FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act One- Scene Two
With a grunt, Midas cleared the final step of the tunnel, and into rising sun. It was hard to believe that they spent the entire night navigating their way out of the city of Cairos. "Our chocobos should still be a less than a kilometer to our west. Let's just hope that the Inquisitors didn't sieze them as suspicious."
"Why would that be a problem?" Yura asked.
"Trust me, you don't want to experience the Outlands on foot." Midas replied.
Many people had heard of the Outlands, had heard it called a forbidding realm, but no one could ever HOPE to comprehend how little words did the harsh landscape justice.
Sitting in the northernmost portion of the Main South Gaia continent, it found borders with Cairos to the southeast and Moros to the southwest. Along the north seacoast ran a long mountain range with a small pass at the northmost tip. Strong sea winds blew across the pass, creating a biting wind tunnel effect that stirred up heavy winds through the entire barren desert.
Along with the climate extremes, the Outlands was not religiously patrolled by the neighboring armies, so monsters and beasts rampaged through the dusty landscape, patrolling for ANYTHING that could be considered food, especially travelers.
Midas explained all this to Yeara, and finally, she agreed, "Yes… that WOULD be most unpleasant, wouldn't it?"
"But think of it this way… you'll get a GREAT TAN!" Borz cheered.
"Oh, I'm afraid I don't tan very well… I merely burn." Yura said depressingly, "My complexion is not one that gets a good amber shade."
"Then you're going to HATE the Outlands, milady." Midas cut in, "You've got your chance to turn back."
"And face the wrath of the Inquisitors again? I think not!"
"Then don't complain."
"I wasn't complaining! I was merely explaining to Borz…"
"You were complaining." Midas interrupted, causing Yura to seethe, her face flushing angrily.
"Wow…" Borz muttered in awe, "I hope that's not how you look like when you burn. That would be awful…"
Midas silenced Borz with a quick hand gesture, and ducked behind a small outcropping of rock, motioning for the others to follow. When they complied, Midas whispered, "Our chocobos are still there, but they've got a couple militia men standing guard."
"So what do we do?" Yura replied, glancing around, then adding, "Where's Trigger?"
"Trigger will be here when we need him. He always is." Midas assured, then turned to Borz, "You know what to do…"
Borz whined, "Do I HAVE to? The last time we did this, I nearly got a spear shoved straight up my a…"
"JUST DO IT!" Midas hissed.
"Okay… okay… you don't have to yell…" Borz retorted, then quickly strode out into plain sight. He approached the pair of guards, who looked back at the midget curiously. Borz got right up face to face (or more appropriately, face to abdomen), and with a malicious yell, kicked the guard right on the unarmored side of the shin. Soon after, Borz was bolting back to the outcropping, one guard in hot pursuit, while the other remained at his post, nursing his wounded leg.
Borz flew by, and just in time for the guard chasing him to slam his face into the hilt of a sword that seemed to magically appear in front of him. Fortunately, the pain was but momentary as blackness crept over his vision.
"Was that necessary?" Yura asked as she looked over the guard, somewhat concerned.
Midas shrugged again, and replied, "He's the lucky one. Trigger probably killed the other guard."
"Killed?" Yura gasped.
From behind her, Borz quipped, "Trigger's a bit of a loose cannon."
As if on cue, Trigger appeared, leading a pair of chocobos. Midas nodded, and said, "My thanks, Trigger." Midas settled himself astride the large flightless bird, and ordered, "All right, Borz, get up here, Yura, get behind Trigger."
"Um…" Yura began, "Would it be all right if I rode with you?"
"Why? Something wrong with Trigger's chocobo?"
"No… It just that… PLEASE?"
With a frustrated sigh, Midas relented, "All right… Borz, get up there with Trigger."
Borz grunted in disappointment, but nonetheless accepted Trigger's hand to the back of the chocobo. Yura patiently waited for several silent moments, then queried, "Well?"
Midas looked down smugly, and replied, "Well, what?"
"You don't expect me to mount this creature as tall as I am by myself?"
"Why not? I did. Borz is half my size, you don't have his excuse."
"This is quite ungentlemanly of you."
Midas snorted, "I'm an Outlaw, not a gentleman."
Yura smirked, "I can see that." Then suddenly, gave the chocobo a gentle slap on the rear, and the bird lunged forward. However, Midas had not been expecting this, and thus did not have a firm grip on the reins. Therefore, he fell right off, hitting the ground hard on his back. The chocobo, sensing his passenger had strangely disappeared, stopped after a few gallops, and turned slightly, somewhat confused.
Borz laughed out loud, and even Trigger couldn't stop a few guffaws from escaping his shrouded mouth. Flipping to his feet, Midas shouted indignantly, "For a woman so insistent on proper manners, that was VERY unladylike."
Yura chuckled, and shot back, "I'm an Outlaw, not a lady."
Midas retrieved his chocobo, and grumbled as he mounted again, "You're not an Outlaw yet." This time, however, he offered his hand to Yura, and helped her up to the chocobo's back, where she held onto Midas in preparation to move. "Ready, milady?" Midas sneered, but before she could respond, shouted, "Yah!" and sent the bird into motion.
Borz looked up at Trigger, and asked, "Is that what people call…flirting?"
Trigger seemed to think about this for a moment, then nodded. With that, he commanded his chocobo to move, quickly catching up to Midas and Yeara as the party galloped at full speed to the Outlands.
Near midday…
Midas had learned in his frequent forays between the hideout and his raids on Cairos that you could FEEL the Outlands before you could see it. The dry winds, riddled with death and decay assaulted one's face and nostrils moments before the first signs of cracked and desolate earth appeared.
Which is why Midas was a little taken aback when the chocobos crossed the painfully apparent divide between grassy soil and decimated sand, and the normally telltale swirling and blasting winds STILL had yet to assault him.
Pulling his chocobo to a stop, he held up a hand for Trigger to do the same. He sensed the nervousness in his chocobo and he looked around the wind-blasted sandy terrain suspiciously. The ridge they were in was ripe territory for ambushes, and without the blasting air currents ANYTHING could be out and about.
"What's wrong, Midas?" Yura asked nervously.
"There's no wind. I don't understand it. There has ALWAYS been wind, sometimes hurricane force, blowing through the Outlands. Something obviously isn't right."
Trigger suddenly whirled his mount to the left, facing the ridge, obviously catching something no one else did. The quick movement sent Borz off the saddle, and his wail spooked the two already nervous chocobos. The ensuing avian panic resulted in four dismounted travelers, and a cloud of dust from two fleeing birds.
Midas brushed sand off his robe, and muttered, "Just great… Stuck in the Outlands, midday, with no water, and no transportation."
Trigger held up a finger, and glared at Midas, to which the Red Mage replied, "What do you mean, we have bigger problems?"
At that moment from the ridge that drew Trigger's attention, a large Mountain Giant jumped down, blocking the pass in which the four were trying to navigate. Midas raised his eyebrows, and answered his own question, "Oh… THAT bigger problem…"
The giant roared in anger, and promptly lunged forth with its massive club. As Midas dove to the side, dragging Yura with him, he noted that there wasn't much room to maneuver, an observation which favored their much larger opponent. Thus, Midas and his group would have to get tricky.
"Yura, when I tell you, summon that big machine like thing that you did in the tunnels." Midas ordered.
"You mean, Golem?" Yura asked.
"Yeah, Golem. We're gonna need it." With that, Midas jumped out in front of the giant. As the gargantuan monster prepared to attack again, Midas prepared to cast his spell.
Midas hated to use this sort of magic, it seemed unfair in a way, but desperate times called for desperate measures, and thus he didn't hesitate to use it in these desperate times. Raising his free hand, Midas shouted, "BLIND!"
Instantly, the giant screamed, and clawed at its eyes as its vision disappeared. However, instead of backing off like Midas assumed the giant would, the behemoth starting swinging its club wildly.
"Yura, NOW!" Midas shouted out, somewhat panicked. Fortunately, Yura appeared ready for the signal, because the eidolon Golem almost instantly appeared. Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough for Borz, who got caught full body by the massive club, and smashed into the ridge.
"Borz!" Midas shouted in fear, a fear that was quickly replaced by rage. In the back of his mind as his rational self began to slip away, he recognized the symptoms of going into Trance.
Midas was one of a chosen few who seemed to possess this innate ability. When overcome by anger, Midas and others like him slip into a battle rage that enhances their natural abilities and attributes almost tenfold.
Trigger, who was trying to make sure no further harm came to Borz, had seen this happen to Midas several times before, so he wasn't particularly disturbed by the transformation. Yura, however, who had only heard of such feats, was totally taken aback by the strange transformation.
A burst of light surrounded Midas, and even when it dimmed away, his entire formed seemed to emit a soft yellow glow. The hair on his head stood on end, as if he had been electrocuted.
Midas crouched into a battle posture, his hand starting to burn with magical fire. He then spun about, screaming, "FLAME WAVE!" On command, an immense swath of blazing fire rifled down the ridge, catching the blinded giant in its incinerating wake. This DID cause the titan to fall back, but Midas was WELL past sneaking by at this point.
Midas's sword then suddenly burst into flame, yet it didn't seem to burn Midas, or weaken the temper of the steel, as the furious Red Mage cut into the giant's thick skin, leaving cauterized wounds wherever the sword landed.
After several blows, the flame died out, only to be replaced by the crackling sound of electricity. Midas leaped into the air, cried out, "SWORD SHOCK!" and plunged his sword into the giant's belly.
When the cumulative damage of Midas's assault was added up, the end result was that the giant was dead before it even collapsed in head on the ground. With the threat abated, Midas began to calm, and the Trance effect wore off.
Regaining his bearings, Midas rushed over to where Borz was, met by Yura who crossed the ridge. Midas examined Borz's battered body, and declared, "He's alive, but seriously injured. The damn chocobos had all the Pheonix Downs we were carrying."
Trigger looked at Midas warily, to which the Red Mage replied, "Hey, I haven't quite mastered the Life spell yet, okay? I'd probably wind up doing more harm to him than good."
Yura stepped in, and gently nudged Midas to the side. "May I try something?"
"Sure, if you think you can help." Midas obligingly slid over, allowing Yura room to work.
"You two might want to clear some distance. The eidolon I wish to summon isn't always tame, and would be very likely to harm you as easily as it helps Borz." Yura proclaimed.
At first, it seemed like Midas was going to object, but Trigger convinced the Red Mage to give Yura a chance. The young summoner once again began to chant, and this time, a large red bird of fire appeared over the ridge, casting a large barrier of flame that surrounded Yeara and Borz. Without warning, the barrier blew outward, sending flames racing in all directions, causing Midas and Trigger to jump even further back to avoid the searing fingers.
When all was said and done, Trigger and Midas approached their fellow travelers again. As Borz began to sit up weakly, Yura began to fall back. Reacting quickly, Midas caught her before she fell over.
"Thank you." Yura replied, shaking her head trying to clear the cobwebs.
"What was THAT?" Midas asked incredulously.
"Phoenix. However, I'm not really strong enough to summon him, so it is somewhat suspect just what he would have done."
"You mean, he could have HARMED Borz?" Midas shouted, "I might as well have tried a Life spell then!"
"No… Phoenix WOULD have healed Borz regardless of how strong I am. An Eidolon ALWAYS performs it's initial instruction, it just AFTERWARDS that the problems may begin. An Eidolon may not obey the summoner's order to return, and continue inflicting havoc, or it might decide to harm others, like Phoenix tried to do to you and Trigger."
Midas growled slightly, then added, "I would have liked to have known that BEFORE you decided to summon."
Yura stood up, regaining her balance as she started to wobble, "Hey… Borz is all right, isn't he?" She tried to take a step forward, then nearly lost her balance again. "Oh dear, I'm really not used to summoning, especially so often in such short of time."
"I can imagine." Midas said sympathetically. He understood how it felt to use too much magic power all at once. "Trigger, give her one of the Ethers you have on you, okay?"
As Trigger complied, Midas turned to his diminutive ally, kneeling down so as to look at him better. "You feeling all right, little man?"
Borz nodded, "I'm still a little weak, but… I don't think anything broken."
Midas chuckled, "I'm sure I can cast a few Cures to fix you up, just be careful. Before Yura did her little summoning thing, I can assure you A WHOLE LOT was broken."
Borz nodded, and allowed Midas to work his magic (no pun intended).
It was at this point that a much improved Yura knelt down next to Midas, and said, "I was somewhat shocked to see you go into Trance. I've never seen it happen to anyone before."
"You've lived in Cairos for a while, haven't you?" Midas asked.
"All my life."
"Then I find that hard to believe." Midas answered.
Yura amended that statement, somewhat, saying, "Well, as I understand there is supposedly an Inquisitor Knight in Cairos who can do the same thing, but I've never actually seen her do it. I think it's more propaganda than anything else."
"If you're talking about Tamara, then it's not propaganda. She CAN Trance, believe me. I nearly didn't live to tell about it." Midas replied, standing up once his healing work was done.
This also caught Yura's attention. "I've never seen a mage that could cast BOTH Black and White magic."
"Well, I CAN believe that. Red Mages were few and far between even in the old age, as I understand, much less nowadays in the Rational Age."
"It must be great to be able to do that, to use magic from both alignments."
"Well, it has its drawbacks. I'll never be able to master any of the higher level spells that the specialist mages can, but yeah, I suppose it's nice to be versatile." Midas replied. "Anyway, Borz, if you can walk, we need to be moving again."
Borz stood gingerly, just as Trigger glanced warily at Midas, upon which, the Red Mage nodded, and said, "I know. If the Mountain Giants are THIS far into the plains, that means that the wind hasn't been blowing for some time. I don't like this one bit. I just hope Cid and the others are okay."
As the four proceeded onward, they stopped to gather what supplies they could find on the giant Midas had slain. Most importantly, they were able to get water to fill their canteens, as well as some food.
It proved to be just enough, for as their supplies were running dangerously low, the towers of Cid's hideout became visible, the watch lights burning brightly against the backdrop of the rapidly darkening sky.
Midas turned to Yura, and said flatly, "You do realize that now that you are here, you cannot mention the location of this hideout to ANYONE outside of it. If you do, I swear I will kill you."
Yura started to chuckle, but was startled when Borz cut in.
"He's NOT kidding." The little would-be Black Mage warned, and it had the desired effect of startling Yura to silence. With that, the four weary and embattled adventurers nearly staggered into the camp…
End Scene Two