[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

[storyseller]

c; oh, I come from a land, from a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam

[Caster has a great sympathy for orphans and those who understand the loss of death. She naturally comes to them, and encourages the younger children, those who have suffered, to gather around her. She promises them a tale of magic and adventure, love and inspiration, hope, promise, and a diamond in the rough.

You might find it strangely familiar, if you grew up on Disney. The genie is blue, the orphan is named Aladdin, and there's a magic carpet and an evil vizier. It is a dramatic retelling of Disney's Aladdin, complete with magical special effects, a combination of a story and a play put on for the children's entertainment. There are absolutely musical numbers.

You may choose to listen, but you might also decide to help out with the performance. Maybe you really want to sing "One Jump Ahead." Or maybe you think you'd make a great Evil Vizier?]

d; maybe she should worry less

[Rain should not be concerning. But Caster has been listening to the Palai, and now, with her little flock of grieving children sheltered underneath a magical carpet, she tilts her head up to the sky. That (probably now familiar) frown of concern is on her face.]

Could the magic that sustains the water be collapsing? Perhaps our interference...

e; wildcard

[pm me or hit me up at mobiusloops]

d

[talim]

[ jude peers at caster as she stares up at the sky and murmurs to herself, mindful not to sneak up on her as he tentatively approaches. ]

Caster?

[ he blinks when he has her attention and offers her a crooked smile. ]

It's not much, but...

[ she's underdressed; he slips out of his lab coat and offers it to her. it's not much, but it's better than nothing, right? ]

[storyseller]

[THE NOT SNEAKING IS APPRECIATED. Some people (PASSIONLIP!) don't know when to drop their Presence Concealment!

She offers him a smile, but her eyes flicker down at the gift. She is surprised—momentarily confused.]

Is this... for me?

[Why would a coat be for HER, BASICALLY NAKED UNDER THE RAIN.

Okay her surprise is more related to how men tend to prefer her to dress, but.]

[talim]

Who else would it be for? Aren't you cold?

[ he returns the smile with one of his own. jude doesn't mind what caster chooses to wear — or, more accurately, chooses to not wear. he just figures that it might be nice to have something to wear in this weather. again, it isn't much, but still... ]

Go ahead and borrow it until the rain lets up. It's no big deal.

[storyseller]

Thank you, Jude.

[She draws the cloak around her. While they can use mana to alter her form, there is something uniquely pleasant in this. A warmth that doesn't come merely from the cloth itself.]

You are always very kind...

d

[rootbound]

That's a weird sort of causality, isn't it? Fight back and defend ourselves and the sky literally falls...

[...shifts himself under the outer edge of her carpet, looking apologetic; while he's brushed off attempts by any sad Palai kids to hold his hand or similar, he does have a couple who are hanging onto his sleeve and the hem of his tunic like sad ducklings without actually making skin contact. this gets them out of the rain too.]

[storyseller]

[She holds her hand out to one of the children; she will hold this one in her arms, if Vern wants, to lessen the weight.]

Perhaps.

Or perhaps the energy that upholds the water comes from energy they steal from the Eltos that they prefer to kill. Perhaps their own magic sustains the waters and we have weakened their numbers too greatly. We do not know, and in acting without full knowledge, we have exposed ourselves to that uncertainty.

[She of course switched to telepathy to avoid saying any of that in front of these sad kids. Especially the bit about the Eltos, when the Palai children may have had family of that gender who were lost.]

[rootbound]

[he looks a little surprised, but the kid takes the offer readily, a small armful for Caster. Vern...doesn't offer to pick up the other kids who came in with him, but he does take a seat and busy himself handing out some of the pastries, which he seems to have secreted into his bag before it started raining. he offers Caster one too.]

. . . that's not a lie, but the status quo wasn't particularly acceptable either, from what I've gotten from these people.

[it's dragged out of him, a reluctance to make a moral stand on this sort of thing warring with a sense of empathy that's far from dead, that feels the sorrow of the gathered Palai children.]

[storyseller]

Yes, that is so also. There would be many more children like this, and perhaps many grieving parents as well.

[She takes the pastry, but doesn't immediately eat it. Instead, she sings a quiet, pleasant song to the children, comforting the one in her arms. It could almost serve as a lullaby.]

We do not yet know what is to come, and if it may be worse or better than what is past. However... I am glad that more did not die.

c.

[thatdamnknight]

[as someone who lost both parents at a young age, flynn fully understands how the children feel. sudden loss of a parent hurts like little else. what to do to help their moods, though?

it's while pondering this question that flynn stumbles upon caster telling her tale. flynn stops a distance away and silently listens in. an interesting and engaging story, if one unfamiliar to him. the story, the characters, even the musical numbers all end up lively and fun. it's just what the doctor ordered to cheer up the children. seeing their spirits lift even a little brings a smile to his face.

once the tale ends is when he approaches.]

Your story telling abilities are impressive, Miss.

[storyseller]

[It's why she chose this particular iteration, of an orphan who found comfort and family. She raises her eyes to Flynn behind her veil and inclines her head.]

Thank you. I am glad they could provide some comfort to these children who have suffered so...

[thatdamnknight]

Small acts of kindness bring some of the most happiness.

[simple acknowledgement as a child who's suffered helps a great deal. someone telling them stories? yeah, that probably made the kids' day.]

Having someone care enough to do as you have likely brought them more comfort than you realize.

[storyseller]

So I can hope.

[It reflects her own loss, the comfort that stories gave her then. She looks at Flynn, and though he isn't a king, she senses in him that he, too, may have found comfort in the story.]

If you wish to join in the telling another time, you will be welcome.

C

[lohengrins]

[ right. remember the script. his hair is down, and this is hardly a role -- or hobby...occupation -- he's accustomed to. but these orphans are sad, and caster is weaving together a magnificent tale before them, so percival endeavors make the best of it. ]

Juuuust a little snack, guuuuuys...!

[ his singing voice is pretty good, frankly, but he is evidently...embarrassed. that smile of his is rather forced, as his cheeks are sucked in out of sheer discomfort. whatever, he'll grin and bear it. ]

[storyseller]

[Her instincts tell her to stop making a King discomforted or unhappy. But the show insists that now that Percival has stepped into Aladdin, he must do the entire play.

All of it.]

c.

[apatheia]

[YoRHa probably would've been a lot nicer if they'd managed to find data on Disney, but alas...

2B had planned just to watch and listen, enthralled by the woman's skill in telling the story alone, but soon enough the children had gathered around and asked her to help with the performance. It should've been easy to tell them no given how little skill she has in these sorts of things, yet she couldn't bring it in her to disappoint them today. Not with the suffering they'd already had to endure.

Which is how she's found herself here, front and center, half-singing half-saying lyrics she's never even heard of.]

"Prince Ali, fabulous he...?" [She glances over at the woman (not that anyone could tell with her blindfold) a bit worriedly. IS THIS HOW THIS GOES, IS SHE DOING THIS RIGHT??]

Re: c.

[storyseller]

[Caster gives her a gentle nod of encouragement. She also offers her a telepathic impression of the next lines. She has your back, 2B! Bring those children joy!

Plus if you do you get to sit on a magic carpet she conjured, and that's just cool.]

[apatheia]

[The telepathic input is a bit startling at first, but she's grateful for it nonetheless. Despite her nerves and poor attempts at singing, the children still manage to be entertained by it somehow. (TBH, it's probably BECAUSE of how badly 2B gets through the song and dance. She'll take them laughing at her if it means they're having fun though.)]

"Make way for Prince Ali!" [She even manages to finish the last line on a strong note! But she'd also love to take a seat on that magic carpet now.]

c.

[akumas]

[Did someone say evil vizier and musical numbers?

Not that Eva would dub himself as a true villain, but he's an idol who sings dark and magical songs. So he can fit a villain role pretty well for being... well, himself. It does seem to be a familiar tale to him so why not? He does borrow a cape from a Palai who asked him to help with the story and he does summon an owl to be the vizier's bird companion. A mighty laugh comes from him right as he presents himself in the story, which got the children Palai's attention and excitement right at the start.]

Prince Ali. Yes, it is he. But not as you know him. Read my lips and come to grips with reality!

[From his singing and performing, it's something that he is very much talented in. Every story needs a villain, correct? He sings along yet keeps room for the woman to continue her story. She's a star in this performance just like him after all.]

i'm dying

[storyseller]

[It's a great villainous performance, and Eva nails it. Caster supports the performance, offering the necessary threads of narrative and summary to weave together the different pieces of the play. Now that they have someone to truly land the part, she can even modify the story to give extra focus on Jafar and let Eva have more time on the stage. The joy of performance is that endless adaptation.]

ty im here all week

[akumas]

[Bless the mysterious lady known as Caster as Eva sings and performs with his familiar. To add his own little effect, he lets the purple wisps swirl around his hands to give the appearance like there is a flame orb, but really it's another owl.

Near the end of the song, he twirls his cape around as the owl in his hands jumps into the ground to disappear with purple smoke. A grand finale.

As some of the kids cheered for the evil side and others called out for Aladdin to return, he lets the main hero returns to the center for now. Eva does send a message of mind to Caster.]

I praise your weaving of words, Storyteller. A wonderful display to let sorrow fade from children's hearts.

e;

[bulletbiter]

[ When Caster has a moment of reprieve from the excited children, she might see Julius making his way over. He has a cloak with the hood drawn up over his head, the heart of not-Gaia within him muted by his own flickering flame. When he reaches polite speaking distance, he'll produce a small flower from a pocket and offer it to her. ]

Thank you for your help.

[ You know. Appreciation. ]

[storyseller]

[She looks at the flower in surprise, then up at Julius. Carefully, she takes it.]

And you. You are well now?

[To clarify,]

It was impossible not to see the force within you, and that you battled with it even as you used it.

[bulletbiter]

[ There's the slightest flash of surprise on his expression before he tempers it back to quiet neutrality, though there's no aggression in his manner. ]

You can tell?

[ What a mysterious woman. He had thought he took the care to keep all traces of it from showing. Jude had no idea at all. ]

c /o/

[probablynoteren]

[Lenka's no good at acting -- even more so when he doesn't know the tale whatsoever, which is why he's stopped at the side more than a few times on his way to the food listening in and trying to make heads or tails of the tale -- so what he does end up doing to contribute in his own way is just herding more small Palai into the fold.

Or it might be a strategy to prevent them from following him around, since while he can feed the little ones and tell them a little about the celebrated battle when they ask, he isn't nearly the storyteller that Caster is and entertaining them in the midst of zapping pastries and zapping stones is beyond his capacity after the battle.

Eventually, though, he's done with the self-appointed task and stays a little outside the storytelling circle listening (rather intensely) with a small plate of snacks. It's peaceful until some of the more fidgety Palai children get curious about the details of the story and start tugging on his sleeves, but--]

Shh. Sorry. I don't know what a vizier is, either...

[At least, not beyond what the story's telling them at this point. The guy has a distinctive hat, though.]