[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

[guerrilla]

It's babysitting. Don't make me out to be some weirdo.

[Like a certain [redacted], even though Robin is from post-Agartha and doesn't know what's going to unfold for summer.]

I just felt bad for 'em, that's all.

1/2

[dragoness]

[ ah, empathy.

...


dammit robin, why do you have to start this on hard mode. ]

You know I once—

[dragoness]

[ .... no.

different tactic. ]

When d'you think they'll come back?

[guerrilla]

[wait no now i wanna know what she did]

Who knows. Hopefully never.

[But he's not optimistic enough to believe it.]

...Hey, how would you handle this? Theoretically, if you were in charge of a village that was culled every once in a while.

[Robin's a little uneasy about the decision the Palai have made to become more violent in response to the Uvi, but he also doesn't have any alternatives. Elizabeth is, as far as nobles are concerned, not one of the best to ask, but she thinks so differently from him that she might have another idea.

...On the other hand, it wouldn't surprise him at all if she just said "wipe them out."]

[dragoness]

[ there's a long, long moment of silence between them before eliza can make up her mind on whether to say anything.

but... well, she listened to him tell children that he was orphaned as a little kid, so...

"theoretically"? not so much. ]

I did.

[guerrilla]

[It takes every ounce of self-control he has to not snap at her, make a comment about how full the bathtub must have been that night.

She's trying to change, and constantly lording her faults over her head won't make any progress.]

...Yeah, I guess I should've known.

[He doesn't mean that as a negative, but it's the simplest and most straightforward way to get things done. It's the way Robin would have done it. It's the way they're handling it now. That's precisely why he doesn't like it.]

[dragoness]

[ her tail flicks from side to side, and she doesn't look him in the eye. ]

You've heard of Hungary's Long War, haven't you?

[guerrilla]

When Hungary fought the Ottoman Empire, right? Wasn't it two centuries or something?

[He already regrets this. It's not going to be a fun story.]

[dragoness]

Mm, off and on for about that long, yeah. The one I'm talking about is the Thirteen Year's War.

[ she tips her head, and a little fishmouse crawls up into the palm of her hand. ]

My husband was away, and I was in charge of Csejte Castle — and its village. [ her attention stays on the fishmouse, watching it clean itself. for all the harshness she'd shown them earlier, eliza has a soft spot for mice, the only creatures who'd listen to her before she died. the only company she had. ] Our castle was on the way to Vienna, did you know?

[guerrilla]

...Nah, geography's not really my strong suit.

[It's not a serious comment, because he doesn't know what to say, but it is enough to let her know that he's listening.]

[dragoness]

We were one of the last wealthy places on the road to Austria, so... [ she switches her hand, and watches the fishmouse scurry up her arm. ] You can imagine what happened when the troops marched past.

[guerrilla]

......

[Yeah, it's about what he expected.]

And you retaliated?

[dragoness]

[ ... ]

They killed my people, so I killed them. That... is one of the few things I don't regret, and I won't have you shame me for protecting what was mine.

[guerrilla]

Like I said, I asked because I wanted to know, not because I wanted to give you crap.

[He's the last person who would shame her for that. He's no better, after all.

That said, even if she doesn't regret it, he still thinks that what she did - and everything he did, naturally - was wrong.]

[dragoness]

[ there's another moment of silence as she feels... just a little bad for assuming the immediate worst about robin's line of thinking, but. ]

I don't mind playing the villain if it means I'm protecting something — or someone — I care about. It seems to be the role I'm suited for.

[guerrilla]

You're preaching to the choir.

[Robin hadn't been happy to accept that his village made him out to be a monster. But he didn't have any other choice...and he certainly is suited for the role of a villain. Lord knows his skillset perfectly aligns with one.]

[dragoness]

[ they're more alike than either of them realize, but being so open is making eliza feel uncomfortable, and with a mental shrug she drops one of the fishmice onto robin's knee. it's that whole "being the villain" thing that'll keep her from ever intentionally getting close to anyone like this. last time she fell in love, she killed people to keep that love. she doesn't want to know what she might do with all the powers of a servant at her disposal.

time to shove it all under the rug. ]

Hah, looks like we're both bad at parties.

[guerrilla]

That's exactly what I said. It's kind of rude to bring your own snacks to a party, isn't it?

[This entire feelings jam could have been avoided. Incredible.]

[dragoness]

Oh, so we're just gonna go in circles?

[ DIDN'T U ALREADY SAY THAT ROBIN ]

[guerrilla]

[YEAH JUST LIKE SHE SAID ROBIN WAS BAD AT PARTIES, AND THEN HE SAID SHE WAS BAD AT PARTIES, AND THEN SHE SAID--]

You're the one who started the turn.

[dragoness]

Then I say we start with something different!

[ she says so confidently, her tail flicking in excitement. uhhhHHH thinking thinking thinking, something to say — ]

While I'm not surprised to find you came here with me, I'm a little mad that you took so long to find me. Next time, try to materialize somewhere close-by, okaaaay?

[guerrilla]

It's not like I can help where I materialize!

[Still, it's good to know he has someone strong he can turn to for backup if he gets in over his head.]

Besides, even if I could, I'd still have wanted to find a Master first.

[dragoness]

I'll accept your apology for now, I suppose.

[ a beat ]

If you go get me something to munch-❤!

[guerrilla]

Isn't the entire cast of Alv●n and the Chipmunks enough?

[Even so, he stands up and adjusts his cloak.]

Whaddaya want, uh...what is it, Hero Elly or something?

[Nailed it.]

[dragoness]

They're my only friends!

[ oops, that was a little more forceful than she meant. ]

... But one of those kebabs, I think. Those were good. [ a beat ] None of the sweets!