You're From The Isle If Anybody Asks

[missrecalled_mods]

First Awareness

Those used to this by now probably knew what it meant when they felt their magic return for a moment. For the rest, suddenly their powers were back. Just for a few minutes, but a lot could be done in a few minutes. If the person even noticed their powers were back, that is.

Of course those on the shore might have seen the hazy indistinct shape through the barrier coming closer, might have seen the moment the hole in the barrier opened. Might have seen King Ben leading people down a gangplank through the barrier with crates of supplies....

Unions, Re And Otherwise

Once the supplies were unloaded, the barrier was sealed up again. King Ben seemed to be in charge during the unloading, Once the barrier was closed again, by the green magic streaming from the Queen's finger, it was Mal who seemed to be in charge.

"Alright, listen up. We have 2 hours and the clock is ticking. I'm not FG but we're keeping to a deadline anyway. If you want to come to Auradon or know someone you want us to bring back, you have 2 hours to convince us. You and everyone else, sharing the same 2 hours. Along with anyone who has a supply request for our next visit, or updates. Those of you bringing supplies to the school, time to get cracking. Two hours passes faster than midnight at the ball."

Those Who Left

(Please TL Here for boat and Auradon Shenanigans. TY)

Those What Remain

Once those going back to Auradon had left and the barrier was back in place, it was for those who remained on the Isle to sort the supplies and figure out how to get done everything that needed to be done with the people that remained.

Comments

[mist_the_point]

"Aye," he said, though his tone showed that he was mildly suspicious of the motive behind her question. "The only other area of somewhat open land we have access to is the beach, and no amount of work will make that appropriate for growing crops, even if we didn't have to fear them being swamped by an unusually high tide."

[thinking_about_it]

"There are some saltwater crops that do well, but I don't know if anyone has seeds for them. Alright then, this is where I can help."

"By digging," Grey said, firmly. "by planting."

Cassidy nodded. "That too. And the Queen's Gift." She turned to Foulques. "May I borrow a clean knife?"

[mist_the_point]

"Unlikely," he said. "I have only the popotoes that came from the plants brought from Auradon, and some midland cabbage seeds. Well I suppose faerie apples would be a viable crop as well, but only if one has several years to wait, and we do not."

His eyes narrowed at her request, mild suspicion turning deeper. "For what purpose?" Surely she didn't mean to do what it sounded as though she meant to...

[thinking_about_it]

"The thing that makes a Queen a Queen, far more than any ability to rule is the Queen's Gift. Our power, offered through our blood to help heal the Land, and help new plants to go. It is a ritual usually done in Spring during the planting, but it is clearly needed now."

"We have no way to heal you with the barrier up, no way to even put a shield over the wound to keep it clean. No, Cassidy."

"The Land needs it, Grey! you know how important the Land is."

"Yes, and I also know how important you are," he snapped. "Even if you don't."

[mist_the_point]

...Alright, as it turned out, she intended to do exactly what it sounded like. "While the sentiment is appreciated," he said, "there are less... hazardous ways to improve poor soil. And ones that are far easier to repeat, should the need arise."

"We plan to plant the parts of fish that we don't eat- or ones that are simply too small to be worth putting in the pot- along with the seeds and sowing popotoes. Tis a technique that's been used for centuries in my own world and is quite effective."

[thinking_about_it]

"Of course, the ritual should never be instead of proper care. It is in addition," she said, nodding.

[mist_the_point]

"You misunderstand me," he said. "Your ritual will not be occurring, with or without other measures. I said that neither of you would come to harm here, and that includes by your own hand. While I understand your intent, this is a gift I must decline."

[thinking_about_it]

She looked so frustrated. "It's not harm. I'll be fine," she insisted.

"Like that time in Eyota?"

"I learned my lesson, I know what I did wrong then and you know it, Grey," she snapped. "You think Lucivar didn't make sure of it? Or Karla."

"Then you should prove you learned the lesson by listening to people who are being reasonable!"

"Karla agreed to teach Rehyana if I didn't."

"That's different, clearly she was being stubborn sheep."

"Why do I ever bother arguing with males?" she snarled. "You just change things to whatever you want it to have been!"

[mist_the_point]

He cleared his throat in a very deliberate way to interrupt their argument. "Regardless of lessons learned or anyone's opinion on their opposite gender," he said, "the fact remains that I will not allow this ritual to occur. While I understand that the offer was made out of kindness and with good intent, it is both unnecessary and needlessly hazardous. Our own techniques for fertilizing the soil will suffice."

[thinking_about_it]

"It isn't really hazardous, I know what I did wrong last time and how to do it right. Grey has even seen that."

[mist_the_point]

"And it will still not be occurring," he said. "So unless you intend to wrest a knife from me by force- which I frankly doubt that you could in your current state-, I suggest you let go of the idea."

And with that, he proceeded to change the subject, indicating even more firmly that no argument would convince him. "Knowledgeable as you are of plants however, I believe you're the correct person to give these to." He pulled two small pouches of seeds from a larger pouch on his belt. "Lavender and Windlight seeds. They were in my inventory, which I had the presence of mind to dump out at the end of the previous visit from the mainland, intending to sort the contents later, but they're little to no use to us here. Particularly the Windlight; I'm not certain they could even grow properly in an environment without magic."

[thinking_about_it]

Cassidy held her hands out for them, noticing the side step but letting it go for now. "Lavender I am familiar with, but I do not know Windlight. Can you teach us?"

[mist_the_point]

He nodded, handing them over. "Windlight is among a special class of plants," he said. "While all plants draw on their environment to grow and thrive, Windlight and similar plants are particularly adept at channeling aether, which they then convert to a particular elemental alignment. As the name implies, Windlight converts the aether it takes in to be Wind aspected."

"This aether is, to some degree, in all parts of the plant, and thus do the leaves sometimes find use in medicinal teas and the like. There was an old woman I knew as a child who swore by a tea containing dried Firelight leaves to get her through the colder moons of the year, for example. But their true value is shown when they are allowed to reach maturity and to blossom, for their buds open to reveal not flowers, but crystals; concentrated shards of magical energy aspected to their own particular element that are useful for any number of things."

"Provided, of course that they are grown in an environment where there is sufficient aether to be had. And tended by one who has sufficient knowledge of botany to see to their needs; they are a plant that tends to need careful cultivation, and while they can grow wild in places that already possess high concentrations of aether in their particular element, they seldom thrive there. Hence why I expect that they will be in good hands with you."

[thinking_about_it]

She took the seeds and frowned after a moment then sighed. "Do I even have pock... ah." she found a pocket and slipped them carefully inside. And listened.

"We're both generally good with plants, but I have never heard of aether... so I am not sure how to provide it. I also admit I am uncertain what you mean by magical elements...."

[mist_the_point]

"You might know it as either 'magic' or 'life energy'," he said regarding aether. "And so long as the environment outside of the Isle has sufficient of it to draw on, you shouldn't need to provide any extra to the plants. They will require careful tending and attention to get the best result however; they do not thrive in the wild because much of their energy must be put toward simple survival. In a well tended garden, protected from harsh weather, given water and fertilizer as needed, and kept clear of weeds they are free to concentrate more aether into their buds."

"As for the elements, I'm perhaps not the best one to explain such things, as I'm neither a mage nor a scholar, but I will do my best. There are six elements magic can take on: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Ice, and Lightning. And likewise each has two possible polarities: Astral and Umbral. Astral polarity is characterized by activity, growth, excitement, and chaos, while something of an Umbral polarity is characterized by the opposite: passivity, stasis, stoicism, and stability."

"These aspects and polarities exist all across the natural world and in every living thing. In living things and people they tend toward an equilibrium, but in certain plants, creatures, or places, one or another holds sway. The Windlight is one example of this; it is naturally aspected to Wind and leans slightly to the Astral polarity, which allows it to grow as it does."

Please excuse the lack of Grey icons

[thinking_about_it]

"This is fascinating," Grey said. "And we've never heard anything like it. Do you have any books that we can study on the topic?"