Quest Log: JUNE 2021

[faileas]

Quest Log: June, 2021

CITY-WIDE QUESTS Quest #1 - Part-timers Wanted! (Aefenglom) - The following places are looking for part-timers for the month. Duties vary by shop, though all are paying 500-cunes per hour, five days a week. In a Jam! - It's berry-picking season! One of Aefenglom's most well-loved confectioners is famous for their prized fruit preserves, but those berries need to be picked fast to be at peak freshness and the owner can't do it all herself. She's looking for volunteers to fill up baskets of raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries and blackcurrants from the expansive groves on her estate in the Aristocratic district. Earn cunes and tasty treats all at the same time! Millie's Millinery - Millie, a cheerful Harpy with an eye for design, is looking for assistance getting some supplies. This summer, feathered hats are all the rage! Bird feathers, Harpy feathers, Chimera feathers... as long as they're ethically sourced, she'll buy them off you for a good price. Picnic Serenades - With summer around the corner once again and the Cwyld cleared out in the forests just outside the Wall, picnicking has never been more in. This seasonal pop-up business is once again hiring entertainers to go out on request to sing little ditties or play instruments for ritzy private picnics! The songs and moods depend on the individual customers, who may be requesting romantic music for a date, entertainment for kids, or anything else. The more jobs you go on, the more you'll get paid -- and tips are a possibility for excellent performances. Quest #2 - Red and Blue (Aefenglom) - It seems the recent crisis caused by the Cwyldheart has instilled in the younger part of the population the need to act out. No sooner than the city has returned to more or less normal after all the excitement, reports started to trickle in about a new nuisance to the public peace. There seems to be a rise in popularity of two color-coded youngster gangs: The Reds and The Blues. Both groups are surprisingly egalitarian, taking in anybody: rich or poor, native-born or Mirrorbound, as long as they are younger than 25 years old. The rivalry takes mostly harmless if annoying forms. From simple graffiti on the walls to elaborate flower arrangements, woven, embroidered or crocheted blankets or flags heralding the utter wretchedness of the rival gang. However, the mutual badmouthing is not enough for the more hot-blooded gang members, so from time to time fights break out between groups from opposing sides. Miraculously, they always happen on some deserted property and should anyone report the brawl to the City Guard both groups disperse long before the wardens arrive. It’s painfully obvious they must have an insider or informant to be able to elude the law enforcement so skillfully. The plea for help directed at the Mirrorbound community takes different forms, from less to more risky but all belonging to one of three categories of aid: - Stopping the gang members from vandalizing private and public property - Discretely reporting the brawls to the City Guards - And the riskiest of them all: infiltrating the rival gangs to find out how they get their information so fast and so accurately. It might take some time to build their trust (and you might have to pull some pranks of your own to prove yourself!) but eventually, keen investigators can discover who the leak really was: the daughter of the Head Guard himself, one Rebecca Duncan. She's sixteen, sharp as a tack, and hates the fact her dad won't let her be a guard. Instead, she's decided to be a thorn in the guards' sides. That'll teach 'em. (Submitted by Ran.) Quest #3 - Phylax Fun (Aefenglom) - With the arrival of the newcomers from Diasteros and their unique magical knowledge, new classes are available at the Coven! More of Aefenglom's Witches are embracing the trend of summoning Phylaxes. Classes are available to learn the summoning ritual and bring out your own Phylax, and then after that, a variety of smaller group seminars -- some of them led by Witches from Diasteros -- teach Witches how to best rely on their new spirit companions. It just takes a little patience, a bit of trust, and a spark of creativity! Instructors place students in pairs (or groups of three, in the case of uneven numbers), and direct Witches with new Phylaxes to practice with one another. First, you'll need to introduce yourself if you haven't already, and then introduce your Phylax. After that, you might be tasked with one of several exercises in friendly competition with your partner. In one class, Phylaxes need to fetch items for a scavenger hunt all throughout the Coven grounds and Haven. In another, your Phylaxes will help you through a magical obstacle course that might involve simple teleportation, elemental spells, minor transfiguration or other basic spells meant to test your versatility. Still another hosts a simple race, with competitors trying to get their Phylaxes to get in one another's way. If there's something else you want to try, most instructors are also open to suggestions. Go out there and make some friends! 🌶️ Quest #4 - Risqué Business (Aefenglom) - The enchanted powders being used in the Red Light district over Eostre proved to be so popular that a small group of entrepreneurial Witches have decided to make a business out of mixing and selling these powders as potions. A Drop of Love, as they're calling their shop (physical location still pending) had some great success with trials they gave away during Boaltinn as well, and now they're looking to expand. They need help advertising are looking for people (adults only, please!) to distribute samples through some establishments in the Entertainment District. Instead of using eggs, though, the samples are stored in delicate glass vials with little droppers with which to take the mixture of powder and some sort of sweet liquid it's been mixed in. The bottles are tiny works of art all on their own, but unfortunately, some of them are... lacking in structural integrity. The stoppers are usually made to look like large flowers or animals, and hence have a tendency to sort of. Break off. If you accidentally get some of the liquid on you, don't worry -- effects only last a maximum of four hours! For those who are looking for something a bit more hands-on, A Drop of Love also needs help documenting the effects; rooms are provided, and you can report back the results for cune payment. Possible effects include but are not limited to: an excess of desire; certain embarrassing physical reactions; an increase in pleasure in others from your touch, or vice versa; the feeling of being tied up, ranging from just tugging sensations to full body restriction of movement; growing or shrinking of certain body parts; spontaneously vibrating fingers; the urge to confess your feelings for another person; and many more. Taking more than one potion at a time isn't dangerous; it's even encouraged! Stack the effects as much as you like. Don't be shy!

WILDE QUESTS Quest #1 - Helping Hands (Aefenglom) - Progress continues to be made in the slums outside the Bright Wall after the outpouring of assistance provided now that the Cwyldheart has been destroyed, and the land outside the city begins to heal. Still, there's lots of work that needs done. A committee of Coven Witches puts together parties of volunteers to assist the citizens of the slums and sends out healers trained in handling minor Cwyld infections. For those out beyond the Wall who are too infected to be treated on the spot, Parliament has recently approved the funds to build a temporary treatment center -- but it will also need to be built and stocked. Volunteer duties include but are not limited to: - Medical aid: taking care of someone, healing, administering medicine in syrup, pill, or shot form, etc. - Building & Supplies: the temporary hospital needs to be built out in the slums; anyone with building experience is welcome, as are all sorts of building supplies and helping hands - Entertainment: singing, dancing, acting, story-telling, playing an instrument, otherwise helping to bring cheer to those in need - Guards & Fighters: there are still some infected creatures roaming near or even in the slums, or occasionally individuals out of their right minds who might present a danger to themselves and others. The goal is always to get them help, so please be careful if someone needs to be restrained. - Donations: even if you can't go in person, you can always donate medicine, books, toys, cunes, supplies, etc. - Activism: anyone who has more influence with Parliament is also encouraged to participate on the political and activist side, putting pressure on Parliament where possible. Calling attention to the cause is also encouraged. This is the first time in years there's a reach chance to make a lasting difference outside the Bright Wall! Quest #2 - Moss Management (The Underground) - With the help of the data collected from Mirrorbound being studied over the last few months (thanks to all those who participated in the trials!), the Coven is making good progress on advancing their arsenal of tools against the Cwyld. Now that relations with the Underground have also vastly improved, the researchers see a new opportunity to take further strides: official study of the moss that apparently destroys Cwyld that comes into contact with it. Since Mirrorbound are still more welcome in the Underground despite improving relations, the Coven asks any volunteers who are willing to go into the caves and tunnels of the Underground to collect samples of the moss. There are just a few things to keep in mind. It can only thrive in dark, cool and damp conditions, and there's no tried and true method yet of transporting it. Some sort of portable habitat is recommended, like a magically light- and climate-controlled terrarium box, but while the Coven is happy to provide cunes and basic supplies, the Mirrorbound will have to figure the rest out on their own. Any ideas on how to transport the moss safely and effectively is greatly appreciated! The gathering of the moss itself is also tricky. It grows on thick, leathery sheets that fall like curtains over the entrances to the Underground city and is used by the Underground people to make sure no Cwyld infection reaches them. Now that this is less of a risk, they're willing to allow some of the moss to be carefully collected, but harvesting it will be long and laborious work. Use a sharp knife to scrape samples into your chosen container, but be careful not to stay in direct contact with it too long. Lately, with the sudden absence of Cwyld, the moss doesn't seem to know how to react, and its property of attacking infection seems to have been ramped up - it releases puffs of spores at small provocations. Even if you aren't carrying the Cwyld, the overactive spores can have a harsh effect on bare skin, causing raw, red rashes, itchy eyes, and even difficulty breathing. Also, please remain on the lookout for wild animals! Even if chances of infection are much lower these days, the tunnels are still crawling with albino rats the size of dogs, aggressive bats, and burrowing pincer-bugs. The insects especially will take care to avoid: they like to come out of the ground and walls at their prey, and they're absolutely big enough to take your finger off if you're not careful!

HIGH RISK QUESTS ☆ Quest #1 - Fish Out of Water (Aefenglom; Ocean) - Over the last few weeks, a sour and anxious mood has been spreading all throughout Aefenglom's Harbor District and starting to make its way inland. Restaurants are out of stock on seafood dishes, a staple in the coastal city. Stores are selling only dried fish, or fresh fish at exorbitantly high prices. Fishermen are filling up the taverns, drinking extra and grumbling even more. It's a bad omen, they say. Ever since that big storm at the beginning of last month, fish have been coming up in their nets sick and small, fins rotting, some even already dead. Their blood is black and stinking, clearly inedible. What started out as a handful of bad fish out of a hundred for some fisherfolks has lately become their everyday: there are few fish to catch, and fewer still of quality to sell. As the problem spreads and the fish shortage begins to affect the city's food economy, the Coven finally gets involved. Samples of the fish show what some might have suspected already: signs of the Cwyld. But the ocean is vast, and it's impossible to tell where it's coming from for now, say the experts at the Coven. The fishermen will just have to sail farther out, even if the waters are more dangerous. Dozens of boats are looking for helpers and protectors: Witches and Monsters willing to go out to sea for several days at a time in search of better fishing. Many of the Diasterans, a society dependent on the sea themselves, are eager to volunteer, but some of the more superstitious fishermen of Aefenglom blame the storm and the newcomers for their plight and will only take Mirrorbound assistants. Some, less picky, take both. A few boats are even Diasteran-only, newcomers trying to build their new lives here. Whatever the case, the ocean is full of danger and those who wish to join the fishing expeditions may be faced with large, aggressive sea beasts; the food shortage isn't only affecting Aefenglom, and the sharks, eels and giant squids are hungry. Some of them, with tell-tale signs of black rot on their fins or tentacles, are also clearly infected and all the more aggressive for it, trying to lurch onto ships and pull in anyone within reach. Each expedition only lasts three to seven days, but they're bound to be harrowing ones. Good luck out there! Quest #2 - A Whole New Wilde (Aefenglom) - With the Cwyldheart cleansed, the worst of the infection in the Silent Forest and the stretches of Wilde between Aefenglom and the Northern Outpost is also on the retreat. Despite significant progress being made last month, there are still pockets of it clinging to trees, plants, and animals even though the earth beneath them has been cleared out from below. The Wilders and the Coven are calling for volunteers to help track down pockets of infection and work on hunting and eliminating remaining Cwyldtid, especially those closest to the outskirts of Aefenglom. The goal is to expand the safe area of land as far as possible outside the Bright Wall, protect the people who live there, and eventually be able to cultivate more farmland. Volunteers are asked to help with several tasks. Those equipped and confident enough to fight the infected beasts out in the forest will find plenty to hunt, and are encouraged to look for nests or groups of Cwyldtid. It is imperative to remove as many of them as possible to slow or halt the further spread of infection from the creatures interacting with other animals in the woods. The same can be said for the plant life. Controlled fires need to be set throughout the forest, so Witches specializing in that type of evocation magic (and those Monsters with a more elemental affinity) are sought after, as well as those proficient in water magic and barriers. They must take care to burn only the infected portions and keep the fire from spreading. This is a task likely to take some time as there’s a lot of ground to cover, but little by little, with everyone’s help, new plants may blossom after this Wilde winter.

Welcome to June's Quest Log! Here, you can thread OR post links to your own catch-all logs. There are no limited quests this month, so no sign-ups are needed.

To keep everything in one place, we ask that you bring your quest-related questions to this thread, and you're welcome to use this header to plot among yourselves! You can link your CR Meme comment as well, if you like! Please note that this is not the month's event -- check out the Calendar for those dates!

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QUESTIONS

[moustre]

OOC PLOTTING

[faileas]

zack fair | final fantasy vii | chimera

[exsoldier]

i. millie's millinery

[ When it came to taking jobs, Zack didn't ever think that literally selling pieces of himself might come into play. It takes the whole concept of "hired hand" to a whole new level, except in this case it's hired feathers.

Millie is bright, enthusiastic, and also interested in buying something from Zack that in fact costs him nothing. If it had been a non-Monster eyeing up his feathers like that, he might have taken more issue with it, but as things stand he doesn't see any harm in it. After studying his wings and the feathers in his hair and remarking on how she could make a beautiful chocolate-colored hat with them, he agreed he'd do what he could to help her.

And make a few easy cunes in the process. Win-win, right?

Which is how Zack finds himself sitting at a bench in a courtyard close to the shopping district, his body turned sideways so that his wings aren't crushed up against the back of the bench. For now, though, he's running his hands through his hair, searching for any feathers that are starting to get loose. He gives a small tug, though, and finds that he guessed wrong. This one isn't quite ready to come out yet. The jolt of pain causes him to sit up straight, his tail lashing. ]

... Ow.

[ He might be in need of some help. Or if anyone's concerned over a chimera trying to pull out his own feathers, maybe intervene? ]

ii. helping hands

[ By this point, Zack has come out to the slums to help the people here, many of them also chimeras, enough times that they recognize him by sight. Quite a few of them even know his name. This is one place in Aefenglom where he can go and his chimera parts actually make it easier to interact, rather than more difficult. Along with a genuine desire to help, that's the other reason that Zack will always take up jobs that bring him here. It's nice to not be eyed with suspicion and uncertainty everywhere he goes.

He's no healer or builder, but that doesn't mean that he can't help, and he finds ways to be of use based on his own skillset. Sometimes, that's as simple as offering support to the people who are administering treatments and casting healing spells, by dropping by with food or water so that they remember to take a break and build up their magical reserves again. Alternatively, he spends a lot of his time carrying supplies around. His enhanced strength is good for more than just fighting, as it turns out, and he'll be found carrying piles of lumber or crates filled with other supplies to the building site for the new hospital. If there is some basic task he can do on the actual construction, he'll do that too, whether it's holding something up to be hammered into place or anything else that might require some extra strength and elbow grease.

And then, of course, there's the obvious. If word comes that there's an infected creature of some sort that's strayed too close to the slums, he'll jump to his feet, ready to play exterminator as the situation demands.

Whether you're someone he's delivering supplies or aid to, or just a pest-control buddy, he'll be ready with a friendly smile and a greeting. You're all in this together, after all. ]

iii. a whole new wilde

[ Given Zack's less than pleasant experiences with the Evergreen Circle (that is, getting captured and experimented on and purposefully infected with the Cwyld by them), it's likely no one would judge him for no longer wanting to venture out into the Wilde. But after his experiences in the Underground and delving into the depths of the Cwyldheart, he's pretty sure he's faced his fears by this point.

Not that he was really scared in the first place, but the fact remains that the sinking feeling in his stomach is no longer there, as he prepares himself to press deeper into the Wilde.

There's been talk of a nest of Cwyld activity about a mile northeast of the Northern Outpost, and Zack's signed up to go eradicate it. What exactly he'll find there, he's not sure, but he's prepared for a fight. There's really no other way it could go.

Difficult as this work might be, it's important. They need to reclaim as much of this land as they can, and so he won't let any of his own hang-ups hold him back.

He turns to his partner for the job, whether it's someone he planned to do this with or someone he got paired up with once he arrived here. They'll need to have each other's backs for this, and so he wants to start things off on the right foot. ]

You ready for this? Need to grab anything before we head out?

notes

[ For any questions or additional plotting, feel free to reach out at demonology or on discord @ demonology#1725! You can also refer here for a quick listing of all of Zack's monster changes. ]

iii.

[adventageous]

[Alice, too, has shaken off some recent Cwyld-related feelings in taking this work on, although hers don't carry the same weight as Zack's. Her infection in the Underground had been deeply unpleasant, but it had been caught naturally and knowingly. And, ultimately, the experience had been a re-affirming one after a series of terrible happenings since the beginning of the year.

So when Zack approached her to join him in this work, Alice didn't hesitate to push her reservations aside and agree to join. It's dangerous, certainly, but she's happy to take it on. They'll make a good combination out there, between his strength and her spellcasting.

Of course, that doesn't mean she's eager to be re-infected. She's covered pretty much from head to toe, trading her customary skirts with a pair of slacks to ensure there isn't any Cwyld-to-skin contact. At his question, she checks herself over one last time.]

I have everything that I need. I'm ready to head out when you are.

Thank you again for inviting me along.

[exsoldier]

[ The way that Zack sees it, fear of the infection is only going to lead to it spreading further, because it isn't going to go away unless they specifically set out to do something about it. He also has made sure to come prepared, with no exposed skin and even a mask hanging from his waist if they reach an area where he's concerned the Cwyld might be airborne. No reason to take any chances, not when he's already cheated fate once.

It had been a relief when Alice agreed to come along with little fuss. Despite appearances, she's made of some sterner stuff, and seems just as determined as Zack is to be proactive about clearing out the Cwyld.

At her words, he sends over an easy smile and nods. ]

Well, I had to make good on my promise, right? [ As soon as they'd discovered they worked in the same field, so to speak, the plan had always been to take on more jobs together. ] All right, let's go. [ He digs into the large pockets of his pants and pulls out a folded sheaf of paper, which looks to be a map. ] They gave me this back at the outpost, so we should have no issue finding what we're looking for.

[adventageous]

[For her part, Alice is glad that the two of them see eye-to-eye on the need and desire to clear out the Cwyld while they have a good opportunity. It makes working together like this that much easier.

She gives Zack a nod in response to his.]

It's a promise I'm glad you've kept.

[Not that she expected otherwise--he's too earnest and kind, from what experience she's had with him--but she's happy all the same.

He pulls out a map, and Alice strains around him slightly to get a look at it. The Wilders have done them the courtesy of clearly marking where the Cwyld has been reported.]

That's not that far northeast of here. Little wonder they're so eager to eliminate it.

Lead the way. I'll stay close to you.

i. feather pulling pings him so hard!! stop that!

[grandspark]

[It's not that Rude cared or anything--but the sight of the chimera pulling at his own feathers caused the Turk to pull up short when he noticed it as he passed by. There was an immediate knee-jerk reaction from Rude when he confirmed the feather yanking activity.]

Stop it!

[He didn't yell it, not really, but his voice rose slightly to be heard across the way and his tone was resolutely firm. He would have been amused by the sight of a few passerby stopping in their tracks on instinct from hearing the commanding voice but he was focused solely on Zack as he strode towards him.]

That's unhealthy. Quit it.

[exsoldier]

[ Zack has rarely, if ever, heard Rude raise his voice, and now he's glad for that. It's like the snap of a whip, causing his head to raise and his hands to fall back to his sides almost reflexively.

A few seconds later, his brain catches up, and he raises an eyebrow at Rude as he approaches. Is he that concerned about him? Is this because of their time spent together in the Cwyldheart? ]

Unhealthy? [ He shakes his head. ] I'm just looking for the loose ones, don't worry. Believe me, I'm not just yanking 'em out for fun.

[ What would be fun about it, anyway? All it does is hurt. ]

[grandspark]

[Rude stopped and eyed Zack carefully, intensely, for a moment as he considered the truthfulness of the chimera's words. The tension seemed to melt from him a second or two later as he accepted the explanation.

He was still suspicious though.]

Good. Plucking feathers can lead to baldness. Permanently.

[That and it usually meant distress. Zack..did not seem distressed at the moment. However, Rude also knew that birds would stop being stressed the moment they got attention.

...He had to stop that. This was not Reno a harpy. He didn't even know if Zack had any bird instincts just because he had some feathers. Rude didn't think he did after all and he had a few.]

They bothering you? Do you need help preening?

[That could be all it was, after all. But he wanted to make sure.]

ii

[sonnestark]

[Karin, too, has been frequenting the slums the last few months, eager to lend a hand where she is able. While she had never joined the military for any love of the profession, her time there had helped her to learn that she was at her best when she felt she was helping people, and the year she's spent in this city has provided her with constant reminders of that. Her skillset means she's well-equipped to deal with encroaching monsters, even with the wings and talons and tailfeathers she now boasts, and while she often helps herself to any number of odd jobs, any sort of pest control tends to jump to the top of her list.

Knowing what she does about Zack, she's not at all surprised to find him already preparing to set out when she reaches the spot where the creature in question was said to have been sighted last, and she offers a smile as she approaches with her sword in hand.

Of course they'd had the same idea.]

Here to offer your services as a knight in shining armor, are you? We could patrol this area together, if you'd like some company.

[exsoldier]

[ Hearing the soft patter of footsteps behind him, Zack turns, his expression immediately brightening when he sees a familiar face. ]

Karin! Of course I would. Two swords are better than one, right?

[ Even if her rapier and his Buster Sword couldn't be more different.

It doesn't surprise him for a moment that she's also out here, back to business as usual after the events of some months past. Neither of them are the sorts who would hang up their weapons because of what happened to them, he imagines. If anything, it helps him to get back into the (literal) swing of things.

He nods, indicating a path that winds through the Wilde. ]

There are reports of a few stray Shades east of here. A little too close to the outer homes for comfort.

[sonnestark]

They certainly are.

[Her smile brightens; it's nice to know there are still people she can count on here to be a friendly face as well as a reliable sword-arm, even when so many friends have come and gone.]

I heard something about those same Shades— I think between the two of us, we can absolutely do something about that.

[Neither one of them is exactly an amateur.]

I'd like for the people of the outer city to be able to sleep soundly at night.

Aerith Gainsborough | Final Fantasy VII (Remake) | Witch

[bloomly]

IN A JAM.

( the grove is huge--bigger than anything she's seen, though she hasn't seen much. in midgar, the plants had been limited, outside of the place where her house sat, or the flowers blossoming up in the church; there had been the small sprouts growing here and there, the weeds struggling to burst up from the cracks in the sidewalks in the slums. but she's never seen something quite like this, where the greenery goes far out into the distance, bushes and vines and whole walls of berries ready for the plucking, and already dutifully being tended to by other part-timers like herself. she's come prepared for the task: a pair of somewhat comically mismatched garden gloves, that she'd found stuffed into a crevice in her cottage, a dress that's already looking a little worse for wear from constant gardening, and her boots that need patching up.

really, all she needs is a wide-brimmed hat to complete the ridiculous ensemble. should have brought one. the sun beats down, bright and warm, but as she starts in at a place, far off in the distance, to work her way back towards the main building, she can already feel the sweat beading at her temple, staining the braids around it. her fingers pluck at the berries, dropping them dutifully into the bin she's been tasked with filling, but--

well, is it really her fault if every other berry ends up in her mouth, instead? humming along to a song she's made up along the way, she's merrily pushing another raspberry into her mouth when she realizes, abruptly, that it's not the only thing she's put in her mouth. there's something crawling: likely some sort of insect, maybe even just something as simple as a gnat, but immediately, she lets out a loud sound, flicks her head to the side and spits the raspberry right out.

if it happens to hit the person next to her, or even nearby...well, at least she'll have the manners to apologize. for now, she's spluttering a little, her nose scrunched and tongue out, looking much like a cat that's just tasted sour milk. )


PHYLAX FUN.

( it's unsettling, the way that this creature arrived: almost as though, with the absence of tifa, something else grew to fill that space in her life. at first she hadn't been too certain of it--the process had seemed easy and yet prolonged, and for hours she sat in the circle, waiting for her silly spirit to conjure up whatever it might conjure. in the end, she'd almost expected some kind of bird, maybe even a snake, or perhaps even one of those lizards she'd seen, sunning on her roof back home. could it be a wolf, even? or would that be projecting too much onto herself? but the form her phylax takes ends up being something of an odd surprise: a fox that, despite its ethereal form, has no markings, no color, pure white and rather large, with a sharp nose and bright eyes, one more blue, one more green.

she knows she's meant to train it, but mostly she just wants to take it back home and sit together, stroking at its fur. if that's even possible. no, it's definitely possible; she gives it a little rub even now, while she's waiting for her pair, squishing the animal's face between her palms with a laugh.

it turns out that she, and her partner, are being tasked with a scavenger hunt of a task--that should be easy enough, right? straightening back up again, she runs her hand through the air to conjure up the list of items, a considering hum as she reads them, and then-- )

A perfectly round stone? A flower with five petals? Two pink scarves?

( when she laughs, the fox at her feet gives an echoing chirp--she turns to her companion with a bright smile. ) Okay! Where should we start, hmm? Any ideas?


MOSS MANAGEMENT.

( there's something about the caves that just gives her an awful sort of feeling--maybe that's because she knows of what happened, of people she loves being involved with it, and the trepidation, the worry, seems to stay, perhaps echoed into the dark, enclosed space like the way the water drips and clings to the stone above. she knows that this is a necessary task: and even something that's fascinating to her, given her affinity with things that grow and climb up from the ground, but this is different. very different, given that this is a dark space, hidden from the sunlight, and that the thing in question, the moss, is growing over the entrance to the underground city, sheets of it that hang and drape out across the opening like ragged discolored curtains.

they say that the transport is the hard part; she's already come up with an idea for it, though it involves both of her hands. but really, what sort of danger could be left here? nothing she can't handle, right?

it's a manipulation of barrier magic, creating something of a holding cube for the moss; she leaves it open, patiently scoops and scrapes off as much as she's meant to into the shimmering, nearly-invisible bottom of the magic box, and then closes it up with her other hand. she'll have to keep it steady in order to maintain both the air inside and the light that can filter in; but still, even so, this is neat, isn't it? she brings the little magic box up to eye level, beaming at the moss inside, but the pleasure is short-lived. the bad part of all this? she forgot about all those pesky animals they warned about before entrance to the underground.

a bit of rock rumbles, bits of it rolling off into rubble onto the floor; the horrible face of a pincer-bug pops out, and though she might normally be happy to see an insect in her garden, these ones are just really not pretty. )

A little help! ( she calls out; the bug scurries its way out of the wall and down it, going for the floor, and though she can outpace it for now, pedaling backward, she can't hold the moss safe with one hand, can't reach for her staff, can't do much of anything but try to outmaneuver it. and what if it calls friends? ) Plea~se!


OOC.
feel free to hit me up on the cr meme, or send a PM if you want to plot or have another idea! i'm welcome to wildcarding or having aerith participate in other quests as well.

phylax fun!

[cointosser]

[While normally someone talking to a creature, big or small, would not exactly catch Jaskier's attention as he's passing through the city on his way from outside the walls, beautiful women certainly do. And it's while he's admiring her from afar that he notices the small creature by her feet.

His heart throbs with an old bit of sadness. It hasn't even been a month yet.

If he didn't know better he may think it some sort of Turnskin, the white quite striking on its own. But it doesn't seem entirely there. He wonders, were he still a witch, would he feel magic emanate off of it?

Jaskier can't help himself. He may be an Aeternae now, but he's found that only those who knew him before seem to be startled by his crystal horns and blue-tinted skin, or the pupil-less blue of his eyes. New acquaintances, hopkeepers, even his tailor -- barely even a blink, except to welcome another Aeternae to Aefenglom.]

Excuse me. [He tries to catch Aerith's attention with a little wave of a blew hand, carefully manicured and rounded claws painted blue.] I can't help but notice your, ah, friend. Are they a familiar?

[He's not sure. Yennefer's bird was quite solid, considering it'd pecked him more than once. His eyes are certainly following the fox, white as Geralt's fur. It brings to memory that he knows well what it feels like to run on all fours, too, as a fox.] They're quite beautiful. A pretty fox, I think, suits you well.

[It'd be rude to not point out she's beautiful as well, of course.]

[bloomly]

( she's heard that she's supposed to be partnered up for this sort of practice--that she's even meant to be involved with a whole trio of witches, or perhaps just one other determined soul, so the voice that calls out to her, the soft, polite excuse me of someone trying to get her attention, makes her straighten up with a bright smile, perfectly ready to stick her hand out, get introductions out of the way, and carry on from there. yet the hand that waves to her, trying to get her attention, is tinted a hue that looks unnatural; there are claws on that hand, and though she isn't startled, isn't fearful of another creature that she doesn't know, it does make her curious, a rounded gaze that falls from the stranger's hand up to his shoulders and then, wonderingly, to his horns and his eyes.

not a witch, then. some sort of monster? she hasn't been in aefenglom nearly as long as anyone else that she knows, but she's seen all sorts of creatures on the streets, in the shops, everywhere inside and out of the city. this, of course, has yet to trouble her--in fact, she pays it no mind at all, her look of curiosity melting into that bright smile she'd meant to display before. )

Oh, this? ( her gaze falls, looks down at the creature at her feet: it settles itself between her ankles, sits and winds its tail up around its body, and looks perfectly content to maintain the space until she asks otherwise. ) I think, well...I think that's right! They told me some funny name for it, but that it represents my spirit or something like that. In which case, shouldn't it be a bit pink?

( her nose wrinkles, but it's obvious she's teasing--instead, she turns her gaze onto the stranger, earnest. the compliment is cute: he's rather charming, isn't he? she studies him for a moment, thoughtful, before she reaches to lay her hands on one of his wrists, almost like a gentle plea. )

So... a handsome guy like you wouldn't mind helping out a girl and her familiar, right? ( she likes this word better than the one she can't really remember. ) Maybe she'll even introduce herself, and maybe he could, too.

in a jam

[grandspark]

[Not exactly what he was expecting as he walked by. Not the first time he's been spit on but certainly the least expected time. He glanced back to catch sight of Aerith and--sighed. He wasn't surprised, really, truly.

He knew she was here. That was just good practice, to keep track of her, to keep track of who was around him, all of the above. He just hadn't gone looking for her on purpose.

Rude swiped at his jacket with one hand as he turned to face her.]

And they call me rude.

[bloomly]

( the fact that it's rude is both lucky and hilariously unlucky--why is he here, anyway? is he also taking part in this job, trying to make a little extra money on the side?

or has he been following her again?

since the beginning, since arrival here, she hasn't felt the eyes of either turk on her, at least not in the way she used to. before, it would be as though she might look up to admire a particularly decadent breeze or catch sight of the trains rolling by, and there, out of the corner of her eye, she would see a shock of red hair or the glint of glasses in the sun. as much as it became frustrating, it also, in a sense, felt like a relief at times--to know it was only them, and not something more sinister; and, at times, to know it was only them, and not tseng.

so while her gaze narrows in at rude, she doesn't seem particularly upset. in fact, she tries to laugh, clearing the space between them so that she can reach with both hands to start to pat at his chest. )

Maybe you shouldn't have gotten in the way! ( she's teasing, though, pulling at the fabric as though she might see where she may have stained his jacket. ) Are you okay? I can wash it right out if I got berry juice on you...

Moss Management

[getting_better]

[ Picking up the sound of her voice was easy in the caverns, though pin pointing it from where he stood is difficult. At least, it would have been if it wasn't for his other form. More than their eyes, owls have an amazing sense of hearing and it was this ability that he confidently made a bee line for Aerith and to help with her little bug problem.

He flew through the winding tunnels as fast his wings could carry him until she came into view, screeching loudly as he dived for the insect - grabbing a pincer with his talon. He isn't able to lift it off the ground, but he did move it enough to flip it onto it's back while he glided safely to the floor to face the insect and Aerith. ]

Uhooo!

[ He hooted, probably telling her to go. Or maybe he's taunting the bug. ]

[bloomly]

( the sound is sudden, and nothing like the clack of the bug's pincers as they press together, nothing like her own steps scrabbling backward; it sounds like a bird of some kind, something large and intimidating, and she only gets a brief look at it as it comes darting into view. instinctively, her shoulders lift--a little shriek of surprise, but she forces herself to relax when she sees its handiwork.

the pincer bug is on its back, legs curling up in the air as though it's trying to find a way to turn back over, and the large owl is between them, planted on the ground.

it's--really cute, isn't it? she stares for a moment, mouth open, before she forces it shut and then lets out a laugh. )

My hero! ( she declares, bright and pleased; her hands clench slightly around the makeshift barrier she's made around the mold. ) Think you could help me get out of this place?

( maybe if they go together, they can find the entrance of the cave again safely. )

moss management;

[weatherscience]

Of course! Hold on —

[ nami isn't sure what exactly made her volunteer for this — she hates insects with all her heart, and the underground hasn't been a place that's particularly interested her... if anything, what she heard of it made her shudder with horror.

but perhaps that is why: doing her part in trying to clear it out. make it safer.

she's there with several glass bowls that she's enchanted to be carried in a bubble, an idea she's shamelessly stolen from one of the islands back home. she's just finished loading one batch of moss into a bowl when she hears the yell for help and is quick to answer, twirling her clima-tact. ]

Heat wave! [ a blast of hot air shoots at the bug, hopefully grilling it... or if not, at least making it back away. ]

[bloomly]

( the sound of a voice is at least comforting--especially a female voice, but the fact that the yell has something to do with heat makes her jump back a step, startled. fire, maybe? she only has enough time to get a glance at the sudden shot of hot air that goes past her, making her skirt flare up with the movement; the insect gets caught right in the line of it, and the way its legs curl and roll up towards its body must mean it's been defeated. right?

curious, she stands there for a moment, marveling, before she inches closer to the bug, nudging at it gently with the toe of her boot. no movement, so it must be dead, or at the very least, too injured to summon any sort of resistance.

immediately her head lifts, looking for the source of the hot air: it's the girl she saw, weeks ago, and her smile lights up, immediately dashing to close the distance between them. )

You're here! Did you do that? Can you teach me how to do that? Oh, what are these?

( too many questions, aerith. she glances up at the glass bowls in the bubble, marveling at them with her mouth slightly open. )

Ferran Gallagher | OC | Fae

[noblegarnet]

The Superior Color (Red and Blue)

[While gangs are usually nothing to laugh at, as far as Ferran can tell from everything he's seen and heard, the Reds and Blues are... almost entirely harmless. It's kind of refreshing, honestly, to see their work popping up across the city, however laden with expletives the colorful markers might be.

Honestly? He wants in on it.

He's basically obligated to side with the Reds with the coloration of his wings, and though they initially seem open to the idea of having a color-coded Fae join their ranks, he still has to earn their trust like everyone else. So, he endeavors to paint the town red... both in a literal and figurative sense.

Surely nobody would complain much about a Fae enchanting one's shoes to leave red footsteps wherever they go, for instance. And only the Blues would care about their hangouts being cursed so they all trip over something or another as soon as they step into it. (Although he might care if someone trips and falls onto him, invisible as he watches his handiwork.)

On the more literal end are his attempts to paint designs into large windows and brick walls he has to fly to reach, the patterns reminiscent of stained-glass and a bit more figurative in their message than the usual gang activity. Sometimes you just want to paint a dramatic scene of a red figure surrounded by a halo of light over a fallen blue corpse, you know? And as careful as he is with his paint, he can only prevent so much of it from dripping down onto a passerby.]

RED VS BLUE LET'S GOOOOOOOO

[al_bhed]

[Rikku stumbles into the gang war entirely independently from Ferran, catching a random Blue teenager tacking up a banner that reads "RED SUX" the side of a building. After a chat (mostly consisting of her asking curious questions and him begging her not to report this because his mother will kill him if she finds out), she decides to join up. She could use something to keep her busy, and it's not like they're doing much harm in the process. It's all in good fun, right?

When she catches Ferran painting his Mural of Inaccurate Imagery onto a large bay window, she realizes that maybe she should have thought about her chosen allegiance more carefully. Of course he would pick Red.

Oh well. Too late now. At least she doesn't take it all seriously enough for this to be an actual issue, and hopefully he won't either.]

Booooooooo.

[Of course, she's still going to give him a hard time about it.]

fight fight fight fight

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran is far from alarmed when Rikku's voice reaches his ears, although he's certainly surprised to see her as well as hear that particular response. Given how supportive she usually is, he's got one major hypothesis... which is unfortunate, but ultimately not a big deal.

So he reciprocates the attitude, shrugging with the hand holding the brush as he looks down at her from his hovering spot. Some Red might be watching, who knows.]

And what have you contributed to the culture of Aefenglom today?

BISHOP | OC | Witch

[getting_better]

City Wide Quest - Red and Blue



[ He almost couldn't believe this nonsense, and yet here it was. A bunch of punks playing at gangsters. How cute, if he didn't find it all so vexing. Also, 'Reds' and 'Blues'??? Good lord, could they have chosen a less threatening name?

Regardless, it didn't take him long to find the self-proclaimed gangs and intentify it's members but he couldn't find who their man on the inside is.Not from a distance anyway. Whoever they are, they're smart and while that was impressive on it's own it's not nearly enough to deter him. Just escalate.



So how does one flush out a mole? Well, there are several ways but he chooses the fun way. Fun in the sense that he stalks them, any of them, and when they're about to throw down, up to no good, or maybe even alone, he strikes. Disguised in all black he strikes with theatrics, fear becoming a weapon as he goes after them and scaring all the way to the safe but angry arms of the guards.



Maybe you're unfortunate enough to be there when he sets off controlled explosions to break up a fight, or maybe when he drops behind vandals, or maybe you ran into one of these kids running for their lives from whatever shadow was moving in the alleyways at night. Regardless, his the plan was in motion and he's enjoying it. ]

Wilde Quests - Helping Hands

Guards & Fighters

[ There's no rest for the wicked or and even less for the defeated. A grim lesson he learned early in life, and it seemed to him that's true no matter what realm you go to. While the recent destruction of the Cwyldheart meant that things would start to go up soon, that didn't mean that things were immediately better and the dead infected wolf at his feet made that very clear.

Of course it wasn't just the fact that there were other infected creatures stalking the slums, he'd be glad if it was just that. There were those who had moments of madness, probably from the preasure of poverty or perhaps some other invisible force that comes from the air. Either way, he was there to serve as guard for the threats although he himself may be a liability. In his quiet moments, when resting or the chaos keeps away, Bishop has a bottle to hand or nearby. Already half empty or nearing. ]

Donations

[ Having a lot of personal posessions is still not something he's used to. Or maybe he's just used to having so little. He always ends up giving away anything he finds to be useless to him, leaving his apartment quite bare, so what's he to donate if everything in his quarters was something of use?

Well, thankfully, money also counts to the personal possessions. Money that's to hand at least, and buying supplies, bedseets, cots, canned foodstuffs, medicine, and whatever else he can get his hands on while out at the market and docks. He's made quite the haul today while out at the market but judging by the pile at his feet that he's currently frowning at, he might have gotten a tad too much. Just enough for two people to carry, but clearly too much for him alone. His cat is enjoying it though, as she's climbing and pawing at all the items there. ]

High Risk Quests - Fish Out of Water

[ This wasn't his first time out on sea but he's also not a sailor by any stretch or measure. He'd honestly rather be on land, or in the air, but something bothered him greatly. At first it was the abundance of dried fish, followed closely by the absurd prices for fresh fish, and the latest was the irrate or paranoid fishermen at the Sly Seadog.

Something was clearly up and he didn't like it. The quest and promise of pay was a bonus, but regardless of that Bishop was determined to set out to sea and find the cause of the sudden rise of Cwyld in the depths.

The ship that took him wasn't very picky about who came on board, as long as they weren't in the way or a hindrance. He sat out on the deck while out of the way of the crew, eyes closed, head down, his trusty blade resting on his shoulder, silently resting and waiting for whatever may come. He may not be a sailor, but he's sure enough of his skill as an adaptable fighter. ]