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

[revengier]

[ He shakes his head. ]

There's no need. I'll be fine.

[ Because he really thinks that he will. Besides... ]

Go back to the ball and enjoy yourself. Forget about this little mystery.

[lighthaus]

That implies that I haven't been enjoying myself. I know how to play the crowd in all matters of the word, but it really would have been a boring ball if there wasn't some excitement involved.

[ he's also not really one to forget things either, but he figures that's implied. ]

[revengier]

And excitement is whatever happened here?

[ Wow. Khun really is similar to many of the Hunters he's met. ]

Really. I'll be fine.

[lighthaus]

I'd say you really haven't been to too many noble balls, but I know the answer to that. Nobility is the same way wherever you go, even if the colors and names are different.

[ hmmm. well he's far from socialed out, so he really should stay longer. ]

Then I'll just escort you to the entrance hall.

[revengier]

[ Kurapika finally stands, brushing out some of the wrinkles in his suit. He may be just about ready to crash into bed right now, but he wants to look decent. ]

...Alright, fine.

[ He has a feeling Khun won't give it up, so Kurapika will allow him this much. ]

You know, I really haven't been to a ball before. I've been to parties thrown by the rich, but not this.

[lighthaus]

[ khun also slides off the desk, conjuring a mirror from his (somewhat) reclaimed hammer space to adjust his own clothes and of course, hair. aesthetics aren't important.

he'll also go over and smooth out any wrinkles or crease that kurapika might have missed, particularly around his collar. or at least attempt, since he can be batted away, in which case he'll just offer him one of his usual smiles in response. ]

As part of being a Hunter?

[revengier]

[ He frowns when Khun starts adjusting his suit, allowing it up until he starts messing with the collar, where he bats Khun's hands away. ]

No. As part of the mafia.

[lighthaus]

[ Good enough, khun's pleased with his efforts. ]

Mafia... is that the name of a gang? [ It sounds like one (and i would not put it past one of the innumerable gangs in tower of god to call themselves that), but what's a mafia. you people and your old world words. ]

[revengier]

More or less. It's organized crime.

[ He motions for Khun to get going. If he'll be escorting Kurapika, he better do it properly and hold open the door and all. ]

[lighthaus]

Like FUG, then. [ it's such an imposing gang name. khun does hold the door open for him, that is the aesthetic of these things and even if he hadn't insisted it's just drilled into him. of course that also means once they've left the room, he loops kurapika's arm in his own. ]

I'm guessing being part of the mafia grants you some perks that being a Hunter doesn't.

[revengier]

[ FUG.... the most threatening name in the world.

You know what? It's fine. He's not going to fight Khun on this, so he'll just allow it to happen. ]

Of course it does. You gain access to all routes of information gathering that not even Hunters have access to.

[lighthaus]

Through blackmail, extortion, bribery, and all that fun stuff. [ maybe to khun it's more blithe than fun because he's not so much a sadist as he's just a person who delights in getting what he wants. which he might be relishing now as they reenter the public eye as they are. ]

And protection detail, if they're inviting you to parties? [ he assumes that kurapika isn't being invited to them to network given how much he wallflowered here. ]

[revengier]

[ Khun... he should have known your plan!!! He huffs when he realizes. ]

Yes, all of that. [ Which he's done time and time again for his own reasons and not for the mafia. ] We are the security detail. As boss of the family, I've decided we make most of our money through providing security and gambling.

[ Legal means. ]

/2

[lighthaus]

[ heheh. well he won't brag about it.

namely because that casual drop absolutely throws him off. kurapika can appreciate the genuine look of befuddlement on his face as he takes that in. it's not that he can't see kurapika as boss, because he can, though that's a bit surprising on his own.

(if he was older and could see his future, he might have actually lost it though.) ]

...You're the boss? [ entirely rhetorical, he just needs to put it out into the air. ]

[lighthaus]

And they didn't teach you how to dance? I guess that explains why you never threw a ball...

[ ...yeah that's what he's hung up on actually.

what are your underlings doing for you kurapika, they should have your back in all matters! ]

1/3

[revengier]

[ He's about to say something along the lines of "of course" he's the boss, especially after taking in that very rare look of surprise on Khun's face.

But then— ]

2/3

[revengier]

[ BITCH????? ]

done

[revengier]

[ Just for that, he uses the fact that their arms are looped as momentum to sway to the side and shove Khun's shoulder hard. It's an unconventional shoulder check, but it certainly is one nevertheless. ]

[lighthaus]

[ wow??? he definitely stumbles a little because it's hard to account for that momentum shift when you're linked with someone else but also because he really was open there.

he laughs though and recovers somewhat cleanly. ]

We can fix that. Dancing and libraries... I'll make a note. [ for their future rendezvous or whatever stupid name he gave it before. ]

[revengier]

[ Of course he recovers just fine. Of course.

But that's not what Kurapika focuses on, feeling a wave of satisfaction at doing something so immature in the first place. ]

...Fine.

[ Arguing is moot, he thinks. No matter what he says, he'll be dragged out and off the mansion's premesis, he's sure of it. ]

[lighthaus]

[ he notices that look, but as he's also satisfied, he doesn't feel the need to try to one up him here, at least physically. he does take time to readjust his suit with his free hand though. ]

Good. [ and yeah, he absolutely would be. ]

For the record, if I have to lose, I always make sure I get something out of it. But I think we look more attractive like this than on the floor.

[revengier]

[ He’s about to comment about the merits of winning and losing, but… how can he when Khun says something like that? Kurapika immediately frowns. ]

What do you mean by that?

[ He knows, but the only way he can feel like he has an upper hand here is by making Khun explain it. ]

[lighthaus]

Hmm, do you want to hear it so badly?

[ his mother raised him to be a lot of things, but being modest or shy was not one of them. unabashedly and without missing a beat. ]

Well, you're not as beautiful as me, but you have your own charm. Particularly when you make certain expressions.

[revengier]

[ All Kurapika does is sigh, not really bothered by Khun’s bluntness—and rudeness. ]

Well, beauty doesn’t make up for a terrible personality.

[ And no, he is not going to ask about what expressions Khun means! ]

[lighthaus]

Good thing that's not all I have. [ that expression kurapika is making might be one of them. khun doesn't really tire of teasing, unfortunately. and it's not like he's ever really tried to hide that he's Terrible in all the ways either. ]