Enter the Arena... As Your Avatar (v4)!

Also, 1: Pretty Sure Loki and Delta are gonna see each other again in Syme's thread, and probably have kids there, so it's hardly goodbye, and 2: strictly speaking, no character should know in-character that anything's changing about the thread anyway. Laeven's been through four threads and three GM's now and is none the wiser.

That reminds me; taking a souvenir from the setting is a doable thing, as long as whatever spinoff thread that character goes to next doesn't prohibit interthread continuity or something; Laeven still has a pair of binoculars that he picked up in v2 (when rallyfan9000 was GM), even though he has died multiple times since he got them; every time he dies, he just has to go find 'em where he died. And yeah, they're still tied to the Arena sufficiently for him to use them as a dimensional doohickey to make portals to the current thread. So, that is a thing that has precedent, in case erin worried about losing her necklace, for example.

Warning: Speculative Intra-Fictional Metagame Physics Textwall Inbound
The only way for her to actually lose it is if somebody destroys it. ...Or, well (under v4's rules, which might not hold exactly the same way in a given spinoff), seeing as it's Arena loot and not part of her "natural loadout," and thus not protected by the note specifying how long a given theft actually lasts (see OP), if an avatar takes it and then doesn't show up again, that could prevent her from getting it back. :/ That assumes, of course, that A: it doesn't just get grandfathered into her natural loadout by being from a previous thread ^note (Although I think if that happens, it may or may not weaken the binocular's tie to the Arena, possibly even to the extent that Laeven can't find his way to that spinoff except by accident; mind you, that'd basically just be me deciding not to use him, and I feel like I'll probably be using him again in at least one spinoff), and B: that spinoff thread's GM decides to rule as such and not just arbritrate that she can have it back. Oh wait, and C: that that spinoff doesn't further complicate the rules so that stolen environmental loot has its own timer separate from stolen character loot, and just drops itself back in the thread somewhere.
As an aside, it's always been my understanding and intention that the Arena's "setting" is actually just its coincidental appearance; i.e., the Arena does not actually move. Some of the setting change cutscenes in v4 reflect this, I think, although I remember the cutscenes in v3 not always doing so. The implication here is that even if something, whether character loot or environmental loot (preferably, that was added to a character's inventory and thus removed from the thread when the character left the Arena at least once), was dropped in the Arena before a setting change, it could still plausibly be found again, especially by that character but technically by any character (assuming, if it's character loot, that its owner hasn't shown up again; I can see character loot that's just sitting loosely despawning when its owner spawns in again, and that character spawning in with said item in their possession. Of course, I can also see them just finding it and picking it up again, although that could be tricky if it was, say, dropped in lava ^note (While I'm already taking this train of thought way too far, it could be, implied by the existing rules of v4, which, again, will not necessarily correlate to any spinoff, that since character loot is "protected" in these ways, the remains of a destroyed item from a character's natural loadout must necessarily despawn nigh-immediately and also be impossible for a character to retain as loot, because... Wait, no, that doesn't follow. If Bob breaks Alice's sword and keeps part of the handle and leaves, next time Alice shows up (within three RL days or with Bob currently present), she's just missing that part of her sword, even though whatever wasn't looted from her sword was free to despawn when she returned. We're still 1:1 on the sword here. The only result of these rules is that you can't "farm" swords or whatnot off people. You could, for instance, have five different players each show up as Deadpool and give the sixth player's character a sword, but those swords would each despawn or be missing from its owner, and of course, if a sixth Deadpool showed up, he'd have no reason to be without his own swords. So there's no real way to "break" this. Of course, there is the fact that a setting's armory could theoretically have an infinite number of swords taken from it, absent a GM's predecision on a number or, more likely, arbitrary decision that that well had run dry, but that's unrelated)).

edited 13th May '15 4:33:19 AM by Knowlessman

DAWN OF THE FINAL DAY

i just had to

@Knowless: Nope, no kids. My version of the Arena is bound to be even more chaotic.

A single youth, armed only with a guitar and the loudest mouth anyone's ever seen, strolls into the Arena. Naturally, he's followed by someone else, his younger sister, an Allison Marie Gregory.

'You got the notes?"

"Yep," she says as she grabs the guitar from him.

"I'm surprised you went through with this."

"It's hard not to go through with it when you give me $50 to do it."

"True, true."

And with that, Allie begins to strum, and Johnny begins to sing.

Goodbye, cruel world

Three youths wait in the café, having all gone through the same hardships and met the same fate and patiently waiting out their last minutes until this universe snuffs them out for good.

I'm leaving you today

A Delphox exits the South Pokémon Center, scavenging for belongings, finding food. Upon returning, she finds it full of people. Turning to look outside, she finds people has filled the streets.

Up ahead is her trainer, looking down sorrowfully at a single Pokéball she had received from the Nurse.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Goodbye to all the people

Having searched everywhere for Walter, Mog stops. Having taken his search back to the tower at which he started, he then stares at a piece of paper he's had in his hands the whole time.

It was a drawing of him and Walter, hanging out and fighting together.

Sighing, he leaves the drawing at the base of the tower and heads back to his world.

I've met along the way

"Well...it's been a good run."

Having found a peculiarly weak point in the Arena's energies, she decides to use her powers at that spot. A hole burrowed between the fabric of two worlds soon opens up, and she is whisked away, her corporeal form shedding as she...well, he becomes Giygas, the Cosmic Destroyer, once again.

Giving a great sigh, he sits and waits. He supposes he could busy himself with the affairs of these peoples, the people's whose brethren he and his followers have killed or taken away. He could apologize even. Well, it'll keep him from getting bored again. Though, there's still this longing, this wanting to go back...

It's good to hear them say

Goodbye

It's in the Roleplay forum, with signups and everything. :| That cuts the potential for chaos by quite a lot compared to FG; also, most of your new players are gonna be used to Roleplays, and therefore just as intolerant of interrupted moments as you are, if not even more so.

Oh, I'm still planning on entering it at some point; I don't get enough practice trying to actually write a character, and it'll be more interesting for me than than a Character Development Thread would.

The Colossus roams the Arena, slowly and solemnly burrowing its way and silently watching these events unfold from underneath the ground. All while pointlessly pondering in its simple and young mind.

It watches the fighters leave and say goodbye from its abode underground, until, finally, something struck a chord.

Whether it was a familiar face, or just the sight of so many individuals leaving sorrowfully, or whatever, it suddenly remembers.

It remembers that fateful day where it made history, the moment when it broke the stereotypes of its kind and stood together alongside its friends, against a common threat.

It remembers the sacrifices made, the pain suffered all throughout... And more importantly, the sheer joy of the battle and being together, for once, before its untimely demise.

How does it remember this? Who knows? Who cares? Who would bother to read this entire personal monologue and wall of text? Why is this enormous beast not slaughtering everybody in its way instead of having an internal nostalgia-fest?

Whatever it is, its simple sentience yearns for one last thing - to enjoy that feeling with friends once more. A big thing to ask from such a simple-minded creature. How appropriate.

With this rush of euphoria, it dashes to the surface, clinging to the hope that it would meet its companions once more. Maybe that bald fellow with the shield, maybe that young archer girl, maybe even that big blue puffball.

Besides, it was also yearning more hope for another fight. A quick sparring match wouldn't hurt-

-And with that, its newly granted memories, sentience, and free will vanish because this is just too bloody long-

...

Looking around confusedly for a bit, and seeing no purpose in remaining in this foreign land whatsoever, the Colossus follows its animal instincts and just plain leaves, never to return again.

Bye all. v4 may have had its ups and downs, but I'm sure that we can agree that, in our own way, it was fun while it lasted.

edited 13th May '15 4:51:20 AM by TheHoboTortle

I recommend Edwards's spinoff, for the plot-shy.

Remember, v1 lasted for sixty-some glorious pages, and Plumbum didn't GM that shit at all. With the player base this has now, Edwards could do nothing and his thread would still last at least a hundred.

Knowless, before you close this down, I wrote a song that I'd like to use to make a sort of memorial for this. It's in-character, so it'd have to be a post. This OK with you?

edited 13th May '15 5:49:57 AM by SacredSpirit123

Aww. Well, time for my farewells!

Phoenix, Reland, Bridget, Vergil, Seth and company, and even the Cucco, all of them. They, and all the other strange people brought here for some strange reason, they gaze, longingly over the arena.

"So, this is it, huh? Boy, I sure have memories of this place. Ninten, undeath and then final death, and then life. Flint. Everything. Kinda sad to see things moving away." Phoenix stands on the top of a building, gazing over the streets below. A few tears glint as they roll down his face.

"So...It's time to move on, and there's no changing this past now. Farewell, Arena." Damian, silent and calm, leans against Atoner's Edge as he stands in one of the streets, almost absent minded.

"Well, I've got places to be, people to see." With that, the Courier walks off.

"You know, this place has grown on me. But whatever, time to go." Seth, stoic as always, standing next to Skylar, Frederick, Lilith and Alexander

"Aww, and I was just getting used to the machines too. Oh well, back to experimenting." Ah, Lilith, always infatuated with machines.

"Eh. Don't know much about this place." Skylar, woman of few words.

"So, it's time. We must move along." The unmoving wall of Frederick, standing firm against the sunset.

"And so, must the show come to an end, and the lead actor must bid his sweetest farewells. Farewell all! Farewell from Alexander!" Alexander, true to his theatrics, makes a small bow to the area.

"PATCH, be sure to never delete the pictures of this place. I'll get a collage for back home."

"Understood Sir. I will also keep this forever in my memory banks."

Reland, PATCH on his shoulder and Bridget beside him, bid farewell.

"Whatever you say Circuits. Come on, there's other jobs to do."

Vergil stands on top of the tower, gazing down.

"The time has come to leave this world, and meet my brother in another."

The Cucco flies into the sunset, flapping its last farewells.

They all turn their backs, and leave. Phoenix teleports, Seth and Co walk off, Bridget and Reland teleport, and Vergil merely...vanishes.

May as well put in one last token post.

Ring. Kyoka Suigetsu is planted into the ground, a tombstone.

The man in red walked this city. Wherever he would walk, he would summon a sword, planting it, leaving it with a metallic ring.

Ring. He plants a sword that never existed and cannot exist in his world into the ground. The Infinity Blade, the Godkiller.

Why would he do this? This was a strange world, an arena that he had never clashed in, and one whose scenery was jarring and urban compared to Whiterun.

Ring. Another blade planted. The Wailing Dark, the katana capable of piercing the earth.

And even then, he would not leave behind a monument, let alone one made of projections that would not last a day. That was not the person he was.

—But.

Thnnk.

He stops.

The last sword flies blade-first into the ground. It is the sword of Optimus Prime - a favorite, despite being three times his size.

And what he felt was his reason for existence.

Stranger or not, he still owed something to this world. A focus for his countless battles. A meaning beyond his meaningless existence, even if that meaning had been lost so long ago.

That was enough to make the man thankful for what he could say this world stood for.

Without any further words, Archer vanishes, his work done, leaving behind this town-wide monument of swords around Lumiose City.

Death and Jin enter the city with a sad look on there faces, "This is it isn't it" Death says looking at Jin, "Ya I guess it is" Jin says they both say "Farewell to the arena and let everybody to keep the memories of what happen here"

edited 13th May '15 7:21:54 AM by DeathThatKid

The Ent walks out of the Arena the same way he entered, brashly and slowly, humming a human tune he found appropriate for this moment

Shadow, dressed in Sorrow!Wastelander Attire, appears to pay his last respects to the Arena, a mournful gaze in his eyes. He sees his monument has been desecrated, and shouts in outrage, resetting the Arena to a pristine state with one swipe of a shadowy claw. He then sighs, and begins to walk the streets, coming to a stop in the dead center of the city.

He walks in an semicircle, then stops, conjuring two duplicates where he walked. The two duplicates pull out musical instruments, an Ocarina and a Lyre, respectively. They begin to play, and Shadow begins singing. As he sings, translucent afterimages of everyone who ever entered the arena flicker into being, reenacting scenes at the locations of both important events and their daily lives, and a perpetual rain of Sanguine-soaked black rose petals starts, blanketing Lumiose City in beauty once more.

   ♪"And so this world begins to end, and I can't help but feel I've lost a friend..."♪   

   ♪"See, when a Realm takes its final breath, a whole piece of the Universe succumbs to Death..."♪   

   ♪"And I as timeless as they come, can't help but feel I'm the oldest one..."♪   

   ♪"Land of Sorrow, Land of Joy! Now it will all be destroyed..."♪   

   ♪"Land of Foes and Land of Friends! How could this come to an end?!"♪   

   ♪"Yeah, how could I let it come to an end?"♪   

   ♪"And now world of Myths so deep, allow me to sing you to sleep..."♪   

   ♪"Farewell world of stories untold... Farewell world more precious than gold..."♪   

   ♪"If I could save you I'd make haste, but I know more than most you can't fight fate..."♪   

   ♪"It's all I can do to serenade you as you begin to fade..."♪   

   ♪"Take solace in the fact that of your visitors I'm perhaps the last, and I've remembered everything here, kept it in a mental list, none of your tales will fade to the mists..."♪   

   ♪"Farewell world that rivaled Rome..."♪   

   ♪"Farewell my best home away from home..."♪   

   ♪"Farewell..."♪   

As Shadow finishes singing, the duplicates repack their instruments, and close their eyes, while the flickering Memories fade. Shadow retraces his semicircle, reabsorbing the duplicates. He looks up at the rose petal rain longingly, then looks down at the ground with a sigh. He then sinks into the ground, but, as he leaves, a monument springs up, covered in a garland of black roses. The great obsidian and amethyst monolith bears an inscription:

   Rest in Peace:   

   Universe 13792636210A84451500   

   The Arena   

   My Home   

   ~Shadow   

Well, been fun, guys. Been fun. Take care. Going to scope out V5's. See you there. Sacred Out.

edited 13th May '15 8:16:01 AM by SacredSpirit123

So whose V5 have we finally settled on?

Idk. I'm checking out both the RP and the other one to see who's there. I think Syme's RP thread appeals to me.

@Arachnos: I'm in Syme's V5 at the moment.

@Sacred:Just thought I'd say that Shadow's farewell song was very beautiful and touching. Bravo, my friend.

A certain group of people all arrive to bid farewell to this world.

"I've made plenty of friends here," the Dragonborn says. "I hope to see them again in another realm like this. Especially Pilly and Pseudo. I also hope that the day will come when I face Sombra and put an end to his tyranny once and for all. And after him, Despair will be next and the great evil that plagued this land will be purged."

"Heh, you know, even I'm surprised at how much I've changed during my time here," Loki says. "Not to mention the allies I've gained. Especially Mimi..."

"I know how you feel, Loki. But I am sure that you'll have a chance to see them once again," Thor replies, clapping his younger brother on the shoulder. "Including this elven lover of yours, Delta. Tell me, brother, how did you two get together in the first place?"

"Shut up, Thor," the god of mischief replies, shooting his big brother an annoyed look while the god of thunder simply chuckled lightheartedly in response.

The Winter Soldier says nothing as he looks solemnly around at the Arena, sighing deeply as he takes in the sights while he still can.

The Maximoff twins, Wanda and Pietro, and their father, Magneto, can be seen sitting on a nearby rooftop. As father and son converse about everything that happened to them here, Wanda simply looks fondly at the necklace that Alderoth had given to her.

"I was one of the first to visit this realm," Legolas remarks. "I suppose it's only fitting that I'll be one of the last."

"My time here hasn't been as long as yours, my friend," Aragorn replies. "But if there is, in fact, another realm, I'd like to visit there."

"I will always remember this world," Thorin says. "After all, how could I ever forget a battle like the one I fought with Smaug? Not to mention the friends that I've made here, such as Ness, Isana, and the twins, Claus and Lucas."

"I've only ever come here once," Doctor Strange remarks. "But it was certainly a memorable experience. I look forward to future visits to realms like this, should they exist."

"Even though I've only been here once, it's still a pity to see this world go... At least its end will be peaceful though," Ulysses says. "Still, might cross paths with the Courier again someday in a place not unlike this one."

On the roof of the hotel, Katniss, Willow, and Vestara can be seen standing there, looking out at the city.

"It's funny, I originally came here for a bit of fun," Willow says. "Never thought I'd come to care for a scared and tormented boy as if he were my own child. I'll see him again soon, though, I just know it."

"I don't even know how or why I came to this place," Katniss replies, smiling slightly. "Though I definitely don't regret meeting Ninten and his friends. I'm looking forward to meeting them again."

"I may not have been here as long as you two have," Vestara says. "But I'm glad that I came here while I still had a chance. And soon, I'll find Alucard and maybe even learn Jade's real name."

The group then listens to Shadow's song and bow their heads in silent respect for this world, then bid the shadowy god farewell and pay their respects at the monument he had created before taking their leave.

They were saddened to go, but they knew that they would always hold the memories of their adventures here in their hearts. Plus, there was always the chance that they'd find a world similar to this one where they would reunite with their friends one day.

edited 14th May '15 4:29:36 AM by IchigoMontoya

The "newstyle" v5 is in the Roleplay sectiona nd the "old-style" v5 is here

Thanks for the song compliment. Surprisingly, I woke up with the words in my head this morning.I composed it in my bed, then and there. It made MY eyes misty, and I'M the composer!

@Knowlessfor the record, erin is my OC from We Have All Been Gender flipped. Yeah, she just looted the place but it's a normal necklace that's going to be aboard an airship in a completely different universe. The arena helped her realize her character so she feels some attachment. Also, how do ya like the meta?

@Sacred:No problem, pal. Hope to play with you again in Syme's V5 someday.

Leaving my good-byes to this thread too.

Dark Knight Flint and Judge of Wings observe the arena from the tower. Judge of Wings flies away, but Flint stares for a bit longer. He gives a silent goodbye to the arena despite lacking emotions and then walks away, following Judge of Wings.

Wes and Flint Lockwood drink in one of the cafes.

"...This place is going to vanish soon huh?"

"...Yeah. Gonna miss the coffee of this place..."

"...Damn it all. Didn't know I would get attached to this place.....Well at least I got to fight battles without needing to hold back. This place also helped to recover my power back. I have no unfinished business here anymore." Wes says as he finished his coffee.

"Let's go. We came here for one final coffee in this place and said good-bye." Flint says. Then the duo walk away and vanish.

Gilgamesh stands atop the Pokemon center and runs off.

"This battleground was a true test of strenght! Even though I didn't get any weapons I still managed to have a challenge!....In all of the two battles that I did here! I, Gilgamesh will continue my journey for weapons!"

Jack Frost briefly appears.

"Sayonara! Thanks to this place I am way more powerful than ever before! I, Jack Frost, the greatest ice demon ever, shall show the rest of the world my awesome power! HEE-HO!" Jack Frost says and dissappears.

Construct 13 walks in and observes the arena.

"FINAL OBSERVATION COMPLETE. PROCEEDING TO LEAVE THE ARENA." The automaton says and walks away. It turns around for ome more time.

"....OBSERVATION: THIS LAND HELPED TO IMPROVE THIS UNIT'S CAPABILITY WITH THE BATTLES. MY OWNER WILL BE GRATEFUL. GOOD-BYE!" Construct 13 says and walks away.

edited 13th May '15 9:29:16 AM by RobotTophat

I'm gonna miss this game. Idk who has made spin-offs yet. I might just cause I'm more plot-oriented and I don't want to derails anyone's game. Besides, I have some newer ideas and it can't hurt. Anyway, I just wish somebody's done a world turtle/the arena itself boss. That would've been awesome to see, if only because this is the end of it all for good.

One in forum games, the plot on starts on the sign up for role-plays page, hope to see you in both.

Ayup. As good a time of day as any to get around to this.
Thanks for the song, Sacred.

Surprised people got this emotionally attached to it, and new players at that; my memory isn't great these days, but I'm not sure there's more than like two of you here who were in v3, much less anything earlier. Of course, a year is an eternity in internet time, and this thread's been here for something like two and a half of those.

At any rate, yeah.

Edwards Senpai's spinoff, which resides in Forum Games, is here.

Syme Synth's spinoff, which is a Roleplay, albeit likely more chaotic than most, has its sign-ups thread here.

If I find any more spinoffs, I'll be sure to edit in links to them here, and into the OP.

And now, as was foretold, I ask that this finished thread be made an end.
It's been a good run, and should be a decent enough walk; expect me in each of those spinoffs, and possibly even further ones. I don't know my future, but I'll probably never leave this forum, and as long as an Avatar Arena thread exists, you might very well find me there.

If any other Tropers feel that, though the Arena is already well-represented in successors, they are interested to try their hand at making their own rules and entertaining their own new players, I invite them to do so. I started v3 on my own love for the game, and I wouldn't discourage you, competition or no competition.