melodiesoflife | Event || Strategy

[ The conference room is very vast, but all tables were removed to make room for the large amount of people. The room is bare of any decorations, except for a painting of the Queen in the far north and a map of Crystallis on the eastern wall. There are a few manservants serving drinks to the guests.

And there are a lot of people in this room—The characters might recognize some NPCs they have encountered previously. There is Cid, Biggs, Wedge, Prajapati, Kurma, Giibbs, O’aka, Merlose, Moglin and Varaha. Mograma is there as well but he’s kept under close watch. There is also a Tarutaru with a monocle, a Human with a fishing rod and a Hypello wearing a top hat—Most likely from Trano, Balicea and Flence. And of course, there are all the Heroes of Light. … Somehow for completely unexplained reasons, the Monster Arena old man is there as well. What is he even doing here? The world might never know.

Please reply to this thread for mingles amongst the Heroes of Light. Please don’t contact the NPCs directly here as there will not be mod replies. If you want to speak to the NPCs, please use the meeting thread or NPC contact. ]

[ When everyone is present, Wedge steps forward to speak. ]

Thank you everyone for your presence. I’d particularly like to thank the representatives of Trano Golsaucia, Esdham, Balicea, Mysidia, Hera, Flence and Aerilon who came over—And of course, the Heroes of Light. What we are to talk about here concerns not only all of us, but everyone on this planet as well. If we have summoned you here, this is bec-

[ At this point, Cid interrupted him and walked in front of poor old Wedge. ]

Everyone’s in this room will be dead or worse in two months, take or give a couple weeks.

[ He shrugged and pointed at himself before waving at Wedge and the other representatives in the room. ]

We’re going to die. [He then turned and looked at the Heroes of Light.] You’re going to be mashed into our beautiful planet while your worlds are going to be eviscerated till they turn into batteries. Meanwhile I figure Garland will engineer a repetition of all that and invite Palitutu for tea.

[ And with that he smiled to them all.]

Now that we’ve established the situation is as bad as it can get, we can discuss peacefully and efficiently for ways not to die.

[ Right now, things were going delightfully well. The leaders of every nation were there and so were her peers, her fellow Heroes of Light. Regardless of how disastrous the situation looked, she had no doubts together they would find the right course of action to take.

Unless they wanted to see the world end, they had to after all… If they didn’t start doing something within the next few months, it would be too late and all of their homeworlds would be destroyed. Of course, they didn’t have multiple options ahead of them.

In their ranks no one really knew how to defeat the Calamity and fools like the Sage remained silent on what they knew. But Garland would have to be defeated first. So long as Garland drew breath, he would oppose their every step toward defeating the Calamity or finding an alternative. They all knew that much by now. For if they didn’t go to confront Garland, he would go and confront them. And once both Palitutu and Garland would finally be out of the game…

No... That is a story best kept a secret till the end of all things, isn’t it?

So, Parasraya opted not to participate in the discussions. She had nothing to contribute that the other Heroes wouldn’t already. She just watched the discussions on the side, quietly. Could things get any better? ]

[Cloud's face was near a frown, but not quite. After all they'd been through this gathering still managed to not be outweighed by all the previous ones. They were running out of time and decisions had to be made. He still didn't like how in the dark he felt about things, but he was absolutely sure he and the other Heroes would be able to handle it. He didn't know if they would win, but he believed in their ability to at least try.

And so with a not quite frown but still a serious look on his face he roams about, sipping his drink while trying to catch snippets of what's being discussed. Trying to get a hint of what's to come before they begin.]

[There's that woman again. Mary can't be sure, but she swears she hasn't seen her since their last engagement with Palitutu. It's true that they've been busy with their own matters, but the fact that it's been nearly six months without another sighting makes her wonder. One would have at least expected to see her during the Starlight Celebration.

Calmly and plainly Mary approaches Parasraya, making no effort to hide her presence. She's been roaming the crowd anyway so she just makes the approach part of the circling of the room she's been doing anyway. When she finally comes up within a friendly distance of the woman she turns and looks at the rest of the gathering with her arms crossed.]

So, what do you make of all of this? Wish we had a better idea of whether or not we've done all we can before time runs out.

What a wonderful way to start the meeting, really.

[ The swordsman replied in the corner of the room, with his arms across his chest and his dog at his side. Yuri didn't look in the least bit amused by the blunt statement. At least the comment was more honest than beating around the bush. He wasn't the type to take people's lies well anyway. ]

Any thoughts on your side before I try to propose something?

[ He might as well hear what the other had to say first before making any decisions on his end. The situation got bad to worse.

[There was a face that, honestly, Sephiroth were starting to consider that he might not see again before all of this came to a head. He barely recalls their last series of letter exchanges -given how many other things then quickly came up to vy for all of his available time- yet with a memory as sharp as ever, eventually after a few long moments of trying not to stare too hard in her direction Sephiroth approaches her.

He's not in military fatigues, nor any uniform denoting the same, on this occasion at least so it's all black leather boots, pants and a long sleeved stretch-top which at some time in the past hadn't been so tight around the top parts of his arms. Long silver cape of hair flowing freely as he near enough glides into conversation distance.]

It's been a while-

[Nope, still no good at small talk, there is obviously another question there that he hasn't quite managed to frame words around just yet.]

[There is still a tiny light somewhere in Sephiroth's expectations of the 'Heroes of Light' that clings onto the hope that there will be so much more than just popular theories put forward here. Unproven, untested methods with regards how to legitimately re-purpose the Soul Divider into maybe-handling the vast entity of Narayana and thus solving this and all other universes' problem; at Ales' meeting there has been much speculation but the hard reality is - there is no time for trials and errors.

Crystallis needs an answer, but Sephiroth is almost totally swayed towards the notion that it isn't going to be possible to satisfy everyone in this room. It's appreciated that sacrifices will have to be made, one way or the other, but the silver haired man hasn't yet set in his mind which side he fell on; to save a single world that should have died millennia ago, or to set the balance right for all other worlds in the great multi-dimensional web of other universes. Or that out-of-the-box theory that wasn't ever spoken of.

There didn't seem to be a win-win; but if anything Sephiroth's still willing to listen and consider to almost anything logical, provided that the other might not mind some uncomfortable critique. The often-military styled man was not such for this meeting, clad more casually in leather bottoms, boots and a plain long-sleeved vest; as if in some discreet way signaling that he knew well that he'd have to leave that Colonel-life of his behind if he was to be of any use in the upcoming struggles that was coming.]

[There just doesn't seem to be enough time. Building a sanctuary on the moon might work for the short-term, but that would take months, probably years. And the matter of food is an enormous obstacle that can't be easily overcome.]

[More than that, it won't stop the Calamity from moving on to their own worlds. Akane's been wracking her brain, searching through all of her scientific and paranormal knowledge for anything that might help, but so far she's got nothing. She folds her hands tightly in her lap, furrowing her brow.]

[When Yuri speaks, she lifts her head and looks at him curiously. She doesn't know this man all that well, but if he's got any kind of idea, she's all ears and curiosity.]

[Ales stands on a table at the edge of the room, giving him a vantage point to see the world leaders. Cid's speech really is something, he likes that guy. With a smile, Ales pushes off the wall.]

If we're ever in the need of a superweapon, I have access to the giant death ray on the Moon. It's currently pointed away from the planet, but if ever comes a need to shoot the Calamity really, really hard, I have something.

[A pause.]

We've agreed that there are two portions of this attack. One is defeating Garland. Rather straightforward so long as we send our most powerful Heroes and those Eidolons he's supposedly afraid of. The other is sending the Calamity away and restoring the heart of this world. [Do they call the lifestream of Crystallis the heart? No matter, it makes sense to Ales.] There's projects being made on refurbishing the Soul Divider to fix the First Crystal, but other than that, we have to communicate with the Calamity.

[His gaze moves to the Avatars, the ones he knows.]

Was Lady Matsya not able to come? I had hoped to finally meet her...

[Ramza was a little disappointed, but he could not let it distract him from this meeting. It was too important.]

The Calamity is made of the ghosts of other worlds, is it not? We want to put them to rest. Unless the Avatars are of another opinion, I think that is the right thing to do. Trying to kill the Calamity will not give justice to those lost worlds. They deserve better than that.

I hate to say this, Ramza, but we really can't do it justice in any sort of manner.

[Twilight spoke up and made herself known, that large airhorn by her side in case things got rowdy.]

Even if they are ghosts, it would be pointless to try to do something less than outright destroying them. We try to bring them to rest, we run the risk of letting the Calamity take hold even further. We can't let our feelings dictate this.

[Ira had told himself he wouldn't say anything. That he'd stay quiet, lest he accidentally cause an incident. Again. Yet when Twilight shot down Ramza's idea, he can't help himself.]

Sorry, but I can't believe that.

[He'd spent over a week with the shades of his own timeline's residents, feeling his life slowly ebb away... To hear that there are countless other souls suffering the same torment that they likely still suffered, beyond his ability to sense them.]

If the Calamity truly is made of the phantoms of other worlds, then maybe the song we used to end the "Good King's" rampage would work?

[Duster has remained quiet for most of the meeting, as he expected. He isn't a leader, he's used to being ordered around, but the mention of the events that transpired in October catches his mind. Maybe...maybe this is the time for him to take charge.]

The one to put them to rest! [He stands up, rather too quickly, and the chair he was sitting on scoots over loudly.] Maybe...Kalki did say that songs were powerful when it came to this world. If just a few of us can send strong ghosts to the afterlife, if we all worked together...

[He shook his head.] But we'd need more Bards for that.

[Chiaki has shown up to this meeting carrying a rather impressive looking sword. It's made of blue mythril surrounded by transparent crystal, and appears to be glowing softly. She's just sort of holding it.]

So... does anybody want this? It's the sword Bartz stole from the Ultima WEAPON when we fought Palitutu. It was left behind when he fell into crystal stasis.

[There's a short pause.]

...Along with his chocobo, Boko Jr. He's pretty sad and lonely, so if someone wants to take him in too, that would be nice.

A sword...?

[Tsubomi couldn't help but blink, looking it over. Weapons weren't her forte, but seeing as it came from ULTIMA Weapon...]

Can I see it? I don't know if I can use it for anything, but maybe I can hold it until someone else can?

Yup. It's the Ultima Weapon. It gets stronger the more jobs you have mastered and the lower your health is. In the hands of a master Onion Knight on the brink of death, it's probably among the most powerful swords in existence.

[Assuming that knowledge is free game since it was provided to us by the mods in official parentheses and whatnot. Plus, Chiaki's a gaming nerd, so she can probably guess well enough.]

Oh...

[Tsubomi's going to reach out to gently take the sword. She wasn't as gung-ho as, say, Jack, but seeing as she has a few jobs that could use this weapon...]

Would it be okay if I took it?

Sure. I've got mostly magic-focused jobs, so I won't be able to do as much with it.

[Chiaki hands it over with a nod.]

Bartz would want someone to use it, I think.

I would think so, too... I... just hope I'm good enough for it.

That's up to you, probably.

"Not to die would be the focus, there," Jack agrees. "With what we've been shown, even if we stop Garland, if all life on this planet ends, the Cycle would finally end, but at the cost of everyone's worlds. The only way to slow the Calamity's progression left is for as many of the native people of Crystallis to still be standing as possible. It can't get overtaken by the life forces of other worlds if there's still life here."

"So, my official position would have to be to keep your militaries out of the fight against Garland. We complete the Soul Divider, but die to Garland, you can still stop him and end this. If you fall, we cannot save your world without you."

I agree with Ramza and Ira. Not just because it's the ethical thing to do, mind you. Unless someone has been withholding information, we don't have a way to outright destroy such a gigantic mass of souls.

Not to mention, allowing them into Crystallis' normal cycle of souls could solve the issue of revitalizing the First Crystal... at least, if we can ensure they won't just devour it in the process. [He turns to the NPCs.] I'd like input from our Avatars in regards to this.

[Duster's idea makes him pause, then nod.] There might be something to that. The core of the Soul Divider is shaped like a harp. That's no coincidence, I'm sure.

Does it truly matter?

[ Parasraya smiled and shrugged, looking at the people gathered. ]

The past belongs to the past, regardless of what we have achieved this cannot be changed. As for my opinion...

[ She tilted her head down and marked a pause before looking at Mary. ]

I will give it to you in time. I hope you will be able to contain your urge to drive a blade through my neck then, but I doubt it.

[ The woman tilted her head to the side to look at Sephiroth when he approached her, smiling. Of course she did remember him as well.

Albeit, not for the same reasons. ]

Indeed, Colonel. I hope all has been well.

[ She was hardly better, but a little was better than nothing. ]

Event || Strategy

Mingle Threads

The Meeting

Parasraya Purana

Cloud Strife

Re: Parasraya Purana

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Sephiroth

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Chiaki Nanami

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