[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

[splinten]

[Dirk listens to this, because pickles are great, but obviously Geir is dealing with something important.]

That's a question of value judgements, but I assume you're aware of that. [He feels like Geir is intelligent, in that while there is a naivety to him, Geir also questions the root causes of things and interrogates underlying assumptions in a way that lets him think critically.] Do you know what happens if you keep putting off Ragnarok?

[A pause at that last question though.]

That question borders on the conspiratorial.

[rootandbranch]

Ragnarok wasn't supposed to happen for thousands more years... but it was also supposed to happen as soon as I woke up. So it's all confused now.

[Geir considers what this means.]

I don't think anything happens exactly, but a lot of people want me to change how the future goes now. Maybe they know more than I do. Or maybe they're just scared of what I'll decide.

[he tilts his head.]

What's conspiratorial about it?

[splinten]

Maybe it's a combination. Knowing more means they should know enough to tell you the information you need to decide.

[Informed choices for dragon!]

It's the kind of question a person asks while planning to do something with the answer.

[rootandbranch]

They don't want to tell me anything! They want to use me... that's the problem.

[he tilts his head further.]

Obviously I want to think of something fun for you? I like you.

[get with the program Dirk.]

[splinten]

Then they're definitely afraid of the choices you might make and are too stupid to realize how information will help you make better choices.

[DUMB ADULTS probably. One assumes.

Then Dirk kind of. Pauses.]

Oh.

That should not catch me off guard as a thing you would state like an obvious fact.

[And yet, here is Dirk.]

[rootandbranch]

You answer my questions, but you keep changing the topic back to me! It helps to talk about me, but you act like you don't want to talk about yourself much. That makes me think you extra need to do something fun. The only thing I can tell you like is swords.

[Dirk wasn't wrong about Geir's ability to think critically. a lot of lies are just misdirection, and while Geir knows he isn't the most acute and can be tricked easily by a clever enough liar, he can at least watch peoples' reactions and recognize patterns. Dirk doesn't seem comfortable with his joyless, existentially doubtful life. which makes sense, honestly.]

Also, you're pretty nice. I can tell that too! I'm glad I met you.

[blunt as always.]

[splinten]

[What the fuck, Geir.]

What the fuck.

[Dirk puts his face in his hands because he CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS SINCERE NICE DRAGON DESTROYER OF WORLDS.]

[rootandbranch]

[now Dirk knows how Vern feels.]

Uh.

...

[is he dying? that's a lot of facehands.

Geir pokes him with his nose.]

Are you okay.

[splinten]

No. I'm the goddamned family wet blanket. I'm the no fun allowed police. I am psychologically incapable of processing as benign and pleasant a situation as the World Serpent incisively picking apart my self-hatred to call me a nice dude who needs to have fun. This is why I'm the only dude who can never get high at a party.

[Somehow, all of those things work together as they are muttered into his hands. Somehow.]

[rootandbranch]

[glum again]

I'm not really the world serpent right now. I think Qri put my god-name in the wagon.

[they've gone over the edge of a conversational cliff here and this interaction can only get more surreal from here on out. it's the fucking Wild West of existential feelings here, kids.]

[splinten]

[HE MADE THE FRIENDLY SUPPORTIVE DRAGON SAD he actually has to rise out of his facepalm for this.]

This will make perfect sense or none in about ten seconds, but I have to ask how you can take someone's name of any kind and put it in a wagon.

[rootandbranch]

I don't know either! I guess she wrote it down on something. I want to ask, though. It's really weird not to have it there.

[hesitates, still thinking about that -- not having the option to take his name and destroy everything is extremely unsettling, even if he doesn't want to do that right now -- but eventually decides that he's still talking to Dirk, and that's the more important thing. pokes him with his nose again.]

I'm just Geir, though.

[splinten]

[oh my god he got nose-poked by the dragon]

You know that probably has some major relevance to your existential question here. [a pause] I'm not dodging your question, I just think it's an element that needs to be put into consideration while you work through this.

[rootandbranch]

[the nose nudging has now happened TWICE. you've been thoroughly nudged. Geir huffs a sigh.]

I don't think so. I put aside the name when Vern and I decided not to start Ragnarok yet. It's not really different, except I can't change my mind and it feels weird.

[splinten]

[he'll never be free now]

To me it'd be like my current situation. What I'm made for is no longer an option, meaning all my actions start to build the answer of 'who am I outside that purpose.' This, for you, could be a sort of trial run of the possibility of totally rejecting your purpose.

[Another pause.]

To be honest, one of the things I enjoy most is a thorough discussion of different subjects. Philosophy is one of them.

[So. This is fun for him, honestly.]

[rootandbranch]

We were trying to do a trial run! She didn't have to take the name so we could do it! We were hiding in the woods and everything.

[the woods hideout was pretty good -- they had a sweet cave. but if Geir admits it to himself, seeing the Palai city is a big plus of their current situation in comparison. he hunted the woods as a baby monster, but he's never even been near a population center like this in his life.]

...but at least, since it's a different world, I don't think Dad or Heimdallr could find us so easy. So there's that.

[fewer murderous and/or scheming relatives in the offing does give them more space, he has to agree. he perks up at Dirk returning willingly to the subject of fun, too.]

Philosophy?

[splinten]

Fair enough.

[It sucks though. And it makes Dirk wonder if he's missing anything he doesn't know about.]

Yeah, debating ethics or morality, talking about the meaning or purpose of existence. Just sittin' around chattin' about shit, working things out by discussing them. This.

[rootandbranch]

[that's a weird idea of fun. what a weird guy, in general. Geir likes him, though.]

I don't know if I'd call that fun, but it's good. I spent so long asleep, I think I need to catch up on all of that. As long as it's fun for you!

[splinten]

Wow, dude, cold. Don't knock a guy's hobbies.

[He deadpans it, of course.]

I like horses, puppets, robots, music, pop culture, a bunch of other shit. I'm an upbeat dude.

[He is Not]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir settles in more comfortably, not at all put off by Dirk's censure. he feels like he is starting to get to know Dirk better than that now.]

I ate a horse once. I don't think that counts. Tell me about robots.

[splinten]

[NO. NOT A HORSE. Dirk actually does pause and then he's... sad?]

Honestly, I've never gotten to see a horse.

[So that is sad.]

Robots are mechanical creations. I made mine to be roughly humanoid a lot of the time. Some I made to practice sparring, while others I kept around as rapbots.

[He shows Geir an image of Squarewave and Sawtooth.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir attempts to be consoling.]

It didn't taste as good as pigs. I'm not going to make a habit of it.

[never seen a horse? that's... incredibly strange, but he'll try to elucidate further, for his new acquaintance.]

Horses are... fine. My half-brother is a horse with eight legs. He's pretty cool. I don't get to hang out with him much. If you ever visit where me and Vern live, I'll see if you can meet him...

[the explanation of robots, including the picture, doesn't help Geir really understand, but in the meantime, he tries his best.]

Like men made of metal?

[splinten]

IT's okay, dude. Circle of life.

['my half-brother is a horse with eight legs' —it takes him a second, and then he remembers that myth about Loki fucking a horse. Oh yeah.]

But thanks. I'd love to meet your, uh, half-brother.

[With the eight legs.]

Men made of metal, yeah. I build them with metal pieces so they can move. Then I build a program, which is basically a set of instructions stored in metal [kind of] so they know how to move. They can vary from having a rudimentary range of actions, like a toy, to basically being people as much as anyone is.

[rootandbranch]

But... why? To be servants?

I guess if the servants didn't have to serve, they could be warriors instead, maybe...

[splinten]

Yeah, some robots are built to that purpose. The Condesce's Drones, which are another type of robot, were built for combat.

[So those are some robots. But Dirk is rattling off like it doesn't matter much, like those aren't exactly his robots.]

Some of mine were built for training. Those had rudimentary AIs, in that it'd be super fucked up to create what is essentially a new life just to program it to fight and die. Squarewave and Sawtooth were built for defensive purposes, rap battles, and conversations. They have a higher level of AI, closer to human sentience. Minihoof was built with Roxy's help so I'd have a small flying horse in my apartment.