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

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan continues to look vaguely amused. He is mildly surprised he managed to make someone actually worry. But, it's no biggee.

Maybe it's karma for him being a worrywart over an assortment of other people here, huh? ]

My very personality type? Haha, that's a new one, such that I have to ask why that would be. Though, I have to say it's only natural that I can handle myself...otherwise, I wouldn't have survived this long.

[ He doesn't seem outwardly bothered by the vocalization of such a worry, and he doesn't appear surprised because he is like that. Though, he remembers the last time he used such a line before, which was with someone he recalls vaguely feeling surprised he had to (though it matters no longer since things soured between him and that someone.) But, the people he's met here are really quite unique, aren't they? ]

[revengier]

You can, but it's that air of confidence that causes worry. I can tell that you put a lot of value in your ability to defend yourself at a moment's notice—you're always relaxed. Or, at least, you put on the airs of someone who is. To me, that shows an almost excessive level of confidence in your abilities.

I hope you realize that confidence often leads to error. When someone begins to say that they've "survived this long," it means they're prime for making mistakes.

[ Nag nag nag... he probably shouldn't fuss at Jing Yuan given that he's so much older and with a lot more experience, but he can't help it.

He crosses his arms. Let him stop himself. ]

I worry because I consider you a friend.

[ There. ]

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan remembers Fu Xuan nagging at him constantly to have him retire; something about Kurapika's tone sometimes reminds him of her. But, it's different because there is still an air of strictly professionalism that is not bridged in its entirety between either one of them. ]

I am far too careful of a man to make careless mistakes. That is why I'm certain that no matter what happens I shall remain as you see myself now.

[ But, somehow he is smiling still, which grows even softer when Kurapika says he considers him his friend. It's a bittersweet feeling to hear that term bestowed upon him, because it makes him think of the friendships he has lost, and yet all the same despite that, it seems that even for him it's not too late.

He already assumed that, deep in his heart, but...he will treasure it for how long it lasts. ]

...I see. I have no idea what I have done to earn that level of consideration, but somehow I believe I am happy to hear it. It's been a long time since I have heard anyone call me their friend. Yet, I can confess that the feeling is mutual.

Just be prepared for me to worry over you, as one in turn. [ There's a brief, cheeky smile on his face, though. ] Even if I certainly already have, in the past.

[revengier]

You have.

[ And Kurapika has noticed it, the way Jing Yuan has fussed over him in his own way. ]

You're a kind person, Jing Yuan. Or, at least, I think you are at the end of the day. Being a General means you've likely made difficult decisions, but I can tell you hold sympathy for other people despite all of that. You certainly displayed that when you meddled in my memory.

[ Because Kurapika was huddled around a corner, watching and waiting in the event he had to interfere. ]

That said... why wouldn't I consider you a friend? You certainly meet the criteria.

[foresightis2020]

[ Kind...Jing Yuan supposes it is not something he can refute. He is the type of person who would endeavor to lend a hand even in the face of making difficult choices; to choose to want to do his best for others instead of nothing. That is how he is. ]

Mm, it's just truly been a long time since I have had someone say as much to me. Oftentimes, such things do not truly come to pass.

Whatever ties back home I have that remain are ones that are indeed important, but I would not go ahead and be able to call those people that I know 'friends' of a personal sort. Allies, though certainly no one who would dare to bridge the line between personal matters.

[ Jing Yuan is used to it not being anything anywhere near personal or reciprocal on the account of the fact his profession has him keep people at an arms length. Or something happens to make it impossible, or no longer viable, which he is used to more than anything.

He doesn't think it anyone's fault, he just thinks it is just how things are, is all. ]

As it is, one can never tell what another is thinking. Just because an individual considers a person they have come to know their friend does not mean the other will think the same.

[revengier]

Of course not. There are plenty I don't consider friends back home, though they're usually well aware of that fact.

[ After all, Kurapika isn't exactly subtle. He's blunt and generally obvious with the way he feels, having no issues stating his precise thoughts. ]

But you took a personal interest in me. Even if you said the feeling wasn't mutual, I would feel no shame in my own considerations toward you.

[ Because if Jing Yuan hadn't said he considered Kurapika a friend too, he would have assumed the feeling was still there anyway. Sometimes... you're just stubborn. ]

[foresightis2020]

I see. I am hardly surprised in retrospect, given your blunt and up front nature.

[ In some respects, anyway, but everyone has things they do not wish to have come to the forefront; still, it isn't like Kurapika wouldn't be straight with someone about how he is feeling or what he considers others to be to him. ]

...Mm. I do understand that notion as well, however.

But I am glad that we do happen to be of the same mind in this regard.

[ It balances things out, or rather, it makes it nice, phrasing things in a more less distant manner. ]

[revengier]

[ He gives Jing Yuan a curt nod, but smiles nevertheless. ]

So am I. It's a good thing to establish, isn't it?

[ Especially after seeing one another's memories like that. Speaking of— ]

Shall we leave before we see more that we weren't meant to see?

[foresightis2020]

[ Yeah, it really is... ]

Yes...we should go now. I believe we've learned enough about one another.

[ Jing Yuan has probably seen what happens when two memories are suddenly upon them without warning by now, oop.

But he goes about it in a easy pace, and so comes an end to this interaction until next time! ]