look at me, i'm the wound you tried to hide

[promittere]

ANDANTE ALLA WANING CRESCENT

Another day dawns for the Sage's wizards. It's been a month, now, since arriving in this world and being given a task nobody seems to fully understand—though after the jobs the Southern and Central wizards have taken on, it seems like it might just be possible after all.

And it seems like there's another task for the wizards, from the Eastern nation. However, unlike the other requests the Sage has been fielding, this task is far too big for five wizards alone. This is a task everyone will need to help tackle, whether they like it or not. Those that aren't particularly altruistic will still be whisked together by Tatara and Lazuli both, and they may still find the journey...illuminating. Answers to what happened to the original wizards may be just within reach.

Traveling via the elevator at the manor is familiar to some of you, at least, Lazuli setting a mana stone into the control not a surprise in a the slightest. The fact all of you can, somehow, fit in the elevator comfortably may be a surprise, but it's best not to dwell on it too much. You'll be staying at the City of Rain, Lazuli tells you with the air of someone reading you a court sentence, but you've been tasked with clearing up the site of some sort of disaster. He doesn't have much information beyond that—a fact that seems to greatly annoy him—and he warns you not to break any of the City of Rain's laws well before you're out of the elevator.

Which that shouldn't be too difficult, right? Right...?

Perhaps not, as the rules of the city are extreme. There are certain areas which forbid socialization and talking entirely, some areas where only talking to strangers is forbidden, only a handful of businesses allow chatter of any sort, and the list goes on. The most pressing law of all, though, is very simple: no use of any sort of magic within city limits. Do your best to follow the rules because breaking them will result in an arrest, and do you really want Lazuli and Tatara bailing you out? With the rules laid out and lodging sorted, Lazuli ushers you to the site you're tasked with dealing with. You will have downtime to explore the city, though, as it's expected to take several days to clear things up.

The site is a terrible, terrible mess. In what must have once been a peaceful patch of wilderness, there now sits a terrible gouge in the earth, several meters deep and twice as wide across, hollowed by what must have been a powerful force. The dirt is gray and sandy, dead in the manner the Southern wizards will recognize. Plants on the edges of the crater are dry and withered and splintered and broken. Permeating the air is a lingering dread, one both Southern and Central wizards will immediately recognize...

But it is clear now, now that your magic is considerably stronger, that the spirits are agitated by the disturbance in the fabric of magic. Dark clouds hang low over the site, and low thunder rumbles in the constant threat of a storm that will never come. The spirits' agitation, coupled with the dread hanging in the air, will feel uncomfortable, and perhaps leave the more sensitive of the bunch feeling on edge. This is not something that can will resolve on its own, so your most important task is to calm the spirits. That means doing the things they like: playing music, dancing, praying, telling stories, wearing fanciful and whimsical clothes to soothe their temperaments.

Your second most important task is to clear out monsters. The unusual energy in the air is attractive to beasts magical in nature—they slink out of their hiding places in the deep wilderness to the area, and their presence is threatening the humans who regularly use the nearby routes for trade and to commute. Kill them, take their mana stones for yourself. Win-win.

The third task is general clean-up. Remove the dead plants from the earth, remove the broken trees and any natural debris that might prove to be a hindrance. Characters are more than welcome to search inside the crater for any hint or clue as to what might have caused this strange explosion, but they'll find the site picked clean, earth having fallen into cavities where there might have been larger objects present at one point...like someone was here to clear out any evidence.

JOB BOARD

Reinforcement. Peace in Granvelle Castle has been restored. A liveliness and energy has returned to the castle and the surrounding parts of the city that hasn't been seen in nearly a month. Thank your Central friends for their hard work!

Their issues aren't quite resolved, however. The castle is asking for help in creating and then reinforcing a magical barrier around the castle. The barrier is a bit bigger than what one wizard alone is capable of at this point, so band together to create and reinforce what parts you can. Perhaps it's not a bad idea to use your own hair or blood as a conduit.

The type of barrier is specific, however—they want one that masks magical signatures. If you step inside, you'll feel a faint, but powerful presence within... What are they guarding?

Recycling. The Eastern country is known for its expertise in all things mechanical, particularly when it comes to clockwork. While not as bombastic or flashy as Western technology, the use of magic and mana stones being deeply frowned upon and rejected, Eastern artisans can create truly fantastical things just with gears and cogs and a bit of know-how... But, of course, sometimes it's better to scrap something and create something new than let the old items waste away, so some Eastern craftsman have asked for help gathering clockwork automatons and other creations in order to melt it all back down. Some of them seem a bit nervous and harried, but it's an easy enough job to scrap automatons and cart junk around.

Monster hunting. The few settlements in the North have been sending in frantic request after frantic request. There has been a disturbing increase in monster activity in the North, and the native Northern wizards are as unreliable as ever. They need your help in thinning the numbers, and that's all they really ask for—you can keep all the mana stones you earn.

For those of you who haven't been to the North yet, the weather is harsh, no matter the season. Protection on oneself to survive the negative degrees is crucial; make sure your magic is up to snuff enough to keep yourself at least room temperature. And using your magic to battle on top of that? This isn't going to be an easy job, not at your level. Be cautious, and good luck.

Mana areas & amulets. You've been here for a month now, and living in an unfamiliar place, alongside unfamiliar people, using unfamiliar magic must be wearing you down. Isn't it? In that case, it's time for the last piece of your wizardhood puzzle: your mana area.

Mana areas are spots where wizards feel most at peace with themselves, most whole, and a place where they can refill on the emotional load they've been chipping away at for their magic. It can be a specific location, or a conditional circumstance. Find more detail on the magic page. Your task—given to you by your sage and your mentor—is to traverse the continent, find your mana area, and recharge your batteries, so to speak. While there, make an amulet to take back with you, like a portable battery.

WANDERER TASKS

Listen to the spirits.

You've been here long enough that it's time to see if you can actually communicate with the spirits who've laid claim on you and have been empowering your spells. Try your listen and see if you can hear what they have to say to you.

OOC Note: For those attempting this task, ping one of the mods and roll a dice! Based on the dice roll, your character will get a little tidbit from the spirits... Or they might not hear anything yet, but they can always dedicate themselves to their studies and try again after leveling up!

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Don't make promises.

If you've made a promise, don't break it.

If you break a promise, you'll lose your magic. And I don't know if I can help you anymore or send you home if that happens. I'm sorry this is so late. But please...be careful.

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your third event! Everyone's lasted a month, congratulations! Keep working on your magic, keep forging those bonds.
🌙 As your characters settle into the world, they might find themselves irresistibly drawn to crowds, to music, to dancing. It's hard to resist the allure of a gathering, and it's hard to keep yourself from swaying to music when it fills your ears, no matter what sort of person you used to be. You're changing...
🌙 As we enter the second month, we are announcing a deadline for finding your pairs. This will be Friday, June 14 at 11:59 PM EDT. Remember, you may submit a guess at any time, and there is no penalty for getting a guess wrong, so long as you have a thread to back up your guess and consent from your partner. The pair page is here.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting on this post, as not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Next up for missions is East. Let's hope they don't have to talk to anyone for this one.

» NAVIGATION

Comments

[shortleash]

( —eyes narrowed, voice cold. )

How lucky do you feel, creature?

( He's not going to make a single move before he's absolutely certain of its outcome, and he's calculating his odds. But he absolutely seems keen enough to kill, without regard for the creature's vessel.

Not that he cares or anything (Ahito take note). )

[dyingtohealyou]

[Not that he cares or anything!!

There is a bit of blood at his neck from the graze of the knife though, and Mika can probably hear how wildly his heart is beating in his chest at all this.]

[shortleash]

( dw he will kill akira shortly which will happen to have the unrelated consequence of freeing ahito,

He glances tersely at Ahito, his senses acutely aware of the scent of his blood and the stress of his body, but glances back at Akira; the knife, especially when Akira speaks again. )

[jokey]

["Akira" can feel Ahito's heart hammering away and howls out a laugh.]

You should be asking yourself the same. Try me, vampire. I'll make mincemeat of you before you can so much as draw a second breath.

[shortleash]

( please hold as he watches (except doesn't actually because akira is faster than even can see tf) akira start blastin' and his expression hardens. what's worse than people he (doesn't) care about being in danger is them being in danger and he can't do anything.

...

He looks at Akira. )

What do you want from the rest of us. If you just wanted to kill, you clearly could have cleared us all out already.

( He's so mad but telling him off is not going to accomplish anything. )

[jokey]

[He shakes his head slowly from side to side. Poor, poor Mika. He'll never understand what might drive a man to such lengths... or does he?]

Even a wizard deserves a proper death. If you're that impatient, stand still while I take out your legs. That way, you won't have to fear your body betraying you to turn tail and run. You, too, deserve to burn.

[shortleash]

( ... )

I won't run.

( Firmly. Not out of fear, anyway. )

What did wizards do to you?

[jokey]

[oooh ahhhhh mika found the plooooot

The creature snarls, all but barking out in reply.]

They took from me that which meant the world! I can never forgive your kind— never, never, not for as long as I roam this earth!

[shortleash]

( my god do i try dot jpeg )

Right. And what was that that they stole? Is it something that can be brought back?

[jokey]

Were it so simple to bring them back, I would have no need to linger amongst your kind! What I've lost can never be returned!

[discomposer]

[ ?? What's even happening here. What if Leo decides to kind of be behind Mika for some of this because he's wandered out of mansion into chaos. He knows full well he has zero defense against a gun. ]

Michael, hey, what - ?

[shortleash]

( This sucks sooooo bad and not even in the sexy vampire way. Mika glances behind him and shifts slightly in front of him - he's pretty sure he can take some shots, but, considering his near decapitation incident, he knows this demon might just get lucky and kill him anyway. )

Some kind of possession. I don't know what kind. But don't be here.

( Get out!!!! )

[discomposer]

I don't wanna leave you all alone for this!

[ Granted, he's a lot less combat capable than some people here, but even so. Leo dithers, then uncaps his marker. ]

Here, lemme at least help strengthen your clothes or something. [ It's pretty quiet because he doesn't want to get too much attention from the Evil Akira Whatever. ]

[shortleash]

( He blinks when he hears the familiar sound of the marker uncap, hello??? He glances back, but only for a split second. This guy is - too empathetic for his own good. )

I can regenerate, so it doesn't matter. Just forget about me.

( True, but not totally true - he can regen, but a fatal hit will take him out, so. A little half truth. Just get to safety (not that he cares)...!!! )

[discomposer]

[ Empathetic, kind, selfless - Leo is a lot of things. He'll run from his friends only for their own good, not for his. He scoffs lightly, and there's light pressure on the back of Mika's collar.

He still finds writing with his marker is the easiest way to use his focus, murmuring under his breath. Transformation magic is a little trickier than illusions, but he's just going for "defensive fabric" here instead of usual. ]

Don't be an idiot. ♪ I already memorized your name, Mika, so I'm not able to forget about you. I can do at least this much.

[shortleash]

( Despite his objections, Mika will let him work - purse-lipped and tense as he is, standing defensive of Leo should this little guy end up the next target.

What he says gives him pause - Leo always seems to give him pause, really. He's so... )

... You need to think about yourself more, in a situation like this. Not fill your head with other people.

[discomposer]

Denied. ♪

[ He play acts at being a selfish tyrant King, but it's the furthest thing from the truth. Other people come first - they always have.

But he's still behind Mika when the marker comes free. ]

They should be able to turn a few blows at least. Hey, Mika, pretty as the moon - don't you dare get hurt, okay?

[lighthaus]

[ and yet they keep meeting like this. khun is right next to wherever tatara is, and he also would have already gone for beheading redux if it wasn't for the sage wishes otherwise. for now though, he has his priority and everyone else can deal with akira.

not that he cares about ahito or anything either (smh). ]

[shortleash]

( Mika glances at Khun, his expression hardly shifting - Khun's not a concern right now so long as he's on their side, and all signs suggest he is, for now. At least someone is on Tatara, though, since Tatara is metaphysically important.

Onxr Akira start's shooting people, his gaze shoots back to Akira and Ahito. )

... You two should leave.

( Him and Tatara, he means. )

[lighthaus]

I know. [ mika will recognize this tone, the flat one from that moonlit night. khun's ready to do whatever he has to, his lighthouse hovering in place by his shoulder. but that doesn't mean leaving unless that's what tatara wants to do, at least right this second.

things are not looking great but as always he's confident in his abilities. he'll give mika a gaze that's easy enough to read: he will absolutely get tatara out of here if the situation spirals irrevocably. no matter what. ]

[shortleash]

( There are dots Mika connects here, but they aren't important. What's important are these things: that Khun can be relied upon for this, and that he can be certain that this tone and gaze mean that Khun has committed to his course. This, Mika knows from experience (lol).

There is a simple and professional gaze of confirmation in turn - he understands the communication and acknowledges it and accepts it - and he looks back to the situation which is Just Getting Worse. Khun can do Khun, and he leaves that to him. )

[1145pm]

[ When Mika speaks up, Tatara looks between him, Khun, then back to him.

His attention has been on the conflict thus far, but he remembers the aftermath of this, and he puts his attention here to suss out the vibes.

Leave? No. He looks to Khun and shakes his head. He's seeing this through.

Mika will notice, though, Tatara smells (in the purely magical sense) of Khun. ]

[lighthaus]

[ the vibes are void! okay not really but also really. void is his natural state when he's intense like this, but it's easy enough to tell that the void is not directed at mika. they had talked about that and him and mika should probably talk about that too when things aren't all of This.

that aside, khun gives a short nod when tatara catches his eye, the blue in his eyes less hollow momentarily. he didn't ask because he was certain he already knew the answer and truthfully he would have been more alarmed if tatara agreed to leave. he's used to possession being because of parasites and microscopic people (don't ask) so he's not super sure how this whole ghost thing works.

he's here by his side and will continue to be here throughout the night beyond this terrible bonfire party. ]

[shortleash]

( )

mika update

[shortleash]

( Not only is all the stabbing and bloodshed triggering separate memories of traumatic childhood mass-murder events at once, and not only are a lot of the people getting stabbed people he likes that he's trying to be calm about, the more blood is spilt, the worse it rouses his hunger.

He won't enter a hunger frenzy thanks to the reinforced charm Wanderer put on him, but he's rubbing the scar on his neck and staying close - almost defensive of - the injured, swallowing hard, and starting to, well, breathe - something he only really does when he's either hungry or having a breakdown.

But he's not gonna cause any drama here, he's gonna suck it up and deal because there are people having worse days than him right now. Fuck it, we ball (negative). )