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

Lapis Fathalla | Original

[oneirism]

(F.)

[When Lapis had accepted this quest, she figured it would be simple enough - go into some ruins, retrieve the artifact (some weird cactus-looking statue?) and then go hand it for gil. Easy enough.

Except these ruins have involved every kind of rudimentary puzzle possible, from block-pushing to stepping onto stones in time with some pattern randomly displayed on the wall. It feels like no matter how far in they go, they just get set back or held up for like thirty minutes by another 'match the pattern' game. Even for someone as patient as Lapis, this was getting rather annoying.

At least she isn't alone in this, though by now she just wants to get that statue and get out.]

Why are there so many puzzles... The quest details never said anything about this statue being super important.

[Or maybe whoever made this temple was just super bored. Or sadistic. Or both.]

(I.)

[As an Astrologian, or at least a basic one, Lapis is here to provide some support for her other party members! Luckily she was with others when the hostile (hopefully not a Tonberry) approached them, since it's not as if she has much in terms of attack strength. At least Major Arcana provides some good buffs for more offensive-orientated companions, so she just needs to draw a card and -

- And it's Spear.

Dammit.]

I hope you didn't need the buff right now. [Now she needs to wait until she can draw again, so she'll just... believe in her companions strength. And hope they can help defend her too, since she's too squishy for direct combat.]

Give me a moment, I'll try to draw again. [Why can't she just throw out the Spear, it's such a useless card-!!]

(J.)

[Feel free to hit me up with anything else!!]

F

[gathersnomoss]

Some ancient architect needed a place to store all his practice works?

[Zelgadis was also losing his patience, and starting to wonder if eh could figure out how to break some of the puzzles in ways that wouldn't trigger whatever defense mechanisms this place had.]

[oneirism]

Well, this was a stupid place to do it.

[While it is tempting to try breaking the puzzles, Lapis has to resist the urge to. Especially since her job doesn't really grant her much offensive skills.]

I think we're close, so hopefully there shouldn't be anymore puzzles. [She says this, but the next room probably has some sort of musical puzzle.]

[gathersnomoss]

[thankfully Zelgadis seems to have some musical skill.]

Next door is probably the dungeon with all the monsters.

[which... this is annoying, but not painful, so is a plus.]

[oneirism]

Then I'll be entrusting you to deal with that.

[While she likes her magic, the lack of being able to really attack anything is a pain.

And once they arrive to the next room, it will be revealed that they were both right. There's a musical puzzle AND a bunch of monsters prowling around.]

I'll do my best to provide support from here. [Yeah, she's not taking another step in, she won't even last 5 seconds.]

I

[needsteaplz]

No worries! I'll keep it busy!

[Saori got into her stance while the Bomb they ran into waited for her to strike. Sure, she was a monk back on Crystallis, but she had a feeling she'd be back to square one when she arrived here. Still, she couldn't say no to helping out one of the newer faces here. For now,
her main goal was to make sure the Bomb didn't target Lapis. So far it didn't look like it was going to explode just yet but Saori wouldn't let it happen as she let loose a Dragon Kick.]

[oneirism]

Mm, alright.

[She's glad that Saori at least has some offensive skills, it means that she doesn't have to worry about the other girl being in trouble. As long as the Bomb doesn't explode, anyway.

Now she quietly waits for Major Arcana to charge up once more, immediately drawing a card once it's done. Eyes lighting up once she sees it, though that's the only sign of her relief as the grants the boon of -

- The Balance! Now Saori is 25% more stronger!]

This should be much more useful, Saori.

[needsteaplz]

Thanks!

[She turns to give Lapis a thumbs up in approval. The Bomb lets a hiss at Saori after being hit with that last attack. A good portion of its health was depleted but not enough to set it to explode just yet. In return, it lunges at Saori to take a bite, teeth sinking into the arm she used to block the attack. Saori winced but bit her lip to stop herself from screaming. She wouldn't let the bomb go just yet as she unleashed another Dragon Kick into it.]

I-I'm fine. You might wanna get ready to take cover pretty soon though.

[oneirism]

[Lapis manages not to wince when the Bomb leaps forward and sinks its teeth into Saori's arm, instead pressing her lips into a thin line as she tries to think of what to do. Please let luck be on her side, for once-!

Drawing another card once more, before immediately casting it over Saori - the Bole granting her a 25% increase in defence. That should at least lessen the sting of the bite, and whatever else the Bomb was planning.]

I'll be alright! I need to support you, after all.

I

[erbluhen]

[ Her partner doesn't answer at first, instead sidestepping the monster's claws before leaping backward with a gracefulness evocative of deer. Neither of them are suitable for close-range combat, but - they'll just have to improvise. ]

Take your time. We're not in a rush.

[ Tri-coloured sparks appear in his book-free hand, launching themselves at their opponent. Good thing it's not fast, so he can just kite it across the clearing - ]

[oneirism]

[While it doesn't show much on her expression, Lapis is still concerned as she watches her partner dodge - the fact that they're both awful at close combat makes it more important to get a buff out!]

You say that, but we're both awful at close combat. [Maybe she should've said it more nicely, but anyway!

Lapis balances her astrolabe in her hand, mentally counting down the seconds until she can use Major Arcana once more. The moment cooldown is over, she draws another card - only letting out a sigh of relief, before casting it's boon over him.

It's the Bole! His defence has been raised by 25%.]

That's much better, you should be safer now!

[erbluhen]

[ There's no use panicking, and Lapis losing concentration would be even worse. He's used to fighting close-range even if it's not his specialty, after all. ]

Just a bit more...

[ Ain jumps from rock to rock, always out of reach - but just. He flicks Ruin into the monster's eyes, determined to slow it down. ]

Thanks!

[ - he's apparently going to just use his arm to block its strike and bookslam it in the face. Boom. ]

[oneirism]

[At least he can count on Lapis focusing, even if she is quietly worrying about Ain get skewered.

At least now that buff will make being skewered less likely, watching now as the beast slows down as the spell is flicked in its eyes. And then faltering completely at the book in it's face. Well.

That's one way to do it.]

Oh, that actually worked. [Another Major Arcana, another draw of the card and -]

Do that again, Ain! [- And he got the Arrow, so he may now attack twice!]

F

[conanima]

Well, it's annoying but it's not as if we're going to progress any further without solving them, right?

[And she examines the pattern intently and then her eyes light up eagerly.] Heeeeeey, I think this one might be a musical puzzle! Do you know how to do those? [If not, she can take over.]

[oneirism]

Mm, that's true. But trying to do block puzzles in this robe is hard.

[They're just so in the way - though Lapis then blinks when Kaede's eyes light up, tilting her head before looking up at the pattern. Actually perking up a bit as well, not that it really shows.]

I do, though my musical skills are mostly revolved around singing. [So the other girl still might be a bit better at this puzzle.]

[conanima]

Well, if you look at the wall, it looks like it's got different sections of music spread everywhere. And that thing in the middle of the room looks like a piano.

[And she thinks for a second.] Hmm....maybe we have to play each section in the right order?

[oneirism]

[A piano, huh? And Kaede's thoughts do sound accurate - so Lapis nods, tapping a finger against her chin once more as she looks up at the patterns covering the walls.]

Hmm, probably... Though do you know how to play the piano?

w-w-wild card !!

[sunderings]

[ They'd become traveling companions: Lapis, in her pilgrimage to bond with Eidolons of old, and Sion, in his quest to study the lay of land, the composition of the world, coming to know the culture of Vaikuntha by learning its legends from those who peopled the realm. How many stories, now, has he been entrusted with? For each and every city they pass through, there is always a clinic at which Sion offers his services as a white mage, healing the ills of others as they recant to him tales of a great battle; of a world cursed and altogether not unlike his own: Menoris, fated to only know everlasting tragedy and sorrow. It is enough to make him believe his presence in Vaikuntha is no coincidence at all, and that perhaps the key to saving Menoris will be found here, in this realm which had been reborn despite facing certain calamity.

But--... the answers he seeks will be revealed only with time, their adventures bringing them closer and closer to the truth of Vaikuntha and its connection to all other realms through the Dream Width. And for now, at least, there are by far more pressing matters at hand: Lapis, who had seen them through a battle to secure a safe campground for the night, is now weary for her efforts, drained from summoning. And so...!

Even if he is a white mage, he still has strength enough to lift Lapis' slight frame, gathering her into his arms (her back supported with his left hand, the delicate bend of her knees with the right) so that he might see her swiftly and safely carried to their tent where she would be able to find her rest, recovering from the fight.

Gently, he murmurs, his voice low and even as his steps: ] You were brilliant, Lapis, and I find myself almost envious of your prowess.

[oneirism]

[It was pure chance that led Lapis to meet the white mage, and yet here they are - companions travelling the lands together, as Lapis completes her pilgrimage and Sion lends his magic to those who need it, while they try to seek the answers of this world. Even if she finds herself unable to express it, Lapis is grateful for the company, especially after being brought to this world and only hearing stifling silence in place of her spirits.

It certainly makes the nights less lonely as well, though she had insisted that she's fine after that fight - the summoning was tiring, as always, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Which is why finding herself gathered into his arms gets her expression to falter, looking as if she's almost pouting for a moment.

Though that expression softens just slightly at his words. Only just, however, as she disapproves of being carried like this!]

I feel the same whenever I see you use your magic, Sion. It's wonderful what you can do for people. [Pause.] But there's really no need to carry me, I can walk still.

[sunderings]

But why, in all the realms, would you busy yourself with something so very menial as walking when I am here with you? [ —undeniable, the edge of a tease which silvers his voice, the smile which plays upon his lips as he catches sight of her pout; the way she makes not to slip free of his grasp (though she could with ease, were she of the mind, for the way he cradles her to his chest is the farthest from a restrictive hold), but instead takes to mulling over Sion's reasons for why, impossibly endearing. ]

Consider it my show of thanks, for ensuring that we will rest safely tonight.

[ Safely, in the small clearing that they've happened upon, their tent pitched, the groundwork for a fire already made. And upon arriving at their encampment, Sion sees Lapis returned slowly to her feet, a hand lifting to gently clasp her shoulder, his fingers curling there in quiet gratitude. ]

The both of us, we've our parts to play, and mine... [ Withdrawing his touch, he surveys their supplies, taking note of what they might be able to share together for a meal. ] ...is to start a fire, and heat the last of the heavensegg soup to celebrate your masterful triumph.

[ And ah? What's this? Already, he's gone to rifle through his pack in search of the flint stone and knife with which to spark it. ]

F

[libraria]

Really? I think this is super fun!

[This little girl has been obnoxiously excited about everything, though. Alyce is probably also part of why this is taking so long, as she stops to sniff every flower: metaphorical or otherwise.

She stares up at the latest puzzle, bouncing excitably on her heels.]

I've only seen puzzles in books. Whoever thought to make them real life must be a really fun person.

[oneirism]

[On one hand, while Lapis just wants to get going and leave as soon as possible, she finds it hard to try to dampen the girls excite by forcing her to stop looking at everything.

At least Lapis is the patient sort, quietly watching as Alyce bounces on her heels - humming softly as her hands rest on her hips.]

Or really bored. [There's a pause, as gold eyes look up at the patterns on the wall.]

This looks like a pattern matching puzzle. Do you want to try it? [Lapis had by default taken over solving the puzzles, if only to get them done. Since Alyce seems so excited, Lapis will let her take this one.]

I

[singularize]

[ Well, he had been coming here expecting to solo the entire thing. It's not a matter that he doesn't trust Lapis, rather that he didn't really trust other people. So it didn't matter. ]

Can't you affect the odds?

[ Moon twirls the sword in his hand, fencing the morbol with a focused, surprising ferocity. It's fine, he can handle it by himself. ]

[oneirism]

It's all down to whether luck is on my side or not. Apparently my job is luckier than most.

[Though this time, it wasn't. Though Lapis is still determined to help in some way - he may have to fight alone, but she can still try to do something.

Though she has to wait before she can actually do something, huffing a soft sigh as she waits for the cooldown to end, glad that he's doing well so far. Even though the morbol is still very much alive and fighting back.

Once Major Arcana is ready, she draws another card - sighing softly in relief when it's The Balance, Moon now gaining an increase in strength.]

Odds should be in your favour now, though.

[singularize]

[ He'd very much prefer fighting something that weren't so disgusting, such as perhaps a wolf and not this kind of slobbering monster. He'll have to do quite a bit of laundry later, too - how annoying.

— he's not going to spend all this time complaining internally, though. With the Balance, he's able to slice off a few of the morbol's tentacles. ]

Hm.

[ Ew, it touched his leg. Moon frowns, bringing his sword down to sever the offending vine ]