songerein | Owl Rescue

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Owl Rescue

✵ MINI EVENT: OWL RESCUE ✵

Late in the month, the blizzard has reached its peak and the skies seem strangely dark and ominous, a soft jingling of bells followed by deep, baritone voice echoes through the skies.

Gone away are the reindeer
Out to play are the dreamers
To lead their return, we gather in snow
All to bring the lost presents home

In the shadows we can build a snowman
To protect the sleigh that's full and bright.
Mimics will attack, and we'll say, "No, man!"
Only the real presents here will do!

We'll raise our mugs to the fire
Raise our voices higher and higher
Then we'll slash through our foes
From head down to their toes
All to save this Christmas Wonderland

In the city we can make some string lights
Beautiful and bright just like the stars
With a little magic, we'll be alright
And top everything off with just a Star

A star so big and bright
with magic all around
shining with all its might
making the world go 'round!

So come join us, all ye citizens
of this little festive town.
Guard your hearts with love and laughter,
and we'll bring this foul Grinch down!

With a mighty bellow the gusting winds clear and for a moment the morning skies seem beautiful and bright, as if the strange blizzard storm had never appeared at all. And then, in perhaps questionably late fashion, a large man dressed in red and astride a giant reindeer descends down to the central plaza.

"Ho ho ho! So this is where that bastard's been trying to hide, eh? I'll give it some credit—it chose a powerful world for its mischief…even if it could still use some work. And it's still just a baby—miracle it's lasted this long." The man, many of which will recognize as the fabled Santa Claus turns to look at the still run down buildings. For a man who is known to being "jolly" and full of holiday spirit, he looks as if he's about to head into war with the large axe at its his side and hardened expression. Just as he's about to say more, he clicks his tongue as a loud SCREEEEEECH is heard in the distance.

"But it won't be around much longer if you kids don't do anything about what's coming."

In the next moment, a large fiery owl large enough to overshadow half the town hovers in the air, the flames dangerously drifting from her feathers.

WHERE ARE THEY…

WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN!!

Her voice shakes the ground, the fire expanding outward as she gives one last heartrending cry filled with anger and agony.

PROMPTS

It's a confusing mess as two large figures have appeared at once, but it's clear that the owl's needs take precedence. With Santa's help, the owl will shrink small enough so that she can wait in the Plaza alongside and wait for those willing to find her eggs and owlets. But she watches over it with an anxious eye, the flames occasionally rising whenever there is a sound of one nearby. Everyone better work fast!

A. Talk with Santa. With Santa remaining with the owl, some may wish to speak to him while the others are working to find the baby owls. Although he plans to speak again once this is over, he will go ahead and answer any questions people may have. All questions may be asked in this thread, and as mentioned in the Game Notes, this will not be an IC thread. It is encouraged for questions to be asked now as it will help speed up dispensing information later.

B. Owl Egg Hunt. The eggs are scattered throughout the town Reverein, the nearby forests, and the lake. As if sensing their danger, the eggs have hidden themselves in various nooks and crannies, which can make it quite difficult to find. Hopefully no one accidentally tries to cook one. However, there are some clues. They will sparkle and will sometimes wiggle and roll out of their hiding place. They can also be "lured" out by friendly, positive emotions, or towards anyone that might exude a feeling of safety, security, and protection. However, if they're frightened the eggs will start to hatch. They sprout wings, legs, or even the beak to try and either escape or protect themselves. The eggs may also take on elemental characteristics, such as turning into a fireball, a block of ice, a giant rock, or a mini cyclone. Another threat will be the snoyotes as the sly buggers will follow would be rescuers to find the egg and try to snatch them and run off.

C. Owlet Panic. For the eggs that have already hatched, the owlets will be panicking and very emotional, causing a great environmental disruption around them. From fire storms to massive blizzards, the babies are out of control. Fortunately they're easy to spot—as well as hear. Their high pitched screeches can be heard from long distances. Calming emotions will be key in trying to soothe them, though dremoation abilities may be needed to get to them first.

D. Owlsitter. Whether already hatched or bursting out after returning to mother owl, the little owlets can be quite the handful. They're born already large enough to fly and while they aren't skilled, they will flutter about here and there. Essentially toddlers, they will get into anything that might interest them and cause mischief. With the owlets capable of casting elemental magic, that can pose a problem as sometimes it can go awry.

E. Snoyotes. The snoyotes are a cross between snake and coyote and they rely on their stealth skills rather than offensive power. They will stick to the shadows and can camouflage themselves well. When they do need to fight, they are tenacious and will try to sink their venomous fangs into their assailant. The venom is paralytic and is potent and fast acting. Although not always enough to kill, if enough venom makes its way to the heart then there might be trouble. As mentioned they will follow those looking for eggs to try and snatch them first, but some may be hunting other eggs. It's not necessary to kill them, driving them off to the Wild Canyons will do.

» BONUS: FANG COLLECTION. Although highly potent, the venom stored within the fangs of the snoyotes can be used in anti-venom remedies (and poisons). Collecting them will need some care. In addition, defanging a snoyote is one way to keep it away for those unwilling to kill. Their fangs will grow back so would be an effective way to farm fangs later.

[Mod Note: Details on this mini event can be found here and we request all thread submissions to be made here. Reminder that this mini event is opt-in.]

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[ Ori doesn't, in fact, know that there is a non-owl in the owl pile as she reaches over to try and pick up one of the sleepy little owls. Then she spies something suspiciously horn-like and glances back quickly once, then two more times as though she really doesn't realize what she's looking at. ]

Oh...!

[ With a fluffy little owl in her arms, she leans further in once more for a closer inspection. Her head tilts almost in synchronization with the owlet's as she looks on with equal parts curiosity and concern. ]

H-Hello? Are you alright in there? Oh my.

[It's fine!!! The owls don't really hurt unless they accidently poke them with a claw or beak.]

[They try to communicate back with a calming, though puzzled feeling. They don't mind staying in here to keep the owls safe but being huddled over like this wasn't quite part of the plan.]

[ That calming feeling goes a long way to make Ori feel less concerned for them, and instead of trying to get them out from the pile, she'll instead try to catch the attention of the owlets in a soft, soothing, and nurturing voice as she says: ]

Come on now, little ones. Why don't we give our friend here a little space so they can watch over you better, hmm?

[ Whether or not they'll listen to her, though, is another matter entirely. ]

[Some of them do, or at least enough for them to wiggle out a bit. Some extra mobility does go a long way, and it's true too, they can't really protect the owlets if they are stuck.]

[A small bit of gratitude goes out. They're free now.]

[ Free, certainly, although the owlets do continue to bounce happily around them and Ori. The tiefling, meanwhile, tilts her head at her new owlsitting companion. She can't help but feel intrigued yet somehow endeared to their appearance. ]

Let's work together to keep an eye on the young ones, shall we?

[ Mostly because she doesn't want the owlets to pile all over them again as soon as she turns around. In any case, she has noticed that they seem to be communicating with their emotions, so she tries to do the same in conveying a friendly feeling. ]

[Nod!]

[They'll be careful to not get piled on. Perhaps getting that complaisant was not such a good thing if they were supposed to be protecting them. ...Probably should know better by now.]

[But they seem rather confident. As well as armed, should it by any chance come to that.]

[ Thankfully, there doesn't seem to be any soft of threat around as of yet, other than the threat of Oriphi dying from all the cute creatures around her - including the one she uncovered from beneath the pile of baby owls.

Curiously, Ori casts the little knight another appraising look as a thought occurs to her. They seem able to understand her words and feelings, so she wonders if she can communicate with writing. Carefully, she lifts the owlet in her lap up and allows it to perch on top of her head, squarely in between her horns. Then she reaches over to her side and into her satchel, from which she pulls out her journal. She takes a moment to quickly scribble a few words onto a page before she turns the journal out so that they can see what she's written: ]

Please feel free to write to me this way if you would like!

[Oh!! It's a journal.]

[They did have one of those, but it was being kept somewhere safe at the moment. Perhaps, it would be better to keep it on hand for cases like this.]

[Regardless, they take to the book wit relative ease. Scribbling away something down while trying to avoid an owl biting away at the quill. Please no it's not a toy...]

I got one too somewhere.

[ Ori is very patient as they scribble into the journal, then peers over to see what they wrote. With a smile, she nods and then responds, ]

Great! Maybe we can keep sending each other messages after today. My name is Oriphi, by the way.

[ before she sets her journal down on the ground along with her quill, so that they can write in it to communicate with her at will. Meanwhile, the owlets are beginning to kick up a bit of a fuss, because the fact that they are not currently the center of attention simply will not do. ]

[The owlets will have to wait, grownups are talking. Or, something like that. Maybe they can find something to distract them with later.]

I do not have a name. [...Maybe they should have mentioned that a long while ago. But then again, no one's ever asked.]

[ Ori extends her free arm out and happily lets one or two of the owlets perch on her. Others, though, are clumsily flapping their wings about, perhaps in an attempt to fly up around the two of them.

The ones on Ori's arm tilt their heads as they look on while Ori writes a reply. ]

That's okay! Maybe you'd like to think of one for yourself sometime, or we can think of one together.

Do you like owls, too?

[Having a name of their own would be interesting. Only one of their kind was ever given that sort of privilege, and yet...]

[Oh right, the owls.]

They needed someone to protect them and brought back home.

[They're an awful lot like grubs, in a way. Only still in eggs and not trapped in jars. Maybe that's why they felt the need to help them.]

[ Ori has very likely confounded many animal friends by bringing up the notion of individual names, but this time she does hope that they might, as they seem to be quite smart. ]

So they piled on top of you so you could protect them?

[ She can't help the small jest, having been endeared to the sight of it all. ]

I'm sure the mother owl appreciates everyone's efforts.

[IN SOME WAYS YES, maybe?? That was something the owls just did on their own. It kind of makes protecting them harder actually.]

Never intended for that, but it does keep them together.

[So there was....that?]

The mother should be pleased.

I see... Maybe they really like you then!

Or you made a good pillow to sit on. But either way works!

Perhaps. I been letting them do what they want as long as they don't get into trouble.

Maybe they like me because I saved some from predators.

[Umm... what if owlets think they're a mama owl???]

I'm sure that plays a role in it! It seems like you saved quite a few of them, too! Wonderful.

It's too bad they'll probably have to go back to their mother, huh?

I don't know, isn't it better for them to return home?

[ The moment that she reads their question on the journal, she looks up and glances over at the owlets, then up at where the mother owl is keeping watch over all of her children, gazing contemplatively. It would be better for them to return home, wouldn't it? ]

I suppose you're right... maybe they'll have a more peaceful life back home.

Do you think it's better for everyone if we return home, too?

[That was a question they needed more time to think about. Hm.]

I do not think the Dream World is a place anyone is supposed to live in for very long. But I haven't found out how to leave either.

[ Ori looks just as surprised and caught off-guard by her own question, and she's the one that wrote it. But she can't deny that the thought of departing and returning home often crosses her mind. ]

I see... So if you were given a chance to return, you would take it right away, wouldn't you?

[Well, that question took less time to answer.]

I would want to know if things had changed now.

[ Unfortunately for everyone, really, Ori is quite prone to swerving into existential crises, so this really was just a matter of time.

...The fact that there are baby owls to tend to helps keep her from spiraling too far, at least. ]

That's a good point. I suppose I would want to know, too.

Then I'm sure the mother owl and her babies will be happy to see their home again after all this. Part of me hopes they'll remember us, but it's probably better if they don't.

[Oh. That's not quite an answer they thought about.]

Why better?

[ She takes a long while to think before she writes, in answer, ]

Because if they do remember, they might be sad that they can't come to see us anymore.

[ Is she talking about the birds, still? Or herself? It's a mystery! ]

Especially you, since you helped save and protect them, right?

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voidbug - 2022-02-25 04:47 (UTC) - Expand

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