A Forgotten Armory

The hall was vast. Walls five stories tall, all of black brick, stood grayed and dulled by the passing of time. Swords, spears, shields, and armor laid tattered and rusted, strewn haphazardly across the floor.

Natural morning light beamed through a gaping hole in the wall and floor, an opening at least 20 meters wide. Peering through the hole, one could gaze down at the land of Falderühn far below, as it stretched all the way up to the gentle curve of the horizon.

Suddenly, a huge orb of wind, five meters wide, a sort of spherically contained typhoon, rocketed through the gap in the wall, smashing into the armory ceiling with a surprisingly subdued thud. The gray whirling orb clung to the ceiling for a moment, before unsticking and gently floating down to the granite floor.

The whirling wind gradually lost ferocity, slowing and slowing until the forms of four figures could be seen from within.

Yellow. Red. Green. Purple. It's the color palette that's unmistakable to the citizens of Falderühn. The guiding hope for all that is good — The Lucky Star Party.

"Oh man, I HATE traveling by air cannon!" As the wind completely dissipated, Inch shakily lurched forward, knocking down rusted suits of armor as she fell to her knees. "Should have taken a balloon when we had the chance!" The elf clutched her stomach and began to heave.

Aika, ever unfazed, reached down and held Inch's hair back as the elf hurled: "A balloon was no option, rogue. Too ****. We'd be dragon meal in an instant. Now… compose yourself."

"Yeah, yeah," grumbled Inch in response. As the rogue wiped her mouth clean, she seemed to notice a distinct empty feeling on her shoulders. She reached back to pat her shoulder, feeling for something that wasn't there. "Milo? Milo? Where is he? MILO!" Inch hollered across the empty hall, to no avail.

Meanwhile, Gabriel sat on a fallen suit of armor, tightening the straps across his tunic and boots. "The cat will survive." He remarked dryly. "Now gather 'round. Let's remind ourselves of our mission today."

Inch and Aika circled around Gabriel. Lumen, who had been kneeling quietly off to the side, finished her unspoken prayer before joining in.

Gabriel reached into his pockets and unfurled a hastily scribbled drawing of Overseer Fortress. He pointed to a spot near the bottom of the stronghold: "We're somewhere around here. This section of the fortress has been abandoned for decades. We should be safe from monsters for a small while. Now this—" Gabriel wound his finger up, up, up, to the very top of the fortress. "—is the throne room. The Overseer's domain."

Inch let out a pouty groan: "Aw man, all the way up there!? That's like, so far!"

Gabriel ignored Inch's fussing and continued: "This fortress is a labyrinth. There are traps. Monsters. Moving and shifting rooms. Keep vigilant."

Lumen, silent until now, reached her hands out to Gabriel and Inch and gently grasped their forearms: "Children…we will be safe in the shadows. The love of the Dark Form will envelop us. We must…believe."

Aika rolled her eyes at Lumen's spiritual reassurance, but Gabriel quickly stopped her before the samurai could retort: "You heard Lumen. We lie low. Traverse the fortress with caution. Take the Overseer by surprise. Surprise is our main advantage."