[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 She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date.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

[cherrypuncher]

Oh.

[Why would anyone tell lies?? She looks disappointed again... It's only for a moment, though, and somehow Yuna just perks right back up, all that sunshiney sincerity right back in her face and her voice.]

I did, though! Since we're all strangers in the same weird situation, it makes much more sense to work together than to have to go it alone. So you and I can start by being friends!

[reckoner]

[ It isn't that Gaelio means to be difficult for this indefatigably cheerful girl. He peers down at her, engaged in this bizarre exchange, but in a detached and puzzled way. Her determination that they be friends, well -- something in that stubbornness does remind him of Almiria.

He probably hadn't been friends with his sister. ]

Is friendship a prerequisite for working together?

[cherrypuncher]

[Even if he tried to be difficult he'd still have one up on one of her dearest besties, Karin "how many times can I call this girl and her club stupid in one conversation" Miyoshi, so honestly, this is whatever. She can work with this. She won't be deterred from making friends this easily!!]

No, but it sure does help! There's a difference between just cooperating and really getting along.

[reckoner]

[ That he knows to be true. Gaelio's attention flickers, eyes narrowed and black across the camp, but as that man has moved out of sight, he pulls himself back. Cooperating was far, far from getting along.

And both were far from friendship. Weren't they? ]

Yeah. [ ... ] What is friendship, to you?

[cherrypuncher]

If someone's your friend, it means you can rely on each other and take care of each other. [She touches her hand to her chest as she continues.] And a friend is someone you can hold in your heart so that when you've been knocked down, you'll have a reason and a way to get back up again!

[please how does one middle school student have this much sincere shounen enthusiasm about the power of friendship just ready to go]

[reckoner]

[ wow please go teach mcgillis fareed the meaning of friendship

The sincerity in her words and their content, coupled with that gesture, forces Gaelio to look away. He cannot explain it and cannot risk examination of it. A hefty question to ask, he understands now, and wrestles emotion from his face. This kid... ]

I shouldn't be in your heart.

[ Flat, but not quite cold. ]

We've just met. [ also 2x age etc. ] You shouldn't put strangers in your heart. Not everyone should be trusted.

[cherrypuncher]

[he's on the list too]

I'd like to keep everyone here in my heart! [the point soars so far over her head because she is so much shorter than him, you see] Everyone here is in the same scary situation, and I'd like to help as much as I can! I won't risk leaving someone who needs it behind just because I don't know them so well yet.

[reckoner]

[ changed my mind very bad idea ABORT ]

[ It's really as if he can actually see the point flying high. Surely a symptom of his ridiculous height. ]

The person you keep in your heart shouldn't be one of a crowd of fifty or more. They--

[ Who is he to speak? What had happened to his friends? Killer and killed.

Cutting himself off, he doesn't address the shift. ]

--You won't leave me behind. It's possible to help without friendship. I am not your friend.

[cherrypuncher]

[TOO LATE THE CONTRACT IS SEALED]

Why not? [That's to his first bit, just as he cuts himself off, and she frowns as he moves on. While her perk isn't so easily pummeled, she is taking all this a little more seriously than she normally would.]

Of course I won't leave you behind. [First and foremost, certain and steady, a promise as much as anything. That's just what a hero does, after all.] But what's so bad about wanting to be friends? [And she asks only with sincere curiosity, not understanding her perspective but wanting to.] Forget about what I should or shouldn't do for myself—What's your problem with it?

[reckoner]

[ AS A MINOR SHE LACKS THE CAPACITY TO MAKE BINDING CONTRACTS IT'S ILLEGAL ]

[ Stubborn past fault, this girl. Her persistence threatens to wear him down, but in this subject, he has deeper reservoirs.

Gaelio does not sigh, but his expression looks as though he might be suppressing one. There are many answers he could give: the age discrepancy, the truth of murder and betrayal, silence, a handful of lies.

He commits to none, detaching from the subject. The shadows of clouds that hitherto gathered and passed over his face now clear, smoothed to bland indifference. ]

Maybe I'm unfriendly.

[cherrypuncher]

[YOU'LL NOTICE A HILARIOUS LACK OF LEGAL GUARDIANS OR COURT SYSTEMS PRESENT TO STOP HER]

Maybe you're not.

[hey yuna where the fuck have you been for this entire conversation]

That doesn't answer my question, though.

[reckoner]

[FML]

No, it doesn't.

[ Easy assent, but.

That's all she gets. He offers nothing more. It looks as though he doesn't intend to answer her question. ]

[cherrypuncher]

[well

that's helping

thanks.]

...Okay! [She claps her hands together, ever-undeterred.] If we can't be friends now, then I hope we can become friends another time. But I'm still going to work just as hard for your sake, too.

[maybe mcgillis will be her friend and she won't!!! have to deal!!!! with your NONSENSE]

[reckoner]

Maybe.

[ He doubts it.

Gaelio understands, after all, that he has only ever been a poor friend. Unable to save them, unable to see, unable to stand at his side. He will not befriend a girl half his age, with such bright eyes. A girl so determined to take responsibility for every person. ]

You shouldn't, but... I can't stop you from that.

[ It might be too much. Gaelio turns, lifting a hand in a short wave. If they're both new, there's limited utility to continuing to speak,, so... ]

See you around, Yuna.

[maybe he will (beware fake friendship) but if she's not dealing!!!! with his NONSENSE!!!! then they're still not friends!!!!!]

[cherrypuncher]

—Heading out already? Are you sure it's okay to be all alone out here...?

[But he's already turning and waving and bidding her goodbye, and there is so much to do here and she has to catch her bearings still so just for now, she doesn't think she should chase him. Even so—]

Gaelio! [She cups her hands around her mouth to shout, then clenches one hand into a determined fist.] Hero Club tenet number two! Try not to give up! If I gave up on you, I wouldn't even be who I am. As long as we're stuck here, let's do our best together!

[reckoner]

[ It might not be, but he doesn't answer her, or indicate as much. Gaelio may not be able to stop her from doing what she shouldn't, like worrying about him, or thinking about him at all. But he can give less reason or incentive by keeping unresponsive.

...which he would, but she shouts his name, and he is not so numbed as to not turn, reflexive. Though two years have passed since regular use of the name, since he's heard it, since he's answered to it. No one calls for the dead, after all.

A partial turn, and his hand, drifting with gravity from his wave, strays at his hip. She's loud, determined, exuberant, from the pitch of her voice to the grit of her hand.

Hero Club? Really, a troublesome girl.

But he's smiling. It lasts all of a heartbeat, or the space between. ]

I won't give up. You do your best, and I'll do mine.

[ Then, resuming his walk, turning away once more. ]