lunae calamitas mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
promittere) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
lunaecalamitas2024-04-18 11:41 pm
promittere) wrote in 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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
no subject
no subject
Hello, sir. May I help you?
no subject
[Castles always get so dank and dusty if they aren't used for a while.
Or maybe there were secret parties going on the whole time, you never know. It's a pretty nice castle, he's taking notes for if he ever needs a set piece in the future.]
no subject
[ A shadow seems to cross over her features, and she briefly drops her gaze to the ground, but she quickly rights herself and looks back up at Cid. ]
It wasn't much trouble, no.
no subject
[--or, well, whatever they are. Cid does know how to recognize nobility and how they hold themselves when they're considered important (or self-important), but there's fewer indications here that he recognizes. Should I assume the noble delegations are clad in their national colors or some other regalia?
He watches the maid look down. Wow, it must be tough working for the higher-ups around here. Hopefully she gets a good salary or something.]
I guess they'd be busy with The Incident, though. [he puts the appropriate amount of emphasis!] Was it really that big a deal? I haven't seen much about it or the aftereffects...
no subject
I was cleaning Prince Arthur's room on the day that it happened.
[ Her breath goes shaky, her voice tight. ]
I watched him disintegrate before my eyes.
[ And she clasps her hand over her mouth. Not in the manner of accidentally sharing a secret, but to keep the shock and grief at bay. ]
We've been...panicking...
[ She decides to stop herself there, because otherwise, she may start crying on the job. ]
no subject
He didn't even see this much ado last time the moon did something weird. He also makes sure to lean in conspiratorially and make sympathetic noises.]
Oh. Oooh. It's always the servants that end up seeing the worst things, isn't it? You must've been pretty close to Prince Arthur if you were serving the royal family directly. [which is true, royal families anywhere have such strict requirements, this maid's literally ascended to major witness] I don't want to ask any further, since it's traumatizing and all, but it's kind of important to my job...
[That he still hasn't accepted fully...... anyway he pats the maid on the shoulder and hands her a handkerchief.]
no subject
I understand.
[ She collects herself, and then looks at Cid again. Though she still seems shaken. ]
When we heard the other sage's wizards disappeared as well, we closed the castle. [ ... ] That's all.
no subject
[He makes a great big show of responding to her with the most thoughtful noises and expressions possible. Maybe he's just giving her time to collect herself!! Maybe he wamts to look like he's contributing to all of this. Whatever the case, he gives a little nod at her conclusion.]
I guess you wouldn't know all the details. But are you saying everybody pretty much disappeared at once even if they were all at different places?
no subject
[ It seems she doesn't really know what to make of Cid's display. ]
Captain Cain, and Oz, and—
[ She quickly clamps her mouth shut, as though talking about it further would only bring them bad luck. ]
I'm sorry, sir, I must get back to work. Did you need anything else?
no subject
[Most people here and elsewhere and anywhere wouldn't know where to start sorting Cid's displays, which is perhaps a good thing for all involved. Just ignore the fact that he's treating an international disaster kind of like a personal anthropological project and we're out of the woods. Probably.
He puts on a woebegone face. Because okay, he kind of came from a war, so he can see how that's kind of a problem. Terribly inconvenient to have a capital destroyed, so this is sort of. Symbolically that.
But also is this just an AU Wizard of Oz???? The real questions galloping through his head right now.]
--Oh, yeah, wouldn't want to keep you or anything. Anyone else I could talk to who might know anything? Any portraits of those who disappeared? Places they liked around here?
[Might as well start with the investigative basics: sating your own curiosity first of all.]
no subject
[ She looks around at the guests and does seem to consider Cid's questions for a moment, but ultimately shakes her head. If anyone else knows in any detail, she doesn't know. She's only a maid, after all. ]
There are portraits of the royal family in the entrance hall. You would have seen them when you arrived... [ He would have indeed. And he will see them on the way out. ] Prince Arthur spent much of his time in his room when he was here on business, but I'm afraid the room is locked and off-limits now.
no subject
Sure. I guess the prince would be the shortest one....
[He really hopes so. Everybody around here is kind of tall, their own token giant wizards notwithstanding. The room being locked is also kind of within expectations. Sadly, he cannot no-clip through the castle.]
But you've been a lot of help. Since most of us only just got here, we're still figuring out the who's who and the what's what and the why's why... you know how it is. Sort of. [she really probably doesn't] Oh, I do have another question. What would you recommend out of the offerings here? Like, is there a special limited Central sort of dish...?
no subject
When Cid brings up the question of food, she lightens a bit. ]
We may be a landlocked country, but Central seafood is rather good. [ She gestures towards the center of the table. ] I would suggest the grilled lobster bites, or the mussels in tomato sauce.
no subject
[Like, he's serious about this!! Like, if she has the confidence to appeal to a Japanese seafarer's palate (she doesn't know this) or that of a provincial noble who's hunted just about everything land, sea and air has to offer (she also doesn't know this), then Central's supply logistics must be something indeed. They might even rival Mitsugoshi.
Maybe he could learn all of this from a single bite of lobster. Either way, he gets lobster, so it's a win-win situation.
Monch.]
'Specially since there's not much going on over by the ocean anyway? I'm used to seeing all kinds of bustling harbors, but it didn't seem like there were that many people out on the water.
[And no wizards! The ocean is too strong.]
no subject
[ The poor maid stirs awkwardly... That's not a question she can answer. ]
But our rivers are rich and teeming with life. If you like what you sample here, then I suggest visiting the City of Glory.
[ She smiles. That's about all she can offer. ]
no subject
[What is he talking about. Well, he can't really say that he's already sort of haphazardly visited a ton of locations due to misusing the elevator in all kinds of ways, so this is the best he can do!
Also, he sort of just, pats the maid on the shoulder. Sympathetically, but perhaps with a completely unnecessary gravitas:]
But to have never seen the ocean! Take it from me, you should take more vacation. It's not like the sea will run away, but life is short, and I'm told getting to the beach extends your lifespan by at least 5 years.
Think about it!