2019-06-18: (Pre-)Fire Sale!
- Log: 2019-06-18: (Pre-)Fire Sale!
- Cast: Ethius Hesiod, Catenna, Jacqueline Barber, Ida Everstead-Rey
- Where: Luca - Port District
- Date: June 18, 2019
- Summary: With the gloomy spectre of war looming overhead... now's a great time to go shopping in Luca in what stands to be the grand finale of the Luca Markets. One for the books...
===============================================<* Luca - Port District *>=============================================== Luca is the largest port and second-largest city in Spira, located the southern tip of the archipelago's largest island. Its location as the central port for Spira's surrounding islands has turned Luca into a thriving economic hub; Besaid, Kilika, and a dozen smaller islands all send their goods to Luca for sale, and even the Al Bhed are known to trade here from time to time. The port district is an immense, bustling area. The largest port in Luca brings in ships from across Spira -- from small fishing ships from Besaid to Al Bhed salvage ships to large sailing vessels from Bevelle -- and a massive market to match. A large seawall keeps the waters at bay, with piers extending out past the seawall into the water. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CIlRCYnZcg
DG: A party led by Ethius Hesiod 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Escalation is inevitable, as frustrations mount over the turbulent aftermath of the failed Operation Mi'ihen. The markets are not as populous as they normally would be, as there's so much uncertainty about whether or not it is even safe to be out here... but when you travel as part of your life, one doesn't often have the luxury of just hunkering down in relative safety and waiting to see what comes next.
If anyone's going to resupply and/or offload merchandise, this is the time and place to do it. A few of the stalls have already gone empty and abandoned, including what was once of the better stalls for purchasing various status remedies in bulk which has now included all sorts of new complications.
Everyone will make due, somehow. Drifters are resourceful, if nothing else.
Ethius, still dressed in culturally appropriated Al Bhed garb as he always does, isn't casting the most welcoming presence but that's normal (unfortunately). He isn't being too big an active participant in the actual hunting for bargains... but he has taken note of an abandoned stall with a few stacked crates that have been left there. He's already discreetly going over them with the soft teal blue glow from that odd lens he carries around, as a just-in-case measure.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Spectral Lens toward his party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Catenna has done her level best to stay out of the conflict. The concerns of Althenians and Yevonites are of some consequence, but in truth, her only concerns are dealing with Obsession and returning to Filgaia. As much as being on the physical embodiment of Celesdue is fulfilling, she cannot care for Filgaia while trapped on the Silver Star.
Still appropriately dressed for Spira, Catenna makes her way through the market, a basket hanging from one arm. The crowd ahead of her brings a small frown to her face--
<Try not to tell them you are a Summoner this time,> Saarda-Shanta snarks from Catenna's shoulder, bobbing her head.
The Moon Shaman huffs and shakes her head. "I have learned that lesson," she says quietly before easing into the crowd, sliding past a pair of towering Ronso--
Catenna briefly does a double-take to make sure one of them is not White Knight Leo. (They aren't.) Then she begins to beeline towards a stall full of various fresh legumes and other edibles. "We are running a little low on spices," she murmurs as she weaves around a balky chocobo and its rider. "I suppose replenishing would be wise...."
DG: Catenna has used her Tool Saarda-Shanta toward her party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Even a merchant group needed to shop every now and then - that was just as true for the Caravan Kinship as it was for anyone else. And so, Jacqueline can be found accompanying Ethius and Catenna through Luca's markets. Moreso the latter than the former - Ethius was, as always, off doing his own thing.
"Spices..." Jacqueline says. She has a list in her hands, and takes a moment to consult it. "...Yup, that's on the list."
She looks up at the stall they've ended up at, taking a brief moment to look its contents over. The quality seemed fine, so she instead turns her attention toward the surrounding stalls.
"I think I remember one of the stalls nearby selling spices... I just hope they haven't left yet." Jacqueline says, a frown crossing her face.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Capitalism, Ho!.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"The spice stall?" says a familiar voice, as its owner approaches the group. Ida Everstead-Rey looks better than she did the last time Jay saw her, and she's walking under her own power. Beneath her light Spiran clothes, her arms and legs are bandaged, and so is the skin exposed by the low collar of her shirt. In one hand, she holds her walking stick, and in the other, she holds the reins of a gold-feathered chocobo. The animal's tack marks it as a rental from Rin's Travel Agency.
"That was two aisles down, the last time I was here," Ida says. "Beneath the large blue-and-gold awning."
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ethius Hesiod 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Spectral Lens 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catenna 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Saarda-Shanta 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Ethius Hesiod 0 --(25)--> 25 Pass Conditions: Reckless(2)|Treasure(1) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The key item of interest - spices - is exactly where Ida remembers it is. Same blue-and-gold awning, same shopkeeper... but the stock is running low. They're completely out of at least one spice that comes from Kilika. Catenna will catch a whiff of one she hasn't had the opportunity in which to try in any of her curries yet that might be worth experimenting with.
In the inevitable haggling that follows between Jay and the merchant, he does talk about how a few people up and left at the exact same as one another and that it's got him more than a little worried... but is happy for the patronage and apologizes that the one spice from Kilika everyone likes is long gone.
Ethius returns without a word. As there's no whiff of smoke or death, it can be presumed that he wasn't offended by whatever he found in there.
The day continues...
DG: Jacqueline Barber has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================ ==============<* CHALLENGE - Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home *>=============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The amount of activity in the markets means that, sometimes, something just goes wrong. Today, that is a cart being pulled by one of the terrifying, golden yellow horsebirds of Spira: the venerable chocobo. The cart's fastenings break loose -- and there is a shout from the crowd, as the cart comes free... and rolls straight towards you! =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline looks up from her note and looks back as she hears a familiar voice.
"Ida! It's good to see you. You're looking well!" Jacqueline replies cheerily, turning to face her. "Two aisles down, blue-and-gold awning - got it. Thank you!"
She thinks on it for a moment.
"Are you looking for anything in particular? If we're going the same direction, would you like to accompany us?" She offers.
Whatever the answer, Jacquelune eventually finds her way to said spice stall. She frowns a little at the news - there were probably a lot more products to come that would be harder to find...
"It's okay, it's not your fault. I know times are tough, but hang in there, okay?" She says, trying to encourage the the merchant.
Ethius finally returns and they're off again!
They stop by a few more stalls on the way, Jacqueline stopping to dispense some beverages partway through. Eventually, however...they hear a noise.
There's a loud 'kweh' of surprise and a chocobo comes rushing past them...and at a shout of warning from the crowd, the cart they were pulling comes rushing toward them.
"Ah! Look out!" Jacqueline says in a shout of warning. Quickly, she gestures with her left hand. Tendrils of earth shoot up, seeking to grasp the cart and stop it in its tracks without causing too much damage to it or its contents.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Rapid Remedy toward her party's challenge, Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
With a blink, Catenna tilts her head towards the appearing Ida, then flashes her a quiet smile. "Then they must have moved. I shall have to stop through that way. Thank you for letting me know. I hope you have been well."
As Jacqueline brings Ida into their little group, the Moon Shaman flicks a few locks of hair back from her cheek, then moves after Jay to check in - and then Ethius returns, and they're off.
A few moments later, Catenna has added a few peppers and pieces of meat to her basket - dinner for the next couple of days, no doubt. But the cry of the chocobo disrupts things.
In comes the rolling cart. Catenna widens her eyes with surprise before suddenly reaching down to her side.
She comes up with her grappling hook. Darting past the cart, she whirls, nearly dropping her basket, then whips the grappling hook out, trying to hook one of the cart's wheels with it in the hopes of stopping the thing before it can go careening into one of the market stands.
DG: Catenna has used her Tool Grappling Hook toward her party's challenge, Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The odd man out, who also happens to be the odd man in their presence, continues along mostly wordlessly. There is a certain tension to the man's character in the way he moves and observes the surroundings that simply wasn't before. At one point he casts another glance to Ida's bandaging and consideration for the local climate.
He doesn't get to say anything because there's a sudden panicked chocobo rushing at them. He gives up ground as he rushes backwards to get the harness for the Hot Air Sack acceptably fastened before hurriedly chanting and gesticulating what he needs to fill it full of hot air and try to let him drift back to let them pass.
"Is it an attack?" Ethius asks the obvious - he's too far back from the group now to say what the source of that could be.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Hot Air Sack toward his party's challenge, Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Thank you," Ida says. A warm little smile dawns on her face, and she pulls gently on the reins to move her mount out of the way of pedestrians. The chocobo clucks, steps forwards, and nudges Ida with her beak. "It's a pleasure to see you, too. Is the Kinship... weathering everything well?" Then it's her turn in line. Ida purchases a good pound of various spices, and tips the merchant extra. "I want to try my hand at some dishes from home," she explains. The chocobo next to her cranes her neck, and lets out a trilling "kwiiii". Ida notices her mount's distress, and--
"Not again," the heiress growls. She steps forwards, and brings her heels together with an audible 'thump'. Green light flashes around her soles, and a moment later, a jet of air erupts from around and behind her. Unfortunately, she can't do much more than that, but it should at least give the cart a headwind to roll into.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Zephyr Boots toward her party's challenge, Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home.
============================<* The Luca Markets *>============================ ==============<* CHALLENGE - Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home *>=============== |Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 | --------------------------< Challenge Information: >-------------------------- The amount of activity in the markets means that, sometimes, something just goes wrong. Today, that is a cart being pulled by one of the terrifying, golden yellow horsebirds of Spira: the venerable chocobo. The cart's fastenings break loose -- and there is a shout from the crowd, as the cart comes free... and rolls straight towards you! =Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
=======================<* The Luca Markets - Round 2 *>======================= ================< Results - Runaway Cart, Never Coming Home >================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ethius Hesiod 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Hot Air Sack 2 Agility Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rapid Remedy 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catenna 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Grappling Hook 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Zephyr Boots 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Ethius Hesiod 25 --(20)--> 45 Pass Conditions: Injure(2)|Reckless(1)|Slow(2) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)|Resilient(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline hesitates a little.
"We're, um..." She pauses for a moment. "...Well, we're doing alright, for the most part. Business has taken a bit of a hit, but...I don't think we're alone in that."
But then, the cart happens. Ethius uses his hot air sack to drift out of the way, deftly avoiding a collision.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline, Ida, and Catenna work together to slow the cart down.
Catenna catches one of the wheels and pulls hard, slowing its moment. This gives Ida room to step in front and, by activating the enchantment on her boots, create a jet of air that acts against the cart, slowing it even further.
It's still going, but now it's slowed enough that Jacqueline can catch it with her earth tendrils without breaking it. It comes to a stop...and Jacqueline exhales in relief, then glances toward Ethius.
"Not an attack - just an accident, I think." She replies. "...That could've been dangerous, though.. People really need to learn to secure their carts better."
Jacqueline shakes her head, then looks around.
"Is everyone alright?"
DG: Ethius Hesiod 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
It doesn't appear that there is an attack, after Jay clarifies. This is good for all, as there's enough stressful stimuli hanging overhead between Obsession's resilience and the likelihood that the Guard could choose to strike at any time. The dread-filled air returns to what was once the most cheerful city on Spira. These are people who need hope, and what better embodiment for the need of hope and comfort than--
"Do you think Auron is strong enough to beat all the Otherworlders in Kilika?" Asks one such youth to their crowd. "I hope he does..."
The group seems like they'll go unbothered for a while, until they are accosted by children. Children with worries, and an imagination as to how these worries can be resolved in a way that are childishly simple. That any children are milling about in the open in times like this is unusual, but...
"Hey!" They crowd around everyone, for some reason. Maybe they remember Jay's face from selling delicious treats, or watching Catenna dance, or--
"Is it true? Will Auron kick their butts?"
"He defeated twelve Al Bhed bandits on his own!" Shouts a young girl.
A Ronso child shrinks (somehow, for his size), as though fearful of the prospects of what could come.
"Auron is famous as a legendary Guardian, yes," Ethius says clinically as he steps ahead of the bunch... and sits down at an available seat, a lapse in his trademark minimalistic body language as he takes one o the two Powder Grenades he has onto his lap.
"What would an Al Bhed know of anything?!" A child sneers. Ethius is unfazed.
"Wait! This one tells stories!" Another child shouts. Ethius straightens a little (this counts as being fazed).
"So, you wish to be reminded of the time the legendary Guardian Auron defeated twelve Al Bhed bandits, then," Ethius tries to take control of the children's demands and conversation, falling back on an old passed-around story with all the patience of a practiced storyteller.
Huh.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Powder Grenade toward his party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Collecting her grappling hook, Catenna sighs with quiet relief before flashing Jay a little smile. She begins to move off with her.
Children intercept them soon enough. With an intake of breath, Catenna prepares to try and find some way to talk her way through them. Storytelling with children isn't really her forte. It took her a long time to figure out how to raise an owl, saying nothing of youths--
But the one who steps up is, of all people, Ethius Hesiod. Catenna stares at him with disbelief as he begins to tell the story as if he was an actual bard of some kind.
After a moment, it occurs to Catenna that her mouth is open. She lifts a finger and pushes it closed delicately.
With a moue of her lips, she settles to a seat, moving her Medium to her lap and folding her hands atop it as if to keep it out of immediate view. She'd rather not answer any questions about what a Shaman is - not in the middle of what's likely to be a budding religious war.
DG: Catenna has used her Tool Celesdue Medium toward her party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline takes that smile from Catenna as a yes, and returns it with one of her own.
Before she can say much of anything, though, there's a rush of activity in the form of children, who call out to them, crowd around them, and ask them about the legendary Guardian Auron and whether or not he'd kick the Otherworlders out of Kilika.
Jacqueline chuckles nervously. She takes note of the way the Ronso child shrinks down a little, and decides to try and take charge on the situation.
"I'm sure you've all heard that story a hundred times...why don't I tell you a different one?" Jacqueline suggests. A more peaceful, generally positive one that involves less fighting.
For that reason, it is probably also less popular with the children.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool The Lifeweaver's Codex toward her party's challenge, How did the Legendary Guardian Auron Defeat Twelve Al Bhed Bandits at Once?.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida offers the Ronso child a small, reassuring smile. It feels like all she can do at the moment--as she looks at the gaggle of children, she realizes there is a very real chance their home may turn into a war zone within the next month, at minimum. She wants to offer them further reassurance, but--
Ida swallows. Leading her chocobo by the reins, she steps back, and lets Jay take over. Maybe she can do what Ida can't.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ethius Hesiod 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Powder Grenade 3 Combat Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass The Lifeweaver's Codex 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catenna 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Celesdue Medium 2 Combat Effects: Embolden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fight 0 Combat Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Ethius Hesiod 45 --(20)--> 65 Pass Conditions: Fright(2)|Injure(2) Effects: Embolden(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
The children aren't the only ones feeling uneasy. The gathered here know, all too well, that something bad could be imminent. Some, more than others. How far will the Guard's zeal go? To what ends will the people of the Yevon faith go to in order to protect it?
Jacqueline and Ethius both take point on the storytelling. Jay has no shortage of creatures within her Codex to refer to whenever she tries to bring up some sort of peaceful, happy thing involving local wildlife.
Catenna stays out of the way and tries to keep herself gathered and centered in a stressful situation. Obsession could barrel down anyone's back at any time... and all the people of Spira seem to want to do is get ready to fight one another, instead. It is something without a clear, easy answer, when direct force has no effect on the monstrosity. There is a sense of the moon supporting her endeavors, in the abstract, to try and center her emotions. (One child comments that she really likes her dress.)
The Ronso child looks upon Ida as she smiles at them. They feel so helpless, that this sort of escapism is all they have now. Blitzball, the prime distraction, is in a troubled state over Kilika being overtaken... but he doesn't hide from Ida. She's no monster, to them.
Ethius' specific storytelling delivery is dry, but there is a clever act in play on his end: he speaks in such broad terms, going across simple statements common in stories such as this, and having children excitedly point out their 'favorite parts' before he says them, creating the illusion that he knows the story that they are effectively telling themselves.
The Powder Grenade goes off as a capstone to the decisive part of this legendary battle between Auron and twelve Al Bhed bandits for effect, and that's as good a time as any to exit stage left to cheers and awe.
"Whether they have heard the story many times or not," he says to Jay as they head on out to whatever part of the markets their travels take them, "a reaffirmation of what they know brings a measure of stability, comfort, and familiarity during times of prospective change and upheavel. There is value in maintaining their stories."
He sounds a lot more comfortable with the idea of this than any of his general activities and other behaviors might suggest.
DG: Catenna 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> Catenna has posed.
Catenna honestly can't believe that Ethius can even tell a story and hold an audience. And yet, somehow, the absolute lump of a man manages to do it. The Moon Shaman's eyebrows rise sharply.
Once they've appeased the youths, Catenna straightens her top a little and clears her throat. "Let's move on," she says. "There are some things I need from the fishmonger."
Onward they move, Catenna falling in beside Jay as she approaches a stand a block or so away - where it appears the fishmonger has a shipment in, judging from the stack of crates sitting there. Moving forward, the woman folds her hands and inclines her head to the merchant. "Hello, do you have any whitefish in today?"
A short exchange follows. Catenna converses quietly with the fishman.
When she returns to the group, it's with a sigh. "...Of course. It is at the bottom of that stack. Can you help me lift some of these?" she asks the two CaraKin friends and Ida before lifting a couple boxes of shrimp, hoisting them from the stack and moving them off to one side.
Those whitefish will be hers. CaraKin will feast well. Eventually.
DG: Catenna has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"Maybe, but..." Jacqueline replies to Ethius, frowning a little. In times like this, she wasn't sure stories involving violence would be the best thing for them. ...But maybe that was just her own opinion.
But, gradually, the children filter away, letting them get back to their work - in this case, there are things they need from the fishmonger.
These things, when they arrive, turn out to be on the very bottom of the stack.
Jacqueline shakes her head.
"Of course it would be." She says in agreement. She doesn't get to box-shifting just yet - instead, she takes a moment to draw out some bottles from her bags and pass them around.
Keeping everyone well-hydrated was very important, especially when that liquid was a strength-enhancing potion.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Brewte Force toward her party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
It is time to fish for fished fish, and Ethius quietly obliges as Catenna discusses the need to move and shift around boxes to get at to the one at the bottom of the stack. Ethius is an able-bodied man in his thirties (an estimate) and, independent of any particular gimmicks or shortcuts available to him, may not have much problem moving them by hand, with at least one caveat.
"...I would like to pursue what else has been caught." Why? He doesn't really eat fish so much that he likes to eat things that used to be food but are now little more than Black or Gooey Stuff!! Does it even matter? There is a method to his madness, as he takes the slower approach.
He checks specifically to see if any of the caught fish are that of what would be available in Kilika, for this might be indicative of something... but if, by a side-effect of his curiosity, this still helps get the obstructing boxes out of the way then it's good, right?
DG: Ethius Hesiod has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Shifting the Merchandise.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida does not allow surprise to show in her eyes. Suffice it to say, her idea of who Ethius Hesiod is proved itself in dire need of recalibration. She does offer up another of those smiles, though, because he is doing his part to try and give the kids some sense of normalcy.
Then, crates.
"I--don't think I should be lifting anything heavy, just yet," Ida says, glancing at Jay. It's an uncomfortable reminder of those days, towards the beginning of her Drifter career, when there really wasn't much she could do to help. Ida wasn't nearly as strong then as she is now.
But there is something she can do. "I'll take these," Ida says, gesturing to a crate of gysahl greens. This batch is more leafy than tuberous, and once the gil is exchanged, Ida lifts it off the pile and sets it on the ground for her rented mount to browse. The chocobo trills softly, and tucks in.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethius Hesiod 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jacqueline Barber 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Brewte Force 1 Brute Effects: Fanfare and Strengthe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catenna 0 --(13)--> 13 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ida Everstead-Rey 0 --(3)--> 3 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------- Leader: Ethius Hesiod 65 --(25)--> 90 Pass Conditions: Fright(1)|Injure(1)|Tire(2)|Treasure(1)|Weaken(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ================================< Dream Chasers >=================================
DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod 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> Catenna has posed.
There are a hell of a lot of boxes. Catenna moves to pick one up, and lets out a little squeak of surprise as an irritated lobster snaps a claw at her finger.
"Look, I'm sorry," she murmurs tartly at the shellfish. "I'll leave you to your hierarchy."
She sets the crate aside. Ethius has more luck, but most of what he finds are local fish - in fact, all of what he finds are local fish. But then, it's all one ocean, isn't it?
Catenna takes a swig of the potion Jay passes to her. As for Ida, she's able to move the greens aside. It's a lighter box and she has little issue with it, though the chocobo seems satisfied with her efforts.
Kneeling by the box that's ultimately uncovered, Catenna quietly moves a few fish into her basket, wrapping each with care. "I hope you're going to be alright," she offers Ida quietly, looking up at her.
Catenna's not entirely sure what happened to the woman, but her quiet concern seems honest.
DG: Ethius Hesiod 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> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Things continue largely without incident after achieving fresh whitefish. There was that scare with the escaping chocobo and the children swarming, but that's as bad as it ever gets. The air continues to feel solemn, as the six of them continue along down the market roads in the direction of the Highroad. Time to pack it up and get back to the Travel Agency--
"Lady Summoner!" Cries someone a street over. It doesn't sound like one of horror--
"Is she here?" Asks another. It gets chattier, like a domino effect. Someone had to say those magic words, and then all sorts of heads are peeking out. All sorts of queries, few of them unique, met with the same thing being repeated as countless people filter out into the streets.
They've found some hope to cling to, some person to believe, as a beacon of light in these dark times. All the reason for them to come out and visit her.
"I found her! She's over here!" One of them points to...
...Catenna, who doesn't quite look exactly like the person they are thinking they're describing but when does that ever stop someone from projecting?
It's not long before the whole of them are swarmed. Calls of support, but also pleading that they defeat Sin, etc, etc.
Ethius already has the Hot Air Sack out, held overhead, because that helps keep him on his feet when he's inevitably pushed around and aside by people who figure an 'Al Bhed' is okay to shove aside in which to see this Summoner who must be in this direction somehow or somewhere!
They have wounded with them, Ethius realizes, but he's not in the best position to break through and see to their safety.
DG: Ethius Hesiod has used his Tool Hot Air Sack toward his party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
'Lady Yuna!'
Ida reacts with surprising alacrity for someone recovering from severe neuromuscular problems. By the time the first of the faithful reach their little group, she's already got one foot in her chocobo's stirrup, and is swinging herself up into the saddle. "Catenna!" Ida shouts, struggling to be heard over the roar of the crowd. It's as much to get Catenna's attention as it is to try and convince people this isn't actually Yuna. "Up here!" With one hand, she slides her staff back into its sling across her back. With the other, she reaches for Catenna, trying to help her up onto the chocobo.
DG: Ida Everstead-Rey has used her Tool Zephyr Boots toward her party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Catenna immediately tenses up as someone calls out that there's a Summoner present.
It's not lost on her that, not so many months ago, Catenna rallied a few citizens to try and escape a Fiend attack by declaring herself Catenna the Summoner. From her shoulder, Saarda-Shanta swivels to give her as sly a look as an owlet can give. <I think they're calling out to you, dear heart.>
A crowd rapidly gathers. Catenna widens her eyes and gasps as she's suddenly jostled from one side, then another, with people calling out for them to try and defeat Sin.
"Ah, I-I'm hardly Lady Yuna," Catenna protests a bit feebly as she tries her best to wriggle her way through the crowd. She worms past a couple of larger people; someone's holding their arms out to her, but she manages to duck away.
Ida calls out to her. Catenna widens her eyes and reaches out - but she can't quite reach. Someone's tugging on the coil of rope hanging from her belt.
"Bother!" Catenna shakes the rope loose and leaves it in the hands of her admire her before boosting up onto the chocobo as adeptly as she can, cinching in behind Ida.
"Honestly," she sighs. "Making that gambit was a mistake on my part...."
DG: Catenna has used her Tool Grappling Hook toward her party's challenge, And the Fans Rush In.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Just when it seems like everything is calm again, there's a cry of 'Lady Summoner!'...and, everyone starts crowding around them as they try to ask Catenna for all sorts of things.
"E-Everyone! Please, calm yourselves!" Jacqueline calls out. She glances toward the side, taking note as Ida moves to help Catenna mount up on the chocobo. That should make it easier to both get her out of there and for people to see that they have the wrong person.
"I'm sorry, we aren't the people you're looking for...but I see you have wounded with you - I'm a talented apothecary, if you let us through then I can see what I can do for them!" Jacqueline calls out.
Hopefully that'll help get their attention off of Catenna and Ida long enough for them to escape.
DG: Jacqueline Barber has used her Tool Rapid Remedy 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ethius Hesiod 3 --(5)--> 8 Fail Hot Air Sack 2 Agility Effects: Resilient ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jacqueline Barber 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Rapid Remedy 1 Agility Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Catenna 13 --(0)--> 13 Pass Grappling Hook 2 Agility Effects: Quicken ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ida Everstead-Rey 3 --(0)--> 3 Pass Zephyr Boots 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------< Party >-------------------------------------------------------- Leader: Ethius Hesiod 90 --(30)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Slow(2)|Tire(1)|Weaken(1) Effects: Cleanse|Quicken(1)|Resilient(1) ===================================================< Dream Chasers >====================================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Ethius Hesiod has successfully explored The Luca Markets!
=================================================<* The Luca Markets *>=================================================
==========================================<* CHALLENGE - My Little Chocobo *>===========================================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
-----------------------------------------------< Challenge Information: >-----------------------------------------------
One of the market stands near the exit has a small pen set-up. Inside the
pen are a dozen yellow-feathered chocobo chicks. Cries of "kweh!" and
"wark!" echo through the air, as they amble about. The merchant turns to
you, and he claps his hands together. "Two hundred gil for a chocobo chick!
They're some of the finest, they are. Interested?"
You can have a chocobo hatchling as a pet! It will take about nine months
before it is large enough to ride, but it can be your friend until then.
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
It is mayhem worthy of a military engagement. A guerilla attack, surrounding them all sides, with misplaced adoration. There is a burlier Ronso who bodily hurls Ethius aside into parts known but not immediately relevant to everyone's well-being.
Ida helps come to the rescue as she sweeps in with a hand to help Catenna onto the chocobo. Things would be better if this rental chocobo weren't carefully bred and reared to be comfortable around vast quantities of humans... well, no, they'd just become the 'runaway Chocobo' challenge for someone else.
As Ida and Catenna escape to high ground on a Chocobo, Jay holds the line best she can, even seeing to the healing of someone who was injured recently. Ida and Catenna may end up being split from Jay in the heat of the moment, but Jay stands to make some serious coin. Or at least serious karma which tends to not be able to be exchanged for serious coin. Well, it's seriously nice of her.
Paths diverge for a bit. They'll come back together before a pen that appears to have been recently erected. The merchant looks oddly familiar. Like someone... bookish. Not someone who seems to be cut out for rearing chocobo chicks. The pen is a bit small and there's a few too many in there - in a month this is going to be a problem.
A novice.
"Welcome, welcome! ...Ahhh, I remember you! Common customers at my old store." Old? "Two hundred gil for a chocobo chick! Their lineage is some of the finest, they are... interested?"
"Kweh?" A bunch of them look up, curiously, towards the gathered with those cute little eyes. They're so tiny now, and yet, they get so huuuuuge.
...
The merchant asides to Jay.
"Heyyyy, I've been trying to offload my old store - you all know, the book store - for some time now... and all of you have done me well, so if you would like... you can have the store right now and what's inside of it, free of charge."
free books, free books, free books!! this is a double discovery. In some way, in some manner, the Otherworlders inevitably find their way back towards this humble bookstore. The deed is free, there's no catch, this property can belong to them for whatever purpose, but once they look inside...
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
...All the books have been sold off, except for a comical excess of biographies of Lord Mi'ihen. That one biography. Of that man.
YOU GET: Life and Times of Lord Mi'ihen x Lemniscate
Congratulations! You have unlocked new attacks and Digger tools you can apply for!
Life and Times of Lord Mi'ihen - 2 Wits Rally Fanfare. Lord Mi'ihen had so many highs and lows in life that they clearly apply to every intellectual challenge, ever.
Infinite Pile of Life and Times of Lord Mi'ihen Books - 0 Technique Heal Cover. The pen is mightier than the sword. The overstocked book is more everlasting than the shield.
A New Gunslinger Form Made Out of Books of Lord Mi'ihen - I'm sure this counts as an Aeon, try it. (pls don't)
Lots and Lots of Kindling - wow, where did all this kindling even come from
...Oooookay, never mind, maybe just the cute chocobo chicks. Quite a few among the CaraKin should already have some good experience with the subject from working part time at Rin's Travel Agency.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline could charge them, but she usually didn't charge in the event of emergencies. This tended to work itself out in the end.
Eventually, though, they find themselves meeting back up at a chocobo pen. It's a familiar sight, due to where the Carakin was currently situated.
"I already have a fully-grown chocobo of my own to look after, I'm afraid...and one is already enough of a handful for me." Jacqueline admits. They are very adorable, though. She would buy one to gift to someone, but, well...
She instead turns her attention to the other thing the man offers. The store itself?? What's the catch?
...The catch is that it's practically packed with a whole bunch of books. Normally, this would be paradise for Jacqueline...except, every single book is the exact same book.
"...This is why you double-check your order forms each and every time..." Jacqueline sighs, shaking her head.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida keeps her wits about her, gently steering her chocobo through the surging crowd. She'd specifically asked for an even-tempered, docile bird, and her choice pays unexpected dividends--she and her passenger emerge from the crowd unmolested. Ida swings out of the saddle, sets her walking stick on the ground, and helps Catenna down as best as she can.
She listens to the man's pitch, and studies the pen full of birds. She lets out a thoughtful 'hmm', and remembers just how much Rin is charging her for the rental per week. One of the chicken-sized birds--looks up at her, and chirps. It's not clear what color it will be as an adult, but its feathers are a pale shade of yellow, verging on white. Ida smiles.
"Can I have some time to get acquainted with this little fellow?" Ida asks.
awwww
<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.
Ethius deftly sidesteps the cute chocobo chicks when he catches up with the rest of them. He's had a bit of an adventure. Instead, he overhears how Jay being sold an entire book store and decides to slip in ahead of her. Just in case. What he finds is... well, that's already very well-documented.
Outside, against the wall, he hears someone sigh aloud.
"Ahh, gee, things have been tough for ol' O'aka," someone or another complains. Someone who is probably not important. "I sure could use a little something exciting to share with the world... do these Markets even have such a thing any more?"
Ethius considers for a moment. It is a vast quantity of books. It is a curiously high number of them. Just as Ethius sets foot outside of the store--
"OTHER THAN THE BLOODY BOOK," the man leaning against the wall yells, "I SWEAR ON ME GOOD NAME THAT'S ALL THE OTHERWORLDERS EVER GET"
...
That's that, then.