Here's hoping for a Christmas Miracle

[zodiac_brave]

Who: Ramza, Jack, Ashe, Chrom, Zelda, OU Yuna, MarKus, any other volunteers
What: Ramza is proposing a Christmas time peace with the Empire to deliver presents and warning Kurma that his city is going to be a crystal in a month or so.
Where: The Imperial Capital
When: December 24th (crazy forward dated)
Warnings: There will probably be consequences for our stupidity. This may include, but is not limited to, death, torture, capture, immolation, and/or extreme exasperation on the parts of all NPCs involved.

Ramza was not sure whether it was the ‘Santa’ job affecting him, or if it was his own ideals, but either way, as Christmas approached, he knew what he needed to do. The Heroes of Light had reached out and given gifts to the kids of every city but one. The Imperial children, the ones who were in imminent danger of crystallization in the upcoming months, had not been visited by Santa and his helpers. Even if Cid was convinced the Empire was full of monsters, Ramza could not believe that of the children. There were lives worth saving there, and he would not write them off.

If there was ever a time to reach out to the Empire, it was now. Ramza had a bag full of presents, and he was certain that if he could just explain his reasoning, he would be allowed in to distribute them. And once inside, perhaps he could find Kurma and warn him of what they’d learned from the Sage on the Continent of Ruin.

They had failed to save the people of Aqures Tosf, and Ramza was determined to never let a tragedy of that magnitude happen again, not even if it killed him.

Comments

[shepherd_prince]

"So it seems, but... Ramza has a lot of faith in his plans." Chrom had a lot of respect for that. If someone believed in peace that fiercely, enough to put his life on the line to prove that belief, then Chrom would be ashamed not to do the same. He had seen the effects firsthand in his own world. All things were possible. "Given what he's been through the last time he tried, the fact that he's willing to try again may be proof enough of his intentions. It might be the one thing that can change their minds."

The information withholding, however, remained a problem. He frowned a little, expressing his frustration. "I don't suppose they were kind enough to tell us what we needed to do in order to be ready, did they?"

[not_most_days]

"Aye, Ramza is a good kid. A bit too innocent and idealistic for some of what we're dealing with, but we'd be in worse shape if we didn't have him." She offered Chrom something of a sad smile, "Some of us need to be the example that others of us can't reach. And then we can take care of those dirty things in the dark so they don't have to."

Her knife in the dark hadn't been needed all that much yet compared to home, but she was more than willing to take that blood on her hands to spare others like Ramza and Ib from shouldering that burden.

"As for right now, I think they just wanted to know what to expect. See if there's anything we can use to help at the bargaining table. Or any traps we should watch for." She looked around with interest. It certainly seemed like the right sort of place to lay some seeds of subversion, but things didn't seem so bad that they would quickly take root and blossom. At least not as fast as their purposes needed.

[shepherd_prince]

"Perhaps," Chrom replied with no small measure of reluctance. "But taking care of dirty things must remain as a last resort, only when all else has failed." He didn't want to do anything that might upset Ramza's plans, or insinuate that he was too naive and good to be respected as a warrior. If he wanted peace, then they needed to be representatives of that peace, and show a united front.

No disintegrations, Kidd.

As for the rest of what she had to say, he could nod in agreement. They'd come for knowledge, not to stir up dissent and chaos. If they were to incite a rebellion, then the people might be reluctant to move should the emperor command it to be done.

"I think we could take one more pass, perhaps stop at the tavern to see if we overhear any gossip, but it doesn't seem like we have much to fear at the moment. I'm worried that the public seems so calm. They may not know what is coming."

[not_most_days]

Kidd gave Chrom a simple nod at his chiding. She didn't disagree with him. But the fact remained she was a criminal back home, and a trained killer. While she enjoyed a good fight she generally took no joy in the taking of a life. But sometimes certain things needed to be done for the sake of humanity at large.

But this was indeed Ramza's plan and she wasn't going to cause trouble for it. She was just here to cut a bloody path back out if it came to it. And so Ramza wouldn't have to.

"Sounds fine to me. And more likely if they do know something they trust their Emperor to take care of it." Her tone was flat. As far as they knew the Emperor may well have a plan. They certainly had the technology at their disposal to do something, whatever it was. "But you're right. It doesn't seem like we have anything to worry about from the folk here." The major players of the Empire on the other hand remained the vipers they'd always been in her mind.

[shepherd_prince]

"Agreed. Let's carry on, then." Chrom smiled, and turned down another broad avenue with a casual, seemingly purposeless stroll.

As they wandered through the streets, passing merchants and citizens going about their business, Chrom's brow began to furrow further. Someone was buying a broom, he noticed. Another was haggling with a merchant to sell his chocobo.

Chrom jerked his head faintly toward the tavern and ducked inside, purchasing a pair of ales for the two of them as they found a table to sit and listen. The talk and banter was free and easy, speaking of the upcoming holidays and gifts that were meant to be exchanged, talking of the weather, gossiping about the latest romantic conquests.

On the table, Chrom's hand became a fist. "They don't know. Damn it, they have no idea what's coming." Why?