spellbinders | catch-all open log!

catch-all open log!

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))

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[The trip from the world they were once in, for the last few weeks, to the new location -- known affectionately as the Hub to those who have been to it before -- will leave Nike feeling slightly unimpressed. Unlike the Palai's world that had an astonishing and curious beauty, found on its very enviroment, its civilization, and technology, the hub had the bare essentials that reminded her of an abandoned version of her birth country. If she had to be honest, she felt a little let down by the enviroment and her disconnection to her surroundings, all she can hear are the fleeting messages of those using the telepathic network, but not much else.

There were two ways for her senses to synchronize with her surroundings: through exploration or finding a large mass of water.

Fortunately, after going through the first process, Nike was able to find someone familiar in the distance, gazing at something. Needless to say, it was more than enough motivation for her to head on over in that direction.]

Adding an additional vote on wanting to go fishing!

[She'll even raise her hand for emphasis over the idea before usin the very same hand to give him a friendly wave.]

Hey! It's been a while, huh? It's great to see that you made it back, Red.

[That's right-- there were a few new arrivals coming in at Aimintas who weren't on the island before, weren't there? He'd all but forgotten to keep an eye out for them once they'd made it back to the hub-- and here was one he'd have kicked himself if he'd forgotten. There's a friendly wave right back the moment he catches a glimpse of her.]

Trust me, that world was nice to visit but I think I've had my fill. Right back at'cha, Nike-- hope you haven't had any run-ins with the wildlife yet. And hopefully there were a few of the nice shacks still left...

[Meanwhile, on the subject of fishing...]

Great! It'll be my first time using a spear. Or... rod. Or whatever you use. Kinda used to bigger tools but it can't be that hard to nail 'em, right?

No kidding. I was getting a little claustrophobic by the end of our adventures with the Palai. It's good to be on the move again. [Not that she's been on the world-hopping move before, but...] Um, the wild life? I did hear something about there being animals to hunt, but other than that. What should I be watching out for?

[As for the shack, it was the very first thing she asked about, wanting to know if there was a specific place for her to go to put down her things and that topic of conversation came up. Fortunately, she found one that hasn't been used and was in decent shape, all it needs is some cleaning which she promised herself to take care of later.

Right now, she was far too curious about her new away from home since it was her first time on it.]

Do you even have any of those materials on hand? Personally, using a net was the way to go in my world, but having some string and bait does wonders too if all else fails. [With a bit of a smile.] Fishing isn't hard to do if you know the rules about it. And fortunately for you, I come from an island nation with its main food source being from the ocean, lakes, or streams. I haven't seen any yet. Do you know where you can find any of those spots around here?

Yeah. Head too far into the woods and you'll start running into boars. They ain't exactly friendly, and worse still they never know when to quit. I had to spend a few hours fighting 'em off when I first arrived. [The very idea that he hadn't quite figured out how to control his never-get-tired-or-worn-out power and it was spilling out into the boars he was fighting was something he'd refuse to comment on, thank you very much.]

I may not have much for nets but you've come to the right person to learn good fishing spots! I happen to know a lovely little stretch of ocean right along the coastline that hasn't, uh. Fallen off? [He wasn't quite sure how it stayed connected to the island and he wasn't about to try and take a swim either. Still, he dragged his finger up from mark Two to mark Three.]

Looks like there's a lagoon not too far off, too, and it's got some reeds to make tools out of. I've got my stun sword but I don't know if that's much good for fishin'.

Wild boars? [Nike couldn't help wonder over his surprise concerning this creatures in question as they always been the very stubborn and proactive types in the forests back in her own world. There may be some memories of being trapped in a tree for hours by them. She couldn't help wonder if they were different to the ones she knows.] How do they look like? Are they bigger than the normal types?

Fallen off? Are you saying the oceans are the floating types like back at the Palai's world or...? I feel like I'm missing a detail here. [All responded in good nature as she was curious to learn of the good fishing spots he knows about. It was a good thing she knew someone with experience in being at the hub.] You could use it to stun the fish, I think, but I need to see the reaction it'll have on the water first. The last thing we need is to get stun in the process, right?

Uh... big flat nose, curved tusks, low center of gravity. Grouchy disposition. Dunno if they're any bigger than 'normal', this island's the first I've seen of 'em and I've had enough of 'em to last a lifetime. [That goes double for the meat. Good Dog, especially the meat.]

But the ocean's kinda like what ya said. I've never really seen anything like it, myself; it's like it just stuck out from the side of the island and refused to... y'know, let go. I've got no clue what's actually keepin' it up. As for sword-fishin', I've never really tried it in water either. You know how electricity gets when-- oh, wait, maybe you don't.

Uh... well, my sword kinda makes really little lightning bolts, if that helps you imagine it.

They sound a lot like the ones I've seen back in my world. I thought they may be bigger. But even then, the ones back in my world are difficult to deal with. We always had to use the do-- [Nike will stop talking as she realized she was gonna talk about the wolves and wild dogs that would help them corner the wild animals before attempting to hunt them for their meat, hooves, and tusks.] Anyway, there's a specific way we used to hunt them back home with. The key is to use team work.

[An ocean that won't release its grip on land was an interesting mental image. If she hadn't gone to the Palai's world, then she wouldn't really believe him. It was difficult to imagine the ocean being anything but the ocean. With a small smile, she can't help look excited at the thought of it all the same.] All the more reason to go over there, I wanna see an actual stubborn ocean that has the ability to break the rules of reality to make it happen.

[As for his comment, Nike will point out.]

Whenever it comes to the science of water and the atmosphere, I know all about it. In fact, my country is pretty advance when it comes to knowledge about it. [To the point they have microphones, spot lights, and karaoke to name a few of their meta inventions that caught by surprise those from the Sun Kingdom as they didn't recognize it.] So don't worry about not understanding that stuff or not. I'm actually really well-verse in it. A rain summoner has to be, after all!

Makes sense, but I'll pass on learnin' how to hunt 'em. I've already eaten so much boar I'm startin' to grow tusks-- and they're twice as stubborn as all the water stickin' out from the island.

[Though it was actually a little surprising to hear she was an expert in weather-- the way Nike had talked about her world before, it seemed a bit old-fashioned to be able to... well, study it. Well! He could probably talk about it plainly then.]

Oh! Well, then, it's an electric stun sword. Gives a big jolt to whatever you stick it wi--

Wait. Did you say 'rain summoner?' are you some kinda wizard too? --before you came here, I mean.

Sounds fair to me. We should definitely concentrate on finding another source of food. Sooner or later, we may end up in the same situation with the amount of shrimp we were given by the Palai.

[His surprise will catch her attention. Was that a detail she forgot to tell him after confidently talking about it? It just may be the case. Whenever it comes to anything personal, Nike was very laid back about the details that it may come off as her being a private person about it.]

Yes, I did say rain summoner. Although, I do admit that I haven't once thought of myself as a wizard or anything like that. Rain summoning has always been a part of my life since the day I was born. It's a sacred ritual for those in my country. [Even though she does admit, she did have knowledge over there being non-summoners for a long time. After all, Nike's family were the only ones with the power to manipulate the weather, everyone else outside of it were normal people.] It still is, even if I can't use my magic right now.

Ugh, there I was happy to have somethin' other than pork and kelp, but even shrimp all started tastin' like rubber after a while. Maybe the next place we go will have a buncha restaurants or somethin'... [Red was slowly starting to notice he had a habit of complaining about food; but, then again, that was proving to be a constant frustration.]

Yeah, it ain't just you. Most people who had some kinda power before can't use it once they come here. Guess Qri wants us to focus on our 'new' skills, but there's only so much I can do with 'I-don't-get-tired.'

[Though,strangely, it may actually HELP that he keeps getting himself hurt...]

I gotta ask you to show me the rain thing sometime. For now, though, wanna check out that lagoon and see if we can find somethin' to make a net with?

Restaurant...?

[Weren't they just talking about food a few moments ago? Nike couldn't help wonder about it when he began to mention about a next world having it; although, she will admit that the word did ring a bell, where has she heard of it other than somewhere from the previous world they were in? It was difficult to find an exact answer when her mind was currently preoccupied with thoughts of creating a net out of nature.]

I'll be happy to! Summoning the actual rain at another world will be an interesting experience especially if rain isn't as rare as it is back in my world.

[The citizens of Sun Kingdom and other ambassadors from other countries are always left in awe whenever she summoned the tiniest bit of rain. It hasn't rained in countries outside of her own for a very long time that most people consider it a legend or myth. It's difficult to not feel curious at the thought of other people's reactions over it.]

Okay, lead the way! Since you know where everything is and all, I'll have to trust you to be my temporary tour guide.

Yeah, restaurant. You know. ...Diner? Eatery?

[Right; Red really had to start keeping in mind exactly where in history Nike's world seemed to line up. Really, he was still trying to more precisely place it, but obviously it was missing a few things he'd always taken for granted. ...Then again, on the other hand, how many people had he run into here who'd even seen a walking, talking dog before?

still, he'd reply with a nod, and hold himself back from making a 'rain check joke.] Great! In the meantime, we've got a lagoon to check out. And the map says we can reach it just by walkin' straight through the orchard, too. Got your bags packed?

Eatery? Do you mean like somewhere that serves food? Like in an inn, bar, or cafe?

[She only learned of the word cafe from Haru and having seen one in the capital of the Sun Kingdom. Unfortunately, she has never been, but she has had meals from an inn and bar before. The thought of going to a more futuristic aspect of a place to get food sounded appealing to her. It made her wonder if bars and inns remained or have evolved too.

Appreciating his efforts on holding back a rain pun, Nike will show him the sack tied around her back that she barter from the Palai with great pride.]

Aye, aye! I'm ready to go on our quest in finding materials to make stuff with.

...Yeah, close enough. [But he'd been running his mouth about meals for long enough lately; besides, maybe there'd be some fruit worth plucking from the branches when they passed through the orchard ahead. Not like he needed to worry about maintaining their energy, anyway-- he could at least thank Qri for that.]

Alright! Just follow me. And, uh... just shout if you see any boars. [He set about walking west at a casual stride, but got maybe only a quarter-mile of walking in before the peaceful stillness left him all the more mindful of his company.

Well, always room for a little more conversation, right?]

So... is rain summoning just somethin' people did back at home or are you some kinda priestess?

Wouldn't it be better to just grab you from behind if I notice one? Boars are sensitive to sound and movement, you know.

[Nike has enough experience with boars to last her a lifetime. Screaming and moving around were basically the two ingredients in not only admitting in feeling actual fear, but begging for it to attack early. It's always best to not do much and read their signals instead.

Either way, it was clear Nike didn't mind the conversation about food too much, it was always good to know someone that takes survival and a proper meal sincerely. She'll have to keep him in mind at the next world they end up in to figures out which are the best shops to visit. Nike was now curious to increase her eating aptitude to a more other worldly one.

Her attention will be on her surroundings as they continue their journey to the lagoon until he decides to ask her another question pertaining to her title. There will be a thoughtful hum.]

Only my family can. It's a family-only legacy back in my world. I've never met others with powers like our own. Everyone else are quite normal. Like my dad, for one. As for your question, you can say I am in a level of a 'high priestess'. I'm the best summoner next to my grandmother and my mother. But other than that, we aren't really priestess or priests in the religious sense, we're just the in-between for humanity and nature. Our duty is to protect the world and it's people that influence her. We make absolute certain they're in perfect balance to one another.

[Hey, give him a break, it's not like he has no idea of what he's doing when it comes to these boars!... but, uh, it did take him a good while each time he went up against 'em, and it did sound like she knew what she was talking about...]

Sure, that works too.

[But as nice was it was to shush as they traveled and let the nature on the island get a few words in, the tranquility that punctuated their dialog reinforced an important point in what Nike was describing... a point that, thinking about it, might have been a big reason for the differences between their worlds.]

...Sounds like the humans back at my home coulda learned somethin' from yours. Maybe they'd still be around.

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