[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

[deem]

[His gloves serve as something of a barrier between them, but his hand is warm even through the pebbled leather]

Happy to help. I'm used to being the little guy.

[Once he's sure that she's settled, he murmurs an "up we go" and raises his hand to about chest-level so she can have a good look at their surroundings]

Where to first?

[sealeted]

Little like short, or is this more grunt solidarity?

[Should she start a running tally for high-fives...?]

Let's see... I think I saw some Palai gathering materials for something, before I started shrinking. Want to go see what they're doing?

[deem]

Could be a bit of both, come to think of it.

[Get a high-five queue going here-

But he's certainly curious, glancing around after she makes that suggestion]

Wonder what they're up to... [Once he's spotted a group some distance away, he nods] Let's have a look then.

[He turns and starts in that direction, plate in one hand and Hakuno in the other]

[sealeted]

Maybe repairs?

[Her tail curls and flicks as she considers it.]

It might be necessary, but they deserve a chance to relax too...

[deem]

[9S hums as he considers that]

Considering how difficult this conflict is for them... I think they could use the break more than we need it.

[But that's just his opinion as a YoRHa unit, which is on the whole pretty biased. He likes relaxing as much as anyone else, but he's used to being put to work]

[sealeted]

...definitely. They probably don't feel much like really celebrating, either.

[deem]

Yeah, I bet they don't. The casualties were fewer, but...few isn't the same as none.

[sealeted]

In a close-knit community, every loss hurts.

[She would know.]

[deem]

[He can understand, although he wouldn't necessarily say YoRHa were supposed to be close. A single loss can mean the world]

Let's see if there's something we can do for them, then.

[sealeted]

Yeah. You never know the amount of good a little kindness can do.

[Or... the damage, considering what Hakuno's kindness has unleashed before. But that's not relevant!!]

[deem]

Especially when your reality's a harsh one.

[There's a heaviness about those words that bespeaks experience, but he smooths that aside by pressing on]

Sure looks like they're intent on whatever they're up to.

[sealeted]

Yeah—hey... hold on, do those look like... weapons to you?

[deem]

[9S hums thoughtfully, strides carrying them closer before he comes to a halt a short distance away]

They're crudely fashioned, but... Yeah, I think so.

[sealeted]

...well, I guess it's good that they're thinking ahead, but...

[It's a little sad.

They've gone so long without weaponry.]

[deem]

I wish they didn't have to... [9S creeps a little closer, but the group doesn't seem to take notice just yet. Now they can overhear the low chatter exchanged between these Palai huddled over their work] They almost seem...eager.

[There's no masking how troubling he finds that, when this race seemed gentle like Pascal and his villagers, or like Emil. And thinking of the latter reminds him of the state of his world, and words he can't shake, because perhaps they're becoming true here too.

I guess power's the only thing that counts in this world anymore, huh?]

[sealeted]

I guess... when you're hurt, and scared, and you find out there's a way to protect yourself, it's easy to be eager.

[Nothing is so tempting to the powerless than power, after all.]

[deem]

...Guess I can't argue against that.

[As much as he'd like to, even he fits into this category to some degree. Scanners were incapable of melee combat by design, but aware of a direct threat to his life, he innovated a solution. He armed himself.

This isn't so very different]

[sealeted]

It's not always a bad thing. It's just... unfortunate that it's come to this.

[She sighs, and flops down carefully on top of him.]

We won't be here forever, after all. They can't just rely on us.

[deem]

That's true...

[He hums thoughtfully, reluctant to interrupt the group, yet uneasy about this development]

It makes me wonder why they're preyed on to start with. It doesn't seem like a matter of needing resources, since there are so many fish up there.