Intro Log || The Night of the Thirteen Moogles

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of October. 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. New Heroes of Light will not have their Crystal.
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," the call of the Moogle finally waking 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 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 arrived these past months too and they will come soon! Like you, they had Jobs and a Crystal-- Wait, you don't have a Crystal...? That's weird.

Your Moogle will be puzzled by this fact, as all Heroes of Light are supposed to have a crystal with them. Well, maybe you are not a Hero of Light after all?


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 one or two months ago. 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 worthy of being revered as heroes. 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 minor 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 Night of the Thirteen Moogles
— Anytime —
Something that may be obvious, is that the city has a spooky feel to it. There are various decorations, it clearly looks like a work in progress but it seems the idea is to make the city looks as scary as possible. Characters familiar with Halloween may recognize the decoration as being strikingly similar. The Moogles will be more than pleased to explain these are all preparations for the upcoming Night of the Thirteen Moogles on the 31st, and they will explain the legends to characters if they ask.

Hopefully all this talk of curse and King Moggle Mog is nothing more than legend.


The City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
There are a lot of things left to do in the city, especially with everyone excited for the upcoming celebration. Starting from 18:00, a series of BLitzball games will take place at the stadium located in the tenth district, opposing amateur teams in a friendly competition. At the same time, a small group of Triple Triad players are playing before Mognet Office in the ninth district, and they are more than happy to teach the rule to anyone passing by. Characters are free to enter and play games of Triple Triad, and if they do so they will be given very basic cards and explained the rules. This may be the start of a promising career!

Characters are also free to visit the city-- Be it Mognet Office just behind the Triple Triad games is filled with very busy Moogles, or the Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline, knowing the next airship departing from Aqures Ixen will do so on the 9th. Still, characters can board an exposition Airship should they like and visit it.

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.

Comments

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza nodded. "Yes, I arrived earlier today." He recognized that expression as the one his Cloud usually wore before he started clutching his head and gasping words that Ramza did not recognize. He gave the sold...the mage what he hoped was a reassuring smile.

"It will take some getting used to, but I am sure that with all these worthy heroes here, we will be able to end this crisis quickly."

[neverfirstclass]

Remarkably, the moment of uncertainty came and went without incident. The confused frown turned to a small but friendly smile, and then a nod purposeful nod.

"I'm not entirely sure what the crisis we're dealing with is, but it's good to have more people to help. We got into a fight with some strange people who broke into the city's magitek research facility a few weeks ago."

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza frowned. "There was a battle? Simon did not mention that." A battle was much more clear-cut than all of this vague Calamity business, even if Ramza had no idea what a 'magitek research facility' was. If there was a fight, there must be an enemy, and that seemed a good starting point for solving the mystery of this quest of theirs. "Were you Heroes triumphant?"

Ramza assumed they had been victorious, or at least that it had ended as a draw, as Cloud had obviously survived the encounter, but it seemed strange that it had not been mentioned before now.

Real reasons: the battles are still resolving, Cloud was still alive until tuesday :P

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud raised an eyebrow "Simon?" He didn't recognize the name, "Not everyone was there I think, but this city definitely has some enemies. We did chase them off, but a few of us..." He frowned, a little unsure of how to continue.

"Some of us fell in battle. We're fine now but...some of us turned to crystal. There are others here who have done the same, but we're the only ones who have turned back.

Yep, it was all fun and games until someone got crystalized

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza gasped. He had witnessed allies falling in battle, and even turning into crystal...but that only happened when they had gone beyond the aid of phoenix down or white magic. Only when they were dead.

Ramza stepped forward again, eyes running Cloud up and down as he checked for any sign of a lingering injury. Even if he was not, or not yet, the Cloud he had know, Ramza still counted him an ally, even a friend. "You are sure you are well? There are no lingering effects? None I have ever seen turn to crystal have turned back. You are fortunate to be alive."

[[Sorry, Cloud, he'd tell you all about Simon if he wasn't so distracted by the fact that you're a zombie :P ]]

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud frowned. His world was similar enough to Ramza's, but there was only so far magic and items could go to save someone. The crystal bit was new but it seemed pretty definitive to those who wound up that way.

"I'm...not sure. I feel okay, but the doctors have never seen anything like it before."

[zodiac_brave]

There was a little relief in learning that doctors had examined Cloud. They would be better equipped to judge Cloud's state than Ramza was, even if they did find the situation baffling.

"I am glad you are well," he told the mage. "Is there any word on whether these enemies will try to come back and attack again?" He did not think there were any declarations of war floating about that his moogle had just happened to forget, but there might be rumors. And within rumors, sometimes there was a seed of truth that could be extracted.

[neverfirstclass]

"No, I don't think so, but I wouldn't bet they won't either." The blonde had a fairly serious expression on his face and a far off look in his eyes. "They were after something, that's for sure. And the jobs they had were stronger than the ones we have. This was probably just the start of whatever they're plotting."

He sighed and shook his head. "But that's all we know." It wasn't open war yet, but something was clearly bubbling up to the surface. Only time would tell.

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza nodded. "If the enemy is greater than our forces, we will just have to train and get stronger," he said. That was all they really could do, since he did not think the ragtag bunch of Heroes Aqures Ixen had assembled were anywhere near ready to form an army to meet their enemy head on.

He gave Cloud a stern look. "If they do come back, stay safe. You were very lucky once, to come back. You should not tempt fate."

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud nodded in agreement at Ramza's assessment. Getting stronger was key. They'd need more information too, and would have to find out their enemy's weaknesses too, but it wouldn't matter if they couldn't drive an assault.

"I don't. I don't want to die and I didn't mean to sacrifice myself. But if my friends are in danger I'm not going to stand by." Cloud's eyes narrowed and steel welled up behind them as he spoke. He was sometimes unsure about his strength, and his ability to protect those he cared about, but it didn't mean he was about to stop trying. He had a promise to keep.

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza nodded again. "That is a noble conviction. Hold tight to it, and it will give you strength." Maybe it sounded belittling, giving advice like that to someone he had just met, but Cloud was not the first brave yet uncertain young warrior Ramza had come across. And though Cloud was not the same man he had known, Ramza felt that the spirit behind him was similar enough to warrant familiarity.

"I am glad to have met you, Cloud," he said, giving the mage a bow.

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud nodded and held out his hand. He may be a mage right now but he was a soldier at heart. Bowing wasn't the way he'd welcome a friend, nor was it the way he wanted to be welcomed. A handshake was the thing for young men like them.

"Likewise."

bb Cloud is SO ADORABLE

[zodiac_brave]

Ramza took the proffered hand, smiling. He had met many allies in his short time here, but few friends, as of yet.

"Be well," he charged Cloud as he released his hand.