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

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Huh? Yeah? Of course. I wouldn't have wandered into here without one, Ahito.

[ He's fine, honest! If Ahito wants to check, a close enough scan with whatever wizardy senses they might have will prove there is at least some kind of spell active around the man.

It would seem that the thickening fog is unrelated... for now. ]

[it honestly feels like a bad idea to step into a mysterious circle, but...

Temptation wins out, let's do a steppy and see.]

It would probably be easiest... I wonder if we could just burn them.

[Cremation of a bunch of animal corpses nbd. Though Shinjiro's state doesn't escape his attention-]

...You okay?

[ Unfortunate that Day doesn't know what a fairy circle is. All he sees is the circle of flowers, and hears the urging of the spirits.

...He figures he only has himself to blame if indulging his curiosity goes wrong, so he steps inside. ]

[He thinks, at first, of the Ascians. Of Emet-Selch and Elidibus, their thousands and thousands of years spent waiting and watching the sundered souls of the Source and its reflections, how they were so alien at first to him. He doesn't even consider himself for a moment, living far longer than any miqo'te could and how his lifespan is irrevocably altered by a less than glamorous history, and how that made him so different from the inhabitants of the Crystarium and how it still follows him back on the Source.

But he understands what Day means exactly, even if he doesn't consider how it applies to him in the moment, too preoccupied with thoughts of those who have seen much more than him.]

I see... It does make sense, that those that have seen and experienced much can be so hard to comprehend by those without the same breadth of experience, even if... efforts to understand may often bare fruit.

[Not always, as he saw himself, but... In the end, even Hades had to admit the sundered souls had their own merits in the face of memories he had forgotten so long ago.]

Magic being unusual is far more strange, to me, but I suppose every star operates differently. It's a very ubiquitous thing where I hail from, as it's simply a manipulation of aether, and every child is taught that aether is present in every aspect of the world. Not everyone is capable of manipulating aether, of course, but it's still such a commonplace thing few would be surprised to see someone capable of thaumaturgy or conjury.

[So that's going to be weirder than trying to understand someone several centuries or millennia older than him... There's a lot to think about after this conversation...]

A new place, a new way to navigate the world...

Huh. I don't know why you wanted me to have string but, uh... thanks?

[ Regardless of what it is, only string or something more, he'll carefully wind it around a wrist and tie it there to keep track of it for now. ]

I've always kinda wondered if somethin' kinda just...changes, on a basic level, if someone manages to live long enough. [ Musing, rather than really telling G'raha. It's a thought that he's had to entertain before, when he becomes hyper-aware that he's a very young example of a people who can live thousands of years now. ] But I wouldn't know myself.

Where I'm from, magic ain't common either. Anyone can become a sorcerer in theory, but in practice, not everyone can or wants to go through the sort of steps you'd need for it. I guess people blessed by the gods seem to be wielding magic to most people, but I dunno if it's really the same.

All the other countries have different attitudes 'bout wizards. The East don't like 'em either and get real suspicious of 'em, but down South the people there consider wizards part of the community.

[ Jing Yuan uses that opportunity to tug him even closer, fingers curling possessively around that hand so that when he steps forward, their faces are hardly that much farther apart. Solomon's words are like kindling, and the result of offering such temptation has ensured that it's been lit alight. ]

Such disrespect.

I'll be more than happy to alter that state of mind...

[ No uncertainties. His words are uttered with nothing but firmness. He remembers, still, that soon enough the others will be on their mission, will they not? And, of course, that if Solomon should perish...

...Jing Yuan will not leave anything to chance.

Fate has never been kind to him, and ever since that day wreathed in fire—or the one encased in frigid ice—he has not found himself hesitant in making himself clear what he wants, even if his heart has still yet to fully travel the end result of this trajectory. But he knows himself well. ]

...And make you only think of me, even when we are apart. So, if you are unafraid—if you still are as brave as I have witnessed you be, meet me the rest of the way there, Solomon. For then, after this little taste—this preview—there will be more.

[ With that said, Jing Yuan moves even daringly closer—if Solomon wishes to test him, if he wishes to provoke him, he will more than happily find out if he can meet him head on—and so aims to see if he is able to briefly press his lips against the other's. ]

[ Meanwhile, here she is happening to wonder if simply abbreviating her name to two initials will be enough.

Or maybe she can just borrow Fu Xuan's name for one night. That seems more apt, in retrospect. ]

Oh? Do you mind saying the reason why you didn't?

[ For obvious reasons she did not have that information before this conversation. ]

As for myself, I believe I shall go ahead with using the name of an ally, so why don't you go ahead and use one for an ancestor?

[ As Solomon steps inside, the black and white petals swirl around him, envelop him, swallow his vision whole.

For a brief moment, all that exists in the world is him, the flowers of late spring, and the breeze. When he blinks he sees the faces of those dear to him, those most closely bound to him. He sees his countrymates. He sees Ithaqua. He sees Ibuki.

The wind whispers to him voiceless, soothing and comforting. Solomon may find himself compelled to reach out into the whorl of petals.

When he does, it dies down. He is back to where he was before. Except now, tangled in his fingers, is a long, bright red piece of string.

Hm, how strange. That wasn't there before. What could that be for? ]

...geez, I am really beginning to feel young hearing about how old folks are or can get in other places.

[ Fifty isn't so bad after all, huh? ]

Mm, supposedly wizards can live for hundreds of years, too, but uh, on Earth? Nah. I'm probably clocking out at eighty-something.

[ As Yamato steps inside, the green and yellow petals swirl around him, envelop him, swallow his vision whole.

For a brief moment, all that exists in the world is him, the flowers of late spring, and the breeze. When he blinks he sees the faces of those dear to him, those most closely bound to him. He sees his countrymates. He sees Kiryu. He sees Malice. He sees Mitsuki.

The wind whispers to him voiceless, soothing and comforting. Yamato may find himself compelled to reach out into the whorl of petals.

When he does, it dies down. He is back to where he was before. Except now, coiled neatly in his hands, is a long, bright red piece of string.

Hm, how strange. That wasn't there before. What could that be for? ]

[ There's a lot to take in. He's startled by familiar faces, but the one who gets him to stop completely is- ]

Mitsu...

[ Oh, it hurts, just how much he misses his friend. How much he'd like to go home and tell him he's so sorry for everything he's done.

The string appears.

Can he detect any particular person's magic on it? ]

[He lets himself be pulled in closer in the tense game of cat and mouse. But his head turns to the side when Jing Yuan gets too close, Solomon's gloved hand quickly raising to firmly rest against the other's lips. His smile has quickly vanished.]

I am not something to conquer.

[His line in the sand. Even though his pulse races a bit faster, and the space between them doesn't feel bad... there is still an air to the challenge that rubs at Solomon the wrong way, made raw by his exhaustion.

He exhales slowly, trying to settle his composure.

...]

Your soul is bold, Jing Yuan. But... this is neither the time, nor the place. You know that.

[A slight turn back. His hand still does not budge, but his eyes lid with exhaustion.]

...Collect your thoughts. Speak to me like a man first, unless you do not plan to treat me as one. Learn more of me than just a chess game or an unfortunate story, and let me hear your own.

But... please. Do not try to do this again. [Do not force this on him. If in this, only in this, let him stay human in his respect.] I've had enough unrequested advances for more than a lifetime.

Edited 2024-05-23 21:18 (UTC)

[ As Ithaqua steps inside, the blue and white petals swirl around him, envelop him, swallow his vision whole.

For a brief moment, all that exists in the world is him, the flowers of late spring, and the breeze. When he blinks he sees the faces of those dear to him, those most closely bound to him. He sees his countrymates. He sees Solomon. He sees his mother.

The wind whispers to him voiceless, soothing and comforting. Ithaqua may find himself compelled to reach out into the whorl of petals.

When he does, it dies down. He is back to where he was before. Except now, tangled in his fingers, is a long, bright red piece of string.

Hm, how strange. That wasn't there before. What could that be for? ]

[ As Ahito steps inside, the teal and white petals swirl around him, envelop him, swallow his vision whole.

For a brief moment, all that exists in the world is him, the flowers of late spring, and the breeze. When he blinks he sees the faces of those dear to him, those most closely bound to him. He sees his countrymates. He sees Kurapika. He sees Hibiki.

The wind whispers to him voiceless, soothing and comforting. Ahito may find himself compelled to reach out into the whorl of petals.

When he does, it dies down. He is back to where he was before. Except now, tangled in his fingers and in his chain, is a long, bright red piece of string.

Hm, how strange. That wasn't there before. What could that be for? ]

I... guess so?

[ He'll give Syrlya the stone, there ya go, plant buddy. ]

All my nephews and nieces have magical gifts, too. It's hard enough to deal with it when... when no one wants to hear about the problems they come with, y'know? Worrying about someone turning you into a bunch of magic rocks and eating you on top of that is just creepy.

[ Life's rough for kids with magic as it is. Why add something even worse? ]

Then time to make the most of it.

[ he spins around with two dresses, one of which is way too frilly and probably too Much for Bruno, and one that's a way more reasonable option. ]

[ As Day steps inside, the green and yellow petals swirl around him, envelop him, swallow his vision whole.

For a brief moment, all that exists in the world is him, the flowers of late spring, and the breeze. When he blinks he sees the faces of those dear to him, those most closely bound to him. He sees his countrymates. He sees Ginger. He sees his sister.

The wind whispers to him voiceless, soothing and comforting. Day may find himself compelled to reach out into the whorl of petals.

When he does, it dies down. He is back to where he was before. Except now, nestled comfortably in the palm of his hand, is a long, bright red piece of string.

Hm, how strange. That wasn't there before. What could that be for? ]

Are we not changed every day by the things we experience?

[He looks down at his tea cup, mulling it over. The differences between worlds and how they perceive magic is fascinating, to be sure, but it's the idea of what makes a person a person that has him so thoughtful.

He's something of an expert on the subject, after all.]

The understanding we have of souls on Eorzea is thus: there is the soul, but the soul itself is not what makes a person who they are. When a person dies, their soul is returned to the Aetherial Sea, where they will eventually dissipate or be reborn as someone entirely different, because without their memories a person cannot be themself. It stands to reason that the more memories one has, the more they become shaped by them. The more their identity becomes their memories and the less it becomes their soul...

Well, as we understand on Etheirys, of course. I can only speak of my own experiences.

[There's a wry grin, at that, as he knows how silly it sounds combined with that speech.]

[Urianger is present, assuming the disguise of a very tall and beautiful human woman in opulent robes suited for the occasion. She's been able to maintain her usual calm and mysterious demeanor for the most part, but occasionally she'll stroke her chin in thought and balk at the lack of a beard that is usually there.

Anyway, she meets up with Jing Yuan at some point to discuss findings.]

Word of a meteor shower hath captured mine attention.

[Apparently she's not putting any effort into dropping the old English for this infiltration.]

Other than that...nay, 'tis not the sort of company I would surround myself with. Western machinations do little for me.

[ Oh, the one dress... ]

Uh, demasiado. [ He says that very distinctly when looking at the frilly one. ] I mean, that one's a bit too much. Maybe the other one?

[ Is it green, though? ]

[ Petals of purple and black circle and dance around Malice as he steps in, the warmth of the late spring breeze rejoicing in his presence.

Soon, there is nothing in this world besides him, the breeze, and the vortex of flowers that whirl around him. Petals flutter from the swirl, breaking free, and before his very eyes they take the shape of a person.

They are small—much smaller than him, yet there is a brightness to the way the petals make up their form. A calm joy settles around the form, looking to the distant skies, looking to the distant seas. They may blend in, but there is something unique about them that is hard to pin.

And just as soon as the vision begins, it fades away. Malice now stands where he was before. ]

[ Well, this isn't exactly the first time he has managed to misread the kind of air or where things happened to be heading in terms of something as delicate as this.

Though, he certainly has a different approach to things that he is seeing has more or less ended up causing quite a bit of a misunderstanding. To the point where he thinks it is certainly upon him to clear it up right away.

He too does not quite move, just yet. ]

My apologies, Solomon.

I do want to make it clear that I do not merely see you as something to be conquered. I would also never wish to do something to you that you do not want.

I will confess that it was entirely on me for not being careful enough.

[ He certainly won't go ahead and try that again right now. He hopes Solomon can definitely believe that, even if it was definitely on him for mistaking that little test for him wishing to prove his interest to this extent. ]

I earnestly do and have enjoyed your company. This has not changed, even now.

[ To that end, the last thing he wishes to do is make him believe that he sees him as less than that. Or sincerely uncomfortable, though it is most certainly a bit too late for the latter. With this, he does gently let go out of his hand, and step back to give Solomon space. ]

With that said, if you are still amenable, my earlier offer remains, as it is, on the table.

[ He means in reference to the conversation about his student and the like; proving, perhaps his head isn't exactly in the clouds or otherwise empty. Though he will not begrudge Solomon for thinking otherwise of him. ]

[ The foliage crumbles under his angry footsteps as he marches forward, pushing aside branches. There's faint footsteps behind him, someone following with an even pace. But his breath is ragged in frustration—the other presence is not welcome.

The other voice says something. He huffs and replies, his own voice smooth, yet agitated.

"I don't need you to hold my hand. I can manage on my own. I hate it when you treat me like this."

The other voice is scarcely audible behind the buzz of upset in his ears. But one word sticks out, and there's a rush of foliage before the rustling comes to an abrupt halt.

"Do not say that word around me! You will not remind me of—of that anymore!"

But his anger is only met with a light chuckle. He sighs, his anger and frustration boiling over.

"I wish I'd never made it! You're just—all you ever do is talk about me like, like some...intangible object. Why don't you ever listen to me? You don't listen to me! I don't want you here!"

His anger echoes through the still trees and brush, fading quickly in the carpet of leaves. What the other voice says causes him to inhale sharply and yell, cutting it off.

"I don't!"

There's a brief pause, a total moment of silence before the other voice speaks in quiet defeat. Shortly afterwards, there comes the distant rustle of underbrush as the other person turns to leave.

Regret rings loud in his ears.

But the low, menacing shudder in the distance rings louder.

It happens so fast. Melancholy and regret and disappointment fly away with the disturbed flocks of birds, and his ears buzz terribly as something whips through the trees straight towards him.

Crunch, crunch. He leaps forward, through the branches.

"Shino? Shino?! Shino!"

He cannot hear his own panic and regret over the noise.

Because soon, comes silence. ]

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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ladies' night

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