The Otter

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

"I have a bad feeling that the level of support we'll receive won't be enough to back up anything conventional—and as I recall from Kugane and Brightlam, you have a great background in the sort of tactics one could expect of the Shilage Raiders and up to larger forces. Numbers we don't have the luxury of. Too high a chance of reprisal for us to follow normal action without."

He stated it as matter-of-factly as when they'd been planning Hien's rescue. Were they in the position of anything that would approach typical, he'd throw Rudolf, Galahad, and Izayoi into a room and tell them to come up with a plan for the rest to follow; in the absence of that, planning was just that little bit more involved. "I still want your thoughts on the terrain once we have their locations plotted out. Anything your gut tells you about their supply lines, and likely avenues of providing support to each other. You and Izayoi both should have insights for us on that."

He could already feel that the division of the team was likely to be the sticky spot for them all. Sending Galahad after the dragons was obvious, as was sending himself towards Solitude. Izayoi could go either way, between her experience harrying the invaders and general position as one of the team's heavy hitters. Rudolf had tactical acumen and could sneak around better than Galahad, but he was also the only other one among them with any significant armor that could help him withstand fighting a dragon the way it already had with the Behemoth.

Chisato he'd already decided would join him in harrying the Valheimer outposts. Miina, much as he would like the girl's knack for turning herself invisble on his team, would have to go with the dragon team, as the chances they'd need something more than materia and potions would be higher than the benefit he'd gain having her around. And this close to home, there was no chance that Éliane could be dissuaded from focusing on Solitude...and she was at least as good at sneaking around as Rudolf was. Sorry in advance, Rudi...

He looked over to Kayliss. "That all said—you heard him. Do we have any maps, or can one of the patrols at least plot something rough out for us to look at? Between that and the three of us locals we can probably figure out what ground features they've dug themselves in around."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

He could do little but sigh at the news that Cid had regarding Garuda's status. "Stolen æther keeping her from fully disincorporating? Wonderful," Esben replied flatly, as the fairies flitted between the various Kirins. Selene—after quickly hushing Rudolf—quickly left his side, satisfied enough with his state to go and check on Izayoi and Galahad as they healed their wounds. Eos bounced back and forth between Miina and Chisato, worrying over the nerve damage that she'd been yet to observe, sparing a glance off to Éliane just long enough to decide she needed to shield her eyes from the flare and turn back to the other two. With the Skaeller air patrol rapidly approaching, there wasn't long to plan with Cid, but he could at least offer some small warning—

"As far as we're aware, Solitude itself may be compromised. I worry that Shiva may be subject to the same sort of attack before long. If so...I expect they may be veering west to try and swing around outside of the Nest's patrol range. It may be worthwhile to check in on Shiva if you're able." Behind them the Skaeller patrol landed, the airmen who descended to meet them greeting Éliane quickly. "Until next time, Cid. Do keep Eve out of trouble for us."

---

The flight, at least, was comfortable enough, though there was little to do upon it after making the same warning to one of the crew to take to their commanding officer but make further note of the recent goings-on, and listen in on the scant conversation of the others. Such as Galahad and Éliane musing about capturing a stealth frigate. As the dame commander left, he considered the idea himself for a moment...before shaking his head and discarding it. Too much of a ship, not to mention that the flying sort wasn't his preferred type of ship. "If we get our hands on one, it'll likely only be for long enough to crash it like we did in Drana Asnaeu," he added once she was out of earshot. "Or it'll only be once we're running them off our continent. I don't really fancy our chances to capture one otherwise while they still have a power base here."

Sword and Dungeon: An Adventurer's Guild-based Fantasy RP

Calaphindë

---

"Countess?" A city Hundi raised speaking Elvish, and she was a noblewoman at that. It explained why she could afford to throw such a celebration, at least, although that made the pairing of her with the other one...even more difficult to actually put together.

At least "random noble seeks life of adventure free from the constraints of nightly, civic, or religious duty" was common enough that she didn't stand out in that respect.

"Calaphindë. A pleasure. Are you sure we shouldn't at least check what she's grabbed? With that group around her, you might get outvoted before long."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

Unsurprisingly, he was proven correct about the Valheim-running-off part. But as Garuda dissipated into loose æther after being shot by Garland, Esben couldn't help but shoot the man a reproachful glare. It wasn't a complete set-back for the Kirins, but it was a massive annoyance. In moments, though, the Valheimer airship was floating away, as Skaeller close air support was starting to be visible in the sky. "Eos. Selene."

The fairies popped back in to either side of him. Selene's tiny palm placed itself over his lips before he could speak again, the pair looking him over once before nodding to themselves.

"...Right. Look over the others, please. Rudolf got his bell rung pretty well, Miina was caught in that same blast as you were, and Izayoi might have some bruising around her throat."

"Got it!" Eos rushed off over to Miina, taking her limp hand and straining to lift her arm up to get a better look. Selene nodded as well, floating over to Rudolf and trying to peer in through the slots of his helmet. Galahad and Éliane at least didn't seem to have been touched at all...he'd seen Chisato tumble after firing off her cannon, but she was back on her feet in an instant and didn't look to be harmed either. Better than they'd been dealing with, at least, and faster done—which left only the problem of checking in on Garuda herself.

He reached into his cloak, pulling out the crystal that Cid had handed him when they had stumbled into Ramuh's grove. It was, unsurprsingly, glowing brightly—Garuda's summit was clearly a holy enough location to call him in. "Avert your eyes, everybody," he warned the others, as the crystal began to grow warmer in his grasp with his focus upon it. "This thing gets painfully bright once Cid's on his way..."

Blades of Iron Roses: An Anime-Inspired Knight RP

Fionn MacKerracher

---

Fionn frowned, looking over at Fiadh. "Why do you say that like you've already come up with something?" he asked, shaking his head. "Well, whatever the case, so long as you're thinking about it before anything might happen. We should probably go look for some of the others by now...no telling where Gerard or Renar have got off to. Tyaethe's probably busy with the royalty...The captain, maybe? She's probably off somewhere in the middle of it all."

He glanced critically down at his still-soaked tunic. "A quick bath, first," he amended his decision. "And then find the captain. Shall we?" His new sword found its place back in its sheathe, and with a grunt he bent down and picked up the larger of the pair where he had set it down as well.

With a quick look back at the grounds of the tournament proper, he wrinkled his nose at a sudden itch and sneezed as his gaze passed over the royal box. "Do you ever get the feeling that someone's talking about us where we can't hear?"

Sword and Dungeon: An Adventurer's Guild-based Fantasy RP

Calaphindë

---

"Ah, maybe part elf somewhere along the line, then," Calaphindë mumbled with a small shrug. The Hundi weren't terribly common where he was from, although it wasn't as if they were unheard of either. Finding one that was raised by one of those forest Hundi, though, despite not actually being one herself...

Well, it would only make sense it was unheard of, it wasn't like they were very likely to hear from the wider Hundi society when his city barely heard from those that were closer to them.

As she rambled on for a moment, he looked back towards the group that had gathered around the job postings. They had split up a bit—he briefly locked eyes with the one that had to be 'Lili' as she glanced back their way—and he was about to turn back to the one he was speaking with, before remembering why he'd come to the guild hall to begin with.

Those same jobs.

"...Perhaps we should go and look at the listings ourselves, miss..."

He paused again, looked back down at the Hundi lady.

"What's your name?"

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

Esben winced as Garland turned and blasted Eos and Selene back into free æther. The fairies would be fine, and it was far better than getting himself caught in that spell unprepared, but the rebound as his summons were forcibly removed was enough to set his head to throbbing like when Izayoi's former master had shattered his nose and sent him rolling across the sand. Rudolf looked to be in a similar state, enough that Esben nearly took a step forward to pull him away from further harm—but between his helmet, the climate, and a childhood likely full of similar hits, he was handling it far better, trying to return the offensive in an instant.

Chisato rerouted herself, focusing back on Garland. Miina, trailing blood from her bad arm—he'd have to check on that later—got close enough to release her dispel. Thanks to the small surprise of Eos and Selene's attacks pulling his attention away from Garuda for a moment, Hellfire seemed entirely unprepared for Miina's spell, recoiling like he'd just been sucker-punched. His hands came off Garuda, the purely ætherial Eidolon looking far more impacted by the spell.

Not as hard-hitting as Isolde's, certainly, with Hellfire not being completely disabled like Eve or Garuda turned to mist like Leviathan...but it would have to be enough. He pulled out the time materia Halvor had given him, the little gem warming slightly as he hasted himself with it. The others around him slowed like they were swimming through honey, and he sprinted across the distance between himself and Hellfire. He swung his sword at the back of Hellfire's mutant leg as he passed, a simple hacking cut to try and sever the monstrosity's hamstring, before coming to a stop near where Garuda had started to roll away, looking like she was only barely remaining present in their physical reality.

The materia was immedately replaced with the book that he had the summoning contracts for the fairies and the other two Eidolons, flipped open to the page immediately after Ramuh's if the half-avian Eidolon felt like leaving her own sign. "Quickly, Garuda, or just get out of here—we've got this handled, even if they don't just run from us as soon as you're gone."

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

Eos and Selene both gasped in shock, seeing the mutant Valheimer project trying to crush and siphon the life away from Garuda. For beings so intimately tied to æther as the fairies and other spirits, seeing the twisted creations from overseas attempt to feast on the Eidolons themselves was likely nothing short of existentially terrifying. For a moment, Esben wondered if it was similar to the revulsion he felt seeing physical, mortal life twisted to whatever Valheim could create. Eve was fine, for the most part, likely thanks to the fact that she wasn't some indoctrinated Valheimer servant—but this 'Hellfire' had left whatever their old form was far behind, and a living corpse like Siren was beyond abhorrent.

Whether they could stop these invaders from escaping wasn't the major question in his mind; one team of Kirins, without Eve's megaflare, did not have much to bring against an airship trying to run. If there was one thing that Valheim had proven very good at so far, it was running. Stopping them from managing to absorb Garuda was the current objective. He fell back as Izayoi, Galahad, and Rudolf rushed up, bracing himself against Garland's quake. As it passed, he heard the slight whisper of Miina behind him, casting spells on herself, and whispered back: "Dispelja. Like Isolde and Leviathan, remember? I'll apologize to Garuda later."

It was a gamble, but if Miina could dispel Garuda entirely, then this pseudo-Ifrit would probably react about as well as Eve had when she was caught up in the spell as well. Worse, possibly, if this mutant's alterations were more dependent on the connection to Ifrit than their former companion's purpose-grown body. "Eos, Selene, see if you can mess up Hellfire's supper, please. Maybe make him feel a bit sick? Chisato, go help them with that!"

The fairies rushed off, flying over everybody's heads in much the same way Éliane just had, flinging their spells at Hellfire. Doubtful that they would do much damage themselves, but if it could give Garuda a moment to fight back before Miina could hopefully free her with a quick dispel, or if it could make that dispel hurt all that much more for Hellfire, it would be more than worth it. With that in mind, he turned his attention back to Garland, eyes locking onto the grenade Éliane had wedged into the space between two of his armour plates.

Might as well try a similar trick to what they'd done to Reisa back in Kugane. He raised his pistol, firing at the grenade in hopes of setting it off before the Valheimer general could toss it back or shake it out.

Final Fantasy: Lightseekers

Esben Mathiassen

---

"Selene, Eos. Any idea what they're trying here? Something like Famfrit, or do we think they're trying to replace Siren a little more directly?"

Valheimer soldiers fell upon each other as Rudolf and Miina unleashed their respective magical attacks, Galahad leaping straight for their leader and Chisato already diving into the middle to execute those who couldn't notice her in time; no doubt, Izayoi was moments away from the same. And in that same moment...

The fairies looked at him helplessly, shrugging their little arms. Predictable. "Éliane, cover me, would you?" he bid the last member of their party to still be standing next to him. "Selene, double time." Without waiting for a response from either, he darted off, veering wide of the melee breaking out directly ahead.

"Got it!" His sprint picked up in speed with Selene and Eos flying next to him, nearly gliding over the half-frozen ground as he bypassed the beleaguered blackhelms that were being dispatched by the other Kirins. Between the two fairies, the extra materia he had gotten, his own weapons and skill, and how quickly the others would likely catch up, he figured he was as safe as he'd ever been while traveling with them. And, if they were supposed to be held back until 'the operation' was complete, rushing up to try and disrupt it seemed as good an attack as any.

Especially when he punctuated his rapid arrival with pistol fire towards whichever Valheimer invader seemed to be in charge of what was happening at the hilltop.

Sword and Dungeon: An Adventurer's Guild-based Fantasy RP

Calaphindë

---

Calaphindë's ears twitched as the Hundi lady swapped languages without any great hesitation. The slimmer one had managed to slip out of her grasp without her even noticing, between trying to change languages on a moment's notice and how much she'd been drinking; that left her with nothing more to focus on than him. And expressing how happy she was that she got to move up to more difficult missions. A lower rank, then?

"Do try not to knock anything over," he cautioned as she puffed her chest out, beaming with pride. He paused for a moment, tilting his head the same way she had when trying to figure out what he was talking about.

Moving up from copper rank? Maybe. Or, perhaps, only just moving into copper rank, from being a junior adventurer. Unless...'Lili' was, perhaps, the other Hundi, so perhaps it was less about ranking and more just whatever she was allowed to do from the more domestic side.

That wasn't the only thing nagging at him, however, given that she'd jumped into a manner of speaking so similar to that of his home that she could probably be mistaken as one who'd lived there, there or one of the other cities nearby. "...You're not half-elf, are you?"