melodiesoflife | Intro Log || The Calm Before The Storm

Entry tags:

Intro Log || The Calm Before The Storm

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Flence, Aqures Ixen, Airships.
When: The 5th of July. The new Heroes of Light will awaken early in the morning.
Summary: The new Heroes of Light awaken in the Temple of Water next to the County of Flence, and they are informed by their assigned Moogles of what the situation and 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 the peaceful sound of waves. 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 Water, in the Temple located next to a city called Flence. At this point, you may realize you have been laying on a thin layer of water originating from the massive blue Crystal floating nearby. Sorry about the wetness. 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 Water 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 governments of both Aqures Ixen and Trano Golsaucia.

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 may want to 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. However, they will also inform you that Aqures Ixen is about to be attacked by the Heran Empire. What is it? Quite simply, the Moogles will say that the Heran Empire seems to know a lot about you and this is why they plan on attacking the city.

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 Flence 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.

County of Flence
— Anytime —
Should you leave the Temple of Water and head North, you will reach the County of Flence. It's a peaceful city inhabited by peace-loving and refined people. A lot of the people living there are either aged or specialized in non-battle focused Jobs, and they are very friendly, though if they're asked about the upcoming battle, they'll urge the Heroes of Light to stay and avoid fighting.

Other Heroes of Light are easy to spot in the city: they are the only ones who are followed by a Moogle and holding a Crystal. And there are quite a few things that can be done in this city. Maybe you'd like to stop by the fishing pond and try your chance-- Of course the world is in danger, but fishing is never a waste of time. If you have refined tastes, you may try to visit one of the many restaurants in the city, or the Museum covering this world's naval history. There are also Inns, and you can stay there for free: indeed, the government of Flence offers asylum to all residents of Aqures Ixen, and Heroes of Light are considered to be residents of Aqures Ixen.

If you'd like more details regarding all that is available in the County of Flence, you can find everything here!

Airships
— Every Four Hours —
Upon reaching the County of Flence, 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. Something may be evident though: the flight in destination of Aqures Ixen are nearly empty, whereas the Airships leaving the city are filled, as if everyone was fleeing from it.

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!

Noticeably however, there are very few people left in the streets and most of those remaining are either heading to the Airport, or they are preparing to leave in the coming day. If asked, the Moogle will explain that the city is being evacuated in reason of the upcoming attack. Maybe once you've done what you have to do, you should leave as well, unless you want to find more about why you are here-- In that case, confronting the Empire may be the better solution.

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...

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Zelda smiled and then moved to take a seat next to Sheena. Her hair was tied back but the long golden locks ended up spilling across the stair steps. Her hair was very long when she had arrived and she hadn’t bothered to cut it so it fell well past her waist at this point. Her head tilted to the side as Kopula climbed into her lap as well. It was the most favorite place for the young moogle to rest and nap.

“Where would you like me to start?”

It was better to just answer questions though more specific questions would be easier. Considering Sheena came from the library, Zelda assumed she might have something more specific in mind which would make the moogles answers rather unhelpful.

Sheena's hair, on the other hand, was barely shoulder-length and currently tied up in a pineapple-inspired ponytail. And no offense to Zelda, but she hoped to not be around long enough for her hair to grow too much longer. Looking at the blond, the ninja contemplated the question for a moment, tempted to say the obvious "at the beginning", but refrained from doing so.

Instead, she pointed to the Library behind them. "All they have are books on the Crystals and the history of this place. Why aren't there any books on the Heroes and the worlds they're from--or were sent to." If one believed the story the Moogle told her.

"There are some books on the heroes though they are all legends and most are considered works of fiction. After reading through them that is mostly true. There isn't any information about our own worlds because they aren't connected to think place normally. We are connected through our crystals."

She pauses pulling out her own stone which was a dark deep blue. "These connect us to our worlds and any information from our homes are through these. I'm afraid I don't know what you mean when you say 'were sent to'."

Zelda's head tilted curiously. "Heroes are brought to this world by an unknown force and then their souls have remained here. They were really sent anywhere." Hence her confusion with the question.

Sheena could only stare at the woman's explanation. "Connected through our crystals?" she repeated, drawing her own out of its hidden spot in her uniform. Thinking she might have caught something contradictory, she tilted her head in confusion.

"How can our souls remain here if we're born on other worlds? Do our souls travel through these same crystals--which are connected to the Great Crystals in some way. And if our souls remain here, how come I have no memory of any kind or feelings of familiarity?"

Sorry, Zelda, confused ninja is confused.

"I can't answer anything that does with your soul in specific, but yes, our souls are here and if we do nothing they will remain here. Never to go home. Should you see someone in the city that you remember who claims they've lived in Crystallis there whole life... well, that's a hero of light who failed and this planet has calmed their soul."

She wasn't really giving an answer but perhaps a warning. There was a lot happening and all of it was confusing. If Sheena continued to think that this world worked like her own she'd be lost amidst the change.

Oh, Sheena was beginning to realize that this place was nothing like her world, but Zelda had confused her with her explanation.

"Okay...wait," she began, scratching her head. "Are you saying our souls are drawn here? That they aren't actually a part of this world?" She took a deep breath. "Because that makes more sense than them being here all along, because if that were true, then the place where I grew up couldn't be called home. That would be this place."

And her soul is connected to Tethe'alla in more ways than one.

And she'll ask about that whole calming the soul thing later.

"Yes."

Zelda smiled and shook her head. "You assume that there is only one soul that belongs to you. I've seen people I know here. People who I know are back home in Skyloft but they are here as well. It's them from another time and I admit it doesn't really make sense." She hoped that Sheena wouldn't think about it to hard because it was confusing.

Well, at least they cleared that up.

Just in time to confuse the ninja even more.

Holding up her hands, she shook her head vigorously. “Now that I don’t believe. I know people who are 4000 years old, but at the core, the soul is still the same. The person might have some changes from one day to the next, but their soul is still the same.” Even Mithos’. All he wanted was a place without discrimination...and in a way, he finally found it.

But wait… “What do you mean ‘from another time?’” Surely not…

Zelda nodded.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it to be honest. So it’s alright if you don’t believe me. You’ll eventually be able to see it too and maybe you can see it in a way that I cannot.”

She smiled softly and then shook her head. She wished that she could offer the girl more than that.

Oh gods... What had she gotten herself into?

Okay, she hadn't done anything, really, but still...

"It's... It's just too much, you know? My soul is mine, but not exactly. There could be a me with a different soul running around here... And let's not forget not being at home anymore." Yep. Sheena wasn't too thrilled right now, but at least she hadn't reached the edge of insanity.

Yet...

"I can understand that it's confusing. I don't really understand it completely myself. The rules in this wold are different from my own." Even as she expressed her doubt she smiled. It's hard not to worry but Zelda wasn't going to let that keep her down.

She paused.

"I know!" She stood up with a wide smile. "It isn't much but how about I treat you to something to eat. This world is different but I promise it has good food." She remembered a tavern that had a roasted duck special that was delicious.

"It's confusing, all right," Sheena admitted glumly. Although, that didn't seem to accurately describe how she felt. She was more than confused. And way more than simply out of her depth.

"Numbed" might be a good choice right now, since both she and her mind felt numb and in shock from everything that happened.

She wasn't so numb, however, that she wasn't able to react to Zelda's sudden burst of enthusiasm. Talk about a non sequitur. Blinking a few times, Sheena finally managed a smile.

"You know, that sounds like a great idea," she said, getting to her own feet. "Much better than lying down on cement." She gestured. "Lead the way."

Zelda didn’t like feeling down for too long and she believed that food was the way to cheer most people up. She watched as Sheena stood and then lead the way towards the nearest Tavern. She knew this place well and as they walked in she smiled to the owner with a gentle wave of her hand.

He seemed to recognize her.

Zelda led them to a table in the back, smiling as the waiter came over to them. “I’ll have tea please. What would you like?” She looked at Sheena with a smile, she can have anything she’d like.

Edited 2015-08-26 13:41 (UTC)

Sheena was the same way, but it wasn't food that cheered the ninja up. Training usually did. But Zelda seemed like such a nice person that she couldn't help but accept her offer. She felt it would have been rude to do so after all the help she'd given her.

The ninja notice the exchange between Zelda and the owner, and Sheena smiled.

"Looks like you come here a lot," she said, indicating the owner with a nod of her head. Settling in to her seat, she looked from Zelda to the waiter. "Do you have iced coffee?" she asked hopefully. She wanted something that reminded her of home.

“I stop here a lot when I’m coming home from the Observatory. I’ve been here for almost a year now and eventually you just start meeting people.” Zelda was also one of the more social heroes. She helped out in the community and worked hard with those around her. A lot of people looked up to her and because of that she’s tried to emulate what a hero might look like to the public, if only to give them hope.

“Everyone here is nice, though you’ll get different reactions when you tell others that you are a hero of light.”

The waiter nodded and then headed back to the kitchen. The drinks came quickly, Zelda was first handed her tea which looked like a soft crimson liquid with steam licking off the surface. Sheena’s drink certainly looked like coffee; there were ice cubes floating in the pitch black liquid while a pungent smell wafted from the cup. It was very strong coffee, even with the water from the melting ice.

"The Observatory? Do you go there a lot?" She could imagine Raine and Genis in there, arguing over this star or that, and a small smile touched her features. And she couldn't help chuckling softly as she met the other woman's gaze. "Well, I haven't been here for that long, and I think I've already started meeting people," she said with a laugh.

Although, she would wonder why being something you weren't was something you should do to give people hope. Why not just be yourself? Wasn't that how they were Heroes to begin with? They just did...or would do...what they normally would do?

Sheena sighed and waited for the server to move off before responding. She didn't want to insult anyone. "I know someone who's pretty popular back home, and to be honest, I really don't want people fawning over me. It wouldn't be right."

Just then, the drinks came and Sheena visibly perked up when she spied her coffee. It smelled so familiar, so refreshing, that Sheena couldn't help beaming at both Zelda and the waiter. "Thank you very much. I owe you for this."

"I do, it doesn't work but we use it for meetings for the heroes of light." Getting the space had been a boon and they were able to move meetings out of Zelda's home. Not that she minded back when there was only twenty heroes but now there were closer to a hundred and her house couldn't handle that many.

Zelda smiled when the waiter brought their drinks. She let her fingers wrap around her cup with a warm smile. She was happy to see what Sheena was a little bit more comfortable.

"It's nothing to extreme and the longer you are here the more people get used to you." Before the waiter left Zelda made sure to pay. It was easier and they could take their time if Sheena had more questions for her.

Sheena had perked up upon hearing about the observatory, but quickly deflated at the rest of it. So much for using it to look up at the stars and trying to figure out just where thy were. Not that she was an astronomer by any means, but even she could recognize a few constellations from home.

Chuckling, Sheena shook her head.

"I think even a little bit of fawning would make me uncomfortable." Actually, she knew it would. She could barely take a simple compliment without blushing; who knew how'd she react to something stronger.

And Sheena did have a few more questions--one of which suddenly jumped out at her as she looked at her moogle, who was once again curled up in her lap asleep. "Zelda? Could you tell me something? Are the Moogles named after they're assigned to us? Or are they picked because of their names? Or do they change them?"

Zelda was a little surprised at the question. "They are named at birth, just like others. The moogles, I believe, are assigned at random. They are offered the job from the city and choose to accept. I know Kopula was excited to help out the heroes when I had first arrived but he has a name, a family and a life before that."

She hoped that it answered her question. Zelda felt like there was more to Sheena's question than she was saying.

"Why do you ask?"

"It's random? Are you sure? Because it seems like more than just coincidence to me." She looked back down at Corrine, who was slumbering away peacefully. "Corrine is the name of someone who was very dear to me, and had been a constant companion. I just find it odd that he's also named Corrine and is my constant companion."

Which, in a way, frightens the hell out of the ninja.

Zelda didn't have an answer for her. "Why not ask your moogle when he wakes up?" While the moogles didn't look like people they were in most ways. They had families, jobs, pasts and feelings. She has seen how some people, the Empire, choose to use the moogles and their kindess and that wasn't okay.

"I'm sure that he'll be able to tell you more."

Sheena already felt the Moogles were people. They were just of another race, that was all. It probably helped that she came from a world of humans, elves, half-elves, and dwarfs. It helped give her a better view of things at times. Reaching down, she placed a hand on Corrine's head. Despite her fear, she had already become attached to the little guy, and didn't want to hurt him for all the world.

And since she was new, she hadn't heard about how the Empire used them yet, but when the day came, someone might want to hold her back. otherwise, she was going to try to take on the Empire herself.

"I could," Sheena agreed slowly, "but maybe I should check the Library first. Because it seems to be the kind of thing to be written down somewhere."

Zelda wouldn’t suggest taking on the Empire alone considering that Sheena would be captured and tortured like heroes before her. Of course she could give a hundred reasons why that’s a bad idea but it would be Sheena’s choice in the end.

“It might be. I’ve noticed that a lot of things about this world aren’t written. They might have been lost or the victims of the war started by the Empire over 15 years ago. Either way there were holes where information had gone missing.

“If you have any more questions I’d be happy to try and help.”

Zelda didn't know her new friend very well. Sheena would gladly risk capture and torture if it meant helping others. Hell, she even tried to exchange her life for her friends once...

The fact that they hadn't let her was a whole other story.

Sheena scoffed slightly. "If it's anything like what happened on my world, a lot of things that were written down were changed or outright destroyed." She rubbed her hand across her face. "I just have one more question, and then I'll let you go." After all, she had to find her house and wake a sleeping moogle--though not necessarily in that order.

"Are there any storytellers here?"

“Storytellers?”

That wasn’t a question that Zelda had been expecting. There were the moogles who studied history and sciences but she didn’t think it was anything like what Sheena was talking about. There was a library and there were songs of heroes and villains as well as plays to depict older tales though those were altered to the point of fantasy.

“I don’t think so, no.”

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ninjainviolet - 2015-10-23 04:19 (UTC) - Expand

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