Player Plot: Bizarre Bird Behavior!

[moechocobos]

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.

Comments

[nanaimo_bar]

Nanamo hung back, nodding as she and Papashan covered the rear. Her staff extended, she waited five seconds for Tidus and Makoto to make their moves before she started a rout.

There was no sense overhealing, and she shuffled towards the battlefield, careful to stay in range. Healing spells didn't miss, but there was always the trouble of an eager fighter getting too far away.

[studdedcouncilprez]

With these early stages the most tactical thing to do was to watch and observe. Sure, a more aggressive person may rush in and get a few hits right away but there was so many unknown variables here that an ounce of caution would not be misplaces.

But that was no reason to stand idle.

Drawing in her focus on her own internal energies, she took a wide stance and raised her hands. In the next instant glowing green winds swirled around her to create a sphere around her body. This magic felt weird, but there was also a calm as she steeled herself for the battle ahead.

[moechocobos]

The Chocobo Eater approaches, purple tongue lolling through sharp, yellowed teeth as it eyes the blue chocobo. It gives Nanamo and Makoto little regard as it sweeps an arm at the chocobo.

Tidus's theft yields him a potion from...somewhere on the monster's body.

The blue chocobo, smart enough to dodge, takes damage from the gigantic arm, but avoids being seized in the Chocobo Eater's hand.

The blue chocobo stands back up, warks at the party to spur them into action, then leaps at the Chocobo Eater and delivers a swift Kick with a taloned foot.

[nanaimo_bar]

"Good work," said Nanamo, aiming for the eyes for the chocobo eater and casting a Aero II which would hit both of them at the same time. "Get him whilst he is blinded!" Exclaimed Nanamo as she prepped and loosed her spell onto the opponent.

[zanarkandian]

Oh no, the poor chocobo! Tidus winced and readied his hand. What to do...?

Lulu had used fire, he remembered. And while his spells were nowhere near as strong as hers, it was stronger than his blade at the moment. He cast his spell after hers, light on his toes and preparing to roll out of there---just as she would.

[studdedcouncilprez]

Makoto nodded. Fire and jutsu was a good opening gambit. With any luck that monster will reconsider how it will handle its prey and begin to consider the trio of them as a legitimate threat.

So lets turn up the heat, as it were.

Seizing the opportunity that the mini sultana and the water jock provided for for her, Makoto rushed into range of the monster with a hasty tackle punch aimed at the monster eyes. The air of her earlier whirlwind followed her like a drape and allowed her to follow up her opening with a powerful dragon kick to the eater's large-as-a-barn face.

As her feet settled back on the ground, Makoto had the presence of mind to add. "The chocobo's survival instincts will kick in and she will try to escape on her own. Focus your attack on the threat and strike it down quickly!"

[nanaimo_bar]

Nanamo nodded as she conjured up a healing spell. While as a White Mage she didn't possess magic that could do flames, but she was reluctant to change to Red Mage just yet.

Aiming it at the chocobo, she cast Cure on it while preparing another spell in order to assault the Chocobo Eater with driving winds.

[moechocobos]

The wind spell has the Chocobo Eater growling and swiping at its eyes, but the fire spell does the most damage. After bearing the brunt of the two spells, the martial arts attack sends the Chocobo Eater hurling down onto its back. It flails as it struggles to right itself.

The chocobo warks gratefully as the Cure spell heals some of the damage from the Chocobo Eater's strike. Reinvigorated, she sprints at the Chocobo Eater and delivers a Peck attack. It seems to do more damage while the monster is prone.

[zanarkandian]

After a quick glance assures him that everyone is okay, Tidus allows himself a smile. Now things seem to be going as he remembers.

"We can push it from here! Hit as hard as you've got!"

His sword is only capable of a basic attack for now, but he swings it with enthusiasm regardless.

[nanaimo_bar]

"Of course!" Exclaimed Nanamo, aiming another wind spell and pumping as much directional force as possible to push the Chocobo Eater off the ledge. Her attack power was still rather low, but she swung her staff hard.

[studdedcouncilprez]

Makoto saw the situation and recognized the wisdom in Tidus' words. Not wanting to let her mind get in the way of her actions her body immediately went into flight. With a powerful tackle she pushed against the lumbering form with all of her might.

Just a little more and this could be over before it began--!

[moechocobos]

The chocobo adds to the assault with a Kick.

The attacks send the monster sliding backwards across the battlefield before it finally rights itself. It looks visibly damaged by the party's attacks.

The Chocobo Eater, back on its feet now, delivers a crushing Fist of Fury at Titus.

[zanarkandian]

"Aagh!" Damn, he knew he should've slipped into transience---but it was better that it hit him and not Nanamo. He slammed into the ground, hanging on by a thread---probably a good time to guzzle that potion.

"Keep attacking," he hissed.

[studdedcouncilprez]

Of course. She should have realized that the fight wasn't going to be this easy. Still the thing was losing ground and that was to their advantage.

Not wanting to give the monster another inch, Makoto rushes to the front lines to press into the Chocobo Eater's zone. Recognizing the danger she was in she once more drew the aerial energy of whirlwind around herself to prepare for whatever attack the monster decided to do.

"Open shot to attack or heal, Nanamo! I trust your judgement!"

[nanaimo_bar]

Nanamo grimaced as Tidus took that hit. He was drinking a potion and yet it seemed like the battle was turning in their favor.

Trusting her companions, she whipped up the strongest Aero she could and blasted the Chocobo Eater with a yell.

[moechocobos]

Since her companions seem set on healing, the blue chocobo dashes in to deliver another Peck attack on the Chocobo Eater's knees as soon as Nanamo's wind dies down.

Drawn to the shouting, the monster, looking much worse for wear, aims a Physical Attack at Makoto.

[zanarkandian]

Tidus slipped into his new casting stance, balanced precariously on the balls of his feet. He fired off another flame spell, determined to press the advantage.

He wouldn't even shoot off a corny one-liner this time---that was how serious he was.

[studdedcouncilprez]

With the wind acting as her shield the giant physical attack is deflected past slightly, gazing her chest for moderate damage. She felt worse, but that was definitely not a hit she wants to take again. One or two solid hits would probably be enough to take her down.

BUT now was not the time to lament her hurts. She has a fight that she needs to focus on and focus on it she will! Pressing the opportunity she uses her dragon kick low to sweep the legs. Carrying the momentum the wind offered her she followed it up with a powerful tackle on the side she swept, hoping to put it down on its back again.

[nanaimo_bar]

Switching to defense, Nanamo slid in between the pair and cast the strongest Cure she could on the more injured, the healing spell tagging Tidus. It was strong enough to draw the attention of the Eater, since she used it as full power as possible.

[moechocobos]

With Tidus' fire spell and Makoto's kick, the Chocobo Eater falls onto its back once more. Their chocobo ally dashes forward and rakes her claws across its exposed stomach in her most fierce Kick yet. The monster is pushed back a few more feet by the attack, and is now lying dangerously close to a deep hole in the battlefield.

The Chocobo Eater roars, and flails its limbs as it struggles to rise again. The effort proves too much for it, and it remains prone. In a final attempt to defend itself, the Chocobo Eater blasts a Blizzard spell at the blue chocobo. The chocobo lets out a wavering wark as it presses against the nearest ally to huddle for warmth.