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

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan keeps watch of the water play on display for him with a bit of curiosity and making a conclusion about what it represents. ]

Has it been peaceful, communicating with them?

[ Humans are bound to cause trouble amongst themselves, he knows that for a fact. But with other beings, that can be debatable. For better or worse. ]

[leewards]

Of course not. [Honestly. Is there any other answer? Humans hate each other for breaking whatever rules they come up with, they'll obviously hate anyone who isn't human.

It was simply how life was in the Plateau, and it is clearly the same here, where people with magic are essential to daily life, so why should it be different anywhere else?]

Living life entirely separately is far more peaceful. As long as they ignore my existence, there's no reason for me to retaliate.

[Now he goes searching for the watering can he set aside earlier, along with a sack of wood chips and dead leaves for mulch. With the trellis done, this is one of the last steps.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Peace seems to be something far out of the reach from human hands, though Jing Yuan can only ponder if it necessarily has to remain that case, even in distant lands. ]

I see. While it's unfortunate that humans seem to fall into the same kind of pitfalls even in different worlds, I can only hope that when you return home, you're able to catch ahold of a peaceful life once more.

[ For whatever else needs to be cleaned up/cleared away, or other miscellaneous tasks that can assist with prettying things up, we can assume Jing Yuan is attending to that in the background. ]

[leewards]

[Given the man is still hanging around and looking like he wants to help, Ithaqua holds out the sack of mulch to him. There, that's an implication of the chore he can do.]

The forest is only peaceful with no humans in it. If they can resist the call of adventure or hunting, then that is enough.

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan takes a hold of the mulch and gets straight to work...it truly is like being in his own garden as he begins to use said sack properly to help with the garden in general, but productively.

Spread some here, some there... ]

The call of the hunt is always something humans will endeavor to enjoy, unfortunately. Have you tried to stop them when they've engaged in such an activity?

[leewards]

Of course I have-- my own activities have turned into their own legends. [More like they started to associate his work with pre-existing legends... as is typical with such superstitious folk.

He crouches down to start watering, pouring water directly over the ground near the stems rather than over the whole plant.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Well then. Most who didn't know better certainly would've gone for the whole plant. His own efforts manage to be in moderation, but based upon the current size of the garden-to-be; quality over quantity, naturally. ]

Legends?

...New ones? Or old ones?

[leewards]

Both~

[It's just something about stories and legends that if you talk about them long enough, you end up believing them.]

What beasts live in the woods? I am those. [Not just "that", but "those".]

[foresightis2020]

Ah...so legends tending towards the exact sort people will tell amongst one another in warning.

[ Tales of caution and the like. That's about as predictable for what humans tend to be, in general. ]

You don't seem like the type to be bothered by such things, however.

[leewards]

Why should I be? [He gives a shrug.] Not all stories are true, but they must have basis in truth somewhere, and these are no different.

They speak of a beast in the woods, and that is definitely not about anyone else.

[foresightis2020]

Hmm...

[ No different, huh?

While that is usually true, Jing Yuan has to wonder about that. Though, even stories based on lies were created to cover up a truth. ]

You may not have gotten along well with humans, but I do hope you had at least those who you could call allies.

[leewards]

Wizards are not humans, thus I'm completely fine with everyone here in this manor.

[The sage though... He'll need a bit more time to figure out his feelings on the matter.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan eventually finishes up with the mulch, putting it to the side once he's done. ]

Oh?

...I suppose there might be something like a loophole since we're all considered 'wizards' while we're here.

But, you'll hear no complaints from me; especially if it prevents animosity.

[leewards]

It's a simple distinction to make-- humans haven't their own magic, after all. [So, by this world's rules, people with magic are not human. And every person in this manor should be damn pleased that Ithaqua is not going to break into their rooms to kill them while they sleep.]

Thus, I have no animosity with anyone. Should it develop, that would depend entirely on the other person, and not me.

[Look at him, he's just peacefully caring for plants. Why would he bother antagonizing anyone?]

[foresightis2020]

[ Well, that's reasonable-sounding enough to him, even if he simply just smiles at hearing that. ]

I imagine it would.

Oh, and it's quite obvious, but I've finished with this. [ Pointing back to the bag. ] Are there any seeds in particular you'd be looking for this little project?

[ He'll look at the ground once more, expecting there probably needs to be some finishing touches before moving onto purchasing. ]

[leewards]

Hmm. [Ithaqua strokes under a leaf of one of the newly-planted saplings.]

More gourds would be good. Perhaps some legumes. More leafy greens would not go amiss, even if we have so many here already.

... I suppose fruits as well. We have the room.

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan categorizes the list provided, and he yawns just a bit.

All of those sound like doable items to shop for. ]

Hmm...alright.

Anything you want done before the shopping spree commences in earnest, Ithaqua?

[leewards]

I can handle everything else, unless you're capable of building a fence and then going off to shop.

[Ithaqua can handle it anyway, it's not as if he never did it before.]

[foresightis2020]

Hahaha...I'm afraid building fences is an area I'm still lacking skill in.

[ But, he will accept this. ]

I'll gather the materials and come back soon enough.

[ Jing Yuan goes off to get the list of items. It will take about as long as one would reasonably expect, particularly also because he is also ensuring that he focuses his attention on getting the necessary items.

...Maybe slightly longer because he falls asleep standing up at least once, but regardless, he returns with the items just the same, gourds included, which can be done easily enough by holding, even when bundled together. Because he just transformed their size to small things, and will return them to their normal ones once they're settled on the ground.

The seeds for all of the mentioned plants are contained within pockets. ]

How is your progress coming along?

[leewards]

[Ithaqua stays watching Jing Yuan's back for a long while even after the man has actually left the area and is no longer visible in the distance. He is just too perplexing for Ithaqua to comprehend.

Then he just shakes his head and pushes some mulch aside in order to make space for the inevitable new arrivals, napping in a tree until Jing Yuan comes back.]

Mmh? [He shakes himself like a dog before hopping down from the tree, landing on the points of his stilts like he's been doing such things for a long time.]

What was that?

[foresightis2020]

[ Jing Yuan gives a considering hum, not quite having anticipated the other to be found exactly like that. ]

...I might have asked if you had gotten enough sleep.

[ That is actually not what he asked, but if the other hadn't been awake or able to pay attention, Ithaqua wouldn't know any better, no?

He spaces the gourds out properly and begins to fish out the seeds from his pockets. ]

But it seems you have, haven't you?

[leewards]

Mmmnnn... [Not unlike the grumble of an annoyed cat, really.]

Don't change the topic. What were you saying when you arrived?

[Jing Yuan may tease him all he likes, but Ithaqua would like to keep working on the vegetable patch and have a nice harvest soon... with magic to help, of course.]

[foresightis2020]

[ Why so serious...!

Anyway, he lets out a small chuckle of sorts at the grumpiness he is getting in turn. ]

I was merely asking about any progress in my brief absence, that's all.

[leewards]

What progress is to be made without supplies? [He waves a hand at the garden patch.] Building a fence is inadvisable while everything hasn't found a place yet.

I also want to see what you brought. [With that, he crouches down and picks up a gourd. No plain seeds, eh? Oh well, Ithaqua can just open them up and germinate them in water.]

[foresightis2020]

Well, I can't say I'd be able to predict if you had or hadn't...though you certainly won't find any argument here.

[ Though he imagines the other could have simply built a fence regardless if he wished. ]

If there's anything you feel that's missing - ah, I suppose you'd make that clear easily enough.

[ In the end it becomes obvious what he's gotten is just as requested for the general seed gathering, alongside the fruit selection of seeds (once shown) being random but generally with a good variety that won't be unreasonable for a garden of the size Ithaqua has put together. ]