Final Fantasy XII : The Tides of Darkness
Disclaimer -I do not own Final Fantasy XI, or anything else to do with the game. I only own the main characters (Arielyanna, Trevernous, Lasi Onasi, Pter, Romulado, Loannthalas, Dasi Onasi, Flowing Wind, Wyreema, Raido, Siflan and Sano Etano ).
The other characters who appear in this story (Akujunkan, Xylia, Enkidoh, Anthyme, Orcrinvalkin, Kainvalkin, Leod, Dohwa, are actual members from my linkshell in Final Fantasy XI (Linkshell name – Omnipresence)) are owned by their creators. These characters are on the Midgardsormr server.
All other characters are of my own creation, and are not based on any I've encountered in Final Fantasy XI.
If these characters appear in any other works of fanfiction, it is done so without their creator's permission. If you'd like to have them appear in your work, please send me an email asking for permission first.
Any italic text in ( … ) is linkshell conversation.
Chapter Five -
One month later...
The Hume Warrior, Raido, smiled as he watched the three Black Mages work. A grin appeared on his face as he looked over their work. His plan was already proceeding along nicely, and would soon be ready to move on to the next stage. One of the Black Mages, a Galka, faced him.
"It is done master... the enchantment is complete."
The other two Black Mages, Mithra and female Hume, stood in the shadows watching. Raido walked towards the table, looking over the items stacked there. Numerous rings and earrings were piled on the table, as well as some armlets and circlets. The Hume's grin broadened as he looked over them. The Galka Black Mage stood nearby, head bowed, waiting patiently. Raido glanced over his shoulder at the Galka, as the other two Black Mages stood just behind the Galka.
"You've done good work my friend... good work indeed"
Before the Galka could respond, the Mithra Black Mage cast Choke on the Galka as the Hume Black Mage casted Flare as well. The Galka died a horrific death, choking and burning at the same time. Raido looked at the remaining two Black Mages, smiling, as they stepped forward and knelt in front of him, heads bowed.
"Well done, well done indeed."
The Hume walked towards the table as Siflan entered the room. The Elvaan didn't even glance at the burnt remains of the dead Galka, or at the two females, kneeling in the room. She walked over to the table, her hand resting on the hilt of her great katana. Raido looked over at her.
"The preparations are complete?"
Siflan looked at the Hume and nodded.
"Everything is ready, the two princes, Trion and Pieuje, are awaiting your command."
Raido's smile grew even broader as he remembered how he came to have the two Elvaan princes under his control. Earlier that month, he and Siflan had met with a male Hume Black Mage, who had found a way to take control of someone, via a certain enchantment on an object which the person is wearing.
The Hume Warrior was impressed with how that Black Mage had managed to create such an enchantment. However, he wasn't impressed enough to keep the Black Mage alive AFTER he had enchanted the two items Raido had taken from his old friend, Sano Etano.
He had presented the enchanted Trump Crown to Prince Trion and the enchanted Monster Signa to Prince Pieuje, when he had informed them of an assassination attempt against both the princes, by the same Black Mage who had enchanted the items in the first place.
Having thus made his way into the two princes good graces, he proceeded with his plan. By using the amulet the first Black Mage had, he manipulated the two princes into taking the San d'Orian throne for themselves, with him pulling their strings.
Now, a month later, after having the enchantment process completed numerous times on numerous items, he grinned evilly. The two princes had ordered that all Temple Knights, Royal Knights and all Adventurers of San d'Orian origin be presented with a special item, signifying them as San d'Orian.
Raido walked towards the barred window, opening it and looking out over Northern San d'Oria.
"Soon... Soon, I'll have revenge upon the other countries, for their failure in saving Tavnazia from the Beastmen..."
Siflan watched Raido warily, as the two female Black Mages, had crawled towards Raido, kneeling at his feet. Sunlight from the open window, shone on to the enchanted circlets around their foreheads, as Raido laughed. He turned his gaze onto the Chateau d'Oraguille, arms folded across his chest.
"Already I've beaten you Trevernous... San d'Orian's will pay for what did... and when they and the whole world know the depth of their crime, that's when I'll come for you..."
Elsewhere -
The Mithra Samurai, Dohwa, sighed to herself as she dismounted from her Chocobo, in front of the gates to Southern San d'Oria. She readjusted her sword, and walked forward.. only to find her way blocked. The massive gates leading into Southern San d'Oria were closed, and the two Elvaan gate guards had their weapons drawn and raised at her.
Cautiously, Dohwa took two steps backwards, holding her arms forward, the palms held upwards.
"Good day... I've an appointment with the retired Knight, Balasiel."
One of the gate guards advanced on her menacingly.
"No admittance allowed. Leave... or suffer the consequences."
Dohwa glanced at the gate guards, nodding her head slowly.
"I understand. Could you at least pass on a message to Balasiel for me please?"
The guard's face remained blank as he spoke.
"No admittance allowed. Leave... or suffer the consequences."
The Mithran Samurai nodded her head, then turned and walked away from the gate, as the two guards resumed their original positions. Dohwa had retreated back towards the city wall, examining the cracks. The San d'Orians hadn't bothered with repairing the damage to the outside walls, after what had happened over a year ago. As she walked along the wall, she ran her hand along the surface, feeling the cracks.
She stopped and sat down, leaning against the wall and waited patiently for nightfall. She intended to sneak into the city and get some information as to what was happening here. The Mithra looked over at two adventurers who rode up, one was a Elvaan, who wore the same blank look on her face as the two gate guards. Her companion, a Galka dismounted, and both the female Elvaan and Galka were allowed into the city.
Dohwa frowned, then faced the wall. Tracing one of the cracks with her fingers, she dug into one of the cracks with her right hand, and then reached for a higher crack with her left hand. Slowly, she scaled the wall of Southern San d'Oria. She reached the rampart, and lithly slipped over the edge, landing lightly on her feet.
Sticking to the shadows, she made her way along the rampart, stopping as she heard the sound of footsteps. Throwing herself over the rampart, she dug her fingers into the edge of the ramparts and flattened herself against the wall. An Elvaan knight walked along the battlements, without even looking in her direction.
The Mithra Samurai was about to pull herself up, when she noticed the rope dangling from the edge. Grasping it with one hand, she let go of the battlements and slid down to the ground. Letting go of the rope, she darted along the edge of the wall, heading towards the residential area in Southern San d'Oria.
Heading along the path, sticking to the shadows, Dohwa made her way to a staircase and crept inside. She climbed the staircase, and came to a junction, with two corridors leading away. Cautiously she approached the edge of the wall, leaning carefully to the side. She saw movement in one corridor, so she darted quickly down the other corridor.
She found herself near the edge of a wooden walkway, one she remembered which led the way to the Knight, Balasiel's quarters. Dohwa stepped onto the walkway gingerly, as she heard the sound of more footsteps. Quickly she made her way over the walkway, down the short hallway, then across another walkway, to stand in front of a wooden door.
Just as she was about to lightly knock on the door, it opened and she was pulled into the room, the door shutting quickly and quietly. The Mithra whirled and saw a young Elvaan male, wearing Paladin attire, standing in front of the door. He motioned for her to enter the dwelling, while he stood near the door, keeping watch.
Dohwa turned and walked down the short corridor and came to a room, with a large leatherbound chair near the fireplace. Sitting in the chair was an elderly Elvaan, Dohwa recognized as Balasiel. Also, in the room was a male Hume Ninja and a Galka Dragoon. The latter two watching her closely as the Paladin from the other room entered. He looked over at the Ninja.
"Door's secured again. If those zombies try to enter, we'll have plenty of time to get out of here."
The Ninja nodded as he studied Dohwa.
"You're the Mithra Sir Balasiel told us about... Dohwa, yes?"
Dohwa looked this Ninja up and down, then nodded slightly.
"I am Dohwa."
The Galka smirked thinly, as he picked up a flask of liquid and brought it to his lips.
"Looks like we've got a cautious kitty here, eh?"
The Paladin looked at the Galka, as the Dragoon drank from the flask.
"In these times, it's best to be cautious."
Dohwa, meanwhile, had made her way over to the elderly Elvaan.
"Sir Balasiel, I have arrived at your request. What is it you would have me do?"
Balasiel looked up at the Mithra, as he removed a scroll from the folds of the robe her wore and handed it to her.
"Take... this scroll... give it... give it to the... Star Sibyl... of Windurst... She... She'll know what... to do..."
Dohwa gingerly accepted the scroll, and then secreted it away on her person, as the Ninja stepped forward.
"Sir Balasiel, what is your command?"
Balasiel motioned weakly for the Hume, Galaka and Elvaan to stand before him. He looked at them, with a look of genuine pride on his elderly features.
"You three... swore an oath... to the King... of San... d'Oria... He bade you three... to follow... my commands... my time... is near an end... I would have it... the three of you... follow this Mithra... keep her safe... The Star Sibyl... must know... what is happening... here..."
The Paladin frowned slightly, as the Galka shifted nervously.
"Sir Balasiel... Are orders are..."
The Ninja spoke up quickly.
"Your orders will be obeyed. We shall accompany Dohwa back to Windurst, as she presents the scroll to the Star Sibyl. Afterwards..."
Balasiel smiled sadly.
"Afterwards... assist the Star Sibyl... in whatever way... you can... this, this pretender... must be... stopped... not just... for San d'Oria's sake... but the world's..."
Before anything else could said, large thumping noises could be heard. The Galka hissed as he looked down the corridor to the door.
"Dammit... they're here."
The Ninja nodded slowly as he looked at Balasiel.
"Sir..."
Balasiel looked at the Ninja.
"Remember... your oath... Arathios... My honour...
The Hume Ninja named Arathios, nodded slowly as he drew one of his Wakizashi's.
"My honour is my life..."
As soon as he finished those words, he quickly slit Balasiel's throat, sparring the old Elvaan death at the hands of the pretenders. Dohwa, the Paladin and Dragoon looked at Arathios as he sheathed his weapon.
"He gave me clear instructions... when the time came..."
The Paladin nodded.
"You did what had to be done..."
The Dragoon pushed all three of them towards the rear of the room, where Arathios opened a hidden door.
"This will lead directly into the Chocobo stables. There, we can borrow four Chocobo's and leave here."
Dohwa looked at Arathios, then the Paladin and Dragoon.
"Considering I've just met the three of you, I only know the name of you," she said as she motioned at Arathios "Your companions?"
The Paladin frowned, as the thumping noises were accompanied by the sound of wood starting to split.
"Do we have to do this now?"
Dohwa sighed, as the Dragonn flexed his right arm and spoke.
"You already now Arathios, the Elvaan is Athmis, and me, I'm Portos. You are Dohwa, the one we've been assigned to escort to Windurst." he smiled "There, introductions have been made, now let's get out of here!"
No sooner had they disappeared down the tunnel, and sealed the door, the front door erupted as Siflan entered the dwelling. The Mithra Black Mage next to her, kept her head bowed as the Elvaan Samruai looked at the the dead Elvaan slumped in the only chair in the room. The Samurai glanced over the whole room, before facing the detachment of Temple Knights, Raido placed under her command.
"Fan out. Search and Destroy."
The Temple Knights nodded, then left the room, leaving Siflan and the Mithra Black Mage alone. While the Samurai thought to herself, the Mithra had located the hidden door.
"Mistress Siflan... the intruders left through this tunnel." she sniffed "Seems to head towards the Chocobo Stables."
Siflan turned on her heel, and vacated the room.
"Destroy it Acacia."
The Mithra Black Mage, Acacia, smiled as she cast Flare down the tunnel, then, once she was at the door to the dwelling, casted Flare again. The flames quickly ate away at the old drapes and other furnishings in the dwelling. Acacia's smile broadened as she cast Blizzard, causing the flames to die away.
Meanwhile, at the Chocobo stables, a group of eight San d'Orians lay slumped on the ground, unconscious, as Raido entered the stables, his Hume Black mage, Shannon, standing next to him.
"Master... your orders..."
Raido looked down at one of the slumped Chocobo handlers, as he motioned to Shannon. The Black Mage cast Choke on the handler, and as Raido watched with glee, the spell brought about that handlers death. Raido glared at the two princes, Trion and Pieuje, as Shannon recast Choke on both of them. The two princes fell to the ground, clutching their throats and gasping for breath.
Raido's gaze was icy cold as he spoke to them.
"I want those... escapees.. brought back here, dead or alive!" he started to walk pass them, then stopped "I'd prefer, dead."
Raido left the stables, as Shannon giggled softly to herself, then dropped the spell on the two princes. The princes and the remaining handlers struggled to their feet, to carry out the orders of their master. A group of five Temple Knights mounted Chocobos and headed off after Dohwa and her group.
In the shadows near the Chocobo Stables, a shadowy figure stood there, watching the group of enslaved Temple Knights leave, as the rest of the enslaved populace went about their master's orders. A dry chuckle escaped his lips as he turned and blended into the darkness.
Deaths-Head -Sorry about the wait, had a few computer problems. Anywayz, please R&R. Thank you.