Time and Tides Archives

Steiner could be found inspecting the docks, making sure that it was adequately guarded. The Alexandrian soldiers were under strict instructions not to ferry anyone to the castle unless their identity could be verified.

He stared at passers-by, always suspecting a potential threat.

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Keeping an eye out for his young companion, the Marquis found himself almost lured to the expansive lake-like mote that surrounded the grand Alexandrian palace nearby. "What a whimsical design." Ondore whispered to himself in mild fascination as he wandered closer towards the docks. Giving the guards nearby a slightly worried gaze, the Marquis stood far enough not to impede upon them while gazing at the palace that lied within the distance.

"It reminds me of early Galtean architecture but it’s far too fanciful to be compared with such boorish stone." Another comment made to no one other than his own private musings.

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Well, there was a suspicious man, to be sure! Muttering to himself, strange foreign accent, rather too much interest in observing the castle. A spy? Certainly worth investigating.

Steiner narrowed his eyes as the man approached.

"Excuse me! Just where do you think you are going?"

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Pulled from his thoughts by the voice of a rather less than eloquent man, Marquis Ondore glanced over towards the guard with a curious gaze. "Aye?" There was something amidst about the knight's gaze and Halim hoped that the foul rumors about Alexandria being hostile towards Sky People weren’t true.

"Going? Ah, I am going nowhere in particularly but I am here to visit my niece." Hopefully his honest reply would be enough to keep this wary knight at bay.

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One couldn't blame the citizens of Alexandria for being wary when it came to Sky People, not when one of them had attacked the Queen and trashed half the palace. Naturally, that fiasco made Steiner more security-conscious than ever.

He glared at the man. "Your niece? Who might that be?"

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Giving the knight an equally stern glare, Ondore let out an annoyed sigh as he ended the standstill between the two with another honest answer. While he does realize that Lady Ashelia wish not of others to know of her regal status within this world, he couldn't help but hope that her good name would mean something here. Gaia is a far cry from the lands they knew of, completely different from Ivalice in every way which makes it quite difficult for these royals to cope with the idea of being forced to linger here from their beloved kingdoms.

"The Queen of Dalmasca, I speak of Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, sir." Halim answered at last with a much calmer gaze than earlier. There was no need to fault this knight for being suspicious of him but the Marquis was beginning to miss the comforts of Bhujerba by now. Despite his fondness for Alexandria, this beautiful kingdom paled in comparison with the beauty of the floating continent.

“Does this quell your intrigue?” Uncertain if the knight knew of whom Lady Ashe was, Halim hoped that the other didn’t take his words for jest now.

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Steiner had indeed heard of this foreign queen, though he hadn't met her. That did not change the fact that this man could be anyone trying to reach her. Royals were always under threat.

"Then I suggest you make haste to see your niece," he replied, "if she is really your niece."

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What an outlandish comment! Knight or no knight, this captain certainly earned the Marquis' scorn for now. It was quite a sobering experience to be treated with anything less than respect by others but this knight's tone really didn't sit well with Ondore at all. "Such a boorish demeanor..." The Marquis muttered to himself as he walked past.

"If I didn't know any better, I would assumed he such manners from Vayne himself.” He grumbled aloud with a sigh.

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Steiner continued to watch him as the man walked past. He had the arrogance of a nobleman, but even noblemen received short shrift from Steiner if they couldn't prove who they were. As far as Steiner was concerned, these Sky People needed to earn his respect.

But at the mention of Vayne, Steiner paused. "Did you say Vayne?"

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When he was just about to wander away from this uncouth knight, the Marquis stopped cold once he heard the guard's question. A moment of intrigue as well as fear passed within his mind as he slowly turned to look upon this knight with a curious gaze. "Aye?" He answered hesitantly at first before adding a few more words. "In Ivalice, I knew of man who once donned the name of Vayne Carudas Solidor but surely such a name means nothing to a citizen of Alexandria." The Marquis had no idea what this villainous man has been up to since his arrive to Gaia for none of his companions dared to utter that tyrant's name.

There silence may have seemed to be forged by fear but the reason why these heroes opted to keep silent was that they desired for peace. The Lady of Dalmasca wasn't fond of the idea of reliving the conflicts that brewed within Ivalice and because of this, many of these stalwart heroes decided to hold their silence. That is until now...

"Excuse me but do you know of this man?"

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Steiner nodded. "I do! His name is known to many in Alexandria, as he has stayed at the castle before."

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That very answer was more than enough to make one's blood run cold but luckily, for Ondore he managed to wear his shock rather well. "Really now? Do tell." Wishing to hear more about what this knight had to say, the Marquis knew better than to speak too freely about Vayne to someone who could be a potential ally of his.

"I take it you are on good terms with Lord Solidor assuming that your queen is." He silently hoped his earlier comment about Vayne would be ignored since it seemed as if Alexandria favored the older Solidor.

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Steiner opened his mouth to retort, but couldn't quite decide whether to agree or not. The queen did get on with Vayne, so it wasn't Steiner's place to badmouth him in public. But privately Steiner didn't trust the Emperor.

He hid his confusion by blustering at Ondore. "Ah, I see your motive now! You won't be getting any information out of me. Now move along!"

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Blinking owlishly at the knight with rather confused glance, Ondore couldn't help but wonder as to why this man was so fidgety. By the way the Captain acted, it seemed as if Vayne Solidor owned all of Alexandria and not the courageous young Queen that the people adore.

"Sir." The Marquis' tone was friendlier than before, maybe because he found some humor in this discussion. "If you wish to talk, then you would do best without such paranoia. I am no ally of Solidor but I am no spy, either." Turning to take his leave, Ondore just hoped he could find Ashelia soon.

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Getting past Steiner that afternoon had not been easy. In the wake of the fiend infestation, she'd been hard-pressed to get out of the palace without a small entourage. On this particular afternoon, however, she did not wish to be followed so closely. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to see where she was going, or to observe the guard outside of her destination. She didn't need more rumors spread than already had.

So, on this cold winter afternoon, she'd pulled on her warmest traveling clothes; a pair of wool pants, and leather riding boots, with a white blouse. All of this was half obscured by the heavy white-mage robe she wore over it, the white and red hood pulled up to shield her ears from the cold. She'd been so preoccupied in making sure she wasn't being watched, that she didn't see the older gentleman until she bumped into him. that was the problem with hoods -- no peripheral vision.

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Roaming throughout Alexandria without a map proved to be more problematic than it should be for the stately Marquis but Ondore decided to take his bewilderment in stride for he was honestly taking a mock tour of the town. While Alexandria is severely dwarfed by the size of Regent Cid Fabool IX's Lindblum, this small kingdom is worthy of praise as well. Alexandria may not possess the same technological advancement as the other but the Marquis certainly felt more at home here than Lindblum. Perhaps it was because the fact that Lindblum shared an eerie resemblance of the Empire that caused Ondore to be somewhat ill at ease while he was there.

Lost in his reminiscent thoughts, the wise old Marquis accidentally bumped into a young hooded girl who he honestly didn't see a moment ago. "Oh, my pardon!" He quickly said with a faint smile. "I did not mean to trample over you.” He apologized even though this really wasn’t his fault. Its not proper manners to be rude towards anyone of the fairer sex, it would show poor character.

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"No, no, it was my fault. I should have watched where I was going," replied Dagger, as she readjusted her hood.

Her first thought was of retreat; say her apologies, move on, don't look suspicious. But she stopped, realizing that she didn't recognize the man's accent, and found herself strangely interested.

"I hope I'm not being too forward, but you're one of the Sky People, aren't you? I've never heard an accent like yours before."

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The Marquis was just about to continue along his way until the girl questioned him about his accent. With a polite nod in confirmation, Ondore chose to answer the young woman's inquiry. "Aye. That I am. One of many who you and your people refer to as 'Sky People'. Although, such a title has stronger ties with the likes of I for I do hail from a continent that does travel across the skies of Ivalice." His smile widened for a moment as he regarded the youth.

Unlike many who do hail from Bhujerba, this young woman possessed dark features that are more common amongst Rozarrians. Her eyes were as dark as the darkest shadows of night and judging by the wisp of her bangs, her hair seemed just as dark. He couldn't make out her face well thanks to that hood she wore but she clearly wasn't of Dalmascan nor Archadian heritage.

“Tell me, young one…” His tone is forever polite and soothing. “Are you a native of Gaia?”

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Dagger blinked. A continent that floats across the sky? How could such a thing be possible? How could a continent... Float? Perhaps despite her better judgment, Garnet reached for her hood and drew it back, so as not to shadow her face so much.

"Yes, I am. Alexandria is my home," she said with a smile.

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"Ah, so you would make a perfect tour guide." Ondore chuckled lightly since it seems that this girl isn't another wandering 'Sky Person'. "Although, it seems you are in a bit of a hurry and I would dislike intruding upon your kindness." While he was, sure he never seen the youth before, the girl seemed to be quite familiar to him. Perhaps once before he gazed upon such a cherubic face but the Marquis couldn't think of such a time; therefore such a time didn't exist.

"Tis so impolite for me to ask of your aid without even introducing myself." Certain that his title truly would mean nothing to average townsfolks the Marquis decided to live out his title for now. "I am Halim, it is a pleasure to meet you."

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"It's nice to meet you, Halim. My name is Dagger," she replied. She was as polite as she could manage, even as she pushed down a slowly blooming anxiety. It wasn't that she was afraid of him, certainly not, he seemed a very kindly gentleman. No, she was more anxious that she might somehow be roped into playing the part of a tour guide, when really, she needed to get to the inn as quickly as possible; she really shouldn't have lingered about for too long, surely someone would recognize her...

"I wish I could help you, but I am sort of in a hurry. There's someone I'm out to visit today..." but a longer look at Halim, and she softened just a bit. She just wouldn't feel right, leaving a stranger in her homeland to wander. "...But if there's somewhere you're trying to get to, I could help you find that, at least."

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Noting that the young woman seemed to be hesitant to assist, the Marquis was about to part with a 'Good day' until Dagger proved otherwise. "Ah?" It took Halim a moment to realize that the lass wished to help. "Are you certain I am not intruding too much? While I am thankful of your help, perhaps it would best for I to save such sightseeing for later. Although, I do not know where the nearest inn is." It was rather cold out, just as icy as it was in Lindblum, not very good weather for sightseeing even if the Marquis vowed to do such later.

"You truly have my thanks nonetheless, Dagger." Halim stated with a slight bow.

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The inn. Curse her luck! There was only one Inn within the royal city, and it was exactly where she had been planning on going herself. Well, maybe it wasn't such horrible luck... after all, he was probably just looking for someplace to stay.

"I can show you exactly where that is, if you'd like! It's no trouble at all."

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"Hanta! I can finally bid my farewell to this chilly weather." Considering that, Alexandria lacked the help of actual guides to usher the tourists about, the Marquis surely did appreciate this young girl’s help. Eagerly ushering for Dagger to lead the way, Halim allowed his eyes to wander. While he was certain that his young companion would do well on his own here in Alexandria, Ondore couldn’t help but be somewhat worried for the nameless Onion Knight. The young boy seemed so eager to explore this town, eager enough to leave the poor Marquis worried for the youth’s wellbeing. He wasn’t very sure if he would see that boy again but he hoped the lad would at least remember to keep his helmet on straight.

“Hm...?” Catching the sight of a few woman guards nearby, Ondore couldn’t help but wonder why Alexandria seemed to be such heightened alert. “I hope this isn’t a normal feat.” Halim muttered quietly as he followed with Dagger’s lead.

“The city, it seems as if many are on edge.”

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Perhaps coincidentally, Dagger pulled her hood forward a bit more, as she lead the way. Down cobblestone roads, past bundled merchants and smiths, the young mage wove her way through the sparse streets.

"Everyone is still on high alert, after that invasion. Normally, being above the mist, the monsters never make it into the city borders. With the number of casualties..." she paused, a hitch in her voice. "Some are in mourning. Everyone is growing more and more restless. Especially with all that's happened in the last few months."

It only served to remind Garnet of all that troubled her. Her country, her friends... her own life, so tumultuous and uncertain, and constantly under a glass. Even the most frazzled civilian had an opinion.

"...Have you only just arrived in Gaia? Or did you come from another city?"

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Not noticing the change in Dagger's demeanor at all, Halim walked with her in silence as she explained the current worried status of her fellow citizens. "The invasion. Aye, I have heard some talk referencing that from other townsfolk." Especially since the Marquis tends to keep his ears ready for any news or rumors that may circulate out of habit since the quarrels in Ivalice began. This is how he managed to be one-step ahead of the Empire while secretly funding the Resistance within Rabanstre.

“They claim that a wild man with hell blazing within his eyes stormed the palace recently. I must say, such news nearly deterred me from visiting Alexandria but I have family to meet with.” Such family being the Lady of Dalmasca herself and her newly born son, Ondore wasn’t going to miss the opportunity of seeing them both in person.

“The latter, I’ve just quit Lindblum about several days or so after my audience with the Regent.” It seemed that little bit of information accidentally slipped out but Halim hoped that the girl missed that part once they walked past a few noisy vendors.

"I-in any case, it's been a rather daunting journey so far."

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"You mean, on the Queen's birthday?" It was always a bit strange, speaking of herself in the third person, but mention of Kefka and his malicious antics had grabbed her attention. "Strange... he's not been back to Alexandria... it seems he'd rather spread chaos everywhere, than concentrate on a single target."

Unfortunately for Halim, Dagger did catch the mention, and she stopped in her tracks. "You've met with Regent Cid?"

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"Aye, I speak of him. The madman who travels across the land with little respect for life. I detest him." While news of Kefka has been scarce, Ondore does remember hearing a little about this lunatic from Ashelia's desperate cry for help amongst allies and friends alike. It troubled him that this sorcerer managed to agitate his niece but it troubled him more that Kefka hasn't been brought to justice as of yet. Perhaps one day he shall look into the matter himself but maybe by then Kefka's Tour of Destruction will be over.

"Kastam..." Mentally scorning himself for being too loosed-lipped, Halim decided to answer the girl's inquiry with a slight nod. "Indeed, I have. Regent Cid Fabool IX is a rather honorable man. He and his people have done much to ease the transition for the Sky People who wander through Gaia aimlessly. It was my desire to meet with this great man so we could talk about the current climate of Gaia's plight." With this he decided perhaps, it was time to drop his façade as a mere commoner and just admit truth to the Dagger. Despite popular beliefs, Ondore isn’t fond of lying.

"Remember the floating continent I've mentioned earlier, Dagger?" A warm smile settled upon his aged features. "Tis the kingdom I rule, it called 'Bhujerba'."

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"The Regent is a good man. And Lindblum and Alexandria have been allies for many years."

Dagger pressed her lips together. She didn't expect that Cid would tell her of every person he's ever met with... but she expected to at least be kept in the loop. Considering his audience with the Regent had been fairly recent, she could only assume his presence had not been known to Cid until after the meeting of the Heads of State. Otherwise, he certainly would have been there... right?

"'Bhujerba?'" she repeated, as if trying the word out for herself. Such exotic names these places had, and she'd heard many of them til now. The prospect of a floating continent intrigued her once more, and she could not help the light that came to her eyes, the curiosity that was evident in her visage.

"Tell me... how does a continent float?" She had seen the Chocobo's Air Garden... was it something like that, she wondered...

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Learning that little tidbit of information would prove to be very useful for Ondore in the near future but for now, it shall linger as a mere note. He haven't gotten the chance to learn much about Gaia's history so far but perhaps someday he will divulge within the archives of an esteemed library to learn all he could about this foreign world. As of now, he will simply have to make due with not being as knowledge as he may wish about Gaia's history.

"Tis a good quality to show such curiosity but I am afraid that my answer may be far too lengthy to keep your attention for long." Halim replied with a faint smile. "To speak of Bhujerba means to mention the larger continent of Dorstonis and to speak of Dorstonis means for me to speak of the floating islands of Purvama." He made sure that the pronunciation of these foreign names came slowly as he spoke for Halim was worried that he would confuse Dagger if he spoke too quickly.

“Purvama, also known as 'The Floating Islands' is as you guess a cluster of floating landmasses that sail the skies of Ivalice. Some are found directly above the Naldoan Sea while others tend to meander about freely because of the precious sky stones that govern their movement. Bhujerba is located upon the magicite enriched soil of Dorstonis. It is the magicite, these magical stones that grant Dorstonis’s flight. In Bhujerba, we mine for magicite for various reasons but we careful to not abuse the land’s wealth for if we did, Bhujerba would fall to the oceans below.”

Halim chuckled lightly at that morbid thought. “Or so the moogles claim. They are the wisest amongst my people because they are the original inhabitants of Dorstonis.”

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