13th Sun

Second Astral Moon

10:24 PM

Eight Sentinels

As the gates that led into the Eight Sentinels opened, G'raha Tia didn't even take a moment to think before making a mad dash towards the base of the Crystal Tower. He came across Cid still working on the Aetheric Energy Converter and couldn't help but notice the look of fear in his eyes. He had seen the explosion of Revenant's Toll firsthand, and the sight of the fires rising towards the skyline brought back memories he would much rather keep repressed. G'raha was treated to a hug from Biggs and Wedge upon entering the area, and noticed that beside Cid stood Haurchefant and Krile. He didn't recognize Haurchefant as he wasn't well versed in Ishgardian history, but could feel a warm smile grow onto his face as he saw a fellow Sharlayan in the Lalafell before him. All three of them had come to Cid's side to find a way to avert this crisis, but the man was doing a lot worse for wear by the look of things.

"Good, you're here. D-do you have the auracite? Getting into the tower is the only way we c-could-"

Cid was stuttering, bad, and his hands were seen beginning to visibly shiver as he fumbled with the last bit of wiring required to power the AEC. G'raha made an effort to crouch in front of him and hold his hands, softly rubbing their backs with his thumbs as he looked the shaking engineer in the eye. Cid looked back with tear brimmed white eyes, having not felt this terrible and distraught since...since…

"Cid? Cid! look at me, please. We're all still here. We need you now more than ever, so stay with us."

G'raha made an attempt to reassure the man with a noticeable tinge of worry in his tone, looking towards Biggs and Wedge before tossing a piece of auracite at the former. He wasn't able to acquire the last piece he needed thanks to Alenka, so he gave Biggs what he had and let the ball roll. They had no time to assess. They needed to get into that tower. now. After the exchange of auracite however, Haurchefant took a few steps past G'raha Tia and Cid, his eyes shifting to gaze towards Krile as he walked.

"I will return to Revenant's Toll and see if there are anymore civilians who need saving. I'm sure that NOAH can handle it from here."

"NOAH, with the company of yet another great mind at their disposal, perhaps."

Then to the scene came none other than Nero, who had left Mor Dhona some time after G'raha Tia to find the last piece of auracite himself. He not only wanted to one up Cid, but wanted to show just how much more useful he was than G'raha by one upping the Miqo'te archon as well. He tossed not one, but two pieces of white auracite at Wedge who caught them in both hands, looking up towards his Roegadyn partner and trading nods between the two of them.

"Looks as if the world's greatest engineer has made an impact for the better yet again."

"Oh, how nice of you to talk about Cid like that, Nero."

"Shut it, catboy. You simply underestimate my intellectual prowess."

"Well, let's hope that "prowess" of yours can help us live through this."

As Nero and G'raha Tia traded remarks once more, Krile tapped the shoulder of the Allagan boy and made an effort to look the least bit fearless. In reality, Krile was terrified of the current situation, but couldn't show it when they needed as much help as they could get. She at least had to attempt to seem unwavered.

"I will join Haurchefant in his efforts and leave you lot to your expertise. Please, open that tower. Find out why this is happening."

Krile shot a determined nod towards the way of G'raha Tia before she made off after the already departed knight. A part of the Miqo'te was tempted to follow, but he knew that in a situation like this, everyone had a role to fill, and that role wasn't in the flames, saving the lives of others and holding himself back. His role stood at the front, alongside the greatest engineer that Eorzea's ever seen. And he'd fill that role no matter the cost.

13th Sun

Second Astral Moon

10:31 PM

Foundation

Having returned through the gates of Ishgard and making a straight line toward the Knight's Congregation, Alphinaud led the group of snow-ridden heroes through the Holy See until they practically bursted through the doors to come face to face with Ser Aymeric de Borel. Draped in an elegant blue and gold robe that complimented his black hair and sky blue irises, Aymeric was the man who led the Temple Knights of Ishgard as their Lord Commander and head of arms, along with having Lucia as his executive guardswoman and head of military occupation outside of the Holy See. Alphinaud and Dariya were already well acquainted with the man, as he was there to greet them upon their retreat into Ishgard just a little over a week ago. His almost pragmatic smile faded into a frown however, as his gaze shifted through the expressions on everyone's faces. The only people who went into the Congregation were Alphinaud, Lucia, Dariya, and Cyprus. Eniro stayed outside to avoid being discovered, while Artoriel had made for House Fortemps to steel himself if a fight needed to happen. And by the sound of a full-scale attack being initiated on Revenant's Toll, the highborn youth thought it all but their only option.

"I suppose I was not the only one to receive the distress call from Camp Dragonhead, then. If needs must, I shall allow you all to cross through the gates once more so you can assist your comrades on the other side-though, it may be dangerous considering the reported number of blue-coated soldiers who scout Mor Dhona at present."

Aymeric warned the group before him, alluding to the Crystal Braves who stabbed the Scions in their backs and prompted their split in the first place. However, Dariya was tired of standing around, and considering the fact that she was pumped up to a hundred after fighting a griffin, she could care less about who or what showed their face in opposition to the Scions and their allies; she wanted to fight, and she wanted to help people. Nothing would get in the way of that.

"I know, Aymeric. I think we all know, actually. Whatever it is through those gates that's causing this, we'll handle. We have before, and we'll do it again."

The Viera smacked her hands onto the table in front of Aymeric and stared daggers into his eyes, her tone of voice and mannerisms showing the adrenaline running through her as clear as day.

"Dariya. Running into this like it's a game is gonna get you killed. At least think for a second."

Cyprus tried to reason, walking towards her side with his own eyebrows furrowed down.

"But still! We're wasting time if we don't-"

"Just calm down! We'll get to Mor Dhona soon, but we need a plan first over anything else. Going in blind will only do us more harm than good, and you know that."

"...Then what do you suppose we do?"

Dariya turned her head to face her Au Ra companion in earnest, being responded to with a simple crossing of the arms and a closing of his bright yellow eyes. Admittedly, Cyprus didn't have many plans to combat this himself, as the distress call had come out of nowhere and they had already been caught up in their endeavor at the Dusk Vigil. How much time had they already wasted that could have been spent saving lives? Aymeric took a stand from his chair and pointed a finger at Lucia, then pointing towards the door and beginning to dish out orders to those before him.

"Lucia, make for Camp Cloudtop within the Sea of Clouds and gather as many available aircrafts as you can. Alphinaud, Dariya, head for the main gates separating Ishgard from Eorzea and await my arrival. Cyprus, if you can, find as many knights that are off duty around Ishgard and bring them to Lucia when she returns. I will send my own regiment of soldiers outside of these gates to assist in the effort."

Lucia gave Aymeric a hearty salute before leaving the room, followed by Alphinaud and Dariya who made for the gates of Ishgard with haste. However, Cyprus was stopped before he even got one foot out of the door.

"Wait, Cyprus, one last thing."

"What's up?" He asked, turning back to face Aymeric.

"Be careful out there. With Ishgard's known history against dragonkind, I imagine that there may be...complications regarding the stance of individuals taking an order from a man such as yourself.

"There's no need to sugarcoat it, Aymeric. I've dealt with a lot worse than a couple of blue bloods calling me a dragon. I'll be ok."

Aymeric nodded in response to the Au Ra, watching as he turned away and exited the Congregation. Everyone had their roles, and everyone had their mission. Now, it was game time for both parts of Eorzea as the oncoming conflict-caused by one man who wanted nothing more than the power of god's left behind to history-to come together like they once had before and do battle with an oncoming storm. A storm that was approaching far too fast.

13th Sun

Second Astral Moon

10:39 PM

The Umbral Isles

"The Eight Sentinels, then? A piece of Allagan history telling the tale of king and queen alike. Seems to me like I missed the most obvious landmark I could have chosen, but we all make mistakes, now don't we?"

"...Please...I've told you what you want to know...let..let me go…"

Admes had broken Kan-E-Senna. She was bleeding from the legs down and had dried tears staining her cheeks, that former radiance that existed in her gaze having been replaced with a look of never-ending fear and shame. How could she let this happen? Why was she so weak? Admes had only had her in his captivity for upwards of four days, and in that time, she had already been completely broken by the man and forced herself to reveal the location of a relic that, if fallen into the wrong hands, could potentially make or break all of Eorzea. All because she wasn't strong enough. All because she couldn't hold on anymore. Admes ran his thumb across her cheek and shushed her, watching as tears began to brim the eyes of the Elder Seedseer yet again.

"Oh, no no no no no, Kan-E...you don't understand. I may have gotten what I want, but when I go, I will become public enemy number one at the drop of a hat. People like them, these heroes who claim to be the driving force of all Eorzea lack one thing amongst themselves to satiate my hunger. They lack motivation. Challenge. An incentive to fight simply past the fact that they have too. And I have you. All I need is to have you for just a bit longer, and I'll finally have what I want."

"Wh...What else could you possibly want!?"

Before Admes could answer her question however, a third voice spoke up that came from behind the two and near the stairwell that led up to the top of the clocktower. This voice rang throughout the floor that Admes and Kan-E-Senna inhabited, and the mere thought of somebody else having found out where he hid Kan-E excited the maniacal Allagan.

"Like he said, he wants a challenge. But that won't be the only thing you're getting out of me."

"Oh? And what else would there be, pray tell?"

"A long overdue lesson in why you don't fuck with Gridania."

Kan-E felt her eyes light up with a resurgence of hope visible in her gaze. Somebody had found her, and they were a Gridanian native no less. For all the blood that had been spilled, and for all the tears that had been shed, it all made up for this very moment where the only thing she had left to lose was her own life.

There was still hope, for Stryker had arrived.

"S-Stryker! Y-you're here!"

"And, I was also there when this bastard and his right-hand took you from the Twelveswood. Only reason I didn't do anything from the first was because I was outnumbered. But now….Now I can finally finish what he started."

Stryker bended his knees and balled both fists in a readied stance, now watching as Admes tossed away his bloodied knife and loaded his repeater.

"Look at you, trying to play hero and put a pause on the greater good. You'll learn your folly here and now, rat."

"Whatever you say, Thancred lookalike."

With that, Stryker dashed at Admes and immediately clashed with the butt of his gun, sending shockwaves outward across the entirety of La Noesca that could be felt from even the underbelly of Limsa Lominsa. Now, they would do battle, this fight being just one of the many happenings that could very well decide the fate of Eorzea.

A war was coming. And it would end at the Crystal Tower.