melodiesoflife | Intro Log || The Deep Breath Before The Plunge

Entry tags:

Intro Log || The Deep Breath Before The Plunge

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of July. 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: N/A.

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.

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 the Festival of Light nearing, there are a lot of folks working hard to set up the upcoming event! And besides this, there are a lot of things to do in the city for newcomers. Moogles are working hard in Mognet Office of the ninth district! 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. There is however the impression that everyone is on edge, and a lot more officers from the law enforcement in the streets. Why could it be...?

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. It seems all the computer shut down recently, but the people working in the lab are restarting everything. The screens seem to indicate the "summoning process" is over and that the Crystal of Fire's energy level are dangerously. 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 couple Moogles and a few nurses will be waiting by the room, and they will welcome all characters waking up. Upon exiting the room, they will also meet a lot of guards, and they all have for order to shoot anyone that comes out of this room without a Moogle. Hopefully you won't try running out without waiting for your Moogle. As for why the guards are so on edge, it might be a good idea to ask the other Heroes of Light about what happened last year.

Very Close Encounters of the Thirteenth Kind
— 14:00 —
Characters venturing by the Ninth District at this time will be able to see a most peculiar and unexpected sight. They will see a strange blue creature running after a Moogle, with the later looking particularly distressed. Before anyone could have a chance to react, the two of them entered a building... And a few minutes later, the blue creature could be seen emerging from the building, running away with a Kupo Nut in hand. In a surprising reversal, this time the Moogle is the one pursuing the blue creature. Needless to say, the Moogle looks furious at this turn of event.

Trying to pursue the blue creature will result in failure and it will disappear. What could it mean...?

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Give Ophelia time for her imagination to cool off and her emotions too--it's been not easy for the Heroes. She worries, given her own Hero is prone to brooding too and blaming himself overly. Another sigh, and she wrings her scarf in her hands. "Miss Lavellan. I really am sorry though, kupo. It's been a rough few days. All of you are so different, and have different reactions and it's worrying how some people deal with grief kupo."

Then she's waving a paw, and gesturing for the other to follow her to a bench, out of the main way of foot traffic. Fluttering, she perches on the back of the bench and holds out her hand. "I'm Ophelia. Also a companion moogle to one of the Heroes of Light, although mine is running errands right now too."

"There's no need to apologize," she interjected, following the well-accessorized moogle to the bench. With a nod, she sat herself down. "A pleasure, Ophelia. And there is no need to apologize. It's a commendable attitude, even if the general populace may not see it as such."

When her best friend had given the advice that even a charitable act could be turned against her, she took it to heart. Though it didn't truly stop her from being perhaps too lenient in her judgments. "Hopefully I can be of assistance."

"I hope you can too kupo." It was a bit more sad and heartfelt than Ophelia ever let slip before. She was worried--not just about the Heroes, but about everything. Then she's shaking her head, and pawing at her scarf again in distraction before turning to the other new arrival.

"I can try and answer some questions for you kupo, since your own returned to letter duty for the moment."

"Hm, where to start..." she pondered absentmindedly, placing a finger to her chin. There were so many questions she could ask, but with the obvious out of the way, she decided to focus on the current mood of the city. "You mentioned that a few of the other 'heroes' were blaming each other for an incident, and I couldn't help but notice the show of force those in uniform are attempting to make. Am I incorrect to believe the two are related?"

"Has anyone actually told you what happened kupo?" Because that would be the best place to start. Then Ophelia was looking around, even as they were on the side of the street it was still busy.

"Actually, could we go to the Library kupo? That way I can look more up if you want, and my Hero works there too."

"Falon mentioned there were deaths," she admitted, keeping her voice low so that only the moogle would hear over the den of the street. "He may have left out the details."

At the mention of the library she seems to straighten herself before standing. "Lead the way."

Ophelia nodded to both statements, and started to lead the way. Speaking quietly as she did and providing some directions for how to navigate the city. Giving her the overview of which sector was which, and how to get around.

It wasn't a long walk all told, before they arrived in the 3rd district. Museums and the Crystal of Fire were the most prominent features in this area. Leading the way to a less overstated building but still grand, it was the closest Aquares Ixen had to a general Library. Once inside, Ophelia greeted some of the other moogles working, before motioning for her to wait. "I'll go find him, Miss Lavellan. It shouldn't take too long."

Ellana listens intently, following the moogle in a silence she was probably oddly familiar with at this point. With the occasional request for clarification, of course. As they neared the Library, however, her eyes widened ever so slightly at the size of the building. It may have paled in comparison to its surrounding structures, yet the twinkle in her eyes was likely hard not to notice.

"Alright," she agreed with a nod when they entered, eyes wandering to a nearby shelf. Hopefully by the time Ophelia returned, she wouldn't have finished the first book.

Ophelia wasn't bothered by the silence at all. If anything, she was used to it from her own hero. Ellana might not even have time to get that engrossed, as it didn't take the moogle long to return.

Not far behind her also was a tall man in a dark suit, books under one arm. Long black hair, bangs held from his face by a red-bandanna, and crimson eyes as he made his way over. His left hand was covered with a leather glove under the suit-jacket. "Miss Lavellan kupo?" Ophelia said, just enough to catch her attention but her voice quiet in the library. "This is my Hero of Light, Vincent Valentine." A nod from the dark-haired man.

Too late, she was already thirteen pages into the book she'd picked up from the shelf when she heard her voice called. With a momentary pout, she lifted her left hand to tuck a strand behind her pointed ear. It likely wasn't hard to notice the so-green-it-nearly-glowed markings seared into her skin, but she seemed to not even notice it at this point. Instead, she seemed to switch from her fascination with the particular work to the one who addressed her; face as serene as could be for one wwell-versed in politics.

"A pleasure, Mr. Valentine." She greeted him, her voice kept low as if she'd taken an unseen cue from Ophelia. Lowering her hand, she glanced to Ophelia. It had been her idea to come here after all.

Edited 2016-07-22 07:45 (UTC)

Vincent looked as stoically as he always did, and Ophelia moved to her usual perch on his shoulder. "Ophelia says you're a new arrival, Miss Lavellan."

Tucking her scarf around her, Ophelia kept her voice quiet and filled in "I didn't tell him much kupo. Just that and your name, and that you had questions."

"I am," she admitted readily. "While I am unfortunately accustomed to being flung into someone else's problems, I like to be as informed as possible. So any help would be greatly appreciated."

Though where to begin, she wasn't entirely certain. Falon had left plenty of things to uncover, despite his best attempts at the moment. Asking about the reported deaths seemed like beating a weeks-dead gurn carcass at this point. Though part of her wondered if Ophelia was simply too afraid to answer since she let slip she was an inquisitor. "I was inquiring on the increased guard and was about to ask Ophelia about the 'crystal of fire' when we arrived." Quickly, she added, "To my knowledge, when you start hearing the red speaking to you..."

Bad shit happens.

That was a curious statement, and while Ophelia tilted her head in curiosity, Vincent had no other reaction to her words. "I was unaware the Crystal of Fire had started speaking..." That had Ophelia's face whipping towards her Hero--she thought he knew him, but that might've been a joke. Maybe, given how it was delivered.

Eventually she shook her head, pom waving as she did so. "I don't get it, kupo." Soothed a bit though, when Vincent reached up and pet her shoulder under her scarf. Moving from her perch, she ooph'd slightly as he passed her the books he'd been carrying. "If you'll put those away for me, Ophelia, I'll take over from here."

Well, she was interrupting him at his job...

His attention once more on the new arrival, he tilted his head in a direction to follow him. "There are smaller study-cubicles this way. Easier not to disturb other patrons, and I will try to answer what I can."

The moogle may never know, because for all intents and purposes, she was perhaps both joking and being deadly serious. It was an art form she may have picked up from a few she'd met previously. Wordlessly, the inquisitor followed him.

It wasn't a long walk, Ophelia fluttering in another direction with the books given to her. Finding an empty room via the open-door to it, Vincent let the Ellana in first, before moving behind and closing the door save for a crack. Enough to signify the room was in use and ensure privacy.

"I should start by asking what your companion moogle did tell you."

She began to list what Falon had mentioned before stating that he had "a few more letters to retrieve". That she was in Crystallis, and more specifically the city of Aqures Ixen. That she was expected to help save them from the Calamity of the Skies, and he was to help her in doing so. Also not to be too worried about all the extra police on duty, and that some had died. Several locals and one Hero 'permanently'. As if there were more than her now permanently dead archnemesis who'd figured out effective immortality to her knowledge.

"Other than my house number, I'd say that is all."

Vincent made sure he was not blocking the door; certainly Ellana wasn't trapped--he'd just thought it better to discuss things in private. Listening patiently, and slightly glad that Ophelia had found her. Seemed her Moogle had given her only the barest of basics.

"Crystallis is the world we find ourselves on currently, pulled from our own world to be 'Heroes of Light', and stop a calamity that manifests itself by turning anything it touches into crystal. Moogles are assigned as our companions, aiding us in sending of letters as well as guiding us to understanding the basics of this world since it's sometimes vastly different from what a Hero might be used to. Aquares Ixen is the city that has agreed to help those called to be Heroes of Light, by giving us housing and a small stipend, so that we might do our 'job'. That is...the simple version of things."

A pause, waiting to see if she had any questions so far.

"Heroes of Light usually arrive in the vicinity of an Elemental Crystal, most likely the Crystal of Fire although there have been exceptions. Within our possession are also small crystals which contain our link to both our homeworld, and supposedly a link to the calamity as well. It is what also allows us to wield two jobs, and to swap out jobs within reason, via our moogles. When you arrived...it was likely you had a vision and a rememberance. This is common to all Heroes of Light."

If she'd felt trapped, she would have made it obvious by now. Instead she crossed her arms as she listened, shifting her weight to one side as she inclined her head to listen. Gods, this shem was tall even for their standards.

Yet she is quiet as he explains, nodding at the parts she knew of from Falon. The mention of the vision and this "remembrance" thing gave her a reason to pause. Remembering... what, per se?

"And here I thought I'd seen weird shit before," she remarked under her breath. Perhaps this was a karmic way to say that, no, she hadn't yet seen everything just yet. The crystal remained in her pocket, but two things immediately came to mind. "A 'link to the calamity'?"

"Supposedly. It's complicated, and you'd have to inquire more in the reports left by a researcher named Palitutu, and those looking into them. What IS confirmed is that it's a cycle, and has been ongoing for quite some time now."

Vincent trying to think of how best to explain... Honestly he didn't fully understand it all, so found it difficult to try and explain to another. "Because the Heroes of Light always appear when the Calamity threatens, there is a small link within the crystal to the Calamity, and vice-versa." A faint shrug, although his expression was stoic as ever. "There are Heroes researching this who could explain it more clearly."

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Intro Log || The Deep Breath Before The Plunge

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what have you done, Ophelia

Ophelia only does good things, shush!

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