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!
troublereduction: (pic#17020441)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-24 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Wha- ]

W-wait, I didn't mean to make you cry.
positivize: (pic#17104058)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-24 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I heard it from Tatara-san. Although it's not actually his name--Lazuli is what he started calling him when they met, I guess it just stuck.

[Meanwhile she's on chimney quest 2k24 because why not!! Maybe they need a magnet or something...]
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-24 05:22 am (UTC)(link)
Kinda, if it makes you uncomfortable.

[ hand under their own cheek in thought. ]

But it's more of... what you don't want to be done to you directly?
shadowkin: (022)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-24 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Luckily, he can walk and chew on the gum of knowledge at the same time, by which I mean Cid is fully down for documenting things with the camcorder because this manor is already wild as hell but he's still rather more interested in the interaction of magic and technology.

Bold of you to assume he isn't going to do something wild if there is evidence on there irregardless of all else, but that's a problem for future Cids and Tataras.

In the here and now he makes a pleased sort of yahoo! noise and holds the whole thing over his head like some sort of prize. Good thing the Sage is even more easygoing than his friends back home are with their money. ☆]

Good to know we're not in a rush, 'cause I definitely gotta spend some time on this thing. [he is probably going to spend half his time just trying wild magic things because the tech path is too easy, godspeed] In fact, I think I'm going to start like, right now. Right this minute. Where's the mana stones stored, anyway?

[He's got to hit two birds with one stone and if that means nyooming off before Tatara changes his mind and getting his hands on some mana thingies then off he will go (once he has directions).]
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-24 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ ((this poor tag got lost in the south mission notif apocalypse that happened to my inbox. drop if you wanna!))

Head tilt. ]


That's an interesting name. But Day is a nice and easy one to remember.
lustro: (111)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-24 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Ah - I didn’t even notice.

[ Because it happens so easily. Don’t mind him as he wipes his eyes. ]

And here I thought you were too cool to be fazed by anything, considering all those lines you were throwing out.
troublereduction: (day76_colour)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-24 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
Right? Easy. To be honest, your name sounds like something I'd hear back home too.

[ He's still mildly weirded out by how it seems most people here have surnames. ]
positivize: (pic#17104058)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-24 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, he seems happy with the purchase so that's really good enough either way!! The misty effect definitely adds a certain flair and mystique to it.]

You want to try it now?

[not that... she knows how to use this thing but yolo!!]
lustro: (118)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-24 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
Ginger.

[ 🫚 ]

I’ll need to pay back this favor.
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-24 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
So this place can be hostile?
annihilator: (➤ 04)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-24 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
[yolo indeed!! Malice turns the crystal ball a bit in his hand, humming as he considers.]

I wonder how it works? Maybe you gotta put a little magic in an'—

[He's focused as he says it, and suddenly the fog within the crystal ball starts to shift and turn.]

Whoa! Look, it's spellin' out somethin'!

[The fog forms the word... "Yes"?]

...Yes to what?

[This is the magical knick-knack version of a magic 8 ball. Unfortunately, Malice's world does not have those. Have fun...??]
dyingtohealyou: ([Surprise] I've known that)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-24 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
[Looking it over and........

....huh. The digits on the time even changes with the passing of the minute. Huh!!
]

And it works... anywhere?
troublereduction: (day76_colour)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-24 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Continued here. ]
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] Where you are)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-24 07:03 am (UTC)(link)
I always accept payment in the form of snacks from the markets.
divineth: (🌒 42)

[personal profile] divineth 2024-04-24 07:03 am (UTC)(link)
I suggest we form a group of willing donors to ensure thou art regularly sated. 'Tis true that blood is a finite resource, but this would result in more efficient management of thine intake.
chronosynthesis: (❖ Confusing Images)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-04-24 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
You don't have one? [He blinks slowly.] Well--surely you must have some sort of preference what you like to be called? Even what you don't like?
jorunna: (comet07)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-24 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
Then... I'd like to learn when you're in the mood for it.

[ This might feel a little transactional considering that they are healing them. But hey Shinji might be practical or need some excuse to act like it is. We support a male tsundere here. ]

Good news then: It looks better now. Looked like a feral animal bit you...
fellheart: (coυnт тo тнree)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-24 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, yes, his ever so revealing robes. The scandalous silhouette of a burlap sack that he makes in them. Truly something worth admiring. ]

Oh, so ample time to poison a drink then? Well then, how can I refuse this invitation?

But as for your answer: a simple pourover, two sugars, no milk will do.
fullspbar: (19)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-04-24 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
Don't really care if you can or not.

[ Stomachache waiting to happen, but that's clearly Ahito's business, not his!! ]

As long as you're actually helping, then I don't care what else you do. [ Although, now that he's seeing these stalls up close...hm. He should ask now, while they're here. ] ...Humor me for a second. What kinda food do you eat wherever you're from.
fullspbar: (64)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-04-24 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ That earns some more silence, question settling in the space between them awkwardly. It's not that he doesn't have the answer, but... ]

Because life ain't fair.

[ Straight to the point. Maybe he's speaking from somewhere personal, deep down, eyes focusing so deeply on the red on his hands it almost seems to blur out everything else. He hears a gunshot in his ears, faintly. ]

You can't run from what you gotta do forever. It'll catch up eventually, and by then you'll be too tired to run anymore.
leewards: (008)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-24 01:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, aren't you fortunate that I'm experience and am here to assist? See? [He waves a hand at the scythe-broom.]

You've already made progress.
leewards: (008)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-24 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course. They'll simply feel foolish for trying-- like speaking to a wall, I believe the saying goes.

[Then he shrugs with both arms.]

It's the best way to move about unbothered.
leewards: (008)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-04-24 01:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, if you needn't sleep... Heheh! [It's obvious what he's implying here, though Ithaqua himself will not be doing that.

He would like to sleep sometimes. He needs it after all.]


But I think I would like to learn as much as possible, anyway.
fallingsand: (Default)

[personal profile] fallingsand 2024-04-24 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ running away from captcha over here ]
positivize: (pic#17105365)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-24 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[That doesn’t change what he did, huh… Certainly, she can’t deny that. Actions, however unintentional, still had consequences.]

Running away doesn’t solve as many problems as you’d think… but I’m sure you don’t need to hear that from me.

[…]

What do you plan to do now?