Shadows over La Noscea
Staelwyrn was naturally surprised to hear about the attack. He and his men were former pirates, some of whom still has trouble getting used to farming. He promised V'kebbe to keep an eye on them and call the Rogues if he noticed something suspicious. That Lyrian was part of the Guild helped. His work as a handyman and singer allowed him to keep an ear open for rumors without seeming suspicious. Between Staelwyrn, the Duskwight and the Rogues, the kidnappers would be caught sooner or later.
Lyrian finished his deliveries and went to rest. Even though he had quite the stamina, using his land-bending magic had taken its toll on him. He still helped Perimu recover a Garlean device stolen by a trio of pirates and had a good laugh when said pirates came knocking to the Edelweiss thinking it was a coven… and swiftly got their asses handed to them when Perimu, V'kebbe and Jacke showed them the errors of their way with their knives.
Just this morning, Lyrian allowed himself to lie in later than usual. When he went looking for his knives, he found instead of the weathered blades a pair of sharp steel daggers and a message from Jacke.
V'kebbe told me what happened in Seasong Grotto. If yer truly the Mother's Champ', ya'll need sharper stabbers than those worn-out girls.
Good luck,
Jacke
Lyrian smiled and strapped the daggers to his thighs. He had just gotten out of his room when he saw Perimu Haurimu come to him.
"Lyrian, trouble at Summerford! Sevrin sold some o' his friends to the kidnappers!"
Lyrian cringed.
"Of course, it was Sevrin. That guy's been nothing but trouble since I came to Summerford. Any idea where they went?"
"Aye: Woad Whisper Canyon."
"Then let's go. And, this time, I won't forget Gandiva."
Perimu nodded. The pair hurried to the huge cliff that was sundering the landscape of Middle La Noscea and headed north-east, to the canyon. As they reached it, they were surprised to see Sevrin's friends, on their knees and catching their breath.
"Sevrin turned on them at the last moment." The little Lalafell explained. "When the blue-faced bastard went to take us, he sucker-punched him and told us to run. They were three, all armed to the teeth. I don't think he'll last long…"
Lyrian and Perimu didn't hesitate. They ran to the end of the canyon to watch the former pirate, lying on the ground and covered with bruises as the burly man above him taunted him. Perimu gasped as he saw the facial markings.
"Fishback's bollocks, these curs are Serpent Reavers!"
Lyrian looked at him.
"Is it bad?"
"Bad!? Serpent Reavers are in league with the Sahagin! Sell 'em culls to be mind-twisted by their lord Leviathan."
Lyrian's eyes widened.
"Primal worshippers, then. Got it."
On this, he took his bow. The burly man looked at them.
"What? The Rogues are there? No matter… Their lives will do just fine!"
"Don't mind if I intend to keep mine!" Lyrian retorted.
He aimed his bow, only for stone to animate behind the group. The Duskwight's eyes widened as a golem took form behind the Reavers. The Reavers noticed it as well and lost no time running away, though not before giving a dangerous smile to the pair beforehand. Perimu starred at the golem.
"O-kay… Well, guess we still gotta fight that fiend. Still, pirates summonin' a golem, o' all things!"
"Just be glad it isn't a Voidsent." Lyrian retorted. "Besides, I don't think it was their doing. Otherwise, they would've stuck around to fight." The golem loomed over them threateningly. "Can't say that thing's summoner is a friend either. It really looks like it wants to kill us."
"No, really? What makes ye think that?" Perimu asked sarcastically.
The golem threw a fist that would have nailed them down if they hadn't jumped away.
"That." Lyrian answered deadpan.
They knew they weren't resilient enough to endure a blow of the monster. They relied on their speed and agility instead, dodging and parrying its fists. Perimu swung at its legs repeatedly with limited success. Lyrian aimed his arrows at its heart instead. One of them struck the gem, causing the golem to rear. Perimu was caught off-guard by a backhand that sent him flying against the wall and knocked him out. Lyrian gasped.
"Perimu!"
There were faint red marks on the wall. The Duskwight snarled.
"Bastard…"
He felt aether thrumming through him. His magic often reacted to his emotional state, surging when he felt strong emotions. Cocobuki believed it was due to a lack of control, but growing in the Twelveswood also meant he couldn't train his power. This made his magic strong, but not exactly subtle. Good. Bending the land worked better on a large scale.
He reached around him, wrapping any thread of aether he could grasp over his arrow. Perimu groaned and opened an eye to see Lyrian focus any magic he could gather into a swirl of aether around his arrow. The golem stood tall over the Elezen, dangerously close… but it worked to Lyrian's advantage: aiming was much easier. He released the string and the drilling attack struck straight in the stone that served as the golem's heart. The monster roared as the attack tore not just its body but the magic animating it apart. It collapsed in an inert pile of rock while Lyrian bent to catch his breath.
Perimu rose, drank a potion and went to his side.
"Ye alright, lad?"
"Just a bit winded. It always happens after I use my magic…"
Then Y'shtola came and the Elezen was caught by a violent headache.
He saw.
In brownish-sepia tones, he witnessed.
Y'shtola in Limsa Lominsa, spying over a small gathering of pirates, pondering about their allegiance –
*static*
Looking at the sea and the sky, the tides rising as the satellite Dalamud drew closer and grew redder –
*static*
Sitting in the harbor, wondering at the marvels of Sharlayan technology before a little girl offered her a flower and she noticed a disturbance in the aether around Seasong Grotto –
Lyrian panted.
"What was that!?"
"What was what?" Perimu asked.
"I…" The Elezen hesitated. "I think I had a vision."
The Lalafell raised a brow.
"A vision? Yer seeing things now or are ye simply tired?"
"Dunno. I'm inclined to say it's the former."
Perimu rolled his eyes.
"Yer a weirdo, ye know?"
"Nothing new here."
They turned to Y'shtola, who had healed Sevrin and was helping him stand. Lyrian frowned.
"I saw her. And I also saw Dalamud as it was falling. Make that of what you will."
Perimu shrugged. He honestly had no idea what to say or do. The worst the Rogues had to deal with were pirates. Against supernatural things such as someone blessed by the Mothercrystal and possessing weird magic, they were out of their depths. Fortunately, Lyrian was on their side, so keeping an eye on him was easy. Y'shtola came to them.
"Sevrin told me his side of the story. It shed a considerable amount of light on the kidnappings that I think you'll find interesting. It also explained why you found yourselves facing a golem."
Lyrian shrugged.
"Golems are mindless constructs moved by the will and magic of their creator. The easiest way to take them down is to strike their heart, as they don't fear losing a few limbs since they aren't alive. That's what I did."
"Ye faced these things before?" Perimu asked.
"Yes. There's a place in Central Shroud that's teeming with these guys and spriggans. I went hunting there once in awhile."
Miqo'te and Lalafell nodded.
"By the way…" Perimu spoke. "Lyrian had a vision 'bout you, Y'shtola. The lad saw you lookin' at Dalamud. I hope he's not goin' bonkers…"
It took the conjurer a moment to recall Louisoix's teachings. She smiled and shook his head.
"Lyrian isn't insane. It is merely a manifestation of the Mothercrystal's blessing: the ability to peer into the memories of others. According to my former master, the visions are random about the persons and what is revealed."
Lyrian nodded, feeling reassured. They took Sevrin back to Summerford where the man explained how the whole affair had started.
Sevrin was originally a member of the Serpent Reavers, back then a low ranking mook. When his captain swore himself to the Sahagins, the pirate hadn't hesitated a moment before turning tails and fleeing his old crew, who had marked him for death. Hiding in Summerford hadn't been enough. He had been found and, rather than executed, he had been tasked with providing with souls to offer to Leviathan. Sevrin had nearly gone through with it. Nearly. In the end, the man remained a true Code-abiding pirate and had gone against the Reavers – with mitigated success.
He still insisted on giving himself up to the Yellowjackets, but both Staelwyrn and Perimu confirmed he wouldn't stay for long.
"In the end, he remained a true pirate. Ain't somethin' the Rogues' gonna forget. We'll make sure he be forgiven. He was willin' to turn on his own crew 'cause they became Reavers."
Lyrian nodded.
"At the same time, we now know who's behind the kidnappings…"
"Yes, and it's gonna ease our work a great deal. Be on yer guard, though. Serpent Reavers are dangerous, an' nasty enough that the Rogues got 'em all branded for death. Ye meet 'em: show no mercy. Those curs are the scum of the sea."
"Noted. If I see one, he'll be lucky to know what hit him…"
Perimu grinned as Lyrian checked his bow. The man was only a novice rogue but, on the flipside, he was a skilled archer. The fight against the golem had demonstrated it. They reported to Jacke, who wasn't remotely happy about the news.
"Those Reaver curs were behind it! The Navigator takes me, that's ugly. Bene, I'll put everyone on the lookout. Send a couple lads in every settlement around: Summerford, Aleport, Moraby Drydocks…"
"Let's not forrrget the smaller ones." V'kebbe called. "Red Rooster Stand, Swiftperrrch, Skylift… They are even morrre likely to be targeted than the big ones."
"Noted. Let's see… I'll send Perimu to Summerford, ye to Aleport, no one at Costa Del Sol since Gegeruju got his own guards, Nora at Skylift…"
"We're back!"
The group turned to see a couple enter. One was a scaled woman with a pair of white flat crown-like horns and amber eyes, while the man was a pale-skinned Hyur with messy black hair and viridian eyes. Jacke greeted them.
"Yui, Kiyoko, yer on time lads."
The Hyur looked at the map unfolded on the table.
"You got something big planned, Boss?"
"Yep. The Serpent Reavers are the ones treatin' culls like chattel. I'm sendin' a lad to ev'ry settlement to watch over it. Someone sees a cull with blue markin's, he opens the eye. Blue marks are usually a sign o' the Reavers."
The girl nodded.
"Slave traders, huh? You can count on us."
Jacke looked at the pair.
"Yui, ye'll take Swiftperch. Kiyoko, ye'll go to Red Rooster Stand, lass." He turned to Lyrian. "As for ya Champ', ye'll go to Moraby Drydocks."
"Got it."
As he left, the Duskwight wouldn't help but give the horned lady an once-over. Kiyoko noticed it. In fact, she was equally eying him.
"Never seen someone like me before?"
"No. I guess this makes two of us if your face if anything to come by."
The woman nodded.
"I am an Au Ra, a race of scaled humanoids originating from Othard. White-scaled Auri like me are called Raen. What about you?"
Lyrian smiled.
"I am a Duskwight, one of the subspecies of Elezen in Eorzea. The other is Wildwood but…" A chuckle escaped his lips. "I heard people call Ishgardian Elezen Hailskins as an insult. Kinda fitting if you ask me."
"A Duskwight Elezen… You skin has the color of cold ashes."
"And yours almost looks like peach."
Yui turned to the pair and crossed his arms.
"Thanks for the compliment, but this gorgeous lady is already taken. Kiyoko and I are married."
Lyrian raised his hands defensively.
"Far from me the idea to woo your wife. It's just, I've never seen people like her before and I got curious. You're lucky, though. She is pretty."
Yui's face darkened.
"Luckily unlucky may be more accurate. There's a reason we fled Doma…"
He didn't dwell and Lyrian didn't ask further. He could tell the pain in his voice. Once outside the headquarters, each rogue teleported to his destination. Lyrian had gone to the Drydocks several times for errands. It was there that the Lominsan navy was building its ships. Their current project was the very first warship built since the Calamity, the Victory. However, good handiwork was hard to come by so someone like the Duskwight was always welcome.
Lyrian cursed his soft heart. Seeing the foreman pester had been the reason he had signed in the Armorer and Blacksmith guilds. His metalworking talents were meager for the time being and, frankly, he didn't want to make it his trade, but knowing how to make an ingot and bend bronze and iron was always useful. At worst, more skilled artisans just had to refine the products he gave them and the job was over.
As it was, Ahtbyrm didn't need his talents as a craftsman but as a messenger. One of the shipwrights had gone missing and the foreman hadn't had any new in two days. Checking his bow and daggers, Lyrian headed to Candlekeep Quay to find why. He had a name: Haldbroda. Haldbroda, however, had nothing to tell him. The people of Candlekeep Quay were busy with a sunken cargo ship whose load had washed ashore the Salt Strand thanks to a storm. Lyrian naturally offered to retrieve it. Qiqirn had set a camp by the Strand, but the Duskwight had hunted bigger rodents. He didn't want to fight but, if the ratmen tried to mug him, they would leave with holes in their pockets… and other painful parts of their body.
It was pure coincidence that he met the missing shipwright, Fyrilsmyd, as the man was watching the Strand warily. As he explained, his absence was due to his conscientiousness not letting him return to the dry docks without the cargo he had been tasked with delivering. Problem was: said cargo was scattered all over the Strand and he was afraid the Qiqirn may attack him. He was an artisan, not a fighter.
"No problem, I'll do it for you. If those ratfolks try to mug me…" The Duskwight patted his daggers. "Their loss."
"Daggers… You a rogue?"
"Yep, in-training."
On this, he went to the Strand. There was a helm wheel, a crate of rigging and a crate containing a sailcloth to recover. Finding them was easy. However, as he put the helm wheel atop the other two crates, he found himself face to face with a Qiqirn.
"Ashface gives all his sparklies now!"
Lyrian quietly took one of his daggers and pushed the ratman's muzzle with the tip.
"No thanks."
The Qiqirn backed away, pale. Lyrian took the crates and the wheel and walked away. He hadn't made three steps before a good dozen Qiqirn with sharp claws surrounded him. All of them were glaring daggers.
"Uh…"
The Duskwight put his load away and smiled sheepishly. Obviously, the beastmen hadn't taken nicely to their kindred being pushed away with a knife. The Qiqirn closed in on him and Lyrian sighed. This was going to leave him sore…
Moensath had come late to the meeting and had found herself assigned to Candlekeep Quay. The Roegadyn rogue sighed. She shouldn't have spent so long at the Bismarck, but Chef Lyngsath was her father and she often lost track of time at his side. It didn't help that the man was simply amazing at his craft. A real wizard! She had brought a Bismarck Finger Sandwich for V'kebbe as an apology – which had been accepted – and headed to the Quay with the notification Lyrian was at the Drydocks. This had pleased the rogue. The Duskwight was a beginner, but he was making swift progress.
Once at the Quay, she was informed of the shipwreck and decided to help. Haldbroda shook his head.
"'Nother rogue dropped by awhile ago with the same goal. A Duskwight. Still ain't back. I hope he didn't meet any trouble…"
Moensath raised a brow. So, Lyrian had stopped by the Quay while she was away. She headed to the Salt Strand to help him… and caught him in a furious fight with a large group of Qiqirn. The Roegadyn nodded. When it came to footwork, his technique was flawless. His swipes were still clumsy, however, but the Qiqirn didn't give him much room for fanciness. His swipes and stabs were simple and direct, aimed to maim and injure without killing, though a few Qiqirn were still lying dead in their blood. The rogue took her own knives and jumped in the melee, spinning and slashing like a woman possessed. The pair finally dispatched the ratmen and Lyrian fell on his knees, out of breath.
"Bloody rodents…"
"Tell me 'bout it!" Moensath knelt at his side and looked at his wounds. "Them ratfaces are as greedy as those lil' pupil-less childmen o' Ul'Dah. Cutthroat, cut-purses an' without an onz o' honor, these ones."
"No arguing with that. They worship Nald'Thal, but the truth is that gold is their one true god. When people say some Uldans would sell mother and father for money, they aren't always joking…"
Moensath nodded. Lyrian's foppish armor, the blue, red and white clothes he usually wore when singing or performing serious tasks, was surprisingly resilient for something so fancy. Most cuts hadn't dug too deep and many of the wounds were on his face and around his hands. She put some ointment on them and took the crates containing the rope and sailcloth. In their anger against Lyrian, the Qiqirn had focused solely on him and neglected the materials.
"So, what got ye in that mess?"
"One of the shipwrights had gone missing and Chief Foreman Ahtbyrm wanted me to find him. Turns out Fyrilsmyd was trying to retrieve what we're carrying but, since he wasn't a fighter…"
Moensath nodded. She took the two crates while Lyrian took the helm wheel and returned the items to the shipwright. Next step was telling Ahtbyrm about the incident. The Roegadyn frowned deeply.
"A storm, huh? I doubt it was natural, then. You see, the tides at the Drydocks were quiet the night of the wreck. A storm localized on a specific area sounds a lot like what the Sahagin can do."
"You think they may be behind the wreckage?" Lyrian asked. "What I know from them, I wouldn't be surprised."
"Me neither. Ghimthota believes pirates may be after the Victory…"
"It is a known fact the Serpent Reavers are allied with the Sahagin. Using the Sahagins' magic to cause a storm, then sending the Reavers against the Victory while everyone's busy with the wreck. Sounds like a plan, but then again, I may overestimate them."
Ahtbyrm's eyes widened.
"The Reavers! That's why the rogues have sent you there, I get."
Lyrian lowered his voice.
"Jacke sent men in each settlement save Costa del Sol. I'm the one in charge of the Drydocks. There's someone at Candlekeep Quay. But yes, the Reavers are getting more active. We believe them to be behind the recent string of kidnappings. In fact, we're quasi-certain it's them. They tried to take some of the men at Summerford Farm."
Ahtbyrm nodded.
"Ghimthota won't be happy. This isn't any pirate crew. This is the Reavers, those tide-forsaken traitors. Go ahead, rogue. If you need anything to do your job, just say the word."
"Got it."
As the foreman had guessed, Ghimthota wasn't pleased with the news.
"Reavers, of all people!? Llymlaen, that's bad. I'll pull everyone on the lookout. If the rogues are going so far as planting men in each settlement, then it means they expect the worst."
"I don't know about that, but Jacke was definitely worried. At the same time, did it happen before that you met pirates powerful enough to summon golems?"
"What?"
Lyrian crossed his arms and explained.
"When I fought the Reavers in Woad Whisper Canyon, someone summoned a golem. Have you ever met such a situation before?"
"No." Ghimthota said, pale. "This is bad. If they have someone who can do that, this is bad." She put a finger to her ear and spoke. "Caporal, raise the alert to red. Put every man available on the lookout and tell them to be careful. The Reavers are on the move and they have someone who can summon a golem… Yes, you heard that right. Now, go warn everyone and tell them to open the eye – the right one."
Lyrian nodded. Ghimtotha looked at him.
"Some of my men reported a group of pirates camping around Spinner's End, or Nymeia's Stone as you would call it. Can I ask you to check it?"
"Of course, Captain."
Nymeia's Stone was located a little away from the Drydocks, close to the cliff. Lyrian knelt and walked as quietly as he could as he closed in on the pirates. There was an old Roegadyn and two Hyurs, drinking merrily around a campfire. Lyrian hid and thanked his Duskwight ears. His kind had a better hearing than even Moonkeepers.
"And t'night, t'night…"
"Aye! Tonight, we blow the Victory sky hiiiiiiigh!"
Lyrian prayed Oschon they were joking. The god didn't answer.
"T'night, we sneak into the docks, plant the explosive and bam! That cur Merlwyb's pretty boat'll go down in blazes! Gotta make th' biggest firework ever! And… and… we'll get me boy back while we're at it. Bloody brat, that one! Can't believe… he made that ship…"
'And they are targeting someone among the workers as well. Jacke would have a field day sticking his knives up his rear end.'
He was about to leave when he found himself face to face with a female Roegadyn holding three bottles of rum. The two starred at each other… Lyrian reacted first. He jumped, put a hand on the woman's mouth and thrust his dagger in her throat. He felt blood against his hand as the woman gasped for breath and held until she wasn't moving anymore.
"Could've been cleaner." The Duskwight muttered before dragging the body to the docks.
C'nangho, the gatekeeper, watched him return.
"Look what the shadow drrragged. You could use a new set of clothes, Lyrian."
"And she could use a new throat." Lyrian retorted as he brought the corpse. "She walked on me as I was eavesdropping on her crewmates. I acted on reflex and killed her. Mind checking if there's anything interesting on her?"
"There is. Her axe. The rrred wind-like pattern on it, it's the signature of Ahtzapfyn the Absorbed, captain of the Sea Knaves. So, the guys partying by Spinnerrr's End were members of Ahtzapfyn's crew…"
"I think I saw Ahtzapfyn himself. Big, burly, with an axe spotting the same red wind-like pattern on the blade and white hair?"
"That would be him."
"Then I got really bad news for you… They are going to blow the Victory and take one of the workers along. Apparently, Ahtzapfyn's son works on the ship."
C'nangho stood very still.
"The Navigatorrr helps us! They wouldn't dare!"
"They would, and it happens tonight. I'm calling Jacke."
"I'll warrrn Captain Ghimtotha. The Twelve, this is ugly…"
Lyrian nodded and looked at the sky. Tonight would be a sleepless night.
