WORLD JUMP # 1: EL MINHA.

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players welcome to el minha. It will happen at random- you could be asleep, or wandering the Temple, or a variety of other options. It will feel a little strange, like a sudden warmth spreading across your skin, and then your bracelet will light up and a semi-familiar voice will be heard. I hope you are able to help the people of El Minha! And oh- in case I didn't mention it already, water is very, very valuable here. And then you will blink, and it will be bright. Bright, and warm, as you are standing just inside the grand walls that protect the impressive city before you. At your hip there will be a small bag with a few bits of coin - nothing too crazy, and definitely not enough to last you the entire stay (which...you're not exactly sure how long it will be), but enough to get started. Your presence brings a couple of glances, a stare or two, but overall the city seems to continue on with its day. Welcome to the Red Desert, the city of El Minha. THE PALACE After a few hours of being within El Minha, the King has heard that a large amount of travelers are now wandering within the city limits. An audience is called in front of the Royal Palace, and King Kathashun steps out onto the dias. He is dressed rather plainly, for a monarch -- a purple robe, with some gold bangles and bracelets, but no ornate crown or anything like that. However, when he appears, the natives around you grow quiet, at the presence of their King. “I understand that there are a lot of new people, within our fair city. Welcome to El Minha, the Jewel of the Red Desert. Enjoy our culture, our people, our wares; we welcome you, and hope you enjoy your stay.” There is a pause, though, as King Kathashun seems to weigh out what he wants to say. “I normally do not spend my time greeting tourists to our city, as our Crown Guard typically handles educating our visitors on our ways,” he continues, folding his hands behind his back. “But the heart of our city has been heavy, in recent months, and I feel it is my duty as King to be clear, to be honest, and to speak the truth. Recently, we have been attempting to hunt down individuals who wish our city harm, who have harmed my family, and my people. The Syndicate has been active, as of late, and I warn all of you who are not familiar with El Minha to avoid certain areas of the city should you wish to keep your pocketbooks.” There’s a slight quirk of his lips, as he says that, before he tilts his head in a polite gesture of greeting toward the crowd. “Please, enjoy El Minha. And should any of you garner any information concerning the Syndicate, please do not hesitate to contact me.” For the duration of your time in El Minha, King Kathashun will be within his palace . . . or so the Crown Guard says, should you ask them for an audience. That being said, you might be lucky wandering the streets. The King of El Minha tends to mingle more with the common folk than the Crown Guard would lead you to believe . . . THE GRAND MARKET Welcome to the heart and soul of El Minha - a massive outdoor market in the center of the city. Covered by fabric stretched between the buildings, this market feels almost like a city, or living soul, in and of itself. It is constantly moving, constantly evolving. Anything you could imagine is for sale here - spices, jewelry, weapons - whatever you’re looking for, anything at all. While you won’t necessarily find specific items from your home, you can find any matter of similarly made or crafted ones. Think cheap knock-offs, or unnecessarily well-made versions, because they can vary widely. There can also be items of some level of magic, though nothing particularly strong or overly impressive. (feel free to ask the mods on the previous ooc post about if an item is too over-powered to be found in the market - and also know that there’s always the chance you could find it in the underground. It just depends on how determined you are to track it down.) Stalls can range from cobbled together boxes and goods to grand, incredible stands - it all depends on what you’re looking for, and how long you’re willing to look. There is no map here, so tread lightly! The merchants that work in the market are experienced, practiced sales people. They know how to sell to anyone, but especially tourists. Barter to your hearts content, but it will take a little more than a ‘please’ to get those prices down. They have expert eyes and will not take pick-pockets or thieves well. However, as experienced and watchful as the merchants may be, that won’t stop young kids on the streets targeting the tourists as well - so keep an eye out on your pockets! As long as you have coin, water, or something to trade you are welcome as long as you’d like to stay here in the El Minha Marketplace. However, if you loiter for too long, you might get a swift kick in the ass to either get moving or buy something - they’re not giving away anything for free, and that includes the shade. THE SPARKLING SAPPHIRE As the announcement from King Kathashun comes to an end, all members of the Circle will be communicated - in one way or another - the direction to the Sparkling Sapphire. Free housing, you’ve been told. All you have to do is go, give them your name, and let them know you are part of the group that King Kathashun has directed here. Here, as it turns out, isn’t too shabby of a place. A large building with plenty of rooms, it is clean and fairly busy, with a bustling tavern area and rooms upstairs. You can pick up your key from the older woman behind the front desk, and are directed to the staircase in the middle of the establishment. The rooms are clean, but plain, with one or two beds depending on your preference. Downstairs in the tavern you can find food served for both breakfast and dinner, which is included in the room. Otherwise, there is a small fee for food or drink, and the servers are talented and experienced and very, very friendly. It is in the tavern that you can find the hookah, and some strange liquor as well, but it’s up to you if you choose to drink it. The food is incredible, beyond incredible, and they can make almost anything that you’ll like, though it may come out a bit creative. The main room is comfortable - with a roaring fire but without the suffocating heat. There is a bard in the corner, who will sing or tell stories or simply play, depending on the feeling of the room. Have a drink! Or a meal! While most of the people here are indeed Circle members, there may be a couple of natives mixed in as well. Take a load off, relax, and enjoy the hospitality that only a King’s Coin can bring. THE FIGHT RING The ring itself is somewhat on the outskirts of town - a colosseum-esque collection of buildings that watch over a pit-like arena. The buildings protect the Fighting Ring from any outside eyes, or any unwanted attention, as this area is solely under the command of The Syndicate. Anyone is allowed inside, as long as you don’t cause any problems and don’t start any trouble. There are a number of what you can assume are Syndicate-employed figures that are constantly canvasing the area as well, so don’t expect to be able to sneak in unless invited or allowed. The Fight Ring is open for volunteers at any time, and once you’ve been checked for any fun business and told the rules (no magic, only weapons allowed are the ones provided, the fight will end once one side relents or is taken out of commission). If this still feels like your cup of tea, you are invited to take a spot in line. Perhaps, if you’ve shown yourself promising enough, The Champion may appear to protect their crown. Otherwise, you will find plenty of adversaries around. If you are looking for a less aggressive route, there are plenty of seats open to watch, as well as many other members of the city taking a break to watch the fights, and they certainly wouldn’t mind sharing some of their favorite stories of matches or victories. The Champion is the resounding favorite, but the stories shared will vary to the point that almost no useful information can be gleaned. Join in the festivities that surround the ring! Pick up some food, bet on some fighters, enjoy the competition, and maybe you’ll be lucky and catch a sight of The Champion, or any of the other legendary figures of the El Minha Fight Ring. THE GOLDEN PHOENIX The Golden Phoenix is the central location of the Syndicate . . . and locals will make absolutely no effort to hide that fact from the Circle members. However, people don't seem to be afraid to go, though you definitely need to have coin to get through the door. There are multiple tables where various dice and card games are being played, as well as old slot machines. There are multiple employees in dark uniforms wandering around, offering drinks to all those who are spending coin on the machines, free of charge. If you loiter too long without spending money, you will be asked why you're there -- not in a threatening way, of course. But the relationship between the Syndicate and the King isn't all that great, as of late . . . can't be too careful with spies. In the back of the Golden Phoenix, there's a tiny racing ring in the back where small lizards are being raced in a little track set on a table. You can place bets on any of the lizards and, who knows? You may win a prize, including a little lizard! How cute! (Be careful, though: they nip.) But out back, there's another lizard racing ring, though these ones are . . . well, they're certainly not tiny. In fact, people seem to be riding on them akin to horse racing . . . and jockeys are a dime a dozen, in El Minha. Fancy yourself the next Triple Crown winner? Step right up, step right up, and take a spin on the track outside! Additionally, please feel free to write up and work with your own prompts! These are presented as jumping off points for your characters, not limitations. The idea of this world- as with all the others- is to explore. There will be some NPCs interacting with characters as well, so keep an eye out for those as well! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask them back on the mod questions thread back in the OOC post from before! From this point forward, the Circle has become involved with the political stasis and climate of El Minha. What your character finds out, decides, and does from here on out will affect the future of this city- one way or another! But what you do is completely up to you. What you discover, explore, and uncover in this city will be yours to discover, explore, and uncover. Who knows what you might find? :)

Comments

[protettore]

( one: grand market )

a ) [With little money at hand and no real telling of how long the stay in this location is intended to last, Gladio has no intentions of emptying his pockets anytime soon. He has no problem investigating the wares set out on display, keeping an eye out for anything that just might be worth a purchase, something that'll come in handy in the long run.

But it's crowded, and he's not exactly a small man, so you'll have to excuse him if he accidentally nudges or pushes you as he makes his way around.]

b ) [Some of the merchants seem to not enjoy the way he seems to linger about, but he has an excellent companion to keep their mouths shut. Don't pester the armed man.

The blade, however, eventually attracts attention. As he maneuvers past arms dealers, they try haggling him into a trade for the pretty little sword strapped at his side. Gladio only grins and shakes his head.]

Sorry, not for sale.

[Some of them seem to not like this, and Gladio starts to get stares that makes him think he's no longer welcome.

And at some point, someone wants to pull something stupid. One of the merchants shouts:]

"Thief!"

[And they're pointing to him. Gladio stares, dumbfounded.]

Are you kidding me?

( two: sparkling sapphire )

[If you need a companion for a few drinks, the huge tattooed man over at the front of the tavern is more than willing to give you some company.

Or just watch in confusion as some guy just orders hot water and begins to pour it into a cup of... noodles.]

( three: fight ring )

[There's no way he's here for sight-seeing, not anymore. Now this is where his area of expertise becomes useful, and Gladio takes full advantage of the arena to blow off some steam. No weapons is his only rule here, not just because he doesn't have use of Noct's armiger but he does want to put his only available blade to use in what is essentially nothing but practice combat for him. It almost makes him feel like a kid again. He doesn't normally fight with his hands, but it's refreshing and exhilarating, and Gladio manages to make it through a good few rounds.

They're long, rough fights, but he pummels nearly all of his opponents into the ground.

Granted he's going to end up with a lot of bruises after this.

You're free to watch him though, or maybe help take care of that nasy split lip or busted knuckles he's carrying after a certain mean fight.

And perhaps, you might want to ask him for a one-on-one with yourself?]

sparkling sapphire!

[purrtagonist]

[confusion?? how about envy, because Akira hasn't managed to find a single piece of familiar junk food since arriving at Astoria's enchanted temple. going without coffee was bad enough. going without coffee and his favorite quick and easy trash meals was torture]

[he watches Gladio pour the water into that cup of noodles with a somewhat longing expression on his features, before. . .]

-- where'd you get that?

[share the goods???]

[protettore]

[Damn it, he was really hoping no one around this place even knew what cup noodles was. Can't he just eat in peace?]

Honestly, I got no idea, but it's some kinda. Magic thing. [Which is seriously his best excuse for how it works. It's just magic. Thankfully having come from a place where magic already exists, that suits him just fine. Especially since it's awesome magic.]

But it's the only one I got and it's mine, so you're out of luck.

[Gladio even plops the cup more securely in front of himself, clapping a wide hand over the top as he asks the bartender if he has a fork around.]

[purrtagonist]

[WOW]

[Akira isn't one to pout very often, but this expression? totally a pout, as he folds his arms over the counter and rests his chin on top of them]

You can't even spare a tiiiiiny bite for a guy who really appreciates the finer points of instant noodles? I'm a connoisseur.

[stop trying to con Gladio out of his noodles, Akira]

[protettore]

[So he sees you too are a man of great taste.

Too bad Gladio is also very stingy. He wouldn't even share cup noodles with his own prince, so that expression does nothing to him.]

And I'm proud of you. But this is the only one I got and the only one I can make. Catch me tomorrow and maybe then I'll feel like sharing.

[It's not his fault his weird magic only allows him to make one cup a day.]

[purrtagonist]

That "maybe" doesn't make me feel very optimistic.

[another sigh, and Akira lifts his head, this time resting his chin in his palm. he's still staring at those noodles. he still wants a taste of familiarity from home]

[-- ah. idea!!]

I'll give you two coins for a bite.

[for just a bite. he must be desperate]

[protettore]

Hey, depends on if I've eaten or not.

[Except he'll still want cup noodles. He wants cup noodles all the time.]

That completely depends on how big the bites are, y'know. You think I'm stupid?

[....I mean he sort of is. He has his good moments and his. Bad.]

Five coins, and I'll share with you. We alternate bites. Only one twist of the fork.

two!

[cakebuffet]

[There's no denying that the food offered by the Sparkling Sapphire is beyond incredible. Ann has been enjoying the opportunity to sample a number of items on their menu, but when she heads in for a drink around late afternoon, she finds herself wishing she'd thought to return to their lodgings earlier— it's too close to the complementary dinner for her to order something other than a drink right now, especially considering they have to be careful about their spending here, not knowing how long they're going to be staying.

She sinks down into a seat at the bar and orders a cold drink for herself, leaning forward to rest her elbow against the wood and prop her chin up in her hand as she waits— only to spot a large, tattooed man a couple of seats down, pouring hot water into a familiar foam cup.

Immediately, she perks up.]

Oh my god. This place has cup noodles?

[How had she missed that?!]

[protettore]

[There's a loud scoff, a twitch of his lips.]

I wish. That'd make this the best damn bar I've ever been to.

[He wouldn't want to leave El Minha if that was the case. But even better is that his special ability will let him take cup noodles anywhere, and he likes that set up far more.

The only problem here is that this is the only cup he's able to make. Just a single one, and from the looks of it, this girl is eyeing it up with interest. Gladio looks over at her, then eyes her drink.

Choices, choices... he doesn't want to be rude, but Gods, does he love cup noodles. The bartender returns, offering a fork with a rather disgruntled look on his face, like it took him quite a while to actually get one. Gladio thanks him and then

offers the fork to her.]

Want some?

[cakebuffet]

[The offer of the fork is tempting, but she's not so driven by her love of junk food that she would go so far as to take something that belongs to someone else. Stealing is best reserved for hearts, after all. She shakes her head slightly, offering a sheepish smile in reply.]

I couldn't. I mean, it's nice of you to offer, but they're yours. If you don't mind my asking, though, if you didn't get them here, where did they come from?

[Because if there's a stash somewhere in the temple she didn't know about, or if they can stock up on this kind of thing while they're here, she does not want to sleep on that opportunity.]

[protettore]

[Well, you can't say he didn't offer, and while Gladio could easily just hand it over and give it to her completely. A no is a no. He gives a shrug, then settles the fork on top of the cup to allow the noodles to soften up in the hot water for a while.]

Wish I knew how it works so I could figure out how to make it a permanent thing when I head back home, but sorry, I'm clueless. It just... happens. [The first moment he started to get a craving for cup noodles, it was just right there in his hand, and Gladio was nearly startled out of his skin. And so needless to say, he tried wanting another one. And nothing happened.

As they say, beggars can't be choosers.

It's some kinda magic, is what I'm guessing. I just think about it and it shows up, but I can only make one at a time every day. That part's kind of a bummer.

[cakebuffet]

Wait a second—

[She's following what he says easily enough, and it's not like some crazy new magic ability is unheard of here in the least— they all got one, but she hasn't heard of anything like this before.]

Are you saying that summoning cup noodles is your new power? The one Astoria gave you?

[What the heck.]

Even if you can only make one a day, that's—

[Not entirely useful in the greater scheme of things, but as far as Ann's concerned?]

Incredible!

[protettore]

Yup. [It's his very casual drawled reply with a very proud grin to everything she says. Which is pretty damn ridiculous because he has a pair of friends with legitimately more useful and impressive powers than him, and yet Gladio still thinks he got an amazing ability.

He's hopeless.]

Doesn't exactly make it easy to share within a party of three. But that's what rock, paper, scissors is for.

b.

[kimaris]

[ He'd been loitering. It's what he does these days, loiter against a wall and people watch. Loiter in a dark area, thinking to himself. Loiter in a cute place, talking to himself. If he's missed the connection that it's kind of weird, he has good reason. Right now, he's trying to keep his identity free, so he's masked and not exactly talkative.

But he's a member of Gjallarhorn and with all of the corruption attached to the name, he was never the type to stick to those vile tendencies. He happens to enjoy being a space cop, basically.

So he's watching this go down, eyebrows raised behind his metal mask. Then he's stepping forwards, tilting his head. ]

Are you a thief?

[ He's fully ignoring the shopkeepers, and his tone is just the faintest sound of amusement.

He knows you're not a thief, bud. ]

[protettore]

[Oh great, that's just great, other people are getting into this. If he were carrying around one of his greatswords or a shield he'd let them just try to get away with just holding it, let alone trying to take it from him, as they're huge weapons that only Gladio can manage to carry. However the Genji blade, while nearly Gladio's height, is far easier to snatch.

Gladio already has his hand defensively curled around the sheath of the blade as he turns around to face whoever else is accusing him.]

I'm not, it's mine. He's just pissed off because I didn't let him try to swindle me!

[I mean, technically the sword isn't originally his. But he fought some one-armed eight foot ghostly samurai dude for it and it was fairly given to him from his victory, and even the original owner allowed him to keep it. So yes, this sword is very much his, and he's absolutely not letting anyone pry it from his hands without a fight. And they don't want that. They definitely do not want that. Gladio will throw down.]

[kimaris]

[ Sounds completely legit. For a long moment it seems like he's considering it, before calmly turning to the loudmouthed shopkeeper. ]

I don't think a thief would try to brazenly take a sword of that size in the middle of a market. Aren't such accusations bad for business?

[ The accuser is looking bewildered for a moment, grinding his teeth as he tries to decide what's worse; losing out on the potential sale of the sword, or catching the side looks of people passing over his shop because of the ruckus.

It sounds like he's still leaning towards the former, and starts to raise a pointed finger at Gladio once more. ]

[protettore]

[He really doesn't care for the attention this is beginning to attract, and it at least helps to have someone on his side, but this damn shop keep is really getting on his nerves.

But he doesn't want to start a fight, as much as he'd honestly like to if that's what it'd take to get him off his back. He's not from here, and with tensions already high because of this whole Syndicate thing and the recent death of their king, he needs to think with his head. He'd be dragging his traveling companions into this too, and he can't allow that.

So Gladio does the only thing he thinks of to do, which he absolutely hates, but it has to be done anyway. He holds out his hand.

And suddenly right there in his palm sits a cup of noodles.]

Here. It's not a weapon, but it's the best damn thing you'll find in this entire marketplace. Take it or leave it. You know who eats this stuff? Royalty. Kings. That's what they eat where I'm from.

1/2

[kimaris]

[ Those are noodles.

Those are noodles that you put into a microwave, or pour some kettle-boiling water into.

Those are noodles. ]

2/2

[kimaris]

[ Well... it's probably fine... Gaelio's not buying it, but the shopkeeper is incredibly fascinated suddenly, leaning over the noodles with a sharp eye... even pulling out a magnifying glass at one point, as if to verify the authenticity of such a claim.

It works. The noodles are apparently a worthy replacement for a sword sale. ]

That was [ ... ] a noble sacrifice.

[protettore]

[Listen you don't understand he loves cup noodles so much SO MUCH this is breaking his heart right now.]

No one needs your commentary.

[Gladio hisses under his breath, giving a glance at the other guy before he begrudgingly hands over his beloved cup noodles, taking a few coins in exchange. This is a rip-off, as far as he's concerned, but he's not going to risk getting into a brawl for refusing to sell his sword.

The shopkeep thanks him with a pleased smile and Gladio just scoffs and turns his head away. He really wishes he could flip him off. His noodles........... :(]

three; FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

[reeliable]

[Noct has been watching and making a tally (and maybe some sparring notes) of how many Gladio has taken out - so when he finally does get out of the ring for a "breather", Noct has a little grin and a wet rag, offering it over while glancing past his Shield at his last opponent.]

You still aren't even winded? You are a beast.

[protettore]

[That's what happens when you have endless stamina. Too bad Noct can't adapt that talent for himself. Even though Gladio doesn't care for an audience, it's good to have Noct nearby. Something about it steadies his nerves, especially in this particular location where everyone is rarring for a fight. As long as he keeps an eye on him, he'll be just fine. And if anyone tries anything then Gladio doesn't mind adding a notch in that tally.]

That's my middle name, along with everything else you've called me over the years that ain't as nice.

[He reaches out to ruffle Noct's hair a little too roughly, wiping his face as he spits out a bit of blood. The last guy was a big one, wider than tall, and he packed a really mean punch. He got Gladio across the jaw and he's surprised he has any teeth left.]

[reeliable]

That sort of sounds like you want a list.

[Squinting his eyes shut to the ruffle and raising an arm to bat his hand away, Noct laughs a bit before offering over that rag. He's got a bit of a bloody face going on and he can't help piping up like the peanut gallery - it's rare anyone gets a good hit on Gladio like that.]

Wipe your nose so the girls stop thinking you look gross.

[protettore]

What for? I already got one.

[And he points to his head. An elephant Amicitia never forgets. Those ornery days when Noct was all young and rebellious and didn't care about respecting him and-- oh wait he's still like that. Nevermind.]

Girls like a guy that's kinda bloodied up. Shows how tough I am.

[He wipes himself off, giving a grumble of thanks before he happens to just. Give a quick glance around. Just in case.]

You here to impress any ladies, princess?

[reeliable]

I don't know, I thought just standing around flexing was part of that.

[What's that about respect? Noct does remember most of the things he's called Gladio, and some of them don't really apply anymore, and haven't for years. They grew past that, he'd say. Then again, getting a remark of princess makes him squint at his shield, even if he's aware he just did some glance around.]

Not really, though I have been giving the fights a thought. Might be good to do a round or two, just to get back to hand to hand - I can't use any magic after all. [The ring bans it, and he can't phase at all anymore in the first place.]