“Someone once told me that beyond our world lies one of pure imagination. A place where one's wildest dreams can grow into a reality. A place called Ivalice....”

Final Fantasy Tactics

Dreams Of A Nightmare

Darkness can be comforting at times. A place where one can be free from the troubles brought forth by the world. A sanctuary, my sanctuary. To be brutally honest the darkness is my only home, it has been for many years following the death of my parents that is.

I still remember the cry's of pain my mother let out as my blade gracefully traveled through her chest. Hers was the perfect shade of red upon my blade.

4 Years Ago

“You've been... Enlisted.”

My mothers words shattered the life I once lived in. I had been enlisted into the Noble mans army, under jurisdiction of the White Lion's Banner. I was to be ready when the sun was at it's highest.

“Clearly there has been a misunderstanding mother. Our war with the Corpse Brigade nears an end, does it not?”

My mother kept her eye's upon the white sheet, her eye's blank.

“it seems our assumptions were false. A tragedy has befallen our family tonight. One that we may not ever recover from. Prepare for your journey. I will inform your father..”

Tears trickled from her eye's as she quickly turned away from me, violently crashing upon the wood floor. Those would be the last tears to ever exit her body.

Sleep was the enemy that night as I lied awake in bed. The shine of the moon reflecting beautifully on the surface of the ocean beyond me. Next to me was a sword unlike any seen before. One infused with the power of Black Magicks. A Family heirloom passed down from ages ago. My father rumored that this blade was the cause of victory during Ivalices long struggle with the army of the undead. A battle that was unrecorded in history, a battle my great-grandfather played part in.

70 Years Ago

“Rayun to your left!”

I swiftly reversed my posture bringing my blade down across the earth. What once was a group of Undead now was ash as the flames from my blade engulfed them. That was the last of them. We had finally killed the undying, declaring victory. Tonight we would feast, tomorrow we would resume the battle against the hellish creatures spawned from the Black Magicks of Lord Othello.

A vile one he is. Once a respected member of the Council Of Lions, he turned his back to the world the moment the council failed to save his family from the flames of the great fire. A fire that had consumed all of Ivalice. For years Othello seemed to have vanished off the soil of earth, returning once we reconstructed Ivalice.

The scoundrel brought with him an army of undead, hoping to seize Ivalice under his name. The fool.

“Lord Rayun, word has come forth of Othello's where abouts.”

I took a sip of wine from my goblet. “Well. Out with it!”

The knight shook as if he had been awoken from a slumber. “Yes of course my lord. Lisentio of the 4th division has brought forth valuable information. He states the Othello was seen entering the Cave of the damned. We can be there by morning if we depart tonight.”

I took another sip placing the goblet on the table before me. “Are there any wounded?” I asked. I did not intend on traveling into the final battle with unfit Knights.

“No my lord.”

“Than we leave tonight.” I stood from the table as the knight went to inform the rest of my brigade.

I can only hope my men are ready for the experience ahead...

“My liege the Lions come closer to our gates as we speak”

Lord Othello hovered over the ground, eye's closed. The illusion of peace across his face.

“Leave me.”

“But my liege, the Lions,”

“Do not tell me what I already am aware of. It's become clear that the only way to accomplish anything is for me to do it myself, so I demand you leave me at once. I will take care of the Lions.”

“Yes my Lord.” The Undead Knight knelt before his Lord before leaving his chamber.

“..Rayun..So it has come to this has it? Let our final battle be a memorable one..”

Long ago I had left my brigade. Ordering them to to follow if I had not returned by sunrise.

A plan that no one had expected, especially due to the simple fact that I had ordered a full scale assault on the cave of the damned moments before informing the brigade of my new plan.

Othello was my problem from the start and he will remain to be for all time. I didn't wish to see him slain by one other than me. The cave now came into view. No guards... nothing that even seemed to be protective. The entrance was defenseless, for what reason I will never know. My journey within the cave was illuminated by hovering flames, no doubt the work of Othello. I walked until I finally arrived at a circular room. One bigger than the the forest outside the cave.

“Rayun.” Othello hovered in the middle of the circle, sword in hand. A mist of black materialized within his empty hand. I walked forwards moving closer to Othello, unsheathing my blade.

“By order of the Council Of Lions, I hereby take you under my custody. You will be returned to the Council for a hearing. The decision of life or death will be theirs.”

Othello chuckled turning to face me. “Rayun.. Ivalice is changing. You can see it clearly rotting beneath your feet. Why continue to leave it in it's state. The council in which we once served in is leading you blindly to oblivion. An oblivion I simply wish to prevent. Join me, help me rebuild Ivalice to it's former glory.”

Othello spoke lies.

“Raise your sword Othello. Let us have a final dual before the council does with you what they wish.”

“As you wish Rayun”

Chapter 1 Complete

"Well they lied. Ivalice is corrupt. The Council only cares for their interests. Ivalice is rotting.. This is tragedy at it's best”