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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

theknightshift: (164)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-07-02 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, Dick would have made this interaction entirely unnecessary. But that was just the nature of the man. Able to calm even fraught situations into something salvageable. He would have made this easier, but ultimately, Bruce didn't think he was necessary. If only because he thought he could reach his son without the extra help. They'd been through enough together that Bruce could tell he was only trying to gain his footing, control the situation, bend it into shape so it made sense again. It's easier when Bruce is an imposter.

Not so much when it's the real deal tied to the chair in front of him.

He can sense the turmoil, see it in Damian's eyes as they peer into his own. Searching for clarity, Bruce supposes. Part of him wants to escape from his restraints and just pull his kid in close for the hug and offer more reassurances that he was real. Not an imposter or a trick of the mind.

But he stays where he is. Prove it Damian says. ]


How long have you and Dick been working together?
brat: (17929941)

[personal profile] brat 2025-07-02 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
( jumping from knowing damian's name to knowing dick's isn't all that big of a leap. if one knows one wayne, one likely knows them all. but damian stays close, seems to - contemplate how he wants to answer that, exactly. )

We managed to take care of Red Hood, as well as Pyg.

( it's not giving a definite timeline, but that's intentional, too. he's giving enough for bruce to know he has been working with grayson, which, frankly, he wouldn't know unless he was thomas elliot, or if those age lines appeared due to him actually aging. he's wary, still. careful. just in case. )
theknightshift: (pic#17899220)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-07-14 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Which meant Damian and Dick were still early in their tenure. It makes him wonder: how far back could this AI reach? Would he wake up one day and find Thomas and Martha here too? The thought makes him recoil. He didn't want this machine rooting around in his past. ]

And Tim thinks I'm still alive, doesn't he?
brat: (17087425)

[personal profile] brat 2025-07-15 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
( not a response he cares much for, given how it drops timothy's name much too casually. but he understands the point behind it, too. )

There has been evidence to prove his theory.
theknightshift: (144)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-07-22 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Mordecai Wayne.

[ A man who did not exist. But Damian should be aware of that. ]
brat: (17929941)

[personal profile] brat 2025-07-22 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
( damian jerks his chin in something close to a nod, mouth pressed together tight as he stays - close to bruce. keeps holding the restraints tight. he knows if this is bruce, he can escape them easily. but that's not the point behind hold onto him.

that's not the point behind any of this. yet he stays silent, waits for bruce to fill in the blank spaces. )
theknightshift: (158)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-07-28 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There are so many other ways to handle this. To assure Damian that this isn't a trick or an illusion. That he is not Thomas Elliot or some other imposter. That none of this is necessary - except that it is when you're the kind of people they are. ]

Damian, untie me.

[ Escaping would be simple. There's enough slack he could dislocate his shoulder and slip out if he wanted. But when you are the kind of people they are, this is what gaining trusts looks like. ]
brat: (17928813)

[personal profile] brat 2025-07-28 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
( he doesn't have to.

damian could tighten his hold on the wire. could ensure escape would not be easy for this man if he truly wanted to. for a moment, he almost seems to consider it. considers making bruce work harder for freedom.

but damian opts not to. instead, he releases the grapple line, allows it to go slack and fall away from where it's wrapped around his father and steps off the chair so he's no longer leaning into the man's face. )
theknightshift: (130)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-08-01 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Now that there's space again, Bruce takes a minute to roll the ache from his shoulders. Adjusts to having a fuller range of motion before he tugs at the hem of his shirt to reveal parts of the Batsuit expertly tucked away underneath it. He would reassure Damian. Let him know his trust hadn't been misplaced. ]

The AI took me from the Clocktower.
brat: (17212788)

[personal profile] brat 2025-08-04 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
( the lenses of his domino mask hide his eyes well, making the slight shift in his gaze down to the evidence of batman being in front of him more difficult to discern, but damian catches it regardless. he doesn't have his sword. doesn't have any weaponry out and visible, but his belt is full of handy tools he could utilize if he felt the need to - such as the grapple line he'd been using to keep bruce on the chair.

well.

had been suggesting bruce stay with anyway. )


Oracle's, I'm assuming.
theknightshift: (164)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-08-10 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. We were in the middle of a debrief.

[ He'd discovered something disturbing about a woman he'd been seeing as Bruce Wayne. The kind of info that shifted her from casual companion to open case file. Maybe he hadn't wanted to believe it. Maybe because it meant Sangraal wasn't what it seemed. He'd never know now that he's stuck here and the interruption to his investigation gnawed at him. ]
brat: (17928797)

[personal profile] brat 2025-08-10 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
( there's a nod of his head, because even if damian wasn't there, he can understands that bruce is trying to give him a timeline to follow. )

Would you debrief me?
theknightshift: (003)

[personal profile] theknightshift 2025-08-10 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ He almost says no. The case isn't relevant to Damian and wouldn't be for several years yet. And really he did not want to confront the reality of him aging with a much younger version of his son. But he also remembers Damian must be searching for a way to connect with Bruce. There are better ways. Like discussing Damian's current case. Bruce really should say no. ]

Not here.
brat: (17446045)

[personal profile] brat 2025-08-10 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
( he doesn't know bruce wayne.

they've met, yes, but it certainly wasn't under good terms. his father had quickly tired of him, and damian had been angry. hurt. lost. even now he still feels that way, but he is trying. bruce says not here, and damian takes it as the permissive step it is, taking another step back to begin wrapping the line around his hand so he can store it away for later. )


Has your time spent observing our surroundings proven fruitful?