Bardsong's First Test-Drive Meme!

[dm_screen]

The Bardsong Test-Drive Meme!




How to Use:

Please take the time to review the premise, the FAQ, and locations to get a feel for the setting!

Make a toplevel with Character Name, Canon, and Class Names in the title. The class page is right here!

Tag out, mingle, and enjoy! We'll announce the opening date soon!

---

It all began when you fell from the skies above, wreathed in flame. When you landed, you learned that you weren't alone: So many others, each from worlds entirely different from yours, have found themselves in his predicament, and know about as much as you do! The locals greet you with a cautious friendliness, welcoming you to the town of Concord. They tell you that the world was broken apart mysteriously not long ago, and are trying to devise ways to step far beyond the town borders to find where the rest of the globe went, get to the bottom of things.

But your arrival is nothing short of a blessing. Perhaps you, the Starfallen, are the answer to their prayers. They explain how live presently works in Concord, they give you that tour of their guilds, and even give you a place to stay at Concord Crossing, where you're randomly assigned roommates. You hope your roommates are amicable...

In the days following, after shaking off the shock of your current situation, you find yourself beginning to integrate into Concord life. But while you await word from the local researchers among the many guilds dotted through town, each looking for new members to bestow their teachings, you need to fill your pockets with precious, precious sol. You'd also heard that there was to be a celebration very soon, and everyone is invited. A little partying never hurt anyone, right? Besides, free food!

Now, where to begin...?


I. More Than This Provincial Life

Concord, the large city that it is, hosts many opportunities for work. Between the multiple quarters and their specialties, just about anyone can find a job. With the isolation from the rest of the world, employers eagerly welcome the Starfallen with part time or temporary work (Apparently, all full time positions are taken and employers conspicuously nudge people out the door if they spend too much time on the clock) to coincide with the life of an adventurer. For those who wish for something to do and a source of income outside of quests, there's always an honest day's wage to be made! With the exception of a few tasks the South Quarter may have to offer, but those aren't the kind of jobs spoken of too loudly.


I-A. Magicka Cleanup Detail

The Concord Magic Academy, between bright-eyed students trying their best and young nobles whose admission was paid in cash, sees quite a few accidents in its halls. Alchemy experiments, wayward fireballs, testing theories given by their Occultist friends, anything can come up and make a mess of a lab or a classroom. As such, the academy welcomes the brave and the patient to the field of custodial engineering, especially those with strong stomachs and combat experience. It wouldn't be the first time stains fight back or gravity ceased to be, so on top of keeping to their own personal hygiene standards, employees are expected to be thorough in their cleaning and expect the unexpected.

I-B. Amazing Paperboy Deliveries

The Concord Truthogram is dedicated to bringing the truth right to the doors of paying customers as soon as the next issue is ready. They're looking for delivery workers and runners equally dedicated to I bringing the truth to subscribers! Runners will need to deliver newspapers all across Concord before dawn breaks. Subscribers are all throughout the city, so runners are encouraged to find an optimal route and coordinate with their co-workers to bring the truth the world in a timely and orderly manner! This job favors the agile, as early Concord mornings are filled with people bustling through the streets and occasional hazards to trip up the distracted runner. Try not to make too many mistakes, as unsatisfied customers will unsubscribe and deny themselves the gift of the Concord Truthogram. Watch out for stray dogs and the occasional grim reaper.




II. O Valley Of Plenty, Whoa-oh-oh!

Working at a coffee shop or helping to organize a wizard's dusty study isn't for everyone, and the people of Concord understand. Every world runs on some currency, and here, it's known as the 'sol'. For those looking to do a 'dirtier' work, the citizenry helpfully direct the Starfallen to the Men-At-Arms Guild, your source of monster-busting work!

Lit by the glow of lanterns, the following work is looking for takers, posted on a large board outside the guild:


II-A. Rabites!

"We need someone to handle the Rabite problem! A couple that chooses not to be named found a pair and decided to raise them as pets, but they have since bred out of control into feral, very bitey colonies. They may look cute and cuddly, but you may need to bring a friend to be on the safe side."

Reward: 50 sol per pelt

II-B. Bumps in the Night!

"We need graveyard shift relief for the town guard posted along the outskirts of Concord. Lately, the guards have been reporting strange noises through the night, and have seen an influx of ghoul sightings coming down from the nearby hills. Take care care not to get bitten; it won't make you like them, but it will make you sluggish and leave you as easy prey."

Reward: 800 sol a night + 100 sol per head




III. Like One of Those Music Videos

While typically only those following the paths of their departed founders and enduring Masters of the Manor are granted entry to the Glistering Estate, the Guild of Steel and Lace nonetheless occasionally open the gates to outsiders. Oftentimes, this is simply to showcase a performance at the theatre, or to offer a chance for newcomers to join their ranks; today, however, is a special occasion: the anniversary of the Estate's groundbreaking. For the evening, the entire Estate grounds have been made available to the residents of Concord, and an exquisite buffet has been prepared for all who would raise a glass to their Founders. Many who come may be tempted by the lavish wealth on display, but aspiring thieves and troublemakers must be warned: Behind the gold and silk lies a house packed to the brim with the likes of veteran Paladins and entrapping illusionists.


III-A. Black Tie...?

Before one is permitted entry to the Estate proper, they must be willing to show a modicum of due deference and wear the proper attire. For an open-door event such as this, simple and tasteful formalwear will suffice; a collared dress shirt or modest blouse, at the very least. Fortunately for those who cannot afford- or, as is sometimes the case, simply forgot- such fineries, the Guild of Steel and Lace happily provides attire of the sort worn by their own members on the estate grounds, and their stocks accommodates all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, their standard attire inevitably takes the form of service attire such as maid outfits and butler uniforms. They have even provided booths to change in private, so please, don't make a scene.

III-B. Upper, Upper Class High Society!

Once inside, the guests have freedom to enjoy the manor's full facilities; the Guild of Steel and Lace have spared no expense in setting up food options from their in-house chefs ranging from terrestrial crab legs and tropical fruits to... erm... unfamiliar flora or fauna that are unidentifiable, but thoroughly delicious. At least, to the locals who have already acquired the taste. Additionally, The theatre is hosting an ongoing series of performances from the Guild's bards, though they're not above letting the Starfallen have their turns at the microphone. Nonetheless, from ballroom to gardens to bathhouse, the entire estate is open to visitors, so why not have a look around...?

Comments

Sherry LeBlanc | Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (Sub) | Soldier, Expert

[chevalierdefleur]

I-B. going fast makes me feel alive
[It was almost ironic, really.

Sherry never had a proper childhood after the mansion. There was no room for it, really. She and Mizoguchi could never stop for long enough to give her a proper schooling, let alone a part-time job.

So it's only after she's been ripped out of her own time and dropped into another world that she has the opportunity to perform menial labor for a pittance at the crack of dawn at the tender age of eighteen. Oh, joy.

But if you do a job with half your heart, you might as well not do it at all. (Plus, if she completes her runs early, she gets a bonus and really she needs all the money she can get for gear and healing fees.) Which is why Sherry is blitzing through the streets of Concord at frankly impressive speeds in a newsboy's uniform, tossing newspapers at doorsteps with speed and precision usually reserved for knives. Or cards, in Sherry's world, but she's always found that ridiculous.

Unfortunately, her need for speed means that Sherry has no time to stop in case some poor sap gets in the way of the trajectory of her papers. In their cases, she only offers one word in totally flat affect,]

Duck.

[before she tosses the paper right at them.]

II-B. i summon myself in attack position
[At the very least, Sherry is a good coworker for jobs like these. Stoic, businesslike, not given to idle chatter to distract from the quest and only on occasion making a quip so sardonically straight-faced it's difficult to tell whether or not she's joking except for the tiny millimeter of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

The problem is that she fights like a lunatic.

Perhaps that description is uncharitable. By all accounts, Sherry LeBlanc is a terrifyingly competent brawler. But that's exactly the problem: despite being hypothetically a soldier, she seems to forget that she even has a weapon besides her fists three quarters of the time, and while engaging the ghouls in close combat she has almost no regard for her own safety.

Which comes to bite her.

Literally.

Sherry staggers as one of the ghouls she was in the process of dismembering with her bare hands manages to chomp on her shoulder before falling to pieces. She takes a few steps back as the poison takes effect, clutching her shoulder and sweating as her complexion somehow grows even paler.]

Do you have an antidote?

III-A. more fashionable than jack, at least
[After blowing most of her cash on getting healed and miscellaneous adventuring gear, is it really any wonder that Sherry has absolutely no money to buy fancy formal attire for the party?

At least the butler suit fits well enough. Even though she may have had to send a few intimidating glares the staff's way to get across that she was not wearing a maid outfit, thankyouverymuch.

She stands at the periphery of the main hall, looking mildly bemused as she sips from her wineglass.]

Who knew that actually attending one of these the proper way could offer such a different experience... [she muses, giving a small chuckle.]

I-B

[dethronedgod]

(Carys' reaction to the callout is nearly instant. The hustle and bustle of getting all these papers out as early as possible was...stressful, but the elf believed she was at her best when trusting her instincts. Not enough time to think and dwell on things; you just have to act.

Fortunately, this is far less dire and more about not getting a newspaper to the back of the head. A sudden repositioning, drawing back her bowstring and she's launching a paper towards the opposite direction, towards one of the mailboxes across the street. Ding, nailed it. Sounds like Sherry made her mark, too.)

Nice arm.

Re: I-B

[chevalierdefleur]

[Sherry raises a single eyebrow at Carys's technique and the... unique method of delivery as she continues sprinting. She can respect the creativity, at least.]

Nice aim.

I'm surprised, I would've thought the company would've assigned us to separate routes.

Ghouls

[johnnysuperstar]

Johnny can't really complain about Sherry's brawling, considering his own Expert knives are being used mostly as a back-up weapon for himself. He might not have the old Elder God-killing mojo that he used to, but he's still got decades of training and experience fighting all manner of nasty dudes. He sees Sherry start to go down, quickly ducks out of the way of a swipe from the last ghoul and then a single solid uppercut takes off its head. Decaying flesh really helps.

"On it." With the coast clear for the moment, he crosses quickly towards Sherry, unhooking the antidote vial from his belt (really glad he ended up here in his military fatigues, they've got pockets and pouches for days). "Let me take a look." All that Special Forces emergency first aid training Sonya insisted he take is still coming in handy. "You know, from one practitioner to another, you got skills." He offers. "But you go too hard on the aggression. Leaves you way open." As if that little love-bite on her shoulder wasn't proof enough. "This is probably gonna sting a little." He begins to carefully apply the antidote to the wound. Got to work fast, they could be down for a second Monster Mash any second here.

"Talk to me, how are you feeling?"

Carys Inari | OC (D&D) | Soldier or Seeker

[dethronedgod]

[I-A]

(The elf can be found giving an annoyed huff as several chemical spills have come together into one, rampaging slime monster menacingly wiggling tentacles about. It gnashes its teeth and seems intent to make a mess of Carys herself, but the woman meets the challenge with a flourish of her mop.)

God damn it. This is gonna make it even harder to clean...

(The elf winds up her arm to throw the mop like a javelin, giving a mighty toss that goes right down the slime's throat. She'll insistently tug you by the shoulder to hide behind a desk as the beast chokes for a few seconds and explodes, the spills violently separating all throughout the room. Fortunatly, they go inert and don't bother reforming after that. The mop itself clatters onto the floor and heralds the awkward silence of a job well...done?)

At least it'll stop trying to eat us. You alright?

[II-A]

(For all of her accomplishments back home, Carys doesn't consider herself above tasks like these. No one wants to waste a legendary hero's time with pest control when they'd have an easier time finding a random adventurer and paying them to do it. People made her out to be untouchable that way and it...really wasn't all that great. It's a strangely welcome change of pace, finding herself in a new world where no one knows her name or her accolades. She can finally fucking breathe and take part in simpler tasks like these. There was something wholesome about it.

But she knew this wouldn't last. It never does.

So she's keeping an eye out for any loose rabites, perched atop one of the houses and keeping lookout, bow and arrow in hand. Maybe you see her, maybe you don't. You definitely hear the arrows once they impact their target, a clean FWIP nailing a troublesome rabite gnawing at the top of a barrel. It's nailed to a wall close to your location and, in realizing how close it was, the elf winces and waves in your direction.)

Sorry! I'll take the cleaning bill out of my paycheck.

[III-A]

(A maid outfit. This was the best they could do in giving Carys appropriate attire for the party. It wasn't a bad look, per se, but even she knew this wasn't her style. Too floofy, too cutesy. She's a rough and tumble kind of girl; the Hells is she gonna do with this lace-y dress? She couldn't keep her equipment on her to at least feel less vulnerable, but security in the Estate is tight; they're not gonna let something happen if they can help it. She respects that.

But the mild blush on her face hints at how she'd rather be in their position than wandering about dressed like a maid. Might look a little awkward when she's keeping her eyes open as if she were security and hardly looking the part, but it helped her blend in, she supposed. She...might need a little help winding down.)

Jeanne d'Arc Alter (Ruler) | Fate/Grand Order | Soldier, Scholar

[ephemeralnightmare]

I. the dark lord cometh
[When a star falls, typically their first reaction is confusion. Perhaps they need a helping hand to adjust to this new world, someone who'll help them up from their predicament-

Or this particular one could spring to her feet immediately and grab the nearest available throat with one hand, snarling,] Where am I, wretch?! [with all the blazing, incandescent wrath that could possibly be packed into such a tiny frame and much more. Realizing something, her eyes widen for a moment before narrowing to slits as she squeezes harder.] Where's Gilles!

[The effect would be far more intimidating if she wasn't clad in a ragged tunic and burlap trousers. She isn't even wearing any shoes.]

II-a. the dark lord slayeth
Pitiful, [Jeanne spits as she plunges her blade through yet another Rabite, looking far beyond bored at this whole errand. Really, why did she even-

Ah, right. Money. Since she didn't have enough power to pillage this horrid town for its every coin, she had to wade into the field of battle herself. It was refreshing, in a way. And...] You know, I wonder why I never bothered using my blade when I was alive, [she muses, swinging her sword back and forth.] It really is much more convenient than beating enemies about the head with a-

[Then a Rabite dives at her face from above and latches on, nibbling at her unprotected features.] GYAH- GET IT OFF! [she screams, flailing.]

II-b. the dark lord slayeth electric boogaloo
[It was disconcerting, having to choose between her fire and her strength. Like she was missing some crucial part of herself. But after the humiliation Jeanne endured in the Rabite fiasco, she needed the catharsis of burning a few hapless targets to death.

Pity that, despite the short work "she" and her party made of them in France, the ghouls of this place were far more resilient dead flesh though they were. She snaps her fingers and another fireball engulfs the zombie in front of her, but it keeps shambling toward her. She throws an ineffectual punch to try and force it away to no avail.]

Ugh! If I knew that these damned abominations were so torturous to slay, I would've sent more after "me!"

III-b. the dark lord broodeth
[Somehow, Jeanne couldn't find it within herself to enjoy the party.

She didn't even know why she came, honestly. The food perhaps? Jeanne never got a chance to taste the finer things in life, after all. Only prison food.

(Did she?)

Regardless, she has no idea what to do. Or what to say. Or... anything, for that matter. So Jeanne sits by a curtained window, staring outside with an unreadable expression on her face, and-

is that a vis fire at her fingertip]

It would be so easy to burn this entire mansion to the ground.

III-B

[bladeofconquest]

"Be a waste of a good party though, don't you think?"

Corrin had been watching the young woman standing by herself for some time. She certainly gave the air of wanting to be alone, but if that was the case, she'd picked an awfully strange place for it. Indeed, the lack of expression, and the intensity of her stare out the window had rather given Corrin the impression of intense loneliness. And that was something she sympathized with.

She bends down a bit, trying to be mindful of Jeanne's space, but also so she can look out the window. "It's a beautiful night tonight, isn't it." She muses with a smile, before turning to look at the other woman. "Have you been out to the gardens yet? They're not quite as crowded and there are torches to keep everything lit. I'd be happy to accompany you, if you like."

[ephemeralnightmare]

Jeanne scoffs at that, turning away from Corrin. "I'd hardly call it a good party." Granted, she doesn't know what a good party would look like in the first place, but her point stands.

She remains quiet at Corrin's remarks for a few moments. Gilles would undoubtedly have something to say about the futility of true beauty and how her own radiant destruction would outshine any gift the Heavens had bestowed Earth. Or something along those lines. Really, all his rants tended to blur together after a while.

...

Still, though.

Jeanne gets up. "Whatever's out there can't be as dreadful as this mob of sniveling sycophants."

Progress?

I.

[nobold]

It's rather unfair to strangle someone and demand they speak at the same time, isn't it?

(A voice calls out that isn't the poor soul on the receiving end of Jeanne's anger. No, it's instead the kobold calmly keeping his distance, but keeping close enough to be involved in the scene.)

If you would only release the person, I'll will happily answer any questions I can. This area around the city of Concord, for example. And the city itself. Fragmented from a world it claims to be part of.

[ephemeralnightmare]

Fragmented, hm...

[Jeanne ponders that for a moment. If history splintered off from itself again, then this must be another Singularity. But which Grail Holder could stand to gain from abducting her from Orleans?

She drops her victim and advances on Cecil, looming.]

Really. Who rules this fragmented world, then, mongrel dragon? [Jeanne says, attempting to exert her authority as the Dragon Witch to sway Cecil. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to have it here. Another setback.]

II-b

[chaoslabyrinthos]

GUAAAAAAAA!

[Asterios rushes past Jeanne, straight into the ghoulish fray. No armor? No problem! That's the Berserker Outlander philosophy. Apparently nobody has told this ancient Greek monster that he can't use his twin labyrses as 'staves', so he is.

He takes the bites as they come as he bowls over the ghouls.]

KILL KILL KILL!

[Nobody has given him an order yet, so it simply hasn't occurred to him to work together with his fellow Starfallen. So he makes no effort to stay out of the way of Jeane's attacks either. It doesn't count as 'friendly fire' if the caster isn't 'friendly', right?]

i'm curious did you tag into the first melodies of eternity tdm with this journal

[ephemeralnightmare]

AHAHAHAHAHA! NOW THIS IS HOW A BERSERKER SHOULD ACT! IF ONLY THE FOOLS IN MY ARMY COULD SEE YOU NOW! [Especially Martha and the good Chevalier. If they had all been as mad as Jeanne's current coworker, maybe they would've destroyed France before that meddling Master even had a chance to show up.

But now-

waitaminit]

Wait! Those bites will cripple you, you idiot! Be more mindful of your defenses!

Claude von Riegan | Fire Emblem 3 Houses | Steward

[goldenscheme]

II-B or not II-B

Claude really prefers not to get his own hands dirty, metaphorically speaking. He's a sweet talker by nature, usually able to get people around him to do things he wouldn't do himself. Without the clout he normally has at home, however, he has to find other tactics.

He's not at all above cleaning things up, sure, but it's a bit boring after everything he's seen and done. So he decides to do some monster hunting – preferably from afar. He can use a sword (and even has one), but his chosen weapon is the bow for a reason. Easier to pull back if things get to be too much if you're not in arm's reach, after all.

He picks the ghoul option because it sounds more like something he might have encountered before and less like being flooded with some kind of animal. All right, that and his reckless streak might have influenced his decision a bit. You can learn a lot about a place by the kinds of problems it has, he figures.

You can find him hidden behind a rock aiming with well-practiced precision at ghouls in the valley below.

While he isn't the rush in and rescue people type of hero, you can also manage to get his attention by getting too close to the ghouls yourself, in which case, he'll gladly shoot an arrow that just misses you and hits the ghoul. Thank him or yell at him. Your call.

III-B or not III-B

Now this kind of thing, Claude can definitely get behind. He's lucky enough that despite no one in this new place recognising him for his title or apparently malfunctioning Crest, he's at least dressed well. That was really luck of the draw, like so many things in life revolving around status and nobility. He'd just been dressed when he fell from the sky. He avoids that whole butler and maid thing, at least for the time being. Lucky him?

Find him with a drink in his hand at any time. (Is it actually booze? Ask him and see what he says.) He'll slide up to anyone, no matter how uncomfortable they might look here, and offer a remark such as, "They told me that one was an acquired taste, but I wasn't ready to acquire it. You're a lot braver than I am."

Or he might be listening to a particularly raucous and slightly off-key bard, amusement on his face, when he says to no one in particular, "I lost count of the verses after twelve. You think he's just making it up as he goes, or was this pre-planned? Maybe there's a contest to see how many of us can make it to the end of this performance."

He won't take the stage himself, of course. That's too much spotlight and all for a place he hasn't gotten a feel for yet. But he's quick to offer a smile and a sympathetic compliment for anyone who got roped into it.

wildcard!

[ whatever you have, throw it at me! i will not apologise for my terrible humour in naming the prompts and neither will claude. ]

[bladeofconquest]

Corrin's been focusing a lot of her attention on one particularly persistent ghoul, so much so that the second one coming up from behind misses her attention. As she manages to finish the one in front off with an expert slice of her sword finally separating the head from desiccated body, Claude's arrow whistles uncomfortably close to her ear and strikes the ghoul in its eye that she realizes how close she just came to being chewed on.

"Whoa!" Her hand goes to her ear in alarm, but she doesn't find any blood. Well, that's a relief. "T-That was a bit close for comfort sir, but thank you. I appreciate the help."

[goldenscheme]

Claude doesn't even seem ruffled by any of it, the monsters, her reaction, whatever. He's not a terribly easy person to ruffle anyway, but really he's just a good actor. This is...more than he was expecting, if he's honest. (He isn't always, not entirely, and not out loud.)

"Sorry about that," he says, though he isn't. "Better you get a little scare than a face full of ghoul drool though, right?" Despite the somewhat grim situation, his smile is as irreverent as his tone.

It might not have been necessary, he realises. She can obviously handle herself with a sword. Still, he's gotta make allies in this place somehow, right? There are a couple more off in the distance, but he thinks they might be coming to the end of this encounter with monsters fairly soon. Well, good.

"You up for a tag team? You go close and I'll cover you? Promise I won't hit you. My aim's good." That much he means. And if it came to it, he'd get closer. He's not out here to watch someone get seriously injured or killed. The money for the job doesn't matter too much to him; they can split it as far as he's concerned.

Ovelia Atkascha | Final Fantasy Tactics | Seeker

[notovelia]

Arrival

[It is, perhaps, merciful that Ovelia, awakening midair wreathed in flame and falling, immediately faints. She has no recollection of her impact when she stirs again, only the faint ghost of that single moment of terror haunting her countenance.

She wipes away a threatening tear as she sits up, and takes a moment to smooth out her rumbled skirts and tangled hair before finally stands. There is little dignity to be found when one falls; it must be found in how one rises after.

She has her station, however illusory, to maintain, after all. With all the pride and bravery she can muster, she begins to walk toward the town ahead of her.]

Excuse me, I must ask your assistance. [She calls out softly to the first person she finds along the way.]

Magicka Clean Up

[So much about being a Starfallen is new to Ovelia. To be fair, most of life in general is new to Ovelia, who languished long in towers and monasteries before a war of succession finally forced her keepers to maneuver her like a chess piece.

But books, books she knows. Her dear instructor, Simon, had allowed her to help tend his library, and through him, she learned more of the library sciences than she does statecraft.

Armed with a feather duster and determination, she picks a shelf and begins dusting. It's not hard work, not even for one as sheltered as she, and it goes well, up until she finds a book out of place.]

Oh dear, let's put you back where you belong.

[She takes the book by the spine to reshelve it, but the tome comes to life in her hands, flapping its covers like a gaping maw trying to nip at her fingers.

Ovelia screams, a sound that echos down the halls of the Academy.]

Agrias Oaks | Final Fantasy Tactics | OTA

[lionguardian]

Arrival
It is the sound of wind whipping past that Agrias awakens too, and it takes a moment to process what is happening to her; she is in freefall, wreathed in flames, and far below her, but rapidly approaching, is an unknown land. Fortunately, her disbelief helps keep down the shock of the situation.

A dream. Her mind, straining to hold back panic, tells her. 'Tis a dream I am having. It's the only explanation that makes sense. Just the most vivid, intense dream she ever remembers having.

The ground is rapidly approaching, and instinctively she puts her arms up as though shielding herself will make any difference. A foolish thought she knows, but there's nothing else she can do. A dream...a dream...A DREAM the mantra her mind keeps repeating to help keep Agrias as calm as she possibly can but a loud cry still escapes her lips just before impact.

It should hurt. She should be in pain. Actually no, she should be dead. And the impact is certainly..."disorienting", to put it mildly and stuns her, it is more of shock than pain. She feels the impact, feels an explosion kick up around her, tumbles, rolls...but that's all. There's no blinding agonizing screams of pain as her body is broken. Just shock...and immense, baffling relief.

When the dust settles and she realizes that no, she truly isn't dead somehow, Agrias gets to her feet and, checking to see that she at least has her sword handy, begins to climb out of the depression created by her landing. Apart from her braid coming undone in either freefall or by the impact, she's no worse for the wear, it seems. And this...this is no dream, incomprehensible as that seems.

Trying to climb out of the crater proves difficult; the earth is sandy and it's hard to find purchase as she climbs up. A slip of her foot and she's sent sliding back down, but a frantic grab manages to find enough of a hold that she doesn't lose too much progress. But there's a sound from above; movement, she thinks? Someone is out there.

"Who goes there?" She calls out. It could be an ally or enemy, but right now she'd settle for someone who could help her out of this damned pit.

II-A: Big Nasty, Pointy Teeth.

The creatures are small, but vicious. One leaps towards Agrias who meets it with a swing of her sword, but more are hopping out of the warren. "God curse these pests!" She snaps irritably to you, her partner. "And someone thought to make pets of them?" She stabs downward at one that had gotten too close. She shakes loose some of the blood and vitae from her sword. "Ridiculous. We shall be here all day cleaning up this mistake."

Arrival

[notovelia]

If Agrias was hoping for a rescue, she will have to hope a little longer. Ovelia sees the flash of a Starfallen, hears the call, and draws near the crater to offer what meager aid she can.

...and then she sees who the stars have delivered to her, and all noble intentions are lost to the sweeping wave of joy and relief.

"Agrias!"

She rushes forward, slipping in the sand, and flings her arms around the struggling lady knight. Helpful? No. Absolutely necessary? YES.

more pointy and nasty things

[fusedshadows]

"We certainly will be, unless you plan on doing something about their stronghold!" You, Agrias, notice how she said that? And with just as much irritability in her tone, too.

For her part, Midna is floating and batting at several of the mongrel beasts with a scroll, doing all she could to keep her ankles out of their mouths. "Can't you fell a tree or something to block it?!"

Minako Aino | BSSM | Soldier, Expert, Outlander

[loveme_chain]

I-A

"Hello~?"

While it might not be the most glamorous or exciting thing in the world, Minako is fairly confident in her ability to help clean up. And sure, maybe the ad is worded a little oddly. Asking for people with combat experience seems a bit extreme, but the blonde figures that the people in charge know what they're doing.

So here she is, approaching the job site bright-eyed and ready to get her hands dirty. What's the worst that could happen?

II-A

"Ooh, they're so cute~!"

When she'd taken this job, Minako was really just expecting something simple and quick. An easy way to earn a bit of quick sol so she wouldn't be broke. Now, staring down at the target in question, the blonde is... not having second thoughts, exactly. But she's definitely wondering what's up with the cute bunny-things.

At least Usagi isn't here to see this.

III-B

Is it weird that she was taken aside and given a more appropriate outfit to wear before she was allowed into the manor proper? Maybe. But Minako isn't going to hold that against the people in charge. She enjoys getting dressed up about as much as the next person, and the dress is cute, at least.

If nothing else, it'll be fun to wear something out of the ordinary for a bit. For now, she's decided to start out by making the rounds. She's been here for a while and she hasn't yet seen anyone she recognizes, but that's not going to stop her from trying to have a good time. Everyone she comes across is met with a cheerful smile and a wave. She's quick to ask questions or compliment someone on their shoes or hair or something else entirely.

By the time she's made her way over to the food, Minako is starting to get hungry. Spot her loading up a plate with a variety of different items.

Choose Your Own!

[The obligatory wildcard option! Hit me with something else if none of the above seems like fun. I'll match whichever format as well.]

III-B-uffet

[mech_and_mutt]

It probably wasn't too uncommon a sight for Minako to see a dog trying to pick at table scraps. But when the dog was on two legs, wore a butler's outfit, and had his hand brush against hers while they both reached for the last slice of three-layered chocolate mousse cake... that might have been a new one.

Well... this was a formal party, with distinguished company, so he could at least make a small effort at being polite vis-a-vis the contested confectionery. He gave a nod of his head to Minako.

"Right. We splittin' it, or drawin' straws for it?"

Minato Arisato | Persona 3 FES / CRAU | Expert

[foolish_seal]

I-A:

[It's not the most glamorous job out there, but money is money, and Minato isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. At least, that's what he thought when he took the job. He was expecting chemical spills, scorch marks, and damaged equipment. That's what he got, but what he wasn't expecting was all of that... on the ceiling. The high, laboratory ceiling. How is he going to get up there?]

[Anyone else coming across this room will find his solution. A series of tables and chairs, all stacked up on one another, with Minato at the top with a mop, wiping off unidentified reagents and ash from the ceiling. This can't be remotely safe, yet here he is, cleaning as if it was the most normal thing in the world.]

II-B: Graveyard Smash

[Another day, another weird job. Minato leans against a tree at the base of the hill he's supposed to be guarding. This is very much not proper guard behavior, but Minato's never been one for 'proper'. Once a few pop over the ridge, though, he sighs, grabs his sword, and stands up. He looks over to whoever was nearest to him.]

There's a few. You want to take the front line or back line?

III-B: Karaoke Night

[Open Mic, huh? It's been a while since Minato performed, but he has a lot of musical practice from his time in Equestria. Doesn't look like anyone else is walking up at the moment, so here we go. A few minutes of talking to the performers to establish a backing track and he's up on stage, nonchalantly walking to the mic and picking it up.]

Yo.

[Yeah that's his intro.]

This one's for some lost friends.

[The music starts up, and then he goes. It's like a switch is flipped, right from his usual casual hunch to full-on pop star performance. Dude's got moves.]

I-A

[topgun_textiles]

...The hell do y'think you're doin'!?

[Maybe he shouldn't have shouted, but it came as such a shock to see someone doing some (admittedly impressive) slipshod architecture and risking their literal neck. Shit, he was glad he was coming back from the bathroom!

He raced to the base of the... structure... and held on tight. Not that it'd really help, but it was worth a shot.]

zagreus | hades

[emancipain]

CLEAN-UP DETAIL

"This is the overworld then, isn't it?" Not quite what Zagreus had been expecting mind you, but then it wasn't like he had any earthly idea how the mortals truly lived. Tales and books could only get you so far, after all.

Unfortunately, his inquiry was only met with a broom and dustpan being shoved at him, which he took, and now stared down at, wondering how to go about this.

"Can't say I keep the cleanest room but, I suppose I'm game to give this a go."

BUMPS IN THE NIGHT

"Ghoul sighting, they said." Which is why the prince of the underworld has found himself in this place, with you, apparently. "Seems they're getting a taste for the locals. But I haven't seen hair nor hide since beginning this post a few hours ago." Maybe they liked to come out at night?

Strange thing, getting used to actual day and night.

"Ever seen one?"

BLACK TIE

"Are these things meant to be so tight?" Zag pulled at the collar of his tie, attempting to loosen it. "If I didn't know any better I'd think they'd given these out simply to torture us," there's a chuckle to follow that up.

Although he was dressed in the uniform provided, he still didn't seem to be wearing any shoes, or have any intention of correcting that. "Now then, it's time to enjoy one of these feasts I've heard so much about from Dionysus. Care to join me? The food does smell quite enticing."

Bumps

[trynotdying]

[There’s a startled gasp and some flailing beside Zagreus.]

I’m up, I’m up!

[Hypnos was 100% sleeping on the job. His blanket cloak falls aside as he jerks awake.]

Ghouls, right, you haven’t gotten killed by one of those before.

[His sleepy voice both sounds cheerful, but also implies the word ‘yet’ with such clarity.]

Mortals have nightmares about them. If you see one, try not to let it bite you!