( the sickness: phase two )

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players the sickness ends. the temple. The Temple, shortly after Astoria's burst of energy, is in a constant state of growth. Trees are bursting into existence from seeds in mere seconds, flowers are growing wherever magic lands . . . and the Temple is abruptly a-buzz with energy, magic crackling throughout the air. You may find a tree in your house, or flowers suddenly growing along the walls, or plants wiggling their way through the stone walls of the buildings of the Temple. All of a sudden, the place looks very overgrown. The Forest of the Fey seems to be responding in kind, too. Sprites are exceptionally active, darting out of the Forest and into the Temple with increasingly regularity, playing basic little tricks on the members of the Circle they can find. Flower crowns are made at an alarming rate, and there might be a few fruit-food fights that break out with the sudden abundance of peaches and apples that appear on the grounds. Learn how to duck! With the magic comes the sudden fluctuation of energy: canon powers flicker on and off, as do the powers granted by Astoria. You feel more like yourself, you suddenly have access to energies you did not have previously in the Temple However, it's a double-edged sword -- it is not constant, and it may be more trouble than its worth. And, remember: the Sickness is not fading immediately. If you make it to Stage 3, then you're stuck with sensory deprivation for at least another week or two. Sorry, friends. lake dona. Lake Dona is a massive body of water, stretching outward for so far that it almost seems like an ocean until you see that the water is fresh. It is surrounded by long, leafy trees that dip into the water and has a variety of ancient ruins scattered around it -- weathered stones set into circles at seemingly even intervals, old buildings that seem to mirror the Temple in construct. In addition to the ruins, there are a network of caverns tucked along the water’s edge, just underneath the surface on the western side of Lake Dona, that appear to go underground into murky darkness. The actual entrance to these caverns seem to be underwater, seemingly guarded by merfolk, but poking around may seem to be more trouble than its worth. There is plenty of wildlife to be found within the lake itself, ranging from freshwater mermaids who would rather you stay the hell out of their backyard to a rather large and suspiciously friendly plesiosaurus-like creature (some would say that she prefers to be called Nessie) that seems intent on checking out who you are. The lake teems with odd-looking fish, most of which seem to be okay to eat, and plenty of plant life! But who knows what lurks in the depths below . . . that giant sea-monster looking thing has to be eating something. PROMPT IDEAS: Here are some prompt ideas for this new area! However, don't feel limited to such ideas! Feel free to fish, to explore, to swim, to poke around . . . it's always possible Astoria may check in on your character, too, once she is feeling better! ;) 1.) The Great Pumpkin The overgrowth of plants have caused a massive growth spurt in a lot of the trees, including the fruit trees that sprinkle themselves throughout the Temple. However, the fruit themselves seems to be growing at a rather . . . alarming rate, resulting in a few pumpkin-looking squash growing to the size of small boulders in the fields. Hope you have a lot of spare time on your hands to make a hell of a lot of Temple-pie, because these squash aren't going anywhere anytime soon. 2.) Food Fight!: Those damn sprites are at it again, and are collecting fruit off the ground and throwing it at people. Fight back, organize, and conquer! Or not. It's probably better to just not. 3.) Part Of Your World: The mermaids within Lake Dona are a suspicious lot, and they don't take kindly to strangers stomping through their territory. However, they are receptive to music, so if you are so musically inclined, they will definitely be more inclined to be a little more playful than territorial. If you aren't? Have fun getting tossed into the lake head-first by a bunch of pissed off mermaids who want you to get the hell of their lawn. They don't take kindly to your type around here. 4.) Nessie: Within Lake Dona is a massive plesiosaurus-type creature which seems to be . . . oddly friendly? It seems to pop up at the most inconvenient of times. Are you sitting on the edge of the lake enjoying the water? Enjoy a massive ass dinosaur sticking its impressively long neck out of the lake to check you out and also scare the bejesus out of you. That being said, Nessie is an extraordinarily friendly being, and will even give you laps around the lake if you ask nicely! 5.) Caverns: The caverns within the lake are dark, deep, and menacing The merfolk inform you that you cannot go there -- no one can, but the merfolk sure seem to be keeping a careful eye out on it. Testing the boundaries indicates a weird magical field around the entrance of the cave, that works like a bit of a forcefield. Weird, right?

Comments

[resistivity]

( his breath is a bit wobbly as he exhales, and for a moment he doesn't trust himself to speak. he just turns his hand over and watches fire crawl up his arm. he's tempted to try a brief spark of electricity, but. maybe not inside her room. he's confident he could control it, but. it's been a couple months since he's done any bending at all with that arm. probably best not to push it. )

It's incredible. I've never felt anything like that. I can't thank you enough.

( he already did thank her, but apparently he feels the need to do it again, uselessly. )

[juniberries]

[she'd put a reassuring hand on his arm in response, but since there's currently fire crawling up it--

well, best not to risk it. instead she rests her hand reassuringly on his knee. a decent compromise.]

You have already thanked me enough. [and, honestly, there really is no greater joy than being able to help mend something that's been broken. it's...kind of what she does. or hopes to do.] And...firebending, right? [a pause, still watching the fire, marveling at how it doesn't seem to hurt him.] is truly remarkable.

[resistivity]

( the flames go out, though the smoke still curls up towards the ceiling after they're gone. and he's just. he's tired, suddenly. you never realize how much of your strength and focus is given over to keeping yourself functional under the flux of pain until the pain's... gone. in its absence he just feels empty. stripped down. vulnerable, a little, though he doesn't know allura well enough to let himself be so with her. at least not in any unchecked way.

he does flex his fingers, pressing the pads of them against his palms and then away. )

I've been a bender my entire life. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I lost it. Firebending draws its power from the sun, so... we can always feel it as it moves across the sky.

( it was like the world went dark without it. even though he could see the light, it was just... light and warmth. there was nothing in it that called to him. )

[juniberries]

I understand how that must feel. To have something you've known your whole life, only for it to be taken away in an instant... [her voice trails off, her hands returning to rest at her lap, fingers pressing a bit into her knees as her mind wanders elsewhere for a moment.

looking down at her own hands, she turns them over, palms up, the warmth from having healed him still there.]

I felt that in your quintessence. It makes sense why your energy felt so...warm. [she calls what she felt in him quintessence, because...what else could it be? the energy is soft, pleasant, so unlike what she felt when Haggar's own magic passed through her on more than one occasion.]

[resistivity]

( he's suddenly keenly aware of the fact that he's... on her bed, and he sort of. fidgets. he's interested in what she has to say, though, which is what keeps him rooted there, his posture a bit rigid. )

What's quintessence? If you don't mind my asking.