Event || Worldwide Tourists

[eternitymods]

Who: All New Arrivals and Curti Center Staff
When: April 15th-30th
Where: All over Vaikuntha, starting outside of the airship hanger
What: Ganeshan, the resident Job Expert, will be taking the new arrivals around the the various Guilds so they can collect their chosen Job Asterisks as noted in their applications.
Warnings/Notes: Guild prompts can be found here

Enter the Master

[Each new arrival's iMog buzzes with a message instructing them to gather for a worldwide adventure to obtain the power of Vaikuntha. If they follow the invitation's instructions, they will arrive at outside of the airship hanger on the morning of the 15th, with their meager belongings packed.

An Enterprise-Class airship, the Ragnarok, hovers outside of the Curti Center. There is a flash of light on the top of the ship.]

"WELCOME!"

[A figure, minuscule at this distance, launches itself off of the ship and hurtles toward the ground. As he draws closer to the ground, he starts to flip, landing with a flourish. An armored figure, sans helm, turns his toothy Zora grin to the crowd. With a shimmer, his armor transforms into a white mage's robe, and he sends a rush of wind through the crowd for dramatic effect.]

"I AM GANESHAN, THE JOB MASTER! GYA HA HA HA! TODAY, YOUR LIVES WILL CHANGE FOREVER."

[Ganeshan shimmers again, ruthlessly abusing the Chemist's Modifier skill to once again shift Job Classes so he can lower the airship's loading dock with a wave of his hand.]

"I BELIEVE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS THE ABILITY TO MASTER THE JOB CLASSES. SOME OF YOU MAY MASTER MANY, OTHERS WILL PURSUE THE PERFECT MASTERY OF JUST ONE. BUT EITHER WAY, YOU'LL BE INCREDIBLE!"

[Ganeshan gives everyone a big thumbs-up. The out-worlders who are not scared off by this booming speech can feel free to enter the airship and prepare for their ride around the world. Hopefully some of the Curti Center's newest hires can serve as non-crazy less exuberant tour guides for the new arrivals.]

Around the World

[The Ragnarok will be stopping at every major city in Vaikuntha, with the exception of those cut off by the Imperial border closing. Characters can create top levels to respond to the Guild prompts and explore the cities themselves as the ship makes its stops. Each Guild provides information sessions, free food and trinkets for potential applicants, and once you're ready to receive your Asterisk, all you have to do is take some introductory lessons and fill out forms. Characters can receive up to two asterisks. Time to get to know your new world!

Questions for Ganeshan can be directed to the Ganeshan top level post.]

Comments

[nyxmare]

"I think the same could be said of Magitek, since it uses elemental energy and technology."

At least, as much as he knew of Magitek seemed to be just that. He never was able to get close enough to know for certain. Usually, they were too busy trying to destroy the massive daemons more than deal with face to face Magitek knights.

"What are Gems in your world? We have outcroppings of magically infused stones but that is the closest I can think of..."

Then it clicked he was talking to a random 13 year old girl but hadn't actually introduced himself.

"Nyx, by the way." He offers his hand to her out of polite habit.

[conniemaheswaran]

"O-Oh!" Whoops. Connie had forgotten to give her name in her nerdy fervor, but at the same time her nerdy fervor is what's keeping her from having an internal anxiety spiral from acting like an excitable child to somebody she didn't know in a guild of all adults, so it was a net neutral. "Connie Maheswaran."

"And Gems are, uh..." Very difficult to explain to a stranger, for one. "Okay. So Gems are a species that, uh, project holographic bodies with mass from a gemstone that determines their base appearance, powers, and some aspects of their personalities. They nearly conquered and rendered my planet to a lifeless husk around five thousand years ago, but there was a rebellion started by the Crystal Gems--named after the system Earth is in, to my understanding. They won, but at a great cost, and now I'm one of the... six or seven, depending on your point of view, remaining members of the order. And the only fully human member."

[nyxmare]

That was definitely a mouthful of a name but Nyx had heard far bigger names. Her excitement was enjoyable actually if Nyx was made to admit. He had little opportunity to interact with children when he spent more time out of the city than in. He liked them. Connie seemed to be moving into the teenage years but teenagers weren't all that awful either.

And that was a rather interesting description of a species. Holographic bodies based on gems. Alien species creating an inter.. planetary war? Nyx's brows furrowed then one raised and he points at her.

"And you are... thirteen? Rather young to be... well, children often get swept up into war."

He couldn't say anything in regards to children becoming involved in things they shouldn't have to be. War wasn't kind nor did it discriminate.

"You're strong, to have dedicated yourself to something so important at your age."

[conniemaheswaran]

"Yeah. I mean," Connie fiddles with her gauntlet, changing a miniscule detail on a single character in its runic circuitry before continuing, "I guess I did have a choice, technically. To just sit on the sidelines while- hold on." An errant gout of flame bursts from the inner workings of the gauntlet and sets Connie's leather work glove on fire, and she spends the next several seconds taking it off and slapping it against the grass until it's doused.

Putting it back on, she says, "As I was saying, I technically could've just sat back and let everybody else did the work. But knowing what I did, that at any second a bunch of incredibly powerful godlike conquerors and their armies could touch down back on Earth for a round two... well, it wasn't a choice. Not really."

[nyxmare]

Nyx leans back from the sudden fire. He watched her handle it so casually. His brow raises and he smirks at her, impressed. She really was solid as a rock wasn't she? Young, but capable. Clearly experienced in things going badly.

The last bit was unfortunate but that was the way of war.

"Some people don't feel that way. They see fighting for other people or even themselves as the duty of others. You're a brave person, don't discount that part of yourself.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie blushes a little bit at the praise. Back on Earth, it had always felt like she'd been doing the bare minimum to keep up with the Gems, no matter how much they praised her or how well she did. She was only human, after all, not an ancient superpowered alien with thousands of years of fighting experience. So no matter how much they praised her own combat ability, Connie felt as thought their words were hollow.

So being complimented for something uniquely hers and able to be compared with the abilities of the Gems felt... fantastic. "T-Thanks," she says. "I, um, just try my best to help wherever and whoever I can."

[nyxmare]

Nyx was glad to mound praise onto people that deserved it. Especially young people who would need it the most. She clearly had the smarts and was handling herself well here despite the fact they were in a completely different world. There were adults that were still struggling.

"Trying alone is more than what most do. And you seem to be succeeding at doing your best on top of it. You're handling all of this rather well, considering you're far from home."

And friends and family.

"Has anyone asked you how you've been getting on since coming here?"

[conniemaheswaran]

"I mean, I've made a few friends," Connie says. It was rather strange, hearing it coming from her own mouth. Her only real friends back home were Steven, Jeff, and Peedee. Funny. She had more of a social life here than back home. "There's Futaba, Makoto, Nanamo, Mythra... some others too. There's also Clarus, but he's less of a friend and more like very persistently trying to become my dad than a friend. Which, um, is awkward, because accepting his offer would be..." She leaves her sentence dangling.

[nyxmare]

Nyx can't help smirking at the mention of Clarus. Of all people to be parental... Well, he was viewing it as an adult meeting Clarus. It made sense, considering the age Connie looked.

"He has a daughter about your age. Maybe a little older. And a son too, though he's even older. He's a good man and I'm certain if you let him down ea--"

He has to cover his mouth as he was starting to lose it a little. Laughter just wanted to pour out. He manages to recover quickly enough at least.

"I'm certain if you're just honest with him he will take it well. I've known him for over a decade." As a commanding officer but still.

[conniemaheswaran]

Connie snickers slightly as well even as Nyx cuts himself off. "I don't know, Nyx. He has surprisingly powerful puppy eyes for such an old man. Withstanding those would undoubtedly be the most challenging feat of my career as an adventurer."

And as much as Connie hated to admit it, there was something about Clarus that put her at ease. He almost reminded her of Doug. And if she really was stuck here- no. Nope. Not an option. She would find a way back, no matter what it took.

[nyxmare]

"Puppy eyes?"

Nyx couldn't stop the sudden burst of laughter. There was no resisting such things when a young girl described a man such as Clarus as having puppy eyes. Here Nyx had assumed Iris had gained them from her mother but alas, the whole time it was apparently from her father!

"Well, out of anyone to have as a parental figure I have to say I'd put Clarus near the top. If only to have someone here to go to, until you go home."

Because she would certainly be going home. Nyx had promised himself to help make that happen for everyone here.

[conniemaheswaran]

"Like you wouldn't believe!"

When Nyx brings up Clarus' qualifications as a dad-surrogate, he's simply saying things that Connie already knows. From her conversations with him, Connie's well aware that Clarus is a good man qualified for taking care of her should the worst come to worst and they couldn't get off Vaikuntha before the Curti Center kicked them out. But that wasn't an option. "...I was thinking that too, honestly. I just hope that- no, we will find a way back home before that becomes necessary."

[nyxmare]

"You certainly will." Nyx agrees softly. He could tell the girl was willing to claw her way back to her own world. So many seemed like they needed to get home. That there were broader issues they needed to get back to.

He motions to her gauntlet, smiling at her.

"Show me more. I have nowhere else to be and even if I don't understand it I don't mind watching."

End here?

[conniemaheswaran]

"Alright!" Connie smiles at Nyx. If he was willing to let her ramble about her complicated, intricate, and occasionally boring process, Connie was more than willing to oblige. "So the primary problem here is the power channels. I could technically activate it now, but..."