[WORLD ONE | SEPTEMBER INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: The new coven members, old blood & Palai people
Where: In and around the city land of Aimintas
When: Day 61
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!

All characters are told briefly what their powers are by Genette -- no extemporaneous details. For instance, if your character has the ability to detect lies, they'll be told as such -- no warning about limitations, repurcussions or the like. They'll also be given a variant of this letter so they aren't totally ignorant of the situation -- though of course adapt this letter to the current setting and surroundings of the game.

This setting may be familiar to you -- maybe you caught a glimpse of it when you first visited. Maybe this is your first time experiencing this weird world and the panic is setting in. If you're totally lost, a tall human woman with a long scroll of paper will stop by to give you the run down. She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date. (Maybe someone else can fill in some gaps for you). What you may not know is that this world recently experienced something of a tragedy. You wouldn't be able to guess this based on the festive energy in the air. The main marketplace where you've shown up finished reconstruction last night, and after grief comes joy to the Palai -- those lizard creatures you see wandering around. They're now hosting a festival to celebrate their success and the lives of those both still present and those lost. It's also a chance for them to host one of those big celebrations like they'd previously seen in human books. However, their resources are limited -- don't blame them if things are a little cut-and-paste! A ▢ One of the preferred methods for masking grief in the Palai world is playing games. Because the Palai are still on their shrimp kick (the old blood characters are probably sick of them at this point), the shrimp are being used as part of a few festival games: Shrimp Scoop: Live prawns have been placed in a tank of water. Instead of paper scoops, players are handed small scraps of cloth which they may then dive into the six-foot tall tank to try and grab the prawns with -- no hands! And no magic or your prawn will be revoked. For extra incentive, sacks of golden coins have been tied to the prawns. These coins can be exchanged for goods and prizes, though what your character receives for their coin -- no matter how bland or wacky -- is up to your character. Shrimp Shock: Dead shrimp have been placed in a wading pool. Your character and another character enter the pool while Elto shock the shrimp out of the water. With about 20 shrimp in the water, the character with the most shrimps caught out of the air wins an allotment of coins. Whack-a-Shrimp: Eltos have powered six large, stuffed shrimp dolls (made with cloth), that will pop out of cut holes in a large game board. Hit the shrimp as many times as you can in 30 seconds, and your number will amount to the coins you receive. Shrimp Fest: Is your character a big eater? Your character is given a plate of cooked jumbo prawns. If they can eat all 50 jumbo prawns in 30 seconds, they win 100 coins. B ▢ What good is a festival if there's no face painting? Don't worry, you have more options than shrimp. Palai have an assortment of paints and are making colourful designs on both their kin and coven members -- your request may not look exactly as you want it to since they have bumpy hands and claws that get in the way.

This is all pretty juvenile, but fear not! For the mature sort and adults of Aimintas, there's a more quiet part set up that may cater to your older interests. A softer atmosphere, away from the excitement of things. If you want to wind down from the thrill of being magicked away to a new world, this is probably the best way for it. C ▢ Fans of alcohol will find that the Palai have broken out their best spirits for themselves and the coven. Some of these aged spirits are decades old and have aged accordingly, giving them a bitter flavor with a nasty bite of alcohol. Others are more recently distilled or imbued with magic for an extra buzz. Accordingly, some drinks can get you inebriated pretty quickly. Some drinks are essentially giddy truth serums. Others may have an effect on magic or telepathy. Pick your poison! D ▢ The environment in this more secluded area of the marketplace is supposed to be more relaxed, but it's also the best place to sit if you want a front row seat to the fireworks exhibit the remaining Eltos are putting on. Through balls of dye and their electrical powers, they're quickly blowing up the sky with arcs of color that rain down in the form of bright pieces of glitter once the spectacle is over. They also have a special service they're offering -- the Eltos have a grasp on electrical magic, which means they can draw certain things in the sky with these dye balls. If you have a request for a written message or a drawing of some sort, they'd be happy to comply with your wish! For the real adult experience, however, you may want to check out the large rolling cart that Palai are pushing around the marketplace, landing it in the fireworks area. This cart is filled with all of the eggs that were a product of their mating season, and this part of Aimintas is the warmest. E ▢ For newbies and those who missed the egg train, your character can instead be Egg Parent for a Night. The Palai are holding their eggs to warm them for the evening, but (like most parents with new babies) they're certainly trying to show off their creations. Hold them, pass them around -- or maybe even act a fool and fend off a fiercely angry Palai parent.

Finally, the Palai are getting used to the standard familiar faces, so they aren't unaware that there are quite a few new faces in the mix. Based on how familiar your character is, they'll receive a nice little gift from the Palai. Older coven members will receive a scrolled parchment that lists them as honorary citizens of Aimintas and a handmade, harden clay sculpture of their likeness. It may not look a lot like them, but they tried. F ▢ What about new members? Well, they get the Aimintas Starter Kit: an unmarked vial containing Palai mating pheromones (makes your character affectionate, etc), a bag of cooked shrimp, a collection of their baked goods and energy drinks (containing Elto magic that makes magical abilities hard to handle), and a harmless paper flower. Your character likely isn't used to the dangers of some of these items, so maybe someone can help them...or is it too late? G ▢ Because the Palai recognize new faces, these new coven members will be dragged to other coven members who they do recognize. In an effort to help make introductions, the Palai are trying to connect new members with old members in order to foster friendships. Say hi to a new, awkwardly introduced covenmate...? H ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[hydrostorm]

Aren't our benevolent captors witches?

[ just. saying. she watches in quiet delight as jude caves and says he'll take a sip. magilou: 1 jude: 0. ]

That's the spirit. Tell me how it tastes.

[talim]

They are. That doesn't mean I've exactly had a conversation with them. Besides, I'm a bit doubtful about our benevolent captors being the sweetest, kindest witches to ever exist, either. Don't feel left out.

[ jude almost spits the drink out, to be honest, but he somehow manages to swallow it down in one forced gulp. he's making a disgusted face, though, cringing and staring down at the drink like it is personally out to get him. ]

This is... eugh. Seriously, what did you put in this?

[hydrostorm]

[ she isn't sweet and benevolent either. it's just a good stage performance to claim to be. really, she can't even claim to have feelings anymore. ]

Me? I didn't do anything. I got it from one of the lizards.

[ that's so offensive but okay, magilou. she lifts her hands in the hair helplessly, easily fighting off the urge to smirk. what a sucker. she likes this guy. ]

[talim]

The lizards are called Palai.

[ but hearing that is reassuring. jude takes another look at his drink. does he dare try another sip?

as hesitant as he is... well, he'd rather suffer through the taste than risk looking like a kid. he's too stubborn.

so he does. another long gulp. ]

Tastes... yeah.

[ articulate. ]

[hydrostorm]

[ she can't wait to see what'll happen. this clearly isn't a normal drink by any standards and she'd much rather have a cute little guinea pig than risk anything weird happening to her. duh! ]

"Yeah"? Is that even a flavor?

[ she's quirking her brow. ]

C'mon, Doctor. Give me something else to work with. Aren't you supposed to be smart?

1/2

[talim]

It's...

[ jude swallows again, pulling an unpleasant face. he's starting to feel just a little woozy. ]

Yeah.

2/2

[talim]

What, exactly, am I supposed to be giving you? And what does my education have to do with it?

[ magilou is... baffling. to say the least. he doesn't know what to think. jude likes to think he's gotten better at deciphering people's emotions, their motives, but he certainly can't read her. ]

[hydrostorm]

[ it's okay, no one can read her.

she examines jude for a moment longer before she's striding closer and unceremoniously placing a hand on his forehead. ]

Hmmmmm. You don't look any different yet. I can rule out poison definitely.... Maybe it is just juice.... How disappointing.

[ MAGILOU. ]

[talim]

[ whoa there. talk about personal space???? never mind, he's dealt with lack of personal space more than anyone should ever have to prior to this. it doesn't bother him much. ]

Disappointing.

Disappointing.

[ jude almost barks out a laugh. instead, he shakes his head. ]

What were you expecting? Trying to turn me into a frog?

[hydrostorm]

Maaaaaybe.

[ not at all. but she can't help the smirk. ]

I am a witch, after all.

[ uh-huh. anyway!! ]

Actually, I was hoping it'd have some effect. I'm not really picky.

[talim]

[ he presses his fingers to his temples, the beginning of a headache creeping up on him. ]

I feel a little... woozy? I guess? But, uh, more or less, that's about it.

Shouldn't you be more worried about... what was it... your menagerie?

[hydrostorm]

Please don't tell me I have to walk you home.

[ she groans, her hand coming to her own forehead this time to massage her temples. a girl's work is never done, apparently. ]

You're a doctor. What's good for wooziness?

[talim]

You do not have to walk me home.

[ he says, expression almost comically blank. ]

Rest, mostly.

[hydrostorm]

In the middle of the street? Are you a hobo?

[ MAGILOU PLS. ]

that icon is so nice

[talim]

I didn't mean in the middle of the street.

[ is this it? has he finally met someone who rivals alvin in terms of teasing him relentlessly? ]

I'm leaving.

she's far too pretty

[hydrostorm]

Are you sure you can make it back safely, Dear Doctor? Should I call someone?

[ just don't let her and alvin join forces. please. ]

[talim]

I think I can manage, but thanks for the genuine concern.

[ spoken with sarcasm. also that Needs to happen. ]

[hydrostorm]

[ how dare you think she's being genuine!!! ]

You're a lanky tree. How do I know you won't trip and fall and die on your way there, hm?

[talim]

Well, even if I did, would you actually care?

[ totally deadpan. ]

[hydrostorm]

[ ...... ]

You caught me.

[ she lifts her hands in mock defeat. ]

But, everyone needs a doctor. So let's just get you back safely.

[talim]

Alright, alright. I suppose I'm putting my life in your hands.

[hydrostorm]

[ that is the most dangerous thing anyone has ever said. anyway, she's going to nod, index finger and thumb pressing to her forehead in some strange salute. ]

All right! In that case, Magilou's Menagerie is taking off!

[talim]

[ what can he say. nobody can tell him he's not a risk taker? ]

The sweetest, kindest witch...

[ he's just sort of mumbling to himself with a disbelieving shake of his head. ]

[hydrostorm]

You are a quick learner.

[ she's going to just lead you back to the palai coven houses now, okay? ok. ]

[talim]

[ how very generous of her. ]

Is this the part where I thank you?

[ jude, being jude, actually offers up something sincere despite their quirky back-and-forth. ]

Thank you. I guess.

[ even though you admitted you wouldn't care if he died on the way! ]