Ringabel: "Yes. This asterisk...the job contained within controls the power of darkness directly. It taps into the wielder's life force to cause pain to others."
-he drops it back into the pack- "I was the right-hand soldier for the Grand Marshal of a land called Eternia. There...was a religious group, the Crystal Orthodoxy. They professed their love for the four magical crystals that uphold our world."
"The Grand Marshal branded them as heretics, and said they were to be...disposed of. And I...I was one of his swords."
"..."
-to Tifa- "I have changed my mind. Could you fill my glass once more, my dear? I need the encouragement."
Be kind.Ringabel: -takes a sip from the drink- "I followed his orders without question. I had no reason to think he was wrong. I traveled all throughout the snowy mountains of Eternia for a year, and I..."
"...I searched for their hideouts. Looked into the darkness of their caves and poured my life-force into the mouths."
"No one ever left those hideouts after I was done."
-he takes another large sip-
Be kind.Ringabel: "...and then the Grand Marshal ordered the vestal killed."
"The vestal...is a holy bride to a crystal. They offer prayers to it every day, in hopes that the crystal will continue to bestow upon the earth its bounty."
"We searched everywhere throughout the country for her, but to no avail."
"...I volunteered to search the Temple of Earth, which still held a small bastion of Orthodoxy members."
-he takes a large sip- "She was there. As were her acolytes."
"She was praying. As if nothing was wrong."
"I waited until she was done, and told her why I was there. She..."
"She offered her own life in exchange for her acolytes'. She said they would agree to stop worshiping the crystals if I just let them go..."
-Ringabel's voice trails off-
-and he finishes the glass he has in front of him-
Be kind.Ringabel: -to Tifa- "...a terrorist? I...I never would have guessed."
-to Starling, actually raises his voice a little- "You do not think I realize that now, Starling? I recalled all of this, at once, two days ago."
"..."
"My orders were to purge the Orthodoxy from the land. There was to be no mercy."
"...and those orders I followed."
Be kind.

-Ringabel remains silent for a minute or so, staring into the glass of water-
-he then reaches into his pack and opens it wide-
-he then grabs what looks to be the inside wall of the pack-
-and tugs open a secret compartment-
-out of this compartment he pulls a small stone with an asterisk on one side — it looks almost like a twenty-sided die — and places it on the bar-
-Even as drunk as she is, Starling's evildar should start pinging off the charts the second it comes out of the secret compartment-
Ringabel: "...this stone is my past. Rather, what it allows me to do. What I've done with it."
edited 28th Nov '15 5:49:23 PM by Chilifro
Be kind.