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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Urianger has no intention of pushing his luck in a place like this, so he'll definitely take Ithaqua's advice to heart as he keeps his charms close.

He turns his attention toward Ithaqua when he feels that gentle touch.]

I understand. My protection charm seemeth to be holding up thus far, but this toxin appeareth to be as potent as was forewarned. We must remain vigilant.

[And as they'll soon find out, something is still passing through their strong protection charms.

Ithaqua is the one to feel it first. A strange mist seems to overtake his vision and the smell of books hits his senses.

Wait. Where did Urianger go?]

Mm~ That much is obvious, this forest--

[Wait. He's no longer sensing another person with him.

Where did Urianger go indeed. The scent of books is not lost on him, familiar as he is to the smell when they'd been his companions for so long. However, he's more alarmed at the lack of his companion than the sudden change in location, and he starts moving forward despite the mist in his eyes. He's moving blind, but who cares?]

[What awaits Ithaqua beyond the mist is...his missing companion, yet not quite as he knows him now.

Ithaqua finds himself in a massive study room, filled to the brim with books not unlike the library in the manor. However, this one seems pretty dusty and poorly taken care of, as though its owners are rarely around to care for it.

In the middle of all of this is a young Urianger, no older than ten summers. His nose is buried in a book on prophecy, with dozens of other books piled on the table. Mostly more prophecy material, but closer inspection will reveal that there are a good amount of poetry books too.]

[A large room filled with books was not what he imagined-- he was expecting something more dangerous, terrible. But this is oddly... innocuous?

Especially with the young elf in the middle of the chaos of books, and a closer inspection, Ithaqua crouching down, it is indeed a very young Urianger. Seems like at this age, he was already interested in prophecy, but Ithaqua is pleased to note the poetry as well. So, even at this age, he wanted to speak eloquently as well.

That's cute, actually.]

[The young Urianger doesn't seem to take notice of a stranger in the room...that is, until he glances up and looks right in Ithaqua's direction.

...only for a distant voice to ring out behind Ithaqua. That seems to be what drew the elezen child's attention.]

...rianger! [Closer,] Urianger!

[Suddenly, the mist overtakes both the scene and Ithaqua once more. The voice distorts, and now it's Ithaqua's name being called for.]

Ithaqua!

[There's a hand reaching out to hold Ithaqua's- to bring him back to earth. The Urianger that Ithaqua knows is back.]

[Ithaqua makes a noise of confusion. Is that it? That was quick-- bit confusing, but he will not look a gift horse in the mouth...

He squeezes Urianger's hand, just to reassure himself that his friend is safe.]

Are you all right? Where were you?

I am fine, but I am wondering the same.

[He brings his free hand to his forehead, eyebrows furrowed.]

I…found myself viewing a moment from my past.

[Ah, him as well, then? Perhaps it would not be too much of a stretch to say that they'd seen the same thing.]

I had a glimpse of your past as well. [Ithaqua leans down so he can peer better into Urianger's face-- probably a bit too intimidating, given the mask, but he's not paying attention to that right now.]

You were a child, perfectly at home in a pile of books.

Ah-

[The sudden proximity does startle him, mostly because he wasn't looking at Ithaqua in the moment and suddenly there he is. Right in his face.]

That is- That is precisely what I witnessed as well.

[Why does he suddenly feel a little self-conscious now...]

I know not why the forest hath shown such a moment to us, however...'tis true that I was at home with those books. 'Tis fair to say that I learned much of the world through them.

And your particular preferences showed that early as well...But books have always been fascinating, why not pass all the time with your nose buried in one?

[Meaning, no judgement here. In fact, Ithaqua is more relieved that Urianger seems fine-- unlike the last times he'd delved into a memory with someone.

Then again, this was a tame, innocent memory, all things considered. (He knows his may come next though. He just hopes it won't be bloody.)]

[A small laugh escapes him.]

'Twas mine own opinion as well, and I was content to do so. But I would later learn that it was not healthy for me to lock myself away in that room. I needed to venture out and attempt to forge bonds with others. See the world with mine own eyes.

[It's a little melancholy on his end, but it's still nothing compared to what other memories can and will crop up down the line.]

Hmm... [A little like Ithaqua, but he is anchored to the forest forever, and has had no interest in venturing out. If mother were well? No, what's so nice about the outside?

If the plateau's town were like this instead, people like the wizards rather than narrow-minded humans, he would have had a different opinion.]

The outside world was far more welcoming to you, then. [It's how he turned into such a kind man, he supposes.

Ithaqua looks up to make sure the forest doesn't have anything else for them... except he notes a figure in the distance, something that looks like a cottage-- which should be impossible, no one should live in the Forest of Dreams. So he has to point it out.]

Perhaps you could lend me your eyes and tell me, I've not gone mad.

What dost thou...?

[Urianger tries to start asking what Ithaqua means by that, but there isn't time for it. Something else is happening.

He turns his attention forward, eyes narrowing.]

Nay, thou hast not. I see yonder cottage. Is this another trick of the forest...?

[Should they approach?]

I do not know, but there's only one way to find out.

Stay behind me. [He is far sturdier after all, he can handle being beaten.

He starts to head towards the small house with long strides, but then starts to slow when he realizes that it's familiar. There are two snowmen just outside, one slightly larger with autumn leaves stuck to its head like red hair, and a smaller one attached to its side. There's also an extension of the roof to the side, overlooking a small vegetable patch.

It's not a terrible rickety cabin in the woods from horrific fairy tales, but more of a well-lived-in cottage. Ithaqua pauses just before the front door, taking a deep breath. When he opens the door, he realizes that he didn't need to brace himself-- the scene inside is fairly innocent.

Pleasant, even.

A red-haired woman sits at the lone table in the middle of the cabin, which is laden with books. Beside her is a young boy with silver-blond hair, fluffy and sticking up every which way because of the way he's been scratching his head in petulance-- a particular silver-blond and a particular sort of fluff that's only on one other person in this room.

However, the boy has blue eyes framed in white, not at all the same black and white eyes that Ithaqua has when he's unmasked.]

[Urianger has to break into a jog to keep up with Ithaqua at first, only to almost bump into him once he suddenly slows down. He gets a good look at why that is soon enough, studying the quaint scenery before them as well as Ithaqua's hesitance.

This must be Ithaqua's home.

He keeps close as they enter in the event that the forest deigns to put an ominous spin on this memory, only to be met with a scene that Urianger imagines must have been like any regular day in Ithaqua's childhood. That...is Ithaqua, right? Urianger's gaze drifts from the young boy's up to the masked man towering above the entire room. Though Ithaqua wears a mask the majority of the time and Urianger hasn't acknowledged it yet, he hasn't forgotten what his eyes look like. Sclera black as pitch, and irises like that of an animal stalking its prey in the dead of night. By all accounts those eyes should have frightened him, and yet...

...but that's not the point right now. The true point is that something happened to Ithaqua. But before that came to pass, a young boy studied hard with difficult tomes. It's just as Ithaqua said.]

I take it that these figures are thee and thy mother?

Edited 2024-05-26 06:30 (UTC)

Yes. A much simpler time.

[And, as if to affirm both Urianger and his adult self, the boy looks up at his mother and asks, "Mother, why must I learn all of these? I want to be out playing in the garden."

To which his mother, with all the patience of a single parent who has had to do everything herself, responds, "Because you never know when being literate will help you."]

And she was right. It did pay to be literate. [His voice is more subdued, more somber. He has a weight on him that he has not shown to Urianger yet.

He strides forward to place a hand on the tome they'd been using for the lesson, but it becomes buried in a pile of snow-- as does the rest of the house, until they're surrounded by snow flurries once more.]

Edited 2024-05-26 06:49 (UTC)

[It's a scene that draws the corners of his lips up into a small smile for a brief moment, though the evidence of a darker tone to all of this lingers and prevents him from truly enjoying his ability to see a happy young Ithaqua with his mother. Ithaqua's hesitation at the door, the melancholy in his voice... Urianger can imagine that this story's ending is not a happy one.

Whatever that ending may have been, the forest does not reveal it to them. Urianger catches up to Ithaqua just in time to see the scene unravel around them, disappearing into the recesses of time. He doesn't want to leave Ithaqua there with this silence, though finding the right words to fill it with proves difficult.]

...Wilt thou be well?

[A slight spin on Ithaqua's own question to him.]

Yes.

[A simple answer yet contains so many layers if one were to want to dig even deeper. Ithaqua slouches again, so he doesn't dwarf Urianger, and tilts his head.]

Now you know the origin of my tendencies.

That I do. 'Tis just as you said.

[Learning from difficult tomes...and the determination of his mother.

It's risky to stand around and have a conversation in such a dangerous place, but he still finds himself asking:]

Thou appeared different as a child. What became of thyself? [...] Was thy troubled demeanor related?

In a manner of speaking... [All right, he'll elaborate.]

This world is not the only one to place utmost important on promises-- but when I promised to protect her, I cast away weakness to become what I am now. [A monster, he means.]

I cast away many things, including my human-like appearance... But that matters little to me, I dislike humans.

[“Monster” is absolutely not the word that Urianger would use. But he still understands well enough. Ithaqua was once human, but cast that humanity away to gain power.

And the reason why Ithaqua went to such lengths…]

Humans must have been the source of thy troubles from the start.

[And if that is true, then he’s hardly about to take offense. Not that he is human in the strictest sense either, but he’s close enough. And he is fully aware of the many, many wrongs done by humans- something that never seems to change no matter which star he travels to.]

It has always been them.

[Then he sighs. Now Urianger knows this, and he knows, from experience, that many here balk at the idea of someone disliking humans. That they take it personally. Those people don't matter, anyway.

Urianger, however, he matters.]

Does that bother you?

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.

[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.

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.

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noooo I missed a you = thou I’m so cringe

i closed my eyes and pretended it was a thou

thank you

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