Rukia Kuchiki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
damn_juicebox) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2016-01-04 11:18 am
damn_juicebox) wrote in melodiesoflife2016-01-04 11:18 am
Entry tags:
Rukia's Excellent Mysidian Adventure
WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN!
WHAT: After the New Year's Eve party, Rukia disembarks in the city of Mysidia, as she has some work to do here while waiting for the Sage to invite them back for a second audience.
WHEN: January 1st - Checking into her room / January 2nd-4th - Meditating in the Hall of Prayers / January 5th - Testing her zanpakutou's powers on the Plains of Sorrow / January 6th - Venturing to the Temple of Heroes to find a raptor, or a dragon. She's not picky.
WHERE: The Continent of Ruin
NOTE: Anyone accompanying her on her DinoQuest will also encounter a Feathered Raptor, so if you're eligible for bonus experience, come get some.
January 1st
After saying her farewells to those who intended to return to Aqures Ixen, Rukia led her chocobo down the gangplank, a backpack stuffed with her belongings slung over her shoulders. She really wished she could have brought the giant rabbit plushie along with her, but she had too much equipment for her to cart the big fluffy thing around. What a pity. At least she still had the rabbit-shaped earmuffs that Yuri got her. Those were absolutely staying. Besides, they kept her ears warm. The Mysidians could be jealous of their cuteness.
It was very late when she arrived at the inn, but given the holiday, there were still many people still wide awake and celebrating, so it wasn't difficult for her to secure a room for herself and anyone else who saw fit to travel with her. She didn't mind sharing her room either, if it came to that, as it was economically practical. Her roommate in Aqures Ixen was a man, and she'd had no problems with him thus far.
But while it was only just an hour past midnight in Mysidia, Rukia had been awake for much longer on the Enterprise. Once Yuki was properly stabled, she was more than ready to change out of her party dress and into her pajamas to crawl under the covers. With little more than a weary good night, and a sincere expression of gratitude to her travel companion (if any), Rukia rolled onto her back, and folded her arms behind her head. She thought she would fall asleep immediately, but her head was still full of thoughts and plans for what she would do while she was here. Doubtless she would need to prepare another military report for her superiors in Esdham. There was much to accomplish until the audience with the Sage as well. Boredom was the least of her concerns.
And what of the Calamity? When would it begin to move? Where should she be when that started to happen? She lay in the darkness, quiet and thoughtful for many minutes. "...Are you awake?" she ventured in half a whisper, just in case the other person had drifted off to sleep.
January 2nd - 4th
The last time Rukia had gone to the Hall of Prayers, she'd spent many hours trying to make contact with the Eidolon known as Hades. The dealings with the Reaper still haunted her...albeit in a metaphorical sense...and left her filled with questions. By now she had a better idea of what Narayana was, but not how he'd fallen under the curse in the first place. For something that powerful to become twisted and turned against the planet did not sit well with her. In November, she'd tried the meditations that the other summoners had urged her to try, though they'd warned that it would take her a long time to become proficient in such a thing. After the week was up, she still hadn't been able to do it.
This time, she was determined to make it work. Hades wasn't a shinigami in the same way that she was, she knew. It was possible that he served as a literal reaper of souls, but she didn't know enough about this planet's afterlife to know for sure. Still, she hoped that they maintained that shared connection. Now that she had undertaken the Beastmaster job, he could be called as one of her companions. Perhaps this time, with that particular job equipped, she might garner a little more success.
And so it was in the next three days that Rukia was the most boring travel companion ever. She would eat a large breakfast to give her all the energy and stamina she would need to remain still and pensive for several hours, then return at night for a late supper and a little conversation before turning in for bed, and repeating the process each day. She found it hard to focus during these mealtimes, as if she were unaccustomed to carrying on a normal conversation. A little persistence might bring her out of her daze, but for the most part, she was fairly distant.
If she could at least speak with him, even for a little bit...
January 5th
Tomorrow, Rukia would seek out her second monster companion. She would be going up against some extremely powerful creatures in that area, so it was essential to make sure that her best weapon, her zanpakutou, was still synchronized with its user. Honestly she'd wanted to keep the Santa Claus job equipped a little longer, but until she had her monster companion, she would have been relatively weak on the battlefield. So she took up the Red Mage job with the aim of finishing it off in the next couple of months. She didn't know what the next month would bring, and as the Red Mage offered the most versatility, it would allow her to adapt to whatever the new year threw at her.
Though she wore both jobs, she opted for the garb of the Beastmaster, as the thick furs and tough leather armor provided the best protection against the solemn winter of the Continent of Ruin. She stood on the vast stretch of barren plains, the wind in her hair and ruffling the fur collar of hood, which she left down. Rather than the rapier or the whip, Rukia loosened a katana at her hip, sliding it free from its sheath. The weight of the blade was familiar in her hand, and she felt a faint tickle at her senses. Good... Being made mortal had not severed the connection she shared with her weapon.
Rukia closed her eyes, and held the sword out in front of her, before slowly allowing it to spin in her agile fingers.
"Dance," she spoke a single command, "Sode no Shirayuki!"
Her sword's name meant 'Sleeves of the White Snow' and what an accurate name it was. Her zanpakutou had been described as one of the most beautiful in all of Soul Society, and as her weapon awakened from its long slumber, it was clear to see why. From blade to guard, the katana was a pure, pristine white. A long ribbon unfurled from the base of the katana, curling into a wide arc as her sword spun.
Rukia spread her feet apart as she changed her stance. The familiar tingling chill of the sword's ice affinity did not cause her any discomfort. It was cool and pleasant. Refreshing. It was as if the cold purified her soul of doubt and fear, anxiety and weakness. Her steps were elegant, for she and the blade were one entity. The snow that swirled on the windswept plains circled her, dusting the tips of her dark hair, and lighting on her lashes.
The tip of the katana dipped four times into the earth, leaving a soft glow. Shards of ice began to flow upward into the air.
"Tsugi no mai... Hakuren."
The flowing shards were swept up into a hailstorm of cold air. There was no creature for the attack to flash freeze, but Rukia relaxed, pleased that her blade could still dance, and that Rukia remembered the steps. She would be able to fight tomorrow when they traveled to the Temple of Heroes, and she was satisfied.
January 6th
She supposed she could have settled for one of the more common monsters encountered on the Continent of Balance, but she had a desire to be strong, and capable. As a Beastmaster, she would rely more on the strength of her companions than her own combat abilities, so that meant finding a powerful ally. Thus, she had her heart set on one of four special creatures. Narrowing it down had been obscenely difficult. If she had more time, and if she were less reluctant to expose her other companions to danger, then she might have suggested they hunt for a dragon or a tyrannosaurus rex. Riding on either of these would have made her a formidable warrior on any battlefield. She would have taken a zombie dragon as well, but given that she had access to Hades, having an additional death monster would have been somewhat redundant.
So she would settle for the smaller velociraptor. ...Unless a tyrannosaurus rex came along and they had no choice but to fight and defeat it, of course. She wouldn't seek it out intentionally, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity if it came to her.
What was even better was the fact that velociraptors could be found near the Temple of Heroes. Rukia didn't have her Scholar job advanced enough that she could read the language of the Ancients, but she knew some who could, and her expedition could double as exploration as well. Maybe they'd find some answers about their past while indulging Rukia's need to have a dinosaur friend in her life.
"Watch your step," she warned, her gloved hand clutching a cluster of half-frozen vines as she made her way down the steep, craggy drop that led further into the valley of Ancient Ruins.
WHAT: After the New Year's Eve party, Rukia disembarks in the city of Mysidia, as she has some work to do here while waiting for the Sage to invite them back for a second audience.
WHEN: January 1st - Checking into her room / January 2nd-4th - Meditating in the Hall of Prayers / January 5th - Testing her zanpakutou's powers on the Plains of Sorrow / January 6th - Venturing to the Temple of Heroes to find a raptor, or a dragon. She's not picky.
WHERE: The Continent of Ruin
NOTE: Anyone accompanying her on her DinoQuest will also encounter a Feathered Raptor, so if you're eligible for bonus experience, come get some.
January 1st
After saying her farewells to those who intended to return to Aqures Ixen, Rukia led her chocobo down the gangplank, a backpack stuffed with her belongings slung over her shoulders. She really wished she could have brought the giant rabbit plushie along with her, but she had too much equipment for her to cart the big fluffy thing around. What a pity. At least she still had the rabbit-shaped earmuffs that Yuri got her. Those were absolutely staying. Besides, they kept her ears warm. The Mysidians could be jealous of their cuteness.
It was very late when she arrived at the inn, but given the holiday, there were still many people still wide awake and celebrating, so it wasn't difficult for her to secure a room for herself and anyone else who saw fit to travel with her. She didn't mind sharing her room either, if it came to that, as it was economically practical. Her roommate in Aqures Ixen was a man, and she'd had no problems with him thus far.
But while it was only just an hour past midnight in Mysidia, Rukia had been awake for much longer on the Enterprise. Once Yuki was properly stabled, she was more than ready to change out of her party dress and into her pajamas to crawl under the covers. With little more than a weary good night, and a sincere expression of gratitude to her travel companion (if any), Rukia rolled onto her back, and folded her arms behind her head. She thought she would fall asleep immediately, but her head was still full of thoughts and plans for what she would do while she was here. Doubtless she would need to prepare another military report for her superiors in Esdham. There was much to accomplish until the audience with the Sage as well. Boredom was the least of her concerns.
And what of the Calamity? When would it begin to move? Where should she be when that started to happen? She lay in the darkness, quiet and thoughtful for many minutes. "...Are you awake?" she ventured in half a whisper, just in case the other person had drifted off to sleep.
January 2nd - 4th
The last time Rukia had gone to the Hall of Prayers, she'd spent many hours trying to make contact with the Eidolon known as Hades. The dealings with the Reaper still haunted her...albeit in a metaphorical sense...and left her filled with questions. By now she had a better idea of what Narayana was, but not how he'd fallen under the curse in the first place. For something that powerful to become twisted and turned against the planet did not sit well with her. In November, she'd tried the meditations that the other summoners had urged her to try, though they'd warned that it would take her a long time to become proficient in such a thing. After the week was up, she still hadn't been able to do it.
This time, she was determined to make it work. Hades wasn't a shinigami in the same way that she was, she knew. It was possible that he served as a literal reaper of souls, but she didn't know enough about this planet's afterlife to know for sure. Still, she hoped that they maintained that shared connection. Now that she had undertaken the Beastmaster job, he could be called as one of her companions. Perhaps this time, with that particular job equipped, she might garner a little more success.
And so it was in the next three days that Rukia was the most boring travel companion ever. She would eat a large breakfast to give her all the energy and stamina she would need to remain still and pensive for several hours, then return at night for a late supper and a little conversation before turning in for bed, and repeating the process each day. She found it hard to focus during these mealtimes, as if she were unaccustomed to carrying on a normal conversation. A little persistence might bring her out of her daze, but for the most part, she was fairly distant.
If she could at least speak with him, even for a little bit...
January 5th
Tomorrow, Rukia would seek out her second monster companion. She would be going up against some extremely powerful creatures in that area, so it was essential to make sure that her best weapon, her zanpakutou, was still synchronized with its user. Honestly she'd wanted to keep the Santa Claus job equipped a little longer, but until she had her monster companion, she would have been relatively weak on the battlefield. So she took up the Red Mage job with the aim of finishing it off in the next couple of months. She didn't know what the next month would bring, and as the Red Mage offered the most versatility, it would allow her to adapt to whatever the new year threw at her.
Though she wore both jobs, she opted for the garb of the Beastmaster, as the thick furs and tough leather armor provided the best protection against the solemn winter of the Continent of Ruin. She stood on the vast stretch of barren plains, the wind in her hair and ruffling the fur collar of hood, which she left down. Rather than the rapier or the whip, Rukia loosened a katana at her hip, sliding it free from its sheath. The weight of the blade was familiar in her hand, and she felt a faint tickle at her senses. Good... Being made mortal had not severed the connection she shared with her weapon.
Rukia closed her eyes, and held the sword out in front of her, before slowly allowing it to spin in her agile fingers.
"Dance," she spoke a single command, "Sode no Shirayuki!"
Her sword's name meant 'Sleeves of the White Snow' and what an accurate name it was. Her zanpakutou had been described as one of the most beautiful in all of Soul Society, and as her weapon awakened from its long slumber, it was clear to see why. From blade to guard, the katana was a pure, pristine white. A long ribbon unfurled from the base of the katana, curling into a wide arc as her sword spun.
Rukia spread her feet apart as she changed her stance. The familiar tingling chill of the sword's ice affinity did not cause her any discomfort. It was cool and pleasant. Refreshing. It was as if the cold purified her soul of doubt and fear, anxiety and weakness. Her steps were elegant, for she and the blade were one entity. The snow that swirled on the windswept plains circled her, dusting the tips of her dark hair, and lighting on her lashes.
The tip of the katana dipped four times into the earth, leaving a soft glow. Shards of ice began to flow upward into the air.
"Tsugi no mai... Hakuren."
The flowing shards were swept up into a hailstorm of cold air. There was no creature for the attack to flash freeze, but Rukia relaxed, pleased that her blade could still dance, and that Rukia remembered the steps. She would be able to fight tomorrow when they traveled to the Temple of Heroes, and she was satisfied.
January 6th
She supposed she could have settled for one of the more common monsters encountered on the Continent of Balance, but she had a desire to be strong, and capable. As a Beastmaster, she would rely more on the strength of her companions than her own combat abilities, so that meant finding a powerful ally. Thus, she had her heart set on one of four special creatures. Narrowing it down had been obscenely difficult. If she had more time, and if she were less reluctant to expose her other companions to danger, then she might have suggested they hunt for a dragon or a tyrannosaurus rex. Riding on either of these would have made her a formidable warrior on any battlefield. She would have taken a zombie dragon as well, but given that she had access to Hades, having an additional death monster would have been somewhat redundant.
So she would settle for the smaller velociraptor. ...Unless a tyrannosaurus rex came along and they had no choice but to fight and defeat it, of course. She wouldn't seek it out intentionally, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity if it came to her.
What was even better was the fact that velociraptors could be found near the Temple of Heroes. Rukia didn't have her Scholar job advanced enough that she could read the language of the Ancients, but she knew some who could, and her expedition could double as exploration as well. Maybe they'd find some answers about their past while indulging Rukia's need to have a dinosaur friend in her life.
"Watch your step," she warned, her gloved hand clutching a cluster of half-frozen vines as she made her way down the steep, craggy drop that led further into the valley of Ancient Ruins.
no subject
Levy cries out as she once again witnesses Rukia being torn into by the raptors. She needs to do something to drive them off - healing is only going to provide a stopgap for so long. Putting away her book and picking up her hammer, Levy raises it into the air, focusing her energy before pointing it at the remaining two raptors.
"Tool Blast!"
The attack seems to do the trick, momentarily stunning the raptors but not succeeding at dealing a whole lot of damage. And while Levy has managed to get them off of Rukia's back for the time being, now the two are stalking toward her, nostrils flaring as they release deep guttural growling sounds.
"Ah... u-um..."
no subject
Slamming her boot on the downed Raptor's head, Crescent Rose went back into sniper mode and she took aim.
"Got your back!" Ruby called out before taking aim and firing. She was already amazingly gifted with the weapon. The Archer job made her even better.
no subject
Well, he hoped it did.
The air around the two remaining raptors began to heat up, though not yet enough to heat the cold, frozen ground. The Barkeep smiled as his Phantasm reached its peak. Two targets. Two powerful attacks.
"Rukia! Levy! Get outta there!" There was little time before his Combustion spell hit both Raptors, knocking one to the ground and severely injuring the other.
no subject
Desperately she pushed back against the darkness encroaching on her consciousness. Her wounds were bad, but not the worst she'd received. So why did she--?
Ah, right. She was mortal. That probably made a big difference.
Gritting her teeth, her nails scraped against the ground as her fingers curled toward her palm. She forced herself to rise and recall Hades, and in the Eidolon's place a white chocobo shimmered into reality. Ducking its head, it spread its wings with a feminine trill, casting healing magic over the fallen shinigami. The effects were immediate. It was easier to breathe, and strength flowed into her shaking arms. Rukia raised her head. The healing wasn't complete, but it was enough. She activated her second Capture, sealing away the velociraptor that had been knocked to the ground.
"Ruby...last one is yours," she wheezed, but flashed a confident smile. Once this one was taken, then she could finally breathe easy.
no subject
With everything settled, Ruby gave the remaining raptor a few shots before activating Capture, making the catch.
"Goodbye raptor, hello... um... good raptor!"
no subject
Levy lets out a loud and long sigh of relief, her legs wobbling under her. With the adrenaline from the combat steadily draining away, she eventually falls to her knees, trying to catch her breath. But she does eventually force herself back into a standing position, walking over to Rukia with another healing mixture.
"Here... have another one, Rukia. You need to take care of your wounds."
no subject
He stepped around the icy patches on the ground and made his way to the rest of the group.
"Rukia, you feelin' better?" He held out a hand. " We should turn back if you're hurtin' bad."
no subject
She couldn't help but chuckle at Barkeep's remark. Did that mean he was accustomed to wrangling dinosaurs where he came from? "Nonetheless, your presence was remarkably valuable to us. I thank you." She took his hand to get herself back onto her feet. Suddenly Yuki was there, thrusting her head against Rukia's chest and nearly bowling her over with a trill of affection. The shinigami blinked in surprise, then stroked the bird's feathers.
"I'm better," she reassured them. "But there's little more we can learn here, and we've accomplished our objective. It would probably be wise not to linger here any longer than necessary." She cast a smile at Ruby, then pulled herself onto Yuki's back. As long as her chocobo was here, why not ride it back? "What are you going to name your new companion?"
no subject
She chuckled a bit as she continued. "I feel like it's a 'Monty'. I don't know why, but it feels like it fits."
no subject
Levy stands up, slinging an arm around her friend's shoulders and letting her lean on her for support. They're both shorties, so it should work out.
no subject
He waved a hand in the direction towards Mysidia. "Best we get on our way before it gets dark. Don't wanna run into any more trouble if there ain't a thing we can do here."
no subject
"Agreed. I owe you all my thanks for your assistance." Rukia smiled. She was tired, but proud. "I am glad to consider you my allies."
[OOC: Wrap up around here?]