melodiesofeternity | Player Plot: The Golsaucian Gauntlet

Player Plot: The Golsaucian Gauntlet

The OOC post for this event can be found here.

Sparks Golsaucia

A. Doom Coaster: Into the Void (and other rides...)

PuPuLand and Sparks Golsaucia as a whole are rife with exotic and exciting means of entertainment. The amusement park rides are second to none, probably because there aren't many in other towns! And since it's time for the Gauntlet, there's no end of tourists from around the world looking to celebrate and let loose. The lines sure are long... but you don't have to care about that since you've got a VIP pass! Show it to the employees and presto, you move to the front of the line!

...Assuming anyone told you that you could use it to cut in lines, that is. You could be waiting in a line that's not moving, because some other VIPs (outworlders or not) leave the ride and go right back in. Maybe you're one of those people riding a ride until the end of your days! Maybe you're people watching, or far from the line, gripped with fear over a ride that's crushed your resolve. Whether it's the teacups, the rickety old roller coasters, the drop towers, or whatever else your heart desires, you better believe it's popular.

The biggest, newest, shiniest ride, however, is the Doom Coaster. Modeled after an old, skeleton-like train that oozes rust and black fog, the Virtual Reality experience is so real that some passengers seem to have the souls ripped right out of them! (The g-forces got to them, but whatever works for marketing!) The senses are assailed by a played-up, spooky adventure into the afterlife, and anyone who stays conscious through to the end gets a free t-shirt reading "I CONQUERED THE DOOM COASTER" in a bleeding font, underlined by the train cars themselves.

Think you can take it?

B. How Do We Measure Vaikunthan Cholesterol?

High-velocity amusement park rides bring to mind nausea, and you can't lose your lunch if you don't eat! All through PuPuLand are vendors of... less-than-healthy foods. Deep-fried Geezard Gizzards, deep-fried calamari, deep-fried ice cream, funnel cakes (deep-fried dough), deep-fried pizza, and- is that- is that a deep-fried salad!? PuPuLand claims zero responsibility for any cardiovascular damage incurred as a result of eating their foods. But they're the only option in the park...

So maybe you decide to leave and get food in Sparks Golsaucia proper. There are food trucks, and they're on more street corners than worldwide coffee chain Cactuarbucks! The variety is immense and a dream for any Gourmand worth their salt or any self-preserving being who's not into artery-clogging. They're a little pricier, but when the trip itself is free, why not treat yourself?

C. Moogle Marketeers

Sparks Golsaucia is dangerous for many reasons beyond the park rides and the fried foods- it houses the Tactician Guild, which works intimately with local businesses. All businesses. See, there's profit to be had in pyramid schemes as long as you're at the top, and any Tactician worthy of their asterisk would make sure that's where they are.

It may seem innocuous enough, a Moogle fluttering up to you asking if you're interested in a little work on the side. They talk about selling cosmetics, poorly-made clothes, esoteric minerals and oils, or even natural mog enhancement pills (for the pom-pom's fuzziness, naturally) with a warm smile. This company is a spiritual movement, a means of both enlightenment and exponentially growing income. It gives you a place to belong in this world, and the ability to help the newcomers find their place too!

There's just a 40,000 gil registration fee and another 20,000 for the starter kit, all nonrefundable. But maybe your contact is nice- they might be able to waive the costs if you can get a friend to sign up!

D. Are You Talkin' to Me?

The largest city in Vaikuntha means there's no shortage of crime and ne'er-do-wells. There could be a back alley shortcut involved, or you might've taken a step into the wrong side of town. It's almost as if with the turn of a corner, the bright, pastel lights of the city dimmed and flickered, well... except for the occasional red light.

But they're watching you. From across the street. From the windows. From the shadows. It doesn't matter, they're there, and you look like a target. You might hear the throaty chuckle of a Bangaa or a condescending "sho shorry" from a Hypello that forcefully bumped you as they walked by, and... did they steal your wallet?

Or maybe they're more overt, emerging from the shadows and snapping their fingers rhythmically. For more cold-blooded species, these Bangaa/Hypello thugs sure bring a lot of fiery passion to their theatrics. Maybe they deserve the money, they could probably take this on the road!

E. When the Chips are Down...

Maybe you don't like gambling on business deals and social networks. If you're a fan of slot machines, card tables, and a spin of the roulette wheel, PuPuLand's got you covered in spades. There are two casinos within the park's walls and a third just a block away from the entrance. Bet your bottom dollar you can find any game of chance, maybe some chocobo races, and if you're of a more rough-and-tumble sort, maybe even a fight club. With white mages on hand, of course; what are we, savages?

Be careful not to get too lucky, or you could end up with the wrong sort of attention.

F. ...Clubs are Wild

Night after night of Sparks Golsaucia and PuPuLand is bound to be tiresome, so maybe you're looking to unwind from your vacation. Could be a drink, or even a few hours of loud, thumping music and frenetic dancing. Unsurprisingly, they've got you covered here!

Surprisingly, there are some clubs and bars that are the quietest places in town once the sun goes down. Insulated walls, multiple doors between the outside and the club itself, and... bookshelves?! Is this an all-night library with soothing piano accompaniment and a zen garden meant to mimic the sound of rainfall? You betcha!

G. Golsaucian Gauntlet

Competitors, win or lose, are encouraged to use the results of the first three rounds of the Gauntlet in their Top-Levels, if they want. Pre-Gauntlet pep talks with a friend or rival, walks of fame, walks of shame, swarms of fans, whatever floats your boat.

Von Oktavia

H. Movements of Tiny Houses

Since smaller sorts live in Von Oktavia like Lalafell and Moogles, their houses are similarly proportioned. Smaller rooms, smaller bathtubs, smaller houses altogether. That means that while a strong hop could get you on someone's roof, a particularly bad stumble could send the whole thing crashing down.

And that costs money. Maybe you'll just look. Carefully. And never touch. Or if you do, you might have the joy of escaping the scene of the crime. No big deal.

I. Tiny Food, Big Appetites

The Golsaucian Gauntlet and a week in the lap of VIP Luxury means you're probably used to portions more... normal than what's served around Von Oktavia. While it's not quite this small, it does seem a bit closer to food for ants. So if hunger pangs happen to strike during this pit stop (typical of any road trip, really...), maybe you're inclined to take the hit to your wallet for a little extra, or maybe you're hangry and become one of those customers making a scene.

J. Mognet Central

Mognet Central is big and imposing, a stark contrast to the smaller buildings of the city. They need all that space, given how vital the net is to Vaikunthan infrastructure. It's impossible not to see this place, and maybe you want to go in.

Lucky for you, the ground floor is actually the world's largest iMog Store, with special cutting-edge products that you can't get to as easily at the Curti Center. The employees are bright and bubbly, eager to help you with all your needs. Even if you don't have the money to buy anything- they're getting paid by the hour!

K. Say Cheese!

Eventually it's time to leave and return to the Curti Center, and so everyone's gathered by the offices of the Oktavian Triumvirate. The Under-Secretary of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of an Executive Assistant's Assistant all but appears out of thin air due to eldritch bureaucratic magics, and shouts that a picture will be taken in five minutes.

How's your hair? Is that what you're wearing?! You still look a bit rough from the night before, maybe. Or you might just be against this entire thing, and you're trying to hide behind the crowd or duck away. That's difficult, because the arrival of the Under-Secretary of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of an Executive Assistant's Assistant brought with it her assistants, who are cutting off a lot of the exits. Maybe you need to use a human shield.

Or maybe you're gonna dab on camera. They never said it had to be a serious photo!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ muffled actiony reminx of cantina music intensifies ]

Any luck finding PuPus? Yes? No? Regardless...

"Stop right where you are, miscreants, Kupo!"

As the characters were busy looking for PuPus, they would hear a voice calling them out from... Somewhere in the sky. It was very obviously a moogle speaking through a speaker. And ere long, they would see the source of the voice. Six very colorful Magitek Armors were flying in formation, leaving a trail of smoke in the sky that formed a heart.

"You dare seek bringing harm to our PuPu friends? Know that we shall not stand for your infamy any longer, Kupo!"

The six Magitek Armors descended and stopped a way from the characters, floating a couple inches above the ground. All of a sudden, the speakers of all six Magitek Armors started playing some manner of very questionable music. And lo, a Moogle leaped out from the pink Magitek armor, landing before the characters and striking a a dramatic pose. She was wearing White Mage robes.

"In the name of hope, Kupiaki Kupami!"

Then a moogle leaped out from the green Magitek Armor. This one was wearing glasses and the Necromancer attire... Oh, and he winked at the characters while readjusting his glasses.

"In the name of love... Kupade Kuptiss, Kupo~!"

The moogle leaping out from the blue Magitek Armor was wearing the Ninja attire and immediately took on a battle stance.

"In the name of justice, Kupo, Kupena Kupashi!"

The moogle who leaped from the black Magitek Armor was wearing a cowboy hat and the Magitek Knight armor. He started doing a dramatic pause, but paused midway.

"In the name of... Heh, whatever. Kuparks Kupada, Kupo. I'm from Vaikuntha."

The one who leaped from the yellow Magitek Armor was dancing and wore an all yellow attire.

"In the name of friendship! Kupo Kupo! Kupaune Kuparc!"

And finally, the one emerging from the red Magitek Armor striked a dramatic pause as well, which might have looked more impressive if she wasn't wearing fake cat ears.

"In the name of courage, Kupolu Kuphka! Kupo!"

With all six Moogles gathered before the characters, they each took a crystal in hand and brandished it heroically, each crystals fitting their Magitek Armor's colors. Said Magitek Armors them shot fireworks into the sky, at which point all six Moogles spoke together.

"We are the Moogles of Light, Kupo! Defenders and protectors of Vaikuntha chosen by the Crystals! Surrender now for you stand no chance against us, Kupo!"

[ooc: the characters will be split into smaller groups following a couple replies.]

[Staring... staring... for a moment, Naoto was interested, but was immediately disinterested, raising an eyebrow. Honestly...]

Why is your first assumption we want to harm the PuPus? Is it common for others to attempt to attack them?

[Even if she does wonder again what Hunk exactly wanted with the PuPus, she must say, she was more curious about them than anything. Still, if the Moogles wanted to push a fight for all the wrong reasons when they could compromise, very well...]

What the fuck. He stares at the spectacle in open confusion and holds his hands up to keep it all from going to violence. "Hang on. We don't want to harm anyone. We wanted to talk to them about the Dream Width. I swear to you that no one here wants to cause trouble." Okay, that may or may not be a lie. He doesn't know but the group goal is to learn more about a possible way home.

"The Dream Width is where we found ourselves and where memories were used against us. If we're to help anyone else and possibly to find our answers to why we're here. It's there. How about we try this another way." He lowers his hands and keeps his eyes on all of them, addressing them as a group. "How can we approach them and have a talk in a way that's preferable to all sides. We will leave when the talk is concluded, I promise. But please hear us out."

"Aww, aren't you all precious?!"

That...is a weird reaction but they are moogles dressed in silly and cute outfits, how could Camilla NOT react in a way? The look is only for a second before she switches to serious mode and waves to them.

"We're not looking to harm them, we are looking for anything that they may know about the Dream Width."

"W-we don't wanna hurt them! Just ask them some questions, give them some pie..." He trails off, focusing in on those giant Magitek Armors. They're color coded, like a certain set of robot lions he knows. Red flag. And they're piloted by moogles, who are characteristically Assassins (Bonnie) or probably Secret Agents (Balmogra). Red Flag!

"Why don't we all just sit down, eat some pie, and talk this out?" He's nervous, almost pleading. They don't need to fight here. There could be property damage. Civilians could get hurt. Not to mention the PuPus might get scared off! And that's why they're all here... or at least why he's here. But he can't back down.

"Or we can go get some funnel cake instead? They probably have stuff with kupo nuts." The last word is sing-songy, because he's seen firsthand how easily moogles obsess over the food. Hunk'll try anything to resolve this peacefully.

Wait, what? Is Selphie reliving something out of one of the comic books that she read as a child? It's about as corny as she remembers from her murky childhood memories as she debates between two possibilities. One, this giant robot is going to be big trouble if they don't somehow manage to diffuse this entire situations. Two, those names sounded way too similar to certain friends of hers that she really can't help but stare at these moogles who really think like this.

Knowing full well however that anything she says is going to make things a thousand times worse, Selphie opts to keep her mouth shut and observe the situation. The bemusement on her face should make her thoughts on the current situation plain as day.

[ Ughhhhhhh her inner nerd wants to yell. But. ]

You know I'd be screaming about the fact that there are actual Moogle sentai here if it weren't for the fact that you're completely barking up the wrong tree. Or kupo-ing up the wrong crystal or whatever.

[ But hey, whatever, if they're gonna do this, she'll pull her astrolabe out. ]

If yer next move is te summon yer king, real or not, I'm not gonna be impressed.

[ Not that Castor looks particularly impressed by the spectacle at the moment. She's dealt with silly Moggles before, after all. ]

Uendo should probably be more concerned with clearing up the misunderstanding.

Instead, Patches comes to the front of his mind and just stares at the spectacle in delighted awe.

"Is this an actual show? Please tell me this is an actual show. I will watch it. I will buy all the merchandise. I will send fan mail with Kupo Nuts. All of the Kupo Nuts."

Sylvarie can’t even believe what she just witnessed. She’s not familiar at all with children’s entertainment, but something about this group screams of a tale regarding legendary defenders once brought up by Primrose. And they thought their group were their enemies? Whatever their deal was and how cute they were, hoping to convince them of otherwise had to take priority.

However, of all the Curti workers she felt the most ill-equipped to even try to explain this situation. So as quickly as she could, she snaps a picture of the group in the Linkshell connecting the employees with the message: Moogles of Light? Please help!

With that out of the way, they can begin with attempts at diplomacy. “My fellow moogles, we mean no harm. These are outworlders simply seeking answers and to work together with the PuPus just as so many of our world do, and are of no threat. They want to return to their homes, if you would only give them the chance to explain first.”

Please may no one be rash about any of this.

At first he watched a little unsure of this spectacle, how obsurd as if they meant harm. But then the first one to jump out did and made her speech and he immediately pushed everyone aside to go to the front.

"Ah! Heroes of Light and Hope!" Even if they were ridiculous and moogles always made him think of useless Usami, he at least had more tender feelings towards her now.

"What a noble cause! We don't mean any harm, but I'm more than glad to prove it. There is quite a lot of Hope involved in this endeavor."

"We seek only to speak to the PuPu about the Dream Width," S'reee said. "I cannot speak for the whole party, but I am a Wizard oathed to Life. We are called to guard growth and ease pain, not cause it." The fact the Moogles speech sounded like some form of ritual -- even if it was one concoct by these six individuals -- was making S'reee shift into a more formal cadence herself.

This would be a lot easier if she was on a world where there were actual wizards of her sort. She'd trade all the abilities she'd gain for use of the Speech. Everyone knew wizards didn't lie in the Speech.

"We could surrender as a show of good intent? We just want to gets some questions answered."

BOSS BATTLE: Kupiaki Kupami
Jobs: White Mage (+ Magitek Knight)

The six Magitek Armors flew overhead as the Moogles of Light screamed together "Division Tactic!" An all-encompassing ray thus emerged from the Magitek Armors and temporarily froze all the characters and moogles... Before suddenly pulling them all together, and then expelling them quite brutally into six different spot, effectively splitting the characters in six different groups. The six areas were protected by energy walls cast by the Magitek Armors. Trying to go past one of the energy wall would electrify the characters, albeit not kill them. The characters in this group are:

Vax'ildan
S'reee
Komaeda Nagito
Max Caulfield

The arena the characters found themselves in... Wait, there are no energy walls here? Are these... Bottomless pits around the arena? How? Why? Regardless of the answer, Kupiaki is berating them.

"Your reign of despair is at an end, Kupo!" She raised her crystal high. "I shall blow you away in the name of Mooglekind!"

> Wind Mastery
The true mastery of wind!

Four tornadoes formed around her, each aiming to reach one of the characters! Should they be taken in by one of these tornadoes, will they fall in the bottomless pit? Is this how the newcomers on Vaikuntha will meet their end? Or will they fight back and prevail?

S'reee gave a whistle of dismay. Normally she switched to Red Mage if she needed to defend herself, but she didn't have anything that would stop her from being beached. She could teleport, but that would leave the three humanoids alone.

Of course, if she had her own wizardry, she could perhaps talk the air down, though no doubt the wind might prefer to listen to a flying creature than one who spent most of her time underwater.

"Well, no helping it," she said. She glided straight for the moogle, hoping to at least startle her into losing concentration on the wind, or call off a tornado. Moogle wings didn't look up to the kind of force that could launch a human, let alone S'reee herself.

Sparks Golsaucia

Von Oktavia

POST-SPLIT

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Are pink and red who I think they are?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

BOSS BATTLE: Kupiaki Kupami

Re: BOSS BATTLE: Kupiaki Kupami

BOSS BATTLE: Kupade Kuptiss

no subject

BOSS BATTLE: Kupena Kupashi

Inflicted with rage

BOSS BATTLE: Kuparks Kupada

no subject

BOSS BATTLE: Kupaune Kuparc

no subject

BOSS BATTLE: Kupolu Kuphka

no subject