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

[sighsheavily]

I couldn't say. [weaponry? never met her.] But knowing how things can work at all is still a boon. [and she can't change her knowledgeset.

flatly:] Like knowing to not freely give pieces of myself to strangers, let alone feyfolk...

[flamekthunder]

...Pieces of yourself?

[Yeah she's going to explain that since he's not sure if she means figuratively or literally. He's assuming the former but you just never know.]

[sighsheavily]

[blithely, with a dry expression:] Ah, did you miss those particular events? The offerings of blood or hair?

Well, forewarned is forearmed, I suppose.

[flamekthunder]

The only thing I can recall hearing about is when Celliwig first opened to us and had that strange celebration. I didn't participate in it.

So what's the deal?

[sighsheavily]

The deal is that sometimes, for whatever reasons nonsense or otherwise, denizens of this realm will ask or demand participation in their local traditions. Some of these involve the giving of blood or other pieces of one's identity to satisfy some ritual.

[she can't help but roll her eyes.]

Naturally, none of the ritual leaders are very open with what the full extent of these sacrifices can entail.

[flamekthunder]

Are there any side effects of doing so? I'm familiar with blood required for some powerful spells so I assume it's similar.

[sighsheavily]

Inherently? I can't be sure, because I, myself, avoid it. [she pauses, using her tea as an excuse to give herself a chance to think fast. she's echoing concerns she broadcasted as naurfin...and she needs to keep some believable distance from that.

so:] But I've read so much about the linkages of blood to a person. I mean, there's magic that can let someone physically control a person through their blood, right? What does that say about the interplay of blood in mysterious rituals? It's like having signed off on something with unknown fine print.

[flamekthunder]

[He's silent as he slowly sips his tea and mulls over her words. Blood rituals and sacrifices... They're definitely a thing in his world, as is probably with all worlds that involve magic of some kind. Controlling someone through the use of their blood, however, is not something he's familiar. Impossible? Unlikely. So he doesn't brush off her suspicions and instead is in agreement.]

I can understand your concern, especially since we're at a disadvantage at being foreigners in this world. They control the information given to us and we can only accept it in good faith, but that's not always the case. I'll keep what you said in mind in the future.

I'm not really one to give away a part of myself so easily, anyway.

[sighsheavily]

[thank goodness he gets it. Cecelia hates how many people she's encountered don't seem nearly as bothered or aware.

this bothers her more because...well. she's got an inkling that thing about controlling bodies through their blood is something she may have the capacity to do even without someone's consent. if her hunch is right, that means it's an ability others may have. others less careful.

not a great thing to think on.]

Good. Do question anyone who asks such things of you. Even hair or...nh, I don't know, fingernail clippings. [she shrugs. druids use weirder stuff.]

[flamekthunder]

...I'll take note.

[A small pause as he studies her.]

So how much do you trust the fae?

[sighsheavily]

Ha. [it's a dry, puffed sound, her mouth quirking for a moment before her expression falls back to neutral.]

That's entirely dependent on context. This is their native realm, so they have a wealth of knowledge about themselves and the way things work here. I can trust that.

Whether or not such knowledge will be freely shared to outsiders like us, though?

[flamekthunder]

[A small snort.]

Unlikely.

So you trust them enough for whatever mutual benefit we currently have with them.

[sighsheavily]

And even then, I'm unclear as to whether or not they are as invested in fixing the calamity as Arthur's court is. [she shakes her head.] There's still this fixation on politics of the moment, of old wounds dictating response as opposed to open collaboration.

It's the sort of thing I would expect more from mortals, so I wonder what constitutes fey in this realm.

[flamekthunder]

I have no experience in dealing with people like the fey, but from what I've seen of immortals I'm not so surprised. As they say, grudges can last a lifetime, and immortals have plenty of it.

Add in a superiority complex, and I doubt we'll make any real meaningful progress at this rate.

I still don't even know what kind of "progress" we're supposed to be making to begin with.

[And that's been something that's been bothering him. He can only "live" in this world for so long without fully understanding their purpose. No matter how much he "plays house" with others, he's ultimately a soldier and wants to complete their objective.]

[sighsheavily]

[she ought to say she resembles that remark, but she honestly doesn't see herself as proud or as detached as immortals are, even if she is, effectively, one of them because of her career. she's rather farsighted in her own regard...

after a sip, she lifts her chin:] There's a general amount of 'status quo' to be maintained, especially when fluctuating volumes of the magically adept are in play. Without directly speaking for the court, I'd wager a guess we're in a state of watching and measuring, trying to reach a general average output before proceeding with new plans to do more than simply maintain the frozen state of disaster.

This also leads me to assume our circumstances are not as dire as they could be, since this "pull" that draws foreigners from their frozen worlds isn't destabilizing the barriers in place.

[flamekthunder]

[If things really aren't so dire...that would give some relief, But it's of course hard to say for certain. To just...be in a place, to simply exist and go about the day to day doesn't really give him any sense of progress. He finds himself forgetting that sometimes, caught up in those mundane activities between the jobs he takes and the occasional disruption. Of course the thing with Arthur is a problem, and it's not like nothing has been done as there have been political actions that he assumes will help things overall. But he still feels out of place.]

Is there any way for us to see that gauge?

[More of a rhetorical question.]

[sighsheavily]

Publicly? Not that I'm aware of. [she glances upward idly.] You'll need to reach out directly to the King or someone on his court to see if they're willing to engage with you one-on-one.

That's what I did.

[flamekthunder]

...And the King is currently indisposed. [A small release of breath as he leans back against the key, the tea mostly finished.]

Were you able to see anything?

[sighsheavily]

Anything where, now? We've covered a few topics, so you'll need to specify.

[flamekthunder]

When you met the King or someone of his court—were you able to learn or see anything.

[sighsheavily]

Ah. [nod.] Mm, well. Being given role of Ambassador did grant me some information regarding the precipice upon which you can see the calamity, but most of the discussion I had with His Highness was focused on the logistics and limitations of my role. Unfortunately, he was not keen to meander off-topic into any suggestions of plans or any details of how things transpired...

[flamekthunder]

....Unsurprising he wouldn't listen. [He hasn't seen much of Arthur, but of what he's seen so far—not impressed, really. However it's interesting that she's actually an Ambassador for their group, indicating how much work and motivation she had to get there.]

But you say you saw it—what did it look like?

[sighsheavily]

[she considers how to answer for a moment before tilting her head, peering his way sidelong.]

I can show you, if you like. You can see it for yourself.

[flamekthunder]

[His brows rise in surprise.]

Really?

[sighsheavily]

Of course. [she lifts her chin a bit as she turns her head to properly look him in the eyes.]

His Highness charged me to do so - to ferry those outworlders who wish to see the calamity with their own eyes. So I have been given that power. You need only ask.

[beat. she looks askance -- something of a shrug without actually shrugging.]

Though I can't do it right now. The magical toll is strong, so I would need a day to recover from this venture before heading out.