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

[troublereduction]

☆ At the ball
[ Day, for most of the part, isn't the kind of person to just stand by the sidelines during a party. He's put on the best outfit he can manage, and he's hitting up both the drinks and the dance floor.

If you're wallflowering, chances are he'll approach. ]

Not gonna dance?

[ Later in the night, Day can be found at the balcony with a drink in hand, apparently taking a break from socializing. He'll perk up once he hears someone approaching, though. ]

Oh, hey. Here for some fresh air too?

☆ The manor
[ Surprise, Day is in the kitchen, and on this somewhat rare occasion, he's cooking. There are some ingredients out: rice that for some reason sparkles, yam, a forked carrot... Day is currently peeling some corn, except the corn seems to be, uh, trembling while he's doing that.

Day puts the corn down on the counter wordlessly, seeming to do the equivalent of leaning back a little like he's unsure if he wants to put something that does this into food.

On some days, Day can be found sitting in the courtyard, practising a songon his erhu. The residents on Floor 2 (and maybe the ones directly above and below it) might be more familiar with the sound since he occasionally practices in his room instead, but for what it's worth, he's very good. ]

☆ Wildcard
[ Hit me up in DMs or the plotting TL if you'd like to do jobs or other things not listed here. ]

at the ball

[lustro]

[ Is Ginger wallflowering or is he taking a break? Hard to tell. At least he looks nice-ish. ]

The shoes they provided are - uh, a little stiff.

[ He hadn't thought to break them in before the ball, so now he's paying for it. ]

[troublereduction]

Shame, 'cause you're lookin' especially handsome tonight.

[ Is Day aware of how he sounds? Possibly. He also means it; it is a bit of a shame that Ginger is out there where more people can see him. ]

[lustro]

[ He flushes, but he can handle handsome over cute - probably. He does wonder, though, if Day is aware of how he sounds?? Day, that really sounds like flirting???

(Help.) ]

… Saying that to me when you’re dressed like that?

[ Who’s the good-looking one here, seriously. ]

[troublereduction]

[ It's fine. What are the chances that Ginger is going to be interested, anyway? ]

Oh, so you think I'm handsome? [ ...Now he's just teasing Ginger, as he settles next to where he's wallflowering. ]

[lustro]

[ It’s not the interest that’s an issue; it’s that Ginger isn’t very smart.

He goes a little redder. ]

I’m going to punch you. Of course, you are.

[troublereduction]

[ Amazing. They're both good at this. ]

Then I'm flattered. [ What, that Ginger is going to punch him or that Ginger thinks he's handsome??? ] You gonna just stay here?

[lustro]

Wow, asking me to dance? Sure your feet will be alright after this?

[troublereduction]

Have some confidence in my dancing skills.

[ Read: he'll make it work one way or another. ]

wallflowering

[leewards]

[Ithaqua looks up from the flute of champagne he's been nursing. He's found he's not interested in most alcohol, but champagne is sweet enough to please his palate.]

Mmh~? [Then he chuckles as he pulls the glass away from his mouth, enough to show his fangs.] I'm merely enjoying my drink.

However, if you're willing to wait until I've finished, I'll grace you with a dance. [If he's willing to dance with someone this ludicrously tall with his stilts. Or someone who is as imposing as Ithaqua in this over-the-top ensemble.]

[troublereduction]

[ ...Why does this feel like a challenge?

Nah, Day, you're just being silly about it. He gazes up at Ithaqua, like he's trying to decide if he can wing this.

Apparently, he does because he answers:]

Sure, I can wait.

[leewards]

Mmh. Your patience is appreciated.

[Though his companion doesn't need to wait too long, because Ithaqua is almost done with his drink. Just a few sips and then he puts it down on the nearest high-top table for someone to clean up later. Then he straightens, stretching his long, spindly limbs to warm them up before settling back into his usual, casual pose.

Only then does Ithaqua offer one hand, as if he were a maiden ready to be led.]

Let's go.

[troublereduction]

[ Goodness, what has Day gotten himself into... But he's not the kind to back out of his decisions either, for better or worse. He takes Ithaqua's hand to lead him to the dance floor. ]

Do you want to lead the dance, or should I?

[leewards]

Heheh! Do you think you can lead me?

[That is definitely a challenge-- and a small test. Does he have the courage or fortitude to lead someone this imposing? Ithaqua has no issue with leasing himself, but he's decided to make a little game out of this.]

[troublereduction]

[ This sure is a challenge, alright. Day weighs his options here: frankly, he has no idea how to lead OR follow when his dance partner is this tall, and figured he would just go with the flow and adapt, as usual.

But now that it's a challenge, Day can't just back down now, can he? ]

I'll do my best.

[leewards]

Heheheh! That's the confidence I was looking for. [Of course he passes-- he's brave enough to look at Ithaqua in all his glory and say sure, so Ithaqua will do his part.

He deliberately walks slower just to match his partner's pace.]

[troublereduction]

[ Day is well aware that with Ithaqua's height, he is not going to be able to do any regular kind of partner dance, at least not so easily. He holds Ithaqua's hand in one of his own, and then places the other on Ithaqua's other arm.

He's appreciative that they're starting slow, as he tries to figure things out as they go along. ]

How was the champagne, by the way? [ He hasn't had the chance to try it yet. ]

the manor --> kitchen;

[foresightis2020]

[ Well, Jing Yuan enters into the kitchen on this day to do a little something like that himself. Maybe?

He catches sight of the other cooking, and he's about to go about what he's doing when he notices the movement. ]

...How odd. Has it always been like that?

[ It is entirely possible he could've not noticed before. While cooking isn't impossible for him, he doesn't necessarily concern himself with it every single day and all that. ]

[troublereduction]

Honestly, I ain't sure? This is my first time usin' it.

[ ...And the first time he's decided he just wanted to make some porridge since he came here, really. ]

Think someone mentioned somethin' 'bout how the seaweed sounds like it's screamin' when you put it in the water, so maybe this isn't...that weird. [ It's just still weird. ]

[foresightis2020]

[ . . . ]

No...that is still quite strange.

In fact, it might be even more odd than whatever is happening with your corn over there.

[ Jing Yuan makes a mental note to evade utilization of seaweed at any given time, considering the potential consequences?! How unfortunate, and how potentially alarming in the worst of ways. ]

I wonder if it might have something to do with the spirits of this world...?

[troublereduction]

[ It is, indeed, still quite strange. ]

Y'mean like how magic might affect the plants and stuff?

[foresightis2020]

Yes, like that.

[ He begins to place certain ingredients on a table, probably looking to make something... ]

It could even make them sentient. Interesting, no?

[troublereduction]

...Sentient how?

[ Day's watching Jing Yuan put those ingredients on the table. What's he got? ]

[foresightis2020]

[ It seems like normal ingredients. Some fruits, some condiments, and the like; with a mutter underneath his voice, "I command," there is also a change in them.

Different fruits into bags of sugar, pepper, and chocolate. Just practicing some transformation magic.

But, he also has eggs which he will use to properly put something in a free pot. Late or early breakfast, anyone? He does need to eat; at least since there is no need to fry he won't be getting in the way. ]

Perhaps like being able to function and think; to feel and react. Aspects like those.

But to an extremely limited extent. What do you think about it?

[troublereduction]

[ It's the first time Day's seeing transformation magic in action, so he can't help but pick up the chocolate to examine, turning it around in his hand. ]

It doesn't sound too strange, especially for a place like this. Kinda like elementals back home.

[ Sometimes the natural elements just form manifestations, and those start with the limited ability to think and feel. ]