Cop Con 2018! Open Mingle Log

[hatejakku]

Who: Everyone interested in public safety! (That means you!)
When: Sept. 21-23
Where: Sparks Golsaucia
What: Attempts at being professional are thwarted as the entertainment arrives. Who ordered these dancers? Who's paying for these drinks? Why did you wake up in someone else's shirt? Wasn't this supposed to be important?
Warnings/Notes: Partying way too hard. So much booze.

A. The Important Bits

You may be wondering why he called you here! Or maybe you just saw the announcement a few weeks ago. Either way, there are concerns in Vaikuntha. Finn doesn't entirely trust everyone, unfortunately, so he figured meeting in person and brainstorming together might be best. If you look in any which direction, you'll find a helpful flyer Finn typed up with some talking points!

• Bahamut: The Empress was kind enough to tell us about the Eidolon and set a time limit. We need to come up with some concrete plans. If we could prevent the summoning, great, but what's Plan B? She called us heroes, so I guess it's up to us.


• The Princess: Ashelia's being held somewhere against her will, and the search so far has been unsuccessful. She's only shown herself to new arrivals and hasn't given much information on her whereabouts. If anyone has any ideas on what to do or where to look, we'd love to hear it.


• Missing People & the Mognet: People vanish, seem to go back home, and reappear. This is different than Ashelia. Plus, the Mognet seems to know whether people are coming back or not. I have a theory it has to do with the Dream Width, but it seems like technology or magitek has the upper hand. If we can figure this out, maybe we can predict disappearances before they happen.


• Getting Home & the Dream Width: We came through that thing. Why can't we go back the same way? I've heard a few of the problems and a lot of, "You can't." Let's say we could. What problems do we need to overcome? We already know when it opens to let in new arrivals...


• Crime: I really don't want to relive Friday the 13th. Law enforcement is here to help and protect people. I know a lot of you can help yourselves, but we're supposed to be some sort of organized group. We really need to get organized a little better if that one slipped under the radar.

He feels a little silly about the fliers, but if it gets people talking to each other, yay! And, please, feel free to bring up your own concerns!

B. A Proper Party

Finn's not a total buzzkill. That's why he wanted to do this in Sparks Golsaucia. Maybe he could attract more people with a little fun? So the small convention center/ballroom he rented out isn't exactly bare.

There's a buffet, for one! Lots of different foods from cakes and brownies to pasta and roasts and everything in between. Finn's Moogle friend, Valli, pulled some strings (he didn't ask) and got some nice catering. There are a few tables set up so that everyone can talk and mingle.

There's also a nice outdoor garden to take in the view of the city, plenty of board games set up, and even an area for those looking for apprentices/to apprentice with all the new jobs! See? Not a total buzzkill.

C. The Party After the Party

Seems like someone partook in Valli's free catering a little too much and decided that Finn is, in fact, a buzzkill.

If you stuck around long enough, you might have been there to see the ten dozen pizzas arrive along with a few kegs. If you continued to stick around, you probably saw the DJ slip in and the professional dancers arrive.

So, uh, there's a dance floor now. And the fun seems to be flowing out of an increasing number of taps. Who the hell is ordering these kegs? Don't bother trying to ask. The music is just going to drown out your voice.

D. The Morning After the After Party

Did you wake up on a metal chair, in a bush, or on the floor? Did you even sleep? Well, that's Sparks Golsaucia for you... Right?

Never fear, though, for the catering is still here. You now have a variety of breakfast foods to choose from along with the best selection of juices in Vaikuntha. Gotta get back to tip-top shape, heroes! The DJ's still here, after all! He's not awake right now, but he's here.

If you hear a scream of shock and rage, ignore it. That's just Finn getting the bill. He's fine.

Comments

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia shakes her head. "Not quite. The guild was founded by myself and one Princess Zelda."

Oh, Zelda...I'm so sorry...

"I took care of most of the paperwork, the organization and such through connections I'd made with a merchant mainly dealing in textiles. The goal was to provide a place for Heroes without homes to live if they so needed, to train, and central access to a quest board. It also gave us a place to meet in person and discuss plans, without the danger of messages being intercepted. I used profits from the markets and questing to fund various missions, with the ultimate goal of destroying the Calamity and seeing us all home safely."

[princeandscholar]

The name is unfamiliar; was she a fellow hero or one of the country leaders? He'll review the reports from Crystallis when he gets the chance. For now, his brow tightens in confusion and concern.

"Why was it necessary for the Heroes of Light to set this up for themselves? Weren't you supported by the people of Crystallis in your goals?" The next assumption he speaks more softly, just enough to carry across the table. "I was under the impression everyone was united in wanting to stop the Calamity."

[desertbloomed]

"We were supported by the kingdom of Aqures Ixen, where they could spare it," Ashelia begins. "They provided us housing, as well as the deed for the observatory where we established the guild headquarters, but they were largely preoccupied. Their Queen, the Lady Sarah, disappeared shortly before our arrival. Shortly after our arrival, Crystallis' resident isolationist empire came out of isolation, far less amicably."

[princeandscholar]

That is sensible; he can't fault a country for delegating resources. Sarah... the girl who was borrowing Ashelia's name? (This is all terribly complicated. Not that he expected otherwise.) The answer is, nonetheless, disturbing.

"It sounds ironic." There’s a slight shift in his smile, something closer to a smirk. But that is the most he tips his hand on his suspicions for now. "I presume it didn't go as smoothly as Sen Devadatta's opening?"

[desertbloomed]

"It wasn't a trap, no, but open hostilities started not long after. Multiple military offensives, including an attack and assassination attempt on a neighboring nation's head of state, that culminated in an all-out attack on Aqures Ixen herself. We managed to save the city, thanks to a sympathizer on the inside. The Emporer's son. I, myself, was part of a team that infiltrated an enemy airship, took control and fired upon the Empire's flagship. Tensions were so high that they began firing on each other." Ashelia seems proud, but not overly so.

That had been an extremely stressful day.

"The Heran Empire was more connected to goings on than we'd thought initially. The Emperor, Garland, was the Guardian of the Cycle."

[princeandscholar]

Even following the reading of Takeshi's report, not all the names fall into place. In context, he muddles his way through to some understanding. An isolated nation attacked another nation, members of the royal families were involved, and the foreigners were pulled into the dispute. All with conflicting goals surrounding the Calamity.

He takes a sip of the glass in front of him, wanting to buy a few more seconds to mull it over and compose his expression.

"Then, are you hoping to gain further resources and influence to prevent something similar from happening in the future?"

[desertbloomed]

Ashelia shakes her head. "The politics of Vaikuntha interest me only insofar as they might interfere with our work to find the summoner and avert catastrophe. As things stand, there is no need to get involved. The resources and influence that may be garnered from capitalizing on our new status as so-called 'Heroes of Light' can only help our endeavours to unravel the twin mysteries of Crystallis and Vaikuntha."

[princeandscholar]

He smiles. They are already involved, aren't they? Why else the formal dinner, funding, and promise to inform the other nations of their plan? That status is not free.

"I see. I hope it goes well. It would be nice if we weren't solely dependent on the Center's support." In case something happened to it, which he is beginning to feel is a possibility.