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!
shadowkin: (Default)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-08 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
Ehhhh... About as much willpower as I'm usually putting into spells? I wouldn't call me an A-student, but usually I can get something workable.

[There's a bit of a pout as he contemplates the result -- as though it's not really what he'd been hoping for (well, he sort-of-mostly did it on purpose, but it's true that his magic control here is lacking, so who knows what'll come out next at this rate...?). A snap of his fingers and the tiny broom gets de-summoned.

If there's one thing you can say for toy brooms it's that you can sweep them away quickly--

He seems deep in thought or concentration for a moment.]

Maybe the spirits are really picky about willpower here?? Doesn't it feel like asking a parent for an allowance...
impacter: (003)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
Ahh, you mean our little sparrow?

I'm sure he'll work past the disappointment. He was the one to encourage us to research on our own and practice, after all.

[His final phrase completed, he moves to add one remaining symbol with a very steady hand.]

I won't tell if you won't~
shortleash: (pic#17103544)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-08 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
No, I'm saying you could kill him. Not that I care.

( And he doesn't! Sorta? It'd probably be bad if the guy in the sage role dies? But, then again, maybe could they just get another one? It doesn't seem like this one knows that much, so maybe it wouldn't be a huge loss... )

... Shorter? By a syllable? Does it really make that much of a difference?
fullspbar: (49)

[personal profile] fullspbar 2024-04-08 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ Bruh. ]

You...Let me make one thing clear right now. You cook in the kitchen, not experiment, got it?

[ The vent is adjusted so the fire keeps going at the lower temperature before it goes out completely, and then Shinjiro's at the sink, turning it on to start filling the pan. There's the beginning of a headache starting to throb at the back of his skull, but he's not sure if it's from this guy alone or the smoke inhalation. ]

You say that like makin' assumptions is hard when there was so much smoke in here you could barely see the damn ceiling. [ A grimace. ] And I've got a lot of questions if you can look at this and even want to eat it.
divineth: (🌒 40)

[personal profile] divineth 2024-04-08 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Urianger slips on his red-trimmed jacket with little protest. It's loose and flowy, complementing his robes.

So the spirits of this country laid claim to him, huh...?]


Which country might this garment belong to?

[He has a million other questions but that's a good start as any.]
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-08 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
Can I ask who told you that?

[ Who appointed this blue shrimp second boss??? ]
annihilator: (➤ 92)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-08 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yeah, good point. I'm sure we'll figure somethin' out, though.

[Can you like. Use magic to regenerate lost blood, asking for a friend—]

Yeah? 'Course it does. Shorter an' snappier are always easier to remember!

[malice is a simple man.]
shortleash: (pic#17103472)

/2

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-08 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
( ok, first of all, Maybe So, second of all, Shut Up!!!!

Mika seems to stew in this for a moment... )


... I mean... I guess...

( Suddenly he's kind of flustered. Emotions are stored in the gay, as it turns out. But he seems to be bracing himself to give it a shot (despite saying this guy's name a million times a volume), )
shortleash: (pic#17103495)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-08 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
( Said with authority and command, like he does when activating his sword, except it's: )

Yuu-chan!

( He'd cupped his hands before him, not really sure what kind of "magic" to manifest, but deciding to go with something he had an easy visual for: a rose. Not a gay one. ok. It just seems easy.

The rose manifests heterosexually, the stem sprouting leaves and a bud which blooms... And for a moment, it's rather pretty, and seems almost like to persist; then: )


—Fuck, ow—

( The stem coils out of shape in sharp unnatural angles as the petals fall off, and the thorns grow startlingly long and sharp, drawing unwelcome pricks of blood from Mika's palm. It dissipates into a black sort of ash in the brief moments after. )
jokey: (5 - s9VoI1X)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-08 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Akira hears "didn't finish school" and mentally slots Kiryu into the "can't study for shit" category. That's going to complicate their mission a bit, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. He's sure he can put Kiryu to good use.

Akira hums, thinking out their plan of attack in his head.]


How good are you at gathering intel? I could be wrong, but you don't seem like the shy type. If you'll talk to the locals in each district, I'll handle the essay writing.
shadowkin: (Default)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-08 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
Well, you do have a pretty decent outfit on?

[Like, it's a bit over-the-top but the traditional Japanese aesthetic with fantasy add-ons is kind of great. Sometimes spending all his time in fantasyland Europe (with occasional convenient East Asian trappings here and there but like, very few) kind of makes him miss the good ol' days.

Well, Midgar is pretty metropolitan, anyway. It's nice to see familiar influences right off the bat here; besides, it would totally explain why this guy's got the scary vibe going on if he's a tailor-type? Have you seen aristocratic tailors, those guys are terrifying. Still, though...]

I dunno, though, I don't think I'm cut out for stuff if magic really needs to have hands-on non-magic knowledge... Can't say I'm the top of my class at school or anything. And like, if I have to worry about different countries too, I feel like that's a bit much?
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] I'm a transparent person)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-08 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Dusting himself off briefly before turning and stalking away.

Fuck this place.
]
jokey: (7 - dOT2YlS)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-08 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh Leo, so easily motivated... Akira laughs and leans over to pat him on the head.]

Of course. I'm a man of my word. There's just [lifts a finger] one problem with that. No electricity means no coffee maker, so you'll have to be patient while I grind up the beans and find a way to steep it. Can you be a good boy and wait a bit?
revengier: (75)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
I think it's possible. It would be worth looking into, I think.

[ He could probably transfer some sort of charging ability into other things. ]
jokey: (xPOD3rA)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-08 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
Alright, but I'm not doing it a third time.

[With a flourish and a dramatic wave of his hands, Akira conjures up a nice mound of bright red sugar... directly onto Yamato's lap. Oh. Ah. Oops?]

...I'm still getting my aim down.
revengier: (20)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Making something new, huh?

[ He gives that some thought, lifting a hand to his chin. ]

I don't know what I would make, though.
revengier: (53)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
Sounds like a real loss of utility to me. But I suppose it wouldn't matter much to them, not if they care more about creating spells than actually casting them in combat.
impacter: (117)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-08 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh my heavens this fellow is so tall...

Leaned back in a chair in rather unbroken silence, Solomon takes a moment to acknowledge, blinking up from the book he's buried in. Taking in the stature, the mark on his face, the ears... definitely not human. Fae, perhaps? He's never seen fae with this sort of height, though... No visible wings, and an outdated dialect...

His eyes sparkle with curiosity even as his voice stays light.]


Mm? Ah, I can't complain just yet. It's not exactly academic by any means... but I will say I'm surprised at just how many languages are present. It paints an interesting picture of this situation we've found ourselves in.

[He chuckles as he closes the text, settling it against his lap.]

You always seem to be in here when I'm poking around for more material. Do I need to be worried about stumbling across you asleep between the bookcases one of these days?
revengier: (104)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. Starting from square one is a lot if you don't have someone guiding you directly through it.

[ And while they've had it explained to them, it's been a very self-taught sort of process. ]

Do you have an incantation yet? Or a focus? We can start with that.
troublereduction: (day51)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-08 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ Day will still take it anyway. Beggars don't get to be choosers. He takes a seat on the bench, then gestures to the empty spot next to him. ]

You look like you oughta take a sit, too.
jokey: (pic#14295545)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-08 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh? Akira expected Kurapika would sit in the cart and keep some distance between them, but obviously this is fine. With a smirk, he looks back over his shoulder and throws Kurapika a saucy wink.]

Hang on tight, babe.

[NYOOM NYOOM GOES THE BROOM]
revengier: (29)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't know. I never asked mine for allowance.

[ SORRY.....

But jokes(?) aside, he hums in contemplation. ]


Think about what is driving you to summon it at all. Do you have a strong desire to use it?
dyingtohealyou: ([Look] long night with)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-08 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Do human medicines work for you?

[He has no idea where particular shops are so might as well just explore and see what happens.]
shadowkin: (010)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-08 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Can't say I do... The notice just said it's supposed to happen with wizard magic. So I guess it's more like a byproduct? Like...

[... like wizard poop??? Okay, maybe you shouldn't compare food products to waste byproducts. He's thinking it, though. Still, if your magic produces sugar, and you eat the sugar, then what comes out...?!?

........... he stops thinking about it for now.]

--Uh. Maybe if we can find other wizards, we can ask for their... sugar. They can be our sugar wizzies.

[That actually seems easier than asking the spirits right now. Sometimes you have to turn to the grace of the community.]
revengier: (100)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-08 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ He considers letting go of Akira's shoulders just for that remark, but that would send him hurtling off the broom the moment he takes off, so he heaves out a sigh instead. ]

I am not your babe.