[WORLD ONE] AIMINTAS (INTRODUCTION)

[spellbindmods]

Who: The coven & Palai people
Where: In and around the city land of Aimintas
When: Days 13 & 14
Open/Closed: Open to All

The initial setting information found here should be utilized for threads here.

There's no official OOC account for the Palai people. You're free to roleplay their actions and reactions on your own, as in depth as you want -- asking questions, hand-waved interactions, becoming best friends. The new world is your oyster!

Just like how you arrived, the process of leaving the hub and reappearing somewhere else is quite quick and uneventful. Brie and Genette gather as many people as possible so that everyone can explore the new world together in a group, which is where they all land once Qri has worked her magic. If you weren't in the vicinity, or thought that not being social meant you'd get to stay on the island, you come along as well, though you didn't exactly show up with the group. A ▢ Everyone starts their journey a reasonable distance from the outer city walls of Aimintas. It's about a four hour trek to the rocks on foot, which Genette tells everyone to move towards -- though you're free to do as you please. You may discover that traveling on your own too far away results in something quite unpleasant. The initial terrain is quite interesting -- it's at least different from the hub island, though you may not be particularly impressed. There's sticky kelp to step in, water in the sky to look at and sand to get stuck in every orifice of your body. How do you like the new digs thus far? B ▢ Genette explains that the gang must enter the city of Aimintas to survive, but it's easier said than done. Maybe as something of an incentive, Genette climbs into Qri's caravan and it floats away, over the rock face. There go all the supplies you brought! The rest of you losers will have to climb through the craggy rock walls, hundreds of feet tall with very few crevices and cracks that are navigable. Hope you can climb...or maybe you can find a way to get through using someone's magic? The sun sets while the coven is busy trying to get through the craggy infrastructure (at least, that's the fate of those who don't find a quicker way to get into the city). Brie locates a large cave in one of the rocks, and that's where everyone sets up camp for the night. If you want to carry on, that's your choice...but who knows if anything that goes bump in the night is out there bumping in the night time? C ▢ What will your character be doing tonight? Sleeping on a hard rock? Stuck awake? Even if they do manage to fall asleep, they may be haunted by the occasional high pitched screech that comes through the night, though the location of the noise is unknown as of right now.

It takes about a day to travel to Aimintas, climb through the rocks and come into the city. Thankfully the city hub is close to the side of the city the coven managed to climb through, so civilization is awaiting. That civilization is decently modern, lizard-like and very, very nosy. D ▢ Upon entering civilization, the Palai are immediately curious and in awe of their taller, bipedal visitors. They've only seen people like those in the coven in pictures, and if they learn that your character has magic? It'll be as if an A-list celebrity just wandered into town. Because they're so enamored, the Palai will readily give coven members gifts as a token of their appreciation. What exactly do they appreciate? Don't be afraid to ask a few simple questions. They'll be more than happy to give out answers. E ▢ Some Palai, though, will want to see some of that magic before they offer up any gifts. Some may be a little demanding, just because their curiosity is so overwhelming. A harsh no will result in an apology and a gift anyways, but maybe just show them some magic anyway...? Even outside of interacting with the Palai, there's quite a bit around here to look at. Genette can be found in the middle of one of the parks, handing out the stored supplies to their owners. (Don't worry, she'll tell you where she is with a little telepathic poke. Your supplies will give you access to shopping and bartering...your status as a magical humanoid thing will only get you so far. F ▢ The Palai marketplace is rather large and home to a variety of businesses, shops and services. Want a good night's sleep? Want to eat a delicious shrimp wrap? Need your hub technology charged? You can do that here. What strange items will you fine? Is their technology level something you're familiar with? G ▢ Finally, the Palai are a people of culture. That culture can be quite unforgiving to those who choose to wander around alone. Some Palai people, after the initial wonder has worn off, will deny services to people who are on their own. It just doesn't compute! Your character is better off with a group of three, but a friend is fine. Travel in groups or couples and your character will find that they get fewer strange looks and questions.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed within the Palai marketplace, so no one will blame a coven-member for escaping the city for a bit. On the outside of the marketplace is a very large house with dozens of Palai congregating -- and my dozens, we mean at least 200. A Palai mate triangle just committed to each other, and this is certainly worth celebrating. H ▢ The guests feel blessed by the presence of a coven-member, and they readily invite any that happen by to the festivities. There's cake, alcohol, drinks, dancing. The Palai people certainly know how to get down. I ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

g

[windeity]

[Well this is unusual, but all right. He looks up from whatever he was doing before raising an eyebrow.]

You noticed that too, huh? Seems a little weird that it's one of their requirements around here. [But he's fine with playing along, sure.] What'd they tell you when you tried to go on your own?

[songbird_slayer]

To find an 'Alias' and an 'Eltos' of my kind. They want us to start pairing off and finding mates, I suppose. Look...

[She lifted a finger to point. Not a solitary palai was around, but they walked hand in hand with one other or two others.]

You don't suppose they'll expect us to form some kind of naughty ball, do you?

[windeity]

Jeez, I hope not? [He's letting his eyes follow where she's pointing, observing the Palai carefully.] I mean I guess if that is what they're used to it makes sense, but it seems like things could get complicated pretty fast.

Pairing off I can understand, but the rest? [He shakes his head.]

[songbird_slayer]

My fingers are crossed. I'm not choosy, by the way- any place here sounds like good eating, but let's see if they stop hissing.

[Really! Booing and hissing. That can knock a girl's self-esteem down a few pegs.]

I'm Madhuri, by the by. A name's the least I can do for invading your personal space.

[windeity]

I'm not picky either. If we're together, they probably won't get mad if we browse for what looks good. The island was pretty limited in what we had, so it'll be nice to have some options.

[The hissing is new, but it's also possible that John just didn't notice and that he's spent most of his time with his two best friends.] I'm John. Nice to meet you, even if it's like this. [But grins in spite of that.] I don't think it's invading so much as blending in until we really know what this planet is like. Besides, sometimes lizards can be a little testy.

[songbird_slayer]

Tell me about it! I've been dying to cook.

[Ah, he certainly looks like a 'John'. He looked like a mage of some kind. She canted her head with a smile of amusement.]

Is that so? You speak from experience, then.

[windeity]

The good thing is I think we can take a lot of stuff back if we buy it. It'll give us supplies for another couple of weeks.

[There's a laugh at that question and he gestures for Madhuri to lead the way as they take off.] I guess you could say I have a little experience. Salamanders are different than chameleons but their behavior is pretty similar from what I am seeing. They're just really excited about everything.

[songbird_slayer]

[She's onward and upward. There was a nice noodle place she passed by and she needed something with vegetables after all of the meat back at the hub.]

We might be the first non-palai they've seen in a dog's age. I confess to my own excitement upon meeting them. We may clash a bit culturally, but they seem so happy in their own circles... makes me rather nostalgic; I'd always wanted to meet others of my birth tribe.

[windeity]

With the way they're acting you might have a point. [He can deal. He's definitely not picky and he's fine with tagging along to avoid the scrutiny of the Palai.] You couldn't move two feet without a crowd of them asking questions when we first got to the city. I do wonder if all planets will be like this though. [A beat.] Birth tribe, though?

[songbird_slayer]

[She nodded.]

My kind are comprised of many tribes, but I was born far from my own. I'd only recently been able to see my ancestral homeland.

But these little ones... they've known it their whole lives. I feel envious.

[windeity]

I guess that makes sense. We don't have, like, birth tribes or anything like that where I'm from but our families are sort of...[There's a handweighing motion to say "overly complicated and stupid."] There are a few people I'm waiting to meet still, too. I've known about them my whole life, but never had the chance.

Have the Palai said anything about leaving the planet themselves?

[songbird_slayer]

You know, I'm not sure... they speak of traversing the water to see where their gifts come from, perhaps see that giant island up there. But with everything where it is I'm not sure if that would be the way 'off' or not.

I'm curious about that island, myself. That water, too. If we could just reach it, but I don't see anything like manacutters or so much as a chocobo...

The desire is there, yet the means are not. Did we miss an expedition?

[windeity]

If we missed it then we just have to go ourselves. [Which probably isn't nearly as easy as he thinks, but it's everything else that catches his attention instead.] So I am guessing manacutters and chocobos are things that help you fly where you're from? Being here helps since my friends and I have our original abilities back, but I know a lot of other people are still kind of stuck.

[songbird_slayer]

I suppose it makes sense that my poor baby bird and my ship couldn't be taken here with me with our host's energy crisis.

I don't suppose you and your friends could offer piggyback rides, neither. But I wonder if the members of the coven that can fly are enough to handle what might be lurking above.

[windeity]

What makes you think they wouldn't be? Any reason in particular?

[songbird_slayer]

[She rubbed her upper arms uncomfortably, recalling recent events.]

My experiences back home, really. Things fell from above and made the palai who they are today, but we don't know who from. It could be someone who might be advancing them to make them more... 'fun', later.

Nobody is so generous as to do such things for nothing.

[windeity]

So what, by us going up there we might be walking straight into a trap? I guess that is entirely possible, but I also think with as many of us who have powers and our original abilities we should be able to handle it.

[songbird_slayer]

[She began to feel cold. It's happening again. Here, of all places. She didn't want this. But, smiles on, everybody. She give her best, hand on her chest as if relieved.]

Your optimism is refreshing, I will say. I only hope that you're right when that time comes.