eastern mission

[promittere]

LACRIMOSA FOR THE CLOCKWORK MOON

It's just as dawn breaks on this dreary morning when Lazuli seeks out Shinjiro, Yamato, Mikaela, Phillip, and Ginger. He isn't gentle with the way he handles them, and though he is typically stoic, things are a little different this time—there's an urgency, a pensiveness to the way he ushers them into the lounge.

Tatara is waiting for them there, pacing, uncharacteristically. Once the five are sat down, Lazuli locks the door and casts soundproofing over the whole room. Whatever this is, it's a sensitive matter.

"I know this is sudden," Tatara begins, still standing, his voice low and even. "But a letter came in from the City of Rain and I don't think this can wait."

He pulls out a letter from behind his back, bloodsoaked, and begins to read aloud:

On behalf of the City of Rain, we hope this letter finds you well.

We would like to thank you once again for your assistance in cleaning up the blast site outside of the city. Our gratitude cannot be overstated.

However, we have another urgent request: Despite our best efforts and precautions, the city has fallen under siege by the very clockwork automatons we were attempting to scrap the week prior. It seems not all of the affected pieces made it to the scrap pile, and some have even found their way out.

We are unsure why or how these automatons have come to life—they speak and move as though they have sentience. They are hostile and aggressive towards us and refuse to let us leave our homes until their "plans" are ready. We do not wish to wait long enough to find out what those are.

Please help us at your earliest convenience.

When he's finished reading, he folds it and hands it to Phillip.

"What with the blast, its possible connection to the moon fragments, and the City of Rain's role as a witness, I can't help but think this mission is going to be crucial. I need you to go to the City of Rain and free them from this siege immediately."

Afterwards, Tatara and Lazuli escort the five wizards to the manor tower. Tatara expresses his regrets that neither he or Lazuli can go with you, but he bids you the best of luck. He drops a mana stone into the mechanism, pulls the lever, and waves you off.

OOC NOTES

Welcome, Eastern wizards, to your mission!

Missions are mod-guided events that are partial CYOA, partial play-by-post instances. In general, you are free to interact with a scene as you please, and the mod will tell you how the scene reacts as a consequence of your actions. Some scenes will allow for more flexible threading, such as exploration or conversation, while some scenes will require strict turn order to preserve rounds, such as combat or other time-sensitive conflict. The mod will inform you if strict turn order is required at the start of a scene. Regardless, always be sure to bold any important actions you take.

This mission has been specifically tailored to Eastern disposition, attitudes, and magic. If you find yourself struggling to tackle a situation, refresh yourself on the description of the East on the locations page, and make sure to confer with your teammates too!

As a bonus, here's your theme music!

You will have until 11:59 AM EDT on Saturday, May 18 to reach a conclusion for this mission. Good luck!

» NAVIGATION

Comments

EN ROUTE

[promittere]

[ When you arrive in the Eastern Country, the sky is blanketed in a thick cloud cover, and the rain roars in your ears as it pours.

You've been to the City of Rain before, of course, and you know that it's going to be about an hour or so by broom to get there. Use this time to chat amongst yourselves and come up with a plan of action. You are also free to inspect the letter, since unfortunately the sender is not around to answer your questions...

Besides the sound of the rain, it is completely still and silent, as though the world is holding its breath. But should you take a moment to close your eyes and listen, you'll feel the spirits rejoicing in your presence. Without the noise of your fellow wizards around, you'll feel comfortable, at ease—the spirits are welcoming you home. ]

[dadsandals]

[ This is. Lol. Lmao. Yamato looks especially exasperated at the prospect of having to fight these things for Reasons, but he glances at the other wizards. ]

I think we need a plan before we charge in head first.

[ LOOK HOW THAT ENDED UP FOR CENTRAL.... ]

[mirristry]

[Phil looks... somewhat less bothered by the idea of having to fight things than one might expect of someone who seems to be a complete shut-in!]

Yes. While it's clear that some sort of combat will most likely be necessary, the fact that our opponents are automatons means that there might also be a way to weaken them before we even engage with them.

[Holding up the letter!]

Would anyone like to take a look at it for themselves?

[dadsandals]

Sure. I'll take a look.

[ He'll hold out his hand out, take the letter, and inspect it. What can he garner from it, mod-chans... ]

[promittere]

[ The letterhead on the letter is official, which means it is a legitimate request, and not a trap. The paper is also fresh, which means it had likely been sent out the day before, or two days ago at most. This is a very recent development.

The writing is neat, indicative of someone who was hoping to preserve some sort of decorum, but hurried. This situation was not anticipated, and measures were not in place to prevent this.

The bloodstain looks as though it has seeped through layers of other things before reaching the paper of the letter itself. It also seems fresh, and though it is no longer damp, the blood is still bright red. Whoever had this must have been attacked not long after it was written. It seems the attempt to send this letter was a life-threatening one, at the very least... ]

[dadsandals]

It's an official letter, probably sent out a few days ago.

[ He'll just relay this to the group. ]

I think the sender wrote this in a hurry, and the bloodstain looks pretty fresh. The blood might have seeped through some other things before getting to the letter. It's like they got attacked while writing it. Wonder how it made its way to us.

[lustro]

[ Like the others, Ginger wears a blue woven bracelet for this mission. He's somber as the situation demands, but feels the spirits chipping away any extraneous worries he may have - which... would usually be many. It feels like he should be stressed, but it's hard when the rain and spirits gently welcome him so. ]

... I see. That's - hm. [ It should be more worrying, but he thinks about the representatives at the ball - and he thinks none of them cared to worry when the previous wizards disappeared. It's sad, either way, he supposes. ] Maybe they weren't alone, and the other person managed to escape.

By the way, how are you all doing so far?

[mirristry]

[It's a pointed question-- one to be expected, to be sure, but also one that Phil doesn't really feel like answering honestly when he doesn't even truly know the answer for himself.]

As well as can be hoped, I suppose. [The purple bracelet around his wrist helps ease the burden just slightly in its own way.] Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case for whoever sent this to us.

[He wonders whether they're even still alive...]

We should probably make our decisions quickly.

[dadsandals]

[ To Ginger: ]

Concerned, to say the least.

[ He'll remember his bracelet, too. It helps him keep his mind clearer than usual. ]

But I agree, as long as we're cautious. These missions are no joke, if what the others went through is anything to go off of.

[lustro]

That's a given. I don't know if I should be glad that our mission comes after all that we've been through, but at least - we know a little more about this world. And each other.

[ After Bitegate, they are kind of a unit. ]

I know I can count on you all. So please, count on me to have your backs.

[mirristry]

[Phil nods.]

My magic may not be at the same level here that it is in my world, but even so, I'll do my best. I am still the Biqe, after all.

[And he has a reputation to uphold!]

[dadsandals]

[ Aw... He smiles, at that. ]

I'll do my best, too. We won't lose anyone today.

[ ...is the hope, but he'll choose to have faith, regardless. ]

Just call out if you need someone's help, okay?

[ MIKA. ]

[lustro]

[ He smiles at them all briefly, eyes crinkling, before he sighs and gets back on topic. ]

I do think... we have to consider if this is... a trap. The blood seems fresh, so - if the sender died trying to get the message out, it's not impossible that... the person who killed them is the person who...

[ Dramatic trail off... bc he's from a BL. ]

[mirristry]

[A nod to Ginger.]

I don't think we can entirely discount that possibility. Or if the blood itself was staged... it certainly makes for a strong motivation to lure us to charge in without considering our actions first.

[dadsandals]

Those are good points, and given how the general populace feels about wizards...

[ Mmmmmmmm. ]

How do we proceed, then?

[lustro]

[ It's rough because they're going in blind. ]

We just need to trust ourselves first. [ Nooot exactly saying don't trust humans, but... BUT. ] Let's run things by each other before we make big decisions.

[mirristry]

[Hmm.]

It may also be a good idea to share what sorts of magic we've been each been focusing on so that we're all aware of each others' strengths and weaknesses on that front.

[dadsandals]

I've been working on curses, but I know a handful of offensive abilities, and I can make a temporary barrier, too.

[ It's like. Not the strongest, but he learned it from Urianger! ]

[lustro]

Uh - I guess what I've been trying to do is also... under the umbrella of curses, like a sort of compulsion.

[ He's really working on it for himself,,, ]

To... suggest that my target feels a certain way. But - ah, of course I haven't used this on any of you! My success rate isn't that high, it's just something I could do before - because of what I am. So it... was just instinctive to work on it here.

And. I've also been playing with the idea of a reflective barrier.

[mirristry]

[There's no judgement from Phil, at least!]

I too have been attempting to adapt my own offensive artes to this world's magic, with moderate success so far. As for the magic from this world... I admit that I've been focusing more on seals than on curses, but that would be due to personal preference.

The wider the spread of the abilities we have at our disposal, the better, I would think.

[shortleash]

( When they got the rundown for their mission, Mika summoned his inventory to his pack - not particularly worthy of note, other than the faint scent of roses that spills from beneath his cape, now. He's not confident he can summon his amulet from too far away if under duress, so he's packing it now.

As for the rest... Mika has seemed unperturbed by the mission, the death, and the automatons - though the news of it seemed to surprise him, slightly. The scent of blood, as ever, provokes a reflexive swallow in him; one he resents himself for. It's this group who worries him; Shinji seems sturdy, but the rest of them don't seem particularly made for combat. Yes, magic can close the gap some, but that doesn't doesn't make up for experience.

He's been quiet as the group has discussed, his lips pursed into a thin line. He'd have to be the one to make sure they don't get hurt, this time. As much as they may say the past is the past, Mika remains wracked with perverse guilt - a need to atone. Maybe it's because he's still not wholly sure how to parse love.

He speaks up finally, once they begin to discuss specialties. )

... I can fight. I've been fighting since I was a kid. So leave frontlines stuff to me.

( He isn't sure what Phil can do, but if it's hocus pocus wizard stuff, then he's probably ranged, right? (And he better be, with a body made of papier-mâché like that.)

Mika thumbs the rapier at his hip. )

I can lock down enemies with vines. Large groups of them, if I have to. ( Within their current capabilities. Yay CC. ) I can also sap their strength and give it to myself, to make me stronger and faster, or to you all, to do the same, or to revitalize you. It's not as good as real healing, though, so don't get hurt.

... I have to spend a bit of blood to use my magic, too.

( His heart's decay has caused him a lot of trouble when trying to use magic, and he's found blood has worked as the most reasonable medium so far. Most pertinently, because these are all drain-type abilities, he needs a victim to drain in order to use them. He can't do much to patch someone up without a willing sacrifice.

(... Which he'd probably offer himself for.) )

... I think what we should do first is survey the area, possibly from our brooms. We need to be careful, because we don't know if they can attack us up there or not - ideally, they can't. If there's a lot of them, we might want to bait them out of city - or, at least, bait waves of them away from their allies, and take care of them one by one.

( He glances at East for their assessment. )

[dadsandals]

...That's a good idea, actually.

[ The surveying thing, baiting them... Can they get a vantage point like that without getting seen, he wonders - he's sure there's a way. ]

I think we can pull it off. What about the rest of you?

[ He'll keep the blood thing in mind, though, but he won't say it. ]

[lustro]

[ Ginger's not too worried about summoning his items from far away since his memories of his room are so strong, linked to moments that have changed him in small, vital ways in their short stay. As a celestial creature, memories are everything. It would probably be the closest method to killing him as an existence.

But - he did pack some things. He has a small vial of dandelion wishes, a couple of healing towels, and bag of coffee beans. No food because he doesn't need to eat unless it's a Mika night. ]

We can work with the blood. [ As for the rest: ] How would we bait them? Do you mean... send only one of us in first?

[ He does NOT like that idea. ]

[mirristry]

If that is the plan we choose to utilize, we should send me.

[This is Phil's Business Voice, a far cry from his usual much softer timbre. It's likely for that exact reason that he's quick to explain:]

I'm more than capable of defending myself, but when it comes to appearances, I suspect they might find me less immediately threatening than some of the rest of our number.

[He doesn't look like any sort of combatant and he knows it. In a situation like this, that fact would most likely work to all of their advantage.]

[shortleash]

( ok so we're catfighting in the lobby to figure out who gets to put themselves in danger first, )

No way. Yeah, you might not look scary, but you have the most to lose if something goes wrong.

( An extremely pointed remark. He's not totally outing that Phil is made of glass bones and paper skin, but he's not afraid to reference his outwardly poor health. )

Look. It depends how smart these things are. How sentient is "sentient"? There's a chance we might have to use physical bait, but I'd rather we didn't start with that. Can any of you use illusions?

We could scout, look out for any somewhat alone automatons, and see if it takes the bait and goes for an illusionary person.

( Considering it attacked a mailman, Mika assumes they might be operating on an "attack on sight" level of hostility. He folds his arms. )

... The downside is that if it parses illusions, it'll probably alert its allies. But we shouldn't be too close, so we should be fine enough to evacuate.

( Thinks... )

... We could also always use one of those rich guys from the ball.

( mika, )