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: (❖ Chronophantasma)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-21 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya drops down besides Shinji, coating a cloth with disinfectant. At the sight of the wound, he frowns. This really could use some magic or stitches, but he doesn't have the latter and the former will have to come from someone capable.]

This will sting. Try to bear it. [He reaches to gently clean the wound.]
dyingtohealyou: ([Think] my throat)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-21 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. Enough for full furnishings and everything... That kind of money's pretty crazy to me, as a student.
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-21 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
You have a strong sense of preservation, then. Or emergency auto-pilot if that makes sense.

[ It's not too terrible of a thing, since it's better if the wizards stay alive??? But yeah this backfired horribly, for a lack of a better word. ]

It can sound like you meant well.
serenesinker: we're goin' on a trip to the mountains! exciting, huh? (happy)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-04-21 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
Sweet! [Literally so.] Then let's get an actual receptacle for this sugar and get it turned in~!
annihilator: (➤ 44)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh yeah, that poor shopkeeper...]

Yeah, sounds good to me! Let's go!

[what adventures will they get up to next time, we'll just have to see!!]
annihilator: (➤ 12)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
[The pause goes on and Malice is about to break it when Khun speaks up again.]

Yeah? Mind if I ask what that reason was?

[Exiled, huh...]
annihilator: (➤ 13)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
Hah, she sounds like a blast!

[is that a fire pun...??]

Is she a vampire or just can't eat sweets?
dadsandals: (yama50)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
...Yeah.

[ Weird, to think that something this bizarre happened to him, but nothing about this situation is normal. ]

I got pretty lucky. I didn't think I was going to make it out of there alive.
troublereduction: (day09)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-21 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...Why does he not like what this implies??? ]

You figured that was it, this is how it ends?
dadsandals: (yama52)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, you went easy on me, didn't you?

[ Thanks, buddy. He was bracing himself for something worse, but now he can wear the name tag and not feel embarrassed! Cheers. ]

Nice choice. We'd better show these to the sage, or he might hound us down to make sure we did his tasks.

[ Or, well, maybe he's the exception. He did refuse to do these initially, after all, which caught Tatara's attention... ]

You've probably saved me from getting an earful.
dadsandals: (yama1)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 08:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Wow. ]

They sure can be. I'm learning the hard way.

[ Note to self: Don't underestimate the youths ever again........ ]

But thanks for your concern. It's nice that so many of you showed up for this.

[ Well, it is and isn't. It's kind of embarrassing, but it's also turning out to be kind of nice that people at least care enough to not leave him alone in this. ]
dadsandals: (yama24)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 08:06 am (UTC)(link)
Isn't that the same vibe as hide and seek?

[ Are they back at square one again...help. ]
annihilator: (➤ 44)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
Hah, I'll take that as a compliment.

[Malice is one of those who would rather not be boring - trying to imagine living a peaceful life is beyond him, after all.]

Though I think most of us here have some pretty interestin' stories.
dadsandals: (yama11)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe? I don't know, I've never had that much blood drained from me before. I felt pretty awful before I knocked out.

[ He, at least, doesn't seem too happy about that. ]

I don't think I was completely sure that it was the end, but I know it crossed my mind at least once.
annihilator: (➤ 19)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
What's a stereo?

[It's just gonna be like this. He's from a medieval fantasy world so the tech is... scattered...

Anyway! He definitely has spotted something given the way his expression lights up and he points to one of the stalls.]


Yeah, look at this!

[The item in question is a cute little crystal ball! The base is black and has runes etched into it while the crystal ball itself is a misty, swirling lavender color. The stall-owner is all too eager to try to sell just about everything here, and Malice will pay attention to the other items... but it's obvious he's got his eyes set on that crystal ball.]
annihilator: (➤ 41)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-21 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
Hah, fair enough!

[What is important to him and how to turn that into a broom... Well, staying alive is always the most important thing. Following behind that is his edgy goth aesthetic. Now how the hell does he turn that into a broom? A black broom?? A broom with raven feathers for the end? Hmm...

After quite a while of thought, Malice attempts to summon something. At first the shape is a little wobbly, like he's not entirely sure what he wants it to be, but then it slowly begins to form into something. Sleek black lines fill out the middle of the broom, with the handle shifting and rotating to form... that looks awfully similar to a bat wing? Hmm. The back end stretches out and curves and... that isn't a broom. That is a scythe.

And yet Malice looks delighted with his scythebroom(?) grinning as he turns it in his hand to get a better look at it.]


Now that's more like it! Definitely a "broom" I can get behind!

[no that's just edgy.]
troublereduction: (pic#17020437)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-21 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hey East are you all okay (no) ]

Well, uh. I know you just got back up, but you have any idea what you all are gonna do 'bout...this?
dadsandals: (yama34)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-21 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
About Mikaela?

[ Hmm. ]

Honestly, I hadn't thought much about it. I think it's something we'll have to bring up to Wanderer. If he takes out Tatara again, it's going to be a real problem.
jorunna: (comet03)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-21 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ They fucked around and found out. As teenagers do, right Akira? Sometimes it ends up with the protag-kun suffering a little, wheezes included.]

You did!

[ They sound relieved and happy... Akira passed this Guts check here and it's almost like they get ♪♪♪ from Comet for making the right choice. Yay! Oh, they'll uh, get off of Akira because this isn't comfy for either of them. To make things convenient, the broom is right there for them to climb back onto. Situated back on the handle like nothing happened, the hold out a hand for Akira. ]

Let's go.
fellheart: (wнaт aм ι вecoмιng?)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-21 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Gasp! A cold blooded assault! It doesn't quite manage to unbalance Robin, though, so as he spins to redistribute and resettle his weight, somewhere during that motion the phial disappears. Into a sleeve? A tucked away pocket somewhere in the coat or on his belts? Who knows!

What Robin is going to do in response is ... splay a hand dramatically across his chest, golden eyes going briefly wide in feigned shock. ]


My, attacking your fellow wizard so brazenly ... Now, what have I done to merit this kind of foul play?

I have to say, it isn't looking very promising in regards to your offer of a reward.
shortleash: (pic#17103470)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-21 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
( ???? )

... You ride dragons?

( Despite the punctuation, he sounds quietly impressed - and disbelieving. He really didn't know what to expect from PlantLand, but it's higher fantasy than he was expecting. )

... Maybe you'd do better taming one of the magical beasts around here and riding those.

( Normally, he'd consider it a terrible idea - and he still does, but also. He'd also consider riding a dragon a bad idea, and clearly this is just a thing this guy does, so. )
Edited 2024-04-21 09:41 (UTC)
shortleash: (pic#17120206)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-21 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
( Flighty and capricious... from Mika's remarkably "no fun allowed" expression, he doesn't seem to identify with the idea at all. )

I'd hope not. I don't like wasting time like that.

( Don't consider him flaky, pls... he'd have to reassess what he's doing wrong. )

I think it's in reference to complex magic with a lot of moving parts. At least, that's what I understood of it. Seals and stuff.

( Now, the conundrum is figuring out how to do "complex" magic when you're still a beginner... )

... Maybe if I formulate what kind of magic I want to do with my weapon as something with a lot of small parts, the spirits would react to it better. ( And he might be able to use his rapier as a focus then, even without the sentimental attachment? ) ... Seems worth a shot, at least.
shortleash: (pic#17103588)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-21 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
( Mika will not be far from where Syrlya leaves him - he will go in and out some several more times to gather more helpers, but once enough have gathered and the injured are rousing with some restored health, Mika has more or less taken to the wall, his face at least now wiped clean of blood, looking just as miserable, if not more - though he watches over the injured with a particularly studious eye. )
1145pm: (pic#16970054)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-21 10:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...

...





......... ]


Yeah.

[ He grins, grabs Yamato's wrist, and makes his way quicker down the hall. Will they find a closet at the end of it?! Who knows!!! ]

Oh well! We'll figure it out!
1145pm: (pic#17103096)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-21 11:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ this corner of the manor is super gay rn

Tatara just smiles at Akira. He makes no comment about love, and no further comment about either of their Japans.

Instead, he reaches out and ruffles Akira's hair. Wizard Headpat! ]


You did really well on your sugar, Akira-san. Keep at it.