jikan_rpg | April | Event: Skybound Travelers

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April | Event: Skybound Travelers

Skybound Travelers↲ OOC Plotting

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As everyone settles into a routine in Nippon, newer refugees may find that visiting the Western Kingdom is something of an undertaking. Although considerably faster than traveling by airship or on foot, the underground train that connects Tokyo and Kyoto still takes at least five hours. And not everyone enjoys the roller coaster-like experience of the Sunday-only time surge that shortens that ride into ten minutes. But lucky for them, the NRL are finally ready to release a special new travel system!

Developed in part thanks to the refugees for gathering the necessary etherblossoms back in March, refugees will now find teleportation terminals available at the NRL in Tokyo and MRU in Kyoto. These terminals only connect to each other, with plans to expand to other cities in the future.

Or at least, that's what they're supposed to do.

Nippon Traveler

With the announcement of fast travel between kingdoms quickly spreading among the refugees, many of them are clamoring to be the first to take advantage. After all, the train is rather inconvenient for those with friends and family in both kingdoms, and even more so for those who wish to work in one while living in the other.

Thankfully, the NRL took this into consideration, and made sure to add additional platforms and a timed queueing system to make things run smoothly, essentially creating a small station on the top floor of the NRL's main building. And with exclusive elevator access on the outside just for traveling refugees, it's certainly built for convenience.

Ready, Aim... Kyoto, Western Kingdom
Despite the fact that the NRL has been using these teleporters just fine for transferring between Tokyo and Kyoto for the past few weeks, the sudden inundation of users is causing the system to overload ever so slightly. As a result, the teleporter hasn't been sending people where it should, occasionally redirecting them to random areas throughout Kyoto.

On the one hand, magic is so commonplace in the West that no one really thinks anything about the Refugees popping in and out of existence, with most natives just assuming they're teleporting using the local magic. But on the other hand, this assumption means the natives will think it's intentional, resulting in a large number of refugees finding themselves in both literal and metaphorical hot water after teleporting straight into a public bath, fully-clothed. Hopefully it's a mixed bath, or they might find themselves being carried away by the patrolling samurai guards for questioning.

In addition to becoming a public nuisance for the natives, some may find themselves teleporting into the homes of fellow refugees instead. They may wind up as an uninvited dinner guest, or perhaps they'll appear during a private or intimate moment between lovers. Some may even end up appearing in a closet, giving them ample opportunity to hide until they can make their escape!

Thankfully, this bug is discovered quickly enough that it only creates a few days of chaos -- so don't let that put you off the technology forever!

Here Comes a Thought Higashiyama, Kyoto
But of all the locations the teleporters are sending people to, perhaps the most common one is Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto's Higashiyama neighborhood. As one of the most famous temples in Kyoto, its already a popular tourist destination, with beautiful gardens, a veranda overlooking all of Kyoto, and is home to a magic school that specializes in the Mizu Element.

Those who are lucky may simply find themselves suddenly standing in front of a very tall pagoda, or overlooking the view of Kyoto. But most refugees will instead find themselves standing before the Tainai Meguri, a dark underground passageway beneath one of the many shrines in Kiyomizu-dera. Naturally, it'll be assumed they want to go in, and they may find themselves ushered down by a shrine maiden or two who don't want them holding up the line.

Blanketed in an inky darkness, the Tainai Meguri is composed of a single hallway and a rope along the wall to help guide visitors down to the lowest part of the passageway, where a mysterious stone can be found. Glowing with a mysterious power, the stone is the only source of light in the tunnel. And those who touch the stone with a clear mind will see the carving in the center change, showing which magic element they have an aptitude for: Tsuchi, Mizu, Hi, or Kaze.

However, those who touch the stone without a clear mind will witness something different. Because the stone in question is a Memory Stone, an ancient magical artifact capable to creating illusions of a person's memories. Once the stone is touched, the light of the stone will jump out into the darkness, projecting illusions of their past on the walls around them. Whether these illusions appear as text, an exact replica of one's memories, or something more abstract, varies by the person.

Those whose memories are being projected may find themselves completely overwhelmed by the emotions they felt at the time of that memory. For this reason, no one is allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, so those affected better hope that their partner in the darkness is prepared to drag them out of it.

Into the Unknown

As the technology powering these terminals is still quite new to the scientists at the NRL, actually releasing these to the public is still a way off. Although there's zero risk of harm coming as a result of using the terminal, they have noticed that occasionally the terminal registers another point of travel, as if another terminal exists. A reverse transfer always brings them back just fine, but little is known about where these objects are ending up.

To that end, the NRL is asking brave enough refugees interested in exploring to take the teleporter to these unknown locations and report what they find. But don't worry, they're not asking they do this for free! All participants will receive a moderate sum of money, as well as a week-long stay at the Ōwakudani Hot Spring Resort in Hakone, to be redeemed whenever they like.

Cold Cuddles Sapporo, Hokkaido
For the first mysterious location, volunteers will be bundled up in warm clothes, as objects that come back always arrive very cold. And indeed -- upon teleporting, they'll find themselves in the midst of a snowstorm, an ancient version of the same terminal below their feet, and strange ruins all around them. And stranger still, the walls of the ruins appear to be covered in dark blue ice that won't melt no matter how much heat is applied.

It seems this teleporter is somehow connected to Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Nippon. Due to an ancient curse, the land is perpetually snowy and plagued by unmelting ice called everfrost. And while those who visited the region prior may recognize their surroundings enough to know they're actually very close to the city of Sapporo, others may not be so lucky, nor willing to take the risk of missing their return window.

Worse still, they're just far enough away from the city that their magi-comms won't work! With no way of activating the terminal from their side, and two hours before the NRL reactivates it on their end to bring them back, it looks like they'll need to huddle together for warmth to ensure they don't freeze.

Thankfully, the terminal is located in a covered area, and the remains of an old campsite nearby even has some blankets and supplies. And upon their return, they'll be given hot drinks and no shortage of apologies for not considering the risk of giving them such a long window to explore.

Party in the Dark Jigoku, Shitaya
The second mysterious location is by far the most intriguing, as it's clearly somewhere that people have access to, and yet no one has tried coming back through the terminals. Instead, empty cans and half-finished drinks sometimes end up on the terminal, with no explanation as to who was drinking them prior. And as this phenomenon only occurs late at night, that's when the volunteers will be sent.

Upon arriving, at first they'll find themselves blanketed in a perpetual darkness, surrounded by some sort of stone tunnel, with the sound of music echoing from further in. They'll still be able to contact the NRL, leading the scientists to suggest that they may be in Jigoku, the catacombs of an abandoned subway system below Tokyo.

Should they be brave enough to follow the source of the music, they'll stumble upon what appears to be a secret speakeasy in the dark, run by the Hanyo who live in the neighborhood of Shitaya. As many Hanyo still possess the Yokai ability to see more clearly in the dark than Humans, the lack of lighting is more a feature than a gimmick.

Still, for having made it all the way down here, they'll be offered free drinks and a playful atmosphere -- so long as they promise to keep their illegal supply of Uki-based drinks and snacks a secret from the authorities. A popular recreational drug in the West made from the naturally sweet Uki Weed, Uki is highly regulated in the East, and causes lowered inhibitions, feelings of calm or euphoria, and even functions as a mild aphrodisiac.

Which might just be why many patrons are taking advantage of the dark and inviting atmosphere for romantic trysts in the dark, with futons set up in nearby tunnels for all your sensory deprivation needs. The Refugees can contact the NRL to return at any time, so why not let loose and join the fun?

Castle in the Sky

After a week of using the teleporters, Refugees will discover a new warp point is now listed alongside Kyoto and Tokyo: Tengoku, the nation of Tengu, comprised of dozens of airborne cities that float high above Nippon. According to the NRL, the technology used for these teleporters was developed thanks to the Tengu of Skytower, as a much belated thank you for the refugee's help back in March 1921.

And while Skytower itself remains off-limits, the Tengu Capital of Miyazaki has decided to open its doors to outsiders for the first time in centuries.

Fly High Miyazaki, Tengoku
The Tengu cities are unlike anywhere else on Nippon, comprised of a single, massive amount of land that towers upward, and numerous smaller islands that float up and around the main part of the city. Mysterious magic-powered technology can be found all around the city, though the appearance is quite different from the more modern magi-tech.

But perhaps the most notable thing is that these cities are not designed to be very accessible to those who can't fly. Very few actual pathways lead upward into the city proper, and the entrance to most buildings are located on the top floor, with only a small balcony in front to land on. But thankfully, there's a means around it!

Upon arrival to the capital of Miyazaki, all Refugees will be offered a small backpack with a tiny pair of wings attached to it. Upon putting it on and jumping, the wings will grow larger, acting like a part of their body and allowing them to fly! These backpacks will only function in Tengoku, but they're welcome to keep them should they decide to visit again.

Of course, just because they have the power to do so doesn't mean they'll actually be good at it. Refugees may struggle to become airborne at all, or may find it difficult to control themselves in mid-air, flying into walls, other refugees, or accidentally hurling themselves over the edge of the city. Thankfully, there's patrolling Tengu who are always prepared to catch those who fall, but considering it always comes with a lecture, it's really not the best experience.

But those who persevere will be able to fly up to the very top of the city, where they'll find a beautiful garden overlooking the clouds. The flora here is far more alien than anything commonly found in Nippon, with plentiful etherblossoms, crystal-like mahougi trees, and-- is that a nuruname bloom? Maybe stay away from that one...

Liquid Happiness Miyazaki, Tengoku
Being so high up in the sky, completely isolated, meant that the Tengu cities were designed to be completely self-sustaining. Although they do conduct trade with the mainland below, almost everything they need is either grown or produced by the land itself. Which might just beg the question: where is the water coming from? Because nearly every level of the city is accented by canals and waterfalls.

But those who visit on a rainy day will get their answer. As high as they are, the Tengu cities are close enough that they can draw from the magic properties of the ring that circles the planet of Gaia, which is only visible at night. Thus, the rain that falls in Miyazaki has magical properties: in audition to a rainbow color, it can be infinitely multiplied, instantly heal wounds and certain illnesses, and seems to cause feelings of euphoria similar to Kizuna when one stands in it. For this reason, the rain that falls in Miyazaki is referred to as liquid happiness.

But for Refugees, these effects are even more extreme. Those who visit Miyazaki during a particularly rainy week at the tail end of April will begin to manifest severe Kizuna side-effects, especially the supernatural variety. While ordinarily these effects are only possible when feelings of love are present, the power of the rain will allow Refugees to share their thoughts and feelings with the people around them, whether they want to or not.

So strong are the effects of the rain that these effects will linger well after they leave, and may even become contagious to those they meet later on the surface. In the end, the NRL issues a warning for Refugees to avoid lingering in Miyazaki in rainy days until a more conclusive study on this "liquid happiness" can be conducted.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's April event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• Characters will not be allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, and must descend in pairs.

• Sapporo is roughly a twenty minute walk away, and characters who are familiar with their surroundings will be able to go to the city proper. Magi-comms will also begin to work again. More information on Sapporo can be found on the Setting page!

• You are welcome to assume there is Uki-based incense in the underground party if your character would need an extra nudge to participate.

• Given their isolated status, the Tengu cities only contain Tengu Yokai, who range from entirely human-like with wings, anthropomorphic birds, and the traditional long-nosed variety! Although Refugees may be treated as a novelty by the people there, only elderly Tengu will treat them rudely for being outsiders.

• Characters will find that inns and hotels are both plentiful and cheap in Tengu cities, as the cities are very far apart from one another, and it's very common for Tengu to travel far from home. Miyazaki, for instance, floats above Kyushu near the Westernmost point of Nippon!

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[Aerith couldn't help it, before Zack pulled her away, she kicked out at Hojo's shins. It didn't work. It was never going to work. But somehow it made her feel a little better.]

Zack... Zack what's wrong? What actually happened? What did that... that monster do to you?

[She let herself be pulled away and trailed after him. She wasn't going to stop him. But his stress was making her feel antsy.]

[he doesn't pull her far; just outside of the door, far enough that the illusion starts to fade away. He lets go of her hand, but lifts his to the side of his head, pressing against his temple. Shakes his head like he's trying to clear it]

He's why I never got any of your letters.

[Aerith thought about that for a moment, looked back toward the door they had just exited through, and then back up to Zack. And then she raised her arms and reached for Zack, gently embracing him and pulled him toward her.]

More reason to hate that man... But he's far away. Those memories are far away. He can't hurt you, Zack.

[Zack goes with the pull, wrapping an arm around her in a tight hug. And he just - takes a moment, to take a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing himself to calm down]

I know. [another deep breath, and he briefly hugs her tighter] You know who he is.

[She rubbed small circles on his back, soothing, holding him just as tight with her other arm. Her eyes close at the tighter squeeze and she sighed sadly. Did she know him?] That's a long story of my own... But I know who he is.

[he thinks he knows why. Bits of information he'd heard over the years, on top of knowing what Hojo wanted . . . he huffs quietly] I knew I should have hauled off and punched him the last time I had the chance.

Looks like we've both got stories to tell.

[She thought she should give him something. It wasn't as if it was all some big secret.]

He was directly responsible for my mother's death... And my living in captivity for the first several years of my life.

Because you're an Ancient. Right? I'm sorry. [he doesn't know if he ever told Aerith that he knew. Probably not, because it had never been important to him. Not even when he learned more about it, as Sephiroth slowly learned about who he was in all of that, and slowly descended into madness]

He took me and Cloud after what happened in Nibelheim. He wanted to try and turn one of us into the next Sephiroth.

You knew, huh? I suppose that makes sense. He caught me again, before I came here. Cloud rescued me that time.

[She smiled a little at that memory. Though the smile faded on hearing what Hojo had tried to do to Zack and Cloud. She hugged him tighter, and remembered to keep one on waiting for if she ever saw Cloud again.]

It didn't work. You are still you and Cloud... I think Sephiroth was able to effect him more than the rest of us, but he is strong. He could fight it.

he gives a weak laugh that sounds more huff than anything]

Cloud really turned out okay, huh . . . I'm glad. And I'm glad he found you. [he faintly shakes his head] He's gotta be one the strongest people I know.

[his two favorite people having found each other is so much more than he could have hoped for. He leans down just a little more into her hug, not bothering to pretend that it isn't a huge comfort]

Cissnei told me about you. I don't think I was supposed to know, but it's not like it mattered to me. All it meant was that I knew the Turks would look after you while I was gone.

He was a good bodyguard. [Aerith smiled and moved her arms up a little higher, one curling around Zacks head to cradle it against her shoulder. She hugged him tight. Wanting to offer him that comfort, or as much as she was able.

Though his next words give her pause. She didn't have the heart to tell him that the Turks, in the end, hadn't looked after her at all. They had up until the time they'd needed her again. And then they had hunted her. And in the end used a small child against her in order to kidnap her.

This time when her arms clung tighter it was for herself as much as for Zack.] Yes, it makes no difference who or what I am. I'm just me. I'm just Aerith.

I bet. [as her arms tighten so does his, offering her comfort, too. It felt weak, a little, to take so much comfort from this - but then again, Aerith had seen him at his worse before, and he'd gone so long without anything like this that he didn't care. He's never claimed to be strong.

Though, if she did tell him about the Turks, he wouldn't be surprised. They were Turks for a reason - they did the jobs no ne else wanted. And not even a request from a friend would change that] That's all you ever have to be.

. . . it's pretty unfair that room sprung all that on us out of nowhere. I was going to tell you about it, one day, once I figured out how.

[If you couldn't be comforted by a friend then who could you be comforted by? This was a stressful situation. She was so glad she could be there for Zack. To deal with this alone would be so very cruel.]

You know you can tell me anything, right? Zack this... I know it must be a terrible memory, but I'm not sure why you were afraid to tell me?

. . . it isn't that I'm afraid to tell you.

[he hugs her tightly, briefly, before carefully drawing back. He feels like he needs to fidget and pace, put all that energy into something active, so it doesn't go elsewhere] I'm still sorting through everything that happened, you know? My head gets messed up just trying to figure out when things happened, let alone - what happened to us in that lab.

[he pauses, then laughs a little helplessly] I'm all thrown off. And it's easier to just roll with it instead of trying to make sense of any of it, because I don't know if I'm ready to yet.

Zack, Zack, it's okay!

[She grabbed for his hand again and darted past him, turning him so his back was to the room and he couldn't see anything that was going on beyond.]

I get it. It's an entire universe away now so none of that needs to bother you any longer. I know, easier said than done. But what I mean is, you have time now. Time to come at it at your own pace. And if you decide you don't ever want to, that's fine as well!

Because you are you! This moment doesn't define you. So take your time. I'll be here to help you whenever you need it.

[he startles a little and looks down at their hands, his own slowly closing around hers]

I know I have you to help. How could I forget? [he takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly] I'll be all right, that popping up just caught me by surprise.

Are you going to be alright?

[She asked worriedly, ready to storm out and cause a stink to the temple workers and how they should have warnings on this place!]

I have to be. [he pauses; it's an automatic answer, out before any real or fabricated answers he could give. Technically not a lie, either - he had to be okay when he and Cloud were on the run, but now . . .

He faintly shakes his head at himself] You know me, nothing gets me for long. I promise I'll be okay.

Yes, you're strong. Stronger than you think you are.

Now... Let's get outta here.

[She took hold of his hand again and began walking backwards, pulling him along with her and back though the dim tunnel to take them back the way they had come. Far away from those bad memories.]

Well if Aerith says it, it has to be true.

[Zack lets her pull him along, laughing quietly. He's more than happy to let her drag him as far from that room and those memories as possible]

Yep! It's true!

[And she knew Zack knew it and she wasn't reinforcing much at all, she was talking for the sake of talking, distracting as best she could as she walked backwards and really hoped she didn't embarrass herself and trip over.]

You know, I've decided you can't trust anything in this world! Things look one way and are completely different... And for some reason that feels so familiar. But I'm not sure why.

[not that it takes much to distract him, but he still appreciates it all the same. She doesn't need to worry about falling, though - Zack would make sure she didn't]

Anything? What makes you say that?

Anything. Not anyone.

[She had to stress that, just in case Zack got the silly thought into his head that she might have been suggesting she didn't trust him, or anyone else really. She had a lot of trust for people. But the creatures and objects of this world left much to be desired.]

You haven't noticed? Take just now for an example. We went down to see one thing and was greeted with another. Innocent looking flowers can be highly suspicious! Nothing is really as it seems here, don't you think?

Ah - aha, no, I've noticed. [he hasn't run into too much so far, but as for the stuff he has, well] This place really likes to keep people on their toes, huh.

Uh-huh, right on the tippy-top of their toes!

[And it drove her to distraction over why it all felt so familiar... Aerith brushed it off, it could bother her another day. They had finally left the tunnel and stepped back out into the light where she felt like she could finally take a deep breath.]

That's better. Fresh air again!

April | Event: Skybound Travelers

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