thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

[promittere]

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

Comments

[divineth]

[Urianger has no intention of pushing his luck in a place like this, so he'll definitely take Ithaqua's advice to heart as he keeps his charms close.

He turns his attention toward Ithaqua when he feels that gentle touch.]

I understand. My protection charm seemeth to be holding up thus far, but this toxin appeareth to be as potent as was forewarned. We must remain vigilant.

[And as they'll soon find out, something is still passing through their strong protection charms.

Ithaqua is the one to feel it first. A strange mist seems to overtake his vision and the smell of books hits his senses.

Wait. Where did Urianger go?]

[dyingtohealyou]

More like I'd take regular humans over magic users playing god any day.

[His least favorite type of magic user and yet so, so common.]

[leewards]

Mm~ That much is obvious, this forest--

[Wait. He's no longer sensing another person with him.

Where did Urianger go indeed. The scent of books is not lost on him, familiar as he is to the smell when they'd been his companions for so long. However, he's more alarmed at the lack of his companion than the sudden change in location, and he starts moving forward despite the mist in his eyes. He's moving blind, but who cares?]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Uh...-huh.

Then...]

When it said you're a sacrifice...

[dyingtohealyou]

Hm? What is it?

[Seating himself in a casual sidesaddle for now.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[...

What if he just summons the whole notebook to swat the camera aside, including whapping Tatara's hand while he's at it (20).]

[divineth]

[What awaits Ithaqua beyond the mist is...his missing companion, yet not quite as he knows him now.

Ithaqua finds himself in a massive study room, filled to the brim with books not unlike the library in the manor. However, this one seems pretty dusty and poorly taken care of, as though its owners are rarely around to care for it.

In the middle of all of this is a young Urianger, no older than ten summers. His nose is buried in a book on prophecy, with dozens of other books piled on the table. Mostly more prophecy material, but closer inspection will reveal that there are a good amount of poetry books too.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan passes Day a faint smile, letting the words settle in his head; the meaning behind perhaps a slight reluctance. ]

And yet, it still surprises you.

Well, I can't say I find that shocking that you may find it as much. None of us are from your world and are still relatively new to your presence.

Even if I imagine you have forged important bonds by now.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Oh.

Ahito makes the connection immediately and while one part of him thinks, "so much for the wards," the other part of him can't help but watch the movements of the child too, curiosity getting the better of him.]

[leewards]

Do not tell me we're going to stay here for a century-- I've not the time for your nonsense!

[He has no worries about not being able to live to a hundred-- rather, he would rather not spend a century here, with this man. He would rather spend those hundred years back at the Plateau, fighting, slaying humans, making medicines and waiting for his mother to heal.

Now Ithaqua tries to struggle against the pressure, the heavy feeling of inevitability in this place, because this is not actually the ocean, he has to remember that. They're hallucinating in the Forest of Dreams, and he just wants to reach Solomon right now.]

[foresightis2020]

[ If only...

Though, Jing Yuan does find it intriguing that those commonalities happened to be present in the previous Sages. ]

Japanese, is it?

It does sound like quite a coincidence. Though, nothing divined or orchestrated by fate itself is ultimately and truly coincidental — only meant to be, fickle as it may be.

Therefore, perhaps there is a reason why those of your nationality are chosen? As in, there is a certain aspect that may be the reason for it? Though, I doubt that has always been the case.

[leewards]

[A large room filled with books was not what he imagined-- he was expecting something more dangerous, terrible. But this is oddly... innocuous?

Especially with the young elf in the middle of the chaos of books, and a closer inspection, Ithaqua crouching down, it is indeed a very young Urianger. Seems like at this age, he was already interested in prophecy, but Ithaqua is pleased to note the poetry as well. So, even at this age, he wanted to speak eloquently as well.

That's cute, actually.]

[impacter]

...Call it that if you want. I'm telling you the truth.

[Ithaqua struggles, and Solomon does not. Fear and millenia of dread resigns him to wait it out, under a cold sweat.

Ithaqua will be able to make progress, through sheer force of will. If he wants to make it to Solomon, he need only try.]

Though... hah. It's nicer, in a way. To have company this time, even if it's n... not the real thing.

[revengier]

...I believe so.

[ He's glad they didn't experience this on their little mission here, but still. With a sigh, Kurapika begins to walk forward. ]

Do you want to watch?

[divineth]

[The young Urianger doesn't seem to take notice of a stranger in the room...that is, until he glances up and looks right in Ithaqua's direction.

...only for a distant voice to ring out behind Ithaqua. That seems to be what drew the elezen child's attention.]

...rianger! [Closer,] Urianger!

[Suddenly, the mist overtakes both the scene and Ithaqua once more. The voice distorts, and now it's Ithaqua's name being called for.]

Ithaqua!

[There's a hand reaching out to hold Ithaqua's- to bring him back to earth. The Urianger that Ithaqua knows is back.]

[revengier]

[ He nearly jumps at that loud crack, breath caught in his throat as he watches the child try to hold in his reaction.

To have his suspicions confirmed isn't always pleasant, and it shows in the dismayed look on his face as he turns to regard the Solomon hiding in the shadows with him.

Kurapika knows better than to speak aloud right this moment, but the look in his eyes is obvious: Is there anything we can do right here, right now? ]

[leewards]

[Why not just kill all, then... Oh well.]

Oh, no, I would rather just abandon all.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Following!]

...Would you mind it if I did?

[He's curious but he does value Kurapika's feelings on the matter above that, ultimately. And given his struggles with killing, well...]

[impacter]

[He shakes his head slowly, before tilting it back towards the bed.

Brassy eyes from a much smaller body have seen Kurapika, and they're wide with fear. They don't even seem to notice their older counterpart, as though he's just part of the scenery.

The boy scrambles with panicked breathes, tumbling off the bed and out of the blankets to cram himself under a worn wooden desk.]

I had to do some brainstorming but I have a good idea now /eyes emoji

[divineth]

[Huh, so Day's been here before? Urianger gives him a curious glance.]

Wert thou here recently?

[In Lazuli's group, maybe?]

[lighthaus]

[ he nods. ]

Let's get back before this forest screws with us more. [ surely they'll be able to reach the perimeter without getting pulled into another memory? ]

cw broken bones commentary!

[lighthaus]

[ khun watches the fight with interest, paying special attention to kurapika's expressions and moves. it's not a style he's seen before which isn't surprising, but it also feels like it has roots in martial arts which he is trained in.

something does surprise him, at least a little‐the cold heartedness coming from a younger version of the reflection he's come to know so well. he supposes it makes sense, because he himself can be that frigid, but it really doesn't suit kurapika he thinks. ]

Cocky. [ the familiar crunching of bones draws elicits a light shake of his head, more reflex than anything else. his chest visibly rises as he draws a breath, but he doesn't show any other symptoms of the oppressive atmosphere. though maybe the way he cranes his neck to try to get a better view might also just be him trying to find cleaner air to breath. ]

We're you that mad that you wanted to play with him?

[dyingtohealyou]

[At least that seems to be a good enough reason to finally let them be, though they still, somehow, manage to continue bowing even as they back away.]

...Let's just find the barrier. It shouldn't take long to restore it.

[lighthaus]

[ he hates this actually. these feelings which he can't understand wash over him and all he wants to do is rip them out. he wasn't raised to feel such things, nor does he think he was born to either.

he stumbles slightly, hunches over for a long moment before he can draw himself up; it's suddenly frigid in his immediate vicinity, a part of him he doesn't know kicking in to reject all of what's happening to him.

eventually he draws another breath and manages to spit out a few words. ]

I reject all of this.

[impacter]

[...

Should he stop him? Perhaps. But... he'll find out sooner or later, won't he?

The forest starts to give way to rubble. Rubble, in every direction.

Urianger's body will feel like a phantom of itself for a brief moment. Pained. Exhausted. Powerful. Powerful. It radiates like the heat of the sun in waves off his body.

He feels distress, not his own, but of a phantom, stumbling and bleeding and desperately trying to will something, something in him, something innate, to stop.

As the sensation rolls through the air, nauseous and dreadful, Solomon flinches with a deep exhale, hand running by reflex at the ring against his middle finger. It brings no comfort.]

...Be wary, Urianger. This isn't as it seems.