lunaecalamitas | 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hm~?

[He tilts his head.]

Whatever do you mean?

Though we may have a common goal, that's not to say we are united over it. It was assigned to us by forces beyond our ken, which means the threads that bind are may be incredibly fragile...

[But he continues on, upbeat.]

And this means that if we can do anything to put ourselves on the same page regarding each other, it's best to learn it now before there comes a time where we may accidentally offend one another. For example... your masks. I'm sure you wear it for a reason, and it may go against your beliefs in one way or another for me to ask you to remove it. Sorting out those sort of... cultural missteps will be important, as we continue to work together.

[Also he really just wants to learn about all of these wizards because he's sure they all have to have really good stories!!! So many of them have to be heroes, right...]

Hmm. Well then, let me see if I understand.

To use your example. [He taps at his cheek, just underneath his eye.] At first glance, it's obvious I keep it on for a reason, and despite your curiosity, you would rather not offend me if you were to ask questions about it, yes?

[Then he gives a shrug.]

To answer that, I shan't be, but that does not mean I will bear my whole face simply because one asked.

[He nods!]

Well, then, I'm curious to hear why you wear it, if you'll indulge me.

[Because most of his familiarity with people in masks are the Ascians and the shadows of the Ancients he saw in Amaurot... It's not a normal fashion trend.]

And you can ask me anything you would like to know as well.

[This is the first time someone has asked him about the mask-- people simply just... did not. So he has to wonder if this little kitty is brave... or too curious by half.]

Why else would one wear a mask, but to keep something hidden? I am a secretive person, you see. I like my privacy enough to keep at least some part of my face hidden.

[As long as some part is, he doesn't care. ... Though he'd rather hide away the top half than the bottom half.]

[Curiosity killed the cat...]

Well, I've seen cultures that believe that showing ones individuality is improper, so masks are used to disguise ones features out of respect for those around him.

[The stories he's heard of the Ancients are... interesting, to say the least.]

But I cannot fault a man for wanting to keep his privacy and for wanting to be a mystery. Sometimes I find myself wishing I had chosen to do the same.

[He spent so long hiding who it was, after all, that even though he's thrilled to simply be G'raha Tia again there are moments where he forgets that he's allowed that.]

Though I'm not sure masks would work out for me.

I often wear a cowl for the full effect. As you've noticed when we first met.

But as you can see... [He waves a hand at his head. Without a hood to weigh it down, his hair has fluffed up considerably.] I am showing you the courtesy of being mostly uncovered.

[Though if he were really showing courtesy, he'd be completely maskless-- after all, most of the manor has already seen his bare face.]

The courtesy is appreciated, then, though if you are more comfortable completely covered then please, don't alter your habits for my comfort.

[Though he will admit the lack of stilts is nice, which brings him to his next question.]

Is that same courtesy why you are not on stilts today?

Not that, but out of my own comfort. Wearing stilts as a table will cause me knees to knock against said table and I shall either have to sit at an angle, or kick the table over to become comfortable.

[And neither is a desirable outcome, really. Now this is all out of comfort.]

Oh.

[Okay, yeah, that makes a lot of sense.]

Yes, I suppose it is a bit foolish to assume everything has a deeper meaning.

[But he's just going to roll with it, shaking off the faux pas.]

It would have been a shame to lose everything I've made, so I'm glad you decided to forego them.

Heheh! I can be mindful when the occasion calls for it. [And if he feels like it.]

In any case, our dear new mentor... are there more things you want to know? Many people here are awfully nosy, but I've taken a liking to you.

A liking to me already? I'm flattered.

[But more things he wants to know... Where does he even start?]

I suppose the most pressing thing is whether or not you think this goal is achievable in the first place.

Hmm?

[Ithaqua tilts his head.]

Enlighten me-- what goal are you speaking of? [Their overall goal as wizards? Or smaller ones?]

The goal to save the wizards who are meant to deal with this Great Calamity, lest you have to face it yourself.

[Because fighting the moon seems like a lot??? To deal with???]

Ah, that. [He says that so casually! As if he hasn't thought much of it recently-- which is true, Ithaqua has had other things on his mind, particularly what's happening with pieces of the moon here.

He taps one finger on the table, careful not to use his claw.]

I haven't an issue with fighting the moon personally... even if it would be more difficult than anything I have ever done in the past. But this is much safer for us, isn't it? And I've a life I must return to.

[Which is why he's not going off on his own to do something reckless.]

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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