promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] 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.

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.
1145pm: (pic#16970050)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-07 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
That one!

[ Tatara's only 5'7", so Day's extra five inches are a huge help. He stands on his tiptoes, pointing at a bottle with a pink label that's hidden behind two nice bottles of wine. ]

Can you get it for me! Please!
troublereduction: (day96)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-07 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He'll take it as directed, though he tries to look at the label to see if he can figure out what it is before handing it over to Tatara. ]

Here you go.
1145pm: (pic#16970046)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-07 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ As Day hands it off, he'll see the label: plum wine. ]

Ta-da! [ And Tatara holds it up in the air, like he's found a precious treasure. ] It's your favorite, Day! Want a glass?
troublereduction: (day60)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-07 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ! ]

Where'd you get it? Of course I want a glass!
1145pm: (hehe im jk)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-07 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't get it. You got it! [ hehe ] I couldn't reach it...

[ He just spotted it up there, hiding and hidden away.

He points to the seats in front of the counter again, reminding Day of his role in this charade. ]


Take a seat, sir! Your order'll be right up!

[ Just give him a minute to get Day's drink ready! ]
troublereduction: (day121)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-07 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, Day gets it. He slides on back to take a seat by the bar, waiting patiently for his drink. ]
1145pm: (pic#16970045)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-08 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ Good baby wizard!

Tatara starts pouring the plum wine into a surprisingly appropriate glass. Maybe there's a little more in there than should be, but he slides it over to Day with a bright smile. ]


Let me know how it is.
troublereduction: (day05)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-08 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Please Tatara he's still technically older than you.

But Day takes the glass with a smile himself, and sips from it. ]


...Hehehe, this is pretty good stuff.
1145pm: (pic#16970055)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-08 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ And Tatara goes back to his smoke, but with a little cough. How on earth did Kusanagi stand this stuff... ]

Is it? [ He beams! ] Oh, good! That's the only bottle I could find, so I wasn't sure what I'd do if you didn't like it!
troublereduction: (day16)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-08 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Where'd you find it, anyway?
1145pm: (pic#17103096)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-08 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Where you just got it from.

[ Hehe! ]

I was looking around after our last chat, just out of curiosity. I didn't think there'd actually be a bottle, but there it was! I just couldn't reach it.
troublereduction: (day63)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-08 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, we ought to thank whoever was runnin' the bar 'fore this, then. [ As though they'll have the chance to. ]
1145pm: (pic#16970045)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-09 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara chuckles along. ]

I hope we get to.

[ There's a somber tint to his tone when he says that. If he's worried, he doesn't often show it, but. It seems they're on the same page here.

...

After a beat, Tatara grabs a glass and pours a bit of plum wine for himself. ]
troublereduction: (day82)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-09 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah. Day watches Tatara pour a drink for himself, his own expression neutral. ]

You doin' okay, Tatara?
1145pm: (pic#16970047)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-10 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I'm okay. [ Said in a way that suggests he really is, but could be better.

He sniffs the plum wine, blinks, then takes a little sip. ]


I sincerely hope the previous wizards are going to be okay.

[ He doesn't worry, but he does hope. ]
troublereduction: (day16)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-10 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That seems to be true for a lot of people here, these days. Day takes another sip from his own glass. ]

You met them 'fore they disappeared, yeah? Mind telling me more 'bout them? Anyone you feel like talkin' 'bout.
1145pm: (pic#16970052)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-11 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara nods as he takes another sip. He only knew them for a couple of weeks, but— ]

I guess I was just thinking about the guy who'd usually mix drinks here. [ He looks into his glass, then back at Day. ] He was like, an adult. And I don't mean grown up, I mean adult. I thought...man, you could really lose yourself trying to talk to this guy.

[ He takes another sip, contemplative. ]

I think that was the first time I thought that wizards could be really dangerous, y'know?
troublereduction: (day55)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-11 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ...Why does that sound so familiar. Oh, right, that could describe at least a couple of people in the Division of Serenity. Like Rethabile, or Silence when they're in the mood to hang around in their adult form for a change. ]

I think I get what you mean? The kinda person who's somehow intoxicatin' to talk to. Perfectly nice person, still makes you feel like if you somehow got on their bad side then there ain't no comin' back from that?
1145pm: (pic#17103097)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-11 07:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, like that!

[ Tatara was charmed by Mikoto because Mikoto was Mikoto, but Shylock's sheer charisma was simply impossible to ignore. And Tatara has absolutely no sense of danger, so perhaps that says something. ]

That, and it was like he could talk you into something you'd never agree to normally. It was kinda scary...

[ He thinks, then looks at Day curiously, head tilted. ]

You know someone like that, too?
troublereduction: (day74)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-11 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
A couple of someones. [ Said with the kind of face where it's hard to say if he's recalling them fondly or inwardly grimacing a little...

...Well, it's probably fine to tell Tatara a little more. ]


Some of my senior colleagues are really good at that sorta thing.
1145pm: (pic#16970047)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-11 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Colleagues? Multiple?

[ Tatara looks at Day, both amused and surprised. ]

How do you even survive at work?
troublereduction: (day15)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-11 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Multiple. [ Unfortunately. This time he doesn't really take a sip so much as he takes more of a gulp. ]

And I survive only by their mercy and the fact I ain't in office all the time.
1145pm: (pic#16970045)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-12 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't imagine what it'd be like if you had to be around them all the time.

[ Tatara tries to imagine six Shylocks, and having to work in an office (?) with all of them, plus overtime. That sounds...interesting!

As he sips on his plum juice, a thought occurs to him. ]


What is it you do anyway, Day?
troublereduction: (pic#17020440)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-13 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Prob'ly dead from embarrassment?

[ Or dead from something else, anyway.

...He pauses for a long moment, wondering if he should answer Tatara honestly—telling Yamato was one thing (and a big deal to Day, personally), but Tatara is both a friend and the Sage. Should he know...? ]


My answer's prob'ly gonna sound a little out there. [ Forewarning. ]
1145pm: (kneel before me peasants)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-05-13 11:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara laughs out loud at that. Him too, probably! He's lucky he was the weirdest person in Homra.

At Day's disclaimer, he just tilts his head. ]


One of your fellow wizards is over five thousand years old. [ He shrugs. ] It's probably not as weird as you think.

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