[Action in Caedarva Mire]
It should be around here somewhere… [Lilisette sorely misses the company she recently left, but she has a task to accomplish as well. She vaguely remembers the map that Vincent showed her on her sky phone, but it looked like a straight shot so she hasn’t checked it all day. Besides, she has full faith in her navigational skillset.]
[But as she ( Read more... )
[But as she ( Read more... )
...Steiner. Was it him?
Without any more thought, he unsheathes both of his scimitars and runs in the direction of the voices, skidding to a halt just shy of the dancer -- eyes widening at the inevitable mass of monsters out for her. He doesn't recognize the figure. Not at first -- he's too busy simply gaping at what is persuing.]
... Stop! Stop running!
[Without waiting for a response, he moves his arms into the casting position; the strangest sound soon emerging from him. If Lilisette was familiar with the Apkallu, she'd recognize it as the sound it made as it yawned. All of the creatures stopped instantly, echoing their own monsterous yawns, before falling to the ground.]
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What in Altana's name... [She's slow to stand back to her full height, and she wonders for a moment if she's dreaming. But at that height she can see the blue robes of the mage standing not far off.
She ducks beneath an Imp, steps delicately over a chigoe, and skirts around the tails of a Lamia before she crosses the rest of the distance to him. When she puts her hand on his shoulder, her eyes still on the horde of monsters, they're still shaking a bit.] What is this place?! I feel as if I've stepped into the Shadow Lord's playground.
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This is Caedarva Mire, though your questions should best be left until later. The staging point is northwest of here. It's a safe encampment where you can be treated should you need.
[His tone is friendly, as always. But there's a slight edge to it- a suspicion. In Alexandrian territories or not, the Mire (to him) will always belong to Aht Urhgan. Needless to say, those that would wander in are not welcome. He's got a few questions for her too - what she is doing here the most paramount. He turns to her when his shoulder is touched; and he focuses on her shaking hands.]
They will not remain in slumber forever. Come with me to the staging point, or attempt to outrun them. I would suggest you choose the former rather than latter as they know these lands much better than you appear to.
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F-fine. [She places her hands on her hips, finally turning away from the monsters.] Lead the way.
[The fact that she's accepting help by someone from the Empire wounds her pride more than she cares to admit.]
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[Especially since if he was the betting sort, he'd put a bronzepiece on the fact she'd only survive aroundabout seven minutes. While the imps would probably forget all about her, the chigoe would probably return to underneath the earth and the jnun would most certainly make for the nearest swamp and resume slumber the lamiae absolutely would not leave off until she was slaughtered, eaten down to the bones, reanimated, and tottering along behind them as yet another of their unfeeling, unflinching, unthinking undead servants. The fact the lamiae has her scent right now seals her fate. She's not an opponent, or an enemy. She's prey.
He does as requested; leading with careful and considerate paces. While it's obvious that he's rushing, he makes extra efforts to avoid long patches of grass, wide-open spaces, and the swamp itself. He speaks, finally -- as they near the staging point and he opens the large steel doors -- standing aside for her to enter. It's obvious by the markings on the doors from tooth and nail that many creatures have tried to gain entry, but none have succeeded -- or even came close to it.]
...I remember speaking to you some days past. You are new to this world, aren't you?
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Your name is Rishfee, correct? [She can't bring herself to meet his eyes--she's far too embarrassed. What a face to show him!] One of the Empire's Immortals...
Is this place... a part of our world?
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...Yes. This area is part of the territories of Aht Urhgan. Though a small section of the mire with connecting areas mainly inaccessible, it is still expansive. Some of the monsters within the mire have come with it, as you well know.
[He moves inside one of the tents, shortly reappearing.]
I hope you have a taste for coffee. It is all the provisions I have to spare, currently.
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[She mutters this only when he's in his tent, kicking at the ground with her heels. Seeing the patch of dead earth she doesn't even want to ask. It's already too much to take in.]
So... Did this place show up when you did? Could there be... [...San d'Oria? She allows herself to hope for a moment, but only a sliver of it. She's not wild about coffee - she still has more of a taste for childish things like milk - but she still nods to him.]
Sure... Thanks.
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..No. It was some time after I arrived that it did. It appeared with places from other worlds entirely at great expense to Gaia. A large percentage of their population simply vanished completely. Some towns as well. Even now, the mire is a scourge to the neighbouring towns. The lamia within the mire have been known to add numbers to their now paltry forces of undead by raiding them at nightfall. ...As such, I remain here to stop them.
[Before this, he had quite a cushy life in Lindblum, did you know. He looks up to the girl.]
If you are uncertain of this place's origin, why did you seek it? Forgive me, but it is hardly anything remotely hospitable.
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I see... Then, this must be it, I guess. How peculiar, though, for land to suddenly appear. This world is more strange than I first assumed.
But... Do you stay here alone?
[That may be a small amount of worry in her gaze when she glances over to him.]
This isn't where I planned to end up. [She thinks about opening her phone to see exactly how far off of her mark she ended up, but decides against it.] I was making my way to Mysidia, or I thought I was, when I stumbled upon the Mire.
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He moves past both of them to start preparing some coffee of his own, taking only a moment to glance at Rishfee- mostly checking for him hiding injuries.]
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She mutters a few curses she heard from the San d'Orian soldiers during the war - namely something about an orc-kisser and Promathia - before she rubs the back of her neck and sighs.] Vincent Valentine. [She addresses him with the briefest of glances before she drops her eyes back to the fire.]
When an adventurer doesn't know the land, they forge their own path. [Even if it is riddled with fiends they're running from.] But... [She quickly looks around her for someone else that might startle her.] Is it just the two of you, then?
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She seeks Mysidia. That's some comfort, at least. ]
Now it is three. My advice to you is to forget the sentiment of forging your own path and to stay here for tonight. The mire's real inhabitants wake during the night; and your trip toward Alexandria and then Mysidia will not be a safe one. They do not care for the fact you mean them no harm. They despise the living. As you currently are just that, they will wrap you in illusion and likely lead you headfirst into the deadmist marsh. In the morning I will guide you out of the mire, toward Alexandria.
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Two is enough.
There are an enormous number of monsters still in the valley before Mysidia. Carving a path through them would be unwise.
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She really dislikes this place, but at the same time... Vana'diel is Vana'diel. There's a strange comfort even in the eerie mists of the Mire.]
I'll remain here for the night. [With the beast outside, there's little choice in the matter. She does not know what to say to the rest of his offer; "thank you" would be a start, but there's too much else on her mind.]
I know this is only a part of Vana'diel, but... to think Kindred would exist so far east. I assumed they were eradicated in the war; how did they cross the Gugru Blue? [This is all soft musing to herself as she moves her fingers through the ends of her hair. There's also the matter of chigoes existing here, too. She lets out a long sigh, frustrated by everything that's transpired.]
Well! [She finally looks back at both of them as she forces her mind past the hurdle, and a smile lights her eyes.] You said you battle the Lamiae at night? Sounds fun. When do we start?
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He raises his eyes from the fire, and brings them to Lilisette. Needless to say, he's never seen a dancer before. And Lilisette didn't exactly vut a very impressive picture out on the field. His tone turns to one of more than slight disbelief.]
... Was that a joke? The lamia are more than mere monsters- They favour charming their prey to attack their allies. Furthermore, anything to do with them requires one mistake to end up worse than dead. I plan to deal with them. Any more than the one is a foolish notion.
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