melodiesoflife | Intro Log || The City That Never Sleeps

Intro Log || The City That Never Sleeps

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Trano Golsaucia, Aqures Ixen, Airships.
When: The 5th of May. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in the Temple of Wind next to Trano Golsaucia, and they 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 a split second, 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 know 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 before long it feels as though life itself is slipping out of you...

And at this very 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 a gentle breeze. Had it all been nothing more than a dream? The soothing voice repeats its call once more, but is soon replaced by a much less graceful "Wake up, Kupo!" Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally bring you back to your senses. But you are no longer in your world, nor in the void. You are before the Crystal of Wind, in the Temple located right outside of a city called Trano Golsaucia. At this point, you may realize the breeze originates from the massive green Crystal floating nearby. 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. They look pretty tired, but they will be more than happy to tell you everything you want to know. They shall tell you about your 'destiny' as a Hero of Light and about what awaits you. Or at least, they will tell you everything they do know, which isn't much in the end.

There are quite a few people around you as well. For the most part, they are people like you-- All clothed in their Job garbs and most likely wondering what is happening. There are also some other Humans, Tarutaru and Hypello in the room, but unlike you they don't have a Crystal, nor do they have a Moogle following them. If addressed, they will say they are the Guardians of the Crystal of Wind and will confirm everything the Moogle said. They will reveal they found you unconscious around the Crystal a couples hours ago, and immediately contacted the Moogles and the government of Aqures Ixen.

If asked about it, both the Moogles and Guardians will explain that Heroes of Light have already appeared in this world within the past year, and they all are in a city called Aqures Ixen. It's the first time Heroes have appeared in this temple. In fact, you probably should go to Aqures Ixen as well. The Moogle will tell you this is where your house is and where the other Heroes will be able to help you. Thankfully, should you decide to take your sweet time to get there, the other Heroes may just come to you.

The Other Heroes
— Anytime —
And indeed, thanks to the efficiency of Mognet and Shoopuf Airline it does not take long for the other Heroes to come around. You may meet them in Trano Golsaucia or in Aqures Ixen, or maybe even in one of the Airships going back and forth between the two cities. They are those who arrived in this world months ago and they have gone through quite a lot. You may have imagined heroic and charismatic figures when your Moogle told you there were other Heroes of Light in this world. You may have imagined persons with fearsome powers when they told you how they recklessly attacked the Heran Empire to free their friends a few months ago. And most importantly, you may have imagined them as people who would have the answers to your, doubtlessly, numerous questions.

If so, you may be up for a complete and utter 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.

Trano Golsaucia
— Anytime —
Should you leave the Temple of Wind and head south, you will reach Trano Golsaucia. It's a gigantic city covered with snow-- To make it simple, this city is a gigantic amusement park. It is the most popular place in this world and of course, there are plenty of people all around. Thankfully, other Heroes of Light are easy to spot: they are the only ones who are followed by a Moogle and holding a Crystal.

And there is quite a lot to be done in this city. Maybe you could stop by the Triple Triad Center to begin a successful career in card games, or maybe you could buy a ticket at the Blitzball Stadium to support your favorite team. If you're the kind of person who relies on luck, you may have more fun gambling in the Casino or betting on your favorite Chocobo in the Chocobo Races. If you're more of a person who enjoys simpler games, maybe you could try one of the numerous carnival-style mini-games found in the city, such as the shooting stand or the treasure chest game.

If you'd like more details regarding all the attractions and games available in Trano Golsaucia, you can find everything here! Of course, all of this requires money and odds are that you may not have a single Gil yet. If your Moogle is nice though, maybe you could ask him or her to loan you some Gil...

Airships
— Every Four Hours —
Upon reaching Trano Golsaucia, you will also have the right to board an Airship. Exceptionally, there is an Airship available every four hours, all because of your arrival so that Heroes of Light can meet each other and go to Aqures Ixen with ease.

The flight itself should take between four to six hours as it will travel from one city to the other on route. This is nothing special for the denizens of this world, but for you it may be quite the experience if you never boarded a plane or any flying contraptions before. The service is nothing special, but there are some light refreshments offered free of charge. Note that most of the employees on Airships are Hypello.

Aqures Ixen
— After an Airship Trip —
Upon arriving in Aqures Ixen, the first thing you will see is the Airship Port in the 12th District. Following that, no doubt your eyes will find the Castle of Aqures Ixen, a classic yet refined structure standing in the city. From there on, characters are free to visit the city-- There are no attractions in this city, but there are scientific buildings, another Blitzball Stadium and even an Observatory serving as base for the Heroes of Light. If you'd like more details regarding all that is available in Aqures Ixen, you can find everything here!

Or maybe -and perhaps inevitably!- you could visit your new house in the 11th or 14th District, and get to know your new neighbors and housemate. It's been a long day, so you could use some sleep. Hopefully your neighbors are people you will get along with...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I see! Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. I've just never seen..." She trailed off, realizing that expanding on that could become sticking her foot in her mouth. Robin smiled, then, and nodded. "She can? I'll have to ask. I would hate to lose it. Ah..."

She realized, at first, that she needed more information; she realized, next, that she had far more problems.

"Who is Jessie? This is--I gathered the Hero of Light part," she said, with a glance to Marc. Then she looked back at Zelda. "But I'm still a little lost. It's... a lot to take in."

"That's alright." Zelda just smiled she wasn't bothered by any of the girls comments. "It is a lot. I'd be happy to explain what I can."

"The heroes of light are a title for those who aren't from this world but wake up here. It's said that they are to fight some calamity but it doesn't describe what this calamity might be. The heroes of light started showing up half a hear ago in Aqures Ixen. Since then we've been doing our best to help out while searching for our way home. A lot of strange things have happened and quite frankly we don't have enough information to go on." Even as she explained she remained confident.

"I have a journal documenting everything thus far back at the observatory which is where we've set up a home base? of sorts." It sounded funny when she called it that. "You're welcome to read it. As for Jessie she is one of a few officials in Aqures who have been helping us since we arrived. They've providing housing as well as information and help in other ways as well."

"A journal...? I'll have to!" Robin exclaimed, a little too excitedly, perhaps. Truth be told, she had a mind to copy it for herself, but that needed pens, paper, and permission. She could get the first two before she entertained the idea. "I'll visit this observatory, too. That explains much, though..."

She put her fingers to her chin. "A calamity..." She remembered, then, a burning forest and a terrible fight -- and only a day after she awoke. She repressed a shiver with the thought, before she looked up at Zelda. "We'll have to gather more information, then. It sounds like it's important. If we can... we can find a way back home?"

She sounded hopeful. There were people -- and things -- that she had waiting.

"That's what we've been told but I think it might be more complicated than that. Either way, I think that we will be able to find our way home if we can get to the bottom of this and yes, you are of course welcome to look at the journal as well as visit the observatory. It isn't much but we've been trying to gather information there."

Zelda's head tilted to the side as she thought about it. "I don't know if it's easier to explain or have you read about it. A lot has happened."

"Mm," Robin murmured. "Some explanation could help. I know we're here to... forestall or stop this Calamity from occurring. And there are these crystals." She looked, briefly, at the Crystal of Wind.

She looked back at Zelda. "It sounds that you've encountered troubles here, too?"

"Yes." She paused. "Many."

Zelda followed her gaze curiously. "There are elemental crystals in a few of the main towns. Our crystals are connected to them as they are connected to our home worlds." She looked back at Robin wondering if this made sense.

"There is also a war going on here besides that and there is great power in the crystals."

"A world of problems, then," Robin said, wincing.

She tried to think of where to start. The crystals seemed significant, though it might be hard to put her finger on why. But if they connected them back to their worlds, somehow, then they needed to be protected -- and a war over them posed a problem. She frowned, looking distance, before she nodded.

"The enemy in this war wants something with the crystals?" she ventured, looking sideways at Zelda. "If they have great power..."

"They were using the heroes crystals and the black crystals but yes." Zelda tried not to think of the those who were captured by the Empire and then held for over a month. She still felt a pain in her heart from back then. She had failed to protect them.

She sighed softly waving Kopula closer. "Can you go fetch the journal for me? And be quick?" Zelda knew he would be tired after the trip but as quickly as he was standing beside her the little moogle was gone.

Her attention shifted back towards Robin. "We can keep talking but I figured I could at least get the journal in case I forget something. Moogles have extraordinary abilities including speed."

"Is it far from here?" Robin asked, curiously. She hadn't quite gotten a sense of the geography of her new world. She glances down at the moogle, then she nodded, before she looked back to Zelda. "I appreciate it."

She paused, hesitating for a moment, while she considered.

"I'll do what I can to help," she said, finally. "I need to return home, eventually. I have people who need me there, but... it seemed that something went wrong with home to pull me here."

The way the world shattered came to mind immediately.

"We appricate your help and everyone is trying very hard to get home." Zelda flashed a confident grin at the girl. She truly believed they could do it if they worked together.

"As for the distance. It's pretty far away. A few hours by airship. Moogles are usually faster but it will still take him awhile to get back here. They have set up airships specifically for the heroes to move them to Aqures Iexn."

Zelda wasn't sure why they had to live at Aqures Ixen but it appeared as if that was the city willing to house the many heroes who just randomly arrived in this world; per the queens order.

"A few hours! Gods!" Robin exclaimed, covering her hand with a mouth. "How do they--how do you?" She looked over her shoulder at Marc; the moogle just shrugged, in a good-natured sort of way, but left her with no clearer understanding of that.

"Airships, too?" she asked, her mind reeling. Hers was a strictly medieval world. "I think I need to see one of those! They're really flying ships?"

Zelda smiled at her reaction. "Yes. I can show you to them if you'd like. They are across town."

Her own world was one up in the sky. She could easily understand airships or shops that floated in the air though they mostly got around on large birds like the chocobo's here. It wasn't so hard for her to get used to. She couldn't imagine being afraid of heights either.

"Yeah!" Robin exclaimed, brightly. A sense of wonder flooded her mind; both at the impossibility of such a thing and the incredible tactical applications. But, speculating on all of that could come later. She needed to see one first. "That would be great, Zelda!"

"This way then." Zelda turned towards the temple entrance glancing behind her once to make sure that Robin was following. Once they were outside she turned towards the town. The town was filled with colorful lights and it looked more like an amusement park than it did a town.

There were games and crowded streets. Sweet and salty smells filled the air as vendors tried to sell their foods.

Zelda glanced over at Robin again with a wide smile. "It's at the other end of the city."

"Whoa..."

Robin was surprised -- and overwhelmed -- by all of the sounds and scents of Trano Golsaucia. Her nose wrinkled while she tried to take it all in, but it was nice to see so much life in the city. She adjusted her robes idly, feeling self-conscious that she didn't wear her usual garb at the moment. Still, she though, it wasn't a bad thing, and she peered at one stand selling skewers of meat as she walked by. The woman licked her lips.

She was hungry. This wasn't anything new. "This city is huge!" she said, looking back at Zelda. "I didn't realize. I'll have to look around later, to be sure..."

"A lot of the cities are a little intimidating." Zelda smiled looking back at the meats that were cooking on skewers. "Want me to buy you something?"

Without giving Robin the chance to respond Zelda walked forward ordering two skewers of meat, one for each of them.

"Here!"

"Oh--" Robin started to reply, to say it wasn't necessary. The hungry look she gave the skewers spoke louder than words, though. She smiled when Zelda came back with one for her; she took it, looking it over for only a moment, before she took a bite into it.

Much better than bear, she thought.

"Thanks!" she said, energetically. "This is really good. I guess crossing between worlds like that makes a lady hungry..."

"I think so too." Zelda laughed softly. It was nice to talk about things that were dark and depressing like airships and food. She turned towards the city with a warm gaze.

"We can take a look around as we walk to the airships. Because the heroes woke up here there are special ones leaving every few hours. It'd be a shame not to look around first." She turned back towards Robin with a smile.

True they had things to talk about but being happy and enjoying yourself was important too. At least it was to Zelda, she wanted everyone to feel comfortable even if this wasn't their home.

"Oh, yes," Robin said. "Let's do that. I should have a look around!"

She smiled, biting into the skewer again -- she was a soldier, so she ate quickly -- and looked around. Truth be told, she felt more at home now. There were many questions, still, and the feeling would take awhile to stick. But, for the first time since she arrived here, she began to feel at ease.

Zelda was happy to walk by Robin's side and follow her lead. She had spent some time in Trano Golsaucia before now and so she knew the city decently well. When something came to mind she'd point and tell Robin a little bit about it before falling back into a comfortable silence of sight seeing. A few of the shops Zelda paused at but she wasn't going to go in unless Robin wanted too.

"They also have games here."

"Oh?" Robin asked, looking sideways at Zelda while she walked. The sights were interesting; she didn't rush for a shop, not knowing where to start and not having money to spend yet. "What sorts of games? Puzzles?"

There probably weren't puzzles in an amusement park, but she didn't know that.

"I think some might be but from what I've seen it's mostly left up to chance." Like picking the correct treasure chest to win a price or throwing rings onto bottles. You could aim and you could practice but it would come down to luck in the end.

"Do you like puzzles?"

Zelda smiled watching Robin curiously as they walked towards the airship.

"Oh, I see..." Robin murmured, glancing at a game. Then she looked back at Zelda and nodded once to her. "I do! I'm a tactician by trade." Was a tactician, perhaps? No, she still needed to be one; it was too central to her identity to surrender. She would find a way to keep it.

"Puzzles are a way of training my mind," she explained. "Like mock battles or wargames with pieces on a map. It's as important as practicing my spells or my swordplay."

"That sounds amazing." Zelda's smile grew at the new piece of information. "I've never been very good at puzzles. I know others who are though."

She was sure there were games here that might be able to both refine such skills and be fun. Maybe playing together to see who was the better tactician. It sounded like it could be fun though Robin might destroy all the competition.

"I think that's a wonderful skill to have and considering the way we've organized in fights in the past I'm happy to have you here." The chocobo eater incident comes to mind though only a handful of heroes knows about it.

"It's really been useful back home," Robin admitted. She folded her arms behind her back while she walked, looking around the surroundings still; she had an eye for detail precisely because she was a tactician. "I'm hoping that I can put it to good use here, too."

She glanced sideways at Zelda. "I'll try to organize people when it's time to," she said. But, she knew, even if she didn't say so, it would be a lot of work. That required trust and familiarity.

Robin couldn't force or fake that.

Intro Log || The City That Never Sleeps

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