OPTIONAL QUESTS: THIEVES' FORT
[A number of former Northern Sky knights cluster together in the ruins of the brigands' den where Milleuda's forces once fought. A young squire speaks to his commander, a male ninja.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): We've reached the bottom of the barrel. Our rations will soon be gone. What now? Strike another wain?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): I think not. Our numbers swell. The time is ripe we sacked a village. We've scavenged scraps for long enough. Let us feast now from the table!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): You'd have us raid a town? I cannot help but feel that goes too far.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Too far!? Who was it stood on the front lines at Besselat? You--and I! And this, our recompense? We risked our lives, while those damnable Beoulves fled for theirs. Let them reap now what they've sown! Steal and plunder till there's naught left. What we take is what we're due.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): And if the Order should appear?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): We give them a fifth, and they disappear just as quick.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): Ha! I like it. That's why we follow you!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Mayhap you've some wits after all.
[They laugh. Then they turn to look as somebody approaches.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): Someone approaches!
[The leader turns to him.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): More come to fill our ranks, eh?
[All look to where Ramza's party has now gathered.]
RAMZA: So, you're the turncloaks who dishonor the Order's name! I'll abide your crimes no longer. Yield now, and keep your lives.
[The leader turns to face his men]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): 'Yield,' the boys says!
[There is another round of laughter. He turns back to Ramza.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Beg pardons, milord. I'm afraid we're not very good at yielding. Lack of experience and whatnot. We'd be happy to let you on your way, though. With one condition: Leave us that wench.
AGRIAS: You craven worm! Think you women sport! Then be glad, for I've no mind to leave--not until I've had that tongue from your throat!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Oh, you'll have far more than that, sweetness!
[BATTLE BEGINS]
[IF ORLANDEAU IS IN THE PARTY]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): Boss, is that not...the Thunder God!? There's no mistake! I fought him and his men at Dugeura Pass!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Don't be absurd, the count was slain at Besselat! He's just another dead man, and all dead men look the same!
RAMZA: Why lower yourselves to this? Did you not join the Order to protect the people?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Are you daft, boy? We joined the Order to make a knight's living! And what a living it's been--driven on like beasts of burden, denied our pay and even proper rations! Would that honor flavored soup, I might have use for it. But I've had my fill of boiled lentils.
AGRIAS: There are people who lack any food at all, and you scorn what you are given? You steal from the poor that you might grow fat! Know you how many hunger and die because of what you do?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): What's it to me how many die?
RAMZA: It's not your bellies that are empty--it's your souls!
AGRIAS: If you would rob others of the right to live, then you've no claim to it, either!
[IF ORLANDEAU IS IN THE PARTY]
ORLANDEAU: Do you see, my friend? Your spirit yet lives on. The time for cautious restraint is past. Let justice now be served!
[BATTLE ENDS]
RAMZA: It is times such as these when the people -need- the Orders to protect them.
AGRIAS: Ivalice weakens, and so the vultures come to feed. We'll no doubt see more before the end. This strife must be quelled, Ramza--and soon.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): We've reached the bottom of the barrel. Our rations will soon be gone. What now? Strike another wain?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): I think not. Our numbers swell. The time is ripe we sacked a village. We've scavenged scraps for long enough. Let us feast now from the table!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): You'd have us raid a town? I cannot help but feel that goes too far.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Too far!? Who was it stood on the front lines at Besselat? You--and I! And this, our recompense? We risked our lives, while those damnable Beoulves fled for theirs. Let them reap now what they've sown! Steal and plunder till there's naught left. What we take is what we're due.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): And if the Order should appear?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): We give them a fifth, and they disappear just as quick.
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Squire): Ha! I like it. That's why we follow you!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Mayhap you've some wits after all.
[They laugh. Then they turn to look as somebody approaches.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): Someone approaches!
[The leader turns to him.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): More come to fill our ranks, eh?
[All look to where Ramza's party has now gathered.]
RAMZA: So, you're the turncloaks who dishonor the Order's name! I'll abide your crimes no longer. Yield now, and keep your lives.
[The leader turns to face his men]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): 'Yield,' the boys says!
[There is another round of laughter. He turns back to Ramza.]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Beg pardons, milord. I'm afraid we're not very good at yielding. Lack of experience and whatnot. We'd be happy to let you on your way, though. With one condition: Leave us that wench.
AGRIAS: You craven worm! Think you women sport! Then be glad, for I've no mind to leave--not until I've had that tongue from your throat!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Oh, you'll have far more than that, sweetness!
[BATTLE BEGINS]
[IF ORLANDEAU IS IN THE PARTY]
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Knight): Boss, is that not...the Thunder God!? There's no mistake! I fought him and his men at Dugeura Pass!
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Don't be absurd, the count was slain at Besselat! He's just another dead man, and all dead men look the same!
RAMZA: Why lower yourselves to this? Did you not join the Order to protect the people?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): Are you daft, boy? We joined the Order to make a knight's living! And what a living it's been--driven on like beasts of burden, denied our pay and even proper rations! Would that honor flavored soup, I might have use for it. But I've had my fill of boiled lentils.
AGRIAS: There are people who lack any food at all, and you scorn what you are given? You steal from the poor that you might grow fat! Know you how many hunger and die because of what you do?
NORTHERN SKY DESERTER (Male Ninja): What's it to me how many die?
RAMZA: It's not your bellies that are empty--it's your souls!
AGRIAS: If you would rob others of the right to live, then you've no claim to it, either!
[IF ORLANDEAU IS IN THE PARTY]
ORLANDEAU: Do you see, my friend? Your spirit yet lives on. The time for cautious restraint is past. Let justice now be served!
[BATTLE ENDS]
RAMZA: It is times such as these when the people -need- the Orders to protect them.
AGRIAS: Ivalice weakens, and so the vultures come to feed. We'll no doubt see more before the end. This strife must be quelled, Ramza--and soon.
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