ninth shot ⊗ open july log

[flamekthunder]

Who: Eustace and anyone
Which: Open July Log (set after the beach party/moon viewing log)
Where: Various
What: Seagulls; boatbuilders+seafood dining; choya; teleporting and limiters follow-ups
Warnings: None just shenanigans


⊗ a: quest 703: herding seagulls

[Those seagulls are definitely a damn nuisance, especially when they're around his and Tifa's house. He just wants some damn peace and quiet!! But he'll also be taking to the riverfront where most of annoying birds have gathered to join in the efforts in controlling the invasion.

Now, while he could just electrocute them with the abundant amount of lightning he can wield at this point, he will try to be more...humane and instead use two of his corgis to try and chase them off and work on a bit of wind element while he's at it.

So anyone out on the Riverfront will see Eustace calling out to two corgis—a red named Idris and a black and white with a tail named Cadoc—to essentially herd the birds. Some are just chased away, but if there's a large group Eustace aims to capture them.

Idris will rush at any groups that are scattered, driving them to fly closer together and knock them up into the air by the wind the dog's speed produces. Eustace will follow up by producing his own wave of wind to force them to fly and tumble closer to the ground before Cadoc releases a weighted net from a canister. For the most part, they're mostly successful, able to capture up to 10 birds in the net and then send them off to others who will either carry them to the beach or...cook them. Look he's not going to judge, even if it's not the tastiest thing.

But sometimes a few mishaps might happen...such as—]

Ah—

[Someone either caught by Idris's wind blast, a stray seagull flying right into someone's face, or worse—there's a misfire from the canister and someone gets caught in the net instead.]

⊗ b: quest 704+5: ocean fishing

[Finding some amount of the materials isn't too difficult, particularly since he had to find some good wood for a piano... But testing a boat? Hmmm. Given that there are requests for some seafood, might be able to kill two seagulls with one harpoon.

1. Peace and Quiet. With whoever has decided to join him on this impromptu fishing trip, Eustace looks out on the ocean waters as they stay near the shallows for now.]

So far so good. The waters seem calmer out in the shallows so let's keep it simple and see what we find around here first before trying to go further.

[And what can they find...? From simple fish to curious squids to anything really.

2. Rough waters. But if things start getting rough, such as a large angry crab or really, really sticky seaweed that's trying to wrap around their oars or the boat itself, their boat might also start seeing a few cracks.]

⊗ c: quest 706: choya chop

[Eustace actually isn't here for the quest—around another time that he's trying to fish or exploring the are a little, he'll notice any chaos and commotion from anyone who is trying to do the quest—or just happened to accidentally piss off the choyas.

A crackle of lightning and a gunshot will ring out as he rushes in to aid, shouting when he sees those weird cactus things turning read and looking ready to burst.]

Get back, it's going to explode!

[At worst, if someone can't make it on their own, a sheet of ice will suddenly appear in front of them, acting as an impromptu shield that will block at least most of the carnage.]

⊗ d: teleporter and limiters follow-up (semi-closed)

[For those who answered Eustace's inquiry last month about creating some kind of teleporter doorway as well as power limiters, including use against nightmare energy, Eustace will be trying to follow up and see how things are going. It'll be a brief message, something along the lines of,

I'd like to follow up on our discussion regarding [___]. Let's meet at your earliest convenience.

With the [___] filled in for whichever topic they discussed.

If anyone else would like to speak with Eustace about these topics, they are welcome to use this prompt and either use a journal response or find him out and about in town.]

⊗ e: wildcard

[Open to other prompts! I considered him trying the dog sleds for vehicle testing Feel free to hit me up on discord, PM, or laenavesse for questions or further discussion!]

Comments

[flamekthunder]

Looks like I don't have much of a choice.

[There goes his day of relaxation—but he was prepared, as always.]

If you can keep them together in an area, I'll be able to hit them all in one shot and keep them at a distance.

[pactmarshal]

Consider it done.

[ Trahearne doesn't wait much longer after that before he dashes to the side, luring the choya towards him and bringing the ones leading the charge back in with the rest of the group. He dodges as several of them shoot their needles, but he doesn't let that slow him down. With a swipe of his scepter, a ring of darkness manifests on the ground below most of the creatures with a gasp and a scream, and they slow to a crawl as a visible chill sets over the group.

Eustace can take care of those. One that escaped totters with great speed towards Trahearne, so he starts focusing on that one, shooting blasts of dark energy at it. ]

[flamekthunder]

[As Trahearne keeps his word, Eustace is quick to dispatch the frozen choya, electricity filling the air as a powerful blast is fired from his gun and strikes everyone in the group. The damage is devastating, electrifying them and stunning some so that they end up not exploding while others still burst.

But he's already set his eyes on the next target, and seeing the one bothering Trahearne, he shoots it before aiming at another that tried to charge at the sylvari.]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne glances at Eustace with a slight nod when he sees the group of five perish. Doesn't matter if the erune sees him or not--still good.

Two left. Trahearne whips out his focus, a mass of shadow in the shape of a hand engulfs the choya closest to him, the one Eustace just shot, finishing it off as a stream of blood (?) seems to be drawn out from its body and up and into Trahearne's arm. He hadn't been that injured, but it helps. The choya shrivels and falls motionless.

He whirls to focus on the last one, thrusting his scepter upwards. Skeletal hands claw out from the ground, grabbing at the creature and keeping it in place. ]

All yours!

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace immediately takes the cue and fires one last round, a bolt of lightning that pierces straight through the Choya before the electricity wraps around it, electrocuting it with a high voltage and leaves it lying dead on the ground. He remains in position until there's a certainty that they've all fallen—and if any will still explode—before slowly straightening.]

Is that all of them?

[pactmarshal]

I believe so.

[ Trahearne eases, tucking his focus and scepter back onto his hips. He doesn't even glance at Eustace before he strides over to the choya corpses and starts lore dumping. ]

I don't know if you've ever seen one before, but choya are native to deserts far to the east in my realm. [ He crouches by one, examining its remains. ] I was once meant to travel in that direction, but never got the chance. How funny that I get to see them here.

[flamekthunder]

[...How curious.]

...Interesting. I know creatures from other worlds appear here, and I've seen a few that look similar to the ones in my world... But I always wondered if they are dreamwalking like us or transplanted like some of the fae and other creatures that were here before us.

Or perhaps a new creation of this world altogether, something based off our memories.

[pactmarshal]

I was wondering the same.

[ Trahearne pokes at the dead choya, its watermelon-y insides actually quite tempting in the heat. ]

They cannot be from my own memories, as I've never seen one before. That must mean they possess a high enough degree of intelligence to dream.

[ ... ]

Or there is someone here from Elona.

[flamekthunder]

[Trahearne, no. Isn't that like cannibalism?]

Elona? A place in your world I take it.

[Hmmm.]

It might not be so impossible. I've seen a few of the other races in my world around town—none that I personally know—so could be the same for you. The difficulty is that there isn't much rhyme or reason when it comes to this world.

[A small pause as he considers how Trahearne spoke.]

Unless someone from this Elona would pose a problem...?

[pactmarshal]

Not particularly. [ Trahearne shrugs. He doesn't realize how dramatic he sounded. He does briefly consider one such individual that might pose a problem, one he's read about in passing, but he thinks they would have noticed his presence if he were indeed present. ] I've never met someone from Elona before. At least, not to my knowledge. It would be nice to meet them if they are indeed here.

[ Well, with the choya dead and his curiosity sated--actually, not entirely sated. The dream board did say something about eating them, right?

Trahearne lifts into a half stand before crouching back down again. He reaches out into the...choya...meat..., takes a piece, and pops it in his mouth.

...

It does taste like watermelon. ]

[flamekthunder]

[cannibal!!!

Eustace was just idly watching before he's startled by Trahearne's movements.]

What are you—!?

[Did he just—

He did.

He really did—]

Are you crazy, that thing could be poisonous!

[........NEVERMIND THAT TRAHEARNE BEING A PLANT AND EATING.......WHAT WAS ONCE A CACTUS MONSTER THING whatever dude??? AT LEAST TEST AND COOK IT FIRST??? That's also like eating meat raw isn't it or is this thing a fruit—he doesn't know.]

[pactmarshal]

[ Eustace's panic goes unnoticed as Trahearne is too busy being surprised by how edible it is. He could see why it might be a rare delicacy in Elona, what with it being so dangerous to procure and all.

Even if it does poison him, he knows how to deal with that. It isn't a big deal.

He lifts his head, delight and shock on his face. ]

It tastes like watermelon!

[ He has eaten worse things off the ground in Orr. ]

[flamekthunder]

[...

He has no words.

Instead he'll just sigh and press his palm against his forehead.]

Are you always like this...

[Give him back his heartful words of respect—]

[pactmarshal]

[ No take-backsies!!

Trahearne stands, head tilted in slight confusion as he turns to look at Eustace.

...Is he talking about eating things off the floor? From monsters?

He offers a confused smile. ]

We cannot learn if we do not take risks.

[ Eating raw choya parts is relatively harmless compared to, say, wandering into a death pit unprepared. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Yes, the eating thing.]

Eating any unknown monster meat without proper preparation is not worth the risk.

[LECTURING. LECTURING. But what's done is done.]

But as long as you feel fine... No pains, hallucinations, nausea?

[pactmarshal]

I'm aware. [ He has. definitely eaten worse things. So while the warning is appreciated, he sort of just lets it roll off him, and doesn't even think if that offends Eustace because the conversation has moved on.

He places a hand to his abdomen and looks at Eustace curiously. ]

Not particularly. [ He pauses, waiting for any of that to settle in. ] Not at all, actually. Oh--

[ He stoops down again, producing a linen bag. He starts taking some of the more in-tact choya parts and puts them in. ] We should take these back to town.

[flamekthunder]

[He still thinks Trahearne is crazy... But if he's fine, he'll let it go. This time. He's not unfamiliar with monster meat (monster plant...fruit???) ending up being delicacies, but still.

...Does Trahearne also not feel weird eating something that had a bit more intelligence—]

It seems the ones I managed to stun didn't explode... But be careful as there still could be a delay. [Hmmm.] I'll try cutting them. Wouldn't want to leave sitting time bombs.

[pactmarshal]

Ah, a smart idea. We wouldn't want to hurt any unsuspecting passers-by.

[ Trahearne rights himself. There's still plenty of space left in the bag. He has totally moved past eating the choya without warning now. Maybe he will have some as a snack on the way back. ]

Shall I help you?

[ There are a lot of choya. And they can bring even more FOOD back to town this way. ]

[flamekthunder]

[If only Eustace knew what Trahearne was thinking.]

If you wish.

[And Eustace will go up to the nearest dead choya and do a quick strike with his blade before leaping back.

One second... Two seconds... Three seconds... ...

He steps back in for another strong stab, and when nothing happens—]

Clear.

[pactmarshal]

[ With the coast clear, Trahearne strides forward towards the choya, kneeling down beside it and with his scepter, prying open the part Eustace sliced.

Don't mind him. Go on and disarm the other choya, Eustace. Trahearne will just be taking the most delectable bits from this creature and chucking them into the bag. ]

[flamekthunder]

[...Trahearne you weirdo—

Anyway, Eustace will continue to quickly stab the choya, not quite ready to let his guard down even after the second is successfully disengaged. But on the third, he notices the body twitching and he jumps farther back with a shout.]

Watch it!

[And in the next second KABOOM! There goes a choya.]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne is always a few steps behind Eustace, letting him deal with the choya corpses first before going in to harvest what he can find (one had a gold coin? How did it get that?).

So when the warning comes, he also leaps to the side, but that puts himself right at the worst angle. The watermelon-y guts splatter all over Trahearne. He's not injured, but the spattering of red is. Not welcome. ]

...Well. [ He flicks his hand and runs it through his hair, the worst and biggest offenders falling to the ground. ] This is not ideal.

[ This is what he gets for eating raw choya. ]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace cringes at the sight. It's....fairly disturbing.]

Can you wash up in the ocean? I have an extra towel if you need. [Since he had been here to fish/explore he's prepared.]

[pactmarshal]

I may as well. I'll take you up on that.

[ Trahearne leaves the bag of choya bits on the ground and strides over to the water.

It's not going to take long to wash all that out--he doesn't need to remove any "clothes" or anything--so he returns looking like he always does, just with water dripping from his leaves.

Wordlessly, he extends an arm to take a towel. ]

[flamekthunder]

[While Trahearne washes up, Eustace makes a quick trip back to where he had dropped his bags before rushing in to help. Rummaging through, he finds the spare towel and returns just as Trahearne does and hands it to him.

And then he'll watch him for a moment.

...]

I assumed it would be fine since I recalled you at the beach before, but does the salt water really not affect you?