[open] november catchall;

[summonbeasts]

Who: Maria Renard & anyone else!
Status: Open to All
Where: Elah, Eltrut
What: November Catchall including events + Manta Board quests
Warnings: Will update as needed.

CLAWS & COMPANIONS; (General, OTA)

[It's little surprise that Maria is a bit of an animal lover. All of her summoned familiars are animals after all with one even being a cat itself, though a far bigger one than the cat handed over to her by the animal sanctuary and boasted over as a highly trained warrior cat.

Maria is encouraged to introduce Whiteclaw to the ship as soon as possible so she can start bonding with the cat as well as showing it what life aboard a boat is really like.

Anyone can come across Maria and her newest companion before they make their way back to the boat. The cat trails along beside Maria very diligently and seems more at ease than she's been in all her time here so far. She's missed her familiars and she seems to have no problems talking to the cat like any other companion.]

Now I've never been on a ship myself before arriving here but honestly it isn't so bad. Once you get your feet back under you as they say.

[The cat very dutifully makes a sort of questioning 'rrr?' noise. Maria waves a hand.]

I suppose you wouldn't know of that. Cats always have their feet under them.

[Later when she makes it back to the main Corsair ship Maria can be found in the belly of the ship itself where most of the rodents have been spotted. Whiteclaw is having a field day but Maria is standing with a quirked brow watching the cat leap and dart and dodge behind crates and barrels.]

... Is there really any need for me to be here? Whiteclaw seems to have things well in hand ... er, paw.

SPELLBOUND CIRCUITRY; (General, OTA)

[Maria will admit the little contraptions are intriguing. When it's mentioning most of the power stored is from water-based or thunder-based magic though her brow furrows a touch.]

I'm afraid I have neither of those. I do have some fire based magic apparently but it's quite new to me.

[At least the little cube she holds at the moment is already charged up. She holds it gently, turning it a little this way and that. It lets off an eyecatching purple glow.]

A HEALING MIX-UP; (General, OTA)

[Maria has got to ask the one thing that was on her mind the whole time that saucy new healer talked.]

What precisely are monkey flakes.

GALLOWS GAMBIT; (Open to Corsairs)

[Maria is the last person to leave anyone to the mercy of the gallows, unless they are nobility or part of the Church. She's more than sure those being strung up right now in the backstreets of Elah are neither.

She evades the gallows herself for a decent while too, breaking others out of their confines and helping them escape into the dead of night. Well until her luck runs out which of course it must in the end.

When it comes her turn to taste a bit of being locked up too she's none too pleased about it. Having her hands cuffed keeps her from using her magic and with her weapons taken it's her only recourse. She tsks out a breath and after fiddling with the cuffs herself in so attempt to break them she finally growls out in aggravation.]

Bloody things!

FIRE SPRITE STORY TIME; (Eltrut, OTA)

[Maria has been practicing off and on with her newly gained fire magic. The fire sprites must be coaxed into appearing so she's been told but she figures a small bit of a fire in the fire pit can't hurt. Plus she actually does know how to set up a rudimentary fire pit, honest!

While she's helping to do so she glances towards someone else nearby likewise helping.]

We're supposed to tell stories around the fire, yes? Do you have any thought up yet?

WILDCARD; (Anywhere, OTA)

[Want to practice your newfound magic with Maria? Any of the prompts you want to try that I don't have here. I am interested in the pumpkin turtles and the Leap of Gaith after all! Feel free to throw down a prompt or hit me up on Plurk (goodluckstarfighter) or through PMs.]

Comments

Claws and Companions

[desirestruth]

It's often a good idea for a more experience hunter to supervise younger ones. There's no telling how big these rats can get.

[So fun fact Naeva can approach almost silently, so this short-ish white-haired woman with rather unsettling eyes and a bigass black cat with some subtle grey spotting through their fur draped on her just kind of. Walked up behind Maria before speaking.]

[summonbeasts]

[Maria's instant reaction is to wheel around on the far-too-silent woman, a hand reaching for the dagger tucked into the sash around her waist. The hand stops short against the handle, Maria's expression tensed like she's prepared for a fight here -- until she sees the woman anyhow.

Oh. Maria's expression falters after a moment, less angry and far more mildly surprised than anything. Her eyes are unsettling but she's sort of snapped back to before she arrived where a similarly eerie man appeared just as silently but far more violently.]

I ... suppose you do have a point, yes.

[desirestruth]

[If Naeva flinches from Maria suddenly going for her weapon, it does not show on her face. ...Not much shows on her face, honestly, just those strangely luminous golden eyes and a bland, almost stern expression.

She is taking note of Maria's fighting stance, and her reaction--a skilled young woman, and a reaction not...uncommon to Naeva's appearance somewhere, if she's honest. Well, since she hasn't been actively stabbed, she won't hold it against anyone.]

Cats learn from older colony members to hunt. With ones such as these, it may be useful to teach them to strategize, instead of just trusting in their natural instincts.

[summonbeasts]

[Maria can't say she's used to the bland and stern expression but she'd certainly take it over something more angry and fang-filled. Her posture finally relaxes completely and by now Whiteclaw has bounded up onto a nearby barrel with a curious 'rrr?' of a trill.

The teenager instantly reaches to run a hand down the cat's back. It at least seems like the pair of them are getting along well.]

So we might corner things more efficiently perhaps? That's a very good idea.

[She turns to the cat and as easily as she'd speak to any person she speaks to Whiteclaw, lavishing a few scratches between said cat's ears.]

What do you say to that then? We are supposed to be partners after all.

Claws & Companions-Corsair Ship

[minorinpain]

"'Course there is!" Nappa replies promptly. He's been watching his own cat, Redbull (good, solid warrior's name that. A good start for his crew) barrels through the course. Not gracefully like Whiteclaw, dodging in and around, but taking the most direct path, regardless of what gets in his way, regardless of what gets in his way. "You take your hand of the wheel, that's when they start slackin' off." No freeloaders in Nappa's crew, feline or otherwise.

"See, look at Redbull here. Now that's a warrior for ya, pipsqueak." It's not clear he actually knows or remembers Maria's name at this point. "Hit 'em hard, hit 'em fast, hit 'em loud. That's the Saiyan way. Yours is wastin' too much time with all that flipping around." Damn waste of stamina in his opinion.

[summonbeasts]

"They're cats -- they're supposed to be somewhat graceful, you know."

Ah this fellow again. He doesn't know her name it seems and Maria certainly can't recall having heard his. All she had wanted him to do was not sink the boat last time they met.

"Don't you think being loud would just scare the mice away?"

[minorinpain]

Nappa waves a hand dismissively. "Waste of time." He says matter-of-factly. "Grace doesn't get ya nothin' brute force already don't." And he should know. Nappa's taken on entire planets and was never once graceful about any part of it.

Again, the problem Maria raises about scaring the mice away doesn't actually seem like a problem to Nappa. "'Course it would. Puttin' some terror into your opponent makes em good and stupid. More fun puttin' em down, too." He flashes a grin, then gestures around them. "Besides, we're on a ship! Where're they gonna go? No way these rodents can fly with their pitiful little power levels."

"You should be payin' close attention, the Mighty Nappa's one of the most veteran Saiyan warriors alive!" Which is technically true. "I how to train whelping into real killing machines!"

[summonbeasts]

Naturally Maria's instant confused question is, "What in the world does a power level have to do with mice flying?"

Arms crossed she purses her lips a little as she gives Nappa a look. Veteran Saiyan or not she's certainly never seen mice fly.

A HEALING MIX-UP

[standingonmyneck]

[Girl, she was staring at the list. She heard what he said. Daria debated how badly she wanted this stupid book.]

Flakes of a monkey.

[There was her helpful sarcasm for the day.]

My biggest concern was bat droppings. Unless if this potion was a cure for rabies, I'm not sure anyone should be near those things doing that.

[summonbeasts]

[Maria wrinkles her nose immediately. She doesn't even need to ask what bat droppings are.]

Yes, lovely. Precisely what I wished to do for the day, tempt fate.

[At least the list of items was easy to copy down.]

The scales seem the easiest of them all. It might be best to start there and work out the rest as we go.

[standingonmyneck]

If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather take the risk with the crappy literature.

[At least the sarcasm was funny? She took a look at the list and considered a moment. Daria looked up and down the street.]

You think there’s an exotic pet tender around or something? If he wants to be lazy about this, why can’t we?

[summonbeasts]

[Ooooh. Maria brightens immediately.]

There are an awful lot of shops around. Admittedly I've never seen a exotic pets dealer but it can't hurt to look for one. Putting in as much effort as that layabout sounds rather satisfying.

[She takes a moment to fold up the list to tuck into her pocket but is happy to start off on their way of tracking some sort of shop down.]

Thank you for the help by the way. I typically don't go around fetching things for much of anyone but family but I confess I'm intrigued by the book offered. It sounds ... unique.

Gallows gambit

[vermilloci]

[ Rem's only freshly arrived to this sea-faring realm, but in the few weeks she's been here, even she knows that not all Paladins are this despicable. As her cell-mate curses the shackles in which they've both been put, Rem rises to her feet, steadying herself against one of the brick walls. ]

There's not the most comfortable of things, are they? [ It's a lame attempt at lightheartedness.

But Rem also doesn't appear all that wary, either, given the circumstances. Maybe she's been in this position before? ]

[summonbeasts]

I should say not.

[Maria seems to be considering trying to scoot her foot up so she can place it on the top of the cuffs just between her wrists and maybe break it that way. She casts a raised brow Rem's way.]

You seem rather poised all things considered.

[That doesn't sound like a bad thing judging by Maria's curious tone.]

[vermilloci]

Some magic could take care of this, it could. [ She isn't trying to sound overly confident, but. There is a reason why shackles don't tend to work on those of her class. If they were magical restraints, then it would be a bigger problem. ]

But I'm more concerned about that paladin. [ Rem stands up straighter, crossing the cell to join her companion near the cell bars. ] If he sees us breaking away too easily, he might escape.

A man like that should be the one here, not us.

[summonbeasts]

[Leave it to Maria to get so huffy and angered over her own restraints she fails to note the Paladin altogether. When Rem mentions them her eyes instantly snap his way and then she sighs out, ceasing her aggravated fighting with her own cuffs.]

I am in full agreement with that. Those who deal out the law too heavy handedly all too often round up the innocent with the not. And even the not so innocent tend to have very good reasons for their crimes.

[Her brows perk up gently then. Another magic user, hm? This place does grant out magic via the tattoos so it's not so strange but it's sort of nice still to run into so many people who can use magic.]

What sort of magic are you familiar with?

Fire Sprite Story Time

[melodiouspacifist]

Uhhhh....I'm trying to think of a story I can tell.

[ It's really hard! There's so much he can't say. ]

Do you think I'll be in trouble if I don't think of anything?

[summonbeasts]

[Maria can't help but quirk up a brow and at the same time the corner of her lips. Her voice sounds amused.]

I can't imagine you would. This is voluntary after all.

[melodiouspacifist]

Maybe I could talk about my favourite world, Atlantica. You think people want to hear about fish musicals under the sea?

[ Demyx is totally serious about that. ]

gallows gambit

[voxt]

[ Holland isn't the type to go out of his way to save strangers, but he's also not immune to blunt force trauma. Which is to say he had been observing the proceedings from a safe distance, until fate also saw fit to place him at the gallows as well. (He really should learn to watch his back.)

It's a pity. He comes to with his arms similarly cuffed and sighs in relief. Metal, after all, is just a mixed up element for him. With a quick thought and the distinct smell of steel and ash, he bends his cuffs open and twists the metal in on itself, nearly into a knot.

He notices Maria not a moment later, hesitating only for a second before his magic twists the cuffs off her wrists just the same. (It's not fault of hers, more that Holland simply doesn't trust people.) ]

There.

[ That's all the acknowledgement she'll get on the matter. He doesn't expect thanks, either. Even he'd feel bad leaving her when the danger doesn't seem imminent. ]

Have you seen our culprit? I wouldn't mind showing him how it feels to wear these.

[summonbeasts]

[If Maria notes the hesitance she says nothing on it. Frankly she's just happy enough to have them off. She catches hold of the cuffs before they drop simply so she can lay them down somewhat quietly. Best not to attract attention just yet maybe.]

Not since he threw me into those stupid things.

[Even if he didn't expect it he still gets it though.]

Thank you.

[That said she lets a pinprick of light dance on a raised pointer finger. It's not thoroughly dark out but she turns to look round them and the added bit of light is decidedly nice to have for that.]

I say we could make short work of finding him though. He must be stalking the town for more Corsairs to drop off here.

[She sounds none too pleased for understandable reasons. She seems to be of a similar mind to Holland as to showing the Paladin a bit of his own medicine.]

[voxt]

[ She's certainly being more careful than Holland, who is frankly looking forward to having someone to take his anger out on more than anything. Holland doesn't seek out people to hurt or anything, but someone who dares to try and bind him is surely deserving of at least the same level of "respect."

He nods at her thanks. Kind people often do that sort of thing, and he isn't surprised to find that Maria is kind. Holland pockets the metal knot of his cuffs and casts a look around, his sight aided by Maria's light. ]

He'll be back, I'm sure. We can wait here, or take the fight to him.

[ Because it will be a fight, there's no doubt about that. But Holland isn't too bothered by the idea that others might be in danger -- he's asking more for her sake. He would lie in wait, if it were him, but he knows this might not be the kind thing to do. ]

Spellbound Sorcery

[crystalrepose]

[Normally, any chance she could be of help to someone had Miriam hurling herself at the opportunity. But the moment one of the demonstrators mentioned using other materials as conduits made her a bit...cautious. The researches seemed rather excited to show off their creations, though, and didn't seem to notice the Shardbinder going a bit quiet and shifting on her feet.

But her Shards were silent, and the little cubes and contraptions they powered showed no signs of leaping off the table to lodge themselves in her chest. So Miriam tried to steer the subject elsewhere.]

Why not fire, though? As a furnace, or for lights?

[She was familiar with electrical contraptions, though those tended to be expensive, exclusive things. But this world was as steeped in magic as a storybook. Why wait for electricity to heat a wire when one could skip the middleman?]

[summonbeasts]

I believe because these contraptions are made more with water or electricity in mind. I do know fire and water don't mix quite so well but I have no idea on electricity.

[That's about a thousand or so years past her.]

Perhaps a fire might melt the wiring?

[crystalrepose]

[Miriam blinked, and paused that line of thought before it got too far along.]

Oh...most likely. I suppose I was thinking too much of a steam engine. I don't think the wires for those are very delicate at all.

[The steam engines Miriam was passingly familiar with were great hulking hissing things with pipes that sometimes rattled alarmingly, not these dainty quiet things that turned water to ice.]

I can use water and lightning both, though I'm afraid I'd overwhelm these.

[Short circuiting someone's prototype because her demon rocks got too enthusiastic wouldn't be very helpful of her.]