A port city where everyone is always busy. A huge hustle and bustle is always found, and people of all races and creeds find themselves bumping into each other on a day by day basis. One of the most populated cities in Ivalice. There is an airship that passes between it and Rabanastre.

Life in a strange world was tough to adjust to, especially for Kupek. The moogles of Ivalice looked nothing like him or the other moogles back at his home in the caves of Narshe. As such, people kept thinking that he was weird-looking for a moogle. He got used to it after about a week, but it still felt weird to him.

Eventually, Kupek got a job as a bartender at the Grazton pub. It took some time to learn the ins and outs of such a job, but by this time, he became quite good at mixing drinks. He still needed help with ejecting troublemakers, though, largely due to his size. In addition, Kupek found that while working, he receives plenty of information that others could find to be useful. It proved to be one of the more interesting tidbits of his new job.

At the moment, the pub was rather busy, and Kupek was doing his best to keep up with serving drinks to the various customers. He had managed to keep it up so far, but at the same time, he hoped that things would slow down soon, as he was getting a little tired after a while.

If there was one thing Balthier missed from his own Ivalice – his viera friend appart – that thing was certainly the Strahl. How can a leading man actually step up to his role with his wings cut? "A Sky Pirate without a sky, just imagine it!" he though. He missed being his own captain and not depending on others to move freely through Ivalice, though he certainly did not miss all the trouble he had hiding the airship at times.

It was with that feeling of lost freedom that Balthier entered Grazton's pub at around sunset, the heels of his boots making the wooden floor creak loudly at each step, after spending a day roaming the town for info on a possible new target. Needless to say, a no-number of rumors popped up in the obscure alleys of the city – in fact, Grazton reminded him of Rabanastre in that sense, but it thankfully didn't sport all that annoying heat and sand – but he was experienced enough as a Sky Pirate (though a wingless one at the moment) to know half were hoaxes and the other half not worth the trouble.

"Good night, sir," he said to the moogle bartender as he sat down at the last remaining empty table. "Busy as always, I see. I hope you can find time to bring me to eat and drink. Today was no easy day, I assure you. Why must all shady characters in town always come up with hoaxes and false information? Is there no honor among them?"

As tired as he was getting, Kupek kept himself going. He was eagerly awaiting a break, but that was still some time off. Soon enough, though, a man who had just sat down at a table had called to him. The moogle made his way over, notepad in hand in case he needed to take an order, then heard what the man had to say. It was hard to disagree with what was said about the town's shady people, Kupek figured.

"Tell me about it, kupo," said Kupek. "I hear so many things on the job that it's become rather difficult to tell what's true and what isn't. But anyway, what would you like tonight?"

"Oh, so you do hear things here in your cozy little establishment, do you?" Balthier said, growing quite interested in the moogle's remark about the rumors in his bar. "Splendid! Then perhaps you can help me," the sky pirate went on, fixing his hair with his right hand. Unlike those unreliable brokers and information sellers he met in town, the moogle looked like he could be trusted – if he was willing to provide information to a Sky Pirate at all.

The Archadian stopped for a while, deciding on the best way to approach the moogle without scaring a possibly good source of information away. Balthier knew how to deal with moogles – his mechanichs back in the old Ivalice were moogles after all – but this one seemed rather... unique in some sense. "You see," he went on finally, "My name is Balthier and I am what you could call a 'Recollector of Valuable Contraptions and Goods'. I am looking for a new job at this time and perhaps your good ears have, by chance, heard of some commodity that could use some... rescue."

That was a good way to approach his furry little friend on this matter: he wasn't really lying to the moogle while putting it on less... crude terms than simply mentioning burglary and theft. "Oh, and please, do bring me some wine, would you? A man that doesn't drink after a day of hard work doesn't really know true happiness, does he?"

[Seirait -> From Windtrace Dunes]

Seirait arrived outside Grazton at the twilight hour, his haste spell having worn off after awhile. He stood there in the fading light watching the changing of the guard. More than likely Selferas won't enter the city. Not if he thinks Sephiroth might have alerted the guards.

"The next question is how do I find him? Or how can I make it so he finds me...." he muttered. He looked around him for a place to rest and wait. Finding it in a rock formation jutting from the ground, he climbed to the plateau of rock about two thirds of the way up, giving him an excellent view of the surrounding area.

"Only a start." He sat down with his back against the rock face and leaned the Ice brand vertically beside him. "But how to lead him here..." he continued. "He's lusting after blood, that much is clear. And there must be a reason he went after me first...." The answer was obvious.

He quickly pulled up his left sleeve and pulled out his Dancing Wolf. Quickly he opened a cut on his wrist, smearing his blade with his own blood. Dipping a finger in the pooling blood, he smeared a touch on the rock surfaces around him. When he was finished he pressed two fingers on the shallow cut to staunch the bleeding.

"This should bring him close." he said with a triumphant tone, eyes watching for the appearance of Selferas.

Seirait was engulfed in mist as a small black form darted by, and then he noticed the blood being absorbed into that mist, before sitting on the rock was Selferas. "Next time. Forearm. You could have bled out you fool." He shook his head. "That went about as well as me seducing Queen Cow would." He chuckled. "So. We need to break into Imperial Hall, get your stuff, and..." He stood up, sniffing. "If I am not mistaken..."

He openly licked his lips. "Come on, I'll be vampirizing you soon anyway. Of everyone I've known, you are worthy of being among Ajora's chosen. There's a White Mage nearby."

Seirait merely nodded at the suggestion of vampirization. Whatever it takes... was all he thought of it. If anything was going to happen they needed to be in sync.

"Dont worry about Imperial Hall. Theres nothing of mine there."

"Well then. I think it's time we gave this world the little nudge it needs. I've been here a month. This place disgusts me already. No morality beyond that imposed by 'Judges'. This world needs the Light of God." Selferas closed his eyes. "And as the only member of the Glabados church here... It is my duty to bring it."

"Then I stand at your side. All I have left to me is my training, nothing else. I'm a mercenary and it seems that is all I will ever be. You shall have both my blade and my magic. As for the contract...we've already established that. Backstab me and we'll see what a life spell does to you..." Seirait answered with a smirk.

"Betray me, and We'll see what happens when I force feed you a Barrel of potion." Selferas chuckled. "Now then. We need to figure out a base of operations. This land is similar to my homeland in several regards. I find familiar terrain features. The desert, for instance, was nearly identical to the one of my homeland."

Selferas frowned. "We will need to cross it again. On the other side, I pray, is a Mountain range. Within those mountains, if they exist, shall be a set of caverns. My Family had them excavated. In there natural state there were very precious, and very rare ores. And enough Sturdy rock, that if we can pay the team to do it, We could build a grand cathedral to the Light of Glabados."

"If we need a base of operations then perhaps we should start our own clan. That would provide us with easy access to money through marks and would be a focal point for gathering others to us." Seirait mused. "The only problem would be the financial situation. The construction of such a citadel would require a large sum of money. Besides that, we would need the approval of Queen Brahne."

"If what I fear is true, then you have been branded a traitor, possibly even a mark. The Judgemaster seems to think you're a monster anyway so the latter is likely," he continued. "I find it unlikely that I would be branded as such; I merely stepped in to prevent bloodshed. So if we follow the route of the creation of a clan it would seem that I would be, for all legal purposes, the leader as I would have to make the appeal. And perhaps we would not need financial gain at all. The queen may give us all the aid we need..."

"I've come up with a plan. We'll need to use our remaining time in Grazton wisely. For the first part, we should hold off on making our desert voyage."

Selferas inhaled with a chuckle. "And we need to find me a large black cloak."

"FOR YOU SEE, THIS IS AN OLD TRICK TO RELIEVE THE CORRUPT OF THERE ILL GOTTEN GAINS. IF I MAKE THEM BELIEVE THAT I AM THE INCARNATION OF DEATH, NOBLES CAVE WITH AMAZING EASE."

"Then I suppose that shall fall to me. Thankfully, I still have a touch of money from my time before this ill-fated journey with Seraph. It should be enough to aquire said cloak." With that Seirait stood up, jumped off the rocks, and raced towards Grazton before the shops closed.

He arrived at one of the traveller's gear shops mere minutes before it closed. He quickly grabbed one of the longer black traveller's cloaks and threw it around himself. It dragged about a foot and a half of material on the ground and wrapped around him nearly twice. That should be good enough for him.

Placing it on the counter, the hume running the store told him it would be 278 gil. Seirait placed the last of his gil on the counter, just barely enough to cover it. He took the cloak and headed back out.

As he went back to the exit where he came in at he passed by the announcement board. As he glanced at it he found a bill for the capture/death of Selferas. Sneering, he ripped the bill off the board and shoved it it his coat pocket. His thoughts had been confirmed. They were hunting Selferas.

Selferas ghosted along the town, looking for a proper mark, finally picking one, a suitably rich merchant. Noting the Location of there home, Selferas took to his bat form, and flew back to the place he would meet Seirait.

To believe I am reduced to thievery. But I must keep in mind, a Holy Cause is holy, no matter it's means. I know this all to well. Else I would have slain myself, were that not reality.

Seirait returned to the rocks, cloak in hand. He quickly climbed up and laid the cloak on the ground. Pulling out the bill for Selferas he quickly read it.

'Traitor Blood
Petitioner: Judgemaster Sephiroth
Description: A vampire had been hiding among the good folk of Clan Seraph. Once exposed, he fled the wrath of the Judgemaster in a futile attempt to escape retribution for his crimes. Now he lurks in the shadows, watching for an opportunity to further his malicious designs.
Location: Unknown
Information: The vampire's name is Selferas Seru. He should be easy to spot, as he is 6'6" tall and broad-shouldered, with dead white skin, crimson eyes and long black hair. He is given to wearing black armour, and carries multiple swords.
Reward: 2000 gil if dead; 5000 gil and Winged Boots if broguht in alive.'

Expecting Selferas to be nearby he said aloud "It's as i expected you're a mark. Which means I shall be going in to apply for our own clan hall. I believe you have your target now?"

Selferas scoffed. "So frail a fool." He shook his head. "I am protected by the Goddess herself. How can any man hope to judge one such as I? I am beloved by the Goddess Ultema..."

"It matters little for what can come of it regarding who might come to take your head. Besides they would have to take you dead. How could they take you alive?" Seirait asked, a glimmer or humor on his grim face. "What truly matters is the social implications. You are no longer a free man in public.

"Here," he said pointing at the cloak. "Go ahead and take care of your mark." He sighed. "Shame I wont get to watch the event.

Inside of his nice home, a merchant had just made his way into bed. He had a particularly good day today; he sold more stuff than even he expected, and he met a nice lady who agreed to go on a date with him the next day. As he began to drift off, he thought that nothing could ruin what a wonderful day this had been for him...

---

Kupek nodded upon hearing Balthier introduce himself. He felt he had a bit of an idea of what a "Recollector of Valuable Contraptions and Goods" could be; after all, back in Narshe, he had to help a man who called himself a "Treasure Hunter" keep some guards away from a green-haired lady. The moogle didn't bother questioning that, though, and just responded to the man's questions.

"I haven't heard about anything that could use some 'rescue' at the moment," said Kupek, "but if I hear anything, I'll let you know, kupo. In the meantime, one glass of wine coming up!"

With that, Kupek turned and made his way over to where the wine was kept. After pouring a glass of wine for Balthier, he brought it over to him.

"Here you go, kupo," he said.

"I shall return several Pounds Argentum more wealthy."

And with that, Selferas donned the cloak, and began to glide down the street.

---

There was a rapping upon that merchants door, a gentle rapping, a subtle tapping...

Standing there, his Form obscured, Selferas waited. His body giving up just a small amount of it's mass, to take a subtle Misty form beneath the cloak.

"MORTAL... DO NOT MAKE ME WAIT."

Seirait looked out as Selferas went on his way. In truth he had nothing to do. He started pacing along the rock, tapping his Dancing Wolf on his shoulder. After what seemed like an eternity he gave up. He jumped down and walked off towards the city.

With the information they had just obtained it would be prudent to see what else he could obtain. And he knew where the source was. As he walked the streets he found himself along the same paths that brought him to Grazton in the first place.

Finding himself at Imperial Hall he climbed one of the pillars that spotted the fence and sat down to watch events unfold inside. If he could not help aquire finances then he could at least get information. After all, information brought gil as well.

The merchant's eyes snapped open when he heard some knocking on his door. He thought that his day was over. Who would be coming to his door this late? He really hoped that this wasn't going to result in bad news; this day had gone so well for him, and he'd hate to have a perfect day ruined. Still, he couldn't just ignore this, so he got up, put on a robe, and made his way downstairs.

Upon reaching the ground floor, the merchant made his way to the front door, albeit slowly. He was becoming increasingly nervous about the possibility that this could somehow ruin the whole day. But after quietly saying to himself that his luck can't possibly make such a bad turn so quickly, he stepped up to the door and opened it, hoping to see or hear something good.

The mist slowly rolled upto the door frame, and the black cloak was there, suspended in nothing but the white mist. "MORTAL... I AM DEATH, AND I HAVE COME TO PRONOUNCE JUDGEMENT UPON YOU FOR THE SIN OF ARAVICE. FOR YOUR GREED, AND MISERING WAYS, I SHALL TAKE YOUR LIFE, LEST YOU REPENT, AND PROVE A COMMITMENT TO SUCH."

Selferas kept his voice emotionless, but this idea was amusing on a primordial level to him.

The merchant was scared stiff upon seeing the cloak seemingly suspended by nothing but mist. As if that wasn't enough, though, the creepy voice that seemed to emanate from that mist threatening his life was enough to make him really afraid. He now not only considered this perfect day ruined, but he also had a grave feeling that this could be his last. The merchant didn't want to die, though. Not when he had a date to look forward to tomorrow!

"Oh please, spare my life!" the merchant whined, getting down on his hands and knees. "I'll do anything... Anything!"

"INVITE ME INSIDE, AND WE SHALL DISCUSS AT LENGTH HOW YOU CAN MAKE THIS WORLD A FAR BETTER PLACE." Selferas hovered gently outside the doorframe. He knew all to well that this was absurd, but this merchant seemed to believe in the afterlife...

Could he save his soul?

Dwelling upon it, Selferas noted the Templar within him flaring to life, and suddenly, this wasn't about Power, or Revenge. It was about Ajora once more.

"I SHALL TAKE MY CORPOREAL FORM ONCE YOU INVITE ME INSIDE. I HAVE MADE IT CLEAR WHO I AM, AND I THINK YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR COMPOSURE BETTER WHEN DEALING WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN DEATH HIMSELF."

"Yes, yes, please come in," the merchant said, fear still evident in his voice.

The merchant couldn't believe that he was letting someone - or something - like this into his house, but he was really fearing for his life at this time, so he felt he had no choice. He just hoped that once this ordeal was done, he wouldn't be dead.

The Mist flowed through the door, and then standing before the merchant, as the cloak hung itself on a coatrack nearby, was a paleskinned figure in black armour, Crimson eyes noting him critically, the Red tabard displaying the emblem of the Glabados Church. "Good Evening." His smile showed his elongated canines. "I am known by many names, but I feel the easiest one for you to use is" Forgive me Ajora. "Elmdore."

The merchant could only watch as the mist formed into the shape of a rather intimidating individual wearing black armour. He hadn't even noticed where the cloak went; he was still scared stiff by the presence of this... being that introduced himself as "Elmdore." The merchant looked up at the being's crimson eyes, and that made him even more terrified.

"W-W-What do you want from me?" he asked.

"My friend, there is soon to be... A Great Cathedral built, a monument, to the power of Ajora... I wish for you to support it. I wish for you to live a long, prosperous life, but to give to good causes, and try to give back to the community in which you live. I want you to try and do Good in the world." Selferas looked the man calmly in the eye. "And I want you to confess anything that weighs down on your soul, to me. So that I may absolve you."

"R-Really?" the merchant uttered.

Under normal circumstances, he would scoff at the idea of giving any of his hard-earned money to other causes. But this wasn't a normal circumstance. His life was threatened by... whatever this being was, and he'd do anything to avoid ending up six feet under.

"I-I'll support it," he said, the fear still in his voice.

He moved forward, unclipping his gauntlet, and removing it. "For all you fear death, may I ask, have you spent your life in pursuit of anything more than temporal wealth? While you prosper in the flesh, does your soul feel the same? My child, you have the chance to confess the sins that burden your soul, so that it is not fear you feel when you face death, but resolve, that you are saved." He laid his hand on the mans shoulder. "Tell me the things you regret doing, my child." His eyes locked with the merchants, peering into them, a gaze meant to calm the man before him.

Synopsis: Selferas coerced the merchant into supplying the needed capital to build a cathedral. Upon returning Seirait approached Queen Brahne with the intent to create a new clan. In lieu of having most of the necessary facilities for a clan, Queen Brahne offered an outpost near Cursa for the clan to use as a base of operations as a reward for taking care of the monster infestation within as well as the accreditation of Clan Lux. They now find themselves at the outpost ready to delve into its depths.

[Squall from Balfonheim]

As Squall stepped off the airship into the busy byways of Graszton's ports he felt himself immediately overwhelmed by people. So many people moved back and forward paying no attention to other people or their own pockets. This was the kind of town where a thief could make a really decent living at a pretty low risk. Good thing I don't have anything in my pockets to watch out for. Squall sighed aloud as he thought and pushed his way through the crowd.

"You should probably ask a guard or something where it is we are going," Squall said kind of quietly to Luke, "They'd probably be happy to give you a point in the right direction."

I'd rather not risk someone recognizing me. Squall sighed again.

Luke came off right after Squall. He did not draw the same conclusions about the crowd Squall did; his mind was not on their surroundings at all. All during the trip the refrain of his nightmares was growing louder. Veni, veni, venias ... Now that he was here, the call was not only unbearably strong, but there was a new urgency. Luke was not sure, but he almost thought that Sephiroth was in distress.

So caught up in this inner world was he that he nearly missed Squall's words. "What ? -- oh." He started to say that he knew the direction. But then it occurred to him that he could not cut straight through all the intervening buildings. "Yes. I suppose that would be helpful."

He reached out, halting a random passersby with a gloved hand on the shoulder. The Bangaa turned around, about to give the rude Newfolk a piece of his mind, adn found himself staring itno glowing eyes.

"... Hrrk?"

"We need to know the way to Imperial Hall."

The reptilian head jerked towards the nroth. "Jes' foller this road to the town square," he said in his gravelly voice. "There'll be two streets headin' east; take either o' them, and ye'll see the Hall. it takes up the whole block."

"Thanks." Luke let him go. The directions corresponding to the pull in his bones. He headed off. "Come on." He did not btoher to check if Squall were really following; he didn't care at this point.

"Someone seems grateful," Squall remarked with reserve as he pressed passed the Bangaa with a small wave. This guy hasn't been here long to just address a Bangaa like that. He is lucky the beast didn't retaliate unkindly. Squall rushed his pace to a brisk jog, unconsciously holding Lionheart at the ready as he moved. He could feel something stirring inside of him too. This was a feeling Squall recognized from his own world, or more correctly Ultimecia's world. A tensity in his whole body that shared ever similarity with time compression as he drew closer.

I'm starting to feel uneasy about this whole thing but... Squall gripped Lionheart tightly and forced his pace up to a full run. His eyes narrowed on the clan hall as he came to the end of the Bangaa's directions a melody of moments later. A small grin flashed quickly as Squall recognized another familiar feeling, but it quickly faded as he addressed Luke without looking, "You first?"

Buy me some time to collect my thoughts, at the least.

Luke marched forward, looking neither to the right or the left. He was actually tempted to just go in a direct line to Imperial Hall -- how he was supposed to do that he had no idea, but he felt he could. But he didn't, instead following the bangaa's directions.

Soon -- thoguh not soon enoguh for Luke -- they were at the grilled iron gate that pierced the outer wall of the building. "Certainly," he replied to Squall. Fortunately the gate was not locked; actually it did not seem to have been shut properly by the last person to have used it. Unconcerned by this, Luke pushed through into the courtyard.

There was, however, something that did concern him. [i}Aestuans interius ira vehemente[/i] -- he could feel Sephiroth inside, and the man was very angry.

[Luke and presumably Squall -> Imperial Hall.]

Hope stepped into the pub at Grazton, not really sure what he was doing.

Well, I mean, I guess they said I could follow a Mark on my own, as long as I didn't poach it from someone else, but... A vampire? Probably not so much a good idea... But I should still try.

He had seen the bill posted around the town, but he wasn't sure how strong a "vampire" was. And he had loaded up on Holy Water - just in case, of course - and knew what spells he could cast to do optimum damage to a vampire... But now, the problem became finding him.

And people say pubs are good places to find information...

Hope sat down at the bar, seemingly somewhat out of place and uncomfortable. There was what he had learned of as a "Moogle" behind the bar - and though he looked different than the other moogles he had seen so far, Hope didn't know enough to know why, or how that was important.

"So, uh... I heard that this was a good place to find information... Uh, is it? I'm looking for someone, and I was hoping you could help me out." There were a few more stumbled sentences left in Hope's brain, but he let them sit - he had said enough for now.

It had been some time since the conversation with Balthier, and since then, things had gotten a little less hectic for Kupek. He was still kept busy with mixing and serving drinks, but he didn't have to work as quickly as he did earlier. Soon enough, though, he noticed someone who looked a bit too young to be in a place like this approach the bar. Kupek was going to question what someone like him was doing here, but he was then asked if he could help with finding someone. As soon as he served the drink that he was mixing at the time, the moogle made his way over to respond.

"Yeah, I tend to hear a lot of things here," said Kupek. "Who is it that you're looking for, kupo?"

"Ah, just, uh, just one second." Hope dug around in the pockets of his shorts for a moment for pulling out a slightly crumpled bill - he cleared his throat before reading it off in a somewhat bored, mechanical voice.

"Selferas Seru. He is 6'6", broad shouldered, with dead white skin, crimson eyes, and long black hair." He paused for a moment before adding, "If you haven't seen him, it's okay, I just didn't know where else to look..."

I don't even know what I'm going to do when I find him, but... Well, I'll figure it out.

Kupek thought for a moment after hearing that description. Any time a bill is posted in the area, he overhears people talking about it. As such, he had heard about the one posted for someone named Selferas. He had also heard a few other things about that particular Mark, which made him wonder why this boy was looking for him.

"I'm afraid I haven't seen him," Kupek responded. "I did hear that some merchant received a visit from him at night, though, if that's worth anything, kupo. Why are you looking for him, anyway? Are you with a clan?"