lunaecalamitas | you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Implanted. I didn't originally have the talent for magic, so they gave me eyes that heal anyone hurt or sick I look at.

[Settling back in his seat.]

They probably wanted to see if they could... besides, another test subject needed healing anyway. It was pretty much three birds with one stone.

[Nevermind he's conveniently left out the third factor involved.]

Anyone you look at...? That must be pretty potent if that's all it takes. [And possibly hard to control... is that the reason for the glasses?]

Though, I don't see what you mean by "three".

Less than you'd think.

[Maybe that's the tradeoff for the ease of use.]

The third part was seeing if they could offset the sacrifices needed to cast through surgery. ...But maybe magic in your world is kinder than mine?

[...]

It depends.

Is it a matter of equivalent exchange?

Depends on the value you place on your sacrifice versus the spells you cast.

In my world, all magic comes at a price. Sound, memories... even your own soul or life could be used, little by little, with every spell. And what, exactly, you have to give up is all luck of the draw.

My sacrifice is myself - my own body. They were hoping they could just patch me up again so I could use magic indefinitely, but it didn't work out.

They just couldn't keep up with the damages anymore.

[Ah. Thus the experimentation. With magical stakes that high and that random, no one would want to intentionally use it unless they truly did not care about the consequences... but it couldn't be said for those that would gladly put those consequences elsewhere just because they could.]

...I imagine it's just a matter of time before that takes its toll.

And yet you keep using your magic here anyway. Why?

[He gives a soft snort. Yeah, "a matter of time" indeed.]

It's not "my" magic the way it is in my world. I use magic here because I have no other choice.

For emergencies only, correct?

I don't blame you, if that's the alternative. I would wonder if most would have the fortitude to go through with it at all.

Well, it's not like it's particularly hard to get a gullible kid to go along with things either, as long as you play it right.

[But he shrugs off the thought. What happens in his world isn't of consequence here, so - whatever.]

At least this world's magic doesn't have such a high cost, and since a good number of the people who got brought in aren't really like your typical magic user, it's a lot more bearable.

[Thus, he deigns to help. Mostly.]

I didn't mean for those that trapped you. The fact that they resorted to that much speaks as much as I need to hear about what level of care I should place on them. [AKA: none.]

I meant you, being here, and choosing what you chose. I've already met plenty who stayed frozen in fear from their own experience and took weeks to do simple tasks.

That's the fortitude I mean. It makes me wonder just how long this has been going on, for you to steel yourself better than people far older than you.

Whether or not I do anything, I'm stuck here. And it's a problem for me if I die here, too.

But I mean, if you're offering to let me make you a promise to throw my magic all away...

[Don't threaten him with a good time, he might actually take it.]

No. [Immediate, sharp.

A beat later, he exhales and pulls his composure back together.]

Don't bother to joke.

I would rather see you live while you have some manner of control back, however you choose to do that.

See?

Too valuable to throw away easily, isn't it?

["It" - the magic he uses, rather than himself.]

...Even I can cooperate to get what I want. That's all there is to it.

I am not talking about your magic. I am talking about you.

Here is not the place to throw yourself away. Treat yourself with some dignity, and do not ask me for a promise again.

[He just laughs at that, because he doesn't believe it for a second.]

Sure, sure.

Well? Is your curiosity satisfied yet?

I'm serious. No promises. None.

[His tone is cold.]

Understood?

Trust me, if I wanted to get rid of my magic in this world, it would have been gone by day one.

[And if he ever decides to in the future, well - there isn't a single thing Solomon could do to stop him, now, is there?]

I'm aware. That is not what I'm asking.

[He stays cold against the sass.]

If you're going to go down that sort of route, I don't want any part of it. So joke how you wish, with who you wish. But do not make a promise towards me again.

But you're making it sound so fun.

[And getting such a serious response from Solomon just seems to entertain him all the more. What was he expecting from someone who hates magic, here?]

I'd consider that a deathwish that I'm in no mood to repeat.

[what the fuck does he mean by that? who knows.]

Oh?

[C'mon, that almost sounded like something juicy.]

[...

A firm exhale as he brings his cup to his lips. He doesn't respond further.]

[Snickering. He'll down tbe rest of his cup before he gets up to leave.]

Good night, Solomon♪

[And off he goes to bed for the night.]

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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