and i'll stay yours, no matter sunrise, nightfall

[promittere]

WAXING CRESCENT PRESTO

Things haven't been easy the past two months for the new sage's wizards, but their hard work is paying off. All twenty-five, including sage and mentor, have been personally invited to the home of the newly-appointed Lady Diane Chenon of Borda Island, located in the Western Country.

Borda Island is a popular holiday desination located off the western coast of the mainland, and as the local ruler, Lady Diane's abode is nothing less than a beautiful castle—a gorgeous piece of architecture, even if it isn't as grand as Granvelle Castle.

She invites everyone to stay for an entire weekend. But when they all arrive to their destination, they'll find that she's...absent, due to sudden business she has to attend to. No matter, though. Her staff is ready to receive you anyway, and you're given free reign over both the castle and the island.

In the castle, the staff have set out an entire feast for the crew, with all sorts of food imaginable. From large savory dishes to delectable sweets, everything is exquisite, and it's set out in a buffet style so everyone can pick and choose what they want to eat. The castle also has stunning views of the town and the western expanse of sea beyond the mainland.

Outside of the castle, the world is your oyster. Borda Island's beaches are pristine, well-maintained, with silky sand and shining blue water. While there are several other beachgoers at this time of year, the sands and seas are mostly open for the sage's wizards to lounge in as they please. If you think your water breathing magic is up to snuff, then why not go diving? There are whispers of a sunken city far off the coast (if you think you can find it!), and you may be lucky enough to run across a mermaid...

The markets aren't far from the beach, and they hold a vast array of trinkets, activities, and foods catering to every taste imaginable. What's unique about these markets is that a large section of the markets are wizard-owned, which means there are plenty of magical trinkets for sale. And that also means the native wizards are quite curious about you, the alien wizards...

Alternatively, feel free to return to the mainland to visit the Nectar District, which is not that far, all things considered. This is the wizard-only pleasure district of the Western Country, for those who wish to indulge in a bit of depravity. And it is worth visiting at least once while you're here, if at least to connect with some native wizards and learn about wizard culture. But be careful, and do be home in time for dinner—it's hard to escape a Western wizard's charms once they decide they want to play with you.

As night falls, everyone is treated to a spectacular sight. Some may have heard whispers of its arrival, some may not. Either way, the Venator meteor shower darts across the sky as dusk falls.

The meteor shower has another name among wizards—the Lineal meteor shower. Wizards live for a very, very long time, yet their pasts and experiences live on in the teachings they hand down to their apprentices. The stars, too, live a very long time, and as the meteor shower comes by every year, they trace the slight differences in time and in these relationships.

In the past, shooting stars have been considered bad omens. And though the perception of them as simply natural phenomena has become more prevalent, the superstition remains. But some see them as travelers, foreign visitors who are here to usher in a new age of change. How do you see them?

Regardless, every wizard has a memory or two closely related to the meteor shower. Take a moment to look up to the shooting stars as they color the sky, and take in the life you have now—what sort of memory are you going to make on this night, and how will you pass it on?

JOB BOARD

Rekindling. Thanks to your Northern friends' hard work, the worst of the damages have been avoided for the City of Ice. But that doesn't mean they don't need your help still.

The earthquakes left by the chimera's rampage have rattled some buildings, and they need repair. The magical blizzards also seem to have injured some people and damaged some of the stained glass decorations the townsfolk value so highly. Collect crystals from the Forest of Ice to try and replicate them, and try to put in as much protective magic as you can—they need it.

They also request a barrier that blocks magical signatures, much like the one erected around Granvelle Castle. It seems their patrons are back and comatose, and they would like to avoid any attacks by other opportunistic Northern wizards...

Theatrical assistance and celebration. The West is a country of the arts, as well as science, which means there is always some sort of production going on that needs hands and talent. One of the largest theaters in the City of Affluence is in need of help with costuming, prop manufacturing, and is holding auditions for roles in their upcoming play. Maybe now's a good time to get some good publicity for wizards? Or the promise of remuneration and a share of the profits will be enough, as anyone who helps the theater or helps draw crowds to their new play will get quite the financial compensation. And free tickets!

Those more musically inclined or prone to stage fright can also help with the theater's upcoming parade through the city. Those with no marching band experiences can play the most important instrument of all, the cymbal. Or triangle, pick your poison.

If that's still too much, there's always passing out flyers to advertise the new production.

The advent of summer. The summer solstice nears, and the City of Clouds has asked for your assistance! Their yearly summer solstice celebration is coming up and they need help preparing for the festival. Their usual magical muscle is unfortunately still out of commission, so they've turned to the current sage's wizards for assistance. They need help building sets for their dances and music, setting up magical illusions and lights for the main event, and clearing the land where they'll have the food and activity stalls. This may not be as grand in caliber as your previous jobs, but at this point, it may be best to begin building regular goodwill among the natives of this world. Who knows if it may end up being your home...

G'RAHA TASKS

I've heard that some wizards have found that they're capable of a unique sort of spell with another wizard around them, and that those spells can be quite powerful. While I've yet to see any for myself, I've been doing some digging to see if I can understand where it comes from and how it might be replicable. To that end, I think it may be fun to host some sort of gathering where people can try out spells with their comrades and see what happens...?

(OOC Note: This is basically G'raha sanctioned speed-dating, so go wild with this!)

TATARA ACTIVITIES

You know what the best way to bond is? Food! We should have a huge potluck feast one day—everyone make one dish they consider to be their specialty, and we'll have them all out for dinner one day in the dining hall! Don't miss it! I expect all of you to be there!

I really want to fill out my sage tome. I haven't gotten everyone so far, so I'm relying on your trusty submissions! If you could please write down what you like, what you don't like, what you're good at, and what you're bad at and then leave your papers in a stack on a library table, I'd be ever grateful! Thank you~

OOC NOTES

🌙 Welcome to your fifth and final (?) event! Sick of sand yet? Have some more!
🌙 Everyone made AC and that's dope, actually. Thank you all so much for sticking with us!!! We're in the home stretch. Things may be low key right now, but do you think you're ready for what's to come?
🌙 A quick reminder of the deadline for submitting your pair guesses: Friday, June 14, 11:59 PM. There's still time to guess!
🌙 We'll also be closing the rewards page on Wednesday, June 19, 11:59 PM. That's your last chance to get your random items, and your last chance to get your mission rewards. Don't miss out!
🌙 Don't forget, your OOC plotting post is here! Please be sure to use this post, since not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Our last group to go on their mission will be West. Don't fuck it up, Westies!

» NAVIGATION

Comments

[dyingtohealyou]

Party... party?

[While he does attend the Western party, he stays pretty lowkey about it - he can be found sampling the food and staying on the edges of conversation as usual, as well as hanging by the beach in light but not swimming clothes eyeing the waters. However, he does spend a nonzero amount of time slipping away from the group in the evenings, finding a tree with a nice view and perching high in the branches as he watches the sunset as it fades into a starry sky, soaking in the quiet, gentle atmosphere.]

Rekindling

[Towards the end of the week, he makes his way over to the North to help with repairs, starting with the stained glass windows. Interestingly... if characters are paying attention to magical pings, Ahito's gotten quite a bit stronger in the past week despite spending most of it sleeping???? Strange!

He also makes a stop by Granvelle Castle to help with the barriers there, this time focusing much more intently than he did the previous time. He mixes in more obvious threads that scream of his own signature, specifically - we are attempting to smother the signature under our own, here. It's fine.]

The advent of summer

Illusions, huh...

[He's got his arms crossed and head tilted in thought.]

It's a summer solstice, but it's not like a fake sun is super interesting as an illusion, right?

[Hmmm...]

Spell Speed-Dating!

Hey, wanna see what kind of spells we can come up with?

[He's in the courtyard when he makes the suggestion! As long as they stay away from the garden and don't cause too much damage, it should be fine, right? ...Right?]

I can probably add a real punch to any offensive spells.

[Especially with how much of a boost in strength his overall magic has gotten in the past week.]

Potluck - Locked to Jing Yuan (prompt 1) and Shinji (prompt 2)

[Part 1 - Jing Yuan

When Tatara announces there is to be a potluck, Ahito mysteriously disappears! Surely the local contrarian teen wouldn't be doing anything stupid like hanging out in Central where he can still be relatively easily found, right?

Well, that would only be half-right. He IS still in Central, but to his credit he's up on a rooftop where he's pretty well hidden... though if someone were to catch him at the right angle from the ground or just, you know, fly over on a broom, it's entirely possible to see him just hanging out watching the people go about their lives down below.

He certainly isn't avoiding the potluck or anything. Perish the thought.]

[Locked to Shinji

Anyway his little hiding attempt failed and he is scruffed and delivered back to the kitchens. Woe is he.]

It's not like I even know that many recipes...

[Hateful. He has done nothing wrong and yet this is how he's treated...]

Sage Tome Submissions

[Perhaps unsurprisingly, when he sees the what submissions have been made to the sage tome thus far with personal info, he just... makes a face and then straight up leaves???

Apparently someone here isn't into the idea of sharing personal deets with the sage. How strange!]

Wildcard

[Poke me on his plotting post and we can come up with a unique scenario!]

party party (sort of kind of)

[impacter]

[The proximity to the ocean on all sides already has Solomon in a less-than-sociable mood, which has him taking to the town when his low batteries have run even lower still. A cup of tea as he waits for the stars to emerge sounds about right...

It's as he's absconding to look into just that that Solomon catches the figure in the shadows of the branches, tinged in the colors of the setting sun. Ah. He was wondering...

...

He should leave him be. He really should. But Ahito is one of the only ones that comes to mind for help from those he hasn't asked directly yet... unless their previous conversation had rendered everything into spite and avoidance.

Ahito will find lightly iridescent, golden-colored sugar gently floating up to him, a simple levitation spell to catch his eye. No need to toss it at him this time.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[How kind of him to put it in view of his good eye. Ahito glances over, lips pursing as he snatches the sugar from the air in a sharp motion.]

You have magic to spare?

[impacter]

Enough for this much, at least.

[Though it's more of a strain, so close to the ocean. But Ahito knows as much now.

He seats himself down at the trunk of the tree, talking idly.]

You look at ease from up so high.

[dyingtohealyou]

[...

Going to drop the sugar on Solomon's head, or as near as he can get it.]

You're the one who needs it more than me. And I like high places.

[impacter]

[A (15) on reinstating that levitation spell at least keeps the sugar from pelting him right in the face. Hell yeah, he's still got reflexes. Where the hell were these when he fell off the chimera................

He sighs as he lets the small little stars of sugar settle into one of his palms, a quick spell dissipating them completely.]

It's not a comparison, Ahito.

Would you mind telling me why?

[dyingtohealyou]

It is when you were bedridden for days.

[Unlike him who could chill and walk around even if he chose to sleep a lot of it.]

...What, liking high places?

[impacter]

I'm out of bed now, aren't I? Should you be fussing at me when you weren't entirely fond of people fussing at you back at that little party of ours?

[It's not said with any bite.]

If you would like to, yes. Unless you've made that a hiding spot simply by chance.

[dyingtohealyou]

Only because they got the wrong idea immediately.

[And by they he mostly means Mika.]

...I just like high up places. They're convenient.

Potluck;

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan hears the announcement of the Potluck and considering the general state of things, he wishes to ensure certain people are in attendance.

Hence how when he sees Ahito is mcgone, he decides to immediately search out for the little guy.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Ahito, Jing Yuan has the eyes of a hawk.

So, soon enough, he catches sight of him. He manages to get straight up to the roof quietly via broom from another angle, and lands on top, a respectable distance from Ahito. ]

Ah, Ahito.

I had been wondering where you had gone. What made you come all the way out here?

[dyingtohealyou]

[...Ahh, caught. But he'll pretend otherwise.]

It's got a nice view, don't you think?

[Looking down over the city, seeing people just - walking, running, talking, gossiping--

Living.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Ahito is most certainly caught. No way to get out of this.

Jing Yuan raises a brow, as if amused. He has seen a variety of ways in which people have endeavored to play dumb with him, though he doesn't cease to be entertained by the various methods. ]

I certainly do think so. From this vantage point, one can witness the various walks of life.

[ He just casually asks this: ]

Though, that isn't why you decided to perch up here, is it?

[dyingtohealyou]

Why else would I be here?

[If you're going to accuse him at least name the crime, grandpa.]

[foresightis2020]

[ He'll take his time. Typical grandpa and westie behavior~ ]

That is a good question, isn't it?

[ Finally, he gets to the point, having noticed Ahito's absence in coincidental timing with a certain announcement. Gotta support our local Sage, as always. ]

Tatara is hosting a potluck.

You were hoping to avoid it, were you not?

[dyingtohealyou]

Huh... is he?

[Weird... not ringing any bells... how mysterious........]

Is attendance mandatory?

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan laughs in the face of this. ]

Come on now. You are rather an attentive person who keeps himself in the know, or would endeavor to do so.

[ Usually he doesn't bother to point things out, but this is a different story entirely. ]

To be quite honest, it would simply be good for you to be there. And to help provide, perhaps. Some of us also do have dubious cooking skills, as I am sure you are aware.

Though, I am curious. What is the reason for your reluctance to attend? Because there'll be many people, or is it because of who happens to be hosting it?

[dyingtohealyou]

If I had a problem with people, do you really think I would have helped Akira throw that party?

[He could have easily dipped at any time.]

Anyway, pretty sure attending a potluck has nothing to do with my job here. I don't see why I have to play along with the Sage's random whims.

[fullspbar]

[ He really did not know what to think about Jing Yuan forcibly depositing Ahito like a child being dropped off at daycare, but he's certainly not getting any pity from Shinjiro.

He's just giving him the side-eye from his place at the counter, where he's refilling the sugar bottle. ]

What happened to 'at least let me practice my cooking a little'?

[ Yes, this is a callout. ]

There's cookbooks, you know. Ain't that hard to look.

[dyingtohealyou]

It's not the cooking part I have a problem with.

[Ugh... what did he do to deserve getting double teamed here.]

[fullspbar]

Ah? Then what're you whining about?

[ Everything, apparently. Shinji's not necessarily judging, per-say, but really, Ahito. Running for the hills over a potluck??

Local party-avoider himself can't really talk, but. ]

[dyingtohealyou]

I have better things to be doing than attending a party just because the sage says so.

[He's a busy guy!! Maybe.]

[fullspbar]

Yeah? [ He definitely believes that, for sure. ] Like what?

[ He knows what you are, Ahito. A petty little creature. ]

If everybody's contributing, might as well just suck it up and get it over with.

[dyingtohealyou]

Like fixing up the North after all the monster attacks.

[Which he definitely would be doing right now, if he were not here. Definitely.]

What are you planning to make, anyway?

[fullspbar]

[ Sure, Jan. ]

That so. You ain't just using that as an excuse, right?

[ Ahito, if you're going to lie, you could at least not be so obvious about it. ]

...Tempura, probably. I don't really have a specialty, so I'm just picking whatever works best.

[dyingtohealyou]

Do I really seem like the type? I'm hurt.

[Don't actually answer that.]

...Tempura doesn't sound bad, though.