shadowbringers

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shadowbringers

beneath the stars It's been a week since our newest expansion officially launched! And, I know, I know... some of you already have a lot of feelings that you need to air out. But canon updating in your games is a struggle! And so is finding PSL partners! Luckily, that's what we're here for. This is a post for you to play out all the Shadowbringers-related content you might be dying to write. Behind-the-scenes nonsense? Between-the-scenes angst? It's all welcome here! 1. Toplevel your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops. 2. Reply to other people's top levels! 3. Have fun! ⚔ Please clearly mark all spoilers in your thread subject lines. Clearly indicate whatever spoiler preferences you may have. We're only a week into the expansion, officially, and there's no shame if you're not far in it or haven't started it yet. ⚔ You are welcome to play characters who are new to Shadowbringers. However, please try to avoid topleveling with icons and descriptions that convey major plot-related spoilers. If you aren't certain about a character's playability, feel free to PM parser.

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[warriorofwhy]

Save your thanks, friend-- Oh, it's cracked. Of course. [He pinches the bridge of his nose and groans. How many of them were just glamoured invisible and laughing at Takame RIGHT NOW--

But anyroad, it's clear that he doesn't have time to dawdle, so Papayako heads out of the Pixie village and begins taking the shortest route to the hill. Once he's ahead he starts shouting, to get a couple of bears focused on attacking him and bait them away from the path so that he can deal with them without smashing the stupid jar. He spies another monster making his way toward the path once he's finished and all but lunges at the poor (giant, bloodthirsty, reanimated for amusement) flower basket in order to quickly cut it down. Footsteps heavy with Pixie Frustration, he makes his way back to keep an eye out for more enemies.]

They knew what they were doing, begging you to water some shrubs with a broken jar. You ought to ask them to double your reward, or you'll leaf the next one alone. [.........Don't acknowledge that.] That should be the last beast on this path.

[kesi]

[If the floating specks of light he saw hovering all around him were any indication, A Lot.

He was focused on getting where he needed to go, but instinct still made him occasionally freeze as if he could counter attack, frequently look behind him to meet a potential enemy's gaze or do something that involved pulling his weapon out. He couldn't fight and run this errand as much as he wanted to. The thought was in his mind as he finally made it to the leafman to water it as instructed.] Ah, perhaps they did.

[He knew damn well they did. He didn't react to the pun. Not even a pity laugh. 0/10.] Indeed, I don't see any others. [Which gave him a chance to at least set the jar down for a moment (with the crack as large as his forearms) to ask a Very Important Question(tm).] ... Did you always wield a Greatsword?

[warriorofwhy]

[It was at LEAST A 1/10 COME ON

He watches Takame set the jar down, brow raised at the crack like he's surprised it could even hold water at all. But then he asks a question, so Papayako turns his expression toward him instead. Ah, right, the weapon...] Oh, this? Is it that obvious I haven't been practicing?

[Papayako chuckles at the thought, but then he starts thinking about giving a real answer. His face turns to a distant frown, eyes fixed on the horizon as he tries to separate fact from soul crystal. He had been studying for ages, but Papayako...] No. Not always. [An astute observer may be able to make a connection from the greatsword to his disastrous second return from the Ghimlyt Dark, but maybe that's something to discuss another time... Or place. It feels strange to think about when surrounded by faefolk like they are, so he smiles instead.] Why do you ask? Odd to see me not weaving magic?

[kesi]

[YOU MISTAKE HIM FOR SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT A JOKE IS. Which was exactly why he answered the first hypothetical very honestly.] It is clear you are no veteran with it.

[A long pause, noticing that he may have come off rude.] Ah, I... mean offense, of course. You're... plenty skilled regardless. [Smooth. He'll just turn his attention back to the cracked pot for a moment. He was able to stop the leaking water by holding his arm tight against the crack, but it left his sleeve completely soaked through. Taking the chance to wring the water free from it, he gave a small shake of his head while he sought to answer the next question without putting his foot in his mouth. So pointedly avoiding any connections with the latest Imperial Showdown, as it were.] Not necessarily. 'Tis a fine goal to have experience in handling multiple different weapons. I merely expected a Disciple of Magic as yourself to opt for something... more light.

[warriorofwhy]

[Perhaps in most cases, such blunt commentary about one's experience (or lack thereof) would be met with silence. Maybe anger, even, if it's given to the wrong person. Instead of any of that Papayako bursts into loud, startled laughter. In the midst of so much straining to keep secrets, Takame's honesty (and maybe the massive effort he made to backpedal at the thought of offense) is both welcome and refreshing.]

Heh, you would think, right...? First time I swung one I nearly lost it in a stone wall. [He laughs again and his grin fades, but a fond smile still lingers in its place.] I sort of stumbled on it by chance, but I had a teacher who made a compelling argument to stick with it. So here we are...

[He folds his arms and quits staring off into the distance, looking at Takame almost apologetically once he recalls his list of pixie demands.] Who did you say needed your help next, Takame? Sul Uin?

[kesi]

I... see... [His years of blade work have made him more critical of how others wield theirs, apparently. They all share some fundamentals despite different styles but if Papayako took his comment in stride (as Takame hoped he did) he would make no further mention.]

... You must have had a fine teacher to learn to quickly. [He is genuinely impressed even if it doesn't sound like it. Maybe at some point... no. You've work to do, Kesi, it does not involve challenging this man who wishes to help. When his sleeve was sufficiently dried, he gave a small nod and pulled something from his pocket, a bag of seeds from the look of it.] Ah, yes. Around Lydha Lyran I was asked to... plant these. [He probably would have requested help for this either way considering he doesn't have a clue how to plant shit.]

[warriorofwhy]

Something like that... [... It's complicated. He's perfectly content to leave it at that because any further discussion is just going to get awkward. Especially when pitting his instincts and a friend's half-lessons against... You know, somebody who in all likelihood had years of expert training under his belt. Different weapon, still pointy. Perhaps someday he should ask for some pointers, but not here. At the mention of heading all the way back to Lydha Lran he huffs.]

Hmph. Pixies... At least the way back is clear for now. [... Wait, seeds?] Ah, that's all? They didn't happen to mention what kind of seeds those were, did they?

[Yes, he was still highly annoyed at performing all this busy work for a pixie giggle as payment, and maybe the seeds belong to some magically-modified carnivorous plant he's never heard of... But there's still an eagerness about Papayako that was clearly not present during the hike up.]

[kesi]

[haha Pointers i get it

Thankfully Takame is not the sort to pry. If he needed the information truly there were other ways to get it but there was no such need here. At Papayako's question he shook his head softly.]

They did not specify, they only said they were flowers, but... [His lip curved downward on one side and his brow furrowed.] I know little of... planting seeds for anything. [Which is probably why they put him up to it, he thought. He would still try but the most planting experience he had was hearing adults always speak of rice when he was young.]

[warriorofwhy]

Flowers, eh? [Papayako scratches his chin thoughtfully, a few gears turning in his head.] You know, when I was younger all I did was plant seeds. Vegetables, mostly, but the principle's close enough. [But before he launches himself into researching Il Mheg's fertilizer situation, maybe they should actually get moving...] Come, we should head back before any other creatures come sniffing around.

[He takes a step to start heading back down the hill, but he stops in front of the water jar.] Oh. I suppose they'll be wanting this back for the next poor soul they ask to water the leafmen, right?

[kesi]

Is that right? I would like to learn more if you are willing. [He kind of had to if he was going to do this but there was genuine interest he hoped to express. He knew of very few Botanists, his old traveling companions could barely manage to keep a small spice plant alive. But it would be best to take the broken pot back before they struggled with respawning the returning fauna. He nodded, lifting the jar in both hands though this time at his side.]

Ah, yes. [He'll hope that poor soul isn't him again while they head back towards Lydha Lyra.]

[warriorofwhy]

What, really? [Papayako looks surprised when he turns his head back to look at Takame. He'd always assumed that botany was mind-numbingly dull to anyone that wasn't actively partaking in the study, so he's going to take this chance and run with it. What'll these seeds need to have a good chance, assuming they aren't just raisins in a bag? He's practically glowing with excitement at the opportunity to share his knowledge!]

Well, planting's the easy part. Once we're back in the safety of the village we'll have to take a look at those seeds, see if there's any preparation that must be done to get them ready to sprout. The soil must be rich already unless all these flowers are fae magic... But fertilizer wouldn't hurt... And I'm not putting water in that godsdamned jar again -- they won't need much to start with. But once that's all done you just put them in the ground and wait a few moons to see what happens, really. Weeds, pests, trimming the excess growth, nearly everything comes later.

[He pauses his lesson as a thought comes to him.] They did only ask you to plant the seeds, right?

[kesi]

[Had he been one of more talents than the blade, he might have agreed with those who call botany dull. For one such as him who sought to try all manner of new things, he listens to the ones with experience on them diligently.

At least he could tell the difference between an expert and someone talking out of their arse, but that was his talent at exposing liars that he'd rather not share more about. The confidence Papayako had in his explanation proved him to be the former. He admired it, but also stopped short, thinking back to the Pixies' exact instructions.]

Well, they made mention of tending to them as... well... [RECORD SCRATCH. Ah fuck.] ... They intend to keep me here for as long as they take to grow, don't they?

[warriorofwhy]

...

[they WHAT]

Ah. Hm. So there's the rub... [PIXIES] And I'll wager a guess that you're not interested in spending a few days camping among the flowers right now.

[He squeezes his eyes shut and pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh. Perhaps the seeds are enchanted somehow so they'll be a quick project... But if not, and Takame isn't feeling up to sleeping in the overgrown stable, maybe he can use Feo Ul's pact as a bargaining chip...? Surely they had other games to play that wouldn't keep them here for... Weeks...]

I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, eh? It's not much further.