melodiesoflife | We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

WHO: OPEN! Those setting out towards the Crystal Tree~
WHAT: Terra has arranged an expedition. Keep in mind that this takes place after the January Event!
WHEN: January 17th - January 27th
WHERE: Plains of Sorrow, Crystal Forest & Crystal Tree~
WARNING: None.

[ooc: Information and plotting about this adventure is posted here. If you have any questions please post them here as well. It's assumed that Terra posted up a help wanted for the heroes who don't know her to see if they want to come along. Settings will be described in top posts to keep thing organized!

Please note that the Friendly Monster and Crystal Tree sections will be one long thread.]

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Thank you.

[Terra nods feeling a little unsteady. She doesn't know what to think anymore and as always she's kept her thoughts to herself. She lets her gaze move over the plans slowly before coming to rest on Fai.]

It's nice to have company.

Vincent will pair with whomever if it keeps the group safe. He's experienced in his role, even without the maxed Gunner-job, and can engage in close-range if needed. He's not very social though, and will keep to himself other than introductions. Not a talker, although when he does speak he makes it count.

That said, he nodded his thanks to Rialynn and took the bowl carefully, especially with his left hand. Covered as it was in tarnished-gold gauntlet with wicked claws covering his fingers, he's fairly dexterous with it all the same. Plus the heat won't bother him as much with it in that hand. "So long as the food is edible and not going to make us sick, lack of seasoning would not be worth my complaining about."

Vincent would well understand trouble sleeping and nightmares. If it helps, he's more willing to take night-guard often so others can sleep too. When Terra moved off for a walk, even if she could care for herself, Vincent kept an eye out for her anyways. Not surprised, as she approached him. Dressed much like his freelancer-appearance, save the gun at his hip being the one designed for use on Crystallis. Comfortable in his black leathers, with red-cloak and mantle, and gauntlet.

"This is not so terribly different than traveling with Avalanche, aside from size." An easy reply, as really this wasn't that bad. Vincent has been through worse. "Yourself? You know you only have to ask, if I can help somehow."

They'd met a few times, he and Kidd. Not entirely sure what to make of the other Hero either, but that was ok. It wasn't as if they were required to be friends, and they certainly weren't enemies. Yuffie got along with the other too, which was a mark, albeit with some reservations, in Vincent's book.

"With this number of people, it's amazing it's not slower. Or that we didn't account for it, and bring transport that would make it easier with this size."

Vincent also had the experience to back up Duster, if not also the job experience. Gunner maxed, and about 7 months on Ninja, which meant he had skills he wouldn't have had as a freelancer. But he could've done this even with Freelancer. More inclined to be a night-owl even now, Vincent had always preferred night shift to day.

Nor was he unaware he was not the easiest person to converse with. At least the other was keeping his voice low, as Vincent kept the gun holstered, but ready to be drawn, at his hip. Most of his attention on scanning around, just in case.

"Several months. I arrived at the Temple of Wind's Crystal however."

This time, the Colonel would be paired with Vincent as his partner for long-range support. Ophelia was along, a small pack of her own and her scarf off most of the time. She was a night-owl too, but she hadn't expected this to be that difficult. Harder than she thought it was, and Vincent thankfully needed no help to wake up and let her sleep as he moved. Securing his weapon at his hip, heading out to relieve 3rd shift.

Finding the silver-haired soldier, and a nod given in acknowledgement. Vincent's own attire blended in well to the shadows, despite the bright crimson mantle and cloak, and headband holding back red-bangs. It helped that he knew HOW to move in shadows too, and was used to this. Falling into step with his partner for 4th shift watch.

Vincent watched the other hero, amused at the obvious glee. It almost reminded him of times past. "I have seen something similar, but not. It reminds me of the Forest of the Ancients back on Gaia." Which brought bittersweet memories considering all that happened.

Perhaps it was a good thing that Cloud was not on this expedition.

Vincent was only mildly surprised to find himself grouped with Sephiroth once more. The other unknown to him was the taller woman, Tazrenda. Getting the attention of the others, when it became clear they were split off, with a soft clearing of his throat. Insistent, while also not obtrusive.

"We've been separated. Ideas?" He knew of Sheena's capability, though had not worked with her before. At least, not outside of their normal jobs at the Library.

"I have a lot of nightmares... I didn't want to wake others."

Terra wasn't sure how much she should say. A lot has happened in such a short time and she's been left feeling more confused than before. She let her gaze shift over the plan and then back towards the large tree shining in the distance. It was like a beacon in the darkness of the night.

"I know." She paused feeling her nervous fears rise. Vincent hadn't been in her dream which mean he might not know everything that happened. Everything that she worried about.

"I don't really know how to put it to words." She shifts slightly moving so that she's standing next to Vincent and no longer obscuring his view of the plans. Her toe lightly digs into the dirt while her arms wrapped around her torso. "I'm not sure of anything anymore."

Terra let her eyes fall on Rialynn and then moved over towards Jack. She hadn't been feeling well since the start of this trip but she pushed that towards the back of her mind. They had to find their way which was more important than her own worries. She looked up towards the peek of the trees seeing only thick overgrown crystal formations.

"If you can climb. The Crystal tree is impossible to miss." If they could even find a small opening they might be able to spot it. She looked over at Jack again stepping up to look at his device.

She didn't know how it worked.

"Maybe we should find the others first?"

Vincent studied her a moment, determining that no--she was comforting herself, not cold. "I missed a lot in the month I was in stasis, then?" Not necessarily expecting an answer, but offering the question anyways. "I am also a good listener, whether the words are clumsy or not." Trying to be reassuring, which really was never his strong suit.

But Terra was his friend, and worth it. "I noticed you had a vacation. Did the two of you have a nice time?" Perhaps distraction, as well as his honest inquiry into how things were going with Sephiroth. Certainly he'd noticed no hint of animosity so the relationship seemed to be going well.

[meanwhile, the third member of this particular party…

…is examining one of the trees, judging how difficult it might be to dig some of the crystals out of it. Though- should she try now, or on the return trip…?

She drops her hand, turning towards the other two.]

There were skeletons and mandragoras- I'd imagine we could take those on easily enough, but I did hear dragons… Those are sure to be trickier. [she reaches up to scratch an ear for a moment, and settles again.] If we're unlucky enough to meet a Tonberry, we're best off running. They didn't seem to take attacks too kindly. […that is, they were most definitely not as easily downed as the ordinary Tonberries in the Wanderer's Palace.]

"We did," Jack laughs a little, "is it that obvious? I didn't for a while, found myself staying in one spot for a lot longer than I'd ever intended to. I was actually just about to go travelling again when I ended up here!"

Jack leads the way into a busy restaurant, picking a place that has more people going in and out of it, instead of something off the beaten path.

"I've been taking some notes of my own..." There's a blue journal waiting in a drawer at home that Jack has taken to writing letters to the Doctor in, just in case the man finally shows. "But I'd always be glad to see someone else's take on things."

"What about you? You used to travel, back home?"

Gaia again. Jack pauses when he looks to Vincent. Right. Another of that big group with Cloud and Yuffie and Sephiroth. The man he'd gotten most of the details of the world from was in crystal now, but Jack was always curious about any story of that world.

Maybe then he'd figure out why so many of them were here.

"Forest of the Ancients?" Jack repeats. "Now that's an odd coincidence. Any relation to the idea of the Ancients on this world?"

[Fai looking over, his eyes still keeping an eye out for anything. Even though he was n guard he was oddly calm about it.]

It is. It gets lonely when it's just one person on duty. But sometimes not knowing what to talk about though... I guess I could start with why you wanted to come here? Do you think there is something here?

To combat his quiet nature, Duster spent time with friends who were louder and more direct that himself, but when confronted with another quiet man, all he could do was to relax and watch the starry sky. It had only been weeks since he last went into the wilderness with some friends, fighting monsters and chimeras along the way.

What are Kumatora and Lucas doing now?, he wondered to himself.

Duster returned his gaze to Earth and rubbed the sole of his left show in the hardened, frosty ground. Was it dangerous living here? Interesting? "...Do you remember what you were doing before you came here?"

[By the quirk upwards of one of his eyebrows, Sephiroth seems almost to be impressed at the loudness of the noise that comes from the stomach of one so much smaller than him. He didn't find it polite, at all, but they were on an expedition and things were rougher than if they might be in another city; humans make noises and sometimes involuntarily, just like every other species.

He offers a small huff of a chuckle as Rialynn looks away out in the direction of other buildings scattered within the trees.]

That would be the smart thing to do. I've a few soldiers spread out looking so that should turn up something soon.

[Despite their eagerness to press on further into the forest, a few hours spent re-stocking or resting would likely be a boon later on.

The next thing Rialynn might see is Sephiroth extending a small cereal-bar like package in her direction.]

To tide you over?

"We would have to know more about the Ancients on this world." And more about the Ancients from Gaia too, to be fair. Vincent was certainly an expert in neither.

"When we visited, the place was deserted. Long since abandoned." Whereas this place...was still vibrant. Had inhabitants, and full of life.

Vincent was not bothered by quiet. Never had been, and that had made him a bit odd as a child. Made it easier to hear potential threats too. Idle conversation...

He supposed it would make sense, since the other was new. "We had all split up, to find our own reason to continue on our journey. Those of us who found reason to, were to meet up again the next morning. I remember falling asleep, and waking up here."

Thanks to Kidd's hood and the pitch black night only lit by the moonlight and the remains of campfires as they reduced down into glowing embers, Sephiroth wasn't entirely sure whom he'd come to relieve until he'd gotten much closer. In fact, Bonnie was more of the giveaway; what with their near-matching styles of hood. He couldn't help but to smile lightly to himself at the fact the energetic moogle had fallen asleep; they were such enthusiastic creatures.

Spencer, point of fact, had fallen asleep into a small book he'd been reading back at the tent Sephiroth shared with the other soldiers.

The tall silver-haired warrior nodded sharply at Kidd's report as he came to a stop. After an encounter with one of the Behemoth earlier that day; it was a relief to hear that it seemed that the overlarge monsters which inhabited the Plains hadn't been too offended by the presence of such a large party of travelers. A Malboro coming within just a few feet of the perimeter of their camp was enough of a cause for concern.

"They're rather large, at least, shouldn't make it too hard to at least spot them coming." Especially considering the lack of anything but dark sand for several miles all around.

Sephiroth's own attire was significantly lighter than the blacks he might usually wear; the field fatigues for Esdham being suited more to the scalding sands of the desert there rather than the black sands of these particular plains. It made him, and the other soldiers stand out a little more but that wasn't so much of a bad thing, easier to keep tabs on everyone as they had journeyed.

Having arrived at the first point for their watch, pretty much together, Sephiroth also nodded at Vincent as they met. It seemed the logical -and somewhat automatic for him at least- thing to do next would be to take a preliminary sweep of the perimeter of the area of campsite they were assigned to.

"Shall we?" Sephiroth didn't wait though, just knowing that Vincent would keep in step beside him as he took the first steps towards a patrol.

Much like Terra, Sephiroth hadn't intended to be separated from her above all others but much as always he kept that very much to himself. Regardless if others in the group he'd ended up with might hazard a guess in that direction. Between Starlight and the New Years Ball; it was becoming just foolish to deny that -at the very least- he didn't have a little more affection towards her when compared to others.

The swish of silver hair, taking point, came to a stop as they rounded another corner and were met with nothing but a wall of trees with no obvious path through. Probably not the first time they've ended up at a dead end.

"Damn..." Breathed but a curse all the same as Sephiroth took a step back and turned towards the group.

"We need to come up with a way to keep track of all our turns."

Indeed. [He gave K'pandolu an approving nod. She had done her research. Knowing their enemy would certainly give them an advantage in a fight.]

Let's move. [He started walking further down the path, taking in the sight of the crystalline trees, but not touching anything. He did not know what power they held, and he did not want to be the one to trigger some adverse effect.]

[Up ahead, around a bend in the path, their first enemy, an Adamantoise, paced back and forth.]

On the other hand, Duster grew up with mostly quiet, which made him appear as the odd child of the village. While he enjoyed a lonely evening like this once in a while, he couldn't let his days be dominated by solitude anymore. Like Vincent and his friends who had split up.

"Hmm," he hummed. "You remembered falling asleep while I remembered the world breaking apart." If there was a pattern to this, their kidnapper took them at the moment where they wouldn't be able to fight back.

"It must have been a tough decision, huh. Even I had my doubts when I was travelling all over the islands with Lucas and Kumatora, but I decided that in the end, I knew in my heart that following my friends and making sure they world was safe was important." He looked at Vincent, hoping to see some sort of reaction, but expecting none. "Did you decide if you wanted to stay?"

[Terra shrugs her shoulders.]

I thought if a place had answers it'd be the forest.

[She hadn't expected the strange happening a few days before they left. It's only made her nervous and unsure about herself.]

I'm surprised so many people came.

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We are off to see the Crystal Tree!

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