A Search for Answers (backdated to November 13)

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia and Lightning have been talking for a while about checking out the lost city of Aqures Tosf. Surely, there must be answers there; it's the original resting place of the Crystal of Fire before it destroyed the city, crystallizing the inhabitants it didn't kill outright. With Aqures Ixen nearly coming to the same end on The Night of the Thirteen Moogles, answers are needed more than ever.

What awaits on that forsaken island? Marvels? Horros? Treasure? The truth? No one knows. Will you take on the challenge?


[Aqures Ixen Airship Port]

The Heroes gather at the Airship Port to depart on their flight to Balicea. Who is coming along? Why? What do you hope to find on this journey? One word of advice: don't be late. Ashelia cannot abide tardiness.

[Airship Ride to Balicea]

The ride on the ship is short, but it doesn't have to be uneventful. Is this your first time on an airship? Time to find out if you get airsick.

[Balicea]

The Heroes arrive in Balicea on a mission. Ashelia tells everyone that they'll have the day to themselves to explore, but they should be at the docks the next morning bright and early. Ashelia will make sure they have a ship chartered to take them to Aqures Tosf.

[The Voyage to the Lost City]

Ashelia hopes that some of the Heroes coming along are better sailors than she - not one captain was willing to take them to Aqures Tosf. It looks to be a safe enough voyage with the weather, but running a ship is no small feat and Ashelia is an amateur.

[The Lost City of Aqures Tosf]

This is it. The Heroes have arrived. What awaits them? Will they learn anything that will help them unravel the mysteries of the Crystals? Or will the strong creatures that have made the ruins of the once-great city their home prove to be too much?

Comments

Aqures Ixen Airship Port

[desertbloomed]

Aqures Ixen Airship Port

[umslay]

Ales had been up since dawn preparing for his first real airship flight since he officially became a pilot. He had planned to start right after receiving his license, but the total shutdown of Shoopuf Airlines last month ruined his plans. This time, however, he was sure that he was going to get there early and make his first passenger flight his best.

Once he woke up Mimi, they prepared a more decent breakfast than usual, and together they left for the Aqures Ixen station. His uniform was new, unworn since he received it, though he kept his usual hat one. They spent an hour checking their papers and looking over the ship, reviewing where everything was.

An hour before they would begin boarding passengers, he decided to take a walk outside the station, looking over at how many people he would be transporting. Not that he never flew a flying ship before, but this would be the first time that that people he didn't know where on it as well.

Scanning the small crowd, he noticed a familiar face.

"So you're coming on this trip?" he asked as he walked up to them.

Aqures Ixen Airship Port

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza greeted the little blue pilot.

"Yes, once the boarding gate is put into place," he replied with a little smile, making light of himself that last time he had tried to board the airship.

He looked over Ales' new uniform. "Will you be taking the helm on this journey?" he asked.

Re: Aqures Ixen Airship Port

[umslay]

Ales smiled, remembering the time he last traveled with Ramza, waiting for the boarding plank.

"Of course I will. This will be my first official commercial flight!" He lifted the sides of his uniform to show off the Shoopuf Airlines logo on them. "I'm pretty excited to finally have the change to fly one of these things by myself!"

[desertbloomed]

"I should think so," Ashelia replied curtly. She was standing by the gate, looking at a large scroll she had unfurled before her. It was a detailed sea chart of the central waters between the continents.

She looked down at Ales, her concentration broken. She broke into an ever so slight smile as she nodded courteously at the Teensie. "I am glad we are to have one of our own to guide us on this first leg of our journey. Preparations are on schedule, I hope?"

[umslay]

Ales tried to see what she was looking at by standing behind the scroll and checking if the light shown through it. No such luck, and he wasn't going to ask to climb her to see what she was looking at.

"Of course everyone's going according to schedule; you've got me as a pilot and one of the most organized crews in the company!" He gave her a tip of his hat. "Is everything ready on your end?"

Aqures Ixen Airship Port [Open]

[shinrasfinest]

He hadn't replied to the letter yesterday, couldn't quite find the words with which to reply to Ashelia. Spencer had advised him to stay away if he wasn't going to commit, and that's why he was without the moogle now. Less than a month ago and he would have insisted on being part of the clearly important expedition to Aqures Tosf, but now -considering that it would have been the fate of Aqures Ixen if he-

If the Calamity hadn't been stopped? Thousands of years ago, or only last month? To say Sephiroth were still having a crisis of conscience in the aftermath of his brainwashing would be an understatement. He'd already communicated the same to Ashelia as well, and only her, for even having moved into living with Angeal and Zack he still preferred to soldier on alone; being all that he'd ever done.

He arrived at the Airship Port promptly at the allocated time, as usual for anything he might put himself forwards for. He wasn't dressed in his armor and that might be the clue as to his intention to stay behind. It had gotten colder in Aqures Ixen and even he needed to cover up, being as he was back to being weaker once more. A light grey turtleneck sweater poked out from the folds of his leather trenchcoat where he had gone bare chested before. Arms folded as usual as he took stock of those that would be appearing here soon to depart for that destroyed City.

Aqures Ixen Airship Port [Open]

[goddessofthesky]

"Sephiroth?" Her voice sounded small as addressed him. She couldn't help but feel nervous. She still remembered that night clearly and part of her was afraid. It wasn't in her to back down or show that weakness though. She put on a gentle smile, determined to be strong.

She had come to see everyone off but hadn't expected to see the tense solder there as well. A basket was tucked under her arm and Kopula hovered nearby eyeing Sephiroth like a mouse would eye a cat. Zelda wore her light brown cloak and a light green dress underneath it. Her hair was loose but tied down due to the scarf around her neck. "Are you going too?"

Aqures Ixen Airship Port [Open]

[shinrasfinest]

He wasn't sure that he recognized the small voice behind him to begin with but as Sephiroth turned his head over a leather-clad shoulder to look who it might be, he carefully engineered a half step back with a turn to face the blonde princess whom he had killed. Her expression, the tears that had fell from her face, shot across his memories like a flash of lightning but outwardly Sephiroth managed -ever the professional- to hold his composure. He too, was ever-so determined to maintain his strength in the face of adversity, or in this case, an awkward encounter that had only been a matter of time before he'd be faced with.

Sharp eyes, alight once more with remnants of the Mako he'd had infused once more last month, sought out Kopula and noted well the way that the moogle acted around him. No great surprise really. Equally carefully, he answered Zelda.

"I had considered it-" Obvious as it was, from his low tone, that he'd already decided against it. "-but no. Still it's important to wish them luck"

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia saw Sephiroth from across the way. She was surprised, but pleasantly so. His sword would be welcome on the trip, and she couldn't think of a better way for him to start settling his conscience over what had happened than helping with the investigation of the Lost City. The information they would glean from the trip would make all the difference Could make all the difference, she corrected herself. There were never any guarantees.

The queen approached the general, pack and supplies left with Merlose, who was going over her itinerary. "Sephiroth. 'Tis good to see you. You are..." It was then she clued in to his dress and lack of supplies. "You will not be accompanying us?"

Aqures Ixen Airship Port

[holycrows]

Henry showed up a few minutes before the scheduled departure time. He had packed lightly, he was used to wearing the same clothes for a long amount of time, so he really only brought along a few undershirts and other unmentionables. It's not like Armor went bad or anything. In addition he had some dried meats and berries, just in case, though he could stock up more in Balicea.

He was excited though. There hadn't been much action since for him since the factory invasion, and he was a bit sad that he had slept through the time when everyone went kill crazy (though he had been feeling poorly that entire month, colds suck, don't they?), so it was a great opportunity to go somewhere else, explore, and probably beat up some bad guys.

Aqures Ixen Airship Port [Open]

[goddessofthesky]

Zelda wore her light brown cloak and a light green dress underneath it. Her hair was loose but tied down due to the scarf around her neck. She smiled at those she knew and waved.

She hadn't planned to go on the trip but she got some provisions together for those who did. She couldn't help but worry and she hoped that they would be safe in their travels. A basket was tucked under her arm and Kopula was fluttering by her side waiting for instructions on what to retrieve from it. It was mostly filled with homemade snacks and a few winter hats for those who didn't seem to bring any of their own.

[desertbloomed]

"Zelda," came a voice from nearby. Ashelia approached the young woman, smiling warmly. "Come to see us off? I must thank you - your presence will do much for morale." It was already doing wonders for Ashelia - receiving a letter from Zelda was one thing, but seeing her live and well was an entirely different matter.

Airship Ride to Balicea

[desertbloomed]

The Pilot's Room

[umslay]

[Ales is busy at his station, seeing that's he's the one flying everyone. Typically, only other crew members are allowed to speak with him, though if someone wanted to, they could barge in an face the consequences.

However, Mimi flies in and out of the navigation room, relaying any messages between him and the other Heroes if they wish to.]

Airship Deck

[whereishe]

Yunie had made sure to blend at the port and go relatively unnoticed by the other heroes. Not many of them knew her so it was an easy task. She wasn't usually anti-social but she had a lot to think about and hoped this trip might give her the answers that she was looking for.

She leaned forward with her elbows against the railing of the ships deck looking out at the passing clouds. She missed being on her airship but it felt nice to be able to ride one again. The breeze made her smile and for a moment she forgot everything that had been on her mind the days before. Things might be changing but that didn't mean they had to be bad. It was true she was alone again but she just had to adjust.

Yunie was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't notice those moving around her.

Balicea

[desertbloomed]

Balicea On the Beach [Open]

[zodiac_brave]

It would take a day for a ship to be chartered to bear them to their final destination. Ramza had already prepared his supplies for their quest, and he had checked out most of the town's small shops on his last visit here. With a little time to kill, he decided to explore the beaches of Balicea.

There was a slight chill in the air, but the sun shone and the air was much warmer than back in the city of Aqures Ixen. A bit cold for a swim, but Ramza had never cared much for swimming. Still, there was no reason not to enjoy the sand and relative warmth, especially after the stresses of the previous month.

The blond settled his pack in the sand and stripped out of his boots and armor. Underneath, he wore a short linen tunic, dyed a deep grey, and tan leather trousers. He rolled up the trouser legs as far as they would go and stepped out into the chilly water.

Balicea On the Beach [Open]

[thegreatninja]

Yuffie wasn't looking for anything in particular. She had set out to try and clear her head while staying out of Mooshoo's way. The moogle checked up on her every now and again but he knew that she had a lot on her mind and needed the time to think. The beach was her first stop in her trip and suffice to say she hadn't expected to see Ramza so undressed.

She walked up to the waters edge with a smile, her eyes studying muscles that she didn't know he had. "What cha doin'?"

The Voyage to the Lost City

[desertbloomed]

The Lost City of Aqures Tosf

[desertbloomed]

closed to Red

[red_planet_blues]

Going off from the group probably wasn't a smart move. He's used to going off on his own, and didn't think he was going to get this lost.

Whatever. Just had to get back to the airship. No big deal.

Except that this place was crawling with all manner of nasty monsters. The marshal is lucky that he's only currently tangoing with a black Elemental, and not a Tonberry. At first, he didn't even think it was hostile, those strange floating runes, until he got zapped by a Dark spell. He's surprised how much that hurt, but considering one of Sparks's Jobs was Paladin, it shouldn't be. When he tries to defend himself and throws a punch at it with his robot fists, nothing happens. Same when he tries slicing at it with his gunsword. The Elemental doesn't appreciate it though, and zaps him again, knocking Sparks to his knees.

"Dang, that smarts," he muttered, slowly rising again. "Don't know what yer game is here, you uh, whatever ya are, but yer not gonna keep me down just yet. Can it even hear me?"

[theredplainsrider]

How could a woman like her sneak on board an airship full of heroes bound for another land and not get noticed? Skill. She was The Red Plains Rider after all! Its what she did. She explored places and dished out her own brand of justice.

Of course after what happened a few weeks ago, Red had gone out on her own for a while. She had been mad at Sparks and at this whole place, but she would eventually get over it. She always did. A quick note to Sparks' Moogle had given her the time and day that he was going to leave. She had made sure to tell the other Red not to let Sparks know about this.

So it shouldn't be much of a surprise when a ginger on a Chocobo rides up with a spear looking ready for a fight. "Shell!"

Arrival at the City Gates - exploring the outer city

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia stopped at the gates of the ruined city, looking behind her briefly at the Heroes who had chosen to accompany her on this mission. They were a somewhat motley bunch, but so were the Heroes as a whole. The trip had gone smoothly enough so far, but here is where the real test would begin.

"Stay on your guard," the queen said just loud enough for the others to hear. "We've gone over the creatures said to lurk around these ruins. Be on the lookout. Communication is key if we are to find the answers we seek." With that she drew her sword, readied her shield in front of her and began walking slowly into the city proper.

[melodiesnpcs]

To say this city was in ruin would be an understatement. Not a living soul was to be seen anywhere, and yet for some reason distant noises could be heard. Sometimes it was a door slamming, at other times it was a window opening-- Or just something seemingly crawling on the ground. No doubt these noises were probably the countless monsters populating the town now, and indeed they could be seen in the distance and behind shadows, waiting for their preys.

Every eighty seconds, there was a muffled noise coming from the distance as if someone was trying to break through sealed doors with a battering ram. It's next to impossible to say where this noise came from, if it did come from anywhere. As if it wasn't enough, weather was quite dark and chilly. By the entrance of the city, they would find a burned Moogle plushie and a paper on the ground. The paper was ruined and barely readable , an announcement for some sort of celebration. Only a drawing from a dome could be seen, along with a few sentences:


GREAT EXPOSITION OF THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
- See all the latest archaeological discoveries -
July 27th - August 3rd

Design-wise, the city was divided into districts like Aqures Ixen, but each districts were very different and for the most part now cut off from each others. Three buildings in particular stood out: a castle far in the distance, much less impressive than the one back at Aqures Ixen. To the east there was a dome, similar to the one drawn on the paper. And much closer to the west, there was what appeared to be a Temple; identical in design to the Temple of Water and the Temple of Wind, but the upper part seemed to be gone.