you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

[promittere]

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...

» NAVIGATION

Comments

[dyingtohealyou]

Got it, got it.

[He sounds relatively lax, but the air's temperature seems to drop as he prepares for his own offensive spells.]

[leewards]

[Ithaqua can't quite feel the chill in the air, not just yet. After all, with his unique constitution and his layered clothing, how could he?

Besides, he's far too intent on his own preparations to give a damn-- and his preparations make the temperature drop even further on account of creating a strong wind blowing in his direction, his arms spread as if ready to welcome the beasts being pushed towards him.

And when they're close? He takes a good swing with the axe, the movement of his arms almost too quick to process properly. He manages to strike one and draw blood, but when it runs, he hunts it down with much faster steps that he didn't have before.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Oh boy there he goes. Ahito can't spare more than a glance Ithaqua's way because he's a little busy focusing on his own magic, the air crystalizing into sharp, icy bullets.

...Which are then launched at the speed of a bullet at incoming monsters, burying themselves deep into flesh and even bone.]

[leewards]

Aaah? [Fascinating! He spotted them out the corner of his eye, but he has to turn his head to actually watch them, the little projectiles, almost like knives laughed by someone with so many arms and a lot of strength to give.

Really, really fascinating, and he bursts out into a laugh.]

I hope your aim is good enough to avoid me!

[dyingtohealyou]

Please, who do you think you're talking to?

[As a matter of fact, he'll turn just long enough to send a volley of icy bullets whizzing past Ithaqua in a spreadshot, less precise but still very much thunking into anything it meets - all without touching a hair on his, or any of the caravan's heads.

This boy needs to stop trying to show off during missions.]

[leewards]

Well~ I wouldn't know! [That's accompanied by louder giggles. It's true though-- he doesn't bloody know who this one is. They may have exchanged names (maybe?) and have seen each other around the manor (maybe???) but Ithaqua doesn't know him outside of that.

Except perhaps that they both have a bit of pride.

Ithaqua dances around the projectiles anyway, even if they go out of their way to avoid him. His wind magic making his body lighter and stronger helps, but he'd rather not share a kill, thus he pivots around to land a hit on a beast that hasn't been harmed yet. He fights ferociously with his axe, the lantern on it trailing snowflakes as it swings.

It should be clear that his magic only helps him get close to the beasts, and everything else comes from how must of a beast he acts in combat.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Apparently the assist was mostly as a display of skill, because he's content to focus on his own opponents afterwards, leaving Ithaqua to his.]

Good aim is kinda my thing. Can't say I'm the best of the best with the types we have here, but with offensive magic on my side? It might be true pretty soon.

[That said, the beasts on Ahito's side are withdrawing slightly from the projectiles - not yet given up, but looking for a better place to strike.]

[leewards]

Heheh! Then have at it.

[He'll allow this one to just kill as much as he wants. Ithaqua on the other hand? He wants to see if he can keep one relatively intact. Perhaps bring the body back to the manor to skin it and turn the pelt into something, because he's never seen a beast like this in his life-- he wants to preserve something and then study what he can.

Then he decides to choke a beast with the shaft of his axe, wholly unconcerned with being surrounded by the rest of them.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Ahito's a bit preoccupied with the beasts as they seemingly come up with - and begin to execute - their new plan of attack.

It is, as Ithaqua warned, an attempt at flanking from both sides; fortunately, with the icy bullets at the ready, he's quick enough to fire off at both even when he has to fully turn his head in order to actually see them. Ugh, those damned experiments really left him with a gaping blindspot...

There's yelps of pain as the creatures are hit and, focusing far too much to keep bragging apparently, he summons up a slew of bullets to send in a spreadshot into the forest to hopefully deter any others thinking of trying their luck.]

[leewards]

Mmm, I don't mind if you shred the lot of them. But this is mine, yes? [He drops the beat, mostly-intact beast at his feet. Apparently its bones are still just as fragile as any living creature, despite being magical.]

I'm keeping it.

[Even if he will be slaughtering the rest with his axe and wind.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[...What the fuck does he mean, "keeping it?"]

Sure, have fun with that.

[No more attacks on his side... so far. But he's keeping his eyes peeled and ears perked for any sight or sound otherwise.]

[leewards]

[Meanwhile, Ithaqua knows there are more, it's in the way the grass rustles, and in the scent in the air. He drags the corpse of his trophy to the caravan for safekeeping, and then casts again, lightening his body with his wind.]

There's more-- let's not get too relaxed.

[dyingtohealyou]

I know that. I was hoping that spray of bullets would get them to back off, but they're probably just biding their time...

[leewards]

Oh, no, don't count on them being scared off. [Ithaqua waves his free hand.] Your bullets didn't make any loud sound, after all.

Besides, I'm sure these are much more intelligent than a non-magical wolf. [Which are intelligent enough on their own! How much more a beast with magic in its veins?

Arms spread again with the wind around his body swirling, preparing to pull anything towards him, within range of his axe, if he thinks they're a threat. Then he walks towards the trees just like that, completely fearless.]

Further into the trees it is.

[dyingtohealyou]

I could change that...

[It couldn't be that hard to generate a loud sound.]

I'll keep watch closer to the caravan.

[Happy hunting, Ithaqua!]

[leewards]

Good luck~ I suppose I shall be patrolling.

[The wind ends, the noise dying down, but Ithaqua's lantern shines brighter after it, and he starts to walk faster despite the speed of his movements not having changed at all. His body is simply lighter now.]

But tell them to keep moving, hm? They've a deadline to meet, after all.

[dyingtohealyou]

On it.

[He'll call out as much to the caravan, urging them along by once again taking up his place on his broom, although this time he flies behind it - keeping an eye on both sides of the path while Ithaqua handles the patrol.]

[leewards]

[And Ithaqua is fine with being left behind, because he has always done much better while alone. Though he does note that while the beasts give him a wide berth, they're still intent on following the caravan.

So, Ithaqua makes a decision-- cull a few of the stragglers and catch up as quickly as he can. He doesn't quite need his broom for this, he can simply lunge forward and let the wind do the rest.

That's how he catches up, leaping and propelling himself with his magic.]

Hello~ They're following.

[dyingtohealyou]

Of course they are.

How closely?

[He's keeping pace with the caravan, but he's also reaching to rest a hand on the gun at his side, just in case.]

[leewards]

Hm hm~ [Now that he's caught up, he summons his broom and sits on it with his legs crossed, so he can conserve his wind for later.]

A few minutes behind, but they're closing the gap soon. Isn't it fortunate that we're now close to our destination?

[dyingtohealyou]

Are we still obligated to fight them if we make it to the gates first?

[leewards]

Who knows~ [Actually, he thinks they do have to. Their duties include escorting them to safety, after all.]

Well, for thoroughness' sake, perhaps we shall do it.

[dyingtohealyou]

It would be too easy if we could just get out of it because we crossed the gates.

[Sigh! But it's mostly putting on airs as he turns to keep an eye on the forest and path behind the caravan, already beginning to prepare a spell.]

[leewards]

I wonder if they would appreciate the damage their gates would eventually incur when the beasts get to it, however.

[He crosses his legs the other way on his broom as it zooms along.]

I, for one, would like to have all possible rewards instead of having one deducted simply because of that.

[dyingtohealyou]

I wonder what the reward's even going to be... It should be something good, considering the client, right?