middleofsomewhere | Wings of Wonder: NPC Interactions and Investigations

"Honestly....we don't know much of anything. We can offer skills, and we were planning to start investigating, but....something here is interfering with what we can even do, even if we can still do some things," Emporio admits somewhat ashamedly- idly holding his hand over his heart and grimacing at the personal reminder.

"...I think a few felt better after talking to the statue- uh...the Forever One?"

Admittedly he isn't always best at listening to the coms, but he was busy finding out the hard way that summoning Weather was a bad idea. Perhaps he should have tried that himself. "...But we were hoping to be able to work together. We at least noticed that there was a lot in need of repair," he adds, nodding. "...um, from when we arrived on the central island, anyway. We're willing to help with reconstruction too, if you'll let us. Mostly....we want to stop this storm. Before it does more harm."

"We have no... leader. You may speak to us all." They still did not attack though, which was probably a good sign.

They glanced between the three of them, "If you wish to purge the land of the storm, that is good. It has caused a lot of destruction."

The weapons still are not lowered, but the Sali holding them look more curious than angry now.

"Both healers and builders are something we have a need of. You are stuck here?" Attention swung to Jake. "Your transport is damaged?"

Jake nods along eagerly to the explanations from the other two.

"No, it's not damaged. It...left us," Jake says somewhat awkwardly. Is that right? It had better be. "Because we're not allowed to abandon you. That's our team's code. We see a problem, we help. However you need."

He takes a deep breath. He doesn't want to push too far. "I know some first aid, and I'll help where I can, but I'm a mysteries guy. It's my job to look at clues and figure out how something went wrong. For example, how the birds got here, and why they're attacking you all, because knowing that will help us stop it. So I'm hoping we can talk, maybe find some clues?"

"It kind of does that..." Emporio admits with a sigh. "It comes back after local emergencies have been resolved," he explains, before carrying on.

"I've been learning first aid too, but....he's probably got more experience," the boy notes with a point to Jake. "But, if I can find a way to keep from getting sick when Weather Report is out, I can help with construction and protection..!" And. Well. Probably investigation?

"Has the storm done more than the destruction to the area so far..?"

The lack of leadership is interesting, perhaps they have to vote on every decision they make as a group?
"We cannot leave and would not, until your people are safe once more." Lan Wangji confirms, "I can heal, but it will take a lot more energy than usual here. It is mostly energy based, allowing you to heal faster." He holds up a hand and makes it glow with Qi.
"A little like how your forever ones communicate."
He looks around at the remnants of any settlments.
"Otherwise I am also inclined to investigate the route cause of your problems. I am not any good at construction, my apologies. When did the storm first begin?"

"We do not know First Aid. You speak of healing?" One of the Sali held a hand up to the others, they lowered their weapons though they kept hold of them.

"The storm brought the birds or the birds brought the storm. Though storms have came before we have never had birds before." They explained, stepping forwards.

"Many of our own got lost in the storm, they are still to return home."

"Yeah. First aid's like...stopping an injury from getting worse. Keeping someone stable until a more experienced healer can help them."

That sounds about right to him. He listens and nods, committing them to memory. So, new storm.

"Our teams will search for them, right?"

The boy nods, confirming what Jake's said. "It's emergency healing- something you can do without magic." Good for search and rescue at least.

Emporio nods- initially. Then he just...looks down with a bitten lip. "...Normally I'd try just going into the air for that but...I can't even have Weather out to fight for very long without getting sick right now, so if there's somewhere I can help that's less dangerous for now that might be best..."

Honestly the fact that a small (Very small, despite being 12!) boy was ready to charge off into battle in the first place is probably concerning.

Wangji looks sideways, a little bemused, at Emporio mentioning he can just fly under normal circumstances. He reaches out and pats his shoulder, a little awkwardly.
"No one can fault you from the effect of the strange energy here. I myself cannot do most of what I could normally."

He looks at the Sali, "Which direction were the missing ones located? I have spoken with the 'forever one' here on this isle and she mentioned bridges. Would we need to repair those?"

If Emporio wants out of harms way, rebuilding a bridge could be a safer bet than finding some potentially hostile natives.

They do look interested in the small boy declaring he would fight but they glance at both Lan Wangji and Jake and seem to consider them suitable guardians at least, of this odd child.

"They were out in the forests when the storm hit..."

They looked at Lan Wangji. "Yes. Our bridges are broken. Do you have the skills to fix them?"

"Search the forests. We can definitely do that," Jake agrees. "Er, well, I can do that. I'm used to finding people who aren't in the mood to see me. And y'all can come if you want."

He's indicating his two crewmates from the train, but anyone can come if they like. Emporio, buddy, pal, want to stay with good old Jakey and not do something totally off the wall? Jake then considers the powers problem for a moment.

"I'd help build that bridge, but I didn't have any cool superpowers to start with. Completely ordinary human here! Best I can do is...throw things, probably, and my arm didn't get me on the football team. But search and rescue, yeah, I got this."

"Right..." He takes a deep breath, and nods. "We should pass this on to the others using the SCAs, too. ...And...Um, so that everyone knows what we're working with, I'm going to show Weather for a moment..." he decides, even if hesitantly. "...I don't know how long I'll be able to have him out, but it would help to protect everyone while we're in that forest right? ...And if we have to carry anyone, he can do that too," he says to Jake. Looking back to the Sali, he continues. "...It'll be for a moment, just so you can see who they are- I don't...I don't want to shock anyone later, so..."

With a betraying amount of ease, Weather is summoned- Stands aren't a magical matter, so that part's easy.

What isn't easy, is the part where Weather is essentially a being of his own energy, now exposed to the world; as soon as Weather has misted into existence behind the boy, Emporio visibly looks ill.

He means what he said- it's only a moment, which Weather himself spends bowing in greeting. Certainly, with regular power that would be a helpful ally- but he might not want to spend too much time in the north as he planned.

Weather mists away, and Emporio flashes a somewhat nervous smile.

"The forest is a good place to start." Wangji agrees, in this dense foliage anyone can be lost. He turns back to the Sali at the mention of the bridges,
"We can certainly try to fix your bridges, if we do not have the capability then another member of the group almost certainly will. Can you show us the damage?" He turns to Jake and Emporio, "I am happy to go with you to find any survivors, but if we need materials it is better to call it in to those who can transport it first."

The appearance of Weather takes him aback a little, but he recovers admirably and returns the bow as Weather disappears.

The Sali look like they don't quite know what to make of the strange man appearing, bowing and vanishing again but they nod. Understanding that he is part of this very odd group.

"We thank you for your help. We will have groups in the forests searching as well and we shall inform them of your presence, if you require assistance you may reach out to them."

Wings of Wonder: NPC Interactions and Investigations

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