[WORLD ONE | DING DONG THE FISH IS DEAD]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and the Palai
Where: Celebrating the Uvi going boom-boom
When: Day 67
Open/Closed: Open to All
OOC Note:

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!

For decades, the Palai have had to deal with the threat of the Uvi invading their homes, killing their families and returning 30 days later. After the coven found their way to Aimintas, the Palai found that the threat wasn't so...threatening. After the last attack, with many more Palai lost as compared to previous Uvi instances, some Palai had lost hope. Now, after seeing their nemesis blown to bits and falling out of the ocean, their faith in safety is restored. While the Uvi are still committed (by and large) to learning more about barriers and other forms of safety, the time for focusing on serious things has passed. It will return, but tonight? They celebrate. Unlike their last, shrimpy festival, this party has a lot more going for it. The Palai have had time to process the events and prepare themselves for a grand celebration. The Palai know how to party, but you ain't seen nothin' like this. A ▢ As a birthday tradition, the Palai give the birthday lizard a special concoction. It contains Elto energy and a combination of found herbs that can easily be located in Aimintas. When these herbs are combined with the Elto energy, they create a sort of...hallucinogenic experience. It's supposed to feel extremely relaxing and give the Palai pleasant visions, but in human bodies it's essentially just getting high. There are vials of these being passed around like candy, so don't worry about anyone running out. B ▢ Despite the adults getting lit, there are obviously a lot of baby Palai on the lose. Responsible coven members who have their own babies will have the ability to let them run wild and play with their lizardy cousins. If you want to spend time with your baby, the nursery caretakers have platters of crackers with mushy foods adorning them -- these are essentially candy to a tiny Palai. They may also be tempted by other foods present at the festivities, but you can avoid them getting a tummy ache if you have a watchful eye. C ▢ Speaking of food, there certainly is a lot of it. There are large grills being heated by the newly found bone structures. These hold shrimp and fish, grilled vegetable skewers and other foods. Instead of the Palai doing the serving, the coven members and other Palai are instead encouraged to utilize their own raw ingredients (which includes several large sharks, dolphins, etc.) in whatever fashion they choose. It's essentially a "build-your-own-kabob" station with no limits. D ▢ Because the party is lasting on into the night, some Elto have decided to light the marketplace with some of the bone structures they found by powering them and inserting them into small cloth bags that they then magically levitate around. While they provide a powerful light source that can increase the party's longevity, they're also floating live wires. Bump into one of these and you'll get a nasty shock! This is doubly concerning since Palai babies are fascinated by following these floating "toys." E ▢ The Palai, feeling more familial and supportive of their ideals than ever, haven't let go of the whole family/romance pushing on the coven. Their newest attempt is a bit of a prank (probably due to high Palais) who have taken magic bone structures and tied thick strings to the spines that poke out of them. At the end of these strings are loops that they're quickly slipping around the wrists of coven members they find. You may find that you're suddenly magically connected to someone -- or two other people if you're lucky enough -- by a magical thread that's VERY hard to slip out of or break. F ▢ Wildcard Part 1: Other previous party prompts can also be considered here, from the rolls that make magic go haywire to the aged liquor that causes a bit more than a headache. G ▢ Wildcard Part 2: Any prompt you like!

Comments

[rootandbranch]

Don't you want me to just carry you?

[Geir is almost surprised -- he supposes that he's never actually carried most of the coven members anywhere, but it seems like a natural request.]

[alphonse]

Is that really okay?

[Both because it seems rude and well. He waves a hand down, gesturing to his... everything.]

I'm pretty heavy.

[rootandbranch]

You're tiny! It's no problem.

[Geir nudges Alphonse with his nose; it's a controlled movement that only rocks him a little on his feet, but it emphasizes that Geir could have bowled someone his size and weight over quite easily with the gesture, if he'd wanted to.

...Geir can smell the blood and iron of Alphonse's seal, and feel the strange distribution of weight in the armor, but he doesn't choose to say anything about it for just now. their investigation of the Palai bones is more relevant and pressing.]

Maybe a little less tiny than everyone else, but humans are small! Should I just pick you up?

[alphonse]

Tiny...?

[Unlike certain other Elrics, he doesn't sound offended. No, at this moment, Geir is his favorite person in the world. He clutches his hands together like someone who's been given a great compliment.

And shakes it off quickly enough, because hell yes he wants to ride a dragon. Come on.]

Just a second!

[He transmutes a quick box around the bones so there's less risk of shocking Geir along the way.]

Okay, um. Just tell me the easiest way to do this.

[rootandbranch]

[Geir makes a purry, amused sound in the back of his throat; he's a bit touched that Alphonse seems so excited. humans must really like the idea of flying... it's not something he's used to, but he likes flying too, so he can understand. how weird it must be not to be able to fly at all!]

Either I can pick you up and carry you, or I can put you on my back and you can hang on. You pick!

[alphonse]

As long as you're sure it's all right, I'm fine with hanging on.

[Trying to sound chill, but he wants to ride a dragon!!!]

[rootandbranch]

Of course, it's fine! Just don't kid around about hanging on.

[Geir extends a claw and waits patiently for Alphonse to climb aboard before transferring him to his back. it'd be easy to just carry him instead, but he gets the feeling that Alphonse will appreciate the full dragon-riding experience. there's a place between Geir's neck and shoulders that's comfortable enough to wedge into, and the ridges along his spine provide an okay way to grip.]

Vern and I used to have a thing with straps for when I was flying a long way with him, but it got left home. Are you ready?

[alphonse]

[Mindful of his many spikes as he can be, Al carefully climbs up and settles into a sitting position. He braces the stone box of Elto bones with his arm (throwing it in the armor would be more convenient, but there's a limit to how much he should weird Geir out at once) and tests how to best hold on to those ridges.

This is so strange. But also so cool?? (!!!!)]

Yeah, I think so.

[rootandbranch]

[in fairness, Geir hasn't seemed deeply weirded out by anything yet -- or at least not more weirded out by one thing than another -- but that's very considerate, Alphonse. Geir braces himself.]

Okay, hang on!

[he gives Alphonse a beat or two to prepare himself before he launches himself into the sky with a dramatic swoop. he's not trying to unseat Alphonse, but it never hurts to make these things a little bit more fun, as far as he's concerned...!]

[alphonse]

[Al makes a noise of surprise and doubles down on his grip, trusting Geir will let him know if he's being too rough. Considering he's never done anything remotely like this before a little shock was all but guaranteed, but it doesn't take long for wonder to take over. He's in the sky. On a dragon. He can't help laughing, a little nervous, but mostly excited.]

Wow...

[Maybe eloquence will kick in later. But make it official: add this to the list of things he wants to do once he gets his body back right after that apple pie.]

[rootandbranch]

[it's a particularly beautiful view at night, with the lights of Aimintas spread out below them and the bright reflections of the fireworks playing on the buildings and spilling through the streets. Geir circles slowly over the party, enjoying Alphonse's reaction to the spectacle; he's seen a few Palai parties from the air now, but it is a lovely sight, the electric lights much brighter than even magelights back at home.

he can't help but feel somewhat smug that Alphonse seems so impressed at flying...]

Pretty different from up here, right?

[alphonse]

Yeah...

[He still sounds awed, leaning as much as he dares to get a better look at the sights below.]

Seeing everything like this all the time must be incredible.

[rootandbranch]

I like it! I've always liked flying.

[Geir does a couple of little dips in his flight path; without a stomach, Alphonse might not get the same butterflies sensation from the ground falling away under him, but it's certainly still exciting.]

I'm glad I woke up while I can still do it. I would've missed this.

[alphonse]

[It's definitely pretty thrilling to look at, at least. More than that, he appreciates that Geir is trying to put a little dramatic flair into what could have easily been a straightforward trip.]

Flying is something you outgrow?

[That doesn't sound right, but he's not sure what Geir means otherwise.]

[rootandbranch]

It is if you get big enough.

[Geir is already pretty big... how big is he talking?

sadly, there simply isn't that much flying time between the city and the farmlands; a matter of a few minutes only. the fields look dark and mysterious in the diffuse nighttime light, at least, and Geir spirals down slowly so their landing near a patch of growing green doesn't disturb the landscape much or come fast enough to make it difficult for Alphonse to hang on.]

[alphonse]

[Is this child size for dragons???

But they're landing before he can ask, so Al files the question away for another time. Climbing off is a little awkward, but he manages it okay, and stops to pet Geir on the head before he walks any further. Hopefully that's still something Geir doesn't mind.]

Thank you.

[That done, he steps aside to stand directly in front of the fields and transmutes the Elto structures free. Even the mild activity is enough to generate a few sparks, making them stand out like macabre nightlights.]

Okay. Do you want to start with just one?

[rootandbranch]

[Geir ducks his head and lets out a pleased rumble at the pat, so it seems pretty self-evident that he doesn't mind. pettings! he startles wide-eyed at the sparking, though, less in fear than in simple reactivity; after a moment he settles again with a snort.]

Sure. Just tell me what to do. They look weird out here...

[alphonse]

They are pretty creepy...

[But they're gonna do this!!

Al picks one of the structures up and then sets it down in front of Geir, careful to try and keep it out of nose zapping range.]

I think the first step is for you to focus on tapping into its energy. Maybe... maybe try thinking of it as an extension of your own power? [That seems more natural, anyway.] Then, once you feel like you've got a connection, try using your enlivening.

[rootandbranch]

I can try.

[Geir huffs in a breath with another tiny snort, determined to concentrate, and narrows his eyes to glare at the grisly relic in front of him. an extension of his own strength? he can smell the bone and electricity, but not himself; honestly, his power has more to do with darkness than these sparks.

still... if he closes his eyes entirely, he can still see the shape of the power in front of him.]

Should I just use it on you?

[alphonse]

No.

[An immediate response, complete with emphatically shaking his head. There's no sense in Geir wasting his effort.]

It'll be easier to measure the effect if you stick to the plants for now.

[rootandbranch]

If you say so!

[Geir... does his best. he tries to visualize the power of the enlivening moving through the Elto bone and into the plants around them; the bone sparks, causing him to take a tiny hop backwards and sneeze. lashing his tail, Geir realizes that using his power as he normally does, as an area effect, isn't working. or maybe it's just because the bone is too far removed from the source of the effect?]

Damn it-- wait a minute. I think I'm coming at this wrong.

[he glares at the Elto bone again, and tries to aim his power through it at one specific plant -- that works better. a cornstalk suddenly explodes out of the ground and then falls over, its stem too weak to hold it up after the profoundly accelerated growth.]

Hmmm...

[alphonse]

[For the most part, Al tries to stay out of Geir's way so he can concentrate in peace.

The sudden cornstalk snaps him out of standing around quickly, though, and he hurries over to take a closer look at the result.]

That was a lot more powerful and direct than I thought it would be.

[That's a good thing, probably. He sounds impressed.]

How does it compare to when you use your magic on a plant normally?

[rootandbranch]

[Geir regards the cornstalk, then Alphonse, seriously. these Elto bones are definitely no joke -- he supposes that's why they had such dramatic effects up at the Uvi's base.]

It's much stronger, but I don't think I'm doing this right, either. Usually when I do this kind of thing, it's an effect all around me. And it doesn't happen so fast. I think that's bad for the plant.

[he reaches out to pick the Elto bone up instead, curling his claws around it; it's absurdly tiny in his huge talons.]

Let me try this again...

[Geir closes his eyes once more. this time, he tries to filter his power through the bone right at the source, and it results in a more modest circle of growing plants in the usual ten-foot radius around him.]

[alphonse]

[That's a little more in line with what he envisioned, and he nods approvingly.]

That definitely proves we should all practice before we try to use amplified magic on an actual person.

[Even then... overdoing it looks so easy.]

How do you feel? Any less tired than usual?

[rootandbranch]

Not really! But I wasn't trying to do less than usual, and I got more.

[Geir twitches his tailtip a bit; it makes sense that if he tries for the same result as he usually gets, it will accordingly need less power, in this model.]

Let me see how much it takes to do different heights...

[it might take them a while of experimenting with seeds and such, but it does seem like using one Elto bone as a booster provides a solidly linear power boost, at least for the area effect. Geir finally sits back and surveys their results with a sigh.]

Huh. It might be different for more than one bone, or if we tried individual plants again.