[WORLD ONE | AIMINTAS REBUILDING]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and the Palai
Where: Rebuilding the Aimintas marketplace.
When: Day 59
Open/Closed: Open to All
OOC Note: For Prompt A -- the egg claiming is closed to those who selected eggs from this thread! Anyone can use the prompt creatively, but please don't give your character an egg if they aren't listed in the above thread.

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!

Many efforts have been made to help rebuild Aimintas, which has become a little bit water-logged and bloodied after the confrontation a few days previously. The Palai are fully capable of rebuilding their own city on their own, but with coven members around and willing to help, hopefully the repairs that need to be done can be completed much more quickly. The marketplace is quite expansive, which is both good and bad when it comes to coven involvement. While the areas that need to be repaired are expansive, this creates the opportunity for most coven members to help rebuild in some way or another. With everyone taking responsibility for a task, the work can get done much more quickly. Aside from the repairs, many Palai are still in mourning. Because this incident happened during their mating season, many Palai are essentially shut out of reproduction or are going to potentially lay eggs a month from now without one of their previously supposed parents. The demeanor around the marketplace is glum for this reason, though the steadfast species is certainly not giving up. A ▢ Because some Palai families were killed in their entirety, the hatchery is being cleaned out. There is a big discussion in the marketplace with those responsible for taking care of eggs making sure they have the future Palai youth properly sorted. Those eggs that are orphaned have mostly been handed out to Palai family units, though there are some left over. Because the Palai trust the coven members as stronger and more capable to protect their eggs than they are right now, these eggs are being handed out to them instead of doubling up already child-bearing families. Are you willing to take an egg? B ▢ Half of the battle when it comes to rebuilding the marketplace will be the large quantities of standing water in certain stalls and enclosed spaces. Some of the Uvi's ocean masses burst or were used as a sort of liquid smoke grenade for defensive measures -- some water was absorbed into the dirt in outdoor eating areas, but a lot of it is stuck in businesses, suites and other rooms. The Palai have buckets, but they sure could use a hand getting this stuff out of here. C ▢ From slamming large sharks into the front of stone store fronts to stabbing down doors without barriers, the Uvi certainly did a number on Aimintas. Stone fixtures are certainly more difficult to repair, though the Palai have concocted a cement paste that they're using to help fill in seams. The biggest issue to deal with here is that water-logged and damaged wood needs to be hauled away or destroyed (safely!). At the same time, new wood needs to be installed to doors and stalls, and tables need to be rebuilt in order to return the majority of shops to well-working order. D ▢ Working hard isn't the only task at hand, either. There are Palai in restaurants and eateries that ARE mostly functional, hard at work preparing canteens and food sacks that need to be passed out to workers expending so much energy for their city. This also means the return of their energy drink (see TDM #2, Prompt E). This can cause hallucinations, power malfunctions and extreme giddiness and euphoria, for those who didn't experience this drink the last time it made the rounds. E ▢ Another "low-level" task focuses on keeping the younger Palai entertained and out from under the feet of those who are working hard to repair the city. The hatchery is being emptied for repairs, so one of the more untouched open-air areas of the marketplace is now a makeshift daycare. There are obviously Palai helping to attend to the children, but there are a lot of them -- some are more docile and easy to entertain, others scuttle out of the enclosure and try to help the coven with their chores. This may or may not go well...have you made a new little friend? F ▢ More detail-oriented coven members can help with the management side of things. These tasks can include restocking and carting a round food stuffs (produce, shrimp, other food goods), getting rid of damaged goods (some of these are only slightly damaged, so maybe you can get some discounted, barely working merchandise), and redecorating storefronts. This work is great for those who aren't as good at physical labor and still want to help. G ▢ Most of the Palai who were put up against the Uvi found themselves fatally wounded, though there were some lucky lizards out there. One of the other open-air areas of the marketplace is essentially a medic tent, which serves as both a makeshift hospital for coven members and Palai alike who are still nursing Uvi wounds, as well as a first aid station for any rebuilding-related injuries. Healers would definitely be appreciated! H ▢ Wildcard!

Comments

[rootandbranch]

[Geir snorts. his coils are a more secure playpen than the others that the Palai can construct at the moment, and he's willing to let that stand as enough for now. none of the babies trying to escape over his sides have actually succeeded yet.]

I don't mind, so long as they have something to do besides the "pull on Uncle Geir's wings" game. there should be an alley to your left if you want a little less walking.

[the "alley" is a response by the Palai to a small building which collapsed under the weight of an Uvi attack. since the building was old and decrepit anyway, they've opportunistically taken the chance to change their city planning a bit-- no one can say they don't make the most of their opportunities to do so. it's one of several interesting new things Geir has seen today, which coincidentally include Waver's smoke patterns.]

I've never seen magic like that before either!

[teratias]

What a bad game.

[Waver doesn't actually mind a longer walk, but the kids hear alley and that sounds like way more fun than just walking. So Waver just follows after them, until they're in the same space as Greir and his charges.]

Er. It's the kind I was given when I got here, actually.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir lifts one of his loops of tail off of the ground so Waver and the kids can duck inside the snake fort. a couple of the Palai that Geir was already watching try to tell the new occupants about the escape-the-fort game, but the new arrivals convince them to wait and watch Waver's smoke tricks instead.]

Oh, those. I got one too. What's yours, then? Show us!

[add one more large audience member...?]

[teratias]

[Waver had kind of hoped to slack off for a bit when combining groups with Geir. No such luck, so Waver gives up and gets down onto the ground with the other Palai kids.]

Okay, okay, okay, jeez. Let's see...

[Inspiration strikes, and Waver begins to make a long, coiling shape. The texture of it is his focus this time, the goal being to make a close approximation of Geir's tail. He continues wiggling his fingers until satisfied, then declares the work done by presenting it forward for all to view.]

There, done!

[rootandbranch]

Is it really smoke--?!

[Geir extends the most cautious claw to touch the illusory tail, sniffing for the smell of burning. the kids are all equally or more impressed, squealing and applauding, except for that one off to one side who inevitably jeers to work out his issues with authority. he secretly thinks it's cool too, though.]

It's neat that you can control it that much.

[teratias]

[The smoke ripples at the touch, but Waver maintains the shape until Geir withdraws. Waver then dismisses the shape by bringing his hands together, satisfied that everyone's impressed.]

It's pretty interesting with what it can do. I'm sure there's more uses I haven't thought of yet.

[rootandbranch]

You could throw it in an enemy's eyes, or make a fog that confused them! Vern sort of does the same thing with his lights sometimes.

[Geir sneezes as the smoke dissipates and then shuffles his claws and wings into a more comfortable position atop the dirt of the market street, thoroughly pleased with the little show.]

I guess Qri is good for something after all...

[teratias]

Vern?

[Waver's pretty curious, as he has zero ideas about what Geir's home is like. He can't even start to guess. But now because they've been speaking for two seconds, the Palai kids have returned to escape the tail!]

And....man, I don't know. That feels pretty generous.

[rootandbranch]

Vern! He summoned me. Most of his magic is tricks with lights. He's really good at those, though. He's here too, so maybe he'd show you sometime...

[Geir doesn't mind talking about his home or how he was summoned-- it's an interesting topic, and usually gets him interesting information in return. he watches the game tolerantly, coiling up a little tighter to increase the difficulty of the wall. the Ferris Bueller of the group sticks his tongue out at him, or whatever the Palai's cultural equivalent is. Geir focuses on Waver again with a tiny snort.]

I didn't say she's good for a lot.

[teratias]

Oh, really? I guess we haven't crossed paths and...wait, magic summons dragons back home?

[That's new. Waver is intrigued though, even if one of the Palai have decided that nah, they're done, and it is nap on Waver time.]

Can I ask what your magic is that you got?

[rootandbranch]

We haven't compared our stories before, yeah! We just dated. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea, while they're sleeping and we can't do anything else.

[oh no, that's actually pretty cute? Geir nudges one of the sleepy babies who's in danger of falling so it's flopped over Waver's legs more securely.]

...I got "enlivening." It took me a little while to figure out what that means, but I think it's honestly just giving things more life. I can make plants grow faster and give people more energy when they're tired.

[his tone is carefully neutral; his feelings about that power are still kind of complex.]

[teratias]

I never thought I'd be a weird sofa for lizard kids, but...[UGH WHATEVER THIS IS THE LEAST WEIRD THING HE'S DONE IN A WHILE.] How does one summon a dragon?

[Waver hums at the power explanation, thoughtful.]

That'll be helpful for being back on the hub. It's kind of hard to find resources for food there.

[rootandbranch]

He used his blood. And a lot of other things he found. It took him three years to build the spell, I know that part. Since I was born in Asgard, he shouldn't have been able to summon me at all...

[Geir narrows his eyes, thinking back to that not-very-long-ago day... he was certainly surprised to be part of a summoning pact all of a sudden, but since he'd undeniably felt the call, he'd gone with it. he doesn't make the rules!]

You'd have to ask him the rest.

What's the hub like? Barely anyone's mentioned it till now.

[teratias]

That's....shit, that's a lot of work just for one spell. I'm...[Really goddamn impressed, actually. Waver does have half a mind to ask, but there's a more important element here that before, he wouldn't have given a second thought to.] You didn't mind being summoned?

[Right. The hub.]

It's a big island, with a few mansions on it. The coven's out on the beach, but the beach isn't...by the water, exactly? It's more like it drops off into space.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir looks at Waver sidelong, mulling something over. Waver's words, though he might not have intended it, touched a chord with him. a few months ago, he wouldn't have given a second thought to his own preferences about the matter either.]

...when I first got summoned, I didn't mind, because I wasn't thinking about whether it was okay to mind or not. It wasn't my-- job? Now, I don't mind, because that's how I met Vern. Does that make sense...?

[he shakes his head a little, dispelling a bit of the contemplative mood.]

Into... space? Like, the sky?

[teratias]

Yeah, that does. [So at first he didn't even know how to register it, then the other person was just good enough that it wasn't a problem. Interesting, to say the least. Waver knew Servants weren't wired quite the same way, but he wondered if there might be some shared perspective.]

Mmhmm. Just...it drops off into stars.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's startled by the revelation, eyes going wide again. stars?]

I've never been as high as the stars before. Even when I fly my highest, they're still up where I can't get at them... you only get put there after you've done something really incredible.

[teratias]

Well, you're not...in them, really? But around them. It's really like just having the night sky surrounding you on all sides, but you're firmly attached to the ground. Does that make more sense?

[rootandbranch]

No, but I guess I'll see when I get there.

[he's just being up front with you, Waver!]

What's on the island besides houses and a beach...?

[teratias]

A forest full of boars. That's about it, really. Or well, at least as much as we've discovered so far.

[rootandbranch]

[sighs deeply]

I did hear about that part. I want to eat them...

[teratias]

Well, I guess roast boar wouldn't be too bad.

[rootandbranch]

But there's more to discover, right? That means there's a lot to do when we get back there.

[he sighs even more heavily, setting his teeth in irritation now.]

Since we still don't know exactly what it is that Qri wants from us, finding new stuff is at least something to look forward to.

[teratias]

I'm pretty sure we're never going to know what Qri wants from us. [it'd be nice if she talked, y'know, like a person.]

You'll definitely be able to fly about though and see the island in a way a lot of us won't be able to.

[rootandbranch]

That's something to look forward to.

[seems cheered! but...]

...we'll be leaving these guys alone when that happens, though. I wonder if things will really be okay for them.