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

escorting nobility

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Something native to this forest. Any idea what kind of magic they have?

[Seeing them gets Kiryu's guard up. Far from the first time he sees enemies of some sort while escorting somebody somewhere else, really, so he's not worried. Just...very cautious. He can't go underestimating these beasts]

[leewards]

I haven't the faintest~ [He says that in the most singsong voice.

Then he raises both his hands, the temperature of their surroundings dropping as he starts to cast, icy wind pushing the beasts in his direction.]

But very few can withstand the power of wind anyway.

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Hm. You were looking forward to something like this, weren't you.

[Which he can relate somewhat, really. Kiryu is the kind of person who's always yearning for a fight of some sort. He doesn't really like that side of himself, but he can't deny it exists.

This could be a time as good as any to try to practice more mid-range spells. He fought shadows the other day, but it was punches and the such. Perhaps it'll be easier to fight mid-range]

[leewards]

Mm... No. [Is that a surprising answer? Ithaqua doesn't think it is.] I was hoping for bandits, not beasts looking for their next meal.

[Or defending their territory. He won't begrudge a beast acting on instinct.]

Aaa~ah. But I've been needing exercise, and I might as well do this.

By "this" he means give a great big swing with his axe to cleave a beast's head in two. Ithaqua didn't even move from the spot, he simply let the wind push the beast until it was in range.]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

[Kiryu seems to be somewhat more strategic about how to fight. With an arm, he points at the ground, making large boulders pop from the ground, startling the beasts and force them to move the way he wanted them to. Once one is close enough, Kiryu coats his fist with magic energy, focusing, and slams his fist on the beast's snout, knocking it out]

[leewards]

Ohhh?

[Ithaqua has to pause in his study of the beasts to look over at the man. He's never seen anyone just outright beat a beast with their hands, they always have to use a weapon-- even Ithaqua must, because stilts are for traversing and he must finish a hunt quickly rather than drag it out.]

No need for a weapon! Do it again, do it again!

[do a tiger drop]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

[he lost the tiger drop again as he always does

why can't you keep that technique in your memory kiryu]

Don't get distracted!

[This is very basic fighting, really, inelegant as all heck because it's obvious Kiryu is far more used to physical action than anything magical, but when a wolfish creature runs from the other side of the carriage, Kiryu acts immediately, running to it and, taking advantage the monster was going towards the nobles' vehicle, he raises a leg and slams the bottom of his shoe onto the beast's side, throwing it off balance and away. Very physical this all might be, but one can't deny the effectiveness, really.

This put the creature in a position Ithaqua should be able to tag in and do his own thing to this, Kiryu tacitly expecting teamwork, hopefully]

[leewards]

Mm~ [But he wanted to watch more!] Very well.

[A swift strike of his axe, the lantern on it creaking as if it's about to fly off, deals with the beast-- an easy split on the head even if it's not clean. Ithaqua just wanted to make sure the beast wasn't going to suffer much longer, with two obviously powerful wizards as their enemies.

Then Ithaqua notes what's coming behind the older man, and kicks off the ground to lunge at it, the magical wind he's conjured up making his movements light and effortless.]

You will want to duck!

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

[Ithaqua hadn't even finished saying the word 'duck' when Kiryu had already rolled to a side, keeping himself low. Ithaqua and him are having good synergy during fighting!]

[leewards]

[Good, fast reflexes, not sluggish like some of these people-- it's clear that Kiryu is not just a fighter. He acts like combat is a daily experience, something to be lived and breathed. Ithaqua can respect that, even if that power is being used to cull beasts right now.]

You're good!

[Ithaqua straightens up, his hood drooping a little from the exertion. He reaches up and tugs on the ears to make it straighten again.]

Very strong. You might not have needed a partner for this mission at all.

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Someone going by themselves in a world they don't know is just asking for trouble. Better to be partnered with someone.

[...that and also nowadays cooperating with others is necessary. Kiryu just isn't in any condition to tackle trouble all by himself anymore...all these years and his current situation has taken a toll on him, that's for sure]

Are the nobles okay?

[They probably got rattled by the situation, but hey, at least they should be unharmed!]

[leewards]

Mmm, perhaps! [A certain someone may or may not be disinterested in the well-being of humans, especially those in positions of power. However, he did take this job for a reason, and he might as well do it properly.

It takes him a few strides to get to the caravan, and he peeks inside, giggling when he sees the scared, bloodless faces staring back at him.

Bloodless for many different reasons. But it's good enough.]

They're fine~!

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Good.

[Oh, this worked out well! Good!]

You did well against those beasts. Well done, Ithaqua.

[Praise where it's due!]

[leewards]

Heheheh! Naturally. [Of course Ithaqua has to preen. He knows his own power.]

You did quite well yourself. I've never seen anyone take on a beast with their bare hands.

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Unfortunately it's not the first time I have to fight a ferocious animal like that.

[Enemies really tried to kill him by making him fight strong animals, and this only ramped up in the most recent Yakuza game, hah]

[leewards]

Ohh?

Do tell. [Perhaps an inappropriate question to ask when they're still technically in a mission.]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Some asshole locked a room and set two tigers onto me. That was the earliest time.

[Kiryu doesn't even bother to remember the name of the yakuza clan head who did that. It's largely irrelevant, as far as he was concerned. Some two-bit jackass]

[leewards]

I hope you showed that human what's what, as well! Heheh.

[Ithaqua would have loved to be a fly on that wall... It would have been very well deserved, after putting tigers through that.]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Of course I did. He was a complete coward after that.

[He wasn't even a boss fight, his tigers were it]

[leewards]

Heheheh! I can respect that. [It's official-- he likes Kiryu. Still a bit human in mentality but he's a no-nonsense sort of man who's fun.]

We shall make quick work of this mission, then. Of course, I fully intend on carrying my own weight until we return to the manor, rewards in hand.

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

Counting on you. I'm not used to working in teams but I'm counting on you.

[If the nobles give rewards afterwards he probably will shove it onto Ithaqua, hah]

[leewards]

Neither am I! But we're only two men, there are not enough limbs between us to trip over each other. ["Not enough limbs" he says, but then he has long ones. Unnaturally so.

Still, Ithaqua is tall enough with his stilts that he has a wider field of view... And notes that there are more incoming. And points over Kiryu's shoulder.]

Heheh. Keep your guard up.

[But the glee in his voice might just say that he really doesn't mind fighting all the way until they reach their destination.]

[themanwhoerasedhisname]

At this point I wonder if we're the ones they're attracted to.

[Magical beasts being attracted to wizards? It'd make some sense, maybe. But oh well, if fighting all the way to the destination is what will have to be done, Kiryu won't be deterred]

[leewards]

[You know what? That's actually quite intelligent, and Ithaqua tilts his head down at Kiryu.]

Mm~ It would make sense if they like magic. Otherwise... if they only wanted to feed, we're not easy prey.

It would be so unfortunate for them if they have a taste for wizard flesh... heheh. [Them he hefts his axe again, and walks around Kiryu to stride towards the beasts, lumbering as if he were a beast himself.

Which isn't all that untrue.]