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etrayamemes2025-05-30 09:20 am
etrayamods) wrote in 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 ⏴ 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. 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.
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! |
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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.
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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. ]
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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.
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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. ]
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But, to say that she's relieved to meet someone who knows her brother would be an understatement. She doesn't want to talk about how long it's been since she's spoken to him. It would hurt. But, dear Dawnfather, she doesn't want to start crying when Vax isn't even here to yell at.]
Do you know where he is? I have to speak with him.
[And if there's an intense edge to her voice, well, it can be boiled down to anxiety to see her brother.]
He's the one that gave them to me, so it makes sense that he'd mention them. I will forever be the girl who has feathers and a bear. It's not a bad life, I suppose.
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It is a temptation to ask, but Dion prioritizes the matter that concerns her in the moment. ]
I know not his location within Etraya at the moment, however...
[ He lifts a hand, pointing at the device on his ear. All of them are issued these gadgets, and thankfully they provide a simple solution to the matter of where to find Vax in this moment. ]
These devices allow us to communicate remotely. Should you make use of yours, you should be able to reach him, or someone who can.
[ On the whole, the population of Etraya tends to be helpful in such regards. Dion is confident that Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo will either reach him directly or be put in touch with him. They all know the importance of those from home. ]
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She raises an eyebrow at his whole explanation. And then reaches a hand up to the innocuous earring in her one ear.]
We have something similar. A wizard friend of ours enchanted these earrings so that everyone in our group could communicate with one another. Within a certain range, of course, but the concept isn't really unknown to me.
[She's a little amused, but this is the first time that she's mentioned Tiberius since they saw his remains in what was left of Draconia.]
You've yet to tell me your name so that I might thank you.
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Ah yes, you are right— Dion Lesage. Please, call me Dion. You needn't thank me; your brother helped keep watch for someone from my world as well.
[ Something for which Dion could only be grateful, concerned as he was with the way his fellow Dominant had simply vanished. It was a comfort to not be alone in his search. ]
Those of the nobility use stolases where I come from. An owl with an enchantment.
[ Nothing quite so like the gadget they're given here. Dion can well imagine that there are advantages to being familiar with something similar to what they've been issued. For his part, it took some acclimating to. ]
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My mother raised me to always thank those that help you. And I've been trying to lean more on what I learned from her.
[Especially since she's in a much better place now and has to be a good influence on her little sister.]
That sounds rather cute. Back on Exandria, it just takes a wizard or an artificer a deal of time, materials and money to work on the enchantment, but it's saved our lives more than I'd like to count. [Her smile turns a bit wry as she thinks about her brother.] Of course, hearing "Jenga" out of nowhere really can take a few years off of your life.
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He did no more than Vax offered to do for him, but with respect to her reasoning, he'll object no further.
As she explains the communications method she has employed, his brow furrows. ]
What is this "jenga"?
[ What makes it so startling? ]
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She watches the way his face changes as he tries to understand what she's said with a lot of amusement until he finally asks the question.]
Jenga is an elven game where you take specially carved pieces of wood that are placed in a tower form from parts of the tower and put them at the top. At a certain point, the base becomes unstable and the trick becomes keeping it from falling over. If you cause it to fall over, you lose. We used that as a code-word to express that we're in trouble that could be fatal.
[Vex lets out a heavy sigh that denotes a lot for anyone who knows her and a bit more than she'd like for those that don't.]
Vax is great at stealth, and so he'd go ahead of the rest of the group to spy a lot of the time.
[And nearly died a few times because of this.]
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His brows lift when she reveals the reason why such a word would cause alarm. It makes perfect sense as a way to alert others to a precarious situation. They must have faced a great many dangers, in such a case. ]
Ah, scouting can be dangerous indeed.
[ To that end, he has no doubt that Vax must be quite skilled, just as Lady Vex'ahlia de Rolo has stated. ]
And it is a useful shorthand, no less, if my ignorance to its meaning is anything to go by.
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Yes, well, it's even worse when the creatures you're attempting to scout turn out to be vampires.
[Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck Sylas Brairwood and his dumb wife. She hopes they find their way into the lowest level of the Nine Hells and rot for all eternity. The only two people she still hates and for more than just what happened in Emon or even Whitestone. Exandria is better off without them.]
I love my brother, but he's stupidly impulsive when he wants to be. And it's always at the worst possible moment. [And then she gives him a wry smile.] Although, I suppose I'm no better. We both owe a very powerful being a huge favor, because of the other one.
I suppose I can't complain too much. He ended up becoming the Champion of the Raven Queen and I'm the Champion of the Dawnfather. Though, I'm not sure how much good that's going to do me here.
no subject
Champions both, then. Surely it is no wonder you were called here.
[ None of them yet know how the selection process works. Some have great titles and achievements or unique distinctions, others deem themselves surpassingly mundane. Whether such evaluations hold true or not, it remains the case that they were chosen.
That champions should be called to champion their world strikes him as apropos. ]
Though I shall hope the debts you speak of do not prove troublesome when they come due.
[ She and her brother would have each other, but even so, he wishes the best for them when that time comes. ]
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But if he asked, she'd explain to him about what she knows regarding vampires.]
It's been more trouble than its worth, if I'm honest. Being beholden to a god is a lot of headaches. But, if that's what it takes to be pulled here, we're down a few members of my group of friends.
[Scanlan and Pike both were elected as semi-champions of Sarenrae and Ioun. Plus Grog's relationship with Kord. And Keyleth is the Voice of the Tempest. And Percy... Percy is just hers. The rest of Vox Machina not being here feels so very wrong after the many years of fighting, bleeding, and dying they've done with one another. She feels hollow by herself for the first time since being separated from Vax that one time they were in Jorenn village before meeting the others.
At his hope, she can only shake her head.]
He's fulfilling his debt as Her Champion. And I only need to bring her the remaining horn of a Demon Prince. Not a big deal.
[Wrong. It's a very big deal. Very.]
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Dominants may be more and different, but they are still human. ]
The others may yet come with time. Such has been the case for those from my world.
[ First Ramuh and Odin, then much later he and the Phoenix had found themselves in Aphaia, and then
IfritClive. Perhaps he will not be the last, but only time will tell. ]Those who arrived first long preceded the rest of us. It seems the case of your brother as well.
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I suppose I should be used to Vax'ildan being the first to throw himself into danger. I'm just supposed to be at his side, not following so far behind that he does something incredibly dangerous. One of the hazards of being twins, I guess.
[If it were a bad thing, she'd blame Syldor, but in this instance, she can't imagine a life without Vax at her side. Well, at least for the first twenty-seven years of it.]
I'll just have to be on the lookout to see if the rest of Vox Machina shows up.
[She then lets a little of her humor drop, curiosity shining brightly in her dark eyes.]
What is your world like then?
no subject
I would say it is beautiful, though that is surely a common sentiment.
[ He ventures this thought first, the faintest wry curve to his lips. What manner of champions would any of them be if they did not love their world, or at the very least, see the good it is yet capable of? ]
What I know of that world are two continents which closely neighbor one another. Storm to the west, and Ash to the east. I hail from one of the nations of Storm, where light has always been abundant and thus the greenery is lush and vibrant.
[ Before the encroaching Blight proved so great a threat that the Emperor had seen fit to delve further south, at least, but Dion sets the thought aside. What comes after, provided they truly have succeeded, will doubtless see a very different political climate than the one he has known. ]
Much damage has been done through war and the threat of a spiteful god, but it is my hope the world will yet heal. Our technology is nothing near so advanced as all this [ He raises an open palm to the riot of noise and color that is the Gold Saucer, so far departed from anything he'd known in Valisthea. ] but long ago, there were people capable of such innovations.
[ He doesn't know whether it was the sort of answer she had sought, yet his genuine love for his people and his home comes through in his voice, which may be an answer unto itself. ]
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Well, I know that a lot of what I've seen of Exandria has been mostly beautiful, even parts of the Underdark.
[Not the illithid or Emberhold after Vox Machina visited and their own queen destroyed it, but that's not the totality of the Underdark.
She shares in his smile as she listens to the way he speaks about his own world. Until he reaches one particular part.]
It's always a spiteful god, isn't it, that ruins things? [Well, in her case, a would-be god, but still relevant.]
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The mystery of the Yorb remains. ]
It may be an unfortunate trend, if you've dealt with them as well.
[ If there are two worlds with such problems, Dion wouldn't doubt that there are others as well. ]
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The one I fought was actually the second for Exandria, so it's more than a trend with three examples.
[She gives him a small, sympathetic smile.]
Perhaps we should consider starting a support group?
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How does one lend support in contending with the spiteful gods of other worlds?
[ He finds himself genuinely curious. Alas, Valisthea hasn't anything in the way of support groups, and Dion is left to wonder if perhaps she is proposing they find the means to gang up on their spiteful gods and put them out of commission.
If they could find a way, he would certainly be in favor of that. ]