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!
themanwhoerasedhisname: 13 (Default)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-19 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Indeed, Kiryu doesn't understand a lick of it. The language is unknown, but the effects aren't, look at those sparks! Kiryu nods approvingly]

There you go, it has worked out. Too bad it was with that instead with anything else.

[Bruno must have had his reasons to avoid it, and truthfully, Kiryu wishes he could have avoided his own. He just used them first try because he caught onto that the world wouldn't be kind enough to make his words be anything else -- and apparently it wasn't kind with Bruno either]
themanwhoerasedhisname: 5 (5)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-19 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
[...unfortunately, physical aches and pains are a thing for him nowadays, so it does help. The relief is welcome. He, somewhat sheepishly, gives his feedback:]

It's effective. We're good to go.

[And there's the feeling if it was unacceptable in any way he'd say so. Kiryu gives no vibes of holding back at all when he's unsatisfied]
shortleash: (pic#17077610)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
( Figures. )

... Just thinking humans are all the same. They all slant toward the worst sort of magic.

( Is he familiar enough with magic to identify its school? Not really. But all magic in human hands is bad magic, and Solomon's incantation didn't exactly promise a more pleasant articulation. )
Edited 2024-04-19 01:11 (UTC)
lustro: (044)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
His punch decides.

[ Don’t ask about Ginger’s success rate. ]

So you think Tatara is relaxed… Yeah, I guess. He’s so full of hot air that I feel like he’ll fly away - or burst into… something really sad.
impacter: (045)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
All humans, hm? I don't know if that's entirely fair.

[But this also means Mika may not be human. Solomon's attention draws directly towards him, now immensely interested.]

You must have truly had a rotten experience, though, if you don't like seeing it in a human's hands. How are you used to humanity using it?
Edited 2024-04-19 01:21 (UTC)
impacter: (074)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. That sounds more like a punishment more than a partnership. [you okay dude...]

Well, I can't disagree with his mannerisms feeling a little ungrounded sometimes. But hot air? Mmm...

Do you think he was being dishonest with you, or just elusive?
Edited 2024-04-19 01:25 (UTC)
lustro: (007)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
He wasn’t… being… dishonest… I think.

[ Which is only partially an answer, but Ginger doesn’t know how else to explain Tatara. ]

What do you think? One smiling hard to read person to another.
shortleash: (pic#17103554)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
It's in human nature to seek control and abuse it.

( Said flatly, brooking no argument. Yes, all humans. )

Humans will always use magic to satisfy their morbid curiosity, and their lust for power. If there isn't a means, they'll create one, no matter who or what they have to harm. It isn't very different from your own philosophy.

( He draws that curt parallel like a line in the sand. )
impacter: (001)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Hahah... I really don't know why you'd think that of me, honestly.

[But he does give it some genuine thought, staying silent for a few seconds as he delicately picks at the purple-hued coat still folded against his arm.]

...

There are many ways a human protects themselves. Whether it's their image, their mind, their body or their soul.

Our dear Tatara has a lot on his shoulders, and perhaps he copes by acting in a way he thinks will relax others. I'm not quite sure.

But I think that, regardless of his honesty or intentions, patience is what will be the most rewarding.
impacter: (121)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Would you rather humanity sit back and remember their place, then?

I won't pretend that humans are perfect, nor are they justified in every choice they make - they're just as flawed as every other creature out there. But I don't enjoy generalizing this so broadly without knowing your world, or what you are. [Like, he knows his own motivations, but smearing all of humankind, even across worlds? Nah, that won't fly.]
shortleash: (pic#17072496)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
What does it matter what I am? I have eyes to see. Do you?

( Sounds like human apologism on your part, smh )
positivize: (pic#17104135)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-19 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Indeed, there is no recognition in her eyes when he mentions the name of his group, but that doesn't extinguish the spark of curiosity that's already there.]

IDOLiSH7, huh... Well, if I write about it maybe it'll catch on where I'm at!

[And then Yamato will appear in P2 with the power of rumors--

But no, she'll append that with a little "just kidding!" at the end before she considers the interview thing.]


If it's a problem for your agency, we can always keep it off the record! But the idol business is one I've only caught glimpses of, so I'd be interested in hearing more.
mirristry: (3)

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-19 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[When two socially awkward nerds meet...

He worries his lower lip with his teeth for a moment, deciding on how best to explain what he knows must be a very strange concept to someone who has never heard of mirrites or mirrists before. How do you tell someone what it feels like to have an externalized part of your own heart return to it?]


It's... difficult to explain if you've never felt it, but... it's warm. Like being whole. Of course, being physically near him feels similar, but obviously he isn't here right now.

[And he looks decidedly unhappy about this fact!]
impacter: (104)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[He is the biggest human apologist, u are not wrong]

I can only see what is presented to me. And I really don't like to assume.

[His tone hasn't changed a bit, but how he holds himself shifts very carefully, a veil of guarded curiosity, as though he's gauging the reaction of a snake in the brush.]

Will you at least give me your name?
shortleash: (pic#17120985)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
( Solomon will get an opportunity to find out what Mika is very soon, at least, )

... Mika.

( He doesn't care for his name, shortened or full, so he'll offer it freely. )

I've seen more than enough. I've seen the consequences of human arrogance destroy their own world, and seen them turn on each other even then, inventing new means of cruelty where they fell short before. If that's what you want to give benefit of the doubt to, then fine. I'm not going to tell you not to sign your name on the dotted line of humanity's case.

( Meanwhile, Mika is fine with being judge, jury, and execuftioner. )
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] that I don't forget)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-19 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
...What? No. That would be creepy.
fallingsand: (25;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-19 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ That's Tio Bruno to you, young man.

Bruno drops his hand back into his lap after the shake and gives Tatara a long look of consideration. He doesn't think he's bad luck but clearly, he hasn't been on the wrong end of a vision yet.
]

...if you say so. I'll try not to let you down but, um, consider yourself warned?
mirristry: (3)

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-19 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
[The blood is alarming, to say the least, and Phil starts and jumps back a bit when he opens his door as if he's expecting to be attacked--

-- and then blinks at the request, the panicked expression on his face fading just slightly.]


... heal?

[Objectively speaking? Under normal circumstances at home, no, he can't. But here, perhaps...]

I... I can try, I suppose, but...
shortleash: (pic#17120830)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
( Ah. Mika is paused for a moment when he recognizes this as someone who received a blue coat that morning, too. But he quickly sets aside that thought - he would deal with that later. )

That's enough. If multiple people try, you might get somewhere.

( He's grabbing Phil's wrist quite suddenly, and begins to very literally pull him into the hallway. )

We need to go, now.

( His tone says it's bad )
shortleash: (pic#17103472)

ADDENDUM: Mika has been missing the past two days (for those who'd notice)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
fallingsand: (86;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-19 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bruno is never certain. It's fine. Everything is fine.

Rodrigo, though? Oh.
]

Ehh, well, usually the rats are sorta free range but Rodrigo is the only one that showed up here with me, soooo, yeah? I guess? If calling him a pet makes people more comfortable?
mirristry: (7)

Research

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-19 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Phil has already pretty much taken up residence in the library from day one. His own desk is piled high with books-- so high, in fact, that the stacks seem to be in very real danger of collapsing on either him or any passersby at any moment.

That isn't stopping him from carrying more over anyway, however; it's on one such pass with an armful of books that he spots Ahito seemingly looking at one of the books regarding spirits and decides to speak up.]


Ah... if you're looking for books about the spirits, I've got a considerable number of them over at my own desk. I'd be happy to let you borrow them for your research if you need any of them.
mirristry: (6)

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-19 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
W-wait--!

[But it's not as though he has the physical strength to be able to free himself, so he's just being hauled along for the ride.]

Can you at least explain what kinds of injuries I'm going to need to be healing? Wounds of some sort, obviously, but--

[The tone isn't good, nor is the amount of visible blood on Mika, but he still wants to get an idea of just what he's about to be expected to try to deal with.]
fallingsand: (37;)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-19 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
...mm, I wouldn't be so sure about that...

[ He mutters that under his breath but anyway! Louder, he'll answer, ]

Oh, Bruno. You can call me Bruno.
troublereduction: (day09)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-19 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ When Day opens the door, he sure as hell wasn't expecting to see someone covered in blood, though it's also probably telling that while surprised, he doesn't panic. He has seen so much blood within the last week that somehow this almost doesn't seem as terrible as it could have been, which is a thought he isn't sure he wants to linger on.

So instead: ]


Show me to them.