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

Well then. [Ithaqua stands-- look, he may seem like he's dubious about this entire production and is leaving, but trust the process.

Then he gives a bow with a flourish.]

I am Ithaqua of the Northern Country, the abominable snowman.

[He has a bit of a heart for drama.]

Ooh!

[ Tatara's face visibly lights up behind the camera. He paps his free hand against his wrist in a way to clap. ]

Well then, Ithaqua of the Northern Country, could you show us a little of what your magic is capable of? Can you turn into an abominable snowman?

Silly sage, heheh. Why would I need to transform when I already am one?

But since you asked so enthusiastically... [He turns away from the camera and hunches over, working quickly so Tatara doesn't have time to peek that camera around and reveal his face for future generations. When he turns back around, there are two little balls of snow in his hand, stacked atop one another as a snowman.]

There you go.

[ Oh?? It's very tempting to step around the side to get a peek at what Ithaqua's doing, but he remains patient. He shan't move...

So when he turns back around, balls of snow in his hand, Tatara's reaction is genuine. He immediately zooms in on the snow. ]

Whoa! That's so cool, Ithaqua! Thank you!

[ He takes a careful step forward, making sure the frame is steady. ]

Is this going to melt?

No, I added that enchantment after I created the snowman. [And he gives it a little pat on the head.]

This little one's yours now, as a token of this... documentary, was it?

Wow! Thaaank you, Ithaqua!

[ It's so cute! Ithaqua is scary, but this is very cute! Tatara holds out his hand, making sure it's in the shot, so that the snowman can be safely transfered ownership. ]

I'll put it right next to the tape in the library, so everyone knows this happened for real. [ ... ] It...will stay cold forever, right? It won't melt eventually and ruin the film, will it?

Trust in my magic. I am a creature of the snowy forests, after all.

[Then he sits back down, crossing his legs.]

You're right, I got no reason to worry!

[ And so he doesn't! Their weird little corner of the library is turning out to be interesting.

Ithaqua sits, and it's time to move onto the next question. ]

How are you finding life here, then? Found any spots you'd recommend to future sages?

Hmm... there is a vegetable patch out in the grounds-- the one you requested, as a matter of fact. [He gives a nod to Tatara.] We've grown more than just vegetables there, the plants are growing well, and Ginger is more taken with it by the day.

[He believes that only Mikaela is more important to him than the flowers, at this point.

Then he pauses to think, when has he ever thought this much about other people? He's been doing it more often recently, and he has no idea why this is so. And why he isn't more alarmed about this.]

Living here is... interesting. Every day is not exactly the same as the previous, the exact opposite of life in the heart of the forest. I would say it's because of the people.

Oh, yeah! I'm so glad it's doing well! I hope future sages and wizards take good care of it after we're gone, and that it feeds many generations of manor-dwellers in the future!

[ Hehe... Something about the notion tickles him. He's glad a part of them will live on in manor grounds.

Tatara pauses to zoom in on Ithaqua's face. ]

Ooh... That's interesting, and a little unexpected. [ Most native to this world see Northern wizards as solitary creatures, after all. Maybe Ithaqua was, too, at some point— ] Could you tell us a little more about the people here? Anyone you like in particular, or anything funny that's happened?

[Ithaqua is wholly unaware of Tatara zooming in on his face, with how uninformed he is about technology. And even if he did, his mask is on-- that's a physical barrier, and an emotional one as well. Tatara's actions don't bother him.

Even if he's a bit confused by the words. Is he... digging for information right now? Or, to be more precise, gossip? "Anyone you like in particular"? Come on now. He does have an answer to that, but he's not sharing for the camera.]

Would it not be best to ask someone else for information about the people, dear sage? I don't keep abreast with the latest news in the manor, and whatever I would say would be coloured by my own opinions, based on my experiences with them.

Hm? But I'm not asking for info, I'm asking for anecdotes!

[ He'll zoom out now, getting all of Ithaqua in his little seat in the frame. ]

If you don't want to talk about other people, then what about you? What's something interesting or funny that happened to you while living here?

[Anecdotes. Of his time with people.

No, he doesn't think he'll be sharing those any time soon. Those are private, after all. At least the other question is far more innocent, and it's easy to be vague or hide names.]

You're really quite curious, aren't you? Very well... I met the feral colony of cats living on the manor grounds and have been courting their favour since then. I think they're warming up to me.

Oh, that's cute!

[ It's an interview! He wants to know Ithaqua better! He also won't know if his questions are annoying or not, because he's having fun.

At least the cat story seems to be an appropriate answer. ]

Do you have a favorite cat yet? Do you ever turn into a cat yourself and hang out with them that way?

There's a ginger cat who insists I pat very precisely at the base of its tail. It gets quite demanding if I stop, and I must continue if I do not want my vision obscured.

[So... yes. That's his favourite cat. A little weirdo of a cat-- as oranges tend to be.]

[ He can totally see this. ]

Wow, that's so cute! I bet the kitty loves you for it.

[ And with that he clicks off the recording and lowers the camera, giving Ithaqua a big smile. ]

Thanks, Ithaqua! This will be a nice little glimpse into your life.

thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

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