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!
discomposer: (ɴᴏʙᴜᴏ ᴜᴇᴍᴀᴛsᴜ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-10 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ? ]

So cars are pretty important?
specialinquisitor: (surprised)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-10 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[One eyebrow goes up. It might be difficult to tell, thanks to her hat's brim, but her voice makes it clear.]

I beg your pardon?
discomposer: (sᴀᴛᴏʀᴜ ᴋᴜᴡᴀʙᴀʀᴀ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-10 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
You said you're a driver?
specialinquisitor: (not happy)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-10 06:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I am a Driver. Although here that is worth little, since I haven't seen so much as a common Blade's core crystal.

[Perhaps they have a central authority that controls their registrations, as Indol did in Alrest. Or perhaps wizards aren't suited to also be Drivers, and thus none are attending here.]
jorunna: (comet11)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-10 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's a cute joke! ]

The visit before here would be my first.

[ They sound happy about that, actually. ]
impacter: (017)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-10 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
No one at all? Well, I'm glad we get to change that. I'll have to think of what fits you... I'm too used to drawing a lamb.

[His voice tinges with nostalgia as he finds a cutting board and starts to dissect their strange collection of produce, tasting as he goes and taking great curiosity in the cross sections.

Maybe!tomato is brought up and he nods immediately.]


Close enough! You can't have a decent omurice without it. We'll try to make it work to our advantage.

Though I can't say I saw rice when I looked... maybe there's a substitute for that as well. We can get creative between the two of us.
Edited 2024-04-10 18:57 (UTC)
revengier: (60)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-10 06:58 pm (UTC)(link)
So they let you slack off.
discomposer: (ᴍɪᴄʜɪʀᴜ ʏᴀᴍᴀɴᴇ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-10 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Whahaha, not in the stuff that mattered~! Every student was required to be part of a unit, and those units had a level of activity and profit they needed to clear.
revengier: (99)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-10 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No, that's cute... to me. Amb.

Kurapika, however, shakes his head. He appreciates the enthusiasm enough that he feels like he needs to correct Tatara. As nice as it'd be to seem noble, he can't be dishonest. ]


Don't get me wrong. It's not noble. I'm guarding her as part of the mafia.

[ So. Yeah! ]
shadowkin: (022)

[personal profile] shadowkin 2024-04-10 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Everyone could always use a fancy hat or a hood or even just a hair ornament.

Also Cid cannot talk because his everyday wear is literally more colorful than his special occasions wear. The hazards of coming from weird steampunk fantasyland.... everything is brown and gold...]

It's Cid Kagenou, but you can also just call me Rando Student A or just A. Both work.

[Why is he like this............ he's serious though!! Please look at how serious he is about his Very Unimportant Title. SMH. He'll take those grapes, though, contemplating them for a moment.]

Speaking of snacks, though, I always thought getting summoned on one of these big otherworldly trips would come with cooler food... or different architecture. But it's not that far off.
troublereduction: (pic#17020440)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-04-10 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh. But from what Shortstuff said, I don't think a focus has to be something you have with you right now.

[ He's seen Malice try at this point, and he almost called something to him. ]
shortleash: (pic#17103472)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-10 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
( This guy just doesn't let up... Have your incorrect opinions about humanity, but at least accept that vampires are monsters?? smh )

You can't just count things as alive just because you can communicate with them. Would you consider a ghost alive?

( smh!!! )

What's the deal with those vampires you know, anyway? Do you have a vampire problem where you come from, too?
jorunna: (comet06)

[personal profile] jorunna 2024-04-10 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's fine! Comet meticulously fills in the sea star with that orange glitter. ]

How does that look?

[ ...Like Leo were he reincarnated into a sea critter. Those arms can hold 5 markers at once! ]
discomposer: (ᴊᴇᴀɴ sɪʙᴇʟɪᴜs)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-10 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh? Yeah, it'd be alive if I could talk to it!

[ Who cares that ghosts are by definition alive! Anyway...vampire problem, huh?

Leo considers the Sakumas. ]


Mm, I feel like those two mostly cause problems for one another, if anything...? I wouldn't call them a problem myself, but I've never really fought with either of them? Rittsu and I have been on opposite teams sometimes but he's never been that mad about it, and Rei and I usually get along fine, too.
fellheart: (gιve мe yoυr lυng)

[personal profile] fellheart 2024-04-10 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I meant in general. I am not one to attach much sentimental value to material items. Whether something present, or back where we came, or something we end up creating here...

[ a shrug. ]

Well, I'm no ascetic, but still, it's difficult for me to imagine any one trinket as being that much more meaningful than the next. I suppose I'll have to get used to the idea, though, if that's how things are supposed to work here.
shortleash: (pic#17103463)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-10 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
( "ghosts are alive" nvm what he thought before leo is an idiot— )

... It's not like I've met vampires who wouldn't turn on each other at the drop of a hat, either, so that sounds about right.

( His arms undone, he lays a hand to rest idly on the hilt of his sword the way someone might passively let it rest on their hip. )

But I wouldn't trust them, if I were you. I've never heard of humans and vampires actually being friends before. Maybe you're dumb enough to be fine with them, but humans on the whole don't like vampires, and vampires on the whole see humans as food— you know that, right?
discomposer: (ᴄᴇᴄɪʟɪᴀ ᴍᴀʀɪᴀ ʙᴀʀᴛʜᴇ́ʟᴇᴍᴏɴ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-10 08:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Wahahaha, sorry, but you're wrong about those two! Well, if Rittsu wanted to bite me I wouldn't really care.

[ Rei gets sick about blood so he wouldn't want to, Leo figures. ]

Besides, you don't seem to feel like I'm a snack, unless you're the kind of guy who needs to be super scolded for playing with your food. So aren't you another exception to your own rule, here?
1145pm: (hehe im jk)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-10 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara was going to say something about that, that maybe that's the silver lining in all of this (that nothing is running at them with intent to kill is a blessing), but he is wholly distracted by the second part. He beams and leans forward over the table, cupping his chin in his hands. ]

Really?! That makes us neighbors!

[ He holds out a hand. That's how you do it, right? ]

I'm in the second room! I hope that means we'll be seeing a lot of each other!
1145pm: (pic#17103103)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-10 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Cid, then. [ If he has a name, he wants to use the name! He's not super big on nicknames...usually. But don't worry—he'll always be Rando Student A in his heart...

Anyway, Tatara nods slightly as he speaks, and his eyes wander to look at the other food laid out across the kitchen. He's paying attention, but also thinking. ]


It's weird, isn't it? The sky's still blue, the grass is still green, and the architecture looks... [ His eyes snap back to Cid. ] Wait, do you know what Europe is?
jokey: (1591591 (20))

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-10 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Akira can all but see Kurapika's hairs stand on end when the merchant claims he has no way to compensate them, but Akira's proud of him for not resorting to violence or, at the very least, a strongly-worded callout. Good man, Pika.]

Then they're a lot less cowardly than the people in power in my world... not that that's much better. Either way, I agree with you. Ending a life should be a last resort.

[...But while they're here looking at food, Akira gets an idea.]

You hungry? I feel like I owe you a favor.
1145pm: (pic#16970047)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-10 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. [ An impressed smile crosses Tatara's face as that all settles in. ] That's exactly it.

[ Well, from what he's heard in these past few weeks. He's no expert, but from what he's gleaned in the short time he's been here? Yeah. Yeah.

But something else impresses him more—he tilts his head, smile beaming. ]


It almost sounds like you've experienced all that yourself.

[ Robin looks somewhat normal, but...? ]
revengier: (104)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-10 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He's glad that they're on the same page here, but that question distracts him enough that he doesn't ask more about the people in Akira's world. That can be an inquiry for another time. ]

Why would you owe me one? You're the one that brought us here.

[ Not that he minds, but... he didn't do anything. ]
shortleash: (pic#17072504)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-10 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
( "I wouldn't really care" he's going to shake!! these humans!!! have some self-preservation!! SIGH

Still, he doesn't answer immediately— his brow furrows, lips pursing brief for a moment. )


... I'm not an exception.

( He's not happy about admitting it, but in admitting it, it's almost a gesture of self-flagellation. )

You don't know what it's like to hear so acutely the way blood rushes just beneath the skin— so close to the surface. You don't get what it's like to want it so badly. I'm just holding myself back. That's why I'm telling you to be careful of vampires.
1145pm: (pic#17103095)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-10 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Foam art? [ Well, then his coffee is done! Tatara hands Leo his cup, and he quirks his head to the side. ] Like, latte art?

[ after some furious googling i have learned that 3d foam art started a year after his canon point SO— ]
jokey: (xPOD3rA)

[personal profile] jokey 2024-04-10 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well well well, allow him to teach you, pretty lady. Akira sidles over to Maya's side and presses one of the scant few buttons on the side of the phone, turning on the screen.]

It's simpler than it looks. You see all those squares? Those are apps.

[And, just for funsies, he opens up the camera app and switches on the front-facing camera. A pair of cat ears hovers over both their heads.]

Our cameras have gotten way fancier too. Say "nya~"