Citizen Soldiers

[shepherd_prince]

WHO: Chrom, Jaune Arc, Selphie Tilmitt, OPEN
WHAT: Chrom wants to see how much work it will take to make Nabila inhabitable again (if it can still be salvaged), and takes Jaune and Selphie along with him. But their luck sours when they encounter a Calamity Tonberry skulking around town!
WHEN: March 1st, 2017
WHERE: Nabila
NOTES: Will edit your character into the setting post if you want to join them.


Much as Chrom disliked the idea of going into dangerous territory without donning the Crystal Knight advanced job, he had to admit that the Santa Claus job had aided him in surprising ways in the past. He couldn't easily switch between his jobs either, and so it was that he had to maintain Paladin and Santa when they made the journey south.

On the way over, Chrom took care to explain to Jaune and Selphie (primarily the former) why the journey was necessary. The people of this city, former enemies, had been forced to flee as refugees when the Calamity had threatened to crystallize the entirety of the continent. Since then, peace had been made between the two nations, working together to stand against the greater threat that the Calamity posed. The majority of the Herans from Nabila had found shelter in Balicea and the Santa Village, and Chrom had been one of the many individuals who had moved to evacuate people from their homes to escort them to safety.

Now that the crystal had retreated, the land was habitable once more, but afflicted with extremely dangerous monsters. Chrom wished to take back the city that had been stolen from the Herans and make it safe to live there once more, for the people deserved to have their homes. However, if it was deemed too dangerous to recover, then that was a bitter truth he'd be forced to accept. There wasn't much time before the final battle with Garland as well, and for all he knew, that could change things dramatically. Even so, it was better to be actively engaged for the welfare of the people while they waited for that showdown, in his opinion.

They disembarked from the borrowed airship, waving the pilot off with the agreement to meet again in eight hours. That should give them time enough to scout around and compile a list of things that needed to be done.

"I thank you for accompanying me," Chrom smiled at his younger companions. "Adjusting to this world is no easy task, and this mission is dangerous. Between the three of us, however, I think we'll manage to stay alive."

Comments

[boomchucka]

Selphie had been part of the group responsible for the crystal receding and she felt it was part of her duty to see what was really going on in the world around them. She had only travelled to Esdham for business and other places to help her friends but this time was different. Sporting some new equipment to keep her safer in the upcoming battles, she waved to the pilot before surveying the land. Something felt off to her about the contaminated area as she pulled the gloves on her hands up a little tighter.

"So this is where the Herans lived, huh? I'm sure they'll be happy to get their home back but we've gotta do something about these monsters first."

Her right hand moved to rest on the hilt of her sword before moving back to check that her nunchaku was still firmly in place on her back. Her job skills had made so she could change between either weapon so having Strange Vision at her back made her feel more at ease being in the strange land. She fully intended to put her warrior skills to good use in case things went hairy in a hurry.

"Lemme know if you need healing, okay?" She nodded at Chrom, them to Jaune with a small smile. "I'll patch you up as best as I can."

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud found out about the excursion a little late, but he was eager to get away from Aqures Ixen and the tense mood there as everyone was preparing. Getting out and doing something would do him more good to get ready than just sitting around waiting or beating up another training dummy. After some insistent pecks he wound up bringing Zack along as well. Besides, he had some lingering guilt and worry about the areas that had been closest to the spread of the Calamity when it began. Like Chrom, he was concerned about what the upcoming engagement with Garland would do to the area, but he held out hope that things might change for the better when it was all over.

With Chrom taking the Paladin role, Cloud went with Dark Knight to compliment his Onion Knight collection. He gripped the hilt of the First Tsurugi as they disembarked. It still felt odd to use the sword of the future self he had rejected, but he had to admit it was well designed.

"Here and in the Imperial City to the south, though it was mostly military there. It reminded me of home, honestly." Midgar moreso than Nibelheim, but still. He nodded to the others, ready to go and happy to be joining them. It was up to Chrom if they'd let Zack along as well but the bird clearly wanted to come.

no one said anything about airships

[arcward]

Jaune had barely left the city before now, and the method of travel was a big part of it - airships and him didn't get along. He focused as best he can on what Chrom's saying; he's going to school to be a hunter, after all, so this kind of mission sounded similar to one's back at Beacon and he knew how important the mission debrief was. As soon as they touch down, though, he's off the ship and heaving in a bush. In hindsight he should have waited for the rest of the group, but hey, at least he made it through the ride this time.

He wanders back and nods shakily at Selphie's offer with a slight smile, not quite up to speaking yet. Or dancing. Or any type of combat, really. Hopefully they have a few minutes before anything shows up, but just in case he follows his partners' leads and draws his own sword and shield.

[heartofthesword]

Like Cloud, Kenshin had been late to hear word of Chrom's plan to embark on a survey of Nabila, or otherwise would have joined the party much earlier. His time in the city had allowed him to cross paths with Chrom only once, but that was time enough for the other swordsman to make a good impression. Selphie Tilmitt and Jaune Arc he knew only by word of mouth, but once Kenshin heard the three of them planned to undertake the quest together, he felt compelled to add what strength he could to their pary - and hopefully to know each one a little better.

Nabila was another of those cities yet unknown to him, and what news Kenshin heard from the region as he approached was somber. Much of the news in these lands is, he reflected sadly. He hoped the presences of some of the Heroes of Light might make a difference here. Or at least cheer those people who remained, still clinging to the land they loved.

The touchdown of the enormous airship was impossible to miss even from a distance (and days after his arrival, Kenshin still could not believe such things existed - to think a ship would ever roam the skies!), and so Kenshin hurried to meet the party there. Despite his own garb of a Ninja, Kenshin made himself easy to spot, his red ponytail swishing like a charger's tail behind him as he ran to greet Chrom and the others. At last he came to a halt, a hand raised and a smile spread in greeting-

Just in time to see Jaune bid his previous meal a hasty goodbye, doubled over a bush.

Oro. Kenshin winced his sympathy at the younger man as he came closer. Seasickness was a hard affliction, but airshipsickness...that was something he did not wish to imagine.

"Well now, this one is relieved to not have missed you all! It's not easy to chase after an airship, especially in these parts." He bowed to the four of them. "Sir Chrom, Sir Jaune, Miss Selphie, Sir Cloud - and yes, you as well, Zack - if it is not too much trouble to take on another to your group, please allow this one to join you on your journey through Nabila. Five can surely cover more distance - sorry, this one should say six." Kenshin's smile was especially broad to Cloud and Zack, who he'd not expected to see, but was very happy to. The swordsman who wielded the zanbatō and his cheerful (if unpredictable!) yellow steed had both been kind to him on the long road to Aqures Ixen after his arrival.

"This one has few skills beyond the arts of the Ninja to offer, but there are surely other ways he can assist you." He turned a look of gentle humor in Jaune's direction. "For instance, cooking a meal that's very easy on a sensitive stomach."

[humene]

Eleanor hadn't known about the excursion before boarding the airport, and had bumped into the group by chance.

She was more likely to describe it as "by luck." Eleanor wasn't having a difficult time getting adjusted to her life in Crystallis, but she felt a need to know more: To know about what kind of threat they were facing, and to know how the Heroes would conquer it. Even though she was nowhere near powerful enough to conquer the Tonberry King on her own, she had faith in her companions.

At least, faith in all of her companions that weren't losing their lunch.

Once the group disembarked, she turned to her companions, "Thank you for agreeing to take me with you. I know I'm new to Crystallis, so I look forward to learning from all of you. Please let me know how I may help."

[shepherd_prince]

"I appreciate that," Chrom nodded once to Selphie with a smile. He had Cura as a Paladin, but his true strength was better lent to combat, not healing. He waited until Jaune had returned, giving him a sympathetic clap on the back to show that there was no ill judgment on his end. With Cloud and Eleanor gathered, he began to lay out the mission plan, but had scarcely uttered a syllable before he caught sight of Kenshin.

That was one very dedicated warrior to have pursued them all the way here! Chrom blinked, about to ask if he needed a moment to catch his breath, but shut his mouth. Clearly Kenshin was just fine, and hardly seemed to be sweating at all. He had far more potential than his smiling, polite attitude let on.

But to the mission at hand, so he did not waste their time.

"The purpose of this mission is reconnaissance, not necessarily monster engagement. With the recession of the crystal, it is possible for towns to become inhabited once more, as you see," he gestured lightly at his own two feet. "But new threats have arisen in the form of Calamity Monsters. They may not hold much interest in this area as there are few things to draw them here, but a resurgence in population could change that. With the six of us, we can move about in pairs for a quick sweep of the town and the immediate surrounding region. Should you find anything, don't hesitate to raise a signal or shout--"

Skrff.

The sound of a heavy, dragging thump echoed from the streets to the west. It had been brief, but it seemed unnatural enough to draw Chrom's attention. He held up a hand, brow furrowed, and slowly drew Falchion from its sheath.

"Something's here," he murmured in just above a whisper. "Be on your guard."

[boomchucka]

Selphie was listening intently to the mission briefing as she nodded to each of her friends and new companions in turn. Assessing the damage that the receding crystal had left in its wake was important to rebuilding the lives of the displaced. She didn't mind seeing the different varieties of people in Aqures Ixen but she figured that they were very eager to return to their homes and begin to rebuild.

Chrom's warning about an unwanted guest however had Selphie following suit as she withdrew her sabre from its scabbard at her waist. She brought her shield up into a defensive position as she dragged her eyes across the landscape, trying to determine if it was the wind knocking something over or another issue entirely. Her gear wasn't designed for tanking but she could move in quickly to take a closer look.

"Let me go ahead," she offered. "My gear isn't heavy so I can be in and out in a hurry."

[neverfirstclass]

Jaune wasn't the only one to suffer from a bout of airsickness, but between the remedy he made sure to drink beforehand and the comforting company of his Chocobo, Cloud was doing mostly fine at this point. His cheeks were well returning to color as he doublecheck his gear. He was about to make an offer to do overhead reconissance with Zack when the bird began to shuffle about, scraping at the ground nervously just before the noise echoed back at them.

With a hand on his sword he nodded to Chrom, ready for whatever might be lurking. Zack gave a low trill while Cloud called out in a whisper to Selphia. "Don't take any chances. If you see something hurry back." He didn't want her to risk herself but he also knew better than to try to talk her out of something without a solid argument prepared.

[arcward]

Well. This was just his luck. Looked like there really was no rest for the weary. He wanted to protest Selphie going by herself (not that he doesn't have faith in her but it's dangerous to go alone) but he really didn't think having him up there is the best of bets, not in his current state. And, if someone - or something - is there, he's going to want to be as recovered as he can be in case a fight breaks out. And, with his history, one will, and it won't be an easy one.

He shuffled a step back and took a defensive, letting the stronger warriors take the front lines. He can handle his weapon okay, but he can also dance (and he still doesn't understand how that works) to help debuff the enemy if that seems like a better call. The extra bit of distance will also let him see what's working and what's not, and maybe spot a weakness in their foe.