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.
Post by claire fermont on Jan 17, 2018 0:45:54 GMT
Charani makes a move, and Claire does not fail to catch his watchful eye. She watches him silently weave through the crowd, stopping at a burly man at the back. She can hear their conversation in this crowd of hushed whispers, especially since Charani is articulate in his sentences. The man knows something, and Claire trusts him enough.
Claire does not respond to Zephyr or to the old man, at least not so fast. She cannot detect lies, but the denial of information is at most expected. She very well knows that this will happen--she is not born yesterday. But it is indeed part of the protocol. A formality.
"Oh, is that so," Claire muses. "I see," she says simply.
She then weighs their options. Vani senses her hesitation, and steps back as he nuzzles Claire's side. The boar is up for action, as usual, and his suggestion is straightforward--barge straight in. Search. That is certainly part of the options, though the move is sure to stir these men into action. Her eyes linger on the image of Julius and Maddox, all of whom are nestled too near to Charani. She could ask them straight ahead, though she doubts she would get any more information other than just "I don't know."
"Charani," she calls. Time to make a decision. She knows nothing more than the surface of the situation, it is him who has insight. "It seems like they have no idea who our target is," she says, repeating what is already obvious. She makes her voice clear and loud. "We have all the legal rights to conduct a search. I'm sure our comrades would help us in just a call, as well."
She tilts her head then, a sign. What does he know?
Faded and worn at the seams A psychotropic wanderlust, sick and laughing Their words bared their teeth into the wall I promised I would rid the world of
"No thank you... you're not my type... I prefer men who don't hide things from me," he says with a flat expressions towards julius kingston . He is hiding something from him but his powers of insight are... well not on the level of Ezra. Maybe one day but not now... probably not ever even. He admires that quiet strength she has... that reserved power she wields when delving into her powers of insight. She is the true seer in Sundial; the best in all the world perhaps... at least in his eyes. The All Might to his Deku.
"How we feel doesn't matter in the grand design... though it is nice to see you again if nothing else," the boy says with a smile. They don't matter. The grand design simply goes on no matter how one feels about it. The future and fate will come for them all regardless. Maybe not how he sees it now... maybe he won't even see it until it happens... but it will happen. It always happens even in his dreams. Nightmares.
maddox rothscus ✨ aura pulls back a bit, flickering like it is being caged. It is a strange sight to see... and to be honest he isn't sure what to make of it. What he can tell is that the man is hiding something from him. He doesn't know what... or even why but that much he can tell even in his current state. Okay." he says loudly so Claire can hear it. He turns around to face the woman with a smile on his face. He turned his head back to maddox rothscus ✨ for a moment, eyes watching him closely. "Whatever you are trying to hide from me... I will find out... and I don't like being lied too..."he says softly enough so that claire fermont can't hear him speaking to maddox rothscus ✨ . For whatever reason he.. wasn't even really sure for himself. He could feel his eyes starting to strain to keep up the mana flow. He allowed his vision to go blurry for a moment and his spell to stop. Maybe it was just a gut feeling he had. Maybe it was the sleep deprivation clouding his judgement. He made his way towards the bar... looking at Zephyr Hart , iolani kótsyfas and saoirse ó floinn . "You guys know anything?" He didn't expect them to answer like 'yes of course here she is'. He wasn't stupid.
Eventually Claire speaks to him and says they should just search. "Yes Miss Claire." They did have the proper paper work after all and legally they had every right to do this. He nodded to the woman and reached for the papers on his person. He'd walk over to the elderly couple cowering in the corner to hand them the copy he had. "I apologize for this but it is a direct order from the Helios Knights. You are of course free to read them over while we conduct a search. We will try to be out of your hair promptly." They could always call back up if need be but he didn't want to bother anyone. They should search the premises though. Would someone try to stop them?
Her eyes narrow as she watches the bar's scene unfold. She sees everything. julius kingston's quick scan through, Zephyr Hart 's attempt to halt their progress. she wonders what she should do-- but realizes there has ever quite been a choice. if she willed it, she supposed she could end the lives of the two knights here. it was her playing ground, and her family would be more than willing to oblige. she pauses. was it really just wishful thinking?[break][break]
would she have to-- [break][break] ----- [break][break] outside, on the inward balcony, another figure appears. long pink hair with shaggy unevenly cut locks (like, to be precise, a knife had been stabbed through them once or twice). the figure wears a dulled green apron, and approaches the stairway with its hands wet. [break][break] fane wipes her hands dry on a towel that has been decorating the staircase's railings for sometime, and scans the bar briefly, her expression mildly amused. [break][break] "i wasn't done with the morning's load and the water's already run cold~" she says, smiling at the elderly lady, whose eyes go white like she's seen a ghost. the bar is silent (but it has a visceral, nearly tangible buzz about it as that of an agitated swarm of hornets) and fane only now seems to notice the attention she's drawing. "how can i help you officers?" she asks, making no move to leave the second highest step of the stairway and instead peering down at the two knights with the serene confidence of a dead man walking. [break][break] notes: using ILLUSIONIST'S HANDBOOK, cloaking scroll
[attr="class","stafftemptitle"]
how to participate
notice: the instigators were likely in the middle of their search or at least had already/recently started it when fane appeared. Charani Petrov 's aura reading would reveal that fane is using a cloaking scroll understandably more powerful than what his reading can currently overcome. [break][break] right now, there are no rules as to what actions your characters can take icly. [break][break] please direct queries to staff. [break][break] you are now free to post, participants.
[attr="class","gearcore"] Zeph's hand raises easily to the back of Saoirse's head, his fingers lazily brushing through her hair. This wasn't exactly the sending off celebration he'd been hoping for, and, at this point, he was just hoping neither of them got arrested (however unlikely that result may have been).
"I already talked t' Claire," Zeph offered at Charani's prompting, glancing over at the knight, "As it turns out, I ain't too keen on followin' around shady characters 'n trackin' their movements for no reason, so I won't be much help here." And, in his defense, it was true that he rarely knew where Fane was at any given moment. She could have been on the Black Window right now for all he knew, or outside of Sundial on some secret mission. The crafter's head shifts to look down at Sao. "How 'bout you? Been stalkin' any wanted criminals recently?" The obvious answer to the loaded question technically wasn't a lie... depending on your definition of "recently".
If the seer was still analyzing their auras, he likely would have noticed some feelings of hostility pool in Zeph's lap as Spock materialized. Granted, that was generally the default outlook of the stab-happy primate, and she seemed to be under control for the time being, content to intertwine herself around the free arm of her human while the Knights conducted their search.
But then, a flash of pink and green from the stairwell caused Zeph's aura of carefully balanced joking lightheartedness and mild, directionless concern to waver, albeit for just a moment. His gaze slides from her, to the bar patrons, to the bar owners, to the knights, and back around. She must have known that she wouldn't be able to remain anonymous when most of the people here could link that face she was wearing to the name "Fane". Was this her way of discovering the reason behind the sudden call for her capture? Was her intent to murder or manipulate? Zeph knew that Fane certainly wasn't an idiot, and she'd given him no reason to doubt her judgement in serious situations, so (with a bit of effort) he pushes the passive scheming and formulating plans from his mind and lets her run the show.
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Jan 18, 2018 16:07:41 GMT
[attr="class","mtag_edit"] he’s not about to think that the boy buys his story, but the questioning halts there regardless. the knight’s eyes are sharp, his voice deceptively soft; under a different set of stars, perhaps, Charani Petrov might have made a terrifying leviathan. “try your hardest,” he advises. the edges of his smile burn bitter, ash and dust. his eyes continue to follow the boy as the knight approaches some others. moosely screeches something rude as charani draws closer to zephyr and saoirse; maddox does not deign to comment.
the search commences without much further ado and maddox’s only reaction is to reach behind the bar to grab himself a bottle, pouring himself another drink. as much as he wants to do something, as much as his familiar urges him to simply indulge, he only tracks their movements over the rim of the glass.
their war is a long one; long enough for people to think it over. it’s a slow, tedious process. but, step by step, brick by brick, knight by knight-- his fingers drum against the glass, his breathing slows, moosely quiets.
it’s with good timing, too, because it is at that moment that a shock of pink hair appears at the top -- fane. for a moment, he hovers between confusion and shock. why did she decide to make an appearance? he had enough confidence in her to think that she would be able to hide from the knights easily enough, searches or not. surely, then, she wanted to do something. the only question, then, was her method of interference: did she simply want to turn them away more firmly, or make sure they never made it past the door?
perhaps it would be a fight. moosely hopes it will. maddox doesn’t really know what he wants, per se. in the moment, as the knights turn from their search to the stranger at the top of the stairs, he seizes the lapse in their watchfulness to bring up observatory, the interface faint and shimmering on his glass. it is the blonde knight, claire fermont , with the boar that he considers first; no soft smiles to mask the danger there. enchanter. augmentor. the interface vanishes as quickly as it appears, and maddox turns his attention back to the knights and fane. after all, it couldn’t hurt to be ready, right?
Post by iolani kótsyfas on Jan 22, 2018 13:56:08 GMT
interesting, she thinks, storm-grey gaze wicked sly as it darts around the bar and takes careful note of all the significant individuals and their reactions. interesting indeed. this little showdown what's-it staring contest between a couple of bristling levs and the two self-righteous knights is ten times better than any theatrical performance or play she's seen in the last year. oh, and not forgetting the stupefied other patrons. or the trembling old couple. she can practically taste the tension and animosity between everyone - and it's a taste finer than wine.
speaking of wine. or, more broadly, alcohol. iolani drains the last of her cocktail, completely ignoring the little purifier knight's question. there's a bit of a commotion when a pink haired witch shows up - she vaguely recognises her as 'fane', though her words pretty much confirm her identity anyways - buuuuut iolani's got a more important matter on her mind.
"hmm.... i think i'd like another long island ice tea," she says casually to the frozen bartender, not loud but not quiet either ( and therefore easily audible within the bar ) - seeming all for the world like she couldn't care less about the drama happening less than five feet away. which is rather true, entertainment aside. and honestly, does anyone really expect her to watch this potentially epic showdown without some damn fine alcohol in hand?
tag: @everyone words: idk notes: literally just here to drink and enjoy the show - absolutely no impact on the plot rip
Post by claire fermont on Jan 28, 2018 3:02:14 GMT
Claire lets Charani do the diplomacy. Consoling words are not just her forte, and so while the man hands out the search warrant to the old couple, Claire nudges Vani forward. The boar snorts, then scoots forward, eyeing everyone he passes by. The general crowd parts to make way for the boar. Vani approaches the counter first. He is too big to fit to the space, instead he just sniffs the air.
It reeks of alcohol. Vani sniffs the air again, and it is just a mixture of the scents of sweat, beer, and some person who needs to brush their teeth.
Claire grounds her teeth together in frustration. Their information regarding the target is so small, it doesn't even help. The person is a suspected enchantress, and apparently a frequent into this bar. She has pink hair and slender body. It could be anyone. Her mind wanders until it finds the room in which the same person is seen. The room is in the attic, and Claire does wander if checking it out would do any good.
Vani nudges kitchen door open, and again, finds nothing except some grumpy chefs. The boar chomps a steak on his way out before solemnly looking at Claire. Every once in a while Claire stops to look at Charani for any additional information, and his silence speaks loud.
"Well, person isn't here," Vani says. "Check out the other rooms upstairs. I'll be here, in case any of these imbeciles try to meddle with our business." He then plops on his belly, and burps, but his eyes are still on guard.
"All right," Claire says, sighing. Once again Vani is underestimating their circumstance.
Claire hasn't even stepped on the third tread when a woman appears. She is late to the party. Vani speaks in the back of her mind, 'Grandma just got a shock. The boys are restless.' Claire raises an eyebrow at the reactions. In response Claire gives Charani a sideway glance. Who is this person, whose presence is enough to illicit such reactions from the patrons? Claire can only think of one thing. The Knight notes the woman's appearance, and she fits Fane's physical description perfectly.
Claire raises her chin in acknowledgment. "We are searching for someone. You look like you've been working here for a while, miss. Are you willing to help us? What's your name?"
Faded and worn at the seams A psychotropic wanderlust, sick and laughing Their words bared their teeth into the wall I promised I would rid the world of
"Thank you for your time anyway; nice to see you again as well," he says with a small smile towards Zephyr Hart and iolani kótsyfas . He remembers the girl from a mission he'd done with her and Zephyr. Well the most ingrained memories he had is when the sky was torn and red. He didn't like to think about those times. He never liked to think about those times. They popped up again and again though. They always did.
He'd continue his search along with his superior. Teddy made his own rounds while sniffing the ground trying to find something that just wouldn't be there. There were to many smells... to much magic in this place for him to accurately be able to pinpoint a single witch very easily. Mixed in with the strong scent of alcohol it was a wonder he could smell at all. It was like a degenerate version of Bath and Bodyworks that assaulted your nose.
maddox rothscus ✨ was not close to being on his mind anymore. In fact the only other time during this search he was near him was when he bent down to pick up something on the ground and had his butt pointed towards the other witch not even a foot away. Premium striking distance. His mind was partially dulled by the restlessness of his mind and the lack of sleep he had been going on for weeks now. Damn nightmares. Damn visions. Gosh darn everything that was wrong with this entire situation. She should just come out and be done with this whole ordeal. It was just more games and mindless lies that he couldn't stand. He had never liked being lied too but now... it was easier to tell when he was being lied to. It was more painful because he couldn't hide from it like he once could.
There was nothing. At least nothing he could find in his little search around the bar. Teddy didn't seem to be having much luck and neither did Claire or her familiar. Given who they were here for though... he'd be surprised if there was anything. Someone this powerful and this good wouldn't just carelessly leave evidence around unless they wanted to be found. Then arrived a woman with pink hair. She was new to the scene. He thinks. He'd have remembered pink hair right? Eyes blink for longer than they should for just a few seconds. Green eyes glow with mana for just a few seconds to stare at the girl. It was like looking at smoke. Wispy and elegant. Whoever she was... she was masking herself at a level far above his own. Wait... didnt Fane have pink hair?
Claire gives him a glance that he almost misses. Barely catching it his eyes wander from her to the woman in pink. He makes his way back towards Claire, stepping on his tippy toes to reach her ear. He was... not a tall person after all so it was... needed. He cupped his hand as best he could to whisper to the older woman without people being able to read his lips. "Whoever that girl is... she's masking her aura very well... I can't read it at all... amd she matches the description well." He moves away from her... one step. Two steps. Then three. He looks at the pink haired lady and smiles at her. "We are looking for someone. Do you work here ma'm? I'm sure you'd be super helpful." Yes. Very helpful indeed. She matched the description of Fane well. The powerful cloaking spell was another notch in the coffin. Despite the smile Charani was visibly tense. This had to be her.
"I do indeed. Been working here for years," Fane's mellow smile affirms -- a warmth starkly contrasted against the tense chill that had washed over the bar's patrons, "I'll help if I can, but I'm sure there's only so much a simple bartender like myself can offer in this situation." [break][break] The Knights were not straightforward in their demands, neglecting to provide the name of their quarry and asking for her name in the same breath. Perhaps they thought they were being clever, catching her before she realized she was their target. Oh, but it was too late for that -- she had already seen the cards in this game. She already knew how this hand would play out. [break][break] "My name's Fane. May I ask who it is you officers are looking for?" [break][break] Her confession does not miss a beat, and her calm expression does not waver. The buzzing whispers throughout the tavern, however, die in a sudden gust as many hold their breath. Patrons' fingers slip away from the confines of their drinks, readying themselves for casting spells or grabbing weapons. Most were wise enough to know that, despite her calm demeanor, Fane's admittance of her identity was a thrown gauntlet -- a fight was brewing, but they didn't yet know when (and where) that fight would be. [break][break] Amongst the stunned patrons, maddox rothscus ✨ would find that the moment he put down his drink, the corner of a small piece of parchment (which had certainly not been there before) would be peeking out from beneath the base of the glass... [break][break] notes: using ILLUSIONIST'S HANDBOOK, cloaking scroll
[attr="class","stafftemptitle"]
how to participate
notice: Fane has admitted who she is and the situation has become tense. Proceed with caution. [break][break] This round will last 1 week before the instigator posts. Subsequent rounds will be 72 hours. [break][break] right now, there are no rules as to what actions your characters can take icly. [break][break] please direct queries to staff. [break][break] you are now free to post, participants.
Claire does not trust her, not at all. She smiles, and Claire holds her head high as she acknowledges the ease of that certain curvature. The pinkette is not nervous at all, instead, if Claire is willing to say it, she looks relaxed--the complete opposite of the atmosphere of the bar.
"We would like any information, coming from anyone," Claire urges her. And when she says her name, Claire tilts her head. She could feel the mood shift, tense to tenser, fingers curling on weapon hilts, mana being concentrated, ready for release. Only a pin needs to drop and chaos would ensue. Claire is aware of it all. In the same breath, she knows they are at a disadvantage.
But at the same time, there is no room to doubt anymore. She fits the description of the person the Order of the Knights had told them to apprehend. Claire does not budge. No one would see if she has any reaction to the name at all except for amusement and acknowledgement. The blonde Knight nods. "I see," Claire muses. "Thank you for being cooperative. In exchange of the information you gave us, we shall tell you why we are here."
Before she does, though, Claire raises an eyebrow, feigning ignorance she knows no one is going to be fooled. "I'm actually kind of surprised that you didn't hear our announcement earlier. Vani is particularly loud."
The Knight then steps forward, up, closer to the pinkette. "Fane, the Order of the Knight requires your presence in the Hall. We ask you to come with us kindly and go through the negotiations."
notes // NOTES HERE
[attr="class","itemsclaire"]items used //
[attr="class,"imageclaire"]
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
[attr="class","scrollclaire"]SCROLL NAME HERE
Faded and worn at the seams A psychotropic wanderlust, sick and laughing Their words bared their teeth into the wall I promised I would rid the world of
Post by maddox rothscus ✨ on Aug 5, 2018 13:32:05 GMT
[attr="class","mtag_edit"] his eyes never quite stop moving. they dart across the room, flick from fane to knight to fane again in rapid succession; a storm builds in steel-grey depths. his fingers drum against the drink, nails clicking against glass ever so quietly. leans forward, curiosity plain. breathes sharp; the sting of alcohol, the sharpness of some remnants of the sea; the tension that builds, and builds, and builds.
waits, like he’s expecting fireworks, or like when you’re watching a man place his head within a crocodile’s jaws at some circus show, a fantastical display of human stupidity. watches like he’s hungry, bloodthirsty, and he knows that he should have put down the entire vengeance shtick a long time ago when he killed someone at fourteen, but maddox rothscus is drunk on loyalty to something known as leviathan, and there’s an opportunity sitting right in front of him.
"my name's fane--"
he leans back. he puts his drink down.
he notices a note. huh.
it is short, but really, there is no need to elaborate any further. he thinks, anyway. he reads it once, twice, surreptitiously, slides it back under the glass. glances back at fane, an eyebrow quirked. he doesn’t want to be blamed for starting anything, per se, but retaliation hangs in the balance.
he prepares an overhaul, ready to blast an unfortunate knight ( whoever makes the first move ) with a momentary migraine as soon as a cue is given. his hand drops to his side, closer to the worn handle of an axe.
note: THE MODERN ATHENIAN: OVERHAUL prepared and aimed at either knight, if any further cue is given from fane (?)
[attr="class","gearcore"] Fane was acting awfully pleasant considering the circumstances. The crafter couldn't help but wonder if she was actually considering giving in to the Knights' demands. She couldn't have been afraid -- she should have known that the denizens of the bar were more than capable of taking on a measly two Knights, and that that they'd be able to relocate to evade the most serious consequences.
So why was she being so accommodating?
As the rest of the bar patrons reach for weapons, Zephyr slips his fingers into his pocket and wraps a thin metal chain around them. If this broke out in a fight, his first concern was getting Saoirse away from the crossfire. The concerns immediately following included (in no particular order): making sure Mads didn't do something stupid, checking that Juls didn't get his reckless ass arrested, and ensuring that the bar owners didn't get hurt in the ensuing chaos (after all, even though they didn't remember him on most days, they were sort of like grandparents to him). Aside from this, however, he made an effort to not speak up or act out. Not yet.
"Thank you for your honestly Miss. Lady Claire here is correct we are here on orders to arrest you. I don't really like fighting. So I'd like to ask if you will come with us peacefully... or at the very least take this outside. I'd rather not create undo hardship to others who cannot defend themselves." He was being totally genuine. Anyone who used any lie detection or any other kind of body language reading would easily be able to tell this. He figured this bar was a hang out for people who could fight given the fact iolani kótsyfas and Zephyr Hart were both here but... this was still a bar and thus there were definately people here who were not fighters. The older couple up the stairs for example. He'd rather not have harm come at all.
Teddy seemed to remain stiff. He was waiting for something to happen. He was positioned between much of the bar patron's and the witch he belonged too. He looked ready to snap at anyone who came near the young man with probably grizzly results... like an attack dog ready to pounce when any threat came near. It was kind of funny if you just looked at him given the small dogs... you know size.
There was unease through the entire place. He didn't like it. He really didn't like this oppressive air. It was like knowing something bad was going to happen but not knowing what or when. That sense of foreboding was annoying. It was nowhere near as bad as many of the other feelings he had. It was also better than feeling empty. That was a feeling he felt more than he'd like to admit.
His eyes glowed green as he used Guide. He could see several paths before him. One behind Fane. One near Zephyr. One near the old couple upstairs. One going outside. One around Maddox. They were all varying shades of grey/black/white. Which path was the best path? Which would bring about the least harm? Concentrate and he could see it. Which path should they take? Which one.
She had lived through these events before. The Helios Knights rise up, and the opposition stands silent, poised for assault, but never following through. It's a common tale. More common than most people realized. Would they be ready to take down that red-crowned goliath in this lifetime, she wonders... [break][break] Fane smiles kindly at Claire's accusation. She knows that these two are merely the lion's tail. To win a fight here would mean starting a war with its teeth. (But, then again, to surrender to a tail seems so demeaning). "Tuning out shouting from the bar is just part of the job, miss. I wouldn't be able to get a blessed thing done otherwise." [break][break] And then the demands drop, with all of the patrons of the bar as witnesses. "Oh? Goodness me, I do believe there's been some sort of misunderstanding," she hums, "I have no intention of fighting, dear. Of course I'll come with you and get this all cleared up." [break][break] Her mellow gaze slides from the seer back to the enchanter, unintimidated by Claire's demonstration of authority. "Well? Shall we?" [break][break] notes: using ILLUSIONIST'S HANDBOOK, cloaking scroll
[attr="class","stafftemptitle"]
how to participate
notice: Fane has just verbally agreed to be taken in peacefully. [break][break] right now, there are no rules as to what actions your characters can take icly. [break][break] please direct queries to staff. [break][break] you are now free to post, participants. (This round will be at least 3 days, but will end when both instigators post. Actions which occur after the first instigator post will not be considered.)
[attr="class","gearcore"] The rhythm of his fingers tangling through Sao's hair slowed as Fane agreed to be taken in peacefully. His aura, albeit encased in its metal-like shell, tilts its head in an expression which could only be curiosity or confusion. He didn't understand. Was he supposed to follow her outside? Or stay here to prevent suspicion? Were they going to lose face with the regulars of the Docks if they didn't do something to amend the situation right now? There was no instruction manual on untangling Fane's motives or reasoning, and Zephyr was fairly sure he didn't have enough pieces to the puzzle to get anywhere close.
But he could say with certainty that he trusted her. There was no doubt in his mind that Fane could escape if she wanted to, of fight her way out if that's what she'd decided was best. But, he'd been glancing between her and the two Knights since the conversation had gotten tense (as were most others in the room, in his defense -- they were causing quite a scene), and even then, he hadn't seen her make a single signal to him. He was completely in the dark, and probably unneeded.
Still, he was itching to know what was going on. He'd probably check to see if she'd left any notes in her hidden attic room as soon as everyone left.