All-Player

She Comes in the Night

This night. This disorderly night doesn't desist from bringing more abomination. While the WRO members are swathing people with some semblance of order, a new threat awakens. The pagoda masters, revered as mighty gods in Wutai, had received the stamp of evil before their untimely deaths. Now they're nocturnal servants, doing the bidding of their mistress.

One WRO agent happens to catch a glimpse of the reanimated masters. She narrows her eyes, focusing in on them to peruse the situation from afar. Not long after realizing who they are, her vision widens with astonishment. She alerts two of her colleagues close-by, yelling "we have incoming!" At first glance, they aren't sure why their associate is on edge. To them, the shambling gods are just injured civilians in need of their help. The young woman quickly tells them something is amiss with the masters.

She explains to her compeers that she saw what happened earlier. Like Yuffie and many others, she was a bystander to Gorky, Shake, Chekhov, and Staniv being thrown out of the window. Having watched Yuffie run towards them, she does the same from several meters behind. It was after Yuffie rushed into the pagoda; the woman approached the quadriad with caution. They were so disfigured--so contorted, there is no way they could have survived. To see them up and about now goes beyond reason.

Additionally, she said she could’ve gone into the flaming pagoda to back-up Yuffie. The gravity of everything she saw was too much to bear. She, in lieu, decided to comfort the frighten tourists and the wutainese people in ways she knows how. “It’s apart of my line of work, after all.” With this put into perspective, the two WRO members understand what needs to be done.

They enjoin the woman to inform the other agents as to what's going on. They'll hang back and ward off the bereaved for as long as possible. In agreeance, she nods and sprints in the direction of the local pub, where the masses--a few of them--are kept in refuge. The rest fled to their homes for safety, which was ill-instructed by the WRO. They wanted to keep everybody together for obvious reasons.

Back at the pagoda, Yuffie faces a dissimilar plight of her own. The once reposed Godo is now approaching his daughter like a frothing beast. Seized with shock and bewilderment, the formerly rageful Yuffie is left helplessly vulnerable. This is displayed through her unclenching fists that hangs limpingly aside. The glower she has is replaced with despair, and already teary browns.

Time seems to slow to a crawl as she recollects on her past. Flashes of high and low moments she had with her beloved father. Especially the one from tonight, where Godo expressed his appreciation to Yuffie for taking part in the festival. Two hours before it began.

He knows she's a very busy lady. Having to be of service to Gaia and her children on a daily basis. For Yuffie to make reservations to accommodate her father, and Wutai tradition, delighted Godo. Also, as a commemoration to her deceased mother, Kasumi, Yuffie asks Godo if she can wear her kimono. After hearing this, nothing can make him happier than he is in this moment. Godo smiles from ear to ear, doing a cringe-worthy dance to display his jubilance. Yuffie, even though she's slightly embarrassed, let daddy dearest do his thing.

Fast-forward into the present, Yuffie comes out of her memorable trance. What she knows of her father back then is misrepresented by this ungodly thing. It may share his lineaments, but it doesn't possess what makes Godo...Godo. It's just a husk driven by predaciousness; to hunt and feed on anyone or anything. Much to her dismay, she must exercise extreme prejudice against this Godo lookalike. Her survival depends on it.

Enter the Armament materia...

A one-of-a-kind artifact, this silvery materia was created by WRO scientists. Its purpose is to supply the user with militaristic resources such as guns, swords, detonators, tech suits... the works. In Yuffie's case, she calls upon a couple of sentinels to her aide. They appear as holograms, flanking their summoner who takes two steps back. Both materialize instantly, moving in unison to assume a fighting position.

No taller than an average human, the sentinels are comprised of a light yet sturdy alloy. A precious metal called adamantite. They needed to be strong enough to take on tasks where their agents cannot. Such as physical feats that exceeds the limits of their human counterparts. Or--in Yuffie’s dilemma--to provide support when the situation calls for it.

Just as the corrupt man comes within range, the sentinels engage in offense. With their back turned to one another, they chamber their lead leg and thrust outwardly into a sidekick. Their heels impact the gut simultaneously, causing Godo to reel back with tremendous force. Enough to send him flying through the wall just meters away. The artificial duo reclaims a combative stance once again, taking stronghold to thwart all besetting dangers.

Meanwhile, beckoning her right hand with a wave, Yuffie casts frost unto the room. The cold snap deadens the flames that had engulfed the upper level. Transforming the inferno into a dazzling mist that fills the area. Yuffie takes this moment to relocate, concealing her whereabouts for a surprise assault. She is a kunoichi by trade, and trickery is what a ninja does best.

She Comes in the Night

Like with Yuffie Kisaragi, I'm going to take some creative liberties with the Pagoda Masters. I won't stray too far from the source material. The direction I'm taking is to align the narrative with "alternate" Yuffie.

The Five Pagoda Masters - In the olden day, Wutai was revered for its wealth, might and mysticism. Its mountainous terrain had an abundance of mako energy, flowing from within. Over time the energy hardens, crystallizing to become what is universally labeled as materia. Because of these jewels of life, practitioners of Ninpo scholarized all of their discoveries. They've learned the Cetra, the original stewards of Gaia, were the creators of materia.

To unravel the Cetra's secrets, it took the original masters many years to grasp this level of knowledge. Surely enough, their diligence allow them to harness such a power. A power to manifest the inner beast within them. They call it henkō or "change" form, which grants the individual unique abilities, varying from person to person.

In its early stages of conception, the henkō technique was forbidden. It had risks that became the by-product of many slayed apprentices and villagers alike. One of which is the loss of one's humanity. The mind reverts to a more primal state, resulting in the user to become feral. A berserker whose savagery endangers anyone in close proximity. Not knowing what to do, the masters had to put an end to the rampage through brutal means.

Yuffie's story arc in Wutai doesn't end here. At the pagoda, she meets Shake, Chekhov, Gorky, Staniv and papa Kisaragi himself, Godo. For warriors in her village, they undertake five trials at the pagoda. It's a test to prove themselves worthy of being the elite among elites. These trials consist of power, speed, magic, weaponry and enlightenment. Many have failed, but on this day, Yuffie would end that streak.

[INCOMPLETE]

She Comes in the Night

This is my take on Yuffie Kisaragi. Her backstory won't diverge too much from the original source. I'm only reshaping history a little to fit my vision of her. All my respect to the creator(s) of the Final Fantasy franchise.

Yuffie Kisaragi - Wutai had fallen on hard times after warring with Shinra for many moons. Its land was rich with mako; an ethereal substance that's the lifeblood of Gaia. Materia, mako in solid form, was plentiful and gave the country its power and status. A resource that Shinra sought after for years. The Wutainese fought well but ultimately lost against the mega conglomerate. They were stripped of their materia, opulence and became a tourist resort. This is an era that Yuffie Kisaragi knows all too well.

Growing up, Yuffie heard stories about the might of her country. How much of a powerhouse Wutai was in a time before her own. Back then, the Wutainese perfected the use of materia, incorporating it's power into their art of ninpo. Their reputation proceeded them, spawning many legends about their triumphant victories. This filled Yuffie up with pride as well as confusion. She wonder why did Wutai--as strong as it was--allow Shinra to overthrow them. This sparks resentment towards the current Wutai; enfeebled and a shell of its former self. To restore honor to her homeland, Yuffie needs materia, and a lot of it. This became the jump-start of her journey.

During FFVII, Yuffie's introduction was one of deceit and thievery. She encounters Cloud and company to steal their materia, and nothing more. Over the course of the story, she bide her time to reap the rewards. When their journey led them to Wutai, Yuffie's patience paid off. She confiscated the materia and fled to her hometown. Once there, after to have been tracked down, caught, and eluding them yet again, another predicament arises. She had been kidnapped by Don Corneo's goons to serve as his bride. Luckily for Yuffie, Cloud and the others rescued her, only to take back what was stolen from them. Reflecting on her misdeeds, Yuffie returns the materia to their rightful owners. She joins the group thereafter to stop the threat of the planet, Sephiroth.

They've succeeded. The skyward calamity and Sephiroth's endgame, Meteor, had been averted. Yuffie, through all the turmoil and struggle she's endured, accomplished her goal. She brought materia back to Wutai. They were the spoils of her comrades which, knowing of her plight, was awarded to Yuffie. From there on, Wutai prospered and recaptured its glory.

Two years later, Yuffie has matured and discarded her old ways. She's forged a rapport with her father and the erudite pagoda masters. Under their tutelage, Yuffie's acquired complete knowledge of her clan's ninjutsu. Their influence, especially her friends, helped Yuffie to discover a new calling in life. It's to become a rescuer. Not only to people, but to the planet as a whole. Reeve Tuesti, former director of Shinra's Urban Development and founder of the World Regenesis Organization, offered Yuffie a position in his company. With the scourges of Gaia now gone, the WRO does what Shinra did not: maintain worldwide preservation. This fell in line with Yuffie's newfound aspiration, which cemented her decision to join.

One year later...

Now a seasoned traveler, Yuffie assimilated many experiences through her job. Becoming tech savvy, cultured, a sharpened fighter and best of all, expanded her materia collection. She enjoys a time of relative peace, continuing to live life as usual. But one day, Yuffie gets word from Reeve that another conflict is upon them. A group branded as Deepground, a long forgotten faction of Shinra, began their uprise.

Vincent Valentine, a friend of Yuffie, became the eye of their objective. His body contains a rare item called Protomateria, a vital piece in their plan to conquer Gaia. It's a one-of-a-kind materia that sanctions the power of Omega and Chaos to the user. Harbingers of life and death, respectively.

Rather, it was the maniacal scientist Hojo, former head of Shinra's Science Research Division and mastermind behind the JENOVA project, who pulled the strings. He took control of the Tsviets, Deepground's band of superhumans similar to SOLDIER, to carry out his plan. Hojo's profession consumed him, wanting nothing more but to push the boundaries of biotechnology. If it meant jeopardizing the well-being of Gaia, then so be it. Though his ambition fell short of victory, as the planet was saved again by its heroes.

An unspecified number of years rolls by....

Given many accolades through her acts of courage, Yuffie is dubbed as the White Rose of their land. For whenever she passes away, her legacy will be forever cherished and remembered.

She Comes in the Night

Thirty-one minutes before the mayhem....

Yuffie, our main protagonist of this story, is getting ready for the festival. An annual gathering that happens every February in Wutai. Tourist from various regions come to take part in this glamorous night, filled with lights of many. Paper lanterns, small pyrotechnics and even the glow of the cosmos sets the mood. Of course it wouldn't be a festival without the merriment of music.

Violins riddling, taikos struck rhythmically, an assortment of brasses blaring are dulled by the walls of a room. Inside, sitting in front of a mirror, she's applying the finishing touches to make her ceremonial getup cohesive. Rouging her cheeks with dainty swirls, Yuffie sets the brush upon the vanity table. She takes one good look at her reflection, and admires the efforts she has wrought. Her kimono, palest of pinks, is embellished with a colorful imprint of Leviathan parting the seas from front to back. At the waist is a maroon sash tie matching her modern zōri sandals.

Normally, Yuffie prefers a more casual style to fit her tomboyish demeanor. But she'll make an exception for this occasion. Besides, she has matured a little since battling alongside her comrades against numerous terrors, and travelling the world as an WRO (World Regenesis Organization) operative. Those experiences opened up her eyes to everything around her. What she didn't appreciate back then; the notions of Wutainese tradition, have come to respect to it. All thanks to strengthening the bonds she has with her father Godo, and the pagoda masters over the years.

With a satisfactory wink, she gathers additional trinkets to wear before sauntering out of the room. One in particular is a bracelet she faithfully dons. It's molded from the technologies held within the WRO laboratories. Trouble is always lurking. Yuffie knows this to be a certainty. Being prepared is the cogitation of the wise, to mitigate danger if it should appear. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is soon to arrive.

Five minutes before the mayhem....

Yuffie has mingled with the locals and visitors for a fair amount of time. Even a few of her associates from WRO decided to partake in the festivities. They've witnessed two customary dances; one of prosperity and another that, eerily enough, depicts misfortune. No one, not even Yuffie, saw this as an omen. And why would they? Their very beings are brimming with fun and excitement. The worries of imminent peril isn't a factor at the moment.

Mayhem's solemn introduction is upon them....

What seems to be instantanous is a burgeoning blaze, casting off one of Wutai's great monuments. Specifically, the epicenter of the warrior spirit, and where Yuffie's birth as a kunoichi, amongst other things, began. The pagoda, in all irony, became the brightest light of the night. But unlike the festival, it doesn't bring joy and mirth to those in attendance. Screams and panic is what this disaster ushers to the masses.

Surreal. Yuffie is totally baffled. She just gazes at the flames absentmindedly as if it can't be happening. Like a film, her most cherished moments plays in her mind. Times where she endured rigorous training, got into mischief as a youngster, and defeated the pagoda masters for the first time. Though Yuffie can no longer stand motionless after seeing something horrific.

One by one, bodies flew out of the window. Yuffie hurries over to the burning building to find who they are; but deep down, she already knew. Gorky, Chekhov, Shake and Staniv, the pagoda masters, were all dead. Beaten to the point that their likeness is marred beyond recognition. Only the clothing they wore made them identifiable. The one that wasn't accounted for is Godo, the man who faces the bringer of tragic nights.

Replete with grief, which swiftly melts into anger, Yuffie disregards her safety and heads into the pagoda. Despite being aflame, the stairwell remains structurally sound. To preserve what's left of it, Yuffie begins her acts of heroism with a spell. An algid magic known as Frost, blankets the stairwell with a thick layer of foam-like substance. Eventually making its way to the bottom to extinguish the fire.

The bracelet Yuffie had put on earlier houses several materia. Some of which she's encountered on the job, going on explicit assignments. Such as the Zero materia, imbuing the caster with frost runes. The rest are those prized to her after Sephiroth's downfall. The materia, once plentiful before the war against Shinra, was also used to restore monetary power and status to Wutai sometime ago.

As she makes her ascension to the top floor, Yuffie continuously quiets the conflagration. She chills each level subsequently, up to the fourth floor with the Zero materia. At this juncture, though, passage to the highest floor proves to be more of a challenge. A segment of the staircase collapses due to the destruction laid upon it. Still, the pagoda remains intact, holding up for as long as it can.

Lightweight and nimble, Yuffie squats deeply and springs into the air with great height. A surprising feat due to how restrictive her kimono is for mobility. Because of this action, however, the kimono loosens its constraints. She lands into the upper room heavily, slowly making herself upright afterwards. Now looking forward, regaining a sense of her surroundings, Yuffie attest to the death of her father. His murderer, whose visage obscured by the length of black hair, stands before Godo's lifeless body.

Eyes welling with tears, Yuffie's world begins to crumble. The man she knew all her life is now gone; returning to the Lifestream. She's already angry about the pagoda master, the stress-stricken countrymen, but now...unadulterated rage floods her soul. With clenched fists, Yuffie prepares to exact her revenge by using the next materia: Armament.

Meanwhile, outside the pagoda, members of the WRO are rallying the civilians. They take them to a more secure location, far from the torching pagoda. Disbelief is seen on many countenances, wondering why--out of all nights--were they robbed of their happiness. But Wutai is resilient, and like countless instances before it, she will bounce back. Her premier ninja is on the scene, reestablishing the hope of her people.

She Comes in the Night

It's quite alright. I'll have a response at some point. Haven't engaged in something like this in years.

Known Arena Fighters

Yep. Wouldn't know where to begin with that one. I've been out of the loop for months.

Known Arena Fighters

Hello, Skallagrim.

Known Arena Fighters

Man, I feel like a newbie coming back here.

Nexus Of Worlds Multiverse

The roleplay is still kicking. The story must be epic.

Nexus Of Worlds Multiverse

Rilla said
It's always open.Generally, it is frowned upon using a canon character.We like our kills fresh.and original.But Skally will have to, ultimately, rule on that point. Otherwise, yes, we're hiring.

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