Owl Rescue

[dreamposts]

✵ 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.]

Comments

[soups]

❰ at the question, she rotates her neck. it still has full range of motion, so it hasn't spread upwards, or out. ❱

It's just the arm. Some time has passed, and it hasn't traveled.

❰ there was initially a tingling as she felt what would be the venom seep upward, but the amount was so small that it stopped before it went any further than her shoulder joint. now the only sensation she feels is at that same shoulder, a weight attached to it with a mysterious origin. ❱

Anything from my shoulder down doesn't feel like it exists anymore. ❰ she frequently tries to pull the mental neuron trigger that causes her fingers to move, but even the idea is foreign at the moment. ❱

[mannerless]

( wei ying's gaze lifts from the wound to the movement of her head, trying not to look like he's assessing for stiffness but definitely doing precisely that. but it seems at a glance to be moving just as easily as it ever has, lending evidence to her reassurance that it really is just the arm and seems to be staying that way.

okay. okay, he can work with this.

now his eyes meet yanli's again, if she'll let them - and, ) I think I can fix this, I just need to figure a couple of things out. Talisman-wise, or... dreamotion-wise, I guess. ( but - semantics, he's shaking his head to dismiss that, ) You'll be okay for a little while? A few hours? ( it shouldn't take any longer than that. )

[soups]

❰ it's no surprise to her that wei wuxian's focus is on doing something, not simply fussing over her. not that she would ever shame or belittle jiang cheng's reaction to situations, he's simply known as the hot-headed sibling. it's what makes him easy to tease, and also one of the ways to know his heart is perhaps the largest and softest out of all of theirs.

regardless, she's grateful for wei wuxian's surety. if anyone would be able to find an anecdote to this ailment, it would be her middle brother. the one hand that she has that can be moved settles against one of his own and offers him a series of small pats. ❱

There is nothing to fear, A-Xian. I've been fine up until now, please don't fret over timeliness. ❰ which is all true — she has nothing but patience in her heart, a symptom of her upbringing. it doesn't betray her anxiety, though, that does prickle with the possibility of release. that this may only be an affliction she has to worry over for a few more hours is a blessing, one that she can't wait to come to her. ❱ I'm grateful for your capabilities at all, and your jiejie will be alright.

[mannerless]

( though she meant only to offer a reassuring little pat, wei wuxian's hand turns over by reflex to take loose hold of his shijie's, the other lifting now to wrap around it as well. when he was younger, he'd often take her hand like this to plead sweetly for more of her yummy soup (sometimes even before his current bowl was emptied). here and now, there's the barest hint of a grip to it - an assurance, not a plea. it's a little bit ridiculous maybe, sitting here reassuring each other in circles, but it might also be exactly what the both of them need to bolster themselves for the next few hours.

and so 'your jiejie will be alright' has the concern on his face cracking into a quiet exhaled grin, and wei ying nods a little nod. ) Okay. Okay, then-... ( he's standing up now, but not going anywhere just yet. ) D'you want tea? I could heat up some more water for tea. And are you hungry? ( if he's going to be flitting off to figure this out, he'll most certainly be making sure she's as comfy as she can be in the meantime. )

[soups]

❰ the slight grip is returned, perhaps not so much a continuation of their platitudes but an understanding of who and where they are in this situation.

afterwards, she shakes her head. ❱ A-Cheng made more than enough for me earlier. I hope whatever he said wasn't too inciting. ❰ as it's obvious wei wuxian found this out from their younger sibling, she can only imagine what was said about her present state. it wouldn't be a stretch to not put it past him that he made her out to be dying. his heart is in the right place, of course. the excitement can just be a bit much at times. ❱ In any case, I'm not totally impaired. My legs aren't suffering the same affliction.

[mannerless]

( he definitely opened with the text equivalent of panicked screeching, but it's fine. they figured it out. wei wuxian's here now, and he's going to figure this out, and clearly shijie isn't too stressed by it so it's not as bad as it could be. hopefully wherever a-cheng is (off on an errand for shijie? looking around for a cure of his own?), he's not panicking too terribly, either. wei ying's moderately sure that he's managed to reassure him, but that doesn't mean nothing has happened since to work him back up. he should probably check on him, if he remembers. the priority right now, though, is getting the toxin of whatever sort out of his shijie's arm. )

Fine~! ( he huffs, just melodramatically enough to make clear that it's something like teasing, ) I get it - you like A-Cheng's tea better. Well, if that's how it's going to be, I guess that I'll just - ( he planned to sass his way out the door (in lieu of a more concerned goodbye, which is the only real alternative currently), but his eyes fall on the egg on the table now and he slows to a stop with a furrowed brow. ) Ah, should I be taking that with me? D'you think she'll even take it, if it's not flapping and screeching and whatnot? ( he's heard of a few being returned to the mother, but they've all been well past the egg stage. )

[soups]

❰ it works to bring a smile to her face, which she's sure he's noticed is as unrevealing as possible while still holding just enough taut tiredness to show off one of her many cards. ❱ There will be an opportunity for you to make me tea once this is over with, and then we'll have it settled. ❰ it's easier to focus on the future sibling rivalry than this emotionally fraught afternoon.

again, jiang yanli shakes her head with a puff of laughter. ❱ I'll take care of it, don't worry. I think I can handle a still egg, even in this present state. ❰ mostly, she feels a certain obligation to care for it at this point. this whole situation was started because of her desire to retrieve it. truthfully, she could have left it be...but there was a pang of sentimentality she felt for a mother without a child, even if they both happened to be owls.

not to mention, she feels like she has the best emotional modulation abilities between all of them. has she cried her eyes out in extreme despair before? yes — but barring any sudden happenstance, that shouldn't apply to this situation at all. ❱

whoops, this was marked as read, here i am now

[mannerless]

( though she declines his assistance, wei ying can't help but hesitate, his gaze shifting from shijie's expression to the egg and back. because of course she can handle a still egg, he doesn't expect her to have any trouble with that bit, but aren't they supposed to... i don't know, do something with it? take it somewhere? to the big angry bird in the sky, perhaps - or failing that, perhaps cracked into a pan over a fire?

but alright! alright. he won't press the matter, if only because truth be told, he doesn't actually want to have to deal with the egg on top of figuring all this out. let jiang cheng deal with that, he's already fussing like a hen. (which is actually complimentary! it's a step up from earlier, when he was panicking like a loon.) in the meantime, wei wuxian has work to do.

so he leans to give the egg a light but stern little tap-tap with his fingertip. ) Listen here, you - Shijie's sacrificed a limb to rescue you, so before you decide to pop out and light her on fire, just know that I've eaten much larger fowl for much smaller meals. ( just so it knows where they stand regarding harm coming to jiang yanli, and also regarding poultry being delicious.

then he flashes a grin at his shijie and whisks off toward the door. ) I'll be back before you know it!

[soups]

❰ the comical little speech makes her laugh lightly, good hand going up to mouth instinctively. truth be told, she has been concerned about such a thing happening. the entire conversation with jiang cheng, she was trying to modulate both of their emotions, for the sake of not having a flapping bird to contend with, or to even upset it in its egg form.

the worst of the emotionally heightened conversations are over now, so from here it will be easy to not add onto their current pile of things to deal with. it makes it much easier to tell him, ❱ I will still be here, A-Xian.

❰ and when he does return, that is indeed the truth. she hasn't sat totally still the entire time, getting up to occasionally right a chair or something on the counter, to refill her tea, et cetera. but for now, things are still in place. ❱