promittere: (Default)
lunae calamitas mods ([personal profile] promittere) wrote in [community profile] lunaecalamitas2024-04-18 11:41 pm

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
๐ŸŒ™ Welcome to your second event post! Get out your snazzy outfits. It's time to party.
๐ŸŒ™ 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!
๐ŸŒ™ 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!
๐ŸŒ™ It's been peaceful at home in the manor thus far, hasn't it? Do you think that will last?
๐ŸŒ™ 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.
๐ŸŒ™ Our next group to go on their mission is Central. Be ready, heroes...
troublereduction: (pic#17020440)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-07 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

[ He'll go back to peeling the corn! And while he's doing that, he'll chat. ]

Kinda? Stuff like the elevator and towers ain't a thing back home, or things like the machines in the West. And maybe it's 'cause we have magic and all, but it feels like travellin' around is a little safer here than it is back home.

...I guess the weirdest thing is suddenly bein' a wizard and how the people here react to that.
foresightis2020: (100)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-07 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course.

[ Jing Yuan begins to search for salt and pepper to put on his eggs. ]

Ah, so you're unused to this level of technology. [ It seems to usually come right back to that, huh? ] And I suppose it has been interesting seeing the kind of reactions others have to us being so-called wizards.

[ That's something that he thinks is also something he'll have to get used to. Adjustment phases are real. ]

...How is it safer here than back home? As I understand it, you also have magic or something like it where you come from, yes?
troublereduction: (day108_uncrop)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-08 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Down South, people were happy to see us. Prob'ly would have given us a nicer welcome if they weren't pressed with bigger problems back then. [ And Day hadn't realised how different it felt until that moment and he compared it to the occasionally cold reception he sometimes got while he was out and about in Central. ] Then again, the Southerners seem friendly in general.

[ He guesses divine blessings are functionally the same as magic anyway, so he'll run with that. ] And yeah, we've got magic back home, but a lot of people can't use it. There's a lot of dangerous stuff out on the road even for people with magic. Ain't like it's completely safe here either, just feels like it's less arduous.
foresightis2020: (65)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-08 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It seems Southerners being friendly is like, some sort of universal constant? He's going to seat himself and get to starting on his snack. ]

I see. That does seem to be quite a difference compared to the usual reception.

[ Hard not to notice, though Jing Yuan doesn't usually pay it much mind, believing it certainly could be far worse. ]

Then, it's just a matter of how many threats it's easier to run into. We haven't really run into much; well, not counting what you did manage to while on that mission. But, I'll assume that monsters are just as common in your world as it is here?
troublereduction: (day16)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-09 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ Once Day's done peeling the corn, he gets to cutting the yam and...squints that it's filled withnsomenkond of nougat-like substance? Huh. Interesting. ]

It's probably 'cause life can get pretty tough down there for everyone, whether they're a wizard or not. [ From what he's seen of it, anyway. ] So they try to get through things together more often than not.

But yeah. Sometimes it's people, but there's enough weird and dangerous things out in the world that you don't have to be a very unlucky fellow to run into them.
foresightis2020: (06)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-09 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Just taking a pause to make sure whatever comes out doesn't start jumping around and causing a mess (anything is possible with weird ingredients.) ]

...Hmm, unlike other places where there can be a clear divide between wizards and non-wizards. Such as even in Central.

[ Not that Jing Yuan has a whole entire history book on his hands about every single Country from the beginning of time or anything. ]

But, ah, yes. Dangerous creatures and people, the universal constant. Would you consider yourself someone who has had enough luck to evade most unfortunate encounters?
troublereduction: (day74)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-09 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Mother Nature sometimes bein' capricious ended up bein' the unifier, somehow. [ And he wonders if it would have been the case if the South wasn't basically Australia sometimes just difficult to live in. ]

[ There's this moment where you can tell Day is considering how to answer this question... ] Growin' up? Yeah. These days...not so much.
foresightis2020: (33)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-09 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
You do know what they say. It is far easier for opposing forces to unite together under one common enemy than to come together otherwise.

I'm sure you've seen or heard of such things outside of this world, yes?

[ ...Even if the very concept/thing is not necessarily something that would be put together in exactly the same words Jing Yuan has done so...but! That kind of thing is old as the Ambrosial Arbor. And yes, he sees the consideration, so, he will just truck along, keeping it edged towards idle chatter still, in some respects. ]

Ah, well, since you're here I can presume you've managed. Or had people to help you out of a bind or two, hm? You do seem like the type of person who would have reliable allies back home.
Edited 2024-05-09 04:44 (UTC)
troublereduction: (day105)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-11 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, 'course I have. Just kinda hits differently when you see it happenin' yourself.

And...yeah, I've managed. [ Day smiles a little at the memory. ] Though do I really give off that kinda impression? [ He's curious about how he comes off to other people. ]
foresightis2020: (06)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-11 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. I suppose I can't fault you for an answer like that...it is certainly a fact that matters of such a certain nature are different when viewing them firsthand.

[ As for the other matter, it might be a bit early to presume, but... ]

...But, you do. Perhaps that is a bit presumptuous to say as much from an initial meeting. Still, many who can carry conversations with a certain ease should be able to bridge and forge bonds with others to an extent that is easier than most.

Is it surprising?

[ Because it is still an early opinion. ]
troublereduction: (day101)

[personal profile] troublereduction 2024-05-11 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Not surprisin', but I'm always kinda curious what sorta read people get from me. [ He knows he's pretty friendly, but he's used to a wide range of reactions to that. ]
foresightis2020: (81)

[personal profile] foresightis2020 2024-05-11 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Understandable.

[ By this time, he has finished his meal. Jing Yuan's evaluation isn't exactly complete, but first impressions aren't exactly very solid for that reason. ]

Either way, I will leave you to finishing your preparations. I have distracted you enough.

[ With that, Jing Yuan will bid him good-bye, and leave! ]