second bolt ⚡ open november log

[ramuhs]

Who: Cid and anyone!
Status: Open
Where: Everywhere
What: MANTA board prompts: Claws & Companions, Spellbound Circuitry, Thinking With Portals, Gallows Gambit, Battle of the Brewmasters
Warnings: None that I can think of but will update if something comes up! Gallows prompt might be a little disturbing just by the nature of it, so even though there's not much I'll hide that one under a cut just in case!

⚡ a » claws & companions

[Cid has taken in and trained a wolfhound...but never a cat. So when a gray one named Ashtail for some reason decided to cling to him when he happened to pass through, Cid's left with some uncertainty and confusion as to what to do with said feline.

Especially when after he's taken her, the cat wants nothing to do with him!? And is now chilling on top of the awning of a building, grooming herself. Cid's already tried calling and even offering some fish, but to no avail.]

Bloody cats... This is why I like dogs better.

[A rough mutter under his breath as he wonders if he should just leave it...no, he can't, he's too good for that.]

C'mon, Ash—no, you're right, this does look stupid.

[HE FEELS SO DUMB RIGHT NOW trying to coax this cat who is clearly just judging him right now—until said cat sees someone and decides to jump down and trot after them. Maybe she smells something or is just being whimsy who knows with this cat.]

You've got to be—Ashtail!

[Cid will hasten to catch up, and thus cue Benny Hills music as Cid continues to chase his cat.]

⚡ b » spellbound circuitry

[The moment he saw this, Cid immediately gets to work.

1) Lightning powered. Given the nature of this, he'll be outside in an open area with a few different lamps with different materials used for conducting and powering them. He admittedly feels a little...strange using his magic like this, what with how things were back in his world. But if there was a way to mix science and magic in a way that makes this more efficient and less strain on magic users, then he's all for it.

And right now, after some of his own fiddling and modifications, he'll send a bit of his aether into each one to test. One barely lights up, the second glows fairly well, and the third—]

—Shit!

[—explodes, Cid raising up his arm to shield himself from the bits of glass and metal that fly out. Well. This is why this is outside. Hopefully no one was nearby, but the shards were small so it wouldn't have caused too much injury. Picking off some small shards from his jacket sleeve, he frowns.]

Well that didn't work...what made it overpower like that?

[And back to tinkering.

2) Wading for coral and clams. One thing Cid has discovered in his experiments is a certain type of coral and shell is quite durable against the lightning magic, so he'll be out wading in the shallows, canvas bag slung over his shoulder as he reaches into the water to pick out coral or shells he finds that might work. And if someone else is there—]

Oy, mate. If you see some coral or shells that are blueish in color, mind letting me know? Looking for a few.

⚡ c » thinking with portals

[Ever one to try new things, Cid holds the staff with a curious if wary eye.

Especially after following the instructions and now facing the portals with whoever he's working with.]

So... Flip a coin to see who goes first? Best make sure you have your shellphone with you so we can tell each other where we end up.

⚡ d » gallows gambit

[Well, when one has a few...unusually loyal followers on hand, it makes things easier to pull off this reckless plan. Said plan being purposefully getting caught and then sent along with a few others to the gallows. The idea is to try and figure out who is the one causing these arrests, so he deliberately lets himself get caught. Several times.

And once there, Cid is as calm as a cool breeze, even whistling a little despite having a rope on his neck. Looking at his fellow gallowmates and just grins lazily.]

First time?

[A light chuckle.]

Not to worry, we'll be out before you know it.

[And this is where we let the dice determine their fate on how difficult it is for them to get out.]

⚡ e » battle of the brewmasters

[1) Trying his hand. Cid is more of a drinker, but doesn't hurt to try and come up with a new drink. And his particular drink is—]

Here you are. Might want to have some water or milk on hand. Should set your spirit aflame—or your tongue.

[—spicy hot. What did he put in there? A bunch of peppers and spices along with a large helping of alcohol. Is it good? Probably not but with that smirk and gleam in his eye, it's clear Cid is just here to mess around and have fun, give people a real challenge.

2) Trying the drinks. After he was (rightfully) banned from the bar, Cid takes up a seat to try a few drinks instead. And after one particular mouthful—]

Eugh, at least mine wasn't this bad.

[—he'll be a critic.]

⚡ f » wildcard

[Open to other prompts! I didn't make one for the goose bounty, but I'm open to it! I have my plotting comment here or you can hit me up on through PM, Discord, or laenavesse.]

Comments

d

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua has heard of the whispers going around about people being wrongfully arrested. The very idea makes his blood boil, of course. Unfair injustices like that have always bothered him. That's in his veins.

Although he is still rather cut off guard when he's swept off the street for simply opening a book. The next thing he knows he's being dragged away with cuffs on and marched up towards the noose-hanging gallows...]

... Cid?

[Well. Seeing Cid there looking smug and totally unbothered is... Weirdly reassuring.]

[ramuhs]

[Well hello, little Rosfield.]

Wasn't expecting to see you here. The Corsair life must be rubbing off on you.

[Yes, just calm and amused and someone else is set up next to Joshua.]

[phoenixdominant]

[They might as well be having a conversation over tea. Even as Joshua is locked up and his bounds tightened.]

It would seem so. Although, it appears whatever corsair business I would have been involved in or not... doesn't matter to whoever is issuing these arrests.

[He's obviously innocent.]

[ramuhs]

Which begs the question—what were you doing?

[phoenixdominant]

Simply reading a book, believe it or not.

[what crimes!!]

[ramuhs]

Not a suspicious book?

[Just a smirk, teasing him.



While they still have ropes around their necks.]

[phoenixdominant]

The most recent book with a dubious origin that came my way, I handed over to Jill instead. This one happened to be a volume about landscapes and terrains—nothing overtly incriminating, I assure you.

[He looks a bit amused. But the binds on his wrists don't feel great. They are itching...]

[ramuhs]

Ah, they probably thought you were trying to learn the lay of the land to spy—or so they would try to claim.

[And now the last man has been strung up and they're started to shout out all the charges and blah blah blah. Which means they still have a few minutes, but time is running out.]

In any case...

[He flexes his wrists.]

How's the Phoenix feeling?

[Hint hint, Joshua. Though he doesn't mean priming.]

[phoenixdominant]

[Well, that's concerning. Joshua watches at a glance before he sighs.]

Rather stuck in one place.

[Then flames start to burn at Joshua's palms. He starts to sever his own bonds. The light is just low enough that he hopes not to catch any attention for it.]

[ramuhs]

Not for much longer.

[And Cid will be doing the same, his levin quietly snapping the threads of his bindings. He then lowers his voice so only Joshua can hear.]

You take care of the others, I'll handle the guards.

[phoenixdominant]

Of course.

[Joshua quietly nods at the plan. It's when his bonds are about melted away that he pulls his hands free and pulls off his noose. He turns to the others who are also standing here bound and ready to be hung. He wastes no time in starting to release them from their bonds.

But... There is a holler from nearby.]

"Hey! You rotten stinking codpieces, what do you think you're doing?!"

[There are the guards right on time.]

[ramuhs]

[At roughly the same time, his own ropes will snap, and as soon as the guards come up—]

Ah, that's a nice grouping.

[And with a fling of his arm, levin bolts fly out and strike the group of guards coming from that side, lightning jumping from one to another to knock them down.

But of course, there are more rushing in, and jumping down Cid will be quick cast out some more levin bolts, the strikes helping kick up some smoke to give them a little more cover.]

Better be quick, Joshua! We still have to get them out of here.

[phoenixdominant]

A moment more...!

[He'll leave the stalling to Cid for now. The man still has a lot of power in him and Joshua is glad to see it. He'll just need a moment more to get the last of the bindings off a younger-looking teenage boy...]

Just ...

[Amongst the smoke and electricity there's another shout,]

"Get them! Shoot them down if you have to!"

[... Great. Bullets? Crossbow bolts? Just what they need... Joshua just needs one more second bought! Please!!]

[ramuhs]

Oh no you don't!

[Hearing it, Cid clenches his fist and concentrates his aether, releasing a loud shot as he releases a storm of levin that hits a wider area this time, each levin bolt striking randomly and unpredictably which hopefully may strike those trying to concentrate and shoot through the storm.

BUT ANYTIME JOSHUA.]

[phoenixdominant]

[HE'S GOING AS FAST AS HE CAN.]

There!

[Crack!! The bindings are burned away enough for Joshua to pull them off the young man and he ushers him off the platform with the rest. He motions to Cid.]

Now! Time to make our exit!

[Running!! Away from the barrage or arrows that's going to start!! But luckily Joshua turns and lifts and arm and swooshes a blast of fire into the air to burn many of them before they can fly through the air.]

[ramuhs]

[CLEARLY HE NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS AGI STAT

Casing another burst of levinbolts to join Joshua's and create a thicker smokescreen, he hustles after, grabbing a few that tripped and are struggling.

Fortunately, the two won't be alone. Has Joshua met Cid's new men from the former veggie cult? Well now he will, shouts to direct them down a street where others have already made their way down. Cid will stay in the rear, ready to defend as needed as chaos has fully erupted through the area.]

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua might have questions about those men helping them out at a later time... Cult members, huh? Joshua knows a thing or two about those.

Right now, the chaos is chaos. There is screaming and yelling of confusion and rage as the paladins try to chase them down. The cloud of smoke, lightning and fire helps them duck down into the shadows as they sprint for escape. Joshua slides down a road and behind one brick house to catch his breath and to be sure that Cid is close on their tail. He signals for the others to keep going.]

The docks, we must get down there before the ships leave.

[ramuhs]

[For now they seem to have lost them, so Cid will join Joshua a few steps after, taking a moment to catch his breath but otherwise not too worse for wear.]

Should be able to make it, but they're a stubborn lot. May have to split up and create a diversion for the others.

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua needs a moment to catch his breath, anyhow.]

It seems diversions are the name of the game today. So what will it be this time?

[ramuhs]

[He eyes Joshua for a moment. Normally he'd say Joshua should go one way around and he another, but...

Hmmm, should be all right?]

We need to keep them away from the eastern roads that lead towards the pier. And since they seem so keen on chasing, we can try to lure them to one place and knock them out before rejoining the others. At the very least, a merry goose chase will buy the others more time.

Think you can handle separating on your own for a bit?

🎀 going to wrap this one up here with some handwaving!

[phoenixdominant]

I'm starting to think that merry goose chases are becoming a normal for me. [He nods.] Yes, I can handle that.

[With that the two of them will separate and attempt to lure out the paladins and knock out who they can. It will be a risky maneuver but eventually, they will make it to the docks and make a very daring and last-minute escape with the others...

Joshua will be roughed up and tired. He isn't used to this sort of dramatic action. But he has to admit... It feels kind of good too.]