[WORLD ONE | BARRIER QUEST RESOLUTION]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members interested in and a part of barrier quest
Where: The island above the ocean
When: Day
Open/Closed: Open to All

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

This information is useful for this post, though please read the post entirely before coming back to read this info. Information in red will be known OOCly, but not necessarily ICly, especially by those inhabitants of the island.

Upon entering the barrier, the first thing you'll notice is that the scenery isn't exceptionally shocking. It's an abandoned city, more or less. The buildings are tall but in a great state of disrepair. Some of them have crumbled already with others surrounding them destroyed by the fallen debris. The majority of these buildings are bleached in color, obviously affected by the brightness of the barrier. Shield your eyes, or you might be, too. A ▢ These buildings, despite being decrepit and appearing water-logged, still may hold some resources or clues. Upon entering any location, rotten food can be found, as well as everyday household items. These will be written in languages and on topics that are familiar -- some are even copies that can be found in the Palai's library back in Aimintas. There is some freedom here about what characters can find. There may even be a rare newspaper clipping that shows a picture of figures that look suspiciously like Uvi. Otherwise characters are free to loot.

Venturing further into the island -- made easier by flight -- travelers will eventually come upon an area that doesn't look as drastically unkempt. These houses have been repaired. They've seen some damage, of course, but there are obvious signs that they've been lived in. One not-so-apparent sign of established life on the island is the presence of boobytrapping. Hidden rope net traps are located in and around the area, as well as more violent forms of trapping. B ▢ Those still living on this island don't want outside intruders on their property. It's still a mystery who these people are, but they don't appear to be welcoming. Some traps are made with rope that can snatch up coven members, while others are covered holes in the ground. Other traps are made with trigger switches that sling out blades and arrows. If you've seen it on TV, it's possible to fall into on this island. C ▢ Those who survive or dodge the boobytraps can also investigate these houses. Looting is possible for many of the empty dwellings and recently salted meat can be found within them. This is a surefire sign of life -- take items from these houses at your character's own risk and they should congregate within them quickly if they feel like you must do so.

Finally, the creatures that have been living on this island within that barrier finally reveal themselves. These inhabitants are immediately recognizable as Uvi, though they do have drastic similarities. These creatures are pale, with gill slits that look like they've scarred over. Their eyes are much lighter and their scales are rougher, not wicked sleek by the water they obviously aren't swimming in. D ▢ Similarly to the Uvi, however, these beings are at first very violent. Once they see a humanoid-looking coven member, they'll go in for the kill. Unlike the Uvi your characters are used to, these beings have real weapons -- some even have guns. Defending yourself is possible, but be quick and act fast -- you're more likely to win if you dodge their attacks with a team member. However, approaching with conversation -- or if you realize eventually that these creatures do speak an understandable language -- will net different results. Talk to them and discover that they don't trust you, human creature. They fought desperately to be rid of you and to live their life peacefully, and yet here you are again. If they see a display of magic from you, their demeanor will change. You aren't those humans -- you're different with a different energy. Coven members are then taken to a central meeting place where even more strange-looking Uvi are located. At first these Uvi too are on high alert, though the energy that these human creatures exude is different from their predecessors. It's not a sick, synthetic magic, but instead is something much more -- as the Uvi refer to it -- holy. These Uvi aren't killers or savages, though they are hungry. They want to learn more about the world outside and what all has happened. The water has reappeared and the barrier has been broken...if these people aren't the humans of before, where are those humans? What has happened to the world while they were sealed away? Most importantly, where are the rest of the Uvi that were lost with time. Are they still alive, or do these magical humans even know where they are? If these quandries are confusing to the coven members at all, the Uvi have an offering of information. This is what they know and how they've lived life up to this point. The question is now this: how do they move forward from here? E ▢ For those of you that want their characters to get involved with the island action without taking things too seriously, these Uvi are much more palatable than their ocean-dwelling relatives. They're very akin to the Palai in their fascination and obsession with these "holy humans." In fact, it's as if the two cultural extremes collided together. The Uvi lack the polyamorous nature and forceful pushiness, but they are interested in talking and learning about outside magic. F ▢ This is the prompt that's centered around Barrier Quest alumni and newbies. How much does your character tell the Uvi about what has been going on in Aimintas? How many puzzle pieces can your character thread together -- the oceanic Uvi collecting these bones to reunite with the rest of their species or how their ancestors essentially created and attempted to destroy the Palai? These things may need to be discussed beforehand. Additionally, how trustworthy are these Uvi? What other pressing questions should be talked over before any decisions are made.

Comments

[needmetoo]

... yeah. I used to visit them, back home. To get shells for a friend of mine. Like, um...

[The friend was him, though it felt too awkward to say so. Not to mention she's picked up more than a few shells here on Aimintas. Also for him, or at least for when she got back home. None of them were quite a replacement for the one shell she lost, but, still.

Carefully shifting Curly's weight, she pulls out a good-sized spiral shell, the weight of it comfortably heavy in her palm. She offers it to him.]

Like that one.

[358]

...

[ Roxas reaches out and takes the shell.

He stares at it quietly for a moment. ... Then back at her face. ... Then down at the shell again.

His eyes flicker. ]

... I've-- I've heard your voice before. Before we came here. [ He looks up at her. ]

On the beach. On... Destiny Islands. When I looked at the water, and heard the waves lapping against the shore... it's almost like I could hear another voice. ... Who... are you? Why do you seem so... familiar?

[needmetoo]

[...what?

Those words by themselves feel like they're striking some half-remembered chord on their own. Even the name of that place, Destiny Islands... It's enough to make her head feel fuzzy and already at the worst time.]

We... I'm Xion, Roxas. I thought... we already talked about this.

[That he didn't remember her.]

[358]

... I know you're Xion, but I didn't know who Xion was. I don't know... who you are, still. But I...

[ What was it Naminé had said? A chain of memories... ]

Your voice is in my memories. And that... that has to mean something.

[needmetoo]

[There's a knotty kind of feeling in her stomach. She'd resigned herself to the idea that Roxas didn't remember her, and that they'd have to build... anything, again.

She doesn't know what to say or think about this... sudden familiarity on his part.]

I... I guess so.

[358]

[ ... His babbling over, he kind of pauses. She's... not happy, about something. He's not sure what-- He knows he knows her, but he doesn't know how he knows her. Or, you know, who she is.

He sort of assumes that's the problem. ]

... Look, whatever it was-- whoever you were, however we met-- It must be important. I'll... try my hardest to remember... So please don't be upset that I don't. I promise, it'll come back.

[needmetoo]

Wh- no!

[Her voice pitches upwards a bit, though she quickly clamps down as Curly stirs. She bites a lip, takes a breath.]

It's not that. I'm not mad... or upset at you, I promise. Whatever's going on... it's not your fault.

[358]

[ He nods quietly, glancing at the baby.

It only really just now clicks what it is she's holding. ]

... Are you taking care of the baby all by yourself?

[needmetoo]

[The topic shift is both a bit of a relief and not. She's still worried about how well she's doing with Curly, or if she's even the right person for them.]

Sort of, yeah... I mean, there are others, who got babies too. After the last battle... they had too many without parents.

It felt wrong to say no.

[The baby needed a home and people who loved them, that much she's sure of.]

[358]

... Well, yeah, but isn't that a lot of work for one person?

[ He knows literally nothing about babies. Or, well, children, actually. He's only really ever run into self-sufficient kids and sad teens. ]

It's gotta be tiring to take care of it alone, right? You should find someone to help you with it, that's all I meant.

[needmetoo]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

[She doesn't guess, she knows. She's been so tired, trying to keep up with everything going on, looking after Curly (especially when they kept her up at all hours), and using her powers as much as she has been.]

I don't want to be a bother to anybody, though.