Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
at adventu, we believe that colorful story and plots far outweigh the need for a battle system. rp should be about the writing, the fun, and the creativity. you will see that the only system on our site is the encouragement to create amazing adventures with other members. welcome to adventu... how will you arrive?
year 5, quarter 3
Welcome one and all to our beautiful new skin! This marks the visual era of Adventu 4.0, our 4th and by far best design we've had. 3.0 suited our needs for a very long time, but as things are evolving around the site (and all for the better thanks to all of you), it was time for a new, sleek change. The Resource Site celebrity Pharaoh Leep was the amazing mastermind behind this with minor collaborations from your resident moogle. It's one-of-a-kind and suited specifically for Adventu. Click the image for a super easy new skin guide for a visual tour!
Final Fantasy Adventu is a roleplaying forum inspired by the Final Fantasy series. Images on the site are edited by KUPO of FF:A with all source material belonging to their respective artists (i.e. Square Enix, Pixiv Fantasia, etc). The board lyrics are from the Final Fantasy song "Otherworld" composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by The Black Mages II.
The current skin was made by Pharaoh Leap of Pixel Perfect. Outside of that, individual posts and characters belong to their creators, and we claim no ownership to what which is not ours. Thank you for stopping by.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:25:08 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
Caius dusted off his attire when the man introduced himself, not wanting to look too much of a mess in front of a client if he could help it. Not much could be done about his hair, though, so he just smoothed it back for the time being. Caius wasn’t all that appearance conscious in general, but the kingsglaive understood very well the importance of being a consummate professional in this line of work. So the man was called Cloud… Where had he heard that before? It reminded him of the stories that Yuffie had told. He didn’t have a photographic memory of the entire tale, but he could almost swear he had heard of a Cloud. Worse yet, was that sword. It was a dead ringer for the one he had seen on the back of Angeal. And then there was those eyes… They were the same, weren’t they? The same as Angeal… And the same as Sephiroth. They had that same strange glow, which Caius had not yet identified the cause of.
Fortunately, a good poker face hid this concern. At least for now. The best thing he could do was gather information. Caius nodded at the explanation of his business here. So he wanted to join up? He didn’t look like the type to run with a group, if he was being honest. But he wasn’t one to turn down a potential recruit, especially one who could swing around a sword like that. Especially with all the threats that were now coming down on their heads. Still, he needed to be careful with his vetting, or risk having enemies on the inside.
“The Dragonblades are always open to new recruits. Of course, we’re not exactly your run of the mill mercenary guild, either” Caius brought up, as he would motion for Cloud to follow him while he made his way back inside. “Why don’t you tell me what you know of us? I’m interested in knowing more about your background, as well. I think a good working relationship starts with being upfront. I’ll grab us some drinks.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:24:00 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
Of course, raising his voice had attracted attention from other passengers on the train. Because of course it had. Caius didn’t like to draw attention to himself, but he couldn’t help himself with the insane ramblings that came out of Renitra’s mouth. And yet, she wasn’t lying either. He could call it madness all he wanted, she was completely serious. So Caius listened as Renitra info-dumped on “Voidsent” and how she assumed daemons, or MTs, worked the same way. MT being the specific term used was even more concerning. MT was what they used to describe Niflheim’s infantry, their Magitech troopers. Who as they would later find out, were all daemons that had been bred in Niflheim’s labs, enslaved to their will and used as cannon fodder.
Caius’ hands found his head as she went on and on. She didn’t really need to convince him further that she had met Noctis, but she seemed intent on it. Caius knew he talked a lot when he became invested in something, so he tried not to judge Renitra too harshly. But he really would wish she’d calm down when he was trying to process the absolute batshit insanity she had thrown at him already.
“Prompto, Gladiolus, and Ignis” Caius calmly corrected the names that she had butchered. “They are Prince Noctis’ retainers, akin to family. They were out to stop the starscourge, a darkness that threatened to blot out the sun and flood our world with daemons.”
Well, at least Noctis had enjoyed himself while he was there. It was strange he had never mentioned this portal hopping adventure before… Caius supposed he would have to ask him about it. It wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility, after all. The Astrals had, apparently, sent Noctis here to Zephon too. Had it sent him to the world of Eorzea first? Was this all part of the test that the Astrals had set out for him, in order to prepare him to fight Ardyn and become the True King?
“To be frank, your story is batshit insane. But I believe you” Caius remarked far too bluntly. “So in short. Back in my world, I was a retainer for the Royal Family Lucis Caelum. I served Noctis after he took the crown as King, as one of his Kingsglaive. A special forces unit that borrows the Power of Kings to protect Lucis. I can sense a similar power coming from you, though it’s been dulled to where I wouldn’t have recognized it if I wasn’t making a concentrated effort. It’s likely that Noctis wasn’t able to bestow a lasting boon to you just yet. The one in my world was older, and had a better command of our crystal’s power.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:22:35 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
“I was… Not very social, at the time. I had almost forgotten how to be” Caius admitted quietly, sheepishly scratching his head. “I had no choice but to learn to do everything myself, and rely only on myself. For the longest time, I was alone. And when I finally found a purpose, I didn’t care whether or not I died for it. The years after that, I… Tried, to fit in. But ultimately, I kept my distance. Focused on my work, never really opened up to anybody before I… Well, died.”
Caius thought back on it for a moment, frowning as he envisioned a face that had been almost lost to him. “There was an older man, the one I mentioned, who tried to help me catch up on my education. He was an archivist, I think. He was kind, and part of me wanted to talk to him about all that I had been through – to take that first step. But I wasn’t ready at the time, and… I never had the opportunity in the end. And I regret that. If… Even one version of me can find the strength to do what I could not, I think that would make me happy.”
He didn’t know if Noctis would be able to help him, the other him, get there. He didn’t even know if Noctis would remember any of this. But even if it was an impossible dream, it was one he wanted to try and hold onto. Noctis gave the condition that he would like to be able to visit the flowers, and Caius nodded to that. “With how beautiful they are, I think she’ll agree to that” Caius answered, not sure why Celes wouldn’t want to let someone who valued the flowers see them. She was a very big flower person, he doubted she’d pass up having someone like that come around.
Well… Besides the fact she didn’t seem keen on others knowing about it. Not that it stopped her from publicly obsessing over the flowers at that restaurant. But given these flowers’ ties to Luna, maybe she would make an exception. Something to talk to her about, if they ever got around to that garden. Caius nodded in thanks to Noctis’ offer about helping with Lumina, and the revenge plot. He honestly didn’t want to bring Noctis along for the latter, considering they had almost killed Noctis in front of him once already. But if circumstances made it necessary, well…
Caius breathed out a small laugh when Noctis called him “cuz”. What even was their relation? Because at this point, he had no idea. But… The acknowledgement meant a great deal to him, and Caius had to prematurely wipe his eye with his sleeve before it could start watering again.
“Thanks, Noct.”
And that, right there, was the breakthrough. An actual break in Caius’ strictly held together professionalism, especially in regards to Noctis. He had never, ever called him by nickname, not once. It had always been “Your Highness”, or “Noctis”. There had always been that barrier, born of respect for who he had been in Caius’ timeline. Yet one that perhaps kept Noctis just a touch at arm’s length, unable to treat him with the same affections as he had with Celes, Yuna or Lumina. Or “Cel” and “Lumey” as he had called two of those. Addressing Noctis with any sort of nickname was a sign that perhaps this barrier had finally been broken.
Caius’ reserved laugh was then broken by Noctis’ question, turning into something far more full-bellied. “My mother was probably around your height, with dark hair. My little sister was the same, but my brother and I took more after our father. I towered over my mother by the time I was eight.”
Which also said he was much taller than Noctis by that age too, but he didn’t want to say it directly.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:20:40 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
“Do as you feel to be best, Yuna. Just try not to forget that’s exactly what I tried to do” Caius pointed out with a bittersweet smile. He wished her the best, truly, but it wasn’t her capabilities that he didn’t trust. Sure, Caius had gotten woefully drunk, and pointed a knife at him. But he had tried to be civil, very civil, far more civil than he wanted to be after Alex had already threatened Yuna. Caius had repressed every urge to gut him right then and there in said attempt to be civil, and it had gotten him nowhere. But then again… Alex seemed to be far more inclined towards women. Perhaps that fact alone would give Yuna an advantage that Caius did not possess, on account he lacked the parts. Just so long as he didn’t try to put Yuna to sleep.
“I hope Celes is still standing when I return. I need to get back and support her as quickly as I can” Caius remarked as Yuna claimed they all needed a break. Perhaps they did, but he’d rather Celes’ break not be in a hospital bed. “That woman has been on a neverending cycle of running herself into the ground since the day I met her. She needs a break more than anyone else. A real break, this time. I might have to encourage her to take that vacation the resort in the Pale Coast offered us some time ago.”
If Tomoe didn’t try to push him to take it first. In his view, however, Tomoe was just getting too worked up, he was tired but nothing a bit of sleep wouldn’t fix. The complete and utter shitshow he had in fact been bearing the brunt of however, was soon to come spilling out. And with it, just how little a difference between the two there really was.
Caius didn’t know why he had agreed to stay, when he had been so adamant before. Maybe he was more tired than he was allowing himself to believe, he didn’t know. But he found himself just… Without the energy left to argue with Yuna on it further. He didn’t know who Dion and Terence were either, but she’d probably tell him on the way back, so he just nodded in kind. Yuna then brought up a tour, to another nod. “I’m sure I will.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:19:12 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
“He seemed nice. I’ll take that as a compliment” Caius spoke without even putting major thought into how Genesis might react. He had filed the information of them knowing each other away, but at this point Genesis was either going to try and torch him and the ship, or he wasn’t. He didn’t know if anything he said would make a difference for or against at this point. It seemed like something innocent could easily enough set him off, so Caius would just have to be prepared for whatever possibility.
He did, however, listen patiently as Genesis explained he was, in fact, not dying anymore. But he said something that piqued Caius’ curiosity. Not good at being good? As in he was actually trying? Considering the whole mansion thing, he could have fooled Caius on that front. Still, he supposed he couldn’t judge much. Didn’t that conflict just ring a bell? Caius half-closed his eyes as he stared out at the open sea, lost in thought. “It’s not exactly easy. Especially when you live through suffering, it’s a struggle. It becomes a tall order to learn. How do you act on things that you haven’t often seen extended to you?” Caius mused aloud. “I’m not perfect either. When that cruel slaver tried to take away someone precious to me — have them executed in front of me just out of spite for things not going their way — I took their head without hesitation. It wasn’t pretty, and I regret that my friend had to see me that way” he admitted softly, unsure of why he was allowing himself to go back to a place he had tried to forget. Maybe he really did want to believe Genesis could do better. Curse that hopeless optimism. “I did what I felt was necessary, but it was a gruesome end. I don’t know if even they deserved it. My friend certainly didn’t deserve to see it. She was already locked up the same as I was. It’s… Difficult, sometimes. Looking her in the eyes and wondering if deep down she sees a monster.”
There it was. Caius still hadn’t forgiven himself for what Yuna had been made to witness. The slaver’s death had been quick, but far from painless. Caius had only wanted to save Vordun, but his emotions had gotten the best of him. No matter how much he hid away, it always seemed to. Caius stared down at his hands, squeezing them into fists.
“When I see how they treat people in Sonora, it makes me want to hurt them. I’ve seen their prisons, heard horror stories about how they handle people who were imprisoned even just for practicing magic, or being born from a different world. It takes every fiber of my being to not rush every prison I can find, and on my way to liberating every wrongly imprisoned soul, slowly and painfully exact vengeance on everyone who would do that to them. I’ve watched my family be held prisoner, being treated like cattle, not even human. This feels no different, and it makes me desperately want to act, and in the process do things I would not be proud of.”
Caius winced a moment as his hand fell on his head, nursing a sudden splitting headache. His family had been held prisoner, yes, and by bandits he recalled. He tried searching his thoughts for how that had gone, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. But he knew one thing. “I don’t… I don’t want anyone to suffer like we did, never again. But I need to think logically. I need to be in control, find the right time to act, and not lose myself in the process. Or I could hurt the very people I want to help.”
Another “silent sacrifice”, as Genesis might call it. Not being able to pursue exactly what he wanted to at any given moment because of the harm it would cause, even if it hurt to walk away. His current objective, his position, all of it had given him the means to do so much good. But he wanted to do more, in other ways. And all he could do was suppress the emotions that came with it, until the time was right. Even at the sacrifice of his own mental health. How many nightmares had he experienced of the people being hurt that he could do nothing to help, because he chose not to?
“Back on Eos, I had little life to speak of before I joined the Kingsglaive. I had been alone for a very long time after what those bandits did to my family. I had no chance to have a childhood, no chance to grow up or have a life before it was all taken away. And when I finally had the chance to rebuild again after so many years, I gave up my life so my world’s people, and the King who gave me that chance, could have a future” Caius spoke softly as he held out a hand, as if he could just grasp the wide open world below. “In return, it seems this world gave me a second chance. This time, I’ve sworn to make the most of it.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:15:55 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
Hm, no interest there. Well, you couldn’t recruit ‘em all, at least not on the first try. Perhaps an opportunity would come up, given due time. Caius was more taken aback by the fact that the mercenary before him had actually managed to grab the creature by its tentacles and throw it a distance. Considering the sheer heaping size of the thing… Well, that wasn’t something Caius had considered possible to most. Caius had never tested the limits of the superhuman strength that becoming a kingsglaive had granted him, but this man’s staggering abilities made him curious…
But for now, they had a job to focus on. Even if on the surface, Oren probably didn’t need him if he could do that. But his moves were too aggressive, too forward and open. Like he was laser focused on mutilating the thing. The shouts that came with his moves backed this up, and Caius was starting to wonder if the man was even mentally sound. No, he supposed the man probably needed Caius after all. One whiff of Bad Breath and it was over for Oren. Fighting a malboro alone was suicide. The fact Oren had come without backup said much to begin with, and his fighting style said more.
It was for the best that he got involved, and ended this quickly.
Caius directed Vordun to fly over the malboro as Caius began preparing a spell. Once the creature’s mouth was open, Caius instructed Vordun to use his fire breath, while Caius launched a Fira.
Unfortunately, the creature wasn’t done yet, suddenly launching Bad Breath towards the duo. The poison miasma made contact with the flames and exploded in mid-air, blowing their chance to exploit its weak spot. Seeming to have sensed that its life was in danger, the Malboro loosed a bloodcurdling roar before its mouth shut. It would move its tendrils to the left, then the right, and…
“Oren, get back!” Caius called out as he tapped a few times on Vordun’s back. A silent instruction for the dragon to retreat, as the Malboro would launch poisonous spores on all sides across the battlefield.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:14:48 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
“I would appreciate that, thank you” Caius extended his appreciation when Cindy offered to grab a new set of drinks. She herself then extended a perspective that Caius hadn’t really thought about, at least in terms of building. Getting a fresh perspective outside of your own wasn’t just useful in battle, apparently. Eventually, looking at it on your own just becomes a blur… Interesting. “I hadn’t thought of that. Guess I’m still too reliant on my own skills alone, even now” Caius admitted softly. “Might even be what’s held me back from making the most of what I’ve been building. I’ll have to try it your way sometime.”
It had been a good long while since he had actually been at the workshop. Some nutjob Celes hired had taken over his workbench while he was gone, and he had heard more than one explosion since. However, the girl was a genius, and Caius knew she was getting far more use out of the space than he was. He could do maintenance on his weapons with the tools he brought with him, but he hadn’t had time lately to do anything beyond that.
Maybe when this mess was all over, he could look at it again. Maybe seeing what Cindy was working on would provide some inspiration? Speaking of builds, Cindy reasoned that at least if it did get scrapped, someone likely found good use of it. He smiled, bittersweet, not sure how to explain that it didn’t really make him feel any better. “This is probably strange for me to say, but… It was really my only companion for a long time. And keeping it going was about the only purpose I had back then, besides surviving myself. I’d spend hours getting it just perfect, with any materials I could scrounge up, or buy in a pinch if I had the smallest bit of extra gil. I kind of miss it.”
Caius sat up fully to face Cindy when she asked about doing more events. “Haven’t thought about it yet. I took whatever I could find that would take me far away, so Lumey could get some time with her sister. I haven’t checked the board since” he admitted, scratching his beard in thought. “Suppose if you’ve got time to kill, we could go take a look.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 17, 2024 11:13:04 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
Caius hadn’t expected a history lesson about his home country, but he appreciated Mu being open with him nonetheless. It was honestly surreal to have Mu opening up to him after all this time. They had worked together for a long time now, but he had never heard anything about Mu’s background, or really understood his motives. He had just been a good guy doing the right thing, but ultimately deciding to stay unaffiliated and working alone most of the time. Well, alone alongside Enma, anyway. But the clan’s history was interesting… And reminded him in some ways of the Kingsglaive, and of Celes’ Returners. “Freedom fighters, aye? That sounds like the Kingsglaive trying to retake our world. Or Celes’ Returners trying to liberate theirs” Caius immediately brought this up as soon as it came to mind. “I understand feeling like a family even without blood, though. That’s how I feel about the Dragonblades. I've long lacked family, but... With them, I just feel right.”
So Mu was like him, taken from his purpose and brought here. And had spent all his time since trying to forge a new one. “Don’t I know the feeling. The Dragonblades were ultimately what I decided my new purpose should be, since I could no longer protect Lucis or its King.”
Despite what he had said though, Mu had ultimately decided to undergo his journey anyway. There wasn’t really anything further Caius could say to dissuade him. His mind was made up. Still, he seemed pretty set on joining eventually, which Caius was glad to hear. So he still had that to look forward to. So, Caius raised a glass to that. “You have nothing to prove in my eyes, Mu. But if this journey is what you feel you need, I understand. All I can really do is wish you the best of luck in that journey, and hope that it brings you everything you could ever want from it. We’ll still be here, hopefully.”
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 28, 2024 13:07:55 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
Ignis seemed relieved, somehow, that Noctis had survived. That only made him even more suspect that something was wrong. Ignis bowed in acknowledgement of his sacrifice, and Caius didn’t know what to think or do except to bow in return. It was Ignis that had paved the way to their victory, after all. Caius didn’t understand all the specifics about it, he hadn’t been in a position to. He only knew that Scienta had been instrumental to ending the scourge the way they had.
But what came next made Caius quickly wish he’d never spoken up. For the second time in the last 24 hours, Caius soon wished he could have taken it all back and continued to live in blessed ignorance. Because…
“NO!” suddenly and spontaneously spilled out without even a thought, but Caius quickly covered his own mouth before he could alert Yuna and those in her clinic.
Hearing him scream would draw every able-bodied person into this room, and Caius didn’t want that. Not to mention Ignis had been relying more on his hearing since losing his sight, he didn’t want to bring him harm. But in the seconds that followed, Caius’ mind raced as he tried to process just what he had heard.
The gods had intended for Noctis to die.
“My apologies, I didn’t mean-That’s… But that’s…”
Perhaps it would sound strange, hearing him react like this when he had just told Ignis that the Noctis in his world had conquered this grim fate. But while Caius’ information had given Ignis peace, what Ignis had provided in return only served to torment the troubled kingsglaive. Caius’ hands fell to his sides, clenching into fists and shaking uncontrollably as Caius began making noises that sounded something between a deep, angry seethe, and sobbing.
“Bastards…” Caius breathed out in a whisper, his anger towards the gods and kings beginning to resurface anew. He had thought himself having managed to get his emotions under control, thanks to Noctis. But hearing what the gods had intended pushed him off an edge that even Caius wasn’t sure if he could come back from. Tears streaked down the kingsglaive’s face, and he tried, he really tried, to stop the rapid flowing of emotion and tears. Ignis didn’t deserve to have to deal with this, but he hadn’t even had enough time to amply process the first revelation from yesterday, much less handle this one on top of it.
“They really did intend to wipe all of us out, like it was all a game to them” came out in a hiss, as Caius began pacing frantically across the room. His chest began compressing, and it hurt, and his breathing grew heavier as all the pain he had experienced because of the Kings of Yore began to flood right back. He couldn’t stop it, he couldn’t stop this pain, the tears, his anger, none of it. He felt trapped, like a horrible nightmare that he couldn’t wake up from, no matter what he did.
“My family died for that stupid prophecy, and they still intended to take Noctis as well? Why?” Caius blurted out, no rational thought being able to save him from slowly, unintentionally revealing his parentage to a likely confused Ignis right then and there. He was stuck in a loop of heavy-set panic that he couldn’t get out of. He was aware of and grateful that Noctis had survived, yes, but…
“And the kings, they knew, didn’t they? They knew Noctis was supposed to die! They refused to help us, and would only help when the “appointed time” came – what, was that only supposed to be when they carried him to his frickin’ DEATH?!” was blurted out in Caius’ escalating spiral of rage, tears and grief, not even seeming to remember Ignis was there anymore.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Aug 28, 2024 12:30:51 GMT -6
Caius Lucis Caelum
That? Actually got a laugh out of Caius. He had learned to be as calm as possible, regardless of what circumstances were wrought. He had to, really. Caius wouldn’t have survived for those ten years if he hadn’t. It had been a necessary thing, but to see it actually begin to vex Genesis was funny to him. What was even funnier, however, was Genesis’ insistence that he needed to read the room. As if he had somehow inconvenienced him greatly by asking for more information. Caius turned his head a bit towards Genesis, and the corner of his mouth actually seemed to form into a touch of a grin.
“You’re the one purposely trying to rile me up” Caius pointed out. Genesis hadn’t exactly been socially welcoming and caring about his feelings either. In fact, he only seemed to care enough about his feelings to the extent that it bothered him that he couldn’t get a rise out of Caius, and little else. But at the end of it, Genesis actually did decide to talk about it. Had he actually won enough trust for that, or did he just like hearing himself talk? Caius wasn’t all that sure. But it at least gave him a little bit of understanding in regards to Genesis’ way of thinking.
“That’s not fair at all,” Caius admitted softly. “It doesn’t really matter how you came to be. Life is to be cherished, while we still have it. How it started or how long it lasts shouldn’t dub you monster" the glaive mused aloud. “You dictate who and what you are, in the time allowed. Do you know how long you have left?”
Genesis had neglected to mention that he was no longer decaying, and thus no longer had such a short lifespan, so Caius had asked that question in hopes talking about it might give Genesis an outlet he probably had been lacking. His tone, while calm, was soft and empathetic, showing he wanted to be there to support this pyromaniac stranger – as strange, perhaps, as that was. Caius hadn’t forgotten that Genesis was dangerous, but he couldn’t hear that and not want to help in some way.
“Hmm, I guess it’s possible,” Caius near-whispered at the prospect of getting a team of heroes together that were large enough to overthrow Sonora’s government. “We have our own mission right now. Don’t have the resources to allocate to do both – when going to war would be such a life-changing thing for all involved. Perhaps when we make some headway, grow in resources and capability, and ensure elsewhere will be safe while we make the trek. It may eventually be doable. Once we’re ready.”
He looked out to sea and flashed a sad smile. “I’m not against taking that leap. Sacrifice isn’t new to me."