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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
Now then... he assumes that very plush-looking carpet is the thing he'll need to sew in addition to mending the hole in the floor. He hunches down to study the rug, running his fingers over the hole's scorched rim. Yeesh.
He's almost afraid to ask, but... he kinda has to, so—]
Know what material this rug's made out of? Is it natural fiber or synthetic?
[Now is not the time to silently intimidate him! He needs answers!!]
no subject
He does have the pelt of a beast from the woods just beyond the manor elsewhere in the room. Is he going to switch them out? Well, that's for him to know.]
Fixing my floor will be sufficient. I'm quite territorial, you see.
no subject
Why did you ask me if I can sew if you didn't want me to patch up the carpet?
no subject
Needless to say, Ithaqua considers them... lacking enough. He's not doing delicate work for this monster any time soon!]
Given your lack of ability with finer details, this is for the best, hm?
[He tosses the rug onto his bed and takes a seat in a dark corner of the room, barely visible except for the bone white of his mask and the bright blue dots of its painted eyes. It's a mere pile of cushions he's sitting on, but he loafs on them like a cat.]
no subject
[That's just as well. Akira has an appreciation for people who don't beat around the bush. Now then, as for this hole...]
...This one isn't too bad, seeing as you're on the fifth floor. I bet I could seal this up with magic pretty easily.
[Why lug a two-by-four up to the fifth floor and cut a larger hole in Ithaqua's floor to patch something this small? Unless this guy's that much of a stickler for every detail or a sadist, a magical solution should be good enough.]
no subject
[That is to say, he is being a sadist. In fact, he could be far more cruel than this, but Ithaqua knows he has to hold off on harming anyone in this manor because he has to work with them in one way or another.
Such self-control.]
Hard labour would be a suitable enough punishment for you for creating this mess in the first place, would it not?
no subject
Not if you're getting off on it. I'm not here to entertain you.
no subject
[Thus is his reasoning.]
After all, you don't look sorry enough.
no subject
Then excuse me while I gather some wood. You good with that?
[He'll have to go out and chop more himself, but he leaves that bit unsaid. The last thing he needs is this guy jeering at him while he carves up a new floorboard.]
no subject
So he cackles softly.]
Very well. But if you don't return within an hour, I'll go hunt you down myself.
no subject
Slowly, Akira straightens up, hands tucked into his pockets, expression carefully ironed smooth into something perfectly emotionless. No need to tip his hand here. He'll need the head start.]
Fair enough. I'll be back.
[Akira walks swiftly past Ithaqua without another word. An hour comes and goes and Akira still hasn't returned from the woods. Hmm.]
no subject
He's well acquainted with the forest surrounding the manor by this point, he already knows a good few spots that a silly little former human would be hiding in. Many of them like to be in trees, thinking a beast like him wouldn't be able to climb, others would look for a clearing... and then get themselves hopelessly lost. And that's how he tended to get his prey, back in his home forest. He'd stalk them to learn their patterns, then strike.
But this? One full of false courage and pride? He's fairly sure the idiot is just waiting for a chance.
That's why he just strides into the forest, acting uncaring.]
no subject
It's windy today. The leaves rustle, branches bend and yawn. Akira, perched up high, takes aim at Ithaqua's head and pulls the trigger, firing a concentrated ball of magic directly at him. No man who walks around with a big ol' ax over their shoulder is incompetent enough to take a bullet to the chrome dome and lose a fight before it starts. Where would the fun in that be, anyway?]
no subject
Before he can do anything else, he hears a sound that's definitely not part of the sounds of the forest, and immediately casts his usual spell to lighten his body, stepping aside in order to make a clean dodge. Which he then follows up by leaping into the nearest tree, stilts and all. (18)
Ithaqua looks around for the youth who just dared to shoot at him with that metal annoyance, and when he does, he cocks his head in silence for a moment. Then opens his arms, casting one of his favourite spells-- a column of wind that pulls anything not rooted to the ground towards him. It may or may not get stronger, the longer he keeps it up. (19)]
no subject
At he's he's adept at weaseling his way out of sticky situations, right? ...Right?
The wind snares Akira and whisks him right where Ithaqua wants him. Uh. Uhh. Fuck. Hold on, he's got a plan B—]
Oh, hey. Sorry, I got a little caught up gathering wood. Can you wait another hour?
[please don't shove the business end of that stilt up his ass, he'll be a good boy from now on,]
no subject
One more hour to gather wood? With what, your firearm? [He cocks his head, the motion entirely owl-like.] And you believe that I should leave you alone for the duration of said hour?
No, that will not do. You have exhausted my patience and good will, young man. You will be doing your work completely supervised.
By me.
no subject
I've been having second thoughts, actually, like "maybe I don't owe this guy anything. He's rude and weird and wears a lame mask."
[But is it actually lame? No. Akira's just bitter.]
What's your damage, anyway? I apologized for the hole in your floor. All you had to do in return was shut up and let me fix it and then we'd both go on our merry ways.
no subject
On the contrary, I think I have been quite fair. Most of the time, someone who ruined property would be killed-- and you ruined two of mine. I gave you a chance, just fix the floor, but you broke your word and ran.
[And man, isn't that a blow against him? With how petulant he's being, Ithaqua wonders if he has a lot of pride-- most likely. So many young men of that age do.
Speaking from experience.]
I've no sympathy for the false little tears from a liar and coward lacking in skill. Shall I tell everyone how you decided to go back on a promise? After approaching me first?