Fighting the Good Fight
From SCross
It's been two weeks now, since Kefka has passed judgment on the openly defiant members of the Church. Their Captain horribly maimed at the Jester's own hand, and fearing for the lives of those under their watch, the Church Knights have taken it upon themselves to stage a mass evacuation to the mines that once belonged to House Alair. There, they waited, preparing for what they feared would be the inevitable, as one by one, the clergy seek out Kefka to petition for leniency toward the Church, some speaking on behalf of the Knights who were not once consulted on their wishes. The last of the Knights' resolve crumbles, the day that a Jester and her entourage prance straight to the mouth of the Mines, bringing news of Kefka's magnanimous forgiveness.
Now, the Knights are demoralized. Tired, despairing, bereft of the fire their faith gave them, they see themselves in the most hopeless of situations. The people have bowed in fear of the Jester's wrath, their fellow rebels have been silent, and help has come only in the form of a few days' worth of food. Worse, still, is that the very Priests whom they have sworn to protect seem to have abandoned them utterly, casting their fate to the winds without thought or pause.
It is a dark time indeed, for the Arm of the All-Father, and one can only pray that some spark of light yet remains.
Near noon, and the guards have been replaced by the prickly Lieutenant. Smeared with dirt, bags beneath her eyes, quills drooping, she sits at the mouth of the cave, cup of coffee in hand as she stares out into the wilderness. Not so much guarding, it seems, as waiting.
Kezu rushes a bit to the entrance, panting. With quills stuck in his foot, he flops down on a rock, and begins to pull them out. Stepped on a porcupine... not a good thing to do. But, once the quills are all out, he stands... huffing a little... and merfing... as he moves to the mines themselves, starting to venture in, until either a Heather stops him, or he notices her! Mew~!
Heather moves her head slightly, looking dully up at the priest. "..Afternoon, Brother," she murmurs taking a sip of her coffee. "Got s'more good news, then? Like, maybe it's five hund'rd for my head?"
Kezu perks his ears at Heather's voice, turning his head to her and stopping in his tracks. "Mew? Ah! Sister..." He rumbles out the loudest prr he's let out all day. "..." Then of course, his ears lower. "Still One Hundred... but... I have arranged for a meeting with Kefka himself... and..." He motions. "... I plan to get this solved. We need you at the church, not out here, growing smellier by the day and living a hard life. I know you're willing, but..." He puts his hands in his pockets. "... May I ask what happened when I left Daria and the congregation here...?"
Heather shrugs, slowly turning her eyes down to the contents of her mug. "...Fight went outta 'em," she mutters. "Ev'ry Priest claimin' they have our back, goes on t'Kefka t'make another deal... They ain't seein' much point anymore in holdin' up a Church what won't hold 'em up, too... Can't say as I blame 'em, really... Look what fightin' th' good fight's got us..."
Kezu knits his brows and growls. "A Church that won't hold them up? Huh? Heather... We are of one body and soul, we ARE the Church. The Knights... you've been... taught to defend us and the grounds with your lives, you've been supplemented with supernatural faith and hope... it's jumped your system... filled you, every knight, every captain, with passion to defend. But we can't..." He sighs. "We can't jump the gun, or we will lose the congregation. What we've got to do... is show the public what we are. The Ultimate Example of Peace. We ARE Peace. It's what we make..." He tries to smile, tears building in his eyes. "... Know what we're viewed as right now...?"
Heather loks up, a deep scowl pulling at her face, as she pushes off the mouth of the cave. "Oh, yeah...? Lemme ask y'this, Father... Has anyone called th' fucker f'r what he done to th' Captain? Naw. 'S always th' Chapel they go 'n save, nevermind who's left their blood there." Anger mounts again in her eyes, quills standing on end. "He called th' Captain out, an RIPPED OFF HER FUCKING ARM! BEAT 'ER WITH IT!! You weren't there, Brother, but I was. I saw what th' All-Father means t'th' likes o' him, but awwww, no. No, we gotta save the CHAPEL. Well, y'know what?! Chapel's just a fucking pile o' brick, Brother. Ain't where th' faith is, dammit, it's s'posed t'be here," she says, tears standing out in her eye as she thumps her chest. "...But 's goin', Brother... It's goin', cause we got hurt, we spilled our blood, an' it don't mean SHIT next to th' glory-be Chapel..."
Heather's shoulder, stopping her from advancing further, his own face grim, and somewhat... apologetic.
Kezu growls immediately to Sion, pointing at him. "..." He stares straight at the man. Eyes burning with something so deep, so powerful, one cannot even describe it but in that it's indescribable. "... Let her go..." His voice reeks of pain, ache from inside... before his eyes turn then to Heather. "You listen... and you listen well..." He's quiet... but still his voice chokes on emotion that should kill him. "Do you think it's easy...? Doing... doing this? I just stood up... in front of a giant congregation.... of the people I consider my ENEMIES..." His finger stabs torwards Heather. "I just told them... my life beliefs... and they applauded me..." A shiver courses all over the feline, silvery bangs swinging in front of his eyes. "Damnit... I wanted them to hate me... but... we... we.... the chapel..." He clenches his fist, claws extending and cutting his palms. "Damn it, Heather!" The nominal Sister gone out the window. "You! I! We! All of the Church! WE are the Chapel! I just said that! And you think I'm talking about the damned stone of the building!? We could be preaching out here for all I care, but I want us! US! To be viewed as the peaceful ones! The pain... the pain of losing an arm..." A shiver runs through him again as he breathes out deeply... stepping up close to the Lieutenant. "... It is not lost... but if you feel I have not considered the pain and suffering of it... smite me. If I am so heartless as to her pain... I am corrupt and dark, right? Your duty is to cleanse the darkness! If I have not shown my heart for that... if I have not put my all into this... destroy me. And continue as you have..."
Sion turns Heather away from the feline and steps forwards into view, glaring down at him, ((WHY SHOULD I... you did what Kekfa could not! You did what a hundred thousand enemies could not... you BROKE HER HEART! LOOK AT HER! You've told her that this stopped being about the good fight, the honorable fight, about returning this place to the peace and prosperity it had... things that we ALL fought for TOGETHER... and how now she's not important. The Knights are not important... only the message. And the message you gave was a giant white flag hanging from the All-Father's hands. Yes, it IS graceful to turn the other cheek, but mark me well... you think people think less of the Church now? People stopped caring because the Church did nothing for them for so long... it was nothing but an outhouse for the disposal of those who the Cardinal's college thought they couldn't be rid of, but didn't want to see anymore. And now... the people who would defend you... would give you protection and hold up the light until the last of them lay dead in the blood and shit and bile of war... pointless. All they have left is their dignity, and that doesn't light fires in the eyes of those who should rightly stand back up and take back what was stolen from them... look at her... swordsmith... see how sharp your tongue is compared to the blades you forge, and you ask yourself honestly... should you be in priests Robes, or Clown's Makeup.))
Heather shakes off Sion's arm, throwing up her hands. "I AM, Brother! I'm doin' exactly what we *been* doin'! NOTHING!" Turning on her heel, she stalks back a few paces. "Y'know, I remember back when th' Chapel was gonna be destroyed. *Destroyed.* Captain was half-dead, everyone was panickin'... So, we pack up! Get th' hell outta there! 'S only a buildin', right? So a few days later, hear about Tonya, 'n how she begged not to burn it t' th' ground! An' after we risk our *lives* t' get Hilgya, th' Captain, 'n Brother Uriel out the city, what happens? He goes back, beggin' them not t'deface th' CHAPEL!" Letting out a heavy breath, she slumps against the stone, tears falling to the ground. "Don't think y'corrupted, Father.... just... wana know what'n'ell we been fightin' for, y'know...?"
All is lost. Heather's words become... a garbled vision in the background. And all Kezu does is stare at Sion. Not that deadly 'Shut up and turn around' stare... but just... the most open stare the feline's ever given someone. If asked later, he might say his heart stopped. But the next moment, unsheathing that blade that now looks like an ordinary rapier, with tears streaming from his eyes, he points at Sion. "... You had better kill me now..." The blade splits into four of them, and begin vibrating very rapidly...
"Don't," Heather says from her place at the mouth of the cave. To whom is unclear, but her voice is cracked, defeated. "Just... don't..."
The Captain comes from the depths of the mine, looking worn and beaten. She's heard the news and looks to those gathered. She draws the runed spear to her hand and sighs. "So, we've been sold out the rest of the way? The last of our priests bent knee to this eredar?"
Kezu is currently glaring at Sion with tears rolling down his face, his mechanical, vibrating, quad-bladed rapier buzzing like a hornet's nest.
Sion sends to all, ((What we're all fighting for is peace, Heather, Captain... for a place that we can look at with our own eyes, and know that it's ours... know that we are the ones who forged it, despite all the hardships we had to endure.)) A deep breath is taken, ((Kefka will destroy us all... He doesn't care in the end. He turned the Espers into Magicite and used them to turn himself into a god, and almost destroy the world. Those that were left... they... fear him. The devil might be the bogeyman to children in the Church, but Him? True fear... true hatred... of a man who can slay you, and take the very concept of what you are and turn it into a weapon and shield until he is unstoppable. All he cares about is power. And little by little, giving in here and there... we give it to him. Until, without realizing it, we look to red skies and burning horizons.)) The man looks down at the quad-blade, and then shakes his head, ((No... you had better slay me now, Pastor Kezu Mistyfoot... I will forever be the whispering shadow in the ears of those who would stand and do the right thing. Find the cause that means something, and fan it from a spark to a burning column to light the night sky... and I will be there for my comrades... like Heather... who will stand and fight, if for nothing else then the knowledge that they might die to have others see a better tomorrow. And if I fall with them... then I will... and it will be because I did not let my belief waver.)) Another sigh escapes him, ((Kezu... you... you tried... I give you that... but... what you did... just look at her... and see. A knight does not know pain, nor fear, because she walks in the light, and you have cast her faith in that... her faith in herself into darkness.))
Kezu shivers all over, a squeak of emotion running from the feline's throat, clenching the sword tightly in his hand... until, with all his might, he just throws the sword at Sion, eyes closed and fists balled up. "I want her to fucking live! Don't die a damned stupid death! The All Father wouldn't want it! Get more people! Get a plan! Take out the damned machine!" Without a pause to check on anyone's condition, he turns further torwards the mines, looks over everything, before finding himself a nice rock to curl up behind, openly sobbing, speaking something about blood...
Heather squeezes her eyes shut, scraping her forearm under her nose. "We been tryin', Brother... But... What'n'ell c'n the three o' us come up with, when we ain't got any help...?"
Sion catches the blade with his own and turns it so that it falls harmlessly to the ground, buzzing still. He slides the blade away slowly, and takes a couple deep breaths, wincing his eyes shut, and turning his head away from the scene before him, as if he may as well have stabbed himself through the hand. Turning to walk towards Kezu and the others, the man takes a further breath, and frowns, but this time there is not any hardness to it, none of the same intensity from before... almost like a father who had to punish a child because it would mean the best in the long run, but felt they did not deserve it.
Heather presses the leather pad of her forearm to one eye, then the other, and draws in a deep, shaking breath. Slowly, as though in a dream, the grimy, heartbroken Knight starts to totter toward Kezu, getting down to one knee and resting a hand on his back.
"I hear... the Hammer's Song... all day... all night... all evening long..." A shakey voice, choked with tears, and cracking highly like the feline appears to sound, eminates from Kezu... his hands balled up tightly against his chest in a curled up fashion only a feline could achieve, very nearly ball-like. The tears continue to run down his cheeks, the ones from his right eye dripping over his muzzle to the ground. "No Glamor, No Beauty, but the art of the Blade... And the pride and pleasure from all... I've made... I... Hear... The Hammer's Song... All Day... All Night... All Evening Long..." A shiver pours from his body, eyes clenching tight, the tormented smithy's tune flowing from his mouth. "I Hear... The Hammer's... Song..."
Through all of this, Perseipola stands against the wall of the mine like a pale shadow. Her obsidian gaze watches almost heartlessly at the crying priest, her inner rage and righteousness bottled up. "Quit crying," she says, voice chilled as the mines. Exhaustion rests on her face, but the Knight-Captain will not let it rest in her body just yet.
Sion goes over to the cookfires, and pulls out a fresh pot of water, and settles it over. From his own pockets comes packets of tea that he begins to pour in, exhausting his own supply before he covers the thing to let it steep. Settling down in front of it, he holds his hands out to warm the fingers against the blaze, looking into it thoughtfully.
"C'mon, Brother," Heather murmurs, patting the feline's back. "Captain's right... Ain't doin' better sittin' round here cryin' than we were jus' sittin'... C'mon." With a sigh, the Knight stands up, scraping a hand through her headquills. "Still some hard tack 'n salt pork left..."
"There was one day... I saw this Lass... so fair... so fine... maiden divine. I call to her... She say to me, 'Be only what, you can be~' So I go on home... there, you see, I... am me.... I... Hear... The Hammer's Song... All Day... All Night... All Day Long..." By now the feline's dissolved to silent tears... staring at the rock in front of him with his tail curled up against him, eyes hazed over grey with some distant emotion. "... I used... to just be... a smith..."
"We all just 'used to be' something else, Father Kezu." Perseipola moves, eyes dark and almost uncaring as she gathers up her gear for her rucksack. She begins to roughly pack it, hatred growning in her face. "I used to be a paladin of the Light and a Knight of the Church. Now? Now I'm just a fucking dissident with a price on my head. Wouldn't Lord Grayson just be -thrilled- about that?" she asks.
Sion would answer, but he is too far away. Instead he just lets the tea steep, and then fills four cups. All of them floating in the air behind him, he moves them one to each of you. The scent is jasmine, and perhaps a bit of orange, giving it a fresh, clean, springtime smell, the color of it a light brown like fall... not quite powerful as coffee, but refreshing in it's own way.
Heather shakes her head quietly. "We're all jus' tryin' t'be what we are, Brother... Problem is, some of us can't right now... Cos people like th' Captain, me... All we know's fightin' th' good fight, y'know? Dunno if y'knew that, Brother, but... ain't our job t'live. Ain't our job t'follow th' path o' peace. People like us... we fight, Brother... an' we die. 'S all part o' wearin' th'Eye. Hilgya, th' Captain, me... ain't none of us got a problem at all layin' down our lives for th' faith." With a humorless snort of laughter, the Knight turns, seating herself on Kezu's rock. "...But's kinda hard t'do when th' faith... th'people... we're dyin' for'd just as soon spit on us as look at us... An', now, when it really matters... Woulda been nice, t'know that sommat had faith in us, Brother..."
Perseipola glowers at her rucksack. "At home, we didn't just hide in our chapels and cut deals with villainous eredar when they threatened our homes and livelihood." She turns, looking to Kezu. "We raised arms and we -fought- the Scourge, fought their undead, fought their demons and followers. We -fought- for what we felt was right in the eyes of the Light. There was none of this cutting of deals with the enemy and making him serve pennance. The enemy -killed- hundreds of thousands of people, wiped away entire nations from the map, and we still stood and fought, Father Kezu." She brings her good hand up and makes a slashing movement on the air. "I watched hundreds of my own troops die by my orders because we -knew- we were fighting to rid us of a danger that threatened our bastions of hope. And you know what, Father Kezu?" Perseipola asks, her eyes dangerously dark. "Those people at those bastions of hope had -faith- in us. They believed we would hold back the plagues, the Scourge, and everything that threatened their peace and tranquility." She pauses, looking at each and everyone in the cave. "They had faith in us because we were warriors and paladins of the Light."
Kezu stares ahead... kneading his hands a bit... watching the floating cup of tea move into his field of vision... watching it for the longest moment, even as Heather comes up to sit on the rock, and Perseipola speaks to him. "...." Unblinking, almost solely a whisper, he speaks. "It was... it was going to be... a trick..."
Heather snorts, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a rush. "Yeah...? Mebbe so... but, c'n I ask y'a question, Brother? When were we gonna be in on it, huh? Mebbe when Tonya did her grovelin', maybe it wouldn't'a been so hard t'swallow. Mebbe if we din't have t'watch the Priests we'd lay down our lives protectin'.... just... sorta go off, one by one, not even a 'thank you,' mebbe then..."
Sion settles against the far wall, and begins sipping at the hot cup of tea, keeping the others floating close by each of their intended recipients before he replies, ((The hardest lesson in life to learn is that people... inevitably... hurt each other... often times without intending to. Well-meaning selfishness, unintended consequence, even... true attempts... in the end, not everyone can be pleased or understand. If you were trying to trick someone, first don't start off by tricking yourself.))
"Trickery is the tool of eredar and the Scourge. The Truth is the weapon of the Light," Perseipola says as she finishes packing her rucksack. The paladin straps the runed spear to her rucksack.
Sion sends to Perseipola, ((Where will you go?))
Kezu shivers, pulling himself up to take the tea. "Tonya's a bitch. She's always been a bitch. The All Father Forgive, but... I've hated her since she married Rikin while we were engaged..." A fierce shiver up and down his spine. "... I was just now coming to tell you all about it..." Another shiver... as he looks to Perseipola. "... Statues..." His ears lower. "I can make statues... come to life..." His ears lower further as he speaks... "We... all we, when we returned to the chapel... I planned... to make... a huge amount of statues... for Kefka..." Now the feline simply stares down into the tea. "We... as a Church, all at once, would present them to him... and just when he's in the highest of joy... we spring the trap..."
"Where will I go?" Perseipola asks as she looks back to Sion. "I hope to find another portal and go home. At least at home, the priesthood and the populace does not abandon its warriors."
Heather closes her eyes, quills and ears flagging. "Captain... C'mon, don't..."
Kezu looks back over to the Paladin, lowering his ears, and mumbling to himself...
Sion sips his tea once more, ((You're doing it again, Perseipola... and I can't make you see it. But if you walk away... all these well-intentioned efforts will be for nothing. Even what he was trying, daring as it was, was inspired by things you had done... he WANTS to fight, but doesn't know how. I cannot teach people how to have faith in the Light... because I am just a necessary evil. I think we both know that. End of the day... I could die, and it won't matter... but your walking away will make Kezu's sermon look like schoolhouse gossip. You want him to stop crying... you stop crying to. This is your home, and these are your people. And by whatever Gods you continue to profess, you swore to protect them. Shelter them. Die for them. Nowhere in the deal did it say you got to walk away from them, even when they walk away from you.))
Heather presses the hells of her hands to her eyes. "Just... tell me one thing, Brother... Seriously... Y'didn't tell me, when we were s'posed t'know..."
Kezu lowers his ears. "... I... I don't know... I guess I felt like I... needed to fix it all myself..." The feline's bangs cover up his eyes as he looks down into the tea...
"And where will they walk when they've walked away from their warriors? How long will it be before this eredar turns on them and destroys them in another fit? He took my arm from me; my blood still stains the Chapel's stairs. How long will it be before he collects heads, Master Sion? How long will it be before he collects the mere life from these people and makes them lifeless, eternal servants?" Perseipola grips the side of her rucksack, pain in her eyes. "How long before there is nothing left to fight for? These people don't understand that, Master Sion. They never will."
<Weather> The breeze dwindles to a faint murmur of Shiva's frigid breath.
Sion moves to stand in front of Perseipola, and reaches up to put a hand on her cheek, subtle shadow against her almost vibrant form, ((I cannot tell you... all I know is what was said before. How and why he was locked away is lost to us... that is the purview of the Greater Spirits. Please...)) And in a strange move he drops to his knees in front of the Paladin, in complete contrast to his previous seeming rage, ((I... I beg you...)) And he hangs his head, ((I beg you to believe in people who have turned away again... all who have failed you, even me. Believe in Kezu, who tried to fight in his own way... Believe in Heather who tries to stand strong in your shadow... in the Espers who live in daily fear they will be turned to weapons and ashes... and... to trust in us... that we will one day restore that belief to you again.))
Heather's ear flicks, taking in a deep breath and leaving Perseipola to Sion, for the moment. "Brother... if you try 'n fix it y'self... then, really... what'n'ell're we good for? It's like I said... That's what we're for. T'fix the Church's problems, ta get hurt f'r th' Clergy... T'do what no one else can..."
Kezu lowers his ears at that, mewing as he brings the tea up to sip softly with shakey hands. "... If you fix all the problems though... then what is the Clergy good for? Are we... are we just supposed to be novelty magic wielders who know a few words? ... We should fight too..." The feline shakes his head. "I know it's not common, but we should fight too..."
Perseipola looks to the Esper Warden, eyes dark. "Don't kneel before me. I'm not some noble that knee is bent to. I'm a paladin of the Light." She finally turns her eyes toward Kezu. "The cloth are supposed to stand behind the armored wall of warriors and paladins, healing, casting their magics, and comfort people at the end of the battle." She looks angered.
Kezu flinches away. "I know no magic!" The feline growls out, ears lowered again. " I don't know how to heal... this... is all I'm good at... making stuff... thinking..."
Heather takes her teacup out of the air, eyes narrowing. "Dammit, Brother... No one ever said y'ain't fighting! Just... couple days ago, Brother. Y'did somethin' good. Somethin' real good. Y'took a buncha Knights, tired, dirty, sore, scared... An' I tell ya, been a long time since I felt that good about my callin'." Her ear flicks, a puzzled glance thrown at Perseipola. "...Ah, yeh. Dunno quite what sh' means, but... All ya had was words, Brother. Faith. An' y'gave it back t'all of us, dammit. Why d'ya think we're hurtin'? Y'geared us up, made us feel like we're doin' what we was meant t'do... All I know's spells'n'sword, but... Hell, even I know a few good words'll turn th' tide of any battle..."
Sion finally stands after a moment, and shakes his head, all hearing, ((I cannot instill faith in anyone, not like any of you. I cannot be a light of judgement, or a light of peace... that was taken from me with my childhood and innocence... everything I've done is because I chose to do it. And if I choose to kneel at the feet of one whom I would call equal, then so be it... For you, the words are clear, to me the All-Father is a whisper... but I still choose to listen... still choose to fight... still choose to forge ahead, even when it looks like all I am doing is moving to darker places. I have faith in you all still, otherwise I would not be here. One person's faith... however small. What is the worth of that.)) He floats Kezu's sword to him, and then turns to leave, the muck still clinging to his knees and boots, fluttering on his longcoat, and marring his scabbard.
<Weather> The wind dies away completely, leaving the air still and the landscape a frozen picture.
The paladin watches as the Esper Warden moves to leave, falling into a brooding silence as she withholds her anger and her righteous fury.
Kezu lowers his ears, watching Sion depart with a clenching of his fists... as he sighs... holding out his hands as the sword drops into them. "..." Silence. The feline stares down at the ground, the tea having spilt when he grabbed the sword. "... Merf..."
Heather passes her cup over to Kezu, the porcupise apparently in little mood for pleasant drink. "Seriously, Brother... Y'do y'best fightin' with y'words... If y'can get the lot o' us movin'... Jus' think what y'could do if y'preached what y'believed in... An' I know it ain't dealin' with that bastard spirit or his cronies, hunh?"
Kezu perks one ear at Heather, eyes glancing sideways at her tea, with a blush. "Thanks..." With a movement of his hand, the buzzing sword finds itself back in it's alternate reality, while he takes the tea with both hands. "... No... I believe in true individuality and the ultimate honesty behind all things..."
Heather scratches behind one ear, closing her eyes. "...Hate it out here, y'know... Hate bein' hungry, hate sleepin' on rocks, hate havin' t' tear up my nightclothes cos' I'm on m'red-days... an' I HATE NOT HAVIN' CHOCOLATE..." A series of small, dry crackles is heard, as she clenches a handful of quills. "...But t'Hades if I'm'a take a good bed an' good food, if I hafta march under th'fucker's eye with a smile t'get it."
Kezu blinks a little bit, lowering his ears. "You... really don't want to go into subterfuge, huh...? Do... most of the knights feel that way?" A mewf is heard from him, tail swishing gently from left to right.
Heather lets out a quiet breath, closing her eyes. "Ain't that, Brother... Just... We know what we're good at. Some Knights as can play at sneakin' 'round, doin' shady stuff... An' then there's us. All we really know t'do is find evil, an' kill it."
The sun slowly sinks over the horizon.
Kezu lowers his head. "... You want to know how to make statues come to life, Heather?"
Heather's eyebrow lifts slightly, mouth quirking. "Eh, bet I wouldn't mind, but kinda expect I aint gonna be all'al good at it... S'not a bad idea, though, good stone army t'back us up..."
Kezu smiles... "Yeah... if you've ever been to my shop, you'll know why I have 5 statues." He looks down into the tea. "One's of Gilgamesh, surrounded by 10 swords... and another is Bahumat looking over a long depiction of a spirit battle on my front counter..."
Heather nods slowly. "So... Thinkin' of puttin' up s'more, then?"
Kezu chuckles. "... Hee..." He smiles at you, motioning you near the entrance. Slowly, he pulls out a crystal, a strange, clear crystal... not translucent, but literally clear, where you very nearly cannot see it... and places it upon the ground. With a snap of his fingers, it shatters, and energies dance around, creating a giant slab of... marble? "I can make one for here right now..."
Heather tilts her head slightly, nodding to herself. "Brother... Whatre we gonna do, mh? Don't jus' mean now. I mean, all o' us... We're in a tight spot, now... Can't see much'f a way t'dig back out 'thout bendin' knee t'him..."
Kezu sighs, lowering his head... "... We can... well, we could try to..." A small twitch of his lips. "I think I'm as clueless as you are... I mean, if he does have the support of the emperor... do you think the High Bishop will side with him...? Do we even have a way of contacting the mainland...?"
Heather shrugs a bit. "...Ain't sure, Brother. Jus' know what I see. So, lotta rock, lotta dirt, an' ain't many ways t'go."
<Weather> A light breeze begins to waft gently, stirring the snow along delicate eddies.
Kezu mmmfs, leaning against the marble slab now. "Erf... well... what can we do about Kefka? I mean, seriously... we can stay here, trying to make a giant army of statues... heee... but they don't stay alive for very long. We could try to garner more allies... but..." A shrug... "There aren't that many people brave enough to fight a giant metal beast... maybe we should just pray to the All Father..."
The Captain returns with a small children's book in her hand, followed with an old tome she's pilfered from one of the acolytes hiding here. "Or we can start fighting him by the local superstitions, Father Kezu."
Heather waves a hand. "See, an' that's part o' th' problem... Got people lookin' how they could get hurt, get killed, an' don't stop t'think that stayin' alive ain't always th' best thing, not when y'givin' everythin' up for it... So..." Trailing off, the Lieutenant looks up, tilting her head. Spotting Perseipola, visible relief blooms in her eyes. "Oh thank th' All-Father, y'stayin'..."
Kezu blinks a little bit. "But I haven't even found a mate! I want to at least bond spiritually with someone before I expire..." A sigh... though then his ears lift as he sniffs torwards Perseipola. "Ohoh? Local Superstition? How do you mean, Captain?" The feline's eyes become alight with curiosity.
"Spirits like the Jester are vain, and people who worship him give him the weakness of the local superstition. Salt over one's shoulder, wearing a holy symbol, needing to be invited into a home before they can enter." Perseipola taps the books against her thigh, a bit of conviction in her eyes. "Salt rings, Church Bells, even a priest banishing spirits. They were all in children's books and people don't always think that those stories have truth in them, Father Kezu, Lieutenant."
Kezu lowers his ears. "Maybe someone from the church could banish... but, I don't have a drop of holiness in me..." A chuckle. "I've had to work for every bit of anything I've ever done... but... salt, bells, that I'm sure we can do!" A prrl... "... So, because he's a spirit, that means he's bound by superstition, huh?"
Heather snorts, lips curling up as she shakes her head. "Amazin'..." Her smile vanishes at Kezu's words, and the Lieutenant manages to call up enough fire to give the feline a less-than-gentle smack on the shoulder. "An' you stop tellin' lies, Brother."
Flop. In a near comical way, the 60 lb man falls face forward. Ow~ "Mewww~..." Arm rises.... twitch twitch~
A faint smile comes to the Captain's lips. "First of all, we're going to need the help of Master Sion."
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