[Action]

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[To have heard rumors of the tower in the taverns of Ivalice was one matter. Another still to hear of it from the lips of her companions who ventured into the depths of wilderness to see the rumored Wonder. Yet to see it with her own eyes and from the air as they approached the island is a humbling and awe-inspiring event. The aerial approach shows that it is not at all possible to reach the top by any means but foot, having no other berth for landing save the unkempt grasses surrounding the labyrinth.

Upon setting foot at the gates to the guardian maze, Reis looks to her companions for one to play the leader. Her need to find answers has brought her here, yet others are familiar with the grounds if it be the same as they have known.]

Now that we are come, it is the tower known to you?


((ooc: Backdated to the 1st, so it falls before Cid's announcement of the shrines.))

Comments

The Maze

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[sasuneknight.livejournal.com]

Aye, one and the same.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[What on Ivalice was he doing here. Surely no Wonder of the Ivalician world was worth spending with this 'knight'. If not for the company of the others, he might have found another endeavor to occupy his time with. Still, if opportunity presented itself he would check upon his once and maybe still friend Refia for injuring her had never been his intention.]

[He looks around in awe amazed at the existence of such a place, sad that his time with the white mage had not revealed the closeness of their worlds.]

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Kain had assumed he still didn't know the place that they'd been planning to venture to. His purpose, he'd thought, would basically be to provide more protection for the squishier people among the group. But he pauses now and looks surprised upon realizing that he does know it. Had jumped all over it, in fact.]

It's not of my world, but when I was in the war of the gods... this Tower was there. I know this place.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

I hate this place. [Oblivious - at least for the moment - to the tension between Ingus and Delita, Refia was looking at the maze and the tower rising behind it - miserably. She didn't have good memories of this place, especially not what they had to do to get there. Doga and Unei...]

[But, not letting her fears get the better of her - she's come a very long way, Ingus - Refia slowly steps forward and starts climbing the stairs to enter the maze.]

The Earth Crystal was in here at home - we received its blessing before we could pass on. But it was guarded by Titan - the Regent has the crystal, but Titan might still be here. We need to be on guard.

Btw, let's do this party style, rather than by turns.

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[Reis arches an eyebrow at the mention of Titan.]

As in the summon, Titan?

[Kain receives a rather surprised look as well.]

It is known to you then?

Sounds good! o7

[sasuneknight.livejournal.com]

While we could summon Titan in our world, this fiend was different. He was one of Xande's minions, set to keep the light of the crystal from us. Behemoths also roam these halls. Never let down your guard; they will not hesitate to toss people into the surrounding fires.

The Tower

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

[The maze having been conquered, Refia grabs Ingus' sleeve before they set foot in the Tower itself.]

The mirror might still be up there, you know - I don't want to get caught by it again. So I brought something with me.

[It was attached to her belt under her robe - and when she brought it out, it proved to be a very heavy hammer. Perfect for shattering glass.]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Delita was pleased. It was as it should be. Refia should ensure she is surrounded by her brethren. No lady should be forced to dwell in this land alone. He hung back in the hopes of preventing any sort of back attack on their group.]

[sasuneknight.livejournal.com]

I have thought much of that mirror.



If it still stands, you have my leave to shatter it.

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[While the others discuss the mirror, Reis stares in awe at the tower itself. Proceeding is best left to those who know its paths, and for her part, she cannot help but wonder if this be the same one in Ivalice or no.]

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[And Kain is wondering if it'll bear resemblance to the one he encountered in the Void. He also remains quiet for the moment, and seems most often to be keeping an eye on Reis, although he's also keeping his guard up in general too as they proceed along.]

Myrrh Tree

[dragoncursed.livejournal.com]

[sasuneknight.livejournal.com]

It appears we do require your hammer.



Do not left the mirror catch sight of you. If it reflects your image, it will trap you. Before we approach the tree, we must find a way around it.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Delita was cautious after the many battles fought to reach this way. While exhaustion was not imminent, fatigue was beginning to set in and avoiding a fight was the more prudent option.]

[His eyes caught sight of the Myrrh Tree as well, but he held back at the advice of their comrade. Becoming trapped within a mirror would not help them accomplish this mission that now lay before them. He steps to the side to allow the white mage passage, yet raises grasps his hilt should his sword be required.]

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[It's been a long journey and the fighting has taken its toll... but as always Kain is too stubborn to admit to any weariness. He heeds Ingus' warning, not about to proceed until that mirror is dealt with. His grip on his spear tightens.]

Then shatter it well.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

[Downing an ether, Refia steps forward a little, hiding just around the corner to peer around, ready to duck back into concealment if necessary as if the mirror could turn to face them.]

I wonder... Kain, you throw your spear sometimes, right? Do you think you can throw this hard enough to shatter the glass?

[She thinks she would be capable of it, but this is too important to trust to maybes.]

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

[Kain nods agreement, his Gungnir move works very effectively against opponents, after all. He holds his hand out for the hammer.]

I won't have any difficulty.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[Delita had taken watch this night and took pause to reflect on his current status.]

[Satisfied that all were asleep he quickly scouted up the path then back down before settling himself back within the group. He looked over to where Refia lay, knowing that she deserved better than his abrupt departure. While he was incapable of returning the love she had displayed, he was pained that their friendship had suffered in the process. The knowledge that the damage to their friendship was irreparable had taken its tole.]

[Firmly believing her to be asleep nearby him, he spoke softly.]

I am sorry that our friendship was a casualty in our ill-fated courtship.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you ran away without any explanation.

[Delita's luck was not in at all, as Refia hadn't been able to go to sleep for the life of her. The trip to the Tower made her too nervous to fall asleep easily.]

You didn't even try... That's what hurt the most, Delita. You just left, and I had no idea why. I still don't.

[She spoke softly, to not disturb the others. This wasn't a conversation for anyone else but themselves.]

You weren't there much anyway - but I was all right with that, because you always returned. You always came back and made sure I was all right. But one day, you just... left. And that was all.

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[She was right. He had not tried. He could not bare the thought of losing another innocent girl to the chaos and corruption around them.]

I never returned to Lindblum. [He omitted the fact that he had kept an eye on it, or that he had sent other knights there, or that he almost died bring supplies there.]

I had not anticipated your response. [He stops speaking for a moment, looking off into the distance before taking a moment to open his tightly shut emotions and spoke with feeling.]

It was never my intention to hurt you. I apologize for not being so forthcoming with you.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

I know... but you still did it, and more importantly, you're not choosing to undo it. [She doesn't exactly know what she's saying, but she knows it feels right.] When you won't tell me why you did that, or what you hoped to accomplish... then I know I was right to do what I did.

[Even though it had hurt both of them.]

[lionwarhero.livejournal.com]

[What's done is done, and there is no desire to retread a romantic path.]

My loyalty is to Ivalice. She demands my full allegiance. I can ill be afforded the luxury of a lady.

[He dare not risk the forfeiture of yet another innocent girl.]

To end our courtship was the only possibility, yet I hope that we may retain our friendship.

[smallmage.livejournal.com]

You could have just told me that. Instead, you just vanished. And this time you didn't come back, and that... I don't know if I can trust you again, if I can't trust you to just tell me the truth.

[It hurts to say that, but it's true - the truth is so important to her, and Delita threw it out the window.]