melodiesoflife | 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

[You won't find much weirder than this guy without trying.]

Fix them? Repair such amazing machines?

[His eyes sparkle as he turns to look towards the airships again.]

No, no, NO! Not before I get to disassemble one first! It would be like a dream come true. Like ten dreams come true! An infinity's worth!

[Sigh... The best thing to do right now is just back away slowly.]

Just so you know, people will get mad if you do something like that.

[Guh. Alice knows she probably shouldn't even bother. She's getting the feeling that this is going to be like trying to explain to the bloody twins why stabbing people is bad. But somehow she can just never leave people like this alone.]

You might even get arrested.

A new world is filled with infinite possibilities, and I have to take advantage of many as possible in case I wake up from this dream! I may never get a chance again.

[He turns very suddenly to Alice, pointing at her with the wrench. It cuts pretty close, but he seems to have a good handle on it.]

Some people might get mad. Some might enjoy it. Some might applaud my effort and skill! Anything can happen in a new land. I have no preconceptions, so everything is new and I'm overwhelmed with an adrenaline rush of possibilities!

Haven't you taken advantage of an open future? [Still pointing at Alice with his wrench, he tilts his head as an idea strikes him.] Oh, unless you're from here, that is.

[A large wrench is actually the least dangerous thing she's been threatened with, although having a crazy person she just met point a weapon at her is almost.... nostalgic.

But instead of backing off or getting nervous, she puts her hands on her hips.]

Just make sure you ask before you start taking apart other people's things. It might be fun for you, but it could cause a lot of problems for them.

[That's it Alice, lecture the crazy person. That's safe.]

And no, I'm definitely not from around here.

[You're a tough lady. Graham likes that. That's not necessarily a good thing.

He's also going to ignore that bit about asking for permission, too, because that's never going to happen.]

Then you must be a Hero! You have the confidence of one. What do you think about your new destiny? Have you enjoyed it, or has it been a heavy burden? Do you do heroic things? I thought being a hero was going to be all about rescuing beautiful princesses from monsters, or slaying dragons, but it doesn't seem like that kind of fairy tale world after all. I'm no hero, not by the longest of long shots, but I'm curious about what they're supposed to be doing here.

I can't think of why I would enjoy something like this. But I don't think it matters whether we like it or not. This is what we have to deal with either way.

[Alice is nothing if not painfully practical. But, honestly, this guy sure does like to hear his own voice.]

As for what we're supposed to do.... Well, I've heard that if we fail to save this world the calamity will move on to our home worlds.

I guess you're right. In stories, heroes are often reluctant everyman-types who are tossed into situations beyond their control. They have to rise up to meet the challenges facing them to save the day, even when they complain about being ordinary people who can't change fate. I guess that's what it means to be a hero!

[Graham loves to talk just slightly more than he likes having someone to listen. It's your own fault for continuing to talk with him!

He cocks his head questioningly about the word "calamity". He remembers his moogle mentioning something about it, but Graham was busy flipping out over being kidnapped at the moment to remember it very well.]

A calamity! Now that sounds like a job for heroes. What sort of calamity?

[It is her own fault. Honestly her entire life can be summed up as 'it's your own fault you keep talking to the crazy people.'

Like she's doing right now.]

The calamity is a bit of a mystery still... But I suppose from a practical standpoint it's a growing mass of crystal that consumes anything it touches.

That does sound like a calamity. And what exactly can heroes do about such a thing?

[Sounds more like a job for science, not a mechanic. He's not sure why he would be brought in for something like this.]

I think if we knew that, we'd be doing it.

[There is just a hint of wry humor in her tone.]

That said, we are working on figuring it out.

And that's what I'm here to help? This is really strange. I don't know anything about crystals. I've barely ever even thought about crystals! What is it I'm even suppose to do here, then?

[This had to be a mistake. He was sure of it. He wasn't a hero by any means, and certainly had no knowledge of this. He folds his arms sharply, looking angry and indignant.]

[Oh, darn. Now she feels kind of bad for him. Alice knows what it's like to feel lost and frustrated.]

I know. It's really not fair. None of us asked for this.

[But her expression and tone are a lot more gentle now.]

And I know that doesn't make things any easier. But... we're all still figuring this out. So while I can't really give you any answers, I can promise you that you're not in this alone.

[It may not seem like it, but that actually is a comfort to Graham. He doesn't deal well with loneliness.]

I suppose that, if I have to, I will work with everyone else if it will help get me home faster. But I make no promises of heroics. Heroics are not my nature and not in my experience. I'm not really interested! But I can play along for a time.

[She smiles. Something about him reminds her of Ace. Of course, Ace is energetic, eccentric, moody, and violent so that might not be a complement. But it does make her more inclined to be patient with him.]

That's all anyone could ask for. I'm not really hero material either, but I'll work as hard as I can if it will get us all home.

Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

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