Chapter Text
Mining Town of Gollund
Rumor - Darkness and Starlight
There has been much stirring about what has been described as a pink meteor falling towards the area near the ruins of Ziekden Fortress. Many brigands and other unsavory sorts, believing the site of impact may hold an item of great value, have been travelling towards Ziekden in hopes of finding the meteor. Distressingly, none who have departed for Ziekden after the reports have been seen since. It has been believed the sighting of the meteor has disturbed monsters along the route, making the travels more dangerous than they ought be.
Ziekden Fortress Ruins
"I'd hoped to never come to this place again..."
Ramza's words as he and his party approached the former site of Ziekden drew Agrias' gaze. "Does this ruin hold some unpleasant memory for you?" she inquired.
"I was here when it became ruin," Ramza confirmed. "Delita's sister died here because I could not bring myself to act soon enough to stop it. I hope only that this endeavour comes to a more pleasant conclusion."
They were soon enough now to see the charred husk of the fortress. For a moment, Ramza was taken by the foolish thought that the snows presently descending around them must have been nearly the first since the battle, for he could see many dark figures scattered around the structure that he at first presumed to be seared discharge from the blast. But once that moment had passed, he was struck with terror; those dark figures were bodies, charred black, and recently enough that the snow was melting on their still-hot bodies before it could accumulate. A closer look, as the party broke into a run, revealed several other, older corpses that were already half-buried, and a careful eye on the fortress ruin revealed a flickering glow from within was shining on the tallest intact wall - firelight.
Without hesitating, Ramza made his way up to the walkway that led to the building's shell; then he called to the ruin, "Is anyone there?"
A high-pitched cry, not human but nor entirely monstrous, seemed to rip out of the fortress in response; Ramza's hand reached for his weapon as a pace upon snow followed. Then, at the gap in the masonry where the fortress door once lay, a figure of bright pink rose up, catching the tactician off-guard. It had a humanoid figure - a female figure, and skyclad at that - but plain as the day was it no human, for her body was covered in a coat of smooth fur, just thick enough to preserved her decency. A wild mane of the same colour emerged from her head like hair, yet it waved in the air, as though gravity had no hold on it. Her fingers ended in green talons, and her toes in similar claws; yet her eyes were human, a gentle purple narrowed in an all too human anger.
Ramza was caught off-guard at her appearance, averting his gaze out of habit; and so he barely noticed Agrias climbing up at his side until the pink creature's eyes widened in surprise. Her lips moved - and a human voice emerged from them.
"You're...?"
Agrias' hand was already closed on her sword when she heard it; she promptly halted, surprised. "You speak?"
The figure's gaze fell. "No... you're not..."
After a quick glance between Agrias and the creature, Ramza quickly stepped forward. "How long have you been here?"
"I'm not sure," the figure replied. "It's been a blur... People keep coming here, raving about-"
"Well, well! What have we here!"
The call from below drew everyone's attention; a group of brigands in the garb of samurai and ninja were nearing the fortress ruins, the lead of which has a hand on either of his blades. "A brisk walk to the site of a meteor, only to find a monster guarding our reward!"
With a scoff, the pink creature stepped up to the edge of the walkway. "You're wasting your time," she proclaimed aloud.
Astonished gazes were exchanged between the men as their leader chuckled. "The monster speaks in human tongues! And they say miracles are naught but sleight of hand." He drew his knife. "Surrender your bounty to us, and we shall bring you no harm."
"There is no treasure here," the figure insisted. "Don't make me kill you like the others."
The brigands clearly had no intention of turning away; weapons were drawn as the leader flipped his knife before him. "We gave you ample warning, beast!"
It was clear in an instant that the charred bodies were no stroke of luck, for the girl quickly held her hand to her side; a blaze of light seemed to flow from her hand, and a sword with a crimson blade manifested in her grip. As she raised the weapon towards them, she turned to Ramza and Agrias. "Don't try to stop me."
"Who would stay a blade raised in self-defense?" Agrias demanded. "I would sooner raise my own to join it."
"And I, as well," Ramza confirmed.
The girl closed her eyes briefly, a smile rising on her face.
Objective - Defeat all enemies!
Team: 2 + Ramza + Agrias | 4 maximum
Guest: Terra
Enemy: 1 Ninja + 3 Samurai
THE BATTLE IS WON!
"Are you quite alright?"
Ramza's question to the pink figure was met with a quiet nod. "Yes, I'm okay," she assured. "Thank you for helping me."
"I wouldn't say you were in great need of it," Agrias observed, casting her eyes over the charred corpses gathered about.
"Still," the girl argued. "My name's Terra. What about yours?"
"I am Ramza."
"Agrias." The Holy Knight glanced around. "Whatever have you been doing here? Few would call this site the most hospitable of places."
Terra's gaze fell. "I-I don't know. The last thing I remember is falling when my magic gave way. Then I woke up here." She shook her head. "I don't... I'm not even supposed to be here. I shouldn't even be alive. Not like this."
"...Pardon my asking," Ramza asked, "but... what are you?" When Terra turned to him, he quickly elaborated; "I do not wish to offend, but it is clear to me you are not human. Yet nor are you truly a monster. And this magick I feel from you is... unlike anything I have seen before."
"I think..." Terra held a hand before her. "I used to be... half-magic," she explained. "My magic was supposed to die off, but... I think it's the other way around. My human half died... and this is my magic."
Agrias stepped forward. "What, then," she asked, "you mean to say you are... made of magick, in your entirety?"
Terra nodded. "I understand if that's hard to believe but..."
Ramza nodded. "A few years, perhaps I would not have believed," he admitted. "But we have seen far stranger beings than a magickal individual." He glanced about. "That being the case, I find it difficult to believe there is much comfort to be found here. And I fear that those men will not be the last to come here looking for this treasure that does not exist."
"...You have a point," Terra conceded. "But... I don't know where I would go."
"Mayhap you would be willing to travel with us?" Agrias offered.
The offer seemed to surprise Terra.
"We are no strangers to partying with those other than humans," Ramza assured her. "Nor would we object to treating you as we would any human member of our group."
That raised a smile on Terra's face. "I... I'd like that," she admitted.
Terra - Entranced
Right: Blood Sword
Left: Aegis Shield
Head: Barette
Body: _____
Accessory: Empyreal Armband
Action: Magicite
Action: Black Magicks
Reaction: _____
Support: Defend
Movement: Treasure Hunter
Allow Terra to join your party?