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!
impacter: (066)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Probably for the better - it's the middle of the night and a nametag would be hard to appreciate with only candlelight.

He'll casually step from the lines of the circle, extending his hand.]


Solomon.

I take it from your robes that we share an assignment.
Edited 2024-04-08 01:08 (UTC)
fellheart: (gιve мe yoυr claw)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-08 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
If I ever do, then they might have had to travel a long ways indeed, considering we've been told that this is a world entirely different from any of ours.

[ if one doesn't disbelieve their hosts, in any case, but for the time being it isn't as if playing skeptic actually nets them anything of use. ]
revengier: (78)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
It did hurt, but... I think I'll be fine. I've had worse injuries.

[ Very normal. Besides, he thinks a broken hip would be worse than a broken hand.

His eyes travel back to the rat. ]


Is that your pet?
revengier: (60)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ He wonders how much heavy lifting Leo can actually do, but he'll worry about that later. ]

You also have better control of your broom too, so you can fly us both there and back.

[ The last thing Kurapika wants is to lose control when he has a bunch of stuff. ]
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] Then that must be)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-08 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
I can figure that out later, can't I? All we were assigned to do was figure out our focus and our incantation, and summon a broom.

Both of which I've done.
fellheart: (doυвтғυl oғ тнιѕ world)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-08 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...

huh. so it really is that contrived. ]


A piece of paper ... seems, perhaps, somewhat fragile?

[ easy to misplace? flammable? what happens if it's raining outside and it gets soaked through. or is it just the contents that are important? ]
dadsandals: (yama42)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, you're right about that.

[ He's not super on board with being excited about it like Malice is, but he doesn't voice that and decides to look at Malice's nametag instead. ]

Look at that. I think it suits you very well. I'm sure you'll wear it proudly.
meanspirited: (pic#16390282)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-08 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
There isn't a guarantee. You could disappear, die, suffer in countless ways... Nobody said this was going to be an easy job.
meanspirited: (pic#16390279)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-08 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[help,]

...A live?
fellheart: (gιve мe yoυr naмe)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-08 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's a book! and it reads... mostly like the diary of a man who misses his home. :');; making the best of the situation he's in, so parts of it cover the previous wizards that presumably that man was playing sage for, and some of it is just... diary entries. not even that old-fashioned either, per word of mod.

(the handwriting matches the labels on some of the ingredients in the kitchen, though.) ]


I see. I take it that it's a completely separate language from the ones these other journals are written in, then? [ a gestured wave at some of the rest of his spread. ]
impacter: (Default)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe it doesn't. It's not my place to speak for you. It's just good to know about you.

[Especially given that this man - boy???? - doesn't have an identity, much less a home.

He pauses for a moment.]


Dror, then. Do you object?
meanspirited: (Default)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-08 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Do you have no experience with magic before now?

[Are we starting from scratch, here...]
meanspirited: (Default)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-08 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Every world functions differently, so it's likely you won't be able to do exactly the same thing regardless. The rules have changed.
meanspirited: (Default)

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-08 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
I'm your mentor, not his assistant.

[Tatara can't tell him what to do!]

I don't have a name. I was never given one, and I don't need one, so call me whatever you want. Tatara's been calling me "Lazuli", if you're not feeling creative.
impacter: (056)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, plenty of people have had dramatic reactions to what I have to create! It always surprises me, but it's good to know what I make is so well-received.

[The shards of Whatever The Fuck That Is properly collected and the poor pan more than likely experiencing some trauma of war, Solomon happily partakes of his own horrific creation, plucking up one of the smoking, obsidian-like pieces and popping it into his mouth.

He giggles lightly to himself before holding out the jar to Leo. It's still smoking, even in the jar..............]


Go ahead!
dadsandals: (yama16)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ H....hi....

At least Leo has a very charming voice! It's cute!! It's very good.

Yamato starts clapping to the beat. Go, Leo, go!
]
dadsandals: (yama12)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
Aha, yeah. I'll get that sorted...or he'll just have to wait until it's safe to wake up again.

[ Which. Might not be for a while, given the lack of electricity, but! ]

Maybe there's some kind of magic that'll power it up?
dadsandals: (yama24)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Nikaido Yamato. Just Yamato's fine, though. Nice to meet you.

[ Hello, Syrlya. He'll walk out of the courtyard and start surveying. In the meantime, though, since this might take a while: ]

Everyone seems like they've got something interesting going on. What's it like where you're from?
dadsandals: (yama19)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, basketball. See, I think that could entice more people.

[ Hm. He's tempted to refuse, but like...it was his suggestion, and he really should try to gather his bearings at some point.

He shrugs nonchalantly.
]

Why not. Lead the way, Sage.
themanwhoerasedhisname: (1)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-08 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
You could try to make something new here, by hand. Try to make it meaningful for you.

[Worth a try?]
dadsandals: (yama27)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Eh, why not give it a try? Maybe it's the only thing that'll work.

[ Does Mikaela have a crush.......oh, what it's like to be young!!! ]
Edited 2024-04-08 01:48 (UTC)
themanwhoerasedhisname: 9 (9)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-08 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Kiryu can see the brand they all presumably got]

It's some sort of marking. How to describe it...

[Hmmmmm...

He begins trying to make an outline with a finger in the air. It's not great because seriously, have you ever tried to demonstrate something like this? It just never works]
divineth: (🌒 75)

[personal profile] divineth 2024-04-08 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[This height difference...truly amazing.]

Rather than increasing the volume of thy words, I would suggest changing thy manner of thinking in order to resonate with the spirits of this realm. Make thy conviction known and they shall hopefully listen.
dadsandals: (yama12)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-08 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, that? Nah, he's not my familiar. Just my roomba.

[ Does Cid even know what that is...probably not, from the sounds of it. ]

You put it on your floor and it moves around while it cleans for you. It's really convenient.

[ The roomba's escapade was very slow and steady. It's seen everything it needs to in the manor and now it's time to rest. ]

Ah, as for the stairs, it probably started moving very clumsily...anyway, let's check the kitchen area for some ice, yeah? I hope you didn't get hurt too badly?
impacter: (079)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Mm? What is there to complain about? Do you think I'd just release something onto the house?

[Really!! Still, he doesn't sound offended in the slightest - if anything, one might think he's joking around.]

I think "wrong" isn't the correct word. But they're definitely very finicky. Smudging one phrase or line might not prevent something from happening, but it can change the intention.

Or so I've heard, anyway.