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∎ ETRAYA MODS ∎ ([personal profile] etrayamods) wrote in [community profile] etrayamemes2025-05-30 09:20 am
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TDM 008


content warnings for this TDM include: gambling references, mild horror themes and suggestive content


⏵ arrival⏴

Arrival does not happen as Aurora usually plans for it. Newcomers generally find themselves waking up within the hospital, are given a brief overview of their situation, and sent on their way. Now? They wake up immersed in a game within The Gold Saucer. But it doesn't quite feel like a game: whether it's snowy mountains, riding a chocobo as you listened to the wind quickly pass by your ears, or in the middle of a battle with a beast, it feels utterly real.

It's only after the game concludes - either by winning or losing - that you find yourself back in the main game area. A bot, dressed as personnel in this lavish playground, approaches each arrival with an earpiece allowing them to communicate with those in their same situation. It also serves to inform them of their goal: collect enough gold saucer points (or GP) by playing the games to acquire a card fashioned to their own likeness from the game counter. Then, they must trade it for someone else's. Seems simple enough, right? Hopefully the cards aren't too expensive...


⏵ the gold saucer ⏴

The Gold Saucer is an ode to the very idea of fun. It’s huge, labyrinthine, colorful, and lively. Everywhere you look, there’s something to do. At the same time, it’s also impossible to tell what time it is. There are no windows to the outside, there are no clocks. This place is beyond such a thing.

There are games everywhere you look, ranging from the pseudo-gambling to sports to pixelated video games in cabinets. Yet no matter which boxing game, pinball machine, or skeeball machine you look at, the same creatures and themes arrive. Cactuars, chocobos, the fiercest Behemoth, the cuddliest Moogle… For those from the realms of Final Fantasy, this will feel natural- homey even. Everyone else will simply understand that there is a fairly strong central theme here about magic, machines, and monsters.

It’s hard to tell how long you spend here, and it seems to sit outside of the very concept of time. Still, there are many restaurants, lounges, and vending machines. There are shops and costume rentals. There are even little pharmacies with headache remedies if the partying gets out of hand. And when you grow tired, there is a hotel- though it is made up like a haunted house, you can count on getting some semi-restful sleep.


⏵ playtime ⏴
Interdimensional Games


At first, stepping through to play any of these games may make participants wonder if they have been teleported somewhere else entirely. But on closer inspection, all the skies above are merely well-constructed interiors with painted ceilings. After all, it always seems to be daytime during these games.

Snowboarding - Race to the bottom of the mountain, but avoid obstacles and complete as many tricks as possible!

Chocobo Racing- Race on Chocobo-back around a treacherous outdoors race track which can either be taking place in a desert, a swampy forest, or upon an island beach. Work in tandem with your rented bird and against your competition by throwing hazards in their way or utilizing buffs garnered on the track. Different colored birds will yield different advantages.

Yellow - Good All Rounder
Red - Fast, but hard to steer
Blue - Slower, but very easy to steer. Much easier to pick up items from them.
Green- Resilient against traps and sabotage

Colosseum Battle- Face off against the fiercest beasts around. Pair up with friends or rivals to Collaborate or Compete to do the most damage and deliver the final blow. These battles are synced to the comparative power of the one entering the competition.

We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt unnecessarily, after all. And indeed, no one will get seriously, gruesomely, or permanently injured in these battles. Those without fighting capabilities can rent weapons outfitted Materia to assist them in their trial. These will allow anyone to cast spells, though not guarantee any better wielding of weapons. There are a hundred rounds, starting with fairly simple Spriggans, ranging all the way up to blood-thirsty Behemoths to challenge even the most battle-hardened hero.

Gold Saucer Games


Leap of Faith- Players are presented with an obstacle course that stretches a hundred feet into the air upon floating platforms and islands. Both are held aloft by magical crystals. Powers are entirely nerfed, though falling and hitting the ground is strangely painless. Those who collect the most silver and gold statuettes of cactuars placed at random throughout the course will be awarded proportionate GP; though there is a bonus for those that reach the very top first.

Triple Triad- Everywhere you look, people are playing this game on little 3 by 3 boards, or any surface with enough space. You will be given a loaner deck to play with. Are you clever enough to defeat your fellows.

Fashion Report- Theobold, familiar to some, stands by himself in a little booth with a dressing room and an incredibly expansive walk-in closet. He is a robot of distinguished fashion and strong opinions on those fashions. Do you dare subject yourself to his scrutiny? Come prepare in his wondrous closets to make the best outfit for the chance to win a prize. Please submit your fashion here!

There are Arcade Machines and activities galore. If you can think of it, it’s probably there- Just with that Final Fantasy pastiche on it, of course.


⏵ the beehive lounge ⏴

There are other places to eat at the Gold Saucer, but the vending machines and cafés all pale in comparison to the dinners at the Beehive.

For all the rave reviews, there is a dress code at the Beehive, and this is literal. If you step inside and are not currently wearing a dress, you will be ushered into a sideroom and appropriately made over.

However, this is only for those trying to go in through the normal doors. Around the side there happens to be an employee entrance, manned by a bot. He will only allow those in who seem like they intend to work— and therefore must be wearing at least one piece of the Bunnysuit Collection to trick the guard.

Once you are made over or have snuck in, you are free to relax inside with drinks, dine on a fine meal, watch the dancers, or participate yourself if you feel brave enough. Why would anyone ever dance here? Well, that’s simple. It pays really well. So if you’re sick of games, or terrible at them— you can always come dance for a shift. Though, don't get any unseemly ideas about freeing yourself of your clothing, this isn't that kind of establishment!


⏵ haunted house ⏴

When you grow too weary or drunk from a day of games, you may be directed to somewhere a little quieter to sleep. Up the elevator, and through the doors reveals a modest walk through some woods until a quaint, victorian hotel appears. It is always nighttime here, and the stars and moon twinkle above.

The receptionist, a bot in a rather bedraggled-looking chocobo mascot costume checks you in and shows you to your room. You can sleep here, especially if you can tolerate the hokey haunted decorations strung up around the place. Though sometimes, late at night, there will come a vigorous thumping on the door to startle sleeping patrons awake- Only for the culprit to vanish and be impossible to locate.



⏵ ticket counter ⏴


The prize counter is manned by a bot and has a sign posted overhead. Most prizes will be handed over inside an appropriately sized wrapped box, as the contents are a mystery.


Sparklers & Glowsticks 10 gp
Bunny Suit 300 gp
Bunny Stockings & Heels 150 gp
Animal Ears (Random) 500 gp
Kigurumi (Random) 100 gp
Chocobo Barding (Random) 1000 gp
Classic White Mage Robes 500 gp
Classic Black Mage Robes 500 gp
Plush Toy (Random) 100 gp
Wind-Up Minion (Random) 200 gp
Chocobo Mascot Suit (Random Color) 2000 gp
Triple Triad Booster Pack 50 gp
Triple Triad Card in your Likeness 10,000 gp


⏵ NOTES ⏴


This TDM may be treated as a mini-Mission. Time will not pass inside of it in relation to the world outside - meaning, this can be happening at any time between late May into early July!

This Gold Saucer is a bit of a mix between that of FF7's and FF14's, but it also has some things that neither have as well. Any inaccuracies are entirely intentional, aimed to make this rest within a space of uncanny valley for those who are familiar. While otherwise being a bit of a chaotic fantastical funhouse for everyone else! If there is something unlisted, chances are it will exist if it is in either of the other versions of the Gold Saucer.

Characters already in game are welcome to post to the TDM, too! Please mark them as current characters in your header. Threads can be kept as game canon as long as both characters get into the game!

Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment!

FULL NAVIGATION

stylebythemile: (086)

[personal profile] stylebythemile 2025-07-07 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
[A hard smile.]

Oh, he won't stop us. He'll always try to take down the Freedom Fighters, but he'll always fail.

[Are you seeing the sibling similarities yet, Sonic? Granted, this is a side of her that her bro Sonic had a hand in.]
stylebythemile: (085)

[personal profile] stylebythemile 2025-07-07 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[This scene is way too familiar. Not unpleasantly so, exactly, but enough that it reminds her of the times she's since spent on the outside looking in, rather than her old life.

Only this time, she's almost a hundred percent certain nobody will recognize her, with or without the disguise. Not that it really matters; just as they do in Robotropolis, anyone seen as "the help" barely gets a glance.

Sonia separates from him for a short while as they make their way across the grand space, discreetly winding a path through the tables to meet up with him again on the other side. She's reasonably confident no one's taking an interest in them... yet.]


See anything? Besides a lot of empty glasses.
fromfire: (is that)

[personal profile] fromfire 2025-07-07 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
It's me.

[ Verso smiles wide at how excited that she is to see him. He's a little sorry how bored she must've been waiting. However, he's soon tilting his head when she takes his hand to look it over. His eyebrows lifted up as he has an easy look of confusion before he understands what she's doing. ]

That's right. [ A warmer smile. ] Pretty durable, aren't I? [ And he's already back to kneeling down so that he isn't towering over her. ] This means that I can be a pretty good shield for you, yeah? Of course, I'll still be looking for you to make sure I'm okay, as well.

[ Just not as much; he'll do what he can so she doesn't have to worry about making sure he's all right. ]
repaintress: by betenoir (6)

[personal profile] repaintress 2025-07-07 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
They are simply tests of one's ability to problem solve.
restingstitchface: (Watchful)

[personal profile] restingstitchface 2025-07-07 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course. I just hate diversions.
bluejustice: (104)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-07-07 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, it's official. He definitely thinks you're a badass.]

Freedom Fighters? That's hands down the coolest name I've ever heard. Talk about la resistance with style!
bluejustice: (110)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-07-07 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
So far, the only thing scary about this place are the safety code violations. I haven't seen a single fire extinguisher, and I'm pretty sure that's mold on the wall.

[As they continue their trek, nothing too exciting comes to greet them. Just a bunch of tacky decorations. Plastic skeletons with googly eyes, dusty plastic bats strung up like bad holiday lights, and a motion-sensor witch that cackles half-heartedly when they pass.

It's actually getting pretty boring. That is, until a sudden noise slices through the silence. A loud clang, like metal slamming against concrete, echoes down the corridor behind them. An unearthly moan, barely there, something that could get easily mistaken with a door slowly creaking open.]


... did you hear that?
usedhuntersmark: (inkonic lovm s2e1-3 vex (2))

Vex'ahlia De Rolo | Critical Role Campaign 1: Vox Machina | New Character

[personal profile] usedhuntersmark 2025-07-07 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Voice

Alright, you've had your fun. I want to meet this Echo in person, not his liaison. Though she appears to be a rather polite vision, I'm not a fan of illusion magic. I would like to know where my brother, bear and husband are. As well as the rest of Vox Machina.

Vax'ildan, if you're here: We. Need. To. Talk.

Gold Saucer

[Having spent a great deal of time in the Feywild, Vex finds herself walking around the glitzy and flashy Gold Saucer with a half-amused, half-annoyed smile. She detests true gambling, as money is meant to be saved and hoarded until it must be spent. And even then, prices are negotiable - a truism she'd never really been able to beat into Grog or Tary, no matter how much she tried.

So, while she does play a few games, she's happy to spend her time at some of the bars, eating and drinking. And, despite her svelte frame, she can truly put down the mugs of ale that are set down in front of her. When someone comes and joins her at the table, she merely puts down her glass and looks over with a sardonic smirk.]


Hello. Please, sit.

Wildcard

[It's been a while since I've played Vex, but I'm open for anything. If you want to start something, or chat, you can reach me on discord at nothlir or on plurk [plurk.com profile] nothlir . Trust me. I'm ready.]
repaintress: by betenoir (7)

[personal profile] repaintress 2025-07-07 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
As you said earlier, Hell is other people.

How many diversions have you encountered here?
oblige: (Default)

gold saucer

[personal profile] oblige 2025-07-07 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Dion hadn't made a habit of frequenting the bars, spotting a woman wearing blue feathers as an adornment sees him veering in her direction. He parts his lips to offer her a polite greeting, only for her to be quicker at the draw, so he changes course. ]

Thank you.

[ A polite nod follows his words before Dion seats himself across from her. Absent a drink, and apparently not concerned with the fact, he visibly debates with himself before speaking again. ]

Please excuse me if I am mistaken, but do you happen to go by "Vex"?

[ Vax quite wisely provided him with a name he couldn't easily mispronounce when he'd described her some time hence. This could be another woman entirely, another who wears blue feathers and just happens to bear a resemblance to the man he'd met, for the universe is vast. But he made a promise, and he'd be remiss if he did not ask. ]
laserguy: (yeah cool)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-07-07 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
You're someone with a quirk, that's what matters the most.

[Dividing them into further categories seems excessive in his opinion... but guess if most of the population has a quirk, then that's probably why. Still, Scott isn't going to let that really change his opinion, especially since he actually kind of finds himself liking the other man's presence.

He's easy to talk to, at least.]


...You get used to it, I guess. [He shrugs, mostly trying to hide the fact that he still isn't fully comfortable with it. Or that he's really 'managed' it. He can't control his powers, not really.] But it's useful, especially if I want to make my own entrance somewhere.
nottheboss: (Default)

[personal profile] nottheboss 2025-07-07 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Pope wouldn't care about other people's rules.

But Pope isn't here.

And Bossie, despite his own usual shyness, feels comfortable with Harold. "Yeah," he says, hoping they're rules he can live with.
usedhuntersmark: (inkonic lovm s2e1-3 vex (7))

[personal profile] usedhuntersmark 2025-07-07 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vex takes a long moment to look over the newcomer. He might be intruding upon her brooding, but that's hardly here nor there. And she has some manners, despite what certain parties might think. Or deserve.

He's good looking. Not as handsome as Percy, of course, but that's hard to do.

She calls over a server for another drink and orders one for the man before he asks his question. When they're alone again, her smile goes flat.]


To my friends. To everyone else, it's Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo.
pricklybloom: (pic#15093400)

Voice | un: pikohammerhero

[personal profile] pricklybloom 2025-07-07 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ While Amy doesn't recognize the voice itself, there's something about the accent that's somewhat familiar. But then she hears a name she recognizes. ]

Oh! You know Vax?
oblige: (lean)

[personal profile] oblige 2025-07-07 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Dion invests a good moment mentally reviewing his conversation with Vax. He doesn't recall having been instructed on proper address, but he imagines the man was trying to spare him the blunder of mispronunciation.

Whatever the case may be, his expression is appropriately contrite when he responds. ]


My apologies, then, for being overly familiar.

[ However unwitting it may be, it is his mistake all the same. Having addressed that, he straightens ever so slightly, though he didn't appear to be slouching to begin with. ]

I ask because I'm acquainted with a fellow who introduced himself as Vax. He has been searching for his sister, who wears blue feathers such as those.

[ Dion doesn't point, he needn't compound his previous rudeness, instead tipping his head slightly as indication. ]
velocityraptor: Credit recadreuse (pro heroes 006)

[personal profile] velocityraptor 2025-07-07 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm, it can be. [ It's better not to turn it into a competition, but the stigma for both is incredibly real but incredibly different.

Hawks has always prided himself in being easy to talk to. The last thing he says gets a chuckle out of him though, lightly surprised. ]


You know, that's probably very convenient! I certainly can't break through any walls.
usedhuntersmark: (Lo-VM-s2-006)

[personal profile] usedhuntersmark 2025-07-07 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[As if some sort of magic words have been spoken, Vex's attitude goes from guarded and bitchy to open and worried.]

You know my brother? Looks like me, but not as pretty? Stick thin? Wears nothing but black?

[At the mention of the feathers, Vex reaches her hand up to touch them.]

They were a gift, once upon a time.
borrowers: (pic#17834823)

[personal profile] borrowers 2025-07-07 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[She offers a soft sigh, stressed but... relieved to at least have willing company. Her time with Sho has hardly prepared her for being in the presence of someone so tall, however... it is a start. A new world to venture into, for better or worse.]

If you don't mind... I would like to look around and see if my parents were brought here as well.

[Watching from on high is a good way to do it, at least.]

Thank you. For helping me.
usedhuntersmark: (Vax + Vex 04)

[personal profile] usedhuntersmark 2025-07-07 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vex prides herself on not forgetting voices, but it's hard to recognize one she's never heard before. That doesn't stop the ranger from filing away the information into a new file to take out later.

And since this appears to be someone who knows her brother, she doesn't have to be quite so... annoyed.]


I would hope so. He's my not-so-cute twin brother. How do you know him?
ornithologist: (064)

[personal profile] ornithologist 2025-07-07 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Harold hadn't really intended to end up with set rules in the way Carver and Bossie seem to think of them, but he's since deduced that Carver at least seems to find it reassuring rather than stifling, so in that sense it behooves him to be more authoritarian than he's usually comfortable with.

And the rules themselves are, of course, very telling of Harold's character.

"The first is that you are welcome to leave -- to break our affiliation -- at any time, but you must inform me of this before taking any action against myself, Mr. Reese, or Ms. Shaw."

Sometimes people end up enemies for authentic reasons. Harold doesn't expect a lifetime commitment, but he does expect them to refrain from outright betrayal.
nottheboss: (Default)

[personal profile] nottheboss 2025-07-07 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
As far as rules go, this is one he latches onto immediately, finding it reassuring. He nods.

He'll feel conflicted over it later, but right now it makes sense and it cements them all together in a way that soothes him.

"Then you should know I want to work with a guy I met. Kaeya. He's investigating our roles here, you know, and Aurora he mentioned--he's asking questions I think we all want answered."
pricklybloom: (pic#15093401)

[personal profile] pricklybloom 2025-07-07 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A small, delighted gasp. ] Oh! You're his sister! That's great!

...I mean, it's not great that you're stuck here with the rest of us. But Vax will be glad to see you, at least!

Anyway, it's nice to meet you! Or, talk to you anyway. My name's Amy Rose. Vax has actually been teaching me archery.
oblige: (hearten)

[personal profile] oblige 2025-07-07 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Dion does his level best not to smile at the description, but his is a terribly honest face, and some mirth still finds his eyes. This is simply because Vax had similarly used himself as a basis of comparison when describing his sister. Their assessments of one another mark them as siblings as much as their features do.

He can't help but be both pleased and relieved that Vax may soon see his sister again. ]


Yes, he most certainly matches that description.

[ Dion wastes no time in confirming, knowing the particularly keen edge that uncertainty can have in Etraya. ]

I had the impression they were important, though I'm not privy to the details. That I'd know you by sighting them was enough.

[ Enough that he would be able to identify her, barring a case of extreme coincidence. ]
ornithologist: (081)

[personal profile] ornithologist 2025-07-07 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Initially he's a little confused about why Bossie immediately wants to report this to him, until he pieces it together with Carver's comments about how they'd never had allies.

"It's always beneficial to make connections and establish additional information sources. There's nothing wrong with that, or with making friends. We're secretive by nature and by habit, so I would appreciate your discretion -- but that isn't a rule."

Trust Harold to include making friends as a valid reason to socialize outside of the team. He's not great at it himself, but he understands it as a basic human need and really wishes his little coterie of dangerous killers had more of a support system. He has a professional paranoid's reflexive need to control the flow of information completely, but he will even give that up in deference to someone's need for connection.
nottheboss: (Default)

[personal profile] nottheboss 2025-07-07 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
He nods, fighting the urge to ask Harold and Carver to vet Kaeya for him. He isn't sure he trusts his own instincts about people anymore; he was never great at making friends anyway.

"I'll be careful," he promises. "I won't tell him shit that would compromise us."