Raulke - In-Game History, Part III

Raulke - In-Game History, Part III

Back to Normal, Whatever THAT Is

Now that Raulke was back into the routine of an Imperial soldier, he felt much better. A hectic, unpredictable life was all he’d ever known, and to have some degree of stability--especially given the whole situation with Sin in the world--was a Godsend. Even better, one evening while on patrol, he met someone he’d been looking for, for a while. Cadence! Raulke was happy to see her, and happier still that she seemed to be all right. Apparently she’d gone on a mission since her reported injury by the mysterious “Mojo”, so it seemed she had recovered fully. However, she had not yet been checked for serious injuries following her most recent mission, which according to Cadence, involved her jumping out of a plan and onto Sin’s back. Distressing, but at least she seemed all right.

Raulke also found out that Kityana had just turned sixteen! He had not been aware of her birthday approaching, otherwise he would have gotten her something for her birthday. However, not being a man prone to buying on impulse, he warned her that a gift he bought her would likely be very belated. Amidst Kiros’s flirting with Cadence, the two girls came up with an idea--Raulke admitted to being a decent cook, so...why not bake a cake for Kityana? Raulke was, admittedly, quite embarrassed at the notion, but with both Kityana and Cadence seemed to indicate that it would be an activity they would undertake together. That would likely be enough help so that Raulke would not ruin things. So, since they both seemed so eager, he agreed to bake Kityana a cake at the next available opportunity.

Yet another surprise was waiting for Raulke in Vector. One day, as he stood at the docks in the very early morning, something appeared. The guards first feared it was a Sinspawn, but it turned out to be a man. A new Convergee. But Raulke knew this man, knew him from some years ago. Before he met Claria, before he got involved with Vector. He didn’t know the man’s name, but the man seemed to have been a minion of a strange white-haired man. They’d met in Lindblum so long ago.

It was Dyne.

This Dyne, however, didn’t seem to remember Raulke. Which was good; that Dyne was quite insane. This one seemed a little more coherent. After jumping in and hauling the newly Converged Dyne out of the harbor, Raulke had the medical personnel that he’d called take Dyne to the inn. Rather than rent another room, Raulke chose to have Dyne taken to his room. They spoke a bit there, and Raulke allowed Dyne to sleep there for the time being, realizing that the man needed to recover from very nearly making his Convergence a very short one....

Back In the Saddle?

Raulke seemed to have settled into life as a citizen--and soldier--of Vector. A walk along the beach with Claria while she was considering where to build a costal wall turned into a terrifying ordeal, as a Sinspawn crawled up on the beach. A fight ensued, during white it was discovered that the Sinspawn was able to cause status effects, and Claria was Blinded. She called in reinforcements, and Azul and Narra arrived on-scene. Thankfully Edward was there and was able to fix her up. And later in the battle, Raulke was Disabled, but Edward’s timely application of a bandage prevented it from getting worse. A combination of Azul’s horn-goring and Narra’s sword impale was the death of the beast. Luckily no-one was seriously injured, although Raulke suffered a cracked rib (from friendly fire) and a bit of skin irritation from the Disabling liquid.

The following day, something wonderful happened...Raulke came across Shalaja, a dear friend of his that he’d not seen in quite some time, and had been very worried about. However, it seemed that Shalaja was...busy with something. He was talking to a slightly androgynous man in rather snug-fitting clothing. Kityana briefly passed by on her way to somewhere she could relax, and Cadence made an appearance as well. Shalaja’s “friend” ended up leaving. Cadence didn’t stay long either, just long enough to say hello--she was on her way to see her brother, to being him a jar of, of all things, pickled chocobo toes.

Despite the thwarting of Shalaja’s “plans” for the evening, he wanted to spend some time with Raulke, since they hadn’t seen each other in so long. Shalaja suggested a couple of things--escorts and mind-altering substances--none of which Raulke indulged in. He seemed confused that Raulke had so few activities with which to occupy himself. However, since he had apparently scared off Shalaja’s “entertainment” for the night, Raulke decided that he would do something that his friend wanted to do. So, he and Shalaja went to the Blue Mage’s house. And proceeded to promptly get stoned off their rear ends. Much discussion of the true nature of doors, fruits, and nudity ensued.

Nothing Like Getting Blown Up!

Raulke’s training of Kityana continued, and life seemed like it was settling down. And then...a group of insurgents tried to burn down a building that some of Vector’s higher-ups were in, having a meeting, apparently. This included a couple of his friends, too. Raulke, not being the type to let such things go without some form of retribution--being the knight of vengeance that he was--offered his services to go hunt down the thieves. However, he wouldn’t go alone. He ended up going with a fellow named Thistle. This fellow had an overly subservient air about him, for some reason. Raulke couldn’t figure it out. Nonetheless, they left for the mountainous region the rebels had chosen, Raulke himself focused more on the task at hand than at his companion’s attitude.

The two of them found the rebel, and fought him. He was a tough opponent. Using sound and superb swordsmanship, the man was more than a match for Raulke and Thistle. Indeed, the Corsair was injured in the battle. During the course of battle, Raulke learned something disturbing--the rebel suggested that Claria might have taken steps to eliminate all descendants of the line of Gestahl. Would she really have done that, Raulke wondered? She was only in power because she hadn’t found a descendant, right? Still, Raulke knew Claria to be an ambitious woman at best. Perhaps her hatred for Gestahl was to blame. Or the rebel could have been lying outright.

Regardless, there was no time to question the man, as a contagion alarm was set off purposely by the rebel. Thistle needed help, and they had to get out. So it was that Raulke carried the Corsair out of the rebel lair at top speed. But not before leaving a parting shot.

”Remember me, rebel!” he called after the retreating man. “I despise injustice, no matter what form it takes!”

There’s No Place Like Home

Raulke didn’t get much of a chance to consider the implications of the rebel’s statement. Mainly because soon after the came back from that mission, news spread about another tragedy wrought by Sin. This time, the foul monster had eaten the town of Baron, and apparently, almost got the castle.

And Valcia was in Baron.

Seized with a fear unlike any he’d felt in a long time, Raulke was on the verge of panic when he received a letter from Alistair Cress, one of Valcia’s landlords, that she was all right--at least physically--and was resting in Mist. He had thought about simply hijacking an Imperial airship and flying there himself, were it not for two problems. Firstly, the Imperial Guard would toss him in the brig so fast it would make his head spin. And secondly, he had no clue how to drive an airship!

Luckily, Claria assigned Raulke to lead the relief mission to Baron. Perhaps because he knew the area better than anyone else. Or perhaps it was to distract him from the problem at hand, the rebels. Whatever the reason, the upshot of it was that Raulke went to Baron. Or, what was left of it. He was very busy, but he managed to pry himself away from the job long enough to make the short trip to Mist.

He found Valcia dazed and still distraught from the devastation wrought in Baron by Sin. However, in trying to comfort her, he ended up discovering something else. Alistair Cress, Valcia’s landlord, remembered his mentor. He remembered the man who had taught Raulke--then Josiah--to be a Dark Knight. Of course...it was likely that Cress didn’t know THAT part...so he said nothing of that.

Remembering his bitter past, Raulke cried for the first time in a while. But that was not all. Cress remembered something else as well. Raulke and Cress’s own son knew each other. An old nickname the young Josiah used as a child for Cress came up, as well. Thus dazed from the realization of who Raulke really was, Cress went to make tea...and sit down! Raulke played songs for Valcia...and promised to help her find a place to plant her seeds....

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