promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-05-18 12:19 pm

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
๐ŸŒ™ Welcome to your fourth event! It's your dreamshare and memshare event! Ready to open up with your deepest and darkest secrets?
๐ŸŒ™ We're halfway through the game. How do you feel?
๐ŸŒ™ 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.
๐ŸŒ™ On the admin side of things, Lav has swapped out Wanderer for G'raha! Please say hello to your new mentor NPC.
๐ŸŒ™ 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.
๐ŸŒ™ The next country to go on their mission is North. Do you think a PVP-enabled mission will go well?
foresightis2020: (39)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-29 01:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Jing Yuan has already gathered what information he has needed re: issues, but that isn't necessary for his current fellow companion, so he doesn't begrudge him for taking the time. ]

It seems we have that in common.

I suppose it may be due to the climate and situation, more than anything...though it doesn't make it any less disconcerting.
serenesinker: ponderin'... (thinking)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-05-30 09:34 am (UTC)(link)
With all these monsters scurryin' about, I don't blame them for bein' worried about the strength of their barriers and the safety of their villages. But there's gotta be a better way for them to get help than this!
foresightis2020: (03)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-30 12:54 pm (UTC)(link)
We should be continuously vigilant of whatever needs they have while we linger in the meantime.

[ Jing Yuan briefly closes his eyes in thought, giving a little sigh as he considers matters carefully. ]

...After all, changing ingrained traditions and habits would take far too much time otherwise, among other possible issues. Though, if they had more support or another way to expand their options in procuring assistance, it'd certainly be easier for them to get help without them degrading themselves.
serenesinker: not so sure about that... (unsure down)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-05-31 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Yodarha sighs.]

True... Our time here is limited, so it's gonna be hard to make change that big and that quickly. But I wonder if there's somethin' we can do to make things permanently better, if only a little bit.
Edited 2024-05-31 09:56 (UTC)
foresightis2020: (36)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-31 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
The North is treacherous in regards to how difficult it is to trek from one place to another; so if there is a way to improve that kind of travel or the ease of how supplies can flow from one place to another...

[ There is a pause as Jing Yuan seems to give this serious thought. It seems minimal enough to him if it isn't something too drastic. But they don't have time to come up with a system for that either. ]

Perhaps. Though even that will take work.

[ He still considers it further, however, because his heart is big and he does not like to see the common people suffer. ]

...Maybe if there was a way to utilize magic for this purpose.
Edited 2024-05-31 13:09 (UTC)
serenesinker: say what now??? (surprised flabbergasted)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-06-01 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm... flow of supplies...

[Yodarha racks his brain for some kind of solution. Suddenly, his expression lights up! One could imagine a light bulb springing to life above his head.]

Oh! We can power stuff with mana stones, right? What if we made some kinda self-travelin' vehicle powered by 'em? One with enough storage to put supplies in, so the villages can send stuff back and forth?
foresightis2020: (33)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-04 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, I believe I witnessed quite a collection of them in the Forest already.

[ Though, he is giving some thought about it... ]

I don't think it's exactly impossible, however we would need to make sure that this is something that can be fueled efficiently.

[ The idea doesn't seem too out there to him, in retrospect. ]
serenesinker: ponderin'... (thinking)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-06-04 09:51 am (UTC)(link)
Mmm, true... I'm used to a lot of stuff back home bein' powered by big magic engines, which last a lot longer than a mana stone if I recall correctly. But I s'pose if we wanna go down this theoretical road, we can do some tests with mana stones if Tatara is willin' to spare some!
foresightis2020: (06)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-04 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm...perhaps so, or rather, we could get them from the creatures.

I do recall that one of the requests by the villagers was to take some of them out. I do not know you all that well, however. Are you one who is skilled in combat?

[ How are your monster wrangling skills...? ]
serenesinker: i'm in a good mood! (neutral happy)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-06-08 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, right, monsters drop 'em too! Slipped my mind.

[Yodarha gestures to the two swords hanging from his waist.]

I'm a Swordsman and former instructor of the blade! [He pauses.] Well, I s'pose I'm back to teachin' now that I think about it. So current instructor of the blade!
foresightis2020: (61)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-09 03:58 pm (UTC)(link)
There are other sources other than him, yes.

[ Jing Yuan imagines Yodarha had been getting his mana stones from the Sage, though certainly not anything else (there are also wizard as sources but Jing Yuan does not know that until North mission so no paradox here...) ]

So, in essence, you're an experience warrior. I do wonder how many you have had the opportunity in teaching, as I myself was first taught to wield the blade by a singular instructor.

But, we can talk about that and move along.

[ Jing Yuan will also assess properly once they've seen combat, and so just like that, he leads them out of the village... ]
serenesinker: kickin' back! (relaxed)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-06-11 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Yodarha dutifully follows Jing Yuan, having to move double time to keep up - though it doesn't seem to bother him much!]

Ohhh, at least a couple hundred at this point! I stopped teachin' large groups for a couple decades or so though for... reasons. But I'm back on the saddle with just a few!
foresightis2020: (121)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-06-11 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ...Oh wow; well at least in the midst of this the guy doesn't seem bothered in keeping up. ]

That is quite a long number to have taught before, however.

Were you a military man previously?

[ Or just simply someone who had managed to have quite a number of students under his teaching due to skill and/or popularity? Also possible. ]
serenesinker: i'm in a good mood! (neutral happy)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-06-12 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Nah, no military background to speak of. Just opened my own dojo after wanderin' around, perfectin' my skills.