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lunaecalamitas2024-05-04 01:06 pm
promittere) wrote in lunaecalamitas2024-05-04 01:06 pm
look at me, i'm the wound you tried to hide
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.
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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
He opens his mouth to protest - but decides now is not the time for arguments, either. Defeated by his own sense of reason... )
... I don't plan to, so you - stay out and out of harm's way. We don't need another casualty, okay?
( But once all is said and done (sorta), Ahito tossed aside and Mika delivering him to Bruno - and several others getting stabbed and injured, Mika looks stressed and depressed and he's breathing pretty hard. Hunger and residual trauma is pretty stressed... But he's keeping an eye out, still, for Leo and the injured so people don't go from hurt to dead. )
no subject
But yeah, Mika looks like he's going through it. ]
Hey, are you gonna be okay? Do you need to eat after this? [ Leo is just fingers crossed there's an after and this calms... ]
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... Do you really think it's normal for someone to see all this and feel hungry?
( A statement said with full contempt and derision - toward himself. His appetite, unfortunately, has been fully whet, so yeah, he does - but he hates it, and that resentment builds on him on top of everything else. )
I'm no better than that thing doing this to everyone.
no subject
[ Sorry, Mika, Leo definitely doesn't have the same view point as usual...instead he sounds mildly confused. ]
I mean, if all this blood were coffee, I'd probably feel pretty hungry...? You can't help what it is you eat.
[ Leo tilts his head to the side, green eyes examining Mika carefully. ]
And we're gonna have to do the thing where we totally disagree again, 'cause I think you're way better than that thing. Didn't you just spend this time protecting all of us, humans and all?
no subject
... I just can't find it in me to forgive myself.
( A raw but honest answer - stripped away of dialectic and pretension of ethics, it is, ultimately, his own resentment he struggles with, before anyone else's.
He closes his eyes, for a moment. )
... I don't know why I tried to protect anyone else here, either. Maybe my reasons were selfish, and I just don't realize them yet. You shouldn't be so quick to assume the best.
no subject
[ Leo shifts, uncrossing his arms as he looks around, not anxious but kind of restless. ]
There's things I'll never forgive myself for as well, you know. But dwelling on those things - punishing myself for them. What good will it do anyone? The people dearest to me in all the world always yell about it whenever I get stuck. They're not here now to tell me not to die, that they want me in this world - but I hear their voices all the same.
[ He doesn't get it even now at his worst moments, but Leo does know they'd argue with him like he's needling Mika. He kind of misses it. ]
They've forgiven me; I can't forgive me - but the end result is still the same. There's people who want you in the world, so...try living in it? That's the answer I came up with, back then, now.
no subject
It'll never not feel weird to not be - isolated in his worries; to find people who have shared his experience, or close enough, to phrase things in a way he understands, somewhat. )
... Living is so exhausting.
( And he was so relieved to be done with it, when his time came. And yet - he doesn't say this as a complaint, but a resignation. It exhausting, and yet: )
... But I can't leave those people behind, either. ( These people here who, like Leo, tell him to try, and forgive him anyway. ) Even though I shouldn't care...
( ... he's kept trudging through life again, anyway; at least, so far.
... )
Has it been worth it?
( Living in the world, when you can't forgive yourself, just because people want you in it. )
no subject
How to explain? “Yes” or “no” isn’t close to enough. ]
Almost two years ago, I ran away. I destroyed what I loved most with my own hands; I crushed those dreams and stained myself with their blood, all because I thought it would make him smile at me again, but it didn’t work. No matter how much I fought, even though I was willing to destroy Yumenosaki and the entire world if he would just~ smile~ for me one last time...I broke, in the end. It was all too much, you know? I hurt people, but I never wanted that. I crushed him with the weight of my love, and I never wanted that either. I misunderstood everyone’s feelings and thought we were friends - but only I was thinking that way - and the two who told me again and again I was only being used.
So I ran away, and I only came back when it was time for them to cut off my head so they could live happily ever after. I was going to leave that stage and my blood would pay back everything I took from them, from everyone. I thought that was how it ought to go - the world without my melody would sound sweeter, surely. But - there’s this snot nosed kid, you know. Is it treasonous to say that? Maybe.
[ Leo’s arms spread wide, like he’s trying to encompass an idea that can’t be put into words, though he’s trying. Was it worth it - has it been worth it - ? ]
That child who never saw war, Knights’ sweetest member, he ordered me to stay. Sena called me Leo-kun again like he used to, and sometimes he smiled. Naru made a peaceful mood for all of us to relax in. Rittsu laughed at me. It was hard! It was so hard to stand together with them, but it was also the easiest thing! It hurt, it hurts, but their smiles are my most precious treasures. All my songs are written for their voices! I’ve asked them, again and again - without me, wouldn’t it be...?
If they ever said it’d be better if my life ended, I’d end it for them. So of course when they tell me they’d be sad if it did I’ll live it for them. Can you really be willing to sacrifice if it’s only your death and not also your life, if that’s demanded of you? I don’t know yet.
But if they’d let me fall the first time there’s too many things I wouldn’t have gotten to see. As hard as it is, as much as it hurts - it’s always, always worth it to me. I love them more than anything in the universe. I always have. It always grows, breath by breath! If I’d died I wouldn’t have gotten to go and see the fireworks with them, and we wouldn’t have had that picnic at night viewing flowers just because I wanted to. If I hadn’t tried to live for them I wouldn’t have seen them all smiling and crying on the same stage ‘cause no one wanted to say goodbye, ever.
So…yeah. Of course it’s been worth it. Because I’d do anything for them, yeah, but…also because they’ve burned the sound of their love into the score of the cosmos. It’s what my stars turn on. ♪
finally wrangles my attention span
He wonders vaguely that, if in some other universe, he could have made peace with Yuu's friends, and they could have been ... friends to him, in a sense, too; maybe not so dear as Leo's are to him, but something near it, something halfway. But he pauses that thought before it concludes. It doesn't matter. They weren't close, and they existed for Yuu, and Yuu existed for Mika, but he existed for so many others, too. He was everyone's sun.
But Mika knows he would kill for his smile, too, even knowing Yuu didn't need him - even though knowing that hurt. )
... You're lucky.
( He says this finally, without resentment or accusation, and knowing it's perhaps cruel to say this to someone who just unraveled their hardships - but Mika is sincere. )
... I've seen a lot of things and I've met a lot of people, but I don't think... I've met very many who are loved so much. Can love so much. It's always... just one or the other.
( Where Leo started, in short: loving but not being loved in return. But he sometimes broke through and found - people who would care for him all the same.
He could see why. Clumsy and strange as Leo can be, he has this natural charisma; this sincerity of being, that - even Mika understands, with his dulled heart. It's probably love deserved, reserved for people like Leo - not people like Mika.
Though, he can't... argue he's entirely alone, anymore. And perhaps that's what keeps him from being so bitter about Leo's life turning up where Mika's has not. )
longer tags can be hard
[ At least - he knows it isn't easy. He just said that, didn't he? Because...none of it was ever easy. Except when it was. Caring about them was always the thing that came easiest, but even that was always the hardest thing in the universe when it came down to it...but worth it...?
He sighs. ]
But I think the people here are all pretty nice, Mika. So - haven't you been meeting all kinds of different people by now?