Oz: Crossroad of Legends

"Oh, winged humans would have an easier time, I think," Baruch commented. "Ceiling's generally about... fourteen to sixteen feet?"

John Doe rubbed his side a bit more before sending out Zoroark, Manaphy, Rotom, and Ditto from their Pokeballs. Doe's shadow seemingly began cracking its knuckles. John Doe pointed his thumb behind him in a "watch my back" gesture. Rotom grinned and jumped into Doe's electronic mask, Zoroark seemingly vanished in a small black puff, and Ditto stretched out around his wrist and slithered to wrap itself around, beneath his sleeve. Manaphy glided around in a circle orbiting Doe's head for a bit before ultimately settling itself on his shoulder. He gave a small smile as she stabilized herself.

Sounds like Golurk and Ursaring should be fine, Yancy thought. I don't even have to worry about Starburst here.

Yancy tossed out the two Pokeballs to summon the two she thought of. The two of them hit the ground with a thud. Ursaring humph and clenched its fist to show that it's ready. Golurk turned its attention to the other Outlanders.

"We might have to fight a violent trespasser", Yancy said. "This is our first battle in this world. Be ready for anything!"

Ursaing nodded. Golurk, meanwhile, settled its gaze on Corva.

"Ghost type capabilities located in human female.... DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE."

"Oh yeah I should be fine without flying,". "Ms. Rosalina taught me and my wife how to fight when we were staying with her,". "Plus I am really good with a Bow and tomes so I have no problem fighting on foot,". "Are you familiar with bird laguzs where you are from?" Sophie asked Rand.

"Ghost type?" Baron said unsure what they were talking about.

"So are you a ghost or something Ms. Corva?" Baron asked.

"I am half vampire would that be considered like being a ghost?" Baron asked unsure of how to phrase it,

"DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT--"

Umm... You can stop trying to scan her, now.

"Acknowledged."

"If you really want to, I... guess you could ride it," Yancy told Corva.

Baruch coughed. "If you're done, we really should make haste. I'll try to answer questions, but I'm no tour guide. Follow me."

Baruch brought a metal club from behind his back and turned for the stairs.

---

Let's see. The Outlander leader should be somewhere around here...

A man dressed in the crimson colors of Legionnaire garb wandered through the tree's interior. His entire face was hidden behind a face wrap, and goggles with particularly dark lenses shielded his eyes. His gaze moved all around the area, in search of the one his message was meant for. He tried to give the other Legionnaires -- Alexus in particular -- a wide berth while doing so.

Well then. Guess I'm asking. Just got to choose someone not in Yuleian uniform.

His eyes targeted a woman lugging around one of the largest axes he's seen and wearing what appeared to be an armored dress of all things.

That'll do.

He walked over and tapped her on her shoulder. "I have a message for the leader of the Outlanders?"

---

A baker's dozen fallen trees later, Irving jogged back to the tree's interior, in an infinitely better mood, albeit feeling more than a little sore.

I took how long to calm down? I was right. I really am getting worse. Why couldn't I get summoned after I got those type-2 in-hee-bee-tore things? I gotta apologize to the folks I was an ass to while crazed... Right after I... Make sure I can escape getting checked...

Irving looked around and saw that the lines to the tents were seemingly being made by uniformed soldiers instead of Outlanders, which probably meant that every or almost every Outlander has already been examined.

Good. In the meantime, I can, uhh...

Irving played around with one of the apples he picked from the trees he toppled, intending to save them for later.

...Feed the horse, I guess.

Irving went off to investigate the last place he saw Marth.

John Doe and Yancy joined the party in following the soldier. The larger Ursaring and Golurk brought up their flank, the latter not reacting to the presence of its passenger.

Baruch picked up his pace when he hit ground floor. "No ghosts here. Whole lot of nothing, really. It's a wonder anyone would even try to break into this place."

He jogged over to the stone monument that housed the stairs into the tomb. Said monument took the form of an age-old, bearded warrior with a blade planted into the ground.

---

"H-Hey, buddy," Irving said.

Did June ever tell me your name? Don't remember.

"Want a treat?" Irving fished out his apple and held up in feeding range. "Usually, I treat myself to a lil' somethin' after a fight," he adds absentmindedly, partly aware that the horse probably wouldn't understand a word. "Makes dealin' with stuff seem worth it."

---

The messenger spend a few seconds eying the acting leader.

I was expecting someone... taller...

The messenger crossed his arms, puffed his chest, and deepened his voice a notch in an attempt to match a Legionnaire's mannerisms. "I believe you wished to spar with the generals of Yuleia. Naito Masujiro has accepted your challenge, and invites you to the city of Kibiro to the South to do battle. He also invites any other Outlanders who would also wish to spar, or even spectate and learn more about the land. Should you accept, come speak to me when you are prepared. I will arrange transport."

The intruder groaned as it slowly trudged further into the tomb, a bloodied machete in hand, still dripping from the previous roadblock. It stopped, turned, then continued on through a particular doorway leading into the burial site of one in particular.

It's destination.

At a glance, there wasn't much to set this grave apart from the others; a portrait depicting the subject in their prime, a plaque with a small biography, and a mannequin wearing their armor. The only notable differences were a small stone figure of a chimera with an amethyst gemstone in its forehead, the presence of fresh, recently laid lilies across the stone coffin, and a blade stored within a glass display case. The blade was what the intruder eyed.

Step by step, the intruder approached the case. It reached out with its free hand.

"YOU!"

The intruder paused. Another interruption.

"This is private Yuleian territory!" Leonard shouted at the intruder as he stomped (limped) his way into the room. "More importantly, you killed a good soldier on the way here! Give up quietly, and maybe I'll make the death penalty a painless one!"

The intruder turned around to face the general. Leonard clenched his fist as he saw the intruder's clothing; though covered in a brown robe, the armor it wore underneath was distinct.

"Legion armor?" Leonard stepped backward, readying a fighting stance. "Has Alexus finally dropped pretenses? No... Not even he's stupid enough to do something like this. Who are you really?!"

The intruder hissed and charged at the general with a raised machete.

"An intruder with a death wish, eh?! SO BE IT!"

Leonard roared as he met the intruder with a charge of his own.

---

The tomb's interior was nothing but a stone labyrinth of unlabeled walls, turns, and open doorways into rooms where the dead were buried, alongside portraits, memorabilia, and plaques detailing their history and triumphs. A tourist attraction, this was not. Fortunately, ether lamps were installed against the walls, illuminating the area, and if nothing else lightening up the heavy atmosphere.

"Yuleia's founder," Baruch explained while the group jogged behind him. "Lord Darius Garland. During the age of the wordsmiths, he sparked a rebellion and overthrew the tyrannical Alastor dynasty, taking the throne for himself, successfully fending off and in certain cases absorbing competing countries that tried to take advantage of the change in government, and establishing a benevolent dynasty that's obviously still alive today. They say that Yuleia got its name in tribute to his first love, who passed in combat, and St. Elne after his sister, who was famously charitable and loving to the impoverished population. Described her as a Saint and everything."

After turning a corner, Baruch gasped and sprinted across the hallway toward another soldier sitting in a puddle of blood with their back slumped up against the wall.

"Oh no," Baruch muttered. "No no no no..."

Yancy rushed to catch to him, rummaging through her handbag for Togekiss's Pokeball. "Is he still alive?! If he is, I can--"

She stopped upon seeing the series of stab wounds in the soldier's abdomen. Baruch held a finger to his neck, sighed, then slowly shook his head.

John Doe looked down to the ground. "...Whose are those?" He pointed to a series of bloodied footprints leading further into the tomb. Whomever it was, they only dirtied their left boot.

Baruch sniffed, slapped himself twice, then stood back up with a determined expression. "Those... from the size of them, they might be the general's! Come on, let's go!"

Without waiting to see if anyone else had anything to say, Baruch stormed forward. John Doe gave Yancy a hand to stand up before joining the chase. Yancy paused a moment to look sorrowfully at the deceased soldier before following.

---

Irving allowed the horse to quickly devour the treat off his hand.

"...Don't be shy."

"We've received an invitation to train with some of Yuelia's generals and see more of the land. Who wishes to join?"

Irving turned upon hearing June's invitation. He looked over at her, the examination tents, and the soldiers that were either patrolling, waiting in line, or awaiting further instruction.

Anythin's better than staying here.

Irving waved a hand at June. "I'm in!"

Irving backed away from the horse. "H- Okay, okay, you can have... one more."

Irving brought out two more apples from his inventory (1 left).

"We'll share one each, alright?" he said. He left out one apple on his left hand, and held the other on his right, bringing it to his own mouth for a bite.

Royal Tomb

A tremor ran throughout the tomb, causing Baruch to stumble in his sprint.

"That should be the commander!"

Following the source of the noise as the footprints began to fade, the party sprinted down the hallway. Baruch paused as the party slowed with him at the doorway to one particular room.

"Wait a minute, this--"

"RAAAAGH!"

Baruch jumped at the sound of glass breaking and pressed his back against the wall. He leaned forward to peer into the room, tightly clutching his weapon with sweaty palms. Within, he saw General Skaar closest to the doorway, breathing hard and possessing a few fresh slash wounds in his chest and left arm. Nonetheless, he glared down his opponent, who was crumpled to the ground among the shattered glass of the display case containing a sword. Craters for varying size dotted the room's floor and walls.

"Stubborn. I can appreciate that, at least," Leonard told the intruder. "A lesser man would've folded by now."

"This is the burial place for the queen's husband, Vance Garland III," Baruch whispered to the Outlanders.

The intruder slowly pulled himself up. Leonard briefly diverted his eyes to the side to note the presence of the new arrivals, then just as quickly shifted them back toward his enemy. "Oddly quiet, too. How about you give us your motive before I crack your skull open like an egg? It would save me the trouble of a formal interrogation."

"Hah..." The intruder stood up straight once more. It slowly turned its head up to look at Leonard before giving a hoarse, raspy, vaguely inhuman laugh. "Hah hah hah..."

The intruder reached a hand toward the display stand, and curled it's fingers around the hilt of the blade.

Wait... Vance's weapon was...

Baruch jumped out and sprinted toward the general. "THANATOS EDGE!"

The intruder was already bolting at Leonard. The general raised an arm as the assailant jump and brought the Devil Arm down upon Leonard.

...Only for the blade to break in half upon impact. Baruch gasped and stopped in his tracks.

Leonard glared at the attacker with the angriest expression he had made that day, his body quaking in pure rage, his fingernails digging deeply into his palms.

"What... mockery..."

As the intruder seemingly stood stunned at the sight of the broken blade, Leonard struck a massive punch into his midsection. "YOU WOULD DARE INSULT HER HIGHNESS?!" Leonard grabbed the intruder by the back of their helmet and slammed them into the wall behind him, breaking open another hole on the stone building. "YOU BELIEVE HER TO BE STUPID?!" He slammed his head again, this time slamming it from the side. "STUPID ENOUGH TO LEAVE A DEVIL ARM ON PUBLIC DISPLAY INSTEAD OF A REPLICA?!" Leonard stomped his foot. A spiked rock wall shot out of the ground behind him. Leonard grabbed the intruder by their cloak and launched them front-first into the wall, a few spikes impaling itself through their chest and legs. "THE PUNISHMENT..." Leonard kicked the intruder in the back of the spine, bones audibly breaking as they bent at a displeasing angle. "FOR SUCH IMPUDENCE..." Another kick. This time, the wall crumbled from the force, and the intruder was launched back into the floor.

"IS THE MOST AGONIZING DEATH!"

Stone slabs emerged from the ground at the intruder's sides and slammed down on top of them from shoulder to knee. Bones began audibly snapping as they began crushing him against the ground.

Despite everything, the intruder did not utter a word.

"Any last words?!"

"Hah... Hah hah..."

A burst of energy shot out from the intruder, destroying the stones on top of him and causing Leonard to flinch in surprise.

"What?!"

When the light dissipated, the intruder was already standing back up, and aside from his destroyed armor beginning to fall apart, was seemingly no worse for wear. It coughed and shuddered for a minute, before being bathed in a dark, purple, smoke-like aura. With one hand clutching his machete, the intruder reached their free hand their head and pulled the battered helmet off.

Baruch gasped loudly while Leonard's eyes widened in realization. "Y-You're..."

The intruder leered at Leonard with glowing white eyes, with part of their skull cratered deep within their head from a prior blow. Its skin was deathly pale and partly decayed.

"Undead!"

The undead Legionnaire shot out their hand and conjured a huge blast of white energy at Leonard. He had barely enough time to raise a defensive hand before the attack connected, blasting him through the wall behind him and into an adjacent room, a dust cloud forming as a result.

"UUARGH"

"General!" while Baruch ran to aid his general, the undead soldier had already selected him as its next target. Baruch's eyes widened as he turned and saw the blast, knowing that he wouldn't have time to dodge.

Location: Royal Tomb

Sophie quickly jumps back and takes out her bow.

"Hmm spirit, entombed, ghost?". "I haven't seen such an interesting specimen before,". "Good thing I had Ann give me some of those special arrows before I left," Sophie said taking out an arrow infused with Light Magic.

Sophie took aim at the thing that was fighting with Leonard and the other light arrows. Sophie steaded her shot and waited until everyone was done fighting.

Baron was a little more annoyed by the floating undead thing in the room.

"You dare make a mockery of the undead,". "You picked the wrong tomb to mess with and you picked the wrong vampire to show your self to,". "I shall finish you with this," Baron said.

Baron cut his hand a bit to have a streak of blood form. With the blood present Baron was able to manipulate it to a huge scythe. Baron took the scythe and rushed the undead making one huge swiping notion.

"Wheeeee-ungh!"  Corva slams into a wall and collapses to the ground, loose brick fragments raining down around her.  "...Ow..."

Her Umbreon breaks out of his ball and stands over her.  Growling angrily.

Corva grabs for a ball on her belt and tosses it out.  A light blue hound-fox-thing with icy spikes in her fur pops out.  "Glay?"

"Grace, Icy Wind..."

"Glaaaay!?"  She seems taken aback that someone who isn't her proper trainer would give her commands, but then she obeys and fires a cool wind at the zombie.

Rand hefts his lance and chucks it at the creature's back as it runs at the archer.