lunaecalamitas | you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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

[ It IS attack on Jing Yuan although since this plushie has Leo's personality imbued in it, it's probably gonna get distracted by the bird up there.

There's the occasional playful jab of a toothpick as he climbs victorious to the other shoulder...! And then peers around Jing Yuan's tower neck to see the bird? Bird friend??? he waves with his toothpick sword. ]

[ The bird will happily chirp at Leo as he climbs up further. As for the playful jabbing of the toothpick...Jing Yuan can put up with something like that.

When Leo waves at said bird, it only chirps at him, peering curiously from where its perched on one of Jing Yuan's shoulders. ]

My little friend says hi to you as well.

I wonder how exactly this has all come to pass, however...

[ Leocchi is trying to climb around the front of Jing Yuan's neck to get to the bird to pet it (?) help him. Or the bird. Help one of the two.

There's outright laughter from someone else nearby, though, so Leo's probably actually within eyesight now. ]

[ Leocchi can easily manage to climb onto the front of Jing Yuan's neck, and get to the bird to pet it. The finch seems to chirp at the attention from the small one.

Though, Jing Yuan turns his head towards the source of the laugh...where is Leo the real deal right now? ]

Hm? What's this I hear? Someone laughing at this sight?

Hey, hey~! Jing~! [ He just. Cuts off half the name there, huh. This is pretty typical for Leo and at least he did get the half he tried for right...

The real deal Leo is sitting on the banister a little ways up? UNSAFELY...it's fine, maybe, probably. Meanwhile Leocchi is now trying to hug the bird. Birb. <3 ]

Jing Yuan.

[ Jing Yuan says lightly, but as a reminder, looking far too amused, eyes right on the other hanging on the banister, though certainly not glancing away in case Leo might fall.

The bird is perhaps seemingly more tame than most might or should be. It's not a normal finch, but that is why the small Leo can very well hug it. ]

Still enjoying yourself?

...Even if you are seated rather precariously.

It's fine if I fall if I call up a broom!

[ ...can he do it that fast, though?

The small Leocchi is hugging the bird. It's happening. Can he RIDE the bird? ]

[ Getting the strong Yanqing vibes here... ]

Oh? And you assume you would do it in time?

[ Hecking crying, yeah he can if he wants even if the bird is currently just perched in place, chirping intermittently. ]

[ Didn't Jing Yuan miss Yanqing being around giving off vibes...but yeah, they'd get along well. They just have different obsessions: music and swords. ]

Well, my reflexes are pretty good! I can jump and see? [ He hasn't yet he's just...willing to...

Meanwhile, chibi Leo mounts the bird...ONWARD, STEED? ]

[ Yeah, he missed those vibes... ]

On second thought, considering the fact we have had more than enough time to practice our capabilities, I do not believe a demonstration is necessary.

However, I can imagine it well enough. Satisfied?

[ The birb begins to hop around on Jing Yuan's shoulder just a bit. But doesn't take flight just yet! ]

We~ell...I guess that's fine! But I'm gonna slide on down, then! Coming in~!

[ Well...he has to get to the side and then get to the banister part with the railing he can slide down...

While he does that, Leocchi is waving his toothpick and stabbing the sky! Upwards! ]

Do try to be careful.

[ Sliding down is permissable; better than jumping, in Jing Yuan's opinion. Satisfied with that, he will wait for the other to safely get down.

The bird, in the meanwhile, seems to chip, as well as take orders (?) and begins to fly around. Have fun with your little ride, Leocchi! ]

[ He's the happiest plushie, if plushies can in fact have feelings. MAYBE THEY CAN? WE DON'T KNOW?

And Leo manages to stick his sliding landing, with a dramatic pose. ]

I'm always careful~!

[ This is the biggest lie anyone has ever told, ever. ]

[ Anything is possible in a world full of magic and whatnot. Anyway, he will simply watch the other eventually finish the landing. ]

Hmm...at the moment I have nothing to doubt that. Not exactly.

But, I should hope that remains the case. It will be up to you to maintain that expectation, so I will be counting on that.

[ Not that he expects it will do much for someone rambunctious in certain incidents, but it is the thought that counts, or something like that. ]

Whoa, that sounded so responsible! [ Or, you know, dad-like...? Leader-like...? It kind of sounded like something one of his friends might say, though with less outright nagging and scolding. ]

Well, I don't really wanna cause trouble for you guys, so don't worry about it too much. I think getting people to smile doesn't count, though!

[ Jing Yuan has to act vaguely like either one of those two things at times. Vaguely, because with there being people Leaderesque, it seems that at times he can take it at least easier here. So maybe more Dad here. ]

Oh, trust me, I won't. Worrying causes far too many wrinkles.

[ Said pointedly. Life is too short, or perhaps, very long with short windows of opportunities, but one has to make the best of them. ]

...Well, you wouldn't find any disagreement from myself about getting others to smile. That's something that can be done easily enough without causing much trouble.

Hm, I'd like to think so~! There's a lot of serious customers around here, though, aren't there?

[ It's all the angsty backstories. ]

[ So many angsty backstories...people like that need a bright spot of sunshine in their lives. ]

You're correct.

I've encountered quite a few who could do with some good cheer. Or perhaps, a bit more of relaxation. [ An amused smile appears, though. ] Suggesting as much is likely not to go over well in so many words. But, a generally openly bright personality can do wonders for such people.

[ And kindness in some respects, he thinks. ]

So far I've gotten along with mostly everyone~? Although I don't think they all take me seriously. ♪

[ That doesn't sound like it bugs him, though. ]

Haha, maybe not yet. But, give it some time.

Does it bother you?

[ Leo doesn't quite sound like it does, but he figures he'd ask anyway, curious to hear what the other might say. ]

Nah, not at all~! I mean, that's pretty much how people back home see it, too. I'm halfway doing it on purpose, aren't I~?

[ It's not a question. He totally is, but he doesn't mind sharing that with Jing Yuan right now. ]

I figured that might have been the case.

[ Intentionally being the way he is with no worries about the effect, but he thinks that is how Leo prefers to go about it. ]

I assume, after all, that is how you prefer to go about matters, hm?

I think it's easiest. ♪ Besides, it's not like I'm not the way I act like I am~? But I'm a genius before I'm anything else, you know.

[ He means: he's a lot smarter than the silly antics say. ]

Ah, but of course.

[ This is extremely funny...why are the West Country people like this? ]

A genius? In what field, exactly?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

you opened your eyes, spreading it wide

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