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

[warpstriking]

[Noctis is about to protest, but... they have a point. He's just not happy about it being so logical. Especially since he knows how much of a glass canon he is, and Ninja's not that much better, either.

But... if Ignis is going to be up close and personal, he'll keep an eye on any reaction to his spells. If they can find a weakness quickly, it might help keep them from taking too much damage.

And of course Prompto has greens on him. Noctis shakes his head as the black chocobo eats them up, happily kwehing at the pre-battle snack.]

Save the spoiling for after the fight?

[Seriously, Prompto? He has to struggle to remain looking slightly annoyed, but a bit of amusement leaks out.

The black chocobo warks indignantly, clearly set on the shiny object, but he won't. If the human needed it, he can keep it. For now. Ruffling it's feathers a little, it warks again and takes off in the direction they must travel. Sure to keep at a slower pace so the three can keep up.]

[chocobosnap]

[Logic is all they've got at the moment with the new powers, the new formation will take some getting used to. He's used to being a glass canon too, but he always jumps into they fray. It's going to be hard to remember not to do that. Gladio isn't here to protect Noct, they're going to have to do it.]

But Noct it's so cute! [He pets the feathers on the chocobo's crown but when it warks and heads off, he is forced to fall into step with Noct instead and nudges him.]

Didn't you want to pet the chocobo? [Don't lie Noct, he has your number and he knows it, based on the grin he's sporting.]

Let's not worry about this fight until after it goes wrong. If it goes right we have nothing to worry about!

[regalblaze]

[Ignis will have to rely on his dodging instinct in this fight. Like hell he's going to let Noct be on the front lines. They will have to improvise... a lot. Good thing he stacked on the potions.

Prompto's optimism about this battle is both refreshing and scaring Ignis. Chocobo is getting that one pet- for now. They can do more later.]

Let's head out. [He follows after the Black Chocobo-] And stay together. No straying off.

Petting the chocobo will be your reward when we wrap this battle up and make sure all the chocobos are safe.

[warpstriking]

I know... [He wants to pet it. So bad. But he kept himself from doing so and now it's on the move. He sighs, moving to follow with the rod in hand. At least it could double for a walking stick, he thinks absentmindedly. Or something he could bop Prompto with. Not that he would, but the thought is there.]

Yes, Ignis...

[He says in the most exasperated tone he's managed since they had the pleasure of sailing the open seas. Like he would wander off, especially in this situation. If he was stronger? Maybe. Right now? Hell no.]

[chocobosnap]

Not going anywhere, don't even worry about it!

[He has his gun in its holster on his hip. Noct's magic was very convenient, but he's had to fight with his guns strapped to him before. He's now used to it.

He walks with Noctis, unaware of this bopping plot, which wouldn't end well because he'd show Noctis that his hair could be ruffled in response.]

This world is kind of weird you know? At least there's chocobos.

[regalblaze]

[No wandering off too far even when you get stronger, Noct. Again, not by yourself. Always take someone with you, it doesn't have to be Ignis. Just- not alone. These reports on murders and people disappearing are unsettling.

Ignis keeps eye on the surroundings as they walk (occasionally jog up to the Black chocobo when the bird speeds up a bit), thinking of what Prompto says.]

The fact that there are so many similarities with our World without being our World is mildly unsettling.

[From gil as currency, over chocobos to small things like canned coffee named 'Ebony'.]

[warpstriking]

[Lucky for Prompto, it's not a serious plot. Not like what they're gonna find in the bathroom when they get back home. Some might even say he went

kwehzy

... Okay that was bad and he feels bad for just thinking it.]

Yeah, no kidding.

[He really doesn't want to voice it. Because if this ends up only being some dream he has in the Crystal... it's beyond cruel. No, he refuses to believe this isn't real. Even though Noct walks just a little bit closer to Prompto after that thought crosses his mind.]

'Least the moogles and more common magic use are a bit different. [He can live with that kind of different.]

[chocobosnap]

I didn't think of that. [He's got his hands in his pockets, not exactly combat ready, but he's fast, he'll be fine. He strolls with them as they walk.]

Do you think that makes it better or worse?

[He doesn't know, he hasn't been anywhere else, and really, he can't say the similarities are that much anymore - but he doesn't want to get into that.]

Never thought I'd see a live moogle. Aren't they the cutest?!

[regalblaze]

I suppose it has its good and bad sides, [Ignis muses loudly.] The fact that things are familiar makes us understand things better. However...

We are stranded without our normal powers and have to train from the very beginning. If we were facing this chocobo eater with our real skills, I wouldn't be as concerned as I am now, [he admits. His worries would be down to a bare minimum. But since things are like this, well, the guys will have to deal with Ignis being nosier than usual.]

The moogles are cute. Although, [Ignis glances at Noct with a small smirk,] they could be a spoonfull from time to time.

[warpstriking]

[Noctis remains silent on the issue of "better or worse"? Not really sure where he stands on that topic in particular, and because Ignis' logic covers most of what he'd say anyway.]

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, Specs. [He says with a sigh and roll of the eyes, not meaning it in a mean-spirited way. He's irritated due to feeling the same, and yet... Grateful at the same time. He was about to say as much when someone brings up the incident with Ebony.

Noct groans.] Enough about the cooking utensils already. Seriously.

[...What was that low growl in the distance.]

[chocobosnap]

Well yeah, I know but- [He's cut off by that growl, which practice and training with all their traveling, is enough to make it reflexive. He shuts his mouth and just listens.]

We must be getting close. [When he speaks, the volume of his voice is lower, because he doesn't want to be overheard or draw attention to them. Some of their skills carry over, don't they?]

[regalblaze]

[Ignis stops talking the moment they hear growling in the distance. He glances at the black chocobo that was leading them and slowly pulls the blades out of their sheaths.]

Quietly... let's take the beast by surprise.

[He slips down the path they were taking and hides behind one of the big boulders that were in their way, trying to see where the sounds are coming from.]

[warpstriking]

[The knowledge stuck, that's for sure. He automatically began crouching down, glad he could wear his old clothes despite the asterisk. It was fitting enough and offered a bit more movement than those robes. Rod at the ready, he nods.

Especially as the black chocobo seems even more wary at the growl. He reaches up to pat the bird's neck, his terrified kwehs eased somewhat. The poor thing. Yet it kept looking in the direction of the growls, taking the rear with Noctis.]

Yeah. Before he jumps out of his feathers.

[He follows Ignis, the bird remaining behind him and neck held low as it tried to mimic him.

From their hiding place, though, Ignis can spy the beast easily. Kind of hard not to notice it, really. Lumbering closer as though it heard the sound of it's favorite prey...]

[chocobosnap]

[Prompto whips out his gun from its holster with a little flair, spinning it and catching it deftly. He steps up beside Ignis. He'll make himself a mid-range target.

Nothing is eating a chocobo on his watch. Those wonderful, majestic birds...

He keeps out of sight as best he can, he took has opted to stick with the clothes he came in, they're more comfortable.]

Ready, Iggy?

[This can't be that hard, new skills aside, they've been fighting together for months.]

[regalblaze]

Right.

[Ignis fixes his gloves and gets his daggers at the ready. Quietly, thanks to his new skills, Ignis slips between the rocks until he comes to the beast's side.]

Over here you filthy beast!

[He took the beast by surprise, there was no question about it. However, he instantly had to switch to a defensive mode to evade the oncoming attacks, raising his daggers to block off some of the hits and keep him distracted.]

[chocobosnap]

[This is it, he lets Ignis grab the attention of the chocobo eater, and as always he gets in closer than he needs to. He likes to be about mid-range as far as distance goes. He fires a shot.]

Aha! Hello opening!

[He might not be able to pull off the same tricks but he can still operate a firearm, those skills will transfer over. He was practically born to do it.

Prompto will keep an ear behind him because those distressed kwehs and Noctis need to stay there.]

[warpstriking]

[Noctis grits his teeth, fighting every instinct to rush in and help. Yet he stands there, behind Prompto by a good distance, and begins casting his spell.

It's a few seconds before a fire spell shoots over their faces and into the creature's gaping maw. It writhes, and Noctis blinks for a few seconds.]

Well. [And here he thought that it would take a while to go through his list of spells to find one this brute didn't like, and here we are, first try!] Turn up the heat, Ignis!

[Because if he's not mistaken, he saw a couple fire skills during training. The black chocobo seems to be a bit more at ease seeing this, ruffling his feathers before he charges past and starts clawing at it's giant feet.]

[regalblaze]

[Just as chocobo eater sends Ignis off balance, there's a shot that makes it recoil back and distract him from the fact that he was about to pummel Ignis to the ground. And it was followed by a fire spell too which, Ignis' could help but notice, made it cry out in pain.

It seems the found the thing's weakness.]

Understood!

[You don't have to tell him twice. He does have to duck again from the monster's reach. And then he casts his own spell. It is a bit quicker on casting but dealing less damage than Noct's spell. Which, in Ignis' book, is enough. It makes the chocobo eater vulnerable enough for Prompto to get it with some critical hits.]

[warpstriking]

[The black chocobo kwehs enthusiastically at the fire spells, but flees from the front lines before it stops behind Prompto. He ruffles his feathers, casting some manner of spell upon the chocobo eater: deprotect.

The chocobo eater will now take 10% more damage from physical and magic attacks.

Not that any of the guys would know this, even as Noctis casts his next fire spell. The chocobo eater falls into its back, rolling about as if attempting to get back to its feet.]

[chocobosnap]

[He can hear the chocobo, it's being so brave and it deserves the biggest hug when they're done.

When the chocobo eater lands on its back, he fires rapidly at his abdomen, the underside exposed, that has to be more vulnerable, right?]

Come on, it's going to go for much longer, right?

[Aim, fire. Aim, fire. All Prompto can really do, is just hold up his end of the fight.]

[regalblaze]

[Prompto should be focusing less on the chocobo and more at the chocobo eater who, after that fire attack, looks a bit agitated. And lunges at them, slamming his fists mere centimeters away from Prompto and only because Ignis threw another fire spell at it.]

We got it on its last legs! Focus and let's finish this!

[Ignis runs around the monster, trying to get its attention away from Prompto and Noctis, giving his best to keep the damages at the minimum.]

[warpstriking]

[He was right about one thing, though: the chocobo eater's abdomen is definitely more vulnerable to attacks. The trick is trying to hit it hard enough so it drops on its back to expose it.

Noctis sets another fire spell loose before he rushes over to check on Prompto and the chocobo. The chocobo is fine, save for being a bit freaked out.]

Hey hey, shh... Calm down, boy.

[Leave the chocobo to him, Prompto. Focus fire while Ignis distracts it.]

[chocobosnap]

[Prompto gives Noctis a little nod, because he knows the chocobo is in capable hands with Noctis. His best friend would do anything to take care of a cute chocobo.

He aims, and fires. Again and again, this gun isn't terribly strong, and not very well suited for fighting chocobo eaters, but maybe he can get something stronger at a later date.]

Just a little more!

[regalblaze]

[Ignis can feel the monster's attacks weakening under their combined assault. He keeps his attention on the chocobo eater, trying to lure it away from their chocobo that made distressing noises.

The monster lunges and Ignis, while managing to repel majority of the attack and send the beast back, it knocked him back considerably, knocking out one of the blades from his hand. There was a numb feeling in his wrist from the force, but Ignis doesn't pay attention to it right now-]

Now-! Finish him off!

[One good fire spell should be more than fine to wrap things up.]

[warpstriking]

[He didn't need to be told twice.

Patting the chocobo's dark feathers one more time, he tucks the rod close for a moment, focusing all he can into the next spell. That when the fire spell is shot off, he has to use the glorified stick for support a moment.

Yeah, screw dignity. He'll use a doll next time.

The chocobo eater falls one last time, but instead of writhing on its back, it reaches one last time, before going still. Burnt to a crisp and full of holes. The chocobos of this area in particular had one less predator to worry about.]

Everyone okay? [He asks, standing up straight; though he looks at Ignis when he says that, having seen that knock back.]