wilderlogs | And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

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And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

Who: A queen and her knight
What: New arrivals
Where: Melai Temple entrance
When: Before the Brugh begins
Warnings/Notes: None

The journey to the Temple itself had been largely silent, save for Agrias' occasional notes to remain low, to watch her step, or take her hand. Ovelia had been pouring over in her mind, over and over and over again, just what to say to Agrias beyond the simple platitudes of greeting and expressions of happiness that she was safe. But there was so much more to tell, so much more that remained locked away deep within Ovelia's soul, words she found herself too weak willed to even mutter. So instead she remained quiet, passing off her silence simply as watchfulness, a noble in a strange land trusting in her knight to keep her well...

But now they had reached shelter, and apparently found others, she could no longer keep up that pretense. She had to find a new distraction, something to peel her mind away from what she'd left behind. And the Temple provided just that, draping the monarch in its quiet reverie as she wandered past the main entrance and stood within its grand hall.

"Tis as beautiful and yet... more ancient than any holy place standing still in history's Ivalice...," it felt so strangely familiar to her, as if there was a part of her existence that stretched back thousands of eons to touch this hallowed ground before in some spiritual way. Something that seemed to extend even beyond Ivalice's own Great Cataclysm, into truly ancient times. She could feel the presence here of God... but what name this God held was still unknowable to her. And in a soothing way... she didn't have to know their name.

"My thoughts go to Orbonne, and I feel almost as if my prayers would reach them..." she continued wandering into the hall.

[[ feel free to either respond to Ovelia or to Agrias in her top level posted on this post! ]]

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[Closed to Ovelia]

"Are you certain you'd rather not take a moment of rest, my lady?" Naturally, she was concerned.

Of course she was.

There was Agrias, finally reunited with her charge. While there was initially a great deal of relief, the reality of their situation quickly set in. They'd been sent to a strange and unfamiliar land, cut off from friends and allies while gaining countless new foes. She did not appreciate the expectations that had been forced upon her so suddenly, even less knowing that Her Majesty had been enlisted as well.

Though if saving this land would in turn save Ivalice, then she was bound by duty to assist.

And at the very least, Ovelia had finally been taken away from those that would see her used for personal gain.

Rather, it was the evils she knew that were no longer within reach.

[Open to All]

With Her Majesty requesting some time for herself, Agrias had been left to her own devices. She scouted the area and took the time to get a personal account of the lay of the land. The temple and the grounds surrounding it seemed secure enough, and while not providing much in the way of comfort, there was plenty of room to sit down and rest.

There would be no rest for this knight, however. There was still much to do.

Introductions were in order.

"Well met. My name is Agrias Oaks, knight of the Lionsguard, in service to the kingdom of Ivalice."

Ovelia gave Agrias a clearly exhausted smile as she turned to her voice, unable to really argue her point. As much as the reverie of the temple held her in a gentle clutch, her body was definitely at its limit...

"I find your suggestion sound, Agrias. Be kind, and find me a place to lay myself for the moment," because standing was definitely proving to be difficult...

"As you wish, My Lady. I'll only be but a moment." She bowed her head and went off in search of appropriate resting quarters. There was a brief moment of hesitation, as Agrias looked over her shoulder to make sure that Ovelia remained well. After being separated from her for so long, she simply couldn't help herself.

A few moments later and the knight returned.

"If Her Majesty will allow me, I have suitable quarters ready." Agrias extended her hand, ready to lead Ovelia. The room itself lacked a proper bed, in addition to furniture as a whole, but she had located several blankets. Not only had she dusted them, but laid them out across the floor one on top of the other.

Hardly fit for a queen, but it would simply have to do.

Edited 2018-04-11 01:19 (UTC)

Even so, it was better than sleeping in the mossy grass outside.

"You have done well, Agrias," she was already unfastening her cape, intending to use it as a cover itself, since it still kept her nicely warmed...

"Ah, but... Where will you be resting, then?"

"I needn't rest just yet, My Lady. Truthfully my intention is to stand guard as you recover."

A knight was to remain ever vigilant.

Familiar threats may have been out of their reach, but the unknown dangers remained ever present.

Okay, she couldn't say she didn't feel that answer coming, but she still couldn't help a small scoff at it. The journey had worn down some of her practiced politeness, and of course she always did feel more comfortable being blunt with Agrias.

"I would think not, Agrias, you speak of silliness. You've traveled the same road I have in this strange place and you think to convince me you are not also tired?"

Agrias sighed. There she was, a hardened warrior and a seasoned veteran, cornered and bested by her charge. It was impressive, in a way, and it did speak towards the level of closeness they had with one another.

"I'll not make a liar out of you, My Lady."

She had simply pushed forward regardless of limits, pushing aside the need for rest as long as her body would allow.

"I do not mean to be harsh...," she shook her head, reaching once more for Agrias' hand.

"But you are allowed to sheath your blade. I sense nothing ill in this hallowed place. There is space enough for us both here to lay and rest..."

Agrias had come to expect moments of rest as being few and far between, especially when considering the road ahead. Often times she had gone above and beyond what was expected of her, simply thinking it to be part of her duties.

"How long have we found ourselves here, in these strange and unfamiliar lands, that I'm already conceding to you, Your Majesty."

She grabbed the Queen's hand with her own, offering Ovelia a brief smile.

"It does my heart and spirit good."

Ovelia returned the smile, small, delicate, but still warm.

"And it makes my own heart glad to know you'll set aside your duties for a moment. I am certain one of the kind strangers here will wake us if we tarry too long in slumber."

Agrias nodded, herself and Ovelia settling and making themselves comfortable on the blankets. All the while, she refused to let go of the Queen's hand.

"My Lady."

She squeezed Ovelia's hand gently.

"Not a day passed where you did not occupy my thoughts. Where I did not yearn to return to your side."

While Agrias' words weren't particularly surprising, they still inspired a worried look in Ovelia's face, carrying through to her tone, though it was gentle.

"Agrias... Do not feel guilt for being apart from me. Ramza had more than earned my trust to care for you, and your sword was needed in his quest..." And there was no way the Duke, much less Delita, would have allowed Agrias to live, either.

"It's as you say, My Lady." Never once did she come to regret joining Ramza's cause. The Church's corruption extended further than anyone could've ever imagined. The solution was to remove it at its origin, though even then, there remained more to be done.

"My sword was needed. And now my sword is once again yours, as it has ever been."

"Should you find a way back home, know that I will still return you to his service, Agrias. I... I am honored by your pledge, but...," her grip tightened.

"Many things have changed... since last we met in Ivalice proper."

"My Lady's words ring true. I shall see your will be done. The good people of Ivalice shall continue to want for succor in the months and years to come. But I ask of you, My Lady, knowing that I am but a knight in your service as well."

Agrias paused for a moment, eyes locked forward.

"To please allow me to remain by your side until that day arrives."

Edited 2018-04-12 04:41 (UTC)

... It almost hurt, how earnest Agrias' desire to be with her was. How much it harkened her to a more innocent time in both their lives. Days spent at the monastery, making flower crowns with Alma, watching Lavian and Alica train...

It was all so far away now, literally and figuratively. She could never go back. But in that moment, looking into Agrias' eyes, hearing her plead with her to allow her to continue to serve her... She wanted, desperately, enough to choke, for those days to return.

This world was no Heaven. But she knew that she couldn't return with Agrias, all the same. And that was what wounded her the most. It took every ounce of mental fortitude she possessed to fight back her tears.

"Of course... I would not see you turned away here. You are the bridge which connects me still to Ivalice..."

"A knight, eh? Good to meet you. I'm Garviel Loken."

The pale giant, clad in a simple grey chiton offers his hand as a way of greetings. He doesn't offer his own affiliation. Better that she simply know him by his name than as an agent of the Throne, and the silent war which was even now being fought so far away.

She shakes their hand in return, locking eyes with them as well. Agrias appraises them momentarily, taking note of their size and build. While she has no qualm about travelling with a group, one can never be too careful, especially with her queen being kept in such close proximity as well.

"Might I ask you some questions?"

"Certainly. You may consider me at your service for this purpose for as long as you need."

He nods his head, and shifts his weight slightly, trying to look as receptive as he can to questions.

"I would ask you what you know so far." A bit of a general question to start with, but Agrias would not be selective with the type of information she was looking for.

"Of our role, and the lands we're to act in."

"From what I understand, we're interlopers brought here to save this place, and the people of this world. Beyond that, I haven't ventured too far out into it. To my shame, I would day. Information is victory, after all. Perhaps once those who we must travel with are all gathered here I will, however.

His shoulders sag a bit, "It's not the first time I've been seen as a savior. I hope this time we're able to push back the darkness a bit, and not let fratricide steal our happiness in the hour of our victory."

"A favorable opinion from the people would be preferred, but not always possible. 'Tis far too easy for the influential few in power to sway that very opinion."

Who would history see in a more agreeable light?

They heroes intended to be seen?

Or those who knew the truth?

"Information is victory, and misinformation no less effective."

"Yes. I know all too well the power of lies and treachery. They tore apart the Imperium of man, and turned my brotherhood against each other."

He sighs, and says, "We must carry the light of truth with us as far as we can, and hope our word prevails when it is tested against the lies of those that would oppose us."

[Hiccup is sitting in the hall, sketching a picture of the statues with charcoal and parchment. Toothless is curled around behind him.]

Oh, hey. You're definitely new.

-She turns to the sound of the young man, startled at first by Toothless, but the beast's posture and calm eyes put her at relative ease somewhat quickly. A tamed dragon, then... She wondered if the young man was a Dragonkin. Though it felt rude to ask.-

Ah, yes. I am. Are you native to this land?

Nope, not us. Toothless and I showed up here the same way I'm assuming you did. Well, roughly the same. Yours probably involved less running and being attacked by monsters with rotating blades for hands.

I'm Hiccup, by the way. Don't mind the lump. Toothless here is a big soft-OW! Hey!

[The yelp is due to the now amused dragon with the honking laugh kicking him in the back.]

-The man's description of blade-handed monsters was a bit alarming, but whatever thought she had was immediately ejected by the sight of Toothless's playful kicking. Ovelia let out a somewhat un-noble-like giggle, covering her mouth as she did so.-

Methinks your friend holds little appreciation for being addressed as a 'lump', Ser Hiccup.

[Hiccup gives Toothless a brief look, which us returned with a toothless smile.]

I think it was the part about him being a softie he objected to. If we're going with honorifics, it's actually Chief Hiccup. I'd prefer just Hiccup, though.

Tis a pleasure, either way, Hiccup. And it's wonderful to meet you as well, Toothless. -She didn't hold back her giggle this time, though she did follow up with a polite bow to the dragon. She could see why he was named that way...-

Another knight watches her from the edges of the temple outbuildings. Clad in a grey chiton, and looking exhausted, his face bruised from some previous unfortunate encounter. He approaches when he hears the words of prayer and says, "I've found often enough that prayers in unknown fanes lead to poor things indeed. But forgive my approach without my name. I am Garviel Loken."

He is also a giant, though one seemingly concerned about her wellbeing, his scarred and bruised face suggesting real concern in an earnest expression.

Giant indeed. His sheer mass, especially compared to her own, startled her at first, causing her to take a few stumbled steps backwards, but it was hard to miss the gentleness in his words, in his expression, all the same...

"Well met, Ser Loken... I am...," she hesitates for a moment, her eyes straying as she thinks of how to have herself addressed. In truth, her rank mattered little in this realm... and it would change how people chose to interact with her.

"You may call me Ovelia. And despite your warnings, I feel no such darkness here. Rather, I find myself comforted by this place. Do you not also?"

"I wish I could say that I did, but I have only ever had bad experiences in temples. The songs without a source that I can find are most pertubatory to my humors."

A faint smile does play across his face when she calls him Ser Loken. For he is a knight-errant of sorts, tasked by the second most powerful man in the galaxy to secretly protect humanity.

"But it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ovelia. Is that your family name, or your first name?"

"It is the name that I trust to others," a slightly defensive answer, and her posture sold it.

"I will not press you further. We all must keep secrets, but know that I intend you no ill. My kind were made to protect humanity."

He smiles, a little sadly. "I will admit our imposing appearance often poses some difficulties towards convincing others of that. Some of my cousins even look.... demonic."

"You've great conviction in your words, Ser Loken, and I believe them as you speak, but even so...," she let out a small sigh.

"Ovelia is also the only name that matters in this place"

"Indeed. That is why I spoke without title or rank when introducing myself. Such things mean little here. I hope... I hope your time here is a peaceful one."

He looks around the temple. "I shall admit this is very unfamiliar to me. Rustic... even primitive. How does this place appear to your eyes?"

"Tis ancient... a time before my own, to be sure. Perhaps even before the Great Cataclysm," she looked about a well, stepping into the light and feeling its warmth...

"Great cataclysm? What happened to your world?"

He thinks on the catastrophe that has overtaken his own world, but decides not to share it for the moment. Better to hear this young woman out and know her story.

It wasn't until his reaction that she realized the name alone, to those who are not from Ivalice, would make things sound much worse than they were... And for all she knew, they were probably, right, but...

"In the ancient history of Ivalice, an event occurred which irreparably changed the world as it was known to be. We refer to it as the Great Cataclysm."

"Oh... I think I understand a bit more now. Was it like an earthquake or..." He searches for a word she'd probably be likely to follow that wouldn't be a technical description.

"A volcano?"

Ovelia shook her head, politely.

"No, twas beyond anything like that. Entire nations crumbled, races disappeared from the land. It has oft been attributed to divine anger..."

"That sounds awful. But you indicated it was long ago?"

He seems quite interested. Like he'd discuss history for years, if given the chance.

"Yes, several centuries at least, back in the time of the King Mesa and Saint Ajora," two figures he'd likely not recognize, but there was some reverie in which the way their names were spoken.

"I see. Will you tell me a bit about this monarch and holy person, then? If you would like I can tell you tales of the Imperium of man in return."

He smiles a bit. The idea of recounting the golden age in this place seems like a pleasant way to pass the time for him.

"Hero-King Mesa was the last of the Ivalice Dynast-Kings, from what I understand. He was among the Twelve Zodiac Braves that are said in legend to have fended off the Lucavi, devils born of the Catalcylsm that attempted to destroy the rest of Ivalice. Saint Ajora was their leader, a great and revered holy figure. Together, they destroyed the Lucavi and united the seven kingdoms of Ivalice under one crown, worn by King Mesa's heir, as King Mesa sailed off into the Great Ocean to spread the word of Ajora's works..." she looked thoughtful as she spoke, recalling all of her studies at Orbonne...

"Saint Ajora himself, however, challenged the power of the Pharist Church and of the Holy Ydoran Empire, especially now that Ivalice was a united state under one rule, rather than the divided powers that once fought among themselves. When Saint Ajora was tried for heresy and crucified, it is said God's wrath caused a great tide of destruction to sweep the entirety of the Ydoran capital beneath the waves... The people of Ivalive revered Saint Ajora as a messiah, someone who finally brought order to the world after the Cataclysm had nearly destroyed it, and rid Ivalice of the iron fist of the Pharists. Thus the Church of Glabados was established in Saint Ajora's name, and stands to this day...," she trails off at the end there...

"However, tis only my own honesty in which I can say that since Saint Ajora's time, the Church has become just as corrupt as the Pharists of old..."

[[ fair warning, half of this is head-canon, since the ivalice mythos isn't super detailed or well connected ]]

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And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

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