this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
[attr="class","dawnscroll"]picture this : the backyard gate hangs ajar, an open invitation to those who can claim familiarity with this house. they are outside this night, lungs pumped full of crisp evening air, outlined in the glowing rays of a soft sunset and flickering candlelights. there is a barbecue going slowly under aeris’ watchful eye, while maddox wanders out onto the porch, a serving bowl of pasta in one hand and a plate of drinks balanced carefully in the other. [break][break]
there is a moose lounging on the lawn, dark eyes half-closed and lazy, caught in a rare moment of tranquility ; there is a crocodile stoking the barbeque fire, the end of her tail curled around her witch’s ankle, gold eyes focused on the backyard door to scan any newcomers. the rothscus household is typically a flurry of activity, a whirlwind of anxious energy and an endless list of things to do, but then there are moments of quiet, like this. [break][break]
weaving out of the house between maddox’s legs ( and almost tripping him up ) comes goose, her eyes bright and friendly, jaws grasped firmly around a stolen piece of bacon. she tosses it into the air — snap ! — and it is gone. letting out a satisfied huff, she bounds towards the nearest target, intent on receiving a good scratch.
I want to be strong. I want to be powerful. I want to be feared.
The air was a little chilly this night. It felt kind of nice to have that kind of brisk sensation on her warm skin. The unfortunate side effect of being flame inclined you know? Or maybe you didnt. It was a strange feeling to have after all. There was a somewhat taller witch walking just a few feet behind her talking to someone. There was that mangey canine slobbering around the place as well.
With a bowl of some kind of vegetable dish in her hand she walked through the opened gate with her brother not a few feet behind her. The young woman looked around before staring down her much taller cousin maddox rothscus ✨ putting something into his hands. That was where she would make a beeline... she had to put her contribution down after all. You know? It wasnt so she could bully him at all. Haha.
"The waiter look. I think it suites you Madeline." She said waving to him with his hands full of the drinks and the bowl of pasta. "Where should I put this?" She wasnt sure where he was taking those items exactly... were they on a table out here or being kept in the kitchen just a few feet from them to be served and taken outside. You know something like that? She couldnt be sure.
Billy had since vanished from his sisters company towards others who were arriving. They all looked very familiar to her but she didnt pay them much mind. She wondered if corvus kasparian or Zephyr Hart would be showing up. It was a family event after all so that little boy should be here. He couldnt duck her forever.
"Hellooooooo family!" He was maybe a few feet behind his sister before vanished from her side when they got into the gate. There was their uncle at the grill doing his thing being a dad. You know with the grill and that kind of stuff. He was kind of glad he didnt currently see heath ambroise thirsting around because as funny as that could be he didnt really have the care for it right now.
The dog made his way up to him only for a high pitched screech to come from his sweater as it approached him. Dr Puddy was not pleased being near the creature with whom was much to large and much to stupid to be useful for her purposes. It was better equipped as a mount for a more human like familiar like Sprocket or as a distraction in battle. She couldnt ride it into a fight like she could the large moose that was lazing about.
He gave the large dog a small pat on the head before moving towards his uncle to make small talk. Something something blacksmith shop or something like that. He did love the knives his uncle made as they were the kind of stuff that often found its way into the circuses hands for acts. Throwing knives, sword swallowing and all that kind of stuff. He made good product and his first set of throwing knives was made by this man.
More people made their way into the party as time went on. He was chatting and trying to watch how the master dad did his grilling thing. If he wanted to get that big dad energy he should of course watch the master. You know soak up as much as he could so he could be a great DILF when he was older you know? Plus it meant time away from his sister who while they all loved her she could be brutal to be around sometimes. Physically speaking of course.
[attr="class","gearcore"] "GOOSELY!" the crafter exclaims as he dashes out the front door, skids on his knees to a halt in front of the dog, and proceeds to dish out some full-body scratches.
Despite having exited the Rothscus abode, Zephyr had only just arrived on the property a few seconds ago. With a teleportation gate built into almost every door and window frame inside, he had a tendency to appear and disappear as he pleased, oftentimes showing up for just a few moments to dash across the living room and leap through a different gate from where he appeared. Today, though, he planned on sticking around for a while; after all, it was a day for family.
Sprocket leaps from her witch's shoulder to grab onto Goose's back. Though not nearly as obedient as her human, the dog was much fuzzier and made for a fun (though temporary) steed. It is also a day for familiars, so she doubts that anyone will complain.
[attr="class","s1lyrics1"]constellation of tears on your lashes
[attr="class","s1lyrics2"]burn everythign you love then burn the ashes
[attr="class","s1write"]
[attr="class","s1scroll"]
While typically Saturnalia provided its own in-depth day for food and drink, Corvus spared that day for a day away from the family. Today, he would indulge in home cooking. That day, he would engorge himself on everyone else’s cuisine. A city center like Sundial was bound to have an array of specials on snacks and meals and he was very much looking forward to his first Saturnalia in such a big city. For now, though, a good family BBQ was alright. He’d even offered to help his uncle, eager to watch his process. A lot of the things he was making was meat after all.
[break][break]
Dressed a little more nicely, for such a special family occasion, Corvus had made himself busy by dashing to and from the kitchen to the grill occasionally bringing out or taking in foodstuffs from Aeris and offering a happy remark every so often. He’d been excitedly trying to coax Philippe to get back into conversing once more, having fallen into a a sullen rut for the past week since his rank up when he noticed Billy had made his way in. “Good to see you-!” he greeted the older boy before a chill slid down his spine. If he was here…then that meant…Siobhan was present as well. Maybe he shouldn’t have worn nice clothes. He should’ve worn work clothes. Something he was ok with getting ripped and charred.
[break][break]
He spied his fearsome cousin near Maddox and prayed the older man could keep her busy. Philippe flapped his wings to get his witch’s attention for a moment. “If you hide from her, she’ll only be meaner.” He reasoned before taking flight to have a better perch. Corvus grimaced at the thought. He supposed that was true. Trying to avoid telling her about his Starcalling hadn’t exactly ended up ok either. She’d been pretty pissed about that. Better try appeasing her while she was still neutral. Today anyway. “I’ll uh…I’ll be back. Probably.” He managed, giving his older cousin a quick glance and noting he looked occupied enough before walking over towards his other family.
[break][break]
Of course, that beeline he had tried to make for Siobhan quickly faltered when Zephyr yelled out the dog’s name and, unable to resist Goose’s cuteness, he veered towards her eager to watch her play with the blonde and Sprocket, comically mounted on her new stead. He caught sight of the mastiff’s giant paws and joined them eager to gently poke at them, so he could see the beans underneath. “Spock, Zeph!!” he greeted thought it was more like happy yelling. “Glad you came.” He added, flashing a grin. He hadn't known this particular cousin too long, but he liked to think they got along pretty well. As well as they could anyway.
[attr="class","dawnscroll"]the plate is balanced carefully on his palm, in the fashion of waiters at fancy restaurants with a line of dishes up their arm — a feat he knows he could never replicate, and does not intend to try. “over there would be great.” he nods towards a table a little ways away from Siobhan Kasparian, but not before he adds, glancing at the dish in her hands, “that looks nice.” [break][break]
the table’s surface is currently clear save for a stack of empty plates and cutlery and a large bowl of mandatory salad ( as created by aeris, who does occasionally attempt to push his relatives towards some modicum of healthy eating ). there are other dishes still sitting in the kitchen, waiting to be brought out, including some lasagne and guiltily sweet desserts for later.[break][break]
carefully, he makes his way across to the aforementioned table, sets down the pasta and the drinks, and gestures dramatically to them. “drinks are here, guys!” he scans the backayard, gives a self-satisfied nod, and darts back into the house to retrieve the lasagne and more miscellaneous barbeque items, like additional lawn chairs and maybe some paper towels.[break][break]
aeris, on the other hand, keeps a close eye on the grill even while making casual small talk, and thanking people for coming. there’s a natural ease to the way he handles the situation — that natural Dad™ instinct, you figure. he does inform Billy Kasparian, offhandedly as he carefully turns over some of the meat on the grill, “got a few new knives in the smithy. experimental, but nice and light. you might want to take a look before spock takes them all.”[break][break]
there’s a flurry of excited barking that almost threatens to drown out his words as Zephyr Hart gives goosely those good good scratches. the mastiff scarcely reacts to the monkey familiar on her back, instead focused wholeheartedly on tilting her head at just the right angle so zephyr can get to the favourite under-chin spot. she bats at corvus kasparian’s hands curiously for a moment ( what did he want? a handshake? she knows how to do that! she’s a good dog! she knows that! ) before resting her paw lightly on corvus’ hand, tongue lolling and eyes bright as she watches the gathering unfold around her.
[attr="class","gearcore"] As Zeph's hands settle for petting around Goosely's favorite under-chin scratching location, Spock reaches forward to scratch behind the dog's ears. The boundless enthusiasm and affection of dogs was something that even the overly possessive familiar could appreciate.
The crafter's head turns as his name is called, already smiling from his Goosely-petting fix. " 'Ey Corvus! Yeh, I wouldn't miss this for nothin'."
( He used to skip the family gatherings often -- though not for lack of invitation nor lack of accessibility. An invisible presence of leaden doubts anchored him to his room, whispering in one ear: "What if you aren't good enough to join them, as broken as you are?" And at the same time, in the other: "What if you move your heart for them, and they leave you? (Just like before.)" But today, those years were little more than a memory. He'd long since broken free from these chains of thought, and now just needed to make up for lost time. )
"How's it goin' with you? I heard ya took up starcallin' sometime recent," he inquires, not bothering to stand as the Silvertongue approached him and Goose, well aware that Corvus was probably here more for the dog than for him. Zeph snorts in amusement at Goose's snap reaction shake her paw, especially since it was accompanied by such a self-accomplished canine smile. A good girl indeed.
@ the fam (mostly corvus kasparian) used scrolls: gates, striders
[attr="class","s1lyrics1"]constellation of tears on your lashes
[attr="class","s1lyrics2"]burn everythign you love then burn the ashes
[attr="class","s1write"]
[attr="class","s1scroll"]
Corvus settled down on the ground, taking a seat next to the best girl at this part and his cousin. “Good! It’s livelier with you and Spock around.” He said, offering a bright smile as he took the mastiff’s paw and gave her a good shake. “Tha’s a good girl. Shake. Shake!” he cooed before planting a quick kiss on said huge paw. “It’s always nice to catch up too.” He added. Zephyr didn’t live within the Rothscus household and while he did see him jump in and out of the place he didn’t exactly feel it right to stop him while he went about his business. It was like when he spotted Aeris working in the shop. It felt better just to not interrupt the work flow and find something else to do. Or, as Corvus thought of it, bother.
[break][break]
The question is not unexpected, but still feels like a jab in his side. Philippe can already pick up on it, muttering something in the back of his mind that was probably vulgar. “I uh…yeah! Yup.” He said, eyes on Goose as he worked through a proper response for the blonde. “I took it up, somehow and now uh…Siobhan’s training me in it.” He went a little pale as he said that, stealing a glance at his younger cousin before looking back at the dog. “It’s pretty recent so I can’t do much, but we’re still starting up training even if it’s a holiday and all.” He added with a shrug.
[break][break]
“But I! Hit novice in my coven so?? I can make more money on jobs now.” He piped up, remembering that Saturnalia was not a time for being Bummed Out. “What about you? Anything new in your life? A girl? Job? Injuries?” Corvus asked, eyes on his companion, the last of those more of a tease than anything but you never knew with this family.
[attr="class","dawnscroll"]goosely is having the time of her life — as zephyr reaches for that favourite spot, one back leg begins enthusiastically kicking the ground in unbridled joy. what a great day! so many of her favourite people here, all that delicious food, and the best scritch-scratches! her tail, at this point, is spinning wildly, uncaring for all she may hit in her path. living with the rothscuses has granted her a delightful lack of awareness of both her destructiveness and size : when the other two companions ( of animal-shape ) are an oversized moose and giant crocodile, one doesn’t have too many concerns about playing rough.[break][break]
that is, however, until it comes to the people. she knows full well that aeris and maddox can take it, but she’s always more careful with zephyr and corvus. truth be told, she’s more gentle with everyone but aeris and maddox. it is with this reason in mind that she refrains from leaping up onto the mechanic, instead leaning forward with such gusto that she almost tips forward onto her face. right now, good scratches are all that matters. the delicious smell of barbecued meats, however, follows a close second. ah, decisions, decisions![break][break]
aeris begins plating the first round, waving vaguely in the direction of the groups that have formed by way of invitation. he isn’t one for too many words nor raising his voice, but the smell of the barbecue wafting through the air should be sign enough. meanwhile, maddox sweeps out of the back door once more, two additional lawn chairs balanced precariously on his arm, while the other clutches at a tray of lasagna. larger gatherings aren’t typically a common occurrence in the rothscus household, not with their schedules as misaligned as they are, so it’s always a bit of a scramble to accommodate when it happens. but they make it work.
I want to be strong. I want to be powerful. I want to be feared.
The young girl placed her dish in the location Madeline was pointing her too. She figured it was one of the few dishes she would be eating since she wasnt one for barbeque or anything like that. The other family were all around doing there thing. Her brother talking to Aeris excitedly about knives... well... Billy was talking a lot but Aeris was a man of few words.
"Hmm." She made sure to let corvus kasparian know she was watching him. He was currently talking to Zephyr Hart being around that mutt. She wasnt a dog person and really was not a big fan of the thing which made her the outlier amongst the family. She was however close enough to overhear Zephyr talk about Corvus's new starcalling powers. The weaker boy looked nervously over at her and she smiled at him. Unnerving.
She did not approach him though. Instead she made her way to help with the bringing of dishes and such to help get the food ready. Just simple things like helping get the food eating devices and the food storing devices out aka dishes and utensils. She made sure to smile at Corvus every chance she could. She wanted to see him squirm.
Soon enough the man of the hour, the dad of the decade, the papa of the century made it known that it was time to eat. It was a celebration after all so it was time to dig in. They would all have to come closer to the food and she would make sure to give that same smile all the way as Corvus approached. He was a dead man during training. Dead meat
"This is why you're my favorite." He was of course going to take the man up on his offer once they ate their food since it seemed to be any minute now that they could dine. He was no dad himself but that grilling instinct was strong within him. A dad in training. Yes. That is a good way to say it. No wait that is stupid.
While Zephyr Hart and corvus kasparian were chatting away so was Billy. He was talking and talking about nothing really. Things he had done with the knives his uncle had given him. Things that were just randomly spilling from his head. Things Sprocket and him did to annoy Zephyr and Heath. He was a blabbermouth.
After what probably seemed like hours to the cook Billy would finally leave him alone to finish his work. You must finish your work Carl. He would move onto the trio of the tin man and the cowardly lion aka Zephyr and Corvus.
"Ah friends. Family. Best girl Spock. Canine. How art thee." He would of course do a very unneeded bow as... well he didnt really have a reason he was just being weird. He did what he felt like doing and this seemed like the most fun thing to do.
"Corv I heard you have incurred... The Wrath™. Plus F my friend. Plus F." He would attempt to clap the other boys shoulder in a move of solidarity. What the heck was he saying? Oh yeah. Sorry dude you're screwed. They all knew it.
"Anyway S-Dog Uncle Aeris says he have some new knives hes been testing and playing around with. You thinking what I'm thinking?" Whatever the monkey familiar and the witch were thinking... it probably was not good. It never was with these two. Trouble.
[attr="class","gearcore"] "Huh..." Zeph mused as his eyes traced Corvus' gaze over to an eerily smiling Siobhan, then back to the paling Silvertongue, "In that case, my condolences." The poor guy was doomed.
But, according what he was saying, at least he wouldn't die poor (probably). "Well at least that's somethin'! You'll get more chances t' take jobs outside the cities now, yeh? Lemme know if ya need a hand on any adventures." Granted, the crafter's sense of adventure was probably a tad more terrifying than Corvus was accustomed to. (But, on the other hand, if he was mentoring with Siobhan, then maybe not...) "Ci got back from travelin' a couple weeks back, I'm still workin' at the rail station, an' no damage worse than I've had b'fore," he lists, raising a finger to count each of Corvus's questions answered. The last answer, of course, was setting the bar pitifully low, but at least he didn't seem too concerned about it.
At Billy's approach, Spock springs to her feet to return his bow with a playfully dramatic curtsy atop Goosely's back. Zeph grins. "Well I ain't dead yet an' still got all my limbs from a year ago, so I can't complain too much."
(Speaking of people with missing limbs...)
Zeph's gaze flicks to just behind Billy and squints at the precarious balancing act that Mads was performing with the lasagna and lawn chairs. His worrying over his brother had mixed and festered with his residual guilt over the mystery(ous) events in the sewers which had led to Mads' loss of an arm and (maybe) loss of a friend. Although Zeph had been doing his best to keep his protectiveness reigned in, the feelings occasionally refused to be denied. While Billy's mention of new knives prompts Spock to slap her hands to her mouth and her eyes to sparkle in silent glee, Zeph is distracted. Getting the hint, the monkey leaps onto Billy's arm and climbs up to his shoulder, offering a pleased chirrup and exaggerated arm motion indicating for him to lead the way. "Nice t' know I've been replaced," Zeph snots, with no ill feelings behind the words, "You two go ahead -- I'm gonna' go save the lasagna from certain doom."
Muttering a quiet apology to Goosely as he gives the dog a final scratch and words of praise, the crafter stands back up and makes his way over to Maddox. He snatches away the lasagna without warning. "For shame, riskin' perfectly good food over a few extra steps," he says with a grin, conveniently ignoring the fact that he'd have done the exact same thing had their positions been revered.
[attr="class","s1lyrics1"]constellation of tears on your lashes
[attr="class","s1lyrics2"]burn everythign you love then burn the ashes
[attr="class","s1write"]
[attr="class","s1scroll"]
At the mere hum of his cousin, Corvus nearly jumped into the air. The smile was nice, but Siobhan’s gaze felt off. He hadn’t been able to keep the secondary affinity a secret for long, too excited to show it off to a friend form his coven. Look where it’d gotten him. He nodded a little at Zephyr and muttered his thanks. Everyone seemed to understand that Siobhan, despite appearances was a brutal teacher. He doubted they had many experiences with her teaching, but the fact that everyone could visualize it was telling enough. “Thanks! I’m sure I’ll find something we can do together.” Silvertongue was a mercenary guild, there were probably going to be a lot more escort missions in the future. Then again, Corvus was still very blind when it came to the hidden business of his own coven. “Glad you’re keeping it together then.” He added with a smile, happy the blonde was if not doing well, at least healthy. [break][break]
He perked up at Billy’s approach, brows furrowing together as he did his best to smile casually. “Hey Billy…yeah I’m still trying to get out of it.” He wouldn’t, that girl would track him down to the depths of hell if she wanted to. He refrained from asking what ‘plus F’ meant, and instead settled for quietly repeating it to himself in case saying it would reveal some sort of hidden information. “Feel free to help me escape her?? Maybe??” he pleaded a little more quietly, though the chances of Billy interfering were low. Especially with how his focus immediately dropped onto Sprocket. He was so dead. [break][break]
As the group disperses, Corvus clapped his hands together to shake off some of Goosely’s fur that stuck to it. “I’m gonna grab some food too. I’ll cut up some sausages for you.” He said as he turned away form the dog, still very much flinching every time Siobhan made eye contact with him. He didn’t get why she was so smiley, but then again that’s what made her angry. She was really good at hiding her fury at times and it just caught him off guard. Then again, Corvus was for the most part incredibly easy to read. He went to grab his plate, hungry and unable to further procrastinate talking to Siobhan. “Heeey….uh, smells good right?” He asked the girl after spending the previous five minutes staring at his empty plate and then quietly grabbing food. A mix of everything offered because honestly, for rough and tumble witches they were pretty good cooks overall. “Uncle Aeris can really….barbeque.” he added awkwardly as he reached for a bread roll to shove into his mouth and choke on.
