melodiesofeternity | FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

Who: All characters (New Arrivals and Native OCs)
When: April 11th
Where: The Dream Width (Airship), the Curti Center, and the Housing District
What: For the first time in 10 years, outworlders have been found the Dream Width. This unprecedented number of new arrivals are rescued and brought to Vaikuntha, and must now try to start adjusting to their new home.
Warnings/Notes: All players can put up a toplevel. Please post to the NPC toplevel if you have an IC question for them.

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. The makeshift infirmary is becoming uncomfortably warm, packed to its capacity with people.

Stepping out, there is a lobby space that bears the signs of having once held some furniture, now cleared away to make space. Even with the sparse accommodations, the space quickly fills to standing-room only.

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 to play again. ]

’Welcome travelers’…

CURTI CENTER

[ Finally after hours of flight, you arrive at the Curti Center. The other NPCs await you along with the Native OCs. Cid gives a short and to the point 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 Vaikutha 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 today. Indeed, here you are. No one knows why such a large number of people has been found at once, but the Curti Center is a place dedicated to piercing the Dream Width's secrets.

Cid also introduces the other ones: his assistant Jessie, Claire, the woman looking at the group in horror upon being pointe 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.

After Cid finishes (and Claire despairs at the pile of paperwork she must complete by the end of the week), 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 specifically during this introduction, please respond to the toplevel with the name of the NPC in the subject header. The mods will try to reply at least once a day for each NPC. ]

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 Cid mentioned in his 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. ]

A BAD OMEN

[ Wandering around, you may stumble upon an old and tired-looking moogle wearing what can only be described as a decrepit fortune-teller attire. Upon seeing you, or any of the new arrivals for that matter, he will slowly approach and tell you all the exact same speech. ]

If you stay here, you're doomed. She will find you and make you suffer hell. [At which point his eyes will grow exorbitant.] This world is cursed. You will die and never be free. [And finally he'll fly right into your face.] Never!

[ Then he will leave and go say his speech to someone else, without doing anything but repeating different variations of his warning if asked for details. Should you ask your assigned Moogle, Biggs or Wedge, they will mention this crazy moogle can't be reasoned with and sometimes stick around the center, even though he's always chased away. He never says anything besides doomsday predictions. For unknown reasons, he's always been particularly nasty with Biggs and Wedge... And with you as well now, it seems. ]

PRETTY SIGHTS

[ There's plenty of rooms to wander about in, with several points of interest apart from the offices.

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. One boasts a wide array of blooming flowers, another more practical with herbs commonly used in Vaikunthan cooking. One had been cultivated for butterflies and hummingbirds to visit. Paths have been laid through so that visitors can safely navigate, and moogles will swoop down and shout at anyone who strays into the flower beds.

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 the sudden and unexpected number of 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 temporary 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. 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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Uendo's not entirely comfortable with the special attention he's getting. Okay, so his blood sugar is kind of low, but that's just a matter of some sleepless nights and maybe a few missed meals -- nothing a decent nap wouldn't fix, surely? And the headaches and dissociative spells are just a part of his life. He really wishes the latter hadn't happened right when he was in a room full of doctors and nurses.

However, explaining might potentially take the conversation to places he's not ready to venture into, and so he tries not to look too reluctant as he takes the cup from the young man.

That smell... sure is something, though.]

Technically speaking, aren't most poisons all natural ingredients as well?

[While the smile makes it clear he's joking, he still hasn't taken a drink yet.]

[ It's been a long day and he's heard every excuse imaginable, so the fact that the stranger actually accepts the medicine is a small victory in itself. Now, if he could just get him to drink it... ]

The simple ones, yes. [ Lean hesitates, placing one hand on his hip. ] However, as far as I'm aware, it's not uncommon to infuse them with black magic to make sure that the subject experiences the full extent of their power.

[ Maybe he's slightly desensitised to the subject at this point, looking down at his notes as if this was the most common knowledge in the world. ]

You don't say.

[He looks down at the medicine. Well, they wouldn't make him drink it if it wasn't safe, right? Maybe it's not as bad as it smells.

Trying not to breath in too deeply, Uendo takes a careful sip--]

Pffffhyoooooooooooo!

[How does it taste so foul!? Why is it so thick and greasy on his tongue!? What are these clumps of something in the mix!? What are these unnameable tendrils doing in there!?]

What in the name of every level of hell did you just make me drink!?

[Congrats. It was so bad, it made Kisegawa come out, and she is not happy having to deal with the aftertaste.]

[ Okay, this actually has him back away a fair deal - mostly because he doesn't need any more of that landing on his work clothing, thanks. ]

... A remedy to strengthen your immune system. We need to ensure your organism has the means to fight back infections that come with a new environment.

[ Or the doctors don’t fancy dealing with sudden breakouts of unknown diseases - take your pick. Either way, he’s not going to share the list of ingredients, for they would probably sound even less appetising for his inexperienced patient. ]

It surely couldn’t have been that awful.

Not much of a remedy if nobody can stomach it! Or is it supposed to toughen up your organs by going down and then coming back up again? Give your insides double the scouring with just one mouthful? Is that your slogan for selling this muck -- "two hurls, one cup"?

[She shouldn't be so quick to snap, lest someone realize her temperament doesn't match Uendo's... But this kid doesn't know them well enough to notice anything. They should still be fine.

Nevertheless, she does resist raising her voice again. Can't resist making another snide comment, though.]

You sure you didn't use black magic? Because you'd need some seriously dark sorcery to achieve this level of vile.

[ It's true, Lean has little reason to grow suspicious - after all, his patient does nothing to mask the fact they're completely out of their mind. He's also not sure how to respond, but his refusal to act would equal condoning this kind of behaviour. ]

Keep your voice down, you're scaring other patients. [ There's a loud exhale as he brings one hand to his forehead. What a mess. ] Let me fetch you a glass of water.

[ True to his words, the boy gets up to pour some water from the jug standing on the table into one of the glasses, which he then offers to Uendo. Needless to say, it reads more like a mechanical reaction rather than a genuine expression of concern. ]

I was looking into picking up Black Mage next, and you might have just convinced me.

[Kisegawa is completely unabashed, primly taking the glass while giving Lean an unimpressed stare. She might have still thanked him for the water if it weren't for that last remark.]

Hmph. Hoping to give your concoction a little extra flavor? Or are we back to talking about poisons?

[She takes a sip, glad to wash the awful taste from her mouth. At least the water is normal.]

[ Sure enough, Lean returns the stare with the same level of intensity before sitting down and pulling out his notes again. It will take more than one unsatisfied patient to stop him doing his job as intended. ]

I'm afraid that's confidential information at this point, but I've been told I have a creative mind.

[ Okay, that's a rather childish move on his part, and even he realises that as he tries to collect himself. ]

We are back to discussing your status. Have you experienced any headaches?

FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

A quick check-up

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