Episode 21: The Call

Upon leaving the Sky of Clouds, The Legacy was teleported to a land unknown. It would seem that Shiva, Ruby, and Ljrn’s spell would have them travel through the lifestream in order to grant safety for their group. During this time all that they could remember was seeing the world around them go black and feeling something cool. It would seem that the Crystal they found would lead them to Costa Del Sol's Bloodshore. This area was abandoned long before the fall of Eorzea however, it always had small pockets of shelter for those who could come here to survive. The group came to Bloodshore surrounded by darkness and fog. During the battle with Ruby's weapon it would see that she and her fellow Legacy Member, Tarno were exhausted from the fight. This left them to lie in the cabin. Shiva, Dorion, Trunks, and Ljrn were the only few that were okay for the time being. However, Trunks too had a predicament of his own...he was without his left arm. During their time in Bloodshore Dorion was able to help him repair his knee for the time being however, there was not a replacement for his missing arm.


The area was warm and for once Dorion was happy to be somewhere other than Ishgard or The Shrouds. He often found them much colder than the Thanlans that he had grown so accustomed to. However, his concern seemed to be at an all-time high for Ruby as none of his vials were able to heal her. She seemed to be at peace in the cabin but, he wasn’t sure how long it would take her to heal. Whenever he felt stressed like this he would light one of his cigarettes and sit outside for a smoke. It wasn’t shortly afterward that he realized that he sat next to Shiva who seemed to be in her own thoughts. He noticed scribbles in the sand next to her of things she wanted to look for in order to help Trunks. Dorion reached out to her and let her know that in time they would help him; for now, they needed to figure out why the Crystal brought them to Bloodshore.
   
As Dorion spoke to Shiva, Dorion saw that Trunks awoke from his rest inside of the small cabin they discovered. Although Trunks got some sleep his body ached worse. With Dorion’s help, he was able to find relief by repairing his knee however, being one-armed would be tricky moving forward. Ljrn was not too far away from Trunks as she was seen placing logs into the fire that Dorion started up. Noticing her presence, both Dorion and Shiva got up to join her by the fire.


Ljrn seemed to be in good spirits as she smiled and said she was glad that no one was in immediate danger for the time or needed her medicinal skills at the current time. Trunks agreed and wondered how she was doing considering the last battle they were involved in taking a lot of out of everyone. She was thankful for their concerns but, she reassured that she tended to her health first and that she felt fine even though she was much older than anyone here. The group sat around the fire to keep warm and have a small drink of tea to calm their nerves.


Shiva let out a sigh and expressed how she wanted the battles with The Red Veil to come to a close. Since coming back to Eorzea, she expressed how all of the loss and turmoil has taken a toll on her spirit and she questions why Hydaelyn had called her back when she can’t seem to help everyone the way she intended her to. Shiva explains how her visions from Hydaelyn show so much and yet there is so much blocking the path to it currently. Dorion agrees with Shiva’s sorrows, however, explains to her that sometimes it takes a journey in order to get there. Trunks tries to comfort Shiva and tell her that sometimes things must be lost in order to gain good things.
   
However, as he tells her these kind words, he asks her why did the crystal bring them here of all places when they were far north from these lands. Shiva is unsure as to the reason why they were sent to this exact location however, she says that there is definitely something here as the fog in the air felt magical and aetherial. Dorion suggests that while Tarno and Ruby rest they could scavenge the area around the cabin to see if there was anything out of the ordinary nearby.


As The Legacy checked the shores for anything out of the ordinary Trunks’ gaze found a ship floating nearby but, seeing that ship somehow did not bode well for him. Shiva walked along the sand but could not find much. Ljrn decided to check the boxes and storage bins by the cabin and noticed that it was well stocked with medicine and items they could use on their journey. She also suggested that they should try to come here often or take what they could to which Dorion agreed. As the group talks about their findings, an angelic voice sings. Ljrn, Shiva, and Trunks can hear its gentle tune...however, Dorion continues to walk along the shore trying to pinpoint what the rest of the group hears. Shiva walks a bit forward with the crystal to see if it has any connection.


Ljrn’s ears flicker at the sound while Trunks remains trigger happy and holds out his gun. Dorion stands cautiously with Trunks as they continue to look into the waters. There isn’t anything immediately seen however, as the group stands together they felt a sudden pulse go through their veins. A vision showed them all swimming to the boat. At first, the group was unsure if they should go on so they decided to head back to shore first to gather their belongings.

Dorion heads inside the cabin to see both Ruby and Tarno still resting. He reaches into his notebook and places a note on the table for both of them to stay put as they wouldn’t be gone for longer than a day. He also got in contact with his sister to let her know that Tarno and Ruby were here in case she was looking for him. Zena does not respond however, it did not worry him the slightest. Shiva found herself gathering her weapons and slipping back into her long skirt. The weather here was still too strong but she knew in order to battle she would need certain battle gear to fight. Ljrn also gathered items but reminded Trunks to cool his blood if he didn’t she was gonna remind him later on; Trunks laughed and knew that she was not joking. Finally gathering together The Legacy began to make their way into the water to swim to the boat.


It wasn’t before long that the Legacy swam onto the surface of the boat. Most members seemed to just take it in while Shiva had never been on a ship before and began to look around at all its features. To Trunks and Ljrn this felt like a treat to them as both of them shared a common interest in sailing the ocean. Dorion looks around the ship and lets The Legacy know that there is no one aboard or anything out of the ordinary so they seemed safe; however, he was unsure of where this boat would lead them. Ljrn examines the ship's wheel, fingers tracing the odd imprinted slot in the center. She asks Shiva for the crystal she recovered from the creature they fought earlier, holding it in her fingers to compare it to the shape in the wheel. As Ljrn placed the stone into the ship's steering wheel the sails began to drop down and the ship glows blue and begins to sail. Dorion smiled to Ljrn as he began to stand on the bowsprit keeping his feet firm and his hands close to the rails to keep his hands holding tight. As the ship sails, the angelic sounds return and the group feels safe to confirm that the voice they hear is of a Siren. Although not many of them had seen one before they knew of what they were capable of doing.


As they sail towards the Siren’s location Trunks approaches Trunks and talks to him about something that was concerning him. Trunks knew that Dorion was holding back on using his magick but he encouraged his friend to use it. Dorion expresses to Trunks that he taps into that magick that he can put everyone in danger. Trunks disagree and tell him he doesn’t have to go all-in but, he would like to see him try something soon. Dorion agrees and tells Trunks he will try if they need to fight the siren but he hopes he can pull back. As Trunks and Dorion talk amongst each other Shiva calls out to them and tells them that she sees an island up ahead. The Legacy was headed to a place where both Trunks and Ljrn knew Siren was hiding, Pharos Sirius.


The Island of Pharos Sirius was once a glorious lighthouse that overlooked La Noscea. However, during the Seventh Umbral Era, the lighthouse was struck with a gigantic crystal shard from the fallen moon Dalamud, which subsequently render the lighthouse unusable and broken—the yellow-orange crystals that now scattered all over the lighthouse have been known to corrupt any entity that is near it for extended periods of time. The once functioning lighthouse was struck with a third calamity which was that of The Red Veil. However, it stood the tests of time just now remaining an island for Graveyard Ships. The group took caution just being here and made their way down the cold sand paths that stood before them.


On the way to The Lighthouse, the group could hear that the song was coming from deeper within the Island which meant that the Siren was wandering the island instead of hiding in the Lighthouse. Ljrn could sense that Shiva was uneasy and decided to talk to her a bit. She reassured that they would be fine whereas Shiva expressed concern in Trunks’ plan for Dorion to boost his magick and Trunks also fighting missing his robotic arm. Ljrn explained that they had come this far with what they had done so the battle with the Siren wouldn’t be any different to just proceed with caution. That seemed to calm Shiva’s nerves as they followed their way to the boat graveyard.


Once the group made their way onto the beach the siren’s song grew stronger as she emerged from one of the abandoned ships. Trunk leads the attack against the Siren by swinging his leg hard kicking up his cannon and sends an anchor with bladed chains which wrap themselves around the siren cutting deep into her flesh and armor. The Siren shrieks as the cannon's blasts and stumbles back. As Shiva runs in with her attacks she steps along the water creating ice along her feet however the siren sees Shiva's move and strikes her exposed stomach with feathers that cut her skin open. Shiva gasps at the pain she feels. Ljrn smirks and jams her staff into the sand, gathering the plentiful water from nearby to form coils of water around her arms and shoulders. She then unleashes a barrage of needle-like bolts of water at the Siren. As Ljrn strikes the Siren for the first time, her vision shows her a weapon hidden in the wings of the creature; which Dorion could see as well. Dorion smirked knowing that Ljrn was destined to be with the group. Dorion readies his attack and finally takes a listen to something that Trunks had said; it was time for him to tap into his deeper power. Dorion lets a deep growl from his chest as his fangs extend and claws appear from his hands. This was something the group hadn't seen before. Suddenly Dorion strikes the siren with a blast of lightning from his hands!


Trunks proceed Dorion’s attack by moving toward the creature but the Siren locks a target onto Trunks' arm and strikes his weapon out of his good arm. Shiva rushed forward in Trunks' defense in fear of him getting hurt further. She glided in front of his attack and shielded him from getting her by sending an ice beam at the creature. Ljrn leaped forward trying to create a water attack of her own but the Siren was smart and sent a hot blast of water onto the mage. Dorion was furious to see Ljrn hurt by the Siren and as he tapped into deeper magick, Dorion revealed hidden claws from the tips of his fingers as he launched himself onto the Siren and began to start clawing the creature once more! It would seem that his power was growing stronger just by tapping into this new power. Angered by Dorion upon her, the Siren began to once again unleash more attacks onto Trunks and his good arm. Shiva rushed in front of Trunks again and did her best to protect Trunks. It would seem that the reason Siren was attracted to Trunks was his connection to Shiva and how she wanted to claim him as a new victim so that Shiva would be left heartbroken. Dorion began to chant another spell as the claws in his hand scraped against his staff, a current generated from the weapon, and struck the siren again using the water beneath her to shock her further.


Finally, Trunks was able to see all of Shiva’s efforts and the rest of The Legacy and break the trance the Siren was putting on him by grabbing his gear and taping a flashbang to a nearby club. Trunks flew onto his invention and flew at full speed towards the siren swinging right to the eyes making the flashbang go off and blinding the Siren! Shiva follows behind Trunks and dances behind him as she uses her staff to freeze the siren in place before snapping her fingers and breaking the ice on the siren as it bleeds. Dorion feeling the momentum of the battle hopped onto the back of the siren once more and began to use his claws to weaken the wing of the Siren. As Dorion begins to draw blood a look in his eye changes, seeing the aetherial magick deep within the creature; it would seem that Dorion was experiencing Bloodlust once more. The Siren agitated by Dorion sent out a large plume that dove into the closed wound of Trunks’ left shoulder. It was as if the siren was mocking his missing arm In fear of Trunks being hurt Shiva calls out to him as she sends a glacier-like orb at the Siren. Ljrn also reacted by throwing out tendrils of water to catch Trunks in the air, as the ropes of water cushion his fall, she sends a pulse of healing magic through them, the ripple of white aether traveling down the tendrils and converging on Trunks as they set him down. Dorion continues to cling to the Siren as the wing begins to grow weaker the siren shrieks a sad tune in pain. Shiva sees that the Siren is after Trunks and wants to reinjure what is left of him. She fears that Trunks will get to the point of being beyond repair; in fear, Shiva leaps forward and uses her staff to send another ice glacier onto the open wound Dorion has created.


Ljrn felt the power to attack once more and began to create a pulse of white and orange. As the ripple moves through the air it detonates into a burst of steam and fire. Dorion, feeling the energy from Ljrn's attack, begins to strike the Siren once more. With one swift move, Dorion sunk his fangs deep into the next of the Siren...withdrawing her aether from within. Trunks grabbed his weapon and jumped into another flying attack. Trunks found himself right over the siren as he dropped from the sky cranking up his giant drill cannon and fired directly through the siren's left-wing. Shiva hopped onto the drill as she hoists herself into the air using her ice to send direct shards into the eyes of the siren; the siren is blinded and unsure what to do but shriek. As Ljrn combines the water into a single tendril, the Siren begins breathing in. Recognizing the urgency, Ljrn hardens the point of the tendril with sand and makes it strike at the siren-like cobra, trying to impale her before the coming attack. But as the spell executes, the siren lets out a focused wail. Ljrn tries to defend herself from the shockwave, but the impact shatters her staff into splinters. Her spell, however, already has form and motion, and pierces the siren through the chest!


The Sirens feels the staff splinter into her causing the grounds to be sprayed with blood from upon her body. As the siren fell into the water...it turned red as the skies began to pour suddenly. As the skies opened up a staff washed up right to Ljrn's feet. Ljrn walked up to the flotsam, removing her mask to get a better look as she kneels down and sees the new weapon as a replacement for her staff. Dorion draws a few things from the remains of Siren's body and looks up at Ljrn as well acknowledging her success in finding her gifted weapon from Hydaelyn. Shiva and Trunks walk together as she helps support his weakened body once more. They knew as exciting as this moment was they needed to return back to Bloodshore to where Ruby and Tarno remained. The group agreed and headed back onto the ship that would take them back to Bloodshot.

Once they had returned to Bloodshore The Legacy decided that until the rest of their party was ready that they would make this their temporary home. As nice as it would be to return to Fairytail they knew going there would be a risk especially with Dr. Winters and Jayne still recovering there. When the rest of The Legacy was ready, they would find a replacement for Trunks’ arm and then head to Crystal tower where Eden awaits. Even in this chaos, they took a moment to feel the water and relax their bodies. But would this have them fall behind?