January Open Log

[cameprepared]

🧙 WHO: Claire Redfield & YOU
⚔️️ WHAT: Open Log for January
🕒 WHEN: January!
🗺️ WHERE: All over the island
⚠️ WARNINGS: Possible violence, and Claire's usual warning for talk of zombies, viral outbreaks, and body horror.




A. White Cliffs

Claire had not missed the influx of new people, and she'd taken to helping where she could, namely by gathering up supplies and going to the beach, but that was only a single day's worth of work. She also spent a fair bit of time around the White Cliffs, mainly because it was an out of the way place she could work.

Magic was something new, and she was still working through ways to make it work without backfiring. Plus there was experimenting with combining it with things she was familiar with...like her gun. Which wasn't great for doing around people, so the isolated spot she's in feels right.

Anyone out by the Cliffs will probably hear the repeated barks of gunshots, as well as the bark of an actual canine. Following the sound will lead them to Claire, standing a safe distance from the edge and aiming a gun at a target sitting on a rock. Beside her, sitting within arms reach, is her familiar. The huge black dog's eyes turn to anyone approaching, and...his tongue lolls out in a doggy smile that prompts Claire to turn around.

"...Hey."


B. Bridge Trolls


Never let it be said that Claire wasn't ready to fight, and never let it be said that she wasn't fully prepared to retreat if things got rough. Especially if there was a trap she'd set up. The sharp bark of gunfire and the general sounds of combat are pretty easy to make out, but likely drowned out by heavy footfalls moving up a hill on the Western road to Camelot.

Sprinting full tilt over the hill ahead of the noise comes Claire, her familiar a dark blur at her side. She's breathing heavy, but other than that, unharmed.

"Shit!" she yells when she sees someone atop the hill. "Hey! Run! I've got a couple of trolls following me, and you do not wanna get caught by 'em."


C. Shadlin Showdown


The call to investigate had caught Claire's attention even after the harrowing troll battle, and she wasn't about to miss out on that. She had an explorer's heart, and so that meant ignoring the call was not an option. She and her familiar made the trek fairly quickly, but when they reached the intimidating wall of trees that was the Dusklight Woods, she found herself staring.

The massive forest gave off a dangerous feel, a place that probably shouldn't be intruded upon, and even her familiar seemed a bit intimidated by it. Frowning, hand on her gun, she forced herself to move forward into the shadow of the treeline, but no farther yet. Breathing in, she looked around and spotted another would be explorer.

"Creepy place, huh?"



D. Wildcard

I'm happy to set up closed starters, or do any number of other things. If you have something you want to do with Claire that isn't listed, drop me a starter! Alternatively, hit me up on Plurk at intercession to plot something

Comments

[colchismagecraft]

"It's certainly possible...hmph. I suppose it would not be entirely fair to say that the people in charge here did this intentionally."

It was another option, even if she was more inclined to think maliciously of their intentions.

[cameprepared]

"Not that we have any real way to verify," Claire says, echoing Caster's thought after really considering and not just speaking what was coming to mind.

"I mean, I want to give King Arthur the benefit of the doubt, but he may not be like the one in the stories."

[colchismagecraft]

"So King Arthur's legends are known where you're from...well. All myths and legends have their share of truth," she said with a shrug.

"I'll reserve judgement for now. He has given me no reason to trust him."

[cameprepared]

"Yeah. They've made it over to America. He's part of the whole...zeitgeist I guess?"

She's not the best with big words. But that sounds right.

"I'm willing to give him a shot until proven otherwise. But, I don't really fully trust anyone from this world yet, either. They could be lying, but they seem to be truthful."

[colchismagecraft]

America, hm? So there was a not-unreasonable chance their worlds were at least tangentially connected.

"They want us to help them restore this world, so they do have a motivation for manipulating us. I gather I'm in the minority, though," she said with a shrug. "I certainly have questions for him, if nothing else."

Of course, when she did get around to speaking to him, there was a high chance she'd crack and just demand he bring her lover here.

[cameprepared]

"You and me both, sister..."

Claire chuckles. She has a ton of questions, that's for sure.

"Wonder if he'll turn up to this big tournament that they've announced?"

[colchismagecraft]

'Sister'? That gave Caster pause- family was a complicated topic for her. Despite that though, she didn't hate the familiarity.

"...It does seem the sort of event where he'd make a grand entrance, if he wished to show off."

And knowing the sort of person she assumed he'd be, he would certainly want the chance to showboat.

"Will you be competing?"

[cameprepared]

It's just modern slang, Caster. Relax.

"Heh, yeah, you're probably right."

Claire isn't sure about competing though. That gives her pause, but eventually, she nods.

"And yeah, I think I might. I'll probably go for the target shooting event, at least."

[colchismagecraft]

She's a Magus from the age of Gods, who's main experience with the modern world was hanging out at a temple with her partner and a bunch of monks- modern slang was not her forte.

"Mm, I suppose that makes sense for you...I'd like to test how I'm progressing with this world's magic, so I may enter a few rounds myself. It should prove to be interesting."

[cameprepared]

"I might...give the Dark magic show a shot. But only on a lark."

She doesn't expect to win. Surprise, she actually does.

"I'm working on the whole 'shadow control' thing, but it's not coming as naturally to me. I'll need a real breakthrough to have a shot."

[colchismagecraft]

"Mm, shadow control is a little different from the spells I used to use to bind people, but I can show you, if you like?"

It was probably her pride that would cost her this particular match, given how confident she seemed. The offer, at least, seemed genuine.

[cameprepared]

"Absolutely. That would be really helpful, if you wanna."

She'd very much appreciate it. It might be the breakthrough she needs.

[colchismagecraft]

"I could use the practice, myself," she said calmly. There was no harm in taking a little time to teach someone else, and...she liked the feeling that people appreciated her abilities.

"The familiars act as a conduit between us and the world's magic. So, our focus needs to be on channeling that- and from there, moving and altering the flow as we will."

Caster held out one of her hands, letting that deep darkness start to flow out her fingertips. All the while, the glow in her familiar's skull and chest glowed a little brighter.

[cameprepared]

"Okay..."

Claire closes her eyes and focuses, one hand aimed away towards the can. The other back towards the dog. He stiffens, straightening up into less dopey position, tail going rigid.

She breathes, drawing in that same dark light, feeling it pulse around her fingertips.

"Like so...I can manage this..."

[colchismagecraft]

"Mm, like that. Keep your breathing level, that should keep the mana flow steady-" presumably, she meant whatever this world used for magic, but she hadn't shaken the old terminology. "Then, extend your focus to your target. Hone your sight in on it, and push your magic to it."

Caster flicked her wrist, palm downward, and with that gesture, dark tendrils lashed out to bind a post that was sticking out of the ground nearby.

"When you're controlling someone, the slightest movement of your fingers can manipulate them...but for this, all we need to do is force the item down."

[cameprepared]

Claire follows the instructions easily enough. Breathing, like she's shooting, breathing like she's trying to stay focused on a tight turn on her motorbike. The magic flows up her arms and around them, a swirling spiral of power that seems to reach out for the can.

"...Okay."

She holds out her hand in a grasping motion, and the shadows whip out, grabbing it and beginning to pull it down. It's wobbly, slow...unsteady...but she gets it. Mostly. Before she gets excited and her heartrate swells and she drops it.

"...Almost!"

[colchismagecraft]

"That's it..." Caster kept her voice soft, not wanting to disrupt Claire's concentration. It looked like she'd almost- no, not quite.

"Nearly there. Take a moment to make sure your grip is solid before you start to move it."

Her own shadows were sinking into the wood of that post, seeping their way into each and every crack. Only then did she throw her hand down, the wood shattering into splinters. "...Like that."

[cameprepared]

The crack and creak of wood doesn't distract her, now. She's focused, and she's found her center. It's more like shooting, adopting that stance, that mindset...

Her fingers close, squeezing tight, and the can crumples in on itself with a metallic groan.

"...There..." she breathes out heavily. "A start."

[colchismagecraft]

"Well done," Caster couldn't help but smile a little as the can crumpled. "It's that sense of focus you'll need to tap into, and once you've done that, practicing your technique will do the rest."

[cameprepared]

"Appreciate the advice, Caster."

She's pleased with herself, but also grateful, certainly. Caster seems like someone that's sparing with praise, and her seemingly closed off nature doesn't change that image.

"It's always good to pick up something new."

[colchismagecraft]

Caster gave a small nod at the comment, happy that she could assist her a little. Teaching wasn't...something she'd really done a great deal of, in her time, but it felt nice to have her skills be appreciated in that way.

"I don't think anyone in this world has uncovered the depths that our magic can reach, yet. We all have a long way to go."