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!
shortleash: (pic#17103492)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-13 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
( Ginger has free access to all the neglected pillows... they're soft, at least. Mika sits on the couch without a particular sense of getting comfortable; he's just kind of here. It felt weird to have a totally empty room, but he doesn't know how to interact with his own furniture, either. He just feels out of place, regardless.

He rests an elbow on his knee and his cheek in his palm, gazing at Ginger. "We're all worth crying over"... Not him; he insists. But the intent and the sentiment isn't lost on him. )


I guess not. ( On taking them back. ) Your tears don't sound like any I've heard. Big and warm.

( Weird descriptor for crying, but listen— the fact of the matter is that he can hear and feel and see everything around him to a frighteningly precise degree: he can hear the interlocking score that comprises the world's harmony, as God had written it, intended it, and its splendor. It just struggles to stir his heart, if it ever does at all. It's torturous, to be always surrounded by beauty, and to feel acutely how little it moves you.

He closes his eyes, for a moment. Somewhere in the soft flicker of the candlelight and the crackle of the fireplace is Ginger's breathing, affected by emotion; feeling circulating through the body... )


... Is it hard? Being half one thing, half another?
lighthaus: (049)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
No problem.

[ totally a joke, trust this boy and me. ]

We got a bit distracted, huh? I know you're a vampire but I don't know your name! I'm Khun Aguero Agnes, but you can just call me Khun.
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-13 10:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Damn right.

[And that gets him to laugh, waving his good hand as if to dismiss it.]

Slipped my mind too - name's Malice. Nice to meetcha.

["Akira" is pretty short, will he get a dumb nickname or will Malice just use his actual name... who knows...]
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-13 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
See ya 'round!

[Malice is also ditching the library but surely we'll get up to more Shenanigans later!!]
lighthaus: (082)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ khun's grip is much the same, surely they won't continue to share other things in common. ]

Got it, Robin. And the latter, mostly. We're all going to be spending some time together, and it's important to get to know your teammates.

[ "mostly." ]
annihilator: (➤ 30)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-13 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Malice holds out his good hand and focuses as he says:] Haec dominium mea est.

[A plume of smoke coils just above his palm like he's attempting to summon something - for a brief moment it flickers like a flame before it dies out and the smoke vanishes. Malice scoffs.]

I guess I'm gettin' somethin' every time I try, but I was hopin' for a fireball not a puff'a smoke.
divineth: (🌒 3)

[personal profile] divineth 2024-04-13 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Aye. Including an impending cataclysm.

[Which is...truly like another day in the life of a Scion, isn't it. How has this happened more than once.]

Thy condolence is appreciated. Seeing as I have little choice at present, I shall labor to resolve matters as before.
foresightis2020: (27)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-04-13 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His expression is sort of relaxed, though it is more the neutral kind instead of his laid-back smile as he answers. ]

You must understand why people are the way they are, then.

Individuals facing such a heavy burden are rarely allowed to share it with others. Though, it may not be always as you believe it to be.

And for those who decide to unload the burden onto others...do you believe they will be able to handle it? Accept it?
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-13 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[citation needed!!!]

Oh, didn't even think 'bout that. Good to know, though!

[He would've shortened it to "Khun" anyway, so this works out well(?).]

Name's Malice. Nice to meetcha.
lighthaus: (062)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course, I'm used to giving orders.

Now let's see, we should make a bit more just in case—impero!

[ more sugar poofs into existence. ]
lighthaus: (060)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's see... [ it doesn't take him too long to find books related central, either because he's looked around in the library prior, or because he's good at scanning information in general. he pulls several books out, handing them to kurapika as he does so. ]

Do you have any opinions on your country yet?
shadowkin: (001)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-13 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a dark knight, not a stage actor. Or a playwright.

[Why is everyone critiquing his acting skills???? Wow.]

Besides, I think you're fine at acting. I'm not one to be overly harsh when I look at others' performances. Everybody has their own problems to deal with.

[All of this in an absolute, absolute monotone. He nods understandingly, slowly, and yeah, probably insincerely.]
lighthaus: (059)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, I'm mostly joking. But if you're interested and there's something here you'd rather skip out on yourself, maybe we can arrange something.

[ just because khun may be a disaster in the kitchen doesn't mean he doesn't understand the value of nutrition. ]
shortleash: (pic#17103463)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-13 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
( If he's spinning their arms are getting tangled, because Mika's digging his heels in like a cat someone's trying to put into a carrier. )

No way, absolutely not, I am not dancing or singing, especially not with or for humans. If the spirits will respond to one person, they'll respond to just two just fine, so go knock yourselves out.

( Cid and Leo... public enemies #1 in Mika's eyes (until the next person who annoys him). )
positivize: (pic#17104135)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-13 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, really!? If the Chief knew about this, she'd probably be over the moon... What's the name of your group?

[This is definitely the kind of topic that would fit right into a magazine with a lot of teenage readers, so admittedly an interview is tempting.]

But thanks! I visited a lot of ramen shops after work, so I was pretty familiar with the best ones in town... Looks like I'll have to build that knowledge up from scratch again.
lighthaus: (016)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I had to practice writing my name from when I was very little.

[ khun steals a glance at yamato's nametag and nods approvingly. ]

Of course. Your name represents you, doesn't it? I'm not exactly a plain type of guy.

[ grabbing a dark blue marker, he adds a shadow to some of the letters so they're even more bold than before. ]
fellheart: (ι'м gonna ѕay)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-13 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
'Reluctant?' [ he repeats, experimentally, as if testing out the feel of the word. ] Hm...

It might not be strictly accurate, no, but it might be as good a word for it as any, I suppose. [ robin pauses for a bit, thinking over his words before he speaks them. ] It might be more apt to say that I simply don't think the things I carry are really deserving of that sort of emotional weight.

Or anything physical at all, really.
shadowkin: (015)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-13 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[As they're getting tangled like the strangest merry-go-round, Cid steps back judiciously because he's actually got the power to be the man on the side. He's free of this absolute nonsense! Or he will be once this little bit of nonsense is properly wrapped up with a bow.]

Ohh, so are you saying you're actually a vampire? I haven't seen one-- up close! Haven't seen one properly up close, since the Lawless City lot's always up in their tower.

[That's definitely what he meant to say. He'll just be here watching indulgently while the human eats the vampire alive, metaphorically. Presumably.]

You know, I heard that vampires are actually way more powerful at magic than humans, so I think we should still give it a try. You can even just shuffle around if you don't know any dances. I'm not all that good a dancer either.

[He still doesn't even know what they are singing. Nor does he know why the coat colors are changing. But he's not too fussed; it's not like the coats are super fashionable.]
shortleash: (pic#17072496)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-13 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Not like we have a choice, I guess. It's a pain in the ass, though.

( Frank!! He unsheathes his sword, sliding it out— a nice, ornate blade. It doesn't seem very special, but... )

This is supposed to work a certain way, but it doesn't, anymore. I guess we have to replicate the effects with magic, but...

( It's annoying, to have to do that. It was working just fine before!! )
shadowkin: (Default)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-13 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll have to let me know if it works out, I'm still trying to get him to teach me how to turn metal into gold or something else along those lines.

[Capitalism! Profit! The not-so-free wizard market above all else!! Or something.

Cid glances over the array of arms one more time, just to satisfy his curiosity, before he gets up and stretches.]

Hmmmm, anyway, you should also show me whenever you get the arms working. It'd be good to see those in action...

For now, good night.

[He's been here long enough, and he has other commitments of his own later, so he'll skeddadle for now ~]
fellheart: (aѕĸιng мe ѕιlenтly)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-13 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
How funny. Mine, again, is similar.

[ unsheathing it from where it's kept reveals what is probably more impractical seeming of a sword than mika's; jagged like a bolt, the metal of the blade zigzagging back and forth in a dangerous arc. ]

There's no shortage of magic in this realm. How odd for any power that sources from other places to suddenly find itself inert here... perhaps it's simply a matter of incompatibility?

[ inconvenient, though. lightning magic is as lightning magic does, and yet this sword of his might as well be a fancy toothpick now if he doesn't spare the effort to empower it himself. in the metatext's words: annoying. ]
lighthaus: (076)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Apparently not if that's what you think.

[ just full brat mode here, smh. ]
lighthaus: (031)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[ long blink. ]

The hider gets to run away from the seeker as long as they don't get touched, don't they?
lustro: (080)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-13 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He blinks slow, wet lashes casting shadows over the blue of his eyes, tinted like the sky of Heaven. He’s thoughtful, but the dim atmosphere makes his gaze somber. ]

It’s hard not being enough of what I want.

[ It hadn’t bothered him as a child until he realized being half-blood meant he was a freak Rum could become tired of. If he was all demon, he could devote himself to his childhood friend. They would be the same. Ginger liked that idea.

But Rum liked Ginger’s angel face; he liked Ginger’s angel mom. Ginger wasn’t angel enough. ]


Eventually, those like me have to pick one or the other. I don’t see why. We work together regardless. Picking one doesn’t get rid of our other half. [ His long, narrow fingers dig into the pillow. White, clean. ] Rum likes angels better. But I -

[ He glances over at Mika. In the dark room, the shadows of his face eclipses his right eye completely. All black. He would never be angel enough. ]

I’m not that.

[ (And he doesn’t want to be.) ]
lighthaus: (029)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-13 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ his name is too damn long. ]

Same here. [ tilting his head. ] Malice...is that because you're a vampire?

[ he should stop making rude assumptions, but he will not. ]