Difference between revisions of "AChapter 19"

Latest revision as of 19:08, 24 June 2013

It has been four days since the Pearled Amethyst crashed out of the skies ina blaze of glory! The various nobles, servants crew and incredibly rich merchants and the like have safely retired to the local town. Accusations are flying in every direction pinning the blame to this faction or that but the Grand Duke has thankfully been able to keep the party out of trouble and out of the jail by standing up for them and denouncing anyone who would call them terroists. Time is ticking on however and their lost clothing has been replaced by the duke, provisions have been supplied and he has made arrangements for the party to slip out of town with a Funeral Cortege heading for the Nubswood Necropolis and by a happy chance he has found an old friend walking the pilgrimage route who has been able to vouch for the party to the leader of the caravan. So that is how we find the party in a rather nice inn near the edge of town with the Grand Duke, Marduke and the leader of the caravan Sebastian.

A rather nice inn that Ainsley does not trust at all. In fact, she finds that it's very disconcerting to leave Lee's side for more than a second. She got shot on that ship, and even if she got healed up, it's one of the few times she's actually been seriously injured during an adventure. She's quietly waiting for the party to be able to progress... though she found some time to pester one of the friendlier nobles and get some tips on politics and similar skills, since the opportunity is hard to pass up.

Small talk with the cortege has been Silmeria's interest, now that they've had a chance to catch their breath; the identity of the deceased, stories that anyone would want to tell, a few words of comfort here and there... To anyone watching from outside, the Esper is truly in her element, projecting warm, gentle strength for the grieving to bouy themselves against. As a priestess, she would have been exceptional, though otherwise unremarkable, and while she does feel the urgency of their pursuers drawing ever closer... this is still what she does.

Lee, for his part, seems to find Ainsley's unwillingness to venture far from him as suiting him perfectly fine, the man apparently just as intent as the scholar on her remaining in his proximity, regardless of how likely, or unlikely, it is that she might see further harm. Could be said he's even pampered Ainsley, just a bit, as a result of her having been injured, in his own generally easy-going kind of way, and always nearby somewhere, ever-watchful...

The reasons why Marduke is walking along this pilgrimage path he has not shared. Yet the reasons do not seem to important as he has already offered to join them if they feel the need for his skills. The summoner otherwise keeps quiet and to himself, watching those around him. He glances to Sebastion while everybody is at the inn, "When should we be leaving?" Marduke shifts in his seat, and his staff offering a jingle of bells. Looking to the others, thoughtfully.

The red-haired woman's normally sunny disposition has dimmed since the airship crash, and she has kept quiet, keeping an eye on Silmeria. Even the good food, and good company, has not done much to improve her spirits. The nobles nearby cause her to frown from time to time, and any one new or suspicious in the Inn is given a good glare if they stray to near. The Caravan master Sebastian looks at Marduk then across at the others, "We can leave now... the caravan is ready, the supplies are loader and the pilgrims are ready to depart. But..." he frowns at Ainsley and the others, "I am still worred about taking these people with me your grace, your protection will not extend far from the city."

The frown directed at Ainsley, coupled by the man's following words, gets a very serious look from her. "Either you take us or you don't, we don't have time for doubts," she softly, but impatiently, tells him, "I can promise you that any possible danger is coming for us and not for you, that we'll protect you if it intercepts us, and that the reason His Grace and the other nobility are even alive at all is because of the actions of this group. We should get going now, if we're all ready."

The last story told, Silmeria returns to the table, tilting her head at the look shared between scholar and caravan master. "Is everything all right? I'm sorry for the holdup, but... it looks like the funeral is ready, now."

Lee speaks up from behind Ainsley, tipping his brand new, but very similar to his old one, hat up a bit while idly rubbing one of Ainsley's shoulder with his other hand, "As Ainsley says, Master Sebastian, y'can rest assured, we'll do all in our power t'safeguard yer goods, supplies, an' tha pilgrims in yer care again' those'd that'd seek ta do any such 'arm in th'name o' strikin' at us, 'cause, if nuthin' else, it's fairly well demonstrated that we kin defend ourselves an' others against harm with some measure o'success, eh?" He turns a smile and nod to Silmeria as she joins the table, "We were jus' discussin' possible departure wi' Master Sebastian, 'ere."

Marduke pushes himself up to his feet slowly. Planting his staff into the ground and shakes his head, "You will find these people here some fierce warriors goodman Sebastion. We should be leaving, the longer we idle, the more dangerous it does become." Checking his belt to make sure all his stuff is there, and then turning to head for the door. "Thank you for your hospitality your grace." Turning to bow to the Duke, before heading out the door.

Azar smiles lightly as Silmeria returns, and she nods in general agreement with the others. "The sooner we get moving, the better, for everyone." Standing slowly, she looks over at the caravan master. "If you're ready to go, ser Sebastian, we are ready to accompany you."

Sebastian shoots a dagger laden look at Ainsley and pushes his seat back, "Yes.. .we are ready, I am as you know escorting my Mother to her final resting place. We will be glad to travel with you but I do ask you show a bit of respect... this is my caravan we may be ready to leave now but we shall leave when we are ready and move at the pace we are comfortable with. I know your errand is urgent but we have six stops to make upon the trail to Nubswood." he turns to Silmeria, "Lady Silmeria have you finished speaking with the family? It is.. a blessing to have you with us, we are most glad you and your friends are here."

"Mmh," Ainsley sounds out, mildly, to the man. "I am unaccustomed to death ceremonies. Giruvegan was far too cramped for them, you see," she explains to Sebastian, "Unless she was particularly stubborn, I doubt she would've minded some silly girl displaying some impatience when she's stressed by the threat of imminent death or worse." She quirks a corner of her mouth. "I would prefer not to end up having to swap stories with her until Hades figures out what to do with me, you know." She looks down at her hands, fiddling with the hem of one of her sleeves, and she simply waits.

"Funerals are for the bereaved, Ainsley," Silmeria says gently, resting a hand on the scholar's shoulder, "as much as for the deceased. I'm sure that if they want to show kindness enough to allow us to travel with them, it won't harm much to travel at their pace. And even so, all we'll need to do, is keep our eyes behind, as much as ahead." Turning to the caravan master, the priestess smiles, dipping her head. "Everything is ready, Master Sebastian. But please... I've no title that needs worrying about. Silmeria will serve, or simply Priestess if formality is truly needed. Now then... I'm going to join Master Marduke at the caravan, and make sure nothing last-minute comes up to delay you, all right?" Dipping a brief curtsy, she looks to the Grand Duke, bowing her head. "And thank *you,* Your Grace, for everything you've done for us since we've arrived. I'll make certain to remember you to the Temples."

Lee smiles, adding, "Aye, Master Sebastian, we certainly appreciate yer 'ospitality in allowin' us along." He gives Ainsley's shoulder a light squeeze and pat, leaning down slightly, "Gonna give a quick check, make sure we're not leavin' anythin' behind, luv, back in jus' a tick." That, and a bow of his head to the Grand Duke, and he strides off, and true to his work is back after just a moment, apparently satisfied that niether Ainsley nor himself forgot anything. Marduke is standing right outside the door. Glancing around and keeping a eye on things. His staff planting beside him, but he is not leaning into it for once. Then glances back inside to the others and offers a touch of a smile, "I will be waiting out here."

Azar hmms and heads out the door herself, and is found by the caravan when the others are ready to take their leave of the Inn and town.

Soon enough everyone is mounted on a chocobo and gettign ready to depart! The caravan is a long train of chocobo, carriages and the herse. It starts to wind its way out of the town into the morning rain and as it departs the bells of the city begin to toll in a farewell to the lady Caroline. Soon enough the party are far out on the road, winding north-west toward the distant Nubswood, a journey of a week at least.

A journey that begins with Ainsley looking around at all of the travel companions that she doesn't already know and making sure that none of them are just /pretending/ to be a part of the funeral group. With that bit of paranoia out of the way, she finds a seat on the same chocobo as Lee and clings to his back through most of the trip.

As the bells begin to toll, Silmeria eases her bird back, falling into the procession next to Marduke. "It's a pleasant surprise to see you here, Master Marduke," she says quietly. "You were truly missed at Goug... though I expect you may have been perturbed at how the story of Rabanastre was.... spun... to suitably theatric proportions."

Lee, once Ainsley is settled comfortably behind him, guides his chocobo along at-pace with the procession, one hand on the reins, the other rested lightly on one of her arms around his waist. Mention of the "musical theatrical adaptation" of the trip through Rabanastre causes him to groan a bit, "Oy, *please* dun' remind me o'that... Only savin' grace outta that memory's tha royalties. Honestly, dunno what mum was thinkin', pennin' th'music fer that, though th' music were prolly tha best part of et all."

Marduke is used to the long treks from his pilgramages and visiting various temples. He rides the chocobo with some experiance and is not bothered in the least by the rain. He glances to Silmeria as she talks to him and shakes his head slowly, "Which part, mine, or yours?" A touch of amusement on his face, "Though it does the job nicely. As for me, I had some business to take care of, more accuretly, I got pulled into business. By the time I got done, you guys were gone. Sorry."

Azar hehs, a smile tugging at her lips. "I think, for those of us who missed it, it would do you well to recount the tale of this play. Something to lighten the mood, given that we've nearly fallen out of the sky on a doomed airship, been shot or stabbed and so forth?" She nudges her chocobo forward, a little closer to Silmeria's.

Sebastian draws his chocobo in besides SIlmeria and smiles "Yes... do please tell us the story of your previous adventures. I have not had the oppurtunity to see this musical extravaganza but I heard all about it. It is quite popular with the youngster apparently." And that's how the days roll by, stories exchanged, adventures recounted. The people travelling with the caravan are all quite nice and beyond the wet weather and a couple of times when the carriage wheels get bogged down in the mud the journey to Nubswood is uneventful. On the morning of the eigth day they cross a causeway above the marsh and come to the large stone gate of the Necropolis. The massive city of towers, of stone mausoleums, tombs and other halls of the dead rear up above the lonely marsh and it greets the party with ringing bells!

The lizard scholar had taken to napping, having skillfully tied herself to Lee with some cloth to keep from falling off the chocobo during the trip. When the bells ring, she wakes up and peers around blearily... and then frowns, seeming very nervous about the environment she has woken up to. "I know we're supposed to be here, but..." She shakes her head. "I would've preferred if I never had a reason to visit." Ainsley is, understandably, uneasy about the place they're arriving at.

Silmeria, by contrast, has the face of one who has come home, after a long journey, to return to her parents. "Oh no," she says, with a soft chuckle, "it's really quite a lovely place to spend time. Peaceful, you see... The bells only ring to welcome honored visitors, but beyond that? If ever there was a place one needed to find quiet, there's no place better to find it than the Necropolis." Her smile falters, as realization strikes, but she shakes it off in a heartbeat and draws in a deep, bracing breath. "I'm glad we could see your Lady Caroline here easily, Master Sebastion... I expect we'll be parting ways, soon enough."

Lee becomes practiced at helping keep Ainsley from falling off while she sleeps during the journey, sometimes somehow getting her settled in front of him instead of behind from time to time without waking her, even. The Necropolis before them, finally, he hrms and cocks his head a bit, "Can't say's I've ever had cause ta visit 'ere, so I'll take yer word on it, Silmeria" he glances over his shoulder at Ainsley, giving her a wink, "Oh, I dunno... Kinda like th'baroque look t'it, m'self. An' it's not like th'dead'll be crawlin' up ta chase us about tha place, right?" He gives his own respectful bob of his head to Sebastion, as well, "Aye, sir, much obliged o'yer hospitality an' forbearance these past days, an' I'm glad they proved wholly uneventful."

Marduke gets off his chocobo and lands on the ground softly. He kneels down and traces his hands along the ground as the bells sound off, a smile to himself. "It is a old place Ainsley. Might see a few pyreflies around here to." Standing up and patting his chocobo for a moment. "I take it then we are seeking to be inside this place?" Glancing over to Ainsley. Then bows over to Sebastion, "Thank you goodman Sebastion for allowing us to travel with you. I do hope our" pausing for a moment, "larger then life tales, entertained you along the way."

Azar has slowly cheered over the course of the week, putting behind her the events of that one day. The tales of comedy and daring have played their part. The sight of the Necropolis doesn't shake her cheerfulness. "So this is home, Silmeria? Perhaps I will take you up on the offer of peace and quiet some time, it sounds like this would be the perfect place to write one's story and memoirs, yes?" She offers a nod then to Master Sebastion, "Thank you for letting us accompany you to your wife's final resting place. May she, and you, be at peace." Master Sebastian smiles and bows, "I thank y ou all and ah here is the Moulder" an elderly man with white hair dressed in black clothing walks out and bows. "Welcome... welcome all and ah.. My lady do indeed be welcome. I trust your visit shall be less earth shattering then last time?" His words directed at Silmeria as more people dressed as undertakers come out of the Necropolis to lead people inside. Silmeria and her group however are taken just to one side of the courtyard so the Chief Moulder may speak to them.

With the party separated from the procession over there, Ainsley finds the ability to smile at Moulder, though she doesn't immediately speak up. Instead she chooses to defer to Silmeria on this, instead watching the man in black clothing with a smile on her face. A sleepy smile, mind, and one significantly softened by the nature of this place they're at. She's not ever going to appear more comfortable than this for their visit, supporting her earlier words about never wanting to visit the Necropolis, despite Silmeria's counterpoint.

"I.... yes, Moulder," Silmeria says, spots of color blooming high on her cheeks. "That *is* the aim, yes... ... .....Mostly, anyway..." Glancing about their alcove, just to ensure that Lady Coraline's party aren't about to hear, she clears her throat. "...We'll be seeking entrance to the Catacombs, Moulder. Ainsley, here, is seeking an artifact, with Father's blessing, left in the keeping of the Tonberry King." Falling silent, she glances about the party, drawing in a deep breath.

Lee dismounts after Ainsley, staying quiet as well as he goes about freeing the mount of his and Ainsley's belongings, taking his place beside Ainsley once that is done and giving a polite bow of his head to the Chief Moulder. While standing there, he fishes the compass he was given not so long ago from it's pouch on his belt, idly checking it, just out of curiosity, to see if there's any kind of reaction from it, since their destination seems relatively near. He looks up as Silmeria goes silent, looking from her to the Chief Moulder, and nodding, "Aye, rather important errand, t'be sure. Not that we wish t'impose or anyfin', sir."

Marduke raises his eyebrows, glancing over to Silmeria, "As earth shattering as last time? I seem to find myself in the company of people who are in middle of all sorts of stuff." Shaking his head slowly as he glances to the Moulder and offers him a nod, "Thank you for your hospitality." Letting Simlermia do the talking while he glances around the place getting a feel for it.

Azar chuckles, "Always another layer, another hidden surprise. It has been interesting so far, I must say." She stays while while Silmeria makes her request, and looks to Ainsley when her name is mentioned. The red-head nods to Silmeria when she looks back. "The Tonberry King... is buried here? Hmm."

The Moulder looks shocked at Azar, "Of course not, but the Catacombs will lead you to the Path of Shale," he points up a hill toward a very large and impressive set of doors set in the entry way of a building. "The catacombs, you are of course most welcome to enter them in the company of Lady SIlmeria, I wish you all good luck in your journey to the Abyss.... may you return and if you do not... then may you at least find peace swiftly."

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