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

[Neuromancer]

Zack felt a chill down his spine as the Viera slipped next to him, putting his best effort to hide his uneasiness of her. It seemed that they would be stuck together for a time, so the less aware she was of his discomfort of her the better.

He couldn't help but sigh at the female Elezen's remarks. She surely suited the standard of your typical opportunistic mercenary, but the way she lic-studied the lock earlier gave Zack the impression that there was a lot more to her than that. Nevertheless, she wasn't helping get the group together, and Zack wondered just how reliable she would ultimately be.

He was growing rather fond of the Burmecian, now going by the name of Veltis. Naive though he seemed, he at least tried to keep everyone together, which was more than Zack could say about pretty much everyone else.

Zack opted not to answer to the Imperials. Same boat or not, they remained enemies, and any info given could come and bite him and the rest in the back.

"...I don't know how else to say this but, I think your homeland's been destroyed..."

The words came as a shock. Within his mind, faces of dear ones, prominently his sisters', flashed.

"Lin..." he muttered gravely. "No..."

"Enemy scout party incoming! Be on guard!"

The alarm brought Zack back to reality. Collect yourself, damn you! he thought. Words are wind. Don't believe it until you see it for yourself!

As the Lilty and his entourage run out, Zack addressed the party.

"If what he said was true, then our weapons are in there." An air of seriousness and urgency fuelled his voice. "Everyone should prepare for battle." He eyed outside the tent. Sure enough, the desert looked vast. An attempt at escaping would most likely end up with them dying beneath the scorching sun. "We can either join the fray or stay here. I, for one," he continued as he marched towards the chest, "want to hear more from that Lilty."

 

[Lambi]

Once they were released, Yuria gladly stood up, happy to be out of the cell. She stretched and followed the group to a tent with a few men inside. One of them spoke to them about their ship, the tower they'd been in and the consequences of that. As she had gone into the tower, she responded to him. "I was one of the ones who went into the tower. There, we found people who had seemingly been brainwashed, and without a way to reverse it, we fought our way down it and found the one responsible for the brainwash, although they apparently weren't the one behind whatever plan was going on. We fought a gigantic metal beast, escaped the tower, and shortly after getting back on the ship, the tower imploded and everything went...weird."

Kennedy continued talking, and when he mentioned Halvor getting destroyed, Yuria fell down on her knees. No... Mother... Father... I'll never see them again, nor speak to them. Tears burst out from her eyes, but she kept mostly quiet, holding back any sobs she had. Along with her sadness, she also felt anger towards the ones who'd done it. I'll find the ones who did that, and make them pay!

Kennedy was interrupted while telling them they could get their weapons back. Yuria didn't need to hear more, after Kennedy left the tent, she stood up and headed straight for that chest, opened it and grabbed her sword out from amongst the other weapons. With her homeland gone and a mixture between sadness and anger filling her, she had nowhere to go. Nothing to lose. With an angered scream, she headed towards where Kennedy had gone and started to slash at anything that wasn't a part of Kennedy's allies.

 

[CharrHearted]

I don't know how else to say this but, I think your homeland's been destroyed...

Veltis' eyes grew wider as his mouth went agape, unable to think clearly, Veltis suddenly hung his head down and gulped, as a wave of memories flew through his mind in the space of seconds, people he's chatted to, his parents, his friends, his allies, anyone who doesn't deserve such a horrible death like that, if the words of the lilty were true, then all the ones he's cared about have been washed away from existence...

The thought of something so disastrous occurring caused Veltis' heart to sink into his chest, as if time had ceased, he couldn't comprehend the damage in his head, stuttering almost. He finally snapped out of it however when alarm flared, causing Veltis to get his act together, and once he heard of where his weapons were he wasted no time in rushing to the chest to acquire his greatbow and quiver, putting it onto his back, he held the large dragonscale decorated bow in both hands, hands shaking furiously with his back held against the back of the tent.

Veltis: "Destroyed...? If... that's true... Then I have no choice but to fight them with full force..."

Veltis wasn't going to let himself sink further into despair, if he gave up here, he would never be able to look anyone in the eye again. Strengthening his grip on his greatbow, Veltis slowed his breathing down and walked slowly, standing as straight as he could, the Burmecian placed his right hand on his left cheek, having fully calmed himself down.

Veltis: "I won't let the death... of everyone they've slaughtered be in vain. The tears will have to wait, my loves... I won't spill such tears in this place."

Veltis having to work as hard as he could emotionally to pull himself out of this slump, giving him an air of bravery and strength of heart. Though everyone could see he was as tormented from the news as anyone with a heart would be, it was comforting to know he was trying.

Veltis: "Everyone! Let us come up with a plan of attack to assist. I want us all to put all our efforts into repelling the assault! Let us get into an appropriate formation! Show no mercy to these vile MONSTERS! PERCY, GERARD! I suggest we hang at the back to keep ourselves from being hit by any incoming melee strikes! Of course, it will give you time to cast your spells from an effective range without being assaulted too severely, should it come to it, I believe a knight should also hang back to protection should any slip past us to attack you, GOJO, I request your assistance in this matter, if you would be so humble as to do so for us!"

Veltis looking toward the others, trying to think of the formation plan, Veltis trying his best to find a way to use everyone's abilities effectively based upon their looks and actions thus far, hoping he comes up with something good.

Veltis: "TUCK, KAI, you're most suited to striking after a knight has prepared and opening for you, ZACK, do you think you could travel to the front of our formation with them to assault our enemies? SERENA should stick to behind the knights and monks, to provide their abilities to both casting and assault, picking off stragglers who aren't decimated by the Monks and ZACK! As for RODERIC and LILLIAN, you both look quick, gorilla tactics to wear the enemy down and provide distractions while picking them off will assist us greatly, if you can manage that! As for you, D'KHEN TIA, that armor, Dragoon are you not? It doesn't need to be spoken about what you can accomplish out there with a lance! I'l leave the skies to you!"

Veltis hoping this formation is a good one, looking to the group to see if they approve, though he noticed it sounded like he was demanding it from them, he looked apologetically and continued his speech.

Veltis: "I don't mean to bark some sort of order with all of this! Please, if you all could suggest a better formulation plan, now would be the time to do so! I'm merely doing as best as I can given our scenario! If there are no objections, we should not waste any time...!"

 

[TheIronRuler]

...I don't know how else to say this but, I think your homeland's been destroyed...

My God... My feet will never walk there again... I am a Stranger in a Strange Land...

There was a moment of silence where nothing was said and no sound was made. His ears stopped, his mouth could not speak, his mind was stuck. There were so many souls he knew there, now lost forever to him, never to be seen again in his life. Friends and foes alike, believers and heretics, good and bad men - and the women... Oh, it was such a waste. A sense of righteous rage filled Tuck in an instant, flowing through his flesh in waves of heat, pulsating with each thought of murder. There was a debt to pay to the maker, for the loss of so many of his children, and Tuck was the one to deliver it to him. He noticed in the corner of his eye his things stacked in a chest nearby, marched forward and retrieved them. His cane, a wooden quarter-staff with iron edges and core, and his alchemical kit. Among it were several of his potions, based on his strong liquor and original recipes.

A line from the holy texts rang in his mind, and he echoed it with great fury and zeal.

'...And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon you...'

With that, Tuck left the tent behind him, marching to war.

Outside a storm of swords raged on. The sun reflected on the surface of metal armor and swords. Words of power were said by those who knew the secrets. There was work to be done. Holy work. To such a noble cause, a toast had to be made to honor the dead and take courage for the battle. Tuck stared at the approaching enemy and grinned when he opened his flask and gulped an entire mouthful of the alcohol, rolling it around his mouth. He snapped a match from a hidden pocket in his sleeve, struck it against his cane and saw it catch fire. Three heavily armored knights charged forward, each trying to beat the other for their first kill - Tuck threw the match in the air, pulled back and sprayed the hard liquor. The cloud of alcohol caught fire, turning into a large fireball and engulfing the three knights. Tuck stepped back and dove to the side as the startled knights rushed past him, screaming in agony.

'Taste my righteous fury', Tuck announced to the enemies in front of him. The three knights ran around the camp like headless chickens, trying to ward off the flames and crying out for help. There was still more holy work to be done.

 

[Malbourne]

It hadn't been the best of field trips. Gojo rubbed his tufted chin pensively. Homeland, destroyed? And an enemy at the gate? The thought of battle was...rousing, but it helped to know the enemy. Hell, it would have been nice to know his allies. By the time Veltis spoke up, Gojo figured he'd be better off fighting his own way out.

The Bangaa snorted, crossing his arms stubbornly. He'd been shepherded from one madhouse to another. "And wit makes ye think yoo're goin' ta gi'out orders to me?" Gojo squinted, his one good eye critically examining the Burmecian. "Near's I kin tell, ye're just a wee pup. Ah've carved a hunnerd sticks in th'time it took yeh tae learn how tae swing one."

He bared his sharp teeth, growling, "Ah'm not about ta lay down in front o'ye and be yer bloomin' pincushion. I'm gettin' mah hammer, and takin' mah leave. Whate'er kin'n'kine yeh lost ain't no concern o'mine." Gojo prodded the Burmecian in the chest with a clawed finger and hissed, "If'n ye stand in mah way like the rest o' those bonny slimes, I'll cut yew down just th'same."

 

[CharrHearted]

Veltis gave him a look of disappointment, before shaking his head, Veltis didn't waste any time before speaking up against Gojo, upset at his decision to flee than to fight.

"So you would rather run with your tail between your legs? Sure, you can run if you like, run for as long as you can, until your legs break, if we lose to the empire, then no matter how far you plan on running, they will always catch up to you, and I would rather die believing I could make a difference than to perish with a sword jammed into my back from running away from the enemy! Did you not have any family, Gojo?! Do you not even care for the living?! If you run from here, you'll do nothing but run your whole life as nothing but a coward! If that's what you are, then I can't stop you... I can only hope you grow a spine eventually"

 

[Malbourne]

The Bangaa shoved past Veltis, snarling, "Call me what ye will. E'eryone's lost someone at some point. It dinnae make ye special." He rummaged around the equipment and retrieved his war hammer, a specimen with a steel haft and a head in the shape of a proud griffon. Gojo hefted it, glad to feel the familiar handle in his claws. "I care not for th'living, nor the dead. We'll all be one or th'other soon eno'. And I'm not gonna stop ye from makin' yer switch here, so long as ye don't stop me." The Bangaa made for the tent flap as he said, "Let the blarney empire chase me. 'Til then, I'll take a nice house on th'edge of the world and watch the rest o'ye chew eachother's necks a new airhole."

He paused, spinning the haft of his hammer thoughtfully. "...Though right now I cannae let a pup's insults go unaddressed. Fight as ye will, but stay oot of mah way on the field o'battle or it won't be th'enemy what sticks a sword in yore back." With that, the Bangaa left the tent.

 

[Neuromancer]

As Zack reached the chest, the feline woman that opened it stormed off with a face full of anger. She was in the tower. Better keep an eye on her later

First, he searched for Mediator, and found the greatsword buried beneath other apparel, kitchen knife included. Touching its grip, Zack felt a certain amount of relief that he was reunited with his sword, and briefly entertained the possibility of wielding it in battle. Not yet, he concluded placing it on his back, and picked up his longsword. Searching the tent, he found a medium sized shield. As he was adjusting to its weight, he faintly heard the Bermucian barking up orders.

Zack was content to just ignore Veltis and walked to the edge of the tent. As he heard the Bermucian shouting at the Bangaa, however, he couldn't help but say his piece.

"Veltis!", he said in a direct shout while looking at the carnage outside. "Your desire to see this group work is commendable..." he turned towards the Burmecian, glaring at him with a hint of murder in his eyes "...but as you can see no one here cares about what you say! So stop talking, get your gear, and do what you can!"

He turned again and started walking away. "I'm going after that Litly. Follow me if you will or do whatever you find to be right. Just know that you're on your own."

Drawing his longsword, he rushed into battle. He had a Litly to find, and no one was going to stop him from doing so.

 

[SirDerpy]

It was a rather dull and uneventful few hours until the ship landed and the group was led into a bleak-looking camp. It was worn and run-down, an outpost down on its luck, looking much like a skeleton with its scraggly watchtowers sticking up here and there, with tents providing the skin for the ensemble. A light breeze stirred up the cold air, the sun hidden behind the looming layer of low clouds doing little to ease the chill. A gray sky above, brown desert below. As the group approached the biggest tent, rocks crunching underfoot, Serena noticed more soldiers, mostly Halvorian, lying in the tents, seemingly unconscious. The Tower really did a number on the Halvorian forces.

"Judging by how we've been treated so far, we have no reason to be answering any questions you throw at us...Will you comply with us?"

And there the naive Burmecian (His name was Veltis, if Serena recalled) went again, demanding things like rights and fair treatment in the middle of a war. Admittedly, this time it was called for, but that habit would probably at some point end up bringing him death, and not necessarily swift. Everyone else just hung back more or less silently. Serena occupied herself watching the dreary scenery outside the tent. It was...forlorn, to say the least.

Then the Lilty officer said something.

"I don't know how else to say this but, I think your homeland's been destroyed..."

Her blood ran cold. She shook a bit. Serena felt her arm reach out for the edge of the tent, to keep her from falling...

A hot, clear afternoon fishing on the lake.

A game of tag under the flame-colored leaves.

The warmth of a hearth as the skies fell snow.

A scent of rain and of a freshly bloomed wood.

Lessons in blade and magic with her friends.

The triumph of slaying a monster.

Joy watching the life bleed out from the hume at her feet.

The shame and anger and sadness of exile.

Finally, a brilliant flash of light.

And the rasping laugh of a burning Tonberry.​

She found one of the wooden pillars holding open the flaps of the tent. Serena righted herself before anyone noticed. Face pale, she took a deep breath of the dry, cold air. She froze her mind, and resumed a neutral expression. Her breathing calmed as her shock and dread drained away into nothingness.

It would not be wise to become frenzied-as she knew she would do if she let go of her mind for a single instant. Everyone was most probably dead. Put to the torch. The image of the magnopyre, falling with the brilliance of a star onto Halvor and working its way across the cities, grew in her mind. Citizens set ablaze or vaporized outright. People dead as they turned to investigate the scream of the people around them. The academies and students, nothing but ashes in the wind. The ones swimming in the ocean boiled alive, like lobsters in a pot. The miners in the mineshafts underground, wondering why the walls were turning to magma-

She felt her grip slacken, and caught a tear leaking out of her eye. That was dangerously close. She could not pursue that avenue of thought, not here.

Then the alarm rang with the words Serena wanted to hear most.

"Enemy scout party incoming! Be on guard!"

Serena let a single wide smile come onto her face. She allowed but a portion of her emotion into it. The other Red Mage rushed to retrieve her sword from amongst the confiscated weapons first, followed by Veltis and the preacher. The hume Zack and Gojo walked over next. Serena stepped slowly across to the chest, each step controlled and measured. The anticipation rising up in her was strong enough almost to be alien. Serena supposed that she hadn't ever had a reunion with any of her dearest friends before. Yet there it was.

Tonberrion, wrapped in cloth, lay to the side. Apparently they had been unwilling to touch directly such an evil-looking dagger. She reached in carefully, and brought it out. Unwrapping the cloth slowly and delicately, Serena finally clasped her right hand around the handle.

She felt her heart beat faster. And faster. She felt her body grow hot, almost unbearably so. Her hands shook, and a pressure made itself known in her head. She felt hot tears stream down her face as her shock and sadness returned to her in full force. They soon stopped, replaced with a smile. No, it was more of a savage grin. And, barely perceptible, the ring of crimson around her eyes glowed a tad bit, and grew a tadder bit thicker.

She laughed. Laughed as hard as if she had heard the world's greatest joke. Laughed like a madman watching the world burn; no, she really was a madman. And she was about to set aflame something-someone else. Then, with her free left hand, she undid the buttons on the robe and threw it to the side, lying across the Lilty's desk, revealing her grey coat and brown slacks underneath. Today...today was not a day for white magi. Today was to be a day for Serena Perempi, a mage red as crimson.

Reaching into the chest again, Serena clutched in her left hand the short peridot-tipped stave, a complement for the Tonberrion held in a saber grip in her right. Veltis began shouting some orders, but Serena paid them no heed. He was irrelevant in this affair. Then she heard her name.

"Yuria, Serena, you should stick behind the knights and monks, to provide your abilities for both casting and assault..."

Serena didn't listen to the rest of his drivel. She slipped out of her stilettos, bounding along on her own two feet, loping out of the tent. Then she turned her savage grin to the Burmecian, bouncing in place on the tips of her paws.

"Ha! Like hell! This, Burmecian, is a war, and the madness of war is not tempered by methods! You will not give me orders, nor shall I follow them. Nobody will stand in my way, lest they wish to die." Serena began loping towards the western gate, then turned around for a last word. "But it should matter little to you. What is important is that the enemy is killed, and I shall slaughter these swine in droves."

Then, taking a running start across the camp, she leapt over a burning tent into the thick of battle.

[hr]

 

[CharrHearted]

With Tuck, Gojo, Serena, and Zack having left Veltis, all Veltis could feel was a hint of betrayal from them, he shouldn't feel so angry towards them, but he couldn't help but run out the tent and scream to try and call them back.

"Stop! You're going to get yourselves killed!"

Ofcourse his words meant nothing as they all left anyway, causing Veltis' shoulders to slump as he sat himself back, looking to the others with a depressing gaze, his gaze altering to look at the ground, speaking in a low tone.

"I'm sorry... if all of you would rather leave, I won't stop you... I just thought we could put our heads together... If you want to fight alongside me... say aye... if you don't... do what you wish."

Veltis grunted, sitting down and holding onto his greatbow tightly, hoping at least someone would join him in his defense.

 

[SirDerpy]

Oh, this felt nice!

Serena hit the ground, ducking into a roll. Her limbs had stopped shaking, the pent-up energy in them being put towards the most primary directive: the absolute massacre of the filth who dared to end her homeland.

She came up alongside one of the brown-clothed soldiers. Well, he used to be a Brown. He took an arrow through the throat just as Serena straightened up. A part of her mind noted the painful-looking barbs on the arrowhead. It wouldn't do to even be grazed by one. He toppled to the ground shortly afterward, making choking noises.

Turning to face the force against her, she cracked a manic smile, her eyes wide and irises glowing, daring them. The first knight to rise to the challenge, catching sight of a barely-armed mage, charged towards her with sword-point upheld.

She lifted the stave in her left hand, leveling it with the knight's neck as he drew ever closer. Her arm was dead steady, and her aim, dead straight.

"Thunder." The peridot glowed yellow, thrumming, then discharged a light blast of lightning, striking the knight full in the neck. He threw away his sword midstride, gasping in pain and gripping his neck as the muscles spasmed. The soldier dropped to the ground, still heaving. He wasn't dead, yet. Serena wouldn't waste blood or mana like that.

She took long strides forward, bending down over the poor soul, about to be set free. He was in too much pain to register her presence. Clicking her tongue, the Tonberrion dug itself into his neck, exposing the flesh of his throat to open air.

It was not enough. Not nearly enough. As she straightened, an arrow whizzed past her face, narrowly missing ripping her nose off. The offending ranger stood a short distance away, wielding a short bow, designed for close quarters. And wearing only leather armor. In other words, nothing that could stand a match against Tonberrion.

He would be the next to die. Serena fully straightened and looked the ranger dead in the eye. He didn't seem fazed as he loaded another arrow into his bow and drew.

No. You aren't going to fire that.

Serena bounded forth, closing the distance with speed. The ranger was good, though. He managed to get off a shot before Serena reached him. Serena hit the ground, rolling as the arrow flew above her body. When she came to her feet, the ranger had dropped his bow and pulled out a long, sword-like dagger and had begun running towards her. She ducked to the side as he opened with a quick slash down to the right, then parried his second. The hume was fast. Not matter how fast he was, though, she would always be faster. She leapt backwards as he aimed a stab towards her stomach, hitting the ground in a crouch. He was just barely off-balance. Barely.

Then Serena jumped forwards, into the hume with explosive force, knocking them both back, landing on the ground with Serena on top of the ranger. He caught his breath quickly, his eyes wide open, and opened his mouth as if to say something...before coughing blood into her face. She stood up, tugging her right arm out of his body, the remains of his pulverised heart coming along with Tonberrion. Giggling at the hole she had punched in his chest, she wiped her face with her sleeve, although that only served to get bits of muscle and more blood on her cheek.

Then she looked around. Oh, my, my. A team of three knights, having seen the commotion, came to surround her, shields and swords at the ready. She cocked her head and smiled sweetly, lifting her stave. The peridot glowed red.

"Firaga," she chanted. As if they were fools enough to believe me capable of such a spell.

All at once, the knights raised their shields, ducking behind it for protection against the blazing inferno the witch had called upon. A blazing inferno which never came. Serena swept up to the closest knight in their moment of fear. As they raised their confused faces from behind the shields, she plunged Tonberrion through her knight's visor, the blade eating through his eyes and coming out the back of his head. Kicking his body back, Serena spun and lifted the stave again. It began glowing a violent red, but the other two knights continued their charge, seemingly unafraid.

Idiots. Fools. Swine. Die like insects. Serena dropped her affected smile for her savage grin. Closing her eyes, sparing them from her glowing eyes, she suffused the air around the incoming knights with her mana. Being strangers to magic, they noticed nothing. It only took a second, and a few quick breaths as they stepped within melee range, raising their swords.

Then. "Fire."

The mana ignited, in their lungs, in their stomach, even their bloodstream. The two exploded in their armor, reduced to bits of a mixture of raw and scorched flesh, pieces of organ and more blood splattering across Serena's body. What fell to the ground in front of her were two sets of armor and a pile of steaming meat.

Serena panted heavily, and laughed heavier. That particular use of her magic took far too great of a toll on her reserves, but she'd be damned if it wasn't the most fantastic fun she'd ever had! Beaming, she loped back to the line that the Browns were holding against the Blues.

As long as there was still a fight, her job was not yet done.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

These men were untrustworthy, her comrades were predominantly imbeciles, and even if they weren't lying - which they probably were, Lilienne really didn't have a lot of ties to Halvor that she gave a damn about. She headed into the tent to retrieve the things she did care about - the Deremont Swords, along with her plethora of knives. She looked over the rest of the gear, but nothing looked worth taking. She bound the sheaths to her belt and turned to leave the tent, sweeping the katana free and grasping it with both hands. She had no business here. And it just so happened there was an unattended Imperial scout airship landed nearby. A grin creased her face and she sprinted for it, twisting and dodging through the battle until she reached the side, digging her fingers into the ship and beginning ti haul herself up the side.

 

[UnusualStranger]

Roderic went along with the others, grabbing the collection of knives that were still laying about, and noting that the other Elezen was doing the same. She had some more impressive blades to go with her smaller collection of knives, but Roderic could respect the thoughts all the same. So, with the collection complete, he began to make his way outside, noting that the other had the same idea he did upon going outside: the airships. He was more than happy to keep pace with the girl, and while he made his way off, the girl made her way onto the ship and began to climb.

"Looks like its time to head out, hm?" Roderic said, taking a jump up to the ship, using a knife to get some grip as he climbed up. It wouldn't take long, just a few more jumps and then time to get the ship up in the air. And with the extra hand, it might be quite simple to get things up in the air, and to get out of here. Giving a small wave to the Aegyl who seemed to be going through a lot at the time. Perhaps she would take an invitation?

Besides, without much of a banner to fly under, it is as good a time as any to make a good start. A Pirate of the sky is a new direction...or perhaps just a handy way to make it from one target to the next? So open now...

With the battle already seeming to start, and ebb and flow, it was perfect to get this ship out of here. None watching the ships, making it terribly easy to get up and going since no one really cares about a recently hijacked ship. It was turning out to be a good day after all.

 

[SkyeNeko]

After much pacing, Kai took a seat in the biggest space she could find, closing her eyes and meditating. She would survive without food for a little while: the others would be able to use the food more than she. Kai sat in a full lotus pose, focusing on her breathing and her anger. Just breathe. Count to a hundred. Out with the red, in with the blue.

Kai didn't move until they were retrieved by an armored escort, and even then, she was the last one to move. The sun outside was blinding. Had it been that long since they had been outside? There was a pleasant breeze that ran through her hair. She lagged behind while the rest went single file to a tent. It looked like some sort of camp. The ship they had boarded was sitting there, next to the one they had just left. Why couldn't they have been kept on there? There was a small crowd of people going in. She wondered if her weapons were still in there?

Before she could follow the throng in, there were shouts and shots. Fighting erupted in the camp, and from the looks of it, they were the same ones that attacked their ship. Kai still didn't understand who the enemy was, much less why they were fighting now. Still, when an armored humanoid came at her, Kai broke through its defense and hammered the knight into the ground with practiced accuracy.

Since she was near the edge of the camp, she didn't see as many of the enemy, but Halvor was really getting their moneys worth, if she was getting paid at all now, that was. Between stripping a fellow monk of his brass knuckles and knocking out the tooth of some unfortunate humanoid, Kai spotted the pair of shifty Elezen making their way onto the ship. What were those two up to?

 

[Drummodino]

As the motley group were led from their cell D'khen trailed near the back, watching their escorts warily. Taken off the ship they found themselves in what appeared to be a makeshift warcamp, tents rising all around with plenty of wounded visible amongst them. The party was shown into one of the largest tents in the camp, where an elderly Lilty was waiting for them.

"That anomaly aside, what brings you out here to face a Grandallese host?"

'Friend I don't know who this Grandallese Empire is, but they sure aren't what I signed up for,' D'khen thought, although he kept this comment to himself. He didn't want people questioning the real reason he had for joining the king's expedition, although it probably didn't matter that much based on what the Lilty said next.

"... I think your homeland's been destroyed..."

'Halvor... destroyed?' D'khen thought, blinking as the full weight of those words registered in his mind. It boggled his senses momentarily, the thought of a whole land extinguished just like that... it was difficult to comprehend. His drinking buddies at that tavern in Arnetis, the barmaid with a twinkle in her eye and the cutest smile, the urchins he discreetly donated gil and food to... they were all gone. True, that did mean his former employers and their thugs would be gone too, but he'd never wanted anything like this.

Shaking his head, the Miqo'te tried to focus his thoughts as an alarm rang through the camp.

"Enemy scout party incoming! Be on guard!"

As the Lilty and his men charged out to meet the attackers D'khen moved with the others to retrieve his items from the chest.

"Gee wizz, that's one big chest," he quipped as he pulled his spear from within, testing the edge and nodding approvingly. He grabbed his helmet and quickly shoved it on, pulling the visor down over his face. Finally he pocketed his gems, five fire and five ice. Was it hypocritical of him to carry those given his disdain for magic? Almost certainly, although he would argue that in a life or death situation, even magic is more agreeable than a sword through the belly.

As the former prisoners geared up Veltis began giving instructions... which everyone promptly ignored. D'khen looked back at the idealistic Burmecian from the doorway and gave a half-hearted shrug in apology.

"Sorry man, I don't think things are gonna work out that way. I applaud your enthusiasm though!"

Ducking out as Veltis and the large Bangaa began arguing, D'khen took a moment to survey the scene. There were armed men and women everywhere, arrows and magic were flying and the sounds of steel on steel rang through the air. Noticing the abandoned airship and the two Elezen heading for it, he hurried after them. As they reached the side and began climbing he increased his speed before launching himself upwards, landing on the deck above them.

"Need a lift?" he grinned, extending his right hand down to Lilienne.

 

[Khedive Rex]

Percy eyed the maverick crowd of thronging masses and bludgeoning weapons with palpable disappointment. The enemy scout ship had landed a small platoon of wimpy brawlers and suddenly everyone was racing around like headless chickens. Except they cawed, incessantly, a privilege rarely afforded to the headless, and one that should have been denied to his cell mates. The noise, it echoed like waves through the little room they were assembled in churning the peaceful soil of the scene into mud colored storms of dust. He saw the Elezen from earlier duck away into the supply rooms, he could not help but hear a red mage outside casting every spell she knew from the sound of it, Veltis the Bermician was shouting orders to a room full of convicts with no particular unifying goal, the inebriated friar was displaying his righteous fury with all the power parable possesses. And then, in the corner, barely noticeable, the aged Lilty sat behind his desk tapping a pen against the solid wood beating a slow reserved irritation. It was like finding the moon at night.

Perseverance crossed the distance between himself and the Lilty ... Kennedy, wasn't it? ... as quickly as frailty allows and took the seat directly across from his desk. Kennedy's eyes perked up with professional curiosity and he ceased to tap his pen.

"Hello. My name is ...-COUGH-... Perseverance. I understand you have some purpose that you are recruiting for? I would like to volunteer."

The Lilty shot him a minor look of confusion. Percy thought he understood.

"Servitude is a holy burden. And I do not predict that many of my former cell mates will volunteer for the cause which ..." Percy's gaze ambled away from Kennedy and seemed to focus on nothing at all for the interval of one loud minute as minor war rang like church bells directly outside the door. Percy grimaced. "... Which ... Is a good thing. It would be good -great really- ... to part with them."

"You seem so morose Perseverance," The Captain said after a long pause. "I take it the news of your homelands ... Well, destruction, ... Is hitting you? Wouldn't you like some time to think about -"

"No. No, this is not ... -COUGH-... the first time that my homeland has been destroyed." Percy said nodding as if in thought. "It numbs a person." He concluded eventually. "After the first its difficult to ... Care?"

 

[Doc Gnosis]

A host of knights, archers, and mages clad in royal blue greeted the combatants who ran for the field. Mages were in the rear casting Cure spells over certain crowds of blues to keep them fighting or elemental spells to harm others, and a cadre of blue knights clad in distinctive platemail were guarding them against foes who broke past the initial wave. Rangers were clustered in the back taking potshots at the enemy at any time, but there was the occasional archer who was cocky enough to approach the frontline, firing two or three arrows at once; those would be struck down by more capable fighters.

Despite being better armed, the blue host was losing ground as brown warriors - no doubt the Lilty's men - were gradually flanking them from both sides. Cries of "Hold fast!" and "For the Empire!" echoed as the blue soldiers started fighting with more fervor and speed. It was enough to keep the fight at a standstill against Kennedy's host, but it would still be an uphill climb as both sides slowly chiseled away at the other?s numbers.

***
The knights kept their distance away from the human monk, not wanting to get caught in it's fire or attacks. They knew better than to tangle with him at close quarters; instead they've been focusing on other combatants: A Viera red mage, a quartet of Seeq armed with spears as wide as the monk, and a lone black mage who got lost in the fray and didn't realize where he was were among the many targets they were focused on.

The monk's fighting caught the eye of two Dragoons, both eyeing the fire he wielded and sought to meet this foe. With the prowess the prestigious class of warrior was capable of, they leapt across the battlefield to meet the monk head on with swords and spears at the ready.

A cocky black mage flanked by a few knights approached the Viera in particular, a Yuke clad in grey armor with an iron staff. "Blizzard!"

With a tap of the ground ice began to form and build around her...

***
Kennedy could be seen with his guard - the two lilties with guns in hand, sniping at any incoming foe. The two archers didn't quite know how to deal with this white mage hovering near the group, but so far he had not been harmful to them or their leader.

The captain was busy engaging three other knights with a spear bigger than him. He had wielded it with a speed and precision that wouldn't be expected from one his size and squatty build. Two of the three knights tried slashing at Kennedy, but he ducked and dodged them both while swinging at them with the butt of his spear to disorient them. The third saw an opening and raised his sword for a killing blow, but the Lilty saw him coming and pushed the two away and rammed the jagged edge into his exposed neck.

The other two backed away slowly from Kennnedy, but didn't flee. They were pausing, waiting for someone to back them up.

***
Outside the ship, a certain Seeq eyed the incoming party heading for the ships and let out a laugh. "Sunuva *****!" He pulled out a mace from his coat, and the 'torch' before sauntering off, paying a cursory heed to the battle behind him, or the Aegyl monk that was following behind by a margin. "Hope dey don't set off mah explosiv's."

Getting into the ship was easy enough; the crew had mostly vacated the ships for the tents or for other jobs. But that didn't mean they were deserted. Inside were some men clad in royal blue, armed with whatever weapons they could find: cudgels, knives, a lucky few found an unchecked gun. The metal walls echoed with cries of, "FOR GRANDALL!!"

Spoiler: Notes

I?ll let you take certain liberties with certain NPC's. It?s mostly your show; I?m just setting the scene.

 

[CharrHearted]

Veltis frowned and stopped sulking, tightening his grip onto his weapon he immediately stood up and walked towards the exit of the tent, a determined glare in his eye, not going to be held back by a bunch of convicts without enough brains to come up with a plan that could actually help them succeed, he wasn't just going to let their inability to band together stop him from defending the area, and so he walked out of the tent, into the desert like landscape being engulfed in the fires of war itself, greatbow in hand, he gripped onto one of the large arrows in his quiver, not even taking a moment to think on it, he wasn't going to let his saviors be disappointed in saving him.

He quickly put his Greatbow down and readied himself, the arrow being armed readily while he surveyed his surroundings, noticing a group of enemy soldiers, specifically two mages were casting spells far off into the distance. He immediately pulled back the Mithril string and unleashed a large arrow, firing at their blind side and using his dexterity and his intelligence to determine the point which could land the hit, the arrow suddenly stabbing right through one of the mages face and piercing one behind it right in the jugular, killing two birds with one stone as their corpses collapsed to the ground in a bloody mess.

Veltis thinking into himself as he brings another large arrow from his quiver, stepping forward into the battlefield, he walked over one of the empires corpses, gazing and surveying more of the area, coming up with a plan quickly in his head, he charged behind cover and readied to get to another blindside of his foes, to attack with a preemptive strike.

"If you need something done right, you have to do it yourself... I can't rely on people all the time, I have to show my own backbone!"

Noticing a soldier at his left, about to charge into the fray to attack his allies at his moment in time, Veltis gripped the arrow in his hand and quickly prepared it, firing it straight through the soldiers back as he ran off to fight, the arrow firing clean through the soldier and ripping a huge chunk out of his being, letting him bleed to death on the spot, to Veltis these monsters deserved no mercy, and he wasn't going to be a fool and show them any when they're nothing but heartless.

Veltis keeping behind optimal cover that could protect him from the enemies forces, he quickly looked out to check on their numbers, gaining a good idea of their area, he quickly did the math in his head and went back behind cover, standing back several feet from his initial position, he aimed his greatbow upwards and loaded an arrow, firing when he made his prediction and letting the arrow arc over and shoot to the enemy line, piercing a ranger straight in the stomach, causing the arrow to rip straight through and empty his guts all over the sand, Veltis hoping his plethora of attacks would have given his allies an advantage, peering out to see if any enemies were in sight.

"two knights... a white mage, shielded by them, followed by a black mage and a ranger. Not good..."

Veltis didn't have time to waste, he quickly traversed around the battlefield, in between cover to keep him from being spotted until he found a good spot to assault the group of foes from, directly east of the group. He may not have had magic, but he had intelligence, the intelligence to plan the exact area his arrows could land, using wind speed, weight, distance, arc, he combined all these together to determine the area to cast his arrows and thus, Veltis had his mark as he released his arrow.

It zoomed straight towards his foes, his first target was obviously set for their ranged members first, the ranger probably being more skilled in aim, he let him taste the first hit, as the arrow ripped straight through his neck and slit it right open, offering him a gruesome death, and as the white mage was busy trying to heal him futility, Veltis let loose another precise arrow, executing their final ranged ally, the black mage with a arrow through the forehead and due to its large size, the blackmage would have been lucky to even contain half his head while his brain was scattered all over the floor.

"Two down... three to go."

 

[Malbourne]

"Oof." Gojo glanced at his shoulder and saw a large cut. He clenched a fist and bopped the assailant on the head, sending him flying onto his back. "Kindly step awee," the Bangaa muttered. "Ah don't fight th'rank-and-file, ye ken?"

There were definitely some formidable fighters on the field. It was the mages in particular Gojo wanted to avoid; one second in their eyesight and he'd be a grilled croquette. Long-distance fighting had never been his forte, and now his hiatus from combat was starting to show in his technique.

Maybe Ah'm not as spry as Ah once thought... Breathing heavily from the punch, Gojo made for the center of the fighting where all the close-combat contenders had to be duking it out. After a few seconds of traipsing, knocking out overly eager rookies, and looking for the promising fighters, Gojo figured he was no closer to finding a suitable opponent in all the chaos. And for some reason his feet felt a little colder than usual.

"Blizzard!"

There was suddenly a Yuke mage standing right in front of him, back turned and guarded by a couple of burly soldiers. The group seemed to be ganging up on another fighter. That wasn't really a concern of Gojo's, though, especially where a black mage was concerned. Whoever they were attacking-

Hm! It was that charming young Viera lass. She was the one who'd asked for his name earlier in the cell, he recalled pleasantly, albeit with some sharp jab at his age (but who didn't like a lady with bite?). Well, it would not do to leave a damsel unaided on the field of battle, particularly against these kinds of odds. He hefted his hammer and aimed the head for the mage...

The Bangaa found himself falling forward. Some of the Yuke's ice had entangled his feet! Was this guy just really incompetent or really lucky?! The hammer slipped from his grasp and conked one of the knights hard in the neck. The human soldier grunted in surprise and pitched head-over-heels, landing on his face. "Ah-Ah'm here tae help," the Bangaa announced weakly, his snout bleeding from the impact.

 

[TheIronRuler]

There was a certain rythm to a battlefield, an addictive, intoxicating rythm even Tuck was drunk with. Tuck swam in the mist of blood and dread enveloping the battlefield, dipping in and out of old memories. Every step he took might have been in reality or memory - he wasn't entirely sure where he was most of the time.

The drums of war beating from afar signalling the march of soldiers to war made the most basic tune. Warcries echoed through the field from a thousand different homes and hundreds of tongues. Over it came the ching of metal ad knights advanced forward. Sergeants screamed at theit men, driving bloodless greenhorns to the meat grinder. The sound of metal on metal. The whispers of the dead for water. The sound of metal on flesh. It all made a beautiful symphony of anarchy and death.

Every veteran knew the battlefield was in its essence anarchy. The only thing saving a man wad luck - skill and armor could help, but nothing besides luck could make the arrow meant for you to hit the man to your left. With that came fear and dread, as the unpredictable nature of combat put men on edge. The stench of fear was common through war, but Tuck had none of that. He wasn't afraid - he had God on his side.

He noticed two dragoons approaching him carefully. He could see in their eyes they were veterans - he could see it in the way they walked through the battlefield. They were wearing light armor - shoulder- plates and a chain shit, a studded leather jerkin underneath. Tuck wore nothing under his robes - but it made no difference. Both of them carried a spear each, and a sword dangled on their belt.

The first one came forward carefully to face Tuck while the second circled him amd sought to attack Tuck from behind. The first tried to keep Tuck busy with a flurry of blows from his spear - it jabbed and swung at thin air while Tuck jumped and turned away with surprising speed. The well-built monk proved to be fast as well. The spear bounced off his staff with evevy other attack while the second dragoon positioned himself behind Tuck.

The monk turned around, raised his staff and smashed it down on the dragoon's head. The strike came over his square helmet and shattered the neck underneath - the dragoon slumped backwards and fell to the ground in a heap of flesh and armor. Behind him Tuck could feel the spear-point going forward - he twisted to the side, his hand went up and grabbed the shaft before he could pull back the spear. Tuck tossed the spear aside and watched the nervous dragoon fumble at his belt to retrieve his sword.

He drew his sword and charged with a warcry from a land far away. Tuck toyed with him as he parried every blow and watched him tire himself out. When Tuck had enough he met a cut from above, felt the sword sink into the wood and jam there. Tuck let go of his staff and sprang forward. An open-handed fist smashed the side of his helmet, crushing his cheekbone and driving steel through his head. The second strike was a closed-fist in his lower abdomen, one which penetrated deeply, pushing inside his chain and leather armor up through his stomach. Tuck heard his staff and the sword jammed inside clatter on the ground. He turned back to retrieve his weapon and heard the sound of guts spilling on the floor behind him. It was ironic that the same armor used to protect him spelled his doom. He saw the dead man lying on the ground, closed his eyes and muttered a prayer for him to reach heaven quickly. He did the same for his friend.

Tuck saw in the corner of his eye the old warrior from the cell rush to battle. He tripped on icy ground and fell on his face, leaving him open to getting impaled. Tuck dashed to him and raised his staff in time to deflect a sword which was about to split his skull in half.

'Get up', Tuck snarled at Gojo, 'There's holy work left undone'.