melodiesoflife | (no subject)

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Characters: OPEN (Ramza and whoever wishes to join)
Where/When: Starting with the Mognet bulletin boards, then branching out around the city, Oct 18th-the end of the event?
Summary: Something is attacking moogles and making Heroes sick. In an effort to find out what is going on and prevent further damage, Ramza is trying to set up some patrols around the city.
Warnings: Injured Moogles, possibly people dying.

A. At the Mognet Bulletin Boards in your District

The skies around Aqures Ixen seemed unnaturally quiet as Heroes stopped sending their moogles out to deliver messages. Ramza did not know what manner of person or creature was attacking their white winged allies, but he did not wish to allow it to roam the streets freely. With communications down and some Heroes bedridden with various illnesses, it seemed the best way to proceed is to set up a patrol.

Ramza refused to endanger Simon by asking the moogle to deliver the message to the other Heroes. Instead, he wrote out the message on a sheet of parchment and attached it to the bulletin board in the middle of the district. Hopefully, the Heroes who were still well enough to aid in the patrol would see it.

[The message Ramza leaves has a brief explanation of the patrols, a few routes sketched out, and a series of days and times that a hero can sign up for. Most of the routes circle past houses, so that, if a Hero falls ill, help will not be too far away.]

B. On your Patrol Route

Darkness had fallen. The streets were quiet, with the lights from the Moogle's decorations casting a eerie glow. Not knowing what enemy they faced, Ramza tried to coordinate each patrol so that no hero went unaccompanied. There was strength in numbers...he hoped.

[Note: The heroes on patrol will not be able to locate whatever it is attacking the moogles. If any moogles are sent out.away from their heroes during patrols, they will most likely be injured, and if a moogle actively attempts to guide the heroes to the attacker, they will be wounded.]

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Ashelia walked quickly through the darkness, this outing opting for her red mage armour. There was no telling who or what was attacking the moogles. For all she knew, it could be another Imperial plot. What better way to weaken the kingdom than cut off its internal communication? And with how much the Empire's agents had seemed to know about the Heroes themselves, it was entirely possible the attacks were meant to create confusion in her ranks specifically.

Not yours, the queen cautioned herself as she took a turn. It was getting harder and harder for her not to think of them that way though. The more she got to know them, the more protective she felt. It wasn't good.

Ashelia had seen the sign up sheets for patrols, but had opted to go out on her own, moogle-less as she generally was. Merlose had picked up extra shifts at the Aqures Ixen branch of Mognet Central, and a good thing, too - Ashelia wanted her as far away from the danger as possible. With her magick returned, the young queen wasn't all that worried about her own safety. Hopped up on Haste and a myriad of other status buffing spells, it was hard to feel all that vulnerable, alone or not. It was also harder to feel the debilitating effects of the illness.

She stopped when she reached the Crystal of Fire's plaza. Yes, she was hoping to catch at least a glimpse of the moogles' attacker, but she was more invested in finding Snow's crystal. She wasn't sure if there was a better place to start looking than this, back where it all began, but she also wasn't sure exactly what she was looking for.

The scenery is somewhat unsettling. In the dark of night, the Crystal looked more menacing than anything else. It was just so...large, was the best way to put it. It just sat there, holding its secrets. Ashelia had seen, and been inside, larger crystals. She couldn't help but wonder if the Occuria had anything to do with this after all. She approached the Crystal slowly, eyebrows furrowed in concentration. They had called out to her before, using her dead husband's image to manipulate her into doing their will. Were they inside, somewhere? Looking for revenge? Figuring out how to break her into finishing the job somehow?

Ashelia laid a hand on the Crystal's surface and closed her eyes. Something, anything...even if it is from them...I need some kind of guidance, where to go, what to do...

"Uh. You uh, are you... No, okay, I have no idea what you're doin'."

Ashelia's quiet contemplation is interrupted by the ever-eloquent marshal of Mars. He stands there, arms folded and head tilted, wondering what she's up to. Sparks stays back from the Crystal itself; he doesn't entirely trust the thing not to do something weird.

"Are you, uh. Everythin' okay?"

Ashelia turned around, startled. She pulled her hand from the crystal, bringing it to her sternum in a moment of unchecked vulnerability. You fool, something on the loose attacking moogles and you shut out the world to commune with a large rock.

Good thing it was just Marshal Nevada.

She clenched her jaw, slightly embarrassed, but quickly settled into a stance Sparks would have been familiar with by now; straight-backed, confident, arms crossed. "I'm quite fine."

"Looked like you were tryin' to listen to it or somethin'. I hope it don't talk. Probably won't say anythin' useful if it did."

Sparks shrugged his shoulders at her. Strangely, the marshal looked exhausted. A lot of the color was drained from his face, and there were dark circles under his eyes like he hasn't slept in a week.

"If it can hear you, tell it to stop draggin' more suckers here."

Ashelia frowned at Sparks, tilting her head to the side. He looks unwell. And that was an understatement. She'd seen that pallid complexion many times before; her stomach dropped into her feet.

"I was, in fact, trying to listen," she answered, turning around to look at the crystal. She reached out to put her hand back on it but stopped midway. It would clearly do no good. "In my homeland, crystals could be used by the gods - those calling themselves gods - to communicate with supposed lesser beings." Her arm fell to her side. "They spoke to me on occasion. We aren't quite on speaking terms recently, but I thought maybe..."

Ashelia shook her head and turned back to Sparks. "A story for another time. You aren't well, Marshal. You should be resting."

"This place apparently seems a lot like some other folks' worlds here, like you, but it ain't the same. Keep that in mind. Gotta say that Mars is lackin' in giant crystals 'a the gods, though."

Sparks waved off her last comment with a hand. "'S nothin'. I ain't been sick since I was a kid. I can handle it." Did he really look that bad, though? That was a bit worrying.

"True." Ashelia sighed. "The power they seemed to wield, I just...never mind." She shooed the thoughts away with a gesture. There were more practical concerns.

"All the more reason for you to rest," she replied, approaching Sparks with her arms crossed. "You're a man of the law, Marshal, you have responsibilities. You cannot attend to them in this state. Come with me, I'll accompany you home." With a flick of her hand, Ashelia cast Regen on Sparks - it should alleviate some of his symptoms for the next little while.

The spell did help some for now, but he still looked put out. He had taken an extra shift to get away from his roommate, Red, who was pushing him to see a doctor.

"N-No, seriously, I'm fine. 'Sides, I'm out on duty now lookin' for whatever it was hurtin' the moogles. Mine came home all busted up last night 'n doesn't even know what hit her. You seen or heard anything'?"

Ashelia shook her head. "Unfortunately not. Like most of my attempts to accomplish something in this dreadful place, I've not been able to - "

That sounded a lot less self-pitying in her head, somehow.

"In any case, you cannot be on duty right now because not even I would send a soldier on patrol in your state." It was a joke, but she sounded quite serious. "Come along Marshal, 'tis not far to our district."

He would follow her, but he'd still be dismissive about it. "Crime don't stop just cuz I got a cold or somethin', y'know." Sparks actually wasn't sure what was wrong, other than he felt totally drained, and no amount of sleep seemed to help.

"Plus, I've been through way worse. You got no idea. Turned inside-out? Yep. Body swapped with a Martian? Check that. Been a Murderman? Been there, done that. And I'm still kickin'. Some virus ain't gonna keep Sparks Nevada do--" He finishes that statement with a yawn. Most of that probably didn't mean much to Ashelia anyway.

"...Okay, maybe I'm a little worn out."

"You shall have to enlighten me as to what exactly a Murderman is at some later point," the queen replied wryly. The term seemed pretty self-explanatory, but what little Ashelia knew of Sparks' world was confusing, to say the least.

"And in any case, crime may not stop but I fear you will." Ashelia looked back at Sparks and shook her head. "Rest tonight. I shall take over your patrol. The city will not wont for protection this night, I promise you that."

"Reckon their name gives it away. Otherwise yer better off not knowin'." It was Sparks's crazy universe that was to credit for prepared him for pretty much anything. It's hard to get rattled when you've seen (and sometimes been) it all.

He doesn't look too sure about someone taking over his post, and grumbles quietly. "Nnn... Fine. Just tonight. But I still ain't goin' to the doctor, no matter what Red, or anyone says. I'll be fine in a day 'r two. But if ya see anythin', come 'n get me."

Cloud had his own little bit of trauma from their last major fight. While Ashe's thought for best tactics in this scenario might have been to keep herself versatile, Cloud decided to opt for his new set of heavy armor. Even as he was getting used to moving in it, it was still a bit comforting to having something more than mage robes protecting him.

Mako was safe at home, having not needed much convincing to keep indoors but he still made a fuss over being 'protected', especially by such a 'non-hero' as Cloud was. Cloud smiled a bit as he thought about it. They were still arguing, but they were coming to an understanding and there was some respect between the lines.

His armor clattered as he walked through the plaza, making his presence clear to Ashe as well as anyone else within earshot, "Ashelia, is that you?" he called out, trying to make sure she didn't think he was anyone intending ill will. As he drew closer she'd be able to see that he was looking a bit pale, and he winced each time he moved his left arm. With the gear he was wearing though, it was impossible to tell how his condition was proceeding.

Ashe opened her eyes when she heard the clanking getting nearer. She sighed, giving the Crystal of Fire a little pat. It's not to be, it seems. Perhaps I am not the saint this time.

By the time Cloud called out to her, Ashe had composed herself and turned around to face him. "It is I, Corporal Strife. 'Tis good to see you once again among the living. I - " She stopped mid-sentence when she saw the paleness of his complexion. A trick of the moonlight?

"What brings you out at this hour? Searching for the culprit behind the moogle attacks?"

Is being a saint really a good thing? Sometimes being chosen by destiny is the worst thing that can happen to someone. Sometimes the flag of the hero is thrust into the arms of those who were meant to be the best friend. The wife. The support.

Sometimes all one could do was their best and make do.

"I've been helping Ramza with his patrols. Mako is too scared to go out." He winced a bit, glancing down at his left arm. "What about you?"

Ashe narrowed her eyes at Cloud's wince. Did that have something to do with the notice he'd put up?

"'Tis for the best. Our moogles should be as far away from harm as possible." She looked purposefully at his arm, tilting her head to the side. "I am also helping with the patrols...Corporal, I applaud your tenacity, but are you fit to fight should the need arise?" Her tone was missing the bite it usually had when pointing out others' inadequacies. She was genuinely concerned. He looks as though he can barely stand in all that heavy armour.

"I saw your notice. Patrol if you feel you must, but I do think the evening shifts best left to those in better health." Read: you just died not that long ago, maybe you should be taking it easy.

Cloud understood her meaning, and other people had offered him similar advice and absolution from responsibility, "I should be able to handle myself, and I'll be careful. I just don't really know what I'd do with myself if I stayed in bed." Nothing he tried was stopping whatever it was from spreading along his arm. It hadn't gotten to his chest yet and part of him was actually very scared of what would happen if it did.

"What about you? How have you been doing?" He knew he wasn't the only one who was getting sick, and everyone just looking so...tired lately.

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