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Post by Breakthelevee on Jun 2, 2018 2:38:00 GMT
The sky was full of airships, a steady hum filled the air from their skystone engines, though it couldn't be called less than pleasant. The hum mixed with the babble of creeks and the chatter of a busy street. That last part at least was similar to the Machine City of Goug. Fluorgis was a different beast however. The air was fresh and clean smelling and the people taller, more Viera and Gria mixed in with the Humes than the Moogles of the town left behind.
The group of three adventurers was able to make their way through the crowd without much effort, the common citizen recognizing the marks of battle and the shards of Nethicite on their sides. These are the people that kept them safe, and they knew it. A few children whispered and pointed at the strange girl with wings, but overall, being a capital of trade, none really stood out in Fluorgis.
Finally they approached their goal. A mighty oaken door was all that stood between them and officially becoming a Clan. With a slight push, their adventure could properly begin, though once the Moogle made the push, they were all surprised by just how....ordinary the building was on the inside. In contrast with the massive door and ivy covered stone ramparts that gave away its former purpose as a keep in times of war, the inside was cozy. A fireplace burned across the room and the walls were lined with counters, scribes on the other side in order to give rewards to the various requests that people took. The Clan system had grown since the days of working out of taverns, though the massive board with Jobs posting on it had stayed the same.
Once of the Hume scribes watched as they looked around before gesturing to the first who had noticed him, the Nu Mou, her back hunched even more than normal thanks to the massive shell slinger hung over her shoulder. "Well, I recognize that look. In all of your eyes. That's the look of someone who has never been in here. This place is a sort of home away from home for many Clans, and so we try and make it feel as comfortable as possible. So tell me, are you looking for work?" He raises an eyebrow as though he already knew the answer. The trio knew that all of their wallets combined might get them a few nights stay at an inn and some meager food but they would need to work in order to be able to last any longer than that, especially if they wanted to gain passage on an airship away from here. "So tell me, what type of work were you looking for?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 2, 2018 3:33:05 GMT
A new place, a new brand of different. That's Myst's reality now. The Underworld is a huge place, going on for what seems like forever... and yet nothing has seemed like what she knew growing up. So many people. Huge dense buildings. People who didn't prepare to have to fight for their lives from a young age.
Indeed, the people themselves are the strangest things of all. They are... different from aegyl. But that seems to be the only thing that is similar about them. Certainly there have been many, many different reactions to her. Fear. Curiosity. Hatred. Jealousy. Even generosity.
Not terribly long after arriving on the Underworld, she'd gotten into a fight with several humes who'd hated her and what she represented. She'd barely escaped with herself intact... indoors and other places she couldn't fly became much more worrisome after that. But, at her lowest moment, an older hume woman had come up to her, seeing her sitting depressed under a tree. She'd talked with Myst, listened to her tale, and offered words of comfort. And the creature that now travelled with her, who'd apparently in turn been a gift from her son. The woman had told her that she'd looked like she needed it more, if she was going to travel out alone.
That was what gave her energy again. Convinced her that there was some good on the Underworld, that there was a point in trying to continue, in trying to find those that would help her quest. For the Underworld was dangerous. Much more so than home.
She'd searched, and, while she was still a little wary of humes, she'd ran into some Underworlders on her travels that seemed sympathetic. At least... she hopes that they are, given that they're here now to form a Clan. Which, from her understanding is something along the lines of a mutual Pact between several people, rather than a person and a Yarhi. An agreement to support each other. In the Underworld, that seems prudent. Especially since many of her own kin did not want to associate with her for her beliefs.
She wanted to hates them for it... but she can't. While she doesn't understand why many would listen to those that enslaved and plundered her people, she does understand that many would prefer to believe that Feolthanos betrayed them than think that their god could be defeated. But she knows. He sacrificed Himself for His people, the aegyl. That is why she must find Him.
But, that's something for the future. She must concentrate on the here and now. Responding to the hume, she oh-so-eloquently responds with "Uuuuhhhhh..." before helplessly looking to the Underworlders for guidance. She has no idea what type of work there is, let alone what to say...
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jun 2, 2018 5:33:16 GMT
Ethais has only ever been in Fluorgis briefly before; her wanderings took her eastward into the Rozarrian Empire for a while, but after a couple of years she grew tired of the place. She swung back through Goug to pay a visit to her old mentors, and decided to roam further afield in Jylland rather than eastward again to the nations on the other side of the great Sandsea. Now she watches the busy marketplaces eagerly, tilting her head this way and that so that her drooping ears can catch the welter of strange voices under the hum of airships overhead and the burbling of the fountains. Goug never lacks for art among its profusion of machinery, and Ethais can see beauty in working mechanisms and ticking clockwork if anyone can, but it's a far different kind of beauty than this city of trees, terraces, and water, as if the wooded foothills had crept out and grown up through the buildings.
It's also one of the few cities in this part of the world large enough that relatively little comment is drawn by a nu mou toting a heavy cannon instead of a staff, especially one traveling in company with one of the rarely-seen aegyl. As open as she is, Mystrael carries the mysteries of her lost continent with her - which is one of the reasons Ethais is happy that Myst is willing to keep company with her. That, and it seems like she can use a friend or two to look out for her, someone a little more versed in how the rest of Ivalice runs. Ethais has never thought of herself as old and worldly - fifty is hardly any age at all for a nu mou - but she's glad to have a chance to help Myst come to terms with what she calls "the Underworld". And if she can pester her with questions about the vanished Lemurés, well, that's hardly a downside, is it? Though she does try to back off if she sees the memories distress Myst.
Beside the two of them, an aging moogle looks pretty normal. Ethais is technically Kupdi's elder - by how much, she hasn't asked, but she's sure it's at least a decade - but as Ethais knows all too well from her own mentors, moogles live so much faster than nu mou, for all that nu mou grow old early. Oddly enough, she thinks she has more trouble understanding Kupdi than she does Myst, for having turned his back on something that's nearly lifeblood to her, but she has to respect the strength of his convictions even if she doubts she could ever quite follow them. Then again, strength of conviction is what being a paladin is all about, isn't it?
And so they walk through the imposing doors into the bustling clan hall, full of people of every race. Ethais knows none of them are exactly flush with gil, so finding work is certainly a priority. This is hardly the first time she's been cleaned out, but it's not hard for a machinist to find work anywhere, especially when airships crisscross the skies. She smiles when the hume clerk addresses her and dips her head in greeting, stepping forward ahead of the flustered aegyl. "I suppose we could never fool someone who's seen so many novice Clans, kupo. Yes, we're looking for work."
A nu mou who says "kupo" is probably even more stare-worthy than an aegyl, but Ethais never does seem to realize that she's doing it. Apprenticing with moogles for decades on end will do that to you. She glances over the rim of her glasses at the board of jobs on the wall - she wears them mostly for reading, being a bit farsighted. "Do you happen to have any jobs posted relatively close by? I'm afraid we're a bit short of transportation at the moment, kupo. I wouldn't mind a chance to look around those old fortresses to the north personally, but I don't think we're particularly picky." Transportation is mostly an issue for Ethais personally, admittedly. Kupdi has his Doduo, and Myst has her wings, so her shuffling gait is the limiting factor in their speed.
She looks back over her shoulder at her companions. "Do you two have any preferences?" Myst has already made her lack of ideas clear, but if Kupdi has any personal compunctions now would be the time to bring them up.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Jun 2, 2018 10:01:48 GMT
Flourgis was like a second home to Kupdi. True, it lacked his genuine family and he often missed them while abroad, but it represented everything about the technology of his life and livelihood that he still supported; Freedom, exploration, and comfort. Bustling metropolis as it was, there was ever demand for small things to make life easier. Ethias' choice of personal defense had been off-putting at first, but in traditional Nu Mou fashion, she thought before acting. It had been a strange thing for him to wrap his pom around, someone giving thought to how they directed the power at their disposal. Kupdi had never been one for politics outside of the family.
Truly, they were strange bedfellows. Mystrael with her fragile, alien nature. Both he, and Ethias far cry from the norms for their respective kind. He had campaigned as far as Archades to garner the authority and teachings associated with the regionwide caste of holy knights, even gone as far as considering the Empire's Judges as a compromise to his dreams. Cast out time and again, he hauled himself up by his wings and looked for those in need. Nothing improved his mood quite like seeing a smile from one otherwise downtrodden, so he stumbled upon the Aegyl.
The sympathy she invoked in him was deeply moving, to have had flight and then lost it was something he couldn't fathom. To have had a home and never be able to return to it, to have your very race broken and scattered. The very idea had sent him home to Goug to visit his family not days prior. It hadn't merited a reconciliation, but certainly a moment with them, even if it was a verbally embattled one. They were here at last, and he approached the counter, which stood at about mid chest.
"We'll need to register our clan first, in accomplishing tasks as a group we make a name for ourselves, which opens new avenues and jobs in the future kupo." Kupdi considered for a moment, scratching and tugging at his whiskers, pom bouncing with each little movement. "Exploring an old fortress would be grand, but I imagine they've been picked over by now?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jun 4, 2018 5:16:28 GMT
The Hume smiled while looking over the group "Ahh, a fresh Clan then. Well don't worry about registering just yet. We normally recommend going on at least a few Jobs together before making such a big commitment. Besides, no one likes going through all the paperwork to get you all set up, and then having to do even more when you disband or leave" He stretches a little and taps his chin "The fortresses are always having problems with rogue Pokemon making trouble for travelers and merchants, so even if there isn't much worthwhile treasure left, there are always jobs. We also have a few closer to here in the city." Reaching under the counter he shuffled through some papers for a few minutes before pulling out three sheets and laying them on the counter "I was gonna post these tonight but I'll let you all get the first pick, they're all beginner friendly and local. Take a look at them all and consult amongst yourselves and then let me know which you want to take!" The parchment was still crisp on all three Jobs, and neatly written across the tops of each was a name, with the description beneath. Cat got My Tongue A whole mess of Purrloin attacked me in an alley and stole my lute! I need it back before my performance in two days.
-Even, Distraught Bard
Reward: 2000 gil and a gracious Bard A Miner Problem The other day we found a tunnel that had collapsed beneath an old keep. We were in the middle of excavating it when we got attacked by a Pokemon! When we were running away the tunnel collapsed again and one of our men got trapped. Please save him
-Ricard, Foreman
Reward: 1500 gil and a few of the stones we found [Placeholder] Some Pokemon have taken up residence in the pond where we get our water! I need you to clear them out.
-Tier, disgruntled housewife
Reward: 2200 gil He laughed a little as they looked at the last page "Sorry, that one just came in, I haven't had time to give it a title. Normally we do it so they stand out a bit more on the board. Anyways, don't worry about the ones you don't take. I'm sure someone else will pick it up right quick"
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 4, 2018 5:28:50 GMT
Mystrael looks over the three papers, the second one making her wings involuntarily flare a little bit, nearly knocking into the others. "I... uh, would prefer to not do the underground one, if it could be avoided." The amount of strangers about in such a confined space is making her visibly nervous. "Aegyl... do not do particularly well in cramped spaces. Even our homes are... were... open and airy. The Yarhi... the Pokémon" she still has yet to get used to that word, even after these years, ""at the pond, though... well, I understand having your source of water taken over by them."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Jun 5, 2018 0:41:14 GMT
"A man's life is at stake and you're worried about... rocks, and walls kupo? Water can be gotten elsewhere, and a performance while a shame to lose there'll be others." Kupdi frowned under his whiskers, pom bobbing down in front of his eyes. It made the emotion much less sullen then it otherwise was. "Courage is facing one's fears. Tis true you've dealt with many in your past, I know you can handle a mine..." He looked to Ethias for support in the matter.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jun 5, 2018 21:34:43 GMT
"Hm." Ethias crosses her arms, looking from the parchment up to Kupdi, and then way up to Myst. "I think I have to agree with Kupdi. The trapped digger is clearly the most urgent of the three. We can come back and attend to the others later, if some other clan doesn't snap them up." It's also the lowest-paying, at least in Gil, though the newly-found stones do intrigue her. Maybe they're some sort of magicite. In any case, this is the sort of job you take for the opportunity to help someone, not for the pay.
Her voice softens a little. "I understand about the claustrophobia, kupo. But it's better to face it by choice, and maybe have a chance to get used to it, rather than have to deal with it some day when it's us who are trapped." Claustrophobia is a bit of a handicap in a clan - so many jobs have to deal with ruins, caves, and tunnels. If they can get Myst used to the enclosed spaces slowly, she might be able to deal with it more easily when they really need it. "If it gets to be too bad, you can go back to the tunnel entrance and make sure nothing creeps up on us while we get him loose, kupo."
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 6, 2018 1:40:19 GMT
"If he was going to post it tonight, than it's probably not critical," Myst points out, "And... I don't know how much help I could be in helping to clear a collapsed tunnel. I am not strong, and my magyks are not of the earth. I... will follow you if that is where you choose to go, but I fear that I will just be a burden." Her wings shrink against her back, clinging closed.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Jun 7, 2018 0:37:17 GMT
"You will find that there are things you can accomplish beyond your abilities when faced with such needs of others. A brilliant conviction, breaking boundries as only a true warrior of light can." Kupdi professed with certainty, though his expression was understanding. "We three will try to save this man, and when you see the spark of joy in his eyes as he is again left to open air, I think you will find your drive for future endeavor. Come friends, we must away ere too much time passes."
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jun 7, 2018 0:49:07 GMT
Ethais hums thoughtfully to herself. It really is a hum, an odd little high-pitched musical noise. "You do have a point. Je's probably not being directly threatened as we speak if the foreman had time to come and post a bill, kupo." This is partly an acknowledgement of Myst's argument and mostly that she really doesn't want Myst to feel bullied into this. Still, they can hardly avoid ever taking a job that involves going underground.
"Though honestly, Kupek would probably be doing most of any actual digging." Kupek being the name of her Geodude. "None of us are exactly suited to that job, physically speaking. If we run into metal debris I might be to rig something up, but I don't suppose there'll be too much of that in an old ruin. Kupopo! I suppose that's an argument in favor of leaving that job to a burlier clan."
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jun 9, 2018 2:53:02 GMT
"Well it seems like your Paladin friend can't bring himself to leave someone in danger." The hume smiles as the party squabbles, having seen it time and time again with Clans that are just starting out. As time goes on they'll work together like a well oiled machine, he was sure of it "I've written down directions on this parchment. Save the man and get your reward back here. Simple, right?" He smiled mischievously before ushering the group out towards the door.
Following the instructions makes getting to the ruins in question a breeze, especially since most of the way is on the roads. The workers had built a little makeshift shanty village and a few of them ran up to the trio as they approached. One stood taller than the others, a massive red Bangaa with scars across his shoulders and a large pick by his side "Yous the ones they sent to help?" He bellowed "We thought we had found a massive haul, turns out that we broke into some Pokemon nest. They started coming out in droves. We tried to collapse it as we escaped but we didn't realize that Bruin had fallen behind. I'm not sure how long he can last in there with those Pokemon. We can break the way through but....well we ain't fighters. That's what you're here for"
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 9, 2018 4:14:17 GMT
Myst is happy to once more get out of the city. Despite the danger, she much prefers the wide open expanses. She feels nervous as the humanoids run up towards them, but she stands her ground, mostly because the others do. She's still nervous about things like that. "Yes," she says, after the Bangaa talks. "We're the ones who took the assignment." She worries a little bit about the 'droves'... there's only three of them, with one Yarhi apiece. Sheer numbers can overwhelm even the most skilled warrior, and she is not that. "If you can get us through, that would be much appreciated. We can take over from there."
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Jun 10, 2018 10:14:17 GMT
Paladin. Someone among the people had recognized his bearing and understood! Kupdi was in high spirits despite the direness of their mission, though when the brightness of the moment wore off, he couldn't help but worry what he signed Myst up for. They all had fears, but he kept his close to his fluff. "The one that was trapped, self sufficient? We're not like to find'em already dead, are we?" He asked pressingly, moving past the lineup towards the mines.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jun 11, 2018 0:13:06 GMT
"Not if we hurry, kupo." Ethais shoulders her cannon and nods to the big Bangaa. "Just lead us to him. We'll get him out of this, don't worry."
The three of them probably don't look incredibly impressive - slender Myst, hunched Ethais, and diminutive Kupdi - but, well, they are a clan. They should be able to handle things civilians can't, even if the civilians are as big as the three of them put together. Actually being armed probably helps, too.
She pulls her goggles down over her eyes as they advance towards the mines. "Let's see what we can do about these Pokémon, kupo." She's trying to project calmness and certainty as best she can. It's like airship pilots - best never to let people see the ones who are supposed to know what they're doing worry, no matter how bad the crisis is.
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jun 11, 2018 2:12:40 GMT
"Bruin was always good at hiding, mostly when shirking his duties but that skillset would translate well to keeping himself hidden and safe. It's only been about half a day, I don't think you'll be finding him dead. Though he might need a new pair of trousers" A deep laugh escapes the Bangaa before he took on a more serious look "But I'm not sure how much longer he can keep hidden from those things. So we'll get you in"
He started to walk away and gestured for them to follow "We set up some explosives to blow through the collapse we caused, but it's gonna draw their attention so a stealthy approach isn't exactly in the cards for you. But that means it should draw them away from Bruin."
Soon the group found themselves in the tunnels behind a large wooden wall with the Foreman placing a hand on a lever "Once I set this loose, your job truly begins. I know they wouldn't send me a group not suited for this, not with someones life on the line. But please" His voice stops for a moment "This whole crew is like a family to me. Please save Bruin" With that he pushes down on the lever and a massive explosion echoes all around them, the walls seeming to shake for a moment before coming to a standstill. Smoke and dust slowly clear away and the group can see a path leading deeper in ahead of them...
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Post by DataNinja on Jun 11, 2018 4:00:09 GMT
"We will do our best," Myst says, clearly uncomfortable at being underground. That is all that can be asked of anyone, be they a crafter, warrior, scholar... granted, her best here might not be enough. But that thought should best be left unspoken. The other was probably aware of it, too.
She visibly recoils at the explosion, the noise, the crumbling, the sensation reminding her of the collapse of her home. Calm, calm. She should not suppress the feelings, but now is not the time to be controlled by them. She has obligations to perform. People, even if they were Underworlders, who trusted her enough to travel with her, and hadn't yet tried to beat up or kill her or anything.
Taking a deep breath, clenching her wings tight to her body, she takes a tentative step further into the gaping maw in the earth in front of her...
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Jun 12, 2018 12:30:57 GMT
Kupdi's paw settled on the back of Myst's hand as the Bangaa shook and moved the earth with little more than a bit of pressure. There was more to it then that, but technology was certainly something. Explosives, not as weapons, but to free up avenues of passage. To save a man's life. He was heartened by it, and took the lead ahead of Myst and Ethais. He and Treize would not let them come to harm, the Chocobo now released by his side as they ventured into the depths.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Jun 13, 2018 4:01:13 GMT
Following Kupdi's example, Ethais released Kupek, electricity sparkling between the Geodude's bristly prongs. "No need to worry, kupo! We're professionals, after all. We'll have your Bruin out safely in no time." This was at least vaguely true, even if they didn't have an actual clan name registered yet.
She pulled out her lantern, letting the light from the tiny chunk of glowing magicite inside shine forward as she followed Kupdi and Trieze into the tunnel. Between her padded, protective brown robe and the lantern in her hand, she bore a slight resemblance to something that would make most adventurers wake up in a cold sweat - a Tonberry with a bazooka. She'd let Myst go in ahead of her or take up the rear, whichever made the skittish Aegyl more comfortable.
She peered ahead into the beam, trying to see if the passage opened up farther ahead. "D'you think we should call out, kupo? Try and draw their attention to us?"
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Post by Breakthelevee on Jun 14, 2018 5:46:34 GMT
While the tunnel was initially tight like Myst had feared, it eventually opened up. Magicite lanterns lined the walls, lit up like a smokeless candle flickering and all. but it lit up the room enough for everyone to see, doubly so with Ethais and her lantern adding additional light. For about ten minutes they're able to make their way through the passage with no issues other than some rocks that Kupek and Trieze need to shift out of their way. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all... Perception checks please
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