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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[Ah, this is a familiar sensation. The feeling off too much power for your body, consuming you entirely. G'raha's first thought is that he's turning into a sin eater, that the Light is going to force him into a mindless beast, because he's seen that happen so many times, he nearly saw the Warrior himself fall to that surplus of aether— or perhaps it's dynamis, turning his emotions against him, weighing him down heavily.

He gasps, hand to his chest. It's through sheer willpower that he doesn't collapse to his knees, knowing that panic won't help him and logic telling him that no, both of those are impossibility, this man is not from a world he knows, things do not work that way. He is not being transformed, he will not completely lose control of himself. But the fear lingers, the visions of the destroyed buildings linger in his mind.]

This is...

[He can't finish the sentence, could barely string those two words together, his eyes screwing shut as his ears pin back against his skull.]

Don't say that so seriously...

[ PLEASE! HE HAS A BOYFRIEND!! ]

[ Well, the funniest thing about it is that the first one, while starting to bring a telltale warmth to his cheeks, is something that can thankfully be offset by Solomon's response to his question. Two, hm?

But, then Solomon adds in the other comment about protection spells, as if spoken knowingly. Which, well, that isn't wrong either. ]

Hmm. What a fortunate thing it is that we both can still take pride in those we teach.

Incidentally, I suppose it is clear you have not considered saying such things might make it all go to my head as well. Even if effusive words may not always find their mark.

[ Except it is not vacant praise that may be uttered in a political arena; not to mention, there is evidence to back it up, so these are the kind of compliments with proper acknowledgement of skill that makes him feel good. Even if it is teasing.

...Or maybe it is just because Solomon is the one saying it...but, for all of their back and forth, it seems foolish for him to admit that. Is it not dangerous to allow another so quickly to earnestly influence his heart so? He has seen the result time and time again, and yet... ]

Such as it is, I imagine you are saying those words also to try to get some sort of rise out of me, are you not? Careful, for you may in turn unknowingly give me ammunition, or rather incentive, to return fire all the same.

It's... this is home.

[ His village, once so beautiful and peaceful, and now, this. The further the fog withdraws, the more is revealed. In the distance, more shattered ruins. Even the mountains, where the rift cleaves the valley in two, have been broken in twain. ]

Or. Or was. I. I don't know if. [ His grip on Ahito's hand loosens and soon enough, his hand falls away from his completely, coming to hang at his side instead as he bows his head. There's a despair in the air, weighing down on both of them. ] If this is how it is now. Everything was falling apart when this place brought me here but this is the vision I had, of its future.

[ What he'd been trying to prevent all that time. ]

[It's discomfiting, seeing and experience something that are not his own memories, but that takes a backseat to the tragedy unfolding before him. Those children... they're so young, but there's no care given to them or concern for them beyond their usefulness.

The most tragic part is how G'raha cannot find himself surprised that something like this could have happened. He's spent so many years researching the sort of people who would do something exactly like this, who had no scruples so long as it progressed their research, who would stoop at nothing...

His heart hurts for Ahito, who truly didn't deserve to have that happened.]

...

[He takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly as he reaches out to place a hand on Ahito's shoulder.]

I'm sorry.

I don't have the funds to pay for damages right now.

[So it's practical! He's not about to get sued... if that's a concept that even exists in this world.]

It's not a problem. I'll come up with more tricks for our next meeting.

[ Yamato, you're a bard, you can have a boyfriend and a girlfriend in every town. It's bard law??? ]

Well, I've lived a long and interesting life.

[Even if he looks quite young.]

If you're curious, I don't mind sharing. It's not something I feel needs to be kept secret.

[Well. Not anymore, with his days as the Crystal Exarch far behind him.]

[Oho, interesting.]

So you feel like things will work out?

[It would be nice to avert the coming disaster, that's always preferable.]

No, but those who found me were very quick to use healing magicks on me.

[So if he was hurting, it wasn't for long, so he unfortunately can't provide a better answer than that.]

They were quite concerned with my safety, these wizards of yours.

[Which isn't a bad thing!]

That's just roughhousing between friends.

[ probably!

he takes the blue paint. ]

Luckily that's not a thing I mind doing, but it's been a while since I've done it this way.

[ he pulls up a seat and settles in. tbh he's going to spend way too long after to get his hands clean... ]

Edited 2024-05-25 18:49 (UTC)

[ he raises an eyebrow. ]

Did they sell you? Or just have you for that reason?

( Oh my god. )

... Have you considered going into town? There are inns.

( Go torment the vampires with super hearing there. )

...you're ridiculously lucky.

[ he spends way too long on his hair each morning! mostly because he's a perfectionist, but.

he's absolutely giving bruno a complete lookover when he emerges walking around him in a full circle. ]

Not bad. We'll need to adjust the length, but I can do that pretty quickly.

Speaking from experience? [ he has no idea he was barely a person at the beach camp out because he had major sunburn from one of his date's with tatara. still, he absolutely knows him and ginger are a thing after the east mission return. ]

And we do that sometimes. Variety is the spice of life, isn't it?

Will you? In that case, until next time.

[ and with that he'll leave!

sometimes you are someone who does not trust people and also are incredibly protective of your boyfriend mr. catboy who just showed up out of nowhere. ]

[Waves goodbye!!

And it's okay, in the grand scheme of things that was a very pleasant conversation!!! Khun cleared the astronomically low bar set for friendliness.]

[ ...this is the second time this has happened and much like the first, khun doesn't know what exactly to think. he quickly comes to the conclusion that he doesn't need to understand; that's the nature of his bias with those he cherishes. but of course he's curious and of course he's going to continue to analyze even it's thoughts he mostly keeps to himself.

mikoto is a relatively new variable unlike rachel, khun knew about her from the beginning even if she wasn't anything like how baam had described her. and mikoto, who's name he's only just learned—khun can see a few similarities, one of which is physical even if their colors are inverted (he's gotten taller during his stay in this world, so it might be on his mind). the rest is vastly different, including the odd gesture, but it's not something he needs to understand anymore than he needed to understand why rachel was hypocritical in every word she spoke. they're important to who he loves and that's enough.

he lets those thoughts continue to float the top of his mind while he answers tatara, smile just as muted. it's not out of displeasure or any other negative emotion, he's just very On in the moment, which means it's harder to pull feelings from him. his boyfriend though always has a way of worming between the cracks, and it shows in the squeeze of their hands that he gives with the smile; solid, warm and secure. ]

I see. All the red makes sense now. [ it really does, mikoto is just very Red like khun is very Blue.

and to that man that now sits opposite them, khun returns the gaze. it's an acknowledgment not a challenge, "I see you too." khun is not a king, but he's only ever bowed to one other person in his life. ]

[ ...

You know, without having had that conversation with Kurapika, this would be still horrible, though with an absence of potential context. Either way, this is incredible disgusting and disturbing, so Jing Yuan looks upon this auction with the literal deserving amount of judgment it deserves.

The darkness within the hearts of people can be great and unfortunate indeed. ]

Hrm.

Proceeding in line with the memory, then.

[ A mutter to himself as he watches this continue to unfold, with...a feeling of empathy for Kurapika have to sit through this; to have to participate at all. This must be unpleasant; the reaction is enough to see that, but even without it, he knows this. ]

[Though his hands clench at his sides at the vision of his younger self in so much pain, and a young Mizuki's health continuing to deteriorate despite his best efforts... He maintains a level of calm throughout it. This is nothing new - not even the first time he's relieved these moments. Once, due to another spell, but through his dreams too, night after night, nightmare after nightmare...

Failure after failure.

Likewise, he barely reacts to the touch, aside from glancing G'raha's way.]

...It's long over with. And it's not like I try to hide what happened, either - I guess the forest decided to get you on the same page as everyone else.

I think that's a sign they're dangerous...?

[ More specifically, poisonous. Not that they had ever met a tropical critter like that... But! It's okay Tatara, Comet will try their best to keep him safe. Statistically speaking, the South's are pretty good at it.

Since they're leading the way with the Sage huddled close... They stop at the sound of the car horn? They know what that is but... Here? ]

I did... Was that a car?

[ Does Tatara want to approach out of curiosity or go the other way... Comet kinda wants to do the former. ]

[ Emphasis on shouldn't, am I right...

Anyway, that sure is a sound! Jing Yuan turns his attention towards the direction of where the boy is running. Who most definitely must resemble Yamato. ]

Ah.

This must be constructed by our environment. What isn't real, and yet, here we are.

[Yeah... Urianger's starting to get that feeling, too. At first he was averse to consuming mana stones, but he's come around to it in recent weeks. Everything is getting far too dangerous and he needs to be as prepared as possible to deal with anything that crops up.

And speaking of things cropping up... Urianger's ears twitch as he catches the sound of screaming. Then the smoke reaches his nose.]

Solomon, this way--

[They should get to the bottom of this.]

[Hydaelyn help him--

He does his absolutely best to talk the villager down, holding his hands in a calming gesture.]

I appreciate thy words, I truly do, and I intend to return this kindness. But thou must give us the space to perform our magicks.

[Well that isn't good, and they being in a forest does make the threat of fire seem a little too possible.]

What the hell...?

[He'll try to weave a spell to purify the air around them, but that, naturally, presumes the cause is smoke and not the illusion caused by toxins in the air.]

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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