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.
There were few things that Valencia detested about the Hovel. While her mother talked down on the people who occupied its shoddy housing, she found that they were the ones filled with the most character. Luxury and comfort made a person soft and far more susceptible to the injustices of the world. In other words, it made you weaker. Just because someone came from a harsher upbringing didn't mean that they were uncivilized or dull. Many things that Valencia knew today were learned on the streets of the Hovel, away from the "comforts" that the Godfrey family could provide.
That is how she found herself walking among the streets again with the intent to purchase a few tomes. She heard from word of mouth about a new affinity called "crafting". To say that it piqued her interest would've been an understatement. Her father was a naturalist and believed that technology was only a complication to the beauties of magic. However, her mother was efficient and thought that it was an interesting theory.
To know that someone was able to mix magic with technology amazed Valencia to no end.
However, the tomes that she was in search of weren't going to teach her how to use the affinity. Rather they were books written about different innovations in the past century or so. To know your prey, you had to study it.
Valencia refused to wear her traditional clothes and instead dressed in a plain white shirt complete with black trousers and boots. Her satchel hung from her arm and she fiddled with the strap occasionally. A few people started at her from the alleyways and some whispered but none approached her or made a grab for her belongings.
Perhaps that was the comfort in being unapproachable.
Nonetheless, she was happy to reach the stall where she was told the tomes would be. What she hadn't expected was accidentally bumping into another person.
Post by Matteo Garcia on May 18, 2017 18:07:44 GMT
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[attr="class","jarburnbbat"] @valencia || Notes
[attr="class","jarburnbbr"]
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[attr="class","jarburnbblyr"]Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct, The heat was on, rising to the top Everybody's goin' strong That is when my spark got hot I heard somebody say Burn baby burn! Disco inferno!
[attr="class","jarburnbbrp"]
Arranging his wares was a task Matteo didn't always enjoy, but it was one he uptook with utmost care. Several of his wares were quite sensitive - that flashbang, for instance, wasn't one he wanted to go off in his shop. He'd felt its effects before, and he had no desire to replay that scene of pain and blindness.[break][break] As for all his work days, he was wearing what his limited wardrobe consisted of - collared white shirt, dark pants, sturdy boots, and his toolbelt. Though admittedly, the shirt was more of a beige color after constant use in his workshop. There was a splotch of grease on it which Matteo simply couldn't get rid of. But the shirt was comfortable and it had served him well. Plus, he wasn't very well going to buy another shirt only to dirty it in his workshop later.[break][break] He has felt a lot more content over the past couple days. Ever since he'd created the self-nomered magical engineering, aka 'crafting', his days had seemed brighter than before. Perhaps because he could finally say he had a purpose. A place to belong. Because, for the longest time, he'd felt lost, lost and alone and without anything that could allow him to fit in society. Admittedly, not much has changed, but he felt as if he could hear the whispers of his creation being passed through the streets.[break][break] The shop sign is a bulky wooden thing, but he needed to drag it to the street, and so he did, the legs trailing against the cobblestones. His back bumped into someone and he straightened, quickly saying an apology as he turned to see who he'd inconvenienced. He blinked as he took in the crimson hair and eyes, simple attire, and her own apologies. [break][break] "Welcome to Matteo's Tech Shop! What can I do to help you?" he asked, taking the opportunity to potentially pull in a customer.
Valencia reminded herself that she'd come to find an ancient tome but something told her that she'd been sorely mistaken. Arion muttered that taking leads from word of mouth was often doomed for failure but she ignored him in favor of observing the person in front of her. He seemed a little young for a shop owner although she wasn't the one to judge when it came to feats and age differences. His clothes seemed a little grimey but he had a friendly aura which could've proven useful in drawing customers to his shop. If this was the place that she was meant to find the book, then perhaps it wouldn't hurt for her to converse with him.
And if she was going to be honest, there was something about that smile which was a little infectious.
The corners of her lips quirked upwards and she looked to the sign that he'd drug outside.
"I'm looking for an ancient tome centered around the teachings of 'crafting'," she said with a little wave of her hand. "The information that I received has been faulty thus far and I apologize if I'm wasting your time."
In fact, she was a little curious about the nature of this "crafting" affinity. She'd heard of weaving and enchanting, along with summoning which was her own specialty, but "crafting" seemed vague. There may have been another name for it and if so, she'd have to research a little more.
"I'm not sure if it is even an 'ancient' tome, at this rate, I'm almost certain that it might have been —"
Her sentence trailed off as she looked to the person in front of her. Something seemed to click and she raised an brow.
"Pardon me, but what is it that you sell in your store?"
If her suspicions were correct, she may have found her "ancient" tome but it was a few centuries too young.
Post by Matteo Garcia on May 19, 2017 18:05:30 GMT
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[attr="class","jarburnbbat"] @valencia || ahaha
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[attr="class","jarburnbblyr"]Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct, The heat was on, rising to the top Everybody's goin' strong That is when my spark got hot I heard somebody say Burn baby burn! Disco inferno!
[attr="class","jarburnbbrp"]
Matteo blinked in surprise, taking a moment to take in the young lady's words. He was the one who created crafting. And what was this ancient tome she was talking about?[break][break] He watched her, confused, as she trailed on, also seeming very confused. Slowly, Matteo's mind made some connections - he had various books of his that contained his ideas and blueprints for inventions. Some worked, some didn't. They weren't ancient by any means, but they were worn out and grimy.[break][break] "I sell the inventions of mine, plus any other magic tech that I make," he said. "And I sell my services, where I fix magical technology." He licked his lips for a second as he quirked his brow. "I'm also the one who created 'crafting' - well, not just me, but...I'm the idea's originator."[break][break] He was the one who'd posed the idea to Zephyr Hart. After debilitation, the two had decided that indeed, those were their affinities. Nothing else quite seemed to fit with them, and the idea of inventing another affinity thrilled Matteo to his core. He had a place to belong. Finally, after all those years of ridicule, he'd found someone who could understand him and something to call himself.[break][break] The idea had been presented and immediately scorned. Tech was not liked, and the idea that magic and technology could mix in such a way was seen as preposterous. However, he'd not given up in showing his ideas.[break][break] A grin spreads on his face, and it's one that speaks of shared confusion and knowing. "I think I know of this tome you speak of. Come right this way," he said, giving a grand flourish as he gestured towards his workshop door. [break][break] Once inside, he'd retrieved the latest notebook he and Zeph had been working on, one that was more magical-engineering oriented. It detailed their thoughts on the affinity, its uses, the way it worked. There was, however, pages upon pages of other inventions, including one which would capture a scenery just like a painting and designs or an airship.[break][break] He'd shown people his books before, but he hadn't expected them to share the word quite so quickly. Sure, he'd also shown his thoughts to others who had denied the existence of such a thing, but he was pretty certain they wouldn't have told another of his ideas.[break][break] He handed the crimson-haired lady the book, watching her face for her reaction.
To say that she was embarrassed would've been putting it lightly. This entire time, she thought she was looking for a tome which was older than herself but instead found someone who was younger than her. Word of mouth couldn't be trusted but at least it led her to a place where she could find the answers to the questions she sought. Pushing aside the embarrassment, she was amazed at how much thought and interest he put into this idea. Even if he wasn't the sole originator, she couldn't deny that he had some part in it and was onto something that would shake Salem to its core.
Her parents seemed adverse to the idea of using technology with magic. However, anyone could see that the world was beginning to change and they'd have to change along with it. As she followed him inside of his shop, she saw quite a few things that made that assumption true. Contraptions that were littered about and a few things that could've used quite a bit of housecleaning. However, there was a warmth and coziness to the shop that made her feel welcomed. And if she was being honest, she was happy to give him something to look forward to if he was the type to share his ideals with others.
Eventually, he led her to a part of the shop were a worn old notebook sat. He extended it to her and she looked from the notebook to him and then back. Once she had it in her hands, Arion mused that it wasn't exactly the "ancient" tome that she was looking for. She bit back a remark that she would've shot at her familiar and resigned herself to listening to his whinnying laughter. Opening up the notebook, her interest was piqued with the amount of notes written inside. The handwriting differed and she'd assumed that the notebook was a shared object between him and his partner.
But as she flipped on, her interest became greater and greater. The different drawings and writings were things that she couldn't quite make sense of but she wanted to know more about. Eventually, she reached the end or at least a page that hadn't been written on. And she felt unfulfilled. There was a hunger burning inside of her and she knew it very well.
Curiosity.
Wonder.
And when she looked up at him, a genuine smile formed on her lips. It was small but it was there.
"This is amazing," she said. "You and whomever your partner is are indescribably brilliant."
She weighed the notebook in her hands as if trying to judge the wealth of knowledge inside of it.
"I came looking for an ancient tome but I feel that I've found something greater."
A soft chuckle escaped her and she held the notebook out to him.
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to learn more about.." she trailed off as she tried to remember the term that he used. "Magical technology."
Post by Matteo Garcia on May 19, 2017 22:56:46 GMT
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[attr="class","jarburnbbat"] @valencia || Notes
[attr="class","jarburnbbr"]
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[attr="class","jarburnbblyr"]Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct, The heat was on, rising to the top Everybody's goin' strong That is when my spark got hot I heard somebody say Burn baby burn! Disco inferno!
[attr="class","jarburnbbrp"]
A smile forms on her lips, and Matteo can feel one growing on his face, too. At her words, he can feel himself swell with pride - it's not often he's heard encouraging words before, especially when it came to his tinkering. The words 'brilliant' and 'magical technology' weren't often put together, not in this age and time where it was looked down on.[break][break] He's really proud of how far he's come. To have made magical engineering, along with zephyr, and shared his ideals...he's never thought he'd end up here, and frankly, despite the hardships he's faced and continues facing, it's an outcome he's happy to have. To the point that someone would call it brilliant...[break][break] He's more than thrilled to be able to talk about his magical technology theories with her, and he grins widely. "Magical engineering, also known as 'crafting' - because magical engineering is a pain to have to say over and over - is a theory that relates to those with an affinity for making magical technology." Matteo pulls out tools from his belt, scraps of metal, several gears, and a magical battery. His hands fly over the materials, working them together and having pieces click into place one by one. "By working with the material with your hands, you can instinctively know how pieces fit into place, and in the physical work, you impart a magical essence into the object. Basically, you alter its mana structure through physical touch. Almost as if the mana flows between the creator and the invention."[break][break] Matteo winds up the toy he's created within the span of that time - it's a very small one, shaped like a mouse, but it whirs in his palm and spins in circles for a few seconds before coming to a stop. He invites her to take a look at it, holding it out to her as if waiting for an open palm to place it in.[break][break] "As to who has it - we're still working on that," he admits, scratching the back of his neck with a sheepish sideways glance. "We think that people can learn this affinity. That they can get really good at it, too. But that there's a select few who, if they're born with it, can know some things intuitively. Like what parts are missing or needed, what to do if something breaks, things like that." Or at least, this is something he's analyzed over the years. It's not everyone who can create things on the fly like him. He of course, still has to open up a machine to see what's wrong with it, but sometimes, if he puts a hand on it, he can tell that perhaps it's simply in need of some oiled gears.[break][break] He hesitates as he searches for other things to say. He hopes he's not boring her with his talk, and he hopes he's at least presented it in an interesting way. He wasn't very creative in his tirade - it's nearly identical to the one he used to introduce it to the higher-ups, albeit on a smaller scale and with far less diagrams and inventions. "So, what do you think?" he asks, a grin on his features.
Arion's little quip was rewarded with a show of silence as she listened intently to Matteo's explanation. In truth, Valencia felt as though she was a little girl again and listening to her father's music which didn't make a lot of sense but was enrapturing all the same. But she was no longer that little girl and was instead listening intently to someone who had set foot into a world that she had no idea could've existed so close to home. When she watched him pull various pieces from a belt on his waist, her eyebrow quirked.
How could he fit so many things into such a small space?
It must be magically based.
Well, that did make sense but it was remarkable all the same. Yet the way his hands moved and the constant clicking of the objects being pushed together captured her attention. Eventually, when his hands pulled away, a little mouse-like toy with a key in the back of it sat in the palm of his hand. He twisted the key a few times and the mouse began to skitter around in circles. She stared at in awe and then held out her hand to hold it herself.
It was so small and even reminded her of a real mouse. Always running around and making little noises. A child would've loved to play with something like this if they were given the chance, she mused.
Perhaps you should recommend Miss Yaela to come here the next time you meet.
That would be the day. Although, she would love to see the look on the other woman's face at something so extraordinary.
Matteo continued his explanation and once he finished, the mouse's movements came to a halt.
"I'm blown away," she said breathlessly. "This is remarkable and it isn't something you can do with just summoning or enchanting. You have to actually feel the mana inside of the pieces, I believe you said, and create new things."
On her own, she wound up the mouse's key and watched as it skittered about in her hand.
"Did you show this to anyone?" she asked. "It could very well revolutionize the magical world."
Post by Matteo Garcia on May 23, 2017 15:55:43 GMT
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[attr="class","jarburnbbat"] @valencia || Notes
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[attr="class","jarburnbblyr"]Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct, The heat was on, rising to the top Everybody's goin' strong That is when my spark got hot I heard somebody say Burn baby burn! Disco inferno!
[attr="class","jarburnbbrp"]
Matteo gives a smile, pleased that she's found his innovation so astounding. "Yes, that's our theory. You've hit the nail spot on the head, Miss." He realizes then that he's not actually introduced himself, but his sign is plenty introduction enough, and the woman has definitely seen it already.[break][break] It's a little awkward not knowing her name, but he's managing.[break][break] He watches as she rewinds the toy, gazing at her palm as it spins in its small circles. He has to say, he was nervous showing it to her - he'd been silently praying that his skill would work. It's not like he's a genius with these, and he's failed with his creations before. He wipes his palms on his pants, belatedly realizing they're sweaty.[break][break] At her question, his smile turns into a bitter scowl. "Show it? I have indeed," he says, and the tinge of anger is obvious in his tone. "Though so far, all I've received is possibly one or two who might agree with me. One or two out of hundreds. Brought it up to the council, as well, and frankly not many of them are convinced this counts as an affinity." Right now, he was self-proclaiming it as his own since the council wasn't ready to accept it as a true affinity. They probably couldn't even comprehend what Matteo was trying to explain about feeling the mana in the machine. They could have magical engines but couldn't believe in magical engineers. What a joke.[break][break] He snorts his disdain before he turns his gaze back to his customer. "You probably heard of me through word of mouth, right? After that failure, I decided to show it around town, get it known a bit more. In an attempt to convince those old witches that there's such a thing. Not sure it's working, though. But apparently, it got through to you." Which is a great thing in itself, and it's one small victory for him in this arduous battle.
To say that his speech and the message behind his affinity had gotten through to her would've been an understatement. Valencia was floored by the ideas and the things that could be done with what he'd invented. Or well, seeing as he said "our", it wasn't him alone. And a part of her couldn't fathom why no one would accept something like this. A part of her, she'd say. As she knew full and well that breaking traditions and changing the way of thought was hard especially for the older generation.
They were used to a way things were done. Hoping that children wouldn't be softened without the hardships that they had to endure. However, all teh same, they wanted their children to be happier and to live peaceful lives.
Magical Technology was good in theory but if put in the wrong hands, it could have catastrophic effects on the world at large. And while that was a possibility it would be one for the future and not something to dwell on while in the present. While she thought, the mouse's skittering was slowly coming to a halt and she'd only realized when she glanced down at her palm.
"Oh," she said. "My apologies."
She reached out to return the mouse to him and then remembered why she had come there in the place. To learn, to know, and to inquire about something she wasn't sure of beforehand. And in all of her excitement, she'd entirely forgotten her manners.
"Where has my head been," she sighed. "My name is Valencia Godfrey."
She held out her hand for him to shake, though taking care to notice that he'd rubbed his hands on his pants and they weren't very clean. Perhaps the cost of spending so much time around machinery rather than outside or near a wash.
"And the word being spread about is that there is a tome centuries old with information about making tools and such through the use of mana."
She chuckled, settling her free hand on her hip.
"But you don't look centuries old and you're not exactly something I can read."
Post by Matteo Garcia on May 28, 2017 20:47:03 GMT
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[attr="class","jarburnbbat"] @valencia || Notes
[attr="class","jarburnbbr"]
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[attr="class","jarburnbblyr"]Do you hear?
I couldn't get enough, so I had to self destruct, The heat was on, rising to the top Everybody's goin' strong That is when my spark got hot I heard somebody say Burn baby burn! Disco inferno!
[attr="class","jarburnbbrp"]
The woman seems to have remembered something, and she stretches out her hand and introduces herself. The question Matteo had been wondering about for a while is finally answered, and his smile brightens. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Godfrey," he says, stretching out his arm and slipping his hand in hers. He shakes her hand firmly.[break][break] He laughs when she admits that her information on magical engineering was indeed flawed. It's strange to think of his innovation as being centuries old, much less being spread about in such a fashion. "Well I'm definitely not centuries old, and I doubt that my notebook here can be considered much of a tome," he says with a chuckle. He pats the notebook lovingly - it contains all of his hopes and dreams and frankly, it's a very dear tresure to him. He's not sure he'd be able to part with it for a long time, and so his mind scrambles.[break][break] "Well, if you ever want to see me work, now is a better time than any?" he asks, looking up at her to reconfirm that she's free. "The shop's open and I've got some things to repair."[break][break] "Or do you perhaps have something that needs fixing? I could fix it," he offers. He's not exactly sure what to do now - her question's been answered, his explanation has been given, and frankly, he needs to watch the shop. Preferably from inside, to prevent thieves from stealing his stuff like they did last time.[break][break] If she's not available, he supposes they'll just have to part ways. He'll be sad to see her go, seeing how enthusiastic she is about magical engineering and learning about it, but he has work to do. She could always drop by another time.
Valencia mulled over what she should do now. Her afternoon was freed up to allow time for her to study the ancient text that consumed her thoughts. Yet, now that her questions were answered and her curiosities bloomed new questions it was difficult to say what she should do next. She mulled it over and tapped the strap of her purse while thinking. There were a plenty of things she could do but she didn't want to distract him from his work more than what she was doing.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to help you for the day."
Wait, what?
"A bit of volunteer work if you will."
Arion would've given her a look reminiscent of confusion at her idea of volunteer work. It wouldn't do for her to take a direct request from someone else due to her station. But if she was giving help out of the free will of herself, there were no rules being broken. Her familiar said nothing and Valencia was satisfied with the compromise that they'd come to.
"I'm not sure what this affinity entails but this will help with my understanding of it," she explained. "And give you another hand to work with while your partner is away."
She waited for his reply with one hand perched on her hip and the other holding the strap of her purse. Perhaps she didn't find what she expected but she did find an opportunity. It would be a shame to waste it and his hospitality.
