Player Plot: The Mysidian Tower!

[jadethenecromancer]

Who: Everyone who signed up for the plot!
What: Jade is taking a team to explore the Mysidian Tower before it'd swallowed by the Calamity.
When: February 8th-12th
Where: The Mysidian Tower on the Continent of Ruin.
Warning: Everything that can be expected of surprise monster encounters. Beyond that, whatever people bring with them.

The Enterprise brings everyone involved to the tower on the afternoon of February 8th. Thankfully the early floors have already been cleared by previous explorers, making the initial entry easy and relatively safe. Once the Heroes start reaching the upper floors, however... Who knows?

All threads will be linked here for easy access:
OOC info post
Ground Floor - Campsite
Friendly Monster
Floors 30-39
Floors 40-49
Floors 50-59
Floors 60-69
Floors 70-79
Floors 80-89
Floors 90-99
Floors 100-101 will be open at a later date.

Comments

Ground Floor - Campsite

[jadethenecromancer]

[The area has been cleared for Heroes to prepare themselves and rest up between floors. An elevator can be taken from here to the upper floors as more of them are activated.

Feel free to post your own threads here for mingling!

Jade Curtiss | Open

[jadethenecromancer]

[On the first day of the expedition, Jade is there to organize setting the camp and answer any questions the others might have. Following that, he visits the camp periodically to rest up like everyone else and listen to reports of what they've found so far.

He seems perfectly friendly to everyone, quite the contrast to what some of the other Heroes might have seen during their shared vision from the Sage -- even if in some cases, his smile is a little too unwavering to be completely real.]

Ground Floor - Campsite | Sephiroth and/or Spencer [Open]

[shinrasfinest]

[Strange to think, that on now two completely separate occasions, Sephiroth is spending his nights under canvass somewhere on the newly discovered continent. Even by the standards in Esdham, which might see a party away for a little more than a week at a time if they were scouting out in the Heran desert, it's starting to seem that he's spent more time in a sleeping bag than a real bed this past month.

Which is why, when he's not up on some floor of the Tower exploring, the majority of the time Sephiroth is between patrolling the campsite, checking in on any one number of the squads he brought with him for backup, taking some rations or -even for just five minutes- lying on his camp bed trying to get just a little shut-eye.

He just might be starting to look -just that little bit- exhausted. But at least Spencer happily takes on the responsibility of checking around the campsite when Sephiroth is resting; enthusiastic to be finally of some help.]

Ace | Open

[confidentia]

[ It can't be said that Ace makes a lot of effort to mingle with others throughout the course of the exploration, either too concentrated on the matters at hand or cautiously picking his talking companions to be those who he knows a bit better, especially in the evenings. Nevertheless, he will effortlessly answer others' calls if approached, which makes it seem like his lack of initiative has nothing to do with unfriendliness, or a bad mood.

In fact, emanating from him is a sense of peace that continues on regardless of the party's progress, something oddly unusual even for him, a person of a naturally quiet demeanor. And so, the boy can be found calmly reviewing his notes while snacking on something in between, or trying to make heads or tails out of messily drawn sketches of the Tower's floors as he searches for a connection between them. Perhaps understanding the layout better will allow them to locate the next passages more quickly....

Alternatively, he might be happening to be cutting a short nap in some unexpected spot.

With the dawn of the 12th of February comes a slight shift in his attitude, and for once he seems to be occasionally losing his focus, as if troubled. With a light frown twisting his features, he stares down at a page of his travel journal laid down in front of him, with a just single phrase inscribed on top of it so far:

( Aqu. XII ) ]

Ground Floor - Campsite | Tear and/or Sein ( ota )

[cantante]

[ Tear was doing what she could while at the camp, helping with set-up and distributing supplies as needed when she happened to run into others who might be looking to replenish, if she didn't happen to be carrying out Jade's orders. On rare occasions she could be found actually sitting down, though it was often with a journal in her hands, heavily penned with notes of their discoveries so far. On these occasions she would look up with a polite smile to anyone happening to look over her shoulder, but every once in a while she snaps it shut as soon as she realises someone else is there. She has more than one journal, you see.

As always her Moogle companion followed her dutifully when she was around, occasionally fussing over whether she had properly rested after a night of being away from the others longer than she should have. More than once she would brush off his worries, insisting she was all right or that she would take some time to sleep later. Sometimes the moogle would snatch passerby heroes in his quest to ensure she went through with that promise.

However, those who had been accosted by Sein might have noticed a particular sack that the pair would take turns carrying, soft chirping noises emitting from it. Every so often its source would be revealed when he would hand her a tiny red ball of feathers, instantly making the sometimes subdued girl smile. ]

Yuffie || Open

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie has always been one to pack lightly but this time she actually brought the right amount of food for a few days, not wanting to depend on finding something up the tower. There is a little bit more no nonsense about her demeanor lately though she is still sporting a wide smile.

Mooshoo is always at her side, currently silent as Yuffie goes about her own things.

She has her bag packed up and a sleep roll in case she needs it. She's used to camping and not having a lot on her so she's packed light. She has a canteen of water at her hip which she occasionally takes a sip out of. Once her things are in order she offers her help to those who might need it.

As time drags she finds ways to entertain herself which mostly consists of attempting to draw a map of the floor they are on or the floor they just left. It isn't perfect but she's drawn maps before and can scale them decently enough. If she's scowling it's because she's messed up.]

Sheena Fujibayashi | Open and Closed (to Albel)

[ninjainviolet]

Open:

[ After her literal run-in with Sephiroth, Sheena can be found scoping the area, checking out the perimeter. Not to mention checking to see where the others on this trip had decided to bed down.

Hey, sometimes you have to move quickly, and it's nice to know where the sleeping bodies are so you don't run over them.

And when she's done with that, she can be found back in her sleeping area, having a rather intense--though barely above a whisper--conversation with Corrine. There's a piece of paper being shoved back and forth between them as the Moogle tries to give it to the ninja, whose cheeks keep getting redder as he insists that she "do it", the paper disappearing whenever anyone comes by.

Closed to Albel:

Well, whether or not anyone finds out just what Corrine had been so insistent about, Sheena finally gives in to the little creature. For several reasons. Ironically, doing it so he'll leave her alone about it is the last reason.

The main reason, however, slows her steps as she comes upon her destination as the "what ifs" start weighing her down. She likes Albel, but she's not used to doing things like this; what if she screws it up? Corrine had made it seem like she can't mess up.

Yeah, thanks, Corrine. No pressure here.

Finding Albel, she clears her throat to alert him to her presence. "Uh... Hey, Albel. You got a minute?"

Okay. That's out of the way; asking him out for when they get back should be easy, right? She hopes.

Friendly Monster - Morning of the second day [Open]

[jadethenecromancer]

[There is nothing quite like waking up and finding a raptor resting its head on your knee.

Jade stares down at the feathered raptor, unimpressed. It’s obviously injured, but is that any reason for it to act like a sad puppy?]

[confidentia]

[ Logic commands him to stay away from what might be an elaborate trap, but his heart cannot suppress the desire for easing the pain of the poor creature. On the off-chance it really harbors absolutely no evil intentions towards humans, there is little reason to treat it with cruelty.

And it's not his own leg that's been trapped, so he might as well step a bit closer, shooting a puzzled glance in Jade's direction. ]

... What do you think?

Floors 30-39

[jadethenecromancer]

[There isn’t much on Floor 30 besides their first elevator, allowing the Heroes to return there at any time. When they manage to pry open the door to the stairs leading up to Floor 31, they’ll find what appears to have been a laboratory of some sort. The equipment around them resembles those found in Palitutu’s lab and the Heran Research Center.

Or rather, they did when they were still intact. Everything from computers to desks and containers have been torn down by someone… or something.]

[confidentia]

[ Well, there has to be a reason why the teams clearing the previous floors struggled with unlocking the others, that is assuming the explorers didn't perish within the confines of the tower. The more Ace looks around, the more the latter presents itself as a plausible possibility as the extent of the damage caused to the laboratory's interior causes him to pause in his steps.

Rather than focus on the equipment, his instinct tells him to first determine whether there are any particularly distinct marks or traces to be found, ones which could imply that monsters were somehow involved in what has ocurred. Surely, it can't have merely been a researcher's bad day at work. ]

Floors 40-49

[jadethenecromancer]

[Many rooms on these floors are blocked off by debris. Others are behind closed doors that have no handles, only words inscribed on them in the Ancient language. Should the Heroes attempt to find a way to open them, or simply pass them up and look for the stairs?]

[Closed Doors?]

[shinrasfinest]

[It's not like he's exploring alone, after all. Given not only the infantry he's brought with him to help them, but the fact there are for sure other Heroes exploring at the same time.

He'd picked out the odd word or so, of those Ancient characters, on the way passed other doors up until this point but once he starts to see them more often the penny drops. It's been a long time since he's used Scholar after all, that forgives him for not identifying it as Ancient the first time around...right?]

...wait.

[So the next handle-less door that comes along, finds Sephiroth taking a more facing-stance towards it and focuses on the words; just shy of reaching out to trace them with a gloved finger.]

Floors 50-59

[jadethenecromancer]

[Each floor is covered wall to wall by shelves. There are old texts scattered on the floor here and there, but most are still sitting on the shelves like they should. It appears the Heroes have found archives… Could there be more information on the tower here?]

[tacticallyminded]

[Robin's been dutifully helping explore this whole time. But... when she reaches this floor, she comes to a stop. She takes a good look at all of the books.]

[Softly, from the back of her throat:]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Floors 60-69

[jadethenecromancer]

[If the previous floors were used for research, these ones clearly used to have another purpose entirely.

Rows of containment units fill the rooms, holding within them things that bear a resemblance to robots. They are all mechanical, some of them gripping weapons – blades, staves, guns – while others seem to have weapons built directly onto their appendages. Some are outside of their containment units, lying still on the floor. Most are roughly human-sized, but the further up the Heroes go, the larger the mechanical monstrosities get.

Thankfully, they’re all inactive, and in any case their mechanisms must be immensely old. It should be safe to proceed… shouldn’t it?]

[they_call_me_sonic]

Sonic let out a whistle as he saw the various robots as they climbed higher. "Man, look at all of this. If I didn't know better, I'd say we'd discovered one of Eggman's fortressses!"

Floors 70-79

[jadethenecromancer]

[Floor 70 shows the first signs of some normalcy. There are couches, tables, and an occasional bookshelf, arranged to leave as much space in between as possible. One wall is lined with old computers, none of which show any life. Everything is permeated with a smell of age and dust.

There appear to be three exits from the room. All the doors are ajar.]

Re: Floors 70-79

[not_most_days]

[Kidd is nothing if not cautious. While the tower has been abandoned up to this point there is something about this place that's unsettling even with the dust. Quiet as she can equipped as a mage instead of as an Assassin she falls on her old lessons.

Signaling caution to the rest of the group she moves along the wall towards one of the open doors. Crouching and softly rolling from heel to toe, she can still move stealthily enough when she wants. Reaching the door she peeks through to see if there's anything lurking on the other side.]

Floors 80-89

[jadethenecromancer]

[Here the Heroes find another laboratory, though unlike the one on the lower floors, this one is mostly intact. Ancient devices clutter the tables and work benches; some are incomprehensible as to what they might have been used for, while others may look strangely familiar.

There are doors in the back of the laboratory, seemingly firmly shut.]

Floors 80-89

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie hates places like this and seeing it intact is worse. She feels her shoulders tense as she steps inside. Large dark eyes flicking around the room nervously as she looks towards the door.]

They really don't want to make this easy... huh.

[She inspects the door to see if she can take it apart but she isn't opposed to a second opinion.]

Floors 90-99

[jadethenecromancer]

[The first thing the Heroes will notice on Floor 90 is that the top of the tower doesn’t seem to have been completely finished. There are pieces of the walls missing, revealing pipes and wires traveling down the tower, and pieces of rusted scaffolding lying on the floor in a broken mess. Thanks to the lack of interior walls, the stairs to the next floor are easily visible from the entrance.

Though, the stairs… don’t look very sturdy. This doesn’t seem safe.]

[shinrasfinest]

[It's towards the end of the expedition that the Heroes have found their way up this far but as soon as Sephiroth heard they'd reached this floor he made for the next elevator up there. In all honesty, his notes and diagrams compiled from the other floors near enough filled a notebook already but it's not in his nature to back out of something when it's not completed. No matter how much he's tired of considering this, that, or the other laboratory so far.

A squad of rested soldiers accompany him, just for back up.

This floor just doesn't seem...finished. Like whatever had happened to lock this place away from the world had interrupted whoever had been here from closing off this floor from the elements. It's much colder up here as a result, and the wind howls a little through the unfinished sections of the wall.

But why would there be a set of stairs going up, already?]

And so it ends.

[Sephiroth eyes the stairwell quite often as he surveys the rest of Floor 90. Hoping that others in the party aren't so gung-ho as to go and try them so recklessly. At the very least they should try to stabilize them before attempting to climb higher.]

Floors 100-101

[jadethenecromancer]

[At last, after several days of grueling climbing, the Heroes make it to the 100th floor.

The first bit of good news is, there is an inactive elevator waiting for them, allowing anyone who wasn't present for the final stretch to catch up without having to go through the precarious, half-finished upper floors. Reactivating the elevator won't be difficult either, because -- unlike the previous floors -- this floor already has the power turned on.

The floor consists of only a single large room. There is a generator in the middle, gently humming with power, surrounded by several computers. A closer look at the computers will show all of them are still very much active.

Finally, in the back of the room, there is the last set of stairs leading up to Floor 101.]

Well, well... Wasn't that fun. [Jade looks from face to face, silently doing a headcount.] Looks like nobody died on the way. Good work, everyone.

Re: Floors 100-101

[they_call_me_sonic]

Heh, what can we say? We die hard! Or at least, I do!

[Sonic takes a glance around the room.]

Man, so many computers. Is this the brain of the operation, then?