[center][h2]Geralt & Roxas - Markarth[/h2] [center]Word count: 1,427 words[/center] [center]Rapport: 3[/center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/zFYNnJd.png[/img][/center] Stepping out of the Hellpod with a muffled groan, Geralt looked up at the stone city before him. He’d landed a short ways outside the walls of Markarth, trying not to draw too much attention to himself given that two Consuls had fought here not too long ago. And he wasn’t alone. Having bumped into him on the Avenger, Roxas asked if he could tag along. He hadn’t had much chance to really search for any of his own missing friends, and thought he could at least look and see if any of them might have been in Markarth by chance. If the Hellpod was discovered later, that might put the people of Markarth on the chopping block. But the citizens of Markarth were already there, and they had people to rescue. Gathering as many fulton packs as they could strap to their back, they trudged to the outer gates of the city. Both Seekers were quickly welcomed inside, and set out to the first tavern they saw, looking around for any sign of one of the survivors of Alcamoth. A bright green hat stood out among the patrons, and Geralt nodded, approaching the man. “Luigi.” The overall-adorned man jumped a little in surprise, then turned around with relief and unmasked joy on his face, the Witcher’s voice unmistakable, even if his visage had changed. “Geralt! It’s-a terrible! Alcamoth…it’s…it’s…it’s-a gone!” Luigi was trembling as he reported the news, but Geralt simply nodded, letting out a small, sad smile. As for Roxas, he didn’t speak up just yet. Instead he scanned the room, hoping beyond hope to spot a familiar face. But he didn’t see anyone. “We know. But I’m back, and I brought a lot of friends. But we don’t have a lot of time, we need to leave, and we need everybody. Yen, you, anybody else that survived the Consuls’ attack. You’re the first one I found here. And I need your help to get everybody in one spot and to put these on,” He said as he handed Luigi a Fulton package. “I can explain more when we’re all together, but those will bring you to our ship. Technology I don’t understand. But more importantly…where’s Yen staying?” Luigi took in all the information with rapt attention, nodding repeatedly to show he was taking it all in. He looked a little surprised at Geralt’s final - or was it his first? - request. But still he nodded his head, beckoning Geralt to follow. “She’s been-a staying with most of-a the others. We rented out-a big house and are a-paying for it by doing jobs around town, a-helping with m-monsters and other hero work!” He puffed up a little by the end of his explanation, before sighing. “I just wish Mario and the others were still here…” Geralt noddied, giving Luigi a pat on the shoulder. “I know, Luigi. We’re all doing our best to honor them and everybody else we’ve lost. Vandham, Dante, and some others also survived and found us with our new allies. I know they’ll be glad to see you all.” Luigi nodded in response, spirits somewhat bolstered by knowing that others had survived the attack beyond those he had come here with. With all that said, the trio traveled to a somewhat large home built into the mountainside. It was sparsely decorated outside, but that didn’t mean much when they entered and found quite a bit of space. “Everybody! The Seekers are a-back! Geralt says-a they have a ship for us!” Luigi called out to cheers. Wario let out a boisterous laugh, while Dedede gave a thumbs up and Max Howard raised a fist in triumph. “We don’t-a have much time, though, he says. They’re a-leaving soon.” Geralt nodded in confirmation. “Our new allies have a powerful airship that they call the Avenger. Capable of hiding itself from plain sight. But the Consuls are after them, so they have to move often. I need your help getting the survivors from Alcamoth together so that we can all leave at once.” [color=gold]”How many of you are there?”[/color] Roxas asked, finally speaking up. So far he only counted three other than Luigi. He just hoped he and Geralt had brought enough fultons with them. “There are a-twelve of us in total.” Luigi dutifully reported. [color=gold]”So that means there’s eight others we need to find. Any idea where they are right now?”[/color] “Sora and Ashley were a-helping at the blacksmith’s shop. Olimar was in the fields with his pikmin a-harvesting crops. Yennefer and V are working in the hall with the Jarl, helping him as temporary advisors. Euden and Mym went out to hunt some monsters a few hours ago, so they’re either a-coming back soon, or stopping at the Jarl’s hall to report that they’re-a finished before coming back! Oh, and our new friend Y’shtola’s at the library!” Luigi rattled off each survivor’s location like he could see them himself, nodding. “At least, that’s-a what I think they were doing?” He added nervously. “Come on, Luigi, have some faith in yourself!” Maximilian Howard laughed, slapping the nervous deuteragonist on the back. “That’s about the gist of it, so let’s all get going and get the others. I’m sure your Yen will be happy to see you, Geralt!” The captain teased, laughing happily before heading for a bag of belongings. “Grab your things, folks. It’s time to get going!” [color=gold]”I’ll…”[/color] Roxas said with some hesitation in his voice. [color=gold]”I’ll go hit up the blacksmith! And see if those three you mentioned are there!”[/color] he suddenly blurted out and took off running before anyone could even stop him. [color=gold][i]There’s no way, right? No way that could be him! Here, of all places?[/i][/color] The Nobody’s mind was racing. He’d been hoping to find some of the friends he knew, but this particular friend was the last one he ever expected to find. [hr] He actually didn’t even know where the blacksmith was. Roxas had to hurriedly ask for directions in the middle of his frantic sprint through Markarth. But he learned it was in a lower section of the city, right next to a place called Cidhna Mine - and that was an easy enough landmark to spot. When he finally did see the blacksmith in question, Roxas scanned it intently. And there, using fire spells to keep the forge fire good and hot, was Sora. It really was him! Roxas had so many things he wanted to ask his other half, but that needed to wait. There was something more urgent to do right now. [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ru1bfK36w[/youtube][/center] [color=gold]”Sora!”[/color] Roxas called out as he jogged forward. The keyblade wielder in question stopped what he was doing and looked in Roxas’ direction with surprise. He’d recognized the voice but had a look of confusion on his face when he actually saw Roxas, due to how different the latter looked because of his spirits. And then he lit up with recognition. “Roxas!” Sora suddenly shouted and practically tackled his Nobody to ground in glee. “What are YOU doing here?” [color=gold]”What am [i]I[/i] doing here?”[/color] Roxas said with a cheerful laugh, [color=gold]”What about [i]you[/i]? You up and disappeared on us after we got out of the Keyblade Graveyard. Is this where you’ve been?”[/color] “That, well, uh…” Sora stammered as the two boys laughed together. [color=gold]”We have to talk later, Sora.”[/color] Roxas said, trying to get serious again - albeit that was hard to do around Sora and his infectious laugh. [color=gold]”Luigi said there were some others with you here in the blacksmith. I need you to get them for me. Geralt and I came to get everyone out of here.”[/color] “Really? We’re leaving?” asked Sora. [color=gold]”Yep. And we gotta make it fast, before any Consuls come back around.”[/color] “Got it.” Sora said, not needing any other explanations. [hr] After a frantic period of running around and gathering the other survivors of the attack on Alcamoth (and a new friend gained along the way), the group gathered with everything they could carry outside the city. “Alright, everyone. You’ll use these harnesses to bring yourselves up to board the Avenger. It should be hovering above us still, invisible. We’ll be brought in and we can all have a party or a reunion in there, but for now we have to move.” Geralt, by way of demonstration, put the harness on and pulled the ripcord, activating the Fulton. “This is the hard part.” He sighed, before a massive burst of g-forces knocked him unconscious and brought him up into the sky. And then Roxas followed suit, followed by everyone else after that.