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

Whoa! [Syrlya, who had not been expecting to be jumpscared, damn near drops the fruit he was munching on.] Our future--what is that?

[ Tatara laughs. Oops! He's almost sorry Syrlya dropped his fruit. Almost. ]

A camera. [ He peeks out from behind the lens, looks at his camera, then back at Syrlya. ] I guess you don't have these where you're from?

A camera? [His expression only remains uncomprehending, and that's explanation enough.] What does it do?

[ Oho! Exciting! Tatara keeps the lens trained on Syrlya as he speaks. ]

It records image, movement, and sound. So everything you do and say, and this conversation right now, is being saved to the film inside. [ He taps the side. ] Then, people in the future can watch it back and see what everyone was like in the past.

[ He smiles! ]

Isn't it nice?

Oh, it creates recordings! [That much he can understand. He's used to records or hologram devices doing that and we're not going to think about the strange technological advancements that still haven't figured out a camera.]

So, wait, are you recording this right now?

Yes! [ Oh! Syrlya understands that! Good, he doesn't have to explain anymore (and he doesn't think harder as to why he understands recordings but not cameras). ]

I am! It's been running this whole time. [ He hides back behind the camera, looking through the lens. ] Give us a self intro!

An intro? Well, I... [Am very unprepared for this. He clears his throats, standing straight.] Hello, I'm Syrlya. I am a wizard from Tyria representing the Central Country.

Hello Syrlya!

[ In his mind, he's acting as rep for an audience that doesn't exist yet. He'll wave, his fingers just peeking up at the bottom of the frame. ]

How long have you been here so far? How are you finding Central Country?

Let's see, hasn't it been... [He starts to count off his fingers.] six weeks? Seven? It's, well--the weather is pleasant, and I have no complaints about the manor. It has taken some getting used to.

[For the people of Central, and not him, but maybe he should be diplomatic.]

Ooh, I see, I see! I'm glad you like the manor!

[ It is comfy. And much more luxurious than anything Tatara's ever experienced. ]

What would you say's been the biggest adjustment?

The biggest? [Hmm...]

I suppose how little magic seems to have a presence in people's daily lives. They're all very unused to magic and magical creatures and even though it's still a natural part of the world, it lacks understanding.

[Not being able to walk in public without having to frequently stop and reassure people, that's an adjustment.]

Hmmm... Now that you mention it, I guess you'd probably expect to see more of it in daily life, huh? Maybe it's 'cause wizards are so rare...

[ Not that it was all that common where Tatara is from either, even if he was a part of that exception. ]

Could you tell us more about where you're from? You're definitely one of a kind here.

[ you're the only plant, ]

Are you asking me to describe an entire planet? [He lets out a breathy chuckle.] I would not know where to stop. Tyria is... colorful. Magic is part of everything from the smallest blade of grass to the largest creature. The people there have their differences, but many have come together for the betterment of our world.

Wow... That sounds beautiful. It'd be cool if we could visit some day.

[ Probably impossible, but nice to think about!

Tatara zooms in on Syrlya's face. ]

What about your people?

Well, if you ever find a way to reverse our arrival, anything is possible. [Humans are aliens brought from another world by their gods, he believes in it.

He is also oblivious to Tatara's zooming.] You mean the Sylvari, yes? We are a young people, in truth, but we have managed to establish ourselves across the corners of Tyria. We aren't so unlike races of flesh when it comes to our desires, feelings, duty...

[ Behind the camera, Tatara nods! Anything is indeed possible... He just. Has to figure that part out first. ]

A young people? [ This is, in fact, the most interesting part to him. He peeks out from behind the camera for a second, before darting back behind it. He has no doubt Syrlya's plant buddies are also fully capable of a range of feelings, because Syrlya himself has definitely demonstrated that they are himself, so— ]

What does that mean? How old are you?

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

Smile

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