melodiesofeternity | Player Plot: Bizarre Bird Behavior!

Should you happen to have missed it, the plotting and information post for this event can be found here.

A. Choco-Chaos!

Perhaps the first thing anyone notices is the noise, the incessant squawking and warking of so many startled and disgruntled chocobos. Then comes the smell. Ew! In the early morning hours dozens, maybe even hundreds of chocobos invaded many of the cities of Vaikuntha, and while for the first few minutes some may have been elated to see them, attitudes quickly change. The chocobos are panicked, running around without much rhyme or reason, trampling on flower beds, knocking over merchant stands, and making such a ruckus even the dead couldn’t sleep through it. Any food they find is destroyed within minutes, and anything they’re curious about meets the sharp end of their strong beaks. While they’re generally harmless birds, they have the capacity for devastation.

And none of that mentions the, uh, other mess live animals tend to make.

Despite being within the city limits, they are far from tame. Any attempts to approach the birds will be met with either an angry warning wark, a display of puffed feathers, or the chocobo just straight up bolting away. This seems great, as maybe they can be corralled, but… Nope. While this works to an extent, as soon as the birds get too close to the city borders they turn tail and jump straight over the heads of the people attempting to be rid of them, running back into the city to make even more of a mess in their renewed panic. What is there to be done about them?

B. Lurking Lunchers

Should anyone be so inclined as to find out why the chocobos feathers are so ruffled, they need only walk to the edge of the city. Stalking around just beyond civilization are fearsome beasts known only as chocobo eaters. Based on the feathers stuck between their huge teeth this is probably an apt name. The monsters have little interest in humans, but become very interested when a chocobo wanders too close to the outskirts of town. The chocobo eaters are quite aggressive and will gladly take on anyone bold enough to make a challenge. Adventurers may attempt to fight them, but it seems like just when you send one packing, another bigger monster shows up. Was that a baby chocobo eater you were just fighting? You could have sworn it was an adult, with how big it is!

C. Fight or Flight

At last the time has come. A gold chocobo trotted in from off the horizon and rounded up what she believes to be able fighters, herded them into groups, and partnered them with a chocobo that will fight by their side. Ironically it seems to be the feathered member of the party that actually knows what to do, and the teams are led by their respective birds out into the battlefield to take on one of the ferocious beasts waiting out there for lunch. Fight as hard as you can and don’t let the birds down. Defeat might not mean death for you, but it certainly would for the chocobos!

Once the battles are won and the flocks free to return to their natural habitat, some of the brave battlers will find themselves with new feathered friends. Others will not, but everyone will have a handful of greens. If you missed this opportunity to get a chocobo, or you have a taste and want even more, head on over and check out the chocobo capture/breeding system that will be available from now until Eternity.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Okuyasu didn't know why he had to come back to Arito of all places. The city has been spoiled for him on Blah Blah Blah day, and with all these smart people walking around, he's certain that the schools will be just as intimidating. Finding a decent education was his goal for his trips, but he had his limits.

Then again, with the company he was travelling with, he shouldn't be surprised. Uendo offered to accompany him on his trip, and being one of the few adults Okuyasu trusted the most, he agreed. That also meant visiting shrines and sitting outside while his housemate prayed and fasted or whatever Summoners did. That lead to a brief return to Arito to rest up, leaving Okuyasu cooped up in the inn, spying on the pedestrians below. He had Stray Cat to keep him company, despite its cat-like dramatics over being transported to a new home and losing its powers. It could at least flip over bugs on the windowsill with its breath.

The sudden stampede of Chocobos lifts its mood. Okuyasu grumbles at the smell, leaving Stray Cat to hungrily stare at the birds while he slams the door open.]

Fuck it, we're checking out now.

[Uendo's not asleep, but he's not exactly alert, either. He hasn't had the energy to do much besides lie down quietly since he returned from meeting Ramuh. Forming a bond with an Eidolon has turned out to be a lot more draining that he thought.

Knowing he's been rather poor company to Okuyasu doesn't exactly feel great either. He really ought to think of some way to make it up to him...

The slam of the door startles him out of his daze.]

Wait, what? What's going on? [He scrambles up to follow after Okuyasu.] What's all that commotion outside?

Chocobos. Lots of 'em.

[A cacaphony of warks echo from the street.]

You got the keys to the room?

[Uendo's more than 10 years older than Okuyasu, but he's been okay so far. After the continuous disappointment that is Arito, Okuyasu has hopes that the following cities will make up for this trip. His housemate is cool like that.]

Chocobos? In the middle of the city?

[Uendo is more curious than disgruntled. Chocobos are adorable, so having more of them can't possibly be a bad thing.

Of course, he's not the one who has to clean up the bird poop off the streets, so he might be a tad biased.]

Yeah, I got them. I guess we should go see what this is all about, then.

[Okuyasu slouches and slips into the hallway, where few other inn visitors have gathered to complain about the noise, as the majority are amused by the sight and remain inside their rooms. He make a beeline for the front desk, stepping around those standing still.

The clerk is worried about the cleaning expenses when the two show up. She puts on her practiced smile.]

How can I help you?

[Uendo is the adult; Okuyasu lets him speak first.]

[Uendo doesn't envy the poor staff. Customer service is a thankless job.]

We'd like to check out early, please. Our stay has been lovely but there's just no resisting the call of adventure. You know how it is.

[He makes sure to keep a smile on as well, just so she doesn't think they're disgruntled with her. ...Although he can't speak for Okuyasu there.]

Of course. [She slides the guestbook over, ignoring the pounding of a chocobo's beak on the window, and sets a pen beside it.] If you could please sign this and remove your luggage before noon, please.

[Okuyasu leaves to stomp through the halls once more and retrieve his backpack and Stray Cat.]

But I would recommend to wait for the, er, stampede to slow down before heading out, sir. The safety of our patrons are top priority.

[She doesn't like this and doesn't want to be stuck at work all week.]

Thank you. [Uendo picks up the pen, pausing to call over his shoulder:] Hey, can you bring my bag too? It should be right there next to the bed.

[Carrying an extra bag shouldn't take any effort for a big guy like Okuyasu, especially with how light they've been traveling. The one nice thing about coming to Vaikuntha with only the clothes on their backs is that they have far fewer belongings to keep track of.

Leaving Okuyasu to it, Uendo turns back to signing the guestbook.]

Does this sort of thing happen often? I thought chocobos didn't much care for human habitats.

No, they don't...I'm afraid I don't know enough about chocobo migratory habits to give a good answer. [She sheepishly smiles.]

I'm on it! [Okuyasu raises a hand and runs back to the hotel, bumping into the patrons in the hallway once more.]

I suppose they could have simply come to give the city their stampede of approval. [He hands the pen back with a completely straight face.] Then again, perhaps not.

[With the signing done and their keys turned in, Uendo steps back and gives the clerk one last bow.]

Well then, we'll be taking our leave. Thank you for your hospitality.

[The employee has no idea now to handle that pun. A blank stare surely means approval, right?

Okuyasu runs back down the hall carrying one bag in each hand with Stray Cat stuck in the crook of his arm.]

We done? Let's go. [Easier said than done. The moment Okuyasu steps outside, Chocobos rush just inches from his face, threatening to barrel him over.]

Careful!

[Uendo grabs him by the arm and yanks him back inside. Or tries to, anyway. Not like he's strong enough to force Okuyasu anywhere.]

Geez, she wasn't kidding... I wonder what got the poor fellows so agitated.

[Okuyasu screams, mostly from shock, really, and stumbles into Uendo.]

Shit, maybe they're migrating. We can't stay here until they leave!

[Maybe a native will know more, but saving them isn't a priority for Okuyasu. He wants to go home and leave this shitty city.]

Player Plot: Bizarre Bird Behavior!

Team OkuUenLean meetup

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