Kingdom Hearts X(cross): Cadunt ad Caelum

Anguis. You remember now. Years ago, when Foreteller Ava kindly asked your class to choose a Union you believed deep in your heart you would belong to, you swore yourself to them. You reasoned that since you already felt more of a call to the mystic more than the martial in training then the School of the Cobra would nurture that greatest - and in the deeper recesses of your heart you feared how you would fare in some of the situations the other Unions throw their members into. So you made your choice, took your badge. And you were happy.

The badge inscribes itself into the empty space beside your sleeping form. A stained-glass cobra, slitted eyes ever-watching, fangs bared and tongue extended to taste the air. Somehow even the picture of you seems more familiar now too. A simple sleeveless black top leaving your narrow, rounded shoulders bare. Long gloves that fade evenly from black at the bicep to midnight blue at the fingertips - you got used to wearing gloves to prevent spell backfire as a cadet, it's just become a habit now. An ankle-length, royal blue half-skirt affixed at the waist by a silver clasp, frozen mid-ripple in the glass as if underwater. Black shorts and leggings with silver-chased shoes beneath that. And -hah- even your powder-blue hood is up. It makes you look even sleepier.

And opposite it, another figure appears. Occupying the remaining empty space, inverted but in the same pose. You assume it to be you, but nothing identifiable remains. It wears the sacred Union armour you will not have the right to wear for years yet. The armour of the Cobra, identifiable by its distinctive blue-hooded, serpentine helm. Completely enclosed in form-fitting silver and sable steel from head to toe, unmistakeable fang-shapes visible in the segmented visor. Forgoing the more ostentatious capes most Union armours are fitted with, this one is wrapped in a single strip of dark blue cloth that snakes its way around the torso from shoulder to hip, hip around the waist, only to trail freely in the wind behind its wearer. Of course you would dream of it. You've pictured how you would look all dressed up like that ever since you joined. But soon...

soon...

Darkness sprouts within the beautiful mural. The luminous edifice cracking, fracturing, the oily, inky shadow welling up from within. You gasp soundlessly, try to leap away but your limbs feel like lead. Like you're deep underwater once more, so deep that no light can reach you. You try to bring Starlight to bear but it feels so heavy, so heavy it seems to be rejecting you, willing you not to sully it with your hand any longer. You stumble back, forward, side-to-side - nowhere is safe. It laps at your heels, you seek another light patch to leap to but soon there are none. The solid glass gives way beneath your heels like sand washed away by the tide and you stumble. You fall. You slowly sink into the chilling tar as you reach up to a light that won't come, reach up to the sun, to the moon, to the stars, hoping someone will take your hand and pull you free. Crying out in terror as the darkness smothers you.




Don't be afraid.




You will return to set things right.




It all comes down to this. Years of training, of learning all you could in crowded classes of kids just as eager to be the next great hero of the light, not to prove yourself but to be the best you could be. Minor mission after minor mission, cutting your teeth against the weakest stragglers left to aimlessly roam the realm of light. And now here you are. On the Union Cross mission that will finally prove if you are worthy to venture to the lands beyond the horizon and serve your Union there.

Which is why you are, more specifically, up a tree. Crouched on one of the stronger boughs that will take your weight, concealed by deep green foliage as you observe the fighting below. Your Lux earnings are on the low side today, but as was drilled into your head time and time again, only a fool simply rushes into battle without taking stock of the situation and analysing all the tactical options available. Or analysing the combatants, whether they be friend or foe.

Union Cross, so named as one of the rare few times when a member from each Union must work together. Ordinarily to face a particularly powerful threat in need of a diverse fighting force, but in this case it's merely another part of the test. How well will you fare when you're thrown to the wolves, when the only ally at your back is one you just met? Can you pull through? Will you cooperate? Will you excel? Will you make your Union proud, or fall behind?

Well. Thus far 'pull through' doesn't seem very difficult. The group has been fighting its way through the lakeside forest for minutes now, encountering nothing but bug-eyed little Shadows burrowing up from the shadows between the trees only to be struck down just as quickly. You've had ample time to study them - pitiful individually, threatening only in numbers great enough for you to leave your back exposed. Their claws are feeble, but enough strikes in quick succession will add up. The greatest threat they pose is when they sink into the earth, becoming flat shadows once more, springing up behind you to attack - admittedly mostly due to the energy you waste striking at the empty air they once occupied. Their abundance has led the others to grow cocky in one form or another, letting their guard down to focus more on speed and efficiency or flair.

Strelitzia fights at the leftmost flank, closest to the lake. Her face is a mask of concentration, her twin tails of strawberry-blonde hair swirling and fluttering behind her like ribbons with each motion but never obscuring her vision. Ephemer forges on at the head of the pack such such vigour you'd think this were a solo mission, at times only visible by that snapping trail of wine-red cloth hanging around his neck. Blaine's roughly in between, advancing at a pace that you'd wager is exactly as slow or as fast as he chooses. He blends with the shadows in his own way, but you can always track him by the lighter-coloured feather bobbing up and down in his hatband. And finally, off to the right, is Lapis. She seems to be veering away from the group in general, no doubt trying to find a thicker cluster of Heartless that Ephemer hasn't gotten to already to flatten. She can probably do it, too.

You check your wristband again. It's still only a novice's, low capacity, yet the jewel still seems so agonisingly clear. The others' must be near blazing with light already. But could the mission really be so simple as a little Shadow-extermination? What if a more fearsome foe lies in wait where the shadows are deepest, ready to strike when you're all too tired from exerting yourselves against the small-fry?

[ ] Go on ahead, alone. You'll travel faster with less chance of being caught. If there is a stronger Heartless up ahead, better that you find out quickly.
—[ ] Take it on your own, while you're still fresh and ready for anything. With no one to share the Lux with, you're certain to top the leaderboard. And with all those Shadows, the others should at least gather enough Lux to satisfy their Foretellers, right?
—[ ] Report back to the others with everything you can glean. Try to coordinate and work together as a team to bring it down. You'll forfeit a large share of the Lux and probably come last in the leaderboards, but at least everyone will be safe, right? You don't think they'd hold you back a year for passing with a low score...
[ ] Descend and fight alongside the others. It's high time you started earning some real Lux, and with everyone working together you're sure to get it all done much quicker, right? You'll be in a better position to intervene if things go bad at least.
[ ] Hang back and observe. They've got it under control so far, and sometimes information can be just as valuable as Lux. You may come last in the leaderboards, but a detailed report to your Foreteller about some of the best and brightest in the other Unions may earn you a commendation yet.
[ ] Steal kills. Lux is drawn to whichever wielder can focus their will on it quickest, and leaping in out of nowhere should distract your rivals enough to give you the window you need. Less Lux for them and more for you with minimal effort expended. [Demeanour incompatible]

This Quest will be run on a purely narrative basis, borrowing the basic systen from quests such as @Omicron 's Number None, @Maugan Ra 's Of Noble Purpose or @TenfoldShields Out Of The Eater. Some aspects may be subject to change depending on volume of viewer engagement, but this is the basic skeleton. This is not intended to be some kind of 1:1 translation of Kingdom Hearts mechanics (and the six million different variants of that), but a clear and concise inventory of all the tools and items at Aevum's disposal at any given time. These come in the form of Limits, Magic, Command Styles, Keyblades and sundry.

On Lux:
Lux is both an in-universe resource of extreme importance, and mechanical resource that replaces and serves the same purpose as XP. Any Lux gained while on missions, after taxes of course, is available to be spent on improving Aevum's capabilities while resting in the Citadel of Daybreak or similar moments of narrative downtime or importance once they have completed their Union Cross mission. All available Lux must be spent on something during these moments, even if not enough remains to level it up, so as to avoid hoarding. Currently the Lux rewards for viewer engagement are generally as follows; 25 Lux for a non-canon omake or sketch, 50 Lux for an omake that becomes canon or a more detailed piece of art, and 75 or more for especially noteworthy pieces. This may also be subject to change.

On Limits and Magic:
Limits and Magic are umbrella terms for the supernatural physical and magical techniques available to those with a Keyblade as a shortcut to power. Limits trend towards the physical -albeit many feature or integrate magic prominently- and Magic governs different elemental proficiencies. These evolve in both power and applicability when enough Lux is spent exploring them. While there is no hard and fast MP gauge to govern usage of these abilities, they do imply an especially great investment of stamina in a fight. Lesser tiers also remain available when evolving them to higher tiers.

Basic (75 Lux) - Simple, straightforward and reliable. Able to be integrated into a combat style and unleashed without much difficulty.
Evolved (200 Lux) - More advanced, a greater exploration of the element or technique in concept and application. Spells of this tier gain the 'ra' suffix.
Mastered (500 Lux) - The defining technique in a fighting style, or the last word from afar in magic. Elements or techniques of this tier hold little to no secrets to the user. Spells of this tier gain the 'ga' suffix.

On Command Styles:
Command Styles are graded on a wider scale, encompassing your core proficiencies and abilities in the moment-to-moment of a battle and as such take the longest to raise. These are the Keyblade forms taught to hundreds across the Citadel of Daybreak in the Schools of the Unicorn, Bear, Cobra, Leopard and Fox, and the groundwork is laid for a cadet to pick up their chosen Union's signature style quickly once they advance. Even these days a few tips and tricks can be bought around town for the right price, should you desire diversity of technique - or to know your enemy. Must be a certain rank to learn the Style's unique Limit.

Novice (N/A) - You have not been formally trained in this Style yet at all. While the fundamentals are universal enough you might be able to grasp the basics given the opportunity, you certainly cannot in this state.
Proficient (250 Lux) - Through study and diligence, or perhaps just beginner's luck and talent, you have grasped the fundamentals of the style and may execute its techniques with some consistency. You may be but a learner, but you have some knowledge of its strenghts - and its weaknesses.
Adept (500 Lux) - Study, practice, and just a dash of personal flair. You've taken several significant steps on the road to comprehending this style and its possibilities, gaining a few precious insights that the amateur never could.
Veteran (750 Lux) - Time and trials, or perhaps a do-or-die crucible or two, have driven you to new heights. The mark of a true warrior, of someone who has earned the right to wear their Union's armour, as they have proven they will not tarnish it.
Elite (1,000 Lux) - Supremely talented, deeply dedicated, blessed by the light, or just some kind of battlefield genius. You are the most trusted Clocktower Guard of Unicornis, the Vanguard of Ursus, a Seer of Leopardus, a Fang of the Cobra or worthy of being a teacher in your own right at the School of the Fox. Your own peers look at you in envy and awe when they watch you fight.
Master (1,500 Lux) - Only one who has personally impressed their Union's Foreteller enough to be trained by them personally and receive the Mark is worthy of the title of Master. You have broken all barriers, second only to your teacher in sheer learned prowess.

Foreteller's Favour:
After each successful mission, your total Lux earned is tallied, and a percentage is taken as tax by your Foreteller to aid in the operation and expansion of the Union. By gifting a larger portion of this take, narratively dedicating yourself to them more personally, you begin to place yourself on their radar. You may even choose to curry favour with another Foreteller, should they hold some secret you wish to tease from them. Each tier unlocks some form of reward appropriate to the given Foreteller, whether that may be a lesser Lux tax per mission or character advancement discounts or greater insight into the story of the Citadel of Daybreak at its highest level. Must reach a certain rank of Foreteller's Favour to be a candidate for Master Style-training.

On Items:
While you hardly have need for a great arsenal, you will encounter certain items of note on your quest to safeguard the Realm of Light. Chief among these are Keyblades. While you begin play with only Starlight, new Keyblades will be available through different Keychains representing the worlds you visit. Each Keyblade is itself upgradeable, with its own suite of tactical options.

Basic (N/A) - The Keyblade as you first received it. A weapon of incredible power in its own right, with the power to open or seal almost any door, but still holding greater potential sealed within.
Advanced (100 Lux) - Through greater experience and focus, you have managed to tap into a portion of its sealed power, and awakened an extra form. You are capable of switching between the basic 'blade' form and whatever alternate form the individual Keyblade possesses at will, and find its natural inclinations heightened.
Masterwork (250 Lux) - Through complete dedication and great personal effort, you have completely plumbed the depths of potential this weapon holds. You have awakened yet another form, and may switch between all three at any time.

On Union Tags:
The Unions have certain likes and dislikes. Techniques, spells, and people that its teachings just don't quite gel with. Conversely, with a grounding in its basic training, some techniques and spells just come naturally. This is expressed through tags - something tagged with your [Union]'s name is upgraded at 75% of the basic cost, while something tagged with the name of the [Union] yours disfavours is bought and upgraded at 150% the basic cost - rounding up or down to nicer-looking numbers of course. This goes as follows;

[Unicornis] disfavours [Leopardus]
[Leopardus] disfavours [Ursus]
[Ursus] disfavours [Anguis]
[Anguis] disfavours [Vulpes]
[Vulpes] disfavours [Unicornis]

On Gilt:
A special process afforded to those who have earned the right to wear a Power Bangle, allowing the wearer to tap into the natural energies of the worlds to permanently reinforce their abilities beyond their ordinary limit. Once you have developed a Limit or Magic as far as it will go, you may Gilt the ability for a nominal fee to improve it yet further, and thus gain access to the incredible power of fourth-tier abilities so long as you wear the Power Bangle.

Limits
[Universal] Strike Raid: Basic (0/200 Lux)

The Keyblade can be summoned to your hand with but an effort of will - why not take advantage of a weapon that can never truly be lost? This Limit allows you to hurl your Keyblade as an effective weapon at range, either returning to your hand on the same path it first travelled or simply flashing back into your grip no matter what lies in its path.

[Vulpes] Sliding Dash: N/A (0/110 Lux)

The ability to quickly dart into the fray even from a great distance, covering your approach using your Keyblade as both shield and weapon.

[Leopardus] Ars Solum: N/A (0/75 Lux)

A secret technique consisting of a series of strikes, said to methodically target universal vital areas to great effect.

[Unicornis] Rising Tide: N/A (0/75 Lux)

A technique to force both you and your opponent into the air, separating them from their fellows and leaving them critically vulnerable.

[Ursus] Stun Impact: N/A (0/75 Lux)

A technique that releases an almighty blast of energy from your body, knocking your enemies off-balance and potentially stunning them.

[Anguis] Collision Magnet—>Magnet Spiral: Evolved (0/375)

A combat spell that attaches a magical wire to your foe, allowing you to manipulate them freely - whether that be to bash them against the world around you, against their own comrades, or fling them far and high away so they don't have to be your problem any more. Does not work on larger or tougher foes directly, but creative applications make that no barrier.

Exploring this technique has revealed another to you, similar yet distinct in its own right. By rooting yourself to the ground and focusing your will you may cast out a great many magical wires at once, attaching them to foes or loose objects or anything else you desire. Once so bound you may draw them in to attack them at their most vulnerable, scatter them all to the winds, or anything in-between. As a consequence of requiring stable footing, foes of even greater mass may be drawn in and affected by this combat spell than Collision Magnet.

Magic
[Universal] Fire: N/A (0/75 Lux)

A small blast of fire.

[Universal] Blizzard: Basic (95/200 Lux)

Fires a small ice-crystal that detonates on impact, chilling or freezing all enemies in place around the point of impact. Could quench the flames of a flaming enemy, be extra effective on one wielding water, or just slow them down long enough to follow up with something even stronger. When fired close enough to other solid surfaces, condensation leaves an ice-rail or patch of frost for you to exploit.

[Leopardus] Thunder: Basic (0/200 Lux)

Summons a small lightning-strike centred on the area of your choosing, electrifying all enemies around the point of impact. Can leave certain foes struggling to retaliate through the jitters, or even paralysed completely in some cases. Mixes well with drenched or otherwise aqueously-inclined foes.

[Anguis] Watera: Evolved (0/375 Lux)

Summons a moderately-sized surge of water that first swirls around you before arcing forward to splash down on your target. The initial motion around your body fends off any foes that may be within melee range, and flows with enough force to protect you from a single strike of almost any severity when timed correctly. Douses flames and leaves survivors more conductive. Not only does the spell flow with greater force and in greater volume, but increased understanding of the element has taught you how to manipulate existing water in the environment to some degree as well.

[Unicornis] Aero: N/A (0/75 Lux)

Summons a small swirl of air.

[Vulpes] Stop: N/A (0/110 Lux)

Temporarily freezes a single enemy in time.

[Ursus] Gravity: N/A (0/75 Lux)

Manipulates gravity in a small area.

Command Styles
[Unicornis] Critical Impact: Novice (0/250 Lux)

The signature style taught in the School of the Unicorn.

[Leopardus] Fever Pitch: Novice (0/250 Lux)

The signature style taught in the School of the Leopard.

[Anguis] Spellweaver: Proficient (75/375 Lux)

The signature style taught in the School of the Cobra. Stresses that the Keyblade should not be treated as some magic wand to be waved so spells come out, or a last resort to be wielded as a weapon only when your stamina reserves are drained. Magic and physical strikes must be wielded as one, or else you are no different from any charlatan with a book of spells and a staff. Allows you to wield your Keyblade telekinetically for short periods, extending your range and charging your strikes with element-agnostic power.

[Ursus] Earthshaker: Novice (0/250 Lux)

The signature style taught in the School of the Bear.

[Vulpes] Ghost Drive: Novice (0/375 Lux)

The signature style taught in the School of the Fox.

[Universal] Athletic Flow: Proficient (0/500 Lux)

A style which combines rapid, superhumanly effective traversal of any kind of environment and offence into a single cohesive whole - or at least, it does for those who master it. At your current level of mastery you can already leap several times higher or farther than an ordinary human, and traverse handholds and footholds others might miss at a glance with only a modest reduction in speed.

Foreteller's Favour
[Unicornis] Foreteller Ira: Indifferent (0/250 Lux)

Leader of the five Foretellers and the Unicornis Union, which polices the Citadel of Daybreak and keeps the peace.

[Ursus] Foreteller Aced: Indifferent (0/250 Lux)

Right-hand man to Foreteller Ira and leader of the Ursus Union, which ranges the furthest and farthest to destroy the Heartless and gather Lux.

[Leopardus] Foreteller Gula: Indifferent (0/250 Lux)

First scholar to the Book of Prophecy and leader of the Leopardus Union, which aids him in his academic studies.

[Anguis] Foreteller Invi: Known (0/375 Lux)

Spymaster to the Citadel of Daybreak and leader of the Anguis Union, which act as her eyes and ears across the Citadel of Daybreak and beyond its walls. You have made a formal attempt to contact her personally and pledge yourself to a more personal and individual relationship than rank-and-file soldier to distant figurehead. The Foreteller knows your name - all that remains is to see what she chooses to do with this information.

[Vulpes] Foreteller Ava: Indifferent (0/375 Lux)

Leader of the Vulpes Union, which aid her in selecting and gathering children from the population to test for aptitude with a Keyblade, and training them in the basics before they choose their Union.

Keyblades
Starlight: Advanced (0/250 Lux)

The least of all Keyblades, soon to be replaced once you truly begin to travel beyond the horizon. A simple, humble weapon for all that a Keyblade can be those things, intended to get young cadets acclimitised to the power they now wield at a steady pace. Some may consider it immaturity to cling to it and continue to improve it beyond earning the right to venture out alone.

'Immaturity' has yielded dividends. By exploring it as a weapon, a concept, and a symbol of your journey to get even this far, you have unlocked its first Formchange. You may extend Starlight's blade out into pieces of segmented steel threaded upon a silver change, transforming it into a long-ranged whip that releases bursts of magical force with every lash. Spells cast while Starlight is in this state are no longer projectiles, instead channelled along the length of the chain only to finaly 'burst' at the tip - and woe betide anyone touching the links along the way.