In the Tower's Shadow
Learning what you could in Sharlayan, it was finally time to put an end to this Tower of Zot and the monsters it unleashed upon the people of Thavnair. Still...would it truly be enough to undo the damage that has been done, and return everything to how it used to be? Or would more challenges await them in the days to come?
Nevertheless, your path is clear, and there is nothing more to be done but to walk it.
Well, in good time that is. The bright future of teleportation, am I right?
It was heartening to learn that everything seemed to be alright in Thavnair. Or rather, as alright as the situation permitted. At the very least, there seemed to have been no further attacks since Nhidana's abduction, so that was good.
...or bad if one assumed Fandaniel was just waiting for the right time to spring a surprise on them while they ventured inside. He certainly was theatrical enough. That was fine by her though if it meant none of the nearby settlements were at risk, and she was sure the others were very much in agreement.
Well, if not roughly half of them weren't busy trying to keep the contents of their stomachs where they belonged, that was.
Looking around, her eyes upon the sorry sight of Alisaie and Alphinaud, practically propping each other up into a sitting position while their heads hung low. Next to them stood Estinien, shaking his head but otherwise keeping any comment to himself. Not far from them, at the base of the Aetheryte, Krile was holding her head, while G'raha looked like he had already shuffled off this mortal coil if not for the occasional moan coming from him.
A twitch against her hand made S'eni turn her attention away from them and towards Y'shtola, who wasn't doing much better. In fact, not unlike Urianger the first time they travelled here, the experience had momentarily knocked her out. Lips curling into a sympathetic smile, she gently rubbed her lover's back.
"You truly weren't...urk...being hyperbolic," Y'shtola groaned out and her hand shot up to cover her mouth as a sick gurgle came from her stomach.
"Easy there," S'eni said in a soothing tone. "Don't worry, it's going to pass soon."
"I believe...the only passing happening...shall be...my own."
"Now now, don't say that." As she turned her head, she saw Thancred coming their way, holding bottles of Amra Lassi. She took the one he offered with a silent nod of thanks and opened it, before holding it out for Y'shtola to take. "Here. This will help."
The other Miqo'te took it and began to drink, slowly at first so as to not further upset her stomach, then with more vigor when its effects were beginning to kick in. When she was done with it, she placed the empty bottle to the side and let herself slump back against S'eni with a relieved sigh. "By the Twelve..."
"Better?" S'eni asked.
"I shall have some very stern words with this Kytte when we return," Y'shtola replied, sitting back up properly.
"Just make sure to properly attune yourself to the Aetheryte before you do." She giggled at the glare her lover was sending her and looked over to the others, who were all in various stages of recovery. It would probably still be a few minutes before they were fighting fit again.
Rising to her feet, Y'shtola took a few steps and looked about. "So this is Thavnair."
"Yeah. Sadly we don't have time, or I would show you around a little."
After the others had sufficiently recovered, they all gathered together.
"Gods, if this is the future of Aetheryte travel I will stick to boats," Alisaie said, earning herself a nod from her brother, who was still a little green around the nose.
"Indeed...nothing could have prepared me for that," he added.
"Well, it seems we are sufficiently recovered to continue onward," G'raha said and looked at S'eni. "Lead the way."
"Alright." She nodded and pointed north-westward. "There's a road that will lead us to our destination, but mounts are hard to come by right now so we will have to walk."
"I don't think I could stomach riding one of their Hamsa right now anyway," Krile said. "From what F'lhaminn told me they're quite wobbly on their legs."
"Sure are," she murmured then, much louder, said, "No time to waste then. Let's go."
Leaving Yedlihmad behind, they began heading down the road into the direction of the former Hamsa hatchery, where the Radiant Host was waiting for them. But due to the length of their journey, chatter soon filled the silence around them.
"Hmm, how fascinating," Y'shtola said while looking out into the distance. "F'lhaminn, Hoary and Coultenet told stories of their stay, but I see now that they are hardly doing it justice."
"It is quite beautiful," S'eni agreed.
"I'm especially intrigued by some of the structures. Like that platform out on the sea over there."
"I've been wondering about that too since I saw it. Looks a bit like an arena, doesn't it?"
"Indeed it does, but if it's truly an arena, why build it so far away from shore?" Y'shtola then asked.
"Huh, good point."
"There are many secrets in Thavnair, some that may even have been forgotten by the people living here."
"So what you're saying is that once we're done dealing with the Telophoroi, you would like to take an extended vacation here?" a little grin formed on her face. "Fine by me. Gives me time to check out the local cuisine."
Y'shtola looked at her, smiling. "And leave me to do all the work without my ever dependable research assistant? I think not."
"Hoo boy..." They both chuckled.
"But until then..." the other Miqo'te turned her head in the direction of their destination, face darkening. "...we have our work more than cut out for us."
That they did.
It was a few hours later when they finally arrived at the Host's outpost and the very first thing S'eni noticed was the increased activity compared to the last time she had been here. The number of troops had noticeably increased, and there was an air of excitement where the previously tense atmosphere had been. News of their arrival had spurred everyone into action, as it meant the one thing everyone had been itching to do: taking the battle to the enemy.
"They're quite spirited," Thancred noted. "Good. Should our theory turn out to be false, we will need every able-bodied soldier to stop whatever comes crawling out of that tower."
"Let us pray it won't come to that, then," Alphinaud said as they made their way towards the command tent. When they entered, they found Nahbdeen talking to two officers.
"I want your men to take this position," he told them, pointing at a spot on the map laid out in front of him. "With the hatchery destroyed, there is no doubt these creatures will focus their next attack in this direction. We cannot allow them to reach any of the nearby settlements—Ah, our friends from Eorzea. We've been expecting you!"
"Nahbdeen," S'eni greeted the man.
"You have your orders," the Au Ra said to his men, who saluted and began to leave, before turning around to face their group. "I'm told it is you who will be leading the mission into the tower. If the Satrap trusts you with this, then you must be formidable warriors indeed."
"You could say we've gotten quite the experience dealing with primals. Especially a certain someone among us," Alisaie said with a smile, throwing her a side glance.
He offered them a bow. "We are truly glad to count you as allies."
"When should we set out?" S'eni asked him.
"Soon. Your warding scales have yet to arrive. But Varshahn will be here soon to deliver them to you," he said.
Of course he will, she thought dryly and, after being told where to wait for him, headed over to the boat that had been readied for them. Once they arrived, she leaned against the hull, watching as her friends began preparing themselves in their own way. Urianger and Y'shtola were looking up at the tower, quietly talking to one another and undoubtedly trying to decipher where the ideal location for the tower's core might be. Thancred, Alisaie, and Estinien were inspecting their weapons, while Krile and Alphinaud were talking with a pair of nearby soldiers.
Noticing that she was looking at them, the young Elezen said something to Krile and walked over to S'eni.
"It feels quite strange to be so close to one of the towers," he said after stopping next to her, turning his gaze towards the twisted structure looming not far from them. "The closest we have been before was at Paglth'an and even that was far away in comparison. And from your accounts, its interior differs from the description in Arenvald and Fordola's report. It won't be easy."
"Think you can handle it, O Great Sage Alphinaud?" she asked in a light tone, earning herself a chuckle.
"I do," he replied. "Yet knowing who this crystal once belonged to...will I look back to all the battles I chose to fight with pride, when all is said and done?"
The corners of S'eni's lips curled into a smile. "I'm sure you will. And if Arenvald were here, he'd be absolutely bursting with pride."
Alphinaud just silently mirrored her expression.
"Have you actually managed to talk to him since Gridania?"
"Sadly, no. But I received a letter from him shortly before we left Eorzea."
"How is he doing then?" she asked
"He returned to Ala Mhigo. Despite having lost the ability to fight, he wishes to help restore his home in any way he can," Alphinaud said.
She was glad to hear that. The fighting in Gyr Abania may have come to an end, but there were still many wounds yet to heal and many rifts yet to be mended. Yes, she could think of no one better suited for that than Arenvald.
S'eni was just about to suggest paying him a visit the next time they were in Ala Mhigo, when out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed a certain Au Ra making his way towards their group, holding a basket in his hands. "Well, duty calls," she said and patted the Elezen's shoulder, before moving to meet 'Varshahn'.
"My friends," the 'boy' said when they had all gathered. "Allow me to thank you for accepting this mission."
"You must be...hm..." Krile lowered her voice. "We should still call you Varshahn, I suppose?"
"Indeed. It would not do to confuse our soldiers."
"Very well then," the Lalafel said. "For our part, we're humbled that you would entrust us with your warding scales."
He nodded and held up the basket. "One for each of you. Please accept them with my blessings."
"Thank you. With these, we can go wherever those with the blessing of Light can go," Thancred said and took one of the offered talismans. He looked it over for a second before slipping it into the pocket of his coat. After it was safely tucked away, he looked at S'eni. "Not only for this mission either, but ones sure to follow. We can finally break your monopoly on primals."
"Is that so?" raising her brows, she placed a hand on the back of her hip. "Then, by all means, they're all yours from now on."
"Ah, but I'm afraid we can't let you retire just yet." He grinned. "You're the Scions' brightest star after all."
"And already with the excuses..."
"If everyone agrees, perhaps now would be a good time to review our strategy," Y'shtola then said, receiving a round of nods in return. "As previously agreed, we will divide into two groups. S'eni and her group will break through the tower's defenses and locate its core. Meanwhile, the rest of us will tend to the prisoners, who will undoubtedly be in need of healing due to the duress of repeated summonings."
"The primals which the tower bringeth forth shall be deities of Thavnarian myth," Urianger pointed out. "As we have no prior experience with such foes, pray exercise the utmost caution when confronting them."
"Alright, everyone knows what they're supposed to do, so let's not waste anymore time," S'eni said and turned towards the boat.
As they set out, S'eni let her gaze wander over her friends, each of them ready as they could ever be. She then looked to the shore, where Varshahn was standing and offering her a silent bow when their eyes met. She nodded in return and turned towards the Tower of Zot, where Nhidana and so many of her brethren were waiting to be rescued.
It had tormented these good people for far too long.
This chapter is dedicated to the annoyance I felt when we didn't actually get to see Y'shtola and the others suffering from the same side effects we did lol.