[action in dali | video | backdated to the 3rd]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[It's early morning in Dali when Frimelda and her comrade arrive. Signs of the place being attacked, repeatedly, are clear on the outsides of buildings... the fiends that presumably made them are now defeated. At least, a number of them.

The journey had been long, and difficult. Not difficult in taking the fiends down: to an extent, their relentlessness, but, it's not really that, either. No, the difficulties have been in finding so many settlements destroyed, and... very few survivors. A few at South Gate... one or two scattered elsewhere. When the continent had been overrun, it had truly been ovverun by monsters. Whilst the bigger cities still stood, even though they had battle scars to show for it, the smaller settlements had not stood a chance.

Choices had to be made to get to Dali quicker, the one likely village where people may still be there to be found. Now was the time to set about it...

-

... A little while after arriving, Frimelda takes out her phone, addressing the network. She looks worn, and subdued.] You may not know me, but I would ask but a moment of your time. I am Frimelda. I, as well as Auron, set out from Lindblum a little over two weeks past, to aid the villages that lay across the Mist Continent.

[There's a pause.] We have reached Dali, and between... there was no much left to aid. Settlements had been completely destroyed. The people lost to us. Few have survived and made it to safe places, such as South Gate... perhaps, to Lindblum, or, here, to Dali.

... There is aid we could provide, by relief from the tide of monsters. But what is most needed for these people are homes.

To any people of Dali that may be hearing this, we hope you will accept the aid we can provide. [She just hopes that are people to hear this. She waits a moment, before the feed ends.]

Comments

[Video]

[dualcast]

[It's rare that she gets to be the bearer of positive news, nowadays. But, for once, she can. And she's glad for it.]

Evacuation of the smaller settlements began a few hours after the Lunar Cry. I- doubt that everyone survived. People were reluctant to leave their homes behind. But many did, and were evacuated to Troia.

[Video]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[Frimelda nods.] I... offered my assistance for the evacuation, at Cecil's suggestion. [A pause. That still stings, a little. But she swiftly continues on.] There were many that I assisted to Troia...

... though, from villages between Lindblum and Dali, I do not remember many.

[Video]

[dualcast]

We weren't able to reach so many people there. With the monsters interrupting mountain cars and it being so far-

-I'm sorry. How much- how much remains of the villages? Are there homes there for people to return to?

[Video]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head slowly.] Do not worry.

There is not much left behind... the smallest settlements are completely destroyed. The ones that were slightly larger had some buildings remaining, but were inhabited by monsters.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

[Auron places his hand on Frimelda's shoulder after she finishes.] Rest a moment, you need it.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[At first, she considers protesting, though the emotion does not appear as much on her usual calm face. There's much to do, yet... she's no use to anyone without a pause now and then. She nods slowly, looking more weary than before as she does.] ... Perhaps I should.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

[Auron sighs lightly, looking across Dali.] The village needs warriors as much as it needs builders. The monsters still raid the village and the people cannot continue.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[Frimelda unties the threads keeping her swords at her waist, putting both of them next to her on the ground, ever so slightly unsheathed, as she sits. She may have consented to resting, but that's no reason to be unprepared.] Any efforts to rebuild are hindered in this current state, that is certain. Like this... the right defenses cannot be put in place, or even thought about.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

An alternative would be to send them to a larger city. I can't say if it's the best. They'd need protectors along the way, depending on where they go. [Auron sighs lightly.] These are trying times.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

There are many options, I would say. But which is right for them is not something I can say without knowing their wishes, first. [And even then, a time would come where she would feel compelled to go against them, for their own safety.]

They are indeed. Solutions are so easy to say... but not easy to grasp.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

We'll need to see how many women and children are left and how many know how to use a weapon. Suffice to say, what we do will not be finished in a matter of days. I don't believe we'll be able to finish it ourselves either.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

Yes. It will be the villager's choice as to how things end.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

[Auron nods. Even from here, it would be difficult to say how things would end. The monsters seemed to have lessened, but the threat was constantly there. Perhaps even stronger enemies were lurking and waiting.] We must rest a night, see if we can find a place. We'll be able to help once we are well-rested and have a clearer head on the situation here.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

[She nods in return. She's not a stranger to sleeping, whilst travelling, to have to sleep whilst watching your back for monsters, to only gain short grasps of it... but, now is perhaps the time to change that.] That seems wise.

[A pause.] ... I wish to... extend my gratitude.

[action]

[unsentmonk.livejournal.com]

[Auron shakes his head slowly.] There is no need to thank me. I am grateful that you accepted my help, all the same. Alone, this trip would have been much more difficult.

[action]

[pathtowalk.livejournal.com]

That is precisely why... but, if you are sure it is not needed.