>>6104554Gideon was standing before you. He seems to have sobered up, and brought a few extra friends along with him. You counted 15 men, including the noble himself, wielding various weapons and clad in familiar Fodlan-style armor. Hailing from the region of Faerghus, which had always been known for its heavily-clad knights, Gideon and a few of his men were decked out in thick plate armor. Four of his soldiers off in the back had bows in hand and arrows knocked. You were drunk, sure, but that was no excuse to run away or try to talk things through. If anything, you just wanted to kick his ass more. With a grunt, you lift your Steel Axe off your back.
“W-wait, is this really happening?!” May cries out. “We’re just going to fight out in public like this?!”
“Solis’ guards won’t care.” Cassius says. “When it comes to your foreigners, they won’t lift a finger. So long as you don’t cause too much trouble, they’ll simply view it as an unavoidable part of the competition.” The sorcerer clears his throat, and calls out to Gideon. “Speaking of which, I’ll have you know I only met this man today and am not with him! I ask that you leave me out of this!”
“I don’t know.” Gideon smirks. “I understand you were pretty comfortable conversing over a few drinks together. Seemed to me like you were plenty friendly enough. But sure, I’ll leave you out of it. Provided you join my side. I need a guide to the City of Morfis, and I understand you know the way there. What do you say?”
Cassius grimaces. “...I’d rather not if it was alright with you.”
“It’s not.” Gideon replies. “But be that way. After I’m done with them, perhaps you’ll see things differently.”
>“Tough luck.” You say to Cassius. “Looks like you’re stuck fighting with us. But at least your fortunes were good enough to find you on my side.”“I don’t exactly feel fortunate.” The mage replies dryly. “I know reading may not be your strong suit, but surely you can at least count that there are more of them than us.”
>“Not for long. May, stand behind. Adeline, are you with me?”The armor knight silently nods, lifting her spear and shield.
“Very well.” Cassius sighs. “Seeing as I have no choice…” The ground in front of Cassius begins to glow a bright white as a circle several feet wide appears from thin air. Inside the circle, a humanoid shape begins materializing, slowly forming from shadows that rise from the ground. What looks like a man now stands there, but it was like no one you’d ever seen before. Tendrils of smoke were rising from his form, which looked almost incorporeal. What looked real enough though, was the nasty looking axe that was in its right hand. The strange figure causes Gideon’s men to back off slightly.
“What the hell is that?” One exclaims.
