[action | Giza Plains | OTA]

[howlingmoon]

[Nanaki has been here only a few days, and not only has he been spat out by a magic portal, his materia is useless, and he wound up in a city full of clans that would happily mistake him for a monster and turn him over for a bounty. Needless to say, he fled the city before he'd live up to his feral appearance and have to fight anyone.

So, he headed south through to Giza Plains, and while the area and the nomad villages remind him a little of home, he avoids those, too. He's caused enough misunderstandings already, and there are enough wolf-like monsters in this area that he could easily be mistaken for.

He's reached as far as one of the Sunstones and flops down in the shade it casts when a thought occurs to him -- his phone! Why didn't he try that before? He pulls it out, and delicately tries to use a paw to call Cloud. (He succeeds in bringing up games twice, and then accidentally texting a string of gibberish to Tifa and hitting 'SEND' before he can stop it. Then a message pops up: 'NO SIGNAL - MESSAGE NOT SENT'.)]

I really should have gotten Reeve to design a phone I can use...

[A long-suffering sigh. He must have broken it.]

Comments

[transcendthestars]

Do you need assistance?

[It's clear upon observation that this device is supposed to be useful in some fashion, and just as clear that it wasn't built for someone like Nanaki. Golbez can't say he knows at sight how to work it, but after spending time talking to his Uncle, he is confident enough that he can handle it with a few instructions.]

What, precisely, are you attempting?

[howlingmoon]

I'm trying to contact my friends, but I'm afraid I always struggle to use this. I hope I haven't broken it...

[He looks at the phone, and his head droops sadly. This is the only means he can think of to contact them for help, and it isn't working.]

[transcendthestars]

If you do not object, I may be able to make an attempt. How does one use this device?

[He leans down to take a look, but doesn't pick it up just yet.]

[howlingmoon]

[He pushes it towards Golbez with his nose so he can get a better look. To most people from his world, the question might seem strange, but not to Nanaki. His own tribe was never well-acquainted with human technology.]

It's a PHS. They're used to contact other devices over long distances. You can call people and speak to them through it, or send them a message through text.

[This one is even a fancy flip phone with a camera! ... But one thing at a time.]

[transcendthestars]

Hmm. Useful, if it will work.

[Well, the letters on the keys make sense now, though the prominent numbers perhaps not so much- but first it probably needs to be determined if it's broken beyond use or not. Golbez finally picks it up- he can't imagine lying on the ground in the dust is too good for it.]

I take it you were attempting to call.

[howlingmoon]

Yes. [Technology tutorial time!]

If you can find the "address book", I was trying to call Cloud. He should be listed on there. Select his name and then press the green button, and it will call him.

[transcendthestars]

... Cloud?

[Well, that's not a name he expected to recognize in the midst of all of this. And Nanaki is familiar with him? It's a strange coincidence.

Nevertheless, he fiddles with the phone until he's managed to find the address book, and Cloud's name and number within it. But when he attempts to call...]

No signal.

[howlingmoon]

Hmmm... I suppose you could try to send a text message to Tifa, or perhaps Yuffie? They will be near the bottom of the list of names.

[If anyone is most likely to reply, it's Yuffie. She loves spamming his inbox, even when she knows he struggles to respond to text messages.]

[transcendthestars]

[And Tifa too. Well, there's more than enough of an answer to his unspoken question. Wherever Nanaki is from, those two are as well. Still, Yuffie is an unfamiliar name, and so he starts with that one. If Nanaki asks for him mention his name, for whatever reason, it won't get an immediate negative reaction.

But, just like Nanaki's inadvertent attempt with Tifa, it doesn't work.]

The result is the same. Either it is broken, or contact is impossible here.

[howlingmoon]

I see... I really am stranded here until I find a way back, then. Thank you for trying, at least.

[He's disappointed, but at least there was nothing immediately threatening their home when he left it, which at least puts him a little more at ease. Whatever forces brought him here, though, are another issue entirely.]

[transcendthestars]

Had it worked, it would have been useful to know.

[He folds the phone up and offers it back to Nanaki.]

A difficult feat. It seems that information is in short supply.

[howlingmoon]

[Nanaki takes it back in his jaws, and manages to slide it back to where he'd kept it inside one of his leg rings for safekeeping. Even if it's broken, it's worth at least holding onto it. Maybe there are more advanced towns or cities around here that might know how to fix it.]

What do you think we should do? Explore more of the area? I'm curious about the stones here.

[transcendthestars]

It is as good a place as any to start.

[Golbez gets to his feet again and settles his cloak, glancing around them as though to check for the stones and any monsters.]

I have not seen crystals of this nature before.

[howlingmoon]

[Nanaki walks around the stone and sniffs it out of force of habit. It feels warm, too, no doubt from the intensity of the sun here.]

It seems people come to this place, and frequently. I wonder if it's some kind of Materia?

[transcendthestars]

Materia? I have not heard of it before.

[He's examining the crystal himself, but he takes the time to glance toward Nanaki, waiting for an explanation.]

[howlingmoon]

[Nanaki frowns up at him. Not hearing of phones was one thing, but Materia...?]

It is crystallised Lifestream, the life force of the Planet, and can grant various abilities and magic when equipped. Don't you have it, where you come from?

[transcendthestars]

No materia, and certainly no Lifestream.

[If anything, the idea is disturbing to him. Magic only capable with an item equipped? Certainly, there are items that when properly used can create effects like spells, but they're nowhere near as powerful as a true mage.]

Magic comes from the memory and ability of the caster. I can demonstrate, if you like.

[howlingmoon]

But the planet cannot survive, if not without Lifestream. [And how can anyone but a Cetra use magic without Materia? He has many questions, but instead nods eagerly at the offer for a demonstration.]

By all means.

[transcendthestars]

There is nothing of the sort that I've observed, on the planet.

[But right, a demonstration. Calling a spell to mind is no difficult task- a low level lightning spell was in his head the moment he suggested the demonstration. It ought to be more than enough to prove his point, and won't waste too much energy in the process, should he need that power later on. A moment to focus, and then he casts Thunder on a nearby patch of ground, the electricity crackling and charring the ground.]

[howlingmoon]

[Nanaki watches, surprised. As far as he can tell, the man doesn't seem to be hiding any Materia on his person, either.]

Are natural aptitudes for magic common, where you're from?

[transcendthestars]

Relatively. I am slightly more predisposed to it than some, but it is common enough.

[It's one of the benefits of his mixed heritage, as far as he's concerned, but no need to get into that. Even most of the people of the Blue Planet don't know too much about that.]

That was but a sample of the abilities of a mage.

[howlingmoon]

I see... Your homeland must differ a great deal to mine.

[No Materia, no Lifestream, and people able to naturally use magic like the Cetra... How curious.]

If I had a Bolt Materia, I could call lightning in the same way. For now, it seems I'll have to rely on nothing but my own strength.

[transcendthestars]

I have no doubt.

[The fact that he's never seen anyone quite like Nanaki except Eidolons explains that much, to him, especially if Nanaki isn't particularly magical on his own.]

Nevertheless, it is entirely possible that this crystal has properties like your Materia. Do you know of a way to test it?

[howlingmoon]

If my Grandpa were here, he would know at a glance if it was Materia.

[He looks at the stone wistfully, then over to Golbez.]

The simplest thing to do would be to take a piece and attach it to some equipment, and then attempt to use it.

[transcendthestars]

If it is materia, would it react negatively to being broken apart?

[Golbez glances over the both of them with a wry look.] It seems we may not have much choice, in that case.