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]

[ Juzo sidesteps the chain easy as anything. With the magic he borrowed from their unconscious friend, he’s feeling more like himself, power flowing through cybernetically enhanced limbs where before this place made him baseline – much to his chagrin.

While Eustace works on flushing out the second mage, Juzo opts to take care of the one who’s already shown himself – more or less. His hand clamps around the chain and he pulls. Even if the owner of the chain is a kinetic mage, there’s no way they’d be prepared for the amount of strength Juzo can bring to bear right now.

Sure enough, there’s a yelp from the shadows, and in flies the mage, pulled into the fray on the end of their chain. ]

Sorry to yank your chain! [ (He’s not. Nor is he sorry for that pun.)

The mage tries to manipulate the chain around Juzo, but being a kinetic mage in his own right, he blinks out of existence, teleporting a short way to come up behind the man. With a well-practiced motion, he slams the side of his hand against the back of the man’s neck, knocking him unconscious.

Now to see how Eustace is faring. ]

[flamekthunder]

[As he leaves Juzo to take on the one on his side, Eustace focuses on his own target. The first shot was more of a test, to see where the movement would be. He sees it from the roof, and he instantly redirects his aim. But instead of lightning, he shoots upward in the sky and a rain of sharp icicles fall downward on the spot. The mage scrambles to not get pierced, and in the confusion he loses sight of Eustace who had immediately transformed into a bird and flew up to the target location.

Landing behind, he instantly transforms out and slams his foot against the man's back, kicking him off the building.

Yep. That just happened.

However Eustace will be "kind" and cast a low wind spell to cushion the man's fall. Very low. The guy is still going to crash hard onto the floor, and on top of their first captive no less. The Erune will jump down after, using the wall and railings to hop down before landing on one of their hands, gun pointed at them with lightning crackling around the muzzle. Normally he wouldn't be so...aggressive, but even he can take it a little personally and vent a little.

Unable to keep up the spell, the walls will start to crumble and fade away.]

[gunmettle]

[ That sure did happen. Juzo looks up from leaving the other mage crumpled in a heap next to his companion in time to see Eustace shift from bird to man and kick their assailant off the roof. He tenses a moment, ready to spring to stop the guy from braining himself on the ground below, but a gust of wind kicks up to cushion the mage’s fall enough to matter.

Eustace is fast, fast and agile, and in a matter of seconds, he’s back on the ground, gun leveled and one heel digging into the guy’s hand. Something crunches unpleasantly.

Juzo steps up, clamping a sturdy hand on Eustace’s shoulder. ]

Much as I’m sure you wanna blow their brains out, we should get ‘em to the cops.

[flamekthunder]

[Although he doesn't remove the gun, he glances at Juzo. On the outside he looks calm, maybe too calm and cold. Inside...he's mostly the same, but he is kind of pissed. How many of these has he had to deal with...]

I know. It's set to stun.

[Is that a joke maybe. ...And technically true given that this can fire lightning and he can control the output. Mostly. But if he just wanted to give them a little jolt he could.]

[gunmettle]

[ Juzo knows the type - in fact, he’s one of those types, himself. There’s always a moment where the calm becomes too cold to truly be calm. He sees a bit of that in Eustace, but not enough to cause too much concern… for the moment. ]

That so? Guess that’s possible, with a gun that shoots lightning.

[ He’s seen similar things back home, but never anything fueled by magic.

The mage currently under Eustace’s boot curls the fingers of their free hand against the pavement, trying to push through the pain and ignite a spark of magic. Juzo’s hand snaps out, catching the mage in that same spot at the base of their skull, and the topple over onto Eustace’s foot.

He’s probably knocked more than a few people out in his day. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace just watches and then looks back up to Juzo. He might not say it, but he does give him a small nod and look of acknowledgment and thanks.

He then casts his gaze on the three unconscious men.]

Think you can carry two? I can take one.

[Yep. He's just going to carry on.]

[gunmettle]

[ Juzo simply nods back, a slight tilting of his barrel in Eustace’s direction. ]

Sure.

[ He’s still got some strength to spare thanks to the first guy unwillingly lending him his magic – he’ll have to spend the pent-up power one way or another soon, but for now it helps him function as he normally would.

Easy as anything, he picks up the two new goons, slinging each over a shoulder. He’ll leave the first guy for Eustace, since he’s bound and without power.

That done, there’s nothing left for it but to haul these three sorry assholes to the authorities. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He picks up the remaining man and slings him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and follows alongside Juzo. The two will certainly make for a strange sight and everyone they pass will give them plenty of room until they reach the authorities.

After giving statements and going through all the processing, the two will be able to leave. It's here that Eustace will turn to Juzo.]

Thanks for the help.

[gunmettle]

[ Dealing with the authorities is never high on Juzo’s list of likes, though he recognizes it as a part of his job – especially here, where it seems the locals are a little more willing to give someone like him the time of day. Thankfully, their business is rather cut and dry, and he and Eustace are turned loose without too much trouble. ]

Don’t mention it.

[ He’s already fishing another cigarette out of his pocket to replace the one he’d snubbed out and discarded when they went into the station. ]

Look me up if you ever need a hand with anything else.

[flamekthunder]

Likewise.

Take care of yourself.

[Probably words that should be said to him given the situation, but he just gives Juzo a nod before heading off.]