[Video]

[weremongoose]

[Barabas appears on the video -- fully clothed, thank you -- with a sedate expression, cordial enough. Bright red hair is less styled than he'd prefer it (his kingdom for decent hair product, really) but he still looks sharp, put together. He's set his watch somewhere so that he's in fame, seated at a table, from about the chest up, hands folded in front of him.]

Hello. I've already met some of you, but for those of you I haven't had the pleasure of encountering yet, my name is Barabas. Everyone seems fairly alive, which is better than the alternative. There's a new vacation spot in town, complete with an off-brand Loch Ness Monster. What more could anyone ask for?

[He spreads his hands.]

As... charming... as this place is, there is a disturbing lack of information infrastructure. Even Astoria doesn't quite seem to be able to keep track of who is coming and going at all times -- since the last bunch of us were apparently unexpected guests. I don't exactly find that reassuring. It does not make me feel warm and fuzzy.

[At all.]

In that vein, I think we should address this, put in place some way to keep track of who is here, who is no longer here, the abilities we each possess. [He ticks these items off on his fingers.] And a collection of information of the places that Astoria has sent us, and the general outcome of each trip. And really any other useful things to know, for all of us, and those who may be brought here in the future.

[A smile now, no teeth, but still pleasant.] Sadly, I'm only one man, so I suppose what I'm looking for is twofold:

First, would anyone be willing to help gather and compile this data?

Second, those of you who've been here longer than I have, perhaps we can chat about your experiences.

Comments

[resistivity]

( ... okay that's actually pretty reasonable, clothing is in pretty short supply here. mako waits politely while he turns himself back into a human, and then, because... well, turnabout is fair play —)

I'm a firebender back home. Earthbender here. It's a way of manipulating elements.

[weremongoose]

Interesting. In my world, we'd likely call you a mage of some sort. Firebugs aren't uncommon. We had... a run in with a few elemental magic users recently.

[Not a good run in. But such is life in post-shift Atlanta. But either way, in his head, Mako, you are a firebug now. It makes sense in his head, and that isn't true near as often with things hear.]

So... a bender. What sort of things can you do with this bender...ing?

[resistivity]

It's not magic.

( it's just an idle correction. he considers nothing about bending to come from magic. to the rest... he'll just give a general account of firebending in general rather than anything specific to him. (sorry, barabas) )

Firebending doesn't have many applications beyond the obvious. Fire manipulation, heat control. The higher level masteries are lightning and combustion bending. Explosions. Earthbending... depends on the terrain and where you are, but you could build roads, stop a landslide, that sort of thing. Some can also bend metal.

( and lava, but. as much as he likes to brag about his brother being awesome, he's also not going to rub in the fact that bo's not really an earthbender right now. )

[weremongoose]

Not where you're from, perhaps.

[But it would be considered magic as much as anything else in Barabas' world; magic ran the spectrum of everything from chanting and invocations to viruses that altered the human body.]

But that is interesting. Very versatile. Has learning a new version of it been challenging, or do the skills transfer?

[His nose wrinkles.] I feel like I'm learning to ride a bike all over again with the change in my ability. I can't manage a warrior form anymore. Or well, yet.

[resistivity]

( he's not going to argue, although he definitely could. he's learned it's better not to fight this sort of thing, just wave it off. korra would probably make a joke about how much like a waterbender he can be. )

I got lucky — I grew up with an earthbender, so I already came into it knowing most of the forms and ways it can be applied to combat. It'd be harder for someone without that history.

( it doesn't hurt that he's an exceptional athlete and bender to begin with, but. he's not going to brag. he's not as arrogant as he used to be. mostly. )

... Okay, but how can a. Mongoose? — have a warrior form? Is it bigger?

( does it terrify enemies with its cuteness?? help. )

[weremongoose]

So what you've been able to see and observe helped. That's good at least, so you aren't starting from zero. And we have had some extended time to explore our abilities while we're here. Apparently this stay at the Temple is longer than previous ones, probably due to the illness.

[Because from what Barabas has heard, people have definitely needed every edge their ability can give them where they've wound up.]

Bigger, stronger. Warrior forms are half-forms, so part human, part beast. Admittedly, mine is not quite as formidable as a werelion or a werebear or even a werewolf, but... it serves its purpose. Also I can speak in my warrior form, which is helpful. Not all shapeshifters are capable of a warrior form though, so whether I'll be able to learn one again is a question.

[Hey now. Mongooses regularly eat cobras for breakfast. They're adorable and crazy. And Barabas in particular is a mongoose raised by hyenas, who are far crazier.]