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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

laserguy: (ruby quartz)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-06-24 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Better than me, only read the first book.

[Wait, movies? They actually made movies of those books? Huh. Does that mean Sonic's version of Earth decided that the Chronicles of Narnia was a good enough series to start creating films for? Or is this sometime in the future of his Earth? Hard to really tell.

Interesting thought, but his mind shifts gears to their mutual friend and yeah. He's not surprised to hear that. He doesn't think that Shadow can be happy, ever. It's like he made it his life mission to be grumpy and a prick the entire time. Not that Scott could relate-- nope.]


...Hey, that Shadow just sort of follows me around and calls me an idiot the entire time. He's just an asshole man. Don't think it really has anything to do with you.

[Especially since so far? Scott can say that Sonic is pretty easy to be around.]
bluejustice: (37)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-06-25 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! You should definitely watch the movies. They're great. I'm more of an action kind of hedgehog, but epic fantasy is not a bad watch. The first one is obviously the best, but the other two are not so bad. Although, they stopped after the third movie, so it's kinda missing its epic finale, which is a bummer... wait, do they even have movies in this place? [Now that he thinks about it, it is kind of an important question to ask.]


So the attitude isn’t a phase, it’s a lifestyle. [He chuckles a little. He wonders if he will have to deal with him often. Part of him honestly hopes he wouldn't have to, but...there's also a persistent curiosity tugging at the edges of his mind. What exactly made him like that? His own Shadow used to be full of volatile anger when he first met him, probably still is a little. So maybe this other Shadow has his reasons, too. Not like he's justifying it, though, but it could help to understand him better.

Though, honestly? Focusing on, maybe, having to deal with an angrier version of Shadow that could want to kick his butt for whatever reason, it's still somewhat better than thinking about the disappointed looks from those who mistook him for another version of himself. That's a whole can of worms he's so not willing to touch at the moment. Nope.]
laserguy: (daily life)

[personal profile] laserguy 2025-06-25 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[At least Sonic understands that the first one is usually the best--]

Not here, but back in Etraya, there's a decent selection of movies that you can watch. There's no theater, so it's just mostly grabbing something from the store and bringing it back to your room. Missing out on the big screen and the state of the art speakers, but at least that means you can eat whatever junk food you want.

[Granted, he just snuck in food most of the time anyway. Shit's expensive back home, he's not about to pay more in snacks than watching the movie itself-- although having the full experience is necessary here and there. Just. Not all the time.

Maybe when they get back to Etraya... he and Sonic can watch something though. Hm.]


But yeah, pretty much. I tend to just avoid him when I can. [He shrugs a little, just assuming that's what Shadow would prefer too.]
bluejustice: (39)

[personal profile] bluejustice 2025-06-26 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
Really? I'll have to check that out! Do you know if they have any Keanu Reeves movies? [Nevermind the tiny voice in his head that keeps reminding him that he's supposed to be here on a mission. Calm down, little Sonic voice, they'll get to that later. This was important too!] Oh, I'm one hundred percent on Team Watch Movies at Home. I mean, the theaters are cool and everything, but you can't get any good running commentary going without someone shushing you every five seconds. Talk about a tough crowd. And no dramatic reenactments either! Just, where's the heart? And the lack of unlimited snacks it's kind of a dealbreaker. You can't even eat chilidogs inside the place! It’s like they don’t want you to have fun. [He wasn't gonna lie, it had been fun going to the movies with Tom and Maddie, but after they tried to bring Knuckles and Tails along, and ended with half a row of seats destroyed, they were practically banned from the local theater. Oh well, their loss.]

And yeah, well, I'll keep that in mind. [He'll worry about having to deal with Other!Shadow later.]