“You sure you want to be here? ” Wahkan asked with his usual deep voice.

John looked up from where he was sitting and smiled. “I’m where I’m needed, are you sure of what your about to do?”

The giant shook his head. “Hell no, but I got to do this…I have to know John.”

The Shaman only nodded from the chair he sat in agreeing with Wahkan on how they ended up in a lone ruin of what used to be a church an eon or so ago outside of Bastok in the Gustaberg region. The stone walls had long since fallen to decay leaving just small humps and remnants of a security perimeter. The main building where they sat and waited had also succumbed to the ravages of time, yet it was still standing as if defying the clock and the weather that beat upon it. The walls still held the high ceiling overhead and the wind out, the floor still supported them, and the doors still locked which was a good thing for what John hoped would not happen.

“Do you think anyone will come?” Wahkan asked standing in the doorway.

“The call was put out, we’ll see soon enough who shows and who doesn’t.”

And that was the crux of this wasn’t it John thought. How many will answer the call for help? Wahkan was thinking the same thing obviously. “When they bring Steinn here I’ll do the talking while you keep an eye out, right?”

John only nodded again noting it was the fifth time Wahkan had issued the same request. The guards would drop off the humanSteinn just long enough to allow a conversation, long enough to find some answers hopefully and that would be when the danger would be the highest. Steinn knew secrets that Wahkan needed and the large man hoped to get him to talk because this would be the only chance. You see, John thought to himself, Steinn was sentenced to death for the crime of treason and this would be the only chance for Wahkan to implore him to talk before the execution was rendered by the Republic of Bastok.

Only Steinn had done more heinous things than treason, and the ones he had wronged were waiting eagerly for their chance at justice. It seems the noose was not enough for most of Steinn’s enemies. They wanted him to suffer a little more than a quick end would give and these people only needed the opportunity to do it. This chance meeting was their only chance, much like Wahkan’s.

Hence the call for help to anyone available, John had a feeling the need to hold back the tide for blood so Wahkan could find his information would be required and it might take a few to do so.

Mr. Hayes put the Crescent Moon down softly on the barren land of Bastok. As per my orders he would take to the skies again and await my communication to pick us up. The lifter pads and the ION wind made the dust swirl as he lowered the gang plank allowing Nafeesa and I to ride out toward the old church and John. We had picked up his communication the day before requesting suitable backup and assistance. With the shaman helping me many times before I found it easy to take him up on his invitation.

I was not sure what I was getting into, but then when have I ever had a clear road before me. The Dragon handled the terrain with a few bumps as Nafeesa held onto me tightly. We looked back once to ensure the Crescent was airborne, her hull gleaming as she flew, before turning out attention to the task ahead.

Soon we reached the church and as I pulled in I saw Wahkan standing by the door, his usual rock like expression front and center. Nafeesa jumped off the Dragon and ran to him while I took care to secure my mount. I finished and walked into what was left of the ruin and smiled.

"We can start the party now, I am here."

The low rumbling of Keiko’s new air ship gave her away long before she appeared in the doorway to the old church and yet her statement was pure Sky Pirate. He smiled and nodded to her. “The party will begin in due time Keiko, and when it does you will have your fill of adventure.”

The Shaman looked over and spotted his friend Wahkan conversing with Keiko’s companion Nafeesa and wondered if the dancer was ready for what was coming. The Mithra had grown close to Wahkan and from what John learned pulled Roland out of the desert and onto Keiko’s new air ship the Crescent Moon. He saw the pair of knives strapped to Nafeesa’s muscled thighs and hoped there would not be a need to use them, but he couldn’t even assure himself this little meeting would go off without a hitch.

Steinn had enemies a plenty out there, too many to see all at once, and they would probably come calling this afternoon.

"I hate waiting you know that John," I said with a devilish smile. I walked in and took a seat by him while Nafeesa gleefully talked with Wahkan. "So, are you going to tell me why we are out here in the middle of nowhere in an old church?"



Nafeesa looked up at her dear friend and smiled almost laughing. "Hey Wahkan, you look no worse for wear?"

Her voice echoed in the old room with its raised roof. The walls were still good and the acoustics were perfect she thought as she waited for her friend to reply. She really missed Wahkan and she missed Hehaha Luta too.

Weird missing a motorcycle, isn't it she thought?

“I’m glad you answered my call Keiko, we’ll need your help before the night is through I’m afraid. We’ve arranged for a meeting between Wahkan and an old member of a gang he use to belong to. The man’s name is Steinn and he’s to be executed for Treason by the Republic of Bastiok this evening.” John explained.

He gave her a minute to let it sink in before continuing on. “Steinn has information that could help Wahkan, an incident in his past. We hope Steinn will talk with him before he has to be brought to the prison and of course that’s not our only problem with this little meeting.”



Wahkan nodded and gave his friend a small smile to let her know he was happy to see her. “I’m doing just fine Miss Nafeesa, how have you been these days?”

"So you called in some favors and had this Steinn diverted to stop here for a few minutes before getting sent on his ways to the gallows? I hope he talks to you John, but you may have more to worry about than just his enemies showing up."

The look on the shaman's face told me I needed to explain, but I knew it was not really needed. John was a fair strategist and I knew he would never walk into a room he did not see an exit from. Still, I felt obliged to say it. "A man about to dance before the hemp might just be desperate enough to try anything to escape. He might even use the chance to clear his soul to make a dash for freedom. I might even be so inclined."



"I've been fine, but I kind of miss John's ship. The Crescent Moon is nice and all, and Roland has it making nice time when it flies, but its not as rustic as John's. Hey, how have you been lately?" Nafeesa asked with a grin.

“I’m sure when Steinn figures out he’s not heading directly to the gallows he’ll be thinking of a way to escape. I’m also sure it will be by any means necessary. It’s why I asked for all the help I could muster. The more eyes we have the better our chances will be if someone, be it Steinn or one of his associates who he betrayed, decides to intervene.” John explained.

He looked up at the vaulted ceiling of the old roof and wondered if it would still be standing come the end of the night. He heard Wahkan talking to Nafeesa and hoped his friend would get the ending he wanted out of this. Steinn would be here any time now; the meeting would hopefully be short.



“I’ve been just fine Miss Nafeesa, but lately I’ve been needing an answer from a man about a horse in my past you could say.” Wahkan smiled. When he saw the look of confusion on the face of his friend he shook his head. “I need to know if I betrayed the woman I loved back in my past.”

{{OOC: was it okay to join without a PM? I can always delete this if I misunderstood}}

In Balamb....

"Shade.... seriously.... don't you think you have enough crap on your plate right now? Brix gave her life long friend the deadpan look as she continued filing her fingernails with her boots propped up on Shade's desk. Her blond eyebrow rose up above her left eye as the once bright blue shade of her hues now darkened with annoyance.

Shade continued gathering her arrow ammo and attaching her weapons to her hip belt without sparing the buxom blond a single glance and replying with a flat tone in her voice. "I have a responsibility to the realms, you know that..."

Brix's black combat boots came slamming down against the floor as she stood up abruptly with her eyes narrowed and her lips pinched with impatience. "Ya know what? When you finally decide when our responsibilities are worth your precious time, let me know...." The medical director slash thief then stormed out, but didn't have the luxury of slamming a door since the only exit to the office was the elevator.

Shade never flinched or showed any form of reaction to Brix's words or raging retreat as she ventured out upon the balcony to leap upon the awaiting wing of the Oasis to take her to Vana Diel.




Gustaberg region, outside of Bastok

Due to the Oasis' massive size, Shade ordered the airship to remain at high altitude and took to the skies herself by means of her flight form. She despised a loud dramatic entrance, and until she knew the details of this call for assistance, stealth was the best option. And due to Haylo's persistence, Shade allowed the pup quite the rare permission to tag along, but only if she remained in her wolf form. She just had an inkling that whatever this was about, Haylo may be needed. So the two of them took to the air together at an easy glide, mostly coasting with the current since it was rather passive.

They landed just a few yards away from some dilapitaed buildings, and by the way the white wolf was sniffing the air, she already picked up a scent, but quietly remained at Shade's side unless instructed otherwise. But Shade's own ears picked up on some faint voices that didn't sound hostile, or threatened. Each step was casual, yet Shade remained on her guard as she approached the broken down structure with caution until she reached the doorway and carefully pushed one open for the rustic hinges to screech her presence to be known for those within to hear.

((OCC: It sounded like you needed another gun. Same thing as with Shade, though, if you don't want me, just let me know and I'll delete it. I just couldn't pass up a chance for a gunfight.))

Fury walked through the porcelain halls of the Oasis as it moved toward the world of Vanadiel, specifically, the Republic of Bastok. The Kestrel along with his team had been assigned to the larger ship as a quick reaction force for the ship's command system, or as he liked to call it, his sister. Basically, when something happened that deemed a land team to go into action, his team was chosen first. They got the dirty jobs that usually involved them getting shot at.

But at least it kept life interesting.

Fury walked to into the packed bridge of the ship to get a better view of the mission area. Shade had already moved out, no doubt choosing to take care of the situation by herself rather than sending a team in. Fury walked up behind the pilot and looked down at the small town beneath them. He could see Shade descending upon the rows of dilapidated buildings with her majestic wings. He looked to the cadet behind the wheel and said, "Do you know anything about what is going on?"

The pilot looked up to Fury, clearly uninterested, and said, "We received a distress signal from this area and since Commander Leonhart is an ambassador to this world, she decided it deemed an investigation. No doubt it will just end up as another delivery mission. That or someone's mithra got caught in a tree again..."

Fury looked down at the boy who couldn't be much older than seventeen with distaste. He knew Shade went out of her way to assist anyone in trouble, even more so than was necessary. So hearing this cadet's nonchalant comments about her rubbed him the wrong way. This was not his ship, though, so he restrained himself from enacting any discipline, even though as an instructor it was totally within his rights to reprimand him. Instead, Fury just turned to the communications officer who had met him on several occasions before and said, "Cadet, please inform my team that I am going to go for a walk. Have them keep the Kestrel on standby in case it is needed."

The communications officer nodded once and said, "Yes, Sir. I'll inform them immediately, Mr. Leonhart." The cadet placed extra emphasis upon his name and as she did so, the pilot's face blanched. He swallowed hard once before turning away from Fury to go back to the controls.

A smirk passed over Fury's face as he left the bridge and walked to one of the observation decks that held one of the guns for defense. He walked outside into the whipping winds and looked down to the surface of the world. It was a long way down. He didn't like using his Sorcerer's powers, still distrusting magic, even from within, so instead and grabbed a handful of disks and his .45 from his vest. He closed his eyes and slowly stepped off of the ship.

As he fell, he spread his arms and legs to slow his decent. The g-forces working against his body pulled at him, causing his stomach to feel like it was being forced up his throat. He squinted as he fell, the winds stinging his eyes. He was nearing the ground at a rapid rate and decided that it was time to slow his descent. He threw the first of the disks gripped in his left hand hurtling ahead of him and snapped his gun in his right hand up to fire at it. The bullet struck it and burst it open. There was no apparent effect until he reached where the disk was in the air. He could feel the world's gravitational pull lessen as the grav-con's anti-gravity field brought him into it's grasp. His speed was still too fast though, and he broke through to the other side of the field and continued to fall towards the deadly ground.

He repeated this process several times until he finally landed silently on the ground ground down the street from the church just as Shade was walking in. He had a quick look around before holstering his pistol and walking towards the building. He gave one more look around before ducking inside after his sister.

((OOC: No, you guys can stay! The more the merrier. Yeah, this is going to end up being a big old gun fight. John told me three words, remember the Alamo. That’s all we need to know.))

I had heard stories about the one called Shade, that she was as hard as the blade of a cutlass. From looking at her in the doorway of the old church, well the tales came pretty close. Then add her brother and one could easily see why the pair was considered protectors of this realm. If I was looking down the barrel of a gun either one had pointed at me I’d consider my options very carefully. I turned to John and winked as I spoke.

“Two more hands John, the odds are looking up for us, yet I’m sure they would like to hear just why you put out a call for help.”



Nafeesa stared at the new pair with just a bit if awe. She had also heard stories about Shade and Fury and she had to admit it was a little intimidating to see them this close. She turned to Wahkan and noted the large man looked as if the new arrivals were nothing more than visitors, passerby’s he cared little for. “How does this man know you betrayed the woman you loved? Did he see you do something?”

Even as Nafeesa asked her questions she could sense the approach of another ship. She could hear it coming in low and slow to the church. When she saw Wahkan tense she had a feeling this was the moment the large man had been waiting for.

Wahkan stiffened at the sight of the small air ship as it circled the church. The small sleek winged ship skimmed along just feet above the ground as it turned a tight circumference around the site obviously checking for hidden troops and such. When it felt the surrounding area was safe it moved in slow and landed fifteen meters from the church doors. The insignia for the Republic of Bastok gleamed in the low light as the door in the rear of the ship underneath the tail opened and dropped down to become a loading ramp. The large man stood stone like as a contingency of guards began to flow down the ramp, at least six, and all encircling a single man who was chained hands at the waist and ankle.

As soon as Wahkan’s eyes saw him his blood began to boil. Images from a nightmarish past he had tried so hard to bury popped back up in his mind’s eye. The group approached with measured steps to keep the man in the middle surrounded. The prisoner looked small because he was, maybe 5 foot tall at most and where Wahkan went 280 pounds of muscles the man looked maybe 160 at best. He was bald, as white as a man who’s skin had never seen the sun, and looked old enough to be Wahkan’s father. Of course the bright green clothes he wore made it all look worse. The group stopped in front of the large man as the leader of the detail spoke up.

“Where’s Greywolf? I need word, ” the leader asked.

From behind him the prisoner was smiling like he had won the lottery. “Hey, if ain’t my old friend Deke. Long time no see D, ” the prisoner hissed giving a small wave with his chained hands, or as far they would stretch on the chain from his waist.

Wahkan only pointed a thumb over his shoulder to the doors of the church. He didn’t say a word to the leader of the detail and he didn’t say a word to the prisoner. He just locked eyes with the short man and glared.



“It’s good to see you again Fury, a welcomed sight. I can only hope this is your sister I have heard about. I know you’d like an explanation of why I asked for help and it looks like you will get one up close in a minute.” John greeted the two as the leader of the prisoner escort detail walked in past Nafessa.

“Steinn’s here, the clock’s started. Your man out there gets twenty minutes to find out what he can and then we’re back to delivering the prisoner to the gallows.” The leader of the detail stated with a tone that said there were no negotiable parts to his last.

Shade remained studious of her surroundings, none too surprised that Fury showed up soon after. With a brief glance, she gave her brother a curt nod, but nothing more before her attentions were now focused on an approaching ship. With a silent, stalking gait to her steps, Shade came to a broken window, but remained on the shadow side as she peered out and immediately recognized the insignia on the side of vessel. Her brow furrowed into a deep scowl as her steel grey hues narrowed with suspicion. Any trouble with the nation of Bastok couldn't be good after a few heated issues she had in the past with the Hume legislation.


Since John chose to approach and speak with Fury, Shade centered on the confrontation outside of the building, already suspicious of what was being said even if she couldn't hear the words being exchanged by the strangers outside. But Haylo could very well hear every single word, and something said set her white fur to rise all along her spine and her lips to curl back into a growling snarl at the human in shackles.


With another glance at Fury, Shade gave him a signal with her hand that something wasn't right as her other gloved hand rested upon the wolf's back to try and soothe her companion. She was still close enough to Fury and John to hear what the new comer had to say, and with that alone, Shade had her sword unsheathed and her crossbow loaded and at the ready to guard this companion of theirs who wished to have words with the prisoner currently surrounded by Bastok guards. Her initial plan at the moment was to guard whom ever chose to be outside the protection of the walls of the building. Until then, Shade would simply have to wait with her every intuition on guard for anything unexpected.....

(OCC: Sorry it's short, I really didn't know what I could do other than this that didn't involve start shooting XD)

As Fury walked through the front door, he was surprised to find John Greywolf standing there with another woman. He nodded to his sister when she looked at him before approaching the shaman. He nodded to the man when he spoke. "She's a spitfire alright." He glanced over at her as she signaled him that something was up outside. He unstrapped his pistol holster and stepped off to the side as the leader of the guard waled through the door. Before the man was within earshot, Fury whispered to John, "I guess it's my turn to pull you out of the fire."

Fury stepped off to the side and sat down in a half-collapsed pew and watched the man. He drew out his pistol and hid it behind the wooden banister in front of him. Whatever happened, Fury would shoot first. He listened to the man speak to John. From what he could gather, this wasn't your usual prisoner trade-off. This seemed like tensions were already high and the Bastokian soldiers already seemed jumpy. It wouldn't take much to set them off and blow this whole situation up in a powder-keg.

And people said church was boring.

(OOC:All right, John says he goes next so he can explain the way the fight is going to unfold from here on out. He says there's some special rules we have to follow.)

I took a closer look at the tall drink of spicy rum as I walked by and I must admit I liked what I saw when I passed Fury on my way to the window. I stood by the opening, which was partially covered by a broken glass that was so thick with dirt it blocked the view. Still I kept my eye on Wahkan and the one called Steinn, from the looks of the large man he was just about to throttle the smaller one. To tell the truth it would not spoil my afternoon if Wahkan did snap the man’s neck though I had come all this way for a fight and I would miss that very much. I did not take my eyes off the scene outside as I heard Nafeesa approach.

“Do you think that man really killed the woman Wahkan loved?”

I only grinned as I kept my vigil on the meeting happening in the courtyard. “I do not know, but for John to call in favors so Wahkan can talk to a man just before he dances with the hemp , well that man must be truly important…in some way.”

“I guess you’re right, it’s ju-,” my kitten was saying when she stopped short.

The sudden stop was so abrupt it caught my attention and I looked away finally from the outside to her. She was no longer looking at me but had turned and was staring at the back wall of the church. “What is it Nafeesa?”

She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know, I feel like something sapped my energy a bit…and then I thought I heard something from the back.”

I took her words to heart, not because we were lovers, but because I could feel what she felt. It was like something had been turned off inside me and I felt just a little sick. I licked my lips and stepped toward the back suddenly wanting a closer look at that wall. It was for the best too because all of the sudden the window I was standing at blew inward from a concussion wave that rocked those old church walls to the very foundation.

(OOC:Okay, from here on out all magic spells will NOT work. That also includes Summons and Weapons Spells. Your personal enchantments still remain and all enchantments on weapons still work, just the spells have been taken away. You can still use your Forms but the duration has been reduced by half so make sure you use them wisely. The enemy is numerous and well equipped. Armor enchantments still hold also. Basically, you’re going to have to survive on the weapons you have at hand. If you find this a little too much you can step away at anytime.)

Wahkan stared at Steinn with cold hard eyes so full of anger the guard standing next to Steinn backed away just an inch or two while one standing next to the large man coughed then spoke. “He has to arrive at the gallows without a scratch…well nothing visible at least.”

“Oh don’t worry bout Deke here, he ain’t gonna hurt me till he finds out what he wants to know.” Steinn smirked and spoke in his long drawl.

“What happened to her Moss?” Wahkan asked stiffly, not an ounce of emotion in his deep voice.

“Are you still pining after Maggie Little Bear? Hell Deke, she was never really in love with you know?” Steinn laughed a little. He saw the anger rise in the eyes of his old ‘friend’ and knew twisting the knife would induce just a little more. “Maggie was a cold hearted bitch who never loved anyone Deke, especially you son. She died the way she lived, like a snake.”

The guard standing next to Wahkan looked to Steinn then back to the large man. “If you hit him we’ll just say he fell getting on the ship.”

A second or two of quiet passed in the courtyard. The guards wondered just what Wahkan was going to do, and all of them wished they were the ones who were going to do it. They all hated this duty guarding Steinn and f the man took a beating before being hanged it wouldn’t keep them up at night. Only the large man never made a move because he never got the chance to. All at once someone screamed something about incoming and then the whole courtyard just blew up.



The sound was unmistakable and as soon as it touched John’s sensitive ears he jumped to action. He spun away from the leader of the guard detail and started to scream out of the doorway to the ones in the courtyard. “INCOMING ROCK-”

The blast stopped his warning short as the concussion and flames rocked everyone and everything around them. He went flying backwards hitting the floor but rolling instinctively to keep from breaking his back. The old walls of the church buckled and split but held fast from the maelstrom outside. The last thing John saw before he was thrown backward was the streaking smoke trail of four rockets just before the missiles slammed into the transport ship. It, and everyone inside, disappeared in a massive fireball.

As the Shaman rolled up from the floor the sound of consecutive smaller explosions echoed through the church and he turned to the back wall just in time to see holes appear along with smoke and debris. It was an attack and John started to cast his spell to freeze anyone coming through those holes. Only the spell wouldn’t come, or better said the magic in him refused to answer his request. It was like something, or someone, had shut off his natural magic. Then the men were pouring in through the holes, dressed in black lightweight armor and masks. The men in front charged with swords while a couple waited in back with hand guns drawn, a mix of hand-to-hand and short range fighting.

John drew Matoskah and charged to meet the men with swords head on.