[JANUARY INTRO LOG | WORLD TWO]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members, especially new folk!
Where: In and around the new world’s apartment building where the coven is staying, as well as the rest of Shehui
When: Day 160
Open/Closed: Open to All
IMPORTANT: While some prompts are newbie exclusive, all characters can tag this intro log!

How did you get into this building? This apartment room? What the fuck is going on? Let's refer back to this page for a semi in-depth, wow so detailed, explanation of your current situation. You'll also have a letter slipped under your door with some explanation about your whole coven situation, as well as info that explains you have magic now! And yet what kind of magic is conveniently left out. Are you up to speed? Great. Now, here's the question of the hour: what are you going to do about all this? A ▢ If you're the sensible sort and want to explore your new digs before slinking around Shehui, you're in luck! You've got easy access to your apartment, and it's luckily not on lockdown right now. Feel free to check out your room, raid the fridge -- oh, and saying hello to your roommates should also be on your to-do list. B ▢ Let's say that hanging out with these people is a little overwhelming...that's fine! There are plenty of things to do in the apartment building without interacting with roomies! There are vending machines to prop up, a leisure floor that contains a totally vacant air hockey table and a nice garden to relax in. C ▢ But ah, there's also venturing outside! Out front is the job board, which is a nice place to hit up if you're looking to add to your currently fat but depleting credit account. The problem is that the jobs are currently disappearing quickly, and those around you aren't giving you such nice looks. This apartment building is a known problem area at this point, and your signet doesn't do anything to settle their fears.

D ▢ With new year's week coming to an end, the residents of Shehui are feeling more celebratory than somber now. A lot of businesses are closed in order to enjoy themselves and ring in the new year the right way. A lot of restaurants and bars are currently offering specials, from free drinks to cheap food in order to pull in the holiday crowd. If you're looking to meet people and socialize in Shehui, this is the best way to do it. E ▢ Also because it's the post holiday season, stores are trying to push out the rest of their overstock merch. One item of note that's being peddled quite often is a cell phone. From tiny flip phones to the latest Orange product, cellphones are a necessity in this modern society. Get yours right now and begin texting right away! There are a few social apps that are installed, so you might be lucky enough to connect with another coven member! They also have Redmolar capability, which will automatically allow you to text those with phones in the area. Maybe send some mysterious stranger texts? F ▢ While you're hustling around Shehui, you may realize that the telepathic messages get stronger -- perhaps the new coven members are near? In general, you may be subject to telepathic messages about current Shehui goings on, random thoughts or requests to meet up at so-and-so location. A.K.A. let's utilize that telepathy...it may not last forever! G ▢ Because the week of remembrance is still going on, flowers are littering the streets, though most of them are dead. Bunches of flowers are being sold, and flower fortunes are a popular activity during this part of the holiday. There are fortune tellers on the street who will give you your flower of the year, but it's more fun to have them read with one another! There are digital cards that you can buy that will allow you to read fortunes on the go -- simply tap the screen of the card and your flower will be decided. Not happy with your choice? Too bad! It won't randomize to something different, no matter how hard you try. H ▢ While a lot of Shehui citizens are trying to avoid the coven members like the plague, a small alien child isn't so much concerned with who helps her, just as long as someone does. She accidentally left her house's door open and her five new kittens are suddenly missing! Where are they? Who knows! But she'd certainly like some help looking for them. I ▢ As the day winds down, snow falls on Shehui for the last time this season. The government is getting rid of their supplies that create the festive weather. This is old hat for older coven members, but for newbies? You better enjoy the snow while you can. After an hour or so, it piles up enough to truly be utilized for merriment...this also means that it's pretty easy to get snowed in if you happen to be in a building during the snow fall, which also creates some interactive opportunities. J ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[allbroea]

[ he pulls out the classic sidelong glance for this one. ]

I neither accepted nor denied the request. [ he totally couldn't say no to her face, at least. ] That said, I wouldn't consider myself so busy as to be incapable of returning any lost cats I find.

[inspiteful]

Right.

[ ...Somehow this kind of reaction is familiar to him, but he can't quite put his finger on it. Skylark scratches under the kitten's chin as they walk. ]

You don't deal with cats too often though, do you?

[allbroea]

I don't. We never owned one, and the city I come from doesn't have a population of them.

[ heimdallr, on the other hand ... ]

I didn't think they would be so finnicky. I'll have to keep it in mind.

[ he's one to talk. ]

[inspiteful]

It doesn't?

[ Skylark finds it difficult to imagine a place that didn't have cats (and dogs) practically everywhere.

Also he actually thought 'I'm not sure if you're one to talk.', given Jusis seems like the fussy type to him, but he has better sense than to say it outloud. ]

Lots of animals are like that, I think. Most of them won't say no to petting, except when they do and get all hot and cold about it.

[ How many cats have come up to people seemingly asking for petting only to get hissy when it's actually given, he swears.]

[allbroea]

A couple of the residents own them, but they keep them indoors or nearby. [ there is a woman who basically sits outside his house with her cat, but that's none of his business, either.

this is really about the sum of his experience with animals, so, in an effort to contribute to the conversation: ]

I suppose it's true young colts can be difficult at times, though most trained horses are quite friendly, if not affectionate. [ it's been a while since he personally had to deal with a horse that wasn't eager to be brushed and fed. such are the merits of horse whispering. ]

[inspiteful]

Where I'm from they're pretty much everywhere. To the point where we got a patron god of cats.

[ Though Skylark isn't actually sure which came first -- were there so many cats because they got a patron who wasn't above avenging wrongs against them, or did they get a god because there were just that many cats to begin with? ]

Oh, you take care of horses?

[ The only horses Skylark's seen are the ones that pull the carts around town...and even then sometimes buffaloes were preferred if there was room. ]

[allbroea]

A patron god? That is impressive. [ it gets a raised brow out of him, at least, and a glance at the kitten still in skylark's arms. they're just cats. ]

As a hobby, yes. Our horses might be similar to your cats, actually. They're well-respected in the Empire. [ more heraldry has a horse or horse-related figure on it than not ... though there aren't exactly stray ponies in the cities. ]

[inspiteful]

I guess horses must do important things where you're from huh? [ When things are important to your daily life, they tend to become well-respected. Usually.

He saw the raised eyebrow, and Skylark guesses that to anyone who didn't grow up on the island the whole 'patron god of cats thing' must sound a little silly. He rubs the kitten's ears as he talks. ]

I don't know if the cats came first or if Prince of Cats did, but he uh, kind of noses around in people's business a lot. And you hear stuff about how he makes life hard for people who mistreat cats, so...

[ ...He doesn't realise it's probably even weirder to most people here to talk as if a god definitively exists and actually actively does things, too. ]

[allbroea]

[ most people in the western half of zemuria would probably talk about aidios as though she definitively exists, though maybe not in such a ... familiar way. 'prince' throws him off a little, too. ]

The Prince of Cats is your ... patron deity?

[ could be the leader of the church of cat worship, too, now that he thinks about it. ]

It sounds like cats must do important things for your people as well. Port town? Farming community? [ he might not personally interact with cats, but he at least knows they're efficient rodent hunters. ]

[inspiteful]

[ Sorry Jusis this is where the whole other worlds culture shock is kind of a thing. ]

Uhm, kinda? I grew up along the waterfront, and we'd leave fish or milk out for him and the local cats. I don't do it much since I became an apprentice, though.

[ He realises if he mentioned a word like 'brothel' it would...honestly be begging for misunderstandings, he's learnt this the hard way before! Especially in polite company.

That said, he never really understood what the brothel's relationship with the Prince of Cats was like, beyond the fact that Prince loved to gossip with the sisters from time to time, at least according to one of them. ]

But yeah, it's a port town. Plenty of merchant ships coming through.

[ Other major economic activities: shipbuilding and a lot of crime and things of dubious legality, but it's better to not mention that. ]

[allbroea]

[ good idea on skylark's part to avoid bringing up brothels before he gives jusis a heart attack. he takes note of apprentice ... old enough to start studying under a master, but still too young to be a journeyman.

lightly amused: ]

Perhaps the Prince of Cats gave you his blessing, then. That kitten warmed up to you fast enough.

[ good work on being a devout, skylark. ]

[inspiteful]

I already said I'm just used to dealing with cats.

[ Skylark says, all flustered. He's not sure if he wants a blessing from the Prince anyway, given the patron god of cats is kind of a smartass. ]

[allbroea]

[ the blessings of the goddess prince work in mysterious ways ...

he takes note of the fluster. cute kid. ]

Of course. I didn't mean to discount your skill in cat handling. [ STILL TEASING ... it's a curious talent and a curious deflection of being watched over by a deity. ]

[inspiteful]

[ Somehow he can tell he's still being teased, though it's also really because Skylark is a dumb teenage boy. He huffs, despite himself. ]

I'm not really sure if I want his blessing anyway, since he'd just demand for pets even more.

[ The patron god of cats is, well, unfortunately still a cat himself. ]

[allbroea]

[ you know, jusis wouldn't really mind if the patron deity of horses was demanding pets. or, more likely, brushing. makes him think. ]

That sounds like a small price to pay for a god's favor. Usually that involves lengthy, dangerous pilgrimages and hours of careful reflection. [ not that aidios demands that, either, but it's one way of showing devotion. ] Unless you don't like cats. Somehow, I don't get that impression.

[inspiteful]

I mean, I'm sure there are gods like that, but Prince is...

[ He pauses for a moment, debating if Jusis is polite enough company that he should watch his language. Because look, sometimes you just want to be blunt about the nature of the gods you pay respect to. ]

A nosy smartass. Getting his favour can be a good thing or a bad thing. Or both, I guess.

[allbroea]

How unique.

[ he doesn't look shocked at the word choice, at least. if he can put up with crow's vernacular ... ]

Then you appease him to avoid his wrath rather than to earn his blessings.

[inspiteful]

Basically, yeah.

It's kind of like...better to be on his good side than his bad, you know? Even if he's got funny ideas about what he considers entertaining, at least that's better than him actually being mad with you.

[ In Po Hiu you learn very quickly to not mess with the cats and the dogs there. ]

[allbroea]

You don't think he might see your lack of sincerity as an affront?

[ only half-serious. the goddess judges by actions both seen and unseen, after all. ]

Do you have other, more benevolent deities to worship? You aren't going to tell me cats created your land.

[inspiteful]

I mean, if he hasn't taken it as an affront until now... Besides, I think the only thing that definitely makes him mad is if you mess with the cats or try to cheat him.

[ Skylark suspects Prince doesn't really care otherwise as long as he gets something out of it, whether it was entertainment or whatever else. ]

There's a bunch of others people worship, and we pay respect to the goddess of the sea too. Though I don't think she's that benevolent either.

I'm pretty sure we ended up leaving food out for Prince just because he keeps showing up at our place to gossip.

[ 'We' as in everyone in the brothel. People worship whoever they feel is most relevant to their lives at the given time, anyway. The most benign god he knows lives down at the shipyard and that's because they're happy as long as there are ships waiting to be built and repaired. ]

[allbroea]

[ hold on ]

He shows up to ... gossip?

[ jusis kind of assumed the prince of cats would be a cat, especially if food is being left out for him and he's demanding pets. ... okay, talking cats exist in erebonia, but that's a special case. he kind of assumed the cat in question was a figurative representative of the prince, too, but that's looking less likely. ]

Perhaps I should clarify. Where I come from, we may attribute certain events to the forces we worship, but they're ultimately intangible for one reason or another. [ the wind is certainly real, but interacting with it meaningfully is ... not quite possible. ] Is it common to hold conversations with your gods?

[inspiteful]

Some of them, anyway. There's busybody gods who walk among us, and there's ones who don't really bother with that sort of thing.

...I'm guessing that's not normal where you're from?

[ It's hard to imagine, given...well, whether you like it or not they're there. Maybe you only get to meet the big shots once or twice in your life, if you ever did, but there are small gods like Prince of Cats and Big Dog wherever there are enough people and things for people to believe in. ]

[allbroea]

If only it were. It would be convenient to commune with the Goddess directly.

[ weird. definitely weird to think about it. this is probably the most thought he's given to the septian church since sunday school. ]

We have scripture, of course, and no one doubts she watches over us, but no one would ever expect her to respond to a prayer in words, much less meet her.