Chapter LXXXIII: Bastokan Round Table

“So,” Cid asked as he took a seat around the roughly-hewn table, “how did you make it from San d'Oria to Bastok?” And so the story of their journey from the demon-overrun kingdom began.

Emblim looked around at the faces of those gathered. Gratitude to Altana’s mercy had swept through him after Cid had shown him through to the temporary refuge of Bastok’s citizens. When they had come upon the city, swarming with demons and Quadav, despair had gripped him. Now his hopes were climbing, though still tempered with the news the Chief Engineer had shared. However, seeing the people who had made it out and were now working to resist the Dynamis invasion, he could still believe they would succeed.

At the head of their makeshift meeting table was President Hrichter Karst himself. The elected leader of Bastok was an easily recognizable figure. Diminutive in height, he made up for his lack of stature in the way he carried himself. In most situations, Emblim would see the President garbed in the finest regalia, suits of Eastern silk tailored specifically to his dimensions. Adornments of office decorated his clothes, along with precious gems which he boasted represented the boundless wealth of Bastok's mines. Meticulously groomed and styled, his mustache was also as defining a characteristic as any. Though he was closing in on fifty, the politician looked as spry and able as a man many years his junior. He had worked many years to radiate an aura of authority, and it had worked admirably. The President was a formidable foe for his opponents in the Senate, and, in Emblim's experience, a great boon to the people of Bastok. Though he was hard to get along with, and preoccupied with notions of class and status, he nonetheless worked tirelessly to promote the welfare of the Republic.

He retained his air of dignity, but his clothing looked a bit worse for the wear. He had traded in his fine coats and suits for a drab cloth shirt and simple breeches, though he maintained his ornaments of rank. That famous mustache was looking fairly untrimmed, and his face was showing creases of worry and strain. Karst's most ridiculous article of clothing, in Emblim's opinion, was the foppish purple hat he insisted on wearing. Now even that appeared worn, and with an obvious tear down one of the seams. It had been some months now since the initial incursion of Dynamis. It was clear that time had worn hard upon the President.


Standing beside Bastok's leader was his personal bodyguard, Iron Eater. Ever present guarding the office of the President, the bulky Galka had not changed his occupation following the outset of the crisis. Heavily armored and wielding a massive great axe, he stood by Karst's side, solemn and unmoving. Short-cropped brown hair protruded from his armored face mask, and he had his tree-trunk arms folded in front of a barrel-thick chest. Not a single movement escaped his quick brown eyes as the meeting unfolded around him.

Seated next to Karst was Emblim's direct superior, Volker. Bastok's greatest warrior, the hero whom had struck the killing blow against the Shadow Lord himself during the Crystal War. The Mythril Musketeer's leader wore his standard battle armor, a sword strapped to his side. Tattoos marked his face, and his hair was intricately braided in a style not often seen outside the Far West. Volker's presence was a great relief to everyone gathered. He was a hero among heroes in the Republic, a Hume warrior to be feared and respected by his foes.

Equally formidable in prowess, yet not nearly so comforting in presence, was the Dark Knight who remained standing, back to the cave wall. Arms folded in front of his chest, he watched silently through his ebon mask as the meeting progressed. A pitch-black great sword was slung across his back, matching the hue of the steel armor he sported. No one was quite sure what to make of the tight-lipped Galka, but they opted not to question his attendance. Still, Emblim occasionally found his eyes drifting towards Zeid, uncertain as to what motivated the enigmatic man.

Cid sat to Karst's left, and beside him were Naji and Ayame. The raven-haired Samurai was dressed in red and black, her great katana laid respectfully down on the wooden table. Ayame was stiff-backed and made eye contact with every speaker, her voice clear and her points concise. Naji neglected to speak at all, only dutifully following in whatever Ayame said. More than once, however, Emblim noted his sharp eyes moving to catch a gesture or exchanged glance that no one else took notice of. The young Musketeer was held back far more by his lack of confidence than any inability to perform his job. Emblim found himself comparing him to Etrien, and wondering if, when all this was over, he couldn't set the adventurous young villager up as a new recruit.

Rounding out Karst's assemblage was Bastok's greatest tactical mind, Invincible Shield. The brown-haired, heavily armored Galka sat to the left of Naji, thick fingers pyramided before him. The brazen, blunt-spoken soldier wore little in the way of decoration. His armor was made for war, not parades, as he often told his men. As the Legatus of Bastok's 3rd Division, he was among the highest-ranking officers in the entire military. He had been a hero in the Crystal War, and maintained a powerful presence ever since. While his greatest achievements were those won in naval combat, his skills on land were never in doubt.


The rest of the table was filled out by Emblim's own entourage. Erilan, Atreides, and Feldin sat together. The San d'Orians had been given time to wash and eat, giving them a far more rested appearance than their last few harrowing days would have otherwise afforded them. Atreides had taken time to properly care for his raiment, regaining the simple, quietly forceful aura befitting a man of the cloth. Erilan had worked out the dents in his armor, burnishing it to a suitable military gleam, if not perfection. For his part, Feldin simply sat where he was and glowered, moving little and speaking less. The blond-haired, pointy-eared trio provided what they could in the way of answers, for there were many questions for them.

Emblim sat opposite the President, with Erilan on one side of him and Etrien on the other. Rummaging through the supplies of Bastok's stores had yielded a serviceable lorica for the boy to use as armor. Red plates of steel were sewn in over a black leather breastplate, providing far better protection than the simple scale mail he had been wearing. He had managed to straighten his dirty blond hair and clean his face, the unlined visage reminding everyone at the table he was ten years younger than the next youngest person there. At his side he had two brand new axes, the short-handled weapons sharpened and ready for battle.

"So, that's our story, Mr. President." Erilan concluded. "After we killed the Marquis Decarabia, Etrien told us about the raft which ferries back and forth between Palborough and Zeruhn, and that's how we got to where we were."

"A fantastic story," Karst mused, two fingers drifting over his mustache. "If even half of it can be believed." He leaned forward, placing an arm on the table as he peered across at Emblim. "Captain, I'd like to hear from you now. Several questions remain unanswered."

"Yes, sir," Emblim said automatically, straightening in his seat.

Karst's hazel eyes looked him over, and then passed to Erilan, Atreides, and Feldin in turn. Slowly they shifted back to the Paladin as the President lifted up his chin. "You have said repeatedly that you simply walked into Palborough and waited for the ferry to arrive. How is it that you were not overcome by the hordes of Quadav which reside there?"

Emblim nodded. It was a fair question. "There were none, sir. The Quadav have left Palborough Mines."

Karst's eyebrow climed upwards. "Left, you say?"

"We suspect," he looked at the others, and they nodded affirmation of what he was about to say. They had discussed the theory many times upon discovering the mines abandoned. "We believe the Quadav have willingly joined forces with the demons. The group we encountered in Zeruhn Mines were not the nightmarish breed we've seen wandering the city. They were normal Quadav."

"The fools . . . " Zeid murmured, and several sets of eyes fell on him in surprise before Invincible Shield began talking over him.

"Those blasphemous, ugly, cretinous . . . " the old soldier's fingers dug into the table as he placed them palm-first on its surface. "Quadav wandering the streets of Bastok. The very thought of it sickens me down to the bone."

"Steady, Ginuva," Volker said softly. The seasoned veteran looked over at Emblim with flashing eyes and an expressionless face. He had always found it impossible to tell what the man was thinking, and now was no exception. "Emblim, if you made it into Zeruhn Mines without a problem, how did the Quadav discover you?"

"It was my fault," Etrien replied hastily. "I misjudged when the raft would start floating back, and it made a lot of noise along the chains, and the Quadav came to investigate and - "

"No," he raised a single hand, cutting the young warrior off. "Securing transportation and infiltrating Zeruhn went flawlessly. It was my fault we were discovered."

"Oh?" Karst gestured for him to continue.

Emblim took a deep breath. Erilan clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly, and he offered the other Paladin a weak smile. Not making eye contact with anyone else at the table, he told them the truth. "I had to see it," he said simply.

"Had to see what, Captain?" Naji asked, and Ayame rolled her eyes.

"Bastok," he responded, looking off distantly. "I only saw it from afar, in Gustaberg. Zeruhn lets out directly into the mining district, I . . . I just wanted to see the city again." Once more he lowered his head at the memory of what he had found.

"Emb," Cid's voice was low, "what's happening in Bastok?"

"It's . . . " his voice left him. He realized he was trembling, and took a steadying breath. His nerves as calm as they were getting, he told them.

He told them about the Quadav roaming the streets freely. The tall, gray-skinned variety from Dynamis were massed in the mining district, overwhelming in number. Demons stalked across rooftops and flew through the skies, their hideous language filling the air. The regular Quadav troops patrolled the city, squads going back and forth as they exulted over the demolished buildings of their long-time foes. Everywhere he looked, there had been a smoldering ruin or burnt-out husk of their once-proud architecture. The sight of the Metalworks, high atop its perch looking over the city, engulfed in flames would stay with him longer than the lingering sent of heated cermet and melting darksteel. Their enemies in the city and their homes torn down was far from the worst of it, though.

Emblim took a good look around at the faces surrounding him as he spoke. President Karst was white with restrained fury, Cid held only a sad, mournful expression. Invincible Shield was visibly livid, and Iron Eater's eyes told of a similar fury. Naji looked close to tears, and from her hidden expression, Emblim guessed Ayame was in much the same state. Only Volker and Zeid remained unreadable, simply listening and learning.

So he told them about the bodies.

Some were stacked, like cordwood, awaiting their ultimate disposal. Some were simply left rotting in the streets. A few, here and there, had been strung up like warnings, but they were few and far between. It was clear there was nothing alive which required warning. He told them about the blood which stained the grounds of their city. Smeared handprints against white walls now stained brown, marking the desperate last moments of those they belonged to. Fighting the lump in his throat, he described as precisely as he could the corpses of every man, woman, and child whom the Dynamis horde had found. Splinters of wooden doors told of those whom had been forcibly torn from their homes and cut down in the streets. Piles of bodies in a dead-end alleyway spoke of a chase and a futile, panic-filled flight. Left to rot in the open air, vermin and birds feasted upon their desecrated remains. People Emblim recognized, some he even knew, were strewn like garbage across their own city. With as much detail as he could remember, he told them what he saw.

He told them about the families. He could not escape the picture of what he had seen in the streets of Bastok Mines. A father desperately clutching his son beneath him both laid face down, the ground stained with their blood. The older man's back was torn down to the bone where he had tried to use himself to shield his child.. Even after death, he had kept the boy underneath him, away from the swords and claws which had torn him apart. Still lodged in his body was the broken handle of the spear they had simply shoved through him to impale the boy. A mother lay face up, her stomach exposed, dried entrails rotting in the open air against her bloodied dress. A few feet away from her was a little girl, or at least the top half of her. Eyes stared blankly into nothing through tumbling blonde tresses matted together with blood from her mother's severed hand, which was still in the little girl's grasp.

Those who had not escaped Bastok found no refuge within it walls. Without exception, they were massacred by the demons.

His words cut off abruptly as he realized he had lost the will to speak them. Every eye was focused on him, but he could not go on. The gruesome sight which had greeted him when he tried to sneak into the city was etched into his mind forever. The wanton slaughter of Bastok's citizens had stilled his voice. Helplessly, he looked out at those assembled, hoping they realized what it took for him to describe what he had.

"Emblim," Atreides said from beside him, his hands clenched in silent prayer, "you have said enough. You do not have to remember any more."

He nodded, even knowing that the images would haunt him yet. "That is my report," he managed. "They discovered me outside the mines and gave chase. That is how we ended up here. It was my fault." Never had the thought of something made him feel so completely powerless. Hundreds of pairs of unblinking eyes stared up at him from Bastok's bloodied streets. His hands clenched across the mail lining his gauntlets as he tightly shut his mind to the memory.

Nobody at the table spoke. The silence hung over them like a shroud. Pale faces greeted Emblim's news. Cid was visibly shaken by the news, and Karst had his white-knuckled hands digging into the table. Iron Eater and Invincible Shield avoided looking directly at anyone, and even Zeid had his eyes downcast. Volker accepted the news with a silent, blank visage, though his shoulders trembled at Emblim's words.

It was Karst who broke the silence, clearing his throat as he rose. His almond-colored eyes glanced around the assemblage, and then he spoke.

"So that settles that. It's time to move on." He cast his eyes upwards towards his hulking bodyguard. "Iron Eater, begin making preparations. Alert the camp. We head out immediately."

"Yes, sir," the Galka replied quietly, excusing himself from the table.

"What's going on?" Emblim queried, confused as to what had just happened.

"Hm?" Karst looked back at him, as if he hadn't heard. It took him a moment to register the Paladin's question. His mind was clearly elsewhere. "Oh, yes. Well, I'm busy now. Cid, you explain. I expect everyone to make preparations for departure as soon as you're done here. Meeting adjourned." The President of Bastok gave a perfunctory nod of his head, and then followed behind Iron Eater down into the twisting tunnels where the survivors of Bastok lay hidden.

"Cid?" Emblim asked suspiciously. "What's this all about?"

Solemnly, the Chief stood, looking gravely at the others. "Come with me," he beckoned, gesturing them to follow him down the caverns of Korroloka Tunnel. Emblim and the others looked around, exchanging glances of uncertainty.

"I see no point in this, we can simply be told whatever we need to know," Feldin murmured.

"Some things can only be believed by seeing them, though," Atreides countered.

Feldin scoffed. "A fine sentiment for a man of the cloth." he quipped.

The White Mage stood, quirking an eyebrow. "Don't be obstinate simply for the sake of it, Sorcerer. I'm going to follow Chief Cid."

"Aye, there's nothing to be gained from sitting here any longer, clearly," Erilan acknowledged as he rose from his chair. "Whatever's going on, we'll likely need to know about it." The Paladin adjusted his sword strap, looking over at Emblim. "Coming?"

The dark-haired Hume nodded. "Etrien, you come with us, too."

The boy looked startled. "Me?"

"Of course." He turned to face the sandy-haired youth. "You can't go back to Konschtat now with the tunnel blocked. You're with us, now."

"Oh . . . " his face made it plain he had not considered that aspect of his situation, but then it quickly brightened again. "Alright then, sir, I'll make the Mythril Musketeers proud."

Emblim smiled. "I have no doubt."

"Glorious," Feldin sighed. "I believe I shall follow the engineer, if only to escape the fear of retching." The blond Elvaan pushed his seat out, smoothing his dark robes before marching off after Cid. They all followed shortly thereafter, wisely keeping their distance from the irritated Black Mage.

When they caught up to Cid, he was in the base camp of the Bastokan survivors. There were a scattering of military standards and rough lean-tos, but mostly just tents backed up against the walls of the tunnel. There were crude firepits dug around communcal cooking areas. Guards formed a circle around the encampment, fending off the wandering monsters which inhabited the tunnel. Against so large a gathering, they steered clear anyway, merely watching curiously from afar. People waved to the Paladin as he passed by, smiling and bowing. Two boys ran in a circle around him, laughing as they played their game of knights and goblins. Emblim was taken aback by the number of women and children, or elderly and infirm amongst their numbers. Able-bodied men seemed to be the minority by a vast number. He was about to ask why that was when Cid began speaking.

"Y'see, Bastok's got a pretty darn good set of emergency procedures. You should know about them, Emblim."

He nodded. "I was actually hoping to find some survivors in the tunnel." He looked back at the San d'Orians, noting their curious eyes. "Bastokans have a standard evacuation procedure for civilians in the event of invasion. Just like I noted you have in San d'Oria."

Erilan confirmed the truth of it. "Yes, we have tunnels set up through the royal Chateau which can be accessed through several points. But this time the invasion came from inside the city - the demons just started appearing in the southern district."

Cid nodded, leading them forward. "It was the same here. One minute it's all quiet, the next the mines are overrun." He hung his head with a sigh. "We would've saved a lot more if they'd shown up in the Markets district, or the port, or . . . " he trailed off. Straightening himself, the old engineer hurried on. "C'mon, we're almost there."

"You were saying, about the evacuation?"

"Right," Cid responded to Emblim, "right. So, the Metalworks naturally has a number of escape routes. So do the barracks, and there's another out through the residential district. We keep another in the Chocobo Stables, thank Altana for that one, and one hidden in the Auction House at the markets. Those are just a few - Bastok's designed to keep its people safe."

"So why are there so few of us here, Cid?" Emblim gestured back at the camp. "Did something happen to the tunnels?"

A half-grin broke out on the Chief's face. "Nope, the escape routes are fine."

"Then . . "

"We did make it out, Cid. A lot of us. Everyone in Metalworks, practically, except for the Musketeers who stayed behind. Everywhere except the mines, soldiers were our biggest casualties, because they were fighting to get the civilians out."

Emblim scratched his head. "I don't understand. Where is everybody?"

"We moved 'em out, Emb. We're already out in Rabao. Got 'em out into Altepa, and then out to safety. We were staying behind to make sure there weren't any stragglers. Once you came and let us know about the people in the city . . . " he sighed somberly, shaking his head. "Well, ain't no more point to staying here now. No one else will be joining us."

"Mr. Chief?" Etrien spoke up, and they turned to face him. "There were other survivors, sir. In the outlying villages, a lot of us got away. Once Sir Emblim and Sir Erilan freed us from the Marquis Decarabia, the villagers in Konschtat got away, too."

"That's real good, lad," Cid said, offering him a smile. "and I hope the best for 'em out there, but with the tunnel blown we're on our own now." He noted the crestfallen look on Etrien's face. "Don't make any mistake, it warms my heart to know there's more Bastokans out there. And one day we'll get 'em all back, too."

"Cid, this is great though," Emblim said excitedly, raising a gauntlet to shield his eyes as they stepped out into sunlight. He realized they had exited the tunnel, and the scathing winds of the Altepa Desert started whipping at his skin. Above them the sun still burned brightly, not yet touched by the pall of Dynamis. Atreides smiled broadly, closing his eyes and raising his face to the light. Even Feldin sighed with relief, letting the heat wash over him. They stood on a precipice, high above the bleached desert, its rolling dunes sweeping out in front of them for miles. "If we've got so many in Rabao, we can take the time to reorganize and counter-attack. I'm sure we can clear the tunnel, or find another way around. Once we're ready we can march into Bastok and reclaim the city."

Cid squinted into the distance. "There's a problem with your plan, Emb." He raised a finger out towards the horizon. "One we didn't know about until after we'd already put nearly all our people smack in the middle of it."

Puzzled, Emblim followed Cid's finger with his eyes. Peering forward, he covered his eyes and stared hard into the endless twirling sands of Altepa.

His heart froze within him as he saw what Cid was indicating.

Battle standards, just barely visible on the edge of the undulating sands. At first he thought it might be a mirage, an illusion brought on by the heat and fatigue, but when they began moving he knew there was no mistake. There was an army out there, carpeting the horizon, slowly moving across Altepa.

"No," Emblim whispered, but Cid's dour look confirmed his fears.

"It's the Anticans, Emb. They're massin' together in numbers we ain't seen since the Crystal War." He looked the Paladin square in the eye, making sure he understood the situation. "The largest Beastman army in Vana'diel is on the move, and we put the people of Bastok square in their path."

Desert winds assailed the Paladin as he looked out at the distant, slowly-moving black mass. Emblim stared at their numbers. They were miles and miles away, just a speck on the horizon, but so great that they occupied all of what the eye could see. A great sea of blond sands gave way to a line of black, spread out against the edges of the desert.

"Alright," the Bastokan said, his voice even, "so. How do we beat them?"

Erilan laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder as Cid gave him an incredulous look. With the sun climbing high overhead, Emblim made it clear that after all they had gone through, there was no way he was about to stop fighting now.

Chapter LXXXII: In Which Emblim Has His Time Wasted

Emblim's sword flashed in the darkness as he brought it down against a Quadav shield. The turtle-like beastman swept the weapon away, bringing its own oversized blade to bear. Hastily, Emblim deflected falling rock as the Quadav's sword struck the cave wall above him, retreating back a step at a time. The beastmen were becoming aware of the battle at an alarmingly fast rate, and he could see reinforcements rushing down the corridors. Elongated shadows of approaching Quadav soldiers heralded their arrival, in numbers which would quickly prove overwhelming.

"Just a little longer," Etrien called from behind him. Emblim could not turn around to check on his progress, as the Quadav renewed his assault with a ferocious cleave. Evading the stroke, the Paladin thrust his sword forward, rewarded with a crunching impact as it pierced through armor and shell. Stumbling back, the Quadav groaned as it clasped a hand to its wound. Two beady eyes came up at the Hume, burning with hate. His shield shook as the beastman surged forward, lowering his head so the point on its helmet stuck out. Emblim absorbed the head butt, though it made his armor tremble, bracing his shield with both arms. The Quadav fell back, repulsed, rivulets of blood pouring from its wound.

Staggering, it scraped at the wall for support. The Hume's sword came up warningly, even as five more of the beastmen appeared at the end of the hall. The Quadav's beaked mouth drew back into a threatening grimace, but a moment later its eyes rolled back into its head. It gurgled blood, then tumbled backwards, falling back upon its shell. Pulling back his sword, Erilan watched the beastman go down. The Elvaan stepped in place beside Emblim, and the two Paladins nodded to one another. The Quadav at the end of the hallway had stopped, reacting with anger and surprise at seeing the group before them. Blood staining the ground from the dead beastman Erilan had just killed did little to improve their mood.

"Can't you hurry up?" Feldin demanded from behind them.

"It's almost there!" Etrien's voice rang in Emblim's ears.

The Quadav came forward two at a time. One of them, the Paladin could see, was a mage, evidenced by the gnarled staff he bore sparking with arcane energies. Forming a barricade of steel, Emblim and Erilan warded off their advance, only to be met with the two behind them almost immediately. The mage was growling some incantation, made almost unintelligible by its thick Quadav accent. Protective wards began flaring to life around the four other beastmen, and they came forward with renewed fury. Their swords fell with greater speed, and both Paladins fell back against the assault. Emblim bashed his shield into one of his attackers, sending the shelled warrior reeling backwards, but a second immediately replaced him. Shoulder to shoulder with Erilan, he gave up ground as both were overpowered by their foes.

"Etrien, you must get the gate open!" Atreides implored.

"It's opening, I just - just one more minute!"

The Quadav rushed forward, and another ramming head butt threw Emblim off-balance. He fell onto his back, and the beastman was on him in an instant. However quick the shelled warrior was, Erilan was quicker. In the blink of an eye he leaped to the Hume’s defense, covering as Emblim scraped himself off the ground. Taking advantage of their break in defense, the Quadav surrounded the lone Elvaan Paladin, hammering him down with their weapons. Emblim heard him cry out as he was battered to the ground, sparks flying from his shield as heavy beastmen swords sliced through the steel.

Taking up his shield, Emblim pushed forward, trying to beat the massive turtlemen away. They ignored his sword, easily deflecting his slices. Thrown up against the wall, he slid down in pain, only to immediately catch the edge of a Quadav shield to his chin. He tasted blood and dirt as he ricocheted off the stone floor. Closing in, they surged past him, trying to trample the Paladins flat and reach the frailer targets beyond.

He cried out, but his words were lost in the explosion as the entire cavern filled with fire. The stench of scaly flesh being cooked in super-heated armor assailed his nostrils as the shrieks of the Quadav filled his ears. Clawed feet struggled to run as fire swept over them, but it was to no avail. Eyes melted in their sockets as the turtlemen were roasted in their shells, collapsing in quivering heaps upon the floor. The mage took a frightened step backwards, then turned and fled.

It had gone less than three steps before a streak of lightning struck it from behind. A twisted oak staff clattered to the ground as it fell, convulsing uncontrollably. With one last trembling shudder, it went still, and did not move again.

A sudden clanking sound interrupted the shocked silence, and four sets of heads turned to look at Etrien. He was staring mutely ahead at the burnt-out bodies of the Quadav soldiers. Behind him, the gate was sliding open, rust-covered bars collapsing into their stone setting.

"I, uh, I got the gate open."

Feldin sniffed irritably, lowering his still-sparking staff. "Remind me again of what utility having the rest of you with me serves," he said bitingly, brushing past the young villager. He had just made it past the gate when a pair of hands spun him around. Angrily, the wizard tore himself free, only to find himself in the angered eyes of Atreides.

"What are you doing?" the Bishop hissed. "Do you realize what you've done?"

"Saved all of our lives. Don't you talk down to me, cleric." Feldin returned the other Elvaan's icy glare.

"The demons, you fool!" Atreides snapped. "We weren't using any magic because of the demons!"

"We'd have been all been dead if I hadn't done what I did. Now I suggest we all get moving." Brushing a strand of blond hair away from his eyes, he peered past his fellow San d'Orian, looking down the tunnel they had come down. "He is not wrong. Our time is short."

From down the corridor, the sound of distant screeching found Emblim's ears.

"They know we're here," Erilan warned, bracing himself against the wall as he stood.

"Run," Emblim said, his feet already shuffling backwards. "Run!"

Almost before the words had left his lips, a flurry of black-winged bodies burst from the end of the hall, streaking directly towards them.

The next few minutes were lost in a blur. Emblim was running as fast as his legs would carry him as the corridor filled with demons. Metal clapped against wood as he crossed the bridge overlooking a shallow mountain stream, the others in front of him. Bursts of magical lightning were streaking by him, scorching the walls black as they narrowly missed the Paladin. Their claws and weapons reached out as they closed in, seeking to pull them down and consume them. The tunnel stretched out endlessly as they ran, howling fiends hot on their heels. A darkened cave opened up before them, and as Emblim crossed its threshold, a wave of light and heat swept over him. A deafening noise shook him down to his bones, and he felt the jarring impact of the floor as everything went black.


At first he thought it was completely dark, but a moment later he realized there was a blindfold tied tight over his eyes.

Emblim started to rise, but was pulled back. His hands and feet were bound, and he was secured to what he could only surmise was a chair. He moved his fingers towards the knots, but could barely reach them. His gauntlets had been removed, so he could feel the ropes biting into his wrists as he struggled. Frustration was coupled with confusion as he fought to break free.

"Don't think you'll break out of there," a voice asked him, and Emblim's head snapped up to meet it. Footsteps drew closer to him. It was a man's voice, only a few feet ahead of him. "We've got a great number of questions for you." It was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. How could he know this voice?

"Who are you?" The Paladin demanded. He flexed his chest as he pulled forward, and the ropes strained but did not break. "Why am I tied up?"

"My questions first," the speaker replied. "What were you doing in Zeruhn Mines?"

"Why should I answer anything? I don't know who you are. Where are my friends?"

"Everyone is fine," no sooner had he said it than Emblim heard a hand slap against skin. "Ow - what th - " a hurried exchange of whispers followed, and Emblim frowned as he realized there were two people in front of him.

The original speaker cleared this throat. "The others aren't what we're talking about," he amended. "We need answers from you. What were you doing in Zeruhn Mines? How did you get past the demons in Bastok?"

Emblim was still trying to place the voice, but wasn't having any luck. "We were trying to get to Korroloka Tunnel." he said simply.

"Why?"

"It's confidential."

Again, a series of whispers broke out in front of him. He strained his ears, and could tell that one of the voices was definitely female. A moment later the male speaker addressed him again. "We have your friends, and we can let everyone go as soon as you become more cooperative."

Emblim was silent. He couldn't remember what had happened to him in Zeruhn Mines. One second they were fleeing from the demons, and the next . . . he was here. Was there some kind of spell cast on him? No, he remembered being rendered unconscious. An explosion? Had the demons brought down the cavern in an attempt to kill him? If everyone else had been knocked out it was conceivable they would have been captured. Still, would being blindfolded keep Feldin from breaking free? He doubted their lives meant much to him. Unless he had been gagged as well. Had they been able to recognize him as a caster and prevent him from using magic?

"Just tell us what we want to know!" the speaker demanded, and it seemed his voice might crack. Emblim knew something was wrong here. He knew this man speaking to him, but simply could not remember from where. "How did you get through Bastok into Zeruhn Mines?"

"Palborough," Emblim said finally. "There was a young man with us. He's a villager from Konschtat. He showed us a ferry in the Palborough Mines which moves back and forth like clockwork to Zeruhn. We rode it over and made it past the guards without alerting anybody. We never even stepped foot in Bastok."

Silence responded to him. After a moment the two in front of him shared another hushed exchange.

"I want to speak to the woman with you," Emblim declared, and their voices cut off sharply. "I can tell she's the superior officer here."

"Is it that obvious . . . ?" the man sounded dejected, but then the sound of another sharp impact rang in Emblim's ears. "Ow - I - uh, you're not speaking to her. You're talking to me. Why were you trying to get in to Korroloka?"

The Hume was silent. Whatever was amiss here, it didn't seem like he was in any danger. His suspicions were beginning to grow about the identities of his captors. "I was trying to get through because I and my friends are going to Rabao."

"Why?"

"It's confidential."

"Says who?"

"King Destin of San d'Oria."

This time there was no whispering. The silence was almost unnerving. Emblim shifted in the chair, hoping for some kind of reaction. For a long time, nothing came, until suddenly the female voice spoke up.

"What is your name?"

He did not hestitate. "Emblim."

"You are not San d'Orian."

"No."

"Yet you are on a mission from their King."

"Yes."

"Would you care to explain that?"

"No."

"Oh come on!" The male speaker cried in frustration. His reward came in the form of another slap. Even Emblim cringed at how hard it sounded. "Stop doing that!" he said sheepishly, and the Paladin couldn't help but chuckle.

"Now look what you've done," the woman said in exasperation. "He's not even taking this seriously."

"You're the one who won't stop hitting me!" he exclaimed.

The woman sighed, exasperated. When she turned back to address Emblim her voice was resigned.

"I'd really like to believe you, but until we know more I'm afraid we can't let you go. There's no way to trust that what you say is true, or even that you are who you say you are." Emblim was surprised to hear how genuinely regretful she sounded. "We'd like to, but . . . things being what they are . . ."

"What in the name of the Goddess are you two doing?!"

A collective gasp rose from all three of them as the third voice shouted out in anger. This voice Emblim knew he recognized, but it was impossible. It couldn't be who he thought it was.

"S-sir!" The male interrogator said. "We were just trying to confirm - "

"Have you Musketeers got fluff in between your ears? How do you not recognize him?"

"It's not that," the female protested, "we just can't be certain - "

"I'm certain," he growled. "If anyone had told me he was here . . . bah! Get those ropes off! Well? Now, now!"

To Emblim's surprise, the knots binding him began to loosen almost immediately. Even as they did, a rough, calloused hand scraped against his forehead. Taking hold of the cloth around his eyes, it yanked it off, and Emblim blinked at the torchlight surrounding him. An indistinct blob over him slowly came into focus as his eyes adjusted to the change. It slowly changed into a mass of blue and gray, and then Hume features started taking shape. Shock registered on his visage as the face of the third speaker finally became clear.

A set of grinning teeth were the most prominent feature on a face weathered with age and toughened like leather. Gray hair was trimmed short and neat, as was the beard which stretched out from his chin. Despite his years, a powerful set of arms still reached out from his long blue work apron, which was stained with soot and burns. Even though it bore the obvious evidence of long hours doing hard labor, the Bastokan sigil sewn into it was still plainly visible. Emblim knew this face, and this person well. Everyone in Bastok knew their Chief Engineer.

"Cid!" Emblim exclaimed. He turned his head from side to side, looking at his captors, both of whom dodged his eyes sheepislhy. "Naji! Ayame!" The two Musketeers both looked abashed at his recognition of them. "Where am I? What are you all doing here?"

"You made it as far as Korroloka, Emb, but we had to blow the tunnel behind you." The reason for his being unconscious suddenly made sense. "I wasn't there, but we were under orders that if anything tried to come through, we block the entrance. If I'd have been there and see ya . . . "

"Chief, it could have been a demon trick, we had to be sure,"

Cid cut Naji off. "Ain't nothing we can do about your overzealousness," the blonde Hume hung his head. "Or yours, for that matter," he pointed accusingly at Ayame. The woman opened her mouth to object, but shut it as Cid directed a hard stare her way. Emblim stood as the ropes fell off of him, stretching his tired arms and legs. The Chief Engineer clapped him on the shoulder warmly. "Goddess, it's good to see you, boy. Naji!" The Musketeer snapped to attention. "Go get his weapons and armor. We can't have him walking around in his shirtsleeves."

"Cid, my friends," Emblim began.

"Everyone else is fine. I was checking on them before I came here. The lad from Konschtat told us everything, really. We're proud of you, Emblim. Very proud." The grizzled Hume was beaming at him. "We thought we'd lost you. You can't imagine what this will mean to everybody."

His eyebrow crooked upwards. "Everybody?" He inquired.

"I'll show you," Cid gestured for him to follow. "All the survivors of Bastok. There's a number of escape tunnels in the city that all lead here. We didn't wan to cut off our only way back in, but if the demons had discovered us . . . " he heaved a sigh. "Well, nothing to do for it now."

Emblim's heart was racing. "Survivors? How many of them? And why are you all in Korroloka? We were headed out to Rabao, maybe we all could - "

The look in the Chief's blue eyes made Emblim swallow his words. There was a swirl of emotions behind them, ranging from pain to anger and back again.

"Cid," he said softly, "what's wrong?"

He turned back around, his head hanging slightly, his footsteps dragging ever so slightly. "I'll explain on the way, Emblim. It's worse than you think it is. It's worse than we ever thought it could be."

Emblim followed Cid down the Korroloka Tunnel, the hope he had felt upon seeing him fading with every word.