Scene #357:

Owner	Pose
Faruja	Faruja Senra slowly awakens, body heavy and his head throbbing. The Burmecian sits up, pushing aside the covers as he peers about the small room he's in; a tiny makeshift hospital in the local white mage's hut. The rodent rubs his eye and peers about. Memory assaults him, and he shudders. It's true. The little Heretic was /right/! It burns him to the core to know that the man truly was his leader. He'd hoped, and prayed that he was wrong. But it's true. Sobbing quietly, the rat curls up on his side.
Finna	"Finally awake, are you? About time!" States a concerned voice from the corner. Clara - the lean and nimble girl with the yellow star tattoo in adventurer's clothing - is seated in the corner. "... Kinda wondered if you wouldn't, after what happened... you're pretty tough, holy man!" There's, yes, a hint of admiration in the young woman's tone, despite the rough delivery.
Faruja	Faruja blinks, and bolts up in surprise, groaning as his wounds from the night and pure exhaustion hit him. Scowling, he wipes away his undignified tears. "Whom...wait, the mercenary." He rubs his temples, and takes a few deep breaths. Finding his cross, he clenches it, saying a few prayers. "Ye took me from that place? Mine thanks, M'Lady." He offers first, sounding tired. "The Lord blessed me with a desire to live, if naught else. What about the others? ARt they alive? Art ye unharmed? What didst ye see? Tell me everything." Rapid-fire questions the Inquisitor.
Finna	"What happened? Some nasty sorcerer tanked your dragon friend to the face, dragged out a woman dressed for her own funeral from further in and called her Loffrey. They mentioned something about having Alessia and magicked themselves away. Where? Hell if I know." She folds her arms, giving Faruja a somewhat sour look. "You put me through so much trouble... do you know how HEAVY all that armor is?! Why can't you travel lighter..." Mutter, grumble. Her words are sour, but at least she cares! "... That other guy probably wouldn't've dragged you out without money... but no, I dragged you alright. Through the swamp, and the woods... I'm alright, and so are the others, but you owe me!"
Faruja	The rodent tilts his head, and licks his muzzle. "...Ye art not native to Ivalice?" he asks, looking about. He snags a glass of water and a package of medicine, swallowing both. After a minute of silence, he manages a smile. "That heavy armor is likely why I am alive, M'Lady. Be careful if ye see those individuals, hmm? They art nay doubt daemon-worshippers. Cultists. /Heretics/." There's more than a small amount of venom in those last words of the rodent's. Both hands go up, and then he gives a half bow. "The Children of Faram ever know their debts. By He in Heaven, Holy Faram, doth I swear that I shall repay mine debt to ye in a manner befitting what is owed. In the name of the Lord and His Divine Son, Amen." "It seems ye hath quite the heart, then, for a mercenary. Tell me. Where art ye from?" Inquires the rat, leaning back. Talking, at least, distracts him from the hole in his soul made by his leader's betrayal.
Finna	"Sure ain't!" The young woman grins, tapping a finger against her cheek while casting a vibrant gaze at the inquisitor... though the playful demeanor washes away when he turns so serious. Her shoulders bunch up as she hears the oath, and a much more solemn expression settles across her face. Her lips twist about left, and right... then, with a half-sigh of reluctance... The woman's flesh ripples and melts. It's not a very DRASTIC change. Her overall body shape stays the same, but her hair turns white and extends down her back, her skin turns several shades paler, the star mark on her cheek vanishes, her clothes turn into those of a hunter of the north.. Icy blue eyes now peer at him, Finna's lips quirking up into a knowing smile while the fox ears from her head twitch lightly back and forth alertly. Her tail though, extending out the chair's back, is going a mile a minute. "Well, no, I'm not from around here at all!"
Faruja	Faruja's eye goes wide, and he falls off of the bed! Thud! Roll roll. There is now a ratpriest burrito. "'Tis /ye/! Ye art the one from the sewers in Lordaeron!" He licks his muzzle, pausing. "Why were ye taking upon the guise of a mercenary? Ye wouldst easily hath been able to pass as thineself. Though given the situation...mayhaps 'tis for the best. Hmph. An Exalted."
Finna	"yes! That's me!" Finna hops up from the chair to hover over Faruja... and unroll him, as an afterthought, since that position doesn't look at all comfortable. "Finna's the name... and you know an awful lot for a native of this world, don't you? More than I'd guessed. So you KNOW of the Exalted?!" Her own eyes widen a little. "... Hrmph... turning the tables on me... well, one rarely leans everything there is to see from a situation when you have only one perspective. So I use many perspectives!"
Faruja	Spinspin! Soon enough, the rat stands up, and brushes off his fur. "Much obliged." Sigh. His dignity, it is scratched. His tail flicks. Faruja finally smiles, an honest one. "I am glad to see ye, then, Lady Finna. I hath visited 'Creation', or one version of it. Alongside the Empress of the world, I fought a so-called 'Solar Exalted'. Insane, twisted wretch. While from what I hath read, this 'Scarlet Empress' is naught more than a tyrant, she at least is not outfitting the local citizenry with weapons for arms, and stealing their very wills through Heretical magicks. Tell me more of thine kind, hmm?" Cue interested rat! A nod. "And what exactly is it ye wish to see in Ivalice? Is it merely curiousity that drives ye? Or something /more/?"
Finna	Finna listens... but halfway through it she does a nasty double-take, stance stieffeening. The wagging tail freezes. "The EMPRESS?! Isn't she missing?! ... ... perhaps it's a different Creation..." Finna taps her fingers together in a somewhat childish yet thoughtful way, lips pursing. "... other Creations, who would have guessed..." Finna hops onto the bed. "My Elders have said that the Solar Exalted are prone to madness, but I hear such mixed reports about their deeds... thankfully, it was not the Sun who Chose me, but the Moon." She spins around on the bed, sitting with her legs sideways and leaning on an arm. "I am one of Luna's Chosen, the Lunar Exalted. We are charged with stewardship of all Creation, and to most of us that means tearing down the Empire's false rulership and keeping the horrors of chaos from the Wyld at bay... for me, well, for the moment, this Multiverse has grabbed my attention! So many incredible sights and places and experiences! But then I came across this place, so similar on the surface... and Lordran, similar too... not like those worlds with the glass and stone towers reaching tall as redwood trees!" Skyscrapers, probably? "... it WAS mere curiosity tos tart with, but now... now I discover there are DEMONS about. Not good, yes? My Elders would be interested to know of them and whether they are a new threat we need to worry about." So, apparently, she's investigating?
Faruja	Faruja smiles. "'Twas a shock for many at the time. Mine ignorance of Creation is great, therefore, she was naught more than another monarch at the time. And still is, frankly." Huff. Faruja doesn't like the woman, as much as he sees her as useful. Faruja takes in the information, tilting his head. "Interesting. A rebel of sorts, then? Thine kind is powerful, and...well, /subtle/. Just nay going about pretending to be any members of the Church, hmm? As an Inquisitor, I wouldst find that most /irritating/." He glares a bit. "Ye shan't find such 'modern' buildings in Ivalice. Merely edifices to the Glory of Faram, Lady Finna. But yes, we hath quite the problem with demons. Nor art these ones ye may simply slay. Ye must do so quietly. Otherwise? Let us say their power is not merely physical. In Ivalice, true power is political. Stronger than any Exalt, political power. Ye aught indeed be worried. Whom art these Elders of yours?"
Finna	"...Urgh. Politics." Making a face of disgust, Finna draws her legs in and sits cross-legged instead. "Always butting in when you don't want 'em! What, they'd cause a scandal, not just a crusade? ... Strange. Hrmf... don't worry, the last thing I need is more trouble!" "The Elders, as in the older Lunars. REALLY old. Thousands of years old! .. some just centuries. They'd take exception if I spoke too much about them... and some of them aren't worth wasting breath on. But they know more about the mess Creatin's in than I do. Having information's the first step to solving problems, isn't it?"
Faruja	"They wouldst see ye 'removed', either publically, or discretely, depending upon just whom ye art." Answers the rat bluntly. Ears tilt. Faruja smiles. "Mayhaps, then, I aught meet some of the more...reasonable, Elders? Daemons art something that aught be utterly wiped out. If ye needst assistance in removing such blights upon the Lord's works..." He leaves the question hanging. "We could, after all, be potent allies if ye think the same as thine Elders. Owe ye much loyalty to them? Information is the greatest weapon in any conflict." agrees the rat.
Finna	"Loyalty... hm. Yes, and no." Finna answers, grinning. "It's recognition, training, and favors I seek... and nothing comes for free, Templar. So where else am I going to find things the Elders haven't already seen but the Multiverse? That, and I really AM worried about this big mess of worlds..." She answers honestly, a far cry of difference from her previous trickery. "... and you could try. But I wouldn't bet on success, next to dealing with the problem here! Who WAS that man in the crypt? You recognized him."
Faruja	A brow rises. "Ahh, but a hefty price ye ask! Mayhaps, if ye art discrete, they art things I may offer ye." Replies the rat, smiling. Favors, and training he can do. Recognition? Perhaps once the corruption is cleansed from the Church. "Well said. The Multiverse is a blessing, my Child. Opportunities for all of those of good Faith and Heart to see wrongs righted, and all shown the glory and truth of God!" Preaches the rat, ears perking up. "Regardless. I wouldst like to meet them. I hath something of a...convincing tongue when I wish it." A deep breath. "Nay use in hiding what ye might discover on thine own. High Templar Folmarv Tengille, and Templar Loffrey." Admits the rat. "The leader of mine Order. Bluntly put, I believe him to be Possessed of a Demon of Legend. He shall either be destroyed along with the Daemon, or purged of this corruption. And then executed as a traitor to the Church for such...weakness of spirit."
Finna	"... oho? What a generous man you are! I just might take you up on that offer... but." She frowns. "Demon of LEGEND? ... They're not merely demons? Something greater still?! ... Perhaps it's good I didn't press the attack earlier... th-that man was pretty mighty! Even all three of us together might not've won.. you'll need help to bring in someone like that... especially if they're a superior. But oh, they're your superior... that means you have a problem."
Faruja	"Quite. Saint Ajora himself, the Son of Faram, fought a Lucavi demon alongside his twelve Zodiac Braves. Only through their combined might didst they defeat the Daemon. Truly, if the creature truly wished it, we wouldst hath been slain utterly. I fear 'tis part of a larger plan. As I hath said, their strength belies one thing: planning. The demon possessing my superior nay doubt hath a plan. I know not to what end, however, I shan't live to see it to completion. Nay. I shall see his design ended!" Faruja nods emphatically. "Quite. Therefore, I need trustworthy companions. Ones close to me that I might trust utterly. And those whom art, so far as Ivalice knows, utterly unrelated to myself. I am in some small position of power. And if I possess certain assets whom might disguise themselves freely..." He looks to Finna, gravely. "Then mayhaps, I aught see them torn asunder, and live to ensure other such creatures doth not gain a foothold here." The unasked question of whether she's in or out remains.
Finna	"THAT sounds like a tale from the Primordial War... really old, really bad..." Finna states, shoulders shrinking in with clear worry. "... Something like that running around'd be dangerous to any world, not just this one... okay, you've got my attention!" wait, wait WHAT? Did she just beeline for this crazy mess? Apparently. Because she scoots to the edge's bed. "So you need a sneak... no doubt you can't do too much of that, huh? Lucky for you, that's my specialty. But there's still a problem here. See... this Templar Folmarv? Now knows... YOU know."
Faruja	Faruja closes his eye, and nods. Grim determination overcomes him. "More dangerous than I fear we /both/ believe." A shiver. Faruja's frightened. But he knows what he must do. An Inquisitor is there to destroy corruption. No matter how high an office they hold. "Alright. I shall accept thine assistance. Prove worth mine trust, hmm?" "'Sneaking' is quite possibly mine worst trait. A preacher lives for being loud, open, and honest." "So he does. He all but invited me to war amongst the shadows. And so it shall be. Publically? I shall be the valiant, warm mage-knight. Privately? We shall wage a war amidst the small places of Ivalice. I require power, martial, and political to overcome this obstacle. Lord willing, he shall fall. And those such as thee, Lady Finna." A hand is offered to shake. "For now, I must rest. Let us meet more oft, hmm? In thine world, where the eyes of the High Templar art blind. We shall overcome this trail, for Faram only tests us with that which we may overcome, nay matter how dire it may seem."