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!

[revengier]

[ Kurapika is flying right beside him on his own very gaudy broom, which he now has much better control over. ]

Isn't that what you should be hoping for? Jobs like this are easy income.

[ He's been security detail for so many obscenely rich families that this feels like more of the same for him, and he's glad for the bit of familiarity for once. ]

[annihilator]

Well... Yeah, guess that does make the most sense, but I've been itchin' for a fight since I got here.

[Malice is a simple vampire. Sometimes you just want to throw down.]

But you're right, I shouldn't be complainin' 'bout it bein' too easy.

[revengier]

[ He glances over at Malice, a little smile on his face. ]

But let me guess... you will anyway, won't you?

[ Honestly, he can't blame Malice much. If Kurapika liked fighting, he'd feel the same way. ]

[annihilator]

[The grin he gets back is only a little bit sheepish.]

That's how I am, yeah. No changin' it!

[revengier]

No need to, if you ask me.

[ People like Malice are just fine, after all. ]

If we need to fight, I'll leave it up to you. I'll back you up and provide support.

[annihilator]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I like to think I'm a pretty damn good fighter, so you shouldn't have too much trouble lookin' out for me!

[revengier]

You better live up to the high expectations you've set for me.

[ He's kidding, even if it's not a very good joke. ]

[annihilator]

Hah, you'd better believe I will—

[Before he can properly finish that, Malice tips his head and glances off to the left. Seems he's heard something, given he's frowning in that direction.]

Seems we've got company.

[revengier]

[ Ah—he sees it. Rustling amongst the leaves, movement between the trees. ]

Well, Malice? Your call.

[ Does he want to sneak up, or does he want to go into this head on?

Either way, Kurapika is prepared to support him. ]

[annihilator]

[Malice gestures for Kurapika to follow him. Perhaps surprisingly - given everything Malice has decided to be - he opts for stealth first. It's pretty easy to slip between the trees and glide near-silently over to get a look at our prey.

It's a group of bandits, from the looks of it. They're lying in wait for the passing nobles, weapons already drawn and at the ready. There are six of them - a decent number if the nobles weren't being guarded by wizards.

Malice calls a spark of flame to his hand and then glances at Kurapika. Though he doesn't speak, his questioning look should probably say it all: you ready?]

[revengier]

[ He's mildly surprised that Malice goes for the quiet approach, but he's glad for it all the same, quickly following behind Malice's quiet footsteps.

Six shouldn't be too bad between the two of them, not if Malice is as good as he thinks he is in battle. With a nod, Kurapika summons wind in his palm, ready to bolster Malice's flames. ]

[annihilator]

[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?]

[revengier]

[ While Malice moves, Kurapika stays put in his own hiding spot, trying to get the perfect angle for what he wants to do.

Ah. There.

With the movement of his hand, he sends wind towards a few of the little flames on the ground, bolstering them and making them just a little bit bigger, though still keeping it under control. He's not trying to start a forest fire here, after all. ]

[annihilator]

[That fire's going to keep all of them busy, that's for damn sure. While they're struggling to put it (and themselves) out, Malice takes that opportunity to strike. Like a coiled viper, he's precise with his movements and pounces like a proper predator—

And that's about when his metal arm decides it simply isn't going to work and goes limp. The claws manage to dash a guy down the back on the way down, but this is not the killing blow Malice intended and now he's stuck somewhere between going "REALLY" and "oh I hecked this up, didn't I".

...He might need a helping hand, in other words.]

[revengier]

[ Ah, well this is suddenly going poorly.

Kurapika quickly exits his hiding spot and aims to knock out one of the bandits as he makes his way towards Malice, and is successful... somewhat. The guy goes down, but he isn't knocked out.

When he's finally close enough, he shouts: ]

Malice. Use your other arm. Knock him out.

[ It doesn't matter what their opponents hear him say, hearing anything like that at all can throw them off enough to give the both of them the upper hand. ]

[annihilator]

[If Malice were any slower, he would've been stabbed in the ribs, but thankfully - between Kurapika's shout and his own natural instincts - he dodges the blow and retaliates with a fist to the guy's face. Malice may be a vampire, but he's not exactly the strongest of his kind; the blow hits and knocks the guy off his feet, but he's not entirely down for the count.]

Oh come on—

[Today is just not his day!! Malice flings another firebolt out to put some distance between him and the bandits as he circles away, trying to pour more magic back into the soulstone to get his other arm working again.]

[revengier]

[ Malice's effort for distance works, the fire smoldering on the leaves forcing the bandits to rethink their strategy a bit.

More importantly, it gives Kurapika time watch Malice pour magic into that stone. ]

Would my magic help you?

[ He'd happily pour some of his into it if it'll work. ]

[annihilator]

[Malice inclines his head a bit as he considers, still keeping his eyes on the bandits.]

Not sure. I haven't tried it before - but I'd be willin' to take that gamble if it'll get my arm workin' again!

[revengier]

[ Yeah, why not try it! What's the worst that could happen?

So, Kurapika reaches out towards that stone and tries to send his magic into it. ]

[annihilator]

[It works! Initially the extra dose of magic is enough to get the arm to jolt, causing Malice to back up and pull the arm out and away so it doesn't risk hurting Kurapika. Thankfully, he's quick enough to do that, but then after a moment the magic settles and he flexes the claws experimentally.]

Well, look at that, seems to have done the trick!

[Good thing too, since it looks like the bandits are recovering from the fire.]

[revengier]

[ And he'll be moving back a couple of inches too, just so he doesn't accidentally get smacked in the face. ]

Good to see it.

[ Kurapika glances towards the bandits, who are now beginning to advance on them more outright, their weapons drawn. ]

Get out there. I'll give you backup.

[annihilator]

They ain't gonna know what hit 'em.

[And that's all the warning he gives, because Malice launches another firebolt at the bandits. This time they're prepared, though, and they move the moment Malice calls fire to his hand. Unfortunately for the bandits, Malice called that one and instead that firebolt causes a smokescreen effect - it's not very thick and Kurapika probably won't have too much trouble with it, but it definitely throws the bandits off.

Which is all the time Malice needs to take out one from the side. He doesn't hesitate - he goes for a killing blow with his (now fully working!) prosthetic arm.]

[revengier]

[ The smokescreen is disorienting, but Kurapika knows how to work with it, especially with it's lack of any major opaqueness. He moves in, using a bit of wind to stir up some of the smoke before immediately giving one of the bandits a chop to the back of the neck—a move to knock them out rather than kill. Given their first conversation, his caution might be a surprise to Malice, but Kurapika at least won't say anything about Malice killing them himself.

While Malice delivers that blow, Kurapika watches as the last bandit readies his weapon, clumsily making his way towards Malice. ]

Behind you.

[annihilator]

[Huh, so he'd prefer to avoid fatal blows... Interesting. Well, Malice has absolutely killed one guy, but he yanks his claws free and spins to face the other guy.]

Thanks for the warnin'!

[This time, he manipulates the earth, causing a tiny quake which is just enough to knock the guy off balance. As he falls, Malice is on him, once again stabbing without hesitation.

As for the others... well, it seems like they've run off. For now, at least.]

[revengier]

[ He watches as Malice goes in for the fatal stab and dusts off his clothes. ]

Looks like our work here is done. We should be able to get the nobles through without issue.

[ Although... before they leave, he'd like to address one thing: ]

How is your arm?