Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Welcome back to Superstar Authority, sweet things!" Razzle's face fills the camera as the Superstar Authority opening sequence fades away. Zooming out, it lets her entire body fill the screen, as she spins and points directly at it. "I'm Razzle Dazzle, and I'm so happy to see all of YOU here tonight. I'm even more excited for what we've got coming up! In a few minutes, we'll be meet all of our lovely, charming, gorgeous contestants, the trolls who will be battling it out for your pump biscuit!"

Glittering curtains begin to draw back on either side behind the tealblood. Raising her hands, Razzle look up as the camera pans out even more, to focus on a large television screen set into the wall behind her.

"Overflowing with glittering charm, we have twenty five, yes twenty five amazing trolls here tonight, all ready and waiting to sweep you off your feet!" As Razzle lists the names, her voice never faltering though the enormous list, photos of each contestant flick onto the screen, accompanied by a burst of stars and slick editing. "The enthusiastic Trick or Treat! The most charming Fellah! The wicked Lil Mak! The ever-curious Astra! The passionate Api-bomb! The loud and proud Gourdi Jackyl! The determined Wallas Ziegel! The troll with the megawatt smile, Frenzz! The most elegant Eostre! The ... ooh ~ brutal NOVA! The eager beaver, Ely Z! No relation to an actual beaver! The dedicated duo, Sparkling Snow! The daring Dr. Eamy! The flashy, fluttering Seraph! The spirited Eli! The assertive αWulf! The, ha ha ha can't wait to see what this troll's got up their sleeves, self described 'quirky' Peachick! The actual real life famous fighter from Four Fronds, Shield! The passionate Sultry Star! The creative cuties - the Latte Lovers! The flashy Fross☆ - try pronouncing that at home! And the glamorous SHEshells!"


Jumping in front of the camera's view of the screen, Razzle puts a hand to her mouth in exaggerated surprise. "Oh! But what's this? I nearly forgot to mention our dangerously devastating panel of judges! Watching over the proceedings, they'll be the ones at the end to see who's talent is just raw and fierce enough to win over the competitors! And they're here, in the studio tonight! Let's give it up for our Royal Empress Regina Marian, greenblood starhunter Aandes LeMode, aaaand the redblood darling Odette Cygnet!"

The camera panned back, then swung around to focus on three trolls sitting at a long table, with three troll sitting behind it...


Competitors

Civilians & Sponsors
Sit back and enjoy the show! Sponsors, if you want to figure out what exactly your merchandise should be for your sponsored trolls, now is the time to really see what they're about. Also, make sure they're doing their best to draw attention to you/your business. If at any time you feel they are misrepresenting you, you can drop them using the code below in the main competition thread. (This is for fun rp conflict purposes only - if you have an ooc conflict or feel there's been an error in ooc communication, please talk to the sponsee's owner or a mod! Rewards will not change/you will not be punished via endgame rewards for using this.)

...Walking forward, the heat of the lights made him feel like a clawbeast in the boil pot; hot, uncomfortable and antsy, but unlike the panic a clawbeast might be feeling, Frendo welcomed his fears. He embraced them like old friends and greeted them like his brothers, because if he was to fight these feelings, he would only dig himself deeper into panic. No, he would take each step in mental stride, until he carried himself to stand on that little 'x'.

The smile he had been come to be known for(or would be known for!) burst forth with such warmth and luminosity that it dared to challenge the stage lights, and he gave the crowd an eager wave, eyes purposefully catching those of random trolls in the audience. He had to prove he wasn't afraid of anything; not lights, not stages, not hundreds of trolls here live with him, or the thousands at home watching and waiting, faces pressed to the screen. His smile never faltered and his eyes were steady as they made a last final scan before landing on the camera.

As he began to speak, he made sure the light hit the sequins and rhinestones of his jet black and bloodorange body suit, making him shine and sparkle as bright as his smile. From the rhinestones littered across his pitch undershirt and the fire orange sequins delicately sewed into the orange vest he wore on top to the heavily bedazzled flames crawling-all glitter and glint- up his left leg, with his symbol in black sequins among the flames, Frendo was shining like a bejeweled star. Why, even his hair and face was dusted with orange glitter, highlighting his cheekbones and temple and making him look wild and exciting. His voice, which he had worked hard to make as clear as possible, burst forth with energy and friendly ease, "HELLO ALTERNIA! I'M FREZZ AN' I LOVE FLUID REDISTRIBUTION STATION #365794 AN' IT'S RELATED MUNICIPAL SUBSERVICES!" it wouldn't seem his smile could get any wider(though some at home with their digital replay devices could probably pause, rewind and catch that moment when it grew a size bigger) before he digressed with a hearty laugh,

"But really, thanks ta Fluid Redistribution Station #365794 for der sponsorship and for keepin' da water flowin'! " he gave a playful wink to the camera, before continuing with out missing a beat, "But a little less 'bout m'love for happy pipes and onto better and brighter things! As I said, 'M names Frenzz, an' I'm all 'bout dat wild life! Ya cud say Danger's m'middle name! Ain't nothin' ever stopped me yet, and I don't plan on lettin' anything take me down anytime soon! So as the lovely trolls at Underworld say, 'Let's misbehave~', if only jussa little," he winked, and in an effort to show how really fearless he was, how determined he was to keeping going-no matter the costs- he flicked a hand back and produced a decent sized hunting knife from his hip(the sheath was just as bedazzled as the rest of him), and with determination burning in his eyes, balanced the blade upon a finger, before flicking it up in the air. Yet, instead of letting his eyes follow the glinting blade, he trained them on the judges and crowd, making an apparent point to prove himself to them as the blade spun through the air.

His bloodpusher was pounding like a drum, but no one would ever know from how calm he was as the knife came spinning back down. The gasp of the crowd was dulled by the thump thump of his blood in his spongeclots as the cold blade came to a stop between his fingers, eyes never leaving their cool stare into the crowd. His face had grown semi-serious during the moment, but the smile quickly came back as he caught the blade, and a genuine laugh bubbled up from his throat as he pocketed the knife and gave a small bow, "I like ta say der's nothin' ta fear 'cept fear itself! I'm brave enough ta juggle knives blindfolded and I got da stamina and guts ta dance until my opponent drops, jus' like m'friends an' sponsors at Death Dancers! Which also happens ta reside in m'beloved hometown of N. H. C.!!!" he pumped up his voice as he made a shout out to his city, and held the C for a moment longer, for the effect, " And that's how I live my life, takin' risks and livin' on da edge of my seat, though," he paused and scratched the back of his head, playing up the cute and softer side of his persona for a moment as he added,

"I do hava soft spot for gardenin', which is why I'm happy to announce Cart Wheelin' Deals, where dey productively produce produce an' cart it with care, as a proud sponsor! Even a excitin' troll like me has a soft spot for delicious veggies and fruits grown with care!" Frendo let his smile relax a little as he continued on, slightly more somber, but still somehow flashy, "An' when I'm not out facin' m'fears or workin' in m'garden, you'll find me out in da community! I like ta think I'm a troll's troll, a dedicated member of dis society, wit a helpin' hand always at da ready! I want to stand here, before ya all, and be an example for some, a role model for young an' old! For others, a good show, a way ta relax after a hard day! I wanna be someone's hero, der idol, because as m'sponsor Lorata Gorgos says, 'Alternia needs heroes'!" he grinned and threw a hand on his hip, "Course, don' let my soft spots fool ya, I'm here ta show you bravery an' strength, a determination ya have nevah seen before, and like the trolls at Tincan Mechanics say about their dedicated hard work, it's ' Gear-unteed the best, an' like dem, I'm gunna be da best ya've eva'seen!" another playful wink and a shift of pose, to remind all the trolls of how fabulous he looked this evening, determined to shine like a jewel.

"So now ya all know a little 'bout me! I hope, or shud I say, I know ya all are gunna be wowed by my preformance, but to tide ya over, I made a lil' video, jus' for you guys! An' at the Nightly Grind, dey got a sayin' dat goes, 'It's a brew-tiful world', and if I hope some of dat dangerous beauty can be seen in dis video!"





Accompanied by a catchy, bassy beat, the video that played started with scenes of Frendo at different spots. Hanging from a tree a good 20 feet off the ground outside Four Fronds, scaling the side of a cliff face in Busthind, wedged between the two heads of his lusus with his charming smile on his face, standing on the top of a hivestem in the city. Pictures flashed of his time spent practicing sword swallowing and juggling, the determination burning bright in his eyes.

Interspersed between pictures were video clips, such as Frendo excitedly showing his garden with muddy feet and hands, sweat on his brow, or a video of him trying fire spitting for the first time and laughing as he singed his hair and brows. Another set of pictures revealed him reading, visiting with random trolls in the street, or working hard on a hiveroof or helping a troll with their chores, along with a clip of him finished climbing down a ladder and giving the camera a thumbs up.

As the video finished and the song wound down, a final clip played. A close of up Frendo, with his megawatt smile, obviously holding the camera himself as he spoke, "Hey guys, thanks for watchin'! Just remember out der, if ya put yur mind ta it, ya can do anythin'! Ain't nothin' ta fear but fear itself!" as he spoke, it became obvious he was walking slowly backwards, and a cliff edge came into view along with the sound of water crashing. His smile grew wider and he flashed the camera over his shoulder, revealing a cliff with an adjacent waterfall and pool, before coming back to focus on him, "Like dey say at Holy Gigglebumps Amusement Park," two more steps and he was at the edge, and then suddenly the camera wiggled, as if shifting hands, and Frendo lept backwards from the cliff with a loud, "WOOP WOOP WOOPEEEEE!" his voice fading and being swallowed by the crashing water as the camera quickly followed his decent.

The video finished as he popped above the water with raised arms, the camera panning in on his laughing face.





Frendo posed with a grin as the video ended, eating up the cheers and applause with relish. This would give him a big head, all this attention, but he could care less! He waved as the crowd continued to cheer, and then spoke out over the noise, "THANK YA THANK YA! I hope ya all enjoyed gettin' ta know me, and jus know, I'm here ta stay! So vote for me, FRENZZ! An' don' forget, there ain't nothin' ta fear but fear itself!" with those final words he jogged off to the chairs, waving jovially as he went, and quickly took a seat next to Eostre with a charmingly friendly smile.

Now was the hard part, waiting for the end. Frendo had never been good at waiting.

Punkie bounced up onto stage as the announcer called her name. She wore an orange tutu with her symbol over her stomach in black, along with two triangles to make it look like a jack-o-lantern. She had fishnet leggings, with ribbons of silk spiraling down her legs, like the stripes on a candy-cane. The ribbon on each leg was actually a banner, sporting her sponsor's slogans. "It's a brew-tiful world" for The Nightly Grind ran down her right leg, meanwhile "Let's misbehave" ran down her left leg, the slogan for the Underworld. Her waist was cinched with yet more ribbons, each streaming behind her, fluttering as the Juggalo twirled in front of the crowd. When she came to a standstill you could read several more slogans; there was "Woop woop woopee!!" for Holy Gigglebumps Amusement Park, "No meal is too big, no troll is too small!" for Phoenix Down, "Productively producing produce and carting it with care!" for Cart Wheeling Deals, "t's fast, it's furious, it's luxurious!" for Eridia Tsifer, and "Alternia needs heroes." for Lorata Gorgos. Her hair was kept back with a green headband, complete with curled ribbon like punkin vines. The Juggalo took the mic and started break dancing while she rapped.

Whoop whoop yall! my name is trick-or-treat,
It's time for Civisect to turn up the ******** Heat.
We're all here for some fun, and this ******** show,
So get your damned peepers ready cuz here. I. go.
I hear you like Alternia and s**t like fright-night,
All those fears, all those tricks, to escape u gotta fight!
But you know better, yeah you do, that s**t ain't fright,
What's really gets your biscuit going is that deadly goddamned light.
Day terrors, hidden horrors, and juggalos right here,
Watch out for them cuz there the ones you really gotta fear.
So listen close to my words of mirth and debauchery,
And maybe even a s**t like you can come out live and free.

Punkie bowed, and picked up a confetti gun. She fired, showering the audience with her mix of juggalo joy. Glitter, sequins, and googly eyes rained over everyone. There were also pieces of paper with "brought to you by The Underworld, Cart Wheeling Deals, The Nightly Grind, Holy Gigglebumps Amusement Park, Phoenix Down, Lorata Gorgos, and Eridia Tsifer, all in various colors. She picked up three large orange balls, with the Holy Gigglebumps Amusement Park company logo, and started to juggle them while she addressed the audience. "Heeey yall!" Punkie started enthusiastically. "I'm ******** trick or treat, and I'm here to bring some damned mirth to this slew of sin. This place? Ya see this debauchery? Well it needs an a**-load o something I call the Juggalo touch, to turn this competition into a ******** Carnival!" Punkie threw the three balls over the crowd and pushed a button that popped all three while they were in the air. Little parachutes with her sponsor themed gifts slowly floated down to the awaiting audience. "Sponsored by The Underworld" were written on each parachute that slowly carried a flashing bracelet down. "Brought to you by The Nightly Grind", "Here from Phoenix Down" and "Cart Wheeling Deals" sponsored parachute gently floated down, containing a coupon for one product half off. The "Eridia" parachute brought with it a small vial of perfume. "Lorata" labeled parachute delivered a wonderful pair of sunglasses to whomever was lucky enough to catch it. "Y'all are gonna get some REAL goddamned tricks throughout this festerpool , all thanks to my sponsors. Give it up for those hardworking ********. And ya know what? If yer all really good little ********, there's a big ol treat, waiting at the end."

Punkie winked at the crowd, spun around again, yelled one last thing, "Vote for Trick or Treat AND YOU WILL GET SOME ******** TREATS!" She then stuck out a finger, waggling it at anyone naughty enough no to vote for her, "Haters gonna get tricks" and left center stage.

Fellah took a deep breath. There was so much to remember rattling around his thinkpan. He'd been preparing every waking moment he had after signing up for this competition, but no matter how much the country troll practiced there was simply no way to predict the future. Letting the breath out he let his mind slow down as he was shoved out onto stage and began making his way to the marked 'X.'
The redblood was superb at masking his nerves, flashing the crowd that oh so charming country smile as his feet landed on their mark. He was decked out in a stetson hat, boots, and a big shiny belt buckle displaying his symbol on the polished metal. His denim jeans were well cut and practically pristine, and he wore a nice firm pressed dress flannel under a sports jacket that he reached in to grab his microphone out of. The sleeves and chest were purposefully a bit tight, to really showcase his strength and physical prowess.
"Well howdy there Alternia!" the country troll called out. "For those of ya'll who aren't familiar, I'm Opimus Fellah. But you can just call me Fellah," the red blood winked, and flashed another smile really playing up on that country charm as he delivered his catchphrase.
"I can't tell ya what an honor it is to be up here on this stage. I could'a never in my wildest dreams imagined bein' up here at ANB, in my favorite city New Hemisect one night. Growin' up farmin' builds a lot'a character, but it don't exactly rake in the beetles." He chuckled. "No matter what happens here, I feel all gussied up like a star, and I got Eridia Tsifer and Lorata Gorgos to thank for that. Those ladies are cute as a button and got fashion sense to spare, lucky for me." His humility began to shine through with his humble beginnings, and praise of two kind highbloods who went out on a limb for him. "Gosh, New Hemisect has always been a twinklin' star on the horizon from my farm out on the plains. It's really got somethin' special 'bout it, I'm sure my fellow country trolls can agree with that." He gave a nod toward his current and hopefully growing fan base, country trolls gotta look after one another after all. "It's given rise to some spectacular businesses, Tincan Mechanics, Cerise's Bakery, Cart Wheeling Deals, the Death Dancers, and the Nightly Grind, just to name a few. These hard workin' trolls have made themselves a fixture in this city'a dreams!" He threw a hand out to the crowd, the city, really emphasizing how wonderful of a place it is.
"Now, while farmin' and playing dating sims is great," he chuckled in good humor at his own odd hobby, hopefully making himself look more grounded and real. "what I'd really like to do one night is sing fer a livin', I've been told I ain't too bad at it, but I guess ya'll will be the judge of that." He concluded before his video reel started up.



Tilting his head up just a bit so he could see both the screen and the crowd, his video began to roll. It started out with him two sweeps ago, a very rough around the edges farm teen, sticking out like a sore thumb near the Starlight Agency booth at a former Bloodfest. It was almost comical how raggedy he looked by comparison standing next to and speaking with Aandes Lamode. Though a few more seconds in and the redblood began to belt Song I Believe In by Safe in Blue, covered in a very unique way. This had been Fellah's first time performing for anyone, as well as his first audition. The stark contrast of lifestyles really shattered when his vocals were showcased.
As the song carried on, it shifted to the most recent Bloodfest, where Fellah had the honor of judging side by side with Odette Cygnet, Aandes Lamode, and Sascha Diasis at the karaoke competition that advertised the upcoming musical. As the first song ended, the video clipped back and forth between the judging and a now much more polished looking Fellah singing a cover of Emmily by San Fermin for Chiara at her dance studio. He had garnered a modest amount of recognition since his judging at Bloodfest and the second half of the reel really tried to showcase his determination and drive to become a phenomenal singer since his first audition a couple sweeps ago. Since Fellah was naturally humble, and it was a trait he had to play up in this competition, this reel HAD to hit the mark by showing how great he was. His talent with singing was hard to deny, but he hoped that the video reel would give the crowd a solid taste of what he had to offer.



As the video wrapped up, and Razzle began to return to the stage, Fellah gave his farewell, hoping he made a memorable impression. "Well folks, it's been a pleasure ta introduce myself to ya'll. I really hope this farm troll doesn't let you, or this city down. I'll be givin' it all I got!" With that he gave one last, big smile and a vigorous wave to the crowd, making eye contact with as many of them as he could before taking a few big strides to his seat.

Api was nervous. They’d signed up partially because they truly wanted to, and partially because they wanted to defy Fluff’s expectations of them. And while they had managed to get several wonderful sponsors, they couldn’t help but think this was just an elaborate hoax they were putting on- of course they weren’t going to win! But… they weren’t going to withdraw, either. They’d made a commitment, and they were going to see it through.

Finally, it was their turn.

Quote:

The glaring stage lights flared then softened, showing a wide, brightly lit stage. At the far end, rows of sleek swivel chairs were waiting, but in the middle, the small, barely-visible X marked the first destination. Walking forward ...

They shook, horribly. Though they tried not to show it. They kept their hands clasped in front of them as they walked with a bounce in their step to the X on the stage where they were all supposed to stop. Their persona was supposed to be bubbly, so of course they needed to seem excited to be there! (Not that they weren’t…) Turning to face the crowd- and the judges (The Queen herself! She was really there!), they broke into a wide grin.

”Hello hello! I’m Api-bomb!” They waved a hand excitedly- causing a few sequins on their outfit to sparkle in the lights. They had chosen to stick to their original style- chic knitwear in a variety of patterns and colors. This gave them a cozy, down to earth appearance but also upped the cute charm they’d been hoping to give off. Chiara’s suggestion of spikes had not gone unheard, visible on the back of their sweater was a bee pattern with a large black bead attached to look like a stinger. With the initial introduction started, they needed to get into actually… making themself known.

”Some of you might know me already from this sweep’s spectacular Bloodfest! I hosted a dancing booth there this sweep, where all trolls were invited to come shake it up with my honey bees for a chance to win some sweet prizes and show off their dance moves!” They paused to wink, ”the wonderful Chiara Moteku of Death Dancers was also there to scout out potential talents- you gotta dance ‘til your opponent drops with Death Dancers!” Chiara had been such a driving force behind their life lately that they figured they had better plug her first.

”But aside from dancing, I just love helping to make my favorite city - New Hemisect - an even more wonderful place! My bees and I take care of a lot of flowers that make New Hemisect as pretty as it is. You can’t have a party without decorations, and as one of my generous sponsors, Modadi Balloa, would say - come to party city to check them out!” As they spoke they began to rock a little in place, bouncing from the heels of their feet to their toes in an effort to keep moving. The nerves were eating them alive, but somehow they’d manage to keep talking! They had to!

They still had two more NHC sponsors to mention… and then a couple others. They could do this! ”Thrivin’ in such a big city is a work of grand cooperation. I’m here to be that shining example of cooperation! Businesses like Cart Wheeling Deals rely on the world to make their produce grow, because without bees to help they couldn’t keep productively producing produce and carting it with care! Cooperation is key, after all it’s a brew-tiful world as the Nightly Grind puts it and when we all play our parts correctly we can make it even better.” Honestly- when push came to shove they’d just play up their part. Yellowbloods were helpers, weren’t they? They could do that. "Cerise's Bakery can brighten up your night and your world with a sweet treat for every occasion! Add a lil' honey and you're golden." They giggled, hoping the somewhat subtle pun would come across.

”Cooperation in one area just won’t do it, though. Even the littlest of trolls can make a big impact, that’s why miss Calida Opalus of Phoenix Down Bakery says no meal is too big, no troll is too small! Truer words haven’t been spoken. It’s not just bakers and produce makers that benefit from the little guys either!” Api shook their head, tone growing more serious as they continued. ”People like my generous sponsor miss Eridia Tsifer who makes perfumes from organic and natural sources benefit from having her flowers pollinated. It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s luxurious! Be sure to try out some of her positively perfect perfume after the show~!” Api winked again, miming the action of spraying some perfume in the air as they plugged Eridia’s sponsorship. Almost done, they just had to bring it all together…

”Audience, Alternia needs heroes, and Lorata Gorgos is the kind of lady who recognizes that heroes are found everywhere! From the lowest redblood to the grandest purpleblood, when everyone plays their part we all succeed!” They clapped their hands together, eyes shining with their most sincerest of looks. ”I urge you to vote for me in the upcoming selections! Api-bomb is here to provide a good example for future generations. Honey, you’ve been Api-bombed!” With their catchphrase out, they winked again, making their right index and middle fingers into a V for a cute pose before they turned to bounce-walk off the stage.

Their pumpbiscuit felt like it was going to explode- but somehow they’d done it ! And delivered a message that even Fluff would appreciate.

Quote:

Clapping harder now, the audience began to cheer, and Razzle stepped forwards from the wings to introduce the next contestant. The chairs at the far end of the stage were a few short steps away ...

Polair was feeling a bit anxious as she approached the x, fearing that she might miss the spot or worse, fall off the stage or something. The seadweller practiced her breathing as she hoped, just hoped she could let someone else take her place while she mentally went over her introductory speech. Of course that would’ve been ideal if it wasn’t her turn. What made her even more nervous? The judges. No, not the Queen, not Aandes Lamode but Odette Cygnet. She had seen her before and surely she'd be expecting the same thing she did during Bloodfest.

Well, this time I'll show you just how fun I can be. Polair thought.



Polair managed to get herself to the middle of the stage. She mentally prepared herself for what was coming. She could do this, she had been practicing, she had been preparing herself for this night and she was going to make it an unforgettable memory. Sliding her foot across the X, she was completely sure she was positioned on the right place. Polair tilted her head slightly and smiled, taking the opportunity to strike a pose.

She was ready.

The slight glitter on her hair sparked up the mood, the lighting scattered about around her as she cooly swished her sheer galaxy cape, revealing the black cut out bodysuit under her it. Polair was feeling stellar as ******** wearing it, the front cut out gave her the opportunity to show off the ink decorating her skin. The gold jewelry on her also played well with the current lighting as the highblood’s intention was to draw everyone’s attention. She was a black hole amongst a sea of light.

“Hello world... “ She said full of confidence. Her Underworld bracelet lighted up as she said this. “I am one with the stars, the planets, and galaxies… I am Astra~” She said with a flourish hand gesture. “And I’m glad to join you here tonight! I’d like to thank all the wonderful trolls that made this night possible for me! Chiuan Heshui’s intricate model ships definitely inspired me to travel all the way from Civisect City to the ever exciting New Hemisect City. Two different cities meet represented by the very ships they love...” She giggled. “Definitely need to go to Modadi Balloa’s party during my stay, they’re sneakers are out of this world! They make you feel like you’re walking on air!”

Sell herself, sell herself. Polair needed to use all the fancy wordplay-- reach to the audience and above all, sell herself. “Also I certainly wouldn’t be here without wearing Almuma Ththil’s lovely seashell glasses or Stemma Morgen’s beautiful and one of a kind crystals!” Polair flashed a smile as she showed them how nice they looked on her.

“Sundar Ghayak’s limited edition colour-changing lipstick is no exception to this!” She gently touched her lips with a smile. “These will make an appearance at the Underworld-- my favorite place to simply misbehave. After all, a little glamour could never hurt anyone, so why not show off your wild and alluring side?” She puckered her lips, releasing a kiss for the audience. It was as if she slowly forgot who Polair was and got replaced by someone else, she was acting so different from her usual self and she kind of liked it. It felt so different from what she was used to...

“I’m giving a shoutout to all my friends in Civisect City! We overcome all the obstacles life throws our way! We never give up and we will never give in to bad times.” Civisect had gone through so many things and yet, they kept trying to make the city as dignified as it once was. “My friends in Chittentown and Four Fronds, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you! You are all dear to me and I will show you how much you mean to me through my performance! Another shout out for those who try and keep on trying, for those who replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity! We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

“You probably have seen me around skywatching or buying books at some of the local libraries. I love reading about Alternia’s natural wonders-- especially those beyond our skies~ My adoration for scientific things is easily seen through everything I do.” Polair would’ve winked but her eyes were covered. “I love helping others out, I love being able to teach-- sharing the knowledge I’ve been given in hopes that someday, in someway, it’ll be passed on.”

“Another thing about myself, I want to explore the great unknowns-- Be it across the sea, the forests or space. I want to see it all. Explore. Dream. Discover!” She placed her hands on her hips, stepping to the side so they could see her video.



Polair’s first Bloodfest booth which slowly shifted to this sweep’s Bloodfest. It showed her space themed booth and some of the things she did-- including part of her singing performance. Lucky for her, Claud was really into the idea of recording her after so many sweeps of making documentaries for herself. It faded to black and not a second after a scene of her in a schoolfeeding institution was shown. Helping those who struggled in specific academic fields and showing their progress. Another scene came up, showing bits of her documentaries on stars, though it was edited to sound like a symphony rather than a long boring explanation. After that, the video showed the places she frequented, her doing the things she loved and finally her swimming in the ocean, came to view. The last scene she looked up and the camera’s focus was on the stars.

Polair felt glad her video editing team was able to do a good “About Me” project. She couldn’t be more grateful. Once the focus was back on her she flashed another smile as she took a second to breath. There was one part of her speech to which she considered skipping due to reaching out to a specific demographic. It was something she wouldn’t dare to do, but for now she could try reaching out for those who haven’t opted for robotic replacements. It was surely a minority, but she felt like she should call out to them.

“One final shout out to those who are going through strong transitions those who think they are left without a way to follow their passions. Know that you all inspire me to break down walls, challenge myself.” She said. “Thanks for watching!” Moments after, she felt like her heart ached for a second.



The crowd got her out of her train of thought just before she went on board. “Thank you, really, thank you everyone! I would be honored to have your support for the upcoming competition~ Keep your eyes peeled for any surprises! I, Astra, will provide you with plenty!" She smiled brightly than ever, feeling her bloodpusher beat like a drum as she twirled in excitement before walking off with the other contestants. “I hope your passions get you all to great places as well! Remember, sky's the limit!”

Wallas barely had time to take his get-ready breath before he was thrust out into the spotlight. Still, he played off the initial shock as shaking himself off and loosening up, like he had been splashed with water. "Hey, everybody," he said, trying not to marvel at how even his boring voice sounded good over the loudspeakers. He adjusted the red collar of his black button-down shirt; his outfit struck a nice balance between casual-approachable and dressy-office business, with the nice slacks and well-polished shoes that he was pretty sure he only got from his sponsorship money. "I'm Wallas Ziegel. I'm the troll with the towers on his head." Okay, that felt boring. He needed to get some appeal out quickly. "Any Chittentown folks here tonight?" He couldn't help but smile at the thought of being supported by trolls from his hometown. As he spoke, he tried to keep his voice at a carefully measured pace, one that would make him sound like a strong-willed but approachable everyman. "I'm from Chittentown, and I'm glad to represent our hard-working patch of Alternia. You see, when I'm not sharpening my star qualities, I'm a tinkerer. I make gadgets and traps. I'm a pretty handy guy to have around. But I can do much more than that. Here, let me show you."



Wallas (the one on the screen) stood behind a table in his hive. Golemdad could be seen watching cautiously in the background. "Hey again, everybody. You probably know by now that I'm good with machines, but I've got other talents too. Let me introduce you to... my Crepe Concerto!" He hummed as he began to gather ingredients before him. Suddenly, the screen split to reveal several more Wallas-es, humming and singing in a capella harmony to a popular morale-boosting song. The middle of the screen was dedicated to Wallas preparing crepes; sometimes the singing would switch to a low hum as he highlighted an important step of the process. At the very end, the singing hit a crescendo as the Wallas in the center revealed very scrumptious-looking savory crepes.

"Those crepes weren't all show, I'll have you know. They were delicious!" Wallas chuckled to himself, the video reminding him of his discovered inner confidence and why he had entered in the first place. "A man who can cook is a real catch, wouldn't you say? And I've got entertainment potential, too. Just like my crepes, I'm show and substance. But you know, a redblooded troll from Chittentown doesn't end up on a stage like this all by himself. Let me tell you a bit about the fine folks who helped me get here." He cleared his throat to create a pause and grab attention. "First off, the folks at The Nightly Grind. It's a Brew-tiful World, and I highly recommend going there, especially if you've got that persistent determination that drew them to me. Second, Phoenix Down. No meal is too big, no troll is too small, and they've really got it all for a hard-working guy like me. Third, The Glass Shack, responsible for the design you don't yet know. Mysterious, huh? They're also fond of hard-working fellows, so when you've got a moment, you should stop by there and see what that design is. Oh, and I can't forget the lovely Miss Eridia Tsifer! It's fast, it's furious, it's luxurious! I'm telling you, if sheer determination and dedication can snag a guy like me a sponsor like her, I think that's an inspiring story in itself."



Wallas was expecting to feel tired after rattling off all those sponsors, but instead, he felt invigorated. All those people were depending on him to put on a good show, and he was going to finish strong! "That's my spiel for tonight. Thanks for listening! Don't forget, vote for the determined Wallas Ziegel! It's because of your support that I don't guess anymore. I just do." With that, he went to go take his seat with the other contestants, a mix of anxiety and pride burning in his chest.