3rd Sun
Fifth Umbral Moon
8:12 PM
Limsa Lominsa
Two years ago, when I was still allowed on Eorzean soil and a respected member of the Rogue's Guild. I was naive and impatient with no real direction in my life except for what was in front of me. I thought I was invincible, and that mindset brought me to that day. The day when me and the people I called my family were sent to deal with the Bloody Executioners...The day I lost everything.
Bang!
A gunshot rang through all of Limsa Lominsa, one that could be recognized by any pure- blooded lass on its soil. The firing of a musket, followed up by a scream. On the upper decks is where it rang the hardest, a sign of something going wrong with the mission. Rogues of many kinds sulked in the darkmans of Limsa, and one of a particular order were sent on a whim to save it-An operation covered up with a jewel of high value. The Black Sarcophagus. the highest class members of the Rogue's Guild-Jacke, V'kebbe, Perimu Harimu, And Eniro-All at the same place with the same goal; Cloying the Sarcophagus and fitting the ones who stole it for a new coffin.
"Slowin' down 'er will get us killed! Don't be an idiot!"
"What do ye think I'm doin', Jacke!?"
Two rogues conversed in the middle of a fight, both of them up against axe wielding members of the Executioners. One of these rogues was a Lalafell, Dark skinned and clad in green and pirate's clothing. The other was a Hyur, Pale skinned with green pirate gear alongside. Both used short daggers, silver steeled and hilted with a strap leading to their wrists so they wouldn't lose their grip. The Lalafell ducked a swing going right from the Executioner he fought, jumping up with a slice of his dagger straight to the chin. He spun in the air and threw a third dagger into the Executioner's throat before landing and looking towards his partner Jacke. Jacke caught an overhead swing from the second Executioner and kicked him in the stomach, slicing the cur across the face afterwards and stabbing him right in the eye. Perimu spun around and sunk his dagger right into the poor sods heart, both Executioner's dealt with and the path leading to the lower decks now clear. All that needed to happen was the locating and killing of Aisibhir, the leader of the Bloody Executioners and the person holding onto the Black Sarcophagus.
"Now now, I'd appreciate if ye caught up with Eniro and The Stray. More o' them sods are comin' and I don't want me best mates throat gettin' cut at me own expense."
Jacke ordered Perimu who ran his way to the bottom of Limsa's lower deck. All was going according to plan, but Eniro and V'kebbe were nowhere to be found during the fighting above. That's when Perimu saw a sight that made his heart stop. Milala-the leader of Limsa Lominsa's fabled Yellowjackets-on the ground in a shambled mess of cuts and bruises. And next to her stood Eniro, whose weapons were out and his expression as confused as his partner before him.
"E-Eniro...Mate, Did ye..."
"No! Perimu, I-I didn't do this! An Executioner got here afore me, T-this wasn't my doing! I-"
Perimu began to think. Eniro was the only person there, and the bruises on Milala were small enough to be considered dagger cuts. He only had 10 minutes to make a decision, and it was one he didn't want to make. Running out of time and out of energy, Perimu came to a conclusion that he didn't want to believe, but had no options too otherwise. The Lalafell rogue grabbed his daggers and shakily unsheathed them from his belt. Nobody was around besides Eniro, Milala, And the person Eniro thought was his brother.
"Please...Perimu, you have to believe me. I…"
"Ye broke the bloody code, that's what ye did. Gone ahead and sunk your stabber right into the heart of our problem. You went ahead and spilled the blood of someone who need not have their blood spilled...Why?"
"Perimu-"
Eniro grabbed his dagger and brought it to his neck, blocking a strike from the other Lalafell. Perimu visibly has tears in his eyes coupled with gritted teeth. He wanted to believe Enrio, but no one was around for him to protest. They didn't have the time for this, and Perimu didn't have a choice.
"Perimu, Please!"
Eniro pleaded as he clashed daggers with the rogue, shaking in fear and wondering if this was his fault. Eniro was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, and there was no turning back now that Perimu's mind was made up. Eniro had to fight if he wanted to live, but a fight was the last thing he could ever want against someone he thought of as family.
"I want to believe ye, I really do, but the blood's in the darkmans and it's on our hands now!"
"At least let me explain! You're assuming too fast, this isn't like you!"
Eniro tried talking sense into him, but Perimu didn't listen. Perimu didn't want to listen. He didn't want to hurt him, he wanted to believe him, but with time running out and the fate of Limsa Lominsa in the balance, he couldn't. Perimu Just couldn't. Eniro ducked a swing and swung his dagger upwards to strike, but his strike was blocked and his wrist was grabbed by Perimu. The older and more experienced rogue gave a hard elbow to Eniro's right arm, nearly breaking the bone within the limb and slicing a deep cut across his right eye. This cut became a scar not too long after, and Eniro stumbled back with half of his vision permanently subsided.
"ACK! Dammit, Agh! Perimu, just LISTEN to me!"
Perimu's body was shaking. He lifted the dagger which was now bloodied from the cut across Eniro's face, and the supposed traitor had to think fast. He threw one of his own daggers into the air and grabbed a smoke bomb, using the wrist strap to pull the dagger back and slice through the smoke bomb that exploded into white fog. Perimu was distracted and couldn't see, so Eniro did the one thing he could and ran. He ran down into the bottom floor of Limsa and across the decks, before going back up and exiting out into La Noesca on the opposite side of the City-State. He didn't stop at all, and kept going as fast and as far as his legs could carry him away from Limsa Lominsa. He was a traitor to the Rogue's, to the City-State, and to the code he once rightfully believed in.
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
3:01 PM
Ishgard
"From then on it was smoke and mirrors. I had to kill to survive, hunt to get my way….A life of crime was the only choice I had after that bounty was put on my head. No one could know my name. No one could see my face. So I became N, and I've been that way ever since. I'd rather it be this way too. I'm not obligated under any contract or code. I'm myself….And I always will be."
Eniro got off his chair and waved to Cyprus, putting a small note on the table and beginning to walk away. That story got Cyprus thinking, and he soon realized how similar both him and Eniro were. Both were outcasted wrongly from places they called home, by people they considered family and had to turn to lives they never thought would be theirs. It was all lined up way too well, and Cyprus couldn't ignore it. However, he didn't want to bother someone who just murdered a person in cold blood with another question, so Cy turned back to the counter and sat quietly.
Until he heard a slam against the outside wall.
Cyprus took a moment to judge whether or not he should do something about what he heard. Anything could have happened to Eniro out there, and no matter what it was, that slam was an immediate cause for concern in a place like the backwaters of Ishgard. Cyprus grit his teeth and got up, walking slowly towards the door as his hand reached out to it's knob. Another slam could be heard, followed by another, then another. Before a fourth or maybe even fifth slam could sound out, Cyprus yanked on the doorknob and opened it quickly to a sight he never thought he'd see. Three Elezen men all wielding axes going for high and low swings towards the aforementioned Lalafell, and Eniro was playing them all like fools. Throwing them into walls, tripping them and stabbing them in the back, and even taking the blunt end of their own weapons and hitting them with it. None of them could touch him as he was too fast and too smart, save for Cyprus who watched in awe at this 3-on-1 beatdown being handed out by the lesser equipped fighter. Eniro jumped backwards onto a wall in an attempt to dodge a swing, pushing himself off the wall and wrapping an arm around one of the Elezen's necks. He stabbed a dagger right into his heart before throwing a second one at the other Elezen behind him, that dagger piercing his flesh and digging right into his body swiftly.
"You all picked the worst day to get on my nerves."
Eniro spoke soundly with a rush of cockiness and aggression in his voice. Cyprus looked on at the scene by the door of the bar, only being able to assume that the group of Elezen men attacked Eniro first. Either way it wouldn't have mattered what happened, because not only was Eniro turning these three into mincemeat, but this situation had nothing to do with him. Eniro put his left arm around the first Elezen's neck and kept a good grip on the dagger string from the second, pulling them together and sending the two bodies colliding into each other with a hard pull. As they fell limp to the ground, Eniro retracted both daggers into his sleeves-the strings having come from the Rogue's Guilds training on throwing daggers-and looked up at the third and final Elezen. That look could make the blood run cold of anybody in Ishgard, and it was a look that most lowborns knew all too well. This wasn't Eniro.
This was N.
The third Elezen charged for Eniro with a rage-filled scream, but his attempted attack would be for naught in due time. The Lalafell saw an overhead swing coming from above, and threw his right dagger past the Elezen's neck and pulled it down afterwards. The string on the daggers hilt wrapped around the axe's handle, immobilizing the Elezen's way of fighting and catching him off guard. Eniro pulled the Elezen further down and jumped onto his back, wrapping his legs around the Elezen's head and spiking him right into the concrete floor. The Elezen died on the spot, and Eniro's pride was satiated for now. Needless to say, Cyprus was shocked.
"I….I can tell you're no pushover, kid."
Eniro stood up and put his bloodied daggers back in his sleeves, Facing Cyprus and pocketing his hands. Eniro gave an offended sneer towards the Au Ra at the title of "Kid".
"Yeah, of course I'm no pushover. It's obvious you weren't listening to me in the bar if you think I am."
"Wait, no, that's not what I meant! I'm just saying, you fight a lot faster and smarter than I originally thought you would. Color me impressed, man."
"Lalafells are underestimated because of our size. We're treated like playthings, children to just be kicked in the dirt because we're not like everyone else. That's the first mistake people like you can make about us."
Cyprus raised an eyebrow at Eniro's remark, taken aback by the sudden change of tone in his voice. He held some weight in his words, and Cyprus couldn't deny that Eniro-like many others-were wronged for simply being a Lalafell or not being like most other Eorzean natives. However, disputes like that weren't his place to bid on.
"So I suggest you drop the whole "Kid" thing before I break your neck like I did this guy. Inconsiderate bastard, jeez…."
Cyprus watched Eniro turn around and walk away, showing that he obviously wasn't in the mood to continue their conversation. However, Cyprus saw something in him. He saw something in Eniro that he had only seen in one other person before, but he had a hunch that something much deeper connected the two besides their style of fighting and the way they carried themselves. If he lost this chance, Cyprus probably wouldn't get it again, so he decided to act upon a simple proposal he had in mind.
"...Hey, N!"
"Huff….What?"
Eniro stopped walking and sighed exhaustedly, looking back at Cyprus with an expression of annoyance. This better have been worth his time.
"Let me help you clear your name."
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
3:11 PM
Mor Dhona
In the Aether ridden and crystal covered fields of Mor Dhona, Cid Nan Garlond stood alongside Biggs and Wedge in the camp of Saint Coinach's Find as Garlond Ironworks had a good deal of work on their three of them-Alongside a Roegadyn named Ranboro and a Miqo'te named G'raha Tia-Were contracted by the Ironworkers of Revenant's Toll to unlock a gate leading into the Crystal Tower. The Crystal Tower was a giant multi-floored structure built by the long extinct Allagan Empire, Who specialized in advanced technology and the arts of Magitek. Cid, Wedge, and Biggs were sent to find its secrets and see what exactly the Allagan Empire was hiding within the behemoth of a structure, But they knew that the 5 of them by themselves couldn't do it alone.
Mor Dhona was a recovering settlement just outside of the western highlands of Coerthas, the Calamity of the Second Umbral Era having affected it a great deal more than the likes of the three city states alongside it. Crystals radiating with a seamless supply of Aetheric energy shone throughout the fields while red and blue lights cascaded across the entire open area without it. Cid chuckled and crossed his arms, Taking a minute to look around Mor Dhona and take in the sights of its recovering and vast plains. He closed his eyes as memories of the Calamity scrounged his mind, looking back to everything that happened in the midst of the catastrophic event. What was it that Louisoix told him?
Never fear the man who works others for himself.
That quote had stuck with him since that day, And he's never forgotten it even after 7 years. What was a 35 year old mechanic to do without memories like these?
"Mmm...It's been a good number of hours since I gave my proposition to Dariya. She never got back to me, But I won't be surprised if she shows up to save the day like she always does."
Cid said as he stared towards the tower that lied motionless only a malm from Saint Coinach. He looked behind himself to catch Biggs and Wedge walking over to him, Giving the duo a wave which he received back from the Roegadyn and Lalafell.
"Hey there, Chief! We've gotten word from the remaining Scions that someone is coming over in Dariya's stead. Apparently she's busy on her end, So someone else is taking her place for now."
"And who would that someone else be, If I could ask?"
"That's the thing, We don't know yet. What we do know is that they're Ishgardian, So it's more than likely someone we can trust! I mean, You and Dariya did assist Coerthas in their endeavors before, Right?"
"More her then me, But the effect stays the same. Whoever it is-regardless if their Ishardian or not-We've got a lot of explaining to do."
Cid and Biggs exchanged words while Wedge sat on a box, Swinging his feet and smiling softly. He was happy to be back and working for Ironworks in full swing, But felt like something was missing. He wasn't able to pinpoint what exactly, But he felt like something was off with Revenant's Toll. Like there was something that didn't belong there or something that was never there in the first place. It just...Wasn't right. It bothered Wedge and he couldn't get his attention off the entrance of the Toll. That was until Cid called his name to get his attention.
"Oi, Wedge! What're you staring off into space for?"
"Oh, Sorry chief!"
Wedge hopped off the box and walked after his partners, The three of them setting a course for the Crystal Tower so they could get a good glimpse of it first hand. However, That feeling of nervousness and misplacement stayed with Wedge throughout. What exactly was at Revenant's Toll which didn't belong?
12th Sun
Second Astral Moon
3:26 PM
Mor Dhona
"...I'm here. What do I do now?"
"Do what you do best and cause a distraction. I'll handle the heavy lifting."
"Got it."
"Oh, And don't overwork yourself. You still have some use, You know."
The connection between Admes and Alenka was severed as their Linkpearls disconnected and the two were left to their own devices. Admes would focus on interrogating Kan-E-Senna for the location of the Crystal Tower while Alenka was sent to Mor Dhona with the intention of causing a riot. How she would do it was unbeknownst to her, But what she would do to cause it was a different story.
A very different story.