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

[soulcomet]

a. weapons research

[it isn't until they're settled back on the island and her Soul Gem is, functionally, little more than a piece of jewelry, that it really sinks in, and Madoka realizes she has a problem. she didn't exactly defend herself all that well against the Uvi, and that was even with her regular powers — how could she expect to be any more helpful to the coven when she can't actually fight?]

[she is desperate not to feel useless, and luckily, she ... sort of has a solution. one might find her at the beach early in the morning, sitting a few feet away from the shore as she ties random bits of odds and ends and a stick together with some of the hair ribbons she's been hanging onto.]

[next to her is a bow that has seen better days — one final parting gift from the Palai. it looks like it might snap if she pulls on it too hard, or at least give her a few gnarly splinters, but Madoka knows her own magically-granted weapon like an extension of her hand — surely she'd be able to figure out how to repair this one!]

b. testing phase

[once she's reasonably proven that she can use this bow and poorly constructed arrows to catch dinner from the ocean, it's time to see how it all holds up with heavier use.]

[it's late afternoon, and Madoka's standing at the edge of the forest, weapon in hand. this is totally fine. she can handle this! she can heal if she runs into trouble — and besides, she's going to need something to make more arrows, and the forest is going to be her best bet.]

[there is no need to hesitate.]

[somewhere off in the distance, a boar's furious cry roars through the trees, and she freezes.]

[Madoka should probably turn around and find someone who can help.]

c. a jorb well done

[it's been a somewhat productive day! Madoka is pleased, at least. so, that night, she's dragged a weirdly shaped pink sleeping bag out of her hut — not for sleeping, though — it's filled with a random assortment of foods and spices that she'd dragged back from Aimintas. don't ask how she managed to carry this sleeping bag all the way back; she's a magical girl, she found a way.]

[want something to eat other than fish, boar or shrimp? Madoka's more than willing to share.]

d. wild card

[for anything else you might want to bug Madoka for!]

a

[alphonse]

[It's perfectly logical for alchemy not to work in a place like this--so removed from its energy source--but thinking of everyone else as being cut off from their natural abilities is... weird, to say the least. It doesn't really click for him until he sees Madoka sitting by the shore, working on her makeshift arrows.]

Doing things the old fashioned way, huh?

[He sits down beside her.]

Need any help?

[soulcomet]

[... Madoka's smile couldn't get anymore sheepish, really. quite frankly, she has no idea what she's doing, and is just improvising based on how the energy arrows feel to her. it's not working very well.]

I would love some help, actually ... the bow I can probably fix, but I don't think these arrows are going to be of much use.

[alphonse]

[Upon closer inspection--are those hair ribbons? Madoka continues to be entirely too much.]

I'm not exactly an expert either, but... what have you got so far?

[soulcomet]

[hair ribbons have proven to be the most versatile items in her inventory! they've been splints. she bought falafel with a few. sometimes they even hold up her hair.]

[unfortunately, they don't make very good bindings for arrows.]

Well ... my main problem is keeping it all together ... but I'm not sure what else I could use.

[alphonse]

Even though we brought so much from Aimintas, I guess we still didn't plan ahead enough.

[Snacks and dubiously functional electronics? Sure. Practical items? Uh, maybe.]

Have you tried searching the house yet? Maybe we could at least find some decent string.

[soulcomet]

[consider Madoka on the list of those who thought to bring more food than she did practical supplies. ... spices are practical, though, right? anything to help make the food they have to scrounge up here somewhat more palatable.]

[but she brightens at the suggestion.]

That's a good idea! Do you think you'd be willing to go there with me right now?

[alphonse]

[Food is Very Important, he gets it.

Al gets to his feet and offers Madoka a hand to pull herself up.]

Sure. I haven't done much exploring yet, so I'd like to see what's there too.

[And he did kind of promise her a talk at some point.]

a

[oneandmikleonly]

[she's not alone on the beach; with all his water powers gone because of the low frequency of the hub, Mikleo's developed a tendency to go wading right in the ocean so he feels less cut off from his element. he's in dragon shape to do it; most of his bulk is actually in the water and harder to spot, but his head's out on the beach so he can breathe, crusted with salt and sand. he's pretty dozy, lulled by the waves, but after a while Madoka might notice when he opens one bright eye to watch her work.]

What are you trying to make?

[soulcomet]

[only in the coven would a tiny pink magical girl be completely unfazed by a dragon taking a nap in the ocean next to her. but Madoka smiles, a bit embarrassed, and holds up her latest crafting attempt.]

I'm trying to make some arrows ... but I haven't figured out how to make them very sturdy.

[oneandmikleonly]

[archery...? he stretches and slides his head a little closer for a better look, opening the other eye too]

It's been a while since I used wooden arrows...are you just trying to make normal ones, or specialized ones?

[soulcomet]

Just normal ones! Um ... the arrows I normally use are magic, but I can't use that here. I figured that would have been a good enough reference to make these.

[Madoka was Wrong.]

Do you know how to make them?

b.

[allconsumed]

[By chance, Velvet happens to spot the young would-be hunter early on in her expedition. She observes her out of sight, like a shadow, but she appears close to Madoka once it looks like the girl might freeze up.

The boar's approach is less stealthy. Velvet can hear it crashing through the undergrowth before she's able to see it. Madoka's bow doesn't look very reliable at a glance, but…]

Just relax and aim. I'll take care of it if you screw up.

[soulcomet]

I — [it's too late to run now. Madoka nods, nocking an arrow and drawing back in an easy, fluid motion.]

[she's experienced, clearly, but the bow is shoddy, unfamiliar in her hands — and the arrows she's made aren't exactly up to snuff, either. but her aim is steady, and the second she has a good view of the boar as it rams through the foliage, she lets the arrow fly.]

[unfortunately, it's a rather large boar, which means that the arrow suddenly thunking into its side doesn't injure it as much as it infuriates it. whoops. Madoka immediately takes off running to the side, calling out to Velvet as she readies another arrow.]

— Sorry, look out!

[allconsumed]

[It's definitely bigger than a prickleboar. Fortunately, Velvet doesn't mind a challenge. She shouts at the boar, wanting to lure it towards her rather than Madoka.]

Come on, right here.

[As desired, it rumbles towards Velvet with considerable speed and she readies her blade. Meeting it head on would be fun, if not dangerous without her powers, but she wants to give Madoka another shot. At the last second she rolls out of the way; the boar misses its charge, and Velvet lands a light cut on its hind leg.

The time it'll take for the boar to slow down and turn will give Madoka her opportunity. Velvet stays in a crouch and glances towards her expectantly.]

[soulcomet]

[she doesn't necessarily want to kill the boar, but considering it charged first, and considering that despite that, Madoka still doesn't want to see it suffer needlessly — she'll have to try to make the next shot count.]

[and maybe if it were an arrow made out of magic, and maybe if this were her normal weapon, then she could have delivered on the promise she had made right then to the creature. but the second arrow that lands its its chest is enough to scare it off, at least, and it turns with a pained roar, and lumbers haphazardly in a direction away from the two of them.]

[Madoka looks ... upset, but she isn't sure if they should follow it to finish the job.]

[allconsumed]

[Damn. Velvet doesn't like to watch creatures suffer, either – even if that makes her one of the world's biggest hypocrites. The boar isn't moving very fast after its successive injuries, and between the blood and the noises its making, they aren't likely to lose track of it even while Madoka hesitates.

Still, Velvet takes a few steps after it. She will need to eat something later, and this isn't the worst choice.]

You going to finish it off? It's an easy target now.

[soulcomet]

I ... I probably should...

[she knows she should, but she's still hesitating. then, she shakes her head. she can't stand seeing anyone, be it another person, or another magical girl, or another creature, suffer. she can do this.]

[the third shot is the final one needed, and Madoka delivers the boar the mercy it deserves.]

[allconsumed]

Good.

[Velvet wipes her blade clean then conceals it. She reaches the boar carcass and drags it out more into the open. Dealing with dead animals is something she's plenty accustomed too.]

There's a lot of food here. [Velvet grips one of the arrows and eases out of the body, then she glances back.] You probably want to keep these.

B

[358]

[ No need to turn around. Roxas was already coming to see who this figure was at the edge of the forest, and is already running out to her side at that roar. ]

How good are you with that thing? That roar sounded... pretty intense, and I can only hold something off so long without my Keyblade.

[soulcomet]

[Madoka's first instinct is to ask what a Keyblade is, but — boar. she offers Roxas a smile that's caught somewhere between reassuring and sheepish.]

Well, this isn't my usual bow ... but I trust my aim. [it would likely be pretty concerning if this was her usual bow.]

We should probably leave if there's a chance we might not win this.

[358]

If you trust your aim, I trust it too. We can always run if the arrow doesn't take it down.

[ He gives her a fully reassuring smile. He's never known someone with confidence in their skills to let him down. ]

Worst case scenario, you run and I throw down with it.

[soulcomet]

[she opens her mouth slightly, not to argue, really, but to request that Roxas please not be reckless — her heart wouldn't be able to take it. but despite how many times she's already asked friends not to be reckless, and how her worry grows tenfold every time she does, she finds something easing in his smile, and she nods. Madoka trusts him.]

Okay. I can heal you if you get into trouble. [hopefully he won't get into trouble. she readies her bow, shifting to the side slightly so that she can take aim.]

I'm Madoka, by the way. Are you ready?

[358]

Roxas. [ He gets into... something resembling his normal fighting stance, albeit barehanded. ... That feels weird, so he reaches down and picks up two sticks, wielding them as he would Oathkeeper and Oblivion. ]

Ready as I'm gonna be. Let's take this thing down.

[soulcomet]

[Roxas, those are sticks.]

... Are you sure you're going to be okay with those? [of course, she's too late with that question — some foliage straight ahead suddenly snaps as the boar that had been yelling threatening at them earlier crushes through them.]

[it's now or never. Madoka immediately draws her bow back, and, once the boar catches wind of them and starts charging, lets the arrow fly.]

[it's a direct hit! unfortunately, although they both were right to trust her aim, getting arrow'd doesn't seem to be actually stopping the boar — the two of them better scatter.]