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","pipostpost"]Vani hits the brakes and he barely misses hitting the wall, too. The mark disappears. The race has ended and Claire is the victor. She laughs, grinning as she splatters red paint all over the wall. Maddox could have easily purified her abilities, and quite honestly Claire is willing to concede to that. This is the advantage of an affinity that is almost always positive--you can use it anywhere, anytime. [break][break]
"Let's see if you really look good in red." With that, Claire levitates a bucket, and turns it upside down right on top of Maddox's head. The paint splashes all over the man, on his hair, clothes, skin, shoes. Claire, with a satisfied grin, nods her head. "Well, you're so-so," she says with a little chuckle. [break][break]
"I believe that paint is washable anyway. All right, see ya later bud!" Claire mounts Vani again and they continued their mission for the day. Not gonna lie, Maddox puts the purple team on a really good lead. She sees a bit of red throughout the city, but the purple dominates. Time to change that.[break][break]
She enchants a few more buckets and sends them flying all over the place. With a snap of her fingers, the buckets explode, coloring the sky red for a suspended second. Then, with a gooey splat, they color the roofs and balconies red. She feels a little bad covering the green paint with red, but they, she wants red team to win, too. [break][break]
She finally sees where the nearby green paint is coming from, and is astounded to see Aiden with them. Green? GREEN! But... red for the Knights! Well Aiden can choose any color he wants, maybe green is his favorite. There is no way people wouldn't notice Vani thundering towards them, and so Claire is pretty sure Aiden and the other boy would notice her. [break][break]
"Aha, so you decide to side with the enemy, Aiden," she says, with a rather light tone. "I wouldn't count this as betrayal, but you will regret choosing the enemy today."[break][break]
Who was this annoying red haired hooligan? He looked to be taller than the leviathan witch... not that it was hard since he was under 5 feet tall. He had this annoying feel to him... irritation creeping up into his nerves. He didn’t know why but he just felt like he wouldn’t like this boy.
Serenity stared at the boy and his pet rat with equal annoyance as her witch. She was of course much better mannered than her witch like an attendant to a bratty rich kid. “Moron,” the young man said as the red head asked about painting the sewers. The water would wash away much of the paint and make it super easy for an water based spell to finish the job which most teams were sure to have at least one of.
The small raccoon jumped off her masters head and speedily made her way to Aiden. She at least seemed much more pleasant to deal with. Honestly that’s how a lot of people felt at first. Or forever you know? Can’t win em all over.
"More paint would be lovely young man..." the raccoon familiar said before they were approached by a force dripping in powerful mana. Even just her presence was a lot. Mickey could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up... sorry Aiden but it’s not you. He stopped painting to look back at the redhead and his familiar. Both looked on edge with her presence as she spoke with the boy.
Much of the paint around them was splattered with red. Shit. Well this wasn’t going to be fun now was it. The bat thing to do was to flee right? He doubted the redhead virgin in front of him could beat this girl and he knew he couldn’t in a straight up fight. Man this is why he really preferred the shadows.
“We should run young ...” the raccoon familiar hummed just before her master started to move. Of course his spells proved that they would be no real match for the enchanter. Not really. All he needed to do was catch her off guard and hold her for a second. Just enough to escape. That’s all he needed right? Look at this... acting like there was any real danger here.
The witch snapped his fingers and forced out mana with that using subtle touch: sensory perception to mess with her vision. At least he was trying to dull it. It wasn’t likely to do much given the level difference. He would then attempt to blink away with his familiar running into his arms before they tried to poof away. Well this is fun.
[attr="class","a1lyric"]i got nothing but dreams inside[break] i got nothing but dreams
[attr="class","a1lyric2"]i'm just young enough to still believe, still believe [break]young enough not to know what to believe
[attr="class","a1icon"]
[attr="class","a1white"]
[attr="class","a1scroll"]
Despite being teammates, the other boy doesn't take to him. Then again, maybe he didn't want to be bothered and Aiden. He felt a prickle of annoyance but didn't bother acting on it. No use starting fights with teammates. As the racoon accepts the offer for more paint, he shoved a hand into his pack pulling out a bucket halfway before pausing, the sound of paint cans exploding catching his ear. [Break][break]
As he caught droplets of red splattering walls just above him, he tensed, turning to find one of his idols thundering towards them. She towered over the pair and for a moment he is taken by surprise before a grin snakes its way across his lips. "I'm sure you might Lady Claire." He said with a small nod. This really wasn't the place he wanted to take a stand in, but it was a good a time as any. Claire was a big hitter for red team. And if she was around, whoever had left the giant splatters of purple with her were as well. "You could probably beat me strength alone." He said, pumping the super soaker with green paint as he took a step back. "Too bad I don't need it to beat you today." [Break][break]
As his heel touched back a spark of white mana flickered out like flint hitting rock, before a small wave pf white rushed out from underfoot. Like a spark to gasoline, a giant magic circle took shape in radius around the teen and the boy's eyes glowed hot white in turn. He waved his finger in the air before writing lines into the air. Vague words manifested before flashing into chains for a second and then disappearing completely, leaving only a faint glow behind. [Break][break]
No mana use is permitted unless on the Green Team [break][break]
He hadn't needed to use this since he'd learned it, but Marjorie and Wilhelm had insisted. She had insisted and as his mentor and grandmother he couldn't refuse. She wanted him to block entire city blocks, he could barely encompass the estate. But it was a work in progress. This much was enough to trap Claire and her rival. He couldn't destroy the spells already in place, but he could certainly stop someone as explosive as Claire in her tracks, or at the very least Vani. With that that he cast Telekinesis on the unclaimed buckets of grin, lids snapping off with ease beforreflying overhead splashing green all over the street, and maybe all over Claire as an overt act of war. [Break][break]
"I'll handle this one-" he said as he turned to see his teammate was gone. Mckenna stomped her hoof on the ground for attention as she stepped closer to Vani, sizing up the boar with blind eyes. "Focus on the matter at hand." She spoke with gentle reminder.
[attr="class","green-team"]aRJ9Gwwj
[break][break] spells used | bag of holding, telekenesis, upon purified grounds
[attr="class","junescroll"] he accepts defeat with some modicum of grace, tracking the bucket out of the corner of his eye before it upends unceremoniously on top of him. there's a bark of laughter, almost a yelp of protest, as he ducks his head to avoid it getting into his eyes. why on earth is the paint cold? he gives an involuntary shiver, then a much more energetic shake, like a dog after a bath. faces claire with a grin that crooks the corners of his lips, saying with mock outrage, "oh, c'mon! only so-so?"[break][break]
"you better hope it's washable, or i'm comin' to find you!" the threat is notably empty, though, the laughter heard clearly in his words. then, with a brief consideration of the new patches of red blossoming across the city's walls, he snaps out the wings once more, leaping off moosely's back to land on a nearby roof. distractedly, he tosses more paint behind him, staining the roof a brilliant shade of plum. the map is summoned to the forefront of the interface, and he takes a moment to consider his next plan of attack, before--[break][break]
the interface flickers and stutters across his vision, before winking out completely. he blinks. there's a denseness to the air, suddenly, like a heavy morning fog. he knows this magic, though he has rarely been on the receiving end on it. as he moves along the edge of the roof, towards its source, he contemplates the ways in which he can break the spell. even as he reaches the corner of the building, he cannot think up a way of breaking the spell without, once more, delving into rule-breaking territory. guess he's there just to satisfy his curiosity, then. one quick look and he'll move out of range.[break][break]
he sees the source, now, just as he sees the wisps of mana that trail through the air like a bleeding shadow. and he sees, barely a split-second later, an errant bucket hurtling towards his face. holy shit- maddox doesn't so much catch it as he does swat it gracelessly out of the air, back towards its source. were people making volleyballs out of paint buckets, now? he toes the edge with a little more caution, just in case another bucket comes flying his way. ( there's something about that redheaded kid that annoys him to no end, and he can't quite figure out why. )[break][break]
what is this, a knight vs knight showdown? maddox is shameless about playing favourites; offers the kid no more than a cursory glance, before looking towards the blonde enchanter. "it's a radius-based spell," he calls to claire helpfully, "get out of range and you'll be fine."[break][break]
[attr="class","gearcore"] Simply running through the streets was enough to get Zeph's brown-colored shirt turned into a rainbow, with paint brushes spattering, buckets dumping, and paint bombs bursting all over the place. The speed augment, unfortunately, didn't help him dodge so much as it helped him hit the brightly colored droplets more quickly. But he was on a roll, claiming the largest barrels from as many paint vendors as he could, tossing a gate into the sunshine paint, and dropping dozens of clockwork mice along the way. He'd only just begun when a familiar voice calls out to him, and he turns to answer her, slowing her pace to give her the chance to catch up. Spock, meanwhile, grabs his bag of gold and a pair of gates and dashes over to the next vendor, disinterested in her human's socialization.
"Sounds like smart advice t' me," he replies to the echo of his earlier line, a crooked grin on his lips. This shallows, however, and is followed by a wordless blink as he realizes not everyone happens to have experience with magically crafted items. "Ah, yeh, prolly shoulda' mentioned that bit... Ya just need to -- hold up --" usually one to demonstrate rather than explain, he takes a second to pull another mouse out of his bag before finishing: "They've got mana motors in their chest right here, so ya just gotta push a bit o' mana in there and--" the mouse leaps from his hand and starts zig-zagging around the street, leaving a trail of yellow from the paint roller in its grip. Zeph motions to the automaton with just a bit more flair than the little thing deserved, letting its actions speak for itself instead of finishing the rest of his sentence.
"Oh! By th' way, do ya want a ride to a part of the city that's got more walls needin' color? 'cause that's my next stop, and I got more than enough room for a couple extra passengers." A shadow rolls over the pair as an airship blocks out the sun, similar to a sloop in its build, but with winglike sails laid flat on either side. A face concealed by a horned helmet can be seen peeking over the edge of the vessel for a moment or two, just before a rope ladder is tossed down between them.
[attr="class","a1lyric"]i got nothing but dreams inside[break] i got nothing but dreams
[attr="class","a1lyric2"]i'm just young enough to still believe, still believe [break]young enough not to know what to believe
[attr="class","a1icon"]
[attr="class","a1white"]
[attr="class","a1scroll"]
The spells felt like a tether, and he subconsciously tightened his fist around the super soaker by his side. He hadn’t quiet gotten the hang of letting go of that feeling, but for now it made him feel more in control of the spell and control the flow of his own mana. Still, he wouldn’t be able to hold it for too long but at least this would buy his team time. He had no way of announcing it, but hopefully any witches spreading green paint around would feel the difference. [break][break]
His eyes are on Claire and he readied to move with her if she tried to run. This was what he’d come to do after all, work out his control over magic and see how much he’d grown since last year. The answer: A Lot. Last year he hadn’t even had a second affinity during this time, specializing in weaving things more suited for utility than anything else. As another witch joined the conversation he looked up with a glare before noting the bit of purple peeking under crimson. Was he with Claire? He had to have been since she seemed to be one of the few red witches in the area. He seemed to understand what he was doing though which was a shame as he ad no intention of tutoring Claire on his affinity today. If he knew so much on the spell why was he sticking around? Well, whatever. Better have both around than none at all. [break][break]
He parses out just a bit of mana to cast Solidify and take a quick couple of steps up before shooting at Maddox with the paint gun perched on his shoulder before dropping down. “ ‘Ey fuck off, y’nosy pin head.” He called out flipping the man off, a gesture typically saved for kids he was about to fight in an alleyway. This wasn’t an alleyway of course, but broad daylight. And he wasn’t about to fight this guy. He just needed to get a rise out of him. “No one asked.” He continued, pulling the trigger on his super soaker a few more times to splat green on the side of the building. This was a time sensitive paint war after all. His focus shifted back to Claire, now very aware of both witches he was about to pester further. While he does he tries to remember if he had anything to regenerate mana faster, since holding up this spell and swapping in and out smaller ones would take a hit to his stamina.
[attr="class","green-team"]jIZR1ceH
[break][break] spells used | upon purified grounds, solidify
[attr="class","junescroll"] he wouldn't call the restraints on his mana use comfortable by any means, but he is hardly a stranger to it. that being said, though, while he may be familiar with plain ol' physical combat, his training has him wholly unprepared for this situation. that is to say, maddox has practically no idea how to deal with a grumpy teenager flipping him off and hurling insults at him, approaching with a paint gun.[break][break]
he ends up saying, incredulously, "what the f-" a jet of green sprays past him, maddox narrowly ducking out of the way. "oh, c'mon, can't a guy help out a pal?" there's a knife-edge sharpness to his grin, brittle and jagged; something about this kid absolutely infuriates him, but he's not about to stick around to find out why. let claire deal with it. she's a knight, anyway. he reckons she'd get into less trouble than him, if he ever tried anything.[break][break]
smoothly, with the ease of someone who does it too often, he flips aiden off in return, and backs away. spine straight, gaze never wavering; he has never once recognised an act of surrender for what it is, and doesn't intend on starting now. he picks up speed as he nears the edge of the roof -- leaps -- and lands heavily on the next, feeling his mana begin to return once he edges out of range.[break][break]
absently, he waves a hand to telekinetically float a paint bucket downwards, where moosely, newly re-manifested, gladly accepts it and begins the process of unceremoniously splashing it against nearby windows. the dragon makes yet another reappearance as well, streaking purple across the other colours on the way.[break][break]
there is a restlessness that has started to build up, now, after that brief encounter. his fingers itch. moosely, he thinks down at his familiar, how about we take a break to explore a little? from his bag, he retrieves a map, staring at it thoughtfully. for a moment longer, he perches at the edge of a roof, legs dangling over the edge, calling up his own interface's map of the city, ready to update his own notes with whatever secrets this magic map reveals.[break][break]
another pause. the streets are empty where he is, for now. he activates the map, and watches the enchanted ink rearrange itself.[break][break]
There was this strange feeling that crossed over him as the cop used his magic. Thankfully as he was on the green team it appeared his mana was pretty much unaffected by the wide area spell the boy was using. Thank Fane in her glorious wisdom for that.
Serenity and the boy pooped from roof to roof mostly spilling green pain along the way instead of actually trying to paint like he was earlier. Leave the boy to the battle.
He does however stumble upon something interesting. He can feel a large amount of mana near him. It is powerful and yet familiar. He uses his elemental technique to blend in with the darkness of one of the buildings as best he can. Not well but you know you gotta work with what shadows are there.
He tries to be all sneaky sneak and look around the corner towards the adjacent roof and see what or who it was. He sees a man looking at something and a moose. Oh. It’s just him. He breathes a sigh of relief to it.
“It’s just that one armed guy,” the young man huffed as he let go of his darkness spell. The raccoon and himself didn’t seem like they were afraid of Maddox... probably because they vaguely knew who he was thanks to their coven. He didn’t really have any friends in the coven because nobody was as amazing there as Lady Fane... why settle for anything less than perfection? Exactly.
[attr="class","pipostpost"]Claire honestly doesn't mean anything that she said. All she plans to do is say hi to Aiden, then move on to paint more of the city red. But then, she didn't exactly said a simple "hi" either, did she? The area around Aiden and the other boy glows, and like puff of smoke, goes over behind Claire, and the Knight feels exasperated. She didn't sign up for this. [break][break]
"You know, Aiden, there's this thing they call 'overkill,'" Claire says dryly. She feels her vision blur, then, and she immediately knows she's being targeted. Is this Aiden's doing? Claire is not sure--this magic seems more of illusion than purification. She cranes her head up and sees a haze of green raining down on her and Vani.[break][break]
"I'm not the one who initiated war," Claire says, sighing. "It's you." Maddox comes in and offers one influential advice--the spell is radial. In an instant Vani dematerializes and then appears again outside of the infected area. Or is this a quarantine area? [break][break]
Claire dodges the paint, she doesn't like green too much. Her physical strength seems fine, but her mana feels depleted. She knows it's only being held off. Oh man, Aiden will truly regret this. Se chooses to follow Maddox's advice and retreats. Should Aiden try to make a move, he's gonna catch these fists. He wonders what would happen if he goes straight to Aiden and knock reason to his head? Claire's pretty strong even without augmentation, you see. She gets Vani's help as ice materializes from outside the circle. Hails of spike begins to fill the air and remain suspended, hovering just about the vicinity of the circle.[break][break]
"I'll make you a deal--dispel your magic, and we can off our separate paths," Claire starts. "You should win this mana fight, but I wonder how long will you last?"[break][break]
[attr="class","junescroll"] he's still getting used to the newest permanents that kiki helped him with last week, and with the city as chaotic as it is, it's all a bit of a haze. he is, frankly, surprised that he's done half as well as he has thus far: it's like trying to navigate a festival of bright lights while nursing the worst hangover he's had in ages. the adrenaline of the race had dulled it somewhat, but now it begins to creep up on him once more, the residual mana signatures of various witches rendering the area a kaleidoscope map of mana manipulation. [break][break]
moosely continues undeterred, soldiering through with a decisive toss of his head, leaping up onto another nearby roof with a clatter of hooves. by this point, half the familiar is drenched in the same purple that coats the roof tiles, but he doesn't seem to care.[break][break]
there's a change in the mana around him, maddox notes, as he waits for the map to render its secrets fully. a roiling corner of darkness, not entirely unfamiliar, but not exactly well known to him either. he squints. wishes he had some sunglasses or something. "i've seen you around, haven't i?" he calls down, just as the other man lets his spell fade. he's fairly sure he's caught a glimpse or two of the not-stranger around the coven.[break][break]
"wanna go exploring?" he slips off the roof, wings flared to cushion his landing. ( he's made the mistake of not doing that before and had to hobble through a forest and cave with a sprained ankle. not gonna repeat that. ) "i've got a map."[break][break]
[attr="class","cclyrics"]bite my tongue bide my time
[attr="class","ccicon"]
[attr="class","cccontent"]
[attr="class","ccscroll"]her eyes are bright with curiosity, fascinated by the unfamiliar magic. she's never quite been the academic sort, and she's still working on getting herself out there in the world of magic and learning about everything it has to offer, but this! this is amazing. she watches with undisguised delight at the little mouse that runs off, and makes to mimic it with her own, gently coaxing mana into its body. [break][break]
the mouse gives a start, and briefly, so does saskia -- then it leaps from her hands and skitters off, trailing sunflower-bright yellow paint in delightful little lines. she is utterly enamored by the tiny critter that she almost misses the question that follows after. it takes a helpful nudge from luci to bring her back, and she's staring at zephyr with a vague look of confusion before the shadow falls across the street, and utter disbelief that overrides every other existing thought that has ever gone through her mind.[break][break]
she struggles for words for a solid moment, not quite sure what to say before her brain and body cooperate just enough for her to squeak out a panicked, "yes!" and she's already launching herself upwards, propelled forward by sheer enthusiasm and excitement before any modicum of caution can tell her otherwise. luci conveniently vanishes; no point trying to get a bear to climb a ladder. she doesn't entirely forget her manners though, yelling at the blond-haired mechanic. "i'm saskia!" [break][break]
[attr="class","a1lyric"]i got nothing but dreams inside[break] i got nothing but dreams
[attr="class","a1lyric2"]i'm just young enough to still believe, still believe [break]young enough not to know what to believe
[attr="class","a1icon"]
[attr="class","a1white"]
[attr="class","a1scroll"]
For a moment, Aiden believed he’d fallen for the bait and he leaned back on his heels as the man on the roof justified himself. “No pals now I reckon.” He called out, staying put as the man returned the bird, he’d thrown at him. He had to laugh but all that really came out of it was some kind of sneer. The second witch left just as easily as they’d shown up. Aiden doesn’t follow despite antagonizing the man. For now, he judged Claire to be the more explosive one. He just hoped this wasn’t a mistake in his strategy. “I think it’s more caution than anything.” Aiden stated, replying to his fellow knight in a tone more confident than usual rebellion pushing up to the surface as the redhead slowly gave it more and more slack. That old tempest of roiling emotions quietly being allowed to flex just a little, if only to make him feel more solid in the face of someone he respected. As Vani moves McKenna’s eyes follow moving to take cover nearby. [break][break]
Aiden tilted his head wondering why Claire hadn’t simply moved with Vani. He was just going to follow her regardless. And then the glittering ice appeared and eyes it carefully. As aggressive a move, he didn’t intend to fight her, just impede her progress. He didn’t take well to threats either. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had intimidated him before a fight and not managed to make him more angry than anxious. Still, its not good, especially when he’s sweating from exerting so much forceful mana on his surroundings. He wants to drop it, take a moment to sit for a bit. [break][break]
In the blink of an eye McKenna is on a building staring down at their opponents before she and Aiden switch, with the boy idly sitting on the edge of the roof and kicking his feet on the bricks. He waved cheekily, as McKenna tailed him after he was safely moved. Then, in that teenage ‘I Got A Problem With Authority’ way, he shrugged. “Or what? Ya shank a kid with some ice? Can’t be as bad as a sword.” He asked with a shit eating grin. There’s a pulse near the scars of his stab but he keeps at it anyway, bluffing his way through despite depleting mana and the sweat beginning to trail quickly down his spine. “I’m cool with it as long as you are with losing points. Pretty sure this goes beyond tossing a couple of paint cans around.” He retrieved the paint bomb from his pouch before turning from Claire and chucking the thing. On release there’s another clap of wind as he lets out the bomb, hoping the blast propels it farther than he could before it explodes into green a block or two away. “Deal.”
[break][break] And then he pulls out a flask from his bag and waves it so the blonde woman can see it before downing it, letting a surge of mana kick in like adrenaline. “Syke.” He stood up on the edge, ready to follow. The radius spells seemed to pulse with renewed energy and there’s a competitive glint flashing in Aiden’s eyes despite the shaking in his limbs. Its unclear if its energy or exhaustion.
[attr="class","green-team"]W_9HCv09
[attr="class","green-team"]
[break][break] spells used | upon purified grounds, scroll of the switch, concussion wave items used | paint bomb ( 1 ), vial of the morning lotus ( 1 )
[attr="class","a1notes"]maddox rothscus ✨claire fermont full disclosure: he took a 5 hour energy but he collapsing there's nothing left lmao
[attr="class","gearcore"] "I'm Zephyr! The ship's pilot's named Ox, an' the monkey goes by Spock," the crafter answers, making sure to take note of her name as well. Spock, now back on her human's shoulder, waves when she's mentioned and offers a toothy grin.
The horned figure manning the airship, Ox, begins to pull up the ladder once Saskia, Zephyr, and Sprocket had all taken hold, appearing to have little trouble despite lifting the weight of two adult humans. He possesses a tall, fully armored body, which becomes more apparent as they near the deck of the ship. He stoops down once each of the witches reach the ladder's top, offering a hand to help them climb onto the deck.
"Hello, and welcome," Ox greets once everyone is situated, deep voice rumbling from his chest rather than his motionless mouth before immediately turning to Zephyr, "Are strangers now allowed on the ship?"
"She's not a stranger!" Zephyr sputters as he makes his way to the helm, clearly taken a bit off-guard by the sudden question, "She's an ally -- there's an important distinction." As he says this, he pulls a lever next to the steering wheel, causing the ship to whir to life and begin to accelerate forward.
The skies aren't empty -- there's witches on brooms and gryphons painting Mirrorlight's many towers, and tossing paint at each other. Paint is already splattered over the top of the ship's wings and down the main sail, though the crafter doesn't seem to mind as he hurries to the side of the vessel and slaps his hand on one of its outer panels. The Gate which was placed there activates and begins pouring out yellow paint from the containers he'd bought from vendors on the ground onto the streets and rooftops below. Ox again takes the wheel, asking as he does so: "Do we have an intended destination?"
Zeph glances back at Saskia, "Got any preference? I was thinkin' somewhere in the Inner Ring would be good."
[attr="class","cclyrics"]bite my tongue bide my time
[attr="class","ccicon"]
[attr="class","cccontent"]
[attr="class","ccscroll"]"nice to meet all of you!" she keeps her gaze fixed on the airship above her as she climbs -- doesn't quite dare to look down, not yet -- ever grateful for the augment that hastens her speed. she isn't a particularly physical person by any means, and it is a mighty long ladder, by her standards. the offered hand is all too welcome; she accepts ox's hand with a grin that only widens with relief as her feet find solid ground beneath them. [break][break]
"thank you, mr. ox!" she chirps, just before her excitement carries her to peer over the edge of the airship. she watches the waterfall of yellow paint begin to coat the rooftops below, and cannot help but hold back a giddy peal of laughter. who cares if they don't win? she's on a goddamn airship! oh, she cannot wait to tell her brother about this.[break][break]
when asked for her opinion, she pauses for a moment, thoughtful. rubs at her eyes, feeling the rush of mana through her fingers. when she re-opens them again, it takes a blink or two for them to focus -- the augment renders them golden and hawk-like now, oddly sharp in contrast to the softness of her features. she casts her gaze out towards the inner circle, the details far clearer than they had been before. "sounds pretty good to me! maybe aim for that little bit over there-" she points out helpfully, "-there's still a whole patch that people missed."[break][break]
and as the airship continues in its trajectory, saskia belatedly registers the new vantage point it offers her, and resummons the bow with undisguised glee. notches another small paint-balloon to its blunted end and lets it fly, her targets rendered in crystal-clear clarity thanks to the augment.[break][break]