[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

[needmetoo]

C.

[She'd felt it all day, as soon as they'd gotten to this new world. A vague sense of something being there, an odd sensation that was both in her chest and her head and just out of reach of her hand.

And it's after she's gotten to the night's rest stop and settled there for a bit that she investigates. Because she's... it's strange, but she knows this feeling. She knows she's had it before, even though she wasn't really sure if she was able to sense its absence back on the island. Does it matter? She can definitely tell now that it's there again.

Xion finds herself a corner of the cave, holds a hand out away from her, and then closes it around the hilt of a weapon that wasn't there a second ago.

It's back. Her Keyblade's back.

She doesn't cry, doesn't laugh or anything. Just leans her forehead against the cool metal of the blade, closes her eyes, and breathes.]

F+G.

[She's been doing her best to just take her situation one thing at a time. First getting to the rest stop, then her keyblade (and other powers) being back, then getting to the city, then trying to talk and interact with the locals... Everything's finally settled down a bit and she's able to think at length about... smaller things.

Like how her coat feels really terrible with all the sand in it, and has resisted all attempts so far to get it out. Maybe um... Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to look for something else? She stops by some of the clothing stores and stalls, fingers lightly picking at the fabric of this and that, uncertain.

You can find her then, or find her later, standing outside a doorway with a pair of shopkeepers refusing to admit this strange loner, despite her protests.]

Please? I just... I just want to look.

[They shake their head at her, and continue to stand firmly in front of the door to their establishment.]

G

[burnblonde]

[Yang's definitely picked up on the odd treatment she's been getting, which doesn't make sense given the reception they'd initially received. She noticed one of the other coven members standing outside a clothing store and asking to be let in.

Yang frowned and made her way over.]

'scuse me. Is there a problem here? The girl just wants to have a look.

[needmetoo]

[The two shopkeepers immediately turn upon hearing Yang's words, and their demeanor changes about as quickly, looking from her to Xion and back.

'Ah, were the two of you shopping together?' one of them asks expectantly.

Xion, for her part, is surprised to turn around and see someone noticing her, let alone sticking up. She doesn't even know what to expect in regards to a reply to the shopkeepers' question. It's not really her decision to make, is it?]

Um....

[burnblonde]

[It doesn't take her long to change her tune. So...is that what they want to see? Well, she can play that game. Yang dropped an arm on the other girl's shoulder, trying to pull off her usual casual confidence.]

Of course! Just a little shopping trip and we got separated. Of course, if it IS a problem we can check out one of the other shops.

[needmetoo]

[Xion jumps when Yang's arm lands on her shoulder, clearly not expecting it, nor really being all that used to physical contact.

The shopkeepers, meanwhile, both visibly relax as they step aside. 'Oh no, of course not, no problem at all! Were you expecting anyone else?']

Um... N-no, I don't think so.

[The shopkeepers seem slightly put out about this, but not nearly as much as when Xion was by herself. 'Ah, no matter, no matter. Do come in!']

[burnblonde]

At the moment no, but who knows who we might run into now.

[Yang catches the 'put out' look of the shopkeepers and hopes those words will keep them at bay. As soon as they are allowed inside Yang removes her arm from around Xion's shoulder. No sense in making the girl TOO uncomfortable.]

So! Are you looking for anything in particular or just wanting to browse around at what they consider to be fashionable? My name's Yang by the way...I've seen you around but I don't think we've officially spoken to one another yet.

[needmetoo]

[Okay. Okay. She's... she's inside now, and that was what she'd needed. Like a small bird with slowly deflating, feathers settling back into their normal position, Xion relaxes.]

Y-yeah. I think I've seen you too. And I'm... I was looking to see if I could get something, maybe. Something besides this.

[She looks down at her Organization coat.]

c

[actus]

[ akira used to always fall asleep pretty regularly, but without the aid of his talking cat combined with the stress of all these changes, sleep has been hard to come by. so he's awake and restless. which means that he's wandering around when he should be sleeping, hands in his pocket, trying to run through all he's learned so far.

of course, that's when he notices xion. ]

... You okay?

[needmetoo]

Hm?

[She lifts her head from where it's resting against her Keyblade and opens her eyes.]

Oh, yeah. I'm okay. [Her smile is one of pure relief.] I'm fine.

[actus]

All right.

[ a pause, and it's probably rude to ask, but he can't help it. ]

...What is that?

[needmetoo]

[Xion grins.]

It's my Keyblade. I, um, I can use it to fight. My other magic's probably back now too.

[But the Keyblade is most important.]

[actus]

What does it do? Is it a sword?

[ he's super curious, okay! ]

[needmetoo]

[That's actually really nice! Now... if only she had more than half an idea about what it was and how it worked. She tilted it sideways, until it was more laying horizontally across her knees.]

Um... yeah, sort of! I guess... maybe it's sort of magic too?

[Because she can hold any part of it without getting hurt by it, which you couldn't do with swords. Come to think of it, what did it feel like to get hit by a Keyblade? It'd never happened to her, so she couldn't compare the experience.

... well she's not about to try on herself or anything.]

fg

[parodeity]

They seem to be pretty keen on the buddy system. Want me to be yours?

[ he probably recognizes her at this point, even if he won't connect her to Soap Opera Girl until they exchange names in person? the downside of communicating via telepathic text only. ]

[needmetoo]

Huh? Oh.

[Xion even turns and looks at the two shopkeepers, standing side by side like they belonged there, together. And all the other duos and trios she'd seen walking around earlier... it all clicked together.]

Um... Okay, if you want.

[parodeity]

I don't mind. It could be cool to see what all is in the shop? What're you tryin' to look for, anyway?

[ he'll step over to xion's side, and they should be allowed in now? ]

[needmetoo]

[Indeed, now that they've partied up, the two shopkeepers are apologizing for the confusion and stepping aside.]

Um... I wanted to look for new clothes. It's um, it's hard to get sand out of this...

[She gestures down vaguely at her Organization coat.]

[parodeity]

It also might be a little hot, I guess? But hm...clothes they should be...able to make?

[ SINCE MOST CLOTHES ARE PROBABLY FOR LIZARDS.. ]

[needmetoo]

Oh, right, I....

[She hadn't really thought about that. Just... thought maybe they might have something...]

Hopefully they will, and they won't mind too much.

[She'll probably have to barter more? Or do errands or something?]

c!!!

[heartkey]

[ Sora'd already realized his Keyblade was back a while earlier — something so second nature to him was easy to recognize, and it was also a total relief. Having proof it was still "with" him was great.

But seeing someone else with that Keyblade brought new concerns. He'd tried to write off Xion as a coincidence, or just an outlier from most of the people he knows in the Organization (they are a colorful group, and Axel had proven himself to be a better person than he'd initially thought), even if her not recognizing him was odd, to say the least. But now, well ... he has proof that her clothing wasn't a coincidence, and that there's something much more concerning happening with her. He can't just leave this alone — he hates not knowing what's going on anyway.

And he quickly makes his way over her to confront her about it. ]

Xion, we need to talk.

[ Because he's not going to start anything violent unless necessary, and she's been nothing but kind since he met her. However, he does sound rather serious when he says that. ]

[needmetoo]

[The tone immediately makes her flinch, opening her eyes as she jerked upright. There's no worm mist to muffle the seriousness in Sora's voice this time, nor the clawing feeling in her gut. He'd been nothing but nice before, but now this... this was different. Had she done something?

Unconsciously, she holds her Keyblade closer, hugging it to herself.]

Okay. [She bites her lip.] Is... is something wrong?

[heartkey]

[ Man ... He didn't mean to scare her. Not at all. He's just concerned, is all. And he pulls back on the seriousness a bit, though it's still a bit present. He can't act like this isn't a serious situation. ]

Yeah ... Sort of.

[ Roxas had Keyblades, but Roxas also had reason to. He was his Nobody. Sora doesn't know who Xion is, but he's positive she must be important, if she has one herself. Maybe even important to him, like Roxas is. But he has no idea how. (She looks so familiar, though ...) ]

Can you tell me ... why you have that Keyblade? I need to know.

[needmetoo]

[At that, she's definitely startled. She hadn't been approached about it much. Those who had though, hadn't known what it was.]

You... you recognize it?

[She knew it was a special weapon, htat only she and Roxas had had it, and that's why they were given the special missions. But, as to where she got it, and why.... Maybe she can be a little more open here.]

No, I can't... But- [She hurries to make sure she isn't interrupted.] Not because I don't want to! I just... I can't remember anything, from more than a month before I got here.

[When she must've lost her heart, though she can't even remember what happened there either. But as to how she got the Keyblade, or when... it must've happened before she lost her heart, right?]

So, I don't... I don't really know. I'm sorry.

[heartkey]

[ Well, he definitely believes her. He has no reason not to. He knows the Organization can be tricky, but not only is Sora good at giving people the benefit of the doubt, she also just doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd be lying about this to him. And his mysterious feelings toward her and how important she is are helping with that. ]

You can't remember anything? [ That's ... troublesome. Not only to him figuring this out, but also he feels bad for her. ] You think you got it sometime before your memory starts then?

[ And to help her maybe understand why he's asking and why he recognizes it, he puts his hand out in front of him and summons his Keyblade as well. ] See? I've got one, too.

[needmetoo]

Yeah, I think so.

[Nothing else... really makes sense, honestly. She remembers, how it'd been both a surprise for her and Roxas alike when she'd first summoned it. How, aside from the fact that he was one of the only ones who'd been friendly to her, it was one of the first things they'd been able to really connect on.

All those thoughts are brushed aside though, when he shows her his own Keyblade. After a moment, she holds hers out a bit, to better compare the two.]

They're the same. Like... Like my friend, Roxas' too.

[Were all Keyblades supposed to look the same? She didn't know enough to say.]