Apocalypse || Sen Riqeaux Castle

[eternitymods]

Who: The Heroes of Light
When: April 11th, 16:00
Where: Sen Riqeaux Castle
What: Bahamut's summoning has been determined to occur above the skies of Sen Riqeaux. An airship piloted by Biggs and Wedge will be picking up the Heroes of Light at the Curti Center before stopping by the major locations where other Heroes of Light are, finally taking them to Sen Riqeaux Castle. Multiple NPCs from the Curti Center are with the Heroes of Light for this expedition.
Warnings/Notes: The end of the world.

Comments

Airship || Mingle

[eternitymods]

[ Please use this thread to post any open thread between the Heroes of Light as they ride the airship towards Sen Riqeaux Castle. ]

Nozomi Yumehara | OTA

[cureofmanyworlds]

Nozomi was tired. Oh, sure, she had gotten some sleep, but between being slapped around in the Golsauscia and having to escape Nakagawa by the skin of her teeth, any sleep she had was quite fitful.

But, this was it. this was where everything would be determined. She had to fight on and rest when they win or lose.

She just hope it was enough.

Re: Nozomi Yumehara | OTA

[plagueofshadows]

Plague Knight taps Nozomi on the shoulder.

Should she turn to the rather short stranger, he simply holds up a vial, and says, "Speed Drink? Better than coffee. I was brewing these all night. If we're going to face the end of the world, we're not doing it tired, hee!"

He's not the best at raising morale. But he's trying.

Sasami | OTA

[saint_sami]

This was way too big for her. This was something her loved ones back home would handle. A problem that Tsunami should just swoop in and fix herself. But, that wasn't happening. The world made sure she would do this with what it gave her.

And it scared her. She honestly wanted to just go hide somewhere and let the others handle this.

But, that wouldn't be right, would it?

So, she had taken a seat, hidden in the armor of her Magitek Knight gear.

[righthandstand]

Thanks to the strikes, Okuyasu wasn't able to nab last-minute supplies. He had a few potions stored in his room, but otherwise, he was coming in with the bare minimum. On the other hand, he was able to rush to the corner store to grab a small bag of hard candies. Sasami needed them.

He squatted beside her and tapped on her armor with a finger before holding out a flat palm with his offering.

"Want some?"

He trusted in his friends, in his teammates, but facing a monster was never easy. One serial killer wasn't enough experience for the fate of the universe.

Re: Airship || Mingle

[plagueofshadows]

[Plague Knight pulls a few rather large- just big enough to fit- bags out of his bottomless pockets, once the airship is underway.]

"Speed Drinks, coffee, tea, fresh bread and butter, and cookies baked to scientific perfection. I know you're all probably not in the mood for sweets, but I bet most of you forgot breakfast, so eat, drink, and steel yourselves. I'm not going to try and give some rousing speech, hee! I'm an alchemist, not a public speaker."

[Plague Knight draws a vial from his robe and sticks a bendy straw in it.]

"But make sure you're fighting fit, awake, and ready. If we lose, we're going out with a BANG! Haha!"

[rivieran]

[ Ena is surprised more than anything that someone went out of their way in all the chaos to make breakfast. The smell of fresh bread tickles her appetite and empty stomach, and she turns to take a piece and offers him a polite smile. ]

Thank you. How considerate of you.

[ But she looks clearly uncomfortable at his last statement. Erm...That was one way of looking at it, then. ]

Sam Vimes | OTA

[old_stoneface]

Vimes was smoking. Quite a lot, actually- the deck around where he was sitting was littered with ash and spent cigar butts, and his eyes were fixed on the red lights in the sky, unfocused. It was clear to any observer that he was worried, and yet, oddly... the Captain was singing. Softly, off-key, under his breath, but singing, even so.

"All the little angels rise up, rise up.
All the little angels rise up high..."

Re: Sam Vimes | OTA

[defenestraighttomyheart]

It's the end of the world, and for some reason, Richard Conway has brought his saxophone. He wasn't any good with it, of course. But every now and again he'll play a chain of notes, abortively cutting it off before picking back up every time he screws up.

When Vimes sings, he tries to play along.

Adrien Agreste | OTA

[modelcivilian]

Adrien had been keeping to himself mostly since Wednesday, pale with dark circles under his eyes and new scars mainly on his hands. He was exhausted, but he couldn't fully sleep, thinking about Arito, the riots, and then, the explosion that basically left nothing. He'd run ragged as Chat Noir to lessen the sprees alone, make sure people and animals fleeing were helped, but there'd been nothing he could do at the other part.

After that, he thinks he was one of the few (or maybe the only one) that went back to survivors before the cultists and Calamity Monsters arrive. At least the lions were fine from what he saw. Too bad that little rise in his spirits was brought back down upon what happened in Lavode.

Sitting on the ship was no different, away from everyone else, tired but not napping with Blanc at his side. For once, the moogle doesn't look as surly. Adrien would muster up some optimism... later, maybe. It was the end of the world, and he was trying to figure out how people could've acted as they did.

[doodlebuginette]

It was unlike her, but Marinette had been noticeably less outgoing as of late. For the first time since waking up here, she was legitimately afraid. Sure, she'd faced off against a terrorist on a regular basis back home. But back home, she was able to become Ladybug. And she was never on her own for that.

Here, though, she felt useless. She couldn't transform, even with Tikki and the earrings. Without that, she was just Marinette. Just some girl who liked to cook and design clothes and things. Not necessarily useful skills for this type of situation.

Still, she hadn't let that stop her from trying to pitch in where she could. Sure, most of it was just trying to make sure people were eating enough or getting enough sleep. But it was better than doing nothing.

It was a little hard to believe, even now that they were all on their way to meet whatever fate was waiting for them. Restless, she'd taken to pacing around at semi-regular intervals, and it was during one of those little walks that she'd spotted Adrien.

After a moment of deliberation, she made her way over and took a seat next to him, Mai (and Tikki) in tow.

Uendo | OTA

[whirluendo_of_puns]

Uendo didn't utter a word as he slumped on an empty seat aboard the airship. It was all he could do to keep himself from throwing up out of sheer terror.

What was he doing here? He wasn't a hero. He didn't have the guts to face something this big. Even if they somehow managed to beat Bahamut, the world was already--

He stared at the seat in front of him without seeing it, growing increasingly pale the closer they got to their destination. Inside his frantic mind, Patches and Kisegawa exchanged something -- a glance, a nod, an agreement. Uendo wouldn't be able to handle the stress. This was going to be up to the two of them.

Nevermind how frightened they were. They had a job to do.

[tiredcharmer]

Tyzias sits down besides Uendo, staring blankly out into the countryside. She wasn't sure what to think about all this. Or even if it was wise to think at all. If she let a single thought get into her head about all this, it would all be over. She'd collapse, she wouldn't be able to fight from the sheer horror of it all.

So Tyzias walled off her mind, leaving only blankness and raw determination. This could not continue. She wouldn't let it.

Tyzias wasn't good at interpersonal stuff. Mosts things that were just common decency here were restricted to moirails or outright forbidden on Alternia. Not that she was complaining, mind--it sure made the populace more stable. But the point was that she wasn't that good with comfort. She still had to try, though. Whoever this guy was, he clearly needed help.

Her hand reaches for Uendo's, giving it a tight squeeze.

Corrin | OTA

[bladeofconquest]

Corrin spends her time on the airship as it travels towards Sen Riqeaux on the deck, training. Shadow Yato flashes in the red light as she runs through the training exercises that have long since become second-nature to her. Her expression is focused, and determined.

She's tired. It's been a long few days and try as she might, even back in her old lodgings at the Curti Center, she didn't get much sleep. Too many nightmares old and new.

But she won't be found wanting when the time comes; the training helps her awake, focused, and she'll need every bit of it for the fight that's to come.

And it also helps her remember what she's fighting to protect. Who she's fighting to protect.

That link gives her strength.

Megatron | OTA

[peace_through_empathy]

Megatron stands looking out over Vaikuntha as it rolls by below the airship, one hand on the railing. There is a solemn look in his eyes.

He appears to be muttering something under his breath. It sounds like poetry.

"You flare, you flicker, you fade
And in the end, all your tomorrows become yesterdays."

Bowser Koopa | Open

[koopacrusher]

Bowser sat in the ship thoughtfully. This might as well be routine, he’d stopped world destruction multiple times (in his career as a villain, oddly enough). But something was different about this time. Now he was in an unfamiliar world with little power, and he watched went crazy in the days before the end. Bowser wasn’t going to admit it, but the situation was terrifying,and the fact that he’d done it before only made it worse, somehow. He had equipped the abilities of the Red Mage prior to the journey, so he sat with that power, sitting in a sort of trance unless broken from it.

Ena / OTA

[rivieran]

Ena stands by one of the windows, gazing out at the scenery as it passes below. She could only imagine the chaos that the land must be enveloped in now - she was glad that Myste Aura hadn't gotten too bad since she'd heard so much about the terrible things happening everywhere else.

She only saw it appropriate that she wear her clothes from home - the ones she arrived to Vaikuntha in. A heavy black traveling cloak with delicate silver embroidery sits over her favorite and most comfortable light blue robe; her traveling boots look worn, but well-made, and now to finally round it out, her rapier sits snugly at her hip. No one else would take notice, of course - most of the people she met that day are gone now - but it most importantly brought her comfort.

It's finally settling in why she had been brought here, and she was steeling herself to carry out her duty, no matter what. Even if it meant her own life.

She'll send cursory glances at anyone that passes by. Not just to see who she'll be working with, but perhaps someone will stop and chat. Heaven knows she needs it.

CW: graphic but brief descriptions of blood and body counts.

[littlemhigan]

Castor has kept to herself thus far, as she has done since arriving back in the Curti Centre. She sits, quiet and almost meditative, watching the angry sky. It's a far cry from her usual manic energy, but it fits the somber mood of the day.

Something heavy and unknowable sits deep in her chest, where it had sat since the day before as a man, bloody and dying pushed his daughter into her arms that the girl might escape the massacre in Nakagawa; where it had sat since the single airship made it to safety and Castor had counted devastatingly few survivors as they disembarked; where it had sat since this morning, when she left Seiya - brave, strong Seiya, his ivory plumage stained with blood - in the care of those selfsame refugees, her friends and neighbours, and walked away, shutting out his mournful warks.


'Hear, feel, think.' Hydalaens first words to her sit in the forefront of her mind, pushing at the edge of her senses in the way that The Echo often did, but all she could hear was the whirr of the airship engines and the distant echos of screaming and gunfire as imperial warmachines descended on the alliance army and militia alike. The Dreadwyrm's roar of rage and agony that shook the bones of the Star itself as Dalamud fell to peices. All there was to feel was the weight of what was about to happen and the terrifying unknown that lay beyond it and hot, slick blood on her hands, up her arms, threaded through her hair. Suffocatingly hot winds and the forms of her dearest companions, all pressed close as Aether roared and the earth itself rose up to protect them.

It's hard to think, in this cacophony of memory. She missees her friends. Her hands close around a small metal charm, the only personal effect she'd managed to take from her home, now in ash and ruin. She traces her fingers along it's edges - the equine face, and the long horn atop it's head. She rubs away a small scuff of ash and smiles at the little thing. For a quick moment, it becomes easier to hear, to feel.

Her attention turns back outside. She thinks.

Sylvarie Aila Jue | OTA

[alborada]

Sylvarie had chosen to stay with the Center. The opportunity to go to be with her father one last time, and with all the reports coming in it had been tempting to rush to his side. Or to that of her other former companions, to Owen or Lean... Sakuya most especially. But she had a duty, as she was certain her father would say. No doubt that right now he was doing his own part in protecting the people with everything he was.

She shook her head to clear away the thoughts, closing her eyes in a way that emphasised the dark circles beneath them. She didn't know everyone here personally, but the Center was her responsibility, what 'family' she had left—and she was failing in protecting even this new world that had sucked them in. She could look after them in whatever time was left... Somehow.

Softly she began to hum, the same half-remembered tunes that always seemed to come to her in these moments. Wherever Primrose was on the ship, maybe she would still come by and scold her for it. Let her, because this was the most she could do until the time came and she could hopefully save at least one life.

CASTLE EXPLORATION

[eternitymods]

A million Years Late

[littlemhigan]

CASTLE EXPEDITION #1 WILL CONSIST OF

Castor, Corrin, Selphie, Asgore, Uendo, Terra, S'reee, Sephiroth, Serge, Kuja and Kanji and GOD I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE.

The Apocalyspe

[eternitymods]

The airship landed by the highest level of Sen Riqeaux Castle, in an open air area. From there, the noises caused by the fighting going down in the city and in the castle's lower levels could barely be heard. Looking up at the sky, there were turbulence seen nowhere else across Vaikuntha. Lightning even striked down. Perhaps this would really be the site of Bahamut's summoning?

In the distance, one could see a gigantic armada of Airships, all ready to welcome Bahamut with their all. There were well over a hundred of them, by the look of it.

And on the opposite side of the open area, there was the Empress. She hadn't reacted to the airship arriving. Her back was turned to the Heroes of Light as she looked down upon the city in contemplation.


[ For the sake of getting the main event started quickly, we will try replying multiple times a day with the NPCs. Please, keep all of the character's interactions within a single thread. There will be branching paths where the characters can have their own small thread if they have questions to ask or things to do that do not correlate to the main thread. ]

[mech_and_mutt]

Normally, Red was sure he'd have a few choice words for the Empress by now- given everything that had, apparently, been coming together right on her doorstep and under her nose- but, perhaps due to the gravity and gloom that surrounded the lot of them, he couldn't manage much more today than a bone-chomping look halfway between anger and determination.

Already fully geared for battle and riding the DAHAK Mk III, Red trudged onto the castle's heights with heavy, metallic footsteps. He wasn't sure whether he should be envious of the approaching air battle or whether he'd want to dedicate his next game to their memory.

"...So what's your plan now?"

BAHAMUT

[eternitymods]

Through what could be called nothing short of a miracle, the Heroes of Light all survived Bahamut’s dive. But they were no longer on the Ragnarok. Instead, they were on the back of the beast itself. Recovering from the shock, NPCs who survived were beside them.

And of course, so was the Empress.

Should they look at their surroundings, it would be difficult to say where they were exactly on Bahamut’s back. Its shoulder, perhaps? Based on the powerful winds, the beast was probably flying at high speed across Vaikuntha. They would hear the sound of missiles and lasers hitting the beast from afar, but they didn’t appear to scratch him.

[tiredcharmer]

Tyzias is on one knee when she comes to, gasping from the shock.

This was it.

They've lost.

Bahamut was loose, nothing was hurting him.

They--

No.

Even if everything was destined to go to shit, even if the world was ending... Tyzias wasn't going down without a fight.

Just because you're guaranteed to lose a battle doesn't mean it isn't worth fighting in the first place.

She gets up, glaring daggers at the Empress. Drawing her sword, Tyzias growls, "Why the fuck are we still alive? Sweet Sufferer, if the answer is that you wanted to gloat even more..." she leaves the end of her sentence hanging. What options did she have, really?

Whatever. Tyzias uses [Deduction Cutter], studying the empress once more.