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.
The girl rolled her eyes at the mage's predictable, yet refreshing response. "Believe me, miss... High Mage, or whatever... I'll be much happier knowing that it isn't mine. I've seen what these things do in the wrong hands..." She set the inert shard back on the desk, seeing that it had failed to react to her besides a faint hum.
When the mage produced their next trial, however, Sherlotta lost all color in her face, glaring at the mirror brought before them with dread. Her gaze shot across to Yeul when she volunteered herself for the tribulation. She didn't even need to. A maternal worry took over her and she extended a hand in objection. "Wait, Yeul..." But the seer had already looked into the mirror, and she could only look on in horror as she watched the poor girl's face fill with remorse. What could someone her age have to be so guilty over?
When Yeul finally stepped away, Sherlotta couldn't help herself. She stepped over to her and held her shoulders, crouching in front of her. "That... Was really stupid." She sighed, wiping away the single tear the girl had shed. "But really brave. You didn't have to do that, you know?" She stayed close to her as Matteus stepped up to the task, with his standard begrudging expression, instead watching him over her shoulder. This one, she was more interested to see. The measure of an emperor, whom she had disliked from the beginning anyway.
He went through a myriad of expressions. Hate. Contempt. Conflict. Disgust. The masks of denial. Someone constantly justifying themselves. At one point, he pawed at his face, as if checking he was still himself. Either he truly was so obsessed with his own beauty that it had become his shadow, or he had seen something darker. A portent, perhaps? In the end, he tossed it on the table with a look of exasperation and stepped away, retreating into his own thoughts.
By now, she could feel the expectant eyes of the High Mage on her. A shiver ran up her spine. She knew exactly what she would see. She released Yeul and stood up slowly, balling her fists and moving to the table where she gripped the mirror but kept it face down until she could steel herself. Gritting her teeth, the girl finally turned it over and beheld herself for only a few moments before familiarity overtook her.
Her village. Her living village, in the moments just before. How many times, she wondered, had she been subject to the same horrific night? How many times had she relived this, over and over, before she finally ended up here? And only to be reminded of it.
She saw Bachenn being overwhelmed by those horrid golem creatures. Hunch-backed and adorned with masks that wore crooked smiles. Blades where they should have hands. She saw one pounce the older Clavat, then a second, a third, until he was no longer visible beneath a mound of them. Then came the sound of gathering power, more, more more...
Boom.
All of them at once, exploded, the poor man beneath them powerless to escape. She could hear the rest of them, cutting, beating, torching... She could hear the screams.
"Sherlotta!" A boy's voice called. "Take Eryll. Get her away from here. I have to find Ilina. Go!"
Sherlotta did so. Left Lian to his fate while she escaped with his little sister. She could hear what happened to him behind her. She could here Eryll scream and tell her to go back for him. She refused. She refused, and then she felt the little girl's hand slip from her grasp. She saw her lying there, and a golem pounce from the nearby foliage to sink its blades into her body.
Then all she saw was another face. His face. The demon. Her tormentor. Larkecius...
At the top of his tower, she said farewell to her beloved child. Create the core, drag Larkecius down... Relive.
Create the core. Drag him down. Relive.
Create the core. Drag him down. Relive.
Relive. Relive it all.
The pain, the suffering, the loss.
The love, the laughter, the adventure.
The goodbye.
"I warn you." She whispered, to the next image she saw in the mirror, as if it were really that boy standing in front of her. "I'm going to have to ask you to do... Just about the simplest thing in the world."
That's what this was. One last time, on fast-forward - Relive it all. Her free hand reached out to stroke the mirror as the image of the boy faded, and left her staring at herself - Her true self, not this false body she wore - For a few moments before it disappeared too, and she gently set the mirror down, taking several steps back.
What was she doing here? What had she been doing all this time, gallivanting around like it was a game? Under her breath, she listed off the names of everyone in her village, a death register she could never forget, and ended it with an apology.
The old woman watches them closely each in turn. Yeul looks startled. Shaken. But she admits her own weakness and the mirror deactivates in kind. With her trial over, she sets the mirror down and returns to her place before. Though her eyes are passive, a tear runs down her cheek and the woman frowns at her. "That took a great deal of strength, child," she says. "Everyone has darkness inside them." Much to her surprise, the cat girl moves to comfort her. The woman smiles at that.
Her expression hardens as the self-claimed emperor takes the mirror. She watches him much closer and catches a far greater range of emotions. Disgust. Pain. Resolve. And horror. His breath quickens as he touches his face, and the woman eyes him closely as he does so. After a time, he tears himself away from his own vision and thrusts the mirror back on to the desk with a single word: No. Then he steps away to wait in the corner. The woman starts to speak, but can't find the words before the third steps forward and takes the mirror for herself.
There's pain in the girl's eyes before she looks upon the glass. Her jaw is set, her expression one almost of anger. Then horror. Sadness. And finally resolution. She whispers something to herself that the woman doesn't catch before the mirror deactivates and she sets it down. As their eyes meet, the girl's expression carries nothing. She steps back to await judgment.
The woman lets out a low humming noise, tapping at the desk before shaking her head. "No one is unconflicted," she says, "But those of a harmonious disposition have come to terms with their darkness. What drives you forward? What holds you back? Leaving these unacknowledged will only tear you apart in the end." She takes the mirror in her hand and carefully replaces it in her cabinet. Her hand pauses on the glass before she reaches further inside and pulls out an elaborate silver helm that shines even in the low light. It's carved into the likeness of a dragon with bejeweled eyes and a snout the curves over the face. She approaches Yeul and offers the helm to her.
"You've shown an incredible harmony within you and a compassion that can't be broken. I've seen a lot of wannabe heroes in my day, but you're the genuine deal." She smiles at the girl before glancing at the helm. "This once belonged to the ancient warrior entombed here. He was inspired by the dragons to fight for the good of the world. This helm is made of some of the strongest metals on earth, and to those who are worthy of it, it's said to sharpen their wit and give them the insight of the most ancient of dragons. You have a pure heart, Paddra Nsu-Yeul, but even the purest of hearts need strength behind it. I hope you find the strength to make your own future."
With that done, the woman straightens and turns to the cat girl. "Whatever you saw, it looks like you found resolve with it. I guess I should apologize for doubting you, but this is an important job." Her eyes cool as they flick to the so-called emperor. "But you. You didn't come into peace with your darkness, but it didn't destroy you either. I've never seen that before." She turns and paces thoughtfully to the window, humming to herself before craning her neck to watch the moon. "In the hands of the truly chaotic, the magic of that mirror should have overtaken the user completely. But you only saw visions within the glass, not outside it..." She touches the window and lets her finger slide to the sill. "The Wind Crystal will judge you itself. If you're willing to risk your life in pursuit of it then so be it. I trust the other two will keep you in line, and there must be something within you that kept the mirror at bay. But I warn you now. The conflicted at heart will not be rewarded by what awaits you."
She steps back and turns to them once more. "If your resolve is unshaken, then I will light your way." She steps past them towards the fireplace. She touches the mantle and mutters a few words in an old language. Runes glow blue along the mantle then spread to the bricks, the grate, and finally the fire. There's a low hissing noise and the fire disappears, and beyond the hearth, the wall phases into nothing. Left behind is an ashy, three foot hole.
"Follow the staircase beyond here." The woman isn't looking at them anymore. "It will take you to your goal. But be careful. That which you seek will not be easily taken." With that, she returns to the window -- quiet and contemplative. Her task is done.
True to her word, the hole leads to a staircase without light. It spirals upwards in pure darkness for what feels like ages but might be something like twenty floors. Eventually, a light filters through the darkness. Blue. The staircase opens into a dimly lit, circular room with windows showing off the view of the entire mountain range from nearly the top of the tower. A wind blows through the open windows, bringing with it snow and ice. On one side of the room, there's a portal -- deactivated and without light. Farther away, there's another staircase, though it seems broken past the last few steps and plummets into a seemingly endless hole.
On the far end of the room is another portal though this one pulses with blue magic. At its side is a tent already set up with an open trunk beside it. Inside the trunk are a few bottles of magical potion and a bundle of orange feathers that oozes magic. As the travelers approach, there's a high-pitched squeak and the tent rattles as something inside it flails about. One word escapes the fabric of the tent, "K-Kupo!" before a rather distressed looking moogle tumbles out of it. It stares, wide-eyed, at the group before flitting towards them. "You're here!" it exclaims. "I've been waiting so long!" It drags a rather large tome behind before dropping it at the party's feet. "Would you like to save your progress, Kupo?"
[attr="class","nalyrics"]Pretending to be strong saying I'm not afraid of anything
[attr="class","nabody"]What would’ve Caius said if he’d seen her reflection in the mirror? Would he have been disappointed in her? Would he have loathed her? Or would he be sympathetic? Or, perhaps, would he not have cared at all?
He wasn’t there to answer.
The cat-girl instead came to her side. Wiping her tear, she gently scolded her. Really brave yet really stupid? Well, those attributes were new to the Seeress. Still, she let the edge of her lip curl upwards to give a half-hearted smile at the act of kindness. “You didn’t have to do that, you know?” She told her.
“I know.” Replied Yeul plainly, “But did anyway…It was only fair.”
The cat-girl stood beside Yeul as Mateus took his trial. She quietly watched as the emperor went through his own internal crisis. She watched him twitch, mutter, and quake as he bared witness to his own darkness. It seemed he fell into a cycle: Become frightened, struggle, and accept before starting again. Finally, he stepped back, looking, to the Seeress, exhausted. As he retreated backwards, she gave him a hushed “Good job.” Before turning her attention to Sherlotta.
It seemed she too struggled through her test. She stared at the mirror with such intensity that Yeul couldn’t help but grow curious. However, all the Seeress saw in the mirror was a black void. Seeing Sherlotta struggle hurt Yeul’s heart, and she couldn’t help but clasp her hands. She had just been so strong for her minutes before…
Sherlotta lowered the mirror, but she did not step back to join her and Mateus. Instead she lingered, as if the mirror cast a spell upon her to keep her in place. Cautiously, Yeul approached her, arm extended out towards her. She gently let her fingers rest on the cat-girl’s to show reassurance before returning her hand to her side.
Their trials were over. And they had all passed. The High Mage reached into her cabinet of treasures and brought out a beautiful dragon-like helm. Though Yeul was surprised as she offered the helmet to her, she did not let her expressions show so. Instead she bowed deeply and took it with many “thank you’s”. She clutched the heavy helm close to her chest and ran her fingertips against the shining metal. It was imitating, yet refined, and the Seeress found herself staring deeply into its eyes. It seemed it would be big upon her crown, but she worried little of that now. “I vow to use it well.” She told the High Mage. “That I may promise you.”
The High Mage turned to Shertlotta, and gave her the permission to continue on their quest. She did not fully trust Emperor Mateus, but she let him go on with the two girls.
The next part of their mission had begun.
Yeul continued clutching the helm tightly as the three ascended the steps. The Seeress, burdened with the helm and her own physical limitations, had a slow climb. Never once did she stop, however, instead continuing on, ever-moving. She needed to reach that goal as much as the other did.
Finally, at the top of the tower, Yeul shivered as the outside winds suddenly and forcefully hit her small body. The first thing the Seeress concentrated on was the broken ascending stairs, but the tent was what caught her eyes next. She was stopped short of getting to it though, as a rather adorable creature tumbled out before she and the others could enter.
“O-Oh…” Escaped her lips as it set forward a large book before them. She nary cared for what it had to say though, as the young girl was fully invested in the creature’s cuteness. It took a large amount of restrain for the blue-haired girl to not put down her precious helm and attempt to pet the little creature’s head.
The Seeress did indeed manage to resist the urge and instead turned her attention towards the details of the room. It seemed the crystal was not in this room, and that the party still needed to delve further in to acquire it.
“What do you suppose we do now?” She asked her teammates as her body shivered erratically from the cold winds. “I assume we still have a ways to go…”
Yeul’s green eyes caught the sight of the chest filled with helpful materials, and she instinctively went over to see its contents. “We should each probably take some…If it’s all right with you, Little Creature.” She looked quickly at the Moogle before finishing her thought, “Who knows what we may face, after all…There is a portal over there, after all.”
Still disturbed by the image in the looking glass, Mateus barely watched as the cat girl did her trial. His fingers kept tracing his cheek bones to make sure he felt flesh and not decaying scales. He did get a small sense of satisfaction as he watched Sherlotta become demure as she fought whatever the mirror had in store for her. A small twist of a smirk appeared as he saw that she had also been deeply troubled by the visions brought to her knocking her down a peg.
It was clear that this woman had already singles Yeul out as her favorite, but this was made even clearer by the presentation of an ornate helm. The dragon inspired piece glowed ethereally as the girl just clutched it like if she loosened her grip it would vanish. Mateus thought it stupid that she didn't adorn it and test its powers now in the safety of the room rather than wait for whatever trial they were to face.
He was about to voice this, but the old mage began talking to him now. The surprise was clear in her tone. She had thought him too weak to have completed her simple trial. Mateus just blinked in response; he thought it ridiculous that she was entrusting him to the two young girls as though he were a child in need of supervision. When she was done babbling, he sighed as though this had all been a big waste of time as they began their ascent into the darkness.
Mateus stuck close to Yeul always just a step or two behind her. Her newly acquired helm was the only light in the darkness, and he didn't like the idea of what would happen if he took a misstep. Even in the cold, he began to sweat as the stairs just kept coming. It felt as though they had been walking for half an hour or more in the darkness with nothing but sighs and grunts escaping his lips. He wouldn't admit that he would like to sit for a minute. First he wouldn't let a child outpace him, and secondly he knew that the other would not let him hear the end of it if he suggested it. Thankfully for him, a faint glow announced their trek's end.
The gust of cold wind both felt wonderful against his brow but also made his body shiver violently. His eyes immediately were transfixed by the glowing portal across the room. They were already at the tower's top it seemed where else could that portal take them? He didn't have much time to muse as a Moogle popped from the shoddy tent near the portal questioning them about saving? Mateus eyed the chest of healing items and walked over to it. He divided the contents into three piles. As much as he wanted to horde it all, if he should be injured he trusted in the innocence of the Seer to heal him if he could not himself. He filled his pockets with the pile he had made for himself.
Mateus eyed the tome the moogle had opened for them. A blank page lay in wait. If there was no coming back from the portal, he could not bare the thought of not being remembered and so wrote a brief couple of sentences:
"I, Mateus, Emperor of Palamecia, have arrived at tower's summit accompanied by the Seeress Yeul, and the troublesome cat-woman Sherlotta. We aim to claim the Wind Crystal..."
Content with the brief blurb, Mateus answered Yeul's question. "If we rest let's make it quick. Who knows if others are on our heels? Claim your healing items, and let's make haste. We go together. When you're ready meet me by the portal." It was less a sense of camaraderie and more he didn't want either of the other two to sneak off trying to claim the crystal first. Also, if they were accosted three targets would be harder to attack than one. Mateus walked towards the glowing portal and took a seat watching the ebb and glow of it waiting impatiently for his companions.
The moogle nods as Yeul asks to comb through its treasures. "Of course, kupo! I don't know what I'd do with it!" The moogle flaps its wings and watches cheerfully as Yeul takes the potions and feathers alike before turning to watch Mateus sign the book. It tilts its head at the text written there. "An emperor, a Seeress, and a cat-woman..." It jumps in the air with an excited "Kupopo!" before settling back down to face them again. "I've never seen a more important group!"
The platforms glows brighter as Mateus steps upon it, but seems to wait almost as his command. Once Yeul has gathered her supplies and followed, the platform brightens once more, brightening again as Sherlotta finally joined them, tail sweeping low and eyes lowered in thought. With all of them properly arranged, the portal finally activates, enveloping them all in a blinding light. As they're whisked away, they can hear distant wing beats over one final shout of "Good luck!"
SCENARIO CLEARED. TO BE CONTINUED IN A NEW THREAD COMING SOON.
