promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-04-04 11:33 pm

if you say it's magic, then you're my wizard

WANING GIBBOUS OVERTURE
The seconds tick by, the elevator rattles. There's a soft, musical chime announcing your arrival before the elevator doors creak open, leaving you and a number of others in the courtyard of a stone manor. The manor is large, looming over the trees surrounding it, and the gardens are well maintained, rows of hedges and beds of blooming flowers as far as you can see. The doors linger open until you clear the threshold, as if waiting patiently for you. Dawdle too long and you’ll feel a gentle push, nudging you out into the yard. The doors shut with more rattles and a cheerful ding!, and if you turn to look at it there's nothing to be seen behind you but the milling strangers.

Then there's a sting, mild at first. But soon, the spot where your sage's crest is starts to burn. It's as though you have been branded, and the searing heat clings to your skin. Should you look at your crest, you'll find it glows a faint red, like the dying embers of a fire, but given enough time it will cool to black and no longer hurt.

Once the pain fades, you notice is that the air around you feels distinctly different. It's hard to say exactly what makes it different, or how. It feels brittle, but malleable. That perhaps if you said or did the right thing, you could command reality to your liking—

The wind blows, stirring leaves and flowers, and that's when you notice there are two people in the courtyard that did not emerge from the elevator like everyone else. The taller of the two looks briefly shocked, before a warm smile blots it out, while the shorter of the two looks remarkably unimpressed—for as much as you can make out his expression under the large hat he wears. He glances at the taller man, the charms that hang from his hat clinking, and crosses his arm over his chest.

The taller man nods, turns to the group, and says, "Sorry. I know you were probably in the middle of something important. But...I need you. My name is Tatara Totsuka. I'm your sage, and you are my witches and wizards."

He looks up to the moon hanging in the sky, still pale and visible despite the light of day, and lays it all out for you: a wizard under the sage's guidance is supposed to fight off the Great Calamity—the moon—when it nears. But you are not meant to carry out this task. The original sage and twenty-one wizards suddenly vanished not long ago. No one knows what happened to them, or where they are. They aren't dead. They are gone.

That you are here, that there are so many of you, that you came from different worlds, means that this is a mistake. Something, somewhere, isn't right. Yet the world has decided to claim you in a frantic attempt to keep itself together.

This world is breaking. If you don't fix this, then you'll be stuck here fighting the Calamity yourselves.

When Tatara looks back down to the rest of you, there's a smile on his face, tinged with apology. "But I think it'll be okay. We'll figure this out... Right?"

The golden light of sunset is oddly cold. It settles over you not in a welcoming embrace, but in a possessive hold. There is a sinking feeling in your gut: whatever your home was before matters no longer. Welcome to a world on the brink of destruction—let's hope it's not for good.


The day begins to draw to a close. You're given the rest of the day to process Tatara's words and to familiarize yourselves with the manor. There are plenty of empty spaces in the manor with sparse furniture where you can rest and try to unwind, and hopefully get some sleep. Everything about today might be a lot to unpack, but surely you can at least relax and prepare for the next day.

The morning starts with the sound of bells. A cacophonous racket of them, ringing in your rooms, in your head, jolting you from whatever slumber you can grasp. The source seems to be a note, unassuming if not for the way it shakes with each toll of the bells, and the noise only stops when you read it.

"Go to the courtyard," it says, and if you try to ignore it the noise returns, growing louder and louder until your vision swims and you find yourself standing in the courtyard with everyone else—and the shorter of the two men from yesterday.

"Practice starts right now," he says, looking bored and just as unimpressed as he did yesterday. The sun has barely started over the horizon—it's early, almost absurdly so. "You need to learn magic sooner instead of later, unless you want to die like miserable worms. If you do, just quit now so we can replace you with someone useful."

His explanation on magic is brief—he explains that magic is a deal struck between caster and the spirits of the world, using a meaningful word or phrase to communicate your will to the as-of-yet unseen spirits of the world, who will respond to your desires and power your magic. A focus, an object of significant meaning, will help strengthen your ties to the land and direct the magic for your spells. If you have nothing that would work as a focus right now, he says, chances are the perfect thing will find you anyways.

While he looks unhappy to do so, he emphasizes that magic—as it works here—is all tied to your emotions and your convictions, and then he assigns you a challenge for the week. He wants you to come up with your incantation—the words you'll use to cast all of your magic—as well as find or draw forward your focus, with the final task being summoning a magic broom you'll use for transportation.
Threading out magic practice and ICly discovering your characters' magic words, manifesting their foci, and summoning their broom will count as three different jobs, and will be eligible for a set of rewards each. While not technically classified as a job this time around, this is a special circumstance. When you've accomplished any of these things, please submit them to the rewards page as a job submission.

If you're having trouble coming up with a focus or incantation, think about your answers for the first and third mandatory questions on your app! Your focus of choice does not have to be in your character's inventory—if what works best for them as a focus did not come with them, then they can focus and reach across universes to bring it here with them.

JOB BOARD
You may have just gotten here, but people across the continent still need the sage's wizards to do things for them. The job board will typically have 2 - 3 requests each event that can be turned in for rewards when completed.
Sugar delivery. Confectionery shops and pharmacies put in regular orders for wizard sugar to the manor, and despite the unusual circumstances, now is no different. Wizard sugar—sugar spontaneously created through a wizard's magic—is said to have restorative properties and said to bless those that consume it, so it's no wonder it's in high demand. It also happens to be one of the first things young wizards learn to do. So once you've perfected your sugar, go deliver it to the shops in Central capital and to the Southern merchants waiting for shipment near the Central tower.

The Southern merchants, in particular, seem rather anxious to receive as much sugar as possible, as soon as possible.

WANDERER TASKS
The wizards' new mentor knows that this must be an incredibly overwhelming experience, so he has a list of things that should help break down the process of learning and understanding magic. Or that's what he says, at least, but it feels like he's trying to make things more difficult...
Nobody is going to hold your hands for you, and the best way to learn is to understand the root cause of an issue. Use that paper being left around for something actually useful and do some research on the spirits of the countries you've been tasked to represent. I'll be expecting some actual thought out papers within the week.

For the idiots who can't research to save their lives, prove you can actually manage the bare minimum. There's a spot you can't reach without magic within the manor grounds—bring me one of the trinkets you find there.

For the even bigger idiots who are overconfident, come find me and we can spar. I won't go easy on you.

TATARA ACTIVITIES
Tatara knows things are tense and uncomfortable for his new wizards, so he'll offer up a few activities each event post to help them relax if things get too tough.
We're all new here, but we'll be friends before long, I know it! There's a table in the dining room with paper, pens, markers, glitter, and pins so we can all make name tags and get to know each other better. We'll go from strangers to neighbors to besties before you know it!

Oh, you should probably get a feel of the manor, too. This IS your new home, after all! And what better way than...hide and seek?! Sounds fun, right? I'd tell you MY favorite spot to hide, but then that wouldn't be fair!

I don't know how long we're going to be here, so it probably wouldn't hurt to settle in. Grab a friend or two and head to the market in the Central capital to stock up on whatever food you like and stuff for your room. May as well get comfortable!

OOC NOTES
🌙 Welcome to Lunae Calamitas's first event post! Yer a wizard, whether you like it or not.
🌙 While not technically jobs, ICly working out your character's focus, incantation, and broom are all separately eligible for rewards. Good luck on your basics, little wizards! You'll need them...
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Please keep all your plotting on the plotting post, since not everyone uses discord or plurk.
🌙 The South will be going on their mission next week to get this party started. Keep an eye out, Southies!
leewards: (007)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-11 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Yuck... Perhaps Ithaqua should think about making a retreat.]

I shan't need to respond to that, or you'll make yet another jest out of it.
chronosynthesis: (❖ Desperate Decoy)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-11 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Do you think it could be melted down into a broth? [He puts a hand to his chin.] Dry goods are much easier to travel with, and if a broth could be easily made out of nearby water simply by melting these crystal into it, that would make for heartier and more flavorful rations.
shadowkin: (Default)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-11 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Right, because in novels and legends... if the story goes to all the trouble of dragging you in from so far away, it means you can do something about it. Assuming you're supposed to be the center of it, anyway.

That's also part of the Church of the Holy Teachings stuff, but I like it better when it's just for entertainment.

Though, come to think of it, if you can't really fight and I don't really fight that well...

[WHO'S DRIVING THIS WORLD-SAVING TRAIN? ACTUALLY?? Are they throwaway characters???? We still don't even know if there are trains in this world. Cid is doing his best to look slightly alarmed. Actually he's thinking about how nice it would be to throw "Cid Kagenou" under the bus (train) this way... Heheh.]
dadsandals: (yama12)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yamato doesn't jump back when Ithaqua hops down; he ends up doing it after Ithaqua's...threat? Is that a threat? He's not sure. He's honestly hoping that the guy's just kidding but he sure lets out a laugh that's weaker than intended. ]

A-ahaha, no, no, that's not needed!

[ He waves his hands in front of him dismissively. No big deal, right... ]

I'll even accept this as our new reality... See? You've convinced me.

[ There's no way he'd feel a chill down his spine if this was a dream, after all! ]
dadsandals: (yama51)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ He watches for a few moments.

Hmmm.

Okay. Oniisan seal of approval, he supposes!
]

Alright, you've earned rights to hold him for a few more minutes. You can even use him if you'd like, but no guarantees he'll be good at cleaning the glitter.
positivize: (pic#17104136)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-11 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[Pretty smooth, Akira, and she might've even commented on it if not for being instantly distracted by the screen lighting up and all that. And the apparent impromptu photo op he's going for right now.]

Wow, it's like a Print Club booth! ...Wait, those still exist in 2015, right?

[Or did she just date herself more... And nya? Nyot today, apparently, but he can definitely snap a photo with her looking amazed at the camera while Akira does whatever an Akira does.]
dadsandals: (yama50)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ you're so right for that chews ]

Do I?

[ Haha...well...

He doesn't really think he holds anyone as close to his heart as Mikaela does, but there is a small subset of people who mean a lot to him. People who probably want nothing to do with him now.
]

Nah. Not really.

[ People he's tried so hard to protect, when the one who posed the biggest threat to their safety was -- ]

Don't worry about me, though. Just know that I admire that you have someone you care about so deeply.
chronosynthesis: (❖ Escape Artist)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-11 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
That certainly could be it. [Syrlya is considering he should be very glad that he didn't arrive her and immediately turn vegetative due to the sudden severance of Tyrian magic. Perhaps being a living creature makes it different? Or he's just running on the local system now...

He shakes his head, knocking the thought away.]
Still, it must be troublesome. Have you spoken to Tatara, seen if there's anything to be done?
shortleash: (pic#17072504)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-11 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
( He wrinkles his nose, as if disgusted. This probably reveals his fangs, if only somewhat. Human...+! )

Absolutely not. I hate humans.

( Supporting the Charr just because they hate humans too—

A beat, as he considers - he's not really proud of what he is, given he also hates vampires, but it's also not a secret what he is, either. )


I'm a vampire. I don't know if they have those where you're from. ( He says that with a sort of tone like "lucky if you don't." ) Won't be a problem for you. I don't smell any blood off you.
Edited 2024-04-11 05:03 (UTC)
revengier: (104)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-11 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Meanwhile, Kurapika will be more than happy to write it all out by hand... ]

Nothing schooling related. I mostly read on my own as a child.

[ What's formal schooling to someone living in the middle of the woods? ]
troublereduction: (day42)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-11 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ What on earth has happened back there,,,

Day kind of flops back against the bench a little more. He knows Ginger's just asking, but recalling everything is like trying to pinpoint what went wrong, too. ]


I guess you could say that. It was supposed to be...straightforward, but the unexpected happens all the time, like y'said. [ It just went really off the rails and Day doesn't want to think about the aftermath to deal with whenever he gets back,,, ] First time I'm handlin' an assignment solo, too.
dadsandals: (yama49)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
The audience? The sage doesn't even want to join in on the court?

[ Come on, Tatara. Don't you want to join your fellow captives wizards in some harmless fun. ]

Hmm. The last time I played, I was the referee. I enjoyed it. I know the rules pretty well, so it makes the most sense.
lustro: (046)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-11 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ He’s quiet for a moment. Then: ]

Are you okay?

[ And this time, he doesn’t mean physically. ]
chronosynthesis: (❖ Time Splitter)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-11 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Not long enough to it to be his new life, but not enough that it could start to be. Syrlya wonders how he would feel in a few months. It seems like an impossibly long time for things to be so... quiet.]

I see. [He pauses, and then lets out a breath.] You arrived with a group as well, or alone?
dadsandals: (yama9)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
So you were able to pick something that was most familiar for you... [ That seems nice. ] Hmm. I wouldn't say darkness is my element of choice, but if it's what I have to work with, I'll make do.

[ Does he have a say in the matter? Can he become the Avatar and master all elements- ]

Nikaido Yamato, by the way. Mind if I come to you for pointers in the future?
dadsandals: (yama48)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-11 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
...Eh? Better than yours?

[ Hm. He wasn't expecting that. Maybe the guy's just being nice, who knows. ]

That's interesting, but high praise from a professional. I guess that means this humble assistant has to help you make more.

[ They can litter the entire courtyard with sugar. It's fine. ]

I'll help you take it over to the merchants, too.
revengier: (80)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-11 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ He lets go of his hair, letting the strands fall back into place over his ear. ]

I've gotten used to it.

[ The pain is real and raw and very much still there, but he's simply learned to deal with it. While he won't shy away from talking about it, he wonders if that would be a good idea when they're supposed to go out shopping. Wouldn't that put a real damper on the mood?

It's that line of thinking that has him immediately pressing onwards. ]


Have you decided on an incantation yet?
revengier: (19)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-11 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
That certainly makes it harder.

[ Hm. ]

While we're here, I'll think of ways you can get right to their heart. There has to be a way to get information without them finding out... it's just that finding your method of intel gathering is the hardest part.
annihilator: (➤ 25)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-11 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Huh... Glad I don't get sick.

[He sets the bottle back down and gestures for Ahito to follow him.]

Where to next?
annihilator: (➤ 30)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-11 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
Kinda forgot to ask about that one, but I'll be sure to do it at some point. Tara'll probably have an answer for me, an' I'm hopin' it's not "learn magic an' you'll be able to use it again".

[Not that he's opposed to learning magic! But he kind of sucks at it, so. Also yes, that is Tatara's dumb nickname that he doesn't need.]
shadowkin: (023)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-11 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
........ So a long-long term goal. But no real currency or coin, huh......

[He gives a put-upon little sigh, but the truth is that's just sort of how these things can go....... The economy in Midgar only recently started to become more sophisticated too -- though even they had widespread usage of coins.

Still, it's not as though he's easily put off!!!! Coinage is just metal persisting.]

I guess I'm not too bad with bartering...? They did teach us survival skills, more or less. Do wizards just negotiate with their powers? That's a lot of manual labor.
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-11 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, that's something you sort of have to get used to. Nothing to do but keep moving forward.

Malice is perfectly fine with the topic change, and he nods at that.]


Did manage to figure that one out, yeah. Still havin' a bit of trouble with the broom, but that's at least goin' well enough!

[He's making some progress now...!!]
lustro: (066)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-11 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
It’s not that I can’t fight…

[ A throwaway comment. It’s an attempt at continuing their farce, but he trails off as if -

He hums.

Running through their entire conversation so far to confirm to himself that what he suspects… is probably correct. ]


You’re… almost there, I think. Maybe a little more consistency from start to finish, and I’d buy it.
lustro: (032)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-11 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
Used to this, then? Or just used to chaos?
chronosynthesis: (❖ Escape Artist)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-11 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
I think being on this world for the foreseeable future is incentive enough. [He shrugs a shoulder.] I've been through one almost-end and I promise you, it isn't anything you want to experience.

[And "calamity" just sounds bad. He's not planning to wait impassively for it to just happen.]