Intro Log || The Deep Breath Before The Plunge

[melodiesmods]

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...?

Comments

[brandnewday]

[Arrival]

[Hibiki thinks she's finally going home. There's that gun, that gun that sends people to other dimensions. She's found hers. Seconds ago, she'd been rubbing her right eye, right over the scar that had been left there after running through the revival machine. Everything had been awful, but with Dorika in hand, she was finally going home, and—

This isn't right at all. She'd heard voices, a really timid voice, and when she's awake she's wearing something completely different, some sort of dance outfit with blue highlights. After scrambling to her feet in a bit of a panic, she looks down at the crystal in her hand. She looks down at the small Moogle who seems excited to see her. She looks at the airships, the nonhumans walking by, the...the everything.

And she knows she's in another world again.]

What the heck?!?!

[Elsewhere]

[This is weird. This is really weird. How is this so weird? She's been killed, she's been revived, and now she feels sort of like she's stuck in a fantasy manga. This isn't what being an idol is all about. This isn't the life she signed up for, but here she is. With her chicken in her arm, she makes her way to a few places.

First up, she stops by the laboratory at her Moogle's suggestion. Hibiki is not interested at all in reading her file, she's been through the whole "everyone is watching you" crap before. Anyone is welcome to notice her locking her file before she even reads it. Next, she heads to try and eat, and she can be found with her Moogle paying for some vegetables or in an alley giving some feed to her feathered friend. Her last stop is her new place in B-12. She unlocks the door, not sure what she's going to find or who she's apparently living with.]

[Chase: Closed to Sparks Nevada]

[Something weird is right in front of her.

Hibiki and Dorika duck behind a well-placed barrel, Kathy floating behind them. They've been following the blue creature for a few minutes now, determined only because Hibiki is convinced that blue creature is harassing that poor Moogle. Sure enough, the Moogle ducks into a building and the creature follows, leaving Hibiki to run a bit closer, ducking behind a cart.

When she hears footsteps behind her, she doesn't even both to turn.]

Shhhh! Just get down, something suspicious is goin' on!

July 10th - House B-12

[shepherd_prince]

[Chrom is not there to greet Hibiki. That's because he was super dead on the day new Heroes were summoned. But he does return on the following Sunday, entering the house looking tired in body and spirit. Kulevi met him along the way and told him that someone new had moved into the house, and as it was a girl, she'd been given Robin's room.]

[That sense of finality hits pretty hard, but what can be done? Time moves on, and the needs of the people remain. At least she would have had ample opportunity to meet Pyrrha, who seems as friendly and easygoing as a young warrior can be. Chrom stops at the market on the way home to pick up a bag of fresh fruit and vegetables.]

[Pushing open the door, he carries the groceries to the table, puts them down, and takes a moment to lean against it. He won't mope, he tells himself. He knows how distracted and distant he can be after losing a loved one, and he'd prefer not to have sense punched into his face again.]

Pyrrha? Are you home?

[He doesn't see her shield hanging near the door. Ah, well. He'll just put the groceries away for now and keep an eye out for the newcomer.]

[brandnewday]

[Ah, there's someone here.

Hibiki is relaxing in her room. She's had a lot on her mind between the fact there's a crystallized version of herself in the hospital and the whole "can't seem to get home" feeling she has. It's a little annoying, but at least it's not as annoying as the time she was murdered.

She makes her way downstairs, leaving Dorika in her room. She doesn't announce herself, she instead chooses to peer around the corner as she descends the stairs. Nope, no man here. She moves further into the living room and then starts heading into the kitchen.

This man better be Chrom or she's going to flip her lid at some creepy guy entering her house. Kathy, the tiny Moogle walking behind Hibiki, had at least informed her of both roommates before meeting either of them.]

You're Chrom, right? [She can't really be suspicious, it's very unlikely that he's a burglar who breaks into houses and replenishes their groceries. Chrom will notice that there's a lot of new food in the house because of Hibiki, lots of rice and fresh greens and spices.] You're the old guy who lives here, too, aren't you.

[There's only one answer to that question, and it better be "yes."]

[shepherd_prince]

Old?

[He isn't sure what to say to that. In what crazy world does this girl live in where 19 is considered old? Then again, he supposes that his voice and appearance do seem more mature than most others around his age. He nods slowly.]

Right. I'm Chrom. You must have moved in while I was in stasis.

[He sets his purchases down on the counter.]

Did you move into the empty single room, or the double with all of the swords on display?

[Either one will bring some small measure of discomfort, just of different kinds.]

[brandnewday]

H-hibiki, I didn't say old, I said older than you!

[The voice is small and quiet. The Moogle assigned to Hibiki walks up next to her. She's small—she's about as small as a Moogle can be and still help out a Hero of Light, like she's only grown an inch or two since finishing her childhood. She's a little timid, too, looking at Chrom and then looking away shyly.]

H-huh? You were in stasis? I didn't know that...I'm sorry!

[Stasis is weird to her, like, really weird. Did Chrom notice on his way out that there's a version of Hibiki herself in Crystal Stasis? Probably not, but he might notice if he ever heads back there. The only difference is that this Hibiki has a scar on her eye.]

I definitely didn't move into the room with the swords. Why does anyone need so many swords? I only looked in there once.

[shepherd_prince]

[Chrom's expression relaxes into a friendly smile. He shakes his head at her apology with a faint chuckle.]

It's all right. As you can see, the stasis was beneficial to my health.

[He won't tell her that he died peacefully, because he definitely didn't. Several bones had been snapped, he'd been mangled, and then set on fire. He'd died horrifically in a lot of pain. But that would only cause her further distress, as well as cast his manipulated attacker into a negative light that wasn't deserved.]

[Chrom stepped forward and offered a gloved hand to shake hers in greeting.]

Welcome to Crystallis. I'm sorry I couldn't greet you earlier, but I hope you've found this place comfortable.

[As for the swords? Ah ha ha...ha...]

Each one bears a different elemental property. There are many monsters which are nigh invulnerable save for one particular weakness. ...I'd like to say this is my only reason, but in truth, I can't help but admire the craftsmanship that goes into each. I'm a swordsman myself.

[red_planet_blues]

You're not kiddin'.

[Sparks has seen a lot of people fall into crystal stasis in his long time on this planet, but he's seen very few return from it. He stands behind Hibiki, hand on his hip, unaware of the strange blue alien that ducked into the building just moments earlier. He looked around to see what they were spying on, but sees nothing.]

Seein' someone outta crystal stasis is more surprisin' than suspicious, though, if ya ask me.

[brandnewday]

What the heck is a crystal stasis?

[Hibiki looks over her should at Sparks. It's a brief glance, just long enough for him to notice that her right eye has a curved scar running over it. She quickly turns her attention back to the scene of the crime. That was clearly some kind of chase between Moogle and Bluething, and going into an old-looking building like that...she steels herself, expecting that she might need to jump into action.]

Just keep watchin'! That poor, cute Moogle was bein' chased for a while...what's up with that?

[red_planet_blues]

It's, uh, the thing. The thing you were in. In the hospital?

[What's with that scar? Has Hibiki been replaced by an evil twin? What's going on here?]

... Wait, what? Chased by who?

[brandnewday]

What hospital? ...Are you tryin' to use a pick-up line on me?

[Why else would he pretend to know her?

She's distracted from the awkwardness when the situation changes. The blue creature runs out of the building with a kupo nut, and now the Moogle is giving chase.]

H-hey! He stole that! Let's go!

[red_planet_blues]

What?! No. You were--

[Then he spots the alien. Forever everything. New priorities have shown up.]

What the--? Hey, get back here! Police orders!

[And he breaks off after it as fast as he can.]

Laboratory

[line_piece]

[It doesn't take long to lock a file in the lab, but it's enough time for Chiaki to recognize an old friend from close to her own arrival. She tilts her head for a moment to make sure she's got the right person - that eye scar is new, after all - but then she calls out from the lab bench where she's working on her research.]

...Hibiki? You're back?

[brandnewday]

[Hibiki jumps when her name is called, not unlike a child who's just been caught doing something they aren't supposed to be doing. She checks the screen again. Yep. Locked, definitely locked. She slowly turns around, lifting her hand in greeting.]

H-haisai! ...Who're you? I'm allowed to be in here, right?

['You're back'? What?]

[line_piece]

You don't remember me?

[Chiaki frowns briefly, but the expression is soon replaced by one of curiosity.]

...You are Hibiki, right? Or did she have a long lost twin sister, maybe?

[brandnewday]

Mm, nope. Can't say I've ever met ya!

[This is a little puzzling, though.]

I've got a brother, but he's a jerk. And...how do ya know my name, exactly? This is gettin' a little creepy.

[line_piece]

Huh. That's weird.

[Chiaki spends a few moments quietly thinking before she seems to remember that Hibiki is still in front of her.]

...You've been here before. But it might not have happened to you yet. Or maybe it was an alternate universe version of you. But there was definitely a Hibiki Ganaha here.

House B-12

[pole_position]

[Given what day it is, Pyrrha isn't too surprised to hear someone knocking at the door of the house she and Chrom live in. There must be a new Hero of Light assigned to live with them. So when she answers the door, she puts on her best friendly smile, waving only somewhat awkwardly when she opens it.]

Oh, hello! Can I help you?

[brandnewday]

[Hibiki is going to do her best to power through this. With Dorika at her side and a tiny Moogle looking a little uncomfortable down by her feet, she nods in greeting.]

Hey there! This is kinda strange, huh? ...I think I'm your new roommate, but if you're busy, I can come back later!

[pole_position]

It's not that strange, really. On my first day here, I almost fell into a pit trap trying to come here to introduce myself.

[She gives a nervous little laugh, realizing how strange it must have sounded to hear something like that right off the bat.]

...But it's all right, I'm not busy at all!

[brandnewday]

A pit trap?! That sounds really dangerous! How'd ya get out of it?!

[Hibiki, she said 'almost.' She latches onto that idea, though, because it sounds like something out of a cartoon. That sounds. Better than the reality, really, give her a while to let it sink in.]

[pole_position]

Well... I dodged out of the way at the last second. I've been trained to notice things like that.

[She's still looking a little sheepish, but slightly less so.]

Somewhere Around?

[forcegalactic]

[It's a brand new day, leading to brand new starts. That is, if you ignore all that murder that occurred the past few days. Mordecai's used to seeing random bystanders die, and he hasn't been as affected as certain members of the police force. That is why it's business as usual at the Space Saloon. He arrives at the regular hour to open up.

A cart of drinks arrives before noon, and he leaves his employees in charge of the bar and kitchen while he looks over the recent delivery. He'd have remained hidden from Hibiki's view as she walked by if one of the handymen hadn't opened the door.]

"Need any help, Barkeep?"

[A very familiar figure stands up from his crouched position behind the boxes, though he's wearing layers of flowing robes, and speaks in a very familiar voice.]

I'm-a tellin' you, I'll call you over when I need it!

[Honestly! He has to go over the paperwork first! Some of his workers clearly don't have experience.]

this thread now takes place on the moon since Mutant didn't specify

[brandnewday]

[♫Ima, hajimaru It's a Brand New Day!♪ And the last thing she's definitely going to think about is all the murder that occurred the last few weeks. It's kind of a drag, being stuck in a place where everyone just dies all the time.

Really, she's gonna keep walking as far she can, and then...

...and then...

......and then.]

M-m-mordercai Belmont Jiminy-san?!?!

[There are times in your life when you exclaim someone's full name because they're the last person you're expecting to see. Were others here? Maybe Morty or Ashley or even Elise?]

What the heck are ya doin' over there?!

We did it. We broke the game.

[forcegalactic]

[There he goes, dropping that clipboard. Who said that? Who told a complete stranger what his full name is? Sparks? Ramza? Vincent?! Okay, the latter is pretty plausible if he did it in revenge.

The real problem is who on the street knows.]

Who is it? How'd you know my name? [What if its an Avatar? Are they going to kill him?

The delivery boy watches his client, confused, and bends over to pick up the clipboard while keeping a steady eye on the crazy old man.]

well she's gonna break him at least

[brandnewday]

What're you talkin' about?! I've known your name since day one! They put it right up there with everyone else's.

[This is Aqures Ixen, but maybe...just maybe...]

Is Harriet around here, too? So this is where you work...it's kinda shabbier than I thought it'd be.

[She's still a little rude, but she means well!]