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

Vax'ildan | Critical Role | ota!

[daggercubed]

A. Retrieval, or, Why Are We in Space?

[Vax feels like shit.

Being recovered by Biggs and Wedge was an experience. It's not an experience he wouldn't want to repeat. But he doesn't want to lay around in bed, which is why he gets up, and stretches out his arms. Then, he frowns.

And frowns more as he looks out of a window.] Percival, if this is your idea of a fucking joke, then I'm going to have words with you.

[He leans in, looks out the window, and glowers. Are those the stars? What is this? Can he see the planet down there? What even--he groans, and then rubs his face.]

D. Guilds, Or Multiclassing!

[Vax'ildan has a little experience in killing a dragon. He also has three more to go. In a way, that made the first Guild to call upon easy: Dragoons. As much as he needs to get back to Exandria fucking tomorrow, if he can do it with the pre-made knowledge of warriors who specialize in killing dragons...

Win-win?

And so, Vax is in Safer Osu. He already received his Asterisk, heard the spiel, and nodded along with it. Having some power back will help -- he didn't relish the time he ran away from a Bomb, because his dagger wasn't suited for the job, and he didn't have his boots, his Vestige, or anything else.

He has new armor, now. Even if, without the Deathwalker's Ward... no, that feels strange. The lack of connection to the Raven Queen feels strange.

But what feels strange, most of all, is the draconic light mail before him: in a neat pile, with a dragon head-like helmet staring up at him. Vax scowls down as he grabs his vambrace and lifts it, turning it over.]

...There aren't instructions. To put this shit on. Are there.

E. Adventuring, Or FUCKING HORSEBIRDS

[The cheapest and quickest way to go between two cities, of course, is to rent a chocobo and ride there. Nevermind that Vax doesn't know what a chocobo is. He stands a distance away from the stables, rolling his shoulders, and turns to look at his companion.]

We should be able to make it to the next town before dusk, with this. I heard they're safe, whatever they are.

[Local fauna's weird here. But then, the handler comes out, with the big, yellow-feathered birds with reins. Vax turns, stares at them, and barks out:]

What the fuck are those things!

[Spoilers: giant birds STINK.]

Or: Wildcard!

[Feel free to hit me up!]

D.

[sirenslight]

"Nope. I really don't think it's that hard to figure out though."

[Says the girl in the comparatively much easier to figure out Swordmaster's uniform. She's looking at Vax in almost a disappointed manner, as she picks up the chest piece from the pile and recklessly tosses it at him, expecting him to just, catch it.]

"Put this one on first."

[daggercubed]

It looks stupid complicated.

[The chest piece goes flying, and Vax catches it. Roughly, but his reflexes are sharp. He looks down at it, before he opens it, and starts sliding it on. He looks down at his side and frowns down at the buckles and clasps.]

You have some experience with... heavier armor, I'm guessing?

[Or maybe not. It's hard to know where people came from.]

[sirenslight]

"To some extent. Never really worn it, have definitely seen some of it. Mostly, I'm just familiar with structural analysis."

[And that, in Mythra's mind, made her very qualified to understand how armor worked. Upper arm pieces get tossed next.]

"You don't really need armor when you just heal instantly from everything. Though.... that doesn't seem to be the case here. Maybe I should look into it."

[daggercubed]

You heal instantly. From everything.

[It's not that Vax doesn't believe her -- he's seen some crazy things in his adventuring days -- but it immediately shifts his opinion to a question. Who, or what, is she?

Then, he considers, even as he starts sliding on the next pieces. (He caught those, too.)]

We lost whatever things we could do before. At least, some of it. You might want to consider some protection.

[sirenslight]

"There's a bit more to it than that, I couldn't do it for a while, and in fact I had just gotten it back before I got whisked away in. I, won't bore you with the details."

[She picks up the shoulders, staring for a while. Why are these so spiky? Who designed these? Why? She still hands them over though.]

"But I'll consider it."

[daggercubed]

Well, it sounds useful! Unless I was on your bad side. Then it sounds awful.

[He takes the shoulders, turning them over. Despite his words, his tone sounds bemused -- and he has a disbelieving smile on his face, like it's saying "are you serious?"]

I wonder if the armorsmith was drunk when he did these.

[He starts buckling the pauldrons on anyways.]

[sirenslight]

"If you were on my bad side, that'd be the least of your problems."

[Though her threats ring fairly hollow. She looks over all of the armor again, and yeah it all looks pretty, hard to maneuver in, to say the least. She still tosses him the vambraces anyways]

"He probably was. Then again, people's fashion sense in this world is, questionable. Least your taste isn't as terrible."

E! Also I snort laughed at your username

[littlemhigan]

They're chocobos. [duh.]


[Castor is already saddling hers up, working with the ease of practice, even if this bird is a little bigger than the ones that she's used to.] They're sweet things but just don't spook 'em.

[Finishing, Castor moves to get a good look at Vax.] I take it you're not seen their like before?

eheheheh, I do my best :D

[daggercubed]

I've seen their like before. Usually an eighth the size, roasted, and served with potatoes.

[He walks up to his chocobo and stares at it.]

You... you can actually ride these damn things?

[littlemhigan]

...I'm going to hope you mean small fowl, and not that you're fond of eating Chocobo chicks.

[Castor shuffles over, leading her own mount by it's reins and smiling as the birds coo at eachother in greeting. Watching this man's puzzlement over the horsebirds reminds her very much of the Domans back home.]

Aye, they're sturdier than they look and very friendly...Or they ought to be, at least. I can't speak to how these ones have been trained.

[daggercubed]

Yes, they're called chickens.

[Vax frowns a little at the chocobo. He points to himself, then to his eyes, then to the chocobo. It's on watch.

The chocobo narrows its adorable blue eyes in turn.]

I suppose I can see it being... friendly... or maybe planning to boot me in the ass after it throws me off. Are you from here?

[littlemhigan]

Huh. Weird.

[Castor reaches up to pet Vax's bird a little, even as they squint at one another.]

Don't underestimate how clever it can be - Ah, no. But Chocobos exist where I'm from.

[daggercubed]

Clever's one word for it. I know that look in its eyes. That look says, "I'm going to fucking wreck your shit as soon as you least expect it, Vax."

[He sighs. Then, looks back to Castor, and tilts his head.]

So they're... in several worlds. I guess that's a small relief.

[littlemhigan]

You might be the lucky soul who finds the asshole bird, in which case, I don't envy your future self.


They're in mine, at least. It's...a little comforting to see 'em here. Strange, aye, but comforting.

E (Also I might have squealed because he was my favorite lol)

[crapton_of_luck]

I have no idea. The last big bird I saw was---

[No Lucky, Washi Voyager does not count. But he turns to Vax with a bright grin.]

Anyway come on let's go check them out!

Obviously I am partial to him. :E

[daggercubed]

I have many, many reservations. [A sigh. But, then he follows after Lucky.]

They look kind of delicious. I feel like I might be an asshole for pointing this out.

D

[raidraptors]

[Shun has no experience in killing dragons specifically (unless you count defeating their cardgame form, because if so, he has plenty thanks to his best friends ace card), but after the information he received at the center, he's been looking into the more physical classes.

This is the second Asterisk he's picking up – the first one from Hisan City is safely stored away – but well… the Monk job requires neither weapons nor armor, so he's just as lost about putting on the equipment as Vax is.]

Not that I've seen.

[For his part Shun just hopes there is some magic on those armor pieces. It would really suck if he were to grow out of it the second nightfall arrives. #werebear problems]

I guess, they must think that any idiot can do it.

[…This may or may not be a challenge. Want to see who can figure it out first?]

[daggercubed]

Luckily for me, then, I'm not just any idiot.

[Vax looks up, to peer at Shun for a moment -- curious. He shrugs his shoulders, and then he starts to pull on his vambraces. He gets them a little bit backwards.]

I take it you're new here, too. It seems like most of us are.

[raidraptors]

You say that now.

[They'd see if Vax lives up to his words soon enough. Shun starts pulling on his own gear, starting off with the mail rather than the vambraces.]

Don't worry about that, it will wear off.

[Being new to this place, he means.]

…If it's anything like the last dimension I was in anyway.

[daggercubed]

Come again?

[He frowns at the vambraces. No, those aren't right; he pulls them off, then he starts to undo the vambraces' buckles and start over. This makes him frown.

And what Shun says--well. That surprises him, too.]

This has happened to you twice? What lottery did you lose?

[raidraptors]

[Shun is just going to let the fact that Vax is having troubles with the vambraces speaks for itself. …Granted, he isn't doing much better now that he's finished pulling the mail over his head and has gotten to his own, but there isn't any need to draw attention to that.

As for the other thing.]

The kind I didn't enter myself into in first place.

[He didn't choose to come here or Ryslig. He certainly didn't choose any of the shit that has been happening in his life during the last two years before that either, but that is a topic for another time.]

[daggercubed]

It's fucking disturbing to know this can just happen.

[He finally rights the vambraces. Vax glances at Shun, taking note of his trouble. Well, that makes him feel a little better.

He starts on the greaves next. Working outside in makes sense to him, sort of.]

Some place entirely different from here, I imagine?

A!

[worldmother]

[ The question for Elly isn't necessarily why they are in space (that's never quite a question but a small inevitability depending on where you're headed), but where exactly. Still, despite that unnerving thought, Elly seems to be taking this whole thing much better than some—see Vax here.

She observes for a moment, listening to the man in the cot over from her grumble discontentedly for a moment before sitting up as well. She can't sleep for a multitude of reasons, and this man seems like he could use someone else to talk to than his own reflection.

Tilting her head to the side, Elly offers him a half-smile. ]

If it is, then I think I'd like to lodge a complaint with your friend as well.

[daggercubed]

I can't put it past him. But I doubt it.

[Vax turns to look at Elly. It's obvious, then, that he's not human; he has pointed ears (not that such a thing is so different from some of the demihumans on her world). There's a moment's hesitation.

Then, Vax smiles. He's not a jerk, just sometimes a loner.]

But he would think this steel ship is the most amazing thing, though. I've never seen anything like this in my life.

[He extends a hand to her.] I'm Vax.