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 She'll also give you a letter, which may give you more questions than answers since the information is a wee out of date.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

[alphonse]

[Al laughs and drops into a casual fighting position in way of answer. He's found people here on the island to practice with, but it's not the same as going up against his brother, and it feels like it's been ages since they've had the time and open space to really train together.

More practically, doing something proactive might help awaken Ed's magic skill. Al's glad his brother seems to have gained an ability that could potentially be used to defend himself, and with the two of them cut off from alchemy, it's especially important to make sure Ed can use it effectively as soon as possible.

Not that he's going to hold back on giving Ed a hard time about it, of course.]

Only if you think you can stop beating yourself up long enough to fight me.

[equivalence]

...you're really asking for it now, Al!

[Not that Alphonse is wrong, which makes it all the worse. He's usually his own worst enemy, sure, but today even more than usual considering his fancy new ability has mostly succeeded in taking him out.

But Edward isn't one to back down from a challenge, especially when it's accompanied by Al poking at him.]

Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Ed rolls his shoulders. Okay. Sparring. A moment's hesitation -- just to make sure he's not aimed for that forcefield again (it should be gone, right? maybe?) -- and he's darting towards Alphonse.]

[alphonse]

[At least Ed's paying attention--invisible walls are pretty tricky to keep track of.

Since it's magic sparring, Al doesn't hesitate in using his own power on himself, phasing out to step right through Ed's charge. It would be the perfect opportunity to hurry and attack from behind, but well. The whole re-solidifying step isn't one he's mastered yet, so the punch he throws is a completely meaningless gesture Ed doesn't even need to dodge. The noise he makes in response is somewhere between embarrassed and frustrated.]

I--hang on. It's even harder to get it to stop.

[He might really, really need the practice too.]

sorry for the delay! heath issues sidelined me a bit

[equivalence]

[Edward squawks in surprise as his brother GOES THROUGH HIM. That is the strangest thing that has happened in a while -- which is impressive actually, given how much bizarre and strange that he and El live in.

Edward turns around, fully expecting the attack to come. And it does. But. Umm.

Sorry. He can't hold back a laugh.]

I'm not gonna hang on until you figure out how to hit me, Al.

[Really. But what he will do is drop back before considering. Okay. Magic sparring. Maybe he can... He looks like he's concentrating. Hard. And then he's running, leaping up onto the invisible barrier that he's created like a step to get the high ground.

Except it's not quite where he thinks it is, and his second leg misses it, and he winds up scrambling to hold onto it and climb up -- looking like he's suspended in mid-air.

This is going well.]

no worries!

[alphonse]

[At least no one else is here to witness this, so instead of admitting they took turns defeating themselves and laughing at each other, they can say they looked super cool and badass!!

Al isn't a bit surprised that Ed's first instinct is to use his magic as something to climb on--or with how successful that ultimately ends up being. But okay, looking at the positives here!]

Okay, whatever that is, we know it's strong enough to hold you up and you don't seem to have any problems sustaining it.

[That's... progress, maybe. From his conversational tone and the way he steps forward as his own magic fades, one would almost think Al has abandoned the whole sparring idea... until he suddenly swings an arm out in a real strike, aimed more at knocking Ed off balance than anything. He wants to see if a less expected attack will get Ed's power to manifest any differently.]

:)

[equivalence]

[Oh yeah, no, this story will be told very differently than how it actually happened if it is ever retold. Full agreement there.

Right now, Edward has himself perched on his little invisible magic shelf, on one knee, watching Alphonse closely.]

Yeah. I'm just not good at knowing where I put the stupid things.

[Maybe he'll get better at that with practice. ...and there goes Alphonse going from discussion to sparring. And really, maybe Al is onto something, because Ed braces himself to deflect, but before he even gets a chance to, Al will find himself coming up against one of those invisible barriers, like a shield, as Edward drops himself back to the ground.]

[alphonse]

[Al hits the barrier at full force, the resulting clang reverberating back through the armor. Sparring with Ed doesn't usually end up with him being the one thrown off center, but having a hit with that much of his strength behind it meet with something solid and unyielding leaves him staggering back a couple steps to recover.]

That's so weird!

[Even though it's the exact result he was after. Ed's ability is proving to be just as versatile as he'd hoped.]

I wonder if you can use it offensively too.

[Like invisible alchemy!]

[equivalence]

[Oops. Rang him like a bell. ...and being the good, concerned brother that he is, Edward snickers. He even remembers to, focus and take down the barrier he's put up, waving a hand in front of him as he walks forward to make sure it's actually gone.

Fool him once, shame on you, stupid magic. Fool him twice. Well, that'd be par for the course but he's trying not to make the same mistake so shortly in sequence. But this time it's down.]

Huh. Maybe. Not sure how well they move. Mostly they seem pretty stationary. ...maybe I could work on it.

[If he can manage to get them into motion, it'd definitely be something.] Here stand still and let me try.

[...because using one's baby brother as a guinea pig is a time-honored tradition.]

[alphonse]

[In this case he did kind of ask for it. Not that that fact keeps Al from approximating an exasperated sigh.]

I didn't mean you should try everything on me.

[Despite the token protest, he crosses his arms and stays put, willing to at least see how this goes.]

Even if you can't move them, what if you could create them right under people? Or close enough to knock someone back?

[equivalence]

[Edward will just brush past the exasperation because Al isn't saying he won't do it. In fact, he's bringing up an interesting consideration.]

That's a good point too.

[Once he gets good enough at placement, he could definitely trip someone up or take someone out.

But first he's just going to try to push Alphonse back.]

Okay, Al. Hold onto your head!

[Deep breath, a roll of his shoulders, and he gives it a go, concentrating and trying to form a barrier right in front of Alphonse and then trying to shift it forward.

First part? Success. It's about an inch from Al's face. Second part? Not so much. But give him a second here. He is super concentrating.]

[alphonse]

[A slight defensive change to his posture is the only concession Al makes to the idea that Ed might actually be able to pull the technique off. On his end it looks like nothing's happened, but after a few seconds tick by he reaches out a hand and--oh. There's the barrier, alright.

Ed sure is trying hard, and maybe that's even admirable, but. There are limits to how much of a willing practice dummy Al's going to be. As Ed continues to concentrate, he casually takes a couple long steps to the side out of the barrier's range.]

It's no good if you can't be faster than that.

[equivalence]

...fine I get it. Thwarted already if you can just stroll around it.

[Foiled by the side step. Ugh. Frustrating. If this were alchemy, he could launch the ground up, rolling forward into a--

Oh. Hold please.]

I don't think I have to move it...

[He has an idea, and that's clear by the sudden light in gold eyes. It's the same sort of excitement when something clicked in place when they were studying alchemy. There's less hesitation this time.

Deep breath and okay. He's figured out forming the things, but why stop there. Form it and let it continue to form, roll in on itself like a wave, not an individual barrier, but one that grows and builds on itself, like a wave. This time he sets it a couple inches in front of Alphonse, then reforms it basically in front of itself, then again and, and again, cycling it through and Al will feel it this time for sure if he doesn't step back, enough force to push him straight backwards, jolting.]

[alphonse]

[Edward has an idea. Alphonse (possibly) has regrets.

Still, he knows that look means Ed might be genuinely onto something, and he can't say he isn't curious to see the results. He doesn't take more than a single tentative step back--which quickly proves to be a mistake when the barrier hits him with enough force to knock him down almost as spectacularly as when Ed first ran into the "wall".

Please cherish this brief moment of victory forever, because Al isn't wasting any time getting back to his feet. His tone veers into more than slightly evil.]

Okay. It looks like you're finally ready to get serious.

[At this rate Ed just might get to add 'magic skill' to that mental scale and finally have one over his brother, something Al simply cannot allow without a challenge.]

[equivalence]

[Honestly that's the story of their lives. ...sometimes funny sometimes desperately tragic. The Elric Brothers, ladies and gentlemen.

But Edward recognizes that tone of voice, way too well, and his victory is short lived as a result. That's right. Alphonse, the nice, helpful, gentle sibling -- Edward knew that didn't mean Alphonse wouldn't kick his ass from here back to Amestris in a good match, if given the chance. Still, it only draws a grin over the elder Elric's face.]

Yeah yeah, I know you've been going easy on me. Let's actually do this.

[Actually now Edward is curious. His power is a barrier. Alphonse's is passing through things. Which trumps which? Can Al phase himself -- or something else -- through Ed's barricades? The physics of it could work either way.

But Ed's money is on Al's ability coming out on top.]

[alphonse]

[Despite the big talk, Al doesn't immediately advance. Those barriers are a problem, and phasing loses its edge as an advantage if he makes it too obvious.

Maybe it's time for something a little different.

What looks like hesitating turns out to be concentration--this time, Al focuses on using his ability on Ed to see if the sudden change will throw him off. Sure it will hold Al back from attacking, but if he can manage a distraction then maybe he'll have an easier time closing some of the distance between them.]

[equivalence]

[Edward is surprised, but only momentarily. Alphonse is crafty! His little brother is no slouch at fighting, and is awfully sharp. So Ed isn't letting his guard down. At least, he's certainly not planning on letting his guard down.

So when Alphonse doesn't advance, Edward wonders what the hell is going on. But he decides he shouldn't pass up the opportunity.

And it's his turn to make a move, he figures. A quick step like he's going to come from the left before he's making one of his barrier, planning to use it to launch himself so his attack will come from higher than anticipated. And this time he actually hits the barrier straight on. He does. He knows he does, exactly as he meant to.

But then he goes dropping straight through it, thanks to Al's little trick. Edward yelps in surprise before he's landing nearly straight on his face. So yeah, distraction? Worked. Like a charm. However, Edward, quick to roll back to one knee, ready to fend off an attack of opportunity.]