Introduction Log || Have a Merry Starlight Celebration

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters (New Arrivals, Previous Arrivals, and Native OCs) When: December 5th Where: The Dream Width (Airship), the Curti Center, and the Housing District What: It is happening for the fifth time now. More outworlders have arrived in the Dream Width and must be rescued and brought back to their new homes on Vaikuntha Warnings/Notes: Only new players can put up a toplevel. Previous arrivals and established native characters can respond to new characters' toplevel posts. They will get 25 EXP for replying to top levels. MEMORY [ You've been here before...? No, wait, why would you think that? You're here in the moment, everything is as it should be...(?) The memory you are trapped in has completely enthralled you. You stop questioning and accept, you relive and repeat. Luckily, you are not alone. Others have arrived to help you. The travelers in the airships will enter the nebula formed by your memories and attempt to wake you up and bring you back to the present. The dreamer's mind will shape how these newcomers are perceived and how the NPCs in the memory respond to them. For more details on the mechanics, please refer to this post] ARRIVAL [ You wake from your dreams, from your memories, on a narrow cot. There are fleeting impressions- recycled air, humming machinery, movement, strangers waking around you. The room you wake in is lined with cots, with barely enough space between them to walk to the door, though not all of them show signs of having been occupied. The makeshift infirmary seems like it was prepared to hold many more than are here. Stepping out, there is a lobby space that bears the signs of having once held some furniture, now cleared away to make space. Your footsteps echo in the emptiness. As the automatic door slides shut on the infirmary, a light flashes on the far side of the room. A flickering holographic projection of a man’s face and gloved hand appears projected in the space above the arrivals’ heads. He backs up so his upper body is in frame for the recording. An arm, covered in the same orange flightsuit sleeve, hands him a tablet. The man begins to read. A written version of the message scrolls along the bottom of the projection as he speaks. ] ’Welcome travelers’… That’s way too formal. Hey everyone. Hi! [ The second man leans into the frame to add his greeting. ] Don’t panic. You were floating out there, but we pulled you in and rescued you. Yeah, we’re heroic AND handsome. And also the only ones crazy enough to come out here to get you. [ A woman’s voice calls from out of frame. ] Can you two be serious for ONE moment and stick to your scripts? [ The two men give each other a conspiratorial eyeroll. This does not appear to be their first take. ] Anyways, no need to panic. Seriously, don’t do anything reckless. We got our fill of that with Skywalker. [A huff is heard offscreen, and the men finally spare the tablet another glance.] ‘Your pilots will be navigating treacherous environs as this message plays…’ Claire, seriously? Nobody talks like this! [ The tablet is tossed to the side and lands with a thunk offscreen. ] We’re gonna wing it. Look, everyone, we’re workin’ hard to get you planetside safely, and it’s gonna take some tricky flying to do it. So the door to the cockpit is locked so we can focus on not getting us all killed. Don’t try to open it, unless you want to be stardust. We promise you’ll get answers about what’s going on once we land. But for now, please trust us. Right now, we’re your only hope. [ The second man leans forward, close to the recording device, and presses a button. The projection freezes for a moment, and then the message starts on the next recorded message. ] CURTI CENTER [ Finally after hours of flight, you arrive at the Curti Center. The place is covered with snow, it appears to be winter here! The other NPCs await you having been notified of your retrieval in the Dream Width. Jessie gives a long and professional welcome speech, explaining what the situation is: you were lost in a space called the Dream Width. You are now on a planet called Vaikuntha: for ages, the people of this world have used Airships to rescue people lost in the Dream Width, with one person being found roughly every ten years. No one knows why this happens, but this has been a mutually beneficial exchange, with the people from Vaikuntha rescuing people lost in the Dream Width and the rescued ones sharing their wisdom with the people of Vaikuntha. Ten years ago, something unusual happened: two people were found at once, Biggs and Wedge. But that was nothing compared to what happened eight months ago... And six, four, two months ago. And now, here you are. No one knows why such a large number of people has arriving lately, but the Curti Center is a place dedicated to piercing the Dream Width's secrets. Jessie also introduces the other ones: Claire, the woman sighing and writing in her schedule book upon being pointed out as the bookkeeper, Kupoto and Mogaruru, their Mognet representatives and finally the Native OCs: those brave and kind souls who have accepted to help you all on a daily basis. She also mentions Cid, the director who is busy in his office. After Jessie finishes , the employees, including the Native OCs, provide a tour of the facility and help the newcomers navigate their future lives. Now is the time to ask questions and look over pamphlets regarding locations, Jobs, life in Vaikuntha... ] [ If you want to contact an NPC, you can do so on the NPC Contact Page. ] A BALL OF FLUFF NAMED MOOGLE [ It has been a long day, perhaps now you would like to find your way to a place to sleep? Or perhaps you'd like to get some answers, but you can't be bothered to go seek people out? And lo, just as despair begins settles in, a Moogle slams into you! Or stops by your side if their aim is decent... It's the Moogle Jessie mentioned in her speech earlier! And they'll be informing you that now, they will stick to you like your shadow and help you in anyway they can! They're also giving you your iMog Slate- Now you can get onto Mognet! Isn't it great? ] A QUICK CHECK-UP [ Whether it's your Moogle, Native OCs or NPCs, all will urge you to stop by the hospital wing for a basic check-up. You may disagree, but listen. You've just been thrown into a space between worlds, rescued, and brought to another world. For your own sake, that's a good idea. Should you give in and go (or should you be dragged by your Moogle or a Native OC), you will find yourself in the cold and white space very reminiscent of an hospital. For characters with specific medical conditions necessitating help, this is where they will receive it if asked. The doctors and nurses are all White Mages or Chemists, with various levels into their Job as well as medical knowledge. Don't mind the confused looks if you look like nothing they've ever seen before... It's hard for a doctor to be unable to give a proper diagnosis to a patient! For everyone else though, they'll be let go with smiles and be given a candy as they leave. No one likes medical check-ups, but it's a very quick and basic one: testing reflexes, taking your temperature and the likes. On the bright side, while you're grumpily sitting on a bed with a thermometer on your forehead or in your mouth, it might be a good time to socialize with your fellow new arrival who's having lights flashed into their eyes by a doctor. Misery loves company, after all. ] STARLIGHT SIGHTS [ There's plenty of rooms to wander about in, with several points of interest apart from the offices. Most noticeably, the entire place is decorated with Christmas decorations and there are even employees dressed as Santa Claus! Of course, it's not called Christmas but the Starlight Celebration in this world. And everyone appears to be in the holiday spirit, ready for the great day on the 25th! The Airship Hangar is where the airships are kept and the first room you entered. Workers keep guard to prevent the outworlders from getting too close to the vehicles. Airships are expensive and they don't want you messing with them, after all. Venturing into the Research Section, you can walk through public exhibitions on astronomy, airship design, and asterisk studies. A good place to get used to the basic science of this world. The laboratories lie behind a thick locked door with a sign reading "EMPLOYEES ONLY". No going there, for now anyway. Not too far from there are the Employee Quarters - work stations, apartments, and lounge areas. The latter are available to the public, whereas the rest is locked to Native OCs. But if you get them to be friends with you, perhaps they'll let you visit? Also open to all is a Cafeteria - a standard food court with stalls serving all types of Vaikunthan cuisine. The Chef is a very jovial and absent-minded Hypello. Beware of long lines and crowded tables. Should you prefer open spaces, then the gardens are for you! There are different sections in the gardens around the center, but they all look the same at this time of the year, snow covering everything. Oh, and what's that? It's snowing right now! Or perhaps, you want to wait till the sunset. Dusk on a new world, but a beginning of a new life... The sea shines bright in the orange light. A good moment for quiet contemplation. ] HOUSING [The housing accommodations are the best the Curti staff could provide, given that they are still also sheltering most of the previous arrivals from the Dream Width. The keys have been entrusted to the moogles who will be guiding the new arrivals. The new arrivals can stop by the Curti Center storage room to collect some essential supplies that have been donated by charity organizations from around the world (there are boxes of toothbrushes and whitening toothpaste sent from the Zora, hair brushes from the Elezen, quick-drying towels from the Hypello, among the various donations of clothes, toiletries, and blankets), before heading to their new homes. The people of Vaikuntha have done their best to provide for their new neighbors and help them get on their feet. Still, things will be a little cramped until the off-worlders can find employment and move into better housing if they so wish. The staff hopes they can get along with one another until alternate arrangements can be made. You can survive living with roommates for a few months, right?] THE JOB FOR YOU [An important part of life on Vaikuntha is the Job (or Jobs) you choose to take. No, not the way you earn your living. Your Job Class. Most Natives only choose one or two, but you'll have an opportunity to take on more Job Asterisks after you master your first Jobs. The Curti Center's resident Job Master, Ganeshan, is more than happy to arrange transportation to the various Guilds so that you can claim your first Asterisks. ]

Comments

[fivestar]

I would be grateful for your assistance.

[He says so with a smile. He wasn't too worried about his ability to adapt, really—this was only slightly stranger than the situation he found himself in before arriving here, and even that had been a very minor adjustment despite how different it was from the life he'd actually lived. Still, if she wanted to help, he wasn't going to turn her down. Besides, it would be a good opportunity to get to know someone as well as the world they lived in.]

May I ask what you'd like to be called?

[alborada]

Oh...! [ All this time and she had yet to introduce herself properly? Way to go, Jue. Offering a brief and apologetic smile, she went as far as casting her gaze downward in hopes of recovering from that brief embarrassment—it was, after all, an important part in her role around the Center. ]

Syl... Sylvarie. My name is Sylvarie Aila Jue, of Myste Aura. You’re welcome to call me by that, or a variation thereof.

[ There was definitely an awareness of how difficult her name could be, quite used to nicknames from those who spoke to her most often. ]

It’s my pleasure to meet you, where would you want to begin, sir...?

[legalcy]

[Charmingly simple, even. If Papyrus were to make an inspirational speech before a group within the Curti Center, there would be a nonzero chance that the morale of one or two individuals would be raised. Unfortunately, Minimus Ambus is a realist (or as Rodimus so eloquently put it, "a major downer") who does not see this moral as one that should apply to himself.]

You are one of the more optimistic persons I have met. [Likely because the Great War did not occur in his universe.] But I assure you, I treat my role with the care and dignity it deserves.

[legalcy]

[It could be that. It could be him practicing his entrances.]

Let his passion drive the quality of his work. It is not our place when to dictate his hours. [And Minimus can relate with the desire to put in the extra effort into things others may not understand.] I would ask one of the managers, Claire Saraswelle, I believe.

[legalcy]

Unsurprising, considering that organics and Cybertronians do not have a history of good relations. [But that's an uncomfortable history lesson for...a later when he has access to a projector.] Elaborate on you family business. It would appear that your father functions as a representative on the Galactic Council, but I do not want any misunderstandings if we are to collaborate in the future.

[angealwings]

[ So far so good, but what kind of bouncer would he be if he doesn't at least do a minor kind of check. Just in case.

Such as asking for a name. ]

Yeah, this is Stiletto. The owner...?

[ ... considering Reno, he's not going to ask for her name. For now. ]

Re: Darned holidays!

[singerofspells]

In so much as one could tell where a whale's attention is, it does seem to shift as the rest of the group regards the human in humpback shape at Xehanort's speech, as if everyone knows exactly why a psychopomp might be present.

"Then you have never attended the Song of the Twelve before?" S'reee asked.

[fixed_destiny]

"No. It has never been required, I and mine see to the land normally, these seem to be unusual circumstances.." Xehanort is willing to bet humans don't wear whale shapes often. And the sea surely had its own guides, unless death for them worked very differently than for humans. He was going to have to ask when he finished here.

Maybe that was the purpose of that tremendous pale shark, and thus why he seemed to be one himself! "But fear not, I will not involve myself at all if my duty is not interfered with, though I would much like to observe." That ..reassurance, such as it is, isn't only for the whales, but also what seemed to be Apophis below. He's only here to collect the dead, and apparently observe an aquatic musical, not help the living in their fight, whale or serpent.

[failtsuninari]

It's not the Galatic Council, I'm afraid. Oh, what's the best way to explain this since this can be a touchy subject for some...

[He rubs the back of his neck as trying to explain things was more the other Inari, his wife's stronger suits.]

Since the creation of humans, there have been myths and folklore about supernatural creatures, spirits and powerful gods who can influence and govern different aspects of life. The truth is, all of three of those do exist, and long ago they coexisted with humans. To make a long story short, things got out of hand very quickly and so my world is actually split into two realms, the living realm where the humans reside and a spirit realm where the supernatural, souls waiting to be reborn into the living realm, and gods reside.

[Only Bonnie, Takeshi, and his own moogle knew what he was about to say next. However, this was for the sake of building trust.]

I...am one of those gods, or to be accurate, I am the fourth deity to carry the name of this god and the powers and duties bound to it. I also run a corps dedicated taking out those who threaten the delicate balance between the realms, which was my father's idea. Back home, no one is immortal, not even gods. We just have longer lifespans but we probably would look like infants compared to a Cybertronian. I don't expect you to believe me and I am fine with that. Besides, any proof that would confirm this has been stripped away from me but that is the truth.

[fivestar]

[Ohh... Well, if he's going to be offered by the chef himself, how can he say no? But then, the question is: what should he ask for...? His Master often went out of her way to make British food for him, even if it was often very different from what he was familiar with. He appreciated the thought nonetheless, but needless to say, he's had plenty of that lately.

He tilts his head thoughtfully for a moment before he decides:]

How about curry rice? Or soba, perhaps. I believe that's appropriate for this time of year.

[Also see: anything. He will eat anything. Japanese food was still very new to him, but it was interesting (and it took his mind off of home).]

[fivestar]

That's a very pretty name. I feel rather plain.

[He can't help but tease, even if it's something she might not get. After all, it wasn't like he could use his real name, which was kind of flashy in and of itself.]

You may call me Saber. As for where to start... [He thinks it over for just a brief moment.] What do you think is most important for people like me to know about here?

[Thinking of "how to live here" as a Servant was kind of a difficult concept for him to grasp at the moment. He couldn't achieve his purpose or his goal here, so what else was left?]

[singerofspells]

[OOC: S'reee is fully int he memory, so she's not going to break out of it without help, especially given that this is a ritual -- as long as she doesn't realize she's dreaming, she's in the 'bad things will happen if I stop']

"Right," S'reee took a spell-assisted breath through her blowhole, then started to sing, her cadence suddenly shifting to a formal performance.

"Blood in the water I sing, and one who shed it;
deadliest hunger I sing, and one who fed it –
weaving the ancientmost tale of the Sea's sending:
singing the tragedy, singing the joy unending."

"This is our shame – this is the whole Ocean's glory:
this is the Song of the Twelve. Hark to the story!
Hearken, and bring it to pass; swift, lest the sorrow
long ago laid to rest devour us tomorrow!"

The presence below them stirred as if slowly awakening to listen to the whales. The ritual is intended to re-bind the presence, but it cannot do so without Its participation.

TEXT BRICK

[fixed_destiny]

Xehanort's silence is complete, though he can't maintain stillness, it seems to interfere with his ability to breathe. But it seems he intends to at least be a very polite audience, as he is staying very carefully out of the way, albeit noticeably not too far from the whales that are ordinarily human children.

One, still lost in the implications of the Song and what it meant for her, pays the new shark little mind even with the ominous purpose of his being there.

The other watches with an eye that seems so tiny against the bulk of a sperm whale's size. Easy enough to dwarf an ordinary tiger shark, that's certain, but while Xehanort has the fearlessness born of absolute certainty of superiority, Kit has the fearlessness of size, strength, and a whalesark that knows what it means to be a sperm whale. When the gargantuan gray shape turns to fin a little away from the group, it is to confront the pale-striped shark directly, his song almost a whisper under S'reee's melody that's stirring awake a terrible evil.

"I know what you are."

This is considered for a moment by Xehanort, who swims in an idle breath-circle. "Yes, I didn't make it a secret."

The low rumble of irritation from the grey shape seems to him half child's annoyance and half something .. else. How did a human become a whale, anyway? "That's not what I mean. I know what you are. Greetings and-"

"Stop." The word is a single low syllable, hissing bubbles and not likely to be overheard; the boy, whoever he was, was going to draw attention away from what seemed to be a Very Important Ceremony, and when Apophis is involved, that could be absolutely disastrous. "I'm not here for you, and I am not your enemy."

"You shouldn't be here for anybody, it's not how the Song goes. We did our research!" Kit's angry whistle should be outright threatening to anything as small as he was in comparison, but Xehanort.. has issues with things like feeling fear.

But the words do give him pause. ...Something.

Something wasn't right here.

He had his duties to attend to, yes, but how often in the Far Shore or Near Shore had he had to tend to the soon-to-die in another form besides human or jackal-headed? Why had there been no notice of his assignment? Why could he not feel his Shinki--

His stillness lasts only so long before he's forced to move again, but this time the beady eye turned on him is speculative as Xehanort pulls another casual loop, cool water rushing through his gills. It tasted a bit sulfuric now. "No. Perhaps.."

"... Are you really here for Nita?" Kit's tone is a little uncertain, as if somehow Xehanort's bewilderment is contagious. Whale faces however are not that expressive, and he can't taste emotions in the water as well as perhaps a real shark would.

The not-shark studies the group of whales, their song reverberating through the water. "I don't know. Something's not right. Apophis doesn't meddle with the dead, only the living, neither of your hearts are in danger." He could feel their light from here, warm and bright. Such souls were not to be devoured by Ammit.

Dreams have a way of rapidly feeling surreal once they're realized as dreams.

This one feels like it's going very strange indeed. Under the gaze of Kit, Xehanort struggles to unravel what's going on; were he a human he'd be scowling. He'd just resurfaced from the Dream Width recently, hadn't it been-- "I don't think this is real."

"What?"

[legalcy]

[...

Gods are real, then. Minimus should not be surprised. The crew of the Lost Light encountered the oddest occurrences, even if powerful gods were not one group of visitors he had foreseen (though he was wise to abstain from participating in discussing regarding religion and mythology unless immediately relevant, particularly when Ratchet or Drift were involved). Kenichi has no benefit in lying of his status, but as with all things in life, one must proceed with caution and acceptance.]

You are correct in that it is difficult to believe that you have this sort of influence over an entire species, but for all who have been drawn to this universe, we have little backup to our claims save for the people who knew them prior to arrival. [Which is why Minimus cautions Monika in regards to Megatron.] Your universe sounds...

[Poetic? Fantastic in the fictional sense?]

...rather high-concept.

What was the initial subject of this conversation?

[provenworth]

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself. Its pretty normal to want to be in control of something when it feels like you have no control over anything.

[Like being taken away from your current world into somewhere new with limited information and no bearings.]

Mmmm no. Not yet, though I plan to head out shortly to at least do an initial look around to pick places to investigate further.

[provenworth]

[Blink. He...he did just leave. But maybe he swapped with Rude and jumped out to provide backup? A comforting idea, but highly unlikely. They had a mission to complete and there was no point in risking losing what they had worked so hard to find.]

Y-yeah...you did...

[Sure, it was logical. But her eyes and ears were seeing one thing and her brain was trying to tell her another and through the rush of adrenaline she was struggling to fully grasp what he was trying to tell her.]

Wait. How do you know that? You said you left and this just happened - Reno wait!

[Her heart accelerates, panic raising. He's too close and so far. She doesn't know what they're capable of, even as they ignore him - don't see him? - and one raises their weapon. She moves up and over Tseng, sprinting to reach him. She knows what comes with that smirk and when the bang comes she's expecting spray of red and yet there's nothing. Reno stands unharmed, the bullet nonexistent.

She doesn't stop moving, hands reaching out and grabbing each of upper arms and squeezing to confirm that he is there and whole and real. And in that second where she felt the firmness of his arms in her hands, she exhaled a shaking breath and let her forehead rest against his chest for a second as she came down the adrenaline high.]

Thank Gaia...

[She had been terrified. Calm. Composed. But rightfully scared. After another moment, Elena let go of his arms, stepping back and giving him a mock angry look.]

Where the hell are we?

[provenworth]

[She had to hand it to Reno. He found the best type of person to guard the back door. One that was big, burly, and intimidating to 99% of those who might come across him. And, as an even bigger bonus, one who seemed to know how to verify information.]

Reno. Tall, lanky red-head.Tall for me, anyway.

[Then again, most men she came across were all tall in comparison to her.]

[provenworth]

Oh. That's rather convenient.

[An eyebrow raises slightly and she takes a step forward, playing on his attempt of secrecy. When he's divulged the important information, she gives a bit of a smile.]

That's really helpful, thank you. Is there a splash-zone that I should be aware of?

[failtsuninari]

...I'll be honest, I think we only did introductions before I accidentally dumped a lot of information on you.

[Kenichi cleared his throat.]

Uh, but hey, if you ever need an airship pilot for any reason, you can always contact me. I don't know if you were told this, but sometimes we might get notice that items from our home world can be found in the Dream Width. I don't have my own airship yet, but it wouldn't be too hard to find a rental to suit our needs.

[legalcy]

Items? [Oh, this is interesting.] Of what sort do you speak? I have some small and larger objects that I wish I had on my person.

[Datapads? His armor?]

A question: from where do they appear? Would it not be possible to return to our universes via the same method which they arrived to this one?

[failtsuninari]

That's the thing. The items that have been found, or so I heard, vary from person to person.

As for why we can't just go back the way we came via the Dream Width, I can't say for sure. Magic hasn't always been my strong suit. Though I wonder if the magic behind it makes it so it's one way. I mean, if we could go back, we would've done so already.

However, after learning about what's going on here and how it would effect our worlds, it's something I couldn't just ignore.

[legalcy]

By "magic", you mean some sort of scientific system that we are unable to explain with our limited understanding. [Rodimus called everything he couldn't understand to be magic. He was well aware that was not the case, and he was referring to specialized topics erroneously. How he wished that his captain understood the severity of incorrect nomenclature!]

I have heard that there is some worldly threat to arrive in a few months, but I have not yet read of the details.

[failtsuninari]

Well, I mean this world does have a magic system which I suppose could be interpreted as their equivalent to science? Really, though, there's magic here that spans from casting fire upon your enemies, summoning powerful beasts known as Eidolons to lend power to you and using music to either empower your allies or weaken your enemies.

[Kenichi rubs the back of his neck.] I see. Uh...so basically, we have a very rogue summoner who managed to figure out how to summon the Eidolon known as Bahamut. While Bahamut is supposedly the Lord of all Eidolons, this one is said to be the most destructive of all with the power to bring death across all the known worlds.

[legalcy]

On my planet, it is possible for one to have been forged with an ability to ignite flames or to have been outfitted with modifiers with similar abilities. I would not be surprised if organic races could augment their bodies in such a fashion.

["Magic" is a vague descriptor, no rules, no detailed explanation on its workings.]

I cannot say I have personal experience in such a matter, but what do we know of Bahamut? Is it possible to engage in combat against an Eidolon as powerful as he?

[failtsuninari]

Hm...I can't remember of the top of my head. Since Bahamut was sealed away so long ago, knowledge beyond his title and powers were supposedly been lost to time. I think it was remarked that it was incredible that anyone could find the ritual to summon it to begin with. In the terrifying sense of incredible, that is.

I'm afraid I have no experience fighting an Eidolon that threatens multiple worlds either. As for whether we have a chance of defeating it, they say we won't know until we try. It's why many of us are getting stronger with these Jobs this world grants us. I do believe through some research, it may be possible to make a custom job for yourself to restore some of the abilities we had back home.