barriers and raids and evil mermaids, oh my

[rebells]

Who: Dirk and Jay and you!
Where: In front of the coven's current abode.
When: Day 28 (8/4), around mid-day
Open/Closed: ota!

[It starts with a telepathic message over video, Jay using the mirror shard gifted by Genette to broadcast this message to the rest of the coven:]

It's come to our attention that some of you are going to want to help the Palai with their raid problem, so we thought--if we're going to be involved in this anyway, we might as well do it right. How about a meeting in front of our temporary home at noon? We'll discuss our strategy and assign roles. I'll broadcast it via this link, as well, for anyone who can't make it back in time. We welcome input from anyone who has a brain in their heads.

[If you come to the front of the house at the appointed time, you will indeed find Jay and Dirk standing together discussing--something, and perhaps a small crowd beginning to gather. This meeting will also be broadcast over the signets for anyone who wants to listen in there.]


((Comment away! Feel free to threadhop and such, as this is supposed to be an open meeting. OOC plotting post will go up soon.))

Comments

[soulcomet]

[almost immediately after he's done speaking, her hand shoots up. whatever misgivings she may have about her own magic aren't going to stop her from helping, wherever that may be.]

Um ... I can heal, but it's not really all that reliable — I'd probably be more useful if I was out front scouting, or fighting. [she's more agile than she looks.]

I'd be fine with wherever you wind up assigning me, though.

[splinten]

[Madoka... With his shades hiding his eyes, Madoka can't see the flicker of sadness through them. Dirk keeps his voice calm, knowing that Madoka will make this choice no matter what.]

You'll have a powerful emergency healing for the most seriously wounded. That's worth keeping track of.

The scouts will probably need to do skirmish fighting, and maybe get into the thick of it once things get started. Is that your choice?

[soulcomet]

[Madoka knows why he's asking — instinctively, she brings her hands together, fiddling with the ring set safely on her finger.]

[her magic will last only as long as her soul does. it can't be helped. but even though she does hesitate before answering, backing down was never an option that crossed her mind. Madoka nods, and offers a tiny smile. one that seems to say, "I'll think of something."]

It is. Just tell me where I need to be, and I'll be there.

[splinten]

[Her smile, though slight, is one he can't doubt. Her determination shines through.]

Okay. [It's a nod, an affirmation: he trusts her.] How fast can you move?

[soulcomet]

Well, I can't fly like a lot of people here can, but ... things like buildings and distance aren't a problem.

[she goes where the Nightmares are — and that's usually high up. despite not being able to fly, a lot of her usual fighting is done mid-air. she may not know this city as well as she does her home, but that isn't an issue when one can cross the rooftops without much effort.]

[splinten]

[damn, being a meguca may be suffering but it really does come with some sweet stats

Dirk considers the best way they can place that.]

We'll likely want our scouts on the highest buildings and spaced so they can quickly signal each other across the city. Your skills should be able to cover both of those.

[soulcomet]

[with great stats comes great responsibility. and then ofc suffering.]

[but she nods. Madoka can do this. she's used to being on the front lines.]

What do you think I should do about healing? Wait until someone contacts me?

[splinten]

[It's a difficult call to make, and he isn't sure he trusts himself with it. He slides naturally into discussing instead of committing himself fully to an answer.]

You said the limitation is once a day. Do you know how much it can heal?

[soulcomet]

If there's a limit to what I can heal, I haven't found it yet.

[that's why she's hesitant to make a decision on it herself. how does Madoka decide who gets an instant clean slate?]

[splinten]

[So potentially unlimited. It confirms her hesitation.]

It might be a good idea to keep it in reserve as much as possible if it could be the difference between life and death. Maybe you could avoid using it unless you see someone dying and unable to get other treatment. If you can go through the whole raid without using it, it can go to the most injured after the fight.

[There's a raise at the end, since he's basically floating ideas and wants to know how she feels about them.]

[soulcomet]

[it makes sense. Madoka nods — a response in favor of all of his suggestions — but another concern of hers that goes unsaid is maybe still visible in the way she frowns.]

[if this whole ordeal was as dangerous as the Palai describe, there's ... no way for her to save everyone, is there? the idea that someone's life would be more important than another's — that, if they were lying side-by-side, one person would deserve healing more than the other — is inconceivable.]

[maybe it's a worse-case scenario. but she can't stop thinking about it.]

So ... I should try to make it my goal not to use it until the end of the raid? Unless I absolutely have to.

[splinten]

If you're okay with that.

[He can see the concern, and of course there is that issue. There's no clear answer for it. How do you choose which person to heal? It's a question that has made medicine hellish in every situation where there aren't the resources to save everyone.]

We should check for anyone who can heal things partially to back you up.

[If they can get things half-way, enough for it to finish the job—maybe that would spare her the decision.

Even then, there isn't a way to save everyone. There is no guarantee.]

[soulcomet]

[ultimately, she has no choice but to cross that bridge if she gets to it. but it's something that'll haunt her, should she ever.]

[still, Madoka is satisfied with Dirk's answer, and that small smile she had when she first spoke up has returned. she'll figure it out. she has faith in that, at least.]

I can do that.

[splinten]

[It's a smile he can't deny.]

Thanks, Madoka.