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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

thelightshines: (of your loneliness)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-06-26 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
[He tilts his head at the other's question. It is vague that he isn't immediately sure what he was referring to. But, the other did give visual cue. The way they were looking him over after the world returned to normalcy. Not too far off the way the scientist would look when he did something new and strange.]

I just...manipulated the flow of time and space. I don't know how to explain it, I just learned I could do it one day. [Came to him rather naturally actually, not long after he landed on Earth. ] I thought you had the same ability...? I've seen you teleport before.
limiterrings: (pic#17703033)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-06-27 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it's different.

shadow does have that ability in his repertoire, but the way the other hedgehog utilized that ability.

without saying too much about himself, he stares at the other who seems incapable of lying, like this is his truth. closing his eyes, he contemplates what's said and how it's said before looking towards where the exit is. ]


That's all?

[ ... his interest leaves from the hedgehog before him to looking at the other's hand, then his body up and down. ]
thelightshines: (The dream you saw)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-06-28 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
[He rather say nothing at all than lie with them. He really doesn't want to cause conflict with them again if he can avoid it. In this case...well, it's on him for making the assumption that their abilities derived from the same place. But it has to be. It's definitely chaos energy they're utilizing for their spears and when they teleport. So what's giving the other pause? What is different?]

Yes...? [He frowns while they keep looking him over. How can he tell the other something when he doesn't know what the issue is? Can they or can they not do what he just did? Or is it something else?]
limiterrings: (pic#17684462)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-01 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
How did you find this?

[ he returns to the topic at hand, because the way the other hedgehog looks around in trying to understand why shadow looks at him the way he does... it doesn't help anything. instead, he'd rather lead the other hedgehog on a fake trail so he can't understand what it is shadow is nit-picking about.

... ]
thelightshines: (is all that I get)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-01 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[...That line of thought seem unfinished. The other will not clarify the issue they were having. It doesn't surprise him, but now he's left wondering. Because it was something about himself that gave them pause. The uneasiness of not knowing what the other is thinking isn't going to leave him anytime soon. Despite being given a place to return to, the memories of the other turning on him still lingers, haunts him.]

...I was looking for someplace quiet, took the high ground to get a better view of the place. Those robots, they had to be coming out from somewhere. [Some backroom space that the general public aren't suppose to go through, therefore an ideal spot to have some privacy if he could locate it.]

Once I found an entry point, I...ended up exloring the back areas until I eventually arrived here.
limiterrings: (pic#17753217)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-01 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ is there always a backdoor to these places? squinting, shadow contemplates the information handed to him before closing his eyes. a small hum, the hedgehog takes a few steps closer as though he's going to take a look himself to see if he really does end up back at their "home base".

however, he stops just a few inches. ]


How interesting.

[ he is. curious. if anything. ]

Aurora's doing?

[ almost asking the other for his thoughts. ]
thelightshines: (Because you lit up my world)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-01 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
...Maybe? There is something to it. [As the other pauses before the portal, he'll come foreward and slowly, puts his index finger through it.]

I brought someone here to leave with me earlier, and they couldn't. They only knew about arriving to this place, not Etraya. [He takes his finger back out, still whole and functioning.] Did you...notice there were others who apparently just arrive?
limiterrings: (pic#17703070)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-01 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
....

[ without missing a beat. ]

Who did you bring?

[ he knows that people have just arrived, he has met a few, not a lot, but there are others. just like how they were in the previous world of where they just arrived and were newcomers. ]
thelightshines: (I know you crossed a bridge)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-01 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
[...After learning the other fought with Sonic, he isn't sure if he should answer with the blue hedgehog at this time.]

A human with wings. He arrived here and was never told anything by Aurora.
limiterrings: (pic#17689660)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-01 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
I've met them.

[ that's as much as he's going to give. ]

He was unable to go through, but you could...

[ the sound of that does not bode well, like they've been branded by aurora. ]
thelightshines: (I need more time)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-01 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
Hm. It must somehow recognize who has been to Etraya and who hasn't. [He looks to the other.]

It's just my assumption though. Up until I brought you, I haven't shown anyone who has been to Etraya this exit. [If it feels like he's using the other as a test, that wasn't the intention.]
limiterrings: (pic#17689660)

[personal profile] limiterrings 2025-07-01 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ he doesn't think that, at the forefront of his mind, he doesn't like the implication of what gives them valid entry. ]

...

[ why can't anyone go through, is it because something about them has to change... maybe it's making a copy of them, or their bodies have yet to acclimate to what allows them to go there. ]

Where do you come out at on the other end?
thelightshines: (Because you lit up my world)

[personal profile] thelightshines 2025-07-01 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
Somewhere between the hospital and the apartments. I walked around, went back to the apartment and things were where they should be. [Even a certain item he found at some point in the closet was there...]

...You were the one who left those roller skates in the bedroom closet. Right?
Edited (why tf was I not using the skates as proof he actually went back?) 2025-07-01 05:20 (UTC)