promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-04-18 11:41 pm

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

THIRD QUARTER ALLEGRO
While our newly-arrived wizards have been settling in, learning their magic, and getting to know one another, the sage and their mentor have been busy with a different kind of work behind the scenes—bureaucratic work. It hasn't been particularly exciting, but it has paid off.

Because now, the world is ready to receive them.

Put on your finest clothes, because Granvelle Castle invites you to a welcome ball in your honor.

Didn't bring any fine clothes with you? No need to worry—specially chosen tailors from Central Capital have been commissioned to take care of you, and they will be visiting the manor to get you gussied up in the fashion of your choice for the day (by this, we mean feel free to pick whatever fancy clothes you want for the ball).

As the sun sets on the designated day, all the residents of the manor make their way to the castle. Granvelle Castle stands proud in Central Capital, its lights a beacon in the darkening city, and its doors open to outsiders for the first time in weeks. Upon arrival they're greeted by brightly lit halls, welcoming staff, and a grand ballroom, windows flung open to let in the spring breeze and pale moonlight. Everyone and everything seems determined to make this a cheerful affair, despite the underlying sense of dread and tension.

Live music fills the air, played the greatest musicians in the world. There are some larger ensembles, solo acts; some pieces are of more traditional folk dances, while some are slower, and some are upbeat and avant-garde. Regardless, the floor is open for dancing—grab a buddy and dance the night away!

Lining one wall is a long banquet table, filled with plenty of food and drink, both alcoholic and non to sate the new arrivals. The hors d'oeuvres and small plates comprise an array of delicacies from around the world, with everything from savory lobster bites to the sweetest portions of tres leches you have ever tasted. It seems someone has also put in a specific request for Japanese food—a part of the banquet table has been set aside specifically for Japanese dishes, and this includes small portions of ramen. There also seems to be a plate on the far end of the table filled with lovingly stacked pieces of charcoal... Is that meant to be food?

You aren't the only ones in attendance tonight. Representatives and dignitaries from around the world are also present—they have quite a lot to say about the unusual situation, and they are most curious about these otherworldly individuals tasked with fending off the moon under their national banners. The most dignitaries are from Central, West, and East, while there do seem to be a few representatives from the less populated North and South. Those from Central, West, and South in general seem to be the most social, while the rest are more reserved. There are also a few of the castle staff that seem (begrudgingly) willing to speak with the new wizards. Most are here to chat and mingle—lend them an ear, you may learn something new...

For those tired of socializing, the ballroom opens out onto a breezy, spacious balcony. It looks out over the main thoroughfare leading to the main castle entrance, and the nighttime lights of the Central capital twinkle in the near distance. For those that would rather take a breather, there is a small patio table and a couple of chairs. Despite the waxing moon in the sky, it is a very nice evening.

If you would like to have a chat with an NPC, then please respond to this comment. NPCs will be assigned randomly if no preference is given. While everyone has something valuable to say, they're not giving potentially sensitive info out for free—let's hope your diplomatic skills are up to snuff. We're doing our best to give everyone meaningful conversations, so please bear with us!

JOB BOARD
Rejuvenation. Thanks to your Southern friends' hard work, the South has been saved from a potentially devastating crop failure, and these fledgling towns can continue to grow as they're meant to! Give them a pat on the back and a round of applause.

But the South is not without its scars. While the root cause has been taken care of, the damage has been done. A town's wheat field has been partially destroyed—help them tear out the blackened, dead wheat, till and fertilize the soil, and replant what can be replanted. The City of Clouds, the most prosperous of the Southern settlements, have also offered extra tools, hands, and seeds to help set the town back on the path to recovery. Transport these supplies to the town. Let's hope your broom skills are up to snuff too, because it's a long ride.

Shadows in the night. The residents of the Central capital have recently been reporting eerie sightings after sundown: shadowy figures lurking in corners, the constant feeling of being watched, and, in some extreme cases, these shadowy figures attacking when traveling alone at night. Many reports seem to indicate an odd concentration of these creepy figures lurking around the Granvelle Castle moat, as though trying to find a way into the castle. Residents are understandably frightened and unnerved and cannot go about their nightly business—beat back what shadows you find and make the streets safer for the Central capital residents.

While physical attacks don't seem to do much against them, they dissipate rather easily under magic. Try not to wear yourself to the bone, though—there are a lot of them.

Escorting nobility. The Eastern Blanchett noble family have called an important meeting, inviting nobles and others of import from across the Eastern Country. However, their castle lies beyond Sherwood Forest, a very large, dense, and deep wood—while a fine natural defense for the Blanchett family, it's a bit of trouble for those looking to visit. While the Blanchett's own forest guard is absent, it is your job to safely escort these nobles to the Blanchett abode, and back out. But be careful: lurking in the shadows amongst the trees are all sorts of territorial predators like bears and wolves, not to mention the magical beasts that sneak up on unsuspecting prey. You may come across a brigand or bandit or two, since the forest is a near perfect hiding place for illegal activity. And please—try not to get lost.

Typical of any Easterner, the nobles are reluctant to make much small talk and are a bit suspicious of the new wizards, but they are otherwise pleasant and will generally comply with most requests.

WANDERER TASKS
Can you go a week without ruining food or the pots and pans? Stop being so wasteful and learn how to cook or stop trying.

Learn how to use magic to repair things. Again, if you're going to keep ruining the kitchen at least learn how to put it back together.

TATARA ACTIVITIES
I need milk. I'm trying to perfect latte foam art, but I haven't really gotten the hang of it yet... I used up all the milk (oops, sorry!), so I need more. Actually, could you grab me other kinds of milk while you're at it? I want to experiment! I'm sure other markets in the farther reaches of the world will have weirder milk... Please!

We should start a veggie garden! Or an herb garden? Doesn't matter! I found a nice sunny patch of grass in the training forest—we could dig up that spot, right? Help me get it set up! I need people to dig, and till... Oh! We need seeds to plant, too! Please and thank you~

OOC NOTES
🌙 Welcome to your second event post! Get out your snazzy outfits. It's time to party.
🌙 As you grow into your magic, your character might start realizing they can differentiate between everyone's magic. Everyone has a unique signature, and you may be able to start sensing who cast what, where. Someone put a magical seal on the kitchen door? Smells like Shinjiro's magic. Akira had some of Solomon's sugar? You can sense that, too!
🌙 As you start getting past the basics, your character might realize they have a much easier time with certain kinds of magic over others. For North, this will be offensive and attack spells; for East, this will be intricate seals and curses; for West, this will be manipulative magic like illusions and transformation; for South, this will be healing, purification, and protection. Central? A little bit of everything. Read up on your country if you need a refresher!
🌙 It's been peaceful at home in the manor thus far, hasn't it? Do you think that will last?
🌙 Your OOC plotting post is here! Remember to keep all wider plotting contained to the OOC post, since not everyone checks plurk or discord frequently.
🌙 Our next group to go on their mission is Central. Be ready, heroes...
1145pm: (pic#16970041)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-30 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I see... So that's why.

[ Everything makes so much sense! He looks at Ithaqua with pure delight, the pieces of the Ithaqua puzzle coming together.

If there are any sinister or creepy vibes, they totally fly over his head. He's oblivious. ]


Did you make your own house and stuff too? What kind of stuff did you eat?

[ And he goes back to digging... He can multitask! ]
1145pm: (hehe im jk)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-30 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara does as he is told, because he's a bottom.

He smiles up at Solomon at the request. Whatever there was before, is totally gone. ]


Not at all! Tell me what to do, Sensei!
1145pm: (i'm sad because you're a dick)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-30 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A little warmth blossoms in his chest when Jing Yuan says that. Heat gathers in the corners of his eyes; if he was any use to him, if there was at least a moment in his life where Mikoto was proud of him, that is all he could have really asked for. ]

I...hope so. I never asked.

[ Tatara knows they had an unbreakable, unspoken bond of trust. One that Kusanagi also shared in. He could only hope that Mikoto understood the way he looked at him, and thought of him special in turn.

What he doesn't know, is that without Tatara, Mikoto breaks.

His heart hurts when Jing Yuan asks the question. He smiles, if only as an excuse to hide the tears he feels pricking the back of his eyes. ]


I'm...not going to see him again. I...

[ His voice is strained, and low. Weird, because he isn't sure how he's ended up spilling his life story to a near stranger. And weirder still, so soon. ]

I don't think I can go home...

[ He dips his head. ]
1145pm: (pic#16970042)

[personal profile] 1145pm 2024-04-30 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Tatara leans forward, childlike amusement coloring his expression. Other people are so fascinating. ]

You're thinking about loyalty?

[ He leans back, flicks a finger in the air. ]

It doesn't matter if you're loyal to me. You have a job to do. I'll figure out a way to send you home one way or another. If not, or if something happens to me, then you might be stuck without someone who knows how to summon another sage or more wizards, and then the world ends with you in it.

[ He shrugs. ]

Loyalty or no, it'd be nice if we could be friends, but if it doesn't happen, then it doesn't happen.
Edited (sorry changing a word to make it dani targeted) 2024-04-30 22:13 (UTC)
annihilator: (➤ 38)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-30 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[The fire in his hand quickly turns into something more akin to a lightning bolt as it flies free towards the bandits - Malice has aimed it at the ground and it explodes in a shower of flames, licking up the feet of the bandits closest to it. While they're preoccupied with the fire and putting it out, the ones further out are already scanning for the threat.

Malice is on the move, trying not to laugh as he darts between the trees and summons another firebolt to his hand. Another bandit is distracted by fire, leaving two more still looking around. Have they spotted Kurapika or is he also hiding?]
positivize: (pic#17104058)

[personal profile] positivize 2024-04-30 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[Huh, it is definitely the way to go when it comes to his own role.]

Nothing much, but I thought I should check in with you after that mission. You're technically our boss, right?
annihilator: (➤ 39)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-30 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep. Through a series of stupid events, we didn't know we were related until a couple'a years ago, but we met up again an' she took me in. An' then proceeded to try to stuff me into the same role her other kids fill an' that sure didn't go as well as anyone hoped.

[Including Malice himself, to be perfectly honest, but he seems chill with the idea now.]
lighthaus: (086)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-30 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ wow. he doesn't know whether to feel indignant or some other emotion he can't place at the laughter. he settles for neither, and decides just to pout instead. ]

I might be. [ a beat. ] Yes.

[ with a look that says "are you happy I didn't try to sidestep the question this time?". and of course he can't leave it there. ] Are you?
impacter: (056)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-30 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll keep me company? Well! I should work on some lighter questions.

[He flashes an easy smile.]

Good luck, Day. I'll be here when you're finished.
annihilator: (➤ 72)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-30 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Can't eat any of that kinda food. I've been curious what desserts'd taste like, but it wouldn't taste the same to me, so...

[Can't even have a bite to try to get the flavors smh.]
annihilator: (➤ 14)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-30 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't worry, I'm practicin' puttin' it out too. Don't wanna set myself ablaze either!

[You know what they say about playing with fire...]
dyingtohealyou: ([Serious] my body; in)

[personal profile] dyingtohealyou 2024-04-30 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I have a job to do, but so do you. We're your wizards, aren't we? Or were we just branded for fun?

[A hand shifts towards his right eye, not quite covering nor touching it, especially given his shades are still in the way. But he lets that same hand drop soon after.]

You call upon us to work - but not for you, and not for any specific goal. We might as all be twiddling our thumbs anyway with all the direction we have. If we happen to lurch in the right direction along the way, it'll be because of a lucky guess.

Are you actually interested in seeing us succeed?
annihilator: (➤ 39)

[personal profile] annihilator 2024-04-30 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Wish I could say I have just so I'd know how to fight 'em, but nope.

[It helps that they're actually visible so he can't be spooked by ghosts, but shadowy figures like this? Definitely not anything commonplace where he's from, unfortunately.]
impacter: (021)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-30 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[sometimes god doesn't like you enough so you gotta find your own way around, it's fine!]

That works. Here, take a seat -- [He'll even pull the chair out for Ginger, situating him at one of the tables before settling into the seat opposite him.

Picking up the pot, Solomon fills Ginger's new cup with a small amount, the blend a deep golden color with a scent that's hard to place.]


An enchantment is different than making something like sugar. There is no creation. Instead, it's putting part of your power into something else, so it can be used by another.

Think of the wish you want to give to someone else. What feeling does that wish come from? What is the strongest part of your heart that says "I want this to happen"?

[He pulls out his own wand, setting it aside before taking another sip from his own cup.]

Give it some thought for a moment.
Edited 2024-04-30 22:35 (UTC)
impacter: (061)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-30 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
True enough. A good first impression and some charisma can work wonders.

[He brings his cup to his lips for a moment. Ah, good ol' champagne. At least, he thinks it's champagne. Who knows anymore.]

Are you a journalist, then?
foresightis2020: (76)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-04-30 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Something keeps aching in the way that Tatara speaks, that keeps reaching deeper. He doesn't quite understand it himself, but seeing those shades of sadness that begin to peer through the mask of happiness makes him want to reach for it, so he can at least share the burden of that sorrow.

It is unwise, because Jing Yuan has consistently experienced it over and over again. The loss of people close to him, the loss of those who never will be, the unbearable, uncontrollable fate that destiny cruelly forces upon people. A helplessness that manifests as a weakness that can only be refuted by placing distance between people. But, he is...far too gentle for that.

He knows this, more keenly than ever, when he hears the other spill those words, and he stops their dance, letting go of the other's hand, and instead moves to encircle his arms boldly around Tatara gently, pulling him, as well as holding him close. The movements are slow and careful all the same, but not half-hearted; warm, open, and welcoming. ]


I can't say I understand why you believe so. But, whatever regrets, whatever sorrows you wish to unleash...

You do not have to face it alone.

[ Jing Yuan's words are spoken gently, rather than with simple rationality. The compassion that is always hidden behind that, spilling through like a river out to meet the sea. ]
foresightis2020: (94)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-04-30 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Is it Attack on Jing Yuan pt. II because he sure is ready for that. By which we mean, absolutely the opposite of ready because he has no defenses against a toothpick! ]

Oh no, what's this? Am I being attacked?

What am I to do?

[ He is very bad at sounding panicked, because he is far too amused as the plushie begins to scale Mt. Jing Yuan, help. ]
impacter: (127)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-30 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
You'd be that cruel? How you wound me, Bruno!

[He'll take the hand easily, hoisting himself up with a messy shake of his coat. Powder drifts off in several directions.]

Though, maybe I deserve it in this case... I can't say I was expecting that much of a reaction.
lighthaus: (054)

[personal profile] lighthaus 2024-04-30 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll find you a book.

[ this world probably has them? if not, he'll commission a drawing of one from someone here. ]

Don't even imply that, I can hear his boasting about it from here. No, one of my teammates is a giant alligator, so they're just familiar to me.
discomposer: ɴᴇɢᴏᴛᴏ_ᴏ@ᴛᴡɪᴛᴛᴇʀ (ᴏsᴋᴀʀ ʟɪɴᴅʙᴇʀɢ)

[personal profile] discomposer 2024-04-30 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It IS attack on Jing Yuan although since this plushie has Leo's personality imbued in it, it's probably gonna get distracted by the bird up there.

There's the occasional playful jab of a toothpick as he climbs victorious to the other shoulder...! And then peers around Jing Yuan's tower neck to see the bird? Bird friend??? he waves with his toothpick sword. ]
foresightis2020: (11)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-04-30 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The chill is duly noted. If it had gone any worse the other certainly might have shown it. Maybe.

But, all things considered, Malice doesn't seem like the type of person to not make clear about how he feels about matters, so. ]


...Ah, did you end up causing quite a few disturbances for those on the noble scene before it became apparent to her that you were not exactly fit for that sort of life?
impacter: (086)

[personal profile] impacter 2024-04-30 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[And yet another title... At least this one is very familiar.]

Does the sage think himself my pupil, now? Careful. I'm not a forgiving teacher.

[With magic, at least. But he still giggles lightly as he taps at the edge of Tatara's shoe with his own.]

Follow my steps. When my foot goes forward, yours will go back, and vice versus.

[Slow and steady, three steps one way and three the other, Solomon keeping count with a very quiet patience.]
themanwhoerasedhisname: 2 (2)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-30 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Only if you do the same for your own.

[That sounds terrible, Tatara]
themanwhoerasedhisname: 9 (9)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-30 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. I doubt shadows starting at people creepily is a feature of this world.

[...you never know, Kiryu. You never know for sure]
themanwhoerasedhisname: 11 (11)

[personal profile] themanwhoerasedhisname 2024-04-30 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I can't walk from point A to point B without it happening.

[Game mechanics, they are unforgiving, haha]