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lunaecalamitas2024-05-18 12:19 pm
promittere) wrote in 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...
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.
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...
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.
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?
no subject
[Urianger's typically calm and collected voice is absent, replaced by something small and meek. It's unlike anything Bruno has heard from him before.
As the group Bruno is standing by watches on, the white-haired man fills the other in on who these people are.]
"Wilfsunn and Bloewyda. Sharlayan's foremost researchers in the field of teleportation magick...and Moenbryda's parents."
[Upon this reveal, Bruno will inherently come to understand that they are also Urianger's adoptive parents, and Moenbryda his adoptive sister. Yet this still doesn't explain the shock and dread.
Urianger keeps his distance from them, nervously stumbling over his words as he continues.]
"It hath been some time. 'Tis... 'Tis good to see you in...good health."
[The man, Wilfsunn, answers jovially, adding a strange dissonance to the encounter.]
"Likewise, old friend! Bloewyda and I were most honored to answer the call. Never expected this reunion though, did we, dear?"
[He turns to Bloewyda, who also stands tall over Urianger. Her eyes are closed in contemplation, seemingly holding back her feelings. But once she's addressed, she immediately steps forward and raises her voice in exasperation.]
"I'll say! The nerve...sending that letter, then running off to the gods know where!"
[Urianger immediately flinches and bows his head in shame. He knew this was coming, that's why he never wanted this reunion. How was he to show his face to them after what he did? He...
...He finds himself tightly embraced by Bloewyda. Absolutely shocked, he can only stand there, unknowing what to do with this.
She lowers her voice, still tinged with anger yet on the verge of tears.]
"Do you have...any idea...how worried we were?"
[Worried...? About what?]
no subject
Bruno's worried at first, but when Bloewyda pulls the elezen into a hug, he feels an inkling of relief.
Whatever happened, they aren't angry at him. Whatever Urianger must have expected, it doesn't appear to be true. ]
no subject
"I...I'm sorry. 'Twas remiss of me...not to deliver the news in person." [He finally responds with a shaky voice. He still can't bring himself to return the embrace, not with his guilt hanging so heavily over him.] "No, 'twas more than that... 'Twas I who..."
[Before Urianger can even begin to blame himself for his family's grief, Wilfsunn interrupts.]
"Our daughter was disillusioned after Master Loisoix left her behind. The day the Scions called upon her was the happiest I'd seen her in years. She made her every choice of her own free will. No one could have ever forced her to do otherwise."
[With Moenbryda's name being spoken of in the past tense, the only natural conclusion to all of this is...]
"Don't blame yourself for her death. Celebrate her life. You know that's what she'd want."
[Indeed, some time ago, Moenbryda had lost her life. But...it was more than that. She had given her life in the pursuit of defeating the Ascians- immortal beings who sewed chaos and destruction upon Etheirys. Her death was a noble one...and Urianger hasn't stopped blaming himself for it up until this point.]
"If there is one thing we resent you for, it was that we could not be there to mourn her with you." [Bloewyda adds, tears beginning to well in her eyes as she thinks back to the letter Urianger had sent them.] "Reading the words you penned in that shaky hand... We must have cried as much for you as we did for her."
[With these words from his parents, Urianger begins to break down. He wraps his arms around Bloewyda tightly.]
"I'm sorry. I truly, truly am... I knew not what to say. Knew not how to express my feelings..." [His arms shake as much as his words. All of the grief he had bottled up begins to spill out.] "The poems and platitudes of wiser men. Musings of sadness and loss... Studied and memorized...and meaningless in the moment."
"Silly boy..." [His mother chides, gentle and loving.] "We are powerless before such grief. Even now, try as I might, the words escape me... But in our hearts, we know. We always know."
[Silence falls as the family shares a moment of quiet tears and warm embrace.]
no subject
He's glad to see Urianger with those who share in his loss, able to grieve with those closest to him, but in the same thought, he wishes whatever must have happened had never done so.
Losing someone so dear... and she must have been, this Moenbryda.
What a strange vision for the forest to offer, with so many mixed emotions. ]
no subject
"And look at you now. At the center of the crowd... The reason there even is a crowd, having brought these people together. You've no idea how proud we are."
[Just that affirmation alone nearly brings Urianger to tears a second time.]
"To see the boy our daughter trusted and believed in more than anyone...grow into the man she always knew he could be.
I can see her in you, too. Feel her. She walks with you, wheresoever you go. So thank you, Urianger. For being who you are."
[Finally, it feels like everything makes sense. With tears shed, so too are his guilt and reservations. His words begin to fade with the scene, growing more distant as all turns to white.]
"I... I think...I can feel her, too... The truth...of her life. Not sorrow...but hope. And love..."
[And just like that, they're back in the forest. Urianger has returned to Bruno's side, somber and contemplative.]
'Twas a great weight lifted from my shoulders that day, yet not a day doth pass that I do not think of dearest Moenbryda.
[It feels strange to have such a heavy memory shown to another, but Urianger ultimately doesn't mind if it's Bruno.]
no subject
...ah. [ He turns towards his tall friend, looking up, his eyes still teary but he makes no effort to hide that. ] W-well, yeah? I mean, she meant so much to you, so of course she isn't far from your thoughts. You wouldn't want to forget her, right?
no subject
He shakes his head.]
Ne'er. And I shan't. She shall always be with me. Even here, on this distant star.
[He takes a moment to rub his eyes, then smiles down at Bruno.]
If...thou art at all curious about her or what thou didst see, I would answer thy questions. Mayhap after returning to the manor? I daresay we have earned a strong cup of tea.
[The forest has had enough fun with their memories and feelings at this point.]
no subject
[ But a cup of tea in the manor over this forest sounds like a blessing at this point. He'll summon his broom — a plain bristle broom, no decorations or embellishments to be seen — to his hand. ]
C'mon. Let's get out of here. I have, like, a hundred questions.