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]

Seems like a decent way to prank someone... We should ask them if they have anymore or if this was a deliberate sabotage from someone outside of the form.

[tantailizing]

Yeah. Could've been a 'deal' too good to pass up.

[And some people need to make gold and other people are trying to get extra out of the situations around. Yeesh... Well, Zidane'll pick up the suspect fertilizer. No point in leaving it with the others.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace checks around to make sure there isn't anything more or anything else before they head out of the field to find the staff.]

[tantailizing]

[This better have been worth it because there were some frozen pumpkins that still needed to be sorted out. And it looks like the staff they spoke to hadn't left the previous spot they'd spoke at.]

Heeey, we found your problem!

[flamekthunder]

[The staff look at them surprised and Eustace will let Zidane show the fertilizer before pointing out the problem.]

Is this something you normally have?

[They of course deny, but...one of them looks a little more nervous than the others.]

[tantailizing]

[Lowering the fertilizer to have a look around, Zidane locks onto the one that's not keeping it together.]

Yeah, like, hey, no harm in a prank now and then - especially after everything that's happened - but some people are getting pummeled by pumpkins which is more harm than good.

[That's if it's a prank...]

[flamekthunder]

["It was only supposed to be a little fun!" the young man cries out, unable to withstand the pressure anymore. "Just, you know, have the pumpkins fly around a bit to add some spooky holiday cheer! They weren't supposed to go crazy like that!"

As the other staff exclaim and start berating him, Eustace just crosses his arms over his chest.]

Were there any other patches?

["No, just this one," the man groaned. "There shouldn't be any other pumpkins from that field out so whatever is out there is it."]

Assuming other farms didn't get that fertilizer... [A small sigh.] Zidane and I will take care of the pumpkins. Rest of you need to alert any other farms and look into where the fertilizer was bought.

[tantailizing]

[Yup, there it is. Guess he'd been trying to hold it in for a while, but sometimes, the guilt is too much... or the fact he'll be in big trouble if someone were to find out it was him later.]

Something we'll just have to wait to find out... [Because inspecting all the fields could take a while. It's not like one of them could - he doesn't know - get some animals to sniff that out or anything.] Lets get back to Eria then.

[... And heck, he'll fix the pumpkins by drawing bats on them. Then they shouldn't attack people.]

[flamekthunder]

[They leave the group to handle the situation for now and Eustace just sighs as they walk back.]

...All for a prank... So troublesome.

[tantailizing]

Eh, I can't blame him for trying to do something that'll cheer everyone up.

[Only thing at fault was not realizing what would happen to the pumpkins exactly.]

I betcha a pumpkin decorated like a dog wouldn't be too bad, but those other ones...

[flamekthunder]

...As long as it's not a wolf or has fanged teeth it would be fine.

[Dog decorated pumpkin....... He wants to see it.................

No wait, mission.]

It's unfortunate for the original creators, but the easiest thing for us to do is destroy the pumpkins. [....Ugh.] That will be another mess of its own... I doubt anyone would want to eat them, either.

[tantailizing]

Haha, that's true.

[And at least Eustace sees the point. He has a feeling if he didn't mention dogs, he'd be getting a lecture on why not to enchant pumpkins.]

Do we have to? Can't we just wash them off. They're only decorated not carved. [Also, what do you mean?] ... I'd try one.

[flamekthunder]

I suppose we could try washing them to at least stop them, but they'd still be enchanted so we'd have to destroy them regardless.

[And just kind of. Arching a brow at him.]

...Would they even be safe to eat?

[Maybe Zidane is more daring, but he'd be wary of anything that was enchanted or cursed in some form.]

[tantailizing]

I guess that's true...

[Totally redecorating a pumpkin.]

Don't know until we try! Hm, but what to make?

[Because they should try it and see what happens when it's decorated!]

[flamekthunder]

You can try eating it, I'll pass. But for decorations...just keep it simple. Start with plain faces and then plain decorations like...leaves or flowers or something.

[HE DOESN'T KNOW HE DOESN'T REALLY DO THE PUMPKIN DECORATING THING.]

[tantailizing]

Sure no, that's fine. Making soup might be safe...

[He nods to himself. Meanwhile, he eyes Eustace.]

... Have you ever decorated a pumpkin before?

[flamekthunder]

I've helped carve a few, but I never personally decorated one on my own.

[Usually he's dragged into it and just assists others instead. Of the ones he's ever made they were very simple.]

[tantailizing]

No time like the present then!

[And look at that! The pumpkins and Eria!]

[flamekthunder]

....Fine. [Small sigh.

Though he stops short when he sees what awaits them. And that is Eria lying high mighty atop a rearranged pile of frozen pumpkins, all of them stacked to form some kind of throne just for her to laze over. Several people have already passed by to gawk, wondering if this is some sort of new attraction for the festivities.]

...Assuming we can convince her to let them go.

[tantailizing]

I can hear the enthusiasm.

[Eustace, have some fun.]

[Though, yeah, looking at Eria and her frosty fall throne, that'll be a problem. How did she stack them anyway? ... But, you know.]

... Maybe we should leave it like that. People seem to like it.

[flamekthunder]

She can't stay there forever.

[Undeterred, Eustace starts walking over to Eria's icy throne, the wolf already looking at him in disapproval.]

It's also in the way so at the very least it will need to be moved. Eria, come on.

[Eria just frowns, huffs, and turns around to face her backside towards them. Hmph.]

[tantailizing]

She can try. I mean, it'd be pretty festive in winter too!

[Watching the exchange, Zidane raises his hands and shakes his head.]

And here I was hoping dating Tifa would help improve your skills.

[He sighs. His student is hopeless.]

Eria, please tell me he isn't that clumsy with her, too?

[flamekthunder]

[Just giving Zidane a look.]

We're not dating.

[yet

And will now promptly ignore as he tries to coax (coerce) Eria to give up her lofty throne. The wolf just rolls her eyes and looks at Zidane with a look that clearly says Yes they are.]

[tantailizing]

[Zidane catches that look and nods... well, sarcastically nods to Eustace.]

Right, not dating dating...

[And he's just going to watch Eustace continue trying to coax the frosty maiden wolf from her lofty throne. Haha, it's almost like a story he's read. Eustace clearly read something else.]

[flamekthunder]

[There's a lot of grumbling and low howling from the wolf, but finally Eustace with a sigh.]

We've reached an agreement. She'll stay there for another half hour and she'll move them to a field.