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 youโ€™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
๐ŸŒ™ Welcome to Lunae Calamitas's first event post! Yer a wizard, whether you like it or not.
๐ŸŒ™ 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...
๐ŸŒ™ Your OOC plotting post is here! Please keep all your plotting on the plotting post, since not everyone uses discord or plurk.
๐ŸŒ™ The South will be going on their mission next week to get this party started. Keep an eye out, Southies!
dyingtohealyou: ([Sigh] If there's a heart)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-17 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
I think I can live without eating it at all to begin with.
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] Where you are)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-17 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
Works for me.

Count to 60?
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] Then that must be)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-17 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Only if this magic doesn't cost me any more than I've already paid.
revengier: (53)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-17 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ He raises his eyebrows. ]

Really? You don't have computers where you're from?
revengier: (109)

crying.... would you believe these are all from the latest arc

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-17 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Why is the broom getting the compliment indeed! Kurapika frowns at that, just barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes. ]

You shouldn't eat with something you found on a roof in the first place.

[ Please!! ]

But I think that might be one of our trinkets.
revengier: (20)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-17 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
I'm hoping I can replicate it here, honestly. Though I suppose my success will depend on the spirits.
fallingsand: (51;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Y'know, ya think I woudln't fall for that one again, and yet...

[ remain oblivious, youth!!! only not ]

Eh, but it's not a curse, per se. It's just this whole... thing. With my whole family, we're all magical in one specific way, and mine is, um, basically... to see bad futures? Most bad ones. There's. Sometimes there are good ones but it's pretty much ninety-nine percent bad. Turns out people hate that!
Edited 2024-04-17 01:52 (UTC)
fallingsand: (17;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
...really? Huh.

[ In that case, Bruno will respect him in turn and not ask about his abilities. ]

I mean, makes sense to me. Once it's out, people will start thinking of ways to use it themselves or something. That gets stressful real fast.
lustro: (014)

gasp! face!!

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Blunt, but it seems he'll be reliable? So that's good. ]

I don't think we're going to be compensated for anything. Don't expect worker's comp if you or any of us disappear like the previous wizards.
lustro: (046)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ That sounds rough in an uncomfortable way. Ginger has a strained relationship (one-sided on Ginger's end) and some PTSD from his dad, but he's still always been Ginger's dad. There for him, growing up. There for their entire family and respectful of his mom's nature - her wishes. His one true love. ]

... Then... does he know your name?
lustro: (069)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ He... doesn't look like he knows the difference between vanilla and bacon, but he nods anyway. ]

Something like coffee, too?
lustro: (084)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks... I'll keep at it I guess.

[ And so he goes around fulfilling the whims of a higher ranking person. Sounds just like his job at home. Nice!

Okay, but it really isn't a bad time. He finds that he doesn't mind it too much. ]


Are you going to try to personalize this place even more?
lustro: (051)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Uh.

[ ??? for real. ]

Is that... really a thing?

[ Too handsome to be human???? ]
lustro: (029)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[ That's what Tatara also said and Ginger huffs out a small, dry laugh. ]

I mean that's nice, but you don't find it stressful, too? It's a lot of people to keep safe.
lustro: (018)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Only with my childhood friend, but he has a bunch of demon sisters and his mom is always getting her heartbroken, so...

[ Chaotic? Fun? Terrifying? Yes. ]

Sixth room, second floor.
lustro: (018)

end?

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ He manages a small laugh, pulling the other man up with ease. ]

Might as well be our motto now, honestly. Let's go.
lustro: (054)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ The struggle continues, but he does appreciate Kurapika's input, tossing him grateful glance. It melts away into more contemplation. ]

I... honestly don't know. Of course, I would fight to help everyone here. That's a given. [ Because of his job. Because that's just how Ginger is. ] I just know what I'm scared of.

[ Heartbreak, heartache so soul crushing that he shatters into a million shards of sadness and light. ]

Do you know what courage used to mean? To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart. Telling all one's heart. Maybe - that.
lustro: (067)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-17 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Trick"... "Young"...

[ Sure, guy. ]

For all I know, you could be centuries old.
fallingsand: (17;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. Bruno blinks at the hand, then reaches out to take it. His shake won't be quite as firm as some but it won't be the worst, either. ]

I'm Bruno.
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] bury my loneliness)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-17 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
The spirits seem fickle...

Or maybe they just have bad taste.
fallingsand: (10; always left abuela)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Look at that hop... Whatever this tiny man is, it's adorable. ]

They do. Wow. Uh, oh, geez, we should be summoning these into bowls or bags or something!
dyingtohealyou: ([Look] long night with)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-17 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
...Huh. Are they set in stone?
fallingsand: (86;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Eh, I'd say it's about fifty-fifty. Sometimes there are choices to be made but people just... don't.
fallingsand: (13; they couldn't understand)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
Murderers?!

[ Um, no, forget the broom, excuse him? Who? Who's a murderer, Akira?! ]
fallingsand: (18;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-17 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Equally human deer in headlights. ]

Wh... what? Only sometimes?