Somehow, I wrote a chapter. It took a long time because I am chronically overstressed with work right now, and future chapters will probably continue to be slow (until the winter holiday season? I might write faster then.). But now that I put Scrivener on my tablet, I can write in comfy places, and even times when I’m not at home. It’s nice to be able to do that.
But exciting things have happened! First of all, Aentfryn talked to me and we worked out a character arc for him! I’m so glad, he felt a little pointless until now. I had wanted a contrasting character to all the young hot excitable heroes when I made him, but since he didn’t openly want any of the same things that they did, it was tough for me to figure out what his deal was. But he has an arc now, and that’s why we’re starting this chapter with him, to celebrate!
Another thing is that despite the game plot being absolutely thrilling and me wanting to show you the impact it has on my PCs, I need to not forget to focus on the relationships between the PCs, and between the PCs and NPCs, above all else (and not just the romantic ones). I want more bonding moments between all of these people! They’re friends, right?
Vivienne gear update! Yes, she is beginning the Anima Weapon quests this chapter, but also – I have decided that she’ll get her “character design” Omicron chestpiece at level 70, when you’re supposed to get it, so at this point in the story she should be wearing something like the High Allagan chestpiece, that’s also a pretty sexy tank chestpiece.
I’ve been playing through ARR on a new character and I’m really excited at the changes I’ve seen so far. Toto-rak isn’t the worst dungeon ever! Copperbell’s new bosses feel better too! The new piñata-less Rhitahtyn battle is so awesome I almost want to go back and rewrite my chapter! Castrum is beautifully streamlined! However, despite the mechanics of the new Lahabread battle being much more exciting, I can’t condone canonically killing (and rezzing) the WoL so soon in the story. We’ve been a zombie this whole time??? No, even if it highlights Laha’s ancient power and the WoL’s noobness, that doesn’t sit well with me.
Finally, I learned that I actually know more of the ARR voice actors than I thought! For instance, Urianger is the same voice as Fenris from DA2! (and Raubahn is Hawke : O ) And most importantly, Thancred is voiced by Taliesin Jaffe, under an alias in the credits! No wonder I thought he had a sexy voice in ARR! It’s a lot like his Percy de Rolo voice. I like Taliesin’s Thancred better than Peter Bramhill’s Thancred (his is a lot less sassy, imo) so now that I know who it is, I can just think of Percy. : )
(But Colin Ryan is a hundred times better than Sam Riegal at Alphinaud, sorry Sam! Sam’s Alphinaud is extremely punchable… but he doesn’t have the same depth. And I keep just imagining Sam in the sound booth lol. Love Sam as Braham in GW2 though!)
Sorry for author-noting so much, I’ve just had a lot of thoughts since I last posted.
Chapter 32: Thancred
“Does it bother you, that these Royal Marines have been recreated?” Achiyo asked Aentfryn across their campfire in Eastern La Noscea.
He shrugged. “I did it to help Carito. And because Eos and Selene insisted. What Alka Zolka does with it is up to him.” Eos and Selene high-fived over his head with a giggle.
Achiyo pondered that. “So you do not despise organized groups as you once did, as long as you are not a part of them.”
“No, I still distrust them entirely, but I recognize that I can’t actually get rid of them. I would want to say that as long as they don’t bother me I will deign to acknowledge their existence… but then I remember why I wish they were more… infallible.”
She glanced at him. “Infallible?”
He glanced down the dark scrubby slope in the direction of the sea. Was he feeling sentimental enough to share with her? If the Echo did not simply choose to douse her in exposition?
No, not really. If they had been closer to Lower La Noscea, perhaps he might have been in a different mood, but… He grunted. “The Knights of the Barracuda failed me too many times. And the last time was the worst.” Eos patted his shoulder. She was one of the few beings who really knew what had happened.
“I have little experience with armies, but I know that no one and nothing can be infallible,” she said, and there was a haunted undertone to her voice. She had her own traumatizing secrets, it sounded like. “So I work to make up for the fallibilities of others.” Selene fluttered to her and patted her head; she looked up. “Thank you, Selene.”
“So that you can spare others some of the shite that life throws at us all, having dealt with too much of it yourself?” he guessed, and she blinked in surprise. He had sensed at the beginning of this quest that she was restless for some good deed to occupy her after all the Thordan and Nidhogg business… well, there was naught much better than slaying voidsent. “Perhaps you’re not so different from Urselmert after all, despite your lack of abrasiveness.”
That also surprised her. “Do you suppose that is why she and I have been such able partners, under Kekeniro’s guidance? Because on a certain level, we are of similar mind and have similar goals?”
“Perhaps you should ask Kekeniro that,” he said. “At least you’re easier to deal with. Urselmert doesn’t care how much of her own blood she spills as long as she’s still standing at the end – which she loves to point out is my job – and her enemy is not. You are much more sensible. Like a normal person, you don’t appear to enjoy pain.”
“I have a shield,” she acknowledged with a little smile. “Though her sword does on occasion do duty as a shield…”
“Would that it did that duty more often… Fear not,” he told her. “I will leave your health in Rinala’s care. Asking that girl to try to deal with Urselmert would just be cruel.”
That also won a smile from her. “Still, I have enjoyed working with you one-on-one this sennight. And with Eos and Selene. I knew being a Scholar was complex, but this has shown me a little more just how complex.”
He nodded. “They appreciate the praise.” The fairies giggled and danced above them.
Despite everything Aymeric had revealed to the Ishgardian people – that was, well-nigh everything he could possibly reveal – there was still a state funeral for Archbishop Thordan though there was no body to bury. The ceremony was important for their peace of mind, it seemed. Achiyo went out of respect for his son, and R’nyath, Alphinaud, and Tataru came so that she would not be alone. Not for emotional support, but for all of their physical safety; Count Fortemps looked skeptical about any of them coming at all, but said nothing to stop them. The others were all away; Kekeniro on his honeymoon, Vivienne to Azys Lla on some errand for Rowena of all people and she had taken Chuchupa with her, Aentfryn had likewise taken Rinala on a trip, and Tam had vanished as was usual.
It was good that most of them were out of the city. It gave the hostile citizens fewer targets. She could fair feel the city splitting in two, with only the renewed threat of Nidhogg keeping them all from quarrelling openly.
The funeral rites were very long and elaborate, taking half the day. Part of them seemed to be some sort of confirmation of the Lord Commander as temporary leader of the city, though she had heard from Count Edmont that he had been functioning as such since the Archbishop’s death as was tradition. Despite the pomp, there was an unsettled feeling in the air. She did not like that the ceremony seemed to place an even greater target upon Aymeric’s blue coat…
It was finally over. She walked from the Vault near the back of the Fortemps contingent, wrapped in her thoughts, when she saw Ishgardian sollerets pointed in her direction. She looked up to see a Temple Knight staring down at her. “Lady Kensaki, your pardon. My captain, Dame Callainie, wishes to speak with you.”
She looked at him, confused. She had not seen him before, and she did not know any Dame Callainie. “At this moment?”
“If you are not otherwise engaged, it would be most advantageous, my lady.”
R’nyath stepped up beside her. “Yeah, sounds good, I’ll come too.” He sounded casual enough, but she knew him well enough to know he was as suspicious as she. And they wouldn’t walk into a trap alone if they had each other. Alphinaud and Tataru had noticed their conversation, but she waved for them to go on. It wouldn’t do to take Tataru into danger.
The knight frowned a bit at R’nyath’s barging in, but nodded. “Very well, then prithee follow me.”
He led them to a small courtyard between manors, where there were half a dozen knights in the colours of several lesser noble houses waiting for them. A woman knight bowed to them, who must be Dame Callainie, but there was something off about it. “Lady Kensaki. Thank you for coming. Now we can deal with the danger to Ishgard.” Knights stepped behind them and closed the courtyard gate, trapping them.
“Something tells me you think that danger is Achiyo,” R’nyath said sarcastically.
The woman’s eyes blazed. “And how should we not!? Your foul Dravanian face gives you away, with your horns and scales and tail! You should never have gained access to the city, proclaiming your true allegiance so boldly, much less the ear of Count Fortemps and the Lord Commander. You aliens claimed to have killed Nidhogg, and then you claimed that he is returned from the dead and has reclaimed both his eyes! You betrayers and liars, faithless usurpers! You led the Azure Dragoon and our Archbishop to their doom, killing them to empower your hateful master and place de Borel as your puppet ruler of Ishgard! You have torn apart nobles and commoners and we shall all be destroyed, one way or another, because of you!”
Achiyo waited patiently for her to be done, making no expression. When R’nyath moved to yell back, she stilled him with a gesture.
“Why do you make no response!?” Callainie cried, drawing her sword. “By the Fury! Are you deaf now, and mute?”
“I understand,” Achiyo said quietly. “Everyone is in danger, and you blame us.” She put her own guilt aside to hear the true emotions in the other’s voice. “You are afraid. I understand.”
“You understand nothing!” Callainie interrupted, cutting her off from saying more, an angry, insulting murmur rising from the knights around her. “But I have learned that Garlemald would pay a fine price for the Silver Lady of the Warriors of Light – and the others too, I doubt not. And then perhaps we might buy the strength to destroy Nidhogg…”
“You don’t want to fight us,” R’nyath said, and his voice was cold and he was reaching for his bow.
Before Achiyo could stop him again, there was a clang against the gate. “What is the meaning of this!?” cried Lucia from outside. “Open this gate at once, Dame Callainie!” Artoirel was behind her, not in armour, but leading a small squad of Fortemps knights who most certainly were.
“Dame Lucia,” Callainie gasped. “I was… It is that…”
“I heard enough,” Lucia said. “Open this gate or it shall truly go hard with you.” The knights quickly unbarred the gate to the courtyard, and Achiyo and R’nyath walked out to join Lucia. “Lord Artoirel, would you be so good as to escort us all to the Congregation?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Artoirel said, and begrudgingly, the hostile knights surrendered their weapons.
“She is only afraid of these uncertain times,” Achiyo said to Lucia. She turned back to Callainie. “But… you should know… I am afraid too. But should it give you any hope… I will not stop fighting for Ishgard until she is safe and free, even if it cost me my life.” Callainie only glared at her.
“It is honourable for you to speak thus to her, but ultimately her punishment is not up to you,” Lucia said, leading them away. “Believing such lies to the point of threatening to kidnap and sell honoured guests… And to have dealings with Garlemald, that is treason. You are not harmed, either of you?”
“No,” Achiyo assured her, and R’nyath nodded. “She had no time. And we could defend ourselves, had it come to that.”
“I know it,” Lucia assured her, with a look of camaraderie. “But come. Master Leveilleur has news for you both, and the Lord Commander wishes to speak with you upon an urgent matter.”
Aentfryn shifted his weight to be more comfortable on the edge of the cold rocky stream flowing from Sohm Al, letting the fishing rod rest loosely in his hands. It not the best time of year to be fishing seriously, for the fish had plenty of other food besides his bait, but there was still the possibility of bites, and the point was to unwind, anyway. The noisy trickle of the stream drowned out all other noises and worries. He couldn’t even hear Rinala a dozen yalms away, sorting out her own fishing line as the sun crept over the mountains.
The state funeral for Archbishop Thordan was going on in Ishgard and Achiyo had wanted to attend from some sense of duty. He’d cultivated a dislike of blind adherence to duty, but… Achiyo was not blind, at least. Aentfryn had zero interest in such an empty spectacle, so he’d come out to do his own thing. Fishing. Thinking. Rinala was the only other one interested in fishing, so he’d taken her along. She didn’t need to be anywhere near those stuffy lanky tinheads, and she didn’t bother him.
Really, he was getting too old for this adventuring thing. He was, what, 43, 44, maybe even 45 if he squinted. He’d helped the youngsters save Eorzea three, four times, in only a year and a half, or maybe more depending how you were counting. That ought to be enough for anyone, and their enemies were only getting more powerful. The Echo was a nuisance and a burden. Really, one reason he was out here in Dravania was to look for a nice out-of-the-way nook where he could build a cottage and retire. Somewhere where it wouldn’t get broken by a primal, as Leviathan had done once…
He had begun grumbling about it all mostly under his breath, certainly not loud enough that Rinala could hear downstream in her sunny spot. He’d forgotten he still had an audience until Eos fluttered into his face with her tiny hands on her hips and gave him a glare.
“How do you know I don’t mean it?” he asked her.
She gestured expressively, and Selene came up beside her and nodded.
“Urselmert is just as reckless as ever she was, but now the Tia has taken up a healing position. This group doesn’t need more than two healers, three if Y’shtola is able to be present, and Rinala is growing into a very fine healer. If she can get over her insecurities.” He thought of something. “If you’re bored of following this old man, I can give her my Scholar’s stone. I’m sure she would put it to good use.”
Both the fairies shook their heads with great exasperation, and Selene made a long string of gestures.
Aentfryn rolled his eyes. “No, I will not tell them that. You know I hate affectionate displays.”
Both fairies dove on him, one on his head, the other on his shoulder, hugging as much of him as they could, snuggling and giggling.
“Knock it off!” he ordered them, shrugging to try and dislodge them, though not enough to hurt them, of course. “Look, you two want honesty? I’m already too fond of them. If Urselmert weren’t like an angry goth mirror of my sister, I would never have joined up with her. And Achiyo is more or less sensible, but the rest of those children need protection. Either I’m going to get killed helping them out, or they’re going to die on my hands all over again. I never wanted to be a Warrior of Light anyway. It’s time to retire.”
Eos shook a finger at him.
“Don’t you call me a hypocrite. I’m not here to be a hero.”
Selene folded her arms and made an exaggerated pout, while Eos stuck out her tongue at him.
“They’re actually very talkative, aren’t they? It’s more noticeable when fewer people are around,” Rinala said, and he looked over to see her approaching, something in her hands. “I’m sorry, I got the line untangled, I’m good with string, but then I broke the fly… I’m not used to fly fishing. They’re just so sparkly, you know?”
“That’s all right,” he said. “Try this one.” He took the broken one from her and handed her one of his many spares. Fixing the broken one would give him something to do while waiting for a fish to actually bite.
Aymeric and Lucia had indeed presented them with a most urgent matter, and while even so R’nyath begged off to continue adventuring with his Gridanian friends again, Achiyo thought that she and Alphinaud might not be enough escort for Lucia should anything happen on the road to Anyx Trine. So she called the others, and gained Rinala and Chuchupa. Lucia, being Garlean, could not use Teleport, but the journey through Western Coerthas was not presently dangerous and they all met up in Tailfeather before setting out on chocobo-back through the Gnath lands.
This time, however, their journey was untroubled by any sign of attack, which had Chuchupa yawning to herself as they made their way through the valley below the mountain. Lucia spent much time gazing up at it, as Achiyo remembered doing on her first trip to this place.
Even their talk with Vidofnir went well, if inconclusively. Lucia drew much less attention than Estinien had done, and voluntarily remained in Anyx Trine to become acquainted with the dragons in residence. She seemed unconcerned about the journey home, also through Gnath territory – but perhaps Vidofnir might offer her a companion as far as Tailfeather. And with time now on their hands, the Scions struck out even farther west to Idyllshire.
Achiyo had no expectations of their new companion whatsoever, but even so she was definitely not expecting to see a figure of small stature clad all in a yellow hooded jacket with the most delightful kitsune ears sewn on the hood. The lovely Lalafell had caught sight of them as they exited Idyllshire’s gate in Y’shtola’s company, and was now jogging towards them. She panted for breath as they met. “I am terribly, terribly sorry to have kept you all waiting!”
“You need not apologize,” Y’shtola assured her, as Alphinaud started and stared with… recognition? Apprehension? “We arrived but a moment ago ourselves. Pray, allow me to introduce Krile, who is recently come from the Sharlayan motherland. She has generously offered to assist us.”
Krile smiled warmly at all of them and curtseyed. “Oh please, think nothing of it. A trip to Eorzea was long overdue. And you all must be Warriors of Light! You certainly look the part,” she said to Achiyo with a laugh. “A pleasure to meet you at last.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Achiyo said, bowing to her over Chuchupa’s indignant noises. “I am Achiyo Kensaki, and with me are Chuchupa Chupa and Rinala Sweetwhisper. The other Warriors of Light are away at present, as are the other Scions.” Rinala waved politely.
“Well, I wasn’t expecting to meet everyone at once,” Krile said cheerfully. “I am certain we shall become acquainted ere long.”
“What, I don’t look like a Warrior o’ Light to ye?” Chuchupa finally squawked out.
Krile looked at her with an appraising pout. “You look like a pirate. One who often loses fights.”
Chuchupa cackled. “I like ye!”
Krile turned with a grin of her own. “And who is that I spy but young Alphinaud Leveilleur himself! I daresay someone’s grown an ilm or two in my absence – or are those lifts in your boots?”
Everyone stared, even Y’shtola! Alphinaud stared back, blushed vividly, and cleared his throat. “We, um… Ahem. Miss Krile and I met at the Studium, years ago. I shall forever be indebted to her for her sage guidance.”
“It was no small task keeping him out of trouble, believe you me!” Krile said merrily. “The youngest ever to enter the Studium, him and his sister – eleven-year-old prodigies.” Her grin was turning wicked. “Suffice it to say, social graces were not among his list of talents! Striding up to his seniors on his first day, head held high – what was it he said again…?”
“Thank you, Krile!” Alphinaud cried, lunging forward with a look of utter panic. Chuchupa snickered, then began to guffaw uproariously.
“I think I read a tale that began like that,” Rinala said to herself. “About competitive cooking.”
“For what? I haven’t finished yet,” Krile said to Alphinaud innocently. “Would you care to attempt a more dextrous deflection?”
Alphinaud visibly collected himself, putting on a demeanour reminiscent of what he’d been like when Achiyo first met him – if less haughty. “Ahem. Mayhap we should save this delightful conversation for a more fitting occasion, when pressing matters do not demand our undivided attention.”
“Got paid by th’ word there, didn’t ye?” Chuchupa ribbed him.
“A bit much, but better,” Krile said. “I can tell you have been putting your skills to use here in Eorzea. Henceforth, I trust you will dazzle me with your eloquence at the first time of asking.” As Alphinaud sighed long and mournfully, she turned to the others. “Right. On to more pressing matters: finding Minfilia and the other missing Scions!”
“I gather you have new information to share with us?” Y’shtola asked.
“A new approach, actually. Tataru recounted the tale of your escape, and it gave me an idea. Simply put, assuming Thancred left some manner of trail when you whisked him away – as is almost always the case with teleportation magics – I am confident I can find and follow it.”
“Really!?” Rinala gasped with great excitement, at the same moment that Alphinaud said “Then what are you waiting for?” rather rudely.
Krile shrugged at him. “The wherewithall to do it. The fact is, my abilities aren’t quite up to the task. If I had Master Matoya’s Crystal Eye, on the other hand…”
“Then let us all call on her forthwith,” Y’shtola announced. “I think it best that you explain your plan to her in person.”
“It’s not far!” Rinala chirped, suddenly more excited than Achiyo had seen her in months. Ah, this hope was good for her; her eyes were sparkling again, and her ears and tail were pricked up and twitching energetically. “Okay, it’s a little far, but it’s not like we have to cross all of Dravania, just the whole ruined city. Is there anything I can do to help when we get there?”
“Thank you!” Krile said to her. “Assuming that Master Matoya is willing to lend me her treasure, I should have the search part in hand. You, of course, will have to go and physically track him down once I locate him.”
“She won’t mind doin’ that, not one bit,” Chuchupa said with a leer.
“Oh?”
“Rinala is especially fond of Thancred,” Achiyo hastened to interject before Chuchupa could say anything too inappropriate. “We all miss all our friends, but she misses him the most.”
“Oh dear. I’m sorry.” Achiyo wondered which part Krile was apologizing for…
“So what kinda name is Krile, anyway? That a nickname?” Chuchupa demanded.
“It’s my real name,” Krile told her. “I was adopted.”
“Whoops! There goes me foot in me mouth,” Chuchupa said, seemingly without caring too much. “Well, that’s all right, Krile-is-me-real-name. I’ll protect ye anyway.”
“Quite presumptuous of you,” Y’shtola said. “Krile is well able to take care of herself.”
“The way she wheezed hurryin’ to catch up with us?” Chuchupa demanded.
“Wait, I get short of breath running around too,” Rinala said. “Especially when we’re fighting primals!”
“An’ ye need protectin’,” Chuchupa pointed out.
“I suppose your offer could be considered generous,” Krile retorted with a smirk. “Were I not of the mind that perhaps it would be safer not to be protected by you.”
“I don’ say this often, but… let’s be friends,” Chuchupa said, and held out her hand.
“I would like that!” Krile replied, and shook the hand heartily.
“And ye can tell me all the yarn on Alphi-”
“No!” Alphinaud said.
Rinala felt like she was glowing as she skipped through the Chocobo Forest towards Loth ast Vath, her precious sketch of Thancred in hand. Krile had scried that Thancred was somewhere near the foot of Sohm Al, and Alphinaud had immediately sat down and drawn a half-dozen beautiful sketches of Thancred to aid in asking the region’s hunters for directions. Krile had watched him and teased him about the girls he used to try to impress with this hitherto hidden skill; he was getting wise to her wit, though, and managed to answer with nonchalance – mostly. Rinala was certainly impressed; it looked so like to Thancred! And from memory! She wasn’t completely awful at drawing, her portraits were often recognizable, but she needed the subject before her to have half a chance of it, and they never were as stunning as Alphinaud’s had turned out.
Master Matoya had then shooed them out of her home unceremoniously, saying “The poor sod’s not going to find himself.” Krile had not been to Tailfeather before, so they spent several days travelling back eastward; and every hour Rinala expected to catch a glimpse of him or run into him. Frequently, she looked in awe at the sketch that had been handed out to her. He was so handsome, and Alphinaud had surely captured even the twinkle in his eyes.
And now, having questioned the locals and learned that Thancred was truly in the area, the only thing was to actually find him! Could she withstand this anticipation? Her heart felt like it had been beating fast since Krile had first said his name, and she’d scarcely been able to sleep at night. Her tail had a mind of its own in this state, and her ears! They startled at everything.
She was at Loth ast Vath at sunset, long ahead of the others; Y’shtola came up muttering “Given that Alphinaud seems to recall the details of my return so vividly, I would rather he not draw me from memory, talented or not.” And Krile was sighing: “Honestly, that boy… Some things never change.” Chuchupa was snickering again, and Achiyo and Alphinaud himself seemed oblivious to what the others were discussing.
Rinala had to restrain her impatience from blurting everything out to the Vath Storyteller, letting Alphinaud do it with his far more skilled words. “You are quite certain it was this man?”
The Storyteller clicked sagely. “There is no doubt. The fleshling clothed in skins came to us from Sohm Al, lost and weak. He offered meat and hides in trade, and in exchange we tended his wounds.” Oh, that was right, Y’shtola had said he’d been wounded… But he was okay now, right? Otherwise so many people wouldn’t have seen him. “He brought us much flesh, so skilled a hunter he was. When he asked for garments, we were glad to provide them.”
“And where is he now?” demanded Y’shtola.
“Gone to Loth ast Gnath.” The Storyteller’s clicks sounded anxious. “Not long ago. When he heard the Onemind had summoned our god once more.”
Everyone jolted. “Ravana is returned?” Achiyo asked, no doubt remembering those terrible swords that had hammered upon her shield. Rinala certainly remembered healing everyone through that frightening, exhausting fight, with Ysayle as Shiva at their side… They would not have Shiva’s aid this time.
“Vidofnir did say that the Gnath had grown as before,” Alphinaud said. “But what could Thancred hope to accomplish by himself? Honoured elder, we thank you for your help. Would that we could repay this kindness ere we depart, but we must hasten to our comrade’s side.”
“Go, great hunters, lest the Gnath claim him as a sacrifice.”
“This is very bad news,” Achiyo said as they hurried from the village and turned south. The sky was dark, but the moon illuminated the road before them. “We have not the time to call the others, if Thancred is already there. I shall call them anyway.”
“I shall aid you,” Alphinaud said, a hand already to his ear. “In fact, Achiyo, you and Rinala and Chuchupa go on ahead. We shall call the other Warriors of Light and send them to meet with you, and follow as swiftly as we are able.”
“Thank you,” Achiyo said. “Though, Ravana is not one to temper his enemies if they have not submitted to him. I do not believe you will be in that sort of danger when you arrive.”
So they summoned their mounts and dashed south across the river valley towards the eerie green glow of Loth ast Gnath. Achiyo took point as they bulled headlong through the guards. Perhaps they shouldn’t have – Thancred’s own skill was often in stealth and guile, and maybe they were just messing up whatever plan he had in motion.
But the colony did not come swarming out to attack them or capture them as they had last time. In fact, Rinala heard thunderous crashing sounds coming from within the walls.
Their battle with the guards had given Alphinaud, Y’shtola, and Krile a chance to catch up. “That sound… Thancred! It could be Thancred!” Alphinaud cried. “We must hurry! Vivienne and R’nyath will be here as soon as they may!”
“What d’ye think we’ve been doin’,” Chuchupa grumbled, but the six of them charged through the colony gate.
Ravana reeled, falling to one knee in the centre of the colony. Facing him were a small group of adventurers, running all over in well-coordinated chaos, attacking him from all sides. The Lord of the Hive pulled himself up, swords blurring through the air, but one adventurer with a great axe smashed straight through his guard with a wild yell. An arrow from a bard, a fireball from a black mage, a flanking stab from a paladin, and Ravana burst into aether, dissipating into glittering sparks. Any visible Gnath fled into their tunnels.
The five strangers gathered together, their Lalafellin white mage quickly casting a healing spell upon them, though they did not look particularly injured to Rinala. Achiyo led the Scions down the slope to meet them – and stopped short as the axe-wielding warrior turned towards them, his grim face illuminated in the moonlight.
“Achiyo?” Rinala asked.
“…Percival?” Achiyo whispered.
Rinala had just time to see the warrior put a hand to his head in a strangely familiar way before the Echo flashed before her eyes.
“This day, we reclaim the reins of history! This day we rid ourselves of the Ascians forever!”
“Fools playing at heroes, all of you. Is this how you believe you can save your world?”
“We can, and we will, Ascian. You shall see – or perhaps you will not!”
Rinala blinked away the vision in time to see Achiyo shaking her head, shaking away both the Echo and whatever had come over her. “Forgive me. You are not Percival. It was… a trick of the light.”
“No,” said the Hyur in a strange voice. “I am not he whom you name. But you are the Warriors of Light. The saviours of Eorzea.” He had not lowered his hand from his head, looking at them darkly through his fingers. In fact, all that party seemed to have been experiencing the Echo, as half of theirs had. The man’s voice turned even more sarcastic as they recovered from it, bitterness flooding his tone. “It’s a wonder you didn’t come sooner, what with the primal and all. Lost a step, have we?”
“Have care,” Y’shtola warned them. “The aether moves strangely around him.”
Alphinaud took a step forward, putting on a diplomatic smile. “It would seem we share a common enemy. Mayhap you would tell us who you are?”
The Hyur traded glances with his companions. “Shall we show them?”
And, unprovoked, the strangers attacked full-force. The Miqo’te bard unleashed a rain of arrows upon them, which Y’shtola blocked with her magical shield; but then came the Roegadyn paladin charging at them. Achiyo stepped into his path, but he did not stop – and when their shields crashed together, Achiyo was hurled back, slamming into Y’shtola and sending them both tumbling to the ground.
“Ah! Achiyo! Y’shtola!” Rinala cried, but a fire spell erupted in their midst, sending the rest of them flying every which way, including her. Krile was down, Alphinaud was down, Chuchupa was still standing until she took a stone to the gut from the white mage. Y’shtola was pinned beneath Achiyo, and the Roegadyn had swung his sword down at them both; Achiyo had managed to parry, but he was leaning into her with all his weight and she looked in trouble, and Y’shtola was gasping in pain as Achiyo’s armour dug into her.
This was dreadful! They had never fought anyone so strong before who wasn’t a primal! And these people really were trying to kill them! This was about to become horribly bloody. But instead of fear, sudden anger bloomed in her. How dare they, and how dare they belittle them, too! She scrambled to her feet and cast Assize, healing her friends and hopefully hurting the Roegadyn a little.
She heard a growl and turned to see the Hyur charging at her, raising his massive axe. She flinched – suddenly he yanked himself to a halt, jumping back as daggers from the sky embedded themselves in the ground just where he might have been a moment before.
And there stood Thancred high on the side of the nearest hive, in strange clothes, with eyes full of fury. She screamed, somewhere between panic and joy.
Thancred dove on the Hyur, booting him backwards further away from Rinala, and they fell upon each other, slashing and weaving. With shaking hands, she cast Protect again – she had cast it before, but now Thancred should have its benefit as well – and then had to duck and run before a mountain of ice fell upon her.
Chuchupa was up again, snarling like a feral badger, charging at the Miqo’te bard and the Elezen mage, waving her own axe around. The Miqo’te bounded away easily, but the Elezen called out: “Blanhaerz!”
The paladin pulled back from Achiyo, moving to intercept Chuchupa, but now Achiyo and Y’shtola could get up. They could salvage this! And then a new volley of arrows came her way and she screamed and ran for cover, one of them nicking her tail.
But Thancred had pushed back the Hyur, dagger and sword clashing on axe with a shockwave that resounded around the entire hive. The Hyur skidded backwards, and with a short gesture from him, his companions pulled back to form up with him. Chuchupa growled but let them.
“Not very sporting of you to interrupt,” said the Hyur to Thancred, still breathing hard, “but so be it.” He turned and looked at Achiyo again. “Mark well our faces, Warriors of Light, for we are the Warriors of Darkness. Walkers of a different path. And we shall meet again.” The Lalafell initiated a Teleport, and one by one they followed her.
Krile walked up behind Achiyo and Rinala, slightly singed, dusting herself off. “Warriors of Darkness? …Really?”
“Ye took the words right out of me mouth,” Chuchupa said. “That the best they could come up with?”
Rinala cast a Medica on everyone and turned to Thancred. “Thancred! Are you all right?” He was dressed so strangely, in that tight white sleeveless jacket with the heavy arm armour and the streaming dark coattails, but she was mostly concerned about the eyepatch he was sporting over his right eye.
“I am unscathed,” he said, and beckoned to them all. “Pleasantries can wait. I’d rather not be here when the Gnath return. Agreed?” Following him, they ran out of the hive and into the plain, where a darkly approaching shape resolved itself into Vivienne and R’nyath upon their mounts.
“You found another one,” Vivienne said. “Good.”
“You’re so rude,” R’nyath told her. “Thancred, it’s great to see you! How’s Ravana?”
“Dead, but not by our doing,” Achiyo said.
“So you don’t need us after all,” Vivienne said. “Well, it’s not like I couldn’t have been resting tonight…”
“Oh come, who else would fight primals? Who else could fight primals?” R’nyath said.
“‘Twould seem the mystery of the axe-wielding Hyur has been laid to rest,” Y’shtola said. “I should have known better than to think Thancred would ever stoop to using such an inelegant weapon…”
“Naturally,” Thancred said.
“Inelegant, but effective,” Chuchupa objected.
Y’shtola shrugged at her colleague. “But how was I to know there was not one Hyuran vagabond wandering the Chocobo Forest, but two?”
“Two?” Vivienne asked. “What are you all talking about?”
“There is a strange band of adventurers, who called themselves the Warriors of Darkness, and who had the strength to slay Ravana as we did – though they only numbered five,” Achiyo told her. “A Hyur, a Roegadyn, a Miqo’te, an Elezen, and a Lalafell. Though perhaps Ravana was not as strong as previously.”
“I’ll show them Darkness,” Vivienne muttered.
“Yes, you’re the darkest person to ever darkly darkle,” R’nyath said, and ducked a swipe. “Go on, Y’shtola.”
Y’shtola folded her arms and turned away from the bickering Warriors of Light. “Suffice it to say, Thancred, our reunion was not at all as I pictured it. Waiting until the last instant to join the fray? ‘Tis plain you have not lost your appetite for the dramatic.”
Thancred snorted. “My appetite for the dramatic? Have you forgotten the circumstances of our parting? The heroic last stand, the tunnel filling with light, and then…” He let out a delighted sigh. “Had I know you intended to use forbidden magicks to deliver me to some godsforsaken wilderness… I would have thanked you in advance.”
“Thancred,” Y’shtola scolded him fondly.
He was smirking. “If nothing else, you might have warned me that I would emerge from the Lifestream in the altogether. Eventually, I managed to fashion knives from some obsidian I found, and set about hunting for meat and hides. Given that I’m not all that skilled in leatherworking, it’s probably for the best that I met the Vath before I was reunited with you.”
“So you were the ‘fleshling clothed in skins’ of whom the Storyteller spoke,” Alphinaud said.
“A description which fit me as ill as the skins themselves. Happily, I was able to trade with the Vath for garments with some semblance of style. From them, I learned of Ravana, and of the great warriors who had once laid him low.” Though now getting a better look at him, it seemed he had also let his hair grow out, and had not been shaving regularly. He looked a lot older, and a lot more tired.
“So you figured we would be along sooner or later to deal with him again,” Vivienne said.
He nodded. “It seemed a reasonable assumption. I could think of no one else with your enthusiasm for slaying beastman gods. Until now, that is.”
“Ah, yes, the self-proclaimed ‘Warriors of Darkness’,” Alphinaud said sardonically. “‘Tis only fitting that they stand in opposition to the Warriors of Light, I suppose.”
“I glimpsed the leader’s past, if only for a moment,” said Krile. “They were confronting a man in black. An Ascian, I think.”
“I saw the same,” Achiyo said.
“Me too,” Rinala said. “It looked like he saw something of us, too. I wonder what?”
Alphinaud did not seem to have heard her. “If these warriors are capable of doing battle with Ascians and primals both, they must be possessed of powerful protection – protection not unlike the Echo…”
“He knew who we were – or at least who you were,” Krile said. “Did he walk in our memories as we walked in his? I think there is a very strong probability that they had the Echo.” She nodded at Rinala.
“Blessed with the power of the Echo, and driven to put down primals…” Alphinaud mused. “Despite his declaration that they walk a different path, I struggle to see how their goals conflict with ours.”
“Did ye miss the part where they tried to murder us all fer no reason?” Chuchupa said. “I don’t mind a friendly duel with strong opponents – but I do mind if they don’t tell me ’bout it first!”
“Damn, now I’m really sorry I was late,” Vivienne said. “To attack unprovoked? I’ll kill them.”
“Maybe they’re jealous?” Rinala said. “If they’re that strong, maybe they resent us for being famous?”
Alphinaud shook his head. “Unlikely, for I find it passing strange that such exceptional individuals should have wholly escaped our notice until now. Surely we would have heard rumours and attempted to recruit them to our cause?”
“I recall no such adventurers – and I would not soon forget their like,” Y’shtola said. “Nor would any of us, I think. One of our primary duties was to scour the city-states for promising candidates – which is how I found Achiyo and Chuchupa.”
“Good times,” Chuchupa said.
“And Thancred found me,” Rinala said.
“Ah, the memories,” Thancred said. “It seems like only yesterday that you slew your first primal. Speaking of which, I had the distinct impression that it was not the first time that band of merry men and women had killed a god.”
“There was a definite lack o’ cheerin’,” Chuchupa said, nodding. “Like it was business as usual for ’em.”
“I labour to believe that a band of preternaturally gifted adventurers has been travelling the land, slaying primals without our knowledge,” Y’shtola said indignantly. “‘Twould imply gross negligence on our part.”
“Eorzea is not the only land on Hydaelyn,” Achiyo reminded her gently. “Their dress seems Eorzean to me, but mayhap they have been away a long time.”
“Where?” Chuchupa said bluntly. “Garlemald don’t permit primals, and a lot o’ t’other places in the world…” She paused to consider it more thoroughly.
“Speculation will avail us naught,” Alphinaud said. “There is far too much we do not know. For the present, we must needs concentrate on what we do know, namely that Lord Ravana is no more. Vidofnir must be informed. The news may render her more receptive to Ser Aymeric’s invitation.”
“Since you seem to have affairs here well in hand, I shall take my leave,” Krile said. “Simply being in the vicinity of this colony is giving me a stinking headache. If you have need of me, I shall be with Master Matoya. I would beg her assistance with the search for Minfilia.”
Thancred looked up. “Wait – Minfilia is missing? I thought she escaped with you!” He looked at the five Warriors of Light, his gaze coming to rest on Rinala.
She trembled; she had forgotten how much she actually dreaded this part. “I’m sorry – I’m really sorry! I – we couldn’t stop her – let me explain-”
“Sorry, I forgot you wouldn’t know,” Krile said. “But I really must be going.”
“Need protection? Company?” Chuchupa asked.
Krile shook her head. “I’ll Teleport to Idyllshire, and it’s not far from there. And I have a feeling you would not be particularly welcome to her. Thanks for the offer, but I shall decline this time.” She gave her a winning smile. “But I’m sure we’ll get to travel together soon. Ta!”
“And we should not linger here ourselves,” Alphinaud said. “Thancred, there is much to tell you, but let us do so on the road.”
“Be calm,” Achiyo said to Rinala. “Begin at the beginning. I shall help you.”
The tale lasted well past their return to Loth ast Vath, and while Alphinaud went to speak with the Storyteller, Rinala finished her own story as they sat in a small circle together. Thancred was quiet, taking it all in. “Rather a lot to digest,” he said at last.
“Are you well?” she blurted out again. “Your eye-”
He gave her a distracted smile. “I know what you’re thinking, but really, you needn’t worry. It will only lend credence to my tales of heroism. Besides, battle scars are to maidens what loose morals are to gentlemen: a definite bonus.”
She gasped, wondering if she ought to be offended by that, or glad that he felt well enough to tease her. Even if it felt like his heart wasn’t in it. But that wasn’t the only change he carried in himself; his aether felt different, somehow… She glanced at Y’shtola, who must see it all the more clearly. She would talk with her later.
She had hoped that Thancred would give her some attention on his return, a hug, a headpat, more direct words. But instead, he got up from the little circle and walked away, alone.
Well… he did have a lot to think about, as he said. And he did love Minfilia, and was definitely upset that she was still missing, that the Warriors of Light hadn’t done everything to try and recover her first. Maybe he even still blamed Rinala for letting her go, even after her story… Well, she would try to be patient, and strong, and not selfish. He would talk to her when he was ready.
The melancholy notes of a lone flute drifted through the deep dark green of the twilit Black Shroud, teasing, enticing, and yet somehow foreboding. The tune wavered and quavered and broke off abruptly, only to begin again a few paces away. Most of the forest’s inhabitants paid the sound no mind, though if any watchers had been observing sylphs in the area, they would have noticed they not only left the sound alone but seemed to avoid it.
Tam pulled the flute from his lips again and blinked at the heavenspillar that had somehow appeared in his path. He still didn’t know these woods enough to walk without paying attention, another reason – besides the stupidly big trees – that he could tell he wasn’t home. There were always bits and pieces that made him forget, and then he’d be rudely slammed into one world or the other. Usually the Eorzean world. One would have thought he’d be trying to accept Eorzea as reality by now, instead of wondering whether it was worth the effort, when it kept trying to assert its reality on him.
A new direction, a new flow of notes, more mournful than ever. The prince had died – no, that wasn’t right. Haurchefant was the one who was dead – dampening his interest in this land back down to where it had been when he first arrived, and putting what remained of his sanity on spin – but on the other hand, he had no way of knowing that the prince was not dead. There had been a unicorn, after all.
He stopped playing again and touched his purple coat near his collarbone. He’d given the prince his golden dragonfly cloakpin, once upon a time. The prince had given him a silver ring with a crescent moon on it in return, and thus did Tam proclaim his fealty by wearing it, even though silver was not really his colour like gold was. But that didn’t mean anything. That didn’t mean he wasn’t dead. It just meant that once he had been alive. Maybe that was enough. People did die now and then, and it was always a loss for his entire people, but they’d changed what they touched, usually for the better one way or another. He knew he’d been. He could only hope he’d done the same.
Maybe being in the woods was not helping his confusion. He ought to go and spend his time in the stranger places where he had no choice but to acknowledge the difference – but he didn’t like those places as much. La Noscea, Thanalan, the Churning Mists – he’d gone through the process of integrating the land into his soul in a fairly rote fashion. But then, even the Black Shroud wasn’t truly familiar. He just liked it best because it had the most trees.
There was a smell approaching, of Garlean steel and fuel. Probably not an actual machine, just soldiers with the scent of ceruleum stuck to their armour. He could have avoided them easily, but he didn’t really care, and in fact… he had a question to ask of them. He blew some more aimless notes.
“You there!” came the expected shout. “State your business within Garlean territory!”
He kept playing. The forest didn’t belong to anyone.
The five soldiers clattered up and surrounded him. “Stop right there!” ordered their captain. “You are being detained under the authority of the Garlean Emperor!”
He kept playing, what would they do?
They shifted and looked at each other uneasily. “Um… put up your hands?” said the captain.
“I don’t feel like it,” Tam told them. “But I have a request to make.”
“No savage is permitted to make requests of the Empire,” said the captain.
“Sir, isn’t that one of the eikon-slayers?” said one of the soldiers, and was glared into silence.
“I guess so,” Tam said. “Now, about this ‘rubber’ material you produce. It’s horrible – it has an unholy stench and the feel of it is hideous. Even so, I’m curious about its flexibility and stretch.”
“Be on your guard!” the captain told him. “If you do not surrender, we shall attack, eikon-slayer or no!”
“You see,” Tam said, ignoring them entirely, “it’s not that I’m homesick – I have not been here nearly long enough for that – but I would like to go to a drumdance. And I have not found any drums big enough here. That being said-”
“Kill him for resisting!” the captain said, and Tam quickly sidestepped as they tried to shoot him. He’d been shot once and it had been vaguely unpleasant. At least these long rifles were easy to grab and smash. And the thaumaturge’s staff and conjurer’s wand, too.
“That being said, how big do those rubber sheets come in?” he asked when they’d been disarmed of projectile weapons. “I’ve ordered an aurochs hide from La Noscea, but what I really want to see is something big enough to cover the base of a heavenspillar. There’s a fallen one near here that I think I could section.”
“Shut up!” cried the captain in frustration, drawing his sword. “Stop toying with us!”
Tam finally gave him a direct look. “Why? I don’t want to kill you. I think that’s a pretty good deal. You give me a sheet of rubber ten malms – milms? yalms? square, and I let you leave alive with money.”
“Ten malms!?” gasped one of the soldiers. “Surely you mean yalms.”
“Silence or you’ll be in for a court-martial!” said the captain, still trying to stab Tam. “Help me or I’ll bring disciplinary action against the lot of you!”
“All right, you’re very boring,” Tam said, and swung his lance haft. The captain dropped like a stone. “You think ten yalms would be enough to cover the base of a heavenspillar? Maybe I should go for twelve?”
“You’re making a drum out of it?” said one of the soldiers, pushing up his helmet visor. “I don’t know the first thing about drums, and certainly not one so large. But I guess if you had a strong enough, long enough rope, you could stretch it out. You’ll need some big drumsticks…”
“Feet,” Tam said. “You don’t dance to the drum in a drumdance. You dance on the drum. And even in my homeland, we didn’t have drums that big. Five yalms across at most, that was the very greatest extent of our trees, and those were rare to get for drum frames. Thought I’d be ambitious because I can. It’ll probably sound like garbage anyway, this rubber stuff doesn’t seem very musical. But… for science.”
Another soldier spoke up. “It might be hard for us to just get such a thing for you. Would it be worth our lives to tell you where the storage depot is?”
“They may not don’t have rubber mats even at the storage depot, especially that large,” objected a third. “You might have to get something like that custom-made, sir. Say, you Eorzeans took over the ceruleum processing plant in Northern Thanalan, didn’t you?”
“Did they?” Tam said.
“Pretty sure you did. But see rubber is a byproduct of ceruleum, right? I don’t know the process – that’s the engineers’ domain. That’s why it stinks, sir.”
“Huh,” Tam said. “Good to know. I think I have enough to go on. You can go.”
“Thank you, s- Oh, bugger.” The soldier pointed deeper into the forest. “Shite, we gotta go! Benji, grab the captain!”
Tam turned and saw in the distance glowing blue eyes in a dark helmet. Bioluminescent mushroom light gleamed off a long, cruel blade. A horse’s hoofsteps thumped into the ground. “Yeah, get out of here. Tell your boss I had reinforcements or something.”
“Bye, eikon-slayer! Thanks for not obliterating us!”
“My pleasure,” Tam said absentmindedly, and walked towards the terrible apparition. “Look, Odin, isn’t it, I’m not in the mood to play tonight.”
The glowing eyes regarded him coldly.
“Unless you’d like to help me set up a drumdance party. The aurochs hide should be here tomorrow. I’m almost done with the drum frame to put it on.”
Odin spurred his horse and charged, raising his blade, tearing through branches and bushes in his path like they weren’t there.
“What is your PROBLEM?” Tam shouted at him, dodging behind a tree. This was going to make him work to stay alive, wasn’t it? What a nuisance. He climbed the heavenspillar and ran out along a branch, standing in plain view of Odin. Odin was not riding a unicorn, which was probably his only saving grace. “I’ve tolerated you as a part of this world that is not mine, but you seem disinclined to tolerate any living being that moves across your path. You’re not even truly alive, soul-stealing blade.” So he could go all-out like this was a lugwuarthei. He twirled his spear.
Odin made a slash that severed the thick branch he stood on; the tree wailed in pain but Tam was already diving on the aetherial construct, white lance seeking his foe’s heart.
P.S. I really hate Thancred’s HW redesign? I’m not a fan of the fashion, and I’m definitely not a fan of the chinscruff. (Please imagine him with proper manly stubble if you want to join me in my headcanon.) And like I said, Taliesin’s voice is sassier.