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!
lustro: (022)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, of course, that's fair.

[ Wait, his brain activates. ]

Does that mean you're not human? What are you?
lustro: (119)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, he thinks he hears the difference. ]

Not father, Father. Think of Him more as the planet and we're the little - uh - natural disasters He creates. Sometimes He even gives us names, but He's not really a parent? Right??
lustro: (041)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, so you've been traveling by yourself a lot? If it's decades, you must have been pretty young when you first started. Unless, you... don't age.

[ Which is possible, because Ginger also doesn't age in the human way. ]
lustro: (119)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Ginger. [ No last name!! ]

So you know one name to shout for if you need a guy.

[ He gets up for the second time. This time when he leaves, he won't be coming back, so he lingers a little. ]

Or you can just use, "hey you."
lustro: (018)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-01 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh, not sure that's the case. I think this is still technically sugar, but pillow-shaped.

[ He eyes it... ]

Try it?
fullspbar: (96)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-05-01 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
You say like I know what that is.

[ Besides, y'know. Just his name. He kind of sounds like Mitsuru, speaking highly of her family name. Kirijo name this, responsibilities that, etc.

The scoff Shinji lets out at that is small. ]


Pretty sure there's nowhere to buy that here, so you're gonna have to nix that. But thanks for the thought, anyway.
foresightis2020: (19)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-01 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Later! Ginger's problem indeed...

Well, he has an answer, at least? Let's go from overflow! ]
fullspbar: (6)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-05-02 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ A faint frown tugs at his lips. ]

Amano. Tsukinaga. Kurusu. 'S all I know, for now.

[ No guarantee Ahito will know who these people are, but. Y'know.

He's not sure about Mikaela, honestly- ]


revengier: (44)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-05-02 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ He smiles, just a little. ]

Likewise. It's good to know we're on similar terms.
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] they're transparent)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-05-02 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's not what I was worried about.
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] hope don't dry out)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-05-02 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
The names don't sound too unusual to me, at least.

[The kind of thing you'd hear in his world honestly.]
fullspbar: (100)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-05-02 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ 'Why not' he says...this guy is something else. ]

I know how to make curry. [ He sounds a bit exasperated at that, like Akira has some audacity. He's been making curry longer than you, twinky. He knew all the tips and twinks before you picked up a pot. ] And jam's just as good to mild it out.

[ A small little scoop of miso, and a tentative taste, bracing himself for some weird kind of reaction- hm, yeah. That's not too bad, actually. All things considered, better than the Feels Like Kombu, since it didn't start screaming or taking over his mouth. Acceptable.

The lid is back on when Akira slides that book over to him, and he eyes it as he sets the jar back before picking it up proper. A cursory glance over the ingredients and steps, and he gives a slow nod. ]


Adjusting the stove is a pain, but it's doable. [ Although, with a small frown- ] There's no breadcrumbs here, though. I doubt they sell panko anywhere here, so we'd have t' make our own from scratch.
jorunna: (comet14)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-05-02 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, like the ones in restaurants! Those do feel nice to touch.

[ Ginger inadvertently stops Comet from stealing someone's blanket. They sleep warm tonight. ]

You can practice on the one I gave you.
lustro: (041)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-05-02 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ Missed opportunity tbh. Some people don't deserve them - ]

Oh - I've never been to a restaurant before. Is it that nice?
fullspbar: (118)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-05-02 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's already tired; she's sure got that kind of upbeat attitude that's hard to keep up with, huh. Well, better than being beat down over this or something along the lines.

Off they go! Hands in his pocket and posture as atrocious as ever, but at least his long legs mean his stride can keep up with...however fast she decides to go. He'd be fine going in silence, however awkward, but apparently that's not in the cards. ]


...Good to meet you. [ He's got his manners, at least...sometimes. It doesn't sound as enthusiastic as her, but it's something. ] Shinjiro Aragaki. Just Aragaki's fine.

[ He's not getting a fancy title...'highschool dropout' doesn't ring as well. ]
chronosynthesis: (❖ Tides of Time)

[personal profile] chronosynthesis 2024-05-02 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Syrlya's expression twists wryly.] I'd say having your throat nearly torn out is the very definition of "needs it". Don't put your health second--however our biology has changed, we shouldn't assume we are less mortal.
leewards: (010)

[personal profile] leewards 2024-05-02 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Mmmm. A beast.

[A pause. Perhaps, given one person already knows... there's no harm in just leaning into that.]

The abominable snowman, if you will.
positivize: (pic#17104089)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-05-02 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
[She raises a hand her mouth in mock surprise. Why, how slanderous...!]

Hey, I'd never! Chasing rumors is one thing, but writing about teenage romances is another. Your secrets are safe with me, Akira-kun.

[She'll stay mum about any embarrassing dates, guaranteed.]
serenesinker: we're goin' on a trip to the mountains! exciting, huh? (happy)

[personal profile] serenesinker 2024-05-02 09:19 am (UTC)(link)
Oh naw, I'm just a normal person! I think things would be quite a lot different if I were a primal beast for example, hyuk-hyuk!
lighthaus: (035-a)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-05-02 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll learn.

[ are learning? his smile is smug. and yeah him and mitsuru would vibe. ]

More than a few of you are Japanese, right? I'll ask around, one of them might have found something similar enough.
specialinquisitor: (surprised)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-05-02 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
...Are you feeling all right?

[In the face of such insanity, there is only one possible question.]
specialinquisitor: (sidelong look)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-05-02 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It was, only not in so many words.
specialinquisitor: (not happy)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-05-02 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[This just makes her worry. When, in fact, IS her broom going to pop up? She would have assumed it would show up by now, much as her focus had -- unheralded and unexpected.]

[Ah well. Reaching out, she picks up the overly large marshmallow, then takes a small bite.]


It is definitely as it should be... save for the size and number.
discomposer: (ᴍᴇɪᴋᴏ sʜɪᴏᴍɪ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-05-02 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Without enthusiasm it'll just be boring~! If you're gonna do something, you gotta do it all the way! Oh, but if it's boring I can't get all enthusiastic. ♪

[ Him @ the essay portion of this week. ]
discomposer: (sᴇʀɢᴇɪ ʀᴀᴄʜᴍᴀɴɪɴᴏғғ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-05-02 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm great! It's a nice day!

[ He's just Like This ]