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

[wickedone]

[Albel grit his teeth and shook his head. This was incredibly frustrating. No matter what, it seemed, the Calamity would still succeed -- just in varying speeds. Stopping it seemed impossible.]

How would stopping time help? It might stop the Calamity, but we would all be trapped in it as well! In the end, we would all still have the same problem.

[He wondered if those Time Loops had affected the Calamity at all.]

I wish we knew why the Calamity had stopped recently in the first place.

[wickedone]

[Albel smirked. Yeah, that sounded like Spencer. And with everything else -- and everyone else -- maybe it would be best to have one less person to watch.]

Yes, sir. Of course.

[He nodded and saw himself out of the tent, letting Sephiroth finally get some rest.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Sheena looked at Albel. She could understand his frustration. There had to be a way to stop the thing. Shaking her head, she pointed to the simulation. ]

We saw what happened to the Calamity when a different colored Crystal was used. Time either sped it up or slowed it down. And only the Calamity was affected. So, it isn't too farfetched to believe that there's one that will stop time for the Crystal itself.

[ Reverse it, then stop it, is what she's thinking. And obviously done from this tower. ]

Yeah. If we knew that, we'd have at least some idea what's going on. Does anyone know if there's anything special about where it stopped?

[not_most_days]

[Kidd wouldn't be much help with the computer either. She goes to take a look at the notes and boxes but she fully expects any written clues to be in Ancient, like everything else they've encountered.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Don't underestimate the moogles. They see all and know all. And then talk about it, or get involved.

But that's not the source of Sheena's "instinct"; the vision is. And she has to tread carefully about what to say and not to say since she and Terra shared more of the vision's events that either of them had with Sephiroth.

And really, you two need to be more sociable. The moogles can't do all the work. ]

Or have someone run among the treetops. [ She laughs. They should have had more people do that. ] But seriously, it depends on what's happening, I guess. Sometimes a small group is perfect, but for this... A bigger group is definitely better.

[ Mainly for the searching. ]

[ninjainviolet]

Oh, yeah. I'm willing. [ True, but this is a little different.

The little furball looks from one to the other. Surely, they can't be serious? Take away his Kupo Nuts? But Sheena's always kept her promises to him...

Gulping, he nods. ]

I'll stop, kupo...

[shinrasfinest]

[Whereas most others might have been relieved to have the lights come on not to reveal a horde of enemies that particular good news has the edges of Sephiroth's nose flaring; he'd much prefer a fight against however many multitude of enemies rather than picking around in a dusty tower not knowing what's what.

Doesn't stop him from dragging his gaze across the vast space that has appeared before them as his eyes adjust and soon fixating on the Iron Giant as it unfolds itself from where it had been part of the wall nearby.

Enlightenment would have been his first call, as part Scholar, but Jade seems to have beaten him to it this time and so instead Sephiroth takes a couple of long, steady strides away from the generator so that he has ample room to unsheathe his katana. It's shorter than Masamune but he's long since learned the knack of re-adjusting his style for a shorter range.

Stretching out into a battle stance, Sephiroth only glimpses down the line of Heroes who might have formed to battle the Iron Giant, before launching a first-

Power Break - sings along the edge of his sword as he darts in for the first strike; even a glancing blow would lower the physical power, at least. Make it less of a risk for everyone.]

[shinrasfinest]

[For a long time again Sephiroth falls into silence, fixating his eyes downwards and canting his chin towards the translation he's been holding out for the others to see. As if it might have a hidden answer somewhere in the left-handed scrawl he's written already. About half way through the discussion between Sheena and Albel another thought strikes and he looks between them, patiently waiting for the right time that he could make another comment.]

I...get the feeling we're asking the wrong questions.

[It's followed by a frown, mostly at himself, given as he certainly doesn't know any better than they do. All he has in his favor is the extensive tenure he's spent on Crystallis so far in this cycle.]

What exactly does the reset of a cycle do, exactly? Does it affect physical locations, or only strip all life away from the world at once, and reset it? There are many locations, on Mysidia specifically which have to predate the last cycle.

[Blink. Slower blink. Sephiroth turns to Sheena directly; he's surprised she doesn't remember.]

Remember...the Calamity halted when we were thrown back in time. Given that we all contain a part of the Calamity itself, it doesn't take much to reason out why that might have been.

It had no reason to expand?

[Sephiroth folds his translation back up and then turns a little away from the group; he's clearly unconvinced of his own theories, as yet.]

[Closed Doors?]

[shinrasfinest]

[Despite all of it, and the fact he that might have to spend a great deal more time -somehow- here in the future picking apart all of the Ancient writing, Kidd's comment draws a dry chuckle from Sephiroth. Looking on the bright side isn't one of his strengths but sarcasm he's not so unfamiliar with.

There is even a ghost of a grin on one side of his face shot across at Kidd before Sheena's question rings out down the hallway from the desk he'd found the journal a few moments ago. As if in acknowledgment of her presence, Sephiroth straightens up and steps around Kidd to look in Sheena's direction.]

I get the impression that's a question we might spend the exact same amount of time trying to decipher.

Re: [Closed Doors?]

[not_most_days]

And perhaps not a question we should worry overmuch about for the sake of our own sanity and survival. More important is deciphering the clues that were left for us. No sense in letting the faith they've put in us go to waste.

[shinrasfinest]

[Sephiroth and Terra are sociable enough, at least, as far as was comfortable for each of them. Silences were as golden as any treasured conversation might be. They really do have that in common.

He chuckles a little at Sheena's first comment; appreciating the reference back to their time in the Crystal Forest navigating the apparent maze. They hadn't been the first group to get to the tree in the middle, but they hadn't been the last either.]

That's right. Especially due to the fact that the exploration can be tackled a little at a time, not all in one go and there is the opportunity for backtracking too. Lest we miss something important.

[It doesn't take very much talking about his current mission to get the impression that Sephiroth really does put everything he has into anything he has going on. Not that it would be much of a surprise, given what Sheena has already seen of him.]

[cantante]

I'll take all responsibility for any inconveniences one baby chocobo might inflict. [ Tear's response came in the form of a half-shrug, extracting the culprit from the sack so that she was safe in her hold. Whether she was meant to work as a distraction, it did allow the melodist a few seconds more to consider Jade's question.

And in the end, she could only answer with a soft sigh. ]

What else is there to say? [ Her displeasure? Disgust? Just what could she possibly tell Jade that he didn't already know? He was right—she had acted of her own volition, when it all came down to it. ]

Unless... you are saying you regret that I did choose to walk down that path with you?

[cantante]

I'll take your word for it. [ If Sheena was satisfied with such an answer, then so was Tear. Still, she did feel the slightest bit bad for the moogle... ]

I'm sure he meant well...

[jadethenecromancer]

The WEAPONS were supposedly made by the Ancients as a countermeasure against the Calamity. The Ultima WEAPON most likely reacted to the Calamity's awakening.

[He pauses, thinking back.]

In fact, as I recall, we heard the WEAPON right when the Calamity started spreading, didn't we?

[Come to think of it, it's been almost a year now since their assault on the facility. Things have only become more and more complicated...]

[jadethenecromancer]

My companions always did say I was their light in the times of darkness.

[/blatant lies]

Really though, I'm merely preparing for worst-case scenarios. It would be unfortunate if we rushed in and immediately lost our heads to some ancient trap, would it not?

[ninjainviolet]

Uh-huh. Suuuure they did.

[ Not buying that lie. ]

Well, if we don't rush in, then there's no need to think about worst-case scenarios, is there? [ Welcome to Sheena!Logic. And yeah... Not rushing in... Not exactly her forte.

Just ask any hole on Sylvarant and Aselia... ]

[not_most_days]

[As complicated as things have gotten, the encounter in the depths of that facility are one of the most clear memories in the Assassin's mind. She doubts it's a good thing that she was there, but she is glad deep down that she was there to witness it for herself.]

Aye, that was the shape of it, so it seemed. But remember thatPalitutu used us as bait for it later. So clearly it was keen on us as well.

[Simple logic states that a clear crystal may not do the same luring effect, but it's not something she's keen on testing.]

[jadethenecromancer]

[That was a good question. At the time Jade had been grateful.. insofar as he'd been capable of gratitude at that point. Now...

The short answer was yes -- he did regret involving Tear. Was there any point in expressing that? Probably not. It was a spontaneous emotional response on his part, born of a guilty conscience. Irrational, and not something to act on or bother her with.]

No. I think I have enough regrets without claiming your actions as my burden.

[Perhaps she was right. Words weren't going to change anything. It was nearly impossible to talk about this without veering towards self-pity, anyway.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ How ironic that a ninja is probably more talkative than either of them. Still, she can appreciate a comfortable, companionable silence as much as the next person.

At his chuckle, she gives him a look of mock indignation. ]

I'll have you know running in the treetops was fun! You should try it next time! [ She paused as though in thought. ] Yes, a quick trip through the woods among the trees. [ As quick as it can possibly be. And while they hadn't been the first, that hadn't been her goal--their safety had been. So it still worked out for the best. ]

I'm just used to exploring in a small group, I guess. Even something big like this. [ Then again... ] Except maybe not. My village has the best netowrk for gathering information, so that helps a lot, too. [ Seriously, where would they have been without some of the information they had gathered?

Actually, she kind of got that impression the first time they met, so no, it's not a surprise at all, really. In fact, it's something they kind of have in common--although Sheena may not show it. ]

Sorry. I had a bit of an RP slump. I hope it's gone now.

[ninjainviolet]

Good. [ Sheena eyes him for a second before opening her arms up for him to fly into to. Hugging him to her, she looks up at Tear. ]

I know, but...this is something personal, you know?

[ And more frightening than facing a monster. ]

[shinrasfinest]

[Not that he's afraid of heights but a certain misjudgment he made with Dragoon really early on has him steering clear of all of those jobs that greatly increase agility or offer any sort of high-and-dexterous leaping which might botch terribly. He'd rather keep both feet firmly on terra firma and cleave his way through anything in his path.

Play to the strengths he's already got, after all.

Sephiroth tilts his head as Sheena essentially talks herself around in a circle. It's interesting to listen to, at least, even if their conversation is all too easily slipping off into that level of small talk where Sephiroth loses any thread of interest personally. Never one for idle chit-chat; despite the attempt.]

Your village...back home?

[ninjainviolet]

[ Yeah, talking herself into a circle is a habit Sheena has. But it's one way for her to figure things out for herself.

At his question, she nods. For a ninja, she doesn't mind small-talk, but the mention of her village casts her into a more business-like posture. ]

Mizuho. It's a village of ninja. We have a pretty large network that covers the entire planet, where we gather and pass along information for the King or the Chief of the village. Before I left, it was being used to find out the situation of the different cities to help me in my mission for the King.

[ She's proud of her fellow ninja, can you tell? And yes, she's the Chief of the village. ]

[shinrasfinest]

[There is nothing wrong with having pride and enthusiasm when it came to talking about their home worlds. Sephiroth had once had bags of the stuff as well, though not so much in recent months. The fact he'd been in Crystallis for so long already was making the detachment from 'home' fade into an old painting of the life he used to have. Despite a handful of feelings he remembers that will always recur to him afresh at the slightest touch of a thought in their direction.

Still, it's endearing to see such pride and Sephiroth issues a crack of a lighter smile at Sheena in response.]

Covert operations- [Yes, he might be assuming.] -if they are watertight, do tend to be the best for gathering intel. However they are only as strong as their weakest link.

[Even the most underground of networks are never infinite, in his experience. He's seen enough of them, in a previous war.]

[ninjainviolet]

[ Sheena will always have pride about her village--no matter where she is, or even if it's destroyed. It's her home, a place of ninja, and where a stranger had taken her in and raised her as her own.

So, while her crystal may be showing her growing detachment from Tethe'alla, her thoughts wouldn't let that happen. At least not right now. Who knows what the future holds? ]

That's very true. [ He's assuming correctly. ] It's hard to get information through obvious methods--unless that had been the plan to begin with. [ She smiles. ] Ninja like to keep people on their toes and remain unpredictable.

[ She pauses and looks down in thought, speaking to herself, but loud enough for Sephiroth to hear. ] I don't think I have any weak links... Even Kuchinawa hadn't been one... [ Great. Now she's going to wonder about that--from a whole different world. ]

[cantante]

Heh. That would be for you to decide, but I will not allow you to claim responsibility of the choices I made. [ A smile touched upon the melodist's lips, but there was no mistaking the bitter undertone of it. Surely Jade would understand, from the perspective of one soldier to another.

However, that didn't mean there wasn't anything she could say. Her memories of her last moments—which she hadn't dared to discuss with anyone—were fuzzy, but she remembered the very real fear she had felt over what she witnessed. It had nothing to do with the the sensation of death taking her for its own. ]

We... did a lot of things wrong, along the way. Up until the very end, I can't condone some of the actions we chose.