FABULA NOVA CRYSTALLIS || INTRODUCTION LOG

[eternitymods]

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?]

Comments

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie snaps her fingers, smiling. "Yes! That makes sense. Maybe magic is really just another kind of science. After all, at least some portions of it seem to follow traditional rules similar to the laws of nature." Some of it, anyways. Connie wouldn't deny that she was internally squeeing at the thought of learning magic, but she wasn't the type to take something that should be technique on blind faith. So Black, Red, and White Mage were all out, sadly. So was Illusionist.

"This world really is fascinating, wouldn't you agree?"

[likewishes]

Everything is a science, eventually. Magic isn't any different, especially if there is some sort of pattern or equation to it. Or, rather, scientific methods still apply when it comes to exploration and finding what works and what doesn't. Yet all technology requires some faith, doesn't it? Even if you know how something is supposed to work, you have to trust that it will.

"A little," he admits. "I was never into MMO's so I feel like I'm at a slight disadvantage."

That's what this world reminds him of. Some fantasy game setting. Now Lelouch isn't sure that he'd call it fascinating, but he is interested in it.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie chuckles, rubbing the back of her neck. Being a nerd had its advantage. "Yeah, I'm, um, kind of a geek, so seeing these kinds of patterns is easier for me. Since I play, uh, videogames and all. Still, though," Connie peers closer at the diagram, "there's so much that I don't know! Logical deduction is useful, but it can only get me so far. I know this is super dorky, but I'm really looking forward to learning more about all of," she gestures vaguely at the exhibit, "this."

[likewishes]

"There's nothing wrong with that," comes his reply. "A friend of mine prefers her computer and algorithms. Finds them comforting, I suppose."

Most geniuses are like that, Lelouch guesses. Nina is a genius. There is no doubt about that. Yet she is never satisfied. She had been working on that project of hers long before Lloyd and some of the others discovered her. Maybe the girl hadn't been into videogames or anything like that, but everyone has their quirks.

"I used to spend my time gambling nobles in chess games," Lelouch shrugs. Again, just to prove that differences aren't a bad thing. "Though I don't blame you for wanting to learn more about all of this. At the very least, I do as well."

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie raises an eyebrow. There had to be some kind of story there, and most likely an interesting one at that. "Gambling with nobles on chess games? Sounds like you led quite an interesting life back where you're from."

[likewishes]

"School didn't hold my interest."

That's a half truth. Lelouch still had managed to pull good grades despite his absences. The reality is that he hadn't thought that classes could teach him anything he really needs to know. What could he do after graduation? Nothing of any importance, in his opinion.

"I really only wanted to crush their arrogance."

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie laughs a little bit. Now that was something she could get behind. Although she's never had the misfortune of interacting with Homeworld nobility as a whole, all of her encounters with Hessonite had generally brought her blood to a nice boil. It was quite satisfying to finally puncture her ego at the end, and Connie was fairly certain that defeating any other Diamond Authority higher-ups would procure the same feeling.

"I don't have much experience with courtly matters myself, but from my experiences with the few... nobles I've clashed blades with," Connie scowls, remembering Aquamarine's casual pettiness and Hessonite's ever-smug expression, "I can attest that it's cathartic to knock them off their high horse." The fact that she's only managed to do it once was something that Lelouch didn't need to know.

[likewishes]

"Clashed blades?" Lelouch asks, genuinely curious.

The girl doesn't really seem old enough to be facing foes. She can't be more than thirteen or fourteen. Someone that young doesn't typically see battle. At least not to the point of 'clashing blades.' She could be referring to some sort of sport. Probably for the best that Lelouch seeks some sort of clarification.

[conniemaheswaran]

Oh. Right. He was probably thinking Connie fenced, just like every time she mentioned her training sessions with Pearl to her mom before the truth got out. After all, a young girl wasn't exactly who most people would expect to be a now-veteran fighter. There was no point in hiding it here, though. "Yup! Connie Maheswaran, knight-in-training, amateur monster hunter, veteran of the Second Prism War, and Crystal Gem at your service. I know I look young, but I have the scars to prove it." Rolling up her sleeve, Connie reveals a series of white, bumpy scars on her shoulder, undoubtedly from some kind of morningstar. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr...?"

[likewishes]

"Mister? I'm not old enough for that," he huffs. "It's just Lelouch... Lamperouge."

For a moment he almost states a different surname. It probably doesn't really matter here, but he'd rather not run around saying 'vi Britannia' just in case someone from his home arrives here. At least this way he can pretend that he is from an earlier time. A time before he kills his father, mother, and millions of others.

"You did lose me at 'Prism War' and 'Crystal Gem,'" Lelouch admits. "But I do have an ally who chose to become a knight. Who knows. Maybe he'll show up here."

So Connie has seen battle. Part of Lelouch doesn't like the fact that someone so young could participate in war. Nunnally had been bad enough and his sister is only fifteen. People shouldn't have to experience such things so young.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie notes the pause before Lelouch gives his last name, and the odd emphasis he places on it. It was probably nothing, but it was still a good idea to remember his hesitation for future reference. And there was something off about the way he said ally. It was definitely a deliberate choice of words. Allies implied both an uneasy relationship, and some kind of conflict.

"You must've led quite an interesting life back on your homeworld if you needed allies," Connie says, careful to keep her tone light. Her soldier's sense was telling her that she was treading on dangerous ground, but at the same time her curiosity forced her to press on.

[likewishes]

"No more interesting than anyone else I know," comes Lelouch's smooth reply.

It's another one of those lies of omission. While not necessarily a falsehood, it doesn't offer any pertinent information. His life had been interesting. Though so had Suzaku's. Kallen's. Anyone associated with the Black Knights or Lelouch in particular had been effected all because of Geass.

[conniemaheswaran]

Avoidance noted. Lelouch was as good as dodging uncomfortable questions as Connie was, perhaps even better, and that was no mean feat, considering that she had managed to hide dangerous swordcraft lessons that often left her injured from her mother for months on end. Regardless, Connie was fairly certain that trying to further press Lelouch would get her nowhere. Wouldn't hurt to try, though.

"Mine is just as interesting as the aliens who I fight-fought, rather, alongside to protect my planet, so that's something of a non-answer."

[likewishes]

"Aliens..."

Forgive him Connie he sounds skeptical. Sure they're here in another dimension, realm, world, ect. but that doesn't mean that this little girl fighting aliens sounds plausible at all. It sounds too much like something out of a science fiction novel.

[conniemaheswaran]

His skepticism, likewise, was quite fair. Connie didn't believe it herself for quite some time. Still, though, there had to be some way to convince him.

"Let me put it this way: how else would I, a thirteen year-old girl, end up getting scars like the one I showed you earlier? Especially considering I'm from a modern-enough world to have at least a basic understanding of mechanical principles, and thereby would have weapons far more lethal than a morningstar. Unless, of course, an alien species with physiology that made kinetic projectile weapons ineffective had to develop a different means of combat was something I frequently dealt with."

[likewishes]

"I can think of a few ways..."

He knew of at least one individual with worse scars. Though hers were more deeply connected to the mind than anything physical. Not to mention Lelouch came from a 'modern' world and yet weapons such as guns, daggers, and even swords were still used.

"How does one have a physiology to stop a bullet?"

[conniemaheswaran]

“Their physical forms are projected as hardlight from a central gemstone. Projectiles that move too quickly fail to disrupt the- wow.” Connie cuts herself off, realizing that if she was Lelouch and had no prior knowledge of the Gems, she would be fully within her rights to think she was insane.

Shaking her head, Connie says, “Okay, I’ll admit: looking at things from a rational outsider’s perspective, the Gem parts of my world make absolutely no sense whatsoever. I understand if you don’t believe me, but, well,” Connie gestures at the surroundings, “against all logic and sense, we’re here.”