songerein | second shot ⊗ open november log

Entry tags:

second shot ⊗ open november log

Who: Anyone!
Which: Open November Log
Where: Various locations in and out of town
What: A general open log with prompts that all feature dogs because I somehow could: helping chase squirrels away from the treehouses; assisting the farmers in orchards and herding; special "save Eustace from corgis quest" featuring Alice
Warnings: None

⊗ a: chasing treehouse squirrels

[The squirrels are certainly a menace for everyone living in the treehouses, and Eustace is no exception. He's been tempted to actually shoot them at this point, they've been such a disruption to his otherwise peaceful, quiet home. But they're not the only problem.

Barks and the sound of thundering paws can be heard all through the community as the fairy dogs Eustace had brought in previous start chasing the squirrels. On the one hand, they do help in driving them out. On the other hand...they are puppies and thus chaos will assuredly ensue.]

Dahlia, watch it!

[Eustace can only try and warn the young pup before she rushes up the stairs of someone's home and tries to jump at a squirrel that was taunting her. Not only will she probably surprise anyone who might be around, but she bumps into one of the tender fruits hanging from it. While it won't explode, it does threaten to fall so some quick action may be needed to either stop it or catch it without making it burst.

The other pups aren't that much better, barking and running up and down the trees, sometimes entering in homes with open doors. Yep this will be...quite the scene unless the pups are caught. They're fast little buggers, too.

Side note, the fairy dogs have names that match the flowers blossoming on their back for easier identification (from oldest to youngest): Dahlia (female), Edelweiss (Del for short; male), Iris (female), Valerian (male). They all have other flowers blooming on their coats, but those particular flowers stand out the most. The mother is named Rose.

Anyway, have fun with chaotic pups and squirrels with a side of exploding fruit.]

⊗ b: farm help

[Out on the farms, Eustace can be found in several places doing a variety of chores.

1. Clearing out pests. Out in the orchards, Eustace takes the opportunity to try and develop his abilities while dealing some of the pests...in this current situation, a mix between horned rabbits and giant insects. Although he will kill if he must, he will try to drive them away first.

Focusing on his keeping a steady and calm mind, he feels the air around him, the wind a stalwart breeze. Tapping into it, he tries to put in a bit more control and...woosh! A strong gust forms and blows away some of the large flies that were hovering around a tree.]

...A bit weak, but better than expected.

[Continuing with the calm mindset, he then focuses on the ground. He's used to creating mental and emotional walls, what about physical ones? In an attempt to trap a rabbit, he tries to raise the ground...but only succeeds in creating a small bump and just scaring it away instead.]

Hm... Practice is needed, but it's getting somewhere.

[2. Herding Livestock. With some trained farm dogs, Eustace joins a group in attempting to herd some captured Cotton Candy Sheep and fairy cows back to their corral. Of course Eustace really had just wanted to watch the dogs in action from afar...but he needs to work and this would be a good opportunity to learn some tips to help train those pesky pups. So with an experienced hound in tow and the basics in mind, he heads out. Of course it won't be easy, and a young sheep or cow will manage to slip out of the herd and run right towards another person.]

Hey, stop it before it gets too far!

[Or, you know, run over the person instead.]

⊗ c: special edition - fairy corgis (rescue eustace)

[A while back, Eustace and Alice had discovered a tree out in the forest of the Wildlands that looked like it had an entrance. They recently returned and when inspecting the tree Eustace picks up some sounds inside. Dog sounds. So perhaps against better judgment he tells Alice he's going in and when he does, a large group of corgis runs up to the door barking at them, but not stepping out. As if following some kind of impulse, Eustace is suddenly drawn in and steps inside despite Alice's warning. The corgis immediately surround him and are clearly distressed. After that, Eustace refuses to leave. Of course this could be something due to his love for dogs, but his behavior is more like someone under a trance. And now after Alice calls for help, it's up to everyone else to try and convince him to leave.

1. Warning Shot. Upon entering the clearing surrounding the tree, a bolt of lightning will suddenly strike the ground just inches before them. Looking up, they will find Eustace glaring down at them before aiming his gun at them, electricity crackling around the barrel.]

Leave. That was your only warning.

[Anyone is free to try and fight back, but Eustace will remain up in the tree and will never set foot outside of it. It's actually bad if he does, but...well, better to try and see what happens.

2. Memory Loss. It will become immediately clear that Eustace has no memory of his own life or about Songerein. But a "little bird" will appear and give a helpful hint: Eustace needs to recover his memories and he will be able to leave. Talking to him and trying to remind him of either something from his personal life or just Songerein will help as he won't even remember the dream world they are currently in, believing they are somewhere else. Finding a certain flower and making Eustace drink the nectar will also help clear his mind.

3. Beware the Corgis. It should be noted that Alice is the "gateway" to let people inside as she's currently the only one Eustace and the corgis "trust." So it can be assumed those who enter the house got approved by Alice. A group of seven corgis from old to adolescent will immediately "greet" and be wary, grumbling at the "visitor." They look like Pembroke corgis, but are unique with their leafy neck floofs. The interior of the tree itself is larger on the inside than the outside with a large open floor concept like a rustic cottage. There are spiral stairs that lead up to the second floor where a small bedroom and further up leads the various perches Eustace positions himself. The corgis will guard the bottom of the stairs and they are fierce. They may be short and long flufflebutts but they are heavy and can body slam anyone to the ground and know how to bite. Nipping ankles will be common.

The corgis will be very protective of Eustace and will not let him leave. Should anyone try to shove him out, bad things will happen and the corgis will freak out. Finally, should anyone try to harm the corgis, not only will they feel the wrath of Eustace and get shot with lightning, they will also be forcibly flung out of the tree and land far away deep in the forest. The corgis cannot leave, and will resist any attempts. They will also be stopped as if there is an invisible barrier.

4. Endear to the Corgis. It is possible to gain their trust, though it will be difficult. The corgis are distressed and while there appears to be a good stock of fresh food and they are not malnourished, they look as if they haven't seen a brush in months, perhaps years. Who knows when they last had a bath. So much hair everywhere... Finding the treat box might get their attention and a good brushing session to rid them of dust, old leaves on their neck floods, and excess hair will do wonders to calm them. Tidying up the place in general will help improve the mood as well. This may also help loosen the enchantment on Eustace, who will be watching and assisting, moving about as if he's always lived there.

Alice also has a toplevel that features other relevant tasks for this endeavor that also provides clues as to what the heck is going on. There is a sad story behind all this.]

⊗ d: wildcard

[Always up for anything else! Feel free to hit me up on discord or on

laenavesse for any other plotting.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's some relief to see that the young woman came prepared with the wind chimes. While he has some to control the herd, it's difficult when one runs off as he has to keep the rest from running off. So he just gives her a wave of acknowledgment in return and waits patiently for her to join up.]

Thanks. It would have been more difficult if it decided to fly off.

[Literally in the sheep's case.]

[ She makes sure to keep encouraging the rogue sheep with the windchimes and little whispers of "come on, let's go" as they make their way back, and soon enough it joins back up with its herd.

Ori chuckles at his remark, scratching the back of her head. ]

Right, that would have been troublesome for sure... Luckily I haven't run into that issue yet.

[ It's not until she's standing right in front of Eustace that she really gets a good look at him, though, and she can't help but stare for a moment. Are those... dog ears? ]

[Oddly enough, Eustace is actually doing the same to Oriphi, if a bit more subtly. He hadn't been sure from so far and had thought the horns might have been some kind of accessory or hat. But now he can clearly see them... They're different from the draph horns he's used to, more like antlers? At least by now he's used to the stares and questions for himself so he doesn't mind.

So he'll just go ahead and answer the question clear in her eyes.]

They're real.

[ Subtlety has absolutely never been Oriphi's strong suit, so when she hears his remark, she gasps and snaps back into the moment, leaving no question around her confusion over his appearance. ]

Oh, I— So sorry, I didn't mean to be rude just now. I actually didn't think they were fake, I just— haven't seen anyone with ears like yours before! They look so soft.

[ —wait, Ori, no. Why would you say that out loud! ]

[There's a small look of amusement as he watches her reaction.]

It's fine, not many in this place have seen someone like myself. I could say the same about your...horns? Antlers? There are draphs in my world who bear large horns but they are curved more similar to bovines.

[And then a small quirk of his lips.]

And I have been told that my ears are fairly soft.

[Nope, she did not escape from that slip of the tongue.]

[ Being an open book is a self-fulfilling prophecy; the more she can tell that someone can tell that she's embarrassed, the further embarrassed she gets. So with every look of amusement and knowing grin that she sees on his face, the warmer and more flushed her cheeks get. ]

Oh, is that so? Then I guess I wasn't too far off...

[ She gives a soft, nervous chuckle. ]

A-Anyway! I haven't heard of draphs. I'm a tiefling - and these are horns, not antlers. I've seen tieflings with curved horns, too, so I guess we can look all sort of ways.

A tiefling... I haven't heard of your kind, either, and I assume you would never have heard an erune, which is what I am.

An erune... You're right, I haven't head of that, but I haven't heard of a lot of things here, too.

[ Sheepishly, she smiles at him and shrugs. And speaking of 'sheep'— ]

S-Should we get back to herding the sheep? Oh, and my name is Oriphi, by the way.

Eustace.

[A small nod before he turns to help guide them to the herd that's started to move on back to their corral. The dog that had stuck around to help assist wags its tail and looks up at Oriphi before getting to work to follow behind the sheep. This one won't escape again!!

Of course the little sheep does not like that and rushes to Oriphi's side.]

...It seems to like you.

It's nice to meet you, Eustace.

[ She smiles down at the dog and gives it a little wave and a little hi, first, but she kneels down as the sheep from earlier approaches her once again. ]

Ah, it remembers me from earlier. [ then, to the sheep, ] Hello again, little one. Is something the matter?

[ The sheep responds with bleating for a moment, and all the while Ori nods along in understanding and then responds in turn, ]

It's okay. The dogs are our friends! They just want to make sure you're safe, alright?

[ She looks up at Eustace with an apologetic expression. It is a little rude of her to start talking with someone else in the middle of their conversation, after all! ]

[At first he thinks Oriphi is just speaking to the sheep like most people do towards animals, but then his eyes widen when he realizes she's actually understanding and communicating with it.]

...You can understand what it's saying?

[ She looks a little sheepish (pun intended) when she realizes she hadn't quite explained that particular ability of hers to her acquaintance. ]

Oh! Yes, I can. Only when I cast a spell to speak to animals, though, so it's not like I can talk to them all the time.

...I see...

[He's very contemplative about this now. To be able to communicate animals... Before he didn't really think much of it, but it would have been useful a few times in the past.]

Does it work on any animal?

It does! How well a conversation goes kind of depends on the animal, though...

[ She glances over at Eustace's canine companion and chuckles. ]

Dogs are probably the easiest to talk to, but that's not really surprising.

...I have to admit, I'm a little envious.

[He throws her a small, rueful smile.]

To be able to talk to dogs... ...Nevermind. [Just a little slip of the tongue as he shifts the topic.]

Would it be trouble if I asked for your assistance sometimes?

[ The look he gives her catches her off-guard, as she's not sure what to make of it - but she gives a small smile in return. ]

Well, like with most things, it really depends on the circumstances.

[ She'll remember that remark, though, because it tells her that Eustace must really like dogs. And to Ori, that does speak a great deal about one's character. At his request, she nods readily. ]

Oh, that would be no trouble at all! I would love to help in any way that I can. Do you need me to translate with animals for you?

[He seems to hesitate for a moment before he slowly answers.]

There's a family of dogs I found with another a couple of months ago. We brought them back to the Residential neighborhood and I've managed to figure out their needs for their care, but because they are not like dogs that we're familiar with in our worlds, it's been mostly guesswork.

I just want to be sure they're getting everything they need.

[If she wasn't sure before, Oriphi should be firmly convinced that Eustace is very much a dog lover.]

[ That was indeed more than enough confirmation for Oriphi, but something about the way he hesitates when he answers that makes her wonder just what these dogs are like. In any case, he doesn't need to say much to convince her further, and she nods along as he explains. ]

That was very nice of you to try and help. I'm sure they appreciate it, even if it's been difficult.

I can definitely try to talk to them. If they're not like any dogs that you're familiar with, though, there's a chance that my spell won't work... May I ask what they're like?

[ ... All the while, Ori has been waving her staff with the candy chimes on it to keep the little sheep that's become attached to her occupied. Hopefully that's not too distracting! ]

[Not at all, and they should be heading back to the sheep, huh? Let's just slip in the "they're walking and talking" in here—]

I'm not sure what exactly to call them. Fairy dogs? Fae dogs? What makes them unique is the flowers that bloom on their coats and they seem to have some bit of magic to help in defending themselves. It's mostly in creating thorns and vines from their coats.

[ Yes, definitely walking and talking and herding—

Fairy dogs, though... Oriphi knows of blink dogs from the Feywild, back in her world, although she's never encountered one. ]

I see... They sound like beautiful creatures, that's for sure. If they're anything like the fey dogs where I'm from, then I'm afraid I might not be able to communicate with them, but...

[ She casts a glance down at the sheep following her. ]

Since my spell seems to have worked on these animals, then maybe we'll be lucky! Either way, I'll do my best to help out.

[—Ah. He looks at the sheep with small look of realization before he looks contemplative.]

They do seem to be a part of this world, so if the reasoning holds you might be able to. But I'll show you them whenever you're free.

[...Small...very small...pause...]

......I don't suppose it's something that can be taught?

[The spell. HE HAS HIGH DOUBTS but...never hurts...to maybe ask...]

[ She nods and gives a small smile. ]

Yes, we won't know anything until we try. I'm still really new here, so... you can call on me any time!

[ And then his next question catches her off-guard. Her druidic powers were something that she had to learn to hone, herself, although she's never been able to quite ascertain why she's always had such a strong innate connection with nature. So as for teaching somebody the spell... ]

I'm... actually not sure! I could easily teach you the words and the motions to go through, at least, but... I wonder if it's an ability that someone could gain with dreamotion energy?

[He already feels awkward for putting her on the spot like this, so he just gives a small wave of his hand.]

Don't trouble yourself too much if it would be too difficult, but dreamotion energy... That's a possibility. It won't hurt trying at least.

[ That wave of his hand does a lot to put Ori back at ease. As much as she'd want to help him learn the spell, she's really not confident in... well, in most things, really, but especially not in being a good teacher. ]

Oh right, speaking of... I'm really quite new here, so I'm a little unsure how to go about it all. Have you learned about what you can do with dreamotion, Eustace?

Not as much as I'd like, unfortunately.

[A small sigh.]

I've been taking note on how my emotions take effect here, and in dreams I have been successful in reproducing most of my attacks with my gun. So far I have been successful in creating small barriers and producing lightning.

However, I must admit I may also not be the most...imaginative and tend to look at things either for practical use or in battle.

second shot ⊗ open november log

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