fifth shot ⊗ open august log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: all three animal mage related quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout August
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except for animal deaths for the hunt task and any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - don't treep, man

[Near the beginning of the month, Eustace helps with the farmers, taking it as more opportunities to work on his communication with other animals. But he'll also help out with some of the physical labor aspects as well.

1. Herding. Taking the form of a black sheep dog, Eustace will run out to help corral those wayward animals, even help by communicating with any other dogs that might be around to direct them. Of course, sometimes trying to get clues to where the other members of the herd can be difficult, and there are times a dog can be seen lowly growling at a cow or sheep as he tries to make sense of what they're saying. He'll even pair up with anyone else who is out there, animal mage or not, and will be useful to get in close to the animals to drive them back. Of course he has limits to his magic, so there when not using magic, he'll ride out on a horse instead. It never really occurred to him to use his magic on it, but he does find communicating with it a lot easier.

2. Helping hand. When not out running around trying to get the animals back, Eustace will be helping repairing buildings. Mending fences, bringing in wood, sorting the feed—he'll be displaying a surprising amount of knowledge and ease working in a place like this.

Also do not mind the gratuitous fanservice as without his cloak on, the Erune fashion preference of wearing backless, sideless tops will be on full display.]

⊗ b: task - invasive species

[Knowing full well the necessity of controlling animal populations, Eustace heads out to site to help deal with it. It would be nice if they could convince the animals to move, but that could cos other problems in other ecosystems, so culling may just be the best answer here. However he's bringing a cart with him as he's not going to let this go to waste.

1. On the Hunt. Although he prefers working by himself, if there is anyone who is not as experienced he'll offer some advice or walk with them to help with the hunt. Otherwise, anyone wandering might be surprised if an animal suddenly falls and Eustace drops down from his perch in the trees, the gunshot that took out the creature silent.

2. Loading the Cart. After each kill, Eustace will carry it back to the cart he brought with him, arranging them in a certain way. And towards the end he'll even make an offer.]

All of these can be taken back and used as food or materials for goods. If you want any for your own use or to sell, go ahead. I can also prepare it if you can't.

[3. Carcinuses. Since the Carcinuses are only out because of the excess food, Eustace is less inclined to try and actually kill them. He will if there's no other choice, so he's ready to shoot down the lightning, but he'll try to help drive them back. The methods employed are to either bait them back in the water by chucking his own kills into the lake or...try and actually communicate.

This is a little tougher, but he'll try. So some might see a...very small, strange looking silvery gray crab staring up at a giant Carcinus who is just staring right back at the puny thing with some curiosity.

...Yeah he has no idea if this will work, but an attempt is being made. Or he could be mistaken as a little crab being intimidated by a big giant scorpion tailed crab when it's really probably the opposite. The claws are up, could there be a show down!?? (No, no there isn't.)]

⊗ c: task - animal mage hunt

[Eustace is not only an animal magic user, but because of his ears he can be easily mistaken as a "victim" of this ritual. So he's getting a double whammy on this one. The two options are:

1. Getting an Earful. Eustace was already used to people staring at his ears or even outright asking about it, but the past few days have been aggravating. Too many people have come up to him and either expressed pity or asked personal, invasive questions that were borderline disturbing and some outright propositioning. Some even had the audacity to try and touch them or worse—look to see if he had a tail hidden. For the most part they have more harmless so he just ignored and walked away (or smack a hand that came too close), but there's a point where the limits of his own patience is reached and he'll snap. Some might see someone fleeing from him in fear...or perhaps you might be daring enough to inquire while he's in this foul mood?

2. Targeted. There will be a few key incidents, but over the next few days Eustace will first notice he's being followed before he finds himself having to defend against sudden attacks. He'll also be on the hunt for the assailants as they are clearly a threat. For the most part he can handle it, but there are still times he could slip. Anyone who sees Eustace fighting off his assailant is free to intervene and help, perhaps even stopping one before he even realizes one is tailing him. Alternatively, anyone who wants to target and fight him is free to do so as well! Just PM so can figure out how it turns out.]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Thanks to the Animal Mage Hunt, he's going to end up suffering a severe injury later on that will limit his activity for the second half of the month, so most of the activity would be better set earlier. But if anyone wants to do a thread to check on him while he's recuperating, that's doable! If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[gunmettle]

[ That seems a bit extreme to him - and besides, the psychopath might actually enjoy it, and then where would they be? ]

In a perfect world, we'd be able to find both of 'em and put the whole thing to bed.

Guessin' you've had it especially rough lately.

[flamekthunder]

[Maybe if he gets ripped apart... Eustace has no mercy.

And there's just a bit of glower towards Juzo before he turns back to the unconscious man.]

I prefer the ones who try to attack over the others I've had to deal with.

[gunmettle]

You mean the ones who act like there's somethin' wrong with your head?

[ He tilts his own head, light catching on the steel of his teeth. ]

I know how you feel.

[flamekthunder]

[He'll eye him for a moment. Well. Now seems to be a good time as any.]

Dare I ask?

[With the pointed look, it'll be a little obvious he's asking about Juzo's...head. But if the guy doesn't want to talk about it, he won't say anything more than that.]

[gunmettle]

[ There it is. ]

If you want. I'm an oddity around here, so I'm used to it.

[ Annoying as it is, he's just accepted that there will always be questions lobbed his way. Better to get them out of the way than have people staring at him and wondering. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He knows how it goes so he really doesn't want to invade too much.]

Built in or natural?

[So he just keeps it short.

HEY NEVER KNOW he's seen all kinds of people and races. For all he knows there could be some natural species with giant guns on their heads.]

[gunmettle]

Built in. Used to be a soldier, and this chrome dome is what I got for the price of enlisting.

[ Well, if nothing else, he appreciates the brevity. ]

[flamekthunder]

Do you have to reload ammunition or magic?

[...He may or may not have a brief image of the guy trying to self load his head.]

[gunmettle]

Don't have to reload anything because no one around here is touching my trigger.

[ Which seems to imply that he himself can't use it. Seems like a pretty big design flaw. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He gets the implication and just studies him as the same thought occurs to him...but it could also mean he has a partner in his world or doesn't really need it used. Point is he won't have to worry about randomly getting shot at from someone's head, so that's all he needs.]

I see. I have no further questions.

[Any others he could possibly think of would be along the lines of what most people would blurt out like "How can you see" "How do you eat" How does that even work" but Eustace actually doesn't really care much about that. Guy seems to function perfectly fine and not like it matters to him, so why ask? That and he understands those kind of questions can be annoying so he doesn't bother.]

[gunmettle]

I got one for you, then.

[ This is probably the most straightforward conversation he's probably ever going to have about why he looks the way he looks, and he certainly appreciates it. It's just not in his nature to bring that sort of thing up. ]

What's your name? I'm Juzo.

[flamekthunder]

Eustace.

[Very straightforward and definitely a man of few words most of the time.]

[gunmettle]

You don’t mince words, do you?

[ Yeah, Juzo’s noticed that. He’s certainly one of the more taciturn conversational partners Juzo has had in a very long time. ]

Fine by me. What’re you planning on doing with our friend here?

[flamekthunder]

Question him before turning him into the authorities. Whether I take him peacefully or not will depend on how he responds.

[Though it wouldn't be a surprise if Eustace goes the latter regardless. Given harsh look he's giving the mage, it's clear he doesn't expect much.]

[gunmettle]

Mind if I stick around? I love a good show.

[ Juzo isn't necessarily going to intervene if things get violent - to a point. He doesn't know Eustace from Adam, so who's to say what his definition of "not peacefully" means? ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace just glances over at him before turning his attention back to the man who is beginning to stir.]

As long as you don't get in my way.

[Which...well similar to Juzo, he doesn't know the guy, but he did help so he could grant him this much. And while he prefers being on his own, having someone around just in case things take an unexpected turn or someone else shows up isn't the worst idea.

And so the first thing Eustace does when the man begins to show more awareness and about to shout is slam the heel of his boot into his chest, slamming the man back down on the ground. Aside from the act, there's no other real outward show of aggression or hostility, Eustace's expression cold and stoic as ever.

He's quick to start his questions, starting with name, if the man is working with anyone else, and who else he's targeted. When the mage throws sass first, Eustace just digs in his heel, electric sparks starting to crackle around him with some actually zapping into him.]

Sorry. I'm still new at this.

[Except he's clearly not sorry at all, especially when he has such a flat tone of delivery.

The guy is probably going to experience a lot of "electric shock therapy" in a not great way...but that's only if Eustace gets in a bad mood. Should be fine. Fiiiiine...]

[gunmettle]

[ Juzo’s spent most of his time in the run-down hellpit that is the slums – including the part of the run-down hellpit that is the slums under the thumb of the local mob. A few stray arcs of electricity aren’t enough to get Juzo to intervene. This guy tried to commit murder, so he’s not getting off easy.

So while he may not put a stop to Eustace’s shocking (heh) attempts at interrogation, he does lean over to look down at the mage, his face shadowed and smoke drifting from his maw like he’s some kind of steel-plated dragon. ]

Might wanna tell the rookie what he wants to know. You don’t want it to be my turn.

[ Yes, he’s absolutely spinning himself as the bad cop… worse cop, maybe, since Eustace isn’t great either. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace has no issue in Juzo's addition. If anything, it briefly reminds him of when he partnered with Vaseraga... But anyway, the mage is sputtering, the long shadows cast over the two making them seem even more menacing. While Eustace looks like a wolf ready to tear out his throat, Juzo appears as if he could really chew him up or worse.

That initial arrogant attitude cracks—along with his rib cage as Eustace presses down harder. When a "stray" arc of lightning flashes past mere centimeters away from his face, singing his hair, he sputters that there are three others. Although a group, they work independently on different targets. When pressed again (literally and verbally), he admits to not knowing who the poster is, just that they wanted the reward.

"You're all freaks, anyway!!" he shouts wildly.

Of course, Eustace just ignores him and looks back at Juzo.]

Three others he said... Feel up to a hunt?

[gunmettle]

[ The two of them make a surprisingly good team, not bad for a man with a gun for a head and another with a pair of wolf ears. Together, they manage to squeeze some good information out of the mage, and though he attempts to save face by spitting venomous words their way, Juzo’s heard it all before.

He exhales a plume of smoke in the mage’s direction, causing him to wrinkle his nose. ]

Tell me somethin’ I don’t know.

[ Nice try acting tough, he supposes. He straightens a bit and turns to Eustace with a nod. ]

Sounds like a great plan. Doesn’t sit right, some asshole wanting animal mages gone when dogs like this get to roam the streets unchecked.

[ (No offense, Eustace.) ]

[flamekthunder]

[(None taken...though it is a bit insulting to dogs—)]

Let's drop him off to the authorities then.

[Although Eustace planned on working alone and can mostly handle things himself... He has to admit in this case having someone else might not be a bad idea. Course they do have the option to spread out and work separately, but they can figure things out after dumping this guy into jail where he belongs.]

[gunmettle]

Great plan.

[ The mage, who didn’t like being called a dog in the first place, has a few more expletives for them both when Juzo suddenly bends over and, with one hand, hauls the mage off the ground, slinging him over his shoulder like an angry sack of potatoes.

Despite his aching ribs, the mage tries to squirm free, but has no such luck getting out of Juzo’s iron grip. ]

You wanna knock that off? Might accidentally drop you off a bridge or somethin’.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace follows behind, not minding at all of Juzo's treatment of their little prisoner. Really the guy probably got the better deal—Eustace would have transformed into either a wolf or horse and dragged him through the streets. Probably.]

I could just knock him unconscious.

[gunmettle]

Nah, I got it.

[ Juzo’s arm curls a little tighter around the mage’s midsection, which he also protests loudly. A spark of magic tries to ignite on his fingertips, but it gutters and dies.

“What did you do to me?!”

A half-shrug from Juzo. ]

Figured I’d borrow some of that magic of yours for when we go hunt your buddies.

[ Yeah, he absolutely has been siphoning magic off this guy since he picked him up. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace looks up at him at that. Although not explicitly stated, he could understand that he was using siphoning magic and can't help but smirk a bit. The mage, however, doesn't find it hilarious at all and starts protesting further and tries to swing his arms around as if to try and hit Juzo.

Of course, that's not really going to do anything.

Though at this rate, with all the ruckus Eustace wonders if the noise will attract the others and bring them to the duo...though that wouldn't be a bad thing, really. Might makes it easier for them.]

[gunmettle]

[ Well, the mage is certainly drawing the attention of random passersby, but that’s more attention than Juzo cares to have. If his buddies are out here and realize he’s in trouble, they’re not going to strike in the middle of a crowded street. (Also this guy is free to try and hit Juzo if he likes, but he’ll only come away with some bruises for his trouble. He’s built like a brick wall in more ways than one.) ]

Let’s take a shortcut.

[ He offers, easy as anything, and ducks down the first empty side street he sees. As he figured, the mage quits his yelling, going oddly - and smugly - quiet.

Quiet as it is down this street, Juzo gets the sense they’re not alone. ]