Week 6 cyoa: hei, jiuqing, vin, and kashuu

[saturations]

spoiler warnings: ff14 heavensward and some light endwalker elements
content warnings: violence, death, war, terrorism (short), brief mentions/references for eyegore, brief mention/reference for decapitation, depression, suicidal ideation (nihilist flavor), suicide, dragons and monsters eating people

Comments

[disestablishment]

[ Ysayle nods and will wait for Jiuqing by the door to the stairwell. Of course, if Jiuqing wants to talk to the dragonets a bit more... She can a bit. It doesn't seem Ysyale isn't impatient.

"There are a lot of older dragons around! Some are grumpy or sleeping, though, but it's not like we get manchildren visitors! Maybe they'll wake up to check you guys out."

The dragonets speak very casually. ]

[countermeasures]

Well, I hope not to disturb them...

[she smiles. but, she does remember they have a purpose here, so she bows to the dragonets once.]

It was nice to meet you. Perhaps we'll get to speak again.

[following ysayle to the stairwell! she doesn't want to keep her waiting.]

[disestablishment]

[ When she leaves, they wave their short little front paws, "goodbye, child of man!" The dragonets would rather play than speak politics or weird kidnappings, so they don't follow the two of them as they ascend the spiral steps. The structure... Is old and the walls are covered in vines, nature overturning the times when this was built. Ysayle strokes her chin and tilts her head. ] My apologies if you had wished to know them. [ Since she guesses Jiuqing has never seen? Dragons? ] I had thought it would be better for us to speak with what dragons would be considered adults, rather than take chances with their young. [ They pass one floor of the tower and there Jiuqing could see through the large doorway. There are slumbering dragons here, then also more dragonets. Ysayle seems to want to keep ascending, though, but she pauses for Jiuqing to take in the peaceful sight. ]

[countermeasures]

It's a better choice, strategically. But they were very cute, weren't they?

[they're just walking along and it's not embarrassing to talk about how cute they were when she's not in front of them. it's fine.

...oh. looking through the doorway, the sleeping dragons... she smiles as she sees it, committing the sight to memory, and then turns to continue up the stairwell.]

...let's keep moving. We have work to do.

[disestablishment]

[ Oh, this gets Ysayle excited? She tries to keep her voice quiet as they keep going up, but there's an obvious giddiness... One that fits her age. She's only twenty-four. ] They're endearing. [ Coos. ] You think so, too?

[countermeasures]

[jiuqing, who is simultaneously just one or two years younger than ysayle and six or seven years younger than her, is also acting her age.]

Yes, they're adorable!

[can't believe they're bonding over thinking dragons are cute.]

[disestablishment]

[ YSAYLE!! LOVES THE CUTE SHIT!!!! ] ... 'Tis rude, but I trust you not to tattle. [ Because like. They're Dragons. She might get eaten. ] They remind me of the large stuffed toy my parents made for me, but I lost it when we quickly sought refuge in Ishgard. [ ... ] I miss them. [ But they're nearing the top! ]

[countermeasures]

I won't tell a soul.

[she would also prefer not to be eaten. no vore here.

...but, oh. parents. jiuqing doesn't care much for her father, but she does treasure the things her mother has made for her over the years, and she puts a sympathetic hand on ysayle's arm as they continue to climb the steps.]

...I'm sorry, Lady Ysayle.

[missing loved ones... she can relate.

anyway, here they are up near the top! what now.]

[disestablishment]

Thank you... It is the fault of this war. [ ... ] When it is over, no child will need to suffer losing their family to it. [ Desperately. No more children like herself. ] We're here, it seems. Do not be nervous, but if you are you may use me as your shield.

[ But, hey! We are up here and there is an aetheryte (giant blue rotating crystal) at the center of this floor. Across from the stairwell is another door opening, to the outside—another area. However, they are here to speak to a dragon! And the most prominent dragon here is one all white...


Everyone is like no we don't want your bottom-heavy dragons, but I cannot stop. It is canon. The white dragon speaks with a feminine voice.

"What brings thou here, child of man? None of my kin have said you were welcome." ]

[countermeasures]

We are sorry for intruding, but we wished to meet with you. It is an honor to be here.

[jiuqing bows, immediately, her hands together. it's a formal bow from her world, and hopefully the white dragon can tell that it's respectful even if the customs here differ. dragons are wise, as ysayle said - perhaps they can read her intent?

ysayle's intentions are noble, too, so. maybe she should go first.

jiuqing murmurs - ]

Lady Ysayle, your matter is more pressing than mine. I can wait.

[disestablishment]

Great dragon, I wish to speak with the wyrm Hraesvelgr. If you would bestow unto me any guidance or wisdom to how I approach this, I would be ever grateful. Why I wish to speak to him is to ask for his aid in bringing peace back between our lands, between man and dragon. [ She is done with her piece! So she looks over to Jiuqing. ] You may have your turn.

---

[ The dragon acknowledges Ysayle's words, but doesn't respond just yet. ] Thou are allowed to speak, child of man.

[countermeasures]

Thank you.

[she says this twice - once to ysayle, and once to the dragon, before she begins speaking.]

...the truth is, I don't know how I got here. I awoke on the tundra with no knowledge of how I arrived, or even of what this place was. I wish to return home, but not knowing how I got here, I don't even know where to start. Lady Ysayle said that if anyone might be able to help me, it would be the dragons, who possess more wisdom and knowledge than someone like me.

[disestablishment]

[ Jiuqing also has a bird! It is black and watching. ]

---

...?

---

[ The dragon also sees it, but it thinks addresses their asks is more important. ] And where may home be, child?

[countermeasures]

[well.

jiuqing rolled a 2 on her perception check, so she doesn't notice the bird, because she's focused on the dragon.]

It is called Daxing. I don't know where it is in relation to here - the map I saw had no places that looked familiar to me.

[disestablishment]

First, thou may address me as Vidofnir, daughter of Hraesvelgr. [ Dragon :thonk: ] It is not a land I have heard in mine years alive, but my sire may knows better. Seeing that I have found no animosity in thou and thine, so thou may past to Sohm Al. My sire's abode is further in the Churning Mists, but will only be summoned by a tune played on a horn. The moogles have been wards for this horn for centuries. Beseech them.

[countermeasures]

You have my gratitude for your guidance, Vidofnir, daughter of Hraesvelgr.

[help. it is a miracle that she rolled higher than a 10 and didn't botch that pronunciation.

she smiles, though - she is grateful - and straightens up, glancing at ysayle to see if she knows where they can find the moogles. if not, jiuqing will have to ask vidofnir where they are.]

[disestablishment]

Yes, thank you, Vidofnir. I am ever in your debt. [ YSAYLE IS A TOP! So she, even if she doesn't fucking know, will lead them through the large door opening that connects to a bridge. This is where they enter the Churning Mists. ]

[ When they step out, there is a hill they must scale, but when they reach it, they find themselves a platform to view the vistas that float on the clouds themselves. They all connect, all of it climbable, but between the gaps and crevices they can see clouds and the earth below.


Here Jiuqing can see even more dragons flying overhead. They keep walking and before they know it, they'll find Dravanian down trees, a plethora of them, and this little thing just... Dancing. It is wiggling about by itself while singing? ]

[countermeasures]

[oh, wow...

jiuqing mostly keeps her composure as they walk, but - she looks impressed at the view, too.]

It's breathtaking...

[she's not going to like, look around wildly or anything like that, but she is definitely appreciating the view from up here. she looks curiously at the down trees, too, and she wants to ask what they are, but - there's that little creature.

she glances at ysayle.]

Do you know what that is, because I don't...

[disestablishment]

[ Whispers: ] 'Tis a moogle. [ She seemed professional before, but now she's filled with endearment. ]

1/2

[countermeasures]

It's so cute...!

2/2

[countermeasures]

[ah, but, right. the moogles are the ones who had the horn they need...

she takes a breath, composes herself, and approaches. focus! they need to focus!!]

Hello, there! That's a lovely song you were singing.

[disestablishment]

You like my song, kupo? Of course you do, kupo! [ It preens its giant pom, the thing that's attached to the top of its head. ]

---

[ Ysayle arthurfists because inside she is SQUEALING, but professional voice. Professional look. With Jiuqing. ] Greetings, moogle... We are here for the horn to summon the great wyrm.

---

You mean... This horn, kupo?! [ TAKES OUT THE FUCKING HORN. ]

[countermeasures]

[oh.



that was easy.]

Yes, that one! Might we borrow it from you?

[disestablishment]

[ ... Hides the horn immediately. ] No, kupo!

[countermeasures]

[


or not.]

I'm not asking to borrow it for free, of course. Perhaps there is some service we could do in exchange for it? We'd give it right back afterwards.