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

[impacter]

[Solomon's rather late into the kitchen, a quiet thank you to Bruno as he moves to fetch himself a cup.]

This was very kind of you.

[He'll be keeping his eyes out across the dining room, watching those that had particularly closer calls for the evening. But he looks spent and distant.]

[fallingsand]

I mean, it was mostly for me...

[ He needed to do something that wasn't going to his room to freak out in the aftermath. He was barely even there for that mess and it was still terrible. ]

But tea's not hard to make in a larger quantity, y'know?

[impacter]

Mmn, that's true.

[He holds the cup closer to his face with a slow inhale. Ah.... this makes him miss Barbatos quite a bit.]

Still, there's no need to downplay an action of kindness. It makes all the difference sometimes, doesn't it?

[fallingsand]

I... yeah? Yeah, it does, doesn't it? I mean, it's just what my sister would do and, honestly, everyone would be tons better off if Julieta were here instead but. I can do this, at least.

[ He's 100% certain his sister would somehow be able to make vampire-friendly food that would have instantly healed Mika and everything. ]

[impacter]

Is there a need for comparison?

[Like, he knows how you're gonna answer, Bruno, but he's gonna ask it anyway.]

You mentioned your sisters when we first spoke. More than one, right? Julieta and...?

[fallingsand]

Kind of? I'm not. I don't think I'd have thought to magic up some calming tea if I wasn't thinking of Julieta.

[ Bruno can keep himself from starving as far as kitchen stuff goes but it isn't his kingdom, always his sister's instead. ]

But yeah. Her and Pepa.

[impacter]

Inspiration does not equate to skill. If she is dear to you, I'd hope she would be proud of what you've managed.

[It's not guaranteed, because family came and went, good and bad and in between. But for the fondness that Bruno speaks of his own family, he wants to hope for the optimistic.]

You seem fond of them. Are they older? Younger?

[fallingsand]

[ Solomon can hope for the best but, unfortunately? It's complicated. Still, Bruno cracks a smile when talking about his sisters. ]

If you want to get really technical about it, they're older, but only by a few minutes.

[impacter]

Ah, triplets? What a handful!

[i look at abuela with my eyes and stare into the sun in despair

anyway]

Have you always been close with the two of them?

[dyingtohealyou]

[Mood. They can both be tired norths today. He, himself showed up a bit later on accounts of having to change clothes and clean the blood off.]

[impacter]

[Hello, tiny North, here comes Solomon to sit across from you in relative silence.]

You did well tonight.

[dyingtohealyou]

[Oh cool it's shady grandpa. He doesn't have the energy to protest, but he DOES take an extra long sip of tea so he can prolong having to respond.]

...Healing's normally my thing back in my world. I've been working on it here in case of emergencies.

[impacter]

Here I thought you didn't care for magic.

[It's said in a slightly joking way - he's old enough to put two and two together.]

I could see you excelling in it easily. You keep a very level head for someone so young.

I'm a little concerned for how comfortable it seems to you, to be honest. Only so much can come by instinct.

1/2

[dyingtohealyou]

Oh, don't worry. I still hate magic.

[Smiling dangerously bright at those words. Three weeks isn't enough to undo everything from his earlier life by a long shot.]

[dyingtohealyou]

...Anyway, why would that be a concern? I'm good at what I need to be, aren't I?

[You're the one who wanted him to work, dude.]

[impacter]

You are. Your talent isn't the concern. Or rather, I hope it isn't. Your approach is very practical even though you dislike it so much. It makes you a reliable person.

[His eyes soften slightly as his smile fades.]

My worry is that it's something you've been forced to do.

[dyingtohealyou]

And now it's worry.

[Just kind of - darkly amused. That feels rich coming from someone so steeped in magic.]

What do you think happened, then? Why do you think I'm so good with magic, even though I can't stand the stuff?

[impacter]

Yes, worry.

[He keeps his volume low.]

You're young, which rules a few things out. Your speed and instinct shows either that you're a prodigy of study or that you were born with a very natural gift. You don't have the hesitation of someone who relies on a patron, so your magic comes internally.

Your bitterness speaks of a world that has either hurt you or something close to you. An injustice done by magic, or someone with high ties to magic. You're upfront and mature in crisis even if you waver outside of it - far more than I would expect your age - and like I said before, you handle your own magic with confidence despite your feelings. You have something to prove, something that matters more to you than simply being a magical doctor who doesn't want their powers.

My initial guess is that you're from a family, organization, or country that requires magic to be used for means outside of your control, and that you're human enough to either feel or see the suffering it can cause. You hold onto sympathy over hate in the moments it's needed for the same reason, but they are moments you choose for yourself.

[He'll pause to see what Ahito thinks.]

[annihilator]

[Hey, Solomon. Malice shows up at some point, changed into fresh clothes and looking none the worse for the wear, though he does flop into a seat nearby with a sigh.]

Thanks for the help tonight. How're you holdin' up?

[Seems like he might have exhausted himself with all that magic...]

[impacter]

Ah, Malice. [His smile comes easily, despite the fatigue in his voice.] Better now that I've had some of this tea. Bruno's enchantments really are potent.

It's good to see you're okay.

[annihilator]

Glad to hear it. Can't really try it for myself, though.

[Vampire problems... But anyway!]

Yeah, I heal up easily. Though I'd rather not be on the receivin' end of another magic attack like that, Khun's pretty damn strong.

[It's a good thing it was ice and not fire or he'd actually need healing...]

[impacter]

He certainly is. We're lucky he disengaged as quickly as he did.

Mm... [He stares down into his cup, brow furrowed in thought.] I wonder if the effect would work if you fed from someone under its effects... I can't say that's something I've ever really tested with enchantments before.

[Mostly because drinking blood isn't really a thing, and those demons that ate more than just a soul went for the whole body anyway.]

[annihilator]

Itha suggested somethin' similar, but with alcohol.

[One of these is a terrible idea, the other is not. Thanks, Malice.]

I certainly wouldn't be opposed to tryin', but I don't need to feed just yet, so I don't wanna take from anyone after... [gestures] all'a that.

[impacter]

Ahah.... dear Ithaqua must have some interesting ideas on what alcohol does. I think if you could taste it in someone's blood, they'd have to be too intoxicated to be conscious.

[Like, you do you and all, Malice, but also: don't try that at home if it's a human you don't want to kill from alcohol poisoning.]

Mn... yes, I hope I didn't come across as pushing for that. Maybe we can find another way to help bring you some stress relief.

How are you with scents, usually?

[annihilator]

Huh... Is that how it'd work?

[Okay, note to self: do not try that!! Let's not kill any humans just so he can see if he can somehow have a little booze, as a treat.]

Nah, you're fine. An' I'm pretty sensitive to smell. Why're you askin'?