Draco: Okay, time for the last big clash for the job.
Final Fantasy and all related properties © Square Enix
Lv. 70: Baptism of Fire
The next time Ayleth was in Limsa, she found Zyaire with a look of despair on his face; it took him far too long to even acknowledge she was there.
"Oh, Ayleth." His gaze fell. "...Kiyomi's kidnappers have made it to Thanalan already. The Immortal Flames tried to stop them, but they couldn't find anyone matching Kiyomi's description. Which means... they must have gotten her past them somehow. She'll already been en route to Zanr'ak."
He shook his head. "I wish I could go with them. I wish I could tell you to wait here for Pahna, while I go after Kiyomi." His gaze fell. "But... I'm scared. If we're too late, if the Amalj'aa have already summoned Ifrit by the time we get there... It would be for nothing. Worse than nothing. We'd all end up tempered."
Ayleth took a deep breath, making to explain the situation.
Zyaire started. "You're... immune to tempering?" Hope seemed to return to his face. "If that's true... Please, you have to go after her! The Flames said they were going to mass at the Forgotten Springs in case the drop-off point hadn't changed, then march on Zan'rak. Please, Ayleth, you have to save Kiyomi!"
→"If I'm protected, I can protect others."
→"I can keep you from being tempered, too."
"You can..." Zyaire shook his head. "No, just me will slow you down. Maybe if Panha gets here in time, I'll come after you. Please... Keep her safe."
QUEST ACCEPTED
+x+x+x+
The Immortal Flames were most relieved to see a familiar Warrior of Light arriving at the Forgotten Springs.
"Lieutenant Goode!" greeted a Flame Sergeant. "Thal's balls, but you couldn't have come at a better time. We've received... huh?"
Ayleth quickly explained her side of the situation.
"Ah, you've been working with the girl's guardians, have you?" the sergeant mused. "That saves me some trouble." His face fell. "It seems the woman working with the Amalj'aa - one Chigusa Onishi - has already passed word to the kidnappers of the change in destination. They make for the Zanr'ak altar. Fortunately, our scouts report that they lack the crystals to summon Ifrit on-site. Most likely, she'll be bringing the girl to the Bowl of Embers - which means they'll be going through Zahar'ak. If you could intercept the woman at the altar, the rest of us can keep the Amalj'aa from backing her up."
With a nod, Ayleth pounded one first into her other palm.
"Alright," the sergeant confirmed. "With me, men!"
+x+x+x+
As the Flames circled around to Zaha'rak proper, Ayleth made straight for the Zanr'ak Altar. Sure enough, she found Kiyomi surrounded by several brutes - and an older Au Ra waiting for them, before a satchel full of crystals.
If Ayleth had any doubts, they were dispersed on seeing the woman standing there. Chigusa looked for all the world like an older version of Kiyomi; black shoulder-length hair, bright horns curled forwards, and dark slate skin that contrasted her daylight scales. She had a scepter in one hand that looked almost like a hand fan, and as Ayleth drew near, the woman turned to face her, revealing eyes of the same deep purple as Kiyomi... save for one aspect.
Unlike her daughter, Chigusa had limbal rings - and they were a violent red hue.
"Who are you to intrude on this?"
Kiyomi turned in surprise. "Miss!"
The brutes all started on seeing Ayleth standing there. "Seven hells, not her again!"
Chigusa was furious when she saw the thugs starting to flee. "Oh, kami take the lot of you!" she snapped. "Don't come crawling back expecting payment if you can't even be bothered to do the whole job!"
Taking the opportunity, Kiyomi quickly dashed towards Ayleth. "Wh-Where are Mama and Papa...?"
"Insolent child," spat the Chigusa. "I am your mother, and you will do as I say!" Kiyomi pulled away in terror as Chigusa braced her scepter forward. "The lizards have promised me good coin for you, and I will not stand to let you flee!"
With a glare, Ayleth stepped between her and Kiyomi, ready to defend her.
"What's this? Are you trying to defend her?" A sinister grin appeared on Chigusa's face. "Ignorant of your own realm's troubles, are you?" She lowered her scepter at her side, her gaze going to the satchel at her feet. "Did you think I struck the bargain without knowing what it entailed? If I make an offering of crystals, the lizards' kami will come forth - and consume those before him with his flame, to turn them to his will."
She glared at Ayleth. "True, I may not have enough here to call the kami forth in his full glory. But if he should be here for even an instant, it would be enough to sear you. You believe you can stop the kami from taking that wretch as his own? He'll simply claim you as well! What do you think you are?!"
→"I'm the primal-slayer."
"Slayer...?" Chigusa stepped forward angrily. "You would claim to have struck down the kami before?"
→"Ifrit tried to claim me once already."
Chigusa started. "Tried to...? You mean the kami failed to...?"
She shook her head. "Lies! All of it!" She raised her scepter. "You are nothing but another soul for the kami to claim!"
Ayleth glanced back at Kiyomi, who quickly nodded and fled behind cover as the adventurer drew her blades. As she made to advance, a bombardment of heavy footsteps drew her attention; several Amalj'aa appeared to have slipped past the Flames' engagement and come to back up their client, and now a pugilist charged at Ayleth with knuckles raised, prompting her to engage him first. A well-turned sequence of sword swings struck the pugilist down, but Chigusa took the opportunity to strike her with a blast of Fire, and an archer loosed an arrow to follow up as a lancer made to take his comrade's place.
Crossing her blades stopped the lancer's thrust, and Ayleth swept the blade aside and lunged at his body, delivering a harsh cross-swing even as another blast of Fire slammed into her from the side. The archer's next arrow missed as the lancer tried to retaliate, but Ayleth swiftly turned away and struck him down with a forceful swing before closing in on the archer with a rushing cross-blow to strike him down.
"Ayleth!"
The yell from nearby drew the adventurer's attention; Zyaire and Panha were charging into view of the altar, their weapons at the ready. Kiyomi noticed their arrival as well, stepping out in surprise. "Mama! Papa!"
"We're here, Kiyomi!" Panha assured her.
Chigusa raged on hearing the address. "You meddlesome wretches!" she snapped. "You would take my daughter from me?"
Zyaire aimed one sword forward with a glare. "Your child is not an item for you to use as you please!" he proclaimed. "If you would sell her to the Amalj'aa, you don't deserve to call yourself her mother!"
"Ignorant bastard!" Chigusa screeched. "I bore that girl into this world! She is mine, and if she disobeys me, then she will be punished!" A grin rose on her face, raising her scepter. "Not that she will have the opportunity to disobey the kami, after he had seared her with his flames!"
The satchel of crystals at her feet started to glow, causing Panha to start. "You'd summon Ifrit on the Amalj'aa's behalf!?"
"Kami of western flames, guardian of the lizardmen, come forth!" Scarlet fires began to gather above Chigusa's head, even as an ominous blue glow started to gather around her feet. "I offer unto you, these crystals to sustain you! I sacrifice unto you, these souls to serve you!" She stumbled in place, and the blue flames around her feet started to rise up around her body. "These... ignorant savages... who know not Your godhead...!"
Zyaire started. "She's being tempered by the summoning!"
"If it please You... Scorch their heathen souls... with Your cleansing flame... and mark them as Your own!" Chigusa raised her gaze, and the selfish disdain had vanished from her face, replaced with the religious fervor of the tempered. "O mighty Ifrit, Lord of the Inferno, Your humble servant beseech you!"
A phantasmal image appeared behind the flames gathering above Chigusa - the image of Ifrit - and the blue flames surged heavensward from around her, merging with the sphere in the cold sapphire of tempering.
"The souls of unbelievers are forfeit!"
The new arrivals were too far - Ayleth had no chance to defend them. Yet even as she made to try, as the flames above Chigusa's head burst, someone else moved to defend them in her stead - the very child that she meant to sacrifice now charged out from behind cover, putting herself in the path of those who had cared for her.
"Mama! Papa!"
Kiyomi threw herself in front of Zyaire and Panha... and as she spread her arms wide to shield them, a light rose up around her - the same light that rose up around Ayleth, and halted the tempering flames ere they could scorch her soul.
"What?!"
Zyaire started. "How...?"
Kiyomi brought her hands before her, seeming as amazed as Zyaire. "I... Did I...?"
"NO!" Chigusa was furious. "Impossible! What sorcery is this?!"
Panha started when she realized the crystals at Chigusa's side had gone dim. "She only had the one shot!"
"Right-!" Zyaire readied his swords. "Stay back, Kiyomi! We'll be fine!"
With a nod, Kiyomi stepped back as Panha raised her wand, unleashing a blast of Stone magic at Chigusa; Ayleth and Zyaire charged forward, though the scorched Au Ra had no intention of going quietly. "This cannot be!" She swung her scepter to meet Zyaire's swings, the tempering seeming to have empowered as well as turned her. "That child belongs to Lord Ifrit!"
"Kiyomi belongs to no one!" Zyaire snapped, swinging his blades with a hellish ferocity as the woman tried to evade each blow. "Least of all a woman who would sell her off to a primal!"
"Insolence!" Chigusa screeched. "All shall serve Lord Ifrit or perish under his flames! I shall drag you and the child both to his domain, and if he still cannot claim your souls, he will sear the flesh from your bones!"
"You think you can overpower us?!" Panha demanded. "You who hid behind the Amalj'aa, who sent lackeys to do your bidding? You greedy types are all the same!"
A burst of Aero knocked the scepter out of her hands; Ayleth charged in with a forceful swing, throwing Chigusa backwards and leaving her undefended as Zyaire charged forward and drove his blades into her heart.
She collapsed to the ground, and silence fell on the Zanr'ak altar.
Panha was the one who broke it, lowering her wand and turning towards where Kiyomi had fled. "Kiyomi!"
"Mama!" Kiyomi stepped forward. "I'm okay!"
Sheathing his swords, Zyaire made to approach her. "I'm glad to hear it," he admitted. "We owe you, big time." He turned to Panha. "Let's head back to Gridania, and put this behind us." Then, to Ayleth; "Could I get you to tell the Flames what happened here? I'm sure they'll want to know this wasn't all for nothing."
+x+x+x+
The Immortal Flames squadron was back at the Forgotten Springs when Ayleth went looking for them; they were indeed relieved to hear that Kiyomi had been extracted safely. Once they had made to return to Ul'dah, Ayleth in turn made her way back to Gridania, finding Zyaire waiting in the Carline Canopy. They'd gotten a room at the Roost, so they could speak privately; at Ayleth's word, Zyaire led her inside, where Panha and Kiyomi were seated on the bed.
"Papa, Miss..." Kiyomi's gaze fell. "Thank you for helping me."
"We should be thanking you, Kiyomi," Zyaire insisted. "Do you... remember what happened, now?"
Kiyomi nodded. "I remember. I was from Kugane. Mother was living there, trying to make money by selling things... but she wasn't making enough to make her happy. I tried to help her, I wanted to see her smiling." She closed her eyes. "Then one day... she talked to someone who'd come on a boat. He was telling stories about the west, about the beast tribes... and Mother changed. She dragged me onto a boat and said I was gonna make her lots of money. I was put in a cage... and one day, someone attacked the boat. When they were fighting, my head started to hurt... and I saw a whole bunch of blue, and a lady spoke to me."
"A lady?" Panha echoed.
"When I woke up, we were on land already," Kiyomi explained. "They couldn't keep me in a cage, so instead they put chains on me. But one day, I heard the people talking who were leading me places. When my head started hurting again, I saw him putting the keys somewhere. And when I woke up, I looked there... and I found the keys there. After that, I ran away from them when they weren't looking," Kiyomi continued. "I kept running until my feet hurt... I was so hungry... I was so scared..." She shook her head. "Then I woke up here, with you two."
"What do you mean, you saw him putting the keys somewhere?" Zyaire wondered.
Ayleth spoke up, recognizing the description all too well.
"Hydaelyn?!" Panha's gaze fell. "The Echo... The power to see the past of others, and resist primal tempering..." She closed her eyes. "She gave you the power to escape what your mother wanted to do to you."
Kiyomi looked up fearfully. "What's gonna happen to me...? Is this bad? Am I gonna-!"
Zyaire stepped forward, setting a hand on her head. "There's nothing wrong with this, Kiyomi," he assured her. "This 'Echo' doesn't change who you are."
Panha nodded. "That's right. All that matters is what you want."
Tears were welling in Kiyomi's eyes. "I... wanna stay with you," she insisted. "Mama, Papa-!"
She lunged forward, putting her arms around Panha, and Zyaire knelt down to join the group hug as Ayleth breathed a sigh of relief.
+x+x+x+
Once everyone had calmed down, Zyaire met with Ayleth outside the Canopy.
"I'm losing track of how many I owe you," he admitted. "We never could've saved Kiyomi without your help." His gaze fell. "I never could've expected things would turn out this way... but I don't regret a thing."
Ayleth offered him a smile.
Zyaire smiled back. "Come back from time to time," he requested. "I've only got so many stories I can tell her. Maybe she'd like to hear some of yours."
QUEST COMPLETE
You obtain a Daisho Armour Coffer (IL 290)
Draco: Most of the Flame Sergeant's dialogue happens when you first arrive, then there's a separate interaction to trigger the solo instance. I think Chigusa would be untargetable (or maybe shielded like Myste) while you deal with the Amalj'aa coming from Zahar'ak; then after the cutscene with the tempering attempt, she is your primary opponent. And I do have precedent for enemies momentarily summoning a primal proper; every time I go through Xelphatol with first-timers, someone freaks out when the last boss calls in Garuda for one-shot attacks.
