FFd6 - Group 1 Part 2

[krogothwolf]

Ziegmund sat down and looked around. Not a bad prison he thought and not really designed to keep people in forever, That's a plus.

"Well this is a fine place to be located in." He commented to no one in particular, "It is a shame our fine friend Caspin decided to leave us before we were sent here."

He leaned back against the wall and thought for a minute.

"Well Keith, I do not mean to pile any offense on but it would be wise for me to do the first set of talking as you know have a bad reputation for lying." He mentioned while looking at Keith. "Of course, if they ask you questions you should answer, truthfully, and the same if they ask anything about our client or the staff. As you have the most information on that."

He stretched and then started laughing.

"I did warn you about your tendency to overact my friend." He said as he shook his head, "Paladins don't always have a good sense of humour."

He then looked over at Ark and the baby wyvern."

"So Jugan is it? A fitting name for him!"

[Menarker]

Ark lazed with his shield-covered back to the floor, waiting patiently for impeding questioning to come. Jugan slept on his belly contently with low hearty breaths as the dragoon listened to the conversation without much stir.

"So Jugan is it? A fitting name for him!"

"Your approval is noted."
"Retrieved it from my databank of info from my previous employment."
"Jugan's approval is also noted."
"Your prior advice is... appreciated."

Ark remained pensively quiet, wondering when or rather if the group and thus his infant would be fed before long.

[Teal Mage]

Negotiations at the gate had gone badly. If the guards words haven't made it infinitely clear, the four archers who popped up atop the wall - like some parody of a jack-in-the-box - did. Keith did take some consolation in the guard's reaction to the staff - apparently his faith wasn't strong to protect against Ultima.

"As for you - all of you, I would suggest that you drop your weapons and come along quietly."

Keith's eyes flickered gray, instinctively stepping back. He would not be captured by this doorman. The Geomancer had half entered a Geotrance, drawing from the City of Dreams itself, when Ziegmund stepped forward. The Paladin presented his sword to the guard.

The Paladin's first few words made Keith stiffen, then turn his gaze to the ground, expression pained. He hadn't wanted to lie, but what could he have done? Bury the staff before we got here, or just turn it over, that's what. Now, because he'd been stupid, they were about to get arrested. He didn't even realize that he'd lost his Geotrance - apparently feeling sorry for yourself did a number on your powers.

Ziegmund proceeded to tell the truth. Something Keith wished he'd thought of, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the Staff after all. Hope Mondiale doesn't mind that we lost - His eyes widened.

"-fact that it contains the Ultima Spell filled me with dread and obviously filled him with fear as to what might happen to him and the type of man who gave it to us."

He knew where we were going, why would he just give us - Keith's mind was racing, something was wrong, and he couldn't figure out what it was, - but I do know Mondiale knew this would happen. His fist clenched around air, knuckles white. I'm charging more.

Keith didn't resist when the guard came for his staff, but the look he shot at the man would have been enough to make stone shatter.

He was not happy.

* * *

They were brought to what amounted to a holding cell. It was almost insulting in its disrepair. Still upset, Keith moved to the far corner and contemplated using a Geotrance to dredge up magma from deep below the mountains, to incinerate all the monks around them.

Fortunately for everyone, Keith wasn't that powerful.

"Well this is a fine place to be located in." Ziegmund stated, from a sitting position in the cell. He seemed infuriatingly calm about this. "It is a shame our fine friend Caspin decided to leave us before we were sent here."

"For us you mean." Keith interjected flatly, swinging his gaze to the Paladin. He could escape the cell himself with a well placed Geotrance, if he desired, but that would only cause trouble for the others. I'm better then that Monster Eater. I'm not running from this.

The Paladin turned toward him. "Well Keith, I do not mean to pile any offense on but it would be wise for me to do the first set of talking as you know have a bad reputation for lying."

"I know." He replied curtly - abruptly turning his own gaze away.

"Of course, if they ask you questions you should answer, truthfully, and the same if they ask anything about our client or the staff. As you have the most information on that."

The smile he offered Ziegmund was more bloodthirsty then he intended.

Ziegmund burst out laughing. Surprised, Keith instinctively took a stepped back - what was so funny about that?

"I did warn you about your tendency to overact my friend." The Paladin continued, shaking his head, "Paladins don't always have a good sense of humour."

Keith sighed, glancing around the cell, before collapsing against a wall with a short chuckle.

"Turns out I don't either."

Mondiale was dead.

But first he'd take his money.

[krogothwolf]

Ziegmund kind of just stared at Keith. The poor man wasn't acting his normal chirpy self. Jail must be messing with his head, if you could actually call it jail. It seemed more like a place to put unwanted guests till someone could talk to them about the particular thing they did wrong.

"Well friend, don't look so down." He said with a smile. "I'm sure everything will be cleared up shortly with this incident."

He got up and walked over to the man and patted him on the shoulder.

"No point in you getting a little bent out over this mess." He then smiled again and laughed. "At least they didn't shoot you with an arrow as soon as you presented the Staff to them. Although to be honest this is the best place to put a relic such as that, I was extremely nervous with you carrying that staff around."

"Does the cramp quarters bug you friend? If it does we could request for the monks to let you walk a bit to calm your nerves again." Ziegmund asked the poor guy. "I'm not sure they would say yes or not, but it really doesn't hurt to ask them."

[Teal Mage]

Feeling sorry for the group's Geomancer, Ziegmund offered a smile - and a platitude. "Well friend, don't look so down. I'm sure everything will be cleared up shortly with this incident." He certainly seemed sure of himself, given the circumstance.

"Your faith in this city is admirable." Keith replied tonelessly, bringing his knees up and resting his arms atop them. It wasn't quite a fetal position.

Ziegmund stood and approached the Geomancer, before patting his shoulder reassuringly.

Keith stiffened momentarily - before shooting the Paladin a look that said, 'This better be important. I want to sulk.'

"No point in you getting a little bent out over this mess." The paladin said, with disturbing jollity.

"We're in jail."

"At least they didn't shoot you with an arrow as soon as you presented the Staff to them." The Paladin pointed out reasonably, "Although to be honest this is the best place to put a relic such as that, I was extremely nervous with you carrying that staff around."

"You sure about that?" Keith replied, pointing out an obvious concern, "Mondiale knew where he was sending us-"

"Does the cramp quarters bug you friend? If it does we could request for the monks to let you walk a bit to calm your nerves again." Ziegmund continued, obviously not concerned, "I'm not sure they would say yes or not, but it really doesn't hurt to ask them."

"They'd say no." Keith stated flatly, waving the Paladin and his question away, "Besides," he continued, tone turning acidically cheerful, "I'm only slightly annoyed that I've been caged like an animal in a pathetic parody of a prison cell." He shrugged, in an obviously forced attempt at nonchalance, "No, I'm more upset about why we're here."

Although, if he was feeling charitable and honest, the guards had done exactly what they should - given the circumstance. They were lucky they were still alive, and luckier that the guards had been patient enough to give Ziegmund a chance to explain things.

But he wasn't feeling that way.

[Truce]

After some time, the guard that had ordered you to be taken in had finally appeared at your cell. No longer carrying his own weapons, he was still dressed in his armor. He no longer wears a helmet that obscures his face, however, and his features are clearer to see. An elvaan with short silver hair, he seemed a little bit short to be a warrior - but he seemed confident enough to take you even without his sword.

He seems relatively young to be in charge of the city guard, but he at least has more rank than the monks that were guarding your cell. Waving them off, he then crosses your arms before sighing.

"Tsk, something like this had to happen while Ciel was away," he muttered, just loud enough for your group to hear.

Taking yet another step closer, he examines your group. "Hmph, well - it seems that there is a moogle in this city as your friend said. However, he goes by the name of Prasad, not Jrkass.

"He's here having his injuries treated. He'll be brought here too shortly - but you've got some answers.

"A staff like that is dangerous no matter what city you bring it to. There's something suspicious at it as well - but unfortunately our resident relic expert isn't here. For now, we're keeping it in a secure location - but I want to know about where it came from, who sent you on this mission, and anything else you can tell me about that group.

"Though - I take it this 'Mondiale' is involved with at least creating that staff."

[krogothwolf]

Ziegmund looked at the guard as he talked and took in everything he said. He already knew the course of action so he might as well follow through with it.

"Ah good sir!" Ziegmund said as after the man finished talking, "As far as I understand, Mondiale had requested us to do a job for him. It was enter this city and talk to a moogle, who was going by the name JrkAss, about his Gambling debts. We were either to bring him back or bring the money back. He didn't care which one."

He motioned at Keith before continuing on.

"To be honest, I was not fully involved in the discussions. Or Android friend wished to leave and I followed him out and we talked about the job somewhat. It wasn't really my type of job but I figured the best option was to go along with it as other groups may bring serious harm to the Moogle and that really wasn't something I felt comfortable with. The man had apparently given him the staff as assistance in the mission. I didn't really pay any attention to him carrying it around, as he is a trusted companion, till he mentioned what it was. That set off warnings, but I wasn't sure the course of action. Knowing you guys would ask for our weapons I figured we wouldn't have to worry about the cursed thing while In the city."

He took a breath and looked around at the group.

"The man with best information about Mondiale, and the Staff is Keith, the geomancer over there." He pointed again towards Keith, "I must say, I do dreadfully apologize for the lies he and Caspin had brought up. I would have stepped in sooner had I been truly paying attention but I was in awe of the being in the presence of the city. I had trusted both of them to be truly forthcoming with you as I figured they would not try to lie their way into the Holy City."

He bowed towards the man after he had finished.

"Again, I apologize for our parties behavior at the gate."

[Menarker]

"A staff like that is dangerous no matter what city you bring it to. There's something suspicious at it as well - but unfortunately our resident relic expert isn't here. For now, we're keeping it in a secure location - but I want to know about where it came from, who sent you on this mission, and anything else you can tell me about that group.

Though - I take it this 'Mondiale' is involved with at least creating that staff."

....

"Again, I apologize for our parties behavior at the gate."

Ark had listened to the question and the honest but tediously roundabout answer that Ziegfried provided. Propping himself to an upright position, the android interrupted.

"Interjection requested"
"Name is Ark. Personal expertise designation: Dragoon. "
"As many reputations of dragoons accurately state, a portion of said dragon knights possess the ability to delve and understand a person's nature."
"As aforementioned by the paladin, I had left the interview with the paladin following suit upon my signal."
"This being the result of analysis of potentially alarming traits of our client, Mondiale, which was best not discussed in the vincinity."
"Client's name is Mondiale Aillieu."
"Elemental allignment analysis indicate strength in darkness to such an extent that client resists shadow influences but possesses weakness against sources of holy typed attributes. A surprising factor when considering that Mondiale is a Summoner class entity and as such was a white mage. His teleportion magic being the manner by which arrived some distance to this location."
"Mondiale's magical capacity and stamina estimated at a rate about 10 times higher than any of us in the group."
"Additional notes: Said entity is a chemist and thus probably is skilled in understanding potions and poisons."
"Additional notes: Said entity is a mentalist and thus possess divination abilities which may or may not include mind reading."
"Additional notes: Said entity possess unusual dismantling abilities of physical structures including machines."
"Additional notes: Said entity's... mental, emotional and instinctive process all operate in a manner faintly but unusually different from typical beings of his race... Benefits unknown. Conjecture being that the different senses convey different sources of infomation."
"Shortly after sharing this info, it had came to our attention that the mission had been accepted. The group was transported shortly after with no time to elaborate on the matter."
"The currently missing member of this group proceeded to rush the group in haste with all the traits of frantic behavior."
"Despite possible concerns, the mission as the paladin and I knew of it was a simple lawful mission to either apprehend the moogle known by the alias Jrkass or retrieve the full amount of the debt which the client claims he owes, the means to be determined as the group saw fit. Other specific information was rushed during the march toward here."

Ark leaned with his back against the shoddy wall, as he fell silent again, waiting patiently, holding the sleeping Jugan in his arms.

[Teal Mage]

Letting out a gentle sigh, Keith slowly opened his green eyes to regard the Cornelian paladin who'd come to question them. Zeigmund had answered promptly, although the information the paladin offered had amounted to little more than what their Elvaan questioner already knew. Moments after their paladin had apologised for the commotion at the gate, Ark chimed in with the results of a scan Keith hadn't heard yet. It didn't tell him much.

Which means...Keith trailed off, moving his hands to the cold stone on either side of him. He rose with a practiced movement, then took a moment to smooth the white cotton of his tunic. His heart was pounding in his ears - he tried not to let his nerves show.

"Mondiale Aillieu's magical abilities," Keith stated, picking his way delicately toward the front of the cell, "surpass my own to the point that, were we to duel, he would destroy me without breaking a sweat." He raised his eyes, trying to meet the guard's steadily, "I tried to bring the staff into the city because it was given to me on loan - not as a gift - and I knew that if I handed it over, we wouldn't get it back." Keith broke the contact, eyes sliding away from the man for a moment. "It contains the black spell Ultima - as you said, extremely dangerous - the Holy City can't afford to trust anyone with that."

"It was a mistake to try and get it in." Keith continued, right hand moving to clutch his upper left arm self-consciously, "But I was worried that if we lost it, he might take it badly." Expression growing determined again, he turned his eyes back to the Paladin, "I had no intention of using the staff."

"Unfortunately," Keith went on, crossing his arms loosely over his stomach and allowing his eyes to slide away to inspect the floor on his left, "I don't know much beyond what Mondiale told me - he said that he was part of an organization called the N'revat." The geomancer shook his head slowly, tightening his arms, "I don't know if that's the real name, but from what he told me, it's as good as any." Keith looked up again, not quite meeting the Paladin's gaze this time, "They keep a low profile - so that means they aren't exactly legal. However," Keith sighed, letting his arms drop to his sides, "if Mondiale's any indication, they're extremely dangerous."

Raising a hand to his face, Keith glanced off past the Elvaan toward the Holy City itself, expression thoughtfully, "I do know that I don't trust Mondiale, or his decision to send the staff with us." The Geomancer murmured, "He made it sound so important - it didn't occur to me until recently that he might have wanted it confiscated." His jaw tightened, as he turned a determined gaze toward the Paladin. "Get rid of it - please. I don't know if there's a safe way to do it, but -"

He shook his head, cutting off abruptly. "Sorry - I suppose it isn't my place to ask that. That - that should be everything I know about Mondiale and the N'verat."

[Truce]

There was a lot of information to be given at once. He noted everything that Ziegmund had said, as well as the details that Ark had given him. Even with Keith, who he seemed to be annoyed by, he waited for the man to be finished before speaking.

"For the record," he said. "Even if I do believe you, that's no excuse. However..."

The guard rubbed his temples, clearly feeling overwhelmed by this whole situation.

"From the sounds of it, this Mondiale is seriously trouble. Not that I didn't suspect that to begin with...but it's even worse if he's just a single part of this N'verat you've mention."

After a few moments of silence, struggling to figure out what he would do with you, he sighed and took out a key. Unlocking your cell, he glanced over your group again.

"In any case, follow me," he said, turning his back to you. "I'll take you to that moogle you mentioned earlier."

He started walking before any of you answered. You could choose not to follow - but he would probably get annoyed. You could also try attacking him, but your group is unarmed at the moment - and even if you could win you couldn't necessarily fight your way out of the city.