melodiesofeternity | Event || A History of Light and Darkness

Event || A History of Light and Darkness

Who: Brave Explorers and/or Those Poor Souls Being Dragged Along by Friends
When: Oct 15-30th
Where: Thilmit Border Post, inside the Old Heranean Doll Museum
What: The Heroes of Light received a strange letter, and are now being asked to investigate the strange occurrences at the old doll museum.
Warnings/Notes: OOC Post Warnings for Spookiness, Creepy Dolls. Post toplevels for each group. Please post warnings as needed for memory fragments and exploration. For random numbers, use the dice functions on Plurk or Discord.

The Old Heranean Doll Museum is a small building, but somehow the dark, dusty windows and poorly maintained roof give it a menacing feel as you approach. The sign says, "OPEN"...although, as you approached, you think it might have been turned to "CLOSED".

The door creaks as it swings open, though there is no one from the museum to greet you as you enter. A cold breeze blows in behind you, sapping any lingering warmth in the room. The building is dark, and cobwebs are starting to form in the corners of the lobby and on the velvet rope stanchions that guide the flow of traffic in and out. Out of a shadowy corner, a large centipede skitters across the floor and into a crack low on the wall.

At the reception desk, one of the antique dolls sits, unmoving, unblinking. That goes without saying. Its eyes do not follow you as you enter.... The hairs prickling up on the back of your neck are just coincidence, that's all.

There is another doll perched on the wooden brochure display stand near the door. It's strange that the curator leaves the display pieces out where visitors can touch them....

As you enter, you hear something whistling through the air toward you a moment before it makes a impact. A tiny pebble, too small to do any damage other than a brief stinging. During this moment of distraction, the door slams and locks.

When you look at the spots where the dolls were perched a moment ago, there is now just empty space. There is movement in the shadows, and the nearly imperceptible sound of tiny shapes creeping around.

As you move past the lobby into the exhibits, a sign above the entryway declares:

Welcome to the Old Heranean Doll Museum. We hope you enjoy our historic Heroes of Light displays.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Roomba-san. Please destroy this. 💜

[After wandering out of the preservation group and down another hallway because she spotted something pale in the distance, Azusa is naturally disappointed to find something so disturbing. Her Roomba whirrs behind her, obeying her command and setting the mask on fire. Ah, the perks of being a puppeteer. The mask is ashes in a matter of moments, and she safely puts the fire out with her bottle of water. Only she can prevent haunted museum fires, after all.

After collecting herself, she realizes she's separated herself from the rest of the group. Just where is she? It only takes her a moment longer to notice an employee's only sign resting on the ground nearby.]

My, my.

[She steps inside, the soft motor of her faithful vacuum sounding behind her. With a smile, she crouches and gives her companion a few pets as if he's a real pet.]

Just what do you suppose is back here? And where do you suppose the others are?

[Hopefully they'll follow all the clues she's left behind and find her in time.]

(One person's clues are another person's burning remains of a mask that must've been made of rubber, given the smell. It sure isn't a problem now, so Dante's not worried.

Instead, he's worried more about Azusa herself. The girl disappeared mid-investigation and if he's this concerned about where she went, he can only imagine how Red's taking this. Gotta keep a cool head and not panic; as the healer, he'll screw everyone else over if he panics.

Fortunately, finding her isn't hard when Roomba-san's motor is almost constantly whirring and keeping the museum surprisingly clean. They probably should've hired her and her vacuum for the cleaning crew.)

Hey! Splitting up like this is bad luck in spooky scenarios.

[Burning rubber? The sounds of Roomba-san's damnable whirring?! Red didn't know what was going on in there, but as a puppet master Azusa couldn't be too far from her... beloved companion. He hurriedly shouldered his way in to the Employees Only room right after Dante, fat chocobo plush tucked between armor and elbow, vigilant for threats--

...though there didn't seem to be any. Maybe a little too vigilant, then...? Strange. he'd have thought that burning smell would have come from something.

Nonetheless, he straightens out, brushing a bit of dust and holy water from off his armor. The plush bird honks contentedly from under his arm. Now that he had a moment to focus on his surroundings rather than tracking Azusa's path...]

...huh. Where is this, anyway? The break room?

[ Ena comes down the hall and smells the burning rubber, sure, but is more concerned with the fact that Red and his big honking plushie are blocking the hallway. She comes up behind him and stops, peering over him further down the hall. ]

Where's Azusa? [ The worry is evident in her voice. What if she encounters more zombies??? Or frogs?? ] Why did she have to wander off now?

[As the party enters the break room, the temperature of the room begins to drop. The door to the rest of the museum slams shut, and the intercom system, which during operating hours is used to play unobtrusive, public domain music and make announcements about closing time, turns on. After a moment of feedback, a song begins to play.

The shadows on the far corner of the room, near the storage room, begin to shift and distort. It's probably nothing.

Behind the Curator's office door comes a gasp when the music begins to play, followed by the sound of furniture being dragged across the floor toward the door.]

Ena! Red and Dante-san, too. Where did you all go? Roomba-san and I were worried about you~.

[Roomba-san immediately circles Red's feet, threatening to trip him if he moves the wrong way, vacuuming the floor around him. And his shoes. And lord help him if his tail gets too close to the floor before it has a chance to zoom back over to Azusa and act like it hasn't done anything wrong. She steps closer to everyone, smile on her face, happy to be reunited with everyone, but...]

Eh? What's that?

[The music starting up? And then she looks in the direction of the furniture sounds. Is there someone else here. The lyrics are really something else.]

Who's 'Good King Moggle Mog', kupo?

[That just slipped out.]

...Someone to worry about.

(That's all Dante has to say on the matter as he quickly goes through his iMog and switch his asterisk over to Time Mage. It's something he's wanted to try out anyway.

And if they really do have to deal with Good King Moggle Mog, then at least let him go down giving it his all.

Like Azusa, he's keeping an eye on the shifting furniture and expecting things to start popping out of the shadows at them. Please don't be Good King Moggle Mog, he'll take Bahamut sooner than Good King Moggle Mog...)

[...Really? This... moogle monarch thing was something that had DANTE on edge and afraid? Maybe this was going to be more than he--

Red suddenly yanked his own tail up and off the ground. Augh, that stupid Roomba-san just wasn't leaving him alone today!! He'd had enough of that stupid machine, and he only just started having to buddy up with it.

Then again, maybe Azusa had the right idea with bringing a machine into battle. Well, if this was going to be the big fight, Red was going to come prepared. A touch to his earpiece, a call to his beloved DAHAK Mk. III, and soon his •Magitek Armor dropped onto the floor from above with a heavy, shuddering thud. He made a--

...Red looked up. Where did that actually fall in from?...

--a quick vault into the pilot's seat, and the armor became animate with a touch of the controls. His fat choco-buddy could be copilot for now.]

Edited 2018-10-28 21:01 (UTC)

[ Ena looks at Dante with alarm. ] What? [ Her question is forceful and demanding, because her image of moogles were small and harmless. What was a moogle they were supposed to worry about supposed to look like? But that also meant if the native zora was afraid, then she better be, too.

She jumps when a chair near her begins to move, gripping tightly onto the shoulder of whoever is closest to her. Now even more on edge, she whips out her slate with her free hand and switches her job to Illusionist. She needs to be practicing with Black Mage, but if she's going to be worrying, then she should at least worry with power. ]

[The song cuts off with another squeal of feedback. From the shadows, a distorted voice booms out.]

"K͉̯͇u̵p̷ơ̘̼̻͈̘-̶̘̲̱͔͔p̣̤̀o̧̰̜-͉̦̩̞̤̜̩p̗o͏!̨͕̯͕ ̭̭͕̺͈͚D̺̦͔͚͎̮̖͟o̤͙̯̭̳̳͞t̟̮͚͓̩͓͎͝h͙͓͓ ̪͚͙ṯ̮̼̬̲̻͟ḥ̷̮̬̮̟o͏̻ú̖ ̥ḏ͙̜̹͢ͅes̛͈̱̲̠͕̥i̯͚r̻͍͔͞e̻͔̞ ̮̹͎̻̟͎ͅa͖̙ ͇̖̰̼̩fig̵͇̗̯͙̝h͎͇̖̦͔͡ͅͅt̩͕ͅ?͎̳͔͉̤̝̖̕ ͍̞
̪͓͇
̝̣̦͇̳
̦̯̼̩̖͞T̷̫̱h̨̺̺̹̝̠̞ͅé̥̥̬̤͙̲ṉ͉͇ ͚̖͍̮I͘ ͍̺̩͓̭s͎̲̙͚ͅh̙̜̭̭͟ͅa͎͍̬̙͘ll ̥o̥̯̲͖̜̬͈͞b̧̯̟̠ͅl͎̖̻̘̠i҉̦g̠̘̙̯͎e̻͞,̞̩ ͔̫̭k̵͓u̶̲̹̱̠̼̜̳po̱̥͙̯̞!̸̯̖"

[A shape flutters out of the churning shadows. It is a white moogle doll with a tiny crown upon its head and a scepter held in paw. Below its body, a disproportionately large shadow is cast.

When the artificial moogle speaks this time, the words come out in a high pitched squeak.]

"KNEEL BEFORE YOUR KING OR PERISH, KUPO!"

The Good King Moggle Doll raises his scepter and waits for adoration.

My, my! Aren't you just lovely?

[Why is everyone changing clothes? Azusa has no idea. She motions for Roomba-san to zoom in the other direction and it obeys, 'glaring' at Red as best as its one steady light is able to do, piercing through the darkness, unblinking.

But who cares about Red, anyways?

Azusa skips over to the artificial Moogle with a hum and immediately moves so she's on both knees directly in front of him, leaning down so she can get a better look. Her eyes are almost sparkling. She puts her hands together and makes a delighted sound and tilts her head like she's regarding a cute kitten.]

You're the cutest one yet, Good King Moggle Mog. My name is Azusa Miura. It's a pleasure to meet you~.

[There is no insincerity in her voice. She is telling the truth. She coos. Look at his little hat. Look at his little scepter.]

Edited 2018-10-30 03:27 (UTC)

(The zora's mind seems to shut down as Azusa just. Completely falls for the villainous moogle king. Do...do none of these people know anything about Good King Moggle Mog? Nothing? Nothing at all?

Dante's holding up a finger to try and interrupt the praise and worship of the doll, but finds himself unable to put together sentences. He'd almost ask Roomba-san to see what he can do to pull her away, but he seems more busy glaring at Red than anything else. What's a Time Mage to do?

Right now, he just sighs.)

Red, you wanna...you wanna handle that? Real quick?

(And he means quick. As in moving forward with great Haste before the girl makes a very big mistake.)

On it.

[The last time Red saw a moogle try and act intimidating, he nearly doubled over with laughter. But with Azusa caught up in the mix with a foe that left this bunch nervous? This was no laughing matter.

The armor lit up and whirred to life, and- at the risk of seeming unconscionably rude- quickly slid into place between Azusa and the weird doll-like 'king,' acting as a •Sentinel for his teammate as the armor's metallic frame briefly shimmered with a sturdying gleam.]

You keep tossin' out threats and I'll beat you silly with your own crown!!

[ Ena winces when she hears the distorted, booming voice. Bleh. She's still not used to all these sounds yet. And the high-pitched voice in contrast makes her wince even more. God, just pick one, guy!!!

But the part she's most horrified is how readily Azusa bows down to this creature. ] Azusa! [ It's a half-whisper scold, and she slowly approaches to grab her friend's arm. Get up, get up! ]

[The false Moogle laughs - by all appearances should be a belly-rolling, deep and booming laugh, yet his voice remains high pitched.]

MILADY, THY ADORATION SHALL NOT GO UNNOTICED! PERHAPS I SHALL MAKE THEE A GENERAL OF THE HIGHEST RANKING IN MY NEW WORLD ORDER AND CRAFT THEE AN HONORARY POMPOM, KUPO!

[He holds out a stubby arm, an offering of his power and might.]

JOIN ME, AZUSA, AND I SHALL MAKE THEY FACE THE GREATEST IN ALL OF VAIKUNTHA!

Everyone, please. It's okay.

[She gently pats Ena's arm, giving her a smile. Please let her try this. Please? She kneels back in front of the Good King.]

My, my. I'd love an honorary pompom. Moogles are wonderful, aren't they? But you already know that. And you know, King Moggle Mog, I'm going to have to turn you down. I want to have power and strength in my own way, at my own pace, but it wouldn't mean anything if I don't earn it myself.

[But she holds out her hand instead, not reaching for his own unless he decides it's okay.]

Why don't we join together as friends instead? I still adore you, and I could use your help solving the mysteries of this place. Would you consider coming with me, Good King Moggle Mog? I'd be forever in your debt~.

Edited 2018-11-02 23:28 (UTC)

(Dante doesn't want to trust this. He visibly doesn't want to trust this. Any native worth their salt knows about Good King Moggle Mog and what he's capable of; even a fake would be nothing to sneeze at.

He knows what Azusa is trying to do; however, he doesn't know if it'll work. It can backfire pretty hard, but at the very least, Red's standing guard. The zora...actually isn't totally sure what to do here.

When all else fails, play it by ear, right? The most he can do right now is let her give this a try but keeping himself on standby. He just hopes Azusa will have as much Prescience on the false moogle's actions as the time mage.)

[...Was he the only one who's ears had caught that whole 'new world order' thing? Because he was pretty sure that nothing described like that could be a good thing. When he spoke, it was at a seething whisper aimed more to the idol behind him.]

Azusa, I don't think he's gonna...!!

[Well. If the Dragon King's Beauty was going to prostrate herself before the Mog-Emperor, it was all Red could do to play retainer, and beat back his own urge to strike first.]

Edited 2018-11-04 20:03 (UTC)

[ Ena studies Azusa's profile hard. Really? Are they really doing this? She feels inclined to step in and not let this happen, but that might also signify her lack of trust in her friend. Which totally isn't the case. Mostly. She's just had...bad experiences with bards being allowed to do what they want, really. But Azusa is different, and she shouldn't let her preconceptions of them color her judgment right now...

So slowly, she lets go of Azusa's arm, and with her gaze still trained on the moogle, she deliberately stands up, and takes a cautious step back to be in line with the others. Her hand clutches her staff. Just don't get them killed...! ]

HM! [The King watches Azusa for a moment, judging her response. When the others step up, he pulls back his stubby arm.]

THOU HAST MISUNDERSTOOD. PERHAPS A DEMONSTRATION OF WHY I SHALL BE THE DARK RULER OF VAIKUNTHA RATHER THAN SETTLE FOR MERE FRIENDSHIP WILL CONVINCE THEE, KUPO. BEHOLD! WITNESS MY POWER, AZUSA, AND TREMBLE!

[Moggle Mog holds up his Scepter and casts a Psychic Attack on Dante, Red, and Ena. The tormented cries of Moogles pierce their minds, inflicting damage on them from within.]

[Oh, no. This is bad. After all of her friends let her try to reason with him, he flat-out ignored her. No, even worse than that, he seems to feel insulted by her. She looks over her shoulders from where she's kneeling, watching as the attack unfolds before turning back to the not-so-good King.]

King Moggle Mog-san!

[She lifts her hand and slaps the doll hard across the face, hard enough to send him rolling across the room if he doesn't brace himself.]

I think you misunderstood me. My offer to be friends was not weakness. You are not allowed to freely hurt the people I care about.

(Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow no time magic can dodge psychic attacks ow ow ow ow ow)

Pretty sure he ain't in the mood for reasoning. Mind if we settle this properly now?

(That's said through a grunt and a hand resting on his forehead, notably wincing as the psychic attack slowly fades away. Dante's thinking Ena might especially want to take a few good whacks at the doll and encourages her to move with Haste in doing so. See why he was so nervous about this guy now?)

[DEAR DOG it was like having a drill coming in through his ear and scrambling his thoughts from inside his brain. A really squeaky, fuzzy drill. It was anything but cute. The most he can do is wrench his focus away from it to make sure that Azusa wasn't getting a head full of screaming moogles like he was.

...But she wasn't. Instead, she was smacking that smug animogtronic jerk across the face. Served him right for thinking her warm smile was for a lack of bite.

It was enough to leave Red grinning by the time he'd raised his weapons. It was a bit cramped- not to mention a bit early- to begin laying into that freakish doll with his big guns, but there were few problems that a generous application of •Ice Bullets couldn't solve. And after the good king sent that weird magic attack through the party, it was time to drop speaking softly and bring out the big stick.]

[ The dreadful piercing of the psychic attack in her brain triggers a vaguely familiar panic response in her. The last time she felt something so painful was...well, that wasn't something she wanted to think about.

But it wasn't like she was going to think, anyway, because the panic plus Dante's Haste sends her into a frenzy. With a swift motion of her arms, she sends the heavy desk sitting to the side of the room flying with Telekinesis into the great King Moggle Mog, then immediately follows up with a splash of Demi on him. Efficiency and consequence don't cross her mind at all. The anger, the panic, the urgency is just dictating her to do something. ]

[Moggle Mog lets out high pitched adorable shrieks while the party attacks him. His fluffy body is pushed around the room with the bullets, tables, and magic attack.]

Thus thou standest with mine enemies, Azusa? I shall kill thee as well!

[To make his point, Moggle Mog summons a giant Kupo nut that falls on top of Azusa.]

Rikki rolled a 6, so we're taking the dreaded 3: ???

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