[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 She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date.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]

Hey, hey! No need to get testy. Bring the moxie back down a few levels, will you?

[ her hands hurriedly rise up, waving a few times to dismiss any awkward air between them. this is certainly peculiar to the say the least. magilou is no stranger to velvet's temper, but this seems to be striking a sensitive nerve that the witch honestly didn't know about. usually when she's pushing buttons she's acutely aware of what she's doing. ]

Why would you tell that exorcist to take care of him for you? You're the ones that wanted to wake them all up. Why quit when we're one away?

[ she means the empyreans, but she figures that goes without saying. ]

[allconsumed]

[Velvet stares hard at Magilou for a few more seconds before she exhales and rests her arm. If she is an illusion, then attacking accomplishes nothing anyway.

Plus she probably isn't one, and it's stupid to jump to conclusions. Artorius is gone now, so the subject of Phi and his well-being is basically the one thing left that can get her so riled up in a hurry. She puts a hand on her hip and returns to a calmer, more scrutinizing expression.]

We didn't quit. You don't remember? We woke them all, we went back to the tower, and I killed Artorius. Then to deal with Innominat, there was only one thing I could…

[Uncharacteristically, Velvet trails off. She makes a frustrated gesture with her other hand.] You were there. You saw what happened!

[hydrostorm]

[ so it's her own memory that's faulty. go figure. all the mirth that previously was present withers and magilou deflates. her right hand crosses in front of her and lightly holds her opposing wrist. ]

Well, that's certainly news to me. You sure I didn't get knocked out? Or did I pass out from the ungodly heat of the volcano?

[ both are unlikely but could explain this odd discrepancy. ]

So I lost my bet, huh... Good for you, then, Velvet.

[ she sounds almost wistful, uncertain. she's never been this off-center before. how does one process losing memories? ]

[allconsumed]

[Velvet's expression softens further; the shift in Magilou's demeanor surprises her, catching her a bit off guard. She's obviously serious, which means that something happened back home that caused her to lose her memory, or an unknown magic born here is responsible.

Either way, it can't feel good. Velvet lowers her head while she thinks. She focuses on the first part of what Magilou said.]

Nothing like that, but I don't know what happened to you after I subdued Innominat. [She pauses.] Sorry.

[She means it, though offering comfort is not her strong suit. Velvet folds her arms and looks back up.]

If you can't remember, then you can wait to pay me until you do.

[hydrostorm]

[ chances are nothing happened. chances are she continued to go about leading a boring, bewitched life, treated as a slight social outcast without a connection in the world. because that's how it had always been. her little journey with the group had been the closest thing to fun she had ever truly had and enjoyed. ]

Ohhh, going soft on me? [ she thoughtfully taps her lips, eyes half-lidded. ] Or is it sweet? Keep that up and I'll start calling you my Red Velvet Cupcake.

[ magilou's lips tug into another wry smile. ]

[allconsumed]

[Magilou doesn't like to have anybody feeling sorry for her, does she? Quickly ruining any goodwill she's built up is one of her specialties – and so is provocation, of course. They've spent enough time together that Velvet is wiser now to how she operates.

… In this case, the provocation still succeeds. Velvet lifts her chin and fastens on her death glare.]

Then I won't keep it up. If you don't have the gald, I can take one of your arms instead.

[hydrostorm]

What?! Do I look flush with gald?

[ after being kidnapped and brought to this strange place. she shakes her head, hands still lifted in defeat. ]

Raincheck, then. I guess I'll have to stick around long enough to pay you back.

[ is this your worst nightmare? ]

So! Have you found our new quarters yet?

[allconsumed]

Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure you do.

[Magilou sure can be annoying, but it's still comfortable to have her around. Not that Velvet would ever say so out loud. She moves her attention on to the second thing Magilou says.]

New quarters? No. Why don't you show me?

[That's not really spoken like a request, alas.]

[hydrostorm]

Oho? I get to play leader?

[ she's eating this up, can you tell? either way, she gives velvet a small nod before she turns on her heel towards the east, hands on her hips. ]

In that case, have no fear. Follow the Great Magilou to the questionably comfortable Inn!

[ she's going to take her sweet time leading her there, though. ]

[allconsumed]

Play what you want.

[That's all Velvet has to say for a little while, and she stalks close behind Magilou. Minutes pass, and while Velvet doesn't know the way, she can tell that they're not taking the most direct route.

Plus Magilou walks slow. It's not like they're in a rush for any particular reason, but Velvet isn't patient.]

Stop meandering.

[hydrostorm]

Meander? Me? Everything this great witch does is with purpose.

[ there's a wink sent over her shoulder, but she does correct her path. all right, all right, no more traversing. she'll head straight for the coven houses. ]

I take it the rest of the motley crew isn't here yet?

[allconsumed]

Should we be expecting them?

[Velvet shoves past a couple of Palai that get partially in her path. It would certainly be strange to seem them all again, after the choice she'd made.]

If they were here, I'm sure they'd be drawn to your angelic voice. Like moths to a flame.

[hydrostorm]

Who knows.

[ in regards to the first question. she doesn't have radar for these weirdos, gosh. but she does, sort of, kind of, maybe, miss the whole lot together. it was entertaining. ]

And aw, thanks! Such praise coming for our fearless leader! Does that mean you're finally going to give this dear witch a nickname that isn't slander?

[allconsumed]

[It's dangerous to say something tongue-in-cheek around Magilou, but Velvet is up to the task.]

Why not. [A beat passes and she smirks.] The Wicked Siren. Her piercing, haunting voice is a harbinger of doom to all who hear it.

[hydrostorm]

I'm starting to wonder if you're doing this on purpose, Velvet.

[ she's sulking, her shoulders slumping and her feet dragging. at least it's better than velvet's other nicknames based purely on observation. but this? this is - ]

I have to admit, it has an edge to it, though.

[ oh look they're at the coven house! ] ... Anyway, here we are! We have a room all made up.

[allconsumed]

[Velvet knows a little something about having an edge. Also she is doing it on purpose this time, yes.]

Buck up, Wicked Siren.

[Magilou receives an encouraging, if not sharp, smack on the back. Once they reach the coven house, Velvet glances at her and doesn't look impressed. She caught that last part, too.]

Who exactly said we have to share?

[hydrostorm]

[ did she just slap her back? yes, yes she did. magilou is equally thankful that it wasn't her demonic arm as she is unamused at the gesture. she's the only one allowed to invade someone else's personal space! ]

Oh? It'd be like old times! Minus the annoying men and the little kid and exorcist. It's a ripe time for bonding!

[ she's tossing her another catty look, hand over her heart before opening the door to the coven house. ]

[allconsumed]

[They have names, jeez. Referring to them all like that just makes it seem like Magilou didn't really consider herself part of the group.

Oh.]

I didn't know you cared about bonding. But that doesn't answer my question.

[Tone as brusque as ever, Velvet rolls her eyes at the gesture but still follows her to the door. She would still prefer to share a room with Magilou than with a stranger – well, maybe it depends on the stranger.]

[hydrostorm]

[ truth be told there are single rooms and there's no need to share at all. but despite her aversion to bonding - why would she? sheesh. she's just along for the ride and show, they aren't friends - she's somehow clinging to velvet's presence. of all people! ]

As sharp as ever!

[ she sings it, hands swinging behind her back as they walk. but about that question... ]

Isn't it obvious? [ no? ] Do you really trust anyone here while you sleep? Haven't you heard of the buddy system?

[allconsumed]

[Velvet can't decide right away whether Magilou's idea is good or if she's being too paranoid. She wants to say "I don't trust anyone, ever" but that's not quite true anymore. Anyway, instead of being paranoid, Magilou might be acting manipulative instead.]

I'm not your bodyguard. If you've already made new enemies that's not my fault.

[Velvet is roughly 70% overconfident in her abilities and 30% prepared to die at any moment, so she's 100% not scared of someone coming after her while she's asleep. Giving Magilou a small benefit of the doubt, she tries not to sound too accusatory when she goes on.]

And if it happened, and someone came to kill me, you'd risk your life to stop them?

[hydrostorm]

[ despite her penchant for danger and getting herself into bad situations, she hasn't done it. yet. but it's only a matter of time until she rubs someone the wrong way and she goes too far. ]

Aw, Velvet. They'd be coming to kill the both of us. Of course I'd defend your demonic honor.

[ she taps her chin thoughtfully, heading to the stairs. ]

... But. Oho, could it be?! That you've already made enemies yourself? Atta girl. You work quick.

[allconsumed]

[Demonic honor, huh? Velvet makes a mildly derisive noise at that, but no further comment. She takes in the surroundings, eyes flicking back and forth briefly.]

It sounds like you're used to being guilty by association.

[Hard yes to that question, by the way. As they make their way up the stairs, Velvet's footsteps are noticeably heavier than Magilou's.]

I'll kill anybody that's a threat, just like before. Your fake encouragement doesn't help.

[hydrostorm]

[ of course she's used to being guilty be association! look at who she hangs out with! where she was locked up! ]

Uh-huhhh. I'd never think that.

[ she stifles a laugh behind her hand. whether or not it's a real laugh is questionable. once they ascend the stairs, magilou takes a sharp left turn and heads to the last door on the right. ]

Anyway, what are you killing people here for? According to you, your journey's over, isn't it? Or are you going for an unprecedented sequel? An epilogue, perhaps?

[allconsumed]

[Velvet makes the left turn, but she stops before reaching the end of the hall. For some reason the questions wear on her patience. What does it matter to Magilou if she kills anyone? It never seemed to bother her before.

She still probably doesn't care. So why the interest?]

I haven't yet, and I won't if I don't have to.

[Velvet advances a few more steps, then slaps her right hand on the wall and holds it there. She leans forward.]

I'll tell you what matters: getting back. Even if it's too late. Even if I have to kill half of this coven to do it.