[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

IV

[windeity]

[He showed up a little late to the festivities and so while Dave's out there dancing he's hanging back and idly watching. He's not necessarily watching Dave though he's letting his gaze track his best friend among the Palai, grinning at the happy...triad...of lizards...before turning to get himself a drink. He's opting out of the cake, thank you very much.

He's not entirely sure what he's holding (sparkling cider, it seems) but by the time Dave leaves the dance floor and speaks up, John tilts his head in thought.]

A remix? I bet you could ask and they would probably think it was another kind of magic or something. They seem easily impressed.

[parodeity]

[ dave does not suggest john eat cake, because the betas are aware of john egbert's feelings on cake.

how long until john has a cake meltdown someday? ]

They're basically consorts, right? I have the insane urge to go find their stock market and take it over with a series of cunning disguises.

[ stop him.

he eats another bite of cake. he's slowly making his way through the cake? why is he so slow about food sometimes. ]

[windeity]

Leave the lizards alone? [There's a startled sort of laugh, but at the same time:] But yeah, they are basically like the consorts. They're pretty easy to bargain with, too. [He's eyeing the cake before making a face and taking a sip of his drink.]

So. Not a desert, but this place doesn't seem too bad so far. Have you checked out the marketplace much yet?

[parodeity]

Yeah. You always hit the marketplace first, Eggs, that's like RPG 101?

[ come on, dude. also, he caught the face at the cake and deliberately takes a bigger bite of cake, making a show of "mm how delicious". ...which i guess is one way to get dave to eat something? whenever he finishes that bite, though: ]

So what insane loot have you raked in on your bargainventures?

[windeity]

Like you know much about RPGs. [It's said with an eyeroll, and there's an annoyed little frown before he elbows Dave again and probably jostling his arm. Hope you like frosting on your face, jerk.]

I'm still grabbing stuff but I did secure a laptop, so that's pretty cool. And I had an MP3 player but I sort of fused it into this really ugly pot to do a trade. We're here for a while, so I might go back out tomorrow. [There's a bright smile.] I am really glad our sylladexes work again.

[parodeity]

[ wow. WOW. hope you like frosting on your fucking nose, you dork. because dave very adroitly flings a bite of cake at john's nose in retaliation, flashstep speed? ]

I'm not even gonna ask what all is in your 'dex right now. But holy shit, you got a laptop? I couldn't get my hands on one yet...please tell me we can put movies and music on it, and not your lame attempts at code.

[windeity]

[There's an unhappy noise because frosting is COLD and STICKY and Dave is MOVING and that's RUDE. He's busy reaching up to swipe the frosting off of his face.]

Nothing unusual. [And still probably a rock. He looks proud though.] But yes I have a laptop. I know how to barter with lizards, Dave. They are my people, technically. [That's not how it works.] I haven't check how much space is on it but we should be able to download stuff to bring back to the island with us. And my coding's better.

[parodeity]

These ain't your consorts, dude, although I guess you are used to the lizard bartering system from the salamanders. Also I refuse to believe your codin' is better. I can believe you saw the light about Con Air but I can't believe you actually got better at codin'?

[ PLEASE, JOHN. ]

Are you gonna actually go dance with your lizard brethren or what, bro?

[windeity]

I did barter with the salamanders a little bit when I first met them. As it turns out, chameleons are just as cool with the windy thing as my consorts. You just haven't seen my skills yet, just wait.

[He's about to go on with that, but then Dave keeps talking and John gives him a blank look.] I was not planning on it? I don't really dance.

[parodeity]

For fraymotifs, or other shit? [ he can never tell if john is referring to useful things or john things, ok. ]

Also, what do you mean you don't dance? You fight, don't you? It is basically the same thing.

[windeity]

I couldn't afford any of the fraymotifs. [And that's all he says because yes, it's John things. But he shakes his head.]

Fighting and dancing are not the same thing, unless it's common for people to dance with hammers. I think I will leave the dance part up to you. You seemed to blend in fine.

[parodeity]

[ he got them eventually or rose bought them for him...LORD, PROBABLY THE OTHER BETAS BOUGHT THE SHARED ONES FOR HIM. WHY. ]

It's all in the footwork, dude. Do you ever feel awkward when you fight, these days?

[windeity]

[Look his friends look after his stupid ass a lot and he's grateful for it. It helps that he's a little clueless and the baby among his friends, probably.]

No, of course not. Fighting doesn't really leave us time to feel awkward, remember? There is usually way too much going on and sometimes you just have to charge and punch a green idiot for mocking your friends.

[parodeity]

Okay, you at least have to learn to do the lizardpeople equivalent of the electric slide. Look, they're really into groups and things, you know? Most of these dances are team activities. Come on, we can find a set to join up and you can learn at least one dance. It's culture, you pretty much are obligated to partake?

[ he will just toss his cake into his sylladex. GOD HE MISSED THAT. ]

It's kind of like square dancin', except with more lizards and also an alien planet?

[ by which he means. it mostly seems like line dancing to him! you do the moves in tandem with other people and it's not, like, walzting or anything fancy and meant for duos. ]

[windeity]

[Bye cake. John's going to fold his arms over his chest even with his drink even as he's eyeing the crowd of lizards.]

Why are they really into groups? It's almost like you can't go anywhere around here without being with a few other people. Also can't I culturally partake by eating cake or something? That would work, too.

[But like. He's still watching? So there's that.]

[parodeity]

Sorry, did you just seriously offer to eat some cake?

[ EYEBROWS RAISED. ARE YOU REALLY GONNA, JOHN? ]

[windeity]

Only if it seems better than dancing with the Palai. [There's a half-grin.] ...no you're right, actually, the dancing is the lesser of two evils. It's probably a good idea to blend in until we figure out why we're really here, right?

[parodeity]

Does that mean you're consentin' to learnin' a line dance? Also...I don't know why we're here, but one of the things we do while we're here should maybe be to help them.

[ a dip of the corner of his mouth, nearly a frown. ]

Did you hear about the apparently evil merpeople raids?

[windeity]

I have a feeling that if I do not either you or the Palai will drag me out there anyway, so sure. Just one. [The frown might be because of the dancing, but the next words out of his mouth indicate that's not all.]

Every thirty days. I heard the rumors, yeah. Have you managed to get any answers from them why that is a thing that happens?

[parodeity]

I don't know. They did talk about gettin' shit from above, you know? So maybe the tech and whatever they got from the sky actually belonged to the merpeople or...whoever leads them? But I don't think it really matters on "why" so much. If they're just killin' and lootin' every month, I don't think they're really into negotiation.

[windeity]

That would be implying that the Palai stole from the merpeople which also doesn't sound right. Either that or they just want to take back stuff the Palai actually bought. I don't know. You know as well as I do that fish people don't always have a great reason. [THANKS, CONDESCE.]

If they know this is happening and it happens every month, we're going to be here the next time they come. You know that, don't you? Remember what you told me about Genette saying she doesn't spend a lot of time back on the island?

[parodeity]

No, like - accordin' to their religion or whatever, there was a "Blessed Day", and a ton of shit rained down from the sky. I don't think they stole it, I think literally it all just ended up here - and either that was on accident or on purpose. It's just kind of speculation...but yeah, I do know it'll happen while we're here. We should maybe help them set up defenses or shit at the least. We'll only have so much time to solve the issue. Once we're gone they'll need to be able to handle themselves.

[windeity]

Defenses would be good. What would be better is if we could get some idea of what is even up there. I keep staring at the sky waiting for it to open and drown us, but it seems weirdly stable. Space no longer makes sense to me. Not that it ever really did, but this is stupid.

Have you seen some of the weapons they keep in stock? They're pretty much what you would find in a basic starter pack. [So. Not great.]

[parodeity]

Yeah, I have. They're really like the consorts... [ advanced enough to have like a society and stock market, BUT NOT REALLY GREAT IN FIGHTS unless rose lalonde teaches them dark magic ala casey i guess. ]

We're gonna have to go up there eventually, but I think it'd be best in, like. A group. And prepared.

[windeity]

In a way that almost is a relief. At least we know what we are dealing with here. On the other hand, getting them to listen might be hard if all they want to do is talk about how amazing we are.

[But there's a quick nod.] Definitely a group and armed. The Palai seem to want us to do things in groups of three anyway. If it's you, me and Rose at least we can watch each other and know how to cover for each other.