promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-05-18 12:19 pm

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?
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] they're transparent)

1/2

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
Bold words from someone who took jabs at me early on, too.
troublereduction: (day88)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-06-05 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, I ain't sure. Shortstuff told me 'bout how one way to grow stronger is to eat mana stones. [ ... ] 'Cept, well, mana stones are either dead magical creatures or dead wizards. Dunno if I wanna get stronger from that.

[ He won't comment on whether they're even supposed to taste like anything, or that this means they'll become rocks themselves if they somehow die here.

Eventually, he looks up in mild confusion. ]


...You smell that, Ginger?
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] my body; words)

2/2

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
...Buuuut I guess you're not a bad friend, either.
revengier: (57)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-06-05 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
They aren't jabs if they're true.

[ He's an honest guy, what can he say? But he laughs. ]

I'll take not being a bad friend as a compliment. I haven't exactly been a good one in the past, so that's an improvement.
troublereduction: (day22)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-06-05 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah. Ah. That's what this is about. ]

Not gonna lie, it's a little hard for me to imagine. [ Whether it's the people of the isle or his hometown, or the Sidereal host. Either seems applicable here, but...

Day knows that for better or worse, he's the sort of person to get through things without much anger, if at all. ]


But if you're sayin' that's the case for you... Then, I think it's just a matter of pickin' which principles you prioritize more. You're still you, but maybe not in the way you woulda hoped for.
dyingtohealyou: ([Think] if I can't see any love songs)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
Well now I'm even more curious.

Something to do with the upcoming mission?
leewards: (006)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-06-05 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Ithaqua gives a soft snort.]

One could have tried. And that's why I'm holding onto them for now-- I've the discipline not to take them all for myself, and the power to fight back should anyone attempt to take them.
leewards: (010)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-06-05 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
That, and beyond. I do not create anything that has use in only a niche setting, or for a single purpose. That is a waste of time and resources.
dyingtohealyou: ([Down] They're transparent)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
...Is there a reason you picked that instead?
dyingtohealyou: ([Look] long night with)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
No?
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] of making myself seen)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
Well, as long as I get to see what it is. But for now...

[He summons his broom to his side, plonking himself down side-saddle.]

Shall we?
divineth: (🌒 51)

[personal profile] divineth 2024-06-05 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Urianger nods once Bruno steps back, slowly rising back to his feet.]

I believe thee, and full glad am I to hear it.

[It's genuinely heartening. He remembers when they spoke in the past and Bruno wasn't sure how much more of these wizard shenanigans he could take. He's glad to know that something good came out of it all in the end.

He glances around to check their surroundings. There doesn't appear to be anymore fog on their trail yet, but they probably shouldn't push it much further.]


If I may inquire...prior to thine arrival, did that memory occur recently? Mirabel and the house, are they...?

[Okay?]
jorunna: (comet10)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-06-05 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
They nod. It's definitely something like that, or at least, a surprisingly easy feeling/opinion to apply from one world to the next.

I do. And I feel like I have? Things like the scenery mom loved so much... People too.

[ They don't need to list them to far. The things come and go to make a pleasant life. ]

Right, I almost forgot. If I think now that the fortune teller might have been talking about you, then if you met them... I hope it was helpful.

[ It works the other way too m! Comet looks a little flustered. They don't like attention, even if it's meant to be good news. ]
fullspbar: (58)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-06-05 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
...Yeah.

[ Has to be. This isn't the first thing he's seen here, but this one is all too encompassing, wrapping around them no matter how many steps they take. The sky darkens with the flicker of wood and crackling red, taste of smoke settling faintly on their tongues.

But perhaps the worst is the noise. Amidst the sound of fire raging, embers popping, the air is pierced by something else; high pitched, panicked, a multitude of voices melting into the trees. Children's voices.

More specifically, children's screams.

And if Ahito looks, in the corner of his eye, he can see two small figures clamoring over each other amidst the chaos. One with a shock of white hair, and the other a mess of brown.

Shinjiro's fingers grip his hat and tug it further, further over his eyes, like he's trying not to watch. Or to feel. ]
foresightis2020: (57)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-05 01:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ I'm glad!!

Jing Yuan looks rather thoughtful as Malice speaks about the return to his home, though. He remembers before when they spoke very early on regarding his desire to go kill the one responsible for such a big betrayal; given what he witnessed here, he is unsurprised that has changed. He does also think that the man deserves to pay those two retribution for what they did.

Some people might argue vengeance can corrupt the spirit, but he doubts Malice will allow the very same, such is his belief in him. ]


I hope you obtain the option to go to another world after you have finished up business...or, of course, the ability to keep in touch, as I have hoped we all would.

[ The latter seems more realistic even if he does have optimistic tendencies. ]

All that said, you are correct. [ He adds in a light comment too: ] It is something still so far off it is not a topic worth growing wrinkles over.
foresightis2020: (43)

1/2

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-05 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Jing Yuan blinks slowly at this, his own expression going blank.

You know in that way where it is quite obvious where one wants to make one at all but cannot quite figure out the appropriate look. ]


I see. Regardless...how terribly wretched of her.

[ His words are, however, dripping with unrestrained contempt. And it's on that sentence which suddenly brings a sudden change to the environment; the tree seems to morph to one that takes on the appearance of one of a different size, but darkness suddenly extends outward, enveloping everything in his surroundings. Including Jing Yuan. ]
foresightis2020: (16)

2/2

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-05 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ In the blink of an eye, the area seems to shift completely to somewhere far more darker still.

Kurapika can take note that it feels cold, far more frigid than even where he was before.

There is hardly a speck of light to be seen or found. Besides, of course, the blue light from the strange tree from earlier is still present oddly enough, off to the side, with quite a few branches, and it seems to be set upon a piece of furniture.

If he squints up ahead there is also a speck of...something, in the darkness. What will he do? It seems nothing else happens to be occurring otherwise at the moment and he is the only one present. ]
Edited (i did this to myself) 2024-06-05 18:05 (UTC)
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] I'm a transparent person)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-06-05 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ahito grits his teeth against the sound of screams. Why was it always kids? Why is it, that no one ever seemed to be around to protect them...?

Still, even if Shinjiro refuses to watch - Ahito's eyes follow the movements of the two boys, already well-aware their efforts are likely futile.
]
lighthaus: (037)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-06-05 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ khun won't even comment on the first part because lmfao. he does the same thing. ]

"Something dangerous" could mean dangerous for himself, for us, or even for the world. Unless you put a specificity on the spell? [ he's quick at work with the dress, he's clearly done a lot of tailoring with magic, if not elsewhere. ]
lighthaus: (khun)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-06-05 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
My mother told me she loved me, and I'm sure she did, just not in the usual way. I don't really hold it against her, but I don't think I owe her more than I gave her.

I doubt we'll ever cross paths again anyway. [ and if they do, it won't be soon if khun has any say in it. ]
lighthaus: (075)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-06-05 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he thinks about it for a second. ]

I wouldn't want just anyone having mine.
shortleash: (pic#17138150)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-06-05 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
( Conundrum: he wants to put more lipstick marks on Ginger, but putting them on his face means less time looking at Ginger while he kisses him. Truly, life is a trial...

Ginger's compliments, as always, pink his cheeks. )


... Anything in particular...

( A thoughtful murmur, nudging Ginger's face lightly so he can press a kiss to the finger at his lip. More lipstick for you. )

... I guess, um... Well, I'd never seen a girl around my age—my age right now, I mean—except on TV, and stuff... It's not like there's not any here, but... that's what I thought of when I was trying to picture it.

( A little red, though - because he did see that glance, and it's not hard to guess how the question plays into it. His instinct is to ask if it's all... weird, because maybe it is, but... Ginger wouldn't think he's weird, right...? Even if Mika is always unsure about himself. Ginger's look didn't seem disapproving... )

... Do you... um, like it...?
fellheart: (neverмore neverмore)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-06-05 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ not so different from that day at the beach indeed, hm? his wings hang a little looser than they did then- it is a long flight, especially weighted down by so much, but otherwise ... ]

Aʜʜʜʜ, ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ᴛʜᴇʏ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇ ᴏғ sᴜᴄᴄᴇssɪᴏɴ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴀsᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴏᴜᴛ. Hᴏᴡ ᴏᴅᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴠᴇs, ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ...

[ most royalty he knows has at least a few in the line of succession, even if not necessarily the most direct relation... or they are elected by popular sentiment, or other methods not so directly tied to bloodline and lineage. ]

I sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ғᴏʀᴛᴜɴᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ sᴇᴇᴍɪɴɢʟʏ ᴅᴏᴇs ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴜᴅɢᴇ, ᴏʀ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs, ᴛʜᴇɴ ɴᴏᴛ sᴏ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴛʟʏ.

[ central country would not be as carefree as it seems if they lived under the rule of a bitter head of state, even if through a regent (?), so... yes, how fortunate they are. how do they live with the cognitive dissonance. the day to day gossip among the castle must be quite something... ]
fellheart: (нe'll мaĸe yoυ anyтнιng)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-06-05 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Get out...? When there is still so much to be done here?

[ so many mana stones to be collected, so many corpses to be tended to? of course, he is aware of the dangers of the forest, but... ]

I believe you misunderstand. I intend to stay for a while yet. The warning was for your sake, not mine.

[ and slowly, as it happens: the faintest tang of salt in the air for those paying attention, a phantom sensation with no source especially if one is taking care to maintain any form of protection on the air they breathe. ]
troublereduction: (day14)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-06-05 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ...

Truly, serenity is difficult no matter which world it is. ]


...You wanna go, Robin?

[ Instead of staying here and watching this, he means. ]