Player Plot: The Golsaucian Gauntlet - Info and Plotting

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It's no secret that you don't need a great stature to do great things, just look at the Ancient Oktavian State! The Triumvirate has their Moogle, PuPu, and Lalafell hands in all manner of pies, whether it's government, business, or Mognet Central just down the street. Their newest little project? These outsiders pouring in from the Dream Width, of course! And who can blame them? Whether it's pushing Chocobo Eaters (and their prey) far from civilization or diving right back into the Dream Width to save more people, they're showing that they're worth keeping an eye on.

And so the Triumvirate decided to put many, many eyes on them.

In addition to a message arriving via Mognet on June 6th, each Helper Moogle will hand deliver a VIP Pass good for one week at Sparks Golsaucia: June 13th through June 19th, with the return trip on the 20th. Included along with this pass is a very formal, very ornate invitation for each newcomer to participate in the Golsaucian Gauntlet, a highly publicized, highly celebrated television show that's broadcast worldwide to rapt audiences. If you want to make a name for yourself, plug your new business, or shout a declaration of love to someone you've never met, this is the place for you! What's the catch? Well... etched within the filigree, in ultra-fine Moogle-language print, is the fact that by agreeing to even come to Sparks Golsaucia with this pass, you hereby allow the Oktavian State to use your likeness, voice snippets, and appearance in promotional marketing for the remainder of the State's lifespan. But that's not that bad, right?

The Golsaucian Gauntlet

If your character is undaunted by this or just doesn't notice that fine print, they may be interested in the Golsaucian Gauntlet, which is often described as The Ultimate Game Show. It's a yearly-ish entertainment extravaganza combining physical, mental, and personal displays of grit and grace, with promises of huge prizes. How does it work? Well, characters must win the Ultimate Game Show by proving they're the Ultimate Winner, and that means surviving a quartet of different challenges. The first three may be taken in any order, and the fourth is a wacky free-for-all that any remaining competitors will swarm en masse. These challenges can be intense, and failure can be humiliating, so the Gauntlet's overseers have myriad mascot suits, like a lot, for those who wish to remain anonymous while still trying for the prize.

Since RPing all of the Gauntlet would be more miserable than it is complicated (and it'd be very complicated), a portion of the process will be automated! I'll be utilizing Plurk's dice-roller function to roll a flood of d20s coupled with modifiers dictated by the readied asterisk combinations the characters select. Depending on how many participants make it to the Final Challenge, it may get threaded out along with the dice rolling- we'll play it by ear.

• The Challenge of Body favors physical prowess, and is based off of things like Ninja Warrior, the Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, or Human Tetris. It will rely upon the highest and lowest of Physical Power, Physical Defense, and Speed.
• The Challenge of Mind is for intellectuals and those cool under pressure, and will take forms similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, this weird Japanese Trivia Mummy Game, and this weird Japanese Trivia Death Pit Game. It will rely upon the highest and lowest of Magical Power, Magical Defense, and Speed.
• The Challenge of Soul allows the personality to shine through, inspired by shows like American Idol, These Wizard Dancers, or These weird Freelancers. It will rely on the highest and lowest of Attack Potency, Healing Potency, and Speed.
• The final gauntlet, the free-for-all Challenge of Will, is a harrowing combination of Legends of the Hidden Temple, The Honeycomb Maze from Takeshi's Castle/MXC, This Japanese Jumpscare Gameshow. It has no stat reliance, focusing purely on luck.


• Prizes: The first-, second-, and third-place winners all receive big prizes, except... not really. The Triumvirate isn't keen on such huge investments, and as such has ensured that winners must present valid Vaikunthan identification and residency information, which the outworlders do not have. However, O'aka will slip in, and offer to fudge the records, taking the airships himself and giving high-value tickets to the winners instead.
  
  The first-place winner will be given an Enterprise-class Airship a Crystal Ticket (though valid for purchases up to 2 million gil) courtesy of the Triumvirate O'aka, while the second- and third-place winners will get Highwind-class airships Platinum Tickets. Any participant who doesn't place in the top three in the Gauntlet will be given a Golden Airship Ticket. More information on tickets can be found here. What, you don't think Vaikuntha's resident Airship salesman isn't somehow connected to a game show with a giant airship as the prize?

Hunk's PuPu Peril

If your character doesn't want to participate in the Gauntlet, that's totally fine! The Triumvirate will remember this inconvenience, but mostly just shrug their shoulders and let people have fun. They're not monsters. In the days leading up to the trip, letters with scribbled notes will arrive in mailboxes both at the Curti Center residential area and wherever other arrivals happen to have moved to. They read:

Hi there!
I'm ditching this Gauntlet thing to go snooping through PuPuLand to try and find some PuPus. Cid said they know the most about the Dream Width and MORE people just showed up, so it's the perfect opportunity.
Let me know if you wanna come with! (=^･ω･^=)
~~ Hunk

Characters who choose to venture with Hunk will be in for mod-modded absurd adventure that I actually know very little about. We'll be going on a magical adventure together in pursuit of little blue dudes who like to hide just out of sight, and there will be a fight. You wouldn't believe it if I told you, but it might be Doomtrain: Roller Coaster Edition.

After the Gauntlet and PuPu Peril come to a close, the last day of the event (June 20th) will be an airship trip back to the Curti Center, with a stop in Von Oktavia, the location of Mognet Central and the Oktavian Triumvirate. The rulers of Oktavia, hoping to get themselves some spotlight, will have an Under-Secretary of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of an Executive Assistant's Assistant request- nay, demand a picture with as many of the assembled refugees as possible. For marketing posterity purposes, of course. It's at this point that the potential winners of the Gauntlet will do their paperwork to claim their winnings, but there's a few hours of downtime where the airship will be refueling and resupplying.

Threading Opportunities!

Notice: Sign-ups for either the Golsaucian Gauntlet or Hunk's PuPu Peril must be done by 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, June 13th for existing characters. Characters accepted from this app cycle can sign up as late as 11:59PM EST on Thursday, June 14th. (Give or take, depending on how long app/revision/acceptance cycles take. The goal is for all players to be able to participate!)

If your character has no interest in the Golsaucian Gauntlet or Hunk's PuPu Peril or if you miss sign-ups, that's a-okay! They won't get EXP for the player plot, but there will be a big ol' top-level going up as part of the event for all of your Sparks Golsaucian Misadventure needs. Prompt ideas I've come up with so far include: amusement park rides, magitek amusement park rides, moogle multi-level-marketing schemes, gambling, bars, and casually glaring at Bangaa/Hypello yakuza. If you have other funny ideas, I'll be happy to help those reach the big prompt list, too!

In addition, there are chances for threading during the homeward-bound pit stop in Von Oktavia. Potential prompts include "screaming at tiny houses," "falling on tiny houses," and "shaking one's fist and yelling at Mognet Central," but I might just leave that up to player imagination.

Comments

QUESTIONS

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Addendum: Regarding Gauntlet Mascot Suits, go with your heart. If it's something Lulu had as a doll in FFX, it's fair game. If it's Final Fantasy or Vaikuntha- adjacent like Red XIII, a Cactuar, a Zadom, or, well, anything on the Bestiary then it's fair game. Except Hamsters. We have to have some standards, people.

how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

[boomchucka]

Can we do both events or do we have to pick one? Because they both sound fun. |D

Re: QUESTIONS

[garyoutensei]

so is it safe to assume hunk talked baiken into this

[immortalmarshal]

Is it just one stat being boosted by their secondary class, or can more than one stat be boosted? Just wondering

OOC Questions for Gauntlet Finalists

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GAUNTLET SIGN-UPS

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<b>Player:</b> <b>Character:</b> <b>Active Class:</b> [NAME] [PhysPow] [MagPow] [AtPot] [HlPot] [PDef] [MDef] [Spd] <b>Secondary Class:</b> [NAME] [Stat] boost to [Letter] <b>Anything to Say to the Crowds?</b> (can write straight-up dialogue or a prose-style post, go with your heart!) <b>Do You Want Funny Failure Text?</b> (yes/no) <b>Will They Wear a Mascot Suit?</b> (if yes, pick something appropriate)

Example:
Player: Phil
Character: Hunk
Active Class: Gourmand C C B B B B C
Secondary Class: Monk Speed boost to B
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Hey, so Food Lion is a new Mognet show where I'll be making Vaikunthan delicacies and outworlder cuisine! And I guess I'll talk about fighting monsters. Tune in, so you're Pala-dining in style!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? No
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? PuPu, please!

Don't forget, this is mutually exclusive with PuPu Peril!

[modelcivilian]

Player: VG
Character: Adrien Agreste
Active Class: Swordmaster A D A C B D B
Secondary Class: Ninja Magical Power boost to C
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Looking furward to having some fun! I pawsitively hope you're all entertained!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Nah
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Cait Sith costume please!

[righthandstand]

Player: Nara
Character: Okuyasu Nijimura
Active Class: MONK S C A C D E B
Secondary Class: ILLUSIONIST [Magical Power] boost to [B]
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Heeeeey!" (waving wildly at the camera) "I'm Okuyasu Nijimura!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? yeah!
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? no

[garyoutensei]

Player: gsai
Character: Baiken
Active Class: Swordmaster A D A C B D B
Secondary Class: Dark Knight attack potency boost to S
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Get that camera out of my face before I cut it in half."
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? yes
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? no

[promisedtolive]

Player: Apa
Character: Zero (Suzaku Kururugi)
Active Class: Dark Knight A D S C B A D
Secondary Class: Cavalier Speed boost to A
Anything to Say to the Crowds? N/A
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Yes!
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? He kind of already uses one.

Re: GAUNTLET SIGN-UPS

[red_planet_blues]

Player: Lan
Character: Sparks Nevada
Active Class: [Magitek Knight] A C A C A D D
Secondary Class: [Paladin] [Speed] boost to C
Anything to Say to the Crowds? Just a hat time and a smug grin for now.
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? yes?
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Not a chance

[songbird_slayer]

Player: Ami
Character: Madhuri
Active Class: Dancer C B C E C B S
Secondary Class: Bard Healing Potency boost to D
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "I am Madhuri, of The Lady of Bliss! May my performance stir the embers of desire, and let unfurl the blooms of inspiration! ...But mostly, let's have some fun~"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Sure.
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Nah.

[topgun_textiles]

Player: Ami
Character: Kanji
Active Class: Paladin A C A B S B C
Secondary Class: Berserker Attack boost to S
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Uhhh, oh! I'm takin' commissions for clothes, dolls and costumes and other shit on my Tatsumi Textiles linkshell!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Absolutely.
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? ...Yes. But he's gonna be wearing a carbuncle kigurumi of his own design because he failed to understand why the mascot costumes are a thing. He'll just rock the floppy ears.

[sassafrisk]

Player: The Doomkitten
Character: Frisk
Active Class: [Ninja] [B] [C] [A] [E] [C] [D] [S]
Secondary Class: [Dragoon] [Speed] boost to [SS]
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Fame and fortune, here I come! Or more likely embarrassment and humiliation, here I come. My name is Frisk, and I'll be happy to be your source of 'some poor schmuck is doing even worse than me' catharsis for this year's gauntlet!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? (yes)
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? (no)

[hatejakku]

Player: Lina
Character: Finn
Active Class: Gunslinger B C A E B C B
Secondary Class: Chemist Magical Defense boost to B
Anything to Say to the Crowds? does an awkward smile and wave count?
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? ... yes
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? nah

[mech_and_mutt]

Player: Prof
Character: Red Savarin
Active Class: Magitek Knight A C A C A D D
Secondary Class: Paladin, Speed boost to C
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Better not blink, 'cause I'll have won this before you know it!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Heck yes.
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? I think they think he's already wearing one...

[einspine]

Player: Mega
Character: [AU] Papyrus
Active Class: Magitek Knight [A] [C] [A] [C] [A] [D] [D]
Secondary Class: Chemist, magical defense to C
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "GREETINGS!!! I'M THE GREAT PAPYRUS, SCIENTIFIC GENIUS, PUZZLE MASTER, CULINARY WIZARD, AND ALL AROUND COOL DUDE! PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHOWER ME IN KISSES! OR COMPLIMENTS. NYEH HEH HEH!!!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Yes
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? And hide his handsome face? Nonsense!

Re: GAUNTLET SIGN-UPS

[gathersnomoss]

Player: Stareyes
Character: Zelgadis Graywords
Active Class: Swordmaster [A] [D] [A] [C] [B] [D] [B]
Secondary Class: Black Mage [Mdef] boost to [C]
]Anything to Say to the Crowds? Nah, he's just going to glare at them.
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Yes
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? No.

[immortalmarshal]

Player: Lisa
Character: Cor Leonis
Active Class: Red Mage B B B B B B B
Secondary Class: Ninja Speed boost to A
Anything to Say to the Crowds? /tips his beret to the crowd. "...May the best warrior win."
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Absolutely!
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Noooope. No reason for him to hide his face

[melodiouspacifist]

Player: Nat
Character: Demyx
Active Class: Bard - D A E C D D A
Secondary Class: Dancer - Attack Potency boost to D
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "Hi! Vote for me! ...is that how this works?"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Absolutely
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Nah

[gglosers]

Player: Syerin
Character: Hana "D.Va" Song
Active Class: Cavalier B B B C C C A
Secondary Class: Gunslinger Physical Defense boost to B
Anything to Say to the Crowds? "D.Va here! Going to give a big shout out to ALL my fans checking in live today! BIG HEARTS and thanks for your support! I'm ready to own some noobs and be #1!"
Do You Want Funny Failure Text? Yes
Will They Wear a Mascot Suit? Probably not but she'll put some bunny ears on her head if that counts?

PUPU PERIL SIGN-UPS

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<b>Player:</b> <b>Character:</b> <b>Active/Passive Classes:</b>

Remember, this is mutually exclusive with the Gauntlet! And the Active/Passive thing is mostly to ensure that in the inevitable fight, if things get split up then one party isn't accidentally all of the healers.

[despairing_hope]

Player: Nica
Character: Komaeda Nagito
Active/Passive Classes: White Mage/Tactition.

THREAD PROMPT IDEAS

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<b>Location:</b> Sparks Golsaucia or Von Oktavia at the pit stop? <b>Idea:</b>

PLOTTING

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