[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]

That is not so, Jude. Perhaps once, but that version of me is lost, remaining in the Throne of Heroes maybe. Yet not here.

[The bravery died piece by piece, night by night. The bravery died as she was slowly divested of all of herself in her fight to live to another dawn. The bravery died when, after all else, she failed.

Then she became cowardly. Then she became willing to kill and hurt to avoid death. Then, she was no longer kind. And she is not certain she ever was before then.]

However, I'm glad that I could support you...

[talim]

[ jude immediately shakes his head. ]

No.

[ his mouth is set in a thin line, gaze stubborn. as far as he's concerned, there's no room for argument. no matter what she might think, jude will not bend on this. ]

Perhaps you can't see it yourself, but I do. I see it all the time. Every time you answer my constant, nagging questions; every time you shield myself and others from imminent danger; every time I simply hear you speak.

Your past self, your current self... Throne of Heroes or not, you're still Caster, and I know you mean everything you say with all your heart and soul. I realize I might be naive at times, and I know I can tend to let emotions override logic when they shouldn't. But regardless...

Do you think you can trust me on this?

[ he doesn't dare touch her, but his expression alone speaks volumes. ]

Because I can promise you that I'm not going to change my mind. You wouldn't recognize kindness in someone else if you were not kind yourself.

[storyseller]

[jude she tried to do a colony drop]

[Glancing down, she doesn't dare meet his eyes. He doesn't know. She may choose to be kind, but it isn't necessary. She knows what she has done and what she has tried to do. She knows what she is capable of.]

I can trust that you believe the truth of your words. However... I am not kind enough to offer you the proof that would dispel this belief.

[talim]

[ look he's a Good Boy he doesn't know better. just let him keep tagging along like a puppy dog.

jude's eyes are downcast, but he seems to accept this as the best he's going to get. he nods once, acutely aware of the fact that caster isn't looking at him. ]

Well... I'm not kind enough to want you to.

[storyseller]

I am sorry, Jude.

[She does feel terrible. Yet, she fears the anger, violence, even murder that could come if she lied now and Jude felt betrayed. Men, even men who seem kind, are truly dangerous when they feel slighted in such ways. It is better to ease them into it than to bring them to sudden violence.]

[talim]

There's nothing to be sorry for.

[ he tries a smile. the last thing he wants is for her to feel bad. ]

You haven't done anything wrong. There are certain things I might not understand, but that doesn't invalidate the things I do.

[storyseller]

That is true. Regardless of the facts, your actions shine true.