catch-all open log!

[rebells]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
Where: On the beach, and various other places throughout the hub island
When: Day 80, and the next couple days after
Open/Closed: open log for hub shenanigans!

[This evening, someone has placed an old, rusted-over camp stove on the beach near the coven's row of huts--anyone examining it in detail will see that it's not operational at the moment, but that could potentially be changed, couldn't it? If someone was handy with mechanical things . . . .

Next to it is a crate (which, from the weight of it is empty) and pinned to that crate is a sheet of paper with a map on it, something like a much cruder, black-and-white version of this:



with the following key:

1 - crags. Contain snakes which may be poisonous. Watch out.
2 - ocean, going about one mile out from the coast.
3 - lagoon. Contains thick reeds (could be woven or shaped into tools) and frogs (edibility uncertain).
4 - abandoned campsite.
5 - orchard. Currently, trees are diseased and bare. Plant healer needed.
6 - abandoned house. A family used to live here, from the looks of it. Still contains some useful supplies.

And there should be a 7 north of base camp with the notation "graveyard. Graves unused." but the player forgot and is too lazy to go back and fix it right now. Observant individuals will note that the map looks like a more detailed version of one hanging on the door to a certain coven member's cabin, one that has a note on the bottom: "Have information? Ask for Jay."

Other than that, it's a quiet night on the hub island. We've been here for a couple days; maybe you're getting restless? Want to check out that ocean, or lagoon, or even those crags? Maybe just go door-to-door in the beach huts? Maybe you're sick of shrimp and looking for other things to eat . . . hopefully someone's got a fire going tonight, and thought to kill a boar . . . .

What are you doing tonight?]


((here or here for place descriptions))

Comments

ota

[rootbound]

a

[Vern isn't incredibly vell-versed in botanical husbandry or anything, but with the rest of the island lush as it is, it's not hard to see that there's something wrong in the orchard; he can be found walking around thre trees with his arms folded, sometimes peering owlishly close to get a better look at the bark or a section of the bare branches. he's frowning, and if someone else (you) walks into the grove, he'll turn and ask:]

Can you do anything with plants? Or water? Doesn't need to be magical.

b

[a little farther out from there, you can spot him standing right around where the rocky area around the crags begins, though he's not foolhardy enough to go scrambling up there on his own for sure. still, why is he looking up at a bunch of rocks with such intensity?

if you approach to investigate, you can hear him muttering to himself--]

A cave, a decent cave's all I want -- ugh, are we going to have to dig one out?

wildcard

[other? hit me up with whatever you desire!]

A

[lohengrins]

[ the orchard has held his interest ever since he'd heard it was diseased — naturally, the question catches his attention. ]

What is it you require?

[ it's not like what he's doing is much different. his fingers graze across the bark, expression somewhat sullen. ]

[rootbound]

[his frown deepens slightly, though he gives Percival an acknowledging nod]

They're sick. I know a little about the care of plants, but if someone can identify the source -- if it's coming from the trees themselves, or something in the ground or water -- that would give a much better idea of where to start with these.

[lohengrins]

[ wordlessly, percival steps back and narrows his eyes. he'd wondered the same thing — there was one option he hasn't tried yet, however...

percival's hand smooths over the bark again — soothingly, and slowly. ]

Come back to us. You continue to fight despite your affliction — it's a sign of strength. We wish for your wellbeing...so stay with us.

[ suddenly, the tree deeps in color, leaves here and there sprouting from its branches. percival smirks, somewhat satisfied. ]

It isn't a cure, but it'll do for the meanwhile. The disease hasn't infected the rest of the island as far as I can tell, so it may be specific to this species in particular.

[rootbound]

Show-off.

[he sounds appreciative rather than annoyed, though, the slightest hint of a smile on his face as he reaches up to touch a new leaf]

It may be, it may not be. I was worried about it because it's so close to where most of the coven stays. You strengthened the tree?

b

[splinten]

Need to hide a gold hoard?

[The traditional use of caves.]

[rootbound]

Yes, look at all of this gold I am dangerously carrying about my person.

[turns out his pants pockets...they're empty...]

[splinten]

You could get mugged at any second. Have you thought about hiring a bodyguard?

[rootbound]

I'd probably have to pay them. That seems like a serious disadvantage what with my hoarding tendencies and all.

[splinten]

That implies you wouldn't fake the motherfuckers out with some serious fake gold.

[rootbound]

...you know, that begs the question of why Qri hasn't tried giving the coven an advantage by giving someone the magic to produce currency out of thin air.

[tilts his head a little, the corner of his mouth quirking slightly]

Can I help you with something?

[splinten]

Maybe she has no fucking clue what she's doing.

[Honestly he's starting to think that.]

I was wondering if I could help you. Need a wall destroyed?

[rootbound]

You know what, that's fair. That's a fair theory.

[how aware is Qri if she's mostly napping in a wagon 24/7 anyway???]

And -- maybe, but I'd have to find a decent room up there first before asking you to knock part of it down. Or...somewhere. It doesn't have to be up in those rocks.

[splinten]

[IT FEELS FAIR, HONESTLY]

That suggests you're planning on finding a new residence. Like beach huts aren't the ideal accommodation for a hugeass dragon and friend.

[rootbound]

They. . .absolutely are not. We're going to go find a cave. We got yanked from our world right as we got the last one kind of fixed up, you know? It was very aggrieving.

A

[spaceforged]

I don't really know much about plants. But I could bring water to their roots. [Shiro peers at the trees and reaches out with his human hand to touch one. It doesn't look right. At least not to his eyes.]

...

Do we have anyone with botanical knowledge or a related ability?

[rootbound]

Don't know, that's why I'm asking. I've done some gardening in my time, but smaller things, not trees. This is pretty clearly sick, though, and if the source is in the ground or the water then it's close enough to our camp to potentially affect us too.

Ah, I guess I could ask to look at that list of powers Jay made, though.

[spaceforged]

From your experience, is there a way to find that source? It would be a good idea to do what we can now. Even if there might not be much. [It could buy time.]

[rootbound]

Well, we can dig.

[huffs]

I know some of the -- the materials the Palai used for filtering were brought back; it'd be possible to border the orchard with that. I'm not sure if it would work to filter out whatever sickness has gotten to the trees, but it'd be better than nothing.

[spaceforged]

It might buy us some time to find out the real problem. ...and we should clear out any dead trees. That can't be helping the rest of the trees heal.

[Dig? He could do that. He folds his arms over his chest while studying the trees around them.]

How deep down do you think the filters need to be?

[rootbound]

Depends how deep the main roots go. I don't think we'll be able to put them so deep they block everything, but it'd still reduce any contaminants. ...probably.

[spaceforged]

It's better than nothing. Do you think a good start would be to mark the boundary of the orchard? We'll likely need help and it will keep everyone on the same page.

[rootbound]

Sure, why not. You want to do it today? Not like we're on a schedule or anything while we're here, it's been pretty peaceful.

[spaceforged]

Yes, the sooner that's marked the better. If anyone else is going to work on this it could help their efforts.

[rootbound]

People seemed pretty interested in general. I guess no one likes the idea of sick things where there don't have to be...

C'mon, I'll show you where we kept the stuff.