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.
tedium was a vacuum. when embraced the constant pace of nothing at all, paradoxically, accelerated things. repetitive tasks were a joy to aine. doing the same actions over again allowed you to focus on efficiency. once the body was given to the task at hand, the mind was free to be where ever it wished. she wished to be far away, in the home she could have had. thick bound leather and cool parchment paper were calming to her senses. it was late. aine had been working for some time. the library was massive and this influx of books was appropriately sized. she was impressed with how many the icarus reading center had managed to accrue. whoever was in charge of their fundraising really deserved a raise or a pat on the back at least.
body tethered to the library and thoughts drifting, the witch began to sing. delicate words, mostly melodic humming. the acoustics were interesting. this library, like most, was a quite place. tall shelving filled with books of all variety worked to muffle any sound. this didn't both aine. she may have been a performer but some shows were private. with the number of boxes needing to be sorted and shelved the witch had been expecting at least some company. still, it was nice to be in such a unique space alone. this was her most natural state. if it took a few evenings to finish this volunteer job, aine wouldn't complain.
watching her from a precariously stacked pile of books, sitting like a stone, was belly. he hadn't said much but the witch enjoyed her familiar's presence. aine wasn't really sure if it was best for him to be physically present. some of these books were very old and delicate. even the newer ones were, well, still books. paper, cardboard, and leather were not the sturdiest of materials. he was a heavy lizard, with long claws to drag his tubular body. she trusted him not to make a mess, but accidents did happen. as long as belly didn't get hungry, he was a messy eater, things would be as if he wasn't there at all.
settling in front of an unopened box, aine sighs. whoever had donated the last box had very niche interests. most of the books were discussing water techniques and their cooking applications. this was admittedly something the witch had given no thought. it was also something that had no relevance to her own life. she hoped there were some proper treasures to be found in this load. aine had been making notes of any books of interest. in some ways it was like being at a private screening, a movie release party. aine being the sole person responsible for re-homing each book.
The mission was simple, more of an errand than a mission but witches had to start somewhere. Especially when he needed money to keep doing the things, he enjoyed like studying in a classroom setting or eating. He had always thought studying was easy, but he had never really experienced classroom learning like Lux University and frankly, maybe he should’ve stuck to self-study. He stuck out in class by nature of his appearance and the things that escaped his mouth. He got excited, and when he did, he got loud. But the classrooms could be so big, and he liked to listen to the echoes ring back and the surprise of those students who had been fast asleep all the way in the back. He was being helpful, and yet he was the only one who seemed to think so. But he wouldn’t stop because he enjoyed going to lectures too much. It was nice to be read to for once.
And if he wanted to keep going, he needed the money. He couldn’t keep pretending he was enrolled after all. People were already starting to catch on what with his lack of papers, or name in attendance sheets. Noble nodded at himself, as he smacked the front doors, once then twice. There were still lights on inside, but maybe that was a security measure. He didn’t see why? Who would come to a library this late? Were there that many people that would value stealing books from a public library?
He continued wondering about such a criminal as he rounded around the building and found himself testing back doors before finally sending up Her Royal Highness to check a particularly large window in case it wasn’t locked. There was a sliver raised, whether or not it would open all the way was to be determined. Climbing wasn’t an issue, though Her Royal highness did seem to feel a bit on edge as her witch dragged himself up a drainpipe and then held on for dear life from a ledge. It took a bit of prodding. The window wasn’t typically used he guess. He banged his finger and felt one of his nails pop up for a moment, making him hiss in pain but he managed eventually. Noble shoved his shoulder up into the window before managing to put a knee on the ledge before his muscles gave up in exhaustion and he crashed down two floors. He sat crouched, shaking before smacking the window up once again and falling over into the dark room.
It very helpfully turned on automatically, and as he lay there shaking and wheezing ne noted it looked like a study room. Big desks with chairs and some plants here and there. He stood up, dusting himself off and sucking his finger as he quietly left. The library was expansive, and it was hard to navigate. It took him a while to get through to the main area. He started seeing boxes of books and stacks of tomes waiting to be sorted. Noble crept forward overwhelmed by the amount of literature. Her Royal Highness is more perceptive than him, nestled into the crook of his neck, a stark contract on the white fuzz on his bomber. ‘Someone is here.’ He murmured into his head and Noble slowed his pace, sneakers stepping gently on linoleum floors.
He rounds the corner and the faint noises get a louder. He spotted a ladder, and decided to climb it, easily reaching to the top of the sturdy shelves. Crouched for balance he glanced around before spotting movement and another ladder. As the boy quietly balanced himself at the great height, he moved ever closer towards the stranger. ‘There’s a ladder there.’ His familiar added helpfully as he considered throwing himself off the shelves and attempting to roll into the fall. He hopped to the next shelf before slowly lowering himself until his toes could touch the highest step of the ladder. He settled himself before climbing down and stepping the towards the woman. He attempted his best at a friendly smile, but it turned out as more of the usual thing grin. “Hello. Who are you?” he stated, rather loudly to grab her attention, in case popping up after stalking his way towards her wasn’t quite enough.
through the silence of the library, aine thinks she hears something. she tries her best to push it out of her mind. it is a large building, an old building, it had noises of its own. the more she tries to ignore it the more panic rises in her chest. it is not a hum or rattle, something consistent and benign. she grabs a particularly large book out of the box beside her, then on second thought drops it and grabs a heavy desk lamp. belly, having also heard the sound and sensing aine's unease, plops down from his lounging spot.
there's a large thud. what if someone was there? her breathing is quick and her palms slick. inside her mind and body there is a riot. externally she can barely manage to stand and take a few tentative steps forward. this is embarrassingly weak of her. aine's dark eyes manage to steady themselves enough to scan the room. the sounds have moved closer to her and in other ways farther. were they coming from above?
aine, look up. belly's warning comes to late and this intruder is already within arms reach. so much for being a team, though an after hours library was perhaps the last place the witch would of thought to have her guard up. in front of her is a stupidly pale boy who has the audacity to ask who she is. her arms have already jutted out, swinging the lamp at him before she registers his words. "uh!" aine doesn't know what to say nor does she really say anything at all. belly has taken up residence at her side, looking as large and imposing as a nile monitor can.
her heart is still beating hard in her chest. "im sorry, what the fuck?"
He doesn’t flinch, mostly because he doesn’t notice the interrupted attack his attention locked on the woman before him. She seemed confused, and Noble is nothing if not courteous enough to let her thoughts catch up with her processing. “We are Noble.” He said more or less introducing himself. Her Royal Highness is no longer present, now that he’s safe on solid ground. “Who are you?” he repeated, now finally looking over at her lamp for a moment. His grin doesn’t falter but the enthusiasm drops steadily turning his expression into an amused smile. With a finger he carefully pushes the lamp before looking back at the stranger. “Were you expecting someone else?”
Noble’s attention moves towards the mess surrounding them. Now that he’s closer to the eye of the storm he can see the whirlwind mess of books ripped from the shelves, and the new boxes of freshly categorized volumes of something or other subject laying about. He then stepped past Aine examining a section she had most likely been working in before pulling out a book or two to inspect the genre. Again, the library was massive and winding and there were probably pockets and swathes of mess everywhere. He had no idea what section he was in, much less the classification system there was. He was just kind of here. For the books. It felt more like his duty by nature of his upbringing than really a personal interest. At least, he wanted to find something to take home with him first.
this intruders lack of concern after having a lamp swung at them was surprisingly less disturbing than their use of "we". aine was disgusted. we are? well who the fuck are we exactly then? the smile on their face was pulling a visceral anger up her throat. she feels no need to introduce herself. this wasn't how introductions were done and she didn't want to share anything about herself with this guy. what did he want? this cavalier behavior was starting to make her wish he had really been a murderer, or thief, or whatever.
a scowl is fixed on her face. aine's grip on the lamp has tightened, the skin stretching across her knuckles. she deflects his question with another, one he's already answered, "who are you?" and then one he hasn't, "what are you doing?" for a moment the witch is still, and then she follows after him. with one hand, she releases the lamp. aine doesn't put it down worried she may still need it.
the library was already looking chaotic but after noble's arrival, it was significantly worse. moments before it had all been contained, under control. hours and hours of diligent work shelving everything and this weirdo was in here taking things off shelves. "stop that." aine's voice is louder and sharper than before, shocking herself. a strange cocktail of anger, fear, and adrenaline working its way through her body. "that's not how the library works." she drops the lamp on the floor carelessly. her hands pull at the books noble has grabbed. "its closed and if you wanna check a book out you can come back, later." peace and quiet always seemed to escape her life one way or another.
Noble’s eyes are already scanning through the contents of the titles in his hands. “We are Noble.” He repeated, stopping in his investigation to look over at the other volunteer. “Reading.” His eyes turned to the shelves as he considered taking out another tome. Perhaps volume two of Cuisine of the Continents, but he doesn’t get the chance to. As she took his books his attention is drawn to the lamp and he ducked past her to retrieve and find a more suitable place to put it than on the floor. Someone could trip after all. He didn’t know any healing magic he would be of no use. “How does it work?” he asked as he moved debris out of the way before sticking his hand into the same box of books Aine had started working on.
“I don’t want to check out a book, I don’t think.” No, no. Was that borrowing? He wasn’t here to borrow, but he didn’t have to reveal that. Who stole free books? He did, when the contents in them were particularly interesting. That had yet to be the case, but all libraries had their secrets. He could smell it. He just had to find them. “Who are you?” he repeated adding to what was beginning to be a flow of questions at the stranger. “Are you a librarian?” he added tilting his head. She didn’t really look like one. Then again, he didn’t particular look like a bookworm, did he?
He dropped a book into the box before pulling out another one and skimming the cover. “You know, I saw a flyer asking for volunteers, but they never posted a time.” He added wit a small shrug. “Maybe that’s why all these books are still here.” After all, if you didn’t specify a time you couldn’t have a coordinated effort. It didn’t occur to Noble that perhaps he should’ve shown up earlier than now. Ah well, he could always try again tomorrow. Day after tomorrow.
she is flabbergasted at this... noble. "you're only you. who ... who is we? is someone else with you?" aine asks her voice measured as she tries to find the right questions to the answers she needs. she cannot tell if he is here to help or patronize her or something much worse. whatever his intentions, he does put the lamp back where it belongs. her hands cradle the books he pulled off the shelf. aine slides them both back into their respective spots. noble's attention has been moved to the box she was working on. better that she supposed than taking them off the shelves.
she narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms over his chest. what nutcase comes into a library in the middle of the night, to read? "no. i am not a librarian but that is no business to you." aine moves towards the box of books trying to defend it from noble's onslaught. "if you don't want to check a book out, which you cannot do at this hour, have you considered leaving?" she asks. her body is crouched on the other side of the heavy box. aine does her best to slide it across the carpet. it is slow moving.
his mention of the flyer flusters her even more. "flyers! you know what the flyers also said? to inquire at the library with a librarian during OPERATING HOURS." how can someone seemingly be this informed and yet this in the wrong? "that is what i did and that's why im here!" in her aggravation, she pushes her thick hair behind her shoulders. a volunteer name tag that was previously hidden is revealed. it says 'AINE' in big block letters.
Noble’s eyed furrowed together for a moment but his smile stayed as he tried to understand what the woman was asking of him. He wasn’t sure how else to explain it. “We as in us.” He attempted gesturing at the whole of himself. Its really the only thing he can say. How else to explain it? That’s just how things were. But maybe that wasn’t what the woman was looking for. He moved aside as she went towards the box, more or less annoyed with him as he continued grabbing for titles and reading over contents and quick summaries.
He tapped his chin before tilting his head. “Did they?” the witch echoed not quite remembering that on the flyer. However, it wasn’t like he’d taken the flyer with him either so he couldn’t quite verify. “Ah, I suppose I can always speak with them tomorrow.” He acquiesced as he looked at her name tag. He frowned for a moment trying to sound it out in his head. “Your name is A-…Aine, yes?” he had said that right he hoped. “Where did you get that?” he marched on, unaffected by his current predicament. “I would like one of those too.” He said pointing at her name tag.
“I will help you remember my name while I assist you.” He said, explaining his reasoning as he set the book in his hand in the box by gently tossing it in. “Or if you would like to cover more ground, I can make my way to a different section. Cooking isn’t quite my specialty.” Noble offered as he stepped around her and back to the shelves, ready to climb a ladder and seek out another section he could work in. “I’m still getting my bearings so I can climb up to the top and find somewhere else to go.” He continued pointing at the shelf ladder before looking back for approval.
he gestures at himself. aine tries to look around him in a way that isn't obvious. she doesn't want to look stupid, but she doesn't understand. "so we ... is just you and your brain?" she side eyes him particularly hard. his collective body parts ... was that the we? or were there invisible people flouncing about destroying the library? aine would keep this unlikely possibility in mind.
for a second aine is taken aback by the newcomer's powers of perception. then she realizes, of course, she has had a name tag on this whole time. it was mostly useless since she was supposed to be alone. still, if a librarian or other staff member saw her name tag they'd know she was a volunteer and not just someone causing trouble. "well," deep sigh "like i was saying. if you had read the flyer and followed the instructions, they librarians would have given you a name tag." was he here to volunteer? aine wasn't really sure. he was seeming like less and less of a threat but she was still disturbed by him. if he wanted to help why had he broken in and gone through all this? he could have knocked and explained that he missed the volunteer meeting. she would have been more receptive to him that way.
under different circumstances, aine would have laughed at this bizarre comment. she didn't need help remembering his name. or his face, or his weird use of 'we'. she's confused by his questions. "are you .. here to volunteer?" her face is quizzical "it's just organizing the books and cataloging them. oh and then of course putting them on the shelves." she wasn't sure what cooking being his specialty or not had to do with anything. "if you want to help, you can sort them all by subject and author." aine watches him walk around her and return to the shelves. she doesn't follow this time but she thinks too. noble was not someone she wanted around unsupervised.
“Yes, exactly.” There’s a nuzzle on his neck from the queen herself and he added quickly. “And sometimes Her Royal Highness.” the boy added as the little cottonball of black fur spoke up finally from his collar. “Of course, we are one in the same.” She murmured as if giving out sage advice. Noble’s eyes turn away form the books and back to Aine to offer and enthusiastic nod. “We grew up in a library. The atmosphere is familiar.” He explained, happy to help with whatever needed helping. He knew he would find something interesting in a building as big as this. That was probably the difference between this place and his home library. Everything back then had been interesting, but had it been for lack of anything else?
Then again, could everything in this place be equally interesting? He was willing to try it out. Later anyway, once he got into the groove of assisting Aine. The volunteer’s assistant. Yes, that was a good starting point for him. “Oh, alright then. That works just as well.” Noble declared pausing in his movements to pick a starting spot. It was a little daunting with this many boxes. Some were still taped shut with brand new additions, while others he assumed had just been miscellaneous titles left there by other library patrons. “Ah, we supposed the more loose…er pile of books will be a good start.” He said gesturing at a cart with books quite literally tosses onto it. “How long do you plan on staying Aine? We know it is rather late.” They were also on a weird sleeping schedule now. A crash would come soon enough, but hopefully not while trying to get work done with a stranger.
a rabbit speaks, aine can only assume that its noble's familiar. "your royal highness? and noble." she hums thoughtfully. perhaps she should introduce belly. the nile monitor still stood at her side. he'd been following her silently, hoping his heavy presence would speak for him. lifting his long neck, the rest of belly's body followed. standing on his hind legs he shot out his tongue. investigating. this other familiar, the tiny bunny, was intriguing to him. "um, this is belly." aine gestured at him.
aine nods. a library was an unusual home, though she was one to talk. you would think if noble had grown up in a library he wouldn't have been acting this way. then again she supposed a personal library may be different than a public one. she's pleased to see noble actually attempt at working. this is much better than him pulling everything in the immediate area off the shelves.
she stares blankly at noble. "well, i mean," aine fiddles with a book between her hands "i figured i would clean up and leave right before opening." after all there was a a lot to work to do, and until a little bit ago aine was the only volunteer. she supposed, despite his odd behavior .. and demeanor, noble was welcome. not to mention, aine was a solitary being. she, sadly enough, had nothing else that she needed to be doing. volunteering had filled her evening plans for the foreseeable future.
He nodded slowly, eyeing the familiar with keen interest. He enjoyed meeting familiars. It was like finding another piece of a person and he always liked how different or similar they were to the witch. Familiars and their witches were an interesting enough entertainment, though he much rather enjoyed actually speaking with witches. That wasn’t always possible though, unfortunately. Sometimes people just like walking their familiars and he couldn’t simply barge in all the time. Not when he was hungry, and his next meal depended on a certain delivery in his back pocket.
“Hello Belly.” There’s a nod, HRH’s tiny button nose slowly moves form Aine’s direction Belly’s. The cottonball seemed to take her time deliberating, but her eyes stay closed when she finally spoke. “How do you do?” she asked, focusing on the large lizard. Noble tilted his head a little surprised. Didn’t open way past dawn? He supposed the library did need the help but… “All by yourself correct?” she’d been a little defensive but that was probably because he’d let himself in. He hadn’t really thought there’d only be one person working this late. They were volunteers, not part timers. Ah, but who was he to really judge others’ hobbies? He enjoyed eavesdropping on strangers after all.
“Well we suppose we’ll leave when you do.” He asserted, happily asserting his companionship for the next few hours. He made space on one of the reading tables and began taking books off the cart to make more organized piled, sorting the small group of books for their appropriate return. “Will you be working tomorrow as well?” he added. A job like this would last a few days, but he hadn’t quite decided if he would visit every day. He was here mainly due to curiosity. Once that was satiated, he would happily go with whatever payment deemed equivalent to whatever time he worked. “Is your coven near here?”
aine patted her familiars head. sliding her hand from above his eyes, she mindlessly hooks it under his jaw for a moment. his neck is a weird combination of loose skin and scales. she is ... apprehensive about letting him stay out to play. belly was good with her but that was about it. still, it seemed unfair to punish him for someone else showing up unannounced. he would probably lose interest in newcomers shortly and go back to being a rock.
belly is not a social creature. he was big, scary, and for the most part only concerned with aine and food. this tiny, uppity bunny, was talking to him. he blinked, once again on all fours. "hm. i do." the nile monitor was known to be short. it was unclear if he said so little because a lack of thoughts, desire, or both. "come down here." how embarrassing it must be to small and a familiar. maybe, Her Royal Highness was capable of growing? once again, his tongue flicked out into the air.
she throws her hands up and sighs. "yeah ... just me." the witch expected more volunteers. aine was not particularly scholarly or community oriented so it was a shock that she was the only one to respond to the ad. not that the illusionist had been looking to make friends. "i figured it would take most of the week. so i'll be here tomorrow and the next day and the next until its done." hard solitary work was how aine was raised. in a way, she felt oddly nostalgic in the library.
noble sure asked lots of questions. aine smiles, despite not wanting to respond at all. "oh, well depends on your definition of close i guess." she tries to focus her attention on sorting books in hopes that noble will move onto a topic that involved her sharing less personal information.
The rabbit is silent, considering the replies for a moment. She looked asleep almost. Still, and silent as a ghost. Then, as if anticipating some sort of hijinx she disappeared into the astral plane for a moment before reappearing on a table, still towering over Belly. “Come up here.” She said evenly. “You may sit in a chair to converse.” She added. “That’s a lot of books, Aine.” Noble said with a small laugh. “Well, time permitting, we will be able to help you out in the coming days. Perhaps not always during the early morning but maybe…midday?” Noble wasn’t the type of person to carry around a planner or a set schedule. People rarely needed him after all. He’d been clothed, fed, and at times did odd jobs here or there for a couch to sleep in and some pocket change. But needed? Employed? Oh no. That was all on him. Luckily, he hadn’t grown up with much so the life of a transient hadn’t seemed all that bad to him. That is to say, his familiar tried to keep him on course but with no set goal, he was like a leaf on a stream just going wherever the water took him. He should find a river. I would be nice to dip his feet in for a bit.
“Perhaps more will join us.” Though it was doubtful with Noble hanging around and breaking into libraries in the middle of the night. “Within the city.” Noble is quick to supply not missing a beat to press the woman on information. “We assume you are from here and have recommendations on cheap eateries. We heard some covens have little eating places attached to them.” Then again, that was perhaps on the Jester’s Den but he didn’t know any better. For all he knew, coven cafes were open to the public.
Noble hummed something to himself as he paused to open up a book about foreign pastries from the tropical islands before setting it back down and tidying up his sorted piles. He had somewhat of an alphabetized cluster at least. He shouldn’t have come to the cooking and foods section on an empty stomach. He almost wanted to eat the pictures inside the pages. “Or perhaps you cook for yourself?” Something Noble was familiar with. Unfortunately he had no kitchen to use and thus couldn’t feed himself even if he wanted to cook.
the rabbit re-materializes on the table above him, much to belly's annoyance. he narrows his already small eyes. he'd made his "request" first. what is this sit in a chair nonsense? just as he'd thought before, what an uppity bunny. begrudgingly, he rematerializes in a plush green chair. Her Royal Highness is still near. he is tempted to moved closer to her and lay his heavy hand on her back. she would be easy to squish. "you may sit in a chair to converse." he mocks, "i don't need permission from a bunny to sit in a chair." slowly, the lizard shifts his weight. long claws glide over the aged fabric.
noble is right. there are a lot of books. the amount donated was far more than any other year, it was impressive. still for all those that gifted them, apparently none were interested in helping to sort them. the fundraiser was just a chance for them to clear some junk books of their shelves. "uh, yah... there is a lot to do." noble's laugh is off putting to her. at what point did the conversation take a turn from formalities to more friendly territory? she nods. "that would be nice. thank you." aine could appreciate the help even more when she knew it was coming.
aine isn't from here but she doesn't care to correct noble's assumption. she has lived here long enough to know a few places. the witch didn't eat out much, it was a waste of money. for the most part she cooked. it was enjoyable for her and a much cheaper way of keeping up with belly's infinite appetite. when she chopped vegetables, the illusionist would save the scraps for her familiar. "not all covens have restaurants attached to them.. but i do know of a few places to grab a cheap bite." aine replies. was noble really hungry or just nosy?
