Trolo Lolo, Chief Editor of That Time of the Month, reporting from Limsa Lominsa on a news flash. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, felines, anthropomorphs, giants, and normal people: The Great Eorzean Chocobo Race is coming to a stable near you incredibly soon! On the 23rd sun of this very moon (Second Astral), the fewest, the proudest chocobo jockeys in all of Eorzea will brave the journey from the Black Shroud all the way to the heart of Thanalan, testing the mettle of rider, steed, and spectator alike. Thanks to the host of the competition, the Vylbrand Academy of Mystics, Tactics, and Trade, a complimentary linkpearl will be provided to all followers upon registering for an all-access spectator pass. This linkpearl will include commentary by yours Trolo, as well as several other sponsors and personalities from across Eorzea, as well as updates from strategically positioned heralds, who will announce when it is best to teleport to various Aetheryte crystals.
As the big race draws closer, the Academy finds itself in a race of its own, so to speak, to find volunteers, participants, and spectators for the event before the starting flag ascends. Below are some positions in particularly high demand:
- Well-bred and well-fed chocobos
- Well-bred and well-fed jockeys who can guarantee they will be ready to race on game day - quitters never win
- Well-read and well-off sponsors who will pledge to support a specific jockey (or multiple if they're particularly ambitious)
- Sanitary Engineers who are not fazed by malms and malms of dung piles
- and viewers like you
The winner of the course will also receive the prestigious Gold Chocobo Cup, and all of the edible confetti they can stomach!
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 Date: Sunday, March 23rd
Time: 2:00 PM [Central Time Zone]
Start Location: Bentbranch Meadows
End Location: Vesper Bay
[Server: Balmung]
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End Location: Vesper Bay
[Server: Balmung]
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Now let's meet our jockeys!
Rider: Haii Hai
Chocobo: Sir Birdington
"Get ready to put on your robe and wizard hat, because if Team Haii Hai gets the most donations, I will be running a Castles & Chimeras game for my sponsors! Are you ready to roll the dice in this seat-of-your-pants imaginary adventure? With me as 'Storymaster', we will travel to worlds unknown! Choritos and Thanalan Dew will be provided to all of my guests as we gather in someone's mom's basement. So sponsor me, okay?"
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Rider: Ihrie Desana
Chocobo: Brightmoon
"Well hello to all of you out there! Ihrie here and hoping to win this race. For all my sponsors, I will teach a course on the basics and understanding of sign language if I get the most donations. Talk secret secrets with your friends or just flat out understand those that cannot speak. It really helps when you least expect it to!"
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Rider: Kairi Lightpaw
Chocobo: Ruby
"You can count on me. I have been good at fleeing away from bandits with my beloved Ruby, so we are well trained! Additionally, I shall be hosting a tea party for my sponsors if I receive top donations."
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Rider: Flynn Rosenberg
Chocobo: Yuri
"I'll do my best. If I win, drinks are on me. Yuri and I share a special bond and always come out on top."
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Rider: O'rahn Kevelan
Chocobo: Coco
"If I get the most donations, or was it winning? ... Hah, Either way I'll Form a class for understanding the inner workings of locks and how to manipulate them to your advantage. No door will be out of your reach!"
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Rider: T'aloh Muji
Chocobo: Lyoriin
 "H-hi, I'm T'aloh, and I'm glad to be able to use Lyoriin in the race. He may be young but he has heart. If I am to win the race I promise to teach everyone who sponsers me how to properly hunt down creatures and people alike. It...could be like a game of hide and seek. Everyone likes hide and seek...right?"
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Now let's take a look at the course! If you are a jockey, please familiarize yourself with the checkpoints, as missing a checkpoint will disqualify you from winning the race! If you are a spectator, you may feel free to stand or move wherever you like (so long as it does not inhibit our racers.)
[Screenshot of Starting Line point.]
[Screenshot of Checkpoint #1 : North Gate of Buscarron's Druthers. Please disregard "A" marker, as that is for the Herald's reference only.]
[Screenshot of Checkpoint #2: South Platform of Camp Tranquil (must approach through the series of bridges.)]
[Screenshot of Checkpoint #3: Western side of Highbridge.]
[Screenshot of Checkpoint #4: Black Brush Station - enter from the Northeastern gate.]
[Screenshot of Checkpoint #5: Horizon.]
[Screenshot of the Finish Line!]
So there you have it, sports fans! Look forward to seeing who steps up to the task, and feel free to chip in some gil for your favorite team!
((See more OoC information in the second post, below. We have a promotional video that details each checkpoint location as well!
[youtube]w8r320S75HA[/youtube]))