Swirling Consequences Start

[voidtreckermods]

On day Seven of the Month of Quicksand as passengers are beginning their day there is an announcement over the ICP system. “Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please give your attention to the following message from the void ministry.”

A blurring of the screen and it fades into a video of an elderly woman, skin a swirl of purple and blue sat behind a dark wooden desk hands folded neatly in front of her.

“Greetings crew of the Voidtrecker Express. I am commander Orlaith of the void ministry. As you will be very aware, you were recently involved in a dangerous and somewhat foolish experiment of the tethering system which we assume was initiated by your voidcraft. We received your call for emergency assistance, and were able to stabilise your craft enough to allow it to focus on ensuring crew safety. We are under the understanding that it was a crew member who used the emergency signal given by the Inspection Arm of the ministry, and that member should be commended. So too should you all, for we have reports that the crew of the Voidtrecker Express took part in a risky and difficult anchoring task to ensure the safety of all. As ever, the crew of the Voidtrecker Express exceed expectations for a crew with no formal training.

However, in less positive news, the actions of your Voidcraft have had a ripple effect throughout the void. Worlds that are non void active have reports of seeing void activity in their skies, with residents reporting dreams and uneasy feelings. In void active worlds there are more serious incidents. We have voidcrews in thousands of systems working towards stabilising the void access points.

We understand that after such an ordeal, your crew may be exhausted however we do need your help. System #5739 is a hub world that is extremely void active. It is used to weathering void storms and the barrier between the world and the void is thin. However, it is currently experiencing an unprecedented amount of void activity and world bleeding effects. We need a team to go in and help the citizens there, clearing out any issues and helping stabilise things from within.

The people there know about the void, and are used to void travellers. However, try not to stir up any extra trouble.” The last sounds almost exhausted. Their reputation may precede them.

The video ends.

I assume no one has any objections as voidtreckers have chosen to work with the Void Ministry. Please see your mission briefs. This is not a catastrophe mission."

They have a couple of hours before landing, a few hours to study their briefs and prepare for what is to come. Teams might chat, people might give out equipment gathered over the months, some of the passengers who have been on the train since the very early days of the month of Apple may have advice to give.

Either way a couple of hours later there is another announcement. “Shortly arriving at System #5739. Exiting the void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one...”

---

SWIRLING CONSEQUENCES: START

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WEARY WANDERER ~ FOREST ~ SCRUBLANDS ~ FARMLANDS ~ COMMS

QUICKSAND 7-10 ~ TEAM OBJECTIVES ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ OTHER DETAILS
ASK QUESTIONS ~ SHENANIGANS ~ TEAM PLOTTING ~ MISSION TASKS/REWARDS

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ARRIVAL

The train shakes as the view of the void leaves its windows, giving way to a cloudy and wet sky in its descent. There's a small bump, and they land on a set of tracks that lead them uphill. Grassy mounds can be spotted on either side, occupied by sheep, goats, and the occasional six legged antelope grazing. In the farther distance are secluded farm houses, or small clusters of buildings.

Things don’t seem so bad, until the clouds spark with colour that sends animals running, far skittish for anything they're used to.

The sparse hills give way to more trees as the train weaves through them, until finally comes to a stop at a small station, no more than a raised platform in the woods. With a sigh, the train doors open, and passengers can walk out into the clearing. Once everyone who wishes to leave disembarks, the train sets off once again, flying up into the air and out of sight.

"Oh good. You’re here!"

Looking over, voidtreckers will spot a young girl at the edge of the clearing.

"Ma said we should expect some void heroes any day now. She’s put some stew on."

And she’s off. For any who wish to follow her, she leads them to an inn, The Weary Wanderer written on a sign. It’s a large inn, larger than might be expected in such a remote place, and the innkeeper Albany quickly organises rooms and food for any who wish it.

“Well, there’s a whole lot more of you than there was.” She takes in the group after Maia explains that they are from the Voidtrecker Express. “Storms are getting worse, we’re getting reports of stampedes, landslides and monsters coming through the colours.” She explains. She has some maps of the area and happily allows her main common room to be turned into a planning station. She’s clearly used to void travellers.

THE WEARY WANDERER

The inn has a large and open floor, the entrance close to where a fire crackles, chairs and a table beside it. To the right are places for eating, and kitchen doors that lead in and out, while to the left is where a counter separates another route to the kitchen, and to the family's own private quarters. By here too are the stairs leading up into the bedrooms, with some also available on the ground floor.

There's enough room for the voidtreckers to squeeze into the front at once, and the tables can be joined to create a more team atmosphere.

The problems are everywhere it seems. Farms need help, dralite chicks need rescuing, and their parents reassured before they go on a murderous revenge spree. Voidtreckers can stay or plan or jump right into things - the forest and scrublands are the closest to reach with both behind the inn, while the farmlands will take half a day to reach. Alabany will mark on the maps where to go for the farmsteads, or ones she knows about, and allow her inn to be used as an intiial base.

For those whose skills lie more in cooking and maintaining camp, she will happily take their help in the kitchens, or suggest They go down to the nearest farmsteads and lend a hand there. It'll take about half a day on foot to reach the nearest few, but many hands are needed. They will have better tools for moving debris and making repairs; she has a few, but not enough for everyone, and she'd rather they be used around the forest if anywhere. She needs those!

Albany will warn about the dralites, and to plug your ears if you're going through the forest. Their screeching can stun and slow people even at a distance, and with everyone worked up, it makes it hard to get through. They happen to like bugs, and a fruit called matts - similar to dates, fruits that grow off certain small trees in the forest.

---

YELLING HEIGHTS: FOREST

Location of: Dralites, young and old, their nests; monkeys, voidblobs (uncommon), fruit cups and purple stars. Displaced people.

The Yelling Height's forest reach spreads far, wrapping around the lower third of the great Ciyesia mountain and its budding fellow heights, with trees as tall as redwoods making up most of its wood. This gives plenty of space for travellers to move through, but the treetops create thick canopies that shroud the world below, the dots of penetrating light visible in contrast. Against some trees can be found what look like bushes, and there's plenty of them around, along with moss; but looking closer, these have hollow middles, made up of pin needles, twigs, feathers and all sorts. Some have been ruined, some have eggs inside.

High-pitched cries can be heard echoing, but it can be hard to tell how far, or what distance they come from - there's too many, making what should sound distressing, sound like a racket. While there's paths that can be followed, some of the wood has fallen, with ways disturbed by rubble that's tumbled all this way down from the mountain. There are signs to aid - those that haven't been knocked over - to give some sense of direction. Still this wood is hard to navigate, and Voidtreckers will want to be careful about rushing in without a plan. Trouble lurks in all manners...

Dralites can be found scattered around this forest, big and small - Albany will tell them as much. The youngest are easy to locate, unable to fly, and make a lot of noise. Slow-moving and dragging their heavy wings, they need help moving with any speed. They can be found alone, or attracting the attention of the great chinchillas or monkeys (who see them less as prey, and more as something to bully and take out their frustrations on).

Some will accept help from the first person that approaches them, jumping on them and wrapping their wings around their neck or head, clinging on and accepting them as their ride. They will need to be returned to their nests, and will reject any nests that aren’t theirs. It'll be very similar to escorting a toddler, often throwing screeching fits if they don’t think their helper is trying hard enough, which can make it difficult for people to move around.

They are hard creatures to please, even so more the adults who are furious that their nests have been disturbed. As large as a sheep with larger wings and powerful talons they might just swoop down and grab smaller unsuspecting voidtreckers and carry them to their nests as workers to help fix them. Some of these adults may be near their nests, or will be seen swooping around above-head at startling speeds, searching for their young.

There are eggs that have gone missing too. A place they can hatch safely is essentia, since they can easily become pray or be snatched by the monkeys who live in the forest and steal from the inattentive.

As well as helping the dralites, there are herbs that can be collected here. Purple Stars are leaves that grow at the top of tall trees. These can be found deeper into the forest, and are different from the other trees by their branches only growing at the very top, their bark stripy. They will need to be climbed, or flown up to - not getting startled by adult dralites is essential, or becoming target practice to the monkeys. They have rocks.

Deep in the most dampest sections of the fores, Fruit Cups grow in a tangle around spider plants, that will ensnare the unwary into it’s sticky grip. For every few flowers, there's a wide trapping of the spider plants, vines impossible not to get stuck to. But as difficult as they are to collect, they are useful, and the potions they make will be handy to the communities that require help. Some voidblobs have gotten trapped here too, and they'll become active once people get close.

---

YELLING HEIGHTS: SCRUBLANDS

Location Of: Farm animals, some voidblobs, great chinchillas, farmers in need; ruined paths, craggle leaf. Some dralites, mostly adult. Displaced people.

The trees eventually give way to a mix of rock and dirt, stone jagging up from the ground underfoot that travellers will need to watch out for. Vegetation is littered around, patches of shrubs as often easy to catch the eye as grazed grass poking out around mossy-coated stone. There are paths, or were, but only the remains of them can be found, the area reshaped by landslides.

Animals can be found isolated or in some groups, spooked by any newcomers around, and the odd shepherd trying their best to get their herds under control. But there's further trouble than blocked paths to deal with - because these jobs can never be simple.

The farmers' plans are to bring the grazing animals back down to the lower ground and to their farms, but they'll need help clearing up paths and guiding them off the mountain and back to their farmsteads. Not only will it mean moving debris and locating animals, it will also mean protecting them from the predators in the area - and other trouble.

The horned goats, often a worry on these slopes, have grown even more aggressive. They ram into herds and farmers alike, even attempting to send them rolling. They need driven off, away from the herds. The chinchillas are also more aggressive, running rampage through the hills and attempting to down the livestock and to take them back to their nests.

There will also be sightings of the voidblobs for the more unfortunate, dubbed such by the locals. Gelatinous and luminescent, they are a mess of what were likely multiple creatures that have been fused together, patches of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour. They attack indiscriminately and without reason, and are difficult to take down, never responding to blows of any type. You only know when they're taken out by when they stop moving - otherwise, they will continue.

During the first night there is a disturbance on Ciyesia. Trees are felled, the mountain seems to rumble and more animals flee, spilling panicked down the mountain to the farm lands below. For whatever aid is giving to the area on the first day, this event causes more damage to the surrounding areas.

---

LOWER LANDS: FARMLANDS

Location of: Voidblobs (common), great chinchillas, a few horned goats; ruined pathways, farms in need; people to craft balms and potions, access to tools.

While not as high as the Ciyesia mountain, nor as shrouding as the blanketing forest, the rolling countryside shows its sloping and uneven distance, varying fields split by tones and sandy paths - or what should be sandy paths. But the damage to the earth is noticeable, chunks of the various mounds ruined, broken at parts. You can see trouble, ensuing or approaching, just by looking around long enough.

And the biggest trouble will be reaching it.

Buildings squeeze against fields and fencing, separated far from anyone that could be called a neighbour. But there's a few of what can be called villages, where trades are conducted and visitors are sure to stop. There's usually a singular inn, but people looking to call on the help of a void traveller to help with this mess. They can promise hot meals and some goods in exchange, but first needs to come the help.

Though moving the herds closer to the farms is a sensible idea that doesn’t mean the farmlands themselves are safe. Landslides have cut communities off, some of the chinchillas and horned goats have made their way down the mountain and angry dralites stalk the plains looking for their young.

The shaking of the earth and the landslides have caused damage and debris. Trees have been felled bolders moved, barns and houses have been damaged. There’s a big clean up operation required. Farmers have wheelbarrows and shovels and Albany has some more that can be borrowed. It will require a team effort to clear the roads and make sure essential supplies get where they are needed.

Most of the farms and villages have protections in place, but they are overstretched and exhausted. Villagers take turns patrolling, protecting the herds and the people from creatures should they be goats, chinchillas or the new and terrifying void blobs.

Extra people to set up perimeters are very welcome, as are those who can drive the creatures back into the forests. It’s not just the homes themselves that need protecting but also the paths between them, so voidtreckers and others can deliver supplies to the further afield communities.

Making the herbal remedies will mean finding the right people for it, but locating the villages is a good bet. Tinctures and teas are the best method, boiling the plants and breaking them down over hours. Even if you're not experienced, people being around to help monitor the pots and bottle them will be helpful. The craggle leaf are good as they are to feed upset livestock, but also as medicine, for helping against the voidstorm's headache-inducing effects.

---

FROM THE VOID...

DISPLACED PEOPLE: Once or twice a year, people can be found in the Yelling Heights, wandering around dazed and confused, hailing from a whole other world. Since these storms have begun there have been at least two a day, perhaps more that have yet to be found. They have no memory of arriving, some might not even have memories of who they are, or where they come from.

For now they need found, gathered in once place and care given to them.

VOIDBLOBS: The voidblobs, as they have been dubbed by those who have seen them, are truly monstrous creatures. Perhaps once multiple creatures they have been fused together, a mess of fur and teeth and claws held together with thick veins of colour these creatures have one instinct and that is to kill.

They are rampaging, strong in their urge to destroy. Fighting them is difficult as nothing seems to slow them down until they die, it’s hard to know how hurt they are and injury doesn’t seem to stop their brute strength or will to kill. They rarely will stop and fight either, requiring a team just to keep up with them as they will lash out and fight but keep rampaging on, drawn towards groups of people or creatures. They can be found anywhere.

VOIDTEARS: For now, it's Red Team's task to find these tears and secure a perimeter on them - a difficult enough job that will take the first few days of the mission. They aren’t visible except in the storms, and so finding them requires braving them, where the wind sings with void music, rain pouring with hail, and a strong sense of unease growing until it too unbearable to endure. But the exact point of the tears must be found: a spot where the kaleidoscope of colours shines down onto any under it, only visible in that area.

STORMS: These are scattered around the lands, never moving despite the clouds that do. In the storms, the voidtears pulse with colour. Being near them is uncomfortable, and there is always the risk of a voidblob coming through. Being near the voidtears for too long even outside of voidstorms will lead to headaches, and so it is wise to rotate who is guarding them.

THE FIRST NIGHT: Late into the first night, there will be loud noises, the earth rumbling and a worrisome show of lights as the full moon hangs in the sky above. There may be word from fellow voidtreckers what's going on, but either way, this disturbance will bring out trouble into the night, breaking fencing and some buildings that were on their last legs.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions ~ Shenanigans ~ Tasks Check-In & Mission Rewards
This log lasts for 7-10 Quicksand, with the next log going up on the 21st March (11 Quicksand). Please remember that we will be determining the progress of the mission by task objectives being fulfilled, so PLEASE visit the task objectives toplevel and let us know what your character has been working towards! We accept handwaves (especially if your character is around but you're on hiatus), but actual thread links will count more towards success!

An extra list of prompts for ideas, arranged by team (click):

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RED TEAM

You've either wandered into a group of voidblobs or see some approaching. They're annoying on their own, but as a group, they can cause serious damage.

The voidstorms are easy to find by the literal storms they bring, but the tears themselves? They're a pain to, only visible once you're right under them. How will your character persevere in the search? Flying, if you can, might seem the quickest option, but a closer level to the sky seems to make the headaches and disorientation worse.

You've somehow been convinced into fixing up a fence during watching the perimeter. Yes yes, that's important, but the area is clear for now, and what if an animal gets loose? More hands will get this done quick.

BLUE TEAM

What kind of people will you find out there in the wild? Someone desperate for an offer of aid, or someone suspicious, distrusting? Are they even human, or some other race - or sentient object?

The dralites aren't good at in any way but wailing. But their eggs are unique, obsidian in appearance. So if you see a monkey carrying any such thing, or see one being carried by a great chinchilla - that's no lucky lump of goal. That's your way of calming down the ticking time bombs of angry parents.

PURPLE TEAM

Farm work isn't your chore, but the farmers need all their herds before they go anywhere, so you're getting involved whether you want to or not.

Make a good impression on the farmers, and they're likely to help you out. Need to borrow tools? Or can you convince the farmers to let you and your friends borrow some, passing them onto the people who need them?

ORANGE TEAM

Herb collection is hard enough with tall trees and spider plants but watch out for the monkeys who want to steal the prize.

Once herbs are collected they can be made into potions. They aren't too difficult to make and Albany has recipes if asked.

Herbs aren't the only things monkeys want, there's a group converging on a dralite nest, those eggs look very shiny.

ALL TEAMS

Distance is a real concern. Who will go where, where are places and people in need? Scouting is a good idea, and so is organising who will be best, where. ... or, you can just go and do your own thing.

Image Sources: Top header - Tavern - Farmlands - Void coours

Comments

Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

Gathering Up the Lost- Blue

As it turned out, finding displaced people wasn't too difficult. The ones he'd seen tended to stand out, their clothing and sometimes the colors of their skin and hair marking them immediately as not locals, even from a distance. Most of them were even willing to come along with a friendly stranger with a minimum of hassle.

Finding a safe place for them to gather, rest, and- if need be- get medical care was a bit more difficult, but hardly impossible. Though it obviously wasn't going to be a permanent arrangement, it didn't take too long to begin setting up a camp. Campfires were no problem with Lea around, but there were other areas in which he was rather lacking.

As was evident when he approached the camp area supporting a woman with bright pink skin, long blue hair, slit-pupiled yellow eyes, and unusually long fingers. She was walking with a noticeable limp and leaning most of her weight on Lea, one arm hanging onto his shoulders and him with one arm helping hold her up. "Hey," he called into the camp as they approached, though most likely they'd have already been spotted already. "Gonna need a hand here, if anyone's got one." Obviously someone with healing skills would be preferred, but really any help in getting the lady somewhat settled would be appreciated.

Clearing out unwelcome guests-Purple

Lea had learned from his experience with the purple pandas that herding passive animals wasn't really his strongest skill. However, clearing out unwanted animals when one was free to get a bit rough? That was a whole different story. Especially when animals of all stripes tended to be scared of fire.

He was using that fact to his advantage just then to keep several horn-crowned goats at a safe distance and even somewhat herd them where he wanted them by lighting his chakrams on fire and sending them spinning in the goats' direction. The throws weren't meant to do more than graze or singe them, just enough to let them know the danger was real and drive them further from the farmlands where they weren't wanted, but were highly effective nonetheless.

All in all it was going rather well, and the goats were looking about ready to give up and turn tail. But so focused one his horn-crowned adversaries was Lea, that he hadn't noticed the small pack of cute, fluffy terrors in the form of a small pack of Great Chinchillas that were quietly scurrying up behind him.

Clearing Debris/Protecting workers- Purple

Landslides meant a lot of work, and that meant a lot of hands were needed. Fortunately, Lea was rather stronger than his lanky frame suggested, and was well suited to the task of helping out. That didn't mean it wasn't hard work though. Or somewhat repetitive; pick up rock, move it out of the way, repeat. Some conversation would help pass the time. And a drink of water probably wouldn't go amiss either.

Or, when not working, he was perfectly willing to keep an eye out for trouble and act as a guard. Most of the time on these 'guard shifts' nothing much happened, which made the relative downtime perfect chance to grab a quick something to eat that could be consumed without leaving his post, or to have a conversation with someone. Every so often though, something would turn up that proved why the guards were needed. And in those cases, things could get hairy quickly without a bit of backup.

Wildcard

(OOC: Want Lea for something else mission related? Go for it!)

Unwelcome Guests

[unrecovered]

Thankfully, someone else notices the chinchillas - a big fluffy grey cat, Wash's familiar. The chinchillas are of a size with Athena, but that's not about to stop her from running down the foremost one, claws out and yowling loudly. The chinchillas are mean, but fifteen pounds of angry cat is a lot to deal with at speed.

Wash isn't far behind, swinging his sword low and upending several of the chinchillas with the flat of his blade. "Watch your back - you've got flankers!"

Re: Unwelcome Guests

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea glanced back long enough to see that Wash was right, and was able to dodge away from the closest one thanks to the timely intervention of the cat. "Thanks!", he called back, catching his chakrams on their return arc before sending one spinning towards the goats, and the other towards the main group of chinchillas, intent on using the same scare tactics with them. "Who knew something that cute could be this vicious?"

[unrecovered]

...wow, really?

"There are way too many jokes I could make for that one," he says, almost a little too easy for the situation at hand. It looks like Lea's got enough wide-ranging power to handle either one or the other, and Wash makes a snap decision. "You get the chinchillas and I'll get the goats - it's gonna be loud!" He'll wait for assent before moving into position - the last thing he needs is friendly fire from, well, fire.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea hadn't intended it as anything but a commentary about how they were fighting killer chinchillas, which were ordinarily harmless, adorable puffballs. But far be it from him to turn down a bit of casual danger dialog. "Don't hold back from making them on my account," he said.

With regards to the plan, though.... "Got it. The goats seem about ready to turn tail, but I appreciate the help." And when his chakram arced back to his hand he turned his full attention to the chincillas, heading in the direction of the main group of them to head them off before they can get too near the livestock pens.

[unrecovered]

"Nah, they're all kind of played out." 'My ex' jokes are a little old (and, with Wash, a little fraught), and he's not about to make a cute but vicious joke in front of Athena.

He nods as the chakram arcs back to its owner. Good - no risk of getting beaned with it. He looks at the herd of goats, getting their bearings back and preparing to charge, and- well, he did warn Lea it would get loud. His eyes flash, he casts thaumaturgy, and a thunderclap explodes through the space, sounding for all the world like lightning has just struck nearby. It's only the sound, but it's more than enough to spook the goats, and they turn tail and scramble away. "Goats are gone for now!" he calls in the wake of the sound. Who knows - maybe it scared the chinchillas as well.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Nope, no danger of getting beaned by a chakram in this battle; they answered to Lea's will as much as his hands. The thunderclap though startled Lea as much as it did its intended targets, though honestly he was more surprised when there was no accompanying bolt of lightning.

"You weren't kidding about it being loud!", he said. Maybe a bit louder than necessary himself; his ears might have been ringing a little.

It seemed the sound had scared the chinchillas as well, but not quite enough for them to flee. "Looks like these guys still need a little encouragement to leave," he said, readying his chakrams again. "Let's give it to them, shall we?"

unwelcome guests

[blitzcheer]

Know what else animals don't like to mess with, either? Sudden bolts of lightning.

Which is what the approaching lot of chinchillas find, as they try doing a sneak attack there. Tidus doesn't have Lea's control over fire, and really, his other elements that aren't water are pretty hit and miss if he doesn't warm up. But he's acting as a backup, eyes open on their surroundings and being a stun if it's necessary.

Not so much with Lea's own skills, but for the chinchillas-

"Lea, behind!"

There's the sound of lightning, a yellow-gold bolt that comes down in front of the creatures and make them dart, showing their speed and versatile. It seems enough to get them to scatter, and spread... but what their aim is, is the fencing leading into where the lambs and sheep are being kept.

"Ohh, no you don't-"

Looks like it's time to get these critters back.

Re: unwelcome guests

[hotheadwarmheart]

Yes, pretty much no one- with the possible exception of Larxene- liked sudden bolts of lightning. At least, not ones that were directed at them. And given by how they scattered with alarmed squeaks, it seemed that the chinchillas were no exception.

Lea himself jumped away from the bolt too, catching his chakrams on the return arc before tossing Tidus a grateful grin. "Thanks for the assist!", he called, before sending one chakram back towards the goats again, just to be sure his distraction didn't give them any ideas.

But then he saw where the chinchillas were headed. With all the wood and grass around, it was too dangerous to just summon up a wall of fire between them and the sheep, and would likely have frightened the farm animals as much as the predators anyway. But that was where having two chakrams was so helpful. Setting his second chakram alight, he threw it and directed it in an arc between the chinchillas and the sheep pen, skimming parallel to the ground. If the foremost chinchillas didn't slow down or swerve, they'd likely find themselves singed and injured.

[blitzcheer]

The chinchillas have quick reflexes, but calculations for how to jump can't always be accurately made - when you're a chinchilla beast that has little clue of flaming chakrams. A few manage to avoid the blades, but not all, squeaks and tumbling of the oversized rodents heard. Those lots are changing their minds, jumping to try and find hiding spots to take cover. They don't want to mess with fire, okay.

Tidus isn't idle in this time. There's a wide spread of the chinchillas attempt to be sneaky pests, and where Lea's chakrams haven't gone, Tidus has. He doesn't want to pull out the lightning bolts a second time, for the same reason Lea didn't cast a wall of fire. But what he can do is hasten his feet, speeding more than a regular human, and bringing up a ball of water in a palm as he assesses his targets.

Fire might be more feared, but you know what's not so great to get hit by? A well-aimed water ball made of magic, bursting as it makes contact. The chinchilla first caught by the hit squeals and falls - and Tidus is readying quickly to get the rest.

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea's chakrams arced back to his hands, having bought them a bit of breathing room. The chincillas now knew they couldn't approach the pen with impunity, and a number of them were injured making them an easy target for Tidus' water spell. Wanting to keep back from that himself, as magically charged water was his particular weakness, he focused on driving the goats off for good while Tidus kept the chinchillas buys.

Lea arced both his chakrams toward the goats this time, adding a bit of extra flare to them and getting them a bit closer than previous. With those at the head of their herd getting their faces singed and their flanks sliced, the goats had finally had enough, turning tail and fleeing into the scrublands. A bit of extra grazing space wasn't worth this much trouble. Once he was sure the goats were gone, Lea then turned back to see how Tidus was handling the chinchillas and if there were any strays that needed... encouraged to rejoin the main group for easier driving off.

[blitzcheer]

"Please run off already."

That was how Tidus was doing with their oversized-chinchilla friends - alright. Some of their numbers could be seen scattered around on the land, one or two still, others attempting to find a safe way to retreat that wouldn't lead to them getting blasted at, with heat or water. So was the hope, Tidus keeping his eyes open as best as he could at the multiple moving lumps, and which way they went.

He's got a water ball bouncing off the top of his hand anyway, floating than actually touching skin, but still following how his hand was moving. Noise of the swirling water sounding like splashing, but only specks actually drip away from it.

"Sheesh, the entire wildlife had it out for this farm."

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Seems like it," Lea agreed. "I'll herd them in from the left, you take the right, and meet in the middle. That should help round up any stragglers and give them a clear path to retreat; if they're smart, they'll take it."

Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion was, unsurprisingly, working with Axel on guarding. But when he suggested ice cream while they work, she just... stared at him from under her hood.

"Ice cream is fore after the mission is done." Axel said so. Well, Roxas said Axel said so. So it is a rule... right?

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"When the missions only last a day, yeah," Lea said. "But given that train missions last a week, that'd be kind of a long wait. And less chance of getting to do it under an actual sky if we do."

"Besides, we can easily eat ice cream and watch out for trouble at the same time, so we can get two things done at once this way." Efficiency! Vexen would be proud. Maybe.

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

"But if we eat it during the mission, we're not doing the missing..."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"If we were stopping what we were doing to have it, that'd be true, yeah," Lea said. "But as it stands, all we're really doing is sitting here on a rock, keeping an eye out for voidblobs and hostile animals. We can keep doing that just as easily while eating ice cream."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

"But if we're eating ice cream, we're talking and thinking about things, and watching the sky..."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Well, we're already talking and thinking about things right now," Lea pointed out. "Only difference really is that we'll be watching the landscape along with the sky this time."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

"But it is different when we have ice cream..." she mumbled, looking down at her gloves, unsure.

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Yeah it usually is," Lea said. "But sometimes you need to make room for special things with your friends where you can. There's still a lot of stuff that needs doing on this mission, and I want to make sure we get our ice cream time in while we've got the chance, you know?"

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

"But... then we can't... talk how we usually do.... when we have ice cream any more?"

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Where'd you get that idea?", Lea said. "Of course we can do that. This time just needs to be a little different, is all, for the sake of time. Honestly, I thought you'd jump at the chance to have ice cream sooner rather than later." He then quickly added, "That is, I thought you'd be eager to do it, not that you'd actually jump around."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[nobodys_puppet]

"But... if I am thinking the way I think when we have ice cream... I'm not paying attention enough to be guarding..."

Re: Guarding, as plottedRe: Lea- OTA- Blue/Purple

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Then... maybe think of it as a challenge," Lea said. "A chance to practice dividing your attention without losing what's good about either thing you're focusing on. And if all else fails, I'll keep an eye out; guarding doesn't take much thinking from my end."