A Troubling Voyage [Besaid]

[Kupo]

Lulu paced slowly round her home with Vidina in her arms, humming a soft tune and rocking slightly to sooth her child to sleep. It was a pleasant scene yet Lulu was uncomfortable, on edge. In the pit of her stomach she had a sense of foreboding. She could sense something bad was going to happen but she had no idea what or even why she felt this way. With no rational explanation she simply went about her day as usual noticing nothing particularly strange around Besaid. There were more people than there had been prior to the merge but these days seeing so many unusual faces come and go had grown to be ordinary.

Now that it was time for little Vidina to go to sleep all was calm. It was dark outside now and a few people still wandered about the village outside. The stars were glorious on clear nights so she could hardly blame anyone for staying up late just to gaze up at them with wonder. When at last she was sure Vidina was soundly sleeping she placed him down carefully in his little crib and pulled a blanket up over him before leaning in to place a soft kiss on his smooth cheek. Straightening herself up again, she looked at her son lovingly before making her way outside. She stood just in the entrance to her home and looked up at the glistening sky. She just couldn't shake this bad feeling but the stars did help her relax as she remembered why life was good. She dismissed all her worries, accepting that she was probably just being paranoid.

Returning inside once more she approached the table upon which sat a covered jug of fruit juice. She grabbed a glass and poured herself some of the sweet tasting liquid. She drained the glass before sitting down on the cushioned chair. Almost instantly drowsiness swept over her. She struggled to keep her eyes from shutting a fleeting sense of panic came over her. Lulu was a clever person, clever enough to realise she’d been drugged. But she did not have time to contemplate who had done so or what their motives might be as she lost the battle for consciousness and slumped forward onto the table.

She awoke suddenly, quickly remembering the events of the previous night with a headache throbbing in her skull and a throat that was uncomfortably dry. She stood upright quickly and found that she was still rather dizzy, forced to lean on the table for stability. With a hand on her forehead she moved as quickly as she dared to her son’s crib. What she saw shocked her for the bed was empty, her son and his blanket were gone. All of a sudden her headache didn’t seem so bad instead there was a sinking feeling in her chest. She felt like crying but now was not the time. Regardless of how she felt she was going to scour the island in a search for her son. She rushed outside into the village, blinking as the sudden bright light of the sunshine caused her head to throb more vigorously. People were going about their daily business as usual only to come under her scrutinising gaze.
“Vidina. Have you seen Vidina?!” she asked out to everyone she came across regardless of whether they were the villagers she had known for years or the newcomers to the island paradise. On the whole she was greeted by an assortment of worried and puzzled looks and shaken heads. With each unhelpful response she grew more and more concerned. Having questioned everyone in the village and temple, flitting backwards and forwards like an angry bee, she flew out onto the road and ran down to the beach as fast as she could. The mage stopped at each traveller on the road she met and asked them if they had seen her son but again she was greeted by shaken heads and confused expressions.

Panic was setting in now and her heart was beating so hard the pulse in her ears was agony to her headache. Even down on the beach there was no sign of her son and no-one had seen him. Some of the Aurocks were practising in the warm water of the shallows and upon hearing Lulu’s distressed questions they set about searching too, heading off into the jungle and around the old ruins. Lulu herself headed on over to the dock and continued to question people.

“Now that you mention it,” began an elderly gentleman who spent his days on the pier with his fishing rod. “I did see a man with a toddler get on the ferry this morning. I don’t think he was from around here, his clothes were awfully strange and he seemed out of place with that boy...”

Her heart skipped a beat, this was not relaxing news. How was it that all the people on this island and only the little old man on at the dock had seen anything. Just what the hell was going on here. In her mind she knew exactly what she needed to do and although a part of her still held out hope that she would find her son here in Besaid but something else in her was sure he wasn’t here. She was going to get on the next ferry and find the creep that took her baby and then she was going to hurt him. It would be a good few hours before the ferry coming the opposite way arrived and so she used that time continuing to search Besaid for Vidina. When the Aurocks returned they had seen no sign of Vidina, nor had anyone else Lulu asked, confirming her suspicions that the old man was right and a stranger had kidnapped her son.

In the early evening when the ferry was getting ready to leave again Lulu made her way back down to the dock making one last stop to the old man again to thank him for his information and to get a more detailed description of the man he had seen. He was right about him not fitting in, the clothes he described were nothing like anything she had seen in Spira. She thanked him again and boarded the ferry, a terrified mother on a mission to find her son.

[sebastian]

The waves were nice and calm and no sign of trouble at sea but that was the thing about the sea, things can change and it was also something that was known to those who actually knew about it. A man stood on deck as he used the railing to hold himself up as his arms crossed one another to make himself more comfortable. A blue sages cloak shifted from the sea breeze that forced it into motion. A plate of white and gold armor on his left shoulder and the left part of his chest and upper back. The plate protrudes up to protect his neck and most of his face from being seen from the on lookers that he seemed to attract every now and again.

He soon came to realize just how much he did not like the ocean. Nothing but water, it was good for trips but overall, he wasn't in the kind of place where he could do anything with his own skills. He continued to look out over the horizon as the boat was now coming onto the island. He had ended up catching it on the wrong time and now he had to ride the accursed thing back to the place he really wanted to go. Kilika Temple on the island itself Kilka but in order for that to be done, he needed to endue yet another ride on this contraption.

But it seemed as though the docking here at least wasn't the worse as there was not that many to board. He would soon be able to take a look at the place he had read of in the books and the wonderful flames that it was supposed to hold. He couldn't help but let a smile slide its way onto his face at the thought.

[Kupo]

As the Ferry set out from Besaid she was aware that there were other passengers already here. There was a chance that they may have seen the man who took her son and she couldn’t let a chance like that be left alone and so she set about asking everyone she met if they had met a man that fitted the description she had memorised from the old man or a small child that matched her son’s appearance. She, started below deck and slowly made her way up through the various rooms until at last she came to the deck to the prow of the vessel.

She took in a deep breath of the salty sea air and gazed out to the horizon with its golden glow. The sun was beginning to sink away in the West and it was casting its halcyon light over everything. Soon it would be a glorious mixure of orange, pink and purple until at last the stars would come out to guide their overnight voyage. Despite her deep concern for her son she couldn’t help but reminisce of her last journey like this, back when she was a guardian. She had failed twice as a guardian before Yuna. Those feelings still troubled her and now, failing as a mother too. Was she so pathetic?

Despite her deep thoughts, there was no ignoring the blue cape that whipped gently on the breeze, much like her own braided hair. The man it belonged too didn’t exactly fit in with the clothing he was wearing, not as a local anyway but he also did not fit the description of her son’s kidnapper. With a slow, steady stride she approached him as he stood relaxed against the railing. There was no point beating around the bush here and having stopped a few feet before the curiously dressed stranger she addressed him.

“Excuse me,” she began with the slightest hint of her worry in her voice. “Have you seen a man about your height, with dark skin and hair falling around shoulder length? He had a child with him, a red haired boy around two years old.” She was keeping herself together well and only the slightest hints about what was really going on in her mind were shown through a glimmer in her eyes and a barely audible quaver in her voice. Otherwise she appeared to be her old self. Strong, confident if a little defensive.

[Yllarius]

The old Nu Mou groaned a bit as he awoke that morning. His whole body ached with arthritis, his muscles complained, and his skin sagged, succumbing to gravity's attraction after so many, many years.

He rubbed his eyes and yawn, sitting on the edge of the bed for a minute while his body adjusted. Then he grabbed his staff and slowly shuffled into the bathroom, opening his mouth and looking at his tongue for a visual clue to the horrible taste in his mouth. There was none, it was just dry.

He shuffled into the kitchen and got out a pan, wiping his away some left-over supper with his sleeve. If Charlotte were here she'd have done the dishes... Charlotte... He paused for a minute, then shook the memories away with his head. He set the pan on the stove and light the burner with a flame that extended from his finger. He still had some old tricks left. After that he made himself breakfast. Eggs, as usual. It was one of the few things he knew how to make. Charlotte, as always, did the cooking too...Charlotte... Benny shook his head again. He needed to go out in the world, two years ago, things changed. The world changed, new things emerged and things became both increasingly expansive and increasingly interwoven. The world was now split, yet more united than ever. It was an odd sensation for the sage.

He had heard stories from friends, other Nu Mou that still came to see him. Friends from decades past. Friends of his, and friends of Charlotte...Charlotte...Everybody loved her.

But the old man knew that he couldn't fully understand this world until he went out into it, tasted it, felt it. Something big had happened to create this new world, yet there was something bigger yet to come. Benny needed to be in this world, and perhaps, carry on the work that he and Charlotte had started. Charlotte... always caring about others.

Finishing his eggs he hobbled back into his room, changing into his well worn clothes, clothes that Charlotte had gotten him... Charlotte... she always picked clothes that were so warm and comfortable.

He sighed, gathering various ingredients, herbs, poultices, a few spell enhancing components, and of course, Benny's tobacco. When he was done he pulled down a large map of Ivalice, covered with symbols and marks, some in Benny's handwriting, some in Charlotte's... Charlotte... she had such neat handwriting... Benny found himself tracing the letters, her tight curving S's, her looping Y's.... He shook his head again.

"Right about here looks fine..." He muttered, pointing to a spot on the map, he made a small mark and began chanting his spell, after a moment there was a loud CRACK, objects in the room rattled, things fell and broke, and Benny.... Benny was gone.

Instead of being transported to where Benny believed he was going, he was transported to the same spot, only in the merged world. The small ferry, leaving Besaid, was probably the only thing that saved Benny from a rather unfortunate incursion into the depths of the deep blue. As luck would have it however, the ferry was there, and with a loud CRACK! and a rumble, Benny appeared safely in the cabin, staring, wide-eyed, at a rather attractive young woman. Young for Benny's standards at least.

Benny flustered a bit, first he had not had contact with humans, or females in years. Secondly, he had not had contact with an attractive female in years. Finally, he had just teleported to a some location that was beyond him. At first he thought it was her house, but after getting his bearings, he noticed they were moving, and that this was built like a...

"A BOAT!" He said aloud as it hit him. He blushed a bit, then shook his head. "Of course, a boat, I knew all along. You young whippersnappers thought I was confused. Ol' Benny showed you..." He coughed a bit, turning to the lady. "Excuse me, but... where exactly is this boat heading?"

[Kupo]

Lulu was completely and utterly startled by the sudden loud crack that shot through the air. Immediately, she turned on her heel and sped off to find the source of the noise, her guardian instincts kicking in at what she thought was a sign of danger. Her need to question the man on the deck was momentarily not as important as the source of that terrifyingly loud sound; after all, he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon.

She quickly found herself in the cabin confronting a strange looking creature. It was like a man/dog hybrid that was very hunched over. He had an air of age about him, a hint of the many years he had weathered. There was no mistaking him for a fiend, especially with his current look of confusion. Lulu simply stared at him for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation. The other people in the cabin were also staring at him with puzzled looks. She wasn’t sure how to react, she still wasn’t sure she knew what the hell was going on. She knew that this old fellow had not been on the ferry when she boarded and she was also certain he hadn’t been in Besaid so the only explanation that she could wrap her head around was that the loud crack was his sudden arrival. That said, it still didn’t make a lot of sense.

Quite suddenly he began proclaiming that he was on a boat as though it had taken a moment to realise exactly that. What he said next simply made that certain. When at last he turned to Lulu and addressed her, asking her where the boat was heading. She took a second to regain her wits and so hesitated before replying.

“This is the ferry, travelling from Besaid to Kilika...” she hesitated again. “Who are you and how did you get here?”She asked with curiosity ringing in her voice. She had a lot more she wanted to ask him right away but she held her tongue. In the mean time she wanted to know if he was a threat to the people on the boat, to her and to her objective.

[ooc: it’s a little crap – my lulu is rusty...]

[Yllarius]

The old Nu Mou attempted to straighten his back and put on a look of nobility. "Why young lady, I am Benofluac Ma-Kahrn the Third, at your service." He bowed low, ears almost scrapping the ground. However, when he attempted to right himself a pain shot through his pack. "Oh, oww..." He moaned, putting one arm around behind him to aid in straightening the old thing. "My age is getting to me..." He muttered, hobbling over to sit in a wooden chair.

"Ahh thats better..." He looked up, startled a bit, as if he forgot Lulu was there. "Oh! I am Benofluac Ma-Kahrn the Third. But my friends call me Benny." He paused a moment, coughing, then returned to his conversation. "That being said, may I count you among my friends, Miss Lulu?" He looked up at her smiling. "That is your name, is it not?" He asked, although his age had deteriorated his physical body, his mind was as sharp as ever, and the powers that be still granted him insight into the world, insight that others did not have.

He had discovered this gift years ago, with his Charlotte. She had lost her wedding band, and when she finally admitted it to Benny, he had told her exactly where it was, without knowledge that it had been there. Since then, Charlotte had been working with Benny to enhance his Pre-cognitive powers, and it had proven extremely useful in there work. Charlotte and Benny saved many lives by warning people of disasters and strife before they occurred. Since Charlotte's death Benny hasn't been keeping up with the training, but what is dormant is not lost.

[Kupo]

She listened intently as the strange canine creature began to introduce himself. His name was long and hand an impressive ring to it but for all that it meant nothing to Lulu, regardless, she made a point of memorising it on the off chance she needed to know it at some later point. She was keen to hear what the stranger had to say and so when he hurt himself in some attempt to puff himself up she found herself becoming a little irritated with him. He seemed to be one for waffling and beating about the bush much more than Lulu cared for. She merely watched and waited then as he shuffled to a nearby chair and muttered something about his age.

True enough, there was a look of age about him even if she had never seen anything like him before. His skin was incredibly saggy and he had a twinkle in his eye that she couldn’t place as either wisdom or senility. When he repeated his introduction, she couldn’t help but think it was more likely the latter she saw in his face. She was a little relieved when he mentioned Benny being a nickname and the thought of saying his full name was tiring.

He took her aback completely when he finished his little speech with her name. When he asked her to confirm he was correct she could only nod. How could he possibly know her name, he’d been here such a short time and barely a word had been uttered to him. What magic allowed him to perceive that knowledge. With that thought Lulu saw a possibility. If Benny here had a knack for knowing things, if that was the truth of the matter, he might be able to help her find her son.

“Before I get to the matter of whether you are friend or foe, please answer some of my questions so that I can make a decision. Where did you come from and how did you appear here so suddenly? And finally, how do you know my name?” she said at length. This seemed so random but if he could aid her in her search for Vidina perhaps there was some purpose to it after all.

[Yllarius]

Benny smiled, a twinkle in his eye. "Oh, I do love stories." He said, ruffling through his pack, finally he pulled out a pipe and lit it, taking a long puff on it he began.

"Where did I come from? Well, isn't that something everyone wants to know? Many people believe we were created by the gods. For what purpose, is up to debate. Some think we're incarnations of the mist, and others believe we evolved from fish." He scoffed a bit. "Fish!" He shook his head though, feeling the ladies impatience.
"But I suppose you mean me specifically, and less philosophically. I came from a land called Ivalice. You've probably never heard of it, I can imagine. As such, specifics don't seem to be required. However, I grew up in training for magic, as do all of my kind. I mastered the power to harness magical energy to do my bidding over years and years of mastery. After my training, I married my childhood sweetheart and we explored the lands of Ivalice, as sort of missionaries, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and what have you. " He Smiled a bit, a moment of silence for his Charlotte, dear, dear Charlotte....

Finally he snapped out of his reverie and spoke again.
"As you can imagine, through traveling and practice I've mastered a number of different skills, one being a spell aptly named. 'Teleport' By pinpointing my location on a map, and using some complex geographical algorithms, I can move myself to another destination almost instantly. I had been aware of a great shift in Ivalice, and I had heard stories. So I got off my rump and teleported myself to a location I had previously been to, however... Something went awry. Perhaps I misjudged how much the world had changed since my travelling days."

He sighed and shook his head. "It's probably a very good thing this boat was here, too. As without it, I may not have lived to tell these tales to you." Benny took another long drag on his pipe, sending smoke swirling into the air. It was such a stupid mistake, someone his age should have expected it. Charlotte wouldn't have made such a mistake....Charlotte, beautiful Charlotte.

"And finally, as to how I know your name." He scratched his ear a bit, and sighed. "Without going into details, i'm gifted. A second or third sight or what not. Basically, I know things. Without trying, I know things that are ingrained on you, things your constantly thinking of. Names are the easiest, places of origin or residence usually pop out, birth dates sometimes. These things I simply know from a glance. If I choose to look deeper I can sometimes see other things, but I usually choose not to. I'm not one to pry." He smiled at the woman, showing that he had not pried into her life, anymore than what was projected to him from her. Charlotte had taught him that, taught him not to pry into others business, it's not proper. Besides, it only causes trouble.

"I can also tell something is troubling you. More so than my own seemingly random appearance. You've lost something very important to you, so important in fact, it's pushed you to the point where if anything stands between you and it, your likely to shred it to bits. How curious, now what could this object be, milady?" There weren't many material objects that could force a person to such a state, especially one with such a clear mastery of her demeanor.

[Kupo]

Lulu almost regretted asking the question when he started to ramble about fish and various other creation theories. Apparently, the old creature had no sense of urgency and she found herself growing impatient. Here was the potential clue that she had hoped for with all her heart and he was sitting there, talking nonsense. Even when he finally began to talk of where he had come from Lulu was still waiting eagerly for him to explain if he had a gift to help her find her son. Ivalice meant nothing to her and, as much as she tried to be interested, nor did his tale of life with his sweetheart.

One thing she did gather from his long winded explanation was that he was a kind soul, feeding the hungry, tending to the sick, it reminded her of Yuna’s kind nature, her willingness to do anything for the people of Spira. In that moment she warmed to him slightly. When he went on to describe is teleportation he had finally captured her attention. This was the kind of thing she wanted to hear about. She nodded along as he spoke, agreeing that had it not been for the boat he may have met a watery end.

His gift, as he called it, was just that. He really could be able to help her find Vidina and he had given her the gift of hope. She hadn’t allowed herself to stop and think on things but looking at it now she had been in a dark place since she awoke from her drugged slumber, the idea of this kind old soul helping her was a glimmer of light on all that. She was going out of her way, assuming he’d help her when asked but, as he rightly pointed out, she was like to shred anyone who stood in her way to pieces. If he would not willingly aid her she would force him if she had too.

“My son,” she replied simply. Her heart was pained every time she gave her thoughts room to consider the situation, it felt like a part of her soul had been snatched away and she knew that was a hole nothing but Vidina’s safe return could fill. ”Never doubt what risks a mother will take for the sake of her child,” she said stoically, regarding him one last time before pleading his help. ”Please, help me find him.” For the first time her voice was truly filled with emotion, concern and love on the most part but with a threatening hint of anger. She would destroy the kidnapper when she found them, without a doubt, but that came later. Lulu didn’t go into detail of what she expected him to do to help, confident he already saw what she meant and optimistic that he was as kind as she had gauged him to be and would not need to be forced.

[Yllarius]

Benofluac nodded at the mention of a child. "I understand, the loss of a child can easily send a person over the edge..." He paused for a long moment, looking down to the floor, tears welling up in his eyes. They fell down through the crevasses of the old Nu Muo's ancient face like a ravine, down through the sea air and on to the wooden deck of the ship. Each drop, it's own tale of misery and sorrow of the ancient one. The memories of his wife, laying there on the bed, giving birth. His first initial excitement, followed by nervousness, followed by utter horror. The hours spent trying to revive a corpse, and then the subsequent breakdown and massacre in his home town. He shuddered at his sins.


Finally, the old man sniffled loudly, took a long drag of his pipe and screwed himself up.

"I shall do what I can to help." He declared. "Charlotte would want me to, and your not the only one who knows what it's like to lose a child." He smiled, trying to mask his pain. Then he turned and put his pipe back into his bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Unfortunately, with the current changes to the world, teleportation is way to dangerous to attempt again, but I can still help. I'm certainly not adverse to travelling on foot." He nodded, taking hold of a large, tattered tome. "So, where do we start, Guardian?"