[WORLD ONE | UVI ATTACK]

[spellbindmods]

Who: The Uvi and coven members
Where: In and around the city land of Aimintas
When: Day 32 & 33
Open/Closed: Open to All

For coven members who haven't been in Aimintas very long, the panic of the Palai the past few days may seem like overkill. The day goes by rather quietly and Aimintas looks like a ghost town throughout the morning and most of the afternoon. Not one Palai can be seen, with shops closed and the roads virtually empty, aside from coven members. It isn't until the sky is turning a nice shade of pink that things begin. Observant people who may be gazing up at the ocean will see the very small dots in the sky that begin to approach at a very quick speed. If you're outside, you may get to see the Uvi up close -- but perhaps not for very long. The Uvi have rubbery bones, and they hit the dirt in a curled up position, unrolling themselves and leaping up on long, scaled legs. The shortest Uvi might come in at five feet tall, but most range from six to seven. They're lithe and gilled -- you may think they want to rely on stealth, but the sound coming out of their gills is very loud and raspy. There's no way you can't hear them coming as the ominous and rapid noise follows them everywhere. Some of them are walking around empty handed, eyes scanning and striding up to buildings, banging on the outside and observing the inside of the house as much as they possibly can. Others are carrying large, bleached tools made of fish bone and teeth. Some look like long blades, while others look like long axes. These are used for cutting into doors and other violent tasks they feel the need to complete. A ▢ If your character is wandering the streets, whether of their own ignorance or because they're part of the team trying to protect/negotiate with the Palai, they're very likely to run into one of the Uvi. While left to their own devices they'll only be focused on sniffing out Palai, but they're committed to going after anything they see alive and moving. If your character confronts the Uvi, they better be prepared for an attack. B ▢ Alternatively, maybe your character is caught outside and ill-equipped to handle the Uvi. Running is an option! ...But they better be able to run fast. Maybe your character gets lucky enough to run into someone who can help them, but they'd best hope they find each other fast. C ▢ Your character may also be committed to love and justice, fighting the forces of evil with good. It's very unlikely that Palai blood goes unspilled tonight, but your character may be able to prevent it as much as possible. Just be warned: if they confront the Uvi who are trying to break into a Palai house, they're going to be in for a fight. D ▢ Other characters may already be hiding, whether in the coven house or with Palai in their own homes. They'll hear the Uvi's harsh, gasping breathing before they see them, but if they do hear that raspy noise, they'd better be quick thinkers. Whether the Uvi visiting turns into a brawl or a blood bath, eventually the Uvi will return to the ocean with Palai bodies in tow. At around 4 AM, the Uvi begin to shriek, some making noises that are too high pitched for most ears to hear. From the sky, large flying fish descend from the sky and find their masters. The Palai are hoisted onto the back of these creatures and they take off, flying back into the ocean. E ▢ If your character is committed to defeating the Uvi, they may want to try and target the large fish they'll be flying out of. It's possible to kill them in the air, but watch where they fall. They're incredibly large -- larger than the sharks and bigger fish that have fallen out of the sky before. They can also be killed on the ground, but you'll also have to do with their protective Uvi owners. F ▢ Maybe your character is more into the idea of following the Uvi back home. It's possible! Once the Uvi breach the ocean, they swim fast through the dark water for miles and miles. The journey is treacherous, and some may stop the trek to attack in the water where they're more at home. If your character makes it to their lair, they'll find that it's a dense wad of seaweed that stays static in the ocean. The Uvi are used to the toxicity of the leaves, but trying to enter means touching these leaves that leave large, skin-melting welts as they grow and burst. G ▢ Wildcard! How will your character handle this violent and volatile situation.

Comments

[talim]

[ bodily fluids — oh. hmm. jude turns his head away, a wave of embarrassment washing over him, but his determination wins out this time. he has to be mature here. bodily fluids don't have to be involved, do they? he has healer, he has restore.

he looks back at caster, meeting her gaze head on. ]

Isn't there another way? I could cast some of my mana on you to heal you. It will dull the pain and close up the wound. I've helped others before. Let me help you, too.

[ maybe he's not getting it; maybe there's a piece of the puzzle that is caster that he's missing. ]

[storyseller]

[It would be a direct contact. Not quite a contract, but]

Yes. If you cast that spell, I would consume the mana from it directly. That would be much safer, and in that way, you could control the amount I take...

[It would be better than drinking his blood. Or worse.]

[talim]

Then what are we waiting for?

[ there's already mana glowing at his fingertips. ]

Go ahead. Sit.

[ his tone isn't demanding, but the opposite, kind and gentle. he thanks their lucky stars that there are no uvi in sight; he can't let his guard down, but they should be safe long enough for jude to heal her up and usher her into hiding. ]

scream LOOK THEIR ACCOUNTS BOTH START WITH S

[storyseller]

[She settles down, allowing the mana to come towards her. She feels the surge, the desire to consume it and sustain herself. She did not tell him that consuming souls was another way to take mana from a living thing. She did not want to suggest it.]

okay i admit that i laughed

[talim]

[ jude is rather fond of caster, but not quite fond enough to offer up his soul... sorry..... ]

Do you feel any sort of difference? The deeper the wound, the slower the healing process, but the pain should be fading bit by bit.

[ jude sounds hesitant, a little nervous even as the light glows brighter, his eyes fluttering closed as he focuses on the arte. his healing artes are simple but effective, should work just fine in most case scenarios; unfortunately, his stronger, more potent artes can only be used when he's linked up and sharing mana with another. elize and teepo, for the most part.

a soft sigh escapes his lips. it hasn't been a long time, but he misses her; he's certain she would be quick to warm up to someone like caster. elize takes great comfort in people who make her feel safe, protected. gentle people. kind people.

perhaps those thoughts come through to caster, the image of a smiling little girl and her doll. perhaps not. ]

Re: okay i admit that i laughed

[storyseller]

[wow Jude, won't you let a nice girl snack on you until you are basically dead??? come on]

Yes. I'm gaining strength now...

[The mana flows into her with the thoughts. The girl seems kind, and Caster has a weakness. She misses her little sister. The wound closes up even as a second strength surges within her, replenishing her mana source.]

Jude, you are broadcasting an image. A little girl...

[talim]

[ does she like strawberries? teepo did say jude tastes like strawberries...... ]

Thank goodness...

[ his shoulders sag with relief, the light dying down to a fainter glow but not fading entirely. when caster speaks again, his expression changes to one of sheepish surprise. ]

Huh?

... O-Oh. I guess I still need to work on this telepathy thing, huh?

[ jude laughs, somewhat bashful, but he's not sure what he's so shy about. maybe it's because he feels like he's the one who's been asking most of the questions. it's odd when he's not conscious of which thoughts he's projecting and which thoughts are solely his own.

but there's no harm in sharing with her, is there? he continues casting when he starts talking. ]

Her name is Elize. She's like a younger sister to me. Maybe even a daughter, if I were a little older.

[ admittedly, his feelings toward elize have always leaned more toward the maternal side. ]

She's a child prodigy who was harassed by the villagers because she mastered dark spirit magic at such a young age. They called her cursed, and she lived abandoned in a small shack with nothing but a doll for company. Needless to say, when I insisted on taking her along with us, it didn't take long to get more than a little attached. A lot has happened since then. She might have protected me more than I was able to protect her.

[ there's a soft smile curving his lips, fondness reflected in his eyes. jude is just about done healing. finally, the light flickers into specks of mana, and then, nothing. ]

Anyway, my thoughts were wandering, and... I guess I was just thinking she'd like you.

[storyseller]

Yes... I think I would like her as well.

[It's a sad story, but also a sweet story. Caster has an instinctive sympathy for women who are mistreated and condemned, unjustly attacked and hurt. ]

She seems like a kind, brave girl.

1/2

[talim]

[ jude's smile grows even warmer. ]

She is. She's both those things and more. Elize is so bright; she's more special to me than words can describe.

I know she can take care of herself, but still... I wish I could see her. Check on her. Just once.

[ a beat of silence passes. this is hard, harder than he's cared to verbalize despite his quick acclimation to the bizarre circumstances. jude is... as far as he's concerned, he's nothing without the people close to him, the dear friends who have helped him become the adult he is today. ]

2/2

[talim]

[ but, jude being jude, he manages to snap himself out of it. he'll see them again. soon. he will. jude can't allow himself to be pessimistic when it's not going to help anyone. ]

Looks like you're all healed up. How are you feeling?

We'd better hurry up and get you somewhere safe.

[storyseller]

[It's a desire she understood, once. Now, she has been torn away from all such attachments. She is merely a Heroic Spirit. Her only bindings are to her human Master.

Aren't they?]

Yes... Thank you, Jude. I'm feeling much better. I can create an illusion of Palai to distract the Uvi while we move.

[talim]

[ he offers her a grateful smile. ]

This is the second time you've helped me help you, you know.

[ aaand... i think this is a good place to end thread and handwave the rest! caster is safe and all is right. ]