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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.
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Unfortunately, he's hungry enough and feverish enough that he can't really resist a bleeding arm in his face. He just - he grabs their arm on either side with both hands, his fingers digging in; it'd all be a sharp, rough gesture, but his grip is weak and trembling, so it's harmless, at present.
And then it's like he's a creature possessed: where there was hesitation, and a flicker of focus in his feverish eyes, it fades away into something else. He drags his tongue along the blood's trail down their arm, running it along the length of the brief injury, sucking and savoring it. His fangs teeth at the skin, at the wound, in a way that's almost sensual - intimate, and fond.
It stimulates the blood; leaves the skin heated and tender, and easier to break through. Every instinct a predator has is to make the feeding easy.
The fangs sink in, somewhere in the middle of that warm teasing, and it feels overwhelming - a warm and blissful sensation. It doesn't hurt; it's almost addictive, how nice it feels, and the warmth he draws into him from them blooms into something warm inside him, too, something that makes it so it doesn't want to stop.
His fangs dig in a little deeper - he drinks a little more; the blood spills freely, his grip firm as he can manage, his bite locked in, the blood flowing, Mika so affectionately drinking - and he seems so happy, so calm... )
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Thus, this is fine. Mika was also kind of hesitating to ask and that will drive someone nuts. So Comet will uh, tease in the worst way.
They expected pain but that's not what they get, especially when Mika is too weak to grip then tightly to hurt. They kind of wish it did, because it's very strange to like getting bit. It feels nice and warm, and in the back of their mind they know that's weird. Especially to want them to keep going or do it again, the claws of addiction digging in like Mika's own nails. But they breathe slowly and and look up. Watching Mika is hypnotizing, but also kind of scary so they can look elsewhere. ]
You feel a little better? I think you were right...
[ That it would be a lot. Comet is unfortunately on the smaller side. They start to feel more lightheaded, and their other hand tries to intervene and gently push off Mika by the shoulder. ]
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( Comet pushes, but Mika doesn't budge - his body does give, being weak in this state, but the delirium of blood-pleasure and moon-sick mixes into something even less aware than usual. He exhales soft and warm, sucking gentle - almost pleading - at the wound as Comet tries to nudge him free. It seems almost plaintive, like a lover's sweet kiss - just a little bit more; just a moment longer with you, please...
Mika does not seem like he's going to move. Their blood is more delicious than he expected; better than a human's; better, even than a wizard's, and instinct begs him to indulge, and indulge, and indulge. That Comet's blood flow lessens when he's not yet had enough - for his gluttony and his hunger - only encourages him to rip at the skin a little more with his fangs to force open the dam - improve the flow, deepen the sense of pleasure in his venom. Shh, shh... )
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As it is they were the one who bit of more than they could chew, huh. Awful... And while they can't feel the pain, they can feel those fangs start to tear a bit more.
Comet turns to look at the other volunteer for donating blood to Mika. Those fuchsia eyes are unfocused, but their expression says it all. ]
...Help.
[ They're tapping out before they're really tapped out. They have that much awareness left in them, if not blood. ]
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(With Tues' permission) It will give enough slack to push Mika back further and free Comet's arm as Solomon rolls up his own sleeve, the pact marks against fair skin exposed.]
Go, Comet, you did fine. [It's said even as he rubs friction into the skin of his own arm, wand still not put away as he holds his wrist close.]
Mika. Eyes on me, Mika. Don't go losing yourself yet.
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And - then he shakes his head. He's not lost - he's not lost; he's fine, he's here... )
I'm - mm... I...
( Ah... He's still so hungry... He licks his bloodied lips and swallows, in a feeding mood for sure - nothing he can't reign back (probably; maybe with some difficulty, when he's sort of out of it), but with Solomon's wrist so close... It seems hard for him to focus on speech. )
... Just... shock me again if I...
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[Said as the tip of his wand presses to the space right behind Mika's jaw, a cold smoothness against the tension of sinew and bone. Not a threat, but a confirmation.]
Just keep looking. Let us know you're still here.
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... Mm.
( He's making an effort to remain himself as he takes up Solomon's arm to draw his wrist closer, so he gets much less of that instinctual play. Still, it's apparent that, despite his effort, there is some part of him that is all instinct that takes over in this moment - his gaze growing blearier than just his moon radiation has caused, and his muscles relaxing into something more lithe and predatory as he lowers his lips to Solomon's wrist, his lips pressing to his pulse almost like a promise - almost like a kiss - amidst the gossamer pattern of his endless seals.
When the fangs sink in, it's a warm that runs from the wrist to the chest and washes hot across the body - something nice; something pleasing; something easy to want to come back to, again and again. Mika loses just a little bit more of himself in the taste of it - richer than expected, sweeter than he thought - and it's hard to want to let go.
He seems a little more alert than he was with Comet, but the gentle way he laps the blood and keeps Solomon's wrist pressed to him, still in that intimate way uncharacteristic to Mika and more characteristic to a predator, suggests he might need a reminder (gentle). At the very least, he's not so totally gone that he'd need a shock again. )
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It's not a particularly intense one. But the bite still welcomes a physiological reaction - a wave of warmth, a shuddering of muscles, nerves all pulling to attention. It's pleasant. It's deep.
It's nothing he wants to stay bound to.
The fingers of his bound wrist draw tight, nails digging into the skin. Mind on that. Eyes on the mouth where his nerves betray him, watching for the subtleties of change.
The hand holding his wand slides inward to gently push at Mika's throat and chin, a careful urging away from the tension he already feels in Mika's hands.]
Shh. Eyes up here, Mika.
Can you hear me?
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( He sounds almost drowsy, at ease; it's not quite like the sound he made to Comet.
Though the effort is slow and labored, his eyes do gradually draw upward. The look in his gaze, though, is a little hazy - a little like hoping for compromise, like a kid who doesn't want to get out of bed. Just a little more, a little bit more, please... )
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[A gentle response, almost cooing, as he tucks a strand of Mika's hair behind his ear.]
Don't go making Ginger worry for you, now. Leave some for later, Mika.
[Another gentle push against his jaw, just slightly firmer than before.]
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Once Solomon reaches for Mika's hair, though, that's it. Ginger grabs his wrist, his knuckles white, his nails digging into skin. Back. Off. ]
Enough.
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It would have been enough to rouse Mika into letting go, but this is a far firmer wake up call. As Ginger intervenes with an expression he doesn't think he's seen before, his fangs naturally release from Solomon's skin, lips still bloody as he lifts his head - which only seems to make his thoughts roll like marbles with the movement. )
Ginger—
( Stupidly and sickly, he's not fully parsing why Ginger's upset, but. He doesn't want him to be. No sad (angy)...
How can he reassure when he doesn't understand the problem? He falls back on a gesture he knows - lifting his hand, fingers curled and a little unsure, closer to Ginger's face - he'll catch Ginger's cheek with his palm gently if he allows it. )
... Ginger...
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Solomon's touch stills as Ginger's grip digs into the skin, only his eyes moving to meet the angel's as he spits out a warning. But Mika releases with very little problem, and as the vampire groggily soothes with a ruby colored mouth that matches what still drips from the sorcerer's arm, Solomon remains carefully still.]
Easy, Ginger. Take him back if you want.
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But - Solomon's voice catches his attention - briefly. Angry eyes darting back to the man, before he lowers his gaze again. He knows how to behave in cursed company if Mika's the one holding his lead. ]
... Sorry. [ Mika, not Solomon. ] I'm fine...
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... You don't have anything... You don't need to be sorry.
( He glances at Solomon, a little baleful, like this is his fault. )
... Don't hurt Ginger.
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You don't need to ask that.
[He knows why it's been brought up, though.]
You both should go get some rest. You've clearly been through a lot while you were out.
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And behind Mika's hair, Ginger makes eye contact with Solomon again: a flicker of remorse. Of course, he's sorry for the marks. The way he reacted. But he doesn't say it.
He'll have to. Later.
All he's brought back with him from the East are apologies, it seems. ]
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Alas, they are dizzier than they thought, a little uneasy with their posture as they try to move away. ]
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Lemme help you heal?
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They take Day's support, leaning on them. ]
Mm-hm.
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You did good, Lil' Comet.
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Mm? I wish I had more to give...
[ They feel a little bad that someone else had to step him and wrangle their thirsty friend. ]
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