thousand dreams, lotus boats upon the waters

[promittere]

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

Comments

[divineth]

Th— Then whose…?

[It better not be the others’???]

[leewards]

No one you know, or ever will. [And he says that with such satisfaction.

A little on the manic side.]

[divineth]

… [Okay that’s definitely a relief but—] And these stones…?

[leewards]

Ah, these? [He raises the stones in Solomon's blood-stained coat.]

These are trophies.

[divineth]

Trophies.

[He repeats. The blood, the stones…both the remains of Ithaqua’s quarry.]

Then the others— they fare well?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua blinks, tilts his head, and then just gives a nod]

They'll be along, I simply am here because I am the fastest. And strongest.

[Is Urianger regretting their friendship now...]

[divineth]

[With that, Urianger can finally let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding. With it comes a relieved little laugh.

He gestures for Ithaqua to come back down so he can properly embrace him.]

[leewards]

Mrrr? [That's a confused sound just before he leans back down and gets Urianger's arms around him. This is strange, but also.

Strangely comforting. He hasn't had a hug in his adult life and he can't help but melt into it.]

[divineth]

[What a charming sound. He can’t help but smile into Ithaqua’s shoulder.]

Welcome back, Ithaqua, and well done.

[It’s safe to say he still doesn’t regret this friendship.]

[leewards]

Mm... It is good to be back.

[Even if the mission, overall, was fun.]

Accompany me to my room. We can speak more there.

[divineth]

Very well. Allow me but one moment to check in with the others.

[For continuity’s sake because I tagged out over there—

But Urianger is true to his word at least and doesn’t leave Ithaqua waiting for long.]

[leewards]

[Ithaqua blinks to get the sleep out of his eyes while Urianger is away, even hides a yawn behind his hand. Though he's more energized when he sees his friend return, and perks up. He can't offer his hand to Urianger right now though. Alas.]

It's a bit of a climb, up on the fifth floor.

[divineth]

[Alas!! That's okay though, the trophy stones are important too.]

Let us make way. If thou beginest to feel faint, pray inform me.

[Yeah, he's definitely noticed how tired Ithaqua looks. Exhaustion seems to be a common trend among the Norths right now, understandably so.]

[leewards]

You don't need to worry, I'm still alert. [For now. But he's putting on a face for Urianger.

But he does hold on up through the journey to his room, even if navigating the steps is annoying with his axe and stilts. Even if he wants to set them aside immediately though, he simply puts his axe down to open the door, and steps aside for Urianger to go enter first.]

[divineth]

[Ithaqua will have to forgive Urianger, but he can't help but worry anyway.

At least the ascent does prove to be uneventful. Urianger makes a discovery when they reach Ithaqua's room, too.]

Ah. Thy room lieth directly above mine own.

[That's a fun little coincidence. Anyway, he'll go ahead and enter after thanking Ithaqua for the hospitality.]

[leewards]

Ah? So you are neighbours with Yamato and Kurapika then. [Both of whom he's visited multiple times.

He deposits his axe and stilts inside just by the door, and Solomon's coat with the mana stones right next to them, under the couch-- the counter would be better, but he would rather not expose the rocks to his potions and ingredients, in case of cross-contamination of... something. Magical energies, he supposes.

Then he begins to undress as he heads for his bed, revealing, as he removes his belt and tunic, that he has more bruises on his skin. He may not have lost blood, but he still took a beating.]

[divineth]

[Urianger takes a few steps in to examine Ithaqua's room setup. It has a comfortable vibe to it, reminiscent of the cottage he recalls seeing in Ithaqua's past.]

Aye. They are fine neighbors, though it can be...noisy, at times.

[What with all the roomba shenanigans and all.

As he's still looking around, he turns and is immediately met with the sight of Ithaqua taking his shirt off.

...

He then swivels on his heel to look literally anywhere else. If Ithaqua were to look, he'd see the tips of the elezen's ears burning red.]

While the blood may not have been thine own, thou art still injured. May I heal thee?

[Apparently he looked at Ithaqua's bare skin long enough to see the additional bruises.]

[leewards]

[Frankly, Ithaqua had noticed how his muscles felt when he was making his way back to the manor, but had not realized that the bruising was this extensive. At Urianger's words, he looks down at himself, and sees what he means now.]

Ah-- Allow me to remove my clothing first. [See the extent of the damage and all.

And now he's just stripped to his undergarments, sitting on his bed and examining his legs. Bruised as well. In fact, his face might have the least bruising on them, it's a wonder his mask didn't break sooner.]

1/2

[divineth]

R-Remove thy--?

[Urianger freezes up, suddenly regretting this at least a little bit. But...he'll commit. Healing Ithaqua is important, no matter how embarrassed Urianger is about it.]

[divineth]

[He takes a deep breath, reaches for his star globe, and turns to come over and assess the damage. Focus on the bruising. Focus on the bruising. Focus on the bruising.]

Goodness, Ithaqua... [He murmurs as he takes note of it all, ears still burning.] 'Tis a wonder thou didst not suffer worse than this. Or didst thou already receive healing from G'raha?

[leewards]

[Now, why are Urianger's ears red? What's there to be embarrassed about?]

No, I handled such things myself. The others needed his help more than I did, after all.

[divineth]

[There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, which is why Urianger isn't saying anything. He's just focusing on healing now, kneeling before Ithaqua and getting the spell underway. A few twinkling stars appear around the two of them as Ithaqua's bruises begin to mend.]

Didst thou need to use the amulet?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua is momentarily distracted by the stars, but brings his gaze back down to Urianger.]

No, I hadn't seen the opportunity to-- we'd been given little opportunity for healing during the entire mission. But!

[He puffs up like a proud bird.]

Because I am the strongest of them, I weathered every attack easily. [because dice bot adopted him as its favorite child]

[divineth]

[A gentle huff escapes Urianger, a mix of amusement and mild exasperation.]

I am told the group faced a ferocious beast and enemy witches. Thou didst well indeed to have left the encounter battered but not broken.

[It could have been a whole lot worse, he knows that. But it still pains him a little to see all these nasty bruises. At least they’ll be gone in a moment. Ithaqua will be good as new.

Physically, at any rate.]

[leewards]

I killed one of them before she could kill me, heheh.

[Someone else would not be proud of accomplishing murder, but Ithaqua has been itching for this for a long time.]

And besides, I could not allow the others to handle the other one by themselves, and the chimera, especially with the apparent strength the remaining witch had. [Although in hindsight, perhaps he and Solomon should have isolated that one, and not her apprentice.

When He feels lighter, he takes a look at one of his hands, flexing it and curling his fingers. The bruises are almost gone, and it's much easier to move now. He hadn't even realized that his whole body was not as flexible as it usually is.]