[WORLD ONE | OCTOBER INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: The new coven members and old blood
Where: In and around the hub island
When: Day 92
Open/Closed: Open to All

All characters are told briefly what their powers are by Genette -- no extemporaneous details. For instance, if your character has the ability to detect lies, they'll be told as such -- no warning about limitations, repercussions or the like. They'll also be given a variant of this letter so they aren't totally ignorant of the situation -- though of course adapt this letter to the current setting and surroundings of the game.

This setting may be familiar to you -- maybe you caught a glimpse of it when you first visited. Maybe this is your first time experiencing this weird world and the panic is setting in. If you're totally lost, a tall human woman with a long scroll of paper will stop by to give you the run down. She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date. (Maybe someone else can fill in some gaps for you). What is at first painfully obvious is that you're ill-equipped. Any magic or powers you had previously are suddenly replaced with an empty hole in your being. That's not all that's gone, but perhaps that's what's most pressing. Another thing you may notice is that there are others just like you, wandering around and just as confused. If you feel so inclined, you may want to ask around and see if anyone else knows what's up. A ▢ If one of your characters isn't looking to introduce themselves to others, someone's willing to do it for them. Genette is trying to make sure all newbies are accounted for and have a buddy, so she's grabbing them when she finds them and tossing them at the first coven member she sees. "Hi, so-and-so, this is so-and-so! They're new, so show them the ropes -- be friends, okay?" You get the gist. Your character may be paired up with another newbie, a seasoned character or both! Five times, even! Timelines in RPing are weird! B ▢ Let's say that instead of milling about and doing nothing entirely productive, your character has decided to try and venture off to find a way off this huge floating rock. That's nice -- but be warned that the forest is filled with interesting things. For instance, they've happened to find a hollowed out tree that happens to be where a hoard of land crabs are living. They move fast -- run quick! C ▢ Other characters may want to establish shelter before they do anything else -- and that's their right! The problem is that if your character wants to be well-supplied, they're going to have to do things for themselves. There's something of an assembly line set up, but not a lot has been done in way of making things workable. Genette wanted all new coven members to have a little food parcel to take to their hut, but time constraints, you know? If you want any food for now -- or for later -- you may want to cook some of this (poisonous) eel, salt some boar jerky or cut into one of these rabbits. You've also got some berries to eat in the meantime, if you want something simple!

By the time afternoon sets in, everyone should be a little more adjusted -- or, they should at least be a little more aware of the situation. From there, things still need to be done and exploring is always an option! D ▢ For those characters who want to stick around the base camp, there's something worthwhile in discovering the buildings around the area. One such building is the mansion, which contains extra supplies and a renovated kitchen. The kitchen is now functional with electricity and running water, with a few raw ingredients for making whatever your character would like. It's minimal, but also not totally useless. E ▢ If you mill about too long, you'll be put to work. Run into Genette and you'll be sent to pick western part of the island to look for strawberries, wheat and deer (good luck hunting if your character doesn't have the capabilities, but maybe someone else can help?). Run into Genette and she'll offer your character an ax to chop wood with (is this a wise idea? probably not), or a request to go fishing in either a stream or the ocean attached to the island on the eastern side. Or your character can do both if they so choose...? F ▢ With all of these new people milling about, telepathy is on the fritz again. At least, it certainly is for those who are new! Your character may not realize their broadcasting frustrations to the network, or maybe a stupid secret. Their mental filter is certainly broken, but that's at least a great conversation starter. Night finally falls on the exhausting day, and it's time to rest. Thankfully the island is beautiful at night, especially the sky. The night is filled with space worms, relaxing mist and wondrous sights in the stars. G ▢ Adding to the excitement of the beautiful night, Genette has set up something of a...talent show? In an effort to get new coven members acclimated with their magic, she's asked them all to use their magic in some way -- it may take a volunteer, or maybe they can show it off all on their own. In any case, show me what you got. H ▢ Of course, some characters aren't going to be up for this fancy display and will want to go about their own business. There are plenty of places to sit and stew on this island, both private and in plain sight. The stars are spectacularly bright, and the higher up your character gets the less it seems like night time. If they're lucky, they may catch sight of a shooting star, though it's of course much larger than usual. They're directly in space, after all! I ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

F

[deem]

[9S can understand so many of these gripes. He can also understand, all too well, the difficulty in broadcasting thoughts. Even now he has trouble avoiding misfires, and it's something he has to be vigilant about, so when somebody's private thoughts just filter right into his awareness, it only seems courteous to say something.

Well, "say", rather]

Hey uh. You're kind of broadcasting...just so you know. It's nice that you've got your brother around, though?

[An android for your thoughts, Edward Elric]

[equivalence]

Oh. Damn it. This "telepathy" crap how do--

[He's still doing it. He realizes he's still doing it. And just now he's clapping a palm to his face where he is, taking a deep breath. Someone's in his head. He can handle this.]

Thanks, for the heads up.

And yeah. I mean it'd be better not to be stuck here, but... Al and I work better together.

[At least, Ed likes to think so.]

[deem]

Oh, Al like Alphonse?

[He's an intuitive bit of tech and this isn't a very big logical gap to jump. Plus he doesn't know the local Alvin...]

This is a bit hard to get used to at first, I know. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to be able to just, you know, broadcast things into peoples' heads. Magic's just not really much of a thing where I'm from, though.

[And if this guy really did mean Alphonse then they've likely got that in common]

[equivalence]

Yeah. Alphonse Elric. You've met him?

[There's no good way that Ed knows to convey a facial expression, but he is scowling at the mention of the magic thing.]

Magic is not really much of a thing anywhere. Whatever the hell they're calling magic here isn't as simple as that. Call it whatever you want, there have to be rules, constants. There's a way it works and a reason why it works.

[There is some science in here somewhere damn it. That is what Ed is telling himself to make himself feel better.

It's only sort of working.]

[deem]

Yeah, I've known him for a while. He's a nice guy.

[And he means that. They didn't quite see eye-to-eye at first, but they collaborate nowadays]

I guess that'd come down to how you define magic, but where I'm from, I knew a being capable of it. The only one, but he's pretty ancient. Technology's more of my forte though.

[Still, he knows some of this is just not possible through innovation]

[equivalence]

Yeah, he is.

[Too nice sometimes. Not that Ed worries. Or anything.]

There's no magic where I come from. Some people want to call alchemy magic, but it isn't. Even if it's capable of incredible things, it exists in a set of rules, laws.

What sort of technology?

[deem]

I thought it was at first, since alchemy was pursued but unsuccessful in Old World history, but Alphonse is pretty determined that it's a science. Guessing you'd feel the same way.

[The principles that are supposed to make it a science are still a bit puzzling to him since he knows one of them in reference to energy and not matter, but well. One learns to accept oddities when one has become an oddity]

But for example, I'm an android. Although someone like me is made in humanity's image, I'm circuits and alloy under my skin.

[equivalence]

Unsuccessful? Definitely a different world then.

[Seriously. Alchemy is the be all and end all of science so far as Edward is concerned. He's biased.]

An android?

[Okay we'll he can put that together contextually.]

So you're entirely made out of machine? But you've clearly got consciousness...

[Entire people made mechanically. That is one he will have to remember to tell Winry.]

[deem]

Seems that way. All the records I have are all about people trying to make lead into gold and ultimately failing, and...it sounds a lot more complicated, the way your brother puts it.

[And apparently entirely possible to make gold, if one wanted to.

He takes longer to respond to the rest, because the notion of being made out machines is deeply disquieting for certain reasons]

He got a bit hung up on that too. Seemed to think I'd be worried about whether I had a soul or not.

[equivalence]

Lead into gold is easy. And illegal.

[Man's laws, not natural laws illegal, but still. Frowned upon.]

Yeah, well. Souls are complicated. Alchemists understand a lot, but...

[Well. Souls are tricky. And unfortunately can be used to terrible ends. But... creating a soul? Not something alchemy can do.]

You're not worried about it, I take it.

For what it's worth, I'm part mechanical too. Didn't start out that way, but.

[deem]

I don't think there's much I could do about whether I've got one or not, is all.

[And so 9S doesn't concern himself with it. Soul or no, he remains himself.

At the end of the day, that's all there is]

Do you mean something like prosthetics? I uh. Know Alphonse's situation is pretty unique, too.

[equivalence]

Pretty enlightened viewpoint.

[Edward admires it, in a way. He's never been the type to just so easily accept, well, anything.

Ever.

It's gotten him into trouble more than once.]

Yeah. Automail prosthetics.

...yeah. Unique is a good word.

[And given that Edward doesn't know what Alphonse told this guy, or the extent of it, he won't say anything particular. His little brother's situation is a more than sensitive subject.]

1/2

[deem]

[By the same token, 9S doesn't trust his own ability to transmit securely over this strange mental network of theirs, so a general reference will suffice.

He's well aware his persistence is probably the only reason Alphonse told him anything]

I've never heard of automail before... If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see it sometime.

[If only because it sounds different from what he would have expected, and it's a novel idea]

I've lost limbs before, but they're easier to replace than with organic life. Well, not as much here, but Alphonse offered to help me with parts. I don't imagine I'd find the right materials, if not for him. It's not something I've gotten to repay though...

2/2

[deem]

Maybe I can run an idea by you, if you wouldn't mind? Just...maybe not using this system. I'm not too sure that Qri can't listen in and it's not really her business.

[equivalence]

Sounds like we could kill two birds with one stone here. Have a chat, I'll let you have a look at my automail.

[And they can talk in person which really, is going to feel a lot more normal to Edward because this is still intensely strange.

And he definitely doesn't enjoy the idea of Qri listening in. At all. Edward is new, but already super not a fan.]

If you'd like to meet up.

[deem]

Alright. Just let me know when and where to meet you, I cover ground pretty fast.

[Which may not be too surprising, given what he's said he is. Fatigue isn't an issue, and his movement speed is more efficient than a human's besides.

And he, likewise, doesn't see any reason to trust Qri]

[equivalence]

I'm not all that far from camp. Little ways to the... I think this is North?

[Who can be certain in this place anyway? That's his best guess.

And he's kind of interested to meet this guy in person, hear what he has to say.]

[deem]

I'm out west, so give me about ten minutes or so, and I'll be there.

Mind if I ask what you look like?

[Not that he can't spot a new face, but there are always more than a few]

[equivalence]

Uh. Blond? Braid. Red coat.

[Short, but no way he's adding that one in, thank you. Besides, that should be enough to help get this guy on the basic gist, right? He doesn't tend to blend in any way. Never has been very good at that.]

[deem]

Red, huh... That'll be easy.

[And already, he's on the move]

On my way.

[When 9S draws near, it's at a speed a human couldn't possibly move at, at least none he's seen so far. Quick enough to blur around the edges, 9S stands out quite a bit himself, in his all black uniform.

And when he spots a red coat, he's veering right in that direction, only to halt on the spot a little too smoothly. Good thing Edward didn't pick the shoreline, sand trips up androids as much as it does anyone else]

[equivalence]

[Wow, okay. The arrival is definitely memorable. Edward finds himself looking up rather wide-eyed for a moment. Uh.

Huh.]

...you made good time.

[Impressive.] You always move that quickly?

[deem]

Only when I'm running, and I've got someplace to be.

[Not everyone runs around all the time, he knows. But keeping somebody waiting when he could get there quicker doesn't make sense to him.

Android priorities, and all that]

...Or in combat it's pretty necessary too.

sorry for the delay! heath issues sidelined me a bit

[equivalence]

Yeah I can see it coming in handy in a fight, for sure.

[Edward isn't sure how he'd counter speed like that. Without his alchemy? It'd be even harder.

But that aside, he holds out a gloved hand towards him.] Good to meet you, in person.

hope you're feeling better!

[deem]

I wasn't build for melee combat, so it's a matter of survival more than anything.

[Not that he didn't modify himself for the express purpose of melee, woops.

9S examines Edward's hand before he takes it in his, gives it a light squeeze, and lets go. His lessons in handshakes have yielded this result]

Nice to meet you too, Sir.

[Manners with every human, yes]

[equivalence]

Not built for it, huh? But you can learn new skills, right?

[He admittedly doesn't know how someone like this guy works. But as far as Edward can tell, he seems like a person.

...and that was almost a handshake. Close enough. A faintly amused smile and he shakes his head.]

Edward. Or just Ed, is fine.