Footsteps in the Snow (Central Lost Continent)

[acceptedoblivion]

Characters:Saori Nakagawa, Ira, James Kidd, Lydia Deetz, and NPCs
Where: Lost Continent (Center)
When: March 5th
Summary: The four awaken in the chilly tundra of the Lost Continent without a sign of civilization nearby.

At impact, Ira had held out his hand in an attempt to summon another Corridor - at the very least, he wished to get those already injured to safety. Yet as he reached out, something far more inexplicable had reached back. He found himself falling, before oblivion accepted him. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in years, this sleep of stasis that had overwhelmed all of them - one that he thought would never be again. As it took hold, he didn't know if his hand had grabbed air or railing, but he knew, in the end, there was no fighting it any longer.

What he didn't expect, was suddenly finding his face hit with something so bitterly cold. Grunting, he shakily moved to place his hands beneath him, wincing as he felt the chill within his gloves. Why was it so cold? Hadn't they just been over the desert?

None of this made sense, but he... had to get moving.

Blearily looking around, he saw three others lying in the snow around him. Without much thought, he stumbled in the frigid clime to reach out to the one nearest to him in an effort to shake their shoulder and wake them.

"M-Mom, L-Lydia, Mary," he called out through his teeth chattering. Of all the times he was mad about inheriting shit from Riku the island kid- "We n-need to get moving."

Wait, why did his voice suddenly sound more matured? And when did his bangs get so long? "Ugh, the h-hell's going on?"

Comments

[randomnpcs]

"Oh." Gelin stared at the fire for a minute, still cold but feeling much warmer after actually talking to other people. "Where were you guys headed? We can help you find a boat in the village."

He didn't believe they - a group of ordinary people - could defeat the Archfiend of the robot, but if they were new to the area and curious, he may as well tell them about it.

"The Archfiend of Wind. Of course, it's using the crystal in the temple to make it so windy all of the time, but we've never seen what it looks like. Ever since that day five years ago, the temple flew into the air, monsters invaded Trano, and only we scavengers could get in. The whole place has been filled with factories and robots, no doubt for that Archfiend's terrible use."

He scowled. "We should have known it was building something to keep us out forever. Steal a rich man's jewels repeatedly, and he puts up an absolute security system. Only now that system is stopping us from making a living..."

Gelin sighed once more. "It was too good to last. And don't think about heading over there. The Snow Beast - that's what we named it - blends into the surroundings. It'll kill you before you can spot it."

[needsteaplz]

"We're not looking for a boat. I guess we're limited to sleighs since all that wind would make even the most seasoned airship pilots turn back."

When Gelin leaned against her, Saori didn't have the heart to protest or shove him off. If it could help him feel better, she supposed there was no harm in it. He was considerably much bigger than her which made sight even more comedic. She had to take off Garland's sword from her belt to get comfortable. Something told her she may be here for a while.

"Five years...? And what about the Heroes of Light?" she couldn't help but murmur and then looked at Mary and Ira. Guess that would explain Ira's growth spurt. She doubted anyone would have had the guts to get a glance of this Archfiend. Still, an Archfiend with an affinity towards robots?

"We....might have a way around that Snow Beast's camouflage?" She made eye contact with Mary. The problem was they lacked strength in numbers to take down this Snow Beast.

[acceptedoblivion]

It certainly would explain the growth spurt. The last time he remembered being this tall, it was only for a week at most in real time - and an illusion besides. This time, he's 3% sure it wasn't the case.

...Okay 97%. He's no sweet-loving, sugar cube munching, child prodigy detective.

"Right. Only our numbers are lacking." In the back of his mind, he'd acknowledge being concerned for the others' well being. Unfortunately they can't confirm either way if they're stuck here. He returned that Saori's glance with his own, before also turning to Mary and the little birdy batty on his shoulder. "Sounds like our best bet may be heading to the Village of Santa Claus to see if they've heard of anything."

Which was going to be awkward in and of itself, considering his real thing had denied Santa existed and he had a falsified version of his memories and may or may not have thought similarly after two Christmases in the Tower. Oops.

[randomnpcs]

"The winds don't reach the east end of the continent. If it's New Mysidia you're headed to, you'll follow the shores towards the east." He spoke without the added dramatics, as this was sound advice rather than a declaration that he was having a horrible time.

He did perk up at hearing some of Saori's questions. "Heroes of Light? Didn't they die after they killed Garland or something?" He paused to recall what he had learned over the years. "Yeah, I heard that were the main targets during the apocalypse. Smart of whoever did that, going after the only people strong enough to stop this."

[not_most_days]

Mary's been flexing her fingers all this time and her hands finally felt like they were back to normal. Gently she shifted about, feeling her muscles move. There was no pain beyond the soft burn of being out in the cold too long. No permanent damage. That was good.

"Dead eh? I've heard that a few might have been able to survive. But scattered to the winds and separated it." Her gaze shifted to Ira and she offered him an approving nod. "Sounds like a good place to make our next heading. If our luck is with us some of the others might have found their way there as well."

Her gaze then went back to their generous hosts, "If you can provide us with clothes and supplies to help us on our way we'd appreciate it. And if we can find a way to deal with both the snow beast and the Archfiend....well..." She let it hang there. It was a bit of a foolish offer and she knew it, but she knew that if there was anything they could do they of course would. "Is the Snow Beast more between here and the Archfiend's lair? Or is it on the way to Santa's Village?"

[randomnpcs]

Gelin attempted to scoff at Mary's suggestion, but he chocked on his aching throat and had a coughing fit. "That would be a nice story. The Heroes of Light coming back one last time to save us all."

He looked up, watching Mary for a few minutes. In that time, his eyes lost the tragic faraway look and only focused on what was right there in that room. "If you're serious about this, don't risk fighting or sneaking past it. I don't want anyone else to die." His gaze turned towards the door. "It's near Trano Golsaucia. Once you see the flying temple, you have to turn back and head to safety, alright?"

[needsteaplz]

Saori gave Gelin a light rub on the back for that cough.

"Oh ye of so little faith, I can't blame you for thinking we were gone though. Five years is a hell of a long time after all. What? Did you honestly thought this sword was just for show?" Sadly Garland's sword didn't have a big giant sign, but the design alone seemed to scream its previous owner was a big deal.

"Right now though we need to rest up, stock up, and see if we can get touch with the others." Surely they couldn't be the only ones left.

[acceptedoblivion]

"Yeah, except it's not just a story." Ira, for his part, let out a faintly amused noise as Saori finally let the more blatant hint out of the bag. He let the blanket slide of his shoulders, revealing the vampire bat on his shoulder once he figured she was warmed up again. Hints of his custom job's garb were exposed by the lowering of the warm fabric, even though no one would likely recognize them

"...What. You couldn't tell? Sorry. Not nearly as original as that." So what if the statement he made was technically a lie in the sense that the engineer would glean it as? Gelin didn't need to know that to know that the four standing before him were more than what he'd claimed themselves to be to the others - simply four souls who were once lost in the snow.

[randomnpcs]

Geline eyed the sword. It was unusual that such a fine lady to carry a big sword, but if she were traveling in the dangerous world of ruin, it made sense to have a powerful weapon with her. She and the oddly-dressed boy and the the bat--

"You can't be..." They were exceptionally brave people, but it was almost too good to be true. "What are your names?!"

[acceptedoblivion]

Oh, but Gelin... they can and are. As much as he would hate to admit being a hero of light.

"Name's Ira," he answered, before gesturing to the bat on his shoulder. "This is Lydia," -to the captain- "Mary," -and then, to his mother, "-and Saori. We were forced into Sleep the moment we crashed. Why, I couldn't say... but we do still live."

[needsteaplz]

"We maybe scattered at the moment, but knowing some of the company we keep, they're probably devising up a way to survive and group up like us." While all the heroes may not have seen eye to eye on many subjects, Saori would have to say tenacity was what they all had in common.

Gelin's choice of a question didn't go unnoticed though. "Since you asked for our names, I guess you had any past meetings with Heroes before?"

[not_most_days]

It was her Assassin instincts and habits that had Mary being a bit more secretive about their Heroic standing. There was no telling who was an agent or what resentment was seeded in their absence. But since the others were going forward with it all there was no reason for her to leave them out in the cold. Pardon the expression.

"We find ourselves at a disadvantage but we're still in the fight. The world can yet be saved but we might need a little help in that way. Supplies and information and all that. Of course, don't tell too many folks about this. We don't want the Archfiend to know we're coming." She winked and tapped her finger to her lips.

[randomnpcs]

"No way..." Gelin sat back, taking a moment to consider the validity. "I don't recognize your names, but I know the ones they talk about in the Village of Santa Claus. Anise? Santa? Not the actual Santa, but the guy that used to run the bank? The people that had businesses moved here.

"Anyway," he straightened up and pulled the blanket off his head. "I did meet one years ago. She was searching for a Moogle in a black mage hat, had golden hair and pointy ears. She was beautiful...." He gazed off into the distance, thinking of the girl he could and and should have asked out.

[not_most_days]

Mary's face dropped at the question, and she glanced at the others to see if they were going to take up the task of answering it. Her lips pursed for a moment and she looked away from his gaze as she spoke up.

"I'm sorry. She passed some time ago. There was an enemy who was controlling us, using us against each other. When we had them cornered they delivered an attack that felled her beyond what our protections at the time could save us from." She sighed and shook her head. "Near as I know she was laid to rest in Aqures Ixen. It must have been nearly a...no, nearly six years ago at this point."


(ooc: Santa Cloud had no lasting legacy? D: )

[deadlyvu]

Lydia had been perfectly content to let the others talk, warming up and staying quiet as a bat against Ira's shoulder and neck. Now though, her interest was piqued. Careful of his longer hair, as she moved to get some distance and sort of 'dropped'. Transforming again as she did so, to be a still small older girl with long dark hair, and dark eyes. Pale as a ghost, and wielding the vampire job.

"Santa? About yea-tall?" Holding up her hand. "Silver hair?" If it was Creep Kringle, she'd be happy to see him. After the stunt he'd pulled in battle, she owed him both a hug, and a smack on the arm. Him running a bank was new though, as she remembered it being run under Mr. McDuck.

Then the rest of what Gelin said registered, and she moved closer. Listening to Mary's words too, and taking the man's hand in comfort. "Lady Zelda was an inspiration to many of us." Sympathy and understanding in her smile.

[randomnpcs]

Gelin jumped at the sight of Lydia popping into existence, but as he was unable to land on his feet (considering that he was sitting), he ended up landing on his butt and falling back.

"Y-y-y-y-y-y-yes! That guy! And don't scare me like that!" He pushed himself off the floor and readjusted the blanket.

"I haven't seen Zelda in years, and to be frank, when one of us runs into a Hero, we can't expect to see them again. But," he closed his hand around Lydia's, "if she really is gone, you have my condolences. Losing people is always difficult."