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!
1145pm: (pic#16970045)

tatara | sage

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-04 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ After his brief shpeal and dismissing his new wizards, Tatara will hang around in the courtyard for a little bit to answer any other questions anyone may have, or just to chat. He sits at the edge of the fountain, chin cupped in his hands, watching the new arrivals with sharp, curious eyes.

Once evening hits and into the night, Tatara will mostly be hanging around in the dining hall, serving what snacks he can whip up or what he finds in the kitchen. He's here to chat, listen to venting, anything. Despite the chaos and general confusion of the whole situation, he seems oddly composed, a little smile crossing his face whenever he manages to catch someone's eye. ]
meanspirited: (Default)

the wanderer | mentor

[personal profile] meanspirited 2024-04-04 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't seem like he wants to be here after Tatara does his whole little speech, vanishing after its done. Any attempts to find him will inevitably end in failure, but then the next day arrives and he gathers everyone for training.

After giving his explanation on magic, he claps his hand and a wooden trunk appears next to him.]


The spirits of this world have affiliations with the countries that make up this place, and they've set their claims on you.

[He kicks the trunk, the top popping open to reveal a selection of black coats with colorful accents and detailed, embroidered emblems.]

Which means you've been chosen to represent these countries, and it's apparently tradition to have matching training uniforms.

[And everyone will be handed a coat perfectly tailored to them, with a color that matches their country assignments - brown for Central, purple for North, Blue for East, Red for West, and green for South. Not... that he explains this upfront, but if questioned, he'll answer.

He'll stay in the courtyard for most of the day, if people have more questions about magic, but he'll dismiss any questions about himself or Tatara.]
dyingtohealyou: ([Ow] whole self through)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-06 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Crests]

[When the crests first form, there’s a strangled scream of pain from over here, and with good reason - pain is never fun, but it’s extra terrible when it’s on one’s eye of all places.

In the aftermath, it takes him a while to regain his breath - a deathly glare aimed at the supposed Sage, wary glances at his fellow “wizards” as though sizing them all up, trying to determine if they’re truly as innocent in this scheme as he is. He’ll continue to scan the crowd with the same wariness even when they’re let loose.
]

[Magic Class]

[He looks terribly bored listening to the lecture on how to use magic, seemingly less concerned about how to do it and more annoyed that he must if he wants to get back to sleep.]

There’s no way it’s going to take everyone all morning to learn something like this...

[Jobs and Tasks]

[He can be found eyeing the job board or, in some cases, weighing the pros and cons of actually playing around with Wanderer and Tatara’s tasks. While he doesn’t speak up, he does very obviously eye anyone else who seems to be thinking of doing some work or activities, waiting to see what they decide on.]

[Wildcard!]

[Poke me via PM or DM OR slide a comment on my plotting post and let us choose our own adventure!]
1145pm: (pic#17103102)

crests

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-06 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara feels that prickly glare, amongst all the people, and he makes eye contact with Ahito.

Instead of look defensive or upset or anything, a curious little smile crosses his face as he tilts his head. Yes? ]
specialinquisitor: (military)

Questions!

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[No sooner does the opportunity present then Mòrag steps forward, her frown professional rather than directed as she puts her hands behind her back in ramrod-straight military posture.]

You seem particularly convinced that this is a mistake. May I ask why?
specialinquisitor: (not happy)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mòrag can't help but frown as she accepts her coat -- as, fairly obviously, it is by no means compatible with the uniform she wears, and would like as not require completely replacing her current coat with it.]

With all due respect to the spirits and the countries in question, is this mandatory? I am afraid my current allegiance must and will take preference over an involuntary one, even given current circumstances.
specialinquisitor: (little smile)

Magic class

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
You seem particularly optimistic about that, without knowing anything of your fellows here.

[Mòrag tugs the grill-like brim of her cap down slightly, looking faintly amused.]

Is it conviction that all of us are, by chance or intent, profoundly competent? Or merely an assertion based on your belief in the relative simplicity of coming up with an expression profoundly central to your being?
1145pm: bet u havent heard of it (my hand lotion smells great)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-06 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm...

[ Tatara's eyes drift upward, his finger taps to his chin. He doesn't seem intimidated by Mòrag's presence, taking his time to think. Even if...he doesn't really need to. ]

The wizards don't usually come from other worlds. That should just be the sage.
dadsandals: (yama23)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-06 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
arrival
[ The crest embedded in his chest begins to burn, searing hot and painful, so much so that he grunts as his hand moves to touch his collarbone. In the center of it is his marking, which is exposed and visible for all to see. Not long after that is he greeted with the explanation of their situation, and in the brief time he gets to scan the area before Tatara arrives, he realizes none of these people look familiar. It'd feel more like a dream if the pain wasn't so real.

A mistake, huh? Stopping a calamity? Whose idea of a sick joke is this?

Yamato lets out a quiet, exasperated chuckle. It's certainly not one that's in good humor. There is also, notably, a bandage over his cheek.
]

Haha...they sure made a mistake picking me for this, that's for sure.

magic
[ Yamato is all the way in the back of the courtyard. Is he really going to entertain this? He doesn't feel like it, to be honest. Sure, this isn't Tatara or short guy's faults, but he's also not feeling particularly charitable, nor does he feel like saving an entire world that isn't his.

More pressing, though, is the fact that this – literal, actual magic and not just the metaphorical sort that you see on stage – is supposed to be real.

Yamato stands back with his arms crossed and watches whoever will try to attempt this, and decides that maybe he shouldn't stick out and not do anything at all. He approaches someone and asks:
]

Any luck so far?

[ Please say no. Please tell him this isn't real. ]

job board / tasks
[ Yamato takes a look at both the job board as well as the activities Wanderer and Tatara have for them. He looks pretty disgruntled at the first two, but when he reaches Tatara's tasks –

Bye.

Yamato rolls his eyes and immediately walks away with a frown on his face.
]

I think I'm good.

[ No...no...he is not. ]

a new friend...?
[ In various parts of the manor, a strange buzzing noise followed by some soft clanging noises can be heard coming from the stairway. Something is certainly clumsily making its way downstairs. Something...round.

This is followed up with the sound of someone running down the flight of stairs from above it – Yamato frantically makes his way to the object and picks it up. He gives it a sleepy smile and seems to do something that makes the buzzing stop.
]

There you are... I was wondering what happened to you.

[ And to anyone else on or near the stairway: ]

Ah, sorry. I left my door open and fell asleep while he was cleaning.


wildcard
[ I am down for things! Rope him into doing a task/activity/job with you!! Teach him how to use a gun! Idk man let's do this thing ]
shortleash: (Default)

dining hall

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-06 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
( Mika isn't really around during the daylight hours; not because he can't be (thanks to his earring), but because, even with the earring, the sun discomforts and repels him. He keeps indoors until evening when he can.

He'd gone around searching for the Sage when the sun sank below the horizon; thankfully, he didn't spend long searching before he finds him in the dining hall. He pauses, studying him for a few, long moments, before slowly approaching. )


... How much do you know about our situation?

( It'd sounded like, though Totsuka knew more about things than they did, he was also just kind of dragged into things like the "wizards" had been. But Mika couldn't be sure. So, he's here to ask. He seems neither frustrated nor angry, but he doesn't seem happy, either. )
specialinquisitor: (glare)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Magic Class

[Make no mistake: Mòrag neither welcomes this, nor enjoys this, nor accepts it, nor condones it. If she is paying close attention and clearly cataloguing everything she sees and hears, that is simply because she has no other means at hand of addressing the situation. Lacking even a common Blade to call on, her available resources cannot readily overcome the obstacles in her path, even if she could clearly identify them to begin with.]

[As the brief lecture ends and the practical training begins, she lifts her left hand, flexes it into a fist, and then lets out the smallest of sighs.]


Very well. Lacking any object as a 'focus', it seems developing my incantation and obtaining one is the first step.


Sugar doo doo doo do, doo dooo, oh honey honey (this is a prompt heading, not an incantation, you lunatics)

As I understand it, we are simply supposed to... use our magic, apparently without purpose?

[Why would this summon sugar? Of all things? The rest of this has not been extraordinarily difficult for the dedicated and logical Special Inquisitor, but this is such a curveball she can only rub at one eye in irritated disbelief.]

I'd appreciate if you would try first. Perhaps watching it will help me.


Wildcard

[It is Wildcard, my dudes]
Edited (CHAT) 2024-04-06 16:46 (UTC)
specialinquisitor: (sidelong look)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Understandable, but to be more clear, do you possess evidence that this is actually an error, rather than an intended process not clearly understood? An intentional replacement of the sage and wizards, for example, since they have gone missing.

[Mòrag believes that whether or not this is truly an error or merely an unforeseen possibility will dramatically affect not only the outcome, but the entire process as well. The attitude of one who believes themselves to be here by mistake will be vastly different than that of one who believes this is intentional, regardless of understanding.]
shortleash: (pic#17103485)

magic

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-06 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
( Mika doesn't exactly look friendly, but he doesn't look prickly, either; he just seems ambiently unhappy. He's pulled under the shade of a nearby tree during all this practice, seeming contemplative.

He may also have a blue coat too?? hello fellow blue... )


... Not yet. This isn't really how... "magic," I guess, works where I'm from.

( good news and bad news for mr. denial, )
dadsandals: (yama38)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-06 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, hello, fellow blue... Yamato notes that they're matching before he lets it sink in that magic is normal to this guy.

Normal.

Hm.

Yamato is perceptive enough by now to note that everyone here was not, in fact, cosplaying some kind of character and that this is a very real situation he's in. He may as well entertain this idea:
]

Okay, then. Where are you from?
1145pm: (pic#16970045)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-06 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ And that's understandable, really.

Tatara looks up from doodling; he recognizes Mikaela from the crowd, and offers a warm, welcoming smile. It isn't too overbearing—an open invitation. ]


I can tell you everything I know, if that's what you're asking. [ He puts his marker down, gestures to the seat across from him, and rests his cheek on a lightly balled fist. ] But I'm afraid that won't be much.
specialinquisitor: (quiet confidence)

Magic!

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[At the question, Mòrag smiles, eyes shut, all quiet confidence. As it happens, her strength of will, her conviction, and her absolute refusal to embarrass herself by failing to grasp this swiftly and capably all make for some fast learning.]

[She lifts her left hand, and flicks her fingers together. It can't be called a snap, because she's wearing gloves.]


For Mor Ardain!

[Fire flickers up and out of her fingers, only on the level of a few matches and quickly fading. But there it is, nonetheless.]
dadsandals: (yama47)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-06 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. Oh, okay. So that just happened, cool, cool. He needs time to convince himself that she didn't just do some kind of plain ol' magic trick with this one, but there's no denying that what he saw seems pretty authentic, so.

Damn.
]

...Wow.

[ This is going to be very embarrassing, once he ends up deciding on a phrase. ]

You figured it out that quickly...?
shortleash: (Default)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-06 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Japan but worse. An apocalypse happened.

( Then again, maybe he's not fully grasping how different some "worlds" might be... Maybe they don't have a Japan where this guy's from? )

Have you heard of Japan? It's a country.
dadsandals: (yama13)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-06 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[



Hm.
]

Yes, I have, because I'm from there. And as far as I know, no apocalypse has happened.

[ Thanks! He hates that. ]

What the hell... I hope you're not kidding, because I don't understand what's going on.
shortleash: (pic#17077610)

[personal profile] shortleash 2024-04-06 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
... Fine.

( Mika comes up to the chair, laying a hand atop it as if it were a temporary anchor, but not taking a seat. No manners Mika... )

... Say everything goes well ( lol ) and we do what we're supposed to do here. Do we get sent back to where we were before?
revengier: (53)

[personal profile] revengier 2024-04-06 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
i. training;

[ They'll be stuck here if they aren't able to fix the reason that they're here in the first place, and they could die without getting a good control on magic. So, while Kurapika doesn't always like to go along with things he's told to do, he does so here.

He wants to live, and he's got things to attend to back home. It's simple. ]


A meaningful word or phrase... [ He crosses his arms. ] Does anything come to mind for you?

[ It's easier to brainstorm and bounce ideas off of one another for things like this, he thinks. ]

ii. brooms;

A magic broom feels a little bit cliche.

[ And reminds him a lot of the storybooks he practically devoured as a child, making the thought of summoning one almost nostalgic. That little piece of nostalgia is what causes him to take just an extra second or two before he puts out his hand and tries to will one into existence.

But it doesn't take long for one to manifest, blue and yellow intertwining together to create the broomstick, with a bright red tuft of bristles. It clashes, but it isn't as if Kurapika really cares about it looking fashionable. Instead, what he cares about is trying to ride it, and the broom practically bucks away and out of his grasp the moment he tries to reach for it. He frowns. ]


...

[ Annoying. ]

iii. tasks;

A lot of these seem like a waste of time.

[ He crosses his arms, reading them over again. Yeah, he still feels the same. Although he wouldn't mind writing a research paper... but would he put a partner through that? Maybe. ]

I suppose grabbing items around the manor using our broom could prove useful, though.

iv. sugar delivery;

[ Another thing that Kurapika does find useful, however, is making sugar! Which is what he'll attempt to do, eventually successfully producing a large amount of little star-shaped, bright scarlet sugar. Go big or go home, after all.

Whether someone is walking by or has become his sugar-creating partner, Kurapika won't hesitate in voluntelling them: ]


Come fill that sugar delivery request with me. It shouldn't be a problem transporting it between the two of us.

v. central capital;

[ Turns out stocking up on food items and furniture for his new residence isn't a waste of time either, because Kurapika has a shopping list in hand as he and whoever he's brought with him look around the city. ]

We should get items for our room first and save the perishables for later.

[ No food will be going bad on his watch! And as for where they could start off... well, his gaze lingers on one of the nearby bookstores. ]

vi. wildcard;

[ Come hit me up with one of the other prompts that I didn't cover! Or request a starter from me! I'm down for anything so let's have fun. ]
specialinquisitor: (explaining)

[personal profile] specialinquisitor 2024-04-06 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[Having proved herself sufficiently, she can now afford to admit to not being the best.]

As I know what purpose I serve and what convictions I hold, and what element suits me best, this much was simple. It is only the beginning of a great number of things I expect we must learn, though, so I have much to do. I expect to have greater difficulty with more abstract things, for example.
dadsandals: (yama42)

[personal profile] dadsandals 2024-04-06 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That brings a slightly crooked smile to his lips. ]

Oh? So you're experienced with parts of this, then. That's good.

[ Couldn't be him, honestly. He shrugs and shakes his head. ]

None of this is real, where I come from. I shouldn't be able to do any of these things...but what kinds of "abstract things" are you talking about?
1145pm: (pic#16970052)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-06 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ When Tatara looks down at Mòrag again, there's a little smile on his face. ]

No. I dunno.

[ He shrugs, seemingly a little too nonchalant for the tension that blankets the whole situation. ]

This doesn't match precedent, though. The sage's wizards have always been native. [ He pops a finger, as though counting. ] Summoning more while they're active shouldn't work. We don't think they're dead...

[ He looks at his three fingers, then back to Mòrag. ]

What do you think?