Yen’to briefly grimaced as he tightened the straps on his sabatons. The arrow wound still bothered him a little, but now he had little choice now but to grin and bear it. This was the day: engaging in ‘diplomatic’ talks with a Garlean envoy to allegedly cease hostilities between their groups. More like try and get us to beg for our lives as they tout the supremacy of ‘civilized’ Imperial rule. Once he left his chambers, he noticed that Lady Faye and Strega were already waiting in the lobby. Others trickled in soon after: Luka, Lalatua, Deccan, Silf, and even Val Covington. Is... is this it? Gods I hope it is enough in case something goes wrong. This all but screams ‘trap’. At least everyone seemed prepared, although Yen’to wondered exactly how useful Strega’s parasol would be against anything but rain or sunlight. As they wondered amongst themselves about what to expect, a Maelstrom officer knocked on the doors and then let himself in.
The hyur announced himself as Sergeant Baxter, and declared that he would be their escort to the neutral zone for negotiations. Everyone seemed a bit suspicious, especially after that mess with the false Wood Wailers that turned out to be Garleans in disguise. However, they had little choice and he seemed genuine enough. They were to be escorted to a location near Gyr Abania, with Grand Alliance cannons and troops on one side and Garleans on the other. It was set up specifically for negotiations related to hostages and prisoner exchange, since there was no other real way to communicate or otherwise deal with the Empire that didn’t involve getting shot at.
Thus briefed, they were escorted most of the way by airship and then completed the last part of the trek by foot. Sergeant Baxter must be genuine... there are indeed a number of Alliance cannons and troops oriented towards the Garlean side... and vice versa. Maybe we might get out of this alive, if we can keep our tempers in check. Lady Faye Covington made clear beforehand that she would be the one to do the talking, and Yen’to prayed that at the least hotheaded Luka and sarcastic Lulutua would be able to abide by the order.
They entered a small, rather plain looking building. Inside was a simple room, with a cermet metal door on the other side and several desks in the middle. The Eorzean side had plenty of chairs, but the Garlean side had only one. Hmph. Are the Garleans trying to imply something about negotiations? Silf, Lalatua, and Strega sat on the edges of the room, while Lady Faye sat in the middle; Yen’to and Val protectively stood at her sides and Luka and Deccan lurked by the walls, keeping their heads down.
They did not have to wait long until the tense silence was interrupted by a loud, pompous announcement that the illustrious Caelus Eir Marsallas had arrived. He was the one that sent the letter setting up this meeting. I wonder if he is as crazed as tribunus Lucian. If not crazed, he was at least as vain, arriving in polished armor with a golden mask bearing the visage of Solus zos Galvus. He practically oozed arrogance and superiority.
Marsallas began by stating that the all-powerful and civilized Garlean Empire thanked the Blue Viper’s bastard for agreeing to the meeting, and that their demands would be simple. His letter and Lucian’s dossiers also mentioned the Blue Viper’s bastard... how does Lady Faye fit into this, exactly? What does that even mean? In the interest of feigned politeness, Marsallas inquired as to everyone’s name. In response, he was met with silence, or in Yen’to’s case, a sarcastic comment to the effect that Marsallas should already know.
The discussion that followed was roughly what Yen’to had expected. Forced pleasantries intermixed with icy barbs from Lady Faye and grand boasting and not-so-veiled threats by Marasalls. She is not even giving him the respect of using his full title. Let us see how he likes being talked down to. In exchange for giving up the employees involved in destroying one of their castrums, everyone else would get to live. Naturally, this was dismissed as nonsense by the Eorzean side of the room.
Tempers began flaring for some of the participants as the talks dragged on without progress. Marsallas claimed that everyone who did not submit would be destroyed. Lady Faye coolly replied that she had killed one legatus already, and could do it again. Deccan lost his mind and burst into a maniacal fit of laughter, uttering some sarcastic nonsense about Garlemald’s vaunted greatness. Gods damn it -- is he going to lose it again like he did on the first mission? Why do we bring him on these, again? Decorum further broke down as others like Silf and Lalatua began speaking their mind. Strega kept mumbling repeatedly about the word ‘whomst’ the Garlean used in one of his grandiose speeches. ... Seriously?!
Finally, Luka stopped her simmering in the back of the room and exploded. She strode up to the table and began jabbering to Marasallas in what sounded like the Garlean language. Yen’to could make none of it out since he was unfamiliar with it, but he needed no translator for the response. Marasallas shot up in a rage, thrusting a finger towards Luka and declaring that no quarter would be given to traitors and those that harbor them.
The ruckus caused soldiers on both sides to pour into the room, brandishing their weapons at each other and demanding everyone stand down. Damn it... if I die here, I am killing Khan! Eventually, Marasallas collected himself and warned that the Shroudrose, its employees, and all their relatives and friends would be destroyed. With that, the meeting was effectively ended.
Damn that miqo’te brat - what stunt was she trying to pull off? She directly disobeyed Lady Faye’s directive to not negotiate! With the lines now drawn in the sand, it was time to prepare for further escalation. All of other employees, whether they wanted to be involved or not, were now in danger. This meeting has left me with more questions than answers. How involved was Lady Faye with Garlemald? What about Luka and Deccan? I doubt I will get any answers, though, even should I ask...
Yen’to had wanted more excitement in his work, but this was getting to be more than he bargained for. He wondered idly if it would be bad timing to finally ask for that pay raise.
Much to Yen’to’s chagrin, Khan was already present in tea house library, reeking of alcohol as usual, and talking with Alyona. He had hoped to have a few moments of quiet before the mission started. But... I am never that lucky, am I? He struggled to keep up between Khan’s boisterous blubbering and Aly’s rambling stream of thought. Temporary relief came with the arrival of Strega, followed shortly by Ramius. Hm... almost everyone from the first mission. I guess we are all gluttons for punishment. Without further ado, Khan slurred on with the briefing. I swear, he would die if he went longer than a bell without liqour.
A string of disappearances had begun over a sennight ago, across multiple places around Eorzea. It began with the odd farmer, begger, and street rat. However, more recently adventurers also started going missing; some while looking into the mystery yet others were simply random. The Alliance of Free Companies was stretched thin and could not spare enough effort for the investigation, and so had put out a request for adventurers discover the cause so they can then send in soldiers as needed. A bit grander than I expected, but beats trying to pretend to be a prisoner. This should be rather straightforward. The only clue was that some recent disappearances had all occurred at a remote village in the middle of nowhere - specifically a chapel where adventurers had stopped for rest. With missing person poster bills in hand, the small band headed off.
Upon arriving at the village, Yen’to noted that it was even more destitute than expected. Some building were still in ruin from the Calamity, and recovery efforts looked haphazard at best. As they wandered through the streets, most of the residents averted their gaze. The party did, however, manage to get the attention of a rambunctiously playing child. Her mother came up shortly after, a bit of bluffing from Ramius managed to squeeze out enough information that confirmed the church should be their next destination. Gods, by her demeanor one would think talking to us was almost a death sentence. Do they not expect us to stay long?
One of the nuns outside stopped the group as they approached, cautiously asking what they needed. Apparently for Strega, she needed to use the little ladies room. Seriously? That is what is important right now?! Ramius quickly course corrected, finally getting the nun to direct them inside to talk with the bishop (alongside other relief). After casually making their way inside the small church, the group let Yen’to take the lead this time while Ramius and Strega watched the door. What makes them think I am good at bluffing? My lying performance at the Castrum job was horrible! Well... can’t back out now without looking suspicious. Strega reiterated the point about needing the little ladies room.
The bishop was much less hesitant than the other townsfolk. But his words were tinged with sadness, regret, and... something else. The tone was setting Yen’to’s nerves on edge. His anxiety quickly spiked when the bishop talked of visitors in black and red uniforms delivered supplies. Wait... black and red? Aren’t those Garl—? Yen’to’s thoughts were cut short when the bishop slipped on gas filtering mask and pulled a nearby lever. He barely managed to take a few steps before collapsing to the floor in a deep stupor. Going... to.... kill... Khan...
With a start, Yen’to found himself awakened in a place that looked somewhat like the Shroud, but felt... off. The others were all there too, no worse for wear - even Strega’s bladder. Strangely for being captured, they all had their armor and equipment, and were not shackled. Grunting as he clambered noisily to his feet, Yen’to was eventually able to get a better look around. The ground was covered in spotty grass, and the trees were sparse. Wait... this is not really the Shroud. Where in the hells are we? As Yen’to looked up to the sky, instead he saw a cermet ceiling. As if in answer to his question, a voice blared over a loudspeaker. A chillingly familiar voice.
By the Twelve - is that Tribunus Lucian? From the Castrum we blew up nearly with him in it?! Aly, Strega, Yen’to, and Ramius all exchanged looks with each other, recognition occurring nearly simultaneously. Lucian claimed that the current batch of participants was poor sport, and they needed to do better or he would attend to the combat himself. Combat? What combat? The group barely had time to collect their thoughts before the answer became clear, and were under assault by a hail of arrows.
After running for the nearest cover, a voice in the distance rang out, “You lot need to hurry up and die, or we won’t get to go home!” Ramius called out to them to stand down. The men claimed to be from Ala Mhigo, and that they were all trapped here unless they killed enough others. Mad with desperation, the archer would have none of it, and ordered everyone to attack.
Ramius was the quickest to respond, shooting the archer clean through the head with his machinist rifle. Yen’to readily subdued the swordsman, knocking the man’s shield aside with his giant axe before following up with a nonfatal blow to the head that knocked him unconscious. Aly had it worst, taking a spear to her shoulder as she desperately tried talking her opponent into surrendering. Strega somehow simply convinced her opponent into giving up, and the lancer followed suit and stepped back away from Aly after seeing his allies defeated. How does she do that every time? At least only one of them was killed... none of us wanted to be fighting Ala Mhigans in a Garlean facility.
A back and forth exchange followed the cease fire, with the Ala Mhigans claiming that escape without following the rules was impossible. They had even tried teaming up with others before, but it all ended with backstabbing and betrayal as everyone eventually splintered off to fend for themselves. They almost seemed ready to join Yen’to’s not-so-merry band before a burst of magitek armor gunfire came from behind and blasted the remaining Ala Mhigans to shreds.
Upon turning around, the sight of Lucian in a flying suit magitek armor sent a chill down Yen’to’s spine. He cackled maniacally upon seeing the group, instantly recognizing them from the Castrum disaster. Rather than angry, he appeared murderously gleeful at the prospect of hunting foes who had bested him before. Ramius was not one for monologuing, and unleashed a barrage of bullets, which prompted Lucian to respond with bursts from his magitek cannon that sent Yen’to flying. Gods damn it-- every time!
Lucian did not want to end the hunt so soon, so he moved out of range and demanded they give him a good show. Almost in sync, the sound a lift engaging caught Yen’to’s ears - as well as the baying of war hounds. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed one of the Ala Mhigans still clinging to life and murmuring something to Strega before finally passing from his wounds. Strega had an eerily neutral expression on her face as she calmly repeated the words - ‘find the waterfall and the red marks upon it’.
With a direction now in mind, the party scrambled upriver as the sounds of hounds closed in behind them. Yen’to could also make out the sounds of cannon fire and explosions. Is he.... is he hunting his own hunting dogs? The Garlean is insane! With Lucian temporarily distracted, the group managed to make their way to a small waterfall. Behind it, Ramius spotted a boulder with red markings -- blood. Working together, they managed to pull it aside and scramble into a small cave before rolling the boulder back in place just as Lucian came flying, screaming insanely about how he would eventually find them.
Yen’to and Aly collapsed onto the cold, stony floor. Strega unfurled blanket and began preparing some healing solutions while Ramius kept an eye out through a crack in the entrance. Yen’to was not paying too much attention to what Strega was going, his eyes instead wandering to take stock of their safe haven. There were strange carvings on the wall, similar to carvings around Ala Mhigo. With a yelp of pain, Yen’to was brought back into focus as Strega’s magitek contraption stabbed something into him. A little warning would have been nice! But... the pain is starting to subside. Strega treated Aly in a similar manner, closing up the wound caused earlier by the spear.
While recovering from their injuries, they heard a voice approaching their location. As it got closer, they could make out a technician making notes and observations of the artificial battlefield’s carnage. A brief and hushed discussion ensured, and they agreed on a plan to move the rock and take the technician by surprise. The boulder was moved ever so carefully out of the way, and one by one they slipped through to position themselves to ambush the Garlean.
Ramius was quickest on the draw, literally, and had the man at gunpoint before he knew what was happening. Judging from the face and sounds he just made, it is a good thing he is wearing dark pants. The man begged to be let go, that he was just doing his job and that documenting the deaths of savages was nothing personal. His choice words did not help his case, but they all managed to hold their tempers long enough to get some concessions out of him.
As was plain by now, the Garleans were to blame for the kidnappings. Tribunus Lucian was taking random subjects for testing, but also apparently to satisfy his personal desire for hunting. They delivered food and supplies to the ruined village as a front for their activities. Lucian had been both impressed and perturbed that their infiltration mission had ruined his Castrum. Aly’s enthusiastic comment about finally having a recurring villain to fight did nothing to help Yen’to’s nerves. This is not some story book! I swear to the Twelve, if I die here I am killing Khan!
They debated amongst themselves on the best course of action. Strega wanted to sabotage the place. Aly wanted to rescue everyone and Ramius wanted to blow it out of existence. Yen’to simply wanted to get out alive. In the end, they were running out of time and had little choice but to force the technician to fly them back to the village so that they could then inform the Alliance to rescue the trapped and unwilling combatants.
The scene upon arriving back at the village was.... surprising, to say the least. Khan was kicking a poor tied up Garlean soldier, demanding to know where his charges had disappeared off to. Various soldiers from the Maelstrom, Twin Adders, and Immortal Flames were interrogating other groups of tied up prisoners. Yen’to was almost impressed at Khan actually doing something responsible. So he can actually get things done. I guess that is why he is able to come across all these mission postings. Well, that, and he keeps hiring us to actually complete them for him.
The haggard, exhausted team dutifully informed Khan and the Alliance of all that occurred. They were assured that the installation would be destroyed that and all prisoners would be rescued from the cruel experiment. Relieved, but exhausted, Yen’to began the long trip back home. Strega began the search for the little ladies room.
Somehow, no matter how wrong these missions go... they are still better than my shifts on Tea Time night
Another classic movie. Hard to believe it's the 35th anniversary of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Some tactical displays are dated, but plot and character development holds up very well. I have been, and always shall be, your fan. #wrathofkhan35th #startrek #scifi #classicmovies #khaaaan #llap
