seventh shot ⊗ open october log

[flamekthunder]

🧙 WHO: Eustace and anyone
⚔️️ WHAT: various quests
🕒 WHEN: throughout October
🗺️ WHERE: various
⚠️ WARNINGS: none except depictions of death for headless horseman task and any potential violence that might happen in the combat oriented prompts

⊗ a: task - pumpkin mayhem

[It's only by chance that Eustace narrowly dodges a pumpkin that just whizzes by his head, frowning as he stares at the flying gourd. At first he thought someone recklessly threw it, but then he sees it actually stop in mid-air and fling itself back towards him. Realizing it's moving on its own, he once again rolls out of the way, unholstering his gun as he does before quickly aiming and firing a bolt of lightning. It's a perfect shot, hitting it squarely in the center to cause it to explode into smaller pieces and fall to the ground below.]

...Was it cursed?

[Somehow he wouldn't be surprised if so, but hearing some shouts as more pumpkins roll and fly about disrupts his thoughts and he heads over to try and help take care of them. He doesn't necessarily want to shoot them given the mess they can make, but he sometimes doesn't have much of a choice. So hopefully no one gets too much pumpkin splatter on them.

BONUS: When not dealing with the pumpkins, if he is managed to get dragged into a patch he may be persuaded to decorate one (though he'll be wary and suspicious if he's learned that the pumpkins might come to life from there). But if he does decorate one, it'll be dog themed.]

⊗ b: task - don't lose your head

[Hearing about the Headless Horseman prompts Eustace to head back, a trip made easier thanks to having received the Celliwig totem earlier. Since it's difficult to track its movements, Eustace takes an area to help cover.

1. Helping...Paw? Although he could just stick to a perch and be ready to snipe, it leaves a bad taste in his mouth when he could also be helping. So when someone else is on guard, he drops down to do what he can, be it just clearing out rubble and debris or transporting the dead. That includes turning into a dog and try to help sniff out or dig out any remains. It's not the most pleasant work and it would be better if there weren't any, but he's fairly immune to the sad, grisly aspect of it.

2. Fighting the Horseman. When the Horseman does arrive, should he be at his perch he'll instantly fire a few shots of lightning down at it in attempts to deal damage as well as stun it, but he can't be too sure if his lightning will have that kind of effect. Regardless, he'll provide cover fire for anyone fighting on the ground.]

⊗ c: tdm - not quite puppy parade

[It's probably not too surprising to find Eustace making a small stop to look at the adoption fair. And as an animal mage, he figures he could help out if needed.

For now, he just looks over the pens with a curious eye when one he spots one of those hamsters toddling about. It doesn't take long for him to catch up to it and pick it up. But then there's another. ...And another one.

...

At some point, Eustace has an armful of hamsters including a few that managed to climb up on top of his head and shoulders.]

...Those wings won't save you if you fall, you know.

[Just a small sigh as he carefully makes his way through the crowd to try and bring them back. Anyone want to help???]

⊗ d: wildcard

[He'll also be hunting the forests to help bring in extra meat and other resources, so could have some run ins there! Considered the Forest of Fachan prompt line but might be better as dedicated with one or two people. Can do the other quests, and it's likely he might end up getting involved in the Suns out, Guns out task in the sense of trying to intervene any unnecessary violence, so that's another option. If interested in anything else not included here, just hit me up on laenavesse or discord and we can work something out!]

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace was beginning to prepare his own fishing gear, setting aside the nets and bucket before getting to his rod when he hears the man's approach before he appears. He just glances up at him and notices the hint of familiarity between him and Zidane.

...Not surprised.

So he just nods in greeting before returning to his work.]

[tantailizing]

[Looking back at the greeting, Zidane sets his pole aside and raises a hand in greeting back. Yup, another person he knows there, Eustace.]

Hey, man! Heading out to hunt?

[He's seen some people hunt with birds before. Not usually big game, but wow, that bird the guy has now...]

[luciing]

Aye. [ The bird remains fairly still upon his arm, as if it's been well trained in the short few weeks since its adoption. Owls are fickle creatures, with sound as their main sense to hunt instead of the prized sight that raptors utilize. This makes hunting with them, and training them to hunt, a challenge for their masters. It seems to be a challenge he's willingly taken.

The wet grass near the riverbed crunches beneath his boots as he approaches. ] This nearshore is ideal. [ That is, where they now stand, and with his next words, Somnus decides for them all that this is the current place to settle for the young avian's training: ] I will join you here. The owl will not disturb aquatic game.

[flamekthunder]

Doesn't matter to me.

[Just a quiet remark as he checks his line before casting it out. He glances again at Somnus and the bird before looking at Zidane.]

I take it you two know each other.

[tantailizing]

Sure, sounds good! Besides, I wouldn't mind seeing you hunt with him.

[Though, they would see if Zidane ended up distracted and missing a few fish because of the owl. Whoops. Looking over to Eustace, he nods.]

Yup! We both fought against the Stone Giant, and then against the Dullahan. Oh yeah... [Looking Somnus's way.] That guy's kept his end of the deal, right? I came back a few times after, but haven't been around for a bit.

[luciing]

[ Somnus's free hand strokes through the tuft of feathers at the eagle-owl's chest, perhaps as a reward to the bird for being so well behaved. The owl itself twists its neck left and right in response. ]

The fae has kept his word.

[ Somnus affirms, as if he, too, had been back to Celliwig since then. ] However, there were other of his kin that stalked the same ruins.

[ Now, all are left reeling in the aftermath of the fall. Including the pets of the dead, such as the owl. ]

[flamekthunder]

"That guy"...do you mean the Dullahan or something else?

[Having faced against it before, Eustace's interest is piqued if it really is related to it. Even if not, he's a little curious.]

[tantailizing]

That's good. Not much we can do about the other unseelie. They got their own schedules so we'll just tell everyone to keep some iron with them.

[He shrugs and shakes his head. But back over to Eustace, he nods.]

'That guy' is just the Dullahan. He didn't have a name, but fae don't share names normally, do they? Huh, if he spoke his name, would he accidentally kill himself? That'd suck.

[luciing]

[ With a wordless command that only he seems to know, the juvenile owl takes flight. Somnus lowers his arm, and his hand disappeared beneath the heavy folds of his cloak. ]

Spare your pity.

[flamekthunder]

I have to agree.

[Somnus and Eustace are clearly ruthless.]

I had faced against him with someone else, but you managed to make a deal with him?

[tantailizing]

Haha, it's not pity you guys. It'd be funny though if that could happen.

[Geez, ain't he just surrounded by jokesters...]

Yeah. Someone stole his head and we found it after we bound him with some horseshoes to buy time.

[Not really hard. Meanwhile, Zidane will finally cast his hook into the water.]

[luciing]

[ Just a bro's day out, nothing to see here.

Somnus angles his head, looking towards the river where they have their lines cast. Belatedly, ]

It is as the youth says.

[flamekthunder]

...Bound it with horsehoes...?

[Going to have to explain that one. Also is it cheating if Eustace can kind of..."hear" the fish and is already reeling one in?]

[tantailizing]

It's Zidane, by the way. Since we couldn't really do introductions around the faeries.

[Which might confuse Eustace, but sometimes, things happen and you don't learn a new friend's name that soon.]

Yup. I found some horseshoes, he used his magic to turn it into a barbed chain, and we locked him down.

[Hey, he's not going to call it cheating. Getting fish at this point was just kinda the point.]

[luciing]

[ Equally belated, he gives his name. ] Somnus.

[ The eagle-owl returns. He raises his arm, allowing it to home back onto his leather bracer. It gnaws upon a tiny, white rat, an adequate trophy for a bird still in its youth.

As for the topic of the dullahan, he merely grunts with a slight tilt of his head, as if to corroborate Zidane's tale. He needn't explain that iron is a profound weakness to many fae. ]

[flamekthunder]

...Eustace. [And the latest.

But hearing it full, it does make sense as he is aware of the fae's weakness to iron, so he just nods in understanding.

And now Eustace will return to fishing, bringing in the fish he caught and setting it in the bucket before casting out. It's a decent size catch, one worth keeping to bring back to be cooked.]

[tantailizing]

Good introductions all around! And not bad catches either.

[A small rat for the eagle-owl and a good mid-size fish that'll definitely cover someone's dinner, or they could expand it by making soup. Checking his own line, there's some interested nibbles, but no latches.]

[luciing]

Avalon is fertile. Camelot's demesne will support those who wish to sup. [ Including pets. The eagle-owl is pleased with its catch, but it does turn its head to eye the fish the other has just caught.

Somnus clicks his tongue, drawing its attention back to him. ]

[flamekthunder]

[He notices the eagle-owl's glance before casting his line again.]

There's a sizable group towards the middle of the river if it wants to try fishing.

[tantailizing]

We're lucky for that.

[If... he's understanding Somnus right. Noting the eagle-owl's gaze and then looking at Eustace, his eyes snap out to the river - his line's bobbing again.]

Oh yeah? Can you hear them all huddled out there?

[luciing]

[ Zidane gives a good question. Somnus turns his head, looking at Eustace as if he's waiting for an explanation as to how the other man knows. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Just a nod as he looks over at them.]

There are a few different schools out there. I can't hear what they're talking about since I'm out of the water, but I can hear enough noise to know they're there.

[tantailizing]

Ah... eh, as long as they're not too alarmed right now.

[They had to at least be warning each other something strange was going on near shore since one fish disappeared. Or maybe not. What kind of conversations did fish regularly have? Also, Eustace, he knows that doesn't answer anything for Somnus.]

Animal Magic...! [He says before finally getting something on his hook! ]

[luciing]

[ Somnus turns his head towards the unnamed eagle-owl, and then he steps towards the edge of the river, some feet away from where Eustace stands.

With a bump from his arm, he allows it to take flight again. ] Animal magic, if nothing else, is helpful for hunting.

[flamekthunder]

It can be. [A small nod to Somnus.] At other times it can make things difficult...so it's not for the faint of heart.

As for the fish, while some are smart, they're simple creatures and are used to being preyed on by birds and other animals. The moment they see food, they'll still go after it even if they've seen another taken. It's a risk some will take.