2019-04-07: Stories for the Children
- Log: Stories for the Children
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Maya Schrodinger
- Where: Luca
- Date: 7th April 2019
- Summary: Riesenlied, Noeline and Maya visit the Luca Markets. A whole new world of storytelling awaits!
DG: A party led by Riesenlied is now entering The Luca Markets.
DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
===========================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - Capitalism, Ho! *>=======================
Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
-------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Welcome to the Luca Markets!
Whether you have found yourself here by a wrong turn, a wrong dimensional
transfer, or quite deliberately, you have found yourself in just the right
place to buy anything you want. When you round the next bend, you find
yourself face-to-face with the bustle at the core of the markets. Tightly
packed stalls, crammed streets, and crowds that threaten to push and shove
you aside block your path.
But, what is that ahead? Is that discounted weapons? Or fresh fish? Is the
discount expiring!? How will you get through the market quickly -- whether
to get through or to get the deal!?
Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Treasure=======================================
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
A while ago, the Fereshte was teleported due to wide-ranging shenanigans of the magical kind through the Sorcery Globe to... Spira. The Outreach crashlanded next to an Al Bhed chocobo ship, the Carnot, who helped them get back on their feet and make contact with the isle of Besaid and assist them with some of their woes and vice versa.
It's the residents of Besaid that have pointed them towards a larger port, Luca, which is...
Where we now take our scene -- and Riesenlied back in soft, comfortable Fereshte Heritor robes done up somewhat proper because she's not sure how the town will receive her.
She's seated on a wheelchair after deciding that it'd probably be more polite to not ride Moccy all over the place, and it's low-tech enough compared to some of their gadgets like the Chocobo-powered ship that it'd be considered a 'Machina'.
"It's wonderful... doesn't it remind you of -- umm, perhaps November City?" Riesenlied asks as she lets Noeline help her along, and looks towards Maya as well. "I'm glad you can join us..."
There's a yelp as the crowd gets a bit thicker, and she gets nudged one way -- she looks about as she hears discounts, but gets a bit frazzled. "M-maybe we should find some open space..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline is still adjusting to the world of Spira, still not exactly used to its humid heat and vibrant colours but absolutely happy to immerse herself in it. In some ways, the region around Meribia was very much a known property - while its technology was lacking, it was still a familiar landscape, reminiscent of Filgaia in many ways. Spira, on the other hand, is entirely new to her in its tropical nature, and she drinks it in.
As of late, she's been letting her hair down around Riesenlied - quite literally, in fact, given the way in which she's chosen to let go of some of her more overt Crimson Noble trappings in favour of just being 'Noeline' instead. The robes she's wearing in an attempt to beat the heat mirror Riesenlied's, similar to the Heritor's style but in a black and red rather than a white and gold, the fabric light and comfortable.
She carefully wheels Riesenlied along; this close to the Blitzball tournament, Luca is already filling with people, and it takes some effort to try to maneuver the chair-bound Hyadean through the bustle of the markets, especially when her attention keeps getting captured by things going by.
"It's very similar, but... feels a good deal more innocent, perhaps? Perhaps that says more about November City than it does Spira, though," she chuckles to herself, tilting her head towards Maya with a grin. "It's clearly a pious city, but it's also quite open and friendly. I definitely approve, that's for sure."
Getting Riese through the crowd is just a matter of looking out for opportunities, though, and steering in that direction whenever she sees a space open up. Easy, right...?
DG: Noeline has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
DG: You use your Tool Heritor's Regalia against your party's Challenge, Capitalism, Ho!!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Heritor's Regalia toward her party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
One world vanishes...
(... ah, the stars again...)
(... how long ago was it...?)
... and another takes its place.
---
But wait, this isn't the time or the place for navel-gazing monologues about one's past! No, far from it!
"Glad to be along for the ride, Miss Riesenlady." chimes in a familiar blonde lady in a lazy, period-fitting yukata of orange and white. She still has a huge hair-ribbon, though. Maya Schrodinger is, more importantly than all of that, eating a stick of dango and strolling alongside Riesenlied's wheelchair. She'd prefer Moccy, the cutesy chocobo, but we can't all have what we want, all of the time.
An excited youth mistakes her dango for his, and when next she turns her head to take a bite, it's gone. Frowny.
"Definitely has a vibe more like the cities out that way," Maya chimes in on how Luca feels. "But with a lot more..." her eyes scan the horizon. "Water."
The multifaceted Pretender leaves wheeling Riesenlied along to Noeline--too many hands would probably make it harder, rather than easier. "Pious is a good word for it. Not always a bad thing, either," her voice drops slightly as she makes sure not to talk too loudly about being a weird outlander. "Feels a bit more cultured than some of the dives in Ignas, anyway."
Sapphire eyes briefly scan the crowd again for the dango. Sorrow.
Maya is not very helpful at this challenge.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
======================<* CHALLENGE - Capitalism, Ho! *>=======================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Welcome to the Luca Markets!
Whether you have found yourself here by a wrong turn, a wrong dimensional
transfer, or quite deliberately, you have found yourself in just the right
place to buy anything you want. When you round the next bend, you find
yourself face-to-face with the bustle at the core of the markets. Tightly
packed stalls, crammed streets, and crowds that threaten to push and shove
you aside block your path.
But, what is that ahead? Is that discounted weapons? Or fresh fish? Is the
discount expiring!? How will you get through the market quickly -- whether
to get through or to get the deal!?
=Dungeon Conditions: Reckless, Treasure=======================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 1 *>=======================
========================< Results - Capitalism, Ho! >=========================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riesenlied 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass
Heritor's Regalia 3 Wits Effects: Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maya Schrodinger 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail
Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noeline 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail
Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Riesenlied 0 --(25)--> 25 Pass
Conditions: Reckless(2)|Treasure(1)
Effects:
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Hehe..." Riesenlied still sounds terribly pleased about the nickname that Maya has for her, even if she might want something a bit more familiar given that techically Maya's become a daughter now! Regardless, Moccy has cutely warmed up to Maya too, so pretty soon...!
"They have... very difficult things to deal with," Riesenlied expresses softly. "But they have such a strong means to bring cheer to each other... through sport, through the celebration of the wonderful nature around them... ah--"
She whines quietly again as someone bumps into them; the Dragon's Tear shimmers softly as it guides them, and in the meantime someone looks a bit confused about the strange horned lady ("Ronso?") that's shining and... gives them a bit more space.
"Ooh..." Riesenlied looks a bit dizzy. "That's a bit much..."
DG: Maya Schrodinger has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
===========<* CHALLENGE - How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro? *>============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way through the markets of Luca, you stumble into a pack of
children. Wearing the loose-fitting garb of Spira, they approach you --
likely outlanders -- with wide eyes. There is an assumption here. One that,
perhaps, becomes clear when a child in the lead speaks up:
"Praise Yevon! You must really have spent a lot of time in Luca! Is it true
that Sir Jecht, one of High Summoner Braska's Guardians, fought and killed a
Malboro by himself?! How did he manage that!?"
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Exhaust===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
"Er," Maya stammers with hands up as someone accuses Riesenlied of being something called a Ronso. Before she has to mount a defense, though, they appear to shrug and move on. The gang have enough space to slip through the market square, which is much better than being crowded out entirely.
"Anyway. Difficult things to deal with... no kidding." the blonde muses with a hand to her cheek, able to walk in clogs only because she ducked into an alleyway to manifest the outfit from a fashion poster instead of actually trying them on proper. "The last time we woke up on another world, it didn't end well. But this time's gonna be different, 'cause I'm gonna help make the difference..." so resolved!
That's about when a precoccious child with a shiny red nose adjusts his Spiran equivalent of the propeller beanie and points excitedly at the three strangers. So good are Maya, Noeline and Riesenlied's outfits that they have accidentally passed for part of the upper crust.
"Praise be to Yevon! You must really have spent a lot of time in Luca! Is it true that Sir Jecht, one of High Summoner Braska's Guardians, fought and killed a Malboro by himself?! How did he manage that!?" shouts the child, while Maya sweats an increasingly large amount and glances left and right at her two companions.
Data Check: String("JECHT") -- NO MATCH String("BRASKA") -- NO MATCH String("MALBORO") -- NO MATCH
Maya bullshits almost immediately. "Uh--he probably used something like this?" and Maya produces a familiar oversized revolver from her kimono.
MAYA NO
DG: Maya Schrodinger has used her Tool Tankbuster Cartridge toward her party's challenge, How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro?.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied's cheeks are a little warm as she expresses, "I've heard of Prissa talk of Ronso before. They're very strong mountaineers with horns... I wonder if they'll find me odd? I hope not heretical..." as Noeline ushers her along, taking the time to smile and reach out for her hand for a moment.
A pause, as she nods and encourages Maya, "It's no different for us. I'm happy to try to take things at my own pace..." A pause, as she blinks softly towards the child as he hurries towards them and exclaims aloud.
Maya pulls a revolver out and--
"Aaah~!" Riesenlied stammers, leaning forward and pushing the revolver back in. She sweetly says, "Sir Jecht was a very powerful Guardian, the Malboro's machinations were no match for him when he used his quick thinking to outwit it and exhaust it before it could inflict pain upon him..."
A completely substanceless story, but fitted for the kids, as someone who tells stories a lot. She lets Noeline take the slack as her Ring sparkles.
THE TRUTH, PROBABLY
"oooooog i drank too much last night," complains Jecht as he stumbles forward and promptly discharges the Moonflow Moonshine from his gut to the open mouth of a poor, unsuspecting Malboro, which whimpers and flees into the distance.
DG: You use your Tool Rings of Promise against your party's Challenge, How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro?!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Rings of Promise toward her party's challenge, How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro?.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"To be fair, I don't know if I'd say it 'ended badly'. We all got home safe, after all," Noeline admits with an amused sigh and a light grin. "And it isn't as if we have a great many leads to follow, either. For the time being, I think it would be best to simply enjoy the sights, and learn as much as we can. It's certainly not a bad feeling to realize the world can still surprise you from time to time," she snickers to herself with a light hum.
She does pause the next moment, though, and offer a much less guarded side of her when she gives Maya a quieter smile. "Don't think there's some kind of quota you have to hit, for that matter. We're happy to simply have you here. And not overworking yourself," she adds in an impish moment.
Before she can say any more, they're lightly mobbed by excitable children - and Noeline's habit of devouring as much literature as she can whenever she reaches a new part of the world actually pays off for once. She might not know the exact legend that the kids are speaking of, but she can at least pick out some of the actual names involved from the church tales, and winks as she slips forward to help hide the revolver from view.
"Well, you didn't hear it from me, but as I heard it, he took all that Bad Breath it spat out, and--" She makes a show of sucking in air, then plants her hands on her hips and blows it back out before she continues. "--simply blew it straight back at the creature, sending it /scurrying for the hills/!"
The last part is crowed, as she raises her hands and sends a nearby boy shrieking with laughter as she lunges after him.
DG: Noeline has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro?.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
===========<* CHALLENGE - How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro? *>============
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way through the markets of Luca, you stumble into a pack of
children. Wearing the loose-fitting garb of Spira, they approach you --
likely outlanders -- with wide eyes. There is an assumption here. One that,
perhaps, becomes clear when a child in the lead speaks up:
"Praise Yevon! You must really have spent a lot of time in Luca! Is it true
that Sir Jecht, one of High Summoner Braska's Guardians, fought and killed a
Malboro by himself?! How did he manage that!?"
=Dungeon Conditions: Wound, Exhaust===========================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 2 *>=======================
=============< Results - How did Sir Jecht Battle the Malboro? >==============
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riesenlied 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass
Rings of Promise 4 Combat Effects: Efficient and Fanfare
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maya Schrodinger 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass
Tankbuster Cartridge 1 Combat Effects: Cleanse
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noeline 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Riesenlied 25 --(20)--> 45 Pass
Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Reckless(1)|Wound(2)
Effects: Cleanse
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Thanks to Noeline's distraction, and Riesenlied's quick thinking, the depth of Maya's faux pas is not truly explored. She blinks cluelessly as her pistol is hidden back in her yukata. "Okay, maybe that was a little bit much..." she admits, before trying to wave off Noeline's comments. Physically. Waving, that is. "Oh, hmmph, come on. I'm not that bad. Never have been." she says, nose held high.
The kid, for his part, is wide-eyed at the animated tales of derring-do and adventure. Especially ones with pantomiming. "Woweee, lady! Sir Jecht really was the coolest, see? See!?" the second part of his cry is aimed at a loose gaggle of similarly wide-eyed friends, and the four of them tear-ass back into town to continue pretending to be big heroes.
Phew... disaster averted.
Maya exhales a long, held breath. Hands on hips. "Well, now, where were we... something about taking things here at your own pace, this time?"
DG: Noeline has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
=<* CHALLENGE - How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once? *>=
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way through the markets of Luca, you stumble into a pack of
children. Wearing the loose-fitting garb of Spira, they approach you --
likely outlanders -- with wide eyes. There is an assumption here. One that,
perhaps, becomes clear when a child in the lead speaks up:
"Praise Yevon! You must have been out on the ocean, where there's more Al
Bhed! I bet you know all sorts of stories!" The child clasps their hands
together, eyes bright with excitement. "Is it true, is it true? Did Auron
once defeat twelve Al Bhed bandits singlehandedly?!"
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Injure===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"Ah, we should let you know," Noeline says quickly as she gets the chance, watching the children recede. "Spira is rather... hostile to the concept of machinery, as far as I can tell. I don't know all the politics behind it, but it seems that's the domain of the Al Bhed, and considered heresy otherwise when around Yevon's cities."
She's about to say more, when-- "Heeeey!" No sooner have the children torn away in a gaggle of innocent laughter to confer amongst themselves than they've turned back to start gathering again, leaving Noeline to let out a disbelieving snort of laughter as she tries to hide a genuine grin. "Oh, dear. What is it this time?" she makes a show of huffing out a breath, but can't help but learn forward in encouragement.
This time it's a girl who approaches, tugging on one of the sleeves of Noeline's robe to get her attention. "Praise Yevon!" she chirps. "Did you go out on the ocean too? They said there's Al Bhed pirates out there! Did Auron once defeat twelve Al Bhed bandits singlehandedly?!"
For a moment the Hyadean offers a lighthearted smile in Riesenlied and Maya's direction, letting the spark of her ring communicate a rare and simple-hearted sort of pleasure - then she kneels down a little to get closer to the girl's height, winking as she prepares to share more wisdom. "You see, it wasn't just /twelve/. It was actually thirteen. And the thirteenth one..." she trails off as she lifts her arms--
"Was the one he was using as a weapon!" she crows all over again as she rises with the girl in her grasp, holding her securely as she whirls her around in a slow circle.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Rings of Promise toward her party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied very softly says, "They seem to be afraid of machines. Not unlike a lot of people on Ignas, with ARMs..." A pause, as she glances to Noeline for confirmation. "Though it seems like it may also have a religious nature as well, not just a suspicion of the unknown... let's try to be respectful."
She smiles warmer at the child, though, when he gets excited. "Oh, this is more my speed... it really just reminds me of being back the Fereshte for storytime, don't you think?"
Especially when more children pile in on them. Aah, it's all too cute!
It's too bad the story is a bit violent, though... though she yelps very softly as Noeline twirls the child around with a laugh. "Oh goodness... however, in the end, the bandits learnt a valuable lesson. They invited Sir Auron and Lord Braska and Sir Jecht to dine with them, and they all became fast friends..."
She reminds herself to really learn how the story went. She feels bad just assuming things about people...
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya's head fairly whirls from the overload of information - the look of comical horror on her face is a good one, as Noeline quietly outlines the Spiran detest for machinery. "Geh! Really now? My, how brutish of me!" she squawks, fanning herself quickly in alarm. Less visible in her yukata, the pistol is banished from thought and, summarily, existence. How handy. "I get the feeling it's a lot more intense than the distrust back home..." she murmurs, before brightening again as young voices reach her ears. More kids.
Vibrant cities, how easy it is to forget.
Maya ducks behind Noeline in this instant, finger held high. The key, she figures, is to start making stuff up. Go one step higher than the original tale!
"Hail Yevon!" bzzzt, wrong. "The thirteenth bandit was a--" she racks her brains for a word she just learned. "--gigantic Ronso, no less! Loaded down with forbidden tech!" and the blonde puffs her cheeks out, splaying each hand beside her head for some kind of emphasis as she joins in with Noeline's tale.
Maya's not ... trained to be good with kids, but she's learning. Silently, she commits the names to memory. What might this land's fantasies teach her...? What lies behind the myths?
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Combat Basic Action toward her party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
=<* CHALLENGE - How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once? *>=
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Combat |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way through the markets of Luca, you stumble into a pack of
children. Wearing the loose-fitting garb of Spira, they approach you --
likely outlanders -- with wide eyes. There is an assumption here. One that,
perhaps, becomes clear when a child in the lead speaks up:
"Praise Yevon! You must have been out on the ocean, where there's more Al
Bhed! I bet you know all sorts of stories!" The child clasps their hands
together, eyes bright with excitement. "Is it true, is it true? Did Auron
once defeat twelve Al Bhed bandits singlehandedly?!"
=Dungeon Conditions: Fright, Injure===========================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 3 *>=======================
=< Results - How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once? >=
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riesenlied 0 --(25)--> 25 Fail
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maya Schrodinger 5 --(25)--> 30 Fail
Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noeline 5 --(15)--> 20 Pass
Rings of Promise 4 Combat Effects: Efficient and Rally
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Riesenlied 45 --(10)--> 55 Fail
Conditions: Fright(2)|Injure(2)
Effects:
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has failed this challenge! The party gained 10 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
DG: Riesenlied has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Shifting the Merchandise *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The stall in front of you is laden with a little bit of everything. There
are crates full of fresh fruit, brought in from the surrounding countryside
and as far as Kilika. There are crates with dried fish, coming from as far
as Besaid, and they have been peppered and spiced to preserve them and make
them delicious. For those needing to feed chocobos, there are crates of
gysahl greens. There are even spheres for sale.
But what you want to buy... is located on the crate at the very bottom of a
very, very large stack of crates.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Tire, Treasure===================================
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
There's another squeal as Noeline twirls the girl around once more for good measure before setting her down; a pat on her head and then another on her back, and she's lightly propelled the girl back towards her friends with a pleased and cocksure sort of grin. "Now, c'mon. We've got a lot of shopping to do, okay?" she winks as she turns on the charm, then straightens up as she returns to Riesenlied's side, grinning brightly as the others pick up her tale.
Unfortunately for Riese, though: "Aww... really?" mumbles one boy, who was clearly hoping for some WHAM and BAM out of the story; he tilts her head, confused as he considered the sudden happy and gentle ending, looking mildly puzzled, while Maya gets a set of wide mouths and wide eyes. "Ehh? A Ronso? They used machina? How, how? I thought they were always up mountains and stuff! Did that really happen?" come the gaggle of voices.
Still, they're not upset, and they're not unsatisfied, just left fussing around each other as they huddle to confer once again. Whichever way you look at it, it's a lot easier and nicer than traipsing through some ruins.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
... by the end of it, Riesenlied does look particularly exhausted--
But it's the same kind of exhaustion she has after telling a long, wonderful story to her children back home; as she talks a lot about Ronso to the best of their ability and their propensity for sports, as well as trying to tell a story with a wee bit more action (not her forte!!)...
"U-um, then... the-- Warrior Monk did a... a-- punch. Just a little one." "More WHAM!!" "A wham...! punch," Riesenlied's voice lilts and loses breath. "More BAM!!" "A b-baaam... punch!" Riesenlied gets dragged along. "Hehe, that's more like it!"
... it's clear, though, that her spirits are being uplifted.
After the children clear out as their parents pick them up, though, the three catch up with a familiar sight... it's a white chocobo! "Moccy...!" Riesenlied whispers sweetly as she ushers herself forward, blinking softly as she tilts her head to ask, "Is there something you want?"
"Oh, miss, are you this chocobo's owner?" asks the enthusiastic stall-owner. "I think this lass wants some Sylkis Greens! That's a refined palate if I say so myself... ah, problem is--"
Moccy whines as she points her foot to the pot of greens underneath several crates.
"My helpers're out for a delivery, so you'll have to wait a bit, I'm afraid," the owner remarks.
Riesenlied's horns deflate softly. "I guess..."
DG: Riesenlied has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Lost amidst the stall's many treasures and with her curiosity spiked, Noeline doesn't immediately notice the chocobo's impatience as it shuffles its feet and warks sadly at its Hyadean owner; she'd surely have the strength to lift the boxes and get everything out of the way, but her attention is a little divided as she sorts through a collection of carved charms and wooden decorations, humming thoughtfully to herself.
Thankfully, she isn't the only one present who can manage heavy lifting! Because, rising from within Moccy's tailfeathers, it's...!
... are chocobo chicks usually so perfectly spherical, aside from the beak and wings? Are the wings usually so spindly, as if they were feathered cardboard stuck on, and the beak suspiciously like a paper cone? The feathers seem less like down and more like a full-grown chocobos, if slightly sparser... but it certainly sounds like a chocobo, circling its 'mother' at high speed with a degree of control most chicks couldn't possibly have, before emitting something that sounds like a chirp as it bonks into the stack of crates, worming its way under one of them to slowly lift it into the air.
That's when Noeline actually looks up and pays attention, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise as she quickly goes to assist Trouble. "Ah-- sorry, sorry, this one does get a little pushy," she snorts as she takes the weight herself.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Trouble toward her party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya is near the back of the group, thoughtfully rubbing her chin as the gang manage to sneak away on the pretense of having a lot of shopping to do. "Seems like a pattern we're hearing here, huh, about Legendary Guardians..." she muses. "And favoured by children..."
"... and Riesenlied has become the Queen for an entirely new type of bird..." the musing continues with a wry smirk, as a familiar chocobo runs in for attention and, more importantly, for snacks. There's very little Maya can do to help, right now, with her mode of dress and all. Heavy lifting just isn't becoming of a noblewoman.
"So how long has this one been following you two around, now?" asks the blonde as she resignedly tries to, if nothing else, steady the load Noeline is holding. It's a far cry from lifting, but, hey. "Because it already feels like it's part of the family."
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Shifting the Merchandise *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The stall in front of you is laden with a little bit of everything. There
are crates full of fresh fruit, brought in from the surrounding countryside
and as far as Kilika. There are crates with dried fish, coming from as far
as Besaid, and they have been peppered and spiced to preserve them and make
them delicious. For those needing to feed chocobos, there are crates of
gysahl greens. There are even spheres for sale.
But what you want to buy... is located on the crate at the very bottom of a
very, very large stack of crates.
=Dungeon Conditions: Weaken, Tire, Treasure===================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 4 *>=======================
====================< Results - Shifting the Merchandise >====================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riesenlied 25 --(13)--> 38 Fail
Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maya Schrodinger 30 --(13)--> 43 Fail
Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noeline 20 --(3)--> 23 Pass
Trouble 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Riesenlied 55 --(25)--> 80 Pass
Conditions: Fright(1)|Injure(1)|Tire(2)|Treasure(1)|Weaken(2)
Effects: Strengthen(1)
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"What I was able to grasp was that they defeated Sin," Riesenlied speaks gently to Maya. "Given what we were up against in Azado... it must have been quite the remarkable feat indeed. But it does not... particularly make sense to me why Sin has-- returned?"
She furrows her brow. A cycle...
She doesn't want to think of that right now. "I--I'm not their Queen or anything..." Riesenlied whines softly, as Noeline and Trouble make light of the crates and the stand-owner goes, "Hey! Nice work, you two! Except-- eh? Is that a chocobo chick...?"
Moccy looks towards Trouble with a 'kweh!' inviting her, and nuzzles her for a moment. Ah, is this the true acceptance Trouble was seeking from the cuccos... at long last?
"Hehe... they're both so wonderful together..." Riesenlied beams. A pause at Maya. "Ah, we crashlanded near the Carnot, and I was flung amidst them in a round circle, apparently...?"
Queen indeed.
"Moccy really took to me and she would take the effort of being my aide in places where the wheelchair can't..."
DG: Maya Schrodinger has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - And the Fans Rush In *>====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way towards the exit, a cry echoes throughout the streets
near the gate. The cry from the crowd is joined by numerous voices; the
young, the old, and the faithful. It may be a case of mistaken identity, or
perhaps she is nearby.
"Lady Summoner!" "Lady Yuna!"
This results in the crowd surging forward to see the alleged Summoner. This
makes getting out of the market -- and not getting pushed aside or underfoot
-- rather difficult, /especially/ if there is a final trinket or bauble you
wanted to buy first!
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
Maya does not flinch, despite vivid memories of the world turning upside down fresh in her mind at the mention of Sin. A boat, splintering midair, particularly stands out in memory... "I can believe it happened, hard as that might be to picture something that powerful being bested." she muses, having only barely been of any use in the crate-lifting exercise. "But that begs the question... why is it returned? Do we have something to do with this?"
"Who defeated it last time, and if they aren't around, who's going to--"
"Lady Summoner! Lady Yuna!!"
So timely are the cries, cutting Maya off as the pleasant burble of the market turns to a sudden uproar of excitement. Someone thinks they've seen a local celebrity, and the stampede for a better view is on. "Guess we can think about that one later, looks like a darn riot's about to start!" she's all business, hopping onto a nearby flight of stairs for a better look at what all the commotion is about.
"Might wanna grab Riese's ride and take the back streets, that's a real -wave- of people trying to cut through here..."
Maya is right: you can see the tidal surge of pious groupies, eager to get a glimpse of their heralded saviour, comically stampeding through the streets of Luca with arms pumping and commemorative merchandise ready to be signed.
DG: Maya Schrodinger has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... it's better to think of the Outreach's mission that still stands. We still need to return the people of Azado back to their home," Riesenlied expresses genteely with a sympathic smile to Maya. She shares her pain; she was able to hear the voices of-- so many people stricken out at once.
"As to why..." A pause. "I... truly fear if it were the case. If the presence of ARMs in Glenwood had a common symptom. If Odessa--"
Lady Summoner! Lady Yuna!
"E-eh?" Riesenlied blinks, as she yelps as a stampede of people starts to pile as Moccy 'warks' and takes Trouble out of the way. She reaches for Maya-- Noeline-- then the wave of people pile on and the wheelchair tipples over! Oh nooo!!
...
But, something shines on the ground--
And *blooooooooop*, several of the crowd yelp and gasp and complain, "Hey, don't push!" "W-what is that thing!" "An Aeon??"
A sleepy, gigantic round turtle hovers gently into the air, Riesenlied perched on its back where she holds onto its horns; she reaches out for Maya and Noeline as she expresses dizzily, "T-thank you, Trask...!"
The cuccos couldn't arrive across worlds. How did the Beacon...?
...
That's something only the bond between a father, a daughter, and their loyal retainer can answer...
DG: You use your Tool Trask Beacon against your party's Challenge, And the Fans Rush In!
DG: Riesenlied has used her Tool Trask Beacon toward her party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline looks less convinced about Maya's worries, lightly shaking her head. "As best I can tell, the thought of Sin returning is-- more or less commonplace. This does not seem to be a land where things last all that long, which probably goes a long way to understanding why they prefer to live their lives in the moment. Whether that means another Lord Braska to come along and save the day, I cannot say."
More than that, she's cut off from saying as the crowd suddenly erupts around them. Not expecting it, Noeline finds herself jostled to one side, losing track of the wheelchair's handlebars for the split second necessary for Riesenlied to get caught up in the stampede.
"--hey!" she blurts out of sheer indignance, saved both by her own natural agility and the assisted stepping stone of another little round robot that hides away beneath her foot and out of sight of the hurrying crowds. It's enough to give her a little height, and enough for her to see that Riesenlied and Maya are both safe - albeit rather split apart. And it's not like the crowd wants to really pay attention to them.
Fortunately, the Hyadean smirks as an idea hits her, Trask giving her the perfect opportunity. "--hey!" she stands up to her full height plus ARM. "Summoner-in-training, coming through! All of you, please be careful and give us some space!" she calls, trying to make herself look as Guardian-y as possible.
DG: Noeline has used her Tool Strife toward her party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - And the Fans Rush In *>====================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
As you make your way towards the exit, a cry echoes throughout the streets
near the gate. The cry from the crowd is joined by numerous voices; the
young, the old, and the faithful. It may be a case of mistaken identity, or
perhaps she is nearby.
"Lady Summoner!" "Lady Yuna!"
This results in the crowd surging forward to see the alleged Summoner. This
makes getting out of the market -- and not getting pushed aside or underfoot
-- rather difficult, /especially/ if there is a final trinket or bauble you
wanted to buy first!
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow=====================================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 5 *>=======================
======================< Results - And the Fans Rush In >======================
Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riesenlied 38 --(100)--> 138 Pass
Trask Beacon 4 Agility Effects: Sacrifice and Rally
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maya Schrodinger 43 --(100)--> 143 Fail
Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noeline 23 --(100)--> 123 Fail
Strife 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse
----------------------------------< Party >-----------------------------------
Leader: Riesenlied 80 --(10)--> 90 Fail
Conditions: Slow(2)|Tire(1)|Weaken(1)
Effects: Cleanse
==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: Riesenlied is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Maya Schrodinger is too exhausted to continue!
DG: Noeline is too exhausted to continue!
DG: The party has failed this challenge! All party members are now Exhausted. This attempt is over.
DG: The party led by Riesenlied has been fully Exhausted by The Luca Markets!
DG: The party will now draw a conclusion.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================
=====<* CHALLENGE - It Was Worth It Just to Learn Some Slight of Hand *>======
|Type: Landmark |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
When you stop at a booth on your way out of the market, you hand over some
of your money -- and the merchant looks at it. "Silver, not gold, eh? Don't
worry. I'll help you. Here, a gil is worth--" And you watch as she moves
several different denominations of gil back and forth, with your money.
You are pretty sure, when all is said and done, that you have been short
changed. But... at least you learned something new, maybe?
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Maya Schrodinger has posed.
"That thing's /supposed/ to come back?" Maya echoes Noeline incredulously, nose wrinkling. The thought of everyone pulling together to defeat Mother, except annually, does not sit well with her. "I've got a heck of a lot of studying to do, if I'm gonna understand how these people think around here..." and there's a desperate glance at the oncoming wave of gibbering fans.
Well--it would've been nice to get something local out of these markets, but things are looking a little crowded at the mo'. Maya grits her teeth briefly and hoists herself up to grab ahold of Riese's hand, clambering onto a slowly-levitating turtle as a cartoony cloud of dust zooms past below.
Noeline's attempt to look like a Guardian might actually have worked, if she weren't working against true Star Power. Her bluff buys precious seconds, at least, as a passer-by stops to adjust his spectacles and look her up and down. "... hmm, what village are you from, again?" as if getting ready to rank her on her answer.
Fanatics, I tells ya.
Maya exhales tiredly, sitting with legs folded on Trask's back. "This place is full of energy, no two ways about it..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Trask is, mysteriously, more round now that it's on the side of good. Not terribly unlike an inflatable balloon with its stubby arms and legs spread out... Riesenlied smiles very tiredly as she helps Noeline back up and the three briefly fly away towards safety, with Moccy following along the ground since her wheelchair got destroyed again. (It's something of a trend at this point...)
"It's better... than some of the sorrow that engulfs some of Ignas' villages," Riesenlied expresses gently, tiredly. "People shouldn't be ashamed to feel joy and excitement about the things that happen in their day to day lives..."
She smiles wider. "Should we try to find Lydia and some of the others? I'm exhausted... I could use a rest at a tea house or something similar."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Without any answer to give, Noeline just puffs up her cheeks at the man who accosts her right up until Riesenlied flies by on the back of Trask, leaving him stunned for words as the Hyadean flicks out her hair in an imperious motion and makes something of a show of getting up onto Trask's back with the others. There is a definite harrumph.
"Really... I suppose that's our question answered, however. A new Summoner-- and quite the celebrity, I suppose," Noeline adds as she cranes her head forwards to look over the crowd, but still unable to gain a glimpse of the crowd's focus.
Eventually, she opts to sit back, maneuvering Riesenlied's head against her shoulder. "That sounds like an excellent idea to me. Ah, Maya, if you'd like, I did collect a number of psalms and some holy pamphlets. Not exactly riveting reading, certainly, but you might find it of some use. Summoner Schrodinger... that might be rather a sight to see," she adds with a pleasantly amused grin.