Chapter 7: Into the Darkness

"Okay guys, here's the thing," I was explaining what I could to the group so that we were well prepared. "I can hear metal clanking ahead of us. They must be here for someone else as well, or else they know we escaped. Either way, we must make our way past them. Who is best at stealth?"

Balthier pointed at Silver. " His abilities can muffle footsteps and hasten our pace, but then he'll be less useful in a fight. Do you think that will work?"

"Yes. We surely could handle ourselves around these guys without Silver- or Steele's- aid in combat. However, we should avoid battle as much as possible. Got it? We don't want those Judges on our tails." And so, Silver cast Psionic Veil, giving us Float, Haste and Vanish, and we headed into the deep catacombs of the dungeon.

[Music theme: Deep, Nine Inch Nails]

The spell must have helped somewhat, because only a small group of soldiers noticed us, but by the time they could raise the alarm, we had subdued them. As we made our way through the dungeon, I added a few technicks to my liscenses, and came across an unusual tile. This one said Trinity Seal. I didn't have enough points for it yet, but I definitely wanted to see it in action as soon as I could. Also, a few Potions and Phoenix Downs were located here, often with notes like 'in case you need it' attached, obviously from previous prisoners who tried escaping this way. We shrugged and took these items.

Now let me explain about these Phoenix Downs. They are actually feathers imbued with the blessing of a white mage priest, and they have specific boundaries in which their holy magick works. They can't revive people who are dead for longer than three days. They can't revive people whose bodies are destroyed, are beheaded, or are similarily left unwhole. People stabbed through the heart only have five minutes to be revived by Phoenix Down. However, under any other circumstances, Phoenix down can revive people from fatal or near-fatal wounds, somewhat, and help them regain conciousness, though they will still be weakened.

Well, in any case, we eventually came to the place where Basch was (hopefully) held. I signaled a stop, althogh most of us had already, the turned to the group. What I could hear in there was exactly as the cutscene went, but my conversation was on a different subject.

[Music fade out]

"I was hoping it wouldn't have had to come to this, but we are about to enter a very dangerous area. You notice it's been getting dark as we entered these catacombs. It's about to get darker still. Balthier, have you heard of a place known as Barheim?" His grim expression was all the answer I needed.

"More than heard of it, I've had to visit it a few times." His expression was almost pained, or perhaps fearful? "What would make you say that it is ahead of us? Can you see the future? Or have you, perhaps, been this way before?" Great. Now was NOT the time to start getting questioned. Way to go, Fox Brain...

"Neither, it is simply that I have a good sense of direction from my travels, and remember Nalbina and an entrance to Barheim are near the Estersand, with Barheim underground. Where do you think we are headed now?" That lie almost came too easily... maybe my inner fox's cunning was beginning to manifest? For now, though, I'm just glad he bought it.

"Very well, but I will be watching you very closely in there. You seem to be acting differently since we met, short time though it was." Again, great. I may have saved myself there, but my instincts are also frying me as well... Ace cut in just then.

"Guys? I think they're finished chatting..." We all looked to see the judges, one of which must've been Basch's twin Gabranth, stepping back out of the room. We didn't waste any time making ourselves as out-of-the-way as possible to avoid detection. They walked by, and we entered in to see Basch, skeletal and in chains in a cage hanging over the abyss that led to Barheim.

"Well, well, what have we here, a murderer of a king? Why, I thought you were dead, executed in public!" I know it was cruel, but it was what came naturally to mind. The gaunt skeleton raised his head to glare at me, but I saw the sadness, convinced I hated him like everyone else.

"Well, you were obviously wrong. And though you wouldn't believe me if I told you, I didn't do any more than follow my devotion." Gotta admit right here, all the main characters have some spunk so far and hate my guts except Vaan, but he's dead and so doesn't count. "What are you anyway? Have I gone so far as to fall to apparitions and illusions now?" I couldn't help but shake my head sadly at the stricken tone he gave those words.

"No, but all that is about to happen will seem a dream if that is how you choose to think. Here, let me help you out of that..." I climbed onto the cage much like Vaan had, and 'tried' to free him, simply making noise to attract guards to force us down into Barheim. Sure enough, they came; we all hopped onto the cage, swung out over the abyss, and came crashing down into the dark depths below. We were in Barheim, darkest realm of Ivalice and home to the being that controlled death itself. Yippee.

Whoo boy, this is gonna get intense now. I hope nobody dies down here... heh heh... *groans audibly* this is gonna suck for someone, I just know it... R&R, please! 'Till next time!