[WORLD ONE | POST-UVI CELEBRATION]

[spellbindmods]

Who: Coven members and Palai
Where: In and around the Aimintas marketplace
When: Day 39
Open/Closed: Open to All

After an appropriate amount of time for mourning, the Palai have shifted into a more positive mood -- they're a very resilient species, though there is a bit of a muted tone to their celebration. The whole event is a little hodge-podge, mostly because they aren't used to having to celebrate with the coven members added to the guest list. The Palai have gathered together all of their people and have invited the coven members to a small, intimate gathering -- the purpose of the event is to thank them for their service in fighting the Uvi, and the success of freezing the Uvi in their home. While no one knows how long the Uvi will stay gone, any amount of time without the Uvi being a concern is fine by them. The event takes place in the very center of the marketplace, with the Palai interacting on the fringes of the party throughout the rest of the large building. The coven members have time to spend by themselves, but there's room for moving around on their own and also spending time with the Palai if they so choose. A ▢ One of the more noticeable editions to the food the Palai have provided is a large pile of sweet, sugar dusted pastries. You may notice that something about them seems...odd, to say the least. It looks as if the pastries are vibrating slightly, but they smell divine. If you're so inclined to ask what the deal is, these pastries are magically infused by Eltos, which somehow gives them a sweeter flavor and enhances the sensation of tastebuds. The Palai sometimes eat these before meals in order to better the flavor of their entire spread -- though adding this energized magic to an already magical being means magic powers may be a little off kilter. Don't be surprised if suddenly your abilities go a little crazy. B ▢ The Palai aren't participating the party for two big reasons. One, the purpose is to celebrate the victory of coven members. The other reason, however, is one that may be more interesting to outsiders. While previously the Palai were peaceful people, happy to exist submitting to the Uvi, the coven's show of strength and valor has inspired them to be more aggressive in their approaches. Grown Palai can be seen working on makeshift weapons, but the idea of smaller tools like slingshots have already been constructed and almost perfected. The Palai youth have discovered these tools and are playing with them gleefully, though occasionally hitting each other -- and potentially you -- with energized, paralyzing rocks fueled with Elto energy. Watch out or you might get zapped! C ▢ Other Palai youth aren't as fortunate to be so distracted and happy. While fewer Palai died during this attack, the casualty number wasn't zero. Most Palai children still have at least one family member to care for them, but they're still a little disconnected from their people by means of grief. Some are milling about with the coven members, trying to eat or pester them for attention. If you're good with kids this may be more your speed, but those bad with children can find this irritating. Some Palai youth are more muted, however, content to just sit and listen to stories or eavesdrop on conversations. D ▢ For some people, rain isn't that big an issue -- but it certainly puts a damper (get it?) on a party. The Palai seem a bit confused by the sudden shower that comes in heavy as the evening dies down. The Palai have never experienced rain before, using irrigation systems and existing ground water as their means of hydration (both for themselves and for plants). Because the rain is coming from the ocean, the drops are large and salty, and the marketplace quickly begins to flood. The Palai move the party indoors for the most part, but that doesn't mean you or the food aren't already soaked. It's much warming underneath the roofs in the marketplace, but that doesn't provide much relief since the ocean rain is warm and humid. E ▢ Wildcard! How will your character handle this violent and volatile situation.

Comments

[secrowtary]

And you it doesn't bother you?

[ Is it just him or is Akira's resistance to teasing especially high today. ]

Even a little?

[secrowtary]

Stepping on someone's toes is your idea of romantic?

[ Hibiki ends his question with a heavy sigh. ]

Maybe next time.

[ At least he's not saying no! ]

[secrowtary]

That's what I've told you. Aren't you feeling a bit weird, though? There must be some ingredient hidden in these, I just wish I knew what is it...

[ Hibiki can barely hold back his chuckle and hopes that he won't scare Jude with his suspicions...not too much, at least. ]

[talim]

Now that you mention it...

[ jude hums thoughtfully. ]

I don't know what it is, but it's almost as if there's some sort of... energy flowing within me. Sounds crazy, huh?

[alphonse]

If there are any left when these guys get done.

[Fortunately, he's not going to try to rope Geir into playing babysitter. With some coaxing, Al manages to get the kids into a semi-organized mini mob and gives Geir a wave before beginning to march them off. The statue can stay for now.]

Enjoy the party. I'll see you around.

[They're both pretty hard guys to miss, after all.]

[alphonse]

I'll remember that if I ever become a farmer.

[Honestly, it would probably destroy the seeds in the process.]

For now I can't make any sense of it.

[Don't mind him, being bad at something gets on his nerves more than he wants to admit.]

[alphonse]

You're probably right.

[If asked he would deny ever being a troublemaker, but there's definitely a note of understanding in his voice too.]

Maybe we should just teach them to work on their aim.

[alphonse]

Don't give up yet.

Between everyone's abilities, there has to be something useful we can do. We just have to find it in time.

[decipheringeye]

I guess if foreign humans and foreign youkai can be different, foreign dragons can be different, too.

[rootandbranch]

Haha... got it. Good luck!

[Geir will let them go for now.]

[rootandbranch]

Tell me about the differences between humans? This is all pretty new to me...

[and it will give her a topic that he's interested in to discuss for a while as she's sobering up. not a bad solution.]

[decipheringeye]

[She's sobering up a bit, it's true.]

Humans from outside the barrier are totally different. They have all kinds of amazing technology, so everyone can have whatever they want, and almost nobody ever gets sick. People can travel between faraway places whenever they want, and have conversations with each other from any distance. Gensokyo probably can't compare at all.

[Her impression of the outside world is pretty vague.]

[rootandbranch]

There's a barrier around... Gensokyo? Is that right? Is that a city, or a country?

[this is genuinely fascinating to him.]

[decipheringeye]

It's... a world, I guess? But a small one, compared to the outside world. The barrier keeps things from getting in or out, usually.

[rootandbranch]

Why is there a barrier to begin with?

[5kotai]

Good to know... Do you know him?

[ Now he has brothers, he sees a little of that mischief in that smile... But because he's a good brother, he doesn't say. Curious head tilt. Is polite Hibiki Kohaku strange? ]

[teratias]

Mmm. Hopefully we will.

[splinten]

You are like a walking hope battery, Madoka. [This is the only way he can handle the level of friendship and optimism being thrown at him: commenting on it.] You'd definitely be some variety of Hope player in my world.

[Witch of Hope just sounds mean though.]

[soulcomet]

[change Hope to Salvation and that is exactly the sort of witch Madoka will turn into one day. also it would end in total and utter annihilation.]

Really? What does a Hope player do?

walks in late, A

[torching]

...You too, huh?

[ like jotaro, mako can also make sparkles. he's a glitter boy, jotaro is...sparkle man?? well. in either case, he's going to raise an eyebrow as he walks by. you're making quite the scene here, friend. ]

[splinten]

It's one of the more nebulous aspects, like Heart. My friend Jake was our Hope player. A Page, which apparently is a slow-burning class, so he's had trouble with his full potential. From the little information we have on it, Hope players can make things real through their faith and steadfast belief.

[Honestly, Hope is a REALLY confusing aspect.]

[decipheringeye]

It's complicated, so ask me about it some time when I'm not drunk. Besides, I don't even know your name.

[soulcomet]

[perhaps appropriately, Madoka looks confused.]

Sort of like wishes, then ... What do you mean by Page, though?

but is there starbucks?

[fivefingerdeathpunch]

If your new power's bullshit, then yeah, me too.

[He just keeps eating the magic pastry like there's nothing wrong with this picture. Jotaro only got to see a bit of firebending last time, which was admittedly cool even in small doses, so he can only imagine poor Mako's stuck with an endless supply of happy face stickers or something equally inane.]

[deem]

Gathering intelligence is vital to any war effort, but...

[9S pauses. That's only one front in a battle that has clearly been one-sided for entirely too long. Having and being armed with information is nothing without sufficient force behind it. And maybe for that reason, he's relieved that enough people were concerned with that very thing to act on it]

They need help learning to fight back. It seems like they've got the interest now, and I know of a few people who plan to help. Hopefully between those factors, they'll be able to contend with their enemy whether we're here or not.