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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[On the plus side, neither of them have fallen ill from the toxins. Urianger isn't so sure if he can forestall that much longer, so he's grateful that Ithaqua has taken the lead. He does his best to keep up with those long strides.]

A fine idea. I should like to spend time before a fire.

[Maybe with a book in hand. That sounds nice.]

[He doesn't fight it, but it's taking a lot of bravery on his end to maintain his gaze once Ithaqua redirects it.]

...I do not. [Then, with a little more certainty:] I do not mind. I daresay I like that thou art.

[The smile on Ithaqua's face grows wider.]

Would you say it's mutual? Or some more rational, human-like variation thereof?

Noble houses that serve the King. Khun is one of them.

[ that's where some of his arrogance comes from. ]

[The way Ithaqua phrases that makes Urianger laugh. He feels a little lighter for it.]

Humans are more than capable of being possessive as well. While I desire for thou to have the freedom thou dost deserve, I...admit to a secondary desire. The desire to lay claim to thee in some manner.

[He can scarcely believe such words are coming from his own lips, but he knows they're sincere. He's done with lying, to himself or otherwise.]

I don't think this could change my opinion of you, no matter what I'm about to see.

[ is that a comfort? it's the best he can offer.

he has to admit though, that this shinji is so much brighter than the one he's come to know. interesting. ]

[Well, that's certainly quite a primal desire Urianger is declaring, isn't it? It's far, far more than Ithaqua had imagined... but not unwelcome. In fact, it's probably the most attractive thing he's ever heard from this eloquent, artistic man in all their time together.]

Then you should-- and perhaps you should do it soon, lest I beat you to the punch and leave a bite the way a dog would.

[And then he bares his teeth, showing fangs. Oh, he can bite indeed.]

Edited 2024-05-28 18:56 (UTC)

[It's a good question, isn't it? What could have caused the forest to change so drastically? It's a grim sign of what's wrong with this world, but before G'raha can comment on it he's struck by how the scenery changes to something distantly familiar.

(How long has it been, truly, since he last saw Corvos? How can he quantify such a thing?)

The forest changes again, the sight a far cry from a sterile lab. Corvos is a colorful, warm place, and most of the people who pass by Ahito and G'raha have feline ears and tails. One man stands out for the lack of such traits, older and entirely human in appearance. He's talking with a few of the adult miqo'te, their expressions all equally somber.

A short distance from them is a young miqo'te, quietly watching the other children who seem blissfully unaware of the serious conversation. His hair and fur is the same brilliant red as G'raha's, but only one of his eyes matches the man's while the other is a vibrant green. He looks... lonely, isolated as he is.

In the distance, a black ship moves through the air.]

House Darnus has begun gathering Allagan artifacts...

[One of the miqo'te says this to the hyur, casting a glance to the solitary boy.]

Which means he can't stay here anymore. He's the only one with the Allagan eye.

"I'll take him to Sharlayan, then. Garlemald wouldn't dare to interfere there, and it's likely they won't even know to look for him in the first place."

[The miqo'tes look relieved, and one calls out to the boy.]

Raha, come meet Galuf Baldesion. He's a friend of the tribe, and he's going to be taking care of you...

[The boy with mismatched eyes glances over and stands, shyly approaching. The hyur smiles down at him, kneeling down to greet him. The boy smiles back in shy reflex, before ducking his head.

Then the scene shifts again, extravagant, white stone buildings replacing the tribe's modest homes. A red-haired miqo'te bounds up excitedly to an exceptionally small girl with pointed ears and brown here, his odd eyes gleaming brightly as he smiles.]

Krile, I've got my citizenship! I can enter the Studium now.

[The girl, who just reaches his knees, smiles back and claps.]

"Let's go tell Grandfather immediately, then. I know he's busy, but you've both put in so much work for this he surely won't mind."

[The atmosphere is so starkly different, here. There was a palpable fear and anxiety with the miqo'te, people who had been conquered by a faceless empire...

But these children are so far removed from that, living somewhere safe and sound.]

Hah... I suppose it was to be expected to see something from my youth.

[G'raha says this as he looks at the scene before them with a bittersweet nostalgia and crooked grin.]

I'd almost forgotten all of their faces.

Mm... [ That wistfulness he'll feel for his life past will never truly go away, but it is eased, in great part, whenever Aguero holds him.

That is to say, once he asks that question, Tatara purses his lips in mock thought. ]

Not really... [ Despite the look on his face, the mischief in his eyes says it all. ] I'd rather keep hugging you.

[ But he pulls back anyway, hands trailing down to grasp Aguero's. ] No matter what happens, I won't let go.

[ No matter what he sees. ]

Apparently so. [ khun watches, assesses, thoughtful. ]

Not bad, though now I have to wonder about the practicality of contacts in the midst of battle.

[ it's a bit of a joke but also a touch serious; do you really want to be messing with your eyes like that in combat? mainly though he says it to anchor them to the present rather than the past. ]

[If Ithaqua liked how he twisted Urianger's tongue earlier, the stammering he quickly descends into now is on another level.]

I- I spoke metaphorically, I did not mean that in a- In a physical manner...!

[Hello?? Down, Ithaqua?! Not that Urianger's afraid or anything, just...he feels like this situation has quickly spiraled out of control. He needs to reach within himself and find his words. Quickly.]

[He takes a deep breath to gather himself, swallows, then puts his hands on Ithaqua's shoulders.]

Ithaqua, I desire to court thee.

Aa~ah, no fun. [Trust Urianger to stay as rational as possible despite such confessions...!

But Ithaqua can't stay too mad. Not with that earnest desire. He moves his hands around to claps around Urianger's neck.]

Well? You've permission to do so-- I want you to. But, please, don't be too rigid. [This is Ithaqua's first relationship, but he's no stranger to silly little books, pieces of escapism that describe romance as a fun little romp as they live happily ever after. Perhaps ever after is impossible for them... But that doesn't mean they shouldn't have their fun.] I invite even the physical things, heheh.

Otherwise, I shall be taking matters into my own hands.

You can hug me as much as you want after. [ it's also more practical; if his visions are like Tatara's, they could wind up on a battlefield where they'll need to move quickly. the secondary consideration that appearing like this to any of the many people of his past he squashes quickly, their opinion doesn't really matter. (he proclaims this for himself and the universe).

it doesn't take long for the scenery to shift, the scenery playing out a movie of a story from far away.

► Acceptable Losses

khun, no, aguero, sighs when the forest comes back into view. his expression isn't blank like it would have been a month ago. instead, he lets himself express what he's feeling right now, or at least a part of it. tired. ]

[ The crying continues uninterrupted even as Syrla calls out but after a moment, someone does speak, although it isn't in response to him. It's a small, quavering voice, young, so very young. ]

...I don't want to tell them... I don't... why was it another bad vision...? I c-can't... they're gonna... they're gonna blame me a-again...

[The sigh that escapes Urianger is both relieved and suffering.]

While I am elated to have been granted thy permission, I refuse to bite thee.

[Hydaelyn help him, he's so embarrassed and it's only going to get worse as he reflects on this moment later. He won't regret it, though. He really is happy... He never thought romance would actually be a factor in his life.

But enough reeling for now. He owes his newfound partner something, even if he's currently too rigid to leave marks.

He leans forward to close the distance between the two of them, hands descending to rest on Ithaqua's waist.]

Wilt thou accept a kiss?

I ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜs ɢʀᴏᴜᴘs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴsᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪғ I ʀᴇᴄᴀʟʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴsᴜs ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴠᴏʟᴀᴛɪʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀɴʏ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴜsᴀɢᴇ?

[ bruno had expressed a lot of concern about it, if he recalls. ]

I ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ's ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ sɪɴᴄᴇ. Tʜᴀᴛ sᴀɪᴅ, ʜᴇ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ sᴇʀɪᴏᴜsʟʏ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡʜᴇɴ I ʙʀᴏᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ. Eᴠᴇɴ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ɪғ ᴡᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʜᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀsᴛʟᴇ.

[ which ... hm. would that do them any good? ]

[ And Day is noticing that! ]

Gotta say the disappearin' act's new. [ Apparently all of them poofed. ] How're you holdin' up? [ He knows the heals have been handled, but he still feels he ought to ask. ]

[You know. It makes sense that the catguy would have, you know, been a catchild at some point, but somehow Ahito didn't really think on the specifics of that?

Also, potato person? Is G'raha from the same world as the old potat of the south (Ahito please meet him and learn his name someday)???]

...Huh. Lots of people with changing eye colors here.

[Wild.]

[ Ah yes, even here fate knows exactly when to time things for the most dramatic or ironic effect, is what Day thinks. ]

If you mean the trees disappearin', then yeah. You feelin' faint or anything? [ If the toxins are affecting them, does this mean they're in the process of dying or...? ]

If that were all, I don't think it would be this... I dunno... catastrophic? Besides, it was my niece's future. There was. It had two outcomes. One that causes this and. And one that stops the destruction.

[ You know, he's been resisting the urge to do this since Ahito dropped down off the dragon, but honestly? No, he's going for it. After a final few seconds of hesitation, Bruno steps forward and sweeps Ahito into a big ol' hug, bloody clothes be damned. ]

I know you will. I'm just so glad... You're okay. You're all okay.

( oh my goddddddddd EMBARRASSEDDDDDDD )

That was a different situation.

( was it, )

Anyway, fine. Better that you all came back alive than not at all.

( He says this pragmatically - being down a full unit would be a huge disadvantage.

Nevertheless, he can leave Robin to rest his wings so he can fuss over Ahito instead. )

( The answer to all those questions is "you should let me starve and be miserable" so actually,

That Bruno stumbles gives Mika a start - he'd have caught him if Bruno had not caught himself - and has him questioning the wisdom of Bruno's choices. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), Mika does not ascribe to the idea of being needlessly aggressive to get people to leave him alone - the thought does not occur to him - but it does leave him feeling somewhat helpless when he can't do much in the face of people caring for him anyway, against his wishes.

He seems pensive as they approach the cups, and... man, he still doesn't know how to feel. The worry overshadows the appreciation. Had he been pulled into this world a few weeks prior, he'd have callously rejected the blood; but, being from when he is and having gone through what he has here, the idea of casting this aside sits uneasy in his stomach, as if he'd have hurt Bruno himself and walked off while he's still bleeding. (It's really not that serious, but guilt does things to the dumb, teenage mind.) )

... It's probably going to be weird either way, but. ( A beat. ) Leaving it smelling like blood is probably better. I rely on scent to distinguish certain things when I'm not thinking straight.

( How tragic would it be if his wires got crossed enough that he goes into a tea stash next time he's starving... (Well, it'd be funny for anyone not Mika, probably.)

Anyway, he'll tentatively pick up the cup, and, after glancing at Bruno as if to determine if he's like, doing this right??? (does it need to be activated? do you just drink it?), he will, very hesitantly, take a sippie. )

Do you? [ mostly rhetorical and a shade amused. ]

Then you know me better than my own family does. [ a simple statement of fact. ]

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thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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