Tales of Alidaire: The Corruption Disc 2

Lily paused. Now Valincar could read minds? Wonderful news. "I don't fear the dead," Lily stated boldly, turning around to face Valincar with a smile, "even before we met, I didn't fear you. Sure, I couldn't kill you, subdue you, or harm you in any way, but none of that mattered. An archer must not fear any sort of danger, it's the first step to making a swift and safe retreat." Lily sighed, shaking her head.

"Valincar, you're so depressing. You should lighten up! Come on, you're dead, you should be happy that this world doesn't hold as many bonds on you." Lily said, "If you really wanted no one to find you, you would have never come out of those ruins. I think I understand you a little better now than I did then. You would go out of your way to reveal yourself to the world in order to protect something precious. Of course, it was your duty, but you could have just hidden yourself, and nobody would have found you."

"But anyway, I did want something from you." Lily reached into her vest and pulled out the dusty book she had kept hidden. She paused a few seconds, looking down at the book before bringing her attention back to Valincar. "I think...this belongs to you." She said, holding the book out to him, so that the front cover faced him. "Remember when I left the group in the ruins before we left? This is what I was getting. There was a chest in an upper floor that I picked a lock to, and this book was inside. To be honest, I thought it would be something much more valuable, something that could be sold. But...this is valuable in a different way, I think." Lily pushed the book forward a little more, urging Valincar to take it.

Valincar listened to Lily's words. They did strike a chord with him, though with the way things were at the moment, lightening up was out of the question. However, as Lily showed him the book, his eyes grew wider. Slowly, he reached out and took it gently from the archer. He held it up to his eyes and looked closely at the cover, almost as if he were checking to see if it was real or not. Afterwards, he merely cradled the tome in his arms.

"This is my journal," the nightshade finally spoke, his voice a bit shaky. "I thought I would never see it again. When I died, I locked it away in a chest and asked my brother to hide the chest somewhere I could never find it. I never went looking for it anyway. It was too painful." He loosened his hold on the old book and looked at it fondly. "After all, it only held the memories of my life when I was living...and I was never to experience that again." Valincar's arms began to tremble slightly. It was honestly surreal. Memories of when he was able to breath and sense and perceive things were beginning to flood back. Though his heart was nonexistent, his very soul quaked with sadness. "I-I appreciate you r-returning this to me..." he added. His words began to become a bit incomprehensible, each syllable drenched in solemn emotion.

Lily grimaced, she had absolutely no idea Valincar had kept a diary. It didn't seem like something he would do. But, then again, Lily only knew Valincar as the dead ghost, not the living human. she didn't know if she should say anything else, but something inside told her to. "I believe...that those who ignore their past...are doomed to become ignorant fools." Lily said, looking down. "I don't mean offence to you in any way, but...There are things in my past that I regret, that I want to forget and ignore. But I know that I would be dishonouring myself and my comrades if I did that. Especially my parents."

"It may not be my place to say this, Valincar, but I think you should have kept that diary closer. Maybe your brother understood this, that's why he placed the chest in a room so close to your chamber." Lily said, shaking her head, "Yes, the memories are painful, but that's something we have to get through, right? It's what makes us stronger. It's what makes us...human." Lily forced a smile upon her face, looking at Valincar, "Keep it close, and keep your humanity, no matter how your body may have decayed, or how far from human you look." Lily paused for a minute, not sure what she should do next. "I would give you a hug, but I doubt it would help anyway, with you all ghostly and stuff."

Now that was an interesting notion. Had Oliver really done that? Had he done something out of the goodness of his heart? It didn't sound like him. Valincar had spent all of his time focusing on his new duty as a ghost in order to prevent resentment towards his family from creeping upon his vulnerable soul. But all this time, could it have been possible that his brother, and maybe even his father had regretted what they had done? Or really, more like what they were forced to do? Then again, Valincar never objected. He had known his destiny for a long time: he was fated to die.

The feelings came back as he held that book and he nodded at the archer. "It really is not your place to say any of that; you still have your life," he said coldly at first, but added, "yet it does bear much truth that I shall take into consideration. And I shall start by never letting go of my human thoughts and feelings manifested within this journal of mine." With that, he smiled. Though the nostalgia was painful, it was also sweet...like the wild fruits he used to pick with his mother back in the day...

Valincar shook his head and turned his attention back to Lily. "I thank you again for recovering this for me. And I want you to do me a favor--don't you dare die. You might think you would do well and be happy, but...it is something no one should have to go through, even though it remains to be an inevitable part of the circle of life. You are my friend, and I would not be able to forgive myself should you or any of the others end up like me." Slowly, he descended until his feet barely touched the ground. He walked towards Lily and embraced her. Surprisingly, he didn't go through her; he had a solid form. However, the air began to grow cold; it was taking energy for him to manifest, but it was something he had to do.

"Dying is hard to avoid in this age," Lily said, returning the embrace, "But I'll do my best. Let me guess, if I die, you'll kill me? Good luck." Lily was the first to push away. It had gotten too cold and too weird for her. Hugging a ghost was not something she did on a daily basis. This being her first time, made it all the more weird to her.

"We should get back to the others. I bet they're getting really impatient right about now." Lily said, laughing a bit, "If you want time to be alone, then I'll let you be, but if not, just follow me back." Lily turned around, her head tilted to the side so that she could watch whether the dead man followed her or not.

Valincar merely shrugged his shoulders and fazed out of existence, but not before saying,"I will meet you there...where the others have gathered, that is." In mere seconds, the nightshade fazed back into existence next to the others in the party. They had to decide on what course of action to take next before going to see the Elder.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Campo de Estralas Caidas...

The airship had landed amongst the many meteorites the had pelted the once thriving meadow so many years ago. There, hovering in front of a rather large tent, was a single man. Several angel wings protruded from his back, gray feathers floated gently on the breeze every once in a while. His head and face were concealed by a helmet of sorts. The clothes he wore were black and dark gray; they kind of matched his wings. Tucked under one arm was the Grimoire de Origens.

Behind him, in a heap, lay Albere and Aronia, and behind them stood the Deadly Trio. Ferria stepped forward. "It was those Luz Cascata dipshits again," she informed the winged man. "They apparently got strong enough to oust these two. But when me and the fellas here stepped in...well, they didn't make a move, probably because they knew I would have torn them to shreds."

Several swords floated lazily around the winged man. "Why did you not just end them there?" he said simply with no emotion. The swords seemed to perk up, however, in response to his comment.

"You didn't pay me for that!" she yelled at him angrily. "You of all people should know that if you want something done, produce the cash and we'll do it." Her claymore was shoved into the ground beside her; she gripped the handle and took it out, placing the behemoth weapon on her back.

"True," the winged man replied. The swords returned to their lazy drifting. "Those fools are certainly irritating. No matter. We must proceed as planned. Kalvin is on his way to steal the first gem from that accursed pirate. Xavier and Irene are on their way to fetch the second one. As for the third one..." Here, he stopped and reached into one of the pockets on his dark gray overcoat. He pulled out a violet gem with points of light slowly floating around inside. "I already have it in my possession. Things are running smoothly despite Luz Cascata's miniscule, almost insignificant, victory." He turned around to face the Deadly Trio. "And if things go awry, you three shall be our trump card."

Ferria was about to object, but the winged man held up a finger.

"And you shall receive gold beyond your wildest dreams."

With that statement, a wicked grin crept onto Ferria's face. She was definitely satisfied with that. Edward and Zair were smiling, too. They didn't have an obsession with gold like Ferria did, but there was nothing unpleasing about handsome pay.

The winged man held up his finger again. "You know your next task, but there's something else I want added to the list of things to do. Care for an assassination?"

Sonia nodded slightly at Lilith's words. She knew it would not be a good bye. It just couldn't be. The Astral Cleric felt a tear roll down her cheek, but wiped it away with haste. She felt they would all meet again eventually. Proceeding to move towards the guild, she moved slowly. A feeling in her gut telling her nothing good was coming for her or her allies.

And suddenly it happened. Cage appeared from thin air. And he looked out of place. His usual calm self was replaced by one filled with worry. He was frantically speaking of ransom and kidnappers and Nina. But Sonia could make little to nothing out. She spoke his repeat, but more slowly than it had been. So when he finally spoke sense, her heart skipped a beat.

Nina had been taken. They used one of her letters to ask for Ransom. She had apparently tried to reach Sonia, but had gotten herself into trouble. And there wasn't going to be much more time. They had to act quickly.

(Valincar and Rosetta, move towards the guild for some reason or another so you can be swept up in the commotion.)

Affinity:

+6: Lily, Valincar (there's only one place they should go)

Everyone that had gathered together seemed fine, but Sonia appeared distressed by something. Not to mention that there was a strange guy who had snuck up seemingly from nowhere. Valincar ventured over to her. "Sonia, is everything all right?" he asked in concern. "Something's wrong, isn't it?" The air grew a bit colder, but not because Valincar was trying to manifest or anything. Amazingly, it began to snow.

All around, people stopped in stared in both awe and horror; it never snowed in Selva. Never. This was the first snow in the history of the entire continent. Not even the northern regions experienced snow. It was just too hot and humid. But this snow was far from natural; Valincar could feel it. It was magic.

Regardless, Valincar shook his head and tried to ignore it, which was easy because it stopped in mere minutes. He had the feeling it was a message of some sort. "So what's the problem?" he resumed asking Sonia.

"Nina. Our sister has been kidnapped. They want Ransom in four hours or they'll kill her. We have to move, no time to get the others."

Sonia was out of place, Sure she and her siblings had survived a fire and family death. But this. This was too much for the young Astral Cleric. She looked at each of her friends, and then her brother, who quickly grabbed her arm.

"Come on, we don't have time to lose..."

Thus, the handful of party members ventured out of town and made their way to where the kidnappers would be waiting for them...

The trees of the mighty jungle, Coracao began to thin out and the meteorites of Campo de Estralas Caidas came into view. The party had fought through the jungle once again, but this time was rewarded by a refreshing breeze that constantly drifted through the field. They headed northwest which would take them to the town of Paraiso, but they wouldn't enter the town; the kidnappers were hiding out in a rather large meteorite nearby. It was obvious which one it was. The meteorite in question was about the size of a decently large house; plenty of people could take refuge inside, for the thing had been hollowed out and a dark entrance remained uninviting. Luckily, the party didn't even have to go inside. Standing out in front were three odd people: a man wearing the clothes of a clergyman, a girl hovering in the air on a broomstick, and another hovering girl wearing pure white clothing, her blonde hair and blue eyes evoking an aura of innocence around her.

The man in the clergyman clothes stepped forward, his jet black hair swaying slightly with the breeze. His red eyes gazed at the small party with extreme confidence. "So, I see you decided to comply. Did you bring the ransom? It must be in my hands before I turn over the girl," he said in a business-like manner. His two female cronies didn't say anything; they merely waited. Their expressions weren't threatening, but something didn't feel right.

"We hav-"

"We came to fight for our sister you fucked up ass holes"

Sonia thought her brother merely was trying to pool the money for the ransom. She never thought this was what he had in mind. Her heart skipped a beat as fight came into the equation. For some reason she felt she didn't want to fight these people. But she knew they wouldn't have much choice else.

"Guys. I don't think we have another option."

"There never was another choice. They were stupid to think we'd pay a ransom."

"But..."

"Here's the new deal. We win, we get our sister. You win, well that just won't happen will it."

And so it was decided. Cage had his cards floating around him already, and Sonia had her staff drawn. There was no other choice now, it was a fight till death.

The male smiled in return. "I asked you if you had our money," was all he said in response. He drew no weapon, but the broom girl's ring began to glow and the innocent-looking girl unleashed a rather long staff with a crescent-shaped blade on the end of it.

The broom girl smirked. "You should have just given Maxwell the money, fools," she scoffed. "If you think you're going to win against us, you got another thing coming."

"I don't understand why you just couldn't hand over the money," the innocent-looking girl said softly. "I don't like punishing people, but I will if I have to." She was fighting back a malicious smile.

Maxwell stepped forward threateningly. "When we win, we shall get our money regardless. And then we'll just throw your corpses in the trash where they belong, okay?" Suddenly, it began to snow. It had to be Maxwell who was making it snow. Regardless, a fight was inevitable now.

Sonia's Sidequest: Kidnapping

Location: Eagle's Hideout - Front Space

Objective: Defeat the kidnappers!

Background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqOqhuGUAS8&feature=related

{ } {T} {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } A
{ } { } {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } B
{ } { } {m} {m} {-} {m} {m} { } { } C
{ } { } { } {L} { } {A} { } { } { } D
{ } { } { } { } {M} { } { } { } { } E
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } F
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {m} { } H
{ } { } { } { } {C} { } { } {m} {m} I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {V} { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Valincar (Nightshade)
HP: 50/50
MP: 65/65
Atk: 12
Def: 7
Int: 17
Spr: 18
Move: 4 cells

Maxwell (Hidden Blade)
HP: 45/45
MP: 65/65
Atk: 26
Def: 11
Int: 28
Spr: 12
Move: 3 cells

Lyra (Enchantress)
HP: 58/58
MP: 75/75
Atk: 6
Def: 12
Int: 23
Spr: 18
Move: 2 cells

Margaret (Clarifier)
HP: 45/45
MP: 85/85
Atk: 7
Def: 10
Int: 17
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

Cage (Master Gambler)
HP: 40/40
MP: 32/32
Atk: 11
Def: 17
Int: 18
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

{T} - Treasure Chest (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Unlock (requires Chest Key x1)

{m} - Meteorite (cannot be occupied)
HP: 99/99
Def: 77
Spr: 77

{-} - Uninviting Space (cannot be occupied by any means)(cannot be passed through)

Characters may start in rows I-J!

Sonia starts at J5!

Sonia found herself drawing near Cage. She had to remain nearby everyone, just incase they needed her. And she had learned a new spell, so if the need for it arose, she would also have that. Raising her staff, she readied her first spell, they would need all the help they could get.

Sonia's Sidequest: Kidnapping

Location: Eagle's Hideout - Front Space

Objective: Defeat the kidnappers!

Background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqOqhuGUAS8&feature=related

{ } {T} {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } A
{ } { } {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } B
{ } { } {m} {m} {-} {m} {m} { } { } C
{ } { } { } {L} { } {A} { } { } { } D
{ } { } { } { } {M} { } { } { } { } E
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } F
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {m} { } H
{ } { } { } { } {C} {R} { } {m} {m} I
{L} { } { } { } {S} { } { } {V} { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Valincar (Nightshade)
HP: 50/50
MP: 65/65
Atk: 12
Def: 7
Int: 17
Spr: 18
Move: 4 cells

Rosetta (Element Striker)
HP: 65/65
MP: 40/40
Atk: 20
Def: 13
Int: 10
Spr: 11
Move: 3 cells

Sonia (Astral Cleric)
HP: 40/40
MP: 120/120
Atk: 7
Def: 15
Int: 17
Spr: 17
Move: 2 cells

Lily (Archer Apprentice)
HP: 50/50
MP: 50/50
Atk: 14
Def: 11
Int: 8
Spr: 12
Move: 3 cells

Maxwell (Hidden Blade)
HP: 45/45
MP: 65/65
Atk: 26
Def: 11
Int: 28
Spr: 12
Move: 3 cells

Lyra (Enchantress)
HP: 58/58
MP: 75/75
Atk: 6
Def: 12
Int: 23
Spr: 18
Move: 2 cells

Margaret (Clarifier)
HP: 45/45
MP: 85/85
Atk: 7
Def: 10
Int: 17
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

Cage (Master Gambler)
HP: 40/40
MP: 32/32
Atk: 11
Def: 17
Int: 18
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

{T} - Treasure Chest (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Unlock (requires Chest Key x1)

{m} - Meteorite (cannot be occupied)
HP: 99/99
Def: 77
Spr: 77

{-} - Uninviting Space (cannot be occupied by any means)(cannot be passed through)

Player Phase 1!

Valincar moves to F8.

Valincar hovered over in the direction of the innocent-looking girl. By the looks of it, she seemed to either wield light magic, heal, or worse--both. He had to put a stop to her and fast. For the moment, he would power himself up, but her time was coming. He clasped his hands together and unleashed a wave of energy at her after a cloud of surging mana had accumulated in front of him.

Valincar uses Razing Ambition on Margaret! 24 Dmg! (INT)

MP: 49/65

Valincar's stats are increased by 20%!

Sonia
Hp: 40/40
Mp: 120/120
Atk: 7
Def: 15
Int: 17
Spr: 17

Sonia summons Scather!

Sonia raised her staff, a piercing cry shattering the air before anything else could be said. Scather appeared nearby, ready to defend Sonia and rescue Nina. But before he landed, he shot off a burst of energy at the girl who looked ever so innocent.

Scather uses Energy Beam on Margaret!
(Damage: 100% Int/Effect: Immobilize 50%/Element: --)

Sonia
Hp: 40/40
Mp: 120/120
Atk: 7
Def: 15
Int: 17
Spr: 17

Scather
Hp: 70/70
Mp: 39/45
Atk: 14
Def: 11
Int: 22
Spr: 12

Margaret takes 12 Dmg!

HP: 33/45

{ } {T} {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } A
{ } { } {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } B
{ } { } {m} {m} {-} {m} {m} { } { } C
{ } { } { } {L} { } {A} { } { } { } D
{ } { } { } { } {M} { } { } { } { } E
{m} {m} { } { } { } {R} { } {V} { } F
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {m} { } H
{ } { } { } { } {C} { } { } {m} {m} I
{L} { } { } { } {S} {A} { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Elemental Guard has 3 turns.

Rosetta's next attack is Piercing!

Lily's Archer's Fury has 3 turns.

Enemy Phase.

Maxwell moves to F7.

In a flash, Maxwell appeared between Rosetta and Valincar. "I never did appreciate troublemakers," he said calmly with a smile. He raised a single hand and unleashed a dark sphere of energy that quickly produced myriad shadows that swirled all around him, damaging Rosetta and Valincar.

Maxwell uses Obscure on Rosetta and Valincar! 34 Darkness Dmg! (INT)

MP: 45/65

Valincar is Disabled!

Rosetta evades Disable!

After the darkness had done its damage and taken its effect, Maxwell sought to take advantage of the nightshade's disabled state. Completely out of nowhere, a massive greatsword appeared, the blade covered in light. "Wouldn't it have been easier to give me my money?" he asked in a mocking tone as he set about hacking away at Valincar.

Maxwell uses Light Dividing Darkness on Valincar! 4 hits! 94 Light Dmg per hit! CRITICAL HIT!! WEAKNESS!! (ATK)

MP: 21/65

R-Ability Treacherous Advantage activates!

Maxwell recovers MP!

MP: 65/65

Lyra moves to E5.

"Wait for me, now, Maxwell," Lyra called out to her leader as she hopped off her broom and trailed after him. He seemed to have everything under control, so she focused on the threat in the corner. "Don't think I don't see you over there," she called out to Lily. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned two huge blocks of ice above Lily, both dropping on her mercilessly.

Lyra casts Frozen Entropy on Lily! 29 Ice Dmg! (INT)

MP: 53/75

Lyra casts Frozen Entropy on Lily! 29 Ice Dmg! (INT)

MP: 31/75

Just when the onslaught was about to be over, Lyra flicked her wrist once more and sent another block of ice tumbling down on the archer apprentice.

R-Ability Magical Overproduction activates!

Lyra casts Frozen Entropy on Lily! 29 Ice Dmg! (INT)

MP: 9/75

Margaret moves to D7.

The young healer girl was none too pleased about being targeted first, though she often was. Luckily, she had her healing spells and two powerful allies to back her up. So, she set about to what she did best.

Margaret casts Blessed Light on herself! [+17 HP Recovered]

MP: 79/85

R-Ability Saint's Reward activates!

Maragaret recovers MP!

MP: 82/85

{ } {T} {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } A
{ } { } {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } B
{ } { } {m} {m} {-} {m} {m} { } { } C
{ } { } { } { } { } { } {A} { } { } D
{ } { } { } { } {L} { } { } { } { } E
{m} {m} { } { } { } {R} {M} {V} { } F
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {m} { } H
{ } { } { } { } {C} { } { } {m} {m} I
{L} { } { } { } {S} {A} { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Neutral Phase.

Cage uses Reels!

Cage uses Quick Shot on all enemies! 23 Dmg! CRITICAL HIT!! (ATK)

MP: 16/32

Cage moves to I7.

Cage uses 4 Dice on Maxwell! 10 hits! 27 Dmg per hit! CRITICAL HIT! (INT)

MP: 4/32

{ } {T} {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } A
{ } { } {m} {-} {-} {-} {m} { } { } B
{ } { } {m} {m} {-} {m} {m} { } { } C
{ } { } { } { } { } { } {A} { } { } D
{ } { } { } { } {L} { } { } { } { } E
{m} {m} { } { } { } {R} {M} {V} { } F
{m} {m} { } { } { } { } { } { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } {m} { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } {C} {m} {m} I
{L} { } { } { } {S} {A} { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Player Phase 2!

Valincar (Nightshade) *KO* *IMMORTAL BODY (3)*

Spoiler:

Rosetta (Element Striker) *ELEMENTAL GUARD* *PIERCETHROUGH*
HP: 42/65
MP: 26/40
Atk: 20
Def: 13
Int: 10
Spr: 11
Move: 3 cells

Sonia (Astral Cleric) *ELEMENTAL GUARD*
HP: 40/40
MP: 120/120
Atk: 7
Def: 15
Int: 17
Spr: 17
Move: 2 cells

Scather (Energy Dragon)
HP: 70/70
MP: 39/45
Atk: 14
Def: 11
Int: 22
Spr: 12
Move: 3 cells

Lily (Archer Apprentice) *ARCHER'S FURY* *ELEMENTAL GUARD*
HP: 23/50
MP: 36/50
Atk: 14 --- 28
Def: 11 --- 5
Int: 8
Spr: 12 --- 6
Move: 3 cells

Maxwell (Hidden Blade) *OVERKILL*

Spoiler:

Lyra (Enchantress)
HP: 47/58
MP: 9/75
Atk: 6
Def: 12
Int: 23
Spr: 18
Move: 2 cells

Margaret (Clarifier)
HP: 37/45
MP: 82/85
Atk: 7
Def: 10
Int: 17
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

Cage (Master Gambler)
HP: 40/40
MP: 4/32
Atk: 11
Def: 17
Int: 18
Spr: 15
Move: 3 cells

{T} - Treasure Chest (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Unlock (requires Chest Key x1)

{m} - Meteorite (cannot be occupied)
HP: 99/99
Def: 77
Spr: 77

{-} - Uninviting Space (cannot be occupied by any means)(cannot be passed through)