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!
chronosynthesis: (❖ Well of Eternity)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-19 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
It's alright. Given the stakes, I would rather help than put it all on someone who has only ever been a civilian. We need each other, but... I believe the people here may need us, too.

[Granted, going into town and getting terrified screams is going to sour the whole idea a bit. But an apocalypse is an apocalypse.]
dyingtohealyou: ([Healing] a lonely parade)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-19 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
[Too bad, he's casting and can't stop won't stop - hopefully stemming the blood at least.]

Shame everyone else is insisting we heal other people first, too.

[He sounds distinctly unimpressed. But also, he'll cast again to try to heal more, bit by bit.]
mirristry: (9)

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-19 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Almost all of them are either about the spirits, the countries themselves, or magic in general. Phil's going all in on doing his research, it seems...

He'll gratefully accept that hand and stand up, brushing off his robes before bending down to start picking up the books as well.]


... yes. I thought I would get a head start on learning as much as I can about our new surroundings, but it seems I may have gotten a bit overenthusiastic. Perhaps I should have left some of these in the library...
shortleash: (pic#17103588)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
... Shinjiro fought. Yamato didn't have time.

( He doesn't remark on Ginger and Tatara, because, just, why would you be willing... he doesn't understand. )

But all of them are missing blood.

( So yes to buffet, )
lustro: (077)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ He looks relieved to see her. If he could, he’d offer her a grateful smile. He tries - and manages something.

It quickly falls away once she asks about what happened. He hesitates to say it - is he allowed? Eyes flicker to Mika, then back at her. ]


Ah… a very, very hungry… [ He gestures at his neck. ] Yeah.
revengier: (31)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-19 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
As long as you practice, you should.

[ Which honestly just makes him sound like some sort of annoying class president. ]

I don't mind helping you brainstorm ideas for your arm, should you need it.

[ He kind of likes Malice, so. ]
shortleash: (pic#17121573)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
( Mika will stay back and watch Grima at work with his own, grim(a) (jk just grim) expression. He's steady in his work, and that's all Mika can ask for. )
revengier: (57)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-19 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...

That just makes him laugh. ]


Come on, let's get to the city.

[ And with that, Kurapika zooms on ahead! ]
shortleash: (pic#17120830)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
( Mika will watch his work from afar, but will not remark - Ahito has his wits about him and he's putting himself to work, so Mika has no complaints here. )
lustro: (053)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ginger's telling Tatara no such thing. He's going to make Tatara sit in the naughty corner and reflect. No, REPENT. ]

When you have your strength back. Sit down first. [ He pats the space next to him. Come on, they're both exhausted now. ] I'll be fine. I'm not human anyway.
shortleash: (pic#17120985)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:05 am (UTC)(link)
I'm fine.

( Rudely, he reaches to grab her wrist to try to pull her out the door with him. )

Four people are hurt. Two people seem critical. Follow me quickly.
chronosynthesis: (❖ Confusing Images)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-19 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya jerks at the sound of shattering. Against his better judgement, and with the smoke starting to thin out, he approaches to see just what chaotic mess Solomon is creating now.] Please don't break the pan in the process of whatever it is you are doing.
chronosynthesis: (❖ Sand through Glass)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-19 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, Rogdrigo is a rat. [The three seconds it takes to consider that, and then how most people respond to rats in their home.] You, ah, probably do want to make it clear he is yours and not simply a pest. Maybe with a bell...?
impacter: (005)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
[So Shinjiro might have additional injuries, Yamato was possibly jumped and subdued... did the other two just offer without resistance, then? He could see it with Tatara, but Ginger...?]

I'm guessing this isn't normal for you, since this is the first time I've seen anyone covered in blood since we've arrived.

Unless one of the others is near death, Tatara should be prioritized. Are any of them unresponsive right now?
shortleash: (pic#17120206)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
That's enough. I'm getting multiple people.

( And he pretty immediately turns on his heel to start leading him to the common room at a brisk pace. )

Someone might have started on Yamato and Tatara already, so the other two might need it. But I'm guessing everyone could use help from multiple.

( Literally just a guess. Better safe than sorry with all this. )
lustro: (060)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Does it help if they both believe? Ginger does have faith in everyone who showed up to help. And when the wounds on his neck shrink in size and intensity, he nods gratefully. ]

Why do I feel like a child about to get scolded…
shortleash: (pic#17121574)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
( He doesn't want to respond to the first bit but it sure weighs on him... )

... I don't know if there's a first aid kit. The guy with the hat might know.

( A soft, needless exhale. )

All of them are still alive right now.
revengier: (31)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-19 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, cutting right to the chase. Good. Kurapika follows without much issues, hands in his pockets. ]

Then I'll cover what I can.

[ And probably grab some things from the kitchen or his snack stash just in case too. ]

And yourself? How are you feeling?

[ He may as well ask while they're walking. ]
shortleash: (pic#17103588)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
( Mika is just hanging back like he's waiting for his execution. But he's keeping a keen eye on healing efforts toward Shinji, too. )
impacter: (060)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-19 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
Hahah... I'm not as fragile as I look, you know. [But he does at least concede, settling himself next to the blond with a quiet huff.]

That would explain the strange situation with your eyes, then. If you're not human, though, then I'm curious what you'd call yourself.
lustro: (072)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-19 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
…?

[ What’s this… ]

Thanks… You had this on you?

[ He obediently starts to nibble though he’s not sure why he’s been given a snack at a time like this?? ]
shortleash: (pic#17103497)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
( Comet earns his first miserably wry smile of the night, his mouth splitting to reveal, faintly, a still-bloodied tongue and teeth between his red lips. )

... A monster attacked.
Edited 2024-04-19 05:15 (UTC)
revengier: (53)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-19 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ A little snack bar! Or whatever the equivalent for that here happens to be. ]

I went back to my room and retrieved it. It's important to replenish the nutrients in your body. We may as well cover all the bases we can, right?
shortleash: (pic#17120985)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-19 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
( Mika just glances down when Ginger glances at him when speaking to Maya, but doesn't protest any move toward reveal.

He just keeps his distance from the injured and watches those attending to them closely, including Ginger's treatments. )
chronosynthesis: (❖ Signet of Inspiration)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-19 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya gives the room a cursory glance, mostly memorizing its location, before focusing on the matter at hand. He holds his hand out in silent request. Once the weight of the stone hits his palm:] Thank you.

[He's careful as he handles it, turning it over in his hand to look for any unique markings.] I assume the properties of the stone itself are more adept at containing magic than the average rock?