RITUAL 32 - never have i ever

[manwhofelltoearth]

WHO: you
WHERE: around the pasture
WHEN: morning 86

[so how are we doing, everybody? feeling a little more together? feeling a little furry, floaty, or both? well–don’t mind this newer Weed who’s just climbed up on a big rock, clapping his mildly bloody hands together to get your attention.

is that a new demon hovering around him? well–this might as well happen.]

‘Scuse me! I’m Father Argent, if we haven’t previously met. I know this is a little presumptuous and all, but it seems like most people could use a pick-me-up right now? So my friend over here and I have, well, arranged something. I hope you’ll indulge us today!

[and a little ripple of movement goes through the surrounding area, transforming it – the colours of this part of the pasture go pastel, and everything gets bubbly. rocks are now round and bouncy, the grass loses its edges and looks more like a carpet of fat succulents, fences look and feel kinda like pool noodles. you can bounce around without damaging anything, if you build up enough momentum, but even without doing that it’s just…nice to hang out on, soft and springy. there’s also some random clear spheres hanging here and there in the air, filled with small round crunchy snacks and drinks like popcorn, or pork rind and grain puffs, or gummies, or cold water, or weak beer. not enough to fill up on or really get drunk, but something to munch and keep you refreshed.

y’all are stuck here for a bit! and even if you’re not in immediate range or holed up indoors, you might feel the pull to come see what’s up – or simply be teleported into the ritual zone, in a bright popping flurry of bubbles.]

rules | turn-in | winners and prizes

Comments

[finalbows]

You should see Ultima.

[doggonemad]

Oh yeah? Is that, like, the biggest, most badass spell ya got?

[finalbows]

Levels structures like you'd crumple paper.

[doggonemad]

That's pretty cool. What's the trade-off? It take a fuckin' long time ta cast or somethin'?

[finalbows]

Oh, it takes a hideous amount of mana. Makes your very soul feel like it's been slapped atop a hot stove to use at full blast. I can do a toned-down one and offload some of the sheer cost into a longer cast, but that's not letting it be the "biggest, most badass spell I've got" anymore, is it.

[doggonemad]

Huhhh, so that's what it is. Guessin' "mana" is basically yer magical stamina, in layman's terms.

[finalbows]

Basically. Similar to muscles, but flows like blood... Can exercise to broaden your limits with it, get it back through rest, and you can take prepared stimulants to regain it when you've pushed it too far...

[ twirls his hand, to summon an eerie looking glow of purple, before letting it disperse.]

And you can steal it from someone else, with the right tricks.

[doggonemad]

So it ain't limitless. That's good ta know.

[finalbows]

[ gets a look like

aw, shit. you got him monologuing and revealed a potential weakness he normally fronts hard to make not immediately apparent ]

_{You sly dog...}

[doggonemad]

[ waves a hand, like he's not bothered by any of this. ]

Heh! Sorry, sorry. I'm tryin' ta learn more 'bout this shit. I got Zenith-han good last time we fought, but there's gotta be a better way ta counter magic shit. It prob'ly ain't universal, but I'm bettin' most magic users have some kinda limit like that. Would make sense, yanno?

[finalbows]

Mm... it's true. All energy comes from somewhere, whether we understand that somewhere, or not. Though in some cases, the cost has been long paid, for what - or who - is standing in front of you...

[ ...
does clover still have what he gave sonata? hm. ]

[doggonemad]

[ sonata never mentioned anything to him so.

welp. ]

Yeah. S'kinda the same with physical strength an' abilities too though, when ya think about it. I never looked at it like that 'til now.

[finalbows]

Then it's a great time to say the words, "Thank you, Angel Devil~."

[doggonemad]

I ain't thankin' someone fer casual conversation. But hey, tit fer tat, if there's somethin' ya wanna know, I'll see if I can answer it.