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","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
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The weaver nodded in response not even wanting to think about rune scripting. He could follow some vague concepts but, well, reading old language was pretty hard to do. OR was it more old runes that weren’t even a part of a language? Something like tha.t Either way it was like trying to decipher toddler scribbles when it came to matching new and old runes. He just left it to Ling who had a better grasp of it and, sometimes, an easier way of explaining things. “Yeah, I’ve focused on what I can understand. I did stop by a plantshaper classroom to poke at the marimo balls though.” They’d been cute. He couldn’t help it. [break][break]
They hadn’t been kidding around when they’d said the duels were notoriously competitive, but then again it was making up for the empyreal Cup right? After all, Silvertongue had been banned. He imagined the coven was lying in wait for a chance to throttle knights in an even field, even if these weren’t officially sanctioned for anything. It was display of skill more than anything else. “Oh! In that case…” he trailed off unsure if he wanted to drag Charani to a lecture with him. He pulled out a small leather-bound notebook and flipped through ha few pages before looking back up. “I- uh- I was planning on visiting a few lectures later on after some duels. There’s one that goes into more depth on purification ceremonies like the one we saw at the Lantern Festival.” He said excitedly. It felt like they were making up for lost time in a way since they hadn’t spoken for the previous one or even his own birthday. [break][break]
It wasn’t bad though. He felt a little less awkward now than previous days. He’d almost completely forgotten about his own strange mix of feelings towards the seer, quietly setting them aside for later. Except when one emotion or another flared up when they hung out like this again. “But, uh, we don’t have to if you don’t want to. We can just-…walk around together?” He needed a break from all the note taking anyway so the break was welcome. More so, Charani was a welcome break in all this. He’d missed him after all. That much was obvious.
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[attr="class","a1notes"]Charani Petrov ITS TIME TO D-D-D-D-D-DUEL
I won’t give up. I believe in the heart of the cards. Boku no turn. Dawraww. I sacrifice my Celtic guardian to summon dark magician girl. I end my turn. Oh you gonna attack me? You've activated my trap card, go Mirror Force! Reflect his attack back and destroy all his monsters! No wait. Wrong anime.
The witch nodded as he followed along with his friends ramblings about what he wanted to do. He even had a little notebook he used to compile what he learned, how cute. Such a good boy.
“No no that sounds lovely. We can do whatever you want to do. Scouts honor... or whatever.” The young man really didn’t care what they were doing. He got to spend time with Aiden. That was enough at the moment. He wasn’t getting to greedy like before, wanting more and more attention. More affection... things Aiden couldn’t give him. Or at least that was how it appeared thanks to their little fiasco months earlier.
“Hmm... like the mechanics of it or more about the history? Or both? I’m sure there’s a reason it takes so long to perform.” That was probably more about being strong enough to work as it used many witches to perform it. That and it may also be a bit of tradition mixed in. After all tradition was seen as important around this time... even if some updating could be beneficial. Oh well.
[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
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He felt a little relieved Charani had no preference. It was kind of boring to learn about something you had no interest, but luckily, they were both purifiers at least. So, there was that. “Alright then, but you can tell me if you’re getting bored too.” He offered not quite getting that sometimes you just wanted to hang out with people you liked. Any other day, he probably would’ve skipped on extra lectures, but these weren’t just history or calculus classes. The topics were more niche, more specialized. Expert in each field was presenting their newest findings, and he was going to dissect whatever he could and at it to his growing collection of knowledge. Then again, if it was Charani asking, he probably would’ve gone to a cult meeting with him. [break][break]
“I think it’s both? I was hoping there would be a real-world application too. Or well, even if there wasn’t, I wanted to see all their sigils up close and maybe try to replicate it on my own.” Those ceremonies had to do something right? They wouldn’t just have a drawn-out ceremony if the magic wasn’t working some type of benefit. “I dunno…something to add to my kit I guess.” Maybe that was a little pretentious to say, but thus far most of the magic he knew reset other types or was a lamp that warded wraiths, and even that was too close for comfort. He didn’t want to fight a wraith up close if he didn’t have to. Then again, most of that ceremony had been preparation in advance which also didn’t lend to much in duress. He doubted he would’ve had time to prepare a magic circle during the Empyreal Cup. Then again, he didn’t really have magic that required such a thing. [break][break]
“I figured I’d pick a priest’s brain at least since most of those witches were too busy during the ceremony to really interrupt.” He added, still a little disappointed. Even if he hadn’t been busy meeting Charani’s mentor and chilling with him, they wouldn’t have been able to talk. Oh well. “Have you eaten yet?” he asked, looking from the blonde down to the pup and back. “We still have time to grab a snack, and I’ve been here since opening.” He added quickly.
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[attr="class","a1notes"]Charani Petrov ITS TIME TO D-D-D-D-D-DUEL
[attr="class","gearcore"] "Excellent!" Zeph says, following the course set by Caleb's pointing finger. His eyes frequently flick to Caleb so he doesn't miss (or misinterpret) any signs.
"I'm su'prised they stuck t' land vehicles... I mean, not that they aren't interestin', but they aren't super practical in cities since they spook the horses," Zeph rambles (apparently from personal experience) just a few steps before they reach the display, "and there's usually a better option for explorin' the wilds, 'specially mountain regions."
Ox carefully leans over one of the displays to get a closer look, conscious of his strength and the delicacy of the glass. Zephyr takes a quick glance from afar, checking to see if there's any he doesn't have a blueprint of yet. (The answer seems to be: not many).
Even so, he waits for Ox -- the tin man was fairly new to the world, and still had a not of new things to see. As he does this, he seems to have a thought, and glances over again at Caleb. "If ya don't mind me askin', what is your affinity? I know you were castin' during that mission in the swamp, but there was so much goin' on that I didn't get a good look."
[attr="class","j1scroll"] They reach the displays of small machines, and as Caleb looks around for the second time (he almost bumps into Ox but he immediately maneuvers away and apologizes in sign), he listens to Zephyr talk about land vehicles. One of Zephyr's statements almost makes him laugh, horses being spooked by vehicles. He has a silly thought -- that the horses are jealous and in fear of being replaced -- but he suppresses the corniness and the laughter.
[break][break]He turns from the display he is looking at and turns to Zephyr. "Well, land vehicles are not the only thing in the displays, though, if I could clearly remember," He signs; he creates a figure in the shape of a plane with his fingers next. "Like I said, I may have missed a lot in the crafter's area. There are planes and sea-faring vehicles too. They're probably the most suitable in scouring mountain ranges."
[break][break]Caleb's eyes flit to Ox and he observes the tin man once again; he's certainly big, and the work and dedication put into it by the creator is simply amazing. Caleb recognizes there's strength in those metal limbs, as well. He'd think about making a companion for himself soon, albeit only something that would help him with quests and not something this humongous, not yet--
[break][break]Zephyr asks what exactly his affinity is, and he could feel a dark shade of red flare up in his face. "I'm an air summoner," He responds, clearly embarrassed about what he is going to say next. "But I've recently just been ranked up to novice and I've taken crafting as a second affinity. I've only learned one scroll about crafting, though."
The university courtyard has been left just a bit more scored than it started this morning as a result of many spirited duels and demonstrations. Though people are happily chittering about magic and wraiths throughout the day, as evening draws nearer the crowds begin to quiet and disperse. [break][break] Though, despite the dying energy of the crowds, there are a few lectures planned near the end of the event. One, titled Affinities of Old does not list a presenter's name...
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gammana coswicks
"Oh I'm quite alright dear, don't you worry yourself," a wrinkled woman dismissively assures her assistant timekeeper as she sits herself behind the auditorium's podium. Though her hair is an aged silver and her back hunches just slightly from a deteriorating body, Mrs. Costwicks is a famous force to be reckoned with. Well-read and a master of magic, she is undefeated in duels and unrivaled in her affinity. [break][break] It is unsurprising that Bailey begged her to attend as a presenter. [break][break] "Now settle down everyone -- my voice isn't what it used to be," she begins, speaking into a magical voice amplifier sitting atop the podium, "You may call me Mrs. Costwicks, head of the Library of Sundial and master enchantress--" (she does not, despite the audience's wide eyes of amazement, allow any time for utterances over this reveal), "--and I'd like to talk to you today about affinities of the past. It's an odd thing to say, isn't it? "Affinities of the past"... The spells haven't just up and vanished, after all; mana doesn't respond any differently to ancient incantations. And yet, we've recently been hearing news about a re-emergence of practices which have been lost to us as a culture: necromancy, dreamweaving, sacrificial blood magic..." [break][break] "Now, let me make something clear before I continue, because I understand that it would make sense to start drawing some premature conclusions here: Magic is not evil. I'm going to repeat that, because I need you to understand... Magic. Is. Not. Evil. It's the actions of those who use it which cause us to label it as such." [break][break] "Taking illusion, for example. It's a perfectly legal practice, and perfectly pleasant if used in moderation. But, if abused, it can be made to torture a person to the point of madness. Transfiguration can help those with dysmorphia to attain the bodies they want, or, to permanently turn someone into a slug. Athenians can fully brainwash a person if they put their mind to it, alchemists can turn rivers into poison, and enchanters can do a great a many things to render a body entirely unrecognizable. But, we're all well aware that there there is more to each of these. Necromancers, similarly, can bind the unwilling dead back to the land of the living and are said to be able to destroy souls and steal life, but there's more to their story as well." [break][break] "Many people don't know that necromancy started as a highly revered occupation. Like something between and esteemed doctor and a priest, they were relied on to pull back those who were not ready from the maws of death, as well as to guide the spirits of the deceased towards peace. That doesn't sound so bad, does it? There's a great many historians who suspect that one of Sundial's founders was even a necromancer." [break][break] "So then the question becomes, how did it come to this? How have these lost branches of magic fallen so far from their days of glory, and why are there so few records of their potential? The short answer is war and grave abuses of power, but I hope to give you a bit more detail than that before finishing my short time with you all this evening..."
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[attr="class","stafftemptitle"] Congratulations!
This marks the end of the Day 8 event! As always, if you missed the window to participate in this thread, you can always make your own day 8 Saturnalia celebration threads as outlined in the main event post. Additional posts in this thread are allowed & welcome, but will not count towards the "completed" status of day 8. [break][break] Everyone who participated in this thread will receive 50 gold and the below item:
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BLANK SPELL (BAS)
MISC. ITEM - SATUNALIA REWARD
You may exchange this item in the staff notification thread for any existing non-MAS, non-ADV spell or technique of your choice for your character. You may request a randomized spell/technique if you don't want to pick it yourself. This may not be traded or exchanged between characters.
[div][attr="class","item"][img style="max-width:100%;" src="https://i.imgur.com/ZYZpX45.png"] [h2]BLANK SPELL (BAS)[/h2] [h3]MISC. ITEM - SATUNALIA REWARD[/h3] [div]You may exchange this item in the staff notification thread for any existing non-MAS, non-ADV spell or technique of your choice for your character. You may request a randomized spell/technique if you don't want to pick it yourself. This may not be traded or exchanged between characters.[/div][/div]
Additionally, anyone who posted at least 4 times will receive an additional 150 gold and a second blank spell (bas)! [break][break] Unfortunately, no one made it to 6+ posts, so these are all of the rewards that are being given out for the day ;u;
[attr="class","gearcore"] "Oh yeh? I wouldn't mind seein' some concepts for aquatic vehicles -- there's a lotta potential in submarines n' that sort'a thing," he says, hurrying forwards to see what else was on display. "Y'know the ocean's th' biggest place humans can't really explore without magic. It'd be cool t' see what's down there." He'd always been hesitant to try building such a thing himself, if only because his comparatively dense prosthetics made him such an awful swimmer, and there was no way he'd risk letting someone else test the first version of the device.
When Caleb mentions his new affinity, Zephyr's eyes light up like a child who'd just been told they can pick anything they want from the candy store, "Hey, congrats! Gettin' a novice rank's a big deal!" (he barely has the good manners to say before--) "An' do ya want t' borrow any blueprints? Or parts? Or I could just show ya the best place t' get the parts-- oh! An' I got spares o' almost everything if ya wanna take it apart n' see how it's made--" he starts (and if the way is body is practically -- no, actually literally -- bouncing with excitement is any indication, he will not stop any time soon).
[attr="class","j1scroll"] Caleb listens to every word that is said by the blond; indeed, aquatic vehicles are an interesting concept. But the place it is intended to be used for -- the ocean -- scares him for some reason. So many mysteries lie in those depths and Caleb is quite sure they are not going to be triumphant discoveries. "I do agree, it would be interesting... but the sea is such a scary thing. I wouldn't have the courage to ride one, but certainly if it were to see or build one... it would be an honor." He states in sign, eyes straying towards the little contraptions before finally turning to Zephyr and Ox.
[break][break]Caleb reveals his affinity after Zephyr asks him about it, adding that he'd chosen crafting as his second affinity after he was ranked up as novice. The reaction he'd gotten from Zephyr almost takes him by surprise. As he listens to Zephyr's excited rambling (he could almost see him bouncing with ecstasy) Caleb could do nothing but blink at his direction, not sure of what to say at first. Borrow blueprints? Oh, but he wasn't worth the trouble now, was he? He'd surely be interested, though...
[break][break]"Y-Yes I... crafting has taken my full interest so I chose it," He begins, scratching the back of his head and smiling awkwardly. "Oh Zephyr, I am interested in a few blueprints, if I may. But I think I'm hardly worth the trouble..."