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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sephiroth doesn't respond to that out loud but it's easy to see that he is in other ways. Zack's laughter and company are both relaxing, and Sephiroth is visibly doing so as they walk.

It isn't long before they reach the izakaya and Sephiroth leads the way inside. The proprietor seems to remember him for whatever reason and calls out to Sephiroth as if they are old friends. Curious, as he was only there for a little while the one time. Is this what people do or is he somehow becoming famous here too? He wouldn't like that. Sephiroth is pondering these questions as he looks over the menu and...has no idea what to get really. ]

Hm.

[ Sephiroth tilts his head a little bit as if that might help the situation. ]

[it's so easy to slip back into this, following along with Sephiroth to their destination. The only difference is Zack is quiet, rather than trying to fill the silence with half-conversations or vague complaints. There's no need for it.

He can't help but grin when the bartender greets Sephiroth, and once they settle somewhere he has to say something]

Friend of yours?

[he also looks over the menu and . . . yeah, he has no idea either]

No.

[ Again, why? do people act this way??

Unfortunately for Sephiroth, the man picks that point to come over and toss some napkins on the table. Sephiroth just point blank asks him what he should drink, to which the man makes several very enthusiastic recommendations. Sephiroth chooses something that he's assured is strong, Suntory Whiskey. Sephiroth has no idea how friendly the whole interaction looks, for him.

He closes his menu and waits for Zack to place his order. ]

[Zack rests his elbow on the counter and his chin on his hand as he watches, not bothering to hide his amused smile. The man probably is just that friendly, but even so, watching him attempt to chat up Sephiroth is fun to watch.

(because it totally doesn't look the same when he used to do it, thank you very much)

He lifts his head when it's his turn, nodding to Sephiroth] I'll have what he's having. [hell if he knows what he wants, so may as well. The man turns to leave to get their drinks and Zack laughs quietly to himself]

You must have left some kind of impression on him, then.

[ One silver eyebrow raises slightly higher as Sephiroth ponders this...and comes up with nothing. ]

I'm not sure how.

[ At least Zack seems amused. Sephiroth just. studies the proprietor in silence when the man returns with their drinks, not even nodding or anything when his own is placed in front of him. Not that it seems to matter to the man.

Humans are a mystery. ]

It's probably because he doesn't get a lot of tall, silver-haired silent types.

[he laughs, shaking his head a little. His amusement isn't at Sephiroth's expensive, of course; he knows why the other man doesn't get it. Or at least, understands it a lot better now]

It's not a bad thing.

[ Sephiroth relaxes into his seat, seeming to accept that if his silence is any indication. He brings the glass of whiskey up to his mouth, hesitates for a second at the...strong smell, and takes a sip.

It tastes very bad. Very, very bad. But this doesn't show on his face and he only sets the glass down. ]

[huh, well if Sephiroth doesn't have a reaction to it, surely it must be fine? Zack picks up his own glass and at least he knows better not to take a huge drink off the bat. But he takes a careful sip -

And coughs as it burns the entire way down. Oh god, what the heck did they order?? He doesn't curse often but:] H-Holy shit.

[ Are Sephiroth's eyes twinkling? Is that mischief there? And is he smiling, just a little bit, before he takes another sip? Yes to all of these things.

Then the coup de grâce, spoken in the driest tone imaginable. ]

It's not bad.

[HE SEES THAT. He narrows his eyes just a bit, suspicious, but well - now he has to keep drinking it. Zack Fair is sometimes too stubborn for his own good and this is one of those situations where it will, very likely, bite him in the ass later.

But dammit if Sephiroth can handle it so can he!! And so he takes another sip - he can't help the face he makes, though]

It's - uh, it's something, that's for sure.

Hm. Yes.

[ Sephiroth is so very amused. It feels like forever since he did anything like this or spent time with Zack. The combination is a wholly welcome one. So excuse him while he takes another sip, because that reaction was just too much and he needs to see it again. ]

[oh, he makes the face again all right. This time followed by a sheepish little laugh, because -]

You really like this stuff?

[ Yes, there it is. And have an amused noise from Sephiroth as a reward for that and the question. ]

No.

Ahh, I think I'm being teased . . .

[despite the sour face and now pout, he doesn't really mind. This is a rare side to Sephiroth, he can survive a little teasing to enjoy it]

[ All of these are encouragements and Sephiroth takes them as such. ]

What makes you think that?

[ He has an excellent poker face, look. ]

[immediately:] Call it a sixth sense.

[or, Zack grew used to superiors teasing him and maybe he kind of missed it, a little]

[ Sephiroth closes his eyes in a long blink as he speaks. ]

Hm. If you say so...

[ And he finishes his drink in a move totally not designed to make Zack do the same. ]

Angeal used to tease me all the time, you're just a little more subtle than he was.

[.............

Well crap. Down the hatch!

And the reaction and regret is immediate: he slams the glass down as he turns to cough, patting at his chest]

[ Oh, look, the helpful bartender is back to refill their glasses. And Sephiroth lets him do it. ]

Angeal... [ Sephiroth shakes his head just the slightest bit. ] Let me guess. That must be why you are so fond of doing squats.

[Sephiroth has chosen Zack's death today, huh]

Partly . . . he's definitely to blame for getting it started.

[ Swirl, swirl, sip. This should have no effect on Sephiroth, right? So it's fine. ]

I knew it.

[he shakes his head fondly]

It's a good way to get rid of some energy. [he has way too much, all the time] Or I'd probably complain about it.

[ Sephiroth tilts his head a little bit to the right as he recalls similar things about him, his eyes downcast. When he speaks it is with fondness. ]

He always knew what everyone needed.

Yeah . . . he did.

[he smiles down at his glass, a little sad and fond both. He goes to say something but pauses, then huffs to himself and takes a drink]

Except his bad jokes. No one needed those.

[ Now that brings back memories. ]

And here I thought you enjoyed them.

[ Sephiroth's own sense of humor in play there. It's not much better. ]

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