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

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.

» NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I appreciate the sentiment.

You're correct. I have. Not only for risk, but the fact that I am capable of handling the consequences of my choices, should they not work in my favor in the end.

Were this something that were to affect the whole of our mission more than myself, this would be a different discussion. But I know well how to listen to the instinct of my own magic.

[ And instinct here is important, especially when it comes to their magic. Although... ]

You speak like you're experienced with magic in general. Is the magic here similar to what you're already used to?

In ways, yes. The involvement of spirits, the way feelings can strengthen spells, the use of circles - that's all incredibly familiar.

Emotional involvement of this complexity is what's taken some getting used to. That, and just not being at the level I remember anymore.

[He chuckles as he lifts one particular pendant up, checking how it catches the light.]

It's like relearning my baby steps all over again.

Spirits don't exist in my world, so for me, this is adjacent to baby steps, I suppose.

[ Familiar but not all that familiar. It's a lot of relearning basic principles, but he can use the same training tactics for magic here, at least. ]

So, what was your level back home?

Experienced enough to have a reputation. [He smiles brightly.] You should ask Akira about it sometime.

[Sorry, Akira. Have fun with the additional chance to bullshit on his legacy.]

Though some ability can be gained with aptitude and study, some can also be born with the gift of magic outright, similar to this world and their wizards. That was the case for me.

[ His gaze snaps up to Solomon at the mention of Akira, but he doesn't say anything, merely acknowledging the suggestion with a nod. He'll probably ask at some point, but that's something to ponder over later. ]

Ah, so there are quite a few similarities for you. In my world, everyone is capable of using our equivalent to magic, though it's kept a secret. Only a small portion of the population knows about it.

[Given the reaction to the previous weekend, he knows they are at least friends at bare minimum, so Akira might be receptive to some storytelling of questionable variety. If not? Eh, Akira can come yell at him later. Not his problem (yet).]

It can be a wise decision. Especially if magic can lead to dangerous outcomes, keeping it contained to only those who need to know is ultimately better for the whole.

Ours is kept secret as well, even with the varying branches. The remainder of the world believes it to be legend, superstition, or the stuff of fairytales, though even that is a change from the past.

I think most in my world don't know about it at all, not even from legends.

[ He picks up another notepad, this one in a lot better condition. ]

But you're right, it's better to keep it contained. I like to believe in the good in others, but those that would use it for evil would find ways to master it quickly.

They definitely would.

I think humanity is capable of quite a lot, and deserves to make the choices for their own future. But that can only be done if they are not under the thumb of someone, or something, that means to snuff them out by pure power. Those that possess that sort of power have a responsibility in how they use it.

[To extend it to the everyday man, though? He does not want to think of the consequence that would bring. Humanity was scared enough of what was not part of their normal life.]

...It's good to hear you hold onto at least a bit of that optimism. Bitterness towards our common man can be warranted... but to expect it without reason never leads to anything but unnecessary suffering, whether it be others or towards ourselves.

I've seen a lot of kindness in the world, and I'd like to think that it can prevail over cruelty someday.

[ It could be wishful thinking or excessive optimism, but he truly does believe it.

He flips through the notepad, taking in the quality of the pages. ]

The way you speak of humanity is interesting, you know.

[ Their capabilities, their choices... it's as if Solomon is speaking separately from himself here. ]

So long as it's given the space to grow, then yes. I'd have to agree.

[His eyes flick to Kurapika's choices. Something tactile, something to record. Perhaps that was a way to connect, to leaving behind another mark? The written word was a good start.]

Mm? Well, people are an interesting thing to speak about. I'd hope that would come across pretty clearly.

I would just assume most would use words like "we" rather than speaking of humanity as a separate thing.

[ He tucks the notebook under his arm—it's a contender, at least for now. ]

Unless you've already gotten used to being human-adjacent in our time here.

Not quite. You can just call it force of habit, if you want.

[Dissatisfied with the selection he's found so far, Solomon carefully closes up the display box. If the memory he needs didn't come to mind at the sight, then he doesn't think it will have the correct effect...]

The magical has never been something well accepted. So I don't want to take my experience alone to account for the whole, unless I mean to represent it.

The whole is what I care about more, after all.

The whole? Do the little parts not matter to you much?

[ Quite a few Hunters are like that, so Kurapika wouldn't be particularly surprised. Though... it would be an interesting contrast to the scrutiny with which Solomon examined that display box. ]

Mm. Humanity as a species.

It's not that the little things don't matter. Far from it. I just know what has to be my priority.

[There is only so much he can give of himself when he constantly moves at a pace that the rest of mankind will never match.

He'll gesture them to head further into the shop, a collection of small bells adorning one shelf. Quaint, and a little hilarious given how strict this place is about sound.]

And... well, I guess I enjoy seeing the broader picture of possibility, just as much as I like seeing individuality.

[ Kurapika moves to pick up one of those bells, carefully sliding it onto his palm so it doesn't ring out into the shop. It's small and a distinct red, the kind that pulls him in. ]

I see. [ He glances over at Solomon. ] You'd rather not get lost in the minutiae of every single person's decisions.

[ At least, that's his interpretation. ]

I'm the opposite, in that regard.

That's a good way to put it, yes.

[If he took the time for that sort of finery, even just for the people he'd met over the millenia, then he doesn't know if his heart would be able to handle the burden of it.

The color is a striking one, a bold choice for someone so put together on the surface. While Solomon regards it, his own attention turns to one the color of pearls, slightly see-through with the carving of a shell on its handle. He removes it carefully, letting the thumb of his other hand pin down the hammer so that freely turning the object in his hand is as quiet a process as possible.]

Do you mean as far as the individual being something more precious than the larger picture? Why is that?

[ Solomon likes the calmer colors, doesn't he? That seems to be the case, given what he's been drawn towards so far. ]

Little actions can build up into much bigger things. One small decision can cause the collapse of a nation. I've always found those little decisions, those small actions, to be fascinating.

Is this coming from the perspective of a professional, or something a little more personal?

[He knows his own answer would differ, even now.]

Hmm... you could say I have the same perspective for both, but for different reasons.

[ He sets the bell back down on the display, gently so that it doesn't make a sound. ]

Being a successful bodyguard means that you have to take account for why your clients take the safety measures they take. Are they paranoid? Do they have a lot of enemies? Are they easily manipulated? Assuming one wrong thing can mean their death.

A practical approach, then. [He nods, a shallow motion as he looks Kurapika back over with a more discerning eye. That he's in a bodyguard role fits the puzzle piece of combat and secrecy in one easy description, whether it's a pseudonym for something else or not.] I would think that's wise. There's only so much protection you can provide if you do not know your client's circumstances just as well as your client themselves.

But in the same vein, there has to be a line drawn somewhere. To bring yourself in too deep could jeopardize just as much as a foundation of assumptions.

You're right. It can. That's why I rarely form attachments with my clients.

[ Rarely. There's always an exception, of course, and Kurapika won't lie about that. ]

[Rarely, he says. It makes perfect sense to a deep part of the older wizard's heart, even beyond the practical.]

Does the world ever start to feel distant, the longer you do that? Or do you find attachments to keep the world precious to you outside of your clients?

Edited 2024-05-14 04:00 (UTC)

[ Wow, going right for it, is he? Kurapika shoots Solomon a half-hearted glare. ]

Does it really matter?

[ He's beginning to come around on the idea of forging connections and attachments in earnest, but he'd like to poke and prod at Solomon's thoughts anyway. ]

It depends who you ask, I guess. But I would say it does.

[He holds the bell in his hands up with an extremely delicate touch. There's caution and tension, a strange sort of reverence taken, as though acknowledging how something so small and delicate could change the current mood within a heartbeat.]

Feelings are one of the most powerful things a person can rely on. Even outside this new realm of ours, what makes a life account to "living" without the feelings that shape it?

Edited 2024-05-14 04:35 (UTC)

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

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