((OOC: The shores of Lake Bresha, DM Post))

Julian sat tranquilly, listening to the sounds of the water softly lapping at the shoreline. The fighting had not reached this somewhat secluded area, and it was just far enough so that sounds of battle in the distance competed with the sounds of Cocoon’s particular brand of nature. That was soon to change, no doubt.

As he heard footsteps approaching, Julian activated his Manadrive, sending an arc of repelling energy through his body. This Protect spell should give him a defensive edge should someone do something stupid, but his job was to prevent that from happening in the first place. The combination of the moonlight’s reflection off the waters and the electrostatic glow of the manadrive made Julian’s skin nearly shimmer. He raised his head in time to see one of the Pulse soldiers nock her bow.

“Stay your arrow, if you please!” Julian called out. “We have no reason for bloodshed here. I have called you here to work together, not to kill each other. Our worlds suffer a grave threat, and it’s not from who you think!” Julian slowly stood to his feet, trying to keep his hands visible so neither side would feel threatened. 

“I am former Lieutenant Julian Cagle, and I’m trying to uncover the truth. I summoned you all here to help me.” The man pointed towards a nearby long one-story building that appeared to be a warehouse of some sort. “Inside that building is a dying Pulse fal’Cie. PSICOM captured it during the initial invasion and have been performing a series of tests on the thing. I intercepted some communications that might shed some light. It seems this fal’Cie wants to stop the war, not continue it. We need to get in there and liberate or at least talk to it.”

Julian stepped forward to the group from Cocoon. “I personally chose each of you to assist me, even though you were unaware. Kirta, you have a lot of talent with a blade. If you had a bit more self-discipline, you would be Corporal by now. The army is suppressing you, but I need your unique... talents. Our opponents will be ruthless, and we need someone just as aggressive and not constrained by protocol. Madeleine, your job would be to keep us alive and healthy, and provide distractions to the enemy. I chose you specifically for your passion in healing, and to help bring balance to our team.”

He turned around and looked towards the soldiers from Pulse. “You have little reason to trust me, but I feel like I know many of you already. Riya and Nyxia, both of you bring unique abilities that we will need where we’re going: a guide through the wilderness of Pulse, and someone to keep us going when we are far from a supply chain. Noir, you will help us establish contacts in Pulse. Your reputation in organizational skills precedes you. Nadia, you and I both know what happened with your family. I think you deserve to know the truth, don’t you?”

Julian tapped the cane he carried lightly on the ground. “Our window is closing. We must act quickly if we are to be successful. I realize we just met, and you must have a million questions. Let me be clear: I am asking you to desert your posts and join me. I do not ask this lightly, and I swear I will do all in my power to protect each of you. I ask you to join me to potentially save thousands, if not millions of lives, and end this war. I ask you to help me save the Pulse fal’Cie if we can, or gain valuable intel if we cannot. I am unable to do this alone; I am no real soldier.” 

The man stretched his arms out to both groups, his posture and voice nearly pleading. “Please, will you help me?”