melodiesoflife | Intro Log || Melodies of Eternity

Intro Log || Melodies of Eternity

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of March. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in Aqures Ixen and are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and what their destinies are. This a log for them to react to the situation, meet each other and be welcomed by the former batches of Heroes of Light.
Warning: Lots of distressed and depressed Heroes of Light.

Where you were or what you were doing— It does not really matter. Not any more. Within an instant, the world around you collapses. Reality twists and shatters... Or maybe you are the one who is collapsing and shattering away from reality as you knew it. No matter what the answer is, it will only take a few seconds for you to find yourself sinking into a void, your world vanishing into the distance. There is nothing but darkness as far as the eye can see. Even you feel different: all the powers you might once have had, are now gone. It is silent, cold and it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you.

At this moment, when it looks as though nothing but a never-ending void awaits you, a red Crystal forms before you. In this void, its warmth compels you to grab it. Upon doing so, you can hear a soft, soothing voice speaking:

"Wake up."

Soon, the void itself vanishes and is replaced by distant noises of engines. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call one more time, but is soon replaced with a much less graceful "Wake up Kupo." Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake you up. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Fire, in the third district of a city called Aqures Ixen. At this point, you may realize the engine noise actually originates from an Airship flying low over the city and headed to dock beneath the castle. As if it wasn't strange enough, your clothes have changed as well. They are now a reflection of the Jobs you are wielding. Last but not least, you are surrounded by Moogles, small and fluffy creatures who are more than happy to tell you about everything you want to know, about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light, about what awaits you.

Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

The only people around you are like you-- There are quite a few of them, all clothed in their Job garbs and most likely wondering what is happening. If somehow you do not realize it, the Moogle who woke you up will be more than happy to inform you there are others like you around. In fact, there are other Heroes who have arrived in the course of the past year and they will come soon! Like you, they have Jobs and a Crystal.

If asked, the Moogles will mention that the Heroes of Light - that is to say you - are fighting against time to save Crystallis from the Calamity that is about to awaken to devour the entire world. Well, that is if you don't die or crystallize first. A couple days ago, a lot of Heroes of Light crystallized or died out of the blue without any warning! Sounds terrible? Welcome to Crystallis.

The Other Heroes
— Shortly Thereafter —
Thanks to the efficiency of Mognet, it does not take long for the other Heroes to come around: those who arrived in this world within the past year. You may have imagined heroic and charismatic figures when your Moogle told you that there were other Heroes of Light in this city. You may have imagined persons with fearsome powers when they told you about how they managed to push back the Empire and defeat gigantic beasts in the past. And more importantly, you may have imagined them as people who would have all the answers to your, doubtlessly, numerous questions.

If so, you may be up for a tragic disappointment. Still, for the most part they know more than you on the situation and may be more than happy to fill you in, especially if your Moogle didn't tell you much.

The City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
With Choco Egg day nearing, there are a lot fo Hypello working on the upcoming competitions and on making chocolates! Want to eat some? Too bad, the Moogles will hit you with the stick they use to make the chocolate if you try to eat them!

And besides the chocolates, there are a lot of things to do in the city for newcomers. Moogles are working hard in Mognet Office of the ninth district following the election of their new director, and while there are no Blitzball Matches today, a lot of Triple Triad players are gathered at the stadium. Why? Because they are working on the early preparations for the Triple Triad World Championship that will happen in May! Characters are also free to visit the city-- They can visit Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline.

Or maybe you could visit your new house in the 11th District, and get to know your new neighbors and housemate. Hopefully your neighbors are people you will get along with.

The Laboratory
— Anytime —
A location where a lot of Heroes of Light seem to be gathering is Palitutu's Laboratory. It is a place where employed characters can research into various topics. However, most importantly, characters can see a file with their name...

Should your character decide to go there and peek at their file, there are two possibilities. Either the file is corrupted and they cannot access it: too bad for them, but at least their life will remain a mystery. Or should you decide the file isn't corrupted, they will find a summary of their lives up to their canon point, as if written by a third-person omniscient narrator. On the column left to the text, to the top there is a portrait of them, and beneath it there is a 3D model of them. Said portrait and model can be switched to any year of their life. At the bottom there is a percentage, indicating 0%. On the right column, there are various links, most of which are grayed out. The clickable links lead to their Homeworld History and their future post-canon point history (corrupted file for unfinished canons).

At least, they can lock this file away if they don't want anyone to see it.

The Hospital
— Anytime —
Characters who have already been in Crystallis before do not wake up by the Crystal of Fire like everyone else. Instead, they will wake up in the Hospital of Aqures Ixen, in a room where there are over a hundred of other Heroes of Light like them-- Maybe even some familiar faces... Except they're all in Crystal Stasis.

A few Moogles and nurses will be waiting by the room, and they will welcome all characters waking up. However...

Upon exiting the room, they will find the Hospital is very busy. Nurses and healers can be seen moving corpses around on stretchers, and overall a very dark and tense atmosphere reigns over the Hospital. In closed rooms, some of the most skilled healers are trying to analyze the corpses and find out what happened. And these dead people? They are of the Heroes of Light who died on the 29th of February.

Melodies of Eternity
— Anytime —
If you are a Hero of Light who survived that accursed day, your crystal will shine at the very same moment the new Heroes appear before the Crystal of Fire. That means your character is now linked to the Crystal of Fire and will come back to life after a week if killed.

They will also receive their Moogle and their housing in the 11th or 14th District. But that probably isn't enough for the pain to go away.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That brought an amused noise.]

I am hoping to find other options.

[So perhaps it is stubborn pride, but he could at least recognize the amusement in it.]

Hardly a robbery, when the aid was not turned away. I might be particularly useful against a Malboro.

[Certainly he was immune to all status except Death, as a master Gunner]

Oh? Any reason in particular?

[Perhaps he's just familiar with combating the creatures in general. It's wise to talk strategy before seeking out such a nasty beast, as she would rather not be surprised. Kujarl flutters up behind them, looking somewhat skeptical. She'd wanted to see Lust take on a malboro by herself, but if this guy proves to be a good fighter as well...that might be worth seeing. The Remedy potions in her little satchel clink and roll as she shifts her bag to her other shoulder. Someone had to fix things if Lust got hit with the Bad Breath, after all.]

What should I call you? It would be rude to keep referring to you as 'stranger' now that we've killed together.

[Vincent is more than willing to simply play support and let Lust handle most of it, if she or her moogle wishes.]

They're not uncommon in parts of Gaia, where I am from. Further, at the Gunner Job's mastery level, one becomes immune to all effects imposed, save Death, by enemies.

[Which is why he is good back-up, in this case. A quick examination of his fire-arm, reloading as necessary, then holstering it. Easy enough to re-draw it as needed.

She had an interesting way to assume they weren't strangers anymore.]

Vincent Valentine.

[All of the homunculi have a decidedly DARK sense of humor. But he doesn't seem put off by it, so that's interesting.]

Lust.

[She returns the introduction easily enough, and in a fairly good mood in that she doesn't hesitate for the sake of having to deal with yet another simpleton asking if that's really her name. Now that they've decided to embark on a hunt together, no sense in wasting any time. She sets off at a brisk pace across the plains, the grass a soft whisper beneath her dark boots.]

So you have experience. And that does sound like a handy ability to have. I'm glad it wasn't merely an idle boast~

[Lust smiles over her shoulder before her violet gaze sweeps across the moonlit plains. Her posture seems casual and relaxed, but that stare of hers is definitely one belonging to a huntress.]

[She clearly hasn't met his moogle. Ophelia could have a dark sense of humor herself at times, for all her cheery-demeanor. Nor did Vincent himself not have a dry, and at times gallows-esque, sense of humor. It'll take more than that to put him off.

A nod at the introduction, and it's simple enough for him to keep pace. Long strides of his own, quiet and alert. Used to adventuring, as the cloak and mantle provide no hindrance in his movements.]

I recall from your open-letter asking about humanity.

[Nor was Vincent one to really boast, idle or otherwise. He did his job, and successful completion was the goal. The one time he'd failed with that goal...had been spectacular and he was still paying for it. It did not mean his professional pride had suffered.

Crimson eyes were alert, practiced at keeping a watch without seeming to as they moved. His own stance relaxed, but wary. Experienced, and alert without being tense.]

Do you? Were you one of those who responded?

[If so, then it's probably fair to assume he was 'V' given the letters of his name. His last response, the one she hadn't written back about, had given her a lot to consider. For someone to act selflessly for her sake, she had to assume it was out of a sense of atonement. That man had been vicious about reaping judgment from the Amestrians for the sake of his brother.]

[She spares him a brief glance, and smiles slightly, pleased to see that he seems quite capable as a hunter himself. There are many physical similarities between them as well, she notes...black hair, pale skin, unusual eyes...she might wonder if he were a homunculus himself, but surely he is something else altogether, made mortal. Perhaps she'll ask him about it later.]

[Silent, as it would be obvious enough given his name and comment. Clearly not a man given to idle-chatter. Still alert but casual, as they moved further along the plains.]

Malboro are rare in this area...if not today, you might try Aquares Tosf for your hunt.

[Lust's idle grin widens. It seems she's identified him. Excellent. There's more she would like to discuss with him, once they're in a position better suited for conversation. He will definitely be seeing her again.]

Mmm. Perhaps so. I've been meaning to return and see what became of the city after we were forced to flee. I wish to see if Kalki's body was left there.

[That was the last her group had seen of the woman who'd summoned them there, and now everyone is claiming that she's dead. She'd like to see the proof of that, if it's true.]

Interested in tagging along?

It would depend upon the state of the city, among other things. If it is consumed by the Calamity, I am unable to go there without provoking further spread of it.

[Not bothered by the grin, keeping himself alert. His pace hadn't changed but there was something different in his posture. A shift in how he carried himself, as crimson eyes scanned around warily.

He thought he'd sensed something...not sure if he'd heard it, or simply it was an awareness born of experience.]

What are you talking about?

[It's a strange enough remark that it causes her to stop in her tracks and turn to face him.]

We spent weeks in the Heran Research Facility, in the very heart of the Calamity. It didn't seem to have any profound effects worth noting.

[Then she, too, starts to feel a mild prickle at her senses. It isn't anything she can see or hear, but nonetheless, her instincts are sharp. Given how flat the plains are, it shouldn't take them too long to discover the source.]

[He stopped as well, alert and poised, but not worried yet.]

Those of us bearing crystals that are not white, only provoke the spread of the Calamity.

[Explaining, even as crimson-eyes are looking around.]

Ahhhh.

[She relaxes, understanding. And appreciating the simple explanation.]

I wonder why that is.

[If he knows, she'd love to share that knowledge. For now, she readies her spear since it's obvious to the both of them that something is coming, and is unlikely to be friendly.]

That didn't take long~

[Vincent had no answer for why, although he could suggest some people who might know. Lucrecia had certainly seemed to think it only made sense... Instead his right hand moved, hovering by his fire-arm.]

I doubt we're so lucky to find a Malboro so quick--

[Cut off, before he was diving to the side in a dodge as something large swooped at them.

A wyvern, as it dove at them with its hind-legs prepared to try and snatch them. Rake them with claws, catch some dinner. Grass flattened as the beast's wings sent it aloft once more, and Vincent came up in a crouch with firearm-drawn. Tracking their opponent, before letting out a Burst Shot with the explosive bullet lighting up the sky for a moment.]

[Where Vincent has gone to the side, Lust is nowhere to be seen.]

[Unless you happen to look up.]

[The Dragoon's trademark jumping ability has come in handy on more than one occasion, particularly when there aren't any low cave ceilings to worry about. On the open plain, she's free to move as she pleases.]

[As she descends, there's almost a wild gleam of delight in her eye as the tip of her hooked spear lances toward her target.]

[This wyvern is no pushover monster like the others, however. It's fast, swooping to the side with a squawk as Lust stabs nothing more than grass. She leaps back to avoid a swipe of claws, then back once more, before reversing her direction sharply to lunge at the winged reptile. Hopefully Vincent's aim is good.]

[But even if it's not and he shoots Lust, it isn't as if she'd hold it against him.]

[His aim was good, so she needn't worry about that. The staccato beat of gunfire pierces the night, keeping the Wyvern on its guard as she gets in close.]

[Not that Vincent his a stationary target, as he's moving while firing. Keeping low to the ground, agility and movement not hindered as he's focusing on harrying the wyvern from afar while she engages up close. It will take time, and he's taking care with his shots. Both to not waste ammo, as well as to not hit his companion.]

[The wyvern is tougher than it seems. Lust estimated it wouldn't take more than thirty seconds at maximum, but their attacks aren't hurting it all that much. Its armor is impressive, and its determination to kill them is equal to their determination to slay it.]

[It raises itself up higher, and starts to inhale as it prepares to breathe fire at its targets.]

[But Lust isn't allowing it the luxury of attacking at a distance. Vincent has a long range, and she can Jump right after it, even if she can't pull off any complicated aerial moves that a flier could. She lances straight for it, forcing it to dodge aside and hiss in annoyance. It snaps at Lust, and she slashes at it with a sweeping arc of her weapon before she descends. It dives at her.]

[The talons strike across the left side of her chest and shoulder, and dig deep, yet Lust doesn't cry out or even flinch. She stabs at its eyes to force it back to the defensive, and she takes a step back. Warm blood trickles down her pale skin, but she acts as if she's completely unaware of her injury.]

[It's not that homunculi cannot feel pain -- it's just that they're extremely accustomed to it, so much so that it fails to bother her at all unless her injury is crippling.]

[Vincent is used to dealing with enemies like this, even if it's been a while. Making use of his primary job to prepare a Charge Shot, reloading as he moved. Focusing and calling on the Shunshin of his ninja job, to keep his agility and speed up.]

[Not that the Wyvern was making it easy, as it left Lust for the moment to dive at him. Striking out with a claw, Vincent met it with his own gauntlet, sliding back from the impact and aiming. Counter-attack and charge-shot, point blank. Sending the beast flying away again, and he took a moment to assess his companion's injuries from afar.]

Doom.

[If he's adept at seeing in the dark, he may be able to see that they're pretty bad, but not so much that it impedes her ability to fight...or to cast a spell that will assuredly kill the Wyvern regardless of how resistant it is to their weapons and spells.]

[It wavers slightly, reeling with an angry hiss. It might know what she did to it, it might not, but it doesn't look happy either way. It's got its attention back on her, which is how it should be. She's got far better armor than Vincent. Not more than two seconds later she aggressively leaps at it once more, to give Vincent the space he needs to fire with his gun.]

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Intro Log || Melodies of Eternity

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