Enshrined (Shadow)

[MKR]

November 23, AD 2880
Tompa, Hungary
9:43 PM

Months ago the Erebonians had begun scouting out the regions south of them, both East and West. Their desire for expansion only sedated for so long it seemed and now things were in full swing. Spain, or what used to be Spain, was enduring the worst of it but that didn't mean the lands between Erebonia and their 'neighbours' in Greece were any more safe. But military campaigns moved both quickly and slowly and while the warlords in Spain fought back fiercely here the main opponent was the terrain itself.

Were the sun out the woman sitting calmly could probably see the Burn from here, its presence was enough to indicate why these lands were hostile to all life. Let alone supply lines, but that too was reaching completion. So here she was full well knowing the worst was yet to come, but the view of hell or the future was not why she was here. Eorzean scouts had been keeping an eye on the Erebonians and how their endeavors had been going. It only made sense but the issue became when they no longer reported back even worse it was as if they had vanished into thin air. That was why she was here, a spy for the Eorzean alliance from Erebonia.

Davina Pulcheria sat a bit away from the camp behind her, simply waiting for the one she would have to escort to arrive. It was his job to actually locate and find out what happened to them she was a guide and consultant for the most part. Still, as her red eyes calmly peered back behind her looking over the forward camp and its bustling, she wondered if he would be up for the task. After all this expedition would bring him to a most unusual place and far beyond that.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

A man wearing an Erebonian uniform would walk up behind Davina. It was clearly the uniform of a mechanic and would be slightly dirty with oil, but it nonetheless stood out. The cuffs seemed a bit too short for the man however. As the man approached, he would give a salute with one of his hands, placing it next to his head in a more vertical manner.

”Ma’am.”



He would walk next to Davina and she would be able to see his face as he looked out towards the open fields of Hungary. Even though it was winter, the snow seemed to have melted away, leaving nothing but dead trees and an unsaturated grassland. The man would have a slight smile on his face as he asked her a question.

”Considering we will very likely be stationed here until the spring, I was wondering if you knew any spot where wild roses grow.”

It seemed like he was sending her a signal, “wild rose” was commonly used by the Eorzeans as a password of sorts. And it seemed like the man next to her was uttering them to get her attention. He would cough out of nervousness and would fix the glasses resting on his nose as he awaited her answer.

 

[MKR]

She looked the man over, it was about time. In an instant he could see her eyes judge and check him over as if to ascertain his worth. However it wasn't long until a smile came over her features. Perhaps whatever check she had put him through he had passed in that glance.
"I hear you can see them bloom from here if the time is right. Now come and sit down." She moved to the side slightly. "You have two options." She whispered to him "Either continue with those nerves as approaching a pretty lady would make one or drop them completely." So far her statements were more orders than anything. She took a moment to glance back to the camp, still going through the motions fortunately.
"Because as long as they don't look we can speak plainly if quietly."

Her temporarily cold tone was then substituted by a more lax one, as expected in casual conversation. She understood why code talk was important but it was such an annoying thing to deal with. Which was why she was here and not in the middle of there so they could just talk. Even so the issue with a password like that was just how well known it would eventually become.
"Now, word has reached the ranks about the little disappearing act recently, Erebonians are claiming to be unaware of it but." A calm glance backwards before her eyes settled on her correspondent. "It just happened to coincide with something appearing within the borders of Erebonia. Though what is not quite certain yet, but that's why you're here isn't it."
She had no intent to be in a stuffy uniform until spring came, she wanted to get back in her own clothes and get this along. This camp would make for a cover and a resting station yes but a permanent home? That wouldn't do.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan would sit down next to Davina, but didn’t expect her directness and it caused him to quickly become a bit of a nervous wreck. He would whisper back “Y-Yes ma’am.” Well he wasn’t expecting an earful so soon but it couldn’t be helped. He was terrible with women after all.

His expression would change however once they started talking about business, his face a bit more serious.

”Do you think they could be testing something new? Because this would be an ample opportunity to shut it down.”

He was being a bit optimistic but it was something they could feasibly do unless their command was made aware of the previous scout party. If they wanted to shut something down, it would have to be quick.

”But regardless, I think we should pick up from where the scouts left off.”

He would glance around, making sure no one else was watching. It was gonna be a long walk back to the Bushnell after all.

”Will you be coming with me or are you just going to point me in the right direction?”

 

[MKR]

Ah, a good listener. That was useful, too often had she dealt with people who had things go into one ear and come out the other.
"No concise evidence currently, unless you want to theorize but that can be saved for the journey." She answered. "But it would be wise to shut down whatever is going on, or perhaps even better take it." She let the suggestion rest there as she stood up.

"And I'll be coming with, I have little intent on staying in this place to begin with. Besides, I doubt you know exactly where things in Erebonia are if your stay there gets extended by unforeseen circumstances." She casually added "Is your machine close?" It would be a walk regardless, putting it in the camp was foolish but still it should be relatively close in case of an emergency.

Which left more important matters.
"In the meanwhile, a more casual conversation. What made someone like you join the army?"
She would wait for him to lead the way as she awaited her answer. A genuine curiosity was in her tone for once either not demeaning or blunt but rather inquisitive. It was innately a question with only correct answers, reasons were personal. Perhaps she had chosen the topic to keep them busy during their journey and to keep attention off of them? Soldiers talking about why they had joined the army was nothing new and nothing noteworthy.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan would stand up and would around before nodding. “I guess you don’t like the reception here, huh? I can understand that.” He would then point to the base behind them with his thumb. “It is, but it’s a bit farther out than you might like. But we’ll get to that later.”

He would gesture for her to follow and would begin walking back through the base to get to his mech. It’s a good thing he brought spare equipment and rations. He had a feeling this would be a long trip. He was intrigued by her question however, did she mean to do that as a cover as they walked or was it a genuine question? He decided to do something that satisfied both things.

”Actually I’m a freelancer. My dad was one too. Well, adoptive one anyways. We did a lot of jobs together, even when I was still young. They were… let’s just say the unsavory kind and I didn’t want any part in them anymore. So I tried to leave that life behind, but then he tried to kill me, all for more money to shut me up. I wounded him after that and left him to die. But I doubt he stayed down for long.”

He would slightly look down and would sigh. He clearly didn’t like to bring that last part up.

“And that’s why I’m here now, fighting the good fight for the people.”

He began to have a bit of a distant stare, as if he still had more to say but would rather save it for another time.

 

[MKR]

She remained quiet as he spoke, his father tried to kill him and now he's fighting for the people instead of for money. Beyond that he wasn't part of the Eorzean alliance but rather a mercenary it seemed. Davina would be lying if she said he hadn't caught her interest. The man which had approached her in such a muttering fashion was capable of shooting his own adoptive father and leaving him to die.

That may just be what was required.

She answered with silence however, as they continued to walk not prying further or otherwise satisfied.

---

November 24, AD 2880
Levice, Erebonia
3:17 AM

Now, now they were properly inside Erebonia and out of the Burn's reach. Wintery décor displayed throughout by virtue of a white coat over the environment. The white snow had covered their surroundings for a while now. The ride had been a little rough as avoiding any and all Erebonian convoys and troops meant going off road but still. The journey was done now. Davina had taken the time to switch out of the Erebonian uniform and into more comfortable clothing for their journey.
"Alright you should be getting visual... now."

​

Draco Shrine. She recognized but did not verbalize. Its form shrouded in darkness and obscured by snow covered trees, icicles hanging down over it like the sword of Damocles. But the shrine itself had only been coated by a layer of snow at the top. Even if its exterior seemed close to ruin she knew that that was nowhere near the truth.

"There it is, that structure manifested when the scouts vanished." She pointed out. The Bushnell stood nearly as tall as the building only the sigil at the top stood taller than its form and it was obviously not going to fit through the door lest they made a bigger one. For now they seemed to be alone, no defenders scrambling or scurrying out.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan would hop down from the Bushnell, now wearing a coat with a plate of armor on his left shoulder along with a sharp metal gauntlet on the same arm. The coat would have a part extending from the right side until the shin. Attached to the side of his waist appeared to be a 9mm pistol with a suppressor on the barrel. In his hands he would be carrying a Britannian bullpup assault rifle, it too had its own customization. He would aim down the scope as he came up next to Davina. It was hard to see anything late at night with all this snow around, but he could very easily tell that the temple has been left undisturbed, so far.

”Any idea what that place is? If it appeared while the scouts disappeared, then I have a feeling this might be an elaborate trap set out for us.”

He would check the road leading towards the mysterious structure in front of him before focusing back at the shrine.

“Do you know how to pilot one of those Soldats? If so, it shouldn’t be too long before you can master the Bushnell. Just try to keep watch for now.“ He would ask her this as he had plans to go in and check the area himself despite his fears of a trap.

 

[MKR]

"I do know a thing or two about piloting yes."
Her gaze landed on the structure, taking in its view and the flow from mana around it. Breathing through her nose to bask in it.

"There are legends about these." She noted "Spirit Shrines they are called." She stepped forward into the snow herself. Given the conditions they were perfectly aligned for the Trial... There would be no need to pilot anything. Well not until it all was done anyways but that could be reserved for after the fact.
"They appear at pivotal moments in history to grant those deserving Divine Knights. Resting under Erebonia until they are brought into existence once more." As she spoke she continued forward gazing over the locale the door remaining still and shut. As they should be. Her tale was mostly truth, some finer details left out for simplicity mostly. Besides for now it was best to keep her in depth involvement quiet given that he was going to be busy very soon.

Davina looked up one of the ridges as some snow shifted, wild animals seemingly had caught on as well and were making distance. Doors creaked open, the stone slabs making way to the inside allowing passage as Ryan pressed against it revealing an inside which seemed not at all alike the outside with the structure elaborate in such a way which made it positively seem ancient, as if it had been there for a thousand years. The woman calmly stopped her pace as a voice called down from all around them, coming not externally but almost internally yet echoing through the environment creating a duality in the sound.

First lock released… Initialization complete

Potential Awakener Waveform Confirmed within 500 meters

Commencing the first trial​

Davina spoke firmly. "And it looks like you're a candidate." She wondered just how much potential was within him nevertheless she was pleased with her choice. Stepping inside she looked around, it had been a while since she was inside here and it looked like everything was in order. The stone doors seemed to stop the cold breeze outside. The woman taking a seat on some rubble near the door.
"I'll wait here and keep an eye on the Bushnell. This shouldn't be a trap, instead quite the contrary it is an opportunity to claim one of Erebonias famed guardians."

"To say nothing of the legend that follows that- but I am getting ahead of myself. I can explain that when you get back victorious."

Ahead of Ryan was a staircase leading further downwards. What looked like an arena of sorts resting at the bottom with at its back, a strange wall differing from the rest.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan would look at the gate opening before them with a look of awe at the structure. This just appeared in a day? That’s impressive. Wait…

He would look back towards Davina with the clear look of confusion.

”Slow down a moment, did you just say that I’m worthy to wield some kinda ancient super weapon?”

Ryan went into full disbelief as he practically almost dropped his rifle as he carried it with one hand. Him of all people? He really needs an explanation. He doesn’t even know what he’ll find in there, but Davina seemed to have some modicum of an idea for what he would find. Then it hit him like a carton of rotten eggs.

”Wait a minute… this isn’t about the scouting party, is it?”

He would turn back to the gaping abyss behind the door, an unlit passage leading who knows where?

 

[MKR]

"I did. Yes, what do you not want to do so? Many young Erebonian children would dream of being Divine Knight pilots you know." She pointed out before Ryan continued his questions. She looked down the passage as well when he did. Contemplating for a moment it seemed.
"It is true, correlation does not mean causation." Was the initial reply "And signs are indeed pointing to this being unrelated to the disappearance of the Eorzean scouts but there is no conclusive evidence one way or another."

Perhaps it was time to open up a bit. Davina stood up calmly, stepping besides Ryan.
"I feel I should however share at this point that I am part of a family who are stewards of the Divine Knights, their Awakeners and these Spirit Shrines." She put a hand forward, a staff manifesting within it. As if it was either hidden from view all along or simply teleported into her grasp.
"Though its manifestation was not yet known to me until we arrived here." She ran a hand along the stone as she took steps deeper into the shrine. "I do firmly believe its manifestation is tied to the scouts that have vanished however."

She looked deeper into the shrine.
"The only one who can hope to answer that currently however." She pointed downwards "Rests down there, awaiting its Awakener." Her gaze would move back to Ryan red eyes moving over him before resting "You need only best its trial and the shadow between you and it. If you wish I can accompany you and offer what little aid I am permitted to."

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

He would watch her summon her staff into her hands and waited for her to finish her explanation. So that’s why she was the contact, she was Erebonian herself, and a seemingly important one at that. But he doubt he’ll get anymore answers if he doesn’t complete this trial set before him.

”I would like some help, but didn’t you say this shrine only opens to Divine Knight candidates? What would happen if you stepped inside? Does some kinda tether keep you from the deepest part of this place?”

He was frankly concerned she might cause some weird mechanism if she were to intervene, but her status might grant her slight immunity of some kind. He just had to make sure before venturing any deeper.

”Otherwise, I’ll take you up on this then. Can’t pass up a chance to get more power to help others, right?”

He slightly smiled at her, he was determined to see this through. Besides, no one’s gonna haul his broke ass out of Erebonian soil if he abandons this so he might as well take on the responsibility thrust onto him.

 

[MKR]

"It does indeed open for candidates but as you can see, doors are doors. The equivalent would be using a key to allow another in alongside you. And no physical tether keeps me, after all my family has visited and tended these shrines for generations however the final trial is yours and yours alone." She concluded. "My duty will not permit me to aid you there."

She began to walk down the staircase, beckoning Ryan to follow. Smiling at his conviction and his reasoning. Altruistic desire was such a powerful motivator.
"Of course, it is a noble cause but not one you can achieve without the strength to back it up. If you prove yourself to the Divine Knight I will tell you of another legend, another purpose of my family. I have faith you may just be the one who can fulfill it. But once more I am getting ahead of myself."

The travel down the staircase led to a wall with in front of it a square room, a seeming dead end.

A massive door looming over them, standing as tall as the ceiling as Davina looked to the far side of the room. Mana congealed in front of the door.
"There is your first trial. A memory given momentary life." Ghostly swords dotted the ground in front of the door, a figure. Almost transparent but clad in white like a pale shade rose to its feet, a large fur coat adorning their back as they turned around.

The visage was hollowed out, but still human. A woman in her late thirties clad in a mix of effective military attire and adornments. The phantom reaching down and grasping one of the phantom blades in response. "The last one who overcame this trial, or a memory of them as they did so at least." The spirit veins recalled even those moments of a hundred years ago.

"Ahh.." The phantom spoke "So now it is my turn." She gazed at, and through her hand. "So this is how that old codger felt. Heh."

The weapon was readied. Held in front of her. The ghastly gaze landing on Ryan.
"Know that I won't hold back, I can't even." Davina readied her staff. Looking to her side, to see how Ryan was reacting to this. Looking his opponent over they seemed notably weaker than the tales she had heard of her but such is the fact with recreations. It was a bar for entry, not the end all be all.

"Now draw your weapon would be Awakener! Do not bother with introductions on the battlefield one's name is meaningless!"

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan would follow Davina down the stairs and into the first chamber where his trails to become an Awakener awaited. He would smile as she seemingly acknowledged his goals being quite worthwhile. And she seemed somewhat determined (at least to him) to see that goal through.

As they faced the door with the magical seal placed upon it, there was an air about the room that unsettled Ryan. He would soon realize what it was that caused such distress in him as the phantom appeared before him and Davina with a host of swords at their behest. His expression and his body would steel themselves, he would not falter, he will not fail. He raised his rifle up, and pointed it at the Phantom Awakener.

”Good point. To business then.” He would fire off multiple bursts of rounds from his rifle, firing it at the Phantom as to gauge their speed and reflexes. They were clearly superhuman because of magic, he just wanted to see just how ”Super” they were in Erebonia compared to Eorzea.

 

[MKR]

As the air filled with lead the phantom leaned downwards, throwing the blade in her hand towards Ryan as response as the volley passed mostly over her form parts of it and other parts lodged into her form. Almost plasma like liquid scattering to the winds as the phantom 'bled'. Another of the phantasmal blades was taken as the ghost engaged a sprint aiming to close the distance and rapidly being able to do so.

It was not too different from a Gundam Fighter in a sense, both as the phantom manipulated her 'bodily' energies to become superhuman and the speed with which she approached being alike what was seen on illegal shows and Gundam Fights it brought the previous mention to mind, that this was a reduced state of the woman who had lived and died years, even decades ago. The woman that was now upon the would be Awakener with a second sword in hand as the first had been flung at his head. This now came down upon him in a vertical slice.

"Impedio!"
Wall of Light, Shelter from Harm!​

Only for a barrier to erupt between the two, a wall of manifest mana as Davina's staff shone with light besides him. The Phantasmal blades lodging themselves into the barrier. The phantom shooting a glance at the witch as she crashed the blade on the barrier again, cracks beginning to form. The magical protection seemed only so sturdy against the onslaught. "Ngh!" Davina grunted as she held the staff forward, it would seem that magical exertion for her also was a physical one. The question raised for how long this would hold.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan’s eyes would narrow as he struggled to keep up with his opponent’s movements, he managed to catch the sword being thrown at him and promptly rolled to dodge the incoming attack. Well this was already off to a great start, it’s like going up against Moctis from First Fantasia 15. He would release the empty magazine from his rifle still attempting to keep track of his opponent’s movements, only to be blindsided by their follow up attack. That is until Davina stepped in the way to block it.

Ryan would pull a grenade from his belt and pulled the pin using his teeth. He would throw it below the shield Davina had made, towards the Phantom Awakener’s legs. “Get down!” As the grenade cooked itself, he moved Davina aside by tackling her and using his body to shield her from any incoming shrapnel as the grenade blew up. He doubted that the Phantom Awakener would have died from just that and thus Ryan loaded a fresh magazine into his rifle as he got up. He began to look around for any significantly large structures which could crush a man, but kept firing into the position where the Phantom was at last.

 

[MKR]

"GAH!?" Davina exclaimed as she was tackled to the floor, the phantom watched the barrier come down fragmenting as the woman casting it was brought to the ground. Her eyes already on the grenade. She flicked her sword at it, Jaegers had loved that trick ever since she was a child and she'd always dealt with it before. Just cut off the detonating mechanism to render a grenade inert. Easy as pie. Except for one thing, the barrier hadn't fully vanished. The blade clinking against the phantom wall and to the ground before a blast rung out through the arena.

From the environment one would never be able to tell it had happened, not a single stone was waylaid. It was as it had been, four walls with the entryway they had come from and the door where the phantom had been. Only a black mark where the grenade had been but even that seemed one good swing of a hose away from being cleared. A phantasmal breath, clear liquid seeping down and vanishing into nothing once it lost contact with the form it maintained. She had managed to make just enough distance after her blade had clashed with the barrier to not be caught in the apex of the blast.
With a grunt the ghost leaned down, taking another blade in hand even as one arm now hung limply by her side.

"Alright- Lets see you survive this."

The one handed blade suddenly played host to energy, Literally glowing as it did so, the Phantom then brought up the weapon and it remained pointed up, the energy firing upwards and coming into contact with the ceiling making it almost seem like they were under a massive lavalamp. With a downwards swing waves of energy collapsed downwards like a star shower on a clear night. Individually each stream was like a magic bullet but it was the sheer mass of them that made this truly dangerous.

Davina's red eyes were temporarily on Ryan before she would try to get out from under the man something he enabled when he stood up, her staff pointed towards the phantom as a stream of lightning fired from it, towards the ghost. Striking true as the electricity coursed through the damaged form of the ghost and Ryan's new volley began to rip through it. Her eyes switching between the sky and the phantom.

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

Ryan looked up as he saw the barrage of magical projectiles coming from the ceiling. “Shit.” He managed to blurt out before rushing across the room while firing his rifle at the Phantom. He knew Davina could protect herself but it was clear he himself had to keep moving or else a stray bullet might find its way through his skull. He would flip the fire selector on his rifle to a setting that had the initials SG written on it. He would move one of his hands closer to the end of the barrel on what looked like a racking slide for an under barrel shotgun.

He would manage to get to a relatively safe spot and fired a couple rounds of buckshot right towards the Phantom. He didn’t make it there unscathed however, he had a few grazes on his leg and his arms. He knew she would try to approach him again, they still had their legs after all and they still very likely retained their high mobility despite the wounds they sustained. After all, he was the candidate, not Davina so it was only logical who she would likely target. Besides, better to get her out of harm’s way.

 

[MKR]

Ryan's estimation was indeed correct, the hail of light would mainly pursue him and while some did go after his companion the barrage mostly hounded him. The buckshot firing forwards as electricity coursed through the phantom and brought a sudden halt to them. The 'sky' above slowly clearing.
"Ah." The phantoms voice began to wane. Her energy all but spent after the majestic display above. She hadn't expected that, but this form was lesser than her own had been. So it made sense after that Grenade that she was spent. Like that the ghost evaporated into nothing, the oppressive air vanishing with it.

The door she had been guarding suddenly shook, the sigil in its center spinning clockwise as the outside moved into the walls, the rest sinking into the floor and ceiling respectively for below and above. With a thunk the door would open. The path heading deeper though the glint of something red and shining was seen beyond it. Davina moved over to Ryan's side, now that the room had been cleared and exhaled.
"That would be the first trial handled. And this is as far as I can come along with you. However what I can do is heal your wounds so you can challenge the Shadow with renewed vigor."

 

[ShadowVigilante1]

He would exhale as he lowered his rifle, he watched solemnly as he saw the ghost disappear into nothing. That fight was over, but he couldn’t help but wonder who that was. He would look down at himself to check his wounds until Davina came up to him with the offer of healing. He would smile and nod at her request, but of course he had a few questions of his own after the battle.

”Did you know who that was, I’m actually a bit curious. And uh… are you alright? You know… after I tackled you earlier?”

He honestly didn’t know what to do against such a strong opponent so frankly he was quite lucky to have thought of something like that, even if it would have caused Davina some slight displeasure. Hopefully she wasn’t too mad at him for doing that. Hopefully…