Dec Catch-All, Manta Prompts [OTA]

[vermilloci]

Who: Rem & you
Status: Open
Where: General location
What: Stuff, Manta quests, etc.
Warnings: one aphrodisiac prompt

Paladin's Gambit (Paladin Quest; Rem is Corsair, but would be participating.)

[ Like many others Rem hadn't been thrilled about the previous month's incident involving a certain paladin and executions, but that doesn't mean she's thrilled as some corsairs look to capitalize on the aftermath as an excuse to take their own revenge.

Rem watches from afar as a paladin clean-up squad dismantles the gallows in a shipyard. Not too far off, what appears to be a group of corsairs slowly stalk toward the unsuspecting crew.  Straightening up, she gives you a nod. ] They look like they're ready to fight. We should probably stop this.

[ But. How to do so discretely is the real question. ]

A Steamy Winter Heist (Corsair Quest, but OTA.)

➜➜ A: Thieves in the Harbor [ You. Her. Near midnight. Clouds roll across the moon, adding extra coverage of shadows across the still, silent waters of the harbor. Darkness cloaks the main deck of the ship like a fog, the hazy edges of which are kept sparsely at bay by a pale, amber light flickering from beyond the main cabin's window.

Rem remains sidled up against wall of the cabin, slightly adjacent to the main, heavy double doors.  ] ...This is the ship, it is. [ Each word of her whisper conjures a puff of vapor that clashes with the cool air. ] The cargo hold's guard will step out at midnight.  [ It seems she's done some reconnaissance. Not only that, it seems she's rather good at reconnaissance because as she's predicted there's the sound of heavy footsteps approaching beyond the doors. Rem raises a hand, and with a bit of concentration, casts invisibility to shroud both you and her. ] If you distract the guard, I'll find the tea. How does that sound?

[ This is not the first time she's stolen from others. This is, however, the first time she's ever stolen something that isn't military information, classified weaponry, or enemy magitek. No, this is tea, aphrodisiac tea. Really. If only her peers could see her now... But she needs the money. ] He comes.

➜➜ B: Upselling the Tea/Cat Cafe [ Fortunately, she's managed to find at least one buyer who is rather interested in the aphrodisiac tea, and it just so happens to be the owner of a cat cafe!  Also fortunately for her, they buy the tea at a premium price.

Unfortunately for her, she's not so good at negotiating, and the owner of the cat cafe has successfully determined that she'd stolen the tea in the first place. For their cooperative silence, they barter her time... as an employee at this lovely, furry, friendly, and feline establishment. While the stars of this venue are indeed cats, for those who are curious, every employee-- including the current temp known as Rem Tokimiya-- wears a pair of custom cat ears. Hers are a chestnut brown with ginger tufts at the tips. ]  Welcome to Kitty Cafe! Can Nya interest you in some... Cat Nip Tea? [ Crystals, save her.

And save you, too, because this is the tea. The tea of aphrodisiacs. The tea made especially with aphrodisiacs. An aphrodisiac tea. And she is offering you a sample! ]

Picture of Dorina Grey(General Quest.)

It's... rather abstract, no? [ A scrutinizing squint, as she holds up the portrait. What does it depict but an acrylic cobweb spiraling out from the center of the canvas, colored solely in blacks, greys, and whites.

...Looking at it makes her feel uncomfortable, and so she rather suddenly lifts her head, turning to regard you. ] How did yours turn out?

The Fey Fighters(General Quest.)

[ She's been given a.... violin, an old, worn but well-loved instrument that once belonged to another of their troupe before he met an untimely end. The smooth surface of its body beneath her fingers feels almost as if it's been made for her. While she's no natural, the musicians have taught her a few basics-- and after a few days of practice-- want you and her to perform a simple sea shanty.

Excited to try out a duet, she clears her throat, smiling in your direction. ] Together, then? [ She draws back her bow. ]

Magitech Madness(General quest. Can lead into next prompt.)

[ It seems the brilliant minds who commissioned last month's endeavours to power domestic devices have decided to apply those same concepts to... weapons. Uneasiness twists within her gut like a starving snake at the thought of conducting this research, a familiar trepidation that claws for caution, that she knows to what this escalates. Yet before she refuses the quest, an insidious, creeping dread rears its ugly head: if she does not, that fear suggests, then someone will-- a tale as old as time, over and over again, surrmounting until fields are dyed red and mountains crumble to ash. If she does not, then she will perish, because someone else will have a weapon, while she remains defenseless. If she does not, then those she wishes to protect, those she loves, will be gone-- gone from the world, gone from her memory.  With all things weapons and war, escalation is the only victor. The spiral repeats.

Today, the quest requesters give her a heavy, cumbersome, mounted cannon. She will make it better.

...

A mobile, circular base, a hollow shaft, a set of circuitry to align and concentrate power... These are the essentials to build an auto-turret not unlike those seen on the Dominon's airships, something that utilizes both the Sorcery Division's and the Military's might. While all cadets of her world must know how to operate and maintain them, constructing them from scratch isn't exactly within the core lesson plans. Yet as she crouches beside the materials, lifting one piece and fitting it against another, its design comes from the depths of her memory-- foggy, difficult to reach, but there as if she's had to piece broken turrets back together over and over again before. She's making progress. Or... she thinks. She cannot be sure. A prototype, if nothing else.

Rem steps back, extending her hand towards the contraption she's made. Magic encircles her wrist in a series of bright, blood-red rings that slowly form divots onto themselves, adopting the shape of gears. More gears form, and then another, followed by a shaft, and all of these retain the same stark, crimson color. They slide from her wrist onto the turret, slotting into each other in various ways as if in trial-and-error. It seems she's attempting to formulate an enchantment on the equipment. ]

➜➜ A: Surprise Her: [ Her concentration breaks, as does the enchantment. The result? An unfortunate rapid-firing of magical, concentrated blasts from the cannon's center that makes honecomb of a boulder many meters away. ]

➜➜ B: Greet Her [ Her head turns, she acknowledges you with a nod. ] Ah! I didn't see you there.  [ Slowly, she releases her hold on the equipment, allowing the enchantment to unravel. The magical, wispy gears vanish into nothing, and the turret slumps, powerless. ]  Weapons, of all things... [ She lets out a sigh, casting her gaze down. ] What do they think we're going to need these for, anyway?

Untilted Goose Bounty + Magitech Madness (Bounty Quest.)

[ She hadn't thought she'd need the turret so soon! ] Ah-- I need a little bit more time! Only a few more kinks I have to work out.

[ That kaiju bird sure is angry! Angry and loud and large and all of its stomping and honking is not making it easy for her to finish the auto-turret. ] Try to distract it or something!

Wildcard

[ Have an idea? PM this account, drinksteapots, or Jade294#6977! ]

Comments

For eustace

[vermilloci]

[ It is not the wind that howls, but something else, feral, cacophonous, and nauseating enough to warrant stumbling above deck for fresh air. With one hand Rem clutches at the railing, shoulders hunching forward. The cool, salty air offers just enough shock to withstand the monstrous calls, allowing her to refocus upon the ship’s new setting.

Carcasses of hulls and splinters of masts jut out from between tall and sheer rock formations, heralding their approach over grey, dismal waves. The path to the island is a graveyard of ships, all grand, rotten wooden coffins of their own making, the number of which only increases as they cross into shallower waters. The howls crescendo to a strained and rancorous white noise that bruises her mind.

She hadn’t even realized her eyes were shut.

Opening one, then the other, she winces and looks to her side, spotting the only other off-worlder who has braved to journey this otherwise perilous voyage.

…..Surely those ears of his are suffering even more than hers. (She cannot believe they’re real.)

But then she notices the plugs that lie therein. Perhaps he has made this trek before. ]

I see you’ve come prepared. [ She inclines her head towards him in a cordial greeting. Rem lifts her hands, pulling her hood tighter over her head to cover her own ears. ] Smart.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace stares out at the familiar wreckage, brows furrowing as he compares this voyage from the last. He's still wary of the crew, remembering the last time when they turned on him in their madness and believing him part of the curse due to his appearance...

Which is why he keeps himself more away so there is less chance of grabbing attention. However, he's not the only one and although he has the ear plugs, that doesn't mean he can't hear anything at all. It just softens it, the howls still whispering and crawling into his skin, as if remembering his presence from before. Turning to the girl now, he just stares at her for a moment—no, it's more like studying. Most he can guess why they risk such a foolish venture—himself included—but a young girl like her...?

He rummages into his pocket and holds out his hand, another pair resting in his palm.]

Here. It won't mute it out completely, but it will help. Especially once we reach shore.

Magitech Madness - (C)ustom [just a lil]

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch isn't terribly impressed by the follow-up request by magitech researchers to test out some prototype cannons. He declines to take part in the testing but he does end up wandering by the workshop later out of boredom and (ugh) curiosity. Since no-one seems to be watching, he picks up pieces here and there and takes them to his own little corner to start tinkering.

At least, he does until the thunderous strike of a cannon startles him.

Glancing over, he spots a familiar silhouette. With loose pieces still in his hands, he ambles over. ]

Well, at least you got it to fire.

1/2

[vermilloci]

[ Rem coughs, waving her hand to clear the smoke.

Ooooh... Crystals. Oh, Crystals. How embarrassing!! In front of Emet-Selch, of all people too! While the force of the magitek cannon is obviously a success, it would probably be best to ensure that it doesn't malfunction for any given reason. ]

2/2

[vermilloci]

....Looks like I got a few more kinks to work out before it's safe. [ Safe, hah. She cringes softly to herself.

Her hands lower, and she rubs her wrist tenderly with the other. That could have gone especially wrong. ] Although I'm not sure what the requester's goals are. This is a far cry from the previous month's magitek manta quest.

magitech madness B -> goose this will go SO well

[empyrean_mirror]

...Well, they might be useful if there's another ship full of skeletons, no?

[Kaveh is eyeballing the weapons with some judgement himself, though.] It might have been a better use of their time to use these to improve infrastructure, instead of building weaponry, but it's too late for that now...

[But he'll lean a little forward to look at the turret she's working with.] What have you got for this one so far?

[vermilloci]

[ He brings up a good point. It is better be able to defend oneself against swarms of undead, although history has taught her that this is likely to be used on the living. As he approaches, she gives him a weary look. ]

An auto-cannon mounted on a turret. In my world, these are outfitted on our airships, and they don't require ballistic ammunition. [ She clasps her wrist with her hand, rubbing it. It seems she may need to give herself some time before attempting to refine the magical construct. She's far more experienced at using them than repairing them. ]

You place your hand upon the panel [ She points. ] and from there, it activates. Or it should... If I manage to make it work properly.

exploring some ruins and other things

[ramuhs]

[After a rather busy November, Cid finally had time to look into Rem's little project. Of course finding something of her needs is no easy feat, and rightfully so. But if this world is anything like his own and has ancient ruins and a known history of an older, more advanced civilization before it imploded on itself, then there's bound to be something left out there. So, after getting that final upgrade on that Dowsing Blade and learning a bit of some old ruins that had been discovered not longer after his arrival into this world, Cid reaches out to Rem with the idea of checking it out, see if there isn't something there. It may have already been looked over from both sides, but never hurts to look again.

Especially when Cid himself is more familiar with ancient relics and buildings thanks to the Fallen Ruins of his own world.

So as they enter the ruins, Cid just idly taps the hilt of the Dowsing Blade that rests in the frog of his sword belt where his short sword normally is.]

Not sure what we'll find, but we won't leave empty-handed, I can guarantee that.

[vermilloci]

...This is amazing, it is.

[ Are there ruins in her world? Absolutely, yes. Ruins of towns, cities, and farmlands, or whole chunks of the great Continent-- mostly recently ruined. Some places, though, housed remnants of civilizations long gone. Strange how it seemed so natural to step onto their grounds and know exactly where to go, where to place her hand, and with what to interact, how to restore and activate the engines...

There's no such subconscious guidance here, however, which opens up these ruins to include a whole other type of wonder. She's already walking ahead of him, and although her voice is low, it carries throughout the ruins, possibly indicating that the hall soon opens to an atrium.

Soon, she's already jogged ahead of him, disappearing behind a corner with a flutter of her red cloak. From beyond the wall, her voice calls, ]

Come look at this!

Steamy Winter's Heist: Theives in the Harbor : Round 2

[yuezun]

[He had successfully taken part in freeing tea from one merchant ship during the last week and as such, felt that a second run with someone he mostly trusted to do their part was worth pursuing. Instead of joining a larger group as he had the first time. With just him and Rem sneaking in, it was a simple matter of targeting the ship she'd chosen after a couple days of reconnaissance and then placing them under the safety of his own invisibility sphere. It would not last long - one of the strange limits on his power - but roughly five minutes was more than enough time for two people skilled at moving fast and quiet to get aboard and down to the cargo hold where the tea was expected to be found.

Since she couldn't see the limit of his invisibility sphere, he kept one hand on her arm at all time. It moved as needed to allow her to climb, duck, or jog, but it kept her firmly within the boundary of his ability to hide another along with himself.]

[vermilloci]

[ News amongst the merchants spreads fast after the first series of thefts during the beginning of the month, prompting ship owers and stockholders alike to invest in their security. On the one hand, this makes infiltrating a vessel more precarious. On the other, it also increases the value of assets, making them much more of a treasure than they once were.

The reward is worth the risk, but they must be careful. Prior investigation has led her to believe that the cargo is not only well-guarded, but the security is under instruction to operate a killswitch for their cargo: the merchants believe any profits must go to them, and they must control the market; therefore, they would rather burn their assets than allow them to fall into thieves' hands. She's relayed this information to Dongfang.

And until she can find a way to obtain the equivalent of Dr. Al-Rashia's medicine in this world, she must find a way to afford what potions are available in this one. ]

The cargo hold is this way. [ While she's grateful that he takes on the burden of casting an invisible spell, she's operating under the assumption that it works like her own-- which works good enough, but distortions are still noticeable when the user moves. Also, it doesn't negate sound.

So, she keeps her voice low. ] This hallway, then left, then down the stairs will bring us to the hold. [ Up on deck their movement hadn't been a problem, but in close-quarters, they'll have to hope no is going down the hallway the same time they're walking it. ]

Cat cafe!!

[gruffier]

[ With the newest addition to the Rosfield/Warrick living situation, Clive thought it was a nice gesture to see if there were any additional cat items in well... the cat cafe. It would make sense, no? And perhaps it would help to ease the nervousness of Jill's new pet if they felt more welcomed into their home.

He didn't expect to see this, however. Not at all. ]

I, uh— [ the man pauses. Eyes trying to look anywhere else but the ears that adorns the top of her head. ] —was looking for merchandise, actually. Do you happen to sell cat related items?

[ Instead of... whatever the hell this tea was. ]

[vermilloci]

[ Her eyes are down here buddy! ]

Oh, you're looking for meowchandise? [ Rem's look is equal parts embarrassed (for herself, for obvious cat-ear uniform-related and cat-accent reasons), and sympathetic for him. This is a man who looks completely out of place amid a cutesy cate cafe.

She lowers the sample of tea she had been about to offer, placing it atop of a counter. It would be her pleasure to sell kitty items rather than aphrodisiac tea!! ] Please, step this way. There's a shop attached, nya~

[ Kill her now. ] Anything specific in mind?

Wildcard

[cursedwords]

[ He might have been pointed out, or maybe they're being introduced because he's been collected as the cook for the crew that now contains the pair.

Toge offers a smile, at least it can be seen with his eyes because the rest of his face is covered, and he raises a hand. ]

Kelp! [ Hi Rem, nice to meet you. ]

[vermilloci]

[ If someone waves at her, she's going to wave back and smile! Which she does with this young man. He seems friendly enough, and, yes, as their soon-to-be-cook, he's been pointed out to her. ]

Oh, hello!

[ A pause. ]

Erm... 'kelp'?

Fey Fighters

[melodiouspacifist]

[ Demyx is all too delighted to have been taught something new, and while he's a master of his instrument, something with a bit of a change of pace is more than welcome. What he's actually chosen is a cello - which seems like a big instrument to lug around if one doesn't have an interdimensional pocket to store it in.

Fortunately, he does.

Demyx offers a warm smile. ]

Yeah, let's do it!

[ Is he really going to play it standing up like he does his sitar? Yes, yes he is. ]

[vermilloci]

[ Oh...! A cello. She adores that instrument.

If it's one thing a novice can do (because she's a novice, right, there's no way she's ever picked up a violin before in the 600+ million revolutions of life, right??), it's learn at least one song and learn it well. Rem positions the instrument beneath her chin. ]

Okay... Okay. Five, six, seven, eight--

[ It's an upbeat, folky tune they're going to play. ]

Paladin's Gambit

[detectiveforhierophant]

[ Dojima had been away with Turo during the majority of the Paladin 'incident' the month before, helping the Professor work on his decoy project. So imagine his disgust and horror upon finding out the very organization he'd been aligned with decided to execute people with trumped up charges?

It hit more than a few sore spots for the detective, making him and Turo not impressed with the whole organization as a whole. He'd taken to just, keeping an eye on things as the other Paladins removed the gallows, wearing more plain coloured clothing to keep on the downlow that he was a Paladin himself. ]

[ He blinked, glancing to the young woman speaking to him, and then to the corsair group he had been watching approaching. ]

...Hrm.

[ Dojima did not like the idea of involving such a young woman in stopping the oncoming fight, knowing just how rough these sorts of situations could get. He'd gotten between enough bar fights earlier in his career as a police officer to know.

But. She was a Corsair herself by her colour choice, so-- ]

...You willing to keep them distracted for a few minutes?

[ Dojima would nod subtly towards them. ]

I don't know if we can fully prevent a confrontation with this group, but I think I can at least make it so it sticks to only hand to hand combat and no serious injuries.

[vermilloci]

I like the idea of that. If we can divert the corsairs before they even confront the paladins, that'd be best. [ Minimal injuries? De-escalation? Sounds like a dream! The question is how effectively will they be able to complete this task.

Rem peers around the corner again, taking note of the relative ages of the groups involved. The paladin clean-up crew are on the older side, while the corsairs seem to be more around her age. In other words, they're less organized and more akin to a group of teenage delinquents. Stay in school, kids. ]

If you can draw the paladins' attention to another area, I'll handle the boys. [ How she'll handle them, she doesn't specify. ]

-> for turo

[vermilloci]

...I don't understand why it's not working.

[ She had asked him to help out with the ~magictech madness~ quest, and while she hadn't been keen on developing weapons, here she is. Attempting to make them.

Using the back of her hand, she wipes some of the sweat from her brow. She's expended enough energy already simply trying to refine the turret they're working upon. Ugh. If only it didn't have to be an auto-cannon. In her world, these things were developed specifically to take down the Kingdom's dragons and wyverns. ]

It might need a more refined power source to function...

[fractales]

That is odd.

[Especially from what he had seen with his own hands on experience with Magitech just the last month. That they went straight from at home conveniences just to make day-to-day life a little more convenient to weapons... didn't sit right with him, but he supposed that this world was not as peaceful as the one he was from.

Fingers hand curled beneath his chin, thumb idly rubbing a circle there where it rested.]

What have you tried so far? I can suggest a few ideas if I know of a power source you haven't tried just yet.

magitech madness + A

[psionicmolotov]

[ He hadn't exactly meant to startle her - no more than anyone else, anyway - but he does watch with clear interest as the cannon shreds a boulder some distance away. ]

Useful. If you can harness such a reaction. [ He takes in the situation at a glance, the fact that all the modifications seem to be by her power alone. ] Though I would think that a weapon that requires so much of yourself to maintain is a danger to you, as well as anyone else within range.

[vermilloci]

[ The stranger has a point, and it causes her cause to consider the connumdrum. Not everyone can supply a magical auto-cannon with the correct amount of power, least of all on their own. For that, she'd been working on incorporating what they'd learned of magitek the previous month-- that of certain materials being more conducive to both magical storage and reception.

Normally her reply would be quicker, but she's momentarily distracted by his ears. She's never seen-- ah. It's rude to stare! Quickly, she looks back to her work. ] That's why I'm trying to configure it properly... [ Even the excuse sounds weak to her, and by the time she finishes her point, her voice diminishes into a mumble. ] ...so it can be safe for others to use.

[ Uggghhh. ]

In my world, we power this device [ She's not used to calling this 'magitek' in her world. Even though, apparently, it is in this one. ] with something called magicite-- crystallized power and energy. We don't have that here [ Yet, anyway. Magicite can be manufactured. ], but we do know that certain materials are better for storing some type of elemental magic. I'm trying to see if that can be combined with what I already know how to do.

[ But by the uncertain way she says 'what I already know how to do', it should be obvious that she's 1) struggling and 2) this is not her area of expertise. Hence, a lengthy process of trial-and-error. ]

the fey fighters

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua has always had a lingering interest in the theatre and stage. He remembers so many nights when his bother Clive and his uncle Byron would put on little stage performances when he was young. With blankets for capes and sticks for swords, he would watch his brother reenact the scene from the books he read. Music isn't far from that same sort of interest. He would listen to the local bards play and watch the festivals from afar ... wishing he could join in.

Therefore, when this moment makes itself real Joshua is also picking up a violin to try and learn. He holds the instrument carefully and with graceful fingers but he is also very much going to be learning.]

Together.

[Let's give it a shot!! It's probably going to be very amateur to start-]

[vermilloci]

[ What would her classmates say if they could see her now? Having the time, the leisure, and the energy to pick up an instrument and play it alongside none other than an incarnation of the phoenix, albeit one of a different world?

Without saying another word, Rem gives him a nod and draws her bow against the strings, beginning with the simple set of notes that introduce the melody. It's a simple, folky tune old Mcdonald, but one that appears to gain one or two passerby's attention.





.....REM'S MUSICAL EFFECT IS THAT PEOPLE FALL ASLEEP. So whether they actually play really well or terribly, it doesn't matter. There goes their audience. ]

Untilted Goose Bounty + Magitech Madness

[summonbeasts]

[Distraction was something Maria could definitely do. Since she had gotten a new set of familiars here she's fallen back into her old, predictable pattern of looking to her familiars first.

Why not birds for birds then? Opening a portal the bird that flies out is far larger than the typical ones. It's near big enough to lift Maria herself up with ease in fact.]

There!

[She directs said familiar into more or less hassling the goose, chiefly to get the creatures attention on the bird itself and not the women.]

[vermilloci]

[ As Maria sends out her summons to engage the giant goose in battle, Rem ducks behind the turret, wrestling open one of the panels at its base. ]

C'mon...

[ If only her childhood friend were here-- he's much better at machinery than she. But since he is not, Rem puts her focus on the task at hand, reaching into its metal components, and tightly gripping one of the pistons. With a bit of concentration, she channels power back into her hand. Red rings of light-- gear-like, spinning-- appear from her touch. The problem is not immediately apparent to her, so she re-doubles her focus on its configuration. ]