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!
specialinquisitor: (explaining)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
No more fate than a soldier's choice of blade. The one closest to hand that will best serve your purpose.

[Of course she's one of the 'make your own fate' sort, especially after everything she's seen.]
lustro: (029)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-06 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's a good thing Ginger isn't great at math or studying in general, so he doesn't have to count the very many, very many ways he has fucked up.

(Ginger, you idiot, why -)

The strange sage and his child assistance have explained things, but - Ginger has other ideas. What's more probable? Him being whisked to a "different world" - OR this being some human's novel or fanfic or...? It must be the second one, right? He used the cube improperly - (what was he thinking using something so divine when he's not a full-fledged angel) - and it's sucked him into some human's unraveling imagination.

And the entire cast is mismatched. Some are so edgy??? And some look so normal. On the bright side, he doesn't have to explain his mismatched eyes.

But the best way to get out of here... is probably to follow the plot before it loops. Otherwise, he risks making things worse than he already has.

... And let's not talk about his EMOTIONAL DAMAGE. He'll do that later. When he's alone. Crying in the bathroom that he doesn't need to use.

:( ]



i.
[ So does this mean Ginger thinks everyone here is a character? Yes. He'll say hello to everyone anyway - carefully, cautiously. He definitely tries to approach everyone on the same floor at least. Floor 2, let's be friends(?). ]

Hi. Um, do you need any help?

[ What can he do to help? Probably nothing. ]



ii.
[ His blue coat doesn't look bad. It fits? But he was too stressed out to ask the child assistant what the color meant - didn't even think it meant anything, but now he's seeing people walking around with different colored coats. Is this... a H*rry P*tter rip off? A house thing? He might have said something about country? Countries? ]

Did you pick that color or did he just shove it at you?

[ WHAT DOES IT MEAN - ]



iii.
[ He will... do the activities and tasks in order, like a checklist. A checklist to freedom. ]

I just don't think they've established the lore too well here. [ Wait, that's too meta. ] I mean - we don't really know the history of this place yet. What do you think of everything so far?

... I'm not much of a fighter.
meanspirited: (pic#16390280)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-06 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not that simple, because they're as fickle as humans, but overall...

[He regrets being forced into the Exposition Guy role.]

The Northern spirits are drawn to powerful people, the West likes free spirits and thinkers, the Southern spirits prefer gentleness and kindness, and the Eastern spirits somehow like people who are withdrawn and bitter or who believe in authoritarianism. There's some flexibility to it, but those are the broad strokes.
discomposer: (sʜɪɴᴋɪᴄʜɪ ᴍɪᴛsᴜᴍᴜɴᴇ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-06 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Huhhh?? I want a redo! I want orange, not red!

[ They're similar enough it shouldn't matter? And orange isn't even an option... ]
dyingtohealyou: ([Look] this moment in which)

Magic Practice

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Why, is your family magical?

[Looking unimpressed.]
1145pm: (pic#17103094)

sugar

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-06 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ When Tatara comes across Akira and his mounds of sugar on his aimless rounds of the manor, his face lights up. Quite literally, like a kid in a candy store. ]

Whoa, you've made so much!

[ Without waiting or minding personal space, he goes right to the bench and crouches by it, observing the sheen in the light. ]

Now? [ He glances up at Akira, his finger hovering close to the sugar. Now?? Sugar now?? ]
meanspirited: (pic#16390287)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-06 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't get a say in this.

[Orange isn't on the table! Also, he's already orange enougg, isn't he?

He can also wear whatever clothes he wants with his jacket, but he's not going to say that.]
dyingtohealyou: ([Ow] right below my throat)

A BROOM WITH A VIEW 1/2

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ow.

He's rubbing at his head and glaring up at Akira, excuse him but what the fuck.
]

You're awful high up for someone who can't control their broom yet!

[Speaking of which, looking at the "broom"-]
discomposer: (sʜɪɴ-ɪᴄʜɪʀᴏ ɪᴋᴇʙᴇ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-06 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ HE CAN ALWAYS BE MORE ORANGE!!! ]

Stingy!!!!!!!!!
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] Where you are)

2/2

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[...Hoooh, interesting.

Looking a lot less peeved than he did a moment ago, he'll summon his own broom and hop on it, balancing on it like it's a skateboard rather than riding it like a stuffy mage - not that he needs to maneuver much, he just floats it upwards so he's level with Akira, tossing it over to him.
]

Try not to drop it this time.
positivize: (pic#17104135)

tasks!

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-06 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[Funnily enough, she wouldn't really mind writing up a report on any research findings (comes with the journalist territory, really), but since Kurapika's already got a task in mind, she'll lean over and check over that one again before nodding.]

So it'll be like a scavenger hunt. Well, leave it to me! I've gotten pretty good at handling a broom, if I say so myself!

[She seems pretty pumped, surely nothing can go wrong here.]
lustro: (060)

questions!

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-06 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
So...

[ His stress levels, they're rising. But Ginger can play the part of a wizard, probably. ]

Tatara, was it? What makes you a... sage?
mirristry: (3)

Questions

[personal profile] mirristry 2024-04-06 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I... have something of a personal question, if that's all right.

[And he looks a bit unsure about asking it, his arms wrapped around himself.]

... my mirrite. Marcus. If the two of us are too far apart, he'll disappear and return to my heart, but I don't feel him there. [...] Is he all right? Nothing has happened to him, has it?

[Please he just needs to know that his husband mirrite is okay.]
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-06 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
arrival
[Well. This is all very new. Better than his current situation back home, anyway, so Malice will take it without complaint, but saving the world? With magic? He's a vampire, he can't use magic. They have definitely got the wrong guy for this. They could've just grabbed Marie and she probably would've helped (while complaining the whole time)... but instead they've got him, and it seems there's no way home right now, so he might as well play along.

So, first things first! Might as well get to know everyone else here, right? After all the explanations are in order and everyone's left to sort themselves out, Malice approaches you and raises a hand in greeting. He's only got his left one right now - his right arm is missing from just above his elbow, with an odd port capping it off. It looks like something is supposed to attach to that port, but he doesn't have whatever it is right now.]


Seems like we're gonna be stuck here for awhile, huh? Name's Malice, nice to meetcha.

[He speaks with a thick Southern US accent and sounds remarkably chill with the situation despite. You know. Everything.]


magic practice
[After confirming that he is indeed a wizard, Malice is eager to actually use some magic. This isn't possible for him where he's from, so he's very eager to learn... but unfortunately, he's starting from zero and has no idea how to actually do... anything. This might be a bit easier if he were the sort to want to do research - maybe he could find some books to help or something - but instead he's the sort to learn through practice, so he's doing just that.

Malice has moved out of the courtyard proper because he is a vampire and doesn't like sunlight. Thankfully he didn't burst into flame the moment he stepped outside, but it does greatly weaken him and he sort of needs some sort of power to use magic, right? Right. So you can find him in one of the larger rooms inside, holding his hand out in front of him and focusing like this will do something...]


This sucks. I was kinda hopin' magic would be easier to learn... Should I start with the focus? Or the words...?

[He's talking to himself, but he'll turn the moment he notices your presence.]

Oh, hey. You managed anythin' yet?


activities
[Malice doesn't have much of an interest in most of the jobs, but Tatara's offered something Malice is interested in - shopping! Obviously he has no need to get any actual food, which means his money can go towards Stuff. Malice really, really likes Stuff.

So it seems like you're his unfortunate victim today, given he is now suddenly in your space, and gesturing toward the door.]


C'mon, come with me to go shoppin'! I wanna see what kinda stuff they've got; a world like this has gotta have some interestin' things for sale, don'tcha think?

[If you do not stop him, he will indeed usher you out the door and off in the direction of the capital to go shopping!!]


no nice things for malice
[If you're wandering around near the rooms late at night, you might hear some kind of commotion coming from room six on the first floor. If you approach, you'll find the door is open and Malice is struggling with... is that a metal arm with gigantic claws?? Yeah. He's got it attached to the port just above his elbow, so it's clearly supposed to function as an arm but...]

It doesn't work!? The hell, this is a brand-new soulstone! It was workin' before I showed up here!

[Indeed, the arm is just sort of limp and his attempts to move it prove fruitless. Malice groans and unhooks the arm, tossing it back on the table.]
impacter: (020)

Dining hall

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-06 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[He'd remained quiet during the morning, a momentary solemn break in his stature with eyes that stayed trained on their new hosts' every word. But the smile settled in, just as it always did, comfortable and constant.

He's slipped in from the gardens, hands in the pockets of his jacket as he peeks his way into the kitchen, watching Tatara mill about like a lazy cat watching its owner.]


Our dear sage is certainly the optimistic type. One might think you're used to this.
lustro: (026)

[personal profile] lustro 2024-04-06 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
... Apparently? How sure are you about any of this?

[ He'll take the coat though... ]
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] Then that must be)

Re: crests

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
...

Nothing comes without a price. Seems irresponsible not to mention that to all these people who haven't used magic before in their lives.
troublereduction: (day16)

2.C

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-06 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh? Racing right off the bat? He doesn't disagree that having fun would make it more interesting, though. ]

You already sound pretty confident 'bout riding one.
jokey: (EpmTv6N)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-06 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mmmmyessssss, praise him more. Akira smirks, making space on the bench and patting the newly vacated spot beside him. Take a load off, boss... or just. Crouch there if you insist. Makes no difference to Akira!]

No time like the present. Promise you won't punish me if it doesn't taste quite right.
annihilator: (➤ 11)

dining hall

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-06 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Here's another vampire who doesn't want to be out in the sun and will in fact be seeking Tatara out in the evening! Malice has no interest in the snacks (for obvious reasons) and instead holds up a hand in greeting.]

Hey, so. Gotta couple'a questions for ya. First things first, I can't use magic where I'm from. Vampires can't do it at all. So I'm not sure how much use I'm gonna be here.

[...that wasn't a question??]
dyingtohealyou: ([Sweat] that I don't forget)

Re: Magic class

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm saying it shouldn't take all morning because it's basic magic and I don't see why we were woken up so damn early.
dyingtohealyou: ([Think] if I can't see any love songs)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
There aren't too many of them, are there?

Which ones are you considering?
jokey: (Ggj5XFL)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-06 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Woah, look at this guy. He can actually control his broom, unlike Akira, who has thus far only managed to master the art of dropping it on people's heads. As his mysterious new friend approaches, Akira whistles.]

Slick moves. Thanks.

[Akira catches his broom in one hand, looking it over.]

I figured I'd make like a baby bird and jump right off the roof... but I probably would've crushed you.

[And gotten severely injured??? But that's not the important part.]
dyingtohealyou: ([Smile] comes like this...)

Re: magic class

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[Noticing that and actually shifting to loom over Wanderer, in as much as one can when his hat creates a natural barrier around him.]

Sure. If it's emotions-based, that makes it even simpler.
annihilator: (➤ 12)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-06 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
...'kay, sure.

[He can roll with that, why not. Malice takes one of the jackets with the purple emblem, completely satisfied with this color choice. But...]

So what are these countries? Why've they set claims on us? How'd they even know we arrived here?

[He doesn't sound judgmental or anything, he's genuinely just curious.]