Event || Mysterious Fathoms Below

[eternitymods]

Who: All characters who signed up
When: June 23rd-25th
Where: Ka'Pandol, the underwater city
What: While the outworlders and their guides are touring the new arena at Ka'Pandol, the city begins to flood. It is up to them to activate the ancient drainage system beneath the city before the Blitzball Association is forced to cancel the upcoming tournament.



The Zora guide, Pharce, is leading the group from the Curti Center through the center of town, waxing poetical about the legend of the First Zora, when the sirens begin to wail. At first, the residents of Ka'Pandol wave it off as a drill, but the sirens do not stop, and as they walk, the visitor shoes are beginning to get soaked through with sea water that is slowly rising.

"Come along, quickly, all of you!" the guide calls, leading the group to the Bureau of Tourism near the city center. As they walk, the group will see the aquatic residents quickly deploying bubble helmets around their 'exotic' pets -dogs, cats, parrots, squirrels- heads, just in case City Management takes their time righting whatever issue the dome is having.

"Inside, please. Safety first is our motto, so let's get you outfitted," Pharce says, waiving them inside. Each person is given one of the patented Ka'Pandol Bubble Helm, which will allow them to breath comfortably for several hours. Those that cannot swim are issued an emergency life vest as well.

The water had reached knee-level now. An emergency evacuation message broadcasts from loudspeakers.

"Well, yes, you could...but where's the fun in that?"

Pharce waves at the Hypello gift shop owner, and the two bow their heads in discussion for a moment. When they part, Pharce pats the Hypello (whose nametag declares him 'Shtan') on the back.

"My good friend will lend us some of his wares, if you will join me in saving the city. We wouldn't want this little mishap to delay the big game, after all."

Those that agree to hold off on fleeing the city will be split into groups and given instructions on where to go in order to help the sinking city of Ka'Pandol.

Comments

[whirluendo_of_puns]

[Uendo had, at first, thought to take the cunning approach. He wasn't strong when it came to combat -- and, as much he hated to admit it, he could not truly see himself as strong in spirit, either. After all...

When worse had come to worst, he had thrown an innocent person to the wolves to protect himself. Tampered with a crime scene and lied on the witness stand to save his own skin. It was easy to be kind when there were no stakes, but when it came down to the wire... He could be a terribly selfish person.

If only he had spared a thought to Geiru... If only he had dared to challenge Shisho instead of accepting his new name... Maybe his weakness wouldn't have destroyed the entire Toneido School. Maybe he would still have a family.

He almost held firm on the second wave... but instead, he waited for the third.

Weak or no, coward or no, he was the only Toneido left. He was the only one who could carry on Shisho's rakugo. The rakugo that united people in empathy and laughter. Madhuri and Azusa were already performing their hearts out. Even little Sasami was making a stand. If he didn't take the stage now, how could he call himself a rakugo artist?

'We're performing rakugo for a sea serpent now?' He could hear Kisegawa mutter in his head. The complaint didn't bother him. She'd come through for them, like she always did. Almost immediately after, Patches chimed in, 'Come on, let's do it, let's do it! This is the biggest audience we've had yet, hee hee!'

When the right moment came, Uendo stepped forward, knelt down on the floor in a seiza position, set his staff aside, and bowed.]

Good evening! Thank you for coming! And thank you to my companions as well, for giving such a stunning show. Makes me feel like a fish out of water in comparison! [He keeps his eyes on Leviathan with a smile.] Speaking of fish, perhaps you'll allow me to share a little story I once learned from my late mentor? It is about a boy who botched his master's affair due to his ignorance in all things fishy. You may think of it as a one-man stage play. Please watch me, and use your imagination...

[Shifting his pose, Uendo proceeded to perform the story, albeit a slightly abridged version. He never rose from his spot on the floor. Instead, he painted the scenes with his gestures alone, shifting his gaze left and right whenever he switched characters, and each time his body language and speech would change completely -- from a silly servant boy to a jealous wife, to a cheating rich merchant, to an annoyed fishmonger. It was almost like he was a different person...

Maybe it was incredibly stupid to be doing rakugo for an Eidolon in a cold damp chamber while soaked to the bone, but he was an entertainer. That, at least, was one thing he was certain of. And what could he do for a god, if not entertain?

Finally, he finished his performance with a deep bow.]

That was "Gonsuke's Fish"! Thank you!

[mech_and_mutt]

[By this point, Red was just growing impatient-- he'd already spent the first half of the day day pumping bullets and lasers into a giant enemy crab, so what would it prove just to send a few more towards this weird sea...dragon...thing? So he took the first wave on the chin, and the second wave when he passed on trying to convince this thing he was clever. Just when he thought he'd finally had his fill of water, there came another big splash to the face... well, maybe this would be the last one, if he was lucky.

Still. 'Resolve?' Here he was, staring down the third or fourth gigantic Godlike monstrosity he'd locked eyes with in his lifestime, and it was asking him what he knew about 'Resolve?' Like this was some kinda essay question on the piloting exam? What was he supposed to do, tell it that once he got down to work, there's just no stopping him, and expect this thing to applaud him?

Even if the performances may have been a bit goofy though Azusa's was actually pretty cool, the others were right; this thing wanted to be impressed, and- at this point- another round of attacks wasn't going to do it.]

...Y'know what?

[He gave an agitated grunt, and there was light, metallic clatter as he let those carefully-loaded thunder bullets fall to the ground. Those things would just be a liability the next time Leviathan dropped a wave on them.]

After living through my own sacrifice, fightin' off two giant titano-machina, stopping the end of the world, helpin' to save an underwater city, and gettin' asked that same question every doggone time, I think I've run out of stuff to prove.

[Still, he'd need to keep that gunblade in hand for lack of a shield. Red swore he could feel that Paladin asterisk throbbing somewhere inside of him-- maybe it was the hindsight of seeing abilities like 'Cover' in action, or maybe it was the asterisk's way of somehow saying 'I told you so' after not bothering to put any of his efforts towards advancing it. Heck, that 'Paladin' from back home may as well have been the one to say it.

Nonetheless, even if he didn't have the setup or Paladin experience for it, he did have heavy armor. The least he could do was step forward-- trudging through the remaining water, until he stood before Azusa, Madhuri, Yue... and all the rest of those people still left standing after the third wave. He held out his gunblade, braced between both hands for what little protection it might afford him against a tidal wave- and what little cover he might body-block from those people behind him.]

But the least you could do is not hit my friends with the next one.

[shinra_dog]

Noctis! Ignis!

[Those he had stayed to defend were gone, washed into the first wave. He'd hesitated and he'd been left behind. Cunning... he wasn't sure if he had enough. But resolve. In choosing to stay, choosing to stand with his new... family... That he had.]

[Reno didn't charge. In fact, he put his weapons away. And silently he began to take off his Assassin's coat, letting the top half of it drape around his hips. Next he pulled his shirt off, exposing a myriad of faded, aged scars over his chest and back -- and the heart silhouette tattoo on his chest. He raised his left hand in a fist, displaying a more recent scar: red, jagged, long down his forearm from wrist almost to elbow. Those who had seen his memory would know it.]

I'm still here!

[His voice was clear and determined as he displayed his pain.]

I don't deserve Heaven -- an' Hell sent me back. I am still here!

An' I ain't goin' away. You can fuckin' count on that.

[He trembled, fists clenched, but he was still determined. Yes, he'd fucked up. But he'd come back every time. He'd lost everything, and then gained it back. He wasn't giving up, not now.]

[pishirogane]

[Leviathan was already earning quite the resolve from everyone around her, but Naoto was curious what ran through each other their minds determining them to stay here. Those that did show their resolve in some way (IE Madhuri and Azusa), told a tale to determine their own (Uendo), or just shouted it out (Marinette, Red, and Reno), what did they think about exactly before coming to that? Personal resolve for strength more than likely.]

[Naoto knew her own and didn't think too hard about it. After all, were it not for her own resolve, she just wouldn't be at this point or planning on going after a murderer in just a few weeks. Group resolve however... that was something else. Being in their world, standing together against Leviathan before them, taking the steps closer to finding out the mysteries of this world in order to return to theirs... yeah, that was a fair resolve.]

[Still, must she display it, she had changed her job to Summoner primarily for this encounter. It wasn't her strongest Job class - in fact, standing up against three tidal waves almost sent her back. She was still here despite the fact she wasn't able to swim and she was heavily considering staying in Ka'Pandol in order to help protect it in the future. This flood was one thing, but what's to say something else might occur the further they delved into the truth of this world? Well, Leviathan's imposing form was not going to make the small detective back down... nothing would make her back down. Not ever again.]

[transect]

( rutile was silent, for the most part as the third wave finally washed over what remained of the group. resolve... was it?

as the first melody plays, they stand back, stirred by memories of fighting alongside of padparadscha in a time long past. how those days had meant everything to them, a young fool...

then as the second song was sung, they retreated a little more into themselves, crossing their arms tightly around themself. my darkest wish and rutile is swimming in the thoughts of their partner laying in a box, a tomb the books here would call it. a coffin.

the third performance as them opening their eyes again, the whirlwind of different expressions and tones, they're like the nagging voices in the jewel's head— the different calculations, the precise chiseling... thousands of voices, thousands of years spent trying to put the pieces of padparadscha back together again...

but none of those things would mean anything to leviathan. none of it could ever mean as much as it did to them alone, and that was exactly why— they could never give up.

standing alongside naoto, the tome in their hands closes with a slapping sound. these people, all of their words and actions... had stirred these things in the gem. )

Well, then. As you can see, after all that— we're still here, aren't we?

( if that didn't show resolve... )

[kuposcreed]

[Just how Bonnie was going to stand up to this challenge was baffling to Bonnie. She knew as a moogle she wasn't strong, though she wanted to do her part. She knew she wasn't clever, though sometimes she liked to convince herself she was. But Resolve...that's what pushed her all this way, isn't it?

But how to show it? She supposed now she hadn't been doing a great job of it as of late. She thought she was devoted to Mary and the legacy of the Heroes of Crystallis, and to the Assassins too. But her friends, her seniors really, had taken her aside and told her how she had the wrong of it. And they were right. She wouldn't impress Mary by telling everyone how great she was, or by trying to scare people into fearing her or the Assassins. That wasn't how to be a hero.

Long ago Mary was frustrated at starting over from the beginning, that her body wasn't working how she wanted. But she also told Bonnie that the chance to start over with the fundamentals was important, and that perhaps she could be better than she was before if she put the effort in. If Bonnie was going to be a Hero too then she couldn't take shortcuts, no easy ways around hard work and effort. And if she wanted to be a good Assassin then she had to show respect to her Brothers and the Creed and to those they wanted to protect.

It's a wonder the waves before this one hadn't merely swept her away from her small size, but she was going to stand against this one, and not just because she wanted people to think she was tough. Having switched from Dragoon to Ninja she still has her flippers, and she makes sure they're on nice and tight before she tries to parkour over or through a tidal wave.

But there's a more important thing to do first.]

flop flop flop flop flop flop flop flop

[The little moogle toddles along on the floor rather than taking wing, coming to Reno's side. She pulls back her hood, ready to take it on face to face. And then she tugs on her friend's pantleg before offering up her paw to hold his hand. They can do this together.]

[immortalmarshal]

[Cor tried to stand with Noctis and the others when the first wave hit, but ended up pushed away with the others. Not quite one for Strength, then, it seems. And he's not exactly surprised that he didn't seem to be worthy of being seen as Cunning.

But he refuses to be pushed back a third time. Standing his ground, Cor glares up at the Eliodon herself.]

As you may have noticed, we're rather hard to defeat for good. In my case...

[A feral, almost creely grin grows on his face, as he settles into his normal ready stance.]

I simply refuse to die. You're welcome to try, though, if you so wish.

[alborada]

[ Sylvarie witnessed the displays unfolding before her with rapt attention, eyes widening several times as each outworlder stepped forward to prove themselves. She had heard of the ways Summoners would seek covenants with these beings, of the trails they would endure to gain trust and aid. What was happening before her was surely a display equal to that of a master Summoner, and these people weren’t even of Vaikuntha.

And then there were the groups separated by the first and second waves, already performing as asked of them. Though some of them are making her balk—(did that outworlder seriously just partially summon—? And did that one bite the Goddess?!)—there was nonetheless something to be admired in all their attempts. Surely the Goddess couldn’t deny that...

And she had to contribute her own resolve as well. Though she may not have stories of grandeur like some of the others, she had still fought to be here—was still fighting. She had to prove her strength as not just a Jue, but as a Native of this world she called home. ]

Great Mother of the Seas, Leviathan. [ Voice firm, shoulders squared. ] Ten years ago, a caravan befell the misfortune of an encounter at sea from which few survived... an encounter with a hamster.

[ She has to pause to take a breath, for even now the memory was difficult to relive. ] Among those killed was the best White Mage I had ever known, one whom I am proud to call my mother. Ever since I was a little girl I strived to be as great as her, and here I am now.

I couldn’t save my mother then, I was a child. But I swear by all the gods that I will protect these outworlders and their futures. Not as a Jue, for I seek not to restore the glory of my house or establish a name. I seek only to help those in need, and to avert unnecessary tragedy.

[ And to prove it, she casts the strongest Protect she could muster upon them all. The vow was made, and all that was left was her judgment. ]

[eternitymods]

[Time seems to slow as the wave washes over the chamber. As each of the outworlders and natives deliver their show of resolve, Leviathan waits and watches. As each acts in turn, they will hear Leviathan’s voice in their head, assessing.]

Madhuri

THE RESOLVE TO REJECT EXPECTATION AND RESHAPE THY WORLD THROUGH THINE SONG. WILL THOU PLAY THE SONGS OF LEVIATHAN WITH SUCH ARDOR?

Sasami

WHAT GREATER RESOLVE IS THERE THAN TO FIGHT SIMPLY TO BE?

Azusa

THE RESOLVE TO RAISE THY VOICE AND BE HEARD, TO SING AND DANCE OF LEVIATHAN’S TRIAL WITH ZEAL.

Yue

HAS THOU FOUND THY RESOLVE, TO STAND BEFORE AN IMMORTAL FOE RATHER THAN ABANDON THINE FRIENDS?

[A pair of freshly dead, claw-marked fish appear before Yue, re-gifted from Dylas.]

Marinette

THOU ARE BRAVE AND FOOLISH, LITTLE ONE, TO CALL THE ATTENTION OF LEVIATHAN AND TO ASSUME TO KNOW HER MIND.

Uendo

DETERMINATION TO KEEP THE TALES OF THE PAST ALIVE. THE STORIES THOU TELLS SHALL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. CAN THOU BE ENTRUSTED TO TELL THE LOST STORIES OF LEVIATHAN?

Red

THE RESOLVE TO PROTECT THINE TREASURED FRIENDS, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THINE OWN SAFETY.

Reno

THE RESOLVE TO BARE THY SCARS AND STAND AGAINST THE GODS. THE RESOLVE OF A SURVIVOR.

Naoto

THE RESOLVE TO STAND, UNWAVERING, AND FACE WHATEVER TRIAL MAY COME NEXT.

Rutile

THY RESOLVE, I KNOW WELL. TO HAVE BEEN, TO BE, AND TO REMAIN AFTER OTHERS ARE GONE.

Bonnie

THE RESOLVE TO STAND WITH THY FRIENDS AND TO BECOME STRONG FOR THEIR SAKE.

Cor

THE RESOLVE TO PERSERVE IN SPITE OF LOSS. THE STRENGTH TO BE IMMORTAL.

Sylvarie

DEAR CHILD, THE STRENGTH TO SURVIVE, AND THE COURAGE TO FACE A CRUEL WORLD WITH KINDNESS.


[Overall, the feeling projected through Leviathan's wave as it washes over the group and dissipates is that she is Pleased with the resolve that has been shown to her.]