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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[And there begins the ticking timer on how much time Kurapika has left...

He tries to track the time, too. Watching with a silent coldness, to see just how, exactly, this arrogant man will meet his end.]

[If that's how Akira wants to think of it, Ahito's not about to argue. Was the memory pretty awful? Yeah. Has he made a secret of any of the stuff that happened in it? Not really.

Seeing it play out for himself isn't even as bad as it could be. After all, those same scenes haunted his nightmares for literal years; it's not like any of this is new to him.

With an easy grin, he holds out his hand and summons his broom to his side.]

Where to?

Ah. [Ah. Syrlya, who has been from corner to corner of three different continents, comes from a very different experience.

He slips the rock into his pouch. He'll eat it, but later where Bruno doesn't have to think about it.] I don't believe I ever heard what your gift was, back home.

[Syrlya blinks, glancing aside briefly at his shoulder being pat.]

I am afraid I didn't see a note, no. [He quirks a brow.] What did it say?

[ Eventually they are indeed. But, wait...

Ah, well. There's nothing can be done once they're caught in a memory; and he watches it all from beginning to end.

It's mostly not so bad, but he isn't going to forget about that monster because hello?? ]

It appears that you had quite a lively group as your classmates.

...And that a certain group caused other issues with their so-called experiments.

[ It takes less and more time than Ahito might expect. Once Kurapika's opponent was captured, the battle had been decided... which Ahito knows well by now. However, what Kurapika does with his remaining time is the real bit of mystery, isn't it?

The fight continues, the Kurapika down below rushing towards his opponent with a punch powerful enough that his fist digs into the man's abdomen, causing blood to spill forth from his mouth and onto the dirt.

"It looks as though my enhanced fist is slightly stronger than your physical brawn," Kurapika remarks, almost mechanically. This is an important observation, one that will serve him well. "This is valuable information. I can beat every member of the Troupe barehanded, provided I've chained them." He moves the chains around his opponent, momentarily constricting them around his body before easing their grip just a bit. "Tell me everything you know."

Silence. After a moment, Kurapika aims another punch towards just underneath his ribs, forcing up more blood.

"Where are the others?"

"Kill me."

Kurapika's expression darkens, his mouth turning down into an angry frown, as he surges forward and aims for the man's arm instead. The bones crush under his fist and his opponent grits his teeth.

"What abilities do they have?"

"Kill me."

Calm, quiet, resolute. He'd rather Kurapika kill him than give away any real answers, and that prompts Kurapika to hit him again. Again. Again. Again. Each strike breaks and fractures new bones, damages organs, forces him to expel more blood until Kurapika is covered in it—it's on his hair, his clothes, his face.

Finally, Kurapika steps back, breaths heavy and uneven. His voice trembles and he doesn't mean to yell, yet it happens anyway.

"It makes me sick... The sensation left on my hand. The grating sound of each strike. The smell of blood. It all throws my senses into a disarray. How can you do these things, yet feel and think nothing at all?! Answer me!"

"Kill me."

That seems to be the last straw, as Kurapika extends a chain that pierces him in the heart, wrapping around the organ. It's a conditional bond, the sort that will allow him to live just a little bit longer if he obeys Kurapika's order. If he doesn't, the bond activates, crushing his heart and killing him. He must answer a question and answer it honestly. Kurapika's question is the same as it has been: Where are the others?

And just like that, his opponent laughs.

"Die, fool."

The rule is broken, and his opponent is dead.

He falls in a large heap in the dirt, and Kurapika walks over to a spot on the ground where he left his phone and makes a phone call. It's a one-sided conversation, but it sounds like he's checking in on his employer. It's quick enough, and he hangs up, an empty look in his once again brown eyes as he regards the result of his revenge.

Then, he grabs the shovel he brought and begins to dig a hole, every movement mechanical, as if he can't allow his mind or his emotions to be in the moment. But he has to do this. Everyone deserves a proper burial, to be honored in some fashion after their death. And as he digs underneath the moonlight, the scenery around them begins to melt away and shift back into the forest. ]

Edited 2024-05-27 03:14 (UTC)

[ Jing Yuan certainly can't tell, though all the same, a neutral look to him speaks that he may have complicated feelings on it, perhaps.

Still hard to say, so he focuses more on the subject of these particulars. ]

I simply believe that there is something to it. Two Sages in a row from the same place of the same nationality is an indication of something.

Though, the particulars behind it are still an unknown. Unless it's indicated in the book elsewhere, or someone in this world knows otherwise, we won't be able to easily identify what exactly has been the reason for this recent pattern.

Other than, of course, that it is beyond happenstance. Would that I could give you a more satisfactory answer than a mere elaboration of my previous thoughts, however.

Nay. [His answer comes with no hesitation.] It doth not, nor is it my place to criticize thee. Humans must have harmed thee and thy mother greatly for thou to have gone as far as thou didst.

There have been utterances about the nature of humanity that confound me more so than bother me, but I would never diminish the experiences of those who have suffered from human actions.

That I'd gone to see a friend, of course.

[Said as though this is a sufficient enough answer.]

It's been good timing to have the rest of you around. The North has been need of this level of help since the ball. I'm grateful we were able to prioritize them as a group this time.

It will take our collective effort, of course. But I don't think such faith is misplaced.

[... Yet.]

[ Help...

Blinking slowly, just a bit. ]

Is that so?

[ How does an island vanish just like that?? ]

Was it because his granddaughter escaped the island before it disappeared, or...?

[ Jing Yuan is well aware of how black market auctions themselves can operate. Though, it certainly doesn't make them any more palpable watching them in action for certain.

The currency too is unlikely to be anything that is familiar to him, but even he can start recognizing that it is reaching staggering amounts once they exceed millions, and are spearheaded into the billions.

The stranger is given a scrutinizing look, before he places his gaze back upon Kurapika. He decides to pay more close attention to the blond who is experiencing further emotional turmoil; though there isn't anything he can do in the moment, even as he walks a bit closer so he can hear whatever he's going to say to the caller... ]

[There is a slow, questioning eyebrow being raised as Robin elaborates his encounter at the ball.]

Yes, I would say they respond just fine to a gentle touch. Most have seem surprised but not offended when I have turned down gifts. [His gaze flickers up, for some sign of why it's getting darker. An overhead cloud, maybe?] The barriers must be necessary for their survival. Only their wizards would be able to erect them, wouldn't they?

[ Totally exactly that. ]

Mm-hmm. They do call it the City of Affluence for a reason; it'd be embarrassing if they were ever lacking in something.

A friend from a village? [He tilts his head in its direction.] I hope you at least told Tatara directly instead of leaving it to a note on a door. How dire would you consider the situation? Have the barriers failed at all before we arrived?

My friend, there is no need for apologies.

[ Jing Yuan certainly doesn't blame her for not following up in the space of everything that happened, smiling faintly. If anything, she is a little touched at the thoughtfulness.

There is still a pause as she still considers her response nonetheless. ]

You are correct that it was. Though, you'll certainly find yourself relieved that I could confidently state that I was able to walk it off just fine, yes?

[Urianger's sincerity is profound enough to make Ithaqua's chest ache. Those who didn't judge Ithaqua didn't express themselves like this, even if he knows they did not feel the same way. They were simply awkward about it.]

I appreciate the sentiment. [More than he knows. Or can ever know.]

Many balk at such dislike, after all.

Yes, Tatara is aware. The note was more for the rest of you than it was for our Sage.

[Though he sees that tilt towards the village they currently face, and he shakes his head. Not them.]

Failed, no, but the concern was there. The balance of this area is rather fragile, and the absence of the existing wizards was creating a power gap that many things would be eager to take advantage of, natural and hostile alike. At the time of the ball, it was not guaranteed to be dire. But the possibility was there.

Edited 2024-05-27 04:11 (UTC)

[Syrlya, believing in safety in numbers and also wanting to make sure his fellow wizards make it back mostly unscathed, agrees to go along with Yamato further into the forest. He casts his own barrier, but not being able to specialize, it may not hold up as much as he'd like.

He's sure he can manage for as long as Yamato is around, at least. While surveying the forest, he hums in affirmation.] It is a bit concerning. Is this a normal accumulation if not collected by the wizards, or is something worse occurring in this place?

[His head aches something awful now, thanks for the concussion buddy]

You speak as though you intend to rip me from it all on your own... hahah.

If I had any power here, Ithaqua, this would have been over before it had started. But... sometimes we cannot fight our way out of the things we don't like.

All we can do is wait.

[Because that century drags on in the minds eye of both of them, and then another, before suddenly the bonds are loosened. Your body is slowly dragged towards the surface against your will - slowly, slowly, as though aware that the pressure difference is now agonizing to your frame. You start to see color. Blues and greys, instead of nothing but darkness. Your eyes ache. You feel disoriented. Overwhelmed.

When you finally break the water, the sun is blinding. The colors are far too much. The fresh air burns. But the spirits do not care, tossing you unceremoniously out of the surf on a beach you no longer recognize. You do not know what year it is, what day, or what time. But you feel an enormous weight suddenly fall over your entire soul - a warning, a curse, that fills you with such repulsion and eats to strongly at your magic that you cannot bear to even look in the direction of the waves. You cannot even cast a spell to help transport you away, left to stumble through the wilds until the feeling finally dies down as the rush of the ocean leaves your ears.

Never touch our lands again, sorcerer. This is our only warning.

The disconcert never lets up, and the curse settled into your soul never quite leaves you. But it is a lesson harshly learned. You do not mess with the balance of the natural world ever again.

And as the salty dampness of their clothing starts to fade back to the comforts against the icy wind, Solomon weakly attempts a healing spell against his forehead, if only to ease the ache. He wouldn't be able to keep his protections up at this rate.]

Well, I should have seen that comin'. How does it even work?

[ Do wizards like. Literally have to crunch rocks, or, ]

Many have not witnessed the aftershocks of human atrocities firsthand.

[Which is why he chose not to argue with Mikaela and Ginger after the Eastern mission, even if he didn’t fully agree with their outrage.]

Ithaqua… As thy friend, I shall always endeavor to do right by thee. That includes listening to thy grievances, whether we share the same views or otherwise.

[Guess who would be revealed when the manor's front doors open but Ithaqua?

Ithaqua in a state, as well. His hood is off, his mask is gone, and bruises have begun to bloom on his face. His clothing, while dark, bears even darker stains that could only be considered blood. In his hand, he has a cloak that many might note as Solomon's, which, too, has been splattered with blood. It forms a sack he's rigged up in order to carry a pile of mana stones-- blue ones, to be specific.

His expression is vaguely neutral, like he's not coming back in this particular state and implying that something ominous has happened.]

Ithaqua?

[ Oh god, they're back already? Where is... why does he have that cloak? Bruno is already rushing across to the doors, a heal spell already at the ready. ]

H-hey, hey, just. Sit down for a minute, let me... [ Let him do some healing, he guesses, but— ] Where are you bleeding from?

[ You know there is usually a blanket, "okay who's hurt out of all y'all,"

but fuck that
someone is allowed a little bias as a treat. ]

Let me heal you.

[ Vaguely threatening out of concern. ]

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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cw violence/blood, etc

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thank you

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Dream Big --> Gimme the idol

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northies return home (real) (not clickbait)

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