Plot Thread 1.3: Stand By Me (THE TRUTH)

[Andy Jammer]

There were two things that entered Andy's head, first: Crepuculum has private investigators? Second was: did this guy take lessons from Enzio?

Monthu's response was very vague so Andy chimed in, "I was here when the lights first came down...they held these strange monsters, ones I never seen before, they weren't natural but they weren't anywhere similar to those things Trucido used for his monster thing."

He paused for a moment, trying to think back to earlier when...in his memory, the scene he saw before unconsciousness took him.

"...there was something..." Andy said, "That bandaged person, remember Jas we followed him to the town? Well I've seen him before: he was at the wedding right before Alessia vanished, he was in the crowd. And...and before I fell unconscious I saw him again talking to some man. They were....they were talking about Ghiaccio!"

[glitters]

Jasmine nodded, remembering very well the strange bandaged person they'd followed into town. Even if it had been a little strange to her that Andy was worried about it at first, the points he was bringing up did cause for suspicion. She'd never doubt Andy on at least that.

"You're thinking we need to investigate in Ghiaccio?" she tilted her head, "you don't remember hearing anything else specifically during that conversation, do you?"

[Andy Jammer]

Andy paused for a moment, searching his memories, "...They were planning to meet in Ghiaccio, he told the bandaged person to hurry back quickly...I don't know what's going on, but I have been in these situations enough to know that usually there is something always going on the background. While everyone is distracted somebody moves around us, plotting and then when we think we've won they initiate their plan."

He began to feel his strength return to him, "I am not letting that happen again, if there is something going on that we don't know about - I wanna find out what before its too late."

[Zhen Anguo]

"AND WE SHALL HELP WITH SUCH A TASK!"

A voice called from above those gathered in the city. Stood atop one of the buildings left almost derelict by the attack from the monsters, was a dusty and grimy Zhen Anguo who was looking much more the warrior than his innocent appearance from when he had first discovered by the Lunar Knights. He held his White Moon Dragon confidently with a solid grip as he looked down at everyone, with one prominent smear of dirt across his left cheek as he gave them all a thumbs up. "Zhen Anguo is here! With his most trusted minion! Kur-ARGH!"

His mentor, Kurai, slapped the young Knight upside the head and sent him sprawling on the floor below. The ninja straightened out his gloves, flipped the page of his book, and gave everyone a small wave.

"Hey..." He said casually whilst 'Guo sat up in the dirt and rubbed his head in annoyance.

[Navarre]

"Alright then... I guess we have to go to Ghiaccio." Navarre said as he grabbed his arm. He didn't do so well in the cold, "But what if it is a trap? You know splitting up the groups, divide and conquer?"

[The Other]

The Other had grown tired of all the speculation and idle chatter. The battle had ended far too quickly to build any interest, and all of their yammering was far too...friendly. It was time for action.

"Little mortals," He moved towards the centre of the Heroes' congregation, his tone smooth and honeyed. "if you wish to take your vengeance upon this...Duo or his bandaged cohort, might I offer my hand to your cause? If these little gnats you fear so much are half as strong as you seem to indicate, you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to ask me for aid."

Whether or not he liked any of the so called "Heroes" there was one thing he hated more than goody-goods, and that was anyone daring to move in on his monopoly. To think how rude and ignorant Duo had been to attack so brazenly made his tendrils writhe in disgust. Were such a man allowed to continue his destruction, there'd be nothing left for The Other to conquer. It was simply unacceptable.

"Well...I await your invitation." He said, his finger tapping with a playful impatience.

[glitters]

"To hurry back quickly, hmm? That sounds like we're taking a trip, and making it fast ourselves," Jasmine answered Andy and then became immediately distracted with the display of Zhen and his odd companion. She smirked as the man fell to the ground and watched to see if there was much she could do for him after a fall like that though it seemed he was fine.

Hearing the voice of The Other she was expecting to look in his direction and see a human man, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw...well, what she saw standing where he was. If he hadn't been speaking so civilly she would have mistaken him for another enemy. She looked from Andy to The Other.

"Would you really help us, sir? I'm sure we could use some good help," she offered, more so because he seemed to want to and to her they were better to have everyone join in to help.

[Andy Jammer]

Andy narrowed his eyes on the Other and weighed his options, the term enemy of my enemy is my friend came to mind and he felt confident about the number of people who would attack Other if things went out.

"You'll be invited...on ONE condition," he said, "during our little team up you do nothing to endanger the group, I don't care what you do after but if you backstab us in the middle of our endeavor...you'll regret it."

[The Other]

The Other chuckled, sweeping his hand over him to pull his quivering tendrils back behind his head as they bobbed around uncontrollably with each enunciated "Ha!"

"Oh dear boy, parish the thought. I would never dream of backstabbing any of you." The Other closed in, hunching over to slip his head right next to Andy's ear. "After all, if I stab you, I'll want the last thing you see to be me, standing over you." He pulled back and resumed his laughter. "Just like this boy."

He turned around and held his hands out in a magnanimous gesture. "Now, let's be off shall we? It is...time for adventure, no?"

[Dios Sarvo]

Dios finished copying down what information he felt was relevant to the current situation before grimacing a bit at the vague prospects, along with the seemingly lacklustre group of individuals that he would potentially be "working" with. He leaned back against one of the still standing walls and twirled one of his daggers flippantly as he payed little heed to the remnant exchange of trivial information betwixt the others.

All the while though, he couldn't help but peer out from under the concealing brim of his hat towards the humanoid shadow that was in his midst. It talked the talk and walked the walk of being human, but there was no doubt in his mind that this creature before him was extra planar in nature.

Dios knew well the ways of the planes and how they overlapped with this world, and his knowledge lead him to realize that there was only two ways that such a thing could exist here: either it had been summoned by an individual of amazing power, or it was itself powerful enough to slash through the veils between planes and form itself here, and Dios hoped, or rather lied to himself that it wasn't the latter, realizing the rather grim prospects it held.

Regardless of his worries regarding The Other, it seemed docile enough and Dios needed to learn more. Figuring he could deal with such a seemingly mismatched group of wannabe heroes should he be given the chance to fulfill his own goals, Dios exerted a modicum of patience, at least for now, realizing that it was best to wait for the rest of the group before moving out.

[glitters]

"Andy..." Jasmine warned, "we have a common goal, we should at least try to give him a chance."

She looked at The Other who seemed too happy to be part of the group. She was clearly out to lunch on the whole "he's kind of a monster" bit. To her, he was ugly but willing to help. Wasn't that what really mattered?

[Andy Jammer]

"I didn't reject him," Andy emphasized, "Just laid down the basic ground rules...Jas if he backstabbed us and did something to you I wouldn't forgive him for it or myself for it, I will let him help...but I will not be naive enough to let my guard down."

He stood up a bit more, having his strength returned. "Ghiaccio is where this person will be, that Kingdom is ruled by a close friend and if something is going down then I wanna find out why. It'll be awhile to get to Ghiaccio by ship, so get your things and prepare for a trip. If I know these things and believe me I do...this simple little mission will most likely blow up to something bigger."

[glitters]

"Of course," Jasmine smiled thoughtfully and gave Andy's hand a light squeeze. As rude as he was sometimes she couldn't argue too much when she knew he had her best interests in mind.

She wasn't really looking forward to a trip to a place as cold as Ghiaccio but what she was looking for in comfort wasn't the most important issue at hand. It was trying to hunt down a strange man and save the world! woop woop

"I can use some of the supplies from the ash and rubble for medicines on our trip, just give me a moment."

[Zhen Anguo]

"So we're goin' to Ghiaccio huh?!" 'Guo said cheerily as he fist-pumped with his free hand, tapping the shaft of his halberd against the floor with the other. "I've never been there before! It is perfect! Not only do I get to help save the world, but I get to visit new places as well! This is like a dream come true!" He started chuckling with a large grin on his face as he heard Kerrian give a derisive snort within his head.

Please remind me why I got stuck with you again..? I couldn't have chosen a nice, quiet, tame Knight could I? No. I just had to choose the loudest, most annoying creature I could find...

'Guo seemed unfazed as he looked around the others with a big grin on his face. Even the appearance of Monthu, who was allied with Itami, and such, technically one of his enemies, couldn't put a dampen on his mood.