lunaecalamitas | thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

NEW MOON ADAGIO

Between the constant requests from the North and the sense of tension that pervades the manor, Sage Tatara makes an executive decision: we're going North, baby.

Of all the things that have happened thus far, let this be the ultimate test of your magic. Even as we near summer, it's frigid. Protect yourselves and your allies from the cold. Protect yourselves while also fighting off monsters (or other territorial wizards, should you make the terrible mistake of wandering into another's territory), flying through the vast wilderness, or protecting the poor humans who need your help to survive. Time to blow off some of your steam. Just be sure to obey Tatara's one rule: don't kill each other.

One particular problem of note is in the Forest of Dreams. Without its guardian, many of these rogue monsters and dangerous predators, displaced from their normal habitats, have found their way into the forest. Many of them, however, are unable to survive against the fatal toxin, and there are plenty of animal corpses and mana stones that litter the forest. It might be best to clean these up before the forest guardian returns...

That said, the toxin is yet another thing you must protect yourself against in addition to the cold. While you can likely keep yourself from dying from the toxins, you may not be immune to its effects. This deadly toxin causes anyone who breathes it in to dream and hallucinate vividly, be it images of the past, imagined futures, thoughts of the present processed and warped...

Strangely enough, those nearby may end up sharing in your dreams... Did you want the darkest recesses of your thoughts, hopes, and fears unearthed for others to see?

Those who decide to venture far past the more populated (in relative terms) parts of the North may find themselves stumbling upon what looks to be an abandoned bandit hideout. It seems it's been abandoned for quite a while—nothing to loot here, sorry!—but there sure are a whole lot of monsters that have decided to make this hidden corner of the North their home.

While you're at it, you may find a nearby cave. Beautiful crystals dot the walls and the floors, and there are small pools of hot spring water free for relaxing. It seems to be relatively free of monsters, too. So maybe this wouldn't be a bad spot to relax, away from everything else?

However, there's one thing that makes this cave truly unique, and it isn't the vistas or the springs—it's the bats. These bats hear echoes of the past and replay them for visitors. Should you stay a while and listen, a bat may pay you a visit. And when it does, it may play for you the voices from the memories of visitors past, whose stories may hold a clue or two to your circumstances...

While the Forest of Dreams is a memory/dreamshare free for all, the aural memories replayed by the bats in the Cave of Time will come from one of the original wizards only. If you'd like an audio replay of a perhaps significant moment either in their personal life or a clue as to what happened to them (it will be randomized), then please reply to this comment!

JOB BOARD

Clean-up and repairs. While thanks to the hard work of your Eastern friends the worst was prevented, the City of Rain emerged from their short ordeal a little worse for wear.

Buildings need repair, blood needs to be cleaned off the streets, the injured need help. This is, perhaps, the only time you will be allowed to use magic openly in the city (you've been given permits and everything!), but you still are not allowed to talk outside of designated zones. Please, please don't get arrested...

As for the scrap that litters the streets? Unfortunately, you'll have to take it back to the scrapyard. But this time, there's a big, roaring bonfire out there. Just chuck all the scrap and debris in the fire. The city isn't taking any second chances—extreme situations call for extreme measures.

Reverence. Several Northern villages are currently outside the protection of a wizard, and have requested the sage's wizards' presence. They're terrified of the monsters and worried the barriers for their villages will fail sooner than later. They don't simply ask for help for free, however, and these smaller villages are steeped in their tradition—they'll pay you their respects, praying to you, offering you gifts, groveling at your feet, in hopes for a modicum of your time and protection. Do their offerings please you? Then assist them with what you deem appropriate for their worship to you: kill a few monsters for them, or a lot if you're pleased. Strengthen the barrier a lot, or not at all if you're displeased. It's up to you! You have the power here. What's it like to be a god for a day?

Ladies' night. The monthly lady officers' gathering is coming up in the City of Affluence—it's an exclusive meetup for the women involved in and related to Western military and bureaucratic affairs. Anyone is welcome, so long as they meet two requirements: they are outwardly presenting feminine, and they have an invitation to the gathering. Here's your chance to flex your transformation and glamour spells! Infiltrate the meetup with a disguise and a fake invitation, mingle, enjoy the drinks, the jazz, the entertainment, and find out what you can... What's the Western army up to? Be careful, though—don't get caught and kicked out!

The attendees seem to be excited about the new phantasmagoria technology and the upcoming display, and many whisper about the upcoming Venator meteor shower...

G'RAHA TASKS

Greetings, new friends! I am G'raha Tia, and while I hesitate to call myself a mentor or a replacement for the one you had, I am eternally grateful for the assistance I received and will do my best to help your cause in any way I can. To that end, I feel I may need to be caught up to speed on the events and get to know all of you.

We can have some tea and sandwiches and have a discussion! That's the best way to learn, sometimes.

TATARA ACTIVITIES

Even if we're not here for very long, I think we should leave our mark (not literally! Don't paint on the walls!). I got paint and big paper in the dining hall, but no brushes... Do you know what that means? Finger paint! Finger paint a portrait of yourself with your name and I'll hang it up in the library when they're all done!

Thanks to Cid and Khun, my camcorder works now. The thing is, what's the point of filming anything if we have no way to watch the film?! Could you guys work together to make some kind of projector? Or like...VHS player? We could have a movie night together!

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your fourth event! It's your dreamshare and memshare event! Ready to open up with your deepest and darkest secrets?
🌙 We're halfway through the game. How do you feel?
🌙 Back at the manor, Kurapika and Maya have set up a bulletin board! Leave comments, argue with your neighbors, have fun. Be nice. Don't set it on fire.
🌙 On the admin side of things, Lav has swapped out Wanderer for G'raha! Please say hello to your new mentor NPC.
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting to the post, and remember to check back frequently, since not everyone checks plurk or discord all the time.
🌙 The next country to go on their mission is North. Do you think a PVP-enabled mission will go well?

» NAVIGATION

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[A smile quirks at his lips.]

With how often you outwit me in chess, I'd have to have some guts to underestimate you, wouldn't I?

[It won't turn him from his decisions, or from the fact that while he doesn't mind the time together, he cannot stay. But though he acts despite the negative reception, it's an important pause for him, to be kept accountable for his own well being.

It happens so rarely, to see it from another person... let alone one who has seen what Jing Yuan has.]

I would be honored to hear some stories from you. [A pause, his hands clenching at the fabric still between his hands. His fingers are stiff, and even maneuvering one of the gloves the right direction feels like a large task, his fine motor skills dampened by the chill.] Though, before that... If I could borrow of your generosity for a moment...

[He reaches up to pull the hood of his cloak down to his shoulders.]

May I ask that you make sure I put these on appropriately? I'm going to lose them in the wind, at this rate.

[It's a light and joking tone - alluding in jest to him being careless, to hide a request for help in his vulnerability.]

Can they sense magic?

[We are not going to discuss crimepa right now if avoidable.]

Dunno... I dunno...

They take you away if they think you do. They take everybody you know away. 'ts what Mama and Papa tell me. They tell me I... I gotta pretend to be sick. Like all the other sick people.

[The smell of disease and decay seems to sit heavy in the air. A plague, outside the walls of this room. The dead, being moved out of homes.]

[His parents, huh... He's not the most pleased to hear that, though he does keep himself from grimacing.]

Do you know what's causing the sickness?

[ Day is familiar with streets. He is not familiar with asphalt, or concrete, or modern streetlamps, so their sudden appearance alarms him, enough that he remembers something about how the trees in the forest can make you hallucinate. But didn't they have protection charms? Were they not enough?

Then he sees Tatara's reaction and the recognition in his voice. ]

...You know this place?

Enthusiastic? They're just groveling.

[ he is evidently not a fan. despite his huge ego, he's really not one who enjoys being praised by others. ]

[He shakes his head, eyes turning towards the floor as he wraps his arms tight against his legs.]

The place the soldiers come from says it's 'cause of the heretics. They say lots of bad things happen because of heretics. Because it's bad to be one.

[His expression tightens, before burying his face against his knees.]

'ts not fair.

[ It's almost bizarre how Day is familiar with, to varying degrees, this combination of emotions. Perhaps the context is different, but the heartache is like an unwanted old friend. Maybe it isn't surprising that Solomon has felt this way, knowing how old he actually is, but...

He stops next to Solomon, as he watches this. ]

...Who is that?

...

Someone from home.

[It's a quiet response.

The duo is joined by a third - a figure that appears feminine, with piercing green eyes like that of a snake, hair shimmering in shades of magenta and pink, paled skin and lips that curl into a frown as she slaps Solomon across the back of the head. The tone is scolding, but the words muffled, even as Solomon laughs and waves her off.

Can't you read the sign?
Mm? I don't know what you mean?
Ugh -- see, this is why people can't stand you! Is that why you brought the human? Is that a gift for me? They do look unique.
I'm afraid this soul is off-limits, Thirteen. Here, let me introduce you.

This is Ibuki. My apprentice.

The scene shifts slightly. Rock gives way to a vast and eerie open space, a cave with no ceiling, air that hangs with an unusual weight and a magic that feels ancient. In the center of the space sits an enormous white fountain, surrounded by books as far as the eye can see. Thirteen has left the two alone, Solomon carefully seating Ibuki down among deep blue grass that covers the floor.

Welcome to my hideaway. Thirteen might say its hers, but it's not exactly right. This place doesn't really belong to either of us. Not right here, anyway.

Why? What is this place?

It's the real Solomon that answers, the phantoms of the memory not hearing, even if he matches his counterpart word for word, even if his tone isn't nearly as cheery.]

The Fountain of Knowledge.

[It's more ancient than most things you can find in the Devildom.

Ibuki peppers him incessantly with questions as Solomon laughs his way around them. Muffled, unimportant. He seems happy.]

Edited 2024-05-22 18:01 (UTC)

[ khun's actually on guard, if not because of the forest, simply because the climate is nostalgic and it's not the good kind. he doesn't voice that though, managing one of his usual smiles when he looks at shinji, pocketing a manastone himself. ]

This time it's actually worth it. [ more delicious power up rocks are good. ]

It's not like you asked to be born like this.

[He's the outlier, in that regard.

...Will Bitty!Solomon react badly if he reaches out, gentle, to pat his back? Barely a brush, no grip or anything.]

[ Day continues to watch. Even though nothing of great...urgency, he supposes, is happening in this memory right now, a part of him keeps expecting that something will happen, and no one here is going to like it. It's a gut instinct that has no basis in anything except too much experience with fate and its tendencies. Maybe he'll be proven wrong.

Which is not likely to happen, judging by the real Solomon's reactions so far. ]

[The boy will start under the touch, as though he isn't sure what to do about it. But he doesn't squirm away, hands tightening against the blankets to pull them closer. There are distant screams from the window far above their heads, the only source of light, the only touch of the outside world. There are voices from the other side of the heavy door, though they are so muffled and distant that it becomes nothing but background noise.]

They'll get mad if I'm talking to people they don't want me to talk to. I think... um... do grownups get scared?

Cause Mama and Papa, they can't hear it. The things I hear. And their voices always sound angry and sad. So I think they must look angry and sad, too.

[ At the question, there is...perhaps another twinkle in his eyes at that, even if his smile remains the way it does — no verbal answer required, but tacit agreement is verily there.

In the end, all he can hope is for Solomon to be safe. The man endeavors to work hard; he better heed his words, or he will have a giant lecture on his hands. Speaking of which, it appears that the other man will certainly have need for him to lend one (or two.) To which he is glad to leap at the opportunity. ]

Ah, but of course...I will be more than happy to assist you, Solomon.

[ Jing Yuan's voice is soft, but gentle as he reaches and then he adds, light-hearted: ]

...After all, it would be quite a shame if something were to happen to such skilled hands, would it not?

[ He thinks back to when he imparted to the man that baby grand piano, so it is not a comment that is unwarranted, he thinks. Jing Yuan is also pretty much indulging Solomon in the jocular tone with ease.

That said, Jing Yuan is careful in his assistance of helping ensure that those gloves are able to be slipped on in place. When it seems that Solomon's grip may falter, his own hand is there to steady it, or sliding over Solomon's fingers to assist in tugging along the glove so it settles snugly over each hand as it should. ]

That should do just fine.

[ this was not what khun was expecting when he ran into yamato, his smile thoroughly amused. (any thought of what he did to musashi has gone out the window, like the theoretical musashi did). ]

You're asking me this time? I'm almost flattered.

Mmm, that too.

...It is quite disturbing, for them to go to that much trouble. That says enough about their history concerning receiving assistance.

[ Jing Yuan doesn't dance around his own opinion on the matter, because it just seems very unwarranted for them to go to such extents, but it is what it is.

Upon further stepping into the Forest, one might anticipate a fight right away. In fact, the feeling of foreboding, unfriendly presences are certainly there, though there is also something else as well like the usual chill. Thank goodness he has thought to prepare a warming spell for the cold.

...Speaking of which, it was cold before, but somehow, the air seems even more frigid all of a sudden. ]

Edited (sry for these edits closes eyes) 2024-05-22 18:40 (UTC)

[ It sure is. Day is wondering what on earth happened since he last came here, because it sure as hell wasn't in this bad a shape back then. ]

Would you say it's a relief? [ Preferable to dealing with the Northern villagers, Day would say. ]

Grownups can definitely get scared.

[If it doesn't seem to uoset the kid, he'll scoot a little closer so he can more easily keep gently rubbing his back in a calming motion.]

You don't get to see them...?

...It took a while to realize it. But - once I did, it felt obvious.

Besides, Mizuki doesn't deserve to be remembered that way.

[Guilt made manifest, haunting his every step, cursing him for his failure - how could he have thought of her like that for so long? It's almost embarrassing how blind he'd been.]

[He doesn't answer at first.]

When they give me food, I see 'em. Or, um... if I'm too loud. Or if my clothes stop fitting.

Papa took me to the circus once, too. Cause I promised I'd be quiet. But we never got to go back.

If only there were a way to improve things so the power balance wasn't totally off... but like you said, the land itself is too harsh.

And I'm just a temporary replacement. Save it for the regular wizards once they're back.

I'm not leaving people to die out here.

[Simple and blunt as that.]

Why are you here?

...When was the last time they let you out?

Would you believe me if I said the same thing?

[ it's a joke, obviously. khun doesn't really care about people's lives by default. ]

Shields are one of my specialties back in the Tower. I don't want to get rusty.

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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finger painting!

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cw: alluding to parental abuse

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