Hydaelyn Role-Players

[[no worries, next time we can just shoot you a quick message after I or siha post if that's easier? ]]

After receiving both of their answers, Cliodhna smirked. "We're going to set him up for another job and catch him like a wharf rat when he shows up to discuss business details. Simple, but effective and after what recently transpired; no doubt they're too busy turning their gil to drink for the possibility of a quick retaliation to even cross their mind." She paused, biting her bottom lip; a habit since childhood that stubbornly refused to leave.

"We need more than the three of us to pull it off though. Clearly they were able to take all of us on before but they used tricks in the way of smoke bombs and the like. We'll have to move fast and grab them before there's even a chance of them setting any off. We also need a safe way into the Shroud after this; Siha-" She turned her attention back to the blonde Keeper. "Erik eluded that you knew of a contact we can use in the Shroud, yes? Do you think there's a way we can get them to meet us here and then help escort us back for hiding once it's over?"

Tilting her head to the side; Cliodhna thought a moment. They'd need a place to hide while here. Frowning, she wondered; was it safe to trust him? He did say if she was ever in Limsa and needed help, he'd be there but.....She sighed, there wasn't much choice but she'd contact him later. "We'll need Osric and the ones that are to hide her with him as well. No doubt they'll jump at the chance to help also, but we can't rely on them to hide us while here...That would just complicate things if we stay in too big of a group. I'll see if we can find a safe haven for now but the members of our team and that possible contact needs to be made aware of our situation; or at least know we require assistance."

The blonde woman was much more at ease after Sieghart answered her question and she unwound her arms from herself for the moment. So he wasn't a mindless soldier, and that meant that he could be trusted...well she assumed so for now. He seemed alright and she tried to put any fears aside long enough to flash him a relieved smile, her brows furrowing again as Clio smirked and continued with her train of though. Her frown had nothing to do with disapproval, no, she was thinking.

Her eyes widened quickly when Cliodhna turned her gaze onto her and she flipped her ears back briefly before setting her jaw with a curt nod. "Y-Yes, Miss Kiht and I know each other through a mutual friend and she's been nothing but welcoming. I don't have a direct line but a message could be sent to her discreetly via the Moogles I'm sure..." she suggested before falling silent. It was the best she could offer but she can be discreet, offering to visit as Kiht had invited so long ago. It wouldn't alarm the Keeper but she could try to convey some discreet urgency, the woman had been versed enough in subtlety when she'd met her with Roen and it make her confident.

"O-Osric would be easy enough to get hold of...ah...maybe not without Erik knowing but we do have our pearl" she reached to touch her ear. Thank the gods they still had those in their possession, if one group went down at least the others would be able to be told. She hoped against hope that wasn't necessary and that they'd all remain safe but it didn't stop it from settling at the back of her mind.

Every foot fall and sound of passing fabric on the wall screamed like explosions in his ears. His time behind the desk was making him soft.... or age... something. As he moved to the roof of the Hall he was at least able to keep his footing, he had not lost all his skills. Through the tower window he slipped into the instillation. Down he made his way, pass rooms and offices that brought to mind old memories, good times and bad times. He shook the thoughts from his mind and carried on, tuning his ears to the quiet hallways.

A few minutes into his descent, he heard his Mammet. He came to a small clerical office, inside Montblanc was carrying out his daily work. Erik slipped in, "Montblanc, time to go." The little automaton nodded and followed without question, climbing into the the small sack Erik held. Slinging the the bag under his robe he moved out..... "Shit." He exited the room and was seen by two guards. The Flames were lower rank, he could tell by their markings. He was not suppose to be here, he was not even suppose to be in Thanalan. If he was identified their head start would be ruined. It all came back to him, the old soldier gave way to the young soldier as he moved like a trained miqo'te through the halls. As the two gave chase they called for backup, ironically their call echoing in Erik's own pearl. Into the main hall he found five more incoming. He looked around as the Flames converged. He thought aloud to himself, "Alright old man.... what now?"

Elsewhere.


It was a quiet night in Eastern Thanalan. A gentle breeze blew, and like any night in an arid climate, it was a comfortable cool temperature. A lone Aldgoat had sleepily wandered too far from its group, and was having a midnight graze. It was a large Billy. Usually there was little to threaten him that time of night.

An arrow suddenly flew into its neck at the base of its skull. The Aldgoat barely had enough time to let out a moo of protest before it fell to the ground in a heap. Everything remained silent for a few moments before a figure came creeping through the brush towards the kill.

Kiht Jakkya surveyed her handiwork. Her skill with the short bow had much improved, and hunting in Thanalan almost required it. Things were so much more open, and moving silently took a whole different method. However, after three weeks in Thanalan with her new group, the 'Shroudwolf Clan', Kiht was getting accustomed to hunting in, and dealing with the climate she was not fond of.

While Kiht knew of many places a group could hide in the Black Shroud, she and her kin needed long-term livelihoods. Her one benevolent business contact was Verad Bellveil, and he lived in the Goblet. They had been supporting his business, and reaping benefits from it. Kiht craved so much to be back in her homeland, but until her group could afford a home for themselves in the Twelveswood, Verad's estate would be their base.

Kiht's thoughts began to wander about the people she knew in Thanalan, and how she suddenly lived much closer to them. The recent leve she had done on Verad's behalf had a surprise helper. Osric Melkire from the Red Wings. It was odd, he seemed preoccupied at the end of the leve. Despite the implications of the discovery made during the leve, Osric gave little reaction like he had something else on his mind. It made Kiht wonder how the Red Wings were doing...

(Flashback)

Erik peered over the outcrop of stones, his father capped his son's head with his wide hands and lowered the boy's head a bit, "Down son. To high and it'll catch sight of you and that's all there will be to it." The boy was no more then ten, his eyes wide with both excitement and fear. Before the both of them was a lone Hungry Direwolf. Ulrich, a soldier of Ala Mhigo, had been dispatched to the south of the capitol on reports that this creature and others of its kind had been seen, far to north of their natural range. Erik watched the wolf and froze a bit as it looked to the sounds it caught of him, even though it looked away.

"Tell me boy, how will you go about slaying this dog?" Erik's head snapped to his father's face, a dread whisper from him, "Me father?!?" Ulrich smiled, "You think I made your mother angry wit' me and dragged you out here on a sanctioned mission just for the fun of it. You wade through those books your mother gives you all to much. Time for you to get dirty boy." Easy for him to say, a Knight in form, armored in his thick black armor, the greatsword held to the ground. Erik swallowed and looked to the wolf, "How?" Ulrich looked at him, "You brought your sword and shield as I asked, so go and kill it." Erik panicked more, looking at the items named on the ground, "But how!?"

Ulrich sighed, more at his own parenting then his son, "You have to be bold and rush him, he will not expect such madness, a boy as small as you. The real problem will be if his friend's are about." Erik looked out and took a deep breath as his father pushed him, "Good luck boy." The boy tumbled over the rocks, falling straight into the direwolf's sight. The beast growled as Erik scooted back in fear. Ulrich had moved to the top of the rocks, smiling and waving his had, "Best get up boy. He looks pissed." Erik began to run from here to there, the wolf hot on his heels. He would stop and swing blindly, only to miss and continue running. As the painful sight continued Ulrich pick up a small rock and threw it behind the wolf as his son and the beast ran past. The wolf froze and turned to the noise. Seeing the chance Erik swung as the beast looked away and took it down.

He stood there panting, proud and terrified, panting. Ulrich hopped from the rocks and placed his hand on the boy's head, "Good, very good." Erik was in shock, looking to his father as he spoke, "Bu... But I was going to die I thought. The wolf was.... I was no match for him!" Ulrich placed his hands on his son's shoulders and spoke, "No... you lived, unlike that poor beast. Now you can stand here and tremble or you can take pride in what you did, and learn it's lessons. Do you know the lessons?" Erik shook his head, his trembling slowing. Ulrich put an arm around his son's shoulder and lead him to start walking, "One, you can overcome any opponent. And two, that sometimes if a challenge is greater then your body can beat, your cunning can and will make up the difference. Diversions can be most helpful in times where you find yourself overpowered. Your cunning is as important as your sword."

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(Present)

Erik stood in the connecting square of the Hall of Flames. He heard the men approaching from all sides, the sounds over the pearl...... the pearl. Erik's eyes widened as he remembered his father's advice. He lifted his finger to his pearl and barked into it, changing his voice as much as he could, "All Flame units.... intruder located in the sub-basement, Hall of Armaments." As the footfalls of a dozen soldiers stopped and then began to move away, he smiled, "You always were wise I thought, despite what mother said." He allowed himself a quick chuckle then made haste to the roof, and into the night.

((Yes that worked, Siha.  Thanks.))

Sieg had to admit it to himself.  He didn't like it.  This group seemed like a good way to get a foothold because he knew someone already in it, but now, barely a week after joining, this situation popped up, and he had to trust people he didn't know at all.  It's a hell of a first mission.

So you want to lure him out and trap him, eh?  It's a sound strategy, but making a move this quick does have a high risk factor.  If it's like you think, and they won't expect retaliation this soon, we should be good.  But we just don't know for sure.

Sieg sighed a bit, though not from any particular frustration.  More of an idle thing he did while thinking.

But...it could pay off.

He had addressed them both.  He wouldn't be abl eto do anything more than be muscle.  He didn't know them, and he couldn't risk exposing his contacts with things in this state.  He was on his own, and at their mercy.

A slower progression then he had wanted, the rooftops felt further apart then they use to be. The wiggling mammet in his sack was not helping things. His balance was good, but it had been better. Since he had returned from the "grave" and been reinstated as leader of the Red Wings. A year since the Royal Ball, the bomb plot, so much had happened. The unit had been so small, but in the last year, with the threats from within, as well as the changing world without, he had been encouraged by Flame Command to expand his team. That expansion came with an administering role for him. He had been sitting behind the desk and it was showing.... "When was the last time I jogged?"

He reached the Goblet with little trouble, the voices in his pearl told him where not to go. He approached Sable Hall, no sign of trouble. Making his way to the stables he lead all the chocobo straight into the Hall, the floors would need cleaning after this for sure. Down into the hanger he spotted Mikh'a and waved, loading the birds into the Falcon as Mikh'a finished moving the papers and materials. The Falcon was strong, but maybe not enough, a lot of weight. Hope was all he could do. Once all was loaded, Montblanc already out of the bag and in the Wheelhouse, doing his flight check as best he could with three of the chocobo in the room with him, spillover from the chocobo compartment. Erik shot a look to Mikh'a, "I need to grab some things. Be ready to launch."

Running to his chamber he grabbed somethings, a few of his treasured books, his priestly robes, a few mementos, and a few things of Clio's he knew she would miss if they were lost. He ran back to the hanger, climbed aboard the launching Falcon, he was focused on the task at hand but mindful of what had happened today. Most likely this run would get him in shape, but regardless, when this was over, he would have to reevaluate himself. It was time to begin the training, no more leadership from the desk.

"We don't have much choice..." Cliodhna trailed off, brushing her soggy hair from her face to see Seig more clearly. "I'll understand if you don't wish to throw yourself into this but regardless; I'm going." She then turned her attention to Siha. "Get a letter off to your contact quickly and I'll find us a hiding place until then." Stepping away and down a narrow alley; Cliodhna tapped the pearl in her ear, summing a contact she hadn't spoken to in quite some time.


The hustle of the Bismark rarely slowed, regardless of season, but being as popular of a location; that was to be expected. The patio was delicately lit with small lights as the murmurs of conversations blended over the clinking of dishes. Inside the kitchen it was hot and brightly lit; the air steaming from the various dishes as Lyngsath barked orders to his fleet of apprentices, his eye on each dish they prepared to ensure the high standard his patrons were accustomed to.  Against the wall was a massive sink next to a towering pile of dirty dishes with a lone Miqo'te tirelessly scrubbing at the them. Though stooped over; it was easy to see the Keeper stood at an near even six flums, sighing he used his tan (and amazingly dry) upper forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow and burgundy hair from his garnet eyes. 

He had been working on a particular stubborn splotch of some sort on a bowl when suddenly another stack of dishes clattered next to him; causing the keeper to jump, his tail frizzed. "Here ya go, Youkio!" The busboy - a dark haired midlander - grinned. 

"Godsdamnit Ivan! ya ain't gotta scare me like that!" Youkio hissed, flashing his teeth.

"Oh you're fine! Keeps you young, besides since you started here, I don't have to do that job anymore so I can't help but being in a good mood around you." Ivan grinned, brushing off Youkio's frustration, laughing and dodging the wet rag that was flung at him.

"Oh get out afore I drown ya in the damn sink!" Youkio called after angrily before returning to his job muttering under his breath. "Damn job ain't payin' me enough for this sort of shite....WHAT?" He growled, answering the excessive pearl ringing in his ear. It wasn't encouraged to answer while working but for the most part; no one paid the lower rung workers any attention anyway. Most likely it was Cree again sobbing about their breakup.

"Cree, I told ya I ain't interested! I don't know how many times I have to go over this with ya, we AIN'T GETTING MARRIED!"

"Youkio...." Cliodhna voice ringing though the pearl.

"DO NOT give me the same sob story about tellin your mother again-"

"Youkio...." She interrupted again, a bit more annoyed.

"NO, I'VE SAID IT AFORE AND I'LL KEEP SAYIN IT TILL YOU GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL" Youkio yelled, more frustrated at the day and yelling to vent more than actually listening to the voice. "You were great okay? WE were great but our kinda great ain't great enough outside of the bedroom an' I ain't family material, we both know you'll get bored later an' I'll be damned if I'ma let you try an' then blame me later for ruinin your life when we BOTH know you're the one pushin for this! I AIN'T GONNA DO IT!"

"PIPER, would you kindly SHUT THE HELL UP AND LISTEN? I got bigger issues than whatever you got going on with your recent wench and I need help!" Cliodhna spat forcefully raising her voice to make herself heard over his rambling.

".......T-tempest? Is that you?" Youkio asked, slight shake in his voice. He hadn't spoken to her since their time in the Maelstorm. Ducking out the back when no one was looking, Youkio quickly rounded a corner and whispered. "What is it Tempest?"

"I'm not wanting to get you too involved Piper but I ain't got much choice, I gotta get myself and two others in hiding till some shit blows over and we get out of here in one piece. We're in Lower La Noscea right now." Cliodhna replied, her tone returning to normal but her rougher for of speaking still present.

"Sure, anythin'. I ain't got much right now but you know you an' any friends are welcome. I got a small place ya'll can hide in till we get ya to safer seas. Get yourselves out to Eastern' an' I'll hop cross the ferry to find ya and get ya set up." Youkio breathed, anxiously scanning to door to ensure no one was overhearing him.

"Thanks, Piper, you know if I make it out alive, I owe ya one." Cliodhna murmured, slight relief in her voice.

"Nah, just returnin' an old favor is all." Youkio replied offhandedly before ending the link and rushing back inside before it was noticed he deserted his post.

(Spoke with Erik and was permitted to introduce this character for the short period I am on leave. If anyone wants to encounter him via forum rp, pm me )

The desert sun shone down hot as the dry wind blew the long strings of sands from the cliff tops. Eagels circled overhead as silence hung like a blanket over the land.

A crack like lightening split the silence and a whizzing tore through the air. A wooden target's knee exploded into splinters and the prone miqo'te smiled as a voice buzzed through the linkpearl in his ear.

"Excellent shot, sir. Right in the knee." 

The miqo'te pulled his right eye away from the scope of his massive rifle and blinked the blue optic. His left eye opened and it shone a blood red as he reached for another tall bullet encased in brass. His nimble fingers spun the round through them as he used his thumb to open the feed cover and then slipped the bullet back in. He then pulled the fireing pin back with a click and returned his face to the stock of his rifle.

The miqo'te was prone on the edge of the cliff. His target was down below him at a range of half a mile. Two instuments buzzed beside him, spinning as they calculated wind speed and magnetic feilds.  Flame Leuitenant A'trus "Loft" M. had always excelled at hunting prey. Even back when he was part of his tribe, he had been one of the best hunters. Now, after ten years in the service of Ul'dah, at age twenty-nine, he was considered one of the best trackers and rifleman in the service. An officer who never questioned orders and whose unit always returned with their targets, even if it took longer than expected.

A'trus slowed his breathing as he aimed at the target below. He had earned the nickname "Loft" from his habit of always having the high ground. A character trait some claimed made him to predictable. But with his rifle, it didn't matter. A'trus got his prey, alive. 

The brown haired seeker fired.  His bullet spun thanks to the double rifling cut into the barrel's core. The large pay load then peirced the air and raced across the distance. Several seconds later the wooden traget's other knee exploded and the officer grined again, flashing white teeth as he opened his mis-matched eyes and rose to his feet.

Several pairs of hands were clapping and he turned and blushed at three of his soldiers.

"Don't you all have work to be doing?" A'trus said as he brushed the sand from his shirt and paints before hefting the rifle up into his arms.

"Sir, we don't. Gear is all packed and we are ready to roll soon as orders get here." replied Sergeant Rungee, a dark skined hyur with a talent for traps. 

"Looks like we won't be waiting long." A'trus remarked as a distant form drew closer.

Twenty minutes later, a Flame messenger rode up and handed A'trus a wrapped letter. The officer nodded and saluted before he took it. The Seeker's eyes read over it, then paused. He frowned and read the orders again and then looked at the messenger. 

"This isn't an excercise?" A'trus said carefully. The messenger nodded, clearly uncomfortable in his uniform in the sweltering heat. A'trus blinked and then read the letter one last time.

"Well piss on my grave." A'trus said at last as he licked his lips. "Team. You have one bell to have all of our gear loaded and you in your uniforms. Rungee, I want you getting in contact with our scouts. They have new targets and they will be moving hard and fast.  We are to bring them in alive, standard procedure."

A'trus' soldiers began moving swiftly as they began loading weapons and boxes into wagons. Rungee came over to his officer and lowered his voice.

"Who's the target?"

A'trus looked at his sergeant carefully.

"Some birds who need their wings clipped. Red Wings to be exact."

"Thal's Balls." Rungee scowled at that. "The whole organization? Who ordered this?"

"Doesn't matter." A'trus said as he walked over to a coat hung from a wagon. The officer swung his uniform coat onto his shoulders and fastened the clamps. " We have a job to do. Moment you get a bite on one of these Red Wings, you let me know. Till then Im going to get their files and figure out what sort if rounds I need."

"Standard we hunt, you shoot?" Rungee chuckled as he saluted. A'trus saluted back and grinned.

"The standard."

Raimy had been expecting the kid to come in and make sure he was doing his task right and to finish it. When he hears Mikh'a call to him he gives a little shrug looking around the lab and hopes whatever he grabbed was the right stuff. Everything he left behind he tried to shove in the safe. He can't help but wonder with the lack of people storming the building if there wasn't really a trap afterall and everyone else was just paranoid. No one tried to kill them or arrest them or anything. Maybe they're just overreacting after a failed mission? That VIP was hot though. Raimy frowns thinking of a shame it is someone so good looking got killed on his watch.

He picks up the crate of notes and comes back out to go stand near the kid. He doesn't say anything but just waits. He is still fully in his uniform. He can lose the jacket but he's pretty sure Erik said they were going somewhere cold. Raimy hates the cold. He also hates the snow.

Raimy follows Mikh'a down to the hanger and loads the crate wherever looks most ideal to his old sailor eyes or wherever the kid tells him. It is shortly after he secures the crate that Erik comes in and tells them to be ready to launch. Raimy could tell Erik was talking to Mikh'a, but out of habit can't help but quickly respond with a little, “Aye aye.”

If Mikh'a knew what Raimy was thinking...

Now was not the time to start fighting though, so it was good he did not. The frail boy secured the hatch as soon as Erik was inside, the ship out of the loading bay by the time it had clicked in to place. He was no pilot and wouldn't even attempt to interfere as he headed swiftly for the deck of the ship while tugging a pair of goggles over his eyes. ( Wind resistance plus cool, after all. ) His ears flexed and he leaned against the side of the ship to survey the rooftops of the Goblet as they rose skyward, making a mental note to tie his hair away from his face.

His time on the ship was minimal and never airborne, were the situation not so dire he'd have been a lot more excited about their little trip to the north. He scanned steadily for figures of interest, anything that might need notes made even as they pulled away from their home and Mikh'a let out a slow and apprehensive breath while reaching for a portable telescope from the nearby pouch hanging. They had better surveillance, he knew, but this was good for close range.

His next goal however was to find out why.

Why Ishgard. What could they possibly find there to help them clear their names in Ul'dah? He'd have to keep his head low, if not only for his own sake but A'laric and Sieg's as well.

"Erik--" he turned to find the captain, big pink eyes searching for orders. He wouldn't mess this up.

"It's better than doing nothing, if we can end this quickly..." she trailed off but she was sure the others knew exactly what she was thinking, it would be worth it. She merely nodded to Clio's directions, of course, she gave Sieghart a strained but reassuring look before she stepped away from the pair of them. "I'll get a letter out immediately, I'll ring you on the pearl when I'm done and we can go from there. I'll be fine on my own for now" she said simply and pulled her robes closer before heading towards her own alley without letting them protest. She need only find a post Moogle and they could be on their way, they'd need to move quickly if they really wanted to catch their assailants by surprise and she had every intention of not hindering that.

Though most saw it the Miqo'te had grown up in clan and having taken care of herself she had learned early on that being swift and using her environment was necessary to survival, she called on that now to sink into the shadowy recesses and thanks to her short robes she was able to dart down the streets at a fast pace. She drew little looks, just another Miqo'te skulking through the La Noscean port, her robes however would net her more attention...she'd need to replace them. She'd need to cover her hair as well, maybe her eyes. That ran through her mind as she jogged briskly towards her best bet for a Moogle, Limsa Lominsa, she didn't relish the idea of going into the city so soon but it was needed. Well she had plenty of time to think of a way around that on the run there didn't she?

As paranoid as she'd been there was no contingent of soldiers waiting at the gates or the bandits for that matter. Composing herself she'd walked through with a bashful smile at the guards, she even recognized a few of them, it would be sad if this got to them. Ducking her head she'd headed straight for Hawkers Alley and snagged herself some new clothes, an unassuming outfit of a dock worker. With the bandanna on her head she felt much better, hair tucked beneath it to give her a little more comfort, while she casually made for one of the post Moogles. It would be simple enough to send a letter to Kiht and then she had a few other things to check into, maybe her father could help them while they were in the area in fact, that thought brought a smile to her face and with a bit more confidence she lengthened her stride.

"What is good is often forgotten, what is bad is often hidden." he whispered to himself, quoting the Enchiridion. He turned to the Miqo'te as they moved through the sky, all but startled from his thoughts. He thought carefully before speaking, "We will find safety for us there, Ishgard is not a member of the Alliance so it will make it hard to be track." He moved to the table in the back of the cabin and motioned to Mikh'a to follow. He undid his hair and then did something unexpected. He removed his right eye. The eye sported a scar but few knew or noticed the eye was false. A masterpiece of alchemic and goldsmith design. The aether shard of ice was the finishing touch to it, attuning to Erik's natural affinity for ice aether. It locked the artificial piece into his life force, much more lifelike then an ordinary false eye. He handed the eye to Mikh'a. "Keep this with you. Where we need to go I cannot have it with me."

Mikh'a frowned as the eye came out, hand coming out to close around it as it was passed to him. It was a heavy task, he knew the weight of what the artifact could do, moreso than others might have, and his ears pinned down against the sides of his head as he nodded. "I will." the boy promised, giving a glance over his shoulder toward Raimy as if half expecting something to come from him that wasn't necessary to the situation before he turned back again to their captain. "I'm sure you have a backup plan if something happens should you need it and we get separated so I won't press about it." Though it was obvious he wanted to.

He could be so like Siha it was hard to believe they weren't blood related.

Instead he started digging in to his belt pouch before pulling out small cloth he wrapped the fake eye in and continued talking instead. "You know pretty much everything so I'm sure you already know that I've got to keep my head lower than low while we're in Ishgard." Blowing an Inquisitor and his household to Kingdom Come was not exactly what one would call a friendly act. Mikh'a shifted his weight as he secured the eye and then looked over his shoulder again toward Raimy though it was to Erik he continued to speak. "What will they know, do you think, about who tried to frame us in Ul'dah? You said you had informants there." He knew very little for the time being about the political side of their job, still far too fresh a face in the Immortal Flames to be little more than a tiny nuisance of a stumbling private. He'd know in due time, just not yet. "Will you have us split up when we get there to cover more ground or..?"

He vaguely wondered if Raimy as an Elezen would have the most fruitful pull from their hunting.