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

[flamekthunder]

[...Would she be offended if he just calls her Ardenbury in the future out of habit—]

...Miss Ardenbury, then.

[He'll try to remember, however, as he despite how he can be, he'll respect one's preference. For the most part, anyway.]

If you ever need assistance you can call me and I can see what I can do. I'm still training my skills, and I'm more proficient with dogs and other canines. But you don't need to worry about returning any favors.

[sighsheavily]

Mm-? [she'll tilt her head a little, putting a note of curiosity in her tone.] Do you mean to say this matter of speaking with animals is a new skill for you? Something bestowed upon you by the isle itself?

[flamekthunder]

Yes.

[And now he looks at her curiously.]

Did you think it was an innate skill of mine?

[sighsheavily]

It's hard to know for sure, solely on observational impressions.

[beat.]

...But the ears did lead me to make some surface-level assumptions.

[flamekthunder]

...Ah.

[Just a small nod of understanding.]

Perhaps my ancestors could have as my race does have roots with animals, but that was ages ago. It's also not impossible for someone or even specialized clans to develop such a skill, but for the most part it's rare.

[sighsheavily]

Who were you before this land, if I may ask? If no animist or druid. [rather brazen of her, given how cagey she is with details regarding herself, but hey. if one thing rings true in many worlds: people are apt to talking about themselves. it puts them at ease.]

[flamekthunder]

My race is an Erune...as for your question do you mean my occupation? If so, I was something like a soldier.

[Eustace is similar, but these are fairly basic and he's used to answering them by now. Though given how he answered the last part, it's clear he won't be so forthcoming either.]

[sighsheavily]

[she gives a thoughtful hum.]

There seems to be a surplus of those... [quickly:] Soldiers, not Erune as far as I know. Perhaps Avalon has itself a type.

[flamekthunder]

Most likely.

And yourself?

[He's noted her ears were not human...but he's not sure what she could be.]

[sighsheavily]

[with a note of amusement:] Certainly no soldier. [or friend to creatures great and small, apparently!] No...I'm more a scholar. Researcher. [she smirks.] Busybody.

But no one here seems apt to shell over coin for that, so here I am, hunting down lost animals and sifting through debris.

[flamekthunder]

Still highly important. I would imagine you'd find learning about this world interesting.

[Now that he thinks about it, he might have seen her on the network... Of the like five times he ever looked.]

[sighsheavily]

A touch more stressful than interesting, I admit. [she raises a hand to shield her eyes from the beaming sun as they clear the canopy of trees and draw closer to open and ruined farm fields.] We do have a looming threat of collective doom over our heads, after all...

[flamekthunder]

Fair enough. As curious as I am to know what you've learned, that's probably better for another day. {As in, he doesn't actually want to make their conversation one that would lead to more serious and bring the mood down.] What do you prefer to research? Did you have any particular focus coming here?

[There, his one "personal" question to match the one she asked him.]

[sighsheavily]

[her mouth tugs briefly.

that's confidential is the truest answer, but it's not the right one for the moment. still, not all her interests are off limits! otherwise, she'd be quite the cardboard creature, not very relatable in any way, yes?

so:] I've always had a fondness for literature, storycraft, and the nuances both have across different species. Elvish, human, dwarvish, and so on.

I find there is almost as much similar as there is different. It's archaeology comprised of excavating the bones and relics of legends and the imagined. I like it.

[with a crinkle of amusement in her eyes:] Less dirt than the real profession.

[flamekthunder]

[There's just a small upturn quirk at the corner of his lips in response to her little joke as he can appreciate the humor.]

You certainly make it sound more interesting. I don't mind research and studying myself, but never really for anything beyond what it is necessary or needed instead of an interested passion like yours.

[sighsheavily]

Well, you did ask my preferences, not my actual focus here, mm? [with a shrug.] My time is spent more trying to unraveling the magical frameworks here than delving far into any storied lore - though I'd not be surprised if they were intertwined quite tightly.

[flamekthunder]

I meant no offense, just a compliment. [A small hand raised as if in appeasement along with a small shrug.

But hm...]

Learn anything interesting? Or is that confidential?

[sighsheavily]

Depends on what you consider interesting, I suppose. This world...or at least, the way we were deigned to operate in this world...it seems we're not meant to master all the sects of magic ourselves.

[kind of vexing, really.]

[flamekthunder]

Do you mean that as individually or even as a collaborative group?

[sighsheavily]

Individually speaking. So if you had any ambitions on being able to branch beyond what your familiar's granted you, the likelihood is very minimal, unfortunately.

[flamekthunder]

I see. Then it's a good thing I have no such inclinations. Would it even be worth it if one could?

[sighsheavily]

I suppose it depends. [reflexively, her conversational tone starts to lower as they draw near others.] In general, it's perhaps for the best, given the...volume of volatile personalities within our outworlder collective.

[she sighs a little, reining it in. she can't get into details without showing too much of her hand.]

That's neither here nor there, I suppose. For now, musing on the lengths and limitations of personal growth isn't going to fix this bloody farm, is it.

[flamekthunder]

Fair enough. And I did say I didn't want to probe but I ended up asking questions so I apologize. [It was a little difficult to not ask in the end given the topic, but he'll respectfully back off.

The horse is also excited to return, actually having a pep in it step as it starts to tug Eustace towards where the stables were. Whether there's a stall suitable for it is a different matter, but there are at least some corrals that had been rebuilt early on that it can be housed in.]

I'll take care of him and check on the other animals. As I mentioned before, if you need any further assistance, you can call upon me.

[sighsheavily]

[she nods.] I've agreed to assist preparing and serving afternoon meals that are being handed out in an hour or so; if you're still about, perhaps we can converse further?

[flamekthunder]

Sure.

[Short and succinct as always... Though the horse tugging harder and giving Cecelia a rude parting snort doesn't help matters.]

Later.

[And away he goes, leading the horse and giving it a small tug of his own before quietly lecturing it.]