[OPENING] island hub - day 1

[spellbindmods]

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. A ▢ Brie has rolled out a large copper pot and created a pit on the beach. It's unrealistic to think everyone can subsist on the few foods she's collected from other words and boar jerky alone. She's got a few boar carcasses sitting on the beach that need attending to as well. Your characters can help feed themselves and others, and here's what needs to be done: 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. B ▢ The crab isn't a species that's immediately edible for most species, though your character will grow to get used to it eventually. For now, the meat isn't settling well within your character's system. Your character will experience sweats, a high fever, blurred vision, potential vomiting, hives...it's very obvious their body is rejecting the unfamiliar meat. This may also cause a bit of an issue with your character's powers. They're still getting physically and mentally acclimated to these new changes, so expect their telepathy and magic to go a little haywire.

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. C ▢ A tall, slender woman has also come along with the large caravan, quickly opening the trunk that eventually lands on the sand with a large thud. She's handing out sacks, very similar to the ones previously in the large lobster cage. These contain a parka, a type of candy of your choice, a bottle of water, a large shard from a broken mirror and a letter rolled up and bound with a roll of twine. There are two other thread options associated with this prompt: Genette's top level and 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? D ▢ The telepathic message your character will receive is a simple one: Hello. It shows up in text form across your character's line of vision and it doesn't go away until they respond back, though the message that's sent out won't go to the original telepath. Instead it will ping pong to a random person in the group. You've made a new friend! 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! E ▢ The last of the starter supplies are being handed out, and these are items that are more cumbersome or rare -- they may not be immediately useful for your character, but maybe you can make use of them somehow, whether eventually in another world or with your power. 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. G ▢ The space worms operate outside the natural barrier of the hub, but they still are in close enough proximity to shed a film as they travel. If you're still awake, boars or no, you'll be in the middle of a shower. The film sheds from the worms and enters the atmosphere, creating multi-colored, sweet-smelling mists of worm water vapor. Worm water vapor is kind of weird, but it's also pretty cool. It's also calming, and that's a bonus. Inhale too much and you might become a little too calm.

Comments

[potentite]

[That is a good question that gives him pause. His whole life has been abnormal compared to most people, he thinks. He's actually pretty sure of that. But she says it isn't the weirdest thing for her, either, so... what's the weirdest thing. Hm. Trickster Mode? Yeah, definitely, but god he doesn't want to talk about that, so what else?]

All right, well, about six months ago, I dreamt about a conversation I had with my best friend on my birthday. But then it turned odd and I realised I was dreaming, which was only possible because some version of me had died apparently? At which point I also found out I'd created a version of my best friend in my head through some combination of our powers. And then a dead ghost alien lady showed up and soon after she took me to meet her friends, one of whom I thought was responsible for the apocalypse, so I decked her.

[He pauses. Yeah, saying it out loud, it was definitely weird.] I'm not entirely sure that was the weirdest thing but it was definitely part of one of my weirdest days.

[mapsio]

[She's listening, and maybe part of her thinks that this story might be a little too outrageous. Had Jake hit his head a few times while waking up from the initial dream? Was a "dead ghost alien lady" even possible?

It's then that she remembers that traveling back and forth between the "real world" and a "metaverse" could be equally as weird. But she's never had the pleasure of decking someone who was responsible for the apocalypse.]

I have to say that sounds almost unbelievable.

[potentite]

It does, doesn't it? [Having to actually explain it, he realises how ridiculous it all sounds.] But I'm not yanking your chain, I swear. It's been... a kind of unbelievable life all around, I guess. But because of that, it's pretty easy for me to believe things I hear, too!

[mapsio]

If you want, I could tell you the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me?

[Certainly they could swap stories while they helped with chores around camp.]

[potentite]

Yes, please. I, um, haven't really talked to many people before! So... I'm kind of excited to hear how other people's lives are.

[mapsio]

I suppose that the weirdest thing to ever happen to me was when I discovered I had a hidden power. It made me be able to become a heroine of justice!

[...hm, how much more should she say? She would be okay here right? This wasn't home and no one here would really bat an eye.....right?]

[potentite]

[That makes him extra curious. His eyes practically glitter.] You mean... like a superhero?

[mapsio]

A superhero? That isn't really what I'm called, but I would like to think that some of my actions are superhero like.

[Haru would love to be called just a superhero, but it seems like it might be more complicated.]

[potentite]

[He wonders if it's okay to pry a little. Well, he's sure if she doesn't want him to, she'll let him know.]

A heroine of justice would certainly take at least some of the actions of a superhero, I'm sure. And if not, they would be actions towards a greater good, would they not?

[mapsio]

Of course. I think that what we do is for the better.

[She doesn't think it's prying. She just wonders if it is safe to reveal her identity here. Maybe it would be fine? It was a point of conversation for sure.]

It's just, changing a criminal's heart isn't so easy.

[potentite]

Changing their heart...? You mean that literally, somehow? [It's pretty interesting sounding.] Like, um, you can make them turn over a new leaf?

[mapsio]

Yes, that is the point of anyways. Righting the wrongs of evil adults who hold distorted desires in their heart. It's like... healing someone's heart in a way.

[It sounds nice until you enter a palace. It sounds nice until you have one failure and have to re-evaluate everything.] Though I know a lot of people don't believe in or agree with our methods.

[potentite]

[Thinking about it, he wonders if that's something like what Aranea did to him. He isn't really sure. She said she was going to heal his mind but he's rather dubious on that.]

What are people like when you're done?

[mapsio]

Often times they apologize for their crimes and turn themselves in. Which really is the best course of action. Should we fail... there are consequences as well.

[It touched a sore spot for her. Though she doesn't show it too much.]

[potentite]

Well... maybe not everyone agrees but I see nothing wrong with showing someone the light. Saying 'turn themselves in' sounds like you save it for extreme situations.

[mapsio]

If their distorted desires are causing harm to people in the real world, of course. So someone like a mob boss or someone who has lost their sense of self. We wouldn't just go and change anyone's heart. It doesn't work like that.

[It really is hard to explain.]

[potentite]

[Lost their sense of self. Huh. He wonders if she could fix him. But he wouldn't want to ask that when they barely know each other.]

No, you don't strike me as the type to use such a power all willy-nilly. Don't worry, I believe you! I'm certain what you do is for good. But may I ask... how does it work, exactly?

[mapsio]

[Theoretically, if Jake wanted to be fixed and their cell phones were working. She would need full name, location, and keyword for the navigation system. It's complicated.]

Ah, well... I've never told anyone outside of my team since they all have the same power. You might think I'm crazy. Are you sure you want to know about it?

[potentite]

I've heard a frightful many crazy things and so far they've all turned out to be the truth. And um, well, you seem honest! So I'll believe you, I promise.

[mapsio]

As to how it's done, it's terribly complicated I'm afraid. But essentially we are able to enter a person's "palace", the root of their distorted desires and use our power to free them from whatever evil has rooted in their heart.

[... she almost hesitates on the next part.]

We use our personas to help us. Which, our personas are like...a rebellious soul within ourselves. They grant us power if we have the resolve to use them.

[potentite]

A rebellious soul... [That sounds so much cooler than their powers.] Wow, so is it like... a part of you? A splinter?

[mapsio]

[It is kind of cool once you get past the ridiculous sounding part of it.]

It is a part of me. I can't summon her in the real world, but in the metaverse where we do our work, she becomes my best ally.

[potentite]

Neato! What is she like?

[mapsio]

She's.... kind of large? She wears a huge dress.

[This is so hard to explain.] Her name is Milady.

[potentite]

Milady? What an elegant name. Somehow, that seems to suit someone who is part of you.