We Are Our Avatars X (Closed, Ended)

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:29​

Timea smiled at Anik's joke, and briefly glanced towards her as she placed her possessions down, then leaned forward, and began cutting into the meat. "A cut for you? It'll be ready before you know it. Buuut, if you're worried about falling asleep, before then, I can always continuously poke you to keep you awake~" Getting a mental image of her repeatedly making Anik's head bob to the side when poked, while Anik kept an indifferent expression, Timea snickered. After, she asked, "What would you prefer, though? Cow, or seal?"

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:29

"What?" Anik let out a laugh, confused as to why Timea would suggest such a thing as continuous poking. "I think it is enough when you poke me two times, once when the meat is ready, and a second time when we are ready to walk to Utarra."

She thought for a bit about the hard decision, which type of meat she should take, then answered: "I think I'll take cow. It has been some time since I last ate that.

My my, what luxurious life we have, having the choice between two types of meat." she joked.

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:30​

"Oh, nothing~" Timea said in response to Anik's question, a small smile still on her face. When Anik answered, Timea cut off a slice of meat from the neck of the cow carcass, and held this over her blanket to roast, letting out a small snicker at Anik's last comment.

"We're the very height of wilderness life! I don't doubt we're envied where ever we go", she joked, in turn. After saying this, Timea continued speaking more plainly. "Ah, but in all honesty, I do think this is having it rather good. It hasn't rained, and I've mostly been able to keep myself well-fed. It could be a great deal worse."

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:30

Anik laughed again when Timea continued joking, enjoying herself. When she spoke seriously, however, Anik paused and thought as well. "Yes, after the first difficulties I thought we could get problems, but this really went rather well. Especially the seals, they were a life-saver.

But ... it has only rained in ... how was the city called, Vekutta? ... yet, and even then the people said that it was magical. Does it even rain on this world?"

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:31​

"It should. When we were in Utarra the last time, I asked what kind of weather we could expect on Vesh, and the man said it sometimes rained, or snowed", Timea answered, shifting her grip on the cut of meat to roast other sides of it, the scent becoming quite noticeable. "Hmm. While on the topic of that rainstorm, I've been thinking about magic like that. While that seemed a fair bit like what I would call witchcraft, if people can do this naturally, it really is no different from my abilities, is it? The same would go for whatever unused "magic" you might have, I suppose."

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:31

"Huh?" Anik said, her mouth starting to water from the smell. "Food ... eh, I mean." she let out a laugh. "Magic is like that, I suppose? There seem to be two ... no, three types of people on this world. Those who can use magic without help - that would be like you. I guess it is a little bit different, as your eyes don't glow. Or do they? But ... I probably still would call your abilities magic.

The second type of person would be like me, who can use magic, but only with something, like this ring. Probably not as powerful. I wonder if the eyes glow in this case ... well, and the third type just can't use magic."

As they spoke, she remembered the water ring again, and took off her glove, to use it for some water to drink and sprinkle in her face immediately.

"I don't really understand magic, however. I suppose that's why it is called magic, huh? Still, I don't really like it. If someone can just summon lightning like that - I have no chance to dodge something like it. I guess the only thing would be noticing what the sorcerer does in a moment - that is not something I can do."

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Femesh Daer, day 7, 25:36

"Excuse me," Robin said to a guard as they passed through the city. "I noticed something in the harbour, that looks like the hulls of ships made of metal instead of wood. What's going on?"

Palawhatever, day 7, 2:00

Quan Chi entered the city, looking for anything magical or more signs of the metal constructs he had seen in other cities.

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:33​

"Hmm. No, I still don't agree with that classification", Timea commented. "The way I see it, there are those with remarkable abilities, but can use these unaided. And those that preform magic through some outside source. The former, I don't call magic, at all. It's just something that is."

Turning the cut of meat around, Timea glanced to Anik as she retrieved the ring, and splashed water on herself. "Either way, I can agree on not liking either of these things. Back on my home world, any creature that I knew had special abilities, I generally avoided, or intimidated into going away."

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:33

Not knowing or caring enough about magic to argue, Anik stood silent to Timeas first comment, instead answering to the second part:
"Well, intimidating these people away is not something I can do. Avoiding, that's what I did most. Or ... allying myself with them. Not something I am proud of."

 

[ShindoL Shill]

Palladein - Day 7 - ~02:00

Quan Chi would see no signs of metal constructs as he would have in Femesh Daer, nor would he have seen them in Calibeth City. There was also nothing that would seem to be magic. The large, sword-shaped temple in the centre of the city might draw his attention but, if he approached it, he would find it was boarded up.

[hr]

Femesh Daer - Day 7 - 25:36

"That? It's a new construction project, that some man from the south is working on. It is indeed a metal ship." the guard replied. "Seems a little unintuitive, doesn't it? Ships made of metal. I wonder how Kaisir would react, if it actually floats."

[hr]

Vala - Day 8 - ~15:40

The Vesh'Rah diplomats approached one of the gates to the city and began speaking with the two halberd-wielding guards outside, explaining their reasons for being in the region. Cybil and Robin would likely see that everyone involved was visibly tense and wary of the others. While two of the guards patted the diplomats, Cybil and Robin down for weapons and sky-metal, another headed towards the northern ward.

 

[Drakmorg]

Vala - Day 8 - ~15:40

Cybil complied with the guards checking her for weapons, as the only one she had on her person was the sword she conspicuously wore. Noticing everyone was blatantly on edge, she sighed heavily, realizing negotiations were almost certainly going to completely breakdown at some point.

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:34​

"Intimidation factor is another reason why I think you should build more natural strength, incidentally. It would be done more easily if you have a more commanding presence. Although sometimes, something might just be hellbent on attacking, or wouldn't be intimidated from having numbers on their side", Timea commented.

Checking if the meat was done, Timea pricked in it, finding it was almost finished. She didn't comment on dealing with sorcerers, but did start feeling more uncomfortable at the topic.

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:34

"More natural strength, hmm." Anik answered. "I guess I can try to build it, but isn't there more to being intimidating? At least people behaved quite weirdly when trying to do that. But I don't know what they did, aside from talking ridiculous things.

... I guess the people who taught me so much about how to express myself never bothered to teach me that. Also, am I not too small to be really intimidating?
And, at the same time, I had more success against people who underestimated me, then people who would have been intimidating. Honestly, I don't really get it. Especially if the people I would need to intimidate are magic wielders ... I don't think they would fear a few muscles."

 

[Gearhead mk2]

Palladien, day 7, 2:00
Quan Chi walked to the boarded up temple, examining it for lack of anything else of note in the city. He looked for a nearby guard or civilian. "Excuse me. What happened to the blade?"

Femesh Daer, day 7, 25:36
"I have seen this man's works before. I trust it will float." Robin replied.

Vala, day 8, 15:40
Robin didn't protest as his sword was removed, probably along with his chainmail. He wondered if they would take his tome as well.

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:36​

"There's more to it, yes. Posture and attitude are two big factors. As is general appearance. Big size also matters in just about any creature I can think of, size is viewed as dangerous. A wolf wouldn't think to attack a bear, for instance. In that regard, your height does work against you, but working on these other factors, that can be helped.

As for those who use magic, it depends. Having a more commanding presence would at least trigger the feeling of "I might get hurt here". But there is no guarantee this would completely deter aggression."

After saying this, Timea's voice lightened up more. "Either way," she began, then snapped her fingers, and gave Anik a poke on her chin. "Pooooke! Dinner is ready."

Pulling back a little, Timea held the roasted meat out toweards Anik.

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:34

"Well, attitude is something I can learn. Posture ... you would need to go over every detail of how I would need to stand to get the right posture, best moving my limbs in the right positions so I can remember. I don't know if you want to do that.

Well, if it can help, I might as well try it. It just does not make that much sense in my mind, but I guess I can't really understand why certain views trigger certain feelings."

As she was poked, Anik smiled in anticipation, then felt for the meat, finding it through its warmth. Taking it, she immediately bit into it, then let out a happy sigh. "I needed that." she said, then continued wolfing down the meat.

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:35​

"I'll help with that, sure. This was something I planned to teach you, anyway", Timea responded, turning back to the carcasses after Anik took the meat, and began cutting pieces for herself.

"What you said, there, surprises me a little", she commented while she worked. "I know you said the "why" behind a feeling isn't something you can see, but doesn't your ability to see feelings give you more insight into it?"

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:35

"I guess." Anik said. "Well, I know what feelings people have. But I do not know what exactly triggers it. In crowds, I'm not even sure if these feelings are towards me, or someone else. Mostly it is probably someone else.

Actually, we saw that previously. I thought that the Vesh'Rah had tensed up because he smelled something on me, but you said he did it because you said something wrong. And if it is this way - how can I understand what it is that people like visually? Well, I know some things, because people told me. But I have no idea of the connection, how it works. That's more something I can imagine through the feelings that I get when I hear certain sounds, or when I smell something."

Eating more of the meat, Anik chewed and then continued, after swallowing: "And when I sense these feelings, I just sense the feelings ... I can not read the mind of a person. And I also can not sense why he or she has the feeling. It just is ... adding to that, the virtues and vice, basically the type of person someone is. But I also can not say why he is like he is. I can try to figure it out. Sometimes it is quite easy to guess correctly, if you ask the right questions. No insight into how any of it works, however."

 

[Chungus]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:36​

Timea listened to Anik's explanation, being quiet for a moment as she went over it twice. Eventually, she said, "hmm. I think I understand. Well, mostly. One thing, I've been wondering for a while; You say you can't read a mind, but isn't the mind exactly where feelings come from? I never heard or seen of anything that would indicate there was consciousness, without feeling. But if this is the case, how does that work?"

 

[Silence]

Utarra Area - Day 8 - 20:36

"... I have no idea." Ank responded, now more confused than ever. "I can read where the heart is, and what feelings lie in it. At least that is what I think. Maybe the feelings are somewhere else? But I can read them there.

I don't exactly know why I have this sense, and how it does work. I just know how to use it."

She thought for a bit, eating her meal, until she added: "These robot things ... they did not seem to have feelings. And I could not sense their hearts ... well, if they even had that. So, in some way I explain it to myself that the heart has something to do with the feelings. I have yet to meet someone without a heart, who was the same as someone with, especially in their feelings."