spellbinders | [OPENING] island hub

Entry tags:

[OPENING] island hub - day 1

Who: All Characters
Where: Main Hub
When: Day 1
Open/Closed: Open to All

TDM threads can be considered canon if you so choose, they contain the power that you apped with and both parties confer that the thread is canon.

For characters that were on the TDM and who were not accepted/didn't app, these characters will be considered dropped characters that were magicked away.

Night has fallen upon everyone. It's thus far been an eventful day -- you've met some new people, discovered some new aspects of yourself that weren't there before you appeared here (however that might have happened).

The original inhabitants of the island have been working hard to prepare a few things. One activity might have been one you were a part of, but there's still time to get your hands dirty.

Fire needs to be started for cooking the meat AND a large bonfire for light and warmth.
The large copper bowl needs to be filled with water.
Crabs need to be bravely collected from the bath house for boiling.
The boar needs to be either cut up for kebabs or stuck through. Does your character know anything about spit-roasting?
Any other helpful magical skills are welcome to help make food.

Post feasting, there are dozens of crabs and a pile of roasted boar meet that are up for eating. Even if you didn't offer to help in making any of the food, they're open to eat it -- even if the true helpers may give you dirty looks.

The boar is fine, if not a little bland and chewy, but it's probably better than the jerky. The crab is delicious, if not a little tasteless...there problem with the crab isn't exactly the taste, though.

It's almost completely dark outside when the next event of the evening happens. You're living your life when you see it out of the corner of your eye -- it's absolutely hard to miss.

What you see is a large lit caravan, larger than even an army tank. It's bright white and shining, covered with golden, ornate details that emanate an even more dazzling sparkle. The entire thing is aglow, and it's quickly coming towards the large bonfire that's been made. It's not rolling across the sand, but instead it's floating, and so is a matching trunk that's sailing along next to a figure beside the caravan.

a letter rolled up and bound with a roll of twine

Genette's top level

her telepathy training post

Around the same time as Genette is handing out this new little goody bag, you suddenly receive a telepathic message. It might seem a little strange at first -- but on that note, what about tonight isn't strange?

Hello.

After you've met Genette, she's also got a few more supplies that she pulls out a small door in the base of the caravan. She's insistent that you only get two items, since there aren't exactly a lot of them to go around!

An electronic/technology: these can be as obvious as an MP3 player, as useless as a garage door motor or as scandalous as a Hitachi Magic Wand. If it can be powered by electricity or batteries, there's a tub of them. They're also partially charged if they don't need constant electricity to work.
A fashion accessory: there are a lot of these, surprisingly. Flower crowns, belts, bras, shoes, earrings, other types of jewelry. Your character can look cute while suffering from crab vomiting.
Books and stationary: maps of various worlds, books written in a myriad of languages (maybe even one you recognize!), writing paper, ink pens, gel pens, stickers. Any kind of stationary can be found here.
Other household items: this can include cleaning supplies, furniture, and other miscellaneous goods. These won't be personal affects from your character's home, but they may be useful!

Feel free to come up with unusual or alien items -- these have come from all over the universe, remember!

As the night winds down, it's recommended by Brie that you should probably go to be in your hut -- or at the very least get somewhere inside. There are a lot of people around the camp, however, so it's no surprise that there are a few people waiting around to get their fill of food and supplies before heading to bed.

The noise of the new members and the light of the fire have attracted a very large pack of boars, who you'll later find make routine trips to the beach every night. Boar mating season has made the wild hogs rather testy, and the smell of food -- even if it's their own boar brethren -- have made them even more volatile.

F ▢ If your character isn't quick to get inside tonight, they're likely to get a boar charging at them. The chances are doubled if they happen to be holding onto a food item. Female boars can leave a few bruises and trample you, but beware the males -- they've got tusks.

However, it's not like staying up at night doesn't have its advantages. Once midnight hits, another species of animal makes its regular rounds across the base camp.

In the sky, characters can see an Aurora Borealis-like sight. Instead of being dancing green and blue lights, however, the reality is that they are a massive species of space worm, and hundreds are wiggling past on their way to travel back home. They're shimmering and in every color imaginable, lighting up the sky with their magnificent hues.

too

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[there is an ALMIGHTY YELL as mikleo is assaulted by crabs to the face -- and to the everything else -- as he opens one of the fridges

he has never encountered crabs up close before

he has no weapon

some of them are PINCHING

ANSWER: STOP DROP ROLL]

[Curiosity killed the Meowkleo, apparently, or at least his dignity.

There really are quite a few crabs, as Lenka has been dutifully collecting them as tasked for tonight's dinner (and also, he is pretty hungry at this point in the evening); the problem came when he realized that the refrigerators that were so handy for shutting them into are... a little hard to move around. He'd tried a few things, and...

Well, here they are.

At a full sprint, he manages to reach the site of the ongoing disaster in under a minute, but it's still a little hard to find the current victim in the middle of the crab herd and flying sand. And he can't do anything to the crabs without potentially dragging Mikleo into it. Again.]

... Hello? [there's a pause to pick up a scuttling crab with a semi-practiced swooping motion; boy is he glad he habitually wears gloves] Are you in there?

[he's more alarmed than hurt, really; crab claws hurt, but the crabs themselves aren't big enough to have done him lasting damage

(except to the dignity, yes.)

he calms down a bit once Lenka gets that crab off and he hears a human voice -- that one had a claw dangerously near his nose -- but doesn't quite have it together to get up yet, brushing crabs off himself while still lying full-length in the sand. he's trying real hard to keep a straight face when he looks up at Lenka. he's not very good at it.]

Why are there so many?

[They really are quite lucky these are normal-sized alien crabs, rather than any other kind of alien crab.

Not that you can really tell how alien the crabs are, and Lenka wouldn't have been able to tell either way -- today was also his first time actually seeing crabs from up close, never mind doing anything else with them. He's met things with much bigger pincers, though, and only winces a little bit while he chases the crabs around Mikleo in hopes of recovering at least some of dinner.

Once he's made sure Mikleo still has a nose, anyway.]

... I don't know. I think they like the baths. [and, well, they are the closest source of water since the beach makes no sense whatsoever] And I don't get to eat crab a lot.

[That's totally the reason there are two entire fridges of crabs happening here.]

I thought they were whoever owns this island's pets -- admittedly I didn't get a very clear impression of that. Miss Newbiesitter might actually have been joking.

[he never actually learned Brie's real name, no. finally, gingerly sits up, and starts to help with herding the crabs, tossing the live ones that are still scattered around him back to the fridge as best as he can. they can make some progress herding them back, though it's going to be a job and a half to repack the fridges]

I'm so sorry about this! I heard tapping, and thought someone might have accidentally gotten trapped in this box, or something...my mistake.

Miss Newbie...?

[Genette's name is the only one Lenka knows right off, and neither of the girls in charge had seemed like the type to own the entire island (could an island like this be owned by someone?), so that only left whatever was going on with the caravan. Curiouser and curiouser. But more importantly: repacking the fridges is actually the easy part.

Lenka fishes some more crabs out of the sand and tosses them in one of the fridge drawers, then has to do a little dance to stop a few that are trying to scuttle out again. The armlet on his right wrist has at least three crabs dangling from it, in some sort of weird makeshift crabholder.]

It's okay. I don't think people eat their pets.

[That's clearly the main point, and-- he pauses for a moment.]

... Box?

Edited 2017-07-09 22:51 (UTC)

The one who, er, spoke out to people earlier through the signet. She said she'd been here for years and that we couldn't leave. And--yes, that box.

[points, very illustratively, at the fridge, then makes a face and fishes yet another crab out from where it's tried to find a refuge up his sleeve]

Did you make them--? I wondered where they'd come from.

I guess there's a few of them.

[A few people who'd been here for years and can't leave--

Maybe it's better he doesn't think too hard about that for the moment. Lenka frees a crab from where it's made an involuntary and flailing nest in his hair -- it's a bit of a process, so he's wincing and pausing quite a bit as he looks between the crab, the fridge and Mikleo.]

I guess -- they're mine -- yes. [the crab is really attached to his bangs] I was trying -- to move them -- refrigerators. Ice boxes, I guess!

[The last part of the attempted explanation is a yell while he slam dunks the crab into the fridge. The appliance rocks a bit from the force of his enthusiasm. A few crabs rain down from the shelves they were scuttling on and he hurriedly retracts his hand.]

[he was half-reaching up, because that looked painful, but the crab dunk is TOO SWIFT. he settles for getting up and starting to get the fridge door back closed -- not the easiest task, since it's a little bit angled into the sand after their shenanigans, but doable]

They're...still not familiar to me, but if you just need help moving them, I could do that? If it takes three, Sorey can help too.

Uh. What do you keep food in...?

[It's an idle question as he straightens from the dunk and then dutifully goes to throw his shoulder against the door to help Mikleo get it closed. The crabs must have been tired, too, because once the thing slams shut there's only minimal knocking. Something about the cold is getting to them, maybe.

With that done, he motions to Mikleo to step back a bit. Hesitates for a moment, looking between both fridges.]

For moving them, I was trying something new, but they ran away from me. [is your refrigerator running today--] If I try again, maybe.

[Third time's the charm?! Lenka raises a hand towards the second refrigerator, which is almost completely quiet, and-- it vanishes without further ado.

There's also a funny crashing noise over by the forest not too far from them. Three guesses.]

A--storehouse?

[the water seraphs from home could keep foods cold, but they weren't usually kept in something like a fridge. a stream might actually be more likely; more to work with there.

that train of thought's interrupted by the fridge vanishing, of course, and both his eyebrows go up very high when they hear the smash a moment later. he starts toward the sound.]

...well, you -- you definitely moved it. I hope it hasn't opened up again.

[Lenka's grown up with somewhat retro technology compared to the civilization centers of most of his world, but he is still from a near-future society. And while he understands the concept of storehouses, it still surprises him a little that the very concept of iceboxes isn't a thing.

Not that said iceboxes are being particularly practical at the moment. He might really have to see if he can figure out a better way to move supplies with these, because this is ridiculous. He doesn't sprint this time, since there doesn't seem to be anyone in imminent danger in that direction, but he does try to move briskly.]

I think the crabs aren't moving as much, but I should still check. [it's a little sheepish, and his half-run is part hurry to check on the refrigerator and part embarrassment] I guess this isn't going to work...

[lengthens his strides to keep up, biting the inside of his lip hard to hide a tiny smile and mostly succeeding. Lenka's power is sort of unwieldly right now, yes, but since the fridges haven't actually hit anyone yet and a crab didn't ACTUALLY get him on the nose, he's enough of a teenage boy to see the humor in it in general]

There's something to be said for ambitious first tries. Though--I'm guessing you'll want to clear a practice area until you know they'll go where you want. How are you triggering that ability, anyway?

[Tragically, Lenka's one of those types who tends to take things too seriously, even accidental crab attacks that end in cool appliance escapes. That, and he's been pretty frazzled with his power all day: he can handle a lot of things, but deserted magical space islands stacked on top of people reading his mind stacked on top of everything else!

He's having a little trouble keeping up right now!

They do catch the refrigerator, though -- luckily, it hasn't fallen open, but it has fallen facedown. So while the door to crustacean freedom is blocked (by the ground), it's going to be a little hairy figuring out what to do with it next.]

That's why I went to get the crabs... [so he'd have a bit more room to maneuver, since everyone else was avoiding it] But, I don't really know how I'm doing it. I just... think about a fridge appearing, and it shows up.

At least that's simple enough. A bit haphazard, but it's not like anyone on this island has any fine control right now.

[he stares at all the hardware on the BACK of the fridge, in some confusion when they get to it, then tests how heavy it is and winces. wow. fridges weigh a ton. that is a bit sobering!]

...so do you think it will hurt anything if we take off some parts? That'd be one way to make it lighter and more portable.

[of course that might also just lead to fridge shrapnel when Lenka wants to teleport the fridge again, if all the component parts are taken along with the original fridge. unsure.]

I've tried, for more control. But they just appear however they want to.

[At this point he may or may not be treating his power like a bag of unruly cats. Sometimes a tortoiseshell climbs out when he would have wanted a calico, and sometimes they bring a dead bird to the table. Not that he's ever owned a cat or even come close to the experience, but it's the principle of the matter.

Lenka contemplates the fridge for a moment -- he's no expert on appliances, even if he knows some basic mechanics out of necessity. But if they're not going for any kind of function -- just the need to dissect and transport...]

... But I don't think it matters if we take it apart. If it isn't connected to anything, it's just a box.

[Fridge shrapnel is a mystery or a regret for a later time--]

[huh. just a box. he considers it a moment longer, then nods firmly.]

All right. Let's see what we can get off -- I think we might need something to lever, a lot of that looks bolted down -- and then, if we can rig up some kind of drag or sledge, that should be easier to get over the sand and to wherever you want to put it. Sound good?

[fridges might be new, practical mcguyvering not so much. sometimes you gotta make do while exploring.]

And we'll have to turn it over, to make sure the door doesn't open halfway through.

[That's the trouble with the fridge being face down, and fridges for transportation in general. The doors are for upright sealing, not every which way you want to angle the thing. Maybe they'll have to find something to tie the door closed...?

His new acquaintance might not know much about common technology, but the mcguyvering plans happen in a blink and Lenka does appreciate that -- resourcefulness is something they can't have too much of around here. He'll start hunting around for good-sized, thick branches, speaking of levers.]

If we take out the shelves, and whatever is in the freezer... [it's partly to himself as he hunts] The grill in the back... I think... Do we have materials for a sledge?

[The last is to Mikleo. He's okay at jury-rigging things, but this is new territory, quite literally.]

If no one's using the boar hides, and we can carry the fridge long enough to get them ON them -- it will be rough, but better than nothing. There is some rope, we can use that to tie the thing closed before moving it around.

[he's also looking around for branches -- honestly, levering might also help with flipping the fridge over.]

The boar hides... right. We won't have to lift it very far, and the sand is good for sliding.

[It's a decent workaround for the distance they need to go. At the very least, it's better than randomly teleporting a fridge full of crabs around a beach with crowds on it, even if they're far off.

He picks a branch, finally, takes care to smooth out splinters and protrusions as best he can before propping it underneath the intricate mess welded to the back of the fridge. And while he isn't much good at magic, brute forcing things? Somewhat up his alley. The coils on the back of the fridge and the fridge itself start groaning unhappily as he applies pressure, but...]

I think if we both take one end...

[It'll go faster with two branches, if Mikleo is down for brute force here.]

[he's already moving into place once he's found his own lever, shoving it in the gap Lenka's created and wrenching. he is, fortunately, a lot stronger in the arms and shoulders than he looks, and between them, the coils creak in further protest, the rivets securing them to the fridge straining...straining...

pop! ping! kreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek]

[Lenka startles a little when the rivets go ricocheting off into the bushes, but doesn't let up on the pressure -- and soon the coils snap right off, slightly bent and somewhat cracked (it's a fairly old fridge) but nothing's electrocuted them or climbed out from the back, so...

He'll count that as a success. Rope is a bit dicey out here, for the next step, and it's a bit dark to go hunting for vines. Hmm.]

... Okay. I think there are hides drying somewhere on the beach.

[Maybe they'll find rope where those are, since that'll entail re-entering civilization. But he's not sure where: he skipped most of the boar hunt and prep, after all.]

Should still be fairly near the fire, unless something carried them off. Should one of us stay here and watch the crabs, or do you think they're pretty well knocked out?

[if they have the hides, they're set, honestly; rawhide is not the sturdiest thing in the world to use to tie something up, but it doesn't have to be for very long. for the first time in a while he finds himself grateful that, with a human best friend, he had to learn to deal with prickleboar. including the messy bits.]

[Lenka is entirely used to dealing with wildlife -- really messy wildlife in every way imaginable -- but an entirely different breed from what they've got here on the island. He could probably wrestle a boar for a little while if he absolutely had to, but dealing with the carcass is...

Well, I mean, he's never actually met a boar before he came here.

So he'll defer to whatever plans Mikleo has in terms of hides and rawhide -- he gives the fridge a careful nudge with one foot, bends down to examine the seal on the door.

Nope, not going anywhere.]

Let me just... [he crouches down and grabs some dirt, and draws a rough approximation of a skull and crossbones on the now-naked back of the fridge] I don't want someone else trying to open it.

[They should probably do something like it for the fridge back on the beach too... The island now has pirate fridges, who knows what the other coven members are going to think.]

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[OPENING] island hub - day 1

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