[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

[rootandbranch]

[tiny nudge]

Tell me?

[rootbound]

...about gardening...?

[rootandbranch]

[gently; his emotions are mostly quiet curiosity, a kind of yearning, below the surface]

If that's what you're thinking about.

[rootbound]

...I miss my family a bit, that's all...

[rootandbranch]

...oh... yeah.

[that's an inadequate response and Geir knows it; Vern can almost-feel him puzzling through better ones. he doesn't really have that kind of relationship with his family, but he understands loneliness very well.

finally just curls a claw around Vern and tugs him closer to put his chin on him. mine.]

I know.

[rootbound]

[hides his face in the curve of Geir's head and neck, very quiet for a while]

[rootandbranch]

[purrs at Vern, trying to reassure him with the sheer monotone rhythm of it. he's not making any particular effort to be emotionally comforting -- it's kind of hard to control your own feelings -- but his genuine sympathy and affection and sharp concern are probably as soothing, or at least touching, as anything he could come up with deliberately.]

...tell me about them sometime...

[no urgency there. it's a question for later, in fabled Vern Isn't So Sad times of the future]

[rootbound]

[puts his arms around as much of Geir's neck as he can manage and squeezes, brief and hard and grateful]

I will...not here, but when there's less people, I will.

[rootandbranch]

[rubs his eye ridge against Vern's shoulder, his purr intensifying]

Sure. Any time you want. You can tell me about gardening, too.

[rootbound]

Do you want a garden...?

[relaxing, as one does when SURROUNDED BY PURRS]

[rootandbranch]

I don't know... I guess so? I really liked how the plants started growing more when we were staying at the farm!

[it's weird to feel like you're helping things grow instead of die.]

I don't know how we'd take it with us if we're going to be travelling with the coven, though.

[rootbound]

We could do a small one...um, a box garden. We would have to carry it around a lot, though.

[rootandbranch]

The caravan floats around. Is that from Qri's magic? I wonder if we could ask for something that'd float with it.

[critical, though not angry about it]

It's about time we learned what she can do for us while we're here, anyway. You can get away with a lot if you just don't talk.

[rootbound]

That's fair. I don't mind building the thing, but if we can get some help from her...

[mistrustful, but not so much he isn't considering it]

I don't actually know why people haven't actually refused to do anything until she comes out and talks to them.

[rootandbranch]

Me neither. I guess it'd get boring. And here, everyone wants to help the Palai out.

[he's starting to see that point of view himself.]

I still want to talk to her, though. I want to understand.

[this, and a lot of other things.]

[rootbound]

Mm. I'll be with you when you do. I want--to know why she's doing what she's doing, too. All of it...

[rootandbranch]

[gratitude.]

Thanks, Vern.

[and in a change of mood:]

Who knows-- finding out might be fun!

[rootbound]

[a little surprised]

Well--maybe. What makes you say that?

[rootandbranch]

I don't know. Just-- isn't it better to expect there'll be some fun things? It'd be nice if they were!

[rootbound]

[fun

fun???

what is this fun thou speakest of]

I...I guess?

[baffled; turning this idea around and trying to make it fit in his head somewhere, but not immediately succeeding]

[rootandbranch]

...you've had fun before, right...?

[SUDDENLY... DOUBTFUL]

[rootbound]

I, uh, sometimes...?

[it's been a really long time, but--oh, wait, wait, he's got this]

...flying's fun...

[rootandbranch]

. . . we need to do more flying.

[vERY FIRMLY]

[rootbound]

[laughs into his scales, only a little shaky]

I won't say no to more flying.

[rootandbranch]

It's a deal. ♪

[in the meantime, hanging out quietly for a while seems like a good idea]