After a moment of indecision, Akela darts into the back room and looks for something to smash.
Vance hears the commotion and charges past the demon into the room the others are in. Assessing the situation in an instant, he finds the lock that binds the chains, puts the barrel of his gun against it and pulls the trigger, nearly deafening the room.
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The lock breaks letting the bloody chains fall to the ground as the statue still standing even if Lyndint has already put a couple of dents on it, it is all that remains to be destroyed.
"We must destroy the statue it's the last thing that links the creature" says Alaire
As you can hear seconds later a brutal roar and crashing sound of something heavy falling to the ground, when Alaire turn around to face the almost completed creature by the Door.
"You should be honored to die by my feet and become my slaves for eternity, as I will bind this goddess to me once I'm finished putting enough blood and desecrating this place... and then the world as the creature let's go of a hideous laughter that sounds in your minds and your ears as well. You can literally smell death emanating from him as if he was death itself.
Vance reloads and puts the barrel to the statue's forehead.
The knight squares his shoulders and lunges into into the legs of the statue in attempt to push it from the alter stand where it's displayed. Knowing full well that if this religious symbol isn't destroyed in the few seconds, the monster at the door would have no trouble destroying them all in such a closed environment.
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The statue crashes on the ground broken in several big chunks with Akela and Lyndint almost falling with it from the push.
"I am eternal" as the figure begins to look more human "Now I know why he craves for your soul" as he points to Lyndint "Soul of heroes are the tasty indeed, but I will be back as he laughs and the body is almost completely human "For death is certain and I will come for you all in time" as the body finally looks human and it looks almost as Reinholdt but it begins to deteriorate at a very fast pace.
"Tell my son to forgive me, I thought he had died... I was an old fool..." as the body continues to deteriorate to eventually become bones.
Moments later you can hear a painful moan and the smell of toasted flesh and a soothing voice that is humming...
Lindynt pulls his helmet off to watch the monster dissolve without interference. He stands defiant even as the demon using it's final breath to single him out. "We've bested you and your armies twice, demon. And when you come back for me I will destroy you once again."
For the first time the knight looks at himself and sees just how bloodied his armor and polearm are. Though the healing he received from Alair and Sylvie had mended his wounds, they hadn't soaked up the liters of red that had poured out of his mortal body. It was only then that he felt haunted by the monster's words.
"Where's Reinholdt?" he asks those in earshot, then rushes out the door.
[ooc]What's up with the gem?
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Nichelle looks at the gem with curiosity but it appears to be an amethyst or tourmaline of expert craftsmanship, probably priceless.
Alaire rolls
Knowledge History
Knowledge Religion
Alaire and Vance analyze the gem as Lyndint begins to wonder of the fate of Reinholdt.
Vance
You notice a small symbol that looks like a sand clock... gemini?
You remember there are 12 stones, one for each zodiac sign, but the stone doesn't look like you remember something is just not right, but you can't really point it out.
"Is this what I think it is..." as Alaire turn to see Vance "Seems we might have vanquished a Lucavi demon... I thought this was just legends... a myth! What in the name of Adest is happening..." as he continues to observe the stone with a puzzled look and curiosity.
"In the name of Adest! Reiholdt!" suddenly coming back to his senses of what he saw in Reinholdt "We must go to him hurry!"
The humming tune is still heard as a voice that brings you peace and makes your heart feel with ease and peace. "Come to me children" as a almost motherly voice calls you to her side.
Lindynt glances at the gem as he passes through but happens to be more interested in what had transpired in the throne toom since he'd last seen it.
More importantly, he wanted to finish whatever else was going on inside the castle so he could go confirm the anxious suspicions he had about the fate of his beloved chocobo, Sylvie.
Vance walks out of the room after Lindynt, more concerned about the stone than about Reinholdt.
"Nichelle, that's a Zodiac Stone, and something's wrong with it. Would you mind if I held onto it for safe keeping? No telling what trouble this thing might bring us, and I think we'd both rather aim that trouble my way rather than yours."
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Lindynt
Alaire responds in a cryptic way "There should be no trouble with the stone itself" as he walks out to the War Room that seems to be more bright and warm. "We can discuss the stone once we figure out who is calling us now" as he covers his eyes trying to focus them from the unexpected light and you can see Alaire lower his hand slowly and skin loses some of his color as he is awe struck and tears fall of his face, more from the light probably than anything else.
Vance lowers the brim of his hat down to protect his eyes, and steps out after Alaire.
Sigh.
"What now?"
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Once the rest of the group sees what Alaire is, you are awe struck just like Alaire for brief moments as the blinding light begins to diminish and you can begin to see a beautiful noble woman, in a ruby red dress with flowing golden hair that moves like fire leaning over Reinholdt Children don't fear me says the woman with a beautiful voice.
Alaire kneels were he stands and looks at all of you and whispers loud enough for you to hear him Kneel! This is an aspect of Faia the fire goddess herself!
Taking his cue from the others, Lindynt slowly bends to a knee. His eyes darting from place to place, suspiciously awaiting this to be some sort of rouge. "What is the meaning of this!?" he hurriedly whispers back to Alaire.
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Once you all kneel the woman continues to speak
"Noble gesture even from one that does not worship me, but it was close enough to be tied down to a fallen one" as she shivers from the thought of it You have been chosen unbeknown to your will my children as she keeps touching Reinholdt "He was a direct descendant and will take his place accordingly unless he wishes to stay here" as she puts her hands into Reinholdt's body and takes his soul from it Child of Adest, I do not break the cycle I merely saved time and process. My child...
Reinholdt opens his eyes and begins to look at himself surprised and then kneel before the woman Scarlet Princess, I a lowly servant... as Reinholdt is lost of words in his gratitude and awe to the goddess.
I extinguished your life to save my own, you are one of mine and I came to ask you a question... Will you join me in war or will you stay and fight for this world...
Reinholdt has no answers as he is in deep thought and looks over to were you are I want to serve you my Scarlet Princess, but I have things to do, people to protect and friends. as Reinholdt is having a fight within to decide between his duty to his people and his duty to his goddess.
Visibly confused by the ordeal, Lindynt watches in astonishment at the scene before him. He had never in his life taken too much stock in the words and affairs of the Gods and their realm. He had just assumed that the issues of mortals pales in comparison to those of the divines. This, however, was the first time he had ever witnessed something which most would liken to a miracle. This "aspect of Faia" had specifically chosen a mortal man to assist her on her plane. The plane of the Gods. It seemed too much like a fairy tale to be true.
Dumbfounded, the knight simply sits in silence and watches something he had never imagined possible.
There is an old saying I once heard. Treat other generously or destroy them utterly, for they will avenge slight hurts, but for great ones, they are incapable. If you would go to serve the divine, it would not be a neglect of your duty but a great service to those who remain. For the demonkind remain, and we have only hurt them slightly....
Vance wasn't sure when he had kneeled, but upon realizing it he sighed in resignation.
In way over my head. Demons and gods. Still no answers.
"Reinholdt, you certainly broke the demon's hold in this place. If the Goddess needs you, go. We can take care of things down here. Give me a while and I'll figure out how to let you straddle both worlds."
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Reiholdt listen to his friends and agrees that the greatest honor he could possibly have is serving his goddess. Reiholdt does not speak a word but he merely goes to a drawer in one of the cabinets and pulls paper, ink and quill and begin to write a letter. This should settle things. Lindynt I give you the the Red Keep and all it's holdings to you. You are a knight and this keep has always been in hands of a knight. I cannot tell you to worship the Scarlet Princess as I have, but live a righteous life." as he signal for Alaire and Vance to com near him "I shall grant you a gift" and he speaks to your minds "If you ever need me my true name is Poherius, the Crimson Guardian"
"The map to the Keep is in Lindynt's quarters. Protect this lands as I shall keep and eye on them." he walks towards the Scarlet Princess and it seems that she whispers something to them "There is one more thing" as you all feel an itch in your chest, a very small one, right above your hearts "You have been blessed by the Scarlet Princess."
"Fare thee well, Reinholdt, and Goddess, I thank you for the honor you have shown me. Its more welcome than an old wildman like me could have hoped for."
To his new comrades he adds "Tomorrow I will be preparing to speak with the beastmen, if any wish to ask, have your questions ready. I know a trick let one of them speak our language."
Vance tips his hat to the goddess and her knight.
"See you soon."
"My Lord I..." the knight begins, swelling with pride and gratitude. "My Lord I promise that I shall not fail or dishonor you. I am of an ancient line of Romandian loyalists and I hold our country and it's people as the absolute greatest importance in my life."
Suddenly his boyish gushing comes to a close as Lindynt broadens his chest and firmly concludes with the authoritarian voice most were familiar with shouting orders and encouragements over the field of battle, "You will never come to regret this decision."
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"I am no Lord now" as he bows in respect to Lindynt "My Lord Lindynt "Slayer of Demons" Auroral of House Auroral" as he bids everyone fare well and disappears in a flash of light as you can still hear his voice in your minds "I shall be near by if you need of me"
The remainder of loyal guards and kobolds join you eventually inside the Keep, they are injured and covered in blood, they are truly the crimson guards of the Red Keep.
Ass you can see through one of the windows while all the mean cheer for their victory reality is out there, a cruel gruesome battlefield, corpses of once friends killing friends, kobolds killing their own, and the crimson snow that covers everything... indeed the keep lives up to it's name... as all there is in the floor is bodies in an ocean of blood that paints the snow in crimson colors.
As they come into view, Aklela looks over the Kobolds he rescued yesterday for remaining injuries.
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As you travel representing the nearby Shiranai clan that is within the Reinholdt noble family territory, you are just going as a formality of the normal alliance you have both endured for some generations, even if right now in times of war by an unexpected enemy, you still travel to search for aid and to honor the pact.
The Reinholdt family used to be members of nobility in Ivalice some generations ago and still hold some family ties to Foboham, were some people want to see their families unite, but it is also a problem since religion can part even the strongest bonds. You embark to visit the Reinholdt family as your family were friends in the past and even have visited them in some rare occasion, so now you wish to pay them a visit.
The first thing that you can see is the Red Keep gate, open and the floor is red... you've never been there before and only heard of the reddish stone and hence the name, but now the strong smells that come from war hit your senses, as blood, innards and other smells are still in the air... the strangest thing of all is the guards are working with kobolds, with makes you question what is really happening... the beastmen are the enemy... why work with them? What is really happening? You also see shaman treating the injured kobolds and a guard or two... this is madness or what is happening?
The joy of receiving a title and land was beyond all expectations Lindynt had ever imagined, though the condition of his charge was an equally impressive dampener. After sending out dozens of emissaries summoning all counsel members to the keep as well as requesting all relevant land owners come to swear fealty to their new lord, he joins Akela in greeting and issuing a temporary pact of cooperation and cease fire with the beastmen until their motives and requests could be considered.
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During the late afternoon after most of the things have been done one of your new personal guards approaches you and kneels before you "M'lord, there is still... another tradition you must complete before taking title and the people swearing their oaths of fealty to you."
"You must be recognized by the Vault... to have access to it's contents M'Lord Auroral."
Jeger frowns as he watches the scene before him, but he knows he has a duty to fill, and a job to do, and with that in mind, he enters the keep, asking about for who is responsible for receiving diplomatic messengers, keeping an eye on the beastmen the entire while.
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While you and Nichelle are in one of the towers that might become your new place of studies while a proper court mage is called in or you receive the honors.
"I must see the gemini stone again Vance" says Alaire "There is one problem with this rock... it is kind of small and the shape should be different" as he moves it around trying to discern everything from it "According to scripture this was a "holy" stone with the shape of like two diamond put together in this form" as he draws a picture of it "According to Pharm and this zodiac creatures there should be dark and light... but how does this works is still a mystery to the world"
Nichelle simply looks at the gem "If you ever search for a perfect Amethyst you are holding it, that gem by itself is worth a lot of gold." as she further looks into it "How did they scribble those symbols inside of it anyway?"
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A pair of guards come to receive you at the entrance "Is it that time already er... Sir" as the guard does not recognize you, but you can see the guard is still covered in minor cuts and bruises from the recent fighting. "M'Lord Auroral awaits you inside, but I need your name to announce your presence"
Tybalt takes great care as he begins to plot out the possibilities lying before him. He'd arrived about the same time as another man, who he suspected to be another native. He almost called out to him, but noted how he started talking to the others.
I don't know what caused this, or who's behind this... this trickery. But I'll find out.
The templar, adorned in steel armor from shoulder to toe, and a long, white hooded tabard down and across, with no apparent sigil, no symbol, no heraldry. At his side lay a knightly blade, finely worked as well as his own shield - which on it, was emblazoned a symbol, obviously religious in nature, and obviously not of this area.
He walks up to the guards, and clears his throat.
"I am Tybalt of Stratton, Templar of the Church of Glabados. Who is Lord Auroral?" He sounds a bit confused.
"If that gem is a true Zodiac Stone, it is priceless. I don't think we'll be selling it. Rather, I think I'm going to lock it up and study it until I can figure out how to use it against the demons. Alaire, are you saying this is only half of what it should be?"
"Jeger Warstout, humble servant of Chieftain [enter name here]. Is the current mess (indicating the recent signs of battle) one that should concern me and my lord?" Despite having a fair amount of experience in these diplomatic jobs in support roles, he still couldn't quite believe that he had been sent out on his own, and wanted to miss no important details.
The title struck him awkwardly leaving him momentarily speechless. Since he learned to speak he had addressed nearly every man he had known as such, save for Vance after an outburst he had received when they were teens. "Yes. At this point the pact is simply a formality. Akela has performed very well in seeing this relation through," he reflects aloud as he watches the reconstruction efforts unfold. "Rise, Ser Jorus, and take me to the Vault so that we may see this through."
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Alaire shakes his head "No, it's not even that, according to canon of the holy scriptures of Pharam the stones are a bit bigger and resonate with who they choose to wield their powers as a champion of light against lucavi." as he hands you the gem back again "This is not "the zodiac stone" it is a zodiac gem which is what troubles me..." as he loses himself in thinking possibilities and snapping back out of it "Maybe it could be just a fraction of it's power or another way to tap into the power of the real stone in a limited fashion?"
"I could go out and "fetch" some books for you, since the library here is mostly of warfare and some magic here and there" as Nichelle suggests to Alaire.
Go back and bring me whatever books you might find on the subject from the family library" Alaire commands her.
You see one of the guards leaves to announce your presence as the other signals you moments later to go inside.
At the mention of the Glabados church you can feel multiple eyes turning around to see you, not out right hostile but some are unfriendly faces.
The guard tries to hide his disdain he does so poorly "Will go announce your presence if you would follow." as the guards walks you inside.
You find yourself walking by a small corridor that bears the markings of war with still some small blood staining some parts of the wall and ceiling but it is mostly clean... makes you wonder how would it have look before. Once out of the small corridor there is a small lobby area were there used to be some sort of symbol on the floor now scratched away as it is about to be changed for the new lord's own sigil.
"Wait here if you may, this two guard will keep you company while I announce you with M'lord Auroral."
Ser Jorus walks you from the War Room to one of the towers and down the steps "The vault requires for you to give it something my Lord, it is how the vault works, but first it must recognize you" as Ser Jorus hands you a small book.
Once you hold the book you notice it's old, you can almost say it's ancient as even the language on it might be Romandan but it's very old writing and words that are no longer in use, you still understand it but it makes the reading a bit slower and harder.
Akela you notice a Shiranai warrior announce himself to meet Lindynt and a stranger with a foreign design armor you've probably never seen before as well as the mark on his shield. You know their names as they announce themselves to the guards and they are taken inside the keep.
The leader of the Kobolds kneels before you Akela which somewhat startles you as you were distracted "Tribe lives, wounded heal" as he tries his best to speak the common tongue "You are second male leader for tribe" as he strives to tell you ins some sort of ways that they look ate you as the non kobold alpha male of the tribe, which gives you rights to teach them whatever religion or spiritual guidance they might need, as well as muscle (small as it might be) to fight for your cause.
"I can tell this is going to take some time. I'm going to go check in with Lindynt. Tell me what you've uncovered when I get back."
Vance makes his way out of the tower and along the wall, surveying the sights as he went. Making his way into the keep he saw the two men obviously waiting he walks past, his heeled boots echoing in the chamber and his long dark coat swirling around his ankles.
"You're both a bit late to help with the fight, and if you're here to see Reinholdt, you're going to be waiting a real long time."