Anima, Ch.31: Sedition

--01-- [Scene: Emain Macha] <BGM: Scene 00>
I knew something was amiss from the start, when I didn't see the guard captain standing watch
outside the palace. I hadn't seen any other guards within the palace, either. This means...



--02-- <BGM: Scene 00>
"There's no guards... Redire, we're walking into a trap.
This is too easy. They're just letting us in."



--03-- <BGM: Scene 00>
(Price)
You may be right...
But the first step in avoiding a trap is knowing that its there.
Stay alert.
First we'll check the throne room, then his personal quarters.

--04-- <BGM: Scene 00>
We walked into the throne room.
Rian was nowhere to be seen...but Esras was standing before the dual thrones, clearly waiting for us...

"You. It's because of you that my friends are suffering..."

--05-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Esras)
Ah! Just the people I wanted to see.
I ordered my guards to stand down, so I could talk to you in private.
So, Redire...it's been a long time. You saved me a lot of trouble coming right to me.


--06-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Esras)
I knew something was off when I heard of your 'death.'
Now here you are again, trying to stand in my way...
And with that little demihuman tart! Why now, of all times? Did she...bewitch you?


--07-- <BGM: Scene 06>
"It was a bit more the other way arou--That's not the point! We're here for Rian. Hand him over!"
I brandished my Fire Wand threateningly. The dice are cast. No turning back now.



--08-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Price)
We've gathered more than enough evidence of your treacherous deeds.
We also know your true intentions!
Where is Lord Rian!? We'll not leave him in your clutches another minute!


--09-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Esras)
Treacherous deeds? I've broken no laws, and my only 'intentions' are to ensure that everyone in Emain Macha
lives a happy and prosperous life.
Let's talk about *your* crimes, though, shall we?


--10-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Esras)
Have you forgotten it was you who proudly abducted a Fomor's daughter and provoked them to attack?
The fault for the tragedy lies at your feet...and your dear lord, who ordered you to do so...



--11-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Price)
Because *you* put him up to it!
No more lies from your serpent's tongue! Where is my Lord!?



--12-- <BGM: Scene 06>
(Esras)
Your Lord? You're looking at her!
But if you're in search of a "Lord Rian"...I regret to inform you that won't find him here.
Well, since you know this now, I suppose you've forced my hand...


--13-- <BGM: Scene 06>
Esras waved a hand in a spellcasting gesture.
A magical circle appeared below her, and she vanished. A...teleportation spell?
"Quick! After her!" I ran into the circle, pulling Redire along.


--14-- [Scene: Barri Dungeon] <BGM: Hate>
Barely in time; we went through just before the spell ended.
"Where is this...? Barri Dungeon?"
I heard distant footsteps. Fast-paced. Someone's running.
"She's here! She ran down the stairs!"

--15-- <BGM: Hate>
(Price)
After her! Hurry!
She's done something despicable to Lord Rian!



--16-- <BGM: Hate>
Esras led us on a chase through an oddly empty section of Barri Dungeon.
No enemies in our way, and no locked doors...
We caught up to her in a very large excavated chamber.


--17-- <BGM: Hate>
She stood in front of a massive fallen Golem...one that appeared to be made out of gold,
and covered in iron plates for additional protection.
It radiated an aura of...wrongness...about it.


--18-- <BGM: Hate>
(Esras)
You both are much slower than I thought.
Behold, my masterpiece!



--19-- <BGM: Hate>
(Price)
Esras! Where's Lord Rian!? What have you done to him!?!




--20-- <BGM: Hate>
(Esras)
Your brain is as slow as your feet.
Let me show you, then...



--21-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina> {SFX: explosion}
The metal golem rose from the ground to stand vertically, twenty feet tall.
It gave a low-pitched groan, and beat its chest with its heavy fists in an intimidating display of strength and fortitude.



--22-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Price)
...This Golem...
No... No way... Is it Tabhartas...?



--23-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Esras)
Indeed! Gatekeeper of the wisdom of the gods...and now my loyal servant.
I had to go to rather extraordinary measures to control it...and sacrifice one puppet for another...
Show it proper respect.


--24-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
My skin crawls. Some dark and twisted magic is at work here.
My mind unraveled the meaning of Esras's words...
"You...used Rian to animate that thing...?!"


--25-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Price)
What?! You...you sacrificed the Lord to recreate Tabhartas?!
No...! How could you! Murderer!



--26-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Esras)
Clever girl.
The responsibility is yours as well, Redire; don't go blaming others.
Don't you remember that night in Coill?
The Lord was wounded by your sword...and died after the Fomors retreated...

--27-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Price)
What!? The Lord died...during the tragedy of Emain Macha...?!
But then...the Lord has ruled Emain Macha all this time...as a dead man...? Impossible!!



--28-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Esras)
Hahaha... Even in death, Rian faithfully followed my orders to the fullest.
You see...I've been the Lord of Emain Macha all this time...
But now, I no longer need him. I will soon be a god!


--29-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Price)
Necromancy!! I thought it was forbidden...?
...!!!
You're not a Druid at all. You were a necromancer all this time...!
How dare a necromancer try to rule Emain Macha!!!

--30-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Esras)
I did more than try. I dare say I did a better job of it than the old Lords did.
It proves that a necromancer is a more capable ruler than a druid, no?
Soon all of Erinn will benefit from my rule...


--31-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
That explains the...wrongness I've been feeling in this room.
First the suffering of my friends, and now a human sacrifice?
"No more... I won't let you use anyone else as sacrifices for your schemes!"


--32-- <BGM: Deux Ex Machina>
(Esras)
Why let useful tools go to waste?
The right people can be very influential, even in death.
Once I've ascended, no corpse will go unutilized.
Perhaps I'll use your bodies to awaken two more of these!

--33-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
(Esras)
First, though...you two will have to pay for disrupting my plans...
Tabhartas... I will now give you an order.
Show your loyalty to me by killing these interlopers!


--34-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary> {SFX: pow}
The iron-plated golden golem groaned, and charged at us.
Redire lept to shield me as Tabhartas swung its heavy arm at us.
It struck his leg, shattering bones with a sickening crack. He fell over.


--35-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary> {SFX: failure}
(Price)
Ahhhhh...! My leg... it's broken...!
I can't believe this...
Meara, run!


--36-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
(Esras)
Even a so-called Paladin like you is powerless before its unstoppable might!
Where is the real Paladin to save you now?
Finish him, Tabhartas!


--37-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary> {SFX: explosion}
The golem raised its foot to crush Redire.
No... No! I'm the immortal one here! I won't let anyone sacrifice themselves for me! No more!
I stood in the way, holding off the oncoming stomp...


--38-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
(Esras)
You're either very brave, elf...or very foolish.
Maybe both. It doesn't matter.
Tabhartas, crush them both!!


--39-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
(Price)
Meara, no! Don't throw your life away! Forget about me and run!




--40-- <BGM: Formidable Adversary>
I desperately held the golem's foot off with all my strength.
My body screams in pain... I can't...keep this up...
Why...did I do this?
Because...I can't die, but he can...
"No...! Save yourself!"
[chapter end]