Episode 1 - Blades in the Dark

Hydaelyn, a vibrant realm blessed by the light of the Crystal. Amid azure seas, encompassing the westernmost of the Three Great Continents, there lies a realm embraced by gods and forged by heroes, her name: Eorzea. The annals of Eorzean history chart the rise of a succession of great civilizations, each one enjoying an age of peace - the Astral Eras. To date, all have proven ephemeral. In the year 1572 of the Sixth and most recent Astral Era, the northern empire of Garlemald amassed a great army at the heart of Eorzea, seeking dominion over all. Rising in desperate resistance, the forces of the Eorzean Alliance met their would-be conquerers in the field. Yet even as the battle raged, the lesser moon, Dalamud, was plucked from the heavens through imperial machination. From its core emerged the elder primal Bahamut, who unleashed his fury upon the realm. The devastation brought Eorzea to its knees, and the era to its end. Five years have come and gone. The light of life stills shines upon Eorzea. Man labors tirelessly to raise himself from the Calamity's ruin. The realm is forever changed, a stranger to him once more. Yet heedless of what lies ahead, he shall press on. Spurred by the promise of peace and prosperity. Amid this period of great change, an adventurer arrives in Eorzea...one whose tale is yet unwritten. May she ever walk in the light of the Crystal.

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CENTRAL THANALAN

SPINELESS BASIN

A dust storm resides over the desert of Thanalan, presiding in the southern reaches of the continent of Aldenard. The dust clouds barely reveal it to be midday, with the sun being blocked by said clouds. The gales of the storm blow to the north, as a carriage can be seen in the distance as a shadow. The carriage draws near to reveal two chocobos pulling said carriage, and said chocobos being handled by a tall Highlander. Inside the carriage are four people: A dark old male Midlander, a hooded young female Midlander, and two young Elezen twins. The hooded midlander starts to moan as a voice is heard only to her.

"Hear..."
"Hear...Feel..."
"Hear...Feel...Think..."

She looks up to see a meteor shower coming from the sky, but another voice is heard as the shower just disappears out of nowhere.

Old Man: "...Hey. Hey, you! Y'all right, lass? You were moanin' somethin' fierce for a while there."

Hooded Girl: "O-Oh...forgive me sir...I'm just tired..."

Old Man: "Feelin' the effects of the aether, I reckon. You'll get used to it, though, don't worry."

The girl nods as three Brass Blades go up to the carriage.

Brass Blade Captain: "You there─halt!"

Carriage Driver: "What's all this about!?"

Brass Blade Captain: "Inspection! Men, search the carriage!"

Old Man: "I'm just an honest peddler, friend. So, er...don't be too disappointed if you don't find nothin', eh?"

Brass Blade: "Mind your tongue, old man, lest I cut it out!"

The Brass Blades go to check the items in the carriage while the hooded girl looks around.

Brass Blade: "Sir, look! Somnus!"

The Brass Blade finds a crate of somnus in the carriage, attracting the attention of the captain.

Brass Blade Captain: "Honest peddler, was it? Since when do honest peddlers deal in prohibited herbs? You're in a lot of trouble, old man. You'll rot in a dungeon till the end of your days...unless you can afford the fine."

Old Man: "Heh, business as usual... Uwaaah!"

A group of huge lizard-like beastmen wielding weapons such as lances and bows, going towards the carriage.

Brass Blade Runner: "Amalj'aa! Amalj'aa! To arms! To arms!"

Brass Blade Captain: "Seven hells... Consider this a warning! Now go─all of you!"

The Brass Blades draw their weapons and head towards the Amalj'aa beastmen, all the while the carriage continues on their way. Brendt the old man turns his gaze to the hooded girl.

Old Man: "Phew... That kind of excitement ain't good for the heart."

Hooded Girl: "Do events like that happen everyday around here?"

Old Man: "Not everyday, but aye, it happens much."

He glances back to the Brass Blades they passed.

Old Man: "You be careful 'round them Brass Blades, lass. Bastards'll have the shirt off your back if they fancy it. Like common bandits, they are, only less honest. Thank the gods for sendin' some beastmen to the rescue, eh!? Hey, seein' as we've still got a long ride ahead, you mind keepin' me company till we arrive? Them young'uns don't much care for conversation, see."

The hooded girl looks to her side to see the two young Elezen twins.

Brendt: "Brendt's the name, an' peddlin's me trade. An' judgin' by your unusual garments, I'll wager you're one of them new adventurers.

The hooded girl happily nods.

Hooded Girl: "Indeed I am.."

Brendt: "I knew it! Goin' wherever the wind blows, seekin' fortune an' glory─now that's what I call livin'! So long as you can avoid dyin', I mean. Ain't no secret that adventurin's a risky business─these days especially. What was it that first attracted you to adventurin'?"

Hooded Girl: "I...don't know. Possibly just the thrill and excitement. I only adventure to be free and explore."

Brendt: "Ah, I see. No need for fortune, glory, or power."

The hooded girl nods.

Hooded Girl: I currently have no excessive need for those things as of now. If I want power, it would be so I can protect others in need."

Brendt smiles.

Brendt: "Just remember, though: there're more important things than fortune an' glory. Such as breathin'. Ain't no profit in bein' dead, an' that's a fact. By the by, is this your first trip to Ul'dah?"

The hooded girl nods.

Brendt: "It is!? Well then, let this journeyed itinerant tell you the ins an' outs of your destination."

The dust storm passes by, revealing a huge array of structures coming in the horizon, a big city-state in the middle of the Thanalan desert.

Brendt: "Ul'dah's ruled by the sultana in name, but as most folk know, the Syndicate holds all the real power. Them and their Monetarist cronies would happily get rid of Her Majesty altogether, but that won't happen while she still commands the loyalty of the Royalists─an' the Royalists are nothin' if not loyal. These factions have long fought over power, throwin' the weight of their wealth against each other, an' they show no sign of stoppin'. Course the lizardmen─that's the Amalj'aa─couldn't care less about Ul'dahn politics. They have their own interests, see─an' they ain't afraid to use force to serve 'em. They say war is a gift to peddlers─need breedin' profit─an' though it shames me to say it, I'm inclined to agree..."

The hooded girl looks at the city-state coming up and points.

Hooded Girl: "Is that Ul'dah up ahead?"

Brendt: "Ah, at long last. Behold Ul'dah, jewel of Thanalan, where folk turn sand into gold!

The carriage stops at the Gate of Nald connecting Thanalan to Ul'dah. The hooded girl and Brendt get off the carriage together.

Brendt: "An' here's where we part ways, lass. I'm off to the markets to deliver me wares, then it's on to the highroad for me. Here, I want you to have this─by way of thanks for puttin' up with me prattle."

Brendt gives the hooded girl a ring, which she smiles at and puts on her right hand.

Brendt: "You never did tell me your name, though. Hey, but here's an idea... Become the sort of storied personage I can brag about havin' met, an' I'll consider us square."

The hooded girl respectfully bows at Brendt as he goes inside the city to the markets. She looks up at the Gate of Nald and smiles, walking inside as well.

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UL'DAH - THE STEPS OF NALD

OUTSIDE THE QUICKSAND

Commotion is abound in the plaza near the Gate of Nald as the hooded girl arrives inside, amazed at the sights around her.

???: "Oi, 'venturer! Over here!"

The hooded girl looks around for the source of the voice before turning her head towards her right to see a tall Hyur wearing sunglasses leaning on a lightpost.

Hooded Girl: "Who, me?"

Wymond: "Aye, I mean you. Fresh off the carriage, by any chance? Eh? How can I tell? Heh! Name's Wymond, an' my business is knowin' every bugger else's! Now then, what if I was to offer you some invaluable advice by way of welcome to our fair city? Free of charge, even─just this once, like."

Hooded Girl: "That would really help."
 

UL'DAH - THE STEPS OF NALD

THE QUICKSAND

Many adventurers are hanging out in the Quicksand, the Adventurer's Guild of Ul'dah. One of these adventurers just came through one of the doors leading inside. This tan Midlander sports a red bandana on his forehead, underneath his dark brown hair. He bears fiery red eyes and a cheerful grin. His top is a light red, gold-trimmed vest, showing his abs, and some dark blue breeches, kept in place with a brown leather belt and with a red sash tied once at the side. He wears black fingerless gloves and brown leather boots, both bearing gold-plated armor as protection. And finally he carries with him a red-bladed greatsword with a gold-trimmed hilt bearing blue jewels, strapped together within its sheath to his back.

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "Ah feels good to be back here in the grand Ul'dahn air. So many new faces..."

He spots a Lalafell managing papers at the front desk, and walks toward her, sitting down in front of her with a grin.

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "You must be Momodi."

Momodi turns her gaze towards the red-haired man in front of her.

Momodi: "Aye, yes I am. Who might you be?"

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "Just a person wanting to adventure."

Momodi: "Ah wanting to sign up? Here you...go..."

The hot-blooded adventure quirks a brow.

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "Something off?"

Momodi: "Have we...met before?"

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "Eh?"

Momodi: "There's something familiar about you."

Hot-blooded Adventurer: "Hmm? How so?"

Momodi: "I don't know...forget I mentioned it."

The adventurer quirks his head to the side before coming back as Momodi brings out the registration form.

Momodi: "Anyway, I'm going to need you to sign here, full name, neat and simple."

He does so, putting his name, "Mace Reed II", in the appropriate spot. Momodi looks at the name with surprise.

Momodi: "Mace Reed...?! You can't possibly be the Flame Champion Mace Reed!"

Mace: "No I'm not...but he is my father."

Momodi: "Your father?? I heard rumors that he retired cycles ago to start a family..."

Mace: "They were true. If you don't believe me, try telling that to this."

Mace points to his red bandana, and Momodi shows a skeptical look.

Momodi: "Ah in any case...welcome to Ul'dah!"

Meanwhile, the hooded girl from earlier enters the Quicksand through the front door, initially overwhelmed by the amount of adventurers inside, and starts looking for someone.

Hooded Girl: "Where's the front desk?"

She walks around until she hears some doors being kicked open, a couple of masked men in black rugged uniforms looking at the ladies all around, with sinister grins. One of the masked men appears to be a burly male Highlander, while the smaller one is a lean male Midlander. Both men bear an emblem similar to a viper.

Masked Highlander: "Well well! Hello adventurers! How ye all doing this day?"

Adventurer: "It's the Viper Band!"

A couple of adventurers, mostly the female ones, panic as the masked duo walk around, eyeing the lady adventurers, until the smaller one spots the hooded girl, walking towards her.

Masked Midlander: "You there!"

Hooded Girl: "M-me?"

Mace spots the hooded girl being hounded on by the masked midlander and goes towards them at a distance. Meanwhile the midlander checks out the hooded girl, finding her beautiful blue eyes underneath her cloak.

Masked Midlander: "My my, you have pretty eyes under there. Oy Ralph ol' buddy! I think we found our lady for Mister Stark!"

Ralph, the masked Highlander goes to the two of them, when he forcibly removes the hood on the girl's cloak, revealing a beautiful face and wondrous long dark blue hair, done in a sort of hime cut.

Ralph: "Yea Ricky, she will do. Sorry lady you're coming with us!"

Ralph picks up the hooded girl with Ricky, the masked midlander, following along, as the girl screams also catching Mace's attention, as he follows the three outside into Pearl Lane.

 

UL'DAH - THE STEPS OF THAL

PEARL LANE

 

Hooded Girl: "Let me go! Help!"

Ralph: "Hahaha! Mister Stark will sure be pleased with the lady 'ere!"

Ricky: "You said it!"

The two keep running until Mace comes from behind and jump kicks Ralph right into the ground, causing him to let go of the girl in mid-air. Mace catches said girl by hopping up to her. As Mace holds the girl in mid-air, they exchanged looks.

Mace: "Hey there."

Hooded Girl: "Hi..."

Mace lands on two feet, carrying the girl, princess-style, all the while with a serious glare on his face. As Ralph recovers from the blow to the back of his head, Ricky looks at Mace in surprise and anger.

Ricky: "O-Oy! Ye have a death wish there, bud?! No one kicks a member of the Viper Band and gets away with it!"

Mace: "Oh is that so? Sorry I don't intend on dying any time soon."

Mace puts the girl down as she stands up behind Mace.

Mace: "Neither of you will be taking this girl anywhere. Only thing you're doing...."

Mace cracks his knuckles and readies a stance, showing a confident grin and his fiery red eyes.

Mace: "...is getting your arse kicked by me, Mace Reed!"

Ralph gets back up, showing an immensely angry look with his bloodied nose, growling as he and Ricky rushes toward Mace with intent to beat up. Mace however merely punches both of them in the gut, rearing them back coughing up blood as he does a roundhouse kick that sends the two of them flying to the side, with Ricky landing on top of Ralph. The two of them look at Mace with fear as they run off, leaving him alone with the girl.

Mace: "Are you alright there?"

Hooded Girl: "I am now, thanks to you."

Mace: "What's your name?"

Suiren: "Suiren. Mizukawa no Suiren, or in the order of your Eorzean names, Suiren Mizukawa."

Mace: "Suiren...exotic..."

Suiren: "I came to be an adventurer and explore the realm."

Mace grins at Suiren.

Mace: "Same here! Let's get you signed up then, and then let's talk some more after, mk?"

Suiren shows a happy smile on her face as she cheerfully nods, with her and Mace coming back into the Quicksand.

 

THANALAN

UNKNOWN LOCATION

Ralph and Ricky enter a dark room, with the only light in the room shining an extravagant looking chair. On the chair is a Midlander dressed in white formal attire, looking regal, and the same viper emblem on his vest. On his side is a female Highlander who is garbed in similar black attire to Ralph and Ricky, who are now bowing in respect to the man in white.

Ralph: "Mister Stark, we have found the perfect lady for you."

Stark: "You have?"

Ricky: "Indeed we do, but we have been prevented from getting her by a man named Mace Reed."

Stark: "I've heard all from Richill here."

Stark glances at Richill, the female Highlander before turning his gaze back to the duo in front of him.

Stark: "Normally, I'd punish you for your imcompetence, but since we are dealing with the son of the Flame Champion himself, I'd understand that you'd have your arses kicked."

Ralph and Ricky: "What?! The son of the Flame Champion?!"

Stark: "Indeed. But he is only a blade in the dark. A fledgeling. A mere ember. And like all small embers, he too can be extinguished..."

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Five years have past since the Calamity, and Eorzea still bears light in the form of Mace Reed and Suiren Mizukawa. But light is eternally contested by darkness, currently in the form of the Viper Band, led by Nedrick Stark. The Crystal only knows what the future has for these two young heroes-to-be.

Next time on Hydaelyn Unlimited: "Viper's Venom"