Septeril Quest and Catch-All Log [OPEN]

[blind_benevolence]

Who: Shu and you!
When: Throughout Septeril
Where: Throughout Aefenglom
What: Quests and things!
Warnings: None so far


[ 1. Under New Management ]

[ Shu's time most often these days has been split between keeping the slums safe and helping out around the orphanage. It's not exactly a glamorous job, but it's necessary. Besides, he really doesn't mind giving the kids an outlet in the form of training.

This evening, however, he has the less than pleasant task of getting the kids ready for bed. They're far too wound up to just settle down, so it's going to take a bit of trickery. ]

Hm, well, if you don't get ready for bed, I guess I don't have anyone to tell these stories to. [ He hears another volunteer nearby and turns towards them with a knowing smile. ] But if you're tired of my stories, surely this one has something new for you to hear.

[ Did you just get roped into this scheme of his? Yes...Sorry, but he needs the help. ]

[ 2. Out of the City ]

[ The outer city is no strange place to Shu. It's become more home to him over the past couple of months than the rest of the city. He's chosen to live in the slums and take up the task of protecting it (his bond with Eileen helped with both of those decisions).

Shades are a constant threat to those who can't fight them off, so Shu has taken it upon himself to deal with them. He may be a witch, but he isn't reliant on his magic whatsoever. Swift kicks and sharp blows drive away the threats with grace and ease.

There's a moment's reprieve, allowing him to greet the person he heard approach. ]

Are you here to help? I'd be honored to have you fight alongside me.

[ 3. Training ]

[ Aside from his other pursuits, Shu keeps his skills sharp by training almost religiously. It's not a solitary task, though, as he doesn't mind either teaching others some of the techniques of his Nanto Hakuroken, nor does he mind sparring partners. Training with others is a much better way of keeping his skills sharp.

So of course he's going to call someone who's been watching him out. ]

You're welcome to watch me as long as you like. You're also welcome to join me, if you're interested in a spar.

[ 4. Wildcard ]

[ Have an idea? Did we plot something out? Drop me a starter or PM me here or on discord glitzkrieg#0673 and we can work something out! ]

Comments

1

[thirdbeauty]

[Among the rowdy children is a diminutive damselfly-winged fae giggling and generally doing nothing to calm the situation. She's technically here as another volunteer, of course. But if she didn't look just barely old enough to not need supervision, she could have easily been mistaken for one of the unruly kids pretty much most of the time she's been here. It's just been too much fun using her powers to entertain the little ones, and being entertained with fun little games in return!

But she's suddenly put on the spot when another volunteer turns towards her, and she halts mid-giggle to blink and tilt her head curiously at his suggestion.]

Eh? Me?

[blind_benevolence]

Yes, you!

[ He keeps his tone cheerful and encouraging. It's a little bit harder for him to keep up with the kids and he's been quite grateful for Natsuru's brand of help. ]

You've been doing really well with them, don't be shy now.

[ At least the promise of a store seems to get the kids to settle down...sort of. They might be sitting down but few of them are sitting still. All eyes are on the fae now. ]

[thirdbeauty]

[And now she learns that being the fun big-sister-slash-young-aunt type is a quick way to get what feels like a horde of eager admirers looking up (mostly) to her with bright, expectant eyes. It's not that it's intimidating, exactly... yet she does scoot a little closer to the much larger man under the weight of that combined gaze.]

Uh, sure. Okay. A story...

[She doesn't have any, off the top of her head. But maybe she could make something up? Reaching half-consciously with her illusions, she pulls at a thread she has a sense of feeling from more than one direction.]

Once... there was a princess. A beautiful princess who was trapped by a terrible curse.

[Colors coalesce where the children's gazes meet, into a shimmering, flickering image of a youthful princess in a green dress, with a long ponytail tied back with a bow. Before Natsuru has even figured out the story, the image forms into the princess gazing forlornly out of the window of a tower. Images and feelings from the illusion don't just play out on the 'stage' in front of Natsuru, but also reach more clearly into the imagination of anyone willing to let them.]

She... wanted to see the world outside of the castle, but the curse kept her trapped inside. She watched the people from her tower every day, but no one outside ever saw her. Pretty soon, they forgot there ever was a princess...

[The images shift and change to show the scene of people walking about around the castle, day turning to night and back again, as the princess sadly watches on. It carries a feeling of loneliness - not too harsh for the young ones, but enough to get the point across. Meanwhile, Natsuru is trying her best to gauge the reactions of her audience... including the other volunteer in the room.]

[blind_benevolence]

[ As much as he'd like to be able to see her illusions, he can't. He's still drawn into her story, helped along by her descriptions and the reactions of the kids. They're enraptured by the display, gasps of awe and sounds of joy almost threatening to drown her out. As the story plays out, they become more subdued and saddened. ]

You weren't sure about this, but you've got them eating out of your hand. Go on, I want to hear more.

[ Seems like Shu approves. ]

[thirdbeauty]

[The images are more for the kids, of course, but she kind of hopes that the feelings infused into them get across to Shu. If only because she'd be embarrassed to be the only one starting to feel so invested in her own story before she even knows what it is.]

R-Right. Um...

[She whispers the aside, before taking a breath and continuing in her best storytelling voice.]

The princess spent her days in the castle, with only a few servants as her friends. Until one day, a visitor came.

[The image shows the full castle now, with a nondescript figure moving towards the opening gate.]

It wasn't a prince, or a hero. He was pretty normal, actually. Just someone curious about the castle and if anyone still lived there. [The figure remains nondescript, even as images of the delighted princess greeting him appears.] But the princess was so happy to have a visitor, she ordered her maids to make him comfortable and provide him with anything he desired.

[The vague image of the traveler appeared in a lavish room, surrounded by all the comforts and riches one would imagine a fantasy castle to have.]

At first, he was happy to stay. [And the princess appears in the image too, smiling while he seemed to be telling her stories.] The princess did everything she could to keep him there, so she could listen to his stories about the people and the world outside. But she couldn't make him stay forever. [The image of the traveler disappears from the room, and the princess is left sad and alone in the lavish guest room she'd had prepared.] He came back to visit her, and even tried to help her find a way to break the curse, but nothing worked. Eventually, he stopped coming back... and the princess was alone again.

[The image turns bleaker, the guest room falling into disuse while the princess despondently gazes out the window at the world outside again. Natsuru isn't so sure about this particular turn, being even sadder than the last, and quickly continues.]

But the princess had learned so much about the world now, she was even more determined to see it! She decided that if no one else was able to break the curse, she'd have to study magic and break it herself.

[Is this going well? She genuinely doesn't know. But at least the illusions she's projecting are more hopeful now: a brightly colored image of a library, with a now-glasses-wearing princess studying next to an ever-growing pile of books. Meanwhile, something resembling an ending starts to take shape in the back of Natsuru's mind... she thinks she can manage to make a happily ever after happen soon.]