lunaecalamitas | if you say it's magic, then you're my wizard

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!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[tbh he already looks a little dead...? Akira wants to know your story, Ginger, and by god he'll get it out of you.

But first things first. Lessons in badass. You are a badass, aren't you, Ginger...?]

I need to be badass like I need air to breathe. It's one of those key traits, you know? Being smart, being kind, being badass. It's pretty basic.

[ The math isn't mathing. ]

Isn't it more like you just need to be yourself? I hate to tell you, but looking at you doesn't scream badass, so... [ Failed step one?? ] You do look smart and kind, though. Two out of three isn't bad.

[Oh... He should've realized this sooner, but clearly Ginger is blind. He doesn't look badass? Terrible. Time to invent vision correcting magic for this poor soul.]

So I should try something like "friendship is magic!" then? That's so lame.

[ His face says he agrees. Cringe. ]

It is, but why is that bad when you said you're kind... "Steal your heart" isn't kind or smart or badass either.

If you don't see the appeal, I can't help you there. Maybe you need a level in badass yourself.

[Speaking of! It's time to turn this conversation into one about Ginger!!]

Let me guess: your incantation's pretty lame if you've come up with one at all. Why don't I help you out?

I'll pass on leveling.

[ Who cares about being badass when you're already a demon!! ]

Isn't one heart hard enough to deal with? [ His heart wants for so much, and he barely understands it. What's the point of having more? And yet - ]

But I'll take you up on the incantation thing.

So lame.

[He won't even level grind with him!! Super super lame, Ginger.]

If one heart's too much for you, I'll take it off your hands. Sound like a deal? That's where your incantation should start from: the heart.

There might not be much left of it.

[ It would be a bad trade. ]

And shouldn’t I know your name before you go asking for my heart?

That's fine. Nothing's unsalvageable, you know.

[Don't tell him that. You'll make him want to Try and Help.]

I'd love to know, but you're not a very forthcoming guy. Should I try guessing your name instead?

Unsalvageable isn’t the same as okay. It… doesn’t always mean forgiveness, does it?

[ He shakes his head. Maybe in his weaker moments he’ll ask. ]

Did I forget to say - my name’s Ginger.

You know what? It's okay to not be okay, Ginger. I've forgiven people for some pretty bad things, so I can't be the only one.

[pancake-kun.....................]

Pretty name, by the way. Unique, kinda like you.

[ Rum has forgiven him from being stupid before, but Ginger had never seen that look on his face. Like Ginger had not only betrayed him, but hurt him. If he isn’t forgiven, it’s deserved. ]

See, so kind.

[ Pretty? Unique? ]

What’s so - ah, my eye.

[His eye? Yeah, that stands out, but Akira's not focusing on appearances here. Akira points a finger at Ginger's precious wounded heart.]

Unique in here. Would you believe me if I told you I've got a knack for attracting interesting people?

And... yeah. The eye's different, but I'm not asking if you're not telling.

Why wouldn’t I believe it? I think some people just have that draw.

[ A well-written character, a charismatic person - not much difference between the two. It’s how the words go together on a page, like the sound passing through lips that curl in a particular way. Bright eyes under wisps of black hair.

And here he stands, stale. A little wrong. ]

I’d believe it. Is that why you want to steal hearts? You like the unique ones?

[So many questions linger on Akira's mind, but... now, when they've only just met, might not be the time to ask them. Ginger is the yarn Akira wants to unravel, both because it's simply in his nature to help others and because he's the cat that wants into the forbidden locked room.

Slowly. He'll work at Ginger slowly, and maybe if he's lucky, he'll open up. Akira listens with hands on his hips, nothing like judgment on his face, though his brows pinch at the question.]

The bad ones. The ones that are rotten from the inside out. That's why I said no one's unsalvageable— the parts of themselves that are holding them back just need to be carved out and stolen away.

[ A sharp, ruthless kindness. Ah. ]

… And how rotten are we talking about here?

[Akira shakes his head— the answer's just that simple.]

There's no such thing as too rotten. Anyone can be fixed... or cured, if you prefer, whether they want to be or not.

I’m sure I have a bad one.

Do you want me to fix you?

[ What if someone else could solve his problems? ]

…No. [ A half-smile that’s resigned. ] My problems - my heart, all of that is my responsibility I think.

I wouldn’t want you to be too busy fixing… me and all the other hearts to look after your own.

[It's quiet, Akira's little sigh of relief, but he is relieved to hear Ginger's answer. He can think badly about himself all he wants, but Akira knows a good person when he sees one.]

Good. I can't fix something that isn't broken anyway.

[And maybe Ginger feels that he is broken beyond repair, but Akira sees things differently. He sees someone hurt, someone for whom life surely hasn't been fair... but he doesn't see a problem that needs fixing.]

But if you lose your way, you can count on me to set you straight. You have my word.

[And as with all the best promises, they're sealed with fistbumps. Bump on it, Ginger!]

[ Oh - that he knows how to do, knuckles brushing against Akira’s. They have, after all, watched as humanity grew and grew with them. That means picking up on all the new gestures. If a demon can’t seal a contract with a handshake because it’s too lame, a fistbump will have to do.

This isn’t a contract. It’s a promise between… well, he isn’t sure yet. He supposes he’ll find out or Akira will tell him. He seems like he would. ]

Just don’t make it hurt? I only have so much pride left. If you make me cry, how embarrassing would that be?

[Friends. They're friends now, Ginger, and you're free to call on him like you would any other friend... and if Akira's his first friend? There's a dirty joke just waiting to be made. Don't worry— Akira will make it.]

Oh, it won't hurt... much.

[Akira snickers.]

And if you cry, I'll be right there to wipe away your tears. Promise.

[Let him play the role of the puckish rogue with a heart of gold. It's what Akira aspires to.]

[ Akira will be his second Official friend. Maybe one day Ginger will realize. ]

Should I promise the same?

[ Honestly, it’s not a matter of if? It’s a matter of when. ]

Though… I feel like if something makes you cry, I’ll already be crying with you. So maybe I’ll promise that instead.

Just to be fair.

[And if he doesn't come to this realization on his own, it won't be long before Akira makes sure he knows it.]

If you're the type of guy who keeps your promises, sure.

[But he won't take a promise from someone who can't honor them, so he's leaving the decision in Ginger's hands. If he can't, that's fine too. Akira won't judge someone for knowing their own limits.]

But if that's the promise you're making, I'll hold you to it. I don't cry easy, so I'll be relying on you when I need a friend.

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