#toa mission

[theofficersacademy]

As the monastery falls into a comfortable rhythm of a seemingly idyllic, though perhaps a little zany, day-to-day life, the new year brings with it a shake-up coming from the lands of Adrestia. Students and knights with ties to the Empire all receive news, one way or another, of the re-establishment of the Southern Church. In a holy place like Garreg Mach, it quickly becomes the dominant discussion, and day-in and day-out, it feels near impossible to not hear something about this new-old branch.

However, as the weather gets warmer and the first signs of summertime begin to encroach, the Central Church announces that it has received a distress call— and who else might be its sender but the newly rebuilding Southern Church? It's all hands on deck for the Black Eagles to investigate the matter and see what might be amiss, but beware, because you feel eyes and ears on you everywhere...

Black Eagles Mission: Investigate the Southern Church!

BE Mission Task Board

Most of your manpower is dedicated to fending off sudden bandit attacks. None of them are especially trained in combat, but their numbers are relentless, and they don't seem to be all in cahoots with one another either. Instead, the attacks seem to be coming from different gangs and brotherhoods in the area. With a bit of questioning though, all of them claim that word has spread like wildfire about rich yuppies from the Officers Academy roaming around here, and so many opportunistic marauders have set their sights on your group. Cut down one, three more pop up. They warn that punishing them will not stop the attacks, but nobody can give you a clear answer on who's spreading these rumors either. Every day, the number of injured increases, unless there's something you can do to change this... [Grants Axe +1]

It's the fifth case in just one week. Shortly after arriving in Varley territory, those from outside of Fódlan with horses have found that their steeds are much more agitated and acting uncharacteristically cold to even their trusted partners, throwing off their riders and ignoring all commands. It's getting in the way of work but it's also clearly making the locals feel anxious about the competence of your party and whether or not it's really safe to have you around. Get to the bottom of what's causing this, before the bond between horse and rider becomes irreparable. [Grants Riding +1]

Even without a clear understanding of what might be afoot here, your group has been ordered to remain in Varley territory. While searching for any leads, it is clear that the local soup kitchen could use a few extra hands, and although your own party is well-taken care of with regards to food and supplies, the same cannot be said for everybody that lives here. Perhaps if you can raise the comfort of living for the destitute, they might have a thing or two to tell you about what goes on in Varley lands, or perhaps you simply do this out of a desire to not see your fellow man suffer. Beware, however, that if you choose to share your own provisions, that some knights traveling with you are much stricter on guarding what's been brought with and given to your group.

To be on the ground might be the safest bet. Mysteriously, guard towers that your party have been using have had their ladders stolen and staircases in the inns you're staying in have their railings and steps suddenly collapse— pushing your numbers towards taking what could be grievous plummets if you're not careful. Scouting is being relegated only to those with some flying experience, but those with foreign mounts or wearing the Garreg Mach uniform have found themselves the target of archers. Who could be behind these attacks? And will you find yourself taking that great, big fall before you find out that answer? [Grants Flying +1]

It's not normal for a distress call to suddenly flicker into nothingness, right? But the Officers Academy higher-ups insist it's been investigated, and you have nothing to worry about. So what, then, is this strange dream you've woken to in the middle of the night, calling your name and asking for your help? Come to the bluffs tomorrow night, it asks, and we can meet then. But nothing happens. Come to the bluffs, the voice asks again. Is it a trap? Or is someone really in need of help?

Non-Mission Task Board

It's been a while since the monastery has hosted a tournament. Enter Lieutenant Lanton, with another of his marvelous ideas. This time, the name of the game is swapping. The Swap Showdown will feature contestants trading weapons, mounts, and armor before their fight. If a pegasus knight squares up against an archer, they must now turn a bow to their beloved mount. Think you have what it takes to come out on top?

After the War of Shadows, Archanea's fearsome wooden cavalry was doomed to fall out of fashion. Though its ballistae were able to once travel the world with their ballisticians, they relied upon a special type of fruit to create the oil that helped it move. Over time, said fruit disappeared, and all ballisticians were condemned to remain forever still. However, by virtue of a miracle, one Archanean transfer student brought the last collection of seeds with them and has been able to find success in growing it here in Fódlan's soil. Eager to test whether or not their oil works, a ballista in the style of the Archanea's faux-cavalry has been built on the monastery grounds. However, it turns out with so few people used to a man-made structure as big as this moving and an unfortunate malfunction in its construction, it's started barreling through the monastery pathways, destroying anything in its path with its driver utterly helpless to get it to brake. Your goal? Stop that ballista at any cost! [Grants Bow +1]

The tunnels of Abyss are full of secrets by their nature, but there are some which even its own residents are unaware of. One such secret, hidden behind a convincing wall of fake stone, reveals itself when someone tumbles right through and dispels the illusion. Others who come looking for them a short time later find only a huge, gilded archway at the end of the newly exposed tunnel. It pulses with magic, aglow with a swirling curtain of bright blues and dark greens, but there is no sign of another person anywhere. Word of this ‘Outrealm Gate’, as those in-the-know call it, spreads fast… and the outrage over what it could invite spreads even faster. Though nothing has come out of the gate, a mob of men is still set to destroy it first thing in the morning, but in the meantime, its mystery beckons you. Are you worried about the person who disappeared? Or do you simply fancy taking a peek into whatever world is supposedly on the other side, even if there’s no guarantee it’ll be a pleasant one?

The Mittelfrank Opera has taken its recruitment on the road! At the very least, the B-list director by the name of D'Silva has come to Garreg Mach to scout talent for a new production under his name. While his rather unconventional and experimental methods haven't made him too popular among the opera-loving elite, he lives and dies by the unique recording device he's gotten his hands on. As for what this show will be about? Well, that's what he's come here for. "The content will be determined by its actors!" he declares at the end of his rousing, albeit kind of crazy speech in Garreg Mach's town square. He's looking to fill all sorts of positions, from costume designers, to scriptwriters, to set artists, to the leads themselves. Will you take on a role and the potential to bask in the warm glow of fame? Or are you just here to get paid? Speaking of payment, or lack thereof, well… extra credit doesn't hurt, you suppose. [Grants +1 Authority]

From beyond the classroom windows comes a sudden, relentless deluge, and from within, a chorus of cheers. Surely this means your outdoor practice will be cancelled today! Even as your instructor marches you all outside and across a waterlogged field, you all hold tightly to this conviction. A field trip in the rain is better than training in the rain, after all, but all confidence shatters the moment he brings you to a stop at the foot of a hill. “You will go take that summit, and you will not let anyone else have it,” he says, pointing to its flag-topped crest. Immediately, groans erupt among your party, each of you cold and soaked to the bone. Yet while some grouse about the "extreme" rule that disallows weapons and the rain itself, others are taking advantage of your inertia and already elbowing their way up the slope. Your instructor, seemingly unbothered by the rain, makes it clear: join them, or accept your Fail for the class.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the divided task board work?

This season’s mission is assigned to the Black Eagles muses. Therefore, tasks from the ‘Black Eagles Mission Task Board’ must be undertaken by someone that is affiliated with the Black Eagles house. However, they may choose to perform the task with someone who is not from their group as well. In logistical terms, this means that if you play a non-BE muse and want to do a mission task, you must ask someone who plays a Black Eagles muse to thread with you. All thread participants will still receive any skill point rewards. Tasks from the ‘Non-Mission Task Board’ have no house restriction and can be undertaken by anyone.

These aren’t the only threads I can do, right?

Of course not! These are just prompts to help give some ideas of possibilities. You’re always free and encouraged to make up your own threads.

If my muse is not a Black Eagles muse, can I still write an open starter for the mission tasks?

Yes, but only the non-mission tasks. Your character must be affiliated with the Black Eagles to write an open starter for this season’s mission.

How do I claim the skill points?

In order to qualify for the skill point, the thread must clearly allude to the listed task and preferably feature the task being completed. However, you can still claim the skill point if your characters narratively fail. You do not need to message the masterlist to claim your skill point.

Can I only do one task?

Nope, you can do as many as you’d like with as many different partners as you’d like! You can do the same task with more than one person! However, you can only claim any skill points once.

Remember to use (and track!) the #toa open tag for any open threads, and you can also post a link to your open thread on the appropriate Discord channel! If you have any other questions or concerns, shoot us a message through the masterlist or on Discord!

[ladivamagnifica]

Blood (Manuela and Ishtar)

Faculty and Staff Mission Task Board: An overnight outage to the stables’ heating system results in the deaths of several wyverns, personal mounts and beloved lesson drakes alike. In their grief, passionate students vowed to sleep overnight in the wyvern stables to help them keep warm through the night. [Grants Flying +1] @mjolnrr

“Oh Goddess of the Earth and Sky; She who cast the stars to fill the endless night and set our hearts ablaze with love, how can thou be-est so cruel in your design, so abundant in our misery? When you took your throne amongst the heavens did you imagine bearing witness to this, the innocent grief of children? Of cold and bitter winters so merciless in their making that they could suck the life from our beasts and yet still hunger for more? Has thine heart e’er muttered a beat or hath the ice of this season quelled your love for us? Is this our retribution? Did we, your loyal servants, not do enough..?”

The solemn winter had brought with it a terrible agony to the monastery. Truly, it was hard to believe that such a tragedy had occurred all in the space of a single night: that unbeknownst to them all as they slept restless in their chambers one evening, the ravenging winds of the storm had wrenched open the stable doors, and bereft of their protection, stolen away the heating crystals used to keep alive and well the wyvern, drake and pegasi mounts, beloved creatures who had served their masters well. With such hateful weather and everyone confident that the stables, which had weathered worse storms in the past, would be secure, the need to check in on the animals the following morning had been leisurely at best; no one had heard their cries during the winds howls and shrieks. 

But that was all Manuela could hear now. 

They haunted the dormitories like demons, behind every closed door and sneaking into the shadows of every corridor. They whispered in the great hall the tragedy over and over again; they made the food taste bitter, laced with tears, and when the time had come to hold a requiem in the cathedral for the beasts they loved, those wretched cries became their hymns aplenty. Her own misery had joined the choir, lamenting the loss of darling foal she had watched over since its birth three months ago. A charming thing with silvery hair and striking blue eyes- now only gazing into the Abyss, at Death and its sweet silver bridle.

These bitter tears were not the first she had shed, and with venom she cursed that they would also not be the last; kneeling in reflection as she was, before the statue of Saint Cethleann, patron of grief amongst a great number of other things.

It had not escaped her notice that at some point during her private contemplation that another had joined her side, sometime between the end of her prayers and the absence of almost everyone else who had attended the requiem ceremony. She, like herself, wore drying tear streaks and an air of profound melancholy- perhaps not unusual given the circumstances, yet the air of loss was absent for this woman, and still, all the same she stood humbled and listless.

“It is cruel isn’t it?” Manuela said and sighed. “Those poor children… Some of them had been raising their mounts for months- it will be some time before they can learn to love again.”

The woman said nothing in reply, yet compulsion had Manuela desperate to end the silence.

“Even I have to admit that I’ve been undone by this tragedy… Morale was already low, so consumed by the bleakness of winter that we are, and now we are plunged into despair… I despise how easy it will all be to forget our sorrows. Not everyone, no, will be able to let go of this misery and I have no doubt some will be consumed by it, desperate to assign blame and make sense of something so utterly- well, unfortunate, the infirmary shall be haunted by this for many weeks to come.”

She waited a moment; yet again all she was met with was the disquiet of her thoughts.

“Ah, forgive me. I shall leave you to your mourning.” 

Rising, Manuela wiped the fresh tears from her eyes and turned, intending to spend the rest of this impromptu day wallowing in bed and finding solace in sleep, but what she had not anticipated was for the stranger next to her to speak.

“No, please… Stay.”

[demigod-shenanigans]

Thinking about how Jason lost his memories, and unlike Percy, he never properly got them back. Even in the later books he still feels completely disconnected from them.

Thinking specifically about how, unlike Percy who remembered Annabeth, Jason only remembered his training and his sister’s face—but he was so young when he got separated from Thalia that there barely is anything there for him to remember or hold onto. She cannot be the kind of comfort Annabeth is for Percy. She’s also not someone who Jason can ever come home to like one might to other siblings, seeing as she’s constantly on the move, specifically with a group of Hunters that doesn’t allow boys to join.

Thinking about Jason getting everything ripped away from him except his knowledge of how to be a hero for the gods. And he tries to learn how to be something else. He does. But he never quite manages. And in the end that is what kills him.

[dv-kelp-face]

*SPOILERS FOR MARK OF ATHENA*

Aaaaaah, he has no idea that he will be judo flipped soon

[alchemisticramblings]

for whoever wants to draw pregnant steve for some reason (why would you do that): have this abomination

(image not mine, i found this off the arcadia oakspedia wiki)

tagging @skryae and @yanyuleia for extra stegnant damage

[poppitron360]

Y’all when I eventually read HOO to my kids, I’m just gonna edit out the Caleo bits and write something else (maybe Valgrace) to put in those chapters instead and they’ll never know…

[fairybonesandstardust]

if you had told me when i first read the cupid scene that i would end up being lowkey envious of nico or that i would’ve given up anything to trade places with him i wouldn’t have believed you

[honeyxmonkey]

Thing in my brain of the Arcane kids having an adventure with the Greek half-bloods and Harley getting annoyed that they all think he's supposed to be as dark and brooding as Nico

[sentientsliotar]

I want Percy Jackson to be bad at surfing.

I am obviously inspired by Nico.

Picture it- the son of Poseidon, strengthened by the sea, with the ability to control the water, who canonically skateboards- repeatedly crashing into the waves after falling off his board.

I don’t know why this image is so funny to me, but I know Nico being a natural surfer makes it even better.

[imblocking-you]

Percy Jackson show coming out literally is like digging down and unearthing my roots, it was so formative for me, been there through a lot of transitions and phases, through meeting the most important people in my life now, getting to know myself and the world around me, life was so great, but i've grown up and come to know that life continues to be great.

The world doesn't end at 17.

[theofficersacademy]

The arrival of the Great Tree Moon heralds the new year, and with it farewells and welcomes as graduating students' dormitories are now filled in with new ones. Wherever you look, the halls of Garreg Mach are bustling, and the spring season's blooming flowers signal a hope for prosperous new beginnings. The past year had finished in peace, and those who come to make their first visit to the Goddess pray such tranquility continues. As the calendar swaps out from one year to the next, how will you come to be in these coming seasons? Shall you shift with the passage of time or shall you find yourself standing perfectly still, the same as you were in the time leading up until now?

No matter what life throws at you, you do not walk it alone. Do say hello to the faces that surround you, new and old, in preparation for the unpredictable future before you, won't you?

The monastery halls are bustling with fervor as both new blood and the old guard prepare for the challenges to come.

Mission: Prepare for the Academic Year!

Welcome back, everyone. The mission board for the next two months will be a special Anniversary mission board open to everyone regardless of affiliation, with tasks created by you! What’s more, each task will grant a skill point. 4 more tasks will be added in October, so stay tuned!

Mission Task Board

Students in the cafeteria have decided to make a game of eating their fruits and veggies—which is to say, instead of simply eating their food as a cooked ingredient or a snack between classes, many of them have decided to make it a game! Inspired by the ninja of Hoshido, it is called: Produce Slicer! Students compete to slice the most food in just a minute, earning bragging rights for being the top scorer. The staff don’t seem to be too fond of all the mess though—are you on the side of the game or the dining hall staff who have to clean up afterwards? [Grants Sword +1]

It appears a group of monster hunters is visiting Garreg Mach, known for their unconventional use of glaives that utilize secondary automatons to control the battlefield. With dozens of heads on their walls, the group has invited those at the monastery to join them on a hunt. But, why is it that this creature seems to have a consciousness that rivals that of yours? And why is it pleading for you to help it? [Grants Lance +1]

As the chill leaves Fódlan with the coming of spring, in comes the prime time for flower viewing. A nearby town boasting of their beautiful blooms subsequently finds itself in a pickle: namely, it has been discovered that these trees are highly invasive, and the order has gone out for them to be cut down immediately. Are you here to catch a glimpse of something you may never see again, or have you been sent to get to work? [Grants Axe +1]

You've heard it here first, folks: time to show which house is the best. Sign up here and show pride in your class by picking up your very own paint-filled arrows! Who can paint the monastery in their glorious house colors before the twelve hours are up (or the administration shuts it down)? The rules are up in the air, but one thing is clear: color your opponents in your paint and earn extra points for each building that is defaced in the name of school pride! [Grants Bow +1]

Guess what? It’s bandits! Standard routine at this point, right? No problem, you and your squad grab your trusty weapons and head off to put a stop to their crimes… except the villains evidently came more prepared than you, and the next thing you know, your equipment is all gone! It looks like you guys may have gotten a bit too complacent. Only one way to get out of this in one piece - in the absence of your sword and spear, your fists must be enough. [Grants Gauntlet +1]

A noblewoman from Adrestia is pleading that you rescue her wife, who she claims hasn’t aged a day in nearly a decade and is not the person she fell in love with. She believes dark magic is at work and the portrait painted of her wife has the woman’s soul sealed inside, which seems to only grow more and more grotesque with each passing day. [Grants Reason +1]

Studies at the academy are all about preparing oneself for the future, and this consideration has led to an exercise on…parenting! A lucky few students and professors have been chosen to raise awareness for a monumental new program. Assigned with caring for a magically powered doll that requires rocking, reassuring, and cosseting (that will totally not scream and cry at set intervals through the night) what will you and your aptly dubbed ‘partner’ do to meet the challenge? Or will mommy and daddy fumble the diaper bag completely? [Grants Faith +1]

Welcome to Sir Donald's, where the customer is always right, and it is YOUR very first day on the job! At Sir Donald's, we pride ourselves on providing our busy customers with food that they can easily take on the go, and it is up to YOU the precious employee to provide them that quick service they need. We understand that this may be a tad difficult with our recent severe understaffing problems, but in this fast-paced environment, we believe in our employees' ability to rise to these kinds of challenges and soar above them! (OR ELSE) [Grants Authority +1]

You wouldn't have expected snow so late in the year, but on a journey out it began to kick up a storm and now you're trapped on a mountain trail during a blizzard! Thankfully, there's someone else with you, and you quickly manage to build a shelter to ride out the storm overnight before picking up your journey home in the morning. But...uh-oh...it seems that when you packed, you had warmer temperatures in mind, because there's only one blanket! Are you too proud to ask to share, or are you the stingy type that wants to keep the warmth all to yourself? [Grants +1 Heavy Armor +1]

The arrival of spring brings with it new life and new opportunities: the time has come for the Academy to proudly welcome their first litters of wolf pups! Though currently they are little more than clumsy whimpering balls of fluff, they will one day serve as mounts for the new generation of Wolf Knights. Their health must be maintained, their condition perfect, and their first manners taught as soon as possible. Offer your time and attention to the task… or just play with cute puppies when the Knights aren’t looking. [Grants Riding +1]

One can be an accident, two an unlucky coincidence - but when a third pegasus returns to the monastery with arrow wounds in its legs, it becomes clear that someone is targeting the monastery patrols on purpose. The time has come to launch an investigation, find the troublemaker and make them stop. Unfortunately, it looks like they're crafty and well-hidden, not attracted by any other distraction. You and your trusty flying partner may have no choice but to use yourselves as bait. [Grants Flying +1]

A new attraction has cropped up on the scene called a ‘maid cafe’ and attention for its eccentric details has been rising! Cute faces adorned with frilly dresses and cat eared headbands serve various menu items to the populace, but many attendees have come instead for the opportunity to be surrounded by so many concentrated sources of cuteness at once. What’s more: the cafe is hiring part timers! Will you come to check it out and poke fun at your hired acquaintances? Or participate in the modish experience yourself? Whether your aim is blackmail or sincere interest, the Garreg Mach Maid Cafe is waiting! [Grants Any Skill +1]

NEW! Among the most recent shipment of new staves for the monastery were a few suspicious items of unknown origin that no one here recalls ordering. Worse still, the last three or four attempts to figure out how to use them have all resulted in random bursts of violence, including one full-blown fistfight and one spontaneous chair-throwing competition. That’s right - the time has come for the Academy to learn the power of the Berserk staff, whether they are ready or not! Your assistance is invaluable, be it in providing information about this sinister item or breaking up the next fight that ensues as the terrified monks attempt to master its power. [Grants Faith +1]

NEW! A new establishment has popped up just outside the monastery grounds, run by a mysterious proprietor. What is it in the business of? Encouraging team-building and leadership skills through cooperation! And how do they do that? Lock you in a room and force you to use your combined wit to escape! Rumor has it that some of the puzzles you will be confronted with are brain-bendingly difficult… but surely you can escape a room, can’t you? No brute force allowed! [Grants Authority +1]

NEW! An inventor from distant lands shows up one day, claiming to have created the ultimate extreme sport: sky-diving! Get on the winged mount of your choice, soar high in the air, and jump off. But don’t worry about becoming a pancake! The inventor has something called a “parachute” which, when released, will provide you a way to float safely to the ground, or if you’re daring, your mount’s back after a few tricks. The academy sees great potential in this to aid new and old fliers alike on how to manage being knocked off your mount–will you partake in this daring exercise? [Grants Flying+1]

NEW! It happened out of the blue one morning: a huge gaggle of young children toddling all over the Monastery! It doesn’t take long for someone to fill you in on the nitty gritty: that these are indeed the same students and staff everyone knows, and no they don’t know how this happened to make them like this. All that matters for now is that there are way too many children to watch over until this wears off and not enough hands left. Are you one of the lone adults left battling exhaustion and tantrums, or are you one of the children wondering why the grown-up looks about ready to cry? [Grants Any Skill +1]

Frequently Asked Questions

These aren’t the only threads I can do, right?

Of course not! These are just prompts to help give some ideas of possibilities. You’re always free and encouraged to make up your own threads.

How do I claim the skill points?

In order to qualify for the skill point, the thread must clearly allude to the listed task and preferably feature the task being completed. However, you can still claim the skill point if your characters narratively fail. You do not need to message the masterlist to claim your skill point.

Can I only do one task?

Nope, you can do as many as you’d like with as many different partners as you’d like! You can do the same task with more than one person! However, you can only claim any skill points once. Remember to use (and track!) the #toa open tag for any open threads, and you can also post a link to your open thread on the appropriate Discord channel! If you have any other questions or concerns, shoot us a message through the masterlist or on Discord!

[ladivamagnifica]

Trigger warnings: Medicine, mentions of blood and offal for medicinal ingredients

“Well, that seems to be the last of it.” Manuela said to herself, smiling as she closed her almanack with a soft thud against the desk.

Those brainless brutes who had willingly entered into the bloodbath the Arena had promised were fools, but nevertheless Manuela had done her duty as the head physician of the Garreg Mach Infirmary to ensure all wounds and injuries were tended to and healed in a timely manner, even if it had been utterly ridiculous just how many of them had managed to wind up half-dead, lying on red stained beds and cursing at the volunteers and healers for more painkillers (she had found three more grey hairs atop her head after that dreadful experience last month and had been forced to cancel not one but three dates with a strapping young Andrestian knight- a travesty which she had still not been compensated for); worse still was how such an ordeal had almost entirely drained their medicinal supplies, a monumental feat that would now take them an entire year to properly replenish given it was the dead of winter and the greenhouse was naturally focused on providing food for the kitchens, leading to a predicament that Manuela had only just managed to partially resolve with the help of the infirmary staff:

With supplies low, they were forced to rely on healing magic as the source of their primary care, which was neither sustainable nor ideal given how draining it was to the caster and how few staff and volunteers worked in the infirmary anyway (not to mention how many individuals well-versed in the healing arts were pinched by the Knights of Seiros to go off galavanting on far-away missions). This led to there being only one option: to scour the library and call upon local apothecaries in the hopes of finding alternative medicines and herbs which, while not as effective, could be used in the meantime for minor injuries and ailments.

Oh, it had been a woeful time- cooped up in that stuffy old library for hours with creepy, old Tomas (she swore that he always seemed to leer at her whenever she crossed his path, which never failed to send sickening shivers down her spine) and pouring over volume after volume of ancient herbal recipes… At least the chapters on aphrodisiacs had been interesting to read, even if the illustrations had been obscured with some sort of magic (no doubt that was stuffy Seteth’s doing, she knew he liked to confiscate any texts that were ‘inappropriate’). In the end, after many days of research and using the local guidance, herself and the other physicians had come up with a dozen recipes to test and trial made from mercifully local ingredients. Yes, some of them were rather unsightly, such as how wyvern eyes could be apparently boiled with mirthweed and moonflower pistils then ingested warm and whole to induce a deep sleep necessary for surgery, but Goddess damn it all, at least for the next month, anyone who walked through the infirmary doors and wasn’t dying could either choose to have the make-do medicine or none at all- it was their fault for getting injured in the first place!

Regardless, what Manuela was most proud of was the jar next to her closed medicine book. A small, unassuming glass jar messily labelled ‘Arena Herbs’ by her own shaky penmanship (a result of having spent the entire day working on the formula), containing an experimental recipe of her own design- it had yet to be properly tested, something she intended to do on the morrow following a well-deserved bath and rest, and there was the chance that such a mixture of ingredients (all listed on the jar just to be safe lest she somehow forgot and they suddenly disappeared from her almanack) would fail to produce the expected results… but if all went well, this particular recipe might be able to replace the ogre-blood tonic they had been using to treat infections and flu-like symptoms, and the medicine was condensed down into pellet-like pills instead of literally having to force oneself to down an entire mug of warm blood mixed with baked pegasus bone marrow and powdered cloves.

Oh, she was giddy with excitement!

Manuela merrily stood up and began to tidy up the desk which had been cluttered with more than just her book, including the remnants of gruesome ingredients, conical flasks, distillation equipment and her trusty mortar and pestle; the jar she left on her desk, for she dared not store it in the medicine cabinet just in case someone accidentally mistook it for something else, but since there were no patients occupying the beds on this moonless night, and she was the only physician in residence (again, she thought bitterly), it would surely be safe enough there on her desk. No one would be stupid enough to take unprescribed medicine anyway…

…

As was often the case these days, Manuela was not afforded the opportunity to sleep in or even awaken peacefully- the rapping at her chamber door confirmed that today, as well, would continue this trend of denying her any time to lounge in bed and rest her weary bones; her bedroom was a mess- but then again, when was it not?- yet in the darkness of the early hours of dawn, she tread a safe path to the door with weary expertise, yawning and adjusting her wine-stained, white dressing gown around herself. Goddess only knew how she looked, birdnest hair and wearing yesterday’s makeup, but the knocking was annoying enough that she would not delay answering it for the sake of her vanity.

“What?” She groused, but her tone changed when she saw the worry on the nurse’s face, “What is it, mia cara? What happened?”

“I-there’s- there’s been an accident! Miss Mae of the Black Eagles must have come into the infirmary last night while you were absent, a-and she took some sort of medicine- she’s tearing the entire place apart freaking out, you must come at once!”

As soon as the nurse stammered out the words ‘accident’ Manuela was hastily slipping on her slippers and dashing out the door, almanack in hand- damn it, damn it! She should have known leaving the pills out would have tempted somebody- if it had not been Mae then no doubt it would have been someone from the Golden Deer, foolhardy and reckless the lot of them were! Truly, just what were they teaching kids these days; any class of hers knew exactly why it was stupid to take medicine one was unfamiliar with, nevermind the dangers surrounding dosage, allergic reactions and the effects of magical poisoning- and why? What was anyone doing in the infirmary past midnight? Surely Mae would have not been foolish enough to simply take any old medicine for whatever had ailed her so instead of coming to a trained physician? Madness… Absolute madness… Her blood was boiling just thinking about it- nay, every second longer she dwelled on it had her spewing fire from her throat. Oooooh, poor, foolish Mae was so going to get it in the neck for ruining her relaxing morning!

Down the halls, the closer Manuela got to the infirmary, the more the pressure of a stress-induced headache soured her mood; the nurse who was struggling to catch up with her pace was doing a poor job at briefing her on the situation, which was further pissing her off at this point, and had it not been for the utterly ridiculous situation that she stormed into, Manuela might have succeeded in waking the Goddess in the heavens on high with how loud she intended to scream, cry and shout at the miserable soul for making such a serious mistake- but instead, for once in her life, she was left speechless.

“Grrrawwhhhh!”

The infirmary was a mess: most of the beds were toppled over, their sheets torn to pieces as if a cat had snuck in during the night and personally taken vengeance upon them; the medicine cabinets, all three, were left wide open and bottles were askew within; remnants of the ogre blood tonic had been spilled onto the floor, sticky and pungent against the stone tiles, and in the shadow of the two nurse-volunteers (whom she presumed that they, alongside the nurse cowering meekly behind her, were the ones on duty for the morning shift), sitting in the farthest corner of the room, was the screaming, bright pink-haired villain responsible for such a commotion… except, Mae wasn’t entirely looking human. A fuzzy tail, pink of course, was swishing wildly behind her, and she seemed to be tugging on some sort of furry growth coming from the top of her head, causing her to scream out in pain and confusion: cat ears.

Oh Goddess…

Oh, please, no.

Manuela’s throat went dry, “Mae… What medicine did you take?”

@sweetroyalberry Thank you for agreeing to let me bully Mae >:D

more moss than medicine

[randomwriteronline]

The port was bustling with beings of all sorts. If the noise hadn't already been enough to make him as sick as a De-Matoran exposed to the faintest buzzing of a far away Rama, the bodies shoving him around like an empty sack and squashing him between them would have gotten the job done.

If somebody apostrophed him he either did not notice or did not aknowledge it; frankly, in a place like this, it was better that way.

Masks, teeth and snouts melted in his vision as he passed through them, struggling to breathe as the tremors that had started rattling him half to death hours ago still refused to give him any respite. Within the swirling typhoon of his own thoughts he realized numbly he had nothing on himself - no currency of any kind, no object to trade, no means to survive beside his own tool.

Then, like a dream, an unusual Kanohi flew past him.

His yellow eyes fixed on it.

He managed to move only as it was disappearing off towards the docks, devoured within the shifting mound of bodies: he bolted off after it with newfound energy as he shoved his way through the much larger beings blocking his path.

"Whexie!" he cried out: "Whexie!"

The white-armored Toa stopped in his tracks and looked around, a puzzled expression beneath his mask.

Relief swept over him as he recognized the Calyx.

"Whexie!"

The Toa's gaze fell onto the golden Hau, and lit up.

"Lhi!" Whexie shouted back at him, arms raised and already hurrying over to him: "Lhi! Brother of mine!"

They joined fists in a quick salute before Lhikan was pulled into a tight hug: "Great Spirit," he wheezed as he grabbed onto the cold armor like his life depended on it, "It's been so long."

"It has! Ah, it really has - how many years? A thousand, two, three?"

"What are- you," the Ta-Toa struggled to speak "What, what are you doing here?"

His friend pointed to a ship docked not too far away, all abuzz with Toa of Ice: "Just stopped to restock - we're off to get some brothers and sisters for a team or two. What about you?" a laugh snaked into his voice: "Don't tell me they're still sending you off on errands!"

Lhikan would have laughed about it too, because he'd always hated running errands, and maybe he would have groaned before confirming his punishment, or playfully shoved him off for assuming he was still being treated like a freshly turned novice after all these centuries of hard training.

But the Toa of Fire only managed the momentary ghost of a chuckle, and though he tried, and tried, and tried, his words failed him.

His grip onto Whexie tightened, shivers wrecking him once more; his brother's smile dropped quickly as his friend's condition visibly worsened in the span of only a few seconds.

Before he could press on, Lhikan spat out a single word: "Frostelus..."

The Ko-Toa stiffened: "An attack?"

"The," Lhikan stuttered, "The fortress..."

Whexie's hold on his arms turned steadier, his eyes resolute - they'd known each other for so little, all things considered, back when he'd come along to a visit to his cold brother's own fortress, but his readiness to action was the first thing that had stuck out to him and that he had so terribly envied even after the two had become fast friends: "How far is it from here?" he asked quickly. "If it's close enough it'll take us nothing to--"

But Lhikan shook his head, and his voice sputtered out of him like dirty water from a faulty faucet: "N- n- Whe- Whexie, no, it's - gone, it's gone, it's gone, the for- fortress is, it's... It's..."

He stopped only as kind arms wrapped around him again.

"Oh, Lhikan," he heard breathed into his audio receptor. He clung again to the white armor while a hand pressed comfortingly on his back. "How many of you escaped?"

The tremors turned harsher. "Me," the Ta-Toa started as if making a list; but no names followed his.

The hug enveloping him squeezed him a little tighter.

A kind chill seeping into his muscles offered a welcome respite.

The hold on him shifted suddenly, slipping around his shoulders to press him against his friend and sustain him, as though he was going to fall to the ground at any moment.

In all fairness, with how hard he'd started shaking again, it wasn't that silly of an assumption.

"Come," Whexie said with such a tone that it almost sounded like an order while beginning to drag him away from the spot he'd seemed to root himself in: "Come, brother of mine, come with us. We'll take care of you."

Lhikan struggled to stand his ground, to halfheartedly pull away from the kind grip: "No, no - Whexie, there's- I'll, I won't--"

"It is no good to walk alone in a universe as vast as this, even with masks as powerful as yours and mine," the Toa of Ice cut him off. His frigid tone melted a little as he tugged his poor brother closer, so much that their heartlights could have been mistaken for a single one from a distance: "You'll always be welcome among my kin. And I told you, didn't I? We're setting off to assemble a team or two. I know there is no one beside whom I'd want to fight more than you."

The lone Fire Toa's yellow eyes wavered briefly.

His head laid hard against Whexie; stiff shoulders at last sinking with a long sigh which was equal parts grateful, relieved, and still so awfully guilty, he allowed himself to be taken to the ship without offering any more resistance.

"Mata Nui sent you here, brother," he whispered before one of the more seasoned Toa could stop his work to holler down at them, demanding to know who he was.

He felt a cold hand squeeze him comfortingly: "I'm glad he did."

[super-powerful-queen-reyna]

Look y'all it's Camp Jupiter

Michael Kahale and Octavian

*hiss*

Yeah no he looks like him but he doesn't kill stuffed bears

Preparing for war games

Hello pilums! Wow they're beautiful

Oh shit that's a lot

Oh no.

That's onagers ! It's actually a war against Camp Half Blood! Nooooo!

YEET! (bye octavian!)

[realmsprotector]

Wishlist!

So, let's get this started, I guess the best way to do so is to post some prompts I'd like to try? Both from this month's board missions and some outside of it! Feel free to ask about anything here via im? I'll be happy to plot with everyone!

Mission Task Board:

Monster... Danger? [Lance +1] As a Knight of Seiros, it is Geoffrey's duty to see to any students or staff's security if they were to take on those hunters' offer to hunt with them- no complaining allowed, he's coming with.

Flower viewing or flower chopping? [Axe +1] He was sent there to help with the cutting down of those invasive trees, but even him can enjoy the view of such beautiful flowers and is having a hard time doing his duty... How shameful for a knight! (Still...) (plotting with legault!)

Buried in the Snow. [Heavy Armor +1] If you didn't know this before, you'll soon learn about how that new Seiros Knight is Stubborn and won't let you give him a centimeter of your one and only blanket. He will be your blanket before he even takes said blanket FOR himself. (forcing the blanket on ryoma >:/)

You are allowed to pet it... Once! [Riding +1] Yes, he's helping with the wolf pups! Yes he had no experience with that, but he's trying his best! (Maybe taking care of horses isn't that different? Hopefully...). And yes he'll allow you to pet them and play a bit with them if you're carefully and gentle and- No, no, he doesn't want to pet one himself, he cannot! (plotting with pelleas and ena!)

Non Mission Board:

Look at that, another lance wielding blue-haired guy! He just wanted to do his job and do it well, but the new environment and place- and people- can be a bit overwhelming. He wouldn't mind meeting new people (or old friends again), but he might be a big clumsy at it right now! (Which he shouldn't, get a hold of yourself Geoffrey!).

Also, have you seen Queen Elincia, is she well?

[carmennivis]

80 years in the face of eternity

Someone - or something - has been disturbing graves in the monastery's graveyard. The knights are busy with preparations for the monastery's defenses, and so patrols to the site have not been a priority. If you have some rare free time, would you bring peace back to these departed souls? Then find the culprit, even if it means having to spend the night surrounded by the dead.

@thankudeath

The graveyard was cold and silent. The sky was overcast and nearly black, no stars able to pierce through the thick veil cast over the skies. For several nights now, there had been reports of a hooded figure standing over a single grave, the only thing visible being glowing red eyes. Some claim it was death itself visiting the recently departed, others made accusations of grave robbers. Either way it was a hot new topic for gossiping over the table in the dining hall.

Tonight was, once again, one of those nights. Standing in front of one grave in particular, a short hooded figure was playing a song on his flute. But this wasn’t death, no. It was a student, Nils, of the Golden Deer House. He stood over the grave of a recently deceased old nun, playing a mournful song.

Once the song ended, he allowed the last note to drag out just for a little bit longer, before it finally stopped. Taking the instrument off his lips, he began to speak, his voice trembling slightly. “There… I finally got to perform for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t do so sooner…”

For the past few weeks, Nils had been assisting in the care of an elderly nun that lived at Garreg Mach. She had no family, and often kept to herself. But she was very passionate about the choir, visiting almost every day when they had practice. It was apparently something she was in charge of, several years ago. By chance Nils got to talking with her, and they found they got along quite well!

She was still recovering from an illness, but they had agreed that once she recovered, they’d go outside to see the wildflowers that are in bloom this time of year, and that she would come see him perform. He knew getting close to humans was difficult, but the woman treated him so very kindly, he.. was looking forward to getting to know her better.

Perhaps that was his mistake. Humans were fragile creatures, living for only the smallest fraction of the time he would. ….she died, only a few days ago, both promises unfulfilled. Now he stood there over her grave, contemplating why he even tried at all.

“You’re all so fragile… why.. why do I even bother with humans…” He said, his voice full of sadness, but also something akin to bitterness, almost. Losing someone hurt. This was exactly why he avoided becoming too close to humans. It.. makes it harder to move on when they inevitably pass. Before it was his time, he’d have to say goodbye millions of times. And that scared him. He already had other humans in his heart, against his better judgment, and the idea that they would all pass on someday, eons before he would… it scared him.

His shoulders shook as his small frame trembled, holding back sobs. Then, he suddenly heard a rustling sound. Quickly turning around, he spoke up. “W-Who’s there?!”