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

[Somehow, Chiaki manages to avoid actively noticing the conversation going on between Kyoko and her moogle. That's because she's hard at work fiddling with what seems to be a laptop computer, except it's illuminated by literal crystal energy instead of any sort of electronics. There's music emanating from it quite reminiscent of modern Japanese dance-based arcade games, and as Chiaki continues working, several other screens pop up in the air around her. The one in the center has what should be a familiar set of scrolling arrows, while the others light up in turn as the notes go by. She watches carefully as if looking for the timing, fingers flying across the keyboard as all the displays simultaneously turn into programming code whizzing quickly down the screens.]

[Quick to forget about troubles and be eagerly drawn in to the nearest distraction, Kyoko wanders over towards the familiar sounds. She takes a few moments to blink at the unfamiliar technology. Leaning towards the girl a bit closer than social norms dictate, her long red hair spills over the side of a shoulder as she blinks at the spectacle of the computer whiz fast at work.]

What's that? Looks a lot like DDR. Never seen it in the air like that.

[Chiaki leans away from Kyoko about as far as the other girl leans in, but keeps typing. At least with her attention focused on the screen, she can avoid some of the discomfort of having someone she doesn't know get in that close.]

It's kind of like that, yeah. Arcades don't exist here, so I've been trying to program some games of my own.

[Kyoko shoots up straight, blinking in disbelief.]

Eh? What the hell?!

[First her weapon is gone, now this?]

No arcade? What are people supposed to do all day?

I spend most of my time playing a CCG called Triple Triad. Most other people either have school or a job.

[Hm. This computer girl didn't look much older than her. A fellow dropout maybe?]

CCG...? Guess I'm being too hopeful that's a videogame if there's no arcades, huh.

[Besides if she wasn't actively moving or crashing or killing something, even video games tended to lose her interest.]

Working on something yourself huh? Any luck?

A collectible card game, actually. It's pretty fun. There's actually a Pro League for players who get really good at the game. I won the last international tournament they held.

[But Kyoko probably isn't really interested in that.]

Yeah, it's a dance-based rhythm game. I originally programmed it as a coordination training module. Now I'm just trying to fine tune it a little bit so I can play it with friends.

Huh. Like Pokemon or something.

[It's clear from her expression she's less than enthusiastic about the card game. A slight grin appears as the girl continues talking, however.]

Yeah? You any good?

Not as good as I am at console games, but I've been practicing a lot with this one. I have most of the beatmaps memorized. It's not that hard once you've played them through a few times.

[Chiaki smiles over at Kyoko.]

Do you want to play together? I could use some feedback on the multiplayer function.

I don't know how much help I can be with any techie stuff.

[The smile that's returned is more a competitive grin than anything else. DDR, that would be the first nice thing to happen since being pulled into this place.]

If it means a dance off? Yeah, I'm game.

All right. Let me start it up again.

[Chiaki's fingers fly across the keyboard, typing almost faster than the eye can track, and within moments the game is back up. She sweeps a hand forward, and four additional screens materialize in the air above her, displaying large arrows. With another flick of the wrist, she arranges them on the ground in a familiar pattern to anyone who's played arcade rhythm games before, finally standing up.]

Ready when you are.

[Having a spear strapped across one's back, was really not friendly for this game. With more than a little hesitancy Kyoko takes a quick moment to lean the weapon against the nearest building.

Damnit. It would be fine, it's a few feet away!

Moving into position over the foot petals on the ground at the open station -- after a hint of bemusement with their hologram appearance, Kyoko turns to Chiaki with a vibrant smirk. Time to rock this.]

Alright, hit it!

[Let's pretend Chiaki materialized eight screens instead of four in the previous comment, so that she and Kyoko both have a matching set of arrows to step on as the notes fly by.]

All right, here goes.

[She starts up the song - your fairly typical upbeat synthpop electronica sort of fare. And to her credit as someone with the title of Ultimate Gamer, she's actually pretty good. Her movements aren't very showy, but they are very precise, her face betraying no emotion as she analytically works her way through the song.]

[On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kyoko's expression is lit up with enthusiasm during the dance. A slight chuckle escaping at her own expense at a small clank her dragoon armor makes as she leaps to make a step across the dual pad. This is certainly a new experience, at least her job keeps her agile in the heavy stuff.

Once she gets the hang of the beat, it's clear the girl is a show off. She's got the makings of a worthy adversary. ]

Funny, I thought I was some kinda mozart with this my score was perfect on all the dances first time I tried it at the arcade. Not this one though.

[She decides having no pocky was throwing off her game.]

[Chiaki is one with the game. It's a very zen-like feeling for her. She loses track of everything else when she's playing. Once the last notes scroll by, though, she takes a short breath and turns to Kyoko with a smile.]

We can have a rematch tomorrow if you want. I'm working on programming a few new songs.

[Kyoko raises a hand to the back of her neck, averting her glance at Chiaki's smile, shifting her weight a bit at the invitation. A single dance is one thing. Friendly people really cramp her style. It's not like she can dance solo in this world, though.]

Well,

[She finds a light smile, though has turned to look slightly down.]

Ok, maybe I'll find my game by then.

[Chiaki has a particular fondness for people who play games with her. Like it or not, Kyoko's now in that category.]

Was this one okay? How did the timing feel?

[The girl moves to retrieve her spear and the bag it seemed to be standing sentinel over against the wall. There's a slight pause at the question.]

Seemed fine to me.

[So far as Kyoko knew about these things, which was limited to the arcade in Mitakihara city.]

By the way, what was your name?

Good.

[Chiaki smiles, happy to hear her work was received well.]

It's Chiaki Nanami.

[She pulls one of the apples from the bag now tucked back under her arm, offering it out to the girl.]

Kyoko Sakura.

[Chiaki gratefully accepts the apple, nodding back at the other girl.]

Thanks. Nice to meet you, Kyoko. I'll let you know if I manage to program any other good games.

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Intro Log || The Return of the Heroes

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