melodiesoflife | Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

Entry tags:

Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

Characters: All the "Heroes of Light" (only new characters can start threads).
Where: Aqures Ixen.
When: The 5th of September. 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. It marks the first time since January that Heroes of Light have appeared in Aqures Ixen.
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." Hand clutched on your Crystal, the call of the Moogle may finally wake 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 dock beneath 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 have arrived in the course of the past year and they will come soon! Like you, they have Jobs and a Crystal.

If asked, the Moogles will mention that the city was recently attacked by the Heran Empire and nearly destroyed by Ultima Weapon. What's the Heran Empire? What's Ultima Weapon? Better to ask to the heroes who saw it 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 within the past year. 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 when they told you about how they fiercely battled each other past month. 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 tragic 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 City of Aqures Ixen
— Anytime —
With the recent attack, Aqures Ixen is under reconstruction. The city was saved for the most part, but there are ruined buildings, the Sixth District is nothing but wasteland now and the Thirteenth District has become a graveyard. Even so, there are a lot of things left to do in the city for newcomers. A few groups of Triple Triad players are playing before Mognet Office in the ninth district, mostly Moogles as many of them are not working after what happened. And of course, 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-- Mognet Office just behind the Triple Triad games is filled with Moogles, most of them panicked, tired, busy or slacking now that their director has disappeared. They can also visit Airship Port in the twelfth district from where characters can board for free Airships from Shoopuf Airline-- Though they have to make a request 48 hours in before to do so.

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.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
— 19:00 —
Characters venturing by the city's outskirts at this specific time will be able to see a most peculiar sight: a flying saucer seemingly abducting a cow before flying away and disappearing into the sky without leaving any traces of its presence. If your character do see it, hopefully there will be someone with them. Otherwise, nobody will believe their story.

Was it an UFO or just a hallucination? Only the future will tell...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Looking over at Zelda, the Adventurer was strongly reminded of the Sharalyan scholars, most notably Alphinaud and his sister. Despite this, she seemed worried as he nodded at them. His moogle started in on a music of Bolero of Fire, as he ignored his bard as it were.

"Pray, I would like more of an explanation. My moogle has been reluctant to explain much."

The snooty moogle snorted, and rolled his eyes.

Zelda laughed softly. "Well, they are lovely songs." She smiled fondly at the little moogle. Kopula was away, doing work for her so that she could meet the heroes today. She was indebted to him in many different ways.

A thin finger rose and lightly tapped against her chin. "To start, you are in Crystallis, specifically Aqures Ixen. You'll quickly notice that the city isn't in a happy shape. There was recently a war here that was waged by the Empire." She paused. "There is a lot to explain. I'm sorry if it isn't concise. We are the heroes of light, brought here from other worlds to fight something known as the Calamity. It's a crystal of some sort that's slowly swallowing the world. Apparently this happens in cycles every 2000 years. The world is destroyed and then reborn, each time new heroes of light are called."

She paused for a moment. "The heroes before us have left us clues on how to stop the cycle but we don't know more than that."

The Adventurer nodded, absorbing the explanation directly. Great Calamity? Check. Warriors, er, Heroes of Light? Check. He folded his arms, tilting his head in thought as if doing so would invoke the Echo, but no such thing would be possible, not yet anyhow.

"Every 2000 years, an Umbral Era is coming, and we are meant to stop it." He thought for a moment. "You said, the Empire? Pray, is the name of this Empire the Garlean Empire? And if so, have you heard of the Ultima Weapon and its dark magicks?"

Zelda opened her mouth as if to speak and then promptly closed it. "You've heard of this before?" She was surprised.

"I have heard of the Ultima Weapon. It is the reason for some of the damage to the city. A Tarutaru named Palitutu stole it and escaped. There is a man named Garland who is leading the Empire but I don't think it's the same man..." She paused for a moment to think. "I'm afraid I don't know what the Umbral Era is either."

She already been in this world for a year and it's the first she's seen someone wake up having this much information already.

He nodded, listening to her explanation. "An Umbral Era follows an Astral Era, an Era of Prosperity after an Era of Ruin. For there to be many similarities between here and Eorzea, rings true. I am in a similar world; the dimensional walls truly are paper thin as told by Shantotto the Mage..."

He trailed off at the name. "Garland. While the name is slightly different, it rings true to the naming of the Garlemald Empires citizens. The previous Emperor, Gaius Van Baelsar, tried to conquer Eorzea, and eventually brought forth a Calamity of our own; the Cataclysm."

His expression darkened. "Gaius perished in the battle that destroyed the Ultima Weapon, but was suceeded by Varis Zos Galvus who has all but declared war once more."

"Gaius?" That was another name she knew. "Are you sure?"

He seemed very sure. "There was once a hero of light here by that name, he might be the same man but he's fallen into Crystal Stasis. Ah.. I haven't explained that. We wake with crystals on us. These crystals will revive us should be we die but our bodies will encase in crystal. Sometimes this happens with nothing prompting it and those who experiance this are kept in the hospital." She has a lot of friends trapped within those crystals.

"I believe there was one other who knew him but I can't say for sure."

"Crystals you say? Like Crystals of Light perhaps?" If this stasis was as dreaded as it sounds, and Gaius was here, then...

"It sounds like this world has been calling many Warriors of Light, er, Heroes of Light. Apologies, my world calls them Warriors of Light. Though we are not all the same Job."

"Not everyone who wakes up here are warriors. Some are only children." Hence the name heroes. As it was, Zelda didn't feel like much of a hero. She was the goddess of her world, the hero was a title that belonged to another.

"Though I understand the confusion between your world and this world. Maybe you can tell us something that might help us fight the calamity."

She would at least hope so.

"Pray, it would be appreciated. If only to gather my thoughts."

His moogle started in on another tune, this one a soft piano song as he folded his hands in thought. "Eorzea, a continent blessed by the gods and watched over by mother Hydaelyn, the mother crystal. Beings, the 12, were gods who walked our land before giving way to the mortal races of man.

But there are beings who crave the dark, and are trying to summon a dark god. In the name of Zodiark, they say. They are the Ascians. Beings of shadow who dwell in the aether of our world. They cause the calamity, the Cataclysms that rake Eorzea every Umbral Era."

The Adventurer tilted his head. "The way to prevent the Cataclysm, and defeat these servants of their dark god, is to smite them with the Sword of Light, a blade of aether or magic as you will. The very life of a world. Only then, their corruptive influence can be wrought and torn asunder."

"Though, if what you say is true, a force such as the calamity which is crystallizing the land, sounds to me like an imbalance of aether. It is putting nature itself out of balance."

"I see. There is an ancient race here known as the Ancients. It's said they created the Calamity and it's cycle and the Ultima weapon. There are cities left over from their time here but we don't know as much about them. I suppose that's where your world is different from here."

She looked at him, her expression soft. She wasn't sure what more information to give him. There was so much.

"It might not be much comfort but we have something like a heroes guild. It's located at the old observatory. Your moogle will know the way. In case you need to find me or anyone who might help. There is always someone there." Though lately it's been her moogle who's been holding down the fort and then there was always mognet but she wanted to give him something more than just the information that she had.

"Ancients. In Eorzea we have the Allagans, technomagickal masters who flourished throughout history, although their major contribution was in the third Astral Era when magic reigned supreme." The Allagans had caused enough damage as far as the Adventurer was concerned.

He nodded. Yet another thing that was similar, with the Adventurers Guild. "I will look into it. It rings true to the Adventurers Guild back home. Can we fetch levequests for the townsfolk from there, or are they dispensed via another?"

"I don't think it's like what you are used too. A friend of mine and I had started it back when we first arrived. It's more of a place to help the heroes feel at home. Those living in Crystallis know that we are there and they've sought our help from time to time but I don't think it's like levelquests. I don't know what that is..."

She had never thought of things as leveling up though she learned new skills each month. It took time to train and to learn with help from her friends and her moogle.

"But we are always happy to help. There are a few guilds rising from the heroes, groups with like minded goals." Her goal was to keep peoples spirits up while they fought the calamity. It wasn't always an easy task.

"Ah. LEVEquests." He said, stressing the lev- sound of it. "They are quests meant for Adventurers to make coin from crafting, gathering or adventuring."

He nodded with a smile. She was a good person, his senses told him so. There were very few who he judged lately. "That is good then. I am glad for it. Guilds, as in Free Companies, unaligned to the state I take it?"

"Something like that. We've worked with the city though there was recently tragedy in that alliance. Someone we thought we could trust betrayed us. A lot of people are hurt and as you can see, the city is recovering from that as well as the aftermath of a war. We hoped to receive more help from the city but it looks like it will take some time."

She paused with a smile.

"What I meant to say is that we are trying to help out the city now. Those guilds are technically aligned to the state because the state grants them things, such as spaces to work though the state has no say in what the guilds do." She hoped that made sense. It was a little bit more complicated than just having a guild, it was that in name, but also a symbol of light. Something that shows that the heroes will never give in, not matter how dark or dreary their task becomes.

Giving one of his stoic nods, the Adventurer smiled. "Doing their best, no matter the odds. It might sound optimistic, but that's all we have right now. My axe is at your disposal, for whatever needs to be done then."

He thudded his chest, indicating himself. "For this worlds safe, I will help in its recovery. I am known as the Adventurer to many, the Warrior of Light to others. Where the wild rose blooms, I will follow."

Zelda laughed softly. "It sounds very pretty when you say it like that. I'm glad we have you here to fight but for now we are trying to repair the city and learn more of the crystals and the legends. Perhaps you can assist with that as well."

She didn't much care for fighting but she knew it's necessity. She hoped that they would have some time away from blood shed.

"So I should call you the Adventurer then?" Her smile stayed in place, her confidence unbreakable. She was worried about what the future might hold but she will always keep moving forward.

"If you wish. Many call me Adventurer, but pray, you may call me--"

WHACK. He went down, holding his nose as a nearby construction worker had turned around at that moment, holding a beam over his shoulder.

"Ow..." He groaned. There was no blood, but the sharp blow to his head had indeed interrupted his introduction.

Zelda's eyes widen as the piece of wood colides with the Adventurers head. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" She looked around before pulling something from her waist. She didn't have her white magic skilled equipped and Kopula wasn't here to change them for her.

She held the potion out and then slipped it into his palm. "Here." She didn't want him to hurt himself.

"Urgh, thank you."

Sitting up gingerly, he uncorked the potion. Potions were drunk back in his world, and he raised it to his lips to drink it down and ease the pain. Potions were a little weak in his world but the pain eased off almost immediately.

"This is pretty strong. Back home, potions are almost out of usefulness right now."

Her world was very different than this one but after spending a year she's gotten pretty used to it.

Zelda smiled. "White magic can only take us so far and while I have the job mastered I'm afraid I can't equip it without Kopula." She paused offering to help him should he need it.

"I hope you're okay, sorry I can't do more."

"So I require the aid of a Moogle I take it... In truth, equipping a Job requires two things back home: a Soul Crystal with the deeds of past wielders, and the armor." He smiled at Zelda. "Pray, think nothing of it. I am used to being hit a lot harder than this."

Zelda nodded. "We can have two jobs equipped but we have more that are held in our crystal. It's what you woke up with." In case he needed clarification.

"At first it only holds a total of five but after you master a single job that total raises to ten. We don't know much about the crystals we woke up with but they are our connection to home. Mine is shaped in the symbol of the goddess."

Her goddess anyway.

"I have heard of some in Eorzea who have dabbled in every role available, even the crafting. To be limited is not uncommon, just unseen at times."

"Then the longer we train and stay, I take it the more we grow?" His was a simple crystal, pointed at both ends and smooth on all sides. It resembled the Crystals of Light he once carried with him. "Ah, your goddess, I see. Much like the Twelve, we have our own separate gods."

"I guess so. My world is very unlike this one." There were some comparisons such as potions and remedies, swords and a fight against darkness but everyday life was so very different.

Zelda looked up at the Adventurer, her eyes shining brightly. "Is there anything else I can do?" She hoped to speak to more of the new heroes but she didn't want to rush.

"Well..." And this was embarrassing, "Could you direct me to the 14th district housing area? I have been told I have lodging there by my moogle."

The moogle, silent till now, ruffled his fluff. "It would be easier if you weren't thick, sir," he grumbled.

Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

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