[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

[rootbound]

Your words strike deep. You touch feelings I thought I'd long since crushed within myself.

[drums on Geir's nose]

I feel...regret? No! I mustn't succumb.

[rootandbranch]

But you're hungry too. You could just have a bite!

Or would that be TOO MUCH for your resolve? I dare you!

[what the fuck. these nerds.]

[rootbound]

What? You dare to dare my dastardly self? Fine. Challenge accepted. You'll quiver in defeat soon enough.

[GOES TO GET THEM SOME PASTRIES 8D]

[rootandbranch]

[wriggles a little in amusement and happiness and watches his retreating back...]

[rootbound]

[grumblingly gives a couple to two Palai kids so they don't latch onto him, and bears the rest back on a plate; he looks a bit troubled when he's interacting with them, but there's a small and definite smile on his face when he's back with Geir.]

Bite for bite, right?

[rootandbranch]

Bite for bite.

[purrs and accepts a pastry, when Vern offers it to him]

Are you okay? You looked a little worried when you were giving those kids treats...

[rootbound]

[mmmmmmrrmrmph. finishes his own pastry before answering]

...they just felt...sad.

[rootandbranch]

It makes sense. Some of their parents died.

[...presses his eye ridge against Vern's shoulder for a moment, trying to reassure him with his own solidity]

[rootbound]

[leans into the weight, grateful]

...mm. It doesn't quite feel like a party.

[rootandbranch]

[softly]

Freyja always used to say that you should drink and eat merrier than ever after a battle, to do the fallen honor.

[rootbound]

Hmmm.

[not quite sure how he feels about that one]

...eating made them feel better, anyway.

[rootandbranch]

They're not warriors.

[and neither is Vern, Geir thinks. maybe Freyja shouldn't have talked like she knows everything...]

It was nice of you to try to make them feel better.

[rootbound]

It wasn't much. I just wasn't going to make them feel worse...

[leans, a little more heavily]

[rootandbranch]

You're nice. Not dastardly at all. I guess I'll take back what I said, if you give me another of those bread things.

[teasing again, gently, to make Vern more comfortable; his approval and affection are genuine, though.]

[rootbound]

[geir gets another smile out of him, and another pastry in his mouth]

Do you like them?

[rootandbranch]

They're sweet. I haven't had anything like them before!

[closes his teeth carefully on the pastry to savor it before he gulps it down]

[rootbound]

They're very good. I wonder why they're shaking, though?

[rootandbranch]

I don't know. That isn't some weird bread thing?

[grabs another]

[rootbound]

It's not usually a weird food anything, unless it's still alive. I don't think they'd repay us for fighting by giving us bad food, though...?

[90% certain 10% still paranoid]

[rootandbranch]

It's food they like, isn't it? They're eating it.

[nudges a pastry in Vern's direction; there are a bunch of other things from the grand buffet to try, too.]

[rootbound]

That's fair enough.

[takes the pastry; he supposes neither of them ha started feeling weird yet]

...you want me to get us more stuff to try...?

[rootandbranch]

[sternly; he still feels like he needs to keep a careful eye on Vern, to make sure he takes care of himself.]

Are you still hungry?

[rootbound]

A little...

[he's still somewhat bad at being mommed, a little grumbly]

[rootandbranch]

[nudges him decisively.]

Bite for bite.

[rootbound]

Fiiiine.

[he gets two plates ;o;!]