[WORLD ONE] AIMINTAS (INTRODUCTION)

[spellbindmods]

Who: The coven & Palai people
Where: In and around the city land of Aimintas
When: Days 13 & 14
Open/Closed: Open to All

The initial setting information found here should be utilized for threads here.

There's no official OOC account for the Palai people. You're free to roleplay their actions and reactions on your own, as in depth as you want -- asking questions, hand-waved interactions, becoming best friends. The new world is your oyster!

Just like how you arrived, the process of leaving the hub and reappearing somewhere else is quite quick and uneventful. Brie and Genette gather as many people as possible so that everyone can explore the new world together in a group, which is where they all land once Qri has worked her magic. If you weren't in the vicinity, or thought that not being social meant you'd get to stay on the island, you come along as well, though you didn't exactly show up with the group. A ▢ Everyone starts their journey a reasonable distance from the outer city walls of Aimintas. It's about a four hour trek to the rocks on foot, which Genette tells everyone to move towards -- though you're free to do as you please. You may discover that traveling on your own too far away results in something quite unpleasant. The initial terrain is quite interesting -- it's at least different from the hub island, though you may not be particularly impressed. There's sticky kelp to step in, water in the sky to look at and sand to get stuck in every orifice of your body. How do you like the new digs thus far? B ▢ Genette explains that the gang must enter the city of Aimintas to survive, but it's easier said than done. Maybe as something of an incentive, Genette climbs into Qri's caravan and it floats away, over the rock face. There go all the supplies you brought! The rest of you losers will have to climb through the craggy rock walls, hundreds of feet tall with very few crevices and cracks that are navigable. Hope you can climb...or maybe you can find a way to get through using someone's magic? The sun sets while the coven is busy trying to get through the craggy infrastructure (at least, that's the fate of those who don't find a quicker way to get into the city). Brie locates a large cave in one of the rocks, and that's where everyone sets up camp for the night. If you want to carry on, that's your choice...but who knows if anything that goes bump in the night is out there bumping in the night time? C ▢ What will your character be doing tonight? Sleeping on a hard rock? Stuck awake? Even if they do manage to fall asleep, they may be haunted by the occasional high pitched screech that comes through the night, though the location of the noise is unknown as of right now.

It takes about a day to travel to Aimintas, climb through the rocks and come into the city. Thankfully the city hub is close to the side of the city the coven managed to climb through, so civilization is awaiting. That civilization is decently modern, lizard-like and very, very nosy. D ▢ Upon entering civilization, the Palai are immediately curious and in awe of their taller, bipedal visitors. They've only seen people like those in the coven in pictures, and if they learn that your character has magic? It'll be as if an A-list celebrity just wandered into town. Because they're so enamored, the Palai will readily give coven members gifts as a token of their appreciation. What exactly do they appreciate? Don't be afraid to ask a few simple questions. They'll be more than happy to give out answers. E ▢ Some Palai, though, will want to see some of that magic before they offer up any gifts. Some may be a little demanding, just because their curiosity is so overwhelming. A harsh no will result in an apology and a gift anyways, but maybe just show them some magic anyway...? Even outside of interacting with the Palai, there's quite a bit around here to look at. Genette can be found in the middle of one of the parks, handing out the stored supplies to their owners. (Don't worry, she'll tell you where she is with a little telepathic poke. Your supplies will give you access to shopping and bartering...your status as a magical humanoid thing will only get you so far. F ▢ The Palai marketplace is rather large and home to a variety of businesses, shops and services. Want a good night's sleep? Want to eat a delicious shrimp wrap? Need your hub technology charged? You can do that here. What strange items will you fine? Is their technology level something you're familiar with? G ▢ Finally, the Palai are a people of culture. That culture can be quite unforgiving to those who choose to wander around alone. Some Palai people, after the initial wonder has worn off, will deny services to people who are on their own. It just doesn't compute! Your character is better off with a group of three, but a friend is fine. Travel in groups or couples and your character will find that they get fewer strange looks and questions.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed within the Palai marketplace, so no one will blame a coven-member for escaping the city for a bit. On the outside of the marketplace is a very large house with dozens of Palai congregating -- and my dozens, we mean at least 200. A Palai mate triangle just committed to each other, and this is certainly worth celebrating. H ▢ The guests feel blessed by the presence of a coven-member, and they readily invite any that happen by to the festivities. There's cake, alcohol, drinks, dancing. The Palai people certainly know how to get down. I ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[soulcomet]

c.

[one might think that Madoka would be tired after a long day of walking — but truth be told, she's used to getting very little sleep. that's only part of the reason why she's seated at the mouth of the cave, staring off into the sky, watching creatures swim by ... flinching visibly every time a scream echos through the land.]

[she's always been a bit of a lighter sleeper, anyway.]

[if you happen to take a seat next to her, Madoka will turn with a smile, her face illuminated by the pink glow of the only light source she has that wasn't whisked away in the caravan — her Soul Gem, which is placed on the ground right in front of her.]

Couldn't sleep either, huh?

h.

[once she's had her fill of the shopping district, Madoka's more than happy to take part in the festivities when she's ushered over — this is the best food she's had, and the best she's felt in general, ever since she was pulled from her home. ]

[if she happens across one of her friends (and to be clear, every single person Madoka has met she considers a friend), they can expect to be asked to dance. if she happens across a stranger? she still might ask.]

c

[mapsio]

I dozed off for a moment... but I couldn't fall asleep completely.

[Haru has never had to sleep like this before. The first time is rough and unforgiving. The things she's hearing don't make anything like this any better.

So when she sits down next to Madoka she's immediately bringing her knees up to her chest.]

Are you hanging in there okay?

[soulcomet]

[Madoka nods, the gentle smile never fading from her face. she really doesn't like the sounds she's been hearing in the distance, but at least she doesn't have to endure them alone.]

It isn't very comfortable here, is it?

[mapsio]

No, not really.

[Frowning, resting her forehead on her knees. She doesn't want to complain. She doesn't want to set a bad example. So she continues to try and bare with it.]

I'm sure...we're going to be okay.

h

[burnblonde]

[Yang wouldn't mind a dance, but right now she's just watching the others enjoy themselves...thinking about the last dance she was at. Even with her feelings about that conflicted, it had been such a good night it was hard not to smile.

She directed that smile at Madoka as the girl approached her, having just finished a dance herself it seems.]

You look like you're having fun.

[soulcomet]

Yeah! [she says brightly, maybe a bit breathless.]

This is really nice ... I don't feel like I have to worry about making sure I've scrounged up something to eat later, you know? [priorities. Madoka has them.]

Do you like dancing?

[burnblonde]

The benefit of being able to enjoy a party I guess. Maybe they'll let us take some food for the road.

[Yang wasn't opposed to a to go box...even if that might not have been the most classy of moves at a ceremony like this.]

Sure! You need a new partner?

c

[windeity]

[He'd left the Strilondes in their corner and gotten up to walk. Sleep was a weird thing now and since coming here he found himself uncertain of how to proceed with it comfortably. Being on this new world and dealing with the loud screams was really the least of his issues.

Still, the familiar girl at the mouth of the cave draws his attention and he looks down at her for a moment before turning his eyes back to the sky.]

Not sure who can with all of this happening around us. [He doesn't sound like he minds, but there's concern in his expression. It's then his eyes flit over to the pink glow.] ...where'd you find that?

[soulcomet]

[Madoka can't disagree with that. even if there weren't horrible noises from somewhere in the distance, she'd probably be too occupied by watching the sky to sleep. and perhaps a bit of fear of the unknown — what are they going to find in the city?]

[she stands, Soul Gem now in her hands, turning to face John so that he can get a better look.]

This is my Soul Gem. It's the source of my magic — well, my usual magic.

[windeity]

[That's definitely a thing they should be worried about, and yet he finds himself unafraid. It's the one reason he's able to navigate the conversation and instead he's. Staring at this pink rock. And trying to process what she's saying?]

So...your magic comes from an egg-looking rock thing? [He's going to bend a little to get a closer look.] That's different. [Cool, but different.] Where was it back on the island?

c

[teratias]

[Waver had been awake thanks to the noise. He didn't trust it, not after the boars on the main hub, and this time around, they didn't know what was making said noises.]

This place doesn't lend itself to sleep, I don't think.

[soulcomet]

You're right ... [she's punctuated by another screech, and she shudders visibly.]

Where do you suppose it's coming from?

[teratias]

[Waver looks up, then around, then makes a grand, sweeping gesture.]

I'd say from everywhere. And it isn't like there are barriers keeping anything away from us.

c

[parodeity]

I'm kind of an insomniac, if we're bein' honest.

[ so it's not that strange...besides, they're in a weird place and he prefers to keep watch than go to bed just now. ],/small>

What's the magical girl crystal?

[soulcomet]

[Madoka was about to ask Dave if he liked tea, since chamomile has always helped her sleep — but she seems startled by his question.]

Eh? Did John-san already tell you?

[Madoka lifts herself off the ground, Soul Gem in hand. it still feels a little strange to be discussing it to people outside her group of friends back home, but ... her own magic certainly isn't any stranger than the ability to summon refrigerators. or draw things into existence.]

I am a magical girl. This is my Soul Gem.

[parodeity]

Uh, actually no? He mentioned your healin' magic to us but not that you were a magical girl. But it's a pink glowy crystal, so - I was jokin', but apparently I got it in one?

[ OOPS. ]

Do you have like a transformation sequence?

c

[splinten]

[He's curious about the gem, especially so because it confirms an odd sense that he had ever since he got his powers back. There's something wrong about where Madoka's soul is. He isn't familiar enough with his powers to truly understand what he's dealing with here, but an instinct tells him that if he wanted to rip out her soul, he would need to rip into that gem, not her body.

Madoka, Dirk realizes, must be soulless. Her essence of being is outside herself.

It brings him closer to her, so he sees when she flinches at the screech. He sits down beside her comfortably.]

Not inclined at the moment. You look less than okay with the screeching.

[soulcomet]

[straight up calling it a Soul Gem would be a cruel irony, if Incubators had any sense of what irony was. but then, Madoka doesn't remember that she isn't supposed to trust Kyubey — or that it can even talk, for that matter.]

It sounds awful ... I wish we could tell where it was coming from, so we could maybe help.

[splinten]

It might not be a sign of needing help. It could be a social call to others of its kind.

I'm not denying that it might be, but I don't think it's absolutely certain at this point.

[They just don't know enough about the flora and fauna to say.]

H

[needmetoo]

[That Xion's relieved to see a familiar face in the crowd is a foregone conclusion. Being asked to dance though, that's...]

Um, I don't... really know how to.

[soulcomet]

That's okay! I don't know too much about dancing, but I can teach you, if you want!

[or they could raid the refreshments bar! Madoka is up for either.]

c!

[introspects]

Ah, hello...! I hope this is okay.

[ if she takes a seat next to you, that is! it's difficult for orihime to sleep, mostly because of how excited she is to reach the new city but also because dang, these rocks are hard. ]

This is all really amazing, isn't it?

[soulcomet]

Of course! I'm really happy to have some company.

[Madoka glances up at the sky, marveling at the creatures swimming in the ocean above them. as much as she'd like for everyone to get the rest they need, Orihime does have a point.]

It's incredible ... I don't think I could have imagined this place in my wildest dreams.

h

[probablynoteren]

... I can't dance. They really seem to like it, though.

[It's matter-of-fact, with a questioning look. There are so many other people (and creatures) here to dance with!

Actually, this is probably the first party of this size he's ever been to, and he's not entirely sure how to proceed in general -- so Lenka's shuffled himself off to the side after the initial (really overenthusiastic) greeting from the Palai themselves. He's contented himself mostly with people-watching, and listening to their variety of music over a plate or two of food (there's so much food), and is definitely starting to attract some dubious stares for being some kind of lone wallflower.

The trials and tribulations of being not-so-social in lizard society. He might have left if Madoka hadn't spotted him first.]

[soulcomet]

It is a lot of fun! I could teach you, if you want?

[Madoka won't press it if Lenka refuses again, though. a few years ago, she probably never would have had the courage to hit the dance floor — it's a bit funny, what making a contract with Kyubey does for her confidence.]