was checking if her sword was where it should be, but she should have expected that it wasn't there. Whoever took it had better return it. That sword is very dear to me. Though, her sword wasn't her first priority. No, that was to escape from wherever they were being held captive, and see what had happened to Alexia. If what that other captain had said was true, then the crystals were already gone. They had to get them back. For now, though, she stayed quiet.

 

[Drummodino]

D'khen grimaced as one of his fellow cellmates conjured up some water and drank it. Not only was she using magic she didn't even offer to share it, when he'd been the one to ask for it. It was just plain rude frankly.

As people began introducing themselves he listened carefully, cataloging the group in his mind. As the Burmecian got up and began berating the guard who had wandered over he sighed and waved a hand in a disinterested manner.

"D'khen Tia, it's a pleasure," he said to no one in particular. "Also I don't know what you guys are concerned about with those biscuits, they're perfectly edible. I guess if no one else wants any I'll finish them myself."

Snatching the bag from the Gria guard he returned to leaning on the wall, munching away. True they were stale and a little mouldy, but he'd eaten a lot worse during his time on the streets. It was important to keep his strength up in case there came an opening for a quick getaway. Noticing the Mithra awakening he watched her from the corner of his eye as she kept quiet and tried to avoid attention.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Someone decided to be brave and have a go at the last bit of biscuits left. He did so with such confidence it was painful for Tuck to watch. He introduced himself to thin air, and then proceeded to wolf down the stale food he held in his paws.

'I was in enough cells in my life to know this - always avoid the food. If it's not rotten, it's laced with some poison, and I've grown tired of vomiting my innards till I passed out. Bon Apetite and well met, D'khen. You can have my portion. I have my own rations'.

Tuck showed the Miqo'te his flask and flashed him a toothy grin. There was a spicy smell of gin on his breath.

 

[Doc Gnosis]

The Seeq snorted at the Burmecian's derision, bearing a toothy snarl and seemed to have a quip for those words.

"Hey! Give those back! That?s the only bit of food we've got!" One of the captives picked a bad time to head off the Seeq's thoughts, hands reaching beyond the bars in a futile attempt to reclaim the bag. The Seeq lurched to the opposite cell and grabbed the blue human?s arm with one of his meaty claws, clamping down on the arm with so much pressure it would've broken if the Seeq did any more.

"Den yah shudda stuffed yer face' befor' dey nikked yer rations! Dat wuz mor' den yah deserv'd yah shits!" He shouted before shoving the arm back from the cell, and by consequence the rest of the human. "Dunno why the cap'n efen bodder'd 'oldin' deze Imperial moppets." He rambled aloud. The three captives were seething at his words, but said nothing. He gave a chuckle at the cell before returning his gaze back to the party wiping his mouth of any spittle.

"Ah. Chopp. Jus' Chopp. No fancy titles fer me yet." The Seeq laughed. "Once da ship docks, da cap'n will see yah derectly. Till den yah can?t be sure who?ll scrap fera fite. Yall not outta wuds yet-"

"The Ultima' will find you, and you will all pay."

"SHUT IT!!" Chopp yelled. His eyes flickered with rage as he turned his large head to the opposite cell for a moment before facing the party again.

"Shouldn?t be tulong dough. Yah may hafta make due wiff da biscuits till den." The Seeq gave a snort, then his eyes perked up. "Aktually, Ah may trow yah somting extra fer sum turbaccur. Ah can smell some 'ere an' Ah'm surprised da krew didn't catch dat." He gestured to he old human monk.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

"And I thought Mother's grasp of your tongue was poor." Lilienne said under her breath. Scrap for a fight...had they been captured for some kind of gladiatorial arena? Somehow that seemed too simple, one didn't interfere in a battle of that size to seize a few slaves, the risk to reward was too heavily skewed in the wrong direction.

The Ultima struck another chord in her mind. That must be that massive vessel they had seen in the distance, and those over there were from the Empire. So whoever's hold they were sitting in was someone brave, strong, or stupid enough to spit in the face of a group powerful enough to build that Tower. Fantastic.


There was potential here, though. The enemy of your enemy...

She nodded to the preacher man, hoping he'd get the hint and hand off his smoke to their friend Chopp. If they could get him away she could talk to the Imperials, maybe extract some information.

 

[TheIronRuler]

There was even more of a commotion when one of the jailors stepped up to the bars and started goading the prisoners. There weren't just the ones in his cell, there were others in another cell nearby. The ones he tangled with before ended up in captivity as well.

There was a rightious speech and an appropriate sneer from the jailor, who introduced himself as Chops. He kept butchering the language when he assaulted the prisoners in the other cell rather violently, and continued till he finished with a lewd offer : Tobacco for favors. Tuck was all too familiar with the custom, and he practiced it multiple times in the past, whenever he hadn't escaped incarceration in a fortnight. He was tempted to offer the jailor his smoke but thought otherwise - they were going to meet the captain anyway. Why waste time on a mook?

'I'm wearing magic robes, ye of little faith. Enhanced with the judgement of the lord, only those worthy can find my treasures'. It took little strength to stifle his laughter and keep on a straight face. He had done it before many times. In fact, following a series of similar escapades with guards and pickpockets, Tuck had devised a series of hidden pockets in his robes only he could tell. He was still making fun of thieves and looters twenty years after his clever solution.

'What makes you worthy of my finest roll?'.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

When Gerhard awoke, the mana dream which had been traumatizing him finally seemed to shriek off of his mind, leaving a hollow wail in his ears. He slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he saw in the dim light were cell bars. When he cleared his voice and spoke, the sound he heard was that of a younger man.

"Gods, not again... AGMAR! What'd I do this time?"

You stupid filthy drunk, you dabbled in psychedelic magic again didn't you?

It would explain the incredible pain in his head. It had been all so real though. He had induced 'flights of fancy' in the past before but none had ever spanned 'days' before. In fact, he clearly remembered a week long trip to the capital...

Gerhard pressed his back against the cell wall, rubbing his iridescent glowing eyes beneath the large beat up black mage hat that was a symbol of his profession. There was the clamor of other prisoners talking. That was weird, he usually had his own room because of his stench. That or Agmar was genuinely concerned he might freeze some poor bastard to death.

"Agmar?"

The buzzing from the tower, the screams of the woman, the cries of monsters, the fighting... Why did it all seem so real? It couldn't be real because here he was in Byron's cells once again. Clearly he had set something on fire again or...

His heart stopped. Leaning against the cell door was an Elezen garbed in black. His face was unmistakable.

It was no flight of fancy!

"Roderic..." he said, quietly at first.

He looked at the cell more closely, for the first time seeing it for what it was. They were in a ship of some sort... From the feel of it, in the air. This was not Byron, not in a long shot.

"Roderic!" he said, louder than he had intended. His voice had returned to its old salty bark, as if a grip on his throat had been released. He attempted to rise but slumped back against the wooden wall shakily.

Damned head!

"It was all real then... Or was it..."

Gerhard shook his head. It had been a magical experience, that was one thing he was certain of. The only thing he could stake his life on. How he managed to hurt himself this much would come later... The important thing was that it was real, or real enough to have Roderic right in front of him.

Either that or Gerhard had finally blasted his brains past the point where the local Byron white mages could recover him and he was in a coma. In either scenario, Gerhard had to accept what he was seeing now. Not that he had much choice in the matter.

"Where are we, what of the Alexander?" he said, accepting this reality for what it was.

I feel incredibly hungover. This has got to be real.

Spoiler: OOC

Could we maybe have the character sheets of those in the RP edited into a spoiler in the OP? That'd be helpful to check up on everyone's appearance amongst other things. Feels good to be writing again, let's have fun.