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!
positivize: (pic#17104058)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-21 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[And she'll smile back as they enter the market, looking over at the various stalls and vendors.]

Decorations, huh... It'd be nice if I could get a stereo system here, but I'm pretty sure that's out of the question. [Turning to Malice:] Anything catch your eye?
jokey: (4 - kehfENo)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-21 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Tempting him, hm? Solomon has no issue doing so, clearly, his eyes following the path of his fingers as they disappear into his pocket. What are you grabbing in there, Solomon? A weapon? Akira could do the same and let it be known that he sees the playing field as an even one, but he doesn't. Instead, he crosses his arms loosely over his chest and squares himself, eyes not daring to blink as he sizes the man up.]

You're going to regret messing with me. I'm not your plaything.

[And he means that, his words sharp, their edges serrated. He's been more honest with Solomon than he has been most. What's the harm in letting his tongue slip into bad habits?]

What was that about big buildings? Maybe you'll fit if I cut enough heads off.

[You don't scare him, hydra. You enable him.]
fullspbar: (92)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-04-21 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ Give it time, he says. It feels like they don't have a whole lot of time, honestly, but he can't say it isn't correct in some way. Nothing's gonna come of scraping his brain for something. ]

Guess so.

[ A sigh, and then his gaze flickers downwards. ]

Could always deal with the focus first. Less of a pain in the ass, at least.

[ It's not like he came with much, but still. ]
fellheart: (gιve мe yoυr wιng)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-21 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
You would want to seek fulfillment by being considered useful?

[ sounds like the words of a blade without a wielder, a servant without a lord. ]
positivize: (pic#17104058)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-21 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it's country made up of islands. We're pretty small, but we've got a large population and our cities are pretty modern. Being here's been a bit of a culture shock, honestly!
leewards: (013)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-21 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't call it flight yet~

[After all, he's trying to get it to fly, but all it does is hover.]

It's barely more than a fancy chair right now, after all. But it's your turn at an attempt.
impacter: (053)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-21 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Plaything? Strange. I never said you were.

[His arm drops gently, openly. To show his wand, held only between two fingers; to turn away from Akira, casually slipping to the side with the quiet but firm muttering:]

Manu Propria.

[His broom materializes midstep, Solomon drifting it up with a casual lift of his hand to the underside of the handle, an effortless action to float the broom midair at his side like a boat in the water.

A glimpse behind the curtain - a show of his hand in this arena that he's otherwise played dumb towards. If Akira wants to test himself, then he should see he's playing with fire - someone who already knows magic, and knows it well enough to recognize child's play for what it is.]


Humanity isn't meant to be a toy. Not for me. Not for you. Not for anyone, or anything.

Be as curious as you want, Akira. Just be cautious to where you point it.
dyingtohealyou: ([Look] long night with)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-21 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
What do you mean when you say modern?
leewards: (010)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-21 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
Mm, yes. There's not much use for literacy out in the wilderness, except for when you have a book to pass the time. [Then he waves his hand as if to say "that's not that important".]

Now, when you venture out into places where people place importance on the written word... yes, then there's a use.
jokey: (IPk58FA)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-21 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[That isn't quite how he meant it. To be toyed with in the manner a god toys with a mortal is one thing, but Solomon is teasing him, goading him, inspiring Akira to push himself ever further. That dangling carrot? So long as Solomon's shaking the stick, he's guaranteeing Akira will go after it. He'll get it too— or die trying.

The effortlessness with which Solomon commands his magic sends electric thrills up Akira's spine. Impressive, but that's not even the half of it, is it? What else can this man do? What more can he show him? Tell him? What stories does he have to share?

So that sharpened gaze files off into something markedly less pointed, but that spark of curiosity in Akira's eyes hasn't. Never will, so long as Solomon is involved. Akira smiles.]


Nah, not like that. Not like a mad god throwing their weight around. I meant that man-to-man.

[Human-to-human. Akira may be playing with fire, but so too is Solomon.]

You get what I'm saying, right? Tease me all you want, but all you're gonna do is make me more curious. That curiosity you're talking about's pointed directly at you. I don't like being told no, either.

[Then, looking him dead in the eye—]

I'm in the habit of taking what I want, Solomon. And if I decide I want you, I'll take you too.
jorunna: (comet02)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-21 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Sure...? It's just a normal towel with a spell on it.

[ Honestly, they're happy healing magic comes easy here with the Southie bonus. ]
revengier: (60)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-21 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
My pride isn't hurt.

[ And Ahito doesn't have to rub it in either!! ]

I'm mildly annoyed, yes.
leewards: (010)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-21 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
A hermit in the woods, just like me. [Look, that's his mother. Of course she'd have taught him a lot. But he also knew that she was hiding quite a lot from him, too. He never knew she was a witch until her arrest, after all.]

And she was far kinder to people than they deserved.
positivize: (pic#17104135)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-21 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
Hahaha! You got me there.

Guess I'll just need to up my game! It wouldn't be fair to expect everything to fall on your shoulders.

[they can do it, he just has to believe!! let's think positive ✰]
themanwhoerasedhisname: 8 (8)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-21 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Something like that. Makes sense I'd get dragged here, I guess.

[A nice and peaceful retirement isn't in the cards for him, may as well spend his years doing something useful, was his philosophy]
serenesinker: we're goin' on a trip to the mountains! exciting, huh? (happy)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-04-21 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
Sounds good to me! Maybe you'll learn a thing or two along the way!
impacter: (108)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-21 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Man to man, huh.

Briefly, he wonders. Briefly, it feels unfair. How much of a man is left when he chases that hydra for so long that his legs split and his wings sprout and his mind rolls in on itself over and over until his head splits in three. The Witty Sorcerer, the wise king, the wizard, the favored, the feared, the powerful, the unpredictable, the despicable, the heretical, the unreachable.

The only.

He sees Akira, hears his creed, and it's like glimpsing a mirror through the cracks. Familiarity, nostalgia, hurtful reminders. The hurt doesn't stop aching. The wall doesn't go down. But it lessens, softens, just slightly.

He meets Akira's eye, even as he pulls open the door that leads straight out to the courtyard.]


Then, my dear Akira... You'll need to want for a little longer. I am not yours for the taking.

But let's see how far you climb.
fellheart: (wнaт aм ι вecoмιng?)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-21 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
'Teammates,' huh... It's true that we're apparently expected to be working with each other, and yet I can't help but wonder if things really will end up working out all that neatly.

[ how long until the manor burns down, let's start the timer. ]
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] I was singing to)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-21 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
I wonder if the compensation's our allowance.

[It would make sense...]
jokey: (mqHX5U8)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-21 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
[You'll need to want a little longer, he says, and the immediate retort comes to mind: how long? More importantly, how do you expect me to wait?

It's fine, it's fine. Patience isn't beyond Akira, and Solomon has given him plenty to chew on for one day. Taking some time to digest this entire encounter is probably wise, right? Right. Restlessness gnaws at Akira, but he swallows it down, straightens up, and makes for the courtyard.]


Watch me. I'll catch up to you in no time.

[In his words is a challenge, his grin pulled wide. Solomon set the bar high, and Akira won't disappoint him by falling short of the finish line. Watch me.]
serenesinker: boy, i sure am a cute old geezer, ain't i? (cute)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-04-21 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely! Even though we got it right once, I think more casting practice will do us some good in the long run!

[Setting the bowl down, Yodarha once again manifests his focus and starts filling that sucker up!]
revengier: (53)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-21 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ He nods, thinking he gets where Ithaqua is coming from, at least in a sense. ]

It's helpful to prepare for exploration, isn't it? When I lived in a forest, I read all about the outside world to prepare myself for going out into it.
revengier: (80)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-21 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hm. Ahito makes a good point... ]

Probably. We can't really complain either, since the allowance is pretty generous.
fellheart: (gιve мe yoυr lυng)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-21 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
A man who finds himself restless in peaceful times, is that what you are? [ ... ] Well, I suppose the reasoning makes sense. That's the perfect sort of person to recruit for a mess like this.

[ personality wise, anyway. they've yet to see on the ability front outside of that effortless focus summoning, but who knows? kiryu might be the strongest wizard of them all, or something. ]
chronosynthesis: (❖ Signet of Humility)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-21 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya hums, his brow pinching. He's unconvinced that Mikaela should be left alone but--that will have to come after those actually injured are taken care off.]

Very well. I'll be back shortly. [And he turns on his heels to quickly head off and retrieve first aid.

But he will be back to find Mika once everyone is stable.]