Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

[melodiesmods]

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...

Comments

[dolente]

      WAKING + OTHER HEROES.
"Eh? Already?" she could have sworn she'd only just fallen asleep. Yesterday had been draining, and the restless night she'd had didn't help anything. But in her half-dozing state when she reached over to smack the snooze button -- she found herself pressing down on something furry and warm instead. "Maaa, Kyuubey, just five more minutes," she groaned, turning over to her other side, realizing quickly that the hard surface of the ground certainly wasn't the bed she remembered going to sleep in.

"Not Kyuubey," a voice corrected, "Kyuupo. I'll be your partner here in Crystallis."

Both of those things were enough to jolt her upright, looking around at the unfamiliar area -- then down at her new clothes. "Wh... what the -- ! Did you say Crystallis?!"

      CITY OF AQURES IXEN.
All right, so it wasn't some kind of tricky barrier. At least, that's not what it seemed like. But Sayaka's guard was still up as she made her way through the city, pausing every once in awhile to look over some of the reconstruction more closely, as though she was still trying to decide whether it was all real or not. So far, it was checking out, at least according to the pinch she'd given herself earlier.

"This place looks like it's been through a lot..."
"There was a battle here recently. The Empire tried to invade, kupo. There were lots of casualties on both sides."

Sayaka swallowed the lump in her throat, seeing what was probably the remains of someone's house -- hoping the occupants had somehow made it out alive. "And now they're looking for a bunch of heroes, huh?" Talk about pressure...

      HOUSE C1.
"Jeez, I don't know, Kyuupo, just sharing with strangers right off the bat? That seems a little awkward, doesn't it?" A short ways away from the house, Sayaka was wrestling with hereself over the idea of going in. It wasn't as though she had anywhere else to go, and most of the others didn't seem so bad, but still... "Not that there's much choice I guess," she added with a sigh, while her moogle floated about, ears flicking.

"It would be better than wandering around at night, especially since your jobs are still such low levels."

She didn't like that, but he had a point. Frowning, she reluctantly set forth again with a quiet, "Yeah..." knowing that it was true. She needed to get stronger, any find out why she couldn't use her real powers here... and on top of that, a way to get back.

She stepped up to the door, hesitated, then finally knocked before trying the knob, and pushing the door open. "Hello? Is anyone home?"

CITY OF AQURES IXEN.

[goddessofthesky]

"They've actually then looking for awhile."

Zelda's voice was soft and a small smile played across her lips as she spoke. Her long blond hair was tightly wound upon her head and she wore a simple black dress in mourning of those who lost their lives to the battle. Her bright blue eyes were somehow accented by the dark colors making them shine like crystals as they stepped next to the young girl. "It's been awhile since the first group of heroes were called."

Her voice was serious but her tone remained light. Things were grim but Zelda was the sort to look at the happy side and remain a bright light for those who needed it.

"I'm sorry, I'm Zelda. I'm a hero as well though Kopula has flown a head of me." He's an easily excitable moogle.

[dolente]

Spinning on her heel with a "Huh?" Sayaka looked over the blonde girl -- then smiled, feeling a little sheepish that someone had heard her. "Oh... yeah, I guess you're right. Some people... have been here a long time already haven't they?" her head bowed slightly, and she gently scratched at the side of her cheek.

Looking back up again, she had a gentle smile as she offered out her hand in greeting. "I'm Sayaka Miki," and poking a thumb into the air in her moogle's direction, "and that's Kyuupo. I sort of... just got here so it's a bit of an adjustment still, haha..." her nervous laughter trailed off in the air between them.

[goddessofthesky]

Zelda had been here for over a year now and while it's been long it also felt as if it all happened in an instant. "I'm Zelda." Zelda held out her hand in return before glancing at the moogle by Sayaka's side.

"It's alright." Her smile widens slightly. "It's hard to get used to but there are people here to help. If you need anything please let me know."

She was already taking all of this surprisingly well.

[dolente]

Sayaka had a little bit of time for it to sink in which probably explained her demeanour, well... that and the fact that pinching herself had done nothing to wake her up. Chances were it wasn't a witch's barrier either, but she had to admit the jury was still out on that one too. The fact that she could no longer transform was the most concerning, but... that was something she kept to herself.

She shook Zelda's hand lightly, her grip loose, and let it go again. "I'm not sure about needing anything, aside from a way home, that is. Only... I've been hearing that's not really an option, so I guess that's out too, huh? Heh. This really does all sound like something straight out of a manga, you know."

[goddessofthesky]

"A manga?" Zelda hadn't heard that one before though she supposed it was some sort of story.

She hummed softly looking around at the buildings before she let her gaze settle on Sayaka. "We don't know a way home but we are looking." She realized that might not bring the girl much confidence.

"I've been here for a while but I can say we are closer to going home."

[foodchaining]

Turning towards the sound of the voice, Kyoko says nothing - her mouth stuffed with the taiyaki the girl had swiped from one of the housemates.

She strikes quite an image, standing in her socks, treat hanging from her lips, the tip of the spear clasped in one hand threatening to hit the ceiling since she's not about to do something silly like leave it leaning it against the wall now that she can't summon it at will.

Her free hand pulls the food away while she swallows the latest bite with loud a GULP, "S...Sayaka?" For the briefest moment...she almost fells.... Kyoko had nothing to lose on Earth. Nothing but her own life. She had no one - so what difference did it make where she was? Sayaka though, she had people that she cared about. Getting spirited away from them like this, that had to...

Then she remembers how much the blue haired girl pissed her off the last time she saw her. Red eyes alight with a different kind of fire as the girl's lips pull into a smirk. To be placed in the same category as Kyoko when the rookie had such idiotic shiny ideals and looked down on her for the way she went about things, oh the redhead just relished how much that would piss the girl off.

"Welcome home, 'hero'."

[dolente]

She let go of the door, letting it swing open the rest of the way while Kyoko came into view. Never in a million years -- of all the people that could have -- and it had to be her?! Scowling, Sayaka took a half-step back, almost worried the other girl would attack her, what with that spear in her hand and all.

"What are you doing here?" she pointed an accusatory finger in the redhead's direction. And what did she mean 'welcome home!' "You didn't have anything to do with this, did you?" And then, the memories of their last encounter surfaced -- the girl's twisted tale of a wish gone wrong... which quelled some of the anger and distrust she had felt.

But still, she said nothing about the loss of her powers, or the new ones she had somehow gained. "If you did, it's not very funny."

[foodchaining]

The spear wielder's smirk seems to grow in direct proportion to Sayaka's scowl. Lifting the end piece of her weapon from the ground, she stalks over towards the new arrival with slow footsteps. The motion is more languid than anything. It's not intended to be threatening - considering the towering lance that taps a rhythm on the floor counting out every two steps -- that does not mean it doesn't come off this way.

Coming to a pause just before the blue haired girl, Kyoko leans her shoulder onto the body of the wooden staff portion -- hand holding on above her so she's lazily half hanging from a self created maypole.

Truth is, with the bad start the loner dragoon and moogle had, Sayaka likely knew more about what was going on than her. Not that the more experienced magical girl would ever let on. Shooting the blue haired girl an all knowing look despite how perplexed she truly was.

"Me? You truly are an idiot. What do you take me for, some kind of wizard. I'm in the same boat as you, just got here.

Same boat. Same house. So like I said.

Welcome home."

[dolente]

Stiffening, Sayaka stood her ground. Upon closer inspection her hands might have been shaking -- just a little -- but she refused to be intimidated, especially in her own house! ...Alleged house. Maybe her initial assumption had sounded stupid, but as she looked down her nose, she figured she probably couldn't be too careful in assuming what Kyoko was and wasn't capable of.

The coincidence of finding her in her assigned housing though, well, that was... that was something. Still, there was almost a comfort in seeing someone from home, even if it had to be her.

"They must be really desperate, asking someone like you to be a hero. Let me guess, you're not going to help these people either, are you?" And her head tilted, seeing the food she shoved in her face, "But that won't stop you from making yourself at home, it looks like."

[foodchaining]

That trembling, that's what she liked to see. Leaning forwards a bit, cat like, she inches closer -- invading more of Sayaka's space.

It was fun to upset this girl. If doing so just happened to take the paladin's mind off the fact she'd been ripped away from the people she loved for a while...well. It's not like that was planned.

Kyoko's flinches at Sayaka's reprimand about the food she'd stolen. For some stupid reason, being admonished about her thievery gets under her skin coming from this girl. The food gets cradled absentmindedly close to her chest, as if someone might try to snatch it away. "Yeah, so? They told us to didn't they?" Stupid -- as if anyplace could ever feel like home, ever again.

"No I'm not going to fight if there's nothing in it for me! Why would I do that. You though, I bet you're ready to go out there, all that champion of justice crap. There's no such thing as heroes you know. They are just fairy tales to make children think the world is less bad than it is. Anybody fighting and not so much as getting a wish shouldn't be calling themselves a hero, just a glorified idiot."

Around the city

[neverfirstclass]

Suddenly a stack of blankets was looming on front of Sayaka and headed her way. Whoever was carrying them clearly had their vision obstructed and didn't see her in their path.

"Ah! Cloud! Watch out, kupo~" A moogle fluttered from around the stack and pushed it to the side, forcing the young man carrying them to turn and come to a halt. He looked like he was about to say something to the bespectacled moogle when he then noticed the girl not a few feet from him. "Oh...thanks Mako. Sorry. I didn't see you there. Are you one of the new Heroes?"

[dolente]

"Woah! Hey, that's quite the handful," she waved off the apology with a hand, letting it go since no harm had been done anyway. "Yeah... you could say that. That obvious, huh?" Or maybe it was just that the people that had been here for awhile could all recognize one another.

"I'm Sayaka. Do you... need a hand or something?"

[neverfirstclass]

"I'm okay with this, but if you want to take the ones off the top that would help." He nodded at the top of the pile, indicating the blankets he meant. "Ever since the recent attack I've been trying to do what I can to help out with the rebuilding and those who got hurt."

Cloud had been carrying some personal feelings of guilt over everything that happened. He did all he could to protect the city but it was a little bit the Heroes' fault it was attacked in the first place was his thinking. "I'm Cloud. I was with the first batch of Heroes that showed up here a year ago."

[dolente]

Already moving to take some of the stack off from the top, when she had grabbed an armful, her face fell slightly. "A... a year?!" No way! Okay, so maybe she had been a bit optimistic when she'd first thought it might only be a few hours they'd be stuck, but an entire year?!

Sayaka groaned loudly, but followed it up with a sigh shortly after. "It sounds like this world needs a lot of help if it's still pulling people in a whole year later..." And, as much as she hated to consider it, it sounded more and more like going home was a pipe dream.

[neverfirstclass]

Cloud wasn't sure what response he was expecting, but the shout over how long he'd been there wasn't on the list. Then again maybe he should have honestly expected it. The only reason he hadn't been more upset about being torn from his world was how many others from Gaia had as well.

He tried not to think about how small his pool of friends had been back then.

"We're still not really sure how or why it keeps pulling people in. We were told we were brought here to fight the Calamity, but it turned out we couldn't trust that person....sorry to get you wrapped up in all of this."

Waking + Other Heroes

[no1]

Older and newer Heroes alike were circling around the Crystal looking either for answers or familiar faces, not always getting what they wanted. While it had slowly begun to dawn on him that perhaps his own, somewhat selfish wishes would not be fulfilled that day, Ace decided to at least lend a hand to somebody who wasn't lucky enough to be found among his own.

In the end, he followed that thought rather literally by walking up to the panicked girl on the ground and extending his hand towards her, smiling lightly, though there was something awkward about the gesture, too.

"I would advise you to listen to your moogle from now on."

[dolente]

Looking over to the hand that was extended her way, Sayaka studied Ace for another moment, before taking it with a chuckle. She tugged on him gently so that she could rise to her feet, then dusted herself off.

"A moogle, huh? Is that what you're called? He does seem to know a lot," she wondered aloud, looking over Kyuupo's way. "Man, this really is strange, are you sure this isn't some kind of dream? Maybe I should pinch myself to make sure."

Bringing a hand up to her cheek, she pinched the side of it gently -- and when nothing happened, had to laugh at herself. "Well, I guess it was worth a try, heh."

[no1]

The way she phrased it brought back a memory of his own arrival, and a mystery of a dream he'd had that he himself hadn't been able to solve yet. Crystallis was undoubtedly real in all of its aspects, but the place had its own ways of playing with one's mind.

Taking a small step back, Ace let the girl become better acquainted with her new companion, while his own moogle, a a fluffy creature with a an oversized red mantle wrapped around her neck, peeked out from behind his shoulder and waved her hand at the pair.

"They are our guides around here, so there's no need to worry about getting lost." ...That is, unless you're stuck with one of the clumsy types, so here's to hoping her moogle would be capable enough. "I'm sorry to say this, but you might have to stay here for a while."

[dolente]

"Awhile? What, you mean like... a few hours right?" Her voice dropped slightly, as she continued on, "It's not gonna be good if I miss school again today," Sayaka groaned, her arms crossing against her chest -- and that was when she noticed the moogle poking out from behind you.

"Hey, you have one, too!" She leaned down, raising her hand in greeting as well with a laugh. Magical creatures were becoming more commonplace for her these days, but it was good to know that he could see them, too.

"Ah..." she straightened again, smiling. "I'm Sayaka Miki. This guy calls himself Kyuupo," her thumb jabbed the air in the the direction her companion floated.

[no1]

With her apparent obliviousness, Sayaka didn't exactly make it easy for him to communicate the truth. Once again, Ace would leave her monologue interrupted as if to see how much she would be able to gather on her own, wondering how many clues the girls might even need.

At least Hanafuda, the moogle, had her share of fun in interacting with the new Hero as she glided through the air, stopping right in front of the girl and her companion, nodding energetically. "Nice to meet you two, kupo! That's Ace, and I'm Hanafuda, kupooo!" No matter what, she would always make sure that her Hero got his introduction done before her own. "Welcome to Crystallis!"

However, with the question still lingering in the air, the blond finally joined her. "We haven't found a way to return. Not yet."

City of Aqures Ixen

[line_piece]

[Chiaki happens to be walking by as Sayaka converses with her moogle. It's the right time of the month for it, and she hasn't seen this girl around before, so she figures she must be a new arrival. Walking over slowly, she offers a small smile.]

It's okay. Things have been quiet since the attack. You'll have some time to get used to this place first.

[dolente]

( her attention turned towards the voice, returning the girl's smile with one of her own, even if it was a little half-hearted. ) Yeah, some time to get used to it... ( sayaka didn't really know what 'it' was yet, but if the empire could attack on a scale like this, out in the open, any time they wanted... she wondered what sort of help she would actually be. )

It must have been... some battle to have left an aftermath like this, huh?

[line_piece]

It really was. The damage could have been way worse, probably.

[Understatement of the century, really, but that's just how she rolls.]

But I don't think the Empire will be back anytime soon. It's a good time to regroup.

[dolente]

( unholy empires, grand scale battles... these weren't things sayaka had any concept of. but then, it was only a few days ago before she'd even known magic was real. maybe that's why it wasn't such a hard pill to swallow, but, all the same... )

Were you... here when it happened? The fighting? ( she sounded like she knew what she was talking about, at least. )