songerein | { something steamy }

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{ something steamy }

SOMETHING STEAMY

This log is open to everyone and doubles as a "Character Intro" for new characters who were just accepted this round. As a reminder, new characters are welcome to carry over their TDM threads backdated to the last week of October (25-31) so that they're not really "new" if players wish to do so! Starting fresh is also acceptable.

I. REVEREIN HOTPOT

With the temperatures cooling down, some locals have decided to throw a huge hotpot party along the riverbank for no real reason other than to try and cook up some good food and meet new faces. While participating restaurants and farmers are happy to provide some surplus ingredients, others are welcome to bring their own. There are plenty of grills and pots to go around, but with so many people and…unique ingredients coming in, there's bound to be a little chaos. (Thanks to Mich for the idea!)

A. Hunt for the "Legendary" Ingredient. To spice things up, a challenge has been posted before the day of the party for those who want to add some unique flavor to the meal.

Golden Truffles. There are special truffles found deep in the swamps hidden within the Wildlands that are said to taste so divine that just a small bite would make one feel as if they are floating to heaven. No it's not poisonous!! While not exactly rare in number, they are notoriously hard to find and require special pigs to sniff and dig them out. Some truffle hunters have agreed to let anyone daring to look for the truffles to borrow said pigs for the hunt. However, they can be ornery and will only cooperate if you sing a happy song to them. The swamps themselves can be filled with some mild dangers, but the pigs should guide you. Probably.
Mandragora Leaves. There is a marked field where the mandragora have taken residence. They will give up their leaves if asked nicely, but if too rough or without showing respect, they will scream and attack instead. Even then you have to take care in clipping the leaves.
Rainbow Speckled Eggs. Some wild hens that live out in the Wildlands lay rainbow speckled eggs at this time of year and they are huge! Can't miss them. They are duds and won't hatch, so they are perfect for eating. The hens themselves won't mind them taken, but the roosters that guard them are a different story. Get past them and collect the egg!

B. Food Thieves. Attracted by the delicious smell and it being time to start gathering for the winter, a few critters and even some small fae try to sneak in and snatch a few pieces for themselves. Squirrels and chipmunks in particular like to swipe any chestnuts some people are trying to roast, and the birds are diving in for any free morsel. There are a few ways to handle this, from chasing them off to trying to create a designated "food try" for the animals to take to avoid them bothering everyone else.

C. Communal Pot Surprise. While there are smaller, individual pots available for more private use, there is a larger pot that suspiciously looks like a cauldron set near the center where anyone can dump in whatever ingredient they desire—even inedible items—and produce questionable yet somehow edible results. Here are some various effects that occur:

Anything green: Chances of turning into a frog—25%. The remaining chance is just having one's hair turn green.
Sour fruit: Everything will taste like lemons for ten minutes. No amount of sugar will help until it wears off.
Candy: Everything will taste super sweet for ten minutes and 50% chance of getting a sugar rush.
Alcohol: TIME TO SING A RAUNCHY SONG WITH GREAT FERVOR but think of the children or don't.
Inedible Objects: Why would anyone throw a shoe or sock in there—the soup will turn black and empty itself so now everyone has to start over.

This is not an exhaustive list or this prompt would go on forever—so feel free to come up with other effects with whatever item your character tosses in!

D. General Mingling. There are plenty of tables and places to sit, so grab some ingredients, find a spot, and start cooking! Just remember to share and greet everyone around! Be mindful of the pots and grills as well as they can be sensitive to emotions. Get too animated and the water or fire might shoot up in temperature. But dreamotion could also help enrich flavors, so everyone is encouraged to play around. There will also be a few spicy and garnish noodle dragons flying around to help season things. Just make sure they don't get too overzealous.

II. DRAGON ISLAND

The Hot Air Balloon Station set just outside some open fields beyond town are bustling with activity as the Dragon Island (name pending) has finally opened its borders and allow outside visitors to come in and visit the island. Its main attraction of course is the hot springs resort, "Draken Springs," where everyone has received a one time free voucher to test its amenities. There are other places guests can visit near the hot springs, and by helping the nearby towns and villages, favorability will increase as well as earn extra vouchers for the hot springs. For more details on the island in general, refer to the Mod Notes.

A. Dragon Riders. There's already a task written up on the Dream Board from farmers requesting help for harvest, but there is another request to help deal with some aggressive animals that have scared off some livestock and then corral the ones that have gotten loose. The beasts are a tough, armored, armadillo-like bear whose hide is resistant to dragon flame and can be tough to fight. Dreamotion works better to strengthen physical and magical attacks. The young adolescents are giving non-dragons the privilege of riding on their backs to fly around to help first find and deal with the bears, and then herd the livestock back to their respective farms and ranches.

B. Dragon Nursery. One of the neighboring villages is taking care of many of the new hatchlings that were recovered from the previous "raid" on Reverein. Despite a month passing, some dragons are still trying to figure out who the parents are, and there is a strong suspicion that some of the eggs were never originally from the island at all, leaving many orphaned. The dragons have a very strong communal instinct when it comes to raising their young, so some have been adopted but others are still waiting to be taken as arrangements are still being made. Thus in the meantime, help is requested to do one simple task: play and help feed the young hatchlings. They are basically toddlers so it might be quite the challenge for those unprepared, especially as their own magic is still wild and out of control. Calm dreamotion will help as well as using opposing elements to help balance the magic.

C. Hot Springs: Testing the Waters. Everyone has a chance to grab a towel and test both the indoor and outdoor public springs. For more private rooms, they will need to pay up as the voucher only covers the public springs. But they will still be provided with complimentary drinks, snacks, towels, and use of the showers to clean up before and after using the springs. As for whether it's mixed, separated, covered, or bare it all…well hopefully visitors are able to decipher the signs. There are also the saunas, just be mindful of how hot it can get.

D. Hot Springs: Special Snacks. There are some unique foods that the town and resort offers for anyone to try that can be only found on the island.

Dragon's breath peppers are hot, but these won't kill anyone (the dragons are too considerate for that). This particular species is safe to consume but as the name implies, will give one fiery breath for a while. Anyone who had the kebabs from the festival might recall a similar effect.
A spiked fruit that suspiciously looks like durian has a notable stench that will carry for quite a ways, but anyone daring enough to get past it will find the fruit sweet and seeds edible once boiled and the skin peeled away. It even has a bit of a rejuvenating effect.
Dragon fruits are a nice palette cleanser especially with yogurt or ice cream. Anyone who eats it will be able to relax more easily.

E. Hot Springs: Recreation Room. There is a sizeable recreational room where any guest is free to relax and lounge in. They offer a small snack bar, some board and card games, yoga mats, billiards table, and a ping pong table. The ping pong table in particular is set a little ways from the rest as the competition can get a little heated—literally. They even had to erect magical barriers to prevent wildly charged balls from hitting others outside of the containment area.

F. Hot Springs: Peeping Toms. Even the hot springs on Dragon Island are vulnerable to unsavory characters. Although rare, there are some unwelcome guests who try to peep into the springs, and while there are security personnel and magic devices that try to catch them, some still manage to sneak in. Especially the monkeys. Descending from the higher peaks, most wild monkeys use the other pools outside of the resort for their own use, but some are attracted to the food and other amenities and make their way into the resort pools instead. Some of them are respectful and can make for great bathing company. But others are clearly not and need to be kicked out without remorse. So whether it's an uninvited or unruly guest, or a wild monkey, if caught in the act either report or feel free to handle it. Remember, even if thrown off the mountain, they will not fall to their doom, and in this case will be caught by the magic security devices.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's alright. I was more focused on that...

[He indicates the vegetable? But with a shake of his head, he lets the moment pass.]

I'm supposed to harvest it, but to be honest, I have no idea how.

It seems reluctant to move, though not for a lack of trying.

[ Naminé's head tilts as she considers the vegetable in question, only to turn back toward Ira at his admission. ]

Even you can't move it? But... [ She curls a hand against her mouth, looking a little perplexed by this. Quieter, ] You're pretty strong, aren't you?

[ More so than she is, surely. Her brow furrows thoughtfully. ]

What about magic? I don't know a spell to make plants move, exactly, but there must be... something one of us can do?

[ Seems like it'd be worth an attempt, anyhow. ]

I would like to think so, but it's stuck in the ground pretty solidly.

But magic might be worth trying at this stage. Or some sort of dreamotion.

[He smiles.]

I was a little worried about damaging it with my usual spells. Did you have something in mind? I'm open to a fresh idea.

[ Nodding, the lass considers aloud, ]

If that's the case, I'm not sure that there's any other choice.

[ As much as she might dislike a dilemma, she still offers a small smile in response to Ira's before turning to regard the vegetable again. ]

Well... not exactly. But if think about it together, maybe we can come up with something.

[ With a soft hum, she peers down at the dirt around it. ]

It'd be much easier if we could help it grow legs and stand up. Although - if we did, then it might just run away.

[ That, and it might become something of an... ethical dilemma? Giving something some form of life just so that it can be potentially eaten... ]

I can't say I am all that interested in chasing something down.

[Certainly not after all the effort to free it.]

Perhaps we could try loosening the earth around it? And then levering it out?

[ Tilting her head back the other way, she admits, ]

Neither am I.

[ So that idea's a no-go, then. She perks at his, though. ]

That could work...! Although - I don't think I know any spells that move the earth directly. [ Despite being sure they exist, thanks to a few specific secondhand memories that she... would actually rather not linger on, now that she thinks about them. Quieter, ] Still, I'm pretty sure I've seen someone do that before.

Precedent is always a good start. I admit I don't have any spells in particular, Aced was always better with the earth.

But I think I can use dreamotion to start loosening it.

[He doesn't usually use dreamotion from the get go, preferring to combine it with an already familiar spell.]

[ Naminé's had a similar habit, since she was still trying to learn the more normal types of magic from their worlds when she first arrived in Reverein. It just seemed more practical to stick with it - although there are certainly times one must be creative regardless. Surely they can manage that, right? ]

It seems worth a try.

[ But she can't very well let him do all the work, so-- ]

Maybe I can start on one side and you can start on the other?

[ Surely one of them will manage something, and with their powers combined...! ]

I would appreciate that. It should help to make things go a little faster.

Between the two of us, we should be able to at least get it loose.

[That would be a start since it is not moving right now.

Perhaps we should also circle it, to get all the dirt loose.

I think so, too...!

[ To both comments, honestly. Starting forward to get a closer look around the base of the plant, Naminé casts a nod over her shoulder at his last words. ]

That makes sense to me.

[ Now, to figure out what works best to begin with. ]

[Ira does a circle of the plant, his face thoughtful before an idea seems to come to him. He summons his Keyblade with a flash before sticking it in the dirt to start loosening it up.]

This should at least get this started, if you want to use dreamotion to make things finer, or move it away.

[They might even be able to get some leverage. It's probably not how a keyblade is supposed to be used, but who's going to tell?]

Edited 2022-12-31 21:25 (UTC)

[ Naminé's been making a similar inspection of their adversary, and thus has to lean to one side and peer past it to make certain of what Ira's plan is. Seeing the keyblade appear, her mouth rounds a little - it's certainly not a bad idea, but... definitely not your typical use for one, no.

Still, it's not like she's going to tattle on him, anyway. (Who else would she tattle to? He's probably the most senior wielder in their number.) So-- ]

I'll get started, too.

[ Stepping back to her own side of the monstrous foodstuff, Naminé considers an extra moment or two before lifting her hand to apply some magic. With a few careful bursts of Aero, she can at least start to blast some of the upper layers of the dirt away, even if it. Is kind of messy. She'll try it out, anyhow. ]

... Hm.

[It's being resourceful and using the tools available to them. Plus the spikes on his keyblade might do a bit more than the rounded edge of the shovel. But it's not the easiest task, even as he channels more dreamotion through the keyblade.]

Is everything alright on your end? You sound a bit concerned.

Everything's fine...!

[ Although she reassures him, it's after a beat of hesitation. With a thoughtful 'hm', she casts another small Aero - yep, this is. This is messy business. ]

They'll want to clean it off first before they use it, right...?

[ Her side of the plant's already looking somewhat smudged from the flying dirt. ]

Most likely. Though, I don't think we have to deliver it to them clean.

I was just told to harvest everything.

[But laundry's probably going to be a need after this task is done. He's not exactly thrilled about playing in the dirt.]

[ The lass pipes a considering, 'okay...!' in confirmation of her understanding. Well, this method does seem to be working... ]

I guess that's a good thing, then. But-- um, it might be best if you don't come over this way for now.

[ She'd rather not blast the poor fellow in the face by accident, that'd be terrible and just plain embarrassing for both of them. ]

I'll keep my distance then.

[He assumes they're missing something, that there's a more obvious way that no one thought to show him. But then he's also not a dragon.]

Is it working, at least?

[ Well, so long as they accomplish the mission right? Naminé responds with a piped, ]

Yes...! At least, I think so.

[ There's certainly a noticeable gap developing alongside the plant as she pauses, taking a moment for her magic to recharge. (Hopefully his side's making progress too, so the thing doesn't tip over--) ]

What about you? How are things over there...?

I think I've made progress. At least, I can shift it now.

I might be getting to a point to try levering it out.

[And debating if he should use his keyblade for that. Or find something a bit better.]

[ Naminé makes a noise of thoughtful confirmation, one last attempt at shifting some of the dirt on her side, and then as that spell fades offers a contemplative, ]

Me too. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try.

[ Might save some time and effort. Taking a few steps, she leans past the side of the gargantuan foodstuff to peer at Ira. ]

Would you like me to try to help move it, or...?

[ Would she just be getting in the way? She is, after all, a twig; magic aside, she doesn't have a lot of physical strength to offer. ]

I would appreciate the help.

[Small or not, two are always better than one.]

I'm just going to look for a board or something similar. Using that will probably go smoother than a keyblade.

Okay...!

[ If she won't be in the way, then - she'll certainly try her best. Perking at his comment, she hesitates a moment before responding, hands folded together. She could also use the time to mentally prepare herself, but-- ]

I'll-- look over here, too.

[ And give a little point in the opposite direction! Two sets of eyes are better than one, right? They can cover more ground that way. ]

Call out if you find something.

[He'll search in the opposite direction of her, a little closer to one of the fences. Perhaps there's a loose board they can use, or something fallen.]

I will!

[ She has to lift her voice a bit louder than she'd usually speak for that, too, so it might sound slightly more distant than it is. Carefully picking her way around to a simple road amongst the vegetables, she considers what few options she can find.

A big stick? ... It's a pretty nice one, but probably too thin to be sturdy enough. Well, there's also a discarded rake - so she'll wander over to inspect that, although it looks a bit. Worse for wear. ]

[They have the room to try a few options, or even jerry-rig something together. Ira returns to the vegetable with a few planks of wood that might be a start to a lever. They don't seem rotted out at least.]

Any luck?

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