FFd6 - Group 3

[Truce]

It isn't unusual for the government to file requests with the Adventurer's Guild. Simply put, there were some things that were cheaper to outsource, and there always was a variety of talent. However, for the Council of Four to call for their services directly...those were certainly rare occasions. On those occasions those who they desire to work for them are sought out by name - often some of the most highest ranking members of the guild.

For some reason, however, they've sought you out - a group of virtual unknowns. Even an android is here - whatever "here" is anyway. As far as you could tell, being escorted to this location by the city guard, it was an abandoned warehouse; even inside, you couldn't see the entire space as it was covered by a magical darkness. The only thing visible was an armored figure with his backed turned towards you, facing the farther half of the building.

"Welcome, Adventurers," a female voice says, without turning to face you. Though she speaks softly, it still echoes through the building. "Please forgive me for bringing you here on such short notice."

As you near her, you become aware of the fact that she's a Judge Magister - part of the militant arm of the Council. Though she lacks a weapon on her, the grey iron armor she's encased is the Judge's distinctive style that only a fool would try to mimick. No doubt she's acting as their agent for this mission, who would probably fill you in on the mission without even giving her own name.

...but first, it seems, she has something to ask of you.

"Tell me," she says, "Do you believe in Destiny?"

[Naqel]

"Destiny..."
Seright spoke out in his usual way, making the word sound like a beginning of a longer, unfinished sentence.
"Destiny refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the cosmos."
For once, when reciting a formula from a dictionary, he sounded like he knew what he was saying.
As soon as he stopped speaking, he lowered his head and waited in silence for others to speak.

[Truce]

"A fine definition," the judge says, as she turned around to face Seright. "But merely that, a definition. It appears even Androids know how to avoid a subject. However, Androids or not, you are capable of making your own decisions and beliefs. At least, that was what I've been led to believe."

She raised her hand, holding an open palm towards Seright, beckoning him to step forward. "Now then tell me, with an answer sought from your own heart, do you believe in Destiny?"

[Sifright]

Alister couldn't help but smirk at the android as he rattled off his definition of the word with a small cough Alister responded to the question they had all been asked moments before. "Do I believe in destiny.. in a word no. If you are after an explanation though what is destiny but a way to blame our own perceived lack of control over our lives? No there is no such thing as destiny only those who allow them selves to be pushed along on the currents of circumstance." Alister spoke quickly but with respect despite his beliefs he didn't wish to offend the Judge.

[mauve]

"I had a cousin named Destiny," Elsa said. She was leaning against the wall, examining her freshly-painted fingernails. They shined a pale blue in what little light permeated the dark warehouse. "Ha. Died in a freak airship accident. Funny story, actually. Does that count?"

Either she was testing the Judge's sense of humor, or her understanding of "small talk" was sorely lacking. No one could say for sure.

She moved away from the wall, leaning back on her heels and folding her arms across her chest-plate. Elsa didn't particularly like idea that the Council could summon her to do their bidding whenever they pleased, but even she knew better than to voice such concerns to a Judge. Especially a Judge in an abandoned warehouse surrounded by a magical darkness that could be concealing considerably MORE Judges.

Also, the money would probably be good. That was justification enough.

[Truce]

The judge seemed to sigh as she listened to Elsa, before finally shaking her head. Whatever her reason for asking her question, the judge didn't seemed to be satisfied by either the Seright or Elsa. She faced Alister, however, with a stiff and serious turn. Even with her face hidden within her helm, the thief could clearly feel her eyes upon her.

"Destiny, indeed, does not exist as an almighty force," she says. "The current world is simply a result of our choices in the past - and the future shall be decided by what we do in the present.

"Nonetheless, there are those who would try their hands at controlling fate. We have reason to believe that machinations have been put in motion that will endanger the world if not put to a stop. Those who would twist the very fabric of the world for their own purposes, they move elusively through the shadows and so far we have been unsuccessful at chasing any of them down.

"However, your mission is not to search for them. We have discovered what some of them are looking."

Suddenly, the darkness behind her receded. There, lying on the floor of the warehouse, were fragments of crystals. The shards were all of different colors, but they had one thing in common - they all were shining brightly, rather than being dull and lifeless like one would expect.

The only whole crystal was a few meters behind the judge, floating in the air. A crystal of brilliant white. As large as a hume, it outshined anything else in this room - most of the time. Occasionally its light flickered, and with it so did the fragments on the floor.

"This is a Holy Crystal. A magical artifact untainted by man's corruption, and powerful beyond your imagination. We have gathered your group together for a single mission - to seek out these crystals, before nefarious fiends can discover them first."

[mauve]

Powerful beyond your imagination... Elsa raised an eyebrow, suddenly very interested. She had a pretty good imagination.

"These crystals, uh..." she began, her eyes never leaving the glittering shards, "I'm guessing they're fairly important then. So why hire us? Not that, uh... not that I'm complaining, mind you. I just wonder why you'd trust the Adventurer's Guild to handle a job that seems better suited to Paladins or the military or something." Or the Judges. They seem to have a lot of time on the hands. She kept that thought to herself.

Her eyes remained glued on the pile of shards. All that power... She wondered if the smaller shards possessed any of this power, or if it all stemmed from the largest one. That would be a pity, as the Holy Crystal didn't greatly appeal her-- being a Dark Knight, such an artifact would probably be useless to her.

She sighed. That meant she would have to play by the rules and avoid "misplacing" any of the artifacts. That was no fun.

[Truce]

"Why choose you?" she said, as though she were asking herself that question. Truly, even among the Adventurer's guild, there could have been better people she could trust; thieves and dark knights seemed wholly inappropriate for such a mission. Still, there was a very important reason for all of this.

"The crystal itself can only be handled by people that possess a certain quality. We don't understand how the crystal decides on those it allows to touch it, only that it does. When it was first approached, it reacted by revealing a vision to those around it - of people's faces, too numerous to count.

"Among them, your faces are the few that could be recognized. Blame yourselves for your unique appearances, I suppose - or the memory of the man that could remember you. And, while it is true that someone had to have been able to bring this crystal here, he is currently recovering from an unrelated injury. It will take time to heal - but time is of the essence.

"At the moment, you are the only ones we can count on."

[Naqel]

"Years have passed since I was a soldier of this country..." Serights melancholic voice started another sentence to never have it finished. "If such are your orders, I shall serve it again..." He kneeled with respect, awaiting further commands.

"I feel... Relieved..." The android whispered to himself.

[mauve]

"Hmmm." Elsa nodded slowly, digesting this information. She eyed the Judge critically, trying to gauge whether she was joking. It was possible, but then, it had already been established that the Judge was not interested in jokes.

"Well," Elsa said at last, "I suppose this means that greater powers are at work here." Her eyes darted to the other Guild members assembled in the warehouse. A thief, an android, and herself. She gave a short bark of laughter. "And they have a sense of humor. I like that."

"All right," she agreed with a nod. "If the crystals want me to find them, I suppose I've no choice but to comply." And if any of them just "happened" to end up in her possession permanently, well... Blame destiny. Heh heh heh.

"Count me in. What are the terms of employment?"