isleofavalon | seventh shot ⊗ open october log

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seventh shot ⊗ open october log

🧙 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!]

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Ah. Right...

[He nods and goes to help the rest of the hamsters back into the enclosure. But as his luck would dictate as soon as he gets close with the last one it starts to flap its little hamster wings. It flaps them and Izuku lets out an awkward yelp as it starts to fly up and flutter-- It's trying to escape!]

Hiiee-!! W-wait! Hey! Come back, that's dangerous!!

[He flails, trying to reach for the winged hamster before it gets into the rafters! What if it dies up there?!]

[Primals— He had almost finished unloading his own hamsters when he sees the problem so he's just going to shove the last three into Izuku's arms.]

Take care of these, I'll get it.

[HIS PATIENCE FOR THESE THINGS IS KIND OF THIN... And going to be evident when the next moment he transforms into a hawk of all things and flies after the hamster.

At least those hamsters can't fly very well.]

Wh- Eh??

[All Izuku can really do is stand there with the three baby hamsters in his arms looking dumbfoundedly as Eustace changes himself into a literal hawk.

... How does animal magic work, anyway? Does he gain the senses and mindset of a hawk too? He's not going to eat the hamster flying away, is he...??]

Eustace-san, please be careful...!

[If they behave he might let them live—

But Eustace is just flying up and there will definitely be loud shrieks from the hamster as it flounders in the air after seeing a bird of prey suddenly going after it. First Eustace swoops past, the wind knocking it around in the air before he descends and snatches it in midair with his talons.

It's all over in a flash as he flies back down to Izuku and land on his shoulder, holding the passed out hamster out.

Yep. That sure did happen.]

[Oh sweet All Might--

Izuku is kind of sweating. Watching the poor hamster squeak loudly in the air and then the hawk swooping in and landing on him. He tenses up nervously! He literally has a grown-ass man on his shoulder and he can't stop thinking about that.]

Eh---?? Okay- Hold on!

[The baby hamsters start to squeak in his arms too. But they're mostly just trying to burrow into Izuku's arm. Please don't bite him... He's going to mechanically move his body to the enclosure and slowly plop each one in before reaching up to take the one from the hawk-- from Eustace.]

[Once the hamster is taken, Eustace will free Izuku of his presence by flying off and then reappearing back to normal—and looking as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.]

That should also dissuade any of the others to try and fly off.

[Just casts them a dark glance...and they do indeed squeak and try to burrow further into Izuku in terror.]

[Oh, he scolded the babies... Izuku makes a small frown before he nods and quickly finishes returning the poor little ones into the enclousure. With that, he gently returns the lid so they can't go flying off again. At least for now.]

That was... Ehh... Something else, Eustace-san. I don't think I've ever seen magic work like that before.

[He might be putting a hand over his own shoulder to rub where the hawk claws were.]

[It's okay, Izuku, you are free to judge and disapprove of Eustace's methods.]

It was just animal magic. Transforming into other animals is a common use for it.

[Though he does notice that shoulder rub. ...Hrm.]

Did I scratch you?

[It was probably needed in the end. A little bit of scolding here and there for children to learn.]

Wa- Wow. This is the first time I've seen it in action.

[He quickly shakes his head.]

No! I was just startled.

Is that so...

[As long as he's fine then he won't worry too much.]

But transformations have their uses. [Such as before.] Otherwise, I appreciate your help.

[A sharp look at the hamsters who immediately hide in their little homes and tunnels.]

Hopefully they won't escape again... The latches may need to be adjusted if they had managed to push their way out before.

[Eustace is scary, the hamsters don't want to get scolded again.]

No problem, I wouldn't want them to fly away and get hurt either so... I don't mind helping. From what I've seen of animal magic it was only animal vocal mimicry I had no idea the transformations went that far. It was amazing to see it...!

[He crouches down to watch the little hamsters. And one does peek its head out to look at Izuku so he smiles. But then he raises a hand to use a sparkle of green alchemy to make sure the latches are well placed.]

There... That should help make sure they don't break the latches again.

[He lets Izuku work on the latches, recalling the kid can use alchemy and seeing it used in a clever way.]

Good work. I would have just set a heavy rock or used lock and chains.

[Is he serious? He can't be serious... ~~maybe.~~]

As to my magic... It has its limitations. I can only turn into any animal I have personally seen. It's possible for me to turn into something from viewing a picture, but it's not as perfect as I wouldn't have seen the entire body or know how they behave. There are also time limits and it comes at the cost of exhaustion unless I practice the form. I'm also limited to whatever skills of that animal, and I don't automatically know them except for movement.

For example, I could catch something as a hawk, but fighting against another one in the air would be my loss.

That might not have been the best thing to do... [Yikes!] But I've got it, Eustace-san. Don't worry!

[Good thing an alchemist can cheat at most things like this.]

I see... That's amazing for animal magic. Have you ever had troubles or got caught in a bind while being in animal form? It must be difficult learning how to fly or run.

[Guess that means he could turn into these little flying hamsters too?]

The only time I've had trouble is when I've exhausted my magic while transformed and remain in a weakened state.

[Not being specific.....]

[He blinks. Does he dare ask?]

What happens when that happens...?

...

[Just a small sound of discontent before he reveals...some of the truth.]

I remain in a small animal form and am unable to communicate for some time.

O-Oh.

[Sorry- He gives the smallest quietest little chortle. He's maybe picturing a tiny little baby hawk. Or even a tiny little round kitten that can't squeak.]

That's unfortunate, Eustace-san.

[It's a puppy, though not sure if better or worse if he turned into other animals. Would he become a tadpole if a frog.....]

It can be...difficult. [Like being almost taken away.] Just means I need to be careful when expending too much energy.

What about your magic? Any drawbacks?

[Or an egg if he was a chicken... Wait, no.]

Ah-! Yeah. It's about the same if I use too much energy too fast I can exhaust myself! ... Well, maybe not the same as changing my form...

[He holds his chin in thought.]

My alchemy magic tends to take enough energy out of me if I cast too quickly. And I can pass out if I do that. Or my transmutations come out wrong which can be problematic.

[He won't talk about his blood magic... That's a whole other bag of problems. He did scare that poor lady with it once. Tifa-san.]

What's the worst that's happened?

[He can't help but be a little curious. A problematic transmutation...?

And don't scare his girlfriend—]

Erm... Well... I've gotten my whole arm stuck in stone once. After I couldn't keep the transmutation up properly... And another time where I did pass out when I was working with ... iron spikes.

[Yeah, one can imagine how dangerous that was.]

[...Izuku please.]

...I'm assuming you didn't impale yourself. What were you doing that involved iron spikes?

N-no... I managed not to.

[Just barely-]

Ah- I was trying to work on being able to change my broadsword into various other shapes mid-combat.

[Battle-alchemy?!]

[Just an arch of the brow.]

...I suppose that's one way to use it. [Would be more efficient than carrying multiple weapons if he was successful.] Were you ever successful? And are you knowledgeable in that many different weapons?

[Izuku nods quickly, an obvious little proud nerdy spark in his eye.]

I was! I'm able to change the shape of my weapon at will, it's handy in a fight. It took me a lot of practice but I managed it. [...!] I've only worked with my broadsword so far, I haven't thought of other weapons yet...

[But he can make his sword into a mini-hand-canon that shoots cannonballs and that's pretty neat...]

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seventh shot ⊗ open october log

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