(no subject)

Report NN(T1)10, Lieutenant Sherral Maduin, 12/8/704OV.
Ninth Day Post-Midlight Shard Activation.

I took food, medicine and clean blankets with me upon my return from the magical bar – an experience I would continue to doubt were it not for the physical proof of its presence. Everyone was so exhausted that they accepted the explanation that I scavenged them from an abandoned cart with very little argument.

It is a relief to be out of Nabudis and into the Salikawood, but our journey is not yet over. I carry the Midlight Shard now, given to me when Zecht stayed behind to buy us time. It was clearly important to him that it be brought to the Empire, and I can well understand why – a weapon of this power must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. Its charge seems to be gone now, but it may yet regain it.

We have made good progress through the wood, and will surely reach the Phon Coast before long. As we walk, I have been practicing the technique Zecht used often – drawing and igniting the Mist, enabling a powerful if unique magical attack. I have had little success.

Blessedly, we lost no people today, and our number remains four.



Report NN(T1)11, Lieutenant Sherral Maduin, 13/8/704OV.
Tenth Day Post-Midlight Shard Activation.

Kara Lieutenant Tellurin and I awoke to Lieutenant Snuffles standing over us, sword drawn. He had seemingly already killed our fourth companion, driving a sword through his skull while he slept. In the ensuing struggle, Lieutenant Tellurin was severely wounded along her sword arm, and I sustained a wound to my chest.

It is difficult to summarise what happened, for much of it is unclear. I utilised Zecht's technique, the Quickening, that I had practiced the previous day, conjuring a beam of holy energy that – obliterated Snuffles' entire top half by way of disintegration, and ignited the rest. Several trees were destroyed by the technique, but there was thankfully no forest fire.

I do not know what spurred Snuffles to this action. While it is true that his behaviour has been more erratic and belligerent over the past eleven days, I find it difficult to reconcile the mad-eyed murderer of today with the soft-spoken, somewhat anxious soldier I met before the battle.

When Kara Lieutenant Tellurin was treated, we sent him and our other companion to Faram as best we could, although in the former case, I am not sure there is enough left.

We have continued our journey. The Quickening has left me exhausted, and my wounds are taking their toll, but I am hopeful that we do not have far to go now.

Two of us remain.


Report NN(T1)12, Lieutenant Sherral Maduin, 14/8/704OV.
Eleventh Day Post-Midlight Shard Activation.

We have reached the Phon Coast. As hoped, the fleet was still there, preparing to move on Nalbina Fortress and Dalmasca. Lieutenant Tellurin was taken for medical treatment, while I was brought to the Alexander, where the Judge Magisters had gathered.

It was not them I met, and for that I was grateful, for I would not have wished to tell them directly of Judge Zecht's death. Instead, His Excellency Lord Vayne, eldest surviving son of the Emperor, and Doctor Cidolfus Demen Bunansa of Draklor Laboratories met me.

Doctor Bunansa remained mostly quiet, occasionally muttering to the air. Lord Vayne, however, was kindly: He offered me a hot meal and spiced wine to calm my nerves, and talked me through the past twelve days. I did not mention the magical bar, fearing he would think me deluded. I gave him the Midlight Shard, and he gave it to Doctor Bunansa for safekeeping.

Lord Vayne offered to have a ship take me home for medical leave. I refused, asking to join the force attacking Nalbina Fortress. I fear time to think right now, and would rather have training and battle to keep my attentions elsewhere. Vayne granted my request, and had his attendants procure immediate medical care, a bath, and food for me.

Kara Lieutenant Tellurin is returning to Archades for further medical attention. I did not have the chance to say goodbye in person, but I sent a message wishing her well.

In one week we attack Nalbina Fortress. Once again, I have been placed on the forward Strike Team.

PLACES AND STUFF: A Reference/Glossary Post.

Archadian Empire.

Archadian Empire: A large empire spreading out from the country of Archadia, covering much of the North-Eastern part of the continent.

Archadia: The country that rules the Archadian Empire, equivalent to Britain in the British Empire or Italia in the Roman Empire.

Archades: The capital of Archadia (and, thusly, the Empire).

Landis: An Archadian territory, formerly the Republic of Landis.

Lock Galles: An Archadian territory in the far north.

Rozarrian Empire.

Rozarrian Empire: A large empire spreading out from the country of Rozarria. The Rozarrian Empire is a military dictatorship, and does not, as a rule, use magic. They are the long time enemies of the Archadian Empire.

Rozarria: The central country of the Rozarrian Empire.

Dalmasca.

Dalmasca: A small, desert country between Nabudis and the Rozarrian Empire. It and Nabradia form a 'buffer' of sorts between the two empires.

Rabanastre: The capital city of Dalmasca.

The Westersand, Estersand and Giza Plains: The deserts surrounding Rabanastre.

Nalbina Fortress: A border fortress between Dalmasca and Nabradia. Taken by the Archadian Empire in the Battle of Nalbina.

Nabradia.

Nabradia: A verdant country between Dalmasca and the Archadian Empire. It and Dalmasca form a 'buffer' of sorts between the two empires.

Nabudis: The capital city of Nabradia, located on the Nabreus Lake, with the Salikawood to one side.

Bhujerba.

A 'sky continent', Bhujerba is an island that floats, due to the high concentration of magicite in its earth. It is, in theory, a neutral nation - in practice, however, the ruling class of Bhujerba is under the control of the Judge Magisters of Archadia, and has also been providing weaponry and airships to the Dalmascan Resistance.

PEOPLE AND STUFF: A post.

Archadian Empire.

Gramis Solidor: Emperor of the Archadian Empire, and the third in a row of Solidor Emperors. Gramis is merciless, ruthless and brutal, having ordered Vayne to hunt down and kill his two older brothers when he was a teenager. However, he is also widely acknowledged to be interested in peace with Rozarria and Dalmasca.

Vayne Solidor: Eldest (currently) son of Gramis, and de facto commander of the Archadian military. At the start of canon he becomes consul of Dalmasca. Vayne is ruthless and calculating, but is also noted to be a very warm, charismatic person who embodies many of the more positive traits of the Empire. He is in an alliance with Doctor Cid to free Ivalice from the control of the Occuria, an immortal species of godlike entities.

Larsa Solidor: Youngest son of Gramis, Larsa is intensely interested in peace, and has formed (and leads) an informal alliance with Al-Cid Margrace of Rozarria and Princess Ashe of Dalmasca.

Doctor Cid: Head scientist of Draklor Laboratory, Archadia's pre-eminent weapons research lab. He is a co-conspirator with Vayne in making sure the Empire occupies Dalmasca so that it may search for the Dusk Shard, and the creator of Manufacted Nethicite. Like Vayne, Cid is driven by a desire to free Ivalice from the control of the godlike Occuria.

Judge Magister Noah Gabranth: A native of Landis and the brother of Basch fon Ronsenburg of Dalmasca, Gabranth is in charge of espionage in the Empire, and is the bodyguard and primary caregiver of Larsa Solidor. Two years past, he posed as his brother and assassinated King Raminas of Dalmasca, giving Archadia a pretext to take over Dalmasca.

Judge Magister Foris Zecht: A former Judge Magister, Judge Zecht, under orders from Doctor Cid, wiped out the city of Nabudis with the Midlight Shard. Assumed dead in the aftermath, he abandoned his identity as a judge and became known as Reddas, a pirate and governor of the pirate city of Balfonheim.

Other Judge Magisters: They judge stuff. So judgey. So judgey.

Gregoroth: Chairman of the Imperial Senate.

Dalmasca.

Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca: Daughter of King Raminas and heir apparent to Dalmasca, she spread rumours of her suicide and went underground to avoid Vayne's machinations, becoming a prominent figure in the Dalmascan Resistance. Like Prince Rasler Naios Nabradia, she is a descendant of Raithwall, the Dynast-King who ruled the entire continent, with her own shard of nethicite, the Dusk Shard.

King Raminas B'Nargin Dalmasca: The king of Dalmasca and father of Ashe. He was killed by Judge Gabranth before he had a chance to sign a peace treaty with Archadia. Vayne used this assassination as a pretext to have the Empire occupy Archadia.

Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg: A prominent knight in the Dalmascan army and the twin brother of Judge Gabranth, Basch was framed for the murder of King Raminas by Vayne Solidor and Gabranth (who impersonated Basch and murdered the king at the signing of a peace treaty between Dalmasca and Archadia). He was imprisoned beneath Nalbina Fortress, with Marquis Ondore announcing that he had been executed. Basch was thus used as a means of keeping Ondore in line: If Ondore strayed, the Empire would reveal that Basch lived and discredit Ondore.

Nabradia.

Prince Rasler Naios Nabradia: The prince of Nabradia and Princess Ashe's husband, killed at the battle of Nalbina Fortress. He is a descendant of Dynast-King Raithwall, with his own nethicite shard, the Midlight Shard.

Rozarria.

Al-Cid Margrace: One of the many sons of the Rozarrian Emperor, and a prominent figure (possibly the commander of) the Rozarrian espionage agency. Al-Cid is interested in peace between Rozarria and Archadia, and for this reason has entered into an informal alliance with Larsa Solidor and Princess Ashe.

Bhujerba.

Marquis Halim Ondore: Princess Ashe's maternal uncle and the ruler of Bhujerba. Ondore has assisted the Archadian Empire in the past, announcing (falsely) the execution of Basch fon Ronsenburg. He is, however, a secret supporter of the Dalmascan Resistance, supplying weapons and ships to them.