lunae calamitas mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
promittere) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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
Most cannot handle the pressure indeed.
[ A hum of consideration, recalling some of the even younger folks have dealt with great pressures for their age, however. ]
Though, I can believe you could conceivably handle some great burdens, given you seem to have extensive experience with the supernatural, even if it may not exactly match my own. Which reminds me...what reason do you usually have to contract [ Which he interprets from 'promise' and discussion thus far is what it is... ] with spirits and demons? I doubt you simply do it for fun.
no subject
[Will he insist upon hearing the answer anyway?]
no subject
[ Jing Yuan simply says, but something in his tone seems to indicate that his amusement levels and curiosity have suddenly increased. ]
Even so, what is it?
no subject
[But of course he is. Akira snorts.]
I fight crime and societal injustice with them. What else?
[He doesn't expect Jing Yuan to believe him, so his delivery reads like a joke.]
no subject
[ He says that, in a jocular manner.
As for the words spoken as so happens to be perhaps like a joking delivery in return, he thinks back to the other's previous words, then the way Akira seemed quick to apologize.
Two incidents have occurred; the responses in each are like night and day. He smiles again. ]
There are other ways they can be used for indeed. Do you have others who support you in your efforts? And I do not mean the individuals you made contracts with.
no subject
Yeah. I have a lot of good people behind me back home. If it hadn't been for them, I wouldn't have gotten far. Hell, I probably wouldn't be here right now either.
no subject
Ah, that's good.
While it is true for this in general, it is also especially true when pursuing endeavors of a certain magnitude, that having those who you can rely on is certainly invaluable.
no subject
no subject
I do have a number of allies that I can expect support from.
Otherwise, I would certainly have to rely simply on what I have at my disposal in the most minimal of ways.
[ Imagine...making enemies out of different departments. Well, it is not impossible. Jing Yuan has seen it. Politics suck. ]
Ultimately, without collaboration between others, we cannot hope to conquer the most fiercest of threats. That being said, how was it you came to know your friends? Incidental meetings, or was it in the midst of your activities in fighting for the sake of justice?
no subject
Some of it was incidental, some of it was coincidental. One way or the other, I'd call it fate.
[And if Jing Yuan thinks the often jovial, laidback Akira is joking about that, he isn't. He continues, clearly serious.]
We didn't all start off as friends, either. There was friction between some of us and another who never came to trust us at all. But despite that, we all worked together because we wanted the same thing, and working together tightened the bond between us.
Except for that one guy I mentioned. He hated our guts from start to finish.
no subject
Fate, hm? It doesn't sound wrong to describe such instances of meetings like the way you have. One of my allies...Fu Xuan, the Master Diviner, likely would also agree with that assessment.
[ Rarely is fate ever so kind. But when it is, one can say that an individual or many people can stand to reap the benefits. And that is something he can understand well enough. ]
Ah, is that so? It sounds like quite the pity, to have not had one working with you end up retaining those sorts of feelings towards you all, even if the rest ended up eventually moving past that sort of friction.
Why is it he never managed to get past that hatred and distrust? If he were working with the rest of you for so long, and felt so strongly against all of you, it is a wonder he stuck along until the end, I presume.
no subject
It's like this: he had his own goals in mind and we had the means to achieve them. He was following a similar path to us for a long time, but unlike me, he was working alone. I think he realized it's faster to work in numbers even if he didn't share our values.
[Akechi was a hater, in other words.]
What we both wanted lied at the end of the same path. We wanted justice. He wanted revenge. Whichever way you look at it, it worked out because we had a common enemy.
[Akira recounts the events in a manner-of-fact way, but he sounds... sad, maybe? Like he's purposefully distanced himself from a painful memory.]
no subject
But, yeah, that tracks, he supposes. Just because someone hates people or dislikes others and/or their values doesn't mean cooperation is impossible.
Even if it means it's still unfortunate in being unable to facilitate a true kind of bond. ]
...It seems like you wished that matters ended up differently where he was concerned, even if it all worked out, however.
Didn't you?
[ The sad tone has him guessing that at least. He presumes it may be potentially because of time spent with this guy, or other circumstances. Though he certainly isn't psychic. ]
no subject
...Yeah, I do. We could've been friends, I thought, or maybe that's just my ego talking. He and I had a lot in common.
no subject
But, either way, Jing Yuan's attention is rapt as Akira answers just fine. ]
Typically, those who share many commonalities could potentially grow closer than others who do not, even in a difficult case.
[ ... ]
...Even if the target for the connection is someone who thinks adversely of those who try, and it can mean that the window of possibility in that regard is very small. But, I don't think it's a terrible notion for you to have had.
It may be simply human nature.
no subject
Any concern, any frustration on his face is smoothed away. Akira's got one hell of a poker face, though perhaps Jing Yuan's taken note of that already. He's a smart man, after all, else he wouldn't have made it to the heights he has.]
One thing's certain: no matter how unlikely I am to succeed, if there's a chance, I'm taking it. What else can I do?
no subject
Is he bothered? Nope. Grief in of itself is a difficult beast and is never conquered in its entirety by simple words. ]
Well, you could always do the opposite.
But, I doubt you'd be content with that, either. One can never be certain about the result, though cowering away from an opportunity to reach out seems like it has a higher chance of an unfortunate result.
[ Even if it means that it can go disastrously as well by even trying at all. ]
no subject
[Oh, Jing Yuan, thank you for understanding... Actually, about that:]
You sound like you'd know the feeling.
[Let's talk about you, old man. Spill the trauma tea.]
no subject
Though I haven't exactly done much reaching out back home in a personal manner. Perhaps...checking in on the status of my soldiers, the Master Diviner, or my Lieutenant; or those who I've come to know as associates as the Trailblazers.
[ But not with a certain high amount of risk, as opposed to Akira's efforts, he thinks. He is only considering the connections he has made back on the Xianzhou Alliance, and the ones very far in the past had come with such startingly ease that to compare them at all would be disingenuous.
This tea might just barely scratch the surface, though at the least he sees fit to be honest. ]
no subject
[He's sure JY is a very busy man, but it sounds like he cares for the people who count on and rely on him.]
At the same time? You strike me as the type who builds up walls. That's not to say you keep people at a distance, but you're not really the warm and fuzzy type, are you?
no subject
[ Though, he isn't too great about personal particulars, so it'll likely end up the same as his previous style of check-ins.
As for the other matter, there is definitely a pause on his end. His expression doesn't change much as he immediately replies with a questioning look with a wry smile: ]
What makes you believe that is the case?
[ Though, he isn't exactly objecting. He supposes his question in turn might help points towards that; he doesn't think of himself as warm and fuzzy either, for the pleasant smiles he gives. ]