What if..

[ShadowyZero]

the scions recognize the warrior an Alphinaud especially thought him dead after the Garuda incident. the warrior tells them they had drifted in unconsciousness for what seemed an eternity but that the voice of the mothercrystal had spoken out to him an implored him to not give in to defeat and to fight on he woke with in the shroud cared for by a chireogen they was told they was rescued by a young elf lass who a spied his body on a cliff side near the isgardian border an though them lost but on closer inspection she realized he was still breathing an carried him there to the shroud to fallgourd float they didnt get to thank her as she had left in a hurry but was glad for her timely intervention as they would be able to rescue them an fight the empire back.

but alas they were too slow to secure minfilia and she was move to the main castrum the empire didn't want to chance loosing a potential outlet to conquer the primal threat yda had noted that other forces were fighting the empire an suggests meeting them in person to learn what they're fighting for similarly yshtola states she enlisted the company of heroes and pirate lords to divert the empire but notes that she heard the empire had other skirmishes whcih ruined their assault upon the beast tribe lands so the scions agree their next course of action would to be to meet these fighters an ask for whom they fight and why.

meanwhile the alliance is issued a threat by gaius that he will retaliate against them for intervening in his agenda an take eorzea by force starting with thanalan the leaders are concerned but they are given a welcome surprise that the scions yet survive an their champion too this gives them the hope they needed an they begin making ready for war pledging to devote all forces to fight back.

in castrum praetoria minfilia is strung up and bound Nero is giddy with glee to get the chance to study this "echo" for himself but he is cut short by Gauis who enters the room telling minfilia her home will burn but he will give her the chance to appeal to them one last time but she states she would die instead then to give up another home to his ambition he states then he will have no other recourse that when the robed figure appears again stating maybe he can convince though his voice comes at a familiar tone to minfilia she is shocked and in fear then the figure removes the cowl an mask revealign none other than thancred he teases and taunts her telling her be a good puppet an do as she is bid she wrenches in terror an screams in pain.

the scions gain an audience with a leading free company who partook in the special operations the guild master and his trusty advisors approach they are honored the famed scions of the seventh dawn would seek to contact them an asked them to elaborate as too why they explain they were in dire straights with the empire until they appeared an wanted to know from whom they were ordered to march
the leader and advisors look to eachother silently for a moment then nod they tell of the plight of the city states and gaius' threat to annex all of eorzea for empire rule and dominion an were reminded of the brothers and sisters they had lost to the calamity which loosed the dread dragon king bahamut upon eorzea an that they were promised the highest honor an all the wealth the cities could spare for their aid.
the warrior asks then if they will continue their aid for the realm but they are hesitant to respond they state this goes against their code to interfere in national affairs an that the skirmish was already pushing it but the warrior is adament they keep pushing forward that they are needed now more than ever that they personally will lead the charge that all they need is a handful of their best an skilled the scions similarly state they will not sacrifice the adventurers again an intend to stand with them.
the leader smiles real big pleased to hear this an agrees under the condition this is set as a contract an expires the moment the empire is expelled from eorzean soil this would make their intervention non partisan and not affiliated to any one nation. an so a token force is assembled the scions then intend to reach out to they alliance an see if they can provide additional reinforcement and thus is the campaign underway to liberate eorzea