TEST DRIVE MEME

[eternitymods]

A. RETRIEVAL Dreams fade slowly, and awareness returns in increments. The hum of machinery, the smell of recycled air, the murmurs of others waking up around you. The interior of the ship has been outfitted with cots for those Biggs and Wedge retrieve from the Dream Width. Outside of the makeshift infirmary, windows set into the walls of the worn lounge area offer a view of space. It’s time to meet your fellow new arrivals who have been brought together on Biggs and Wedge’s airship. None of you know how you came to be here or where you are going, and the door to the cockpit is locked as the pilots focus on navigating the treacherous obstacles of the Dream Width. You might as well take this moment to introduce yourself to your fellow travelers. B. CURTI CENTER There’s an almost overwhelming aura of excitement in the tower as researchers rush to document this unprecedented number of interdimensional travelers. Over the commotion, the leaders of the Center struggle to explain, ‘Welcome to Vaikuntha. We don’t know why you’ve been brought here, but this is your new home.’ The staff will do their best to help the off-worlders settle in. They answer the questions they can, provide maps and pamphlets about the world and the destinations within it, and even guide the arrivals to a neighborhood where housing has been provided for you. Yes, due to the strange influx of arrivals, you’ll be expected to share, but the Curti staff are doing the best they can under the circumstances. Experiences like these bring people together. Perhaps you are the only one here from your world, but at least you are not alone in this experience. Others are right beside you, learning the same information, planning trips to visit the same new cities, checking out these Job things, and settling in to their new (temporary) homes. C. UP IN THE SKY There’s a whole new world to explore. It’s almost enough to distract from the fact that there’s one place you can’t go- home. You are on an Airship, the main mode of transportation between the major cities of Vaikuntha. While the majority are owned by airlines, perhaps you hitched a ride with a friend that has their own. You can go anywhere in a matter of hours — One can only hope you don’t have motion sickness. D. GUILDS Proud representatives of the Guild are lined up, ready to demonstrate their skills for the new initiates. Make sure to stay behind the designated line, this might get dangerous. So you want a new Job? You'll have to first travel to the Guilds, sign the papers, go through the orientation and introductory lectures, and get basic training. Afterwards, you can freely chat and practice with your fellow members, celebrating your new powers, and checking out your new wardrobe. E. LET'S BE ADVENTURERS Separated from all of your material possessions, connections, and everything you know, and really, what you’re left with is time. Better try to make the most of it. Enough expository banter. It's explorin' time. Maybe instead of spending every day in your room, you'd rather spend it living it up in the city of Lavode, or betting on Chocobo Races in Sparks Goldsaucia. Or maybe you'd rather go and explore the caves and ruins near Arito. With Airships and Chocobos at your disposal, you can go nearly anywhere! F. SIDEQUESTS Maybe you’re telling yourself, ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’ But wait, you did. At least it pays. It all started when you checked the Quest Board.  All you wanted was a few gil to spend, and here you are in the wild, hunting for a Malboro Vine. Or maybe you are in some ancient and decrepit ruins looking for an artifact. Or you could be asked to be janitor for a week. Consider yourself lucky though, at least you don't have to do that alone. G. GET A JOB (THE OTHER KIND) You’ve got a Job, but Claire keeps sighing and muttering about layabout space-people not earning their keep, so it might be time to seek out Employment as well. There are plenty of opportunities to earn some gil in Vaikuntha, no matter where you choose to settle down. Your iMog slate includes listing for employment opportunities. Hopefully you can find something you can live with so that you can start saving up for an airship or the security payment for your permanent housing. H. MOGNET *Ding!* You’ve got Mog-Mail! Thankfully, you can instantaneously chat with your friends around the world thanks to you iMog Slate. And unlike old-fashioned Moogle Letters, you can even send messages to everyone in a blink of an eye! However, despite the change in technology, the old tradition of Mognet Strikes have never gone away. Nobody knows any more whether the Moogles have legitimate reasons to go on strike or if they are just lazy. But today, Mognet is down, and to get information you have no choice but going to the public boards or risk message corruption and mishandling. I. RANDOM ENCOUNTER The ground trembles, and out of nowhere, something hostile appears! Is that battle music playing? You were minding your own business walking around, and suddenly monsters attacked you! Time to put to use the skills you've learned with your Jobs! Will you try to fight on your own or seek help? And remember, you die in random battle, you die FOR REAL. There’s no shame from running from enemies that are a higher level than you! J. WILD CARD Feeling inspired to create your own prompt? The power is yours!

Comments

Fighter | 8-bit Theater

[swordchucksyo]

Swordmaster’s Guild
[Fighter had been pretty upset to find out that he was without his beloved pointy blades, but luckily that’s easily remedied. He had happily signed the required forms without a glance and sat through the lectures. He might not have fully paid attention to them, but he was there and that was good enough, right? Apparently so since he was now being presented with a new shiny blade.]

This is the best day ever!

Sidequest of his own!
[Free swords, a place to stay, this place isn’t half bad. But it’s missing one major thing, one thing that he wasn’t been without in ages. He can be found plastering posters anywhere ha can fit them and passing them out to anyone and everyone that passes by. If anyone can help him find his bestie he’s be eternally grateful.]

Random Encounter
[This is it! He’s been through training so with his brandy dandy new sword in hand he’s ready to take on the world! But as per his usual luck he’s happened upon a little bit more than he can handle and is currently facing a a coeurl about three times the a size of him. But it’s okay! He may not have paid attention to his training when he was younger, but he’s older now, more wise, right? Surly he wouldn’t make that mistake twice… right? He just has to think back…]

"This next bit is really important, especially if you’re, I don’t know, facing off against coeurl three times your size. So you begin by shifting into…"

Right, shift into… coeurls are big cats right? Black Mage is kind of like an angry kitten that’s been in water. Oh look, a butterfly!

[Fighter stares at the beast as is growls menacingly at him.]

Aw phooey.

Wild Card
[Have something else in mind? Let’s do it!]

Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

[BANG! A bullet shot out and glanced across the Coeurl's cheek as Nanamo cursed.]

I meant to hit it between the eyes! Swordsman, if you value your teammates life, you will fight it!

Re: Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

[Fighter looks back and gapes at the lalafel; he's never seen a weapon like that.

...Do they make one that fires swords?

He'll hold onto that thought.]

Right! [Thinking...thinking... Nope, he's got nothing. Time to wing it as per usual. He digs his foot into the ground before he pushes off, all but throwing himself at the beast.]

Single Sword Snake Strike!

[He lunges his sword through the shoulder of the coeurl, causing the cat to cry out in pain, rearing back on its hind legs... with Fighter's sword still in it. The man himself is now dangling from it, looking rather unsure what to do.

But, hey, at least he hit it, right?]

Re: Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

[Whelp that was something Nanamo didn't expect. She figured he would strike it and fall back, but uh...

Circling around to the side, she fired again, this one striking it in the flank.]

Anything else you can do?

Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

[He drops to the ground, landing in a crouch, and stares at his beloved, still stuck out of his reach.]

I only have one sword.

[He needs to fix that. You can never have too many!

Unfortunately, he's pretty useless without a blade. He's not really even good at coming up with strategies, either; Black Mage is always telling him not to think, commenting on what a thick skull he has.

...Wait a minute.]

I have an idea. [It may not be a good idea, but it's an idea, and that's all that matters, right?

Without waiting for a response he rushes back at the thing, head bowed, and crashes into its leg head first, causing the coeurl to stagger slightly in response.

Fighter turns his back on it to face her, seeming surprisingly okay for someone who just used their skull as a battering ram.]

How was that?

Re: Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

... that will do.

[With the coeurl staggered, she fired again and again until it fell over.] I think we got him?

Re: Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

[Fighter walks over and pulls his blade out of the coeurl, giving it a nudge with his foot for good measure and cheering when it doesn't retaliate.]

That was awesome!

[By his standards, at least. They beat the thing and, well, that's not an overly common feat for him and his party.]

Your bang-thingie is pretty nifty! [She didn't even need to get near it in order to hit it, and there was no time spent casting. Pretty cool.]

Re: Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

[Considering this was Nanamo's first fight, she was breathing a little heavily as she lowered the gun and set it into its holster.]

Thank you. T'was a feat I fear I will have to repeat when I get more skilled. Truly, I am no warrior of light if I am shaken by this battle.

Re: Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

Don't feel bad; we aren't very good at fights either. I'm sure you'll be better than us in no time!

[He gives her a thumbs up to emphasize his totally motivational speech before he wipes his sword on the coeurl's fur, sheathing it after.]

Re: Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

[She had to laugh at that, shaking her head.]

Well, I am glad I pass muster. Did you retrieve the claws? They fetch prices with goldsmiths.

Re: Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

[He's not sure why she's laughing, but she seems to be in better spirits and that's all that matters.

He hadn't realized that he was supposed to bring back a part of it, though.]

How do I...? Do I just, like, cut off the paw? [There's an edge of distaste to his voice. That seems really gross, carrying around a chopped off limb like that.

And why do the goldsmiths want the claws? They smith gold! There's a conspiracy here somewhere. It's Dr Pepper and Mr Pibb all over again.]

Re: Random Encounter

[nanaimo_bar]

Uh...

[Now that he said it, she... wasn't sure?]

I suppose we could clip it off.

[Unsheathing a dagger, she went over to the couerl and started to squeeze it's paw, lengthening a wickedly sharp claw. Carefully, she cut off the claw, just enough to make it a decent length. And then she did it with another and offered it to Fighter.]

Here, one for each of us. It might actually fetch a price at market.

Sidequest

[kuposcreed]

[Bonnie blinks a little as she looks over the poster. She can't complain about the artistic style, it's certainly no worse than she can do. But still there's a tiny bit that seems odd.]

Your friend is a Black Mage, kupo....and his name is Black Mage?

[She's repeating what he just told her, just to make sure she got it right.]

Re: Sidequest

[swordchucksyo]

Yup! Kind of like I'm a fighter named Fighter. It's really convenient!

[He looks over at Bonnie for the first time and jumps, not expecting the flying teddy bear. He resists for about three seconds before...] Poke.

[Oh shit that's actually real and not just a construct of his imagination like Dr. Swordopolis. Whoopsie daisy.]

Re: Sidequest

[kuposcreed]

Kupoooo

[That doesn't make this any better. In fact it just raised more questions abou-]

Wah~ Don't touch a lady's pom without asking, kupo!

Re: Sidequest

[swordchucksyo]

Oh, sorry.

[Damn, it just figures that he would find the one lady that isn't a babe.

Still, it was really soft. He's barely able to resist the urge to poke it again and the expression on his face might make his intents obvious.]

Re: Sidequest

[kuposcreed]

[Bonnie flutters there waiting for an apology, but as soon as she sees that look on his face she tries to grab at her pom protectively.

Of course her own arms are a little short for that so she flutters back a bit too.]

Re: Sidequest

[swordchucksyo]

[Okay, okay, he'll be good. He just needs to think about anything else.]

I like swords.

[Works every time, even if it's not the most casual of segue ways.]

Random Encounter

[ukidokiotaku]

[Renge thought she knew what she was doing. Sure she never really played fighting games and had been a fan of dating sims, but fighting a cat wouldn't be that hard right? Renge herself had been dealing with another further down, aiming her sword at the creature, narrowing missing it. Soon it was their turn and preparing for an attack. Renge avoided the attack narrowly, near tears as she started and started to run, the coeurl deciding to give chase.]

Run! They are going to eat us!

Re: Random Encounter

[swordchucksyo]

[If there's one thing fighter is good at (besides liking swords), it's running. He has quite a history in it. The notion is tempting.

But.

The coeurl is targeting this woman, and he really doesn't want to see her get hurt. Without thinking (as if he ever does) he runs towards the beast, swinging his sword with a cry. The blade slashes an ankle of the cat and it lets out a ferocious cry as it turns on him, growling menacingly.]

Oh fudgemuffins.

[He might not have thought this plan through.]

Re: Random Encounter

[ukidokiotaku]

[Renge turned on her heels, panicked as anything because serious that was one angry cat, she may have hit it but she had assumed that one hit would have been enough, but now thinking about it she knew it might not have been the best idea.

Seeing what the other had done she paused, trying to figure out what to do next. Should she try and help and they work together, should she grab him and continue running... or just run and not give much of a care?

The last one was out if only because in a way he was her hero for distracting the creature. But could she run fast enough with the other... That was the new question.]

Just run. We might be able to outrun it.

If the grabbing is a no-go let me know and I can change it!

[swordchucksyo]

[Wait, was she actually waiting for him and not ditching him? That's new! Still, it makes sense to run given how angry the coeurl seems.

He tightens his grip on his sword and stares at the thing square in its eyes.]

Then I guess there's only one thing to do.

[And like a flash, he's grabbing her wrist and fleeing for the hills regardless of how well Renge is able to keep up with him.]

Run away!!

[ukidokiotaku]

[Well it seemed like running was the option here. The girl was good at a few things, but running really fast was not necessarily one of them. But being pulled someone was making her go a little faster than she might not have been before.]

You're a pretty fast runner. Do you do it often?

[swordchucksyo]

Yup.

[There is zero hesitation on his part there.] Me and my friends do it all the time. Red Mage calls them "tactical retreats."

[He's surprisingly fast, and if she starts to slow him down he'll pick her up without missing a beat.]

[ukidokiotaku]

It's that thing warriors do if they are outnumbered or there is more of a big boss battle where you are under powered.

[She understand that much at least.]

It's logical because nither of us could fight them.