May Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

May Event and Intro Log DAWN OF THE FIRST DAY May I Have This Dance? Though Diatu Magicademy has its share of social events, few capture the attention of the student body quite like the Twilight Ball -- that magical once-a-year dance that crosses the change of day into night and is given over entirely to the dance itself. The focus is not on political visitors, rival schools, local government, or hitting up alumni for money; it is entirely about the pleasure that comes from accompanying a charming and attractive person onto the dance floor and cutting the proverbial rug. It is entirely possible the Twilight Ball is beloved because the general student body is aggressively amorous, but no one admits that out loud. With the dance on the horizon, the mission of the day becomes finding a partner -- or asking the prettiest or nicest or most tsundere to the ball before anyone else does. The Sundered are particularly popular by virtue of being new, so students may find themselves fending off invitations or even crowds of people interested in being seen on their arms. Even the younger Sundered have a few people in their age group who'd like to pretend they're just as adult as the older students. To avoid the mob, one strategy is to find someone else in dire straits and agree to be their date, thus giving both of you protection now and then. Another, stranger, vastly more unorthodox strategy is to actually ask someone out legitimately... if you've got the guts. (The third strategy is to go with Headmaster Birony, who has been occasionally heard to bemoan loudly and publicly that she has nobody, HINT HINT. But who could possibly be THAT desperate?) Love Is In The Water Love potions are absolutely, positively, one hundred percent forbidden, on the grounds they tread far too close to the supremely black Curriculum of Dictation. This ultimate and unforgiving ban is every bit as effective as Anastara's rules limiting the speed of carts in the street to a horse's walk. So, yes, there's love potion in the water. Someone spilled an entire bucket in the river. These things happen. Luckily, as diluted as it is, the potion doesn't reach the levels of obsessive compulsion that the worst of them can; a person drinking a unfortunate draught instead simply finds themselves attracted in a weird and sharp sort of way to the first person they lay their eyes on, for a period of about thirty minutes. Diatu Magicademy is an inclusive and progressive institution, and consequently these potions affect and can target all manner of beings, from ducks and wolf-shifters to robots and dragons. They are pretty convenient about failing to bring about really skeevy pairings, though, so don't worry about being Hot For Professor. Special Delivery (aka the Least Embarrassing Prompt, which is a sad state of affairs) A quick, easy, profitable way to make some money this time of year is by delivering messages, packages, parcels, and treats to students who've caught the eye of another. Whether anonymous or gloriously identified, small token of esteem or bristling bundles of roses and chocolates, the population of the Magicademy takes particular delight in letting others know their feelings. Not always positive feelings, either -- glitter-bomb rejections have only recently begun to diminish in popularity, being replaced by Pie-To-The-Face spells. An enterprising student who adds their own spin to this hallowed ceremony of delivery can make bank; singing and performance are popular ways to enhance a message among Valhudor students, and a recent trend finds quartets delivering acapella harmonies to the recipients of love notes. But simple note hauling can still be worth your while... so long as you don't find yourself delivering a creepy confession from a weirdo to one of your dear friends. What are the odds of that happening, though? Research On the Sundered With the arrival of the Sundered come those wizards engaged in research on their presence here, now set to investigate what brought them here and how to get them home. All newly-arrived Sundered students are asked to meet with representatives of the research team, to introduce themselves and relate what they will of their homes. In addition, the team requests samples of blood, hair, and skin -- carefully magically collected, and the researchers will sign in the presence of the Sundered a Glyphed contract that forbids them from using the samples for a purpose they know will be harmful. (They quite understand your reasons to be suspicious of this collection! And they will not compel anyone who refuses even given these conditions.) This month, however, the research team informs its applicants that there is no magic being performed. Instead, they ask you to participate in partnered interviews, in which two Sundered compare their worlds and ask each other questions while the researchers take notes. They explain that they wish to find commonalities and differences between worlds, in the hopes that this will help them identify a larger pattern in how the Sundered were brought here. How is this bad enough to merit earning a reward this month? As it happens, the researchers who sit with the pair have an Intimation Crystal, which shines red every time someone speaks to deceive in its presence. Lie or omit information or cover with half-truths and the interviewer will ask you to go back and try again -- and they encourage you to speak on everything you can. You might end up venturing into dark or unpleasant territory in these interviews... DAWN OF THE SECOND DAY Welp, This Happened A quiet weekend morning is abruptly quiet no longer. With a tumultuous shuddering and an eerie, whistling roar, the first tendril of a far mightier being surges out of a wall on campus, venturing into the cloud-shadowed outdoors for the first time in its existence in this plane. Then, like a cloak shrugged off, the outbuilding it emerged from rises up only to crash to the ground as the Sundered creature rises up to claim it glory. It is a nightmare, a horror. A terrible, indescribable thing as large as a small building —a shapeless agglutination of protoplasmic bubbles, faintly self-luminous, and with myriads of temporary eyes forming and un-forming as pustules of light. For some inexplicable reason, it is colored in bands of purple, black, and gold, and several parts of it sprout white feathers. That's the bad news. The bad news is that this existential threat to reality does not go unnoticed, nor unchallenged. Mere moment after the Sundered creature makes it presence known, a cold wind begins to blow. The temperature abruptly drops thirty degrees, leaving those around in a clammy and miserable chill that feels like they've passed their whole body through one of the ghosts of Makerion Keep. This estimation is not too far wrong, for the pale off-white dragon that emerges from the clouds above is translucent and ethereal, save for the shining eyes of coldest blue that fix on the beast like pinpoints of fire. What a ghost dragon is doing here is anyone's guess, but when it opens its jaw to unleash a withering cone of necrotic energy at the Sundered creature, it demonstrates plainly that it will not brook this interloper on its domain. In other words, Diatu Magicademy is now home to a kaiju fight. That's the bad news. The BAD news is that both these creatures are, by their very nature, incredibly resistant to magic. So even as the professors spill out and split duties of getting students to safety and fending them off, the two beasts barely notice the arcane energy flashing through the air as they begin vigorously brawling. Thank goodness this is a weekend, or else you'd all have some serious trouble getting to class on time. Wonders Await? Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. But maybe you should deal with that mess first? We're just saying.

Comments

[stillnewatthis]

May I Have This Dance?

No one asked Orisa to the dance. Which was okay, as the possibility never even occurred to her! Instead, she patrolled the hallways and the grounds with vigilant determination, single-mindedly intent on doing what she could to assist this whole dance to go off well!

Which means anyone, anyone she saw suddenly found themselves with a huge hippotaur omnic encroaching slightly on their personal space. Though her eyeshields were open wide and her voice was bright, nevertheless there was a certain ominous quality about the way she asked, "Have you succeeded in finding accompaniment to the dance?"

Special Delivery

Orisa was a powerful, bulky, massive omnic built for battle from a chassis meant for war. This somehow did not stop her from prancing, her four feet clattering loudly on the floor as she approached.

"Hello!" Still prancing in place, Orisa lifted her hand in greeting, eyes swiveling up into bright carats. "I have a message delivery for you!"

Worse still, she actively began to romp, legs in a flurry of coordinated movement as she lifted her fusion driver above her head to clap her hand to it. Neither subtle nor subdued, this display was already starting to attract attention, and she hadn't even begun yet!

WELP!

One might expect Orisa to charge into the fray, and the moment the chaos erupted that did indeed look like what she might do. Her eyes narrowed to slits and she lifted her fusion driver, the side panels snapping open as the generator flared to life and powered up for discharge.

But instead of running forward, Orisa ran sideways. Just enough to put herself between the combat zone and the students nearby, her form offering cover from whatever might come their way. She was completely unable to deploy any protections, so she would protect them the only way she could.

What was it the Overwatch hero Reinhardt would say in this situation? A quick database search and she had it: "I will be your shield!"

May I Have This Dance?

[nomoremistergneissguy]

"Uhhh." Cliff said. "I'm not sure, but uh. He has something to ask you."

With that, he points down at his familiar. Sure enough, Rounder is there, looking shinier than usual, perhaps--did Cliff give him a good buffing? He has what is clearly a buttercup clenched between his fists, and the sphere is offering that up in the omnic's direction.

Of course, Rounder can't talk, but Cliff understands him just fine.

"He wants to take you to the dance, if you don't already have, uh, accompaniment."

[stillnewatthis]

Oh! Orisa crouched slightly and reached out to accept the buttercup.

"I am not certain of the protocols involved. Are familiars allowed to attend in the company of students?"

[nomoremistergneissguy]

"I don't think you could keep him away," That had Cliff chuckling, just a little.

Rounder thrust the buttercup up so the end could be pinched between Orisa's fingers, and he spun briefly in place as she accepted. Cliff didn't mind--Rounder's general mood had been improving ever since Fluttershy had talked to him, and it was all to the good, in his opinion. And if this worked, it could only help.

"He might have to be careful not to trip other dancers, though. I'm pretty sure he'll stay out from beneath your feet. But he's really excited!"

Cliff might have to do something nice for his familiar. Get Orisa a flower crown he could give her or something like that to wear to the dance.

[stillnewatthis]

"Then I will certainly go." Why would she say no? She had even considered going without a date, simply for the experience, but this would be even better.

[nomoremistergneissguy]

At Orisa's words, Rounder did another spin at their feet, and then nyoomed in a circle around Cliff, who could only chuckle now.

"Yeah buddy, I know! Congratulations! And thank you. He'll probably meet you at the dance, since I'm planning to be there, too. Though if I can cut in on your date..." he said, looking down at Rounder. "I'd be delighted to take a dance from you, too, if you'd be so kind."

[stillnewatthis]

"I must warn you both, I am not programmed for conventional dancing. I will endeavor to learn between then and now, however!" In the hopes of sparing the dance from devastation and doom. Also, she must learn to adapt dances so that they can be performed with a fusion driver instead of a second hand.

special delivery

[woo_oo]

Webby's eyes tried to keep up the bouncing bot, although this proved to be a little difficult at times. She didn't really mind though - Orisa was both cool and adorable.

"Hi Orisa!" She waved before really hearing the words. "... Wait, for me?"

[stillnewatthis]

Still dancing and clapping, Orisa burst into song. Immediately evident was her lack of ability to render a melodious singing voice, but no one could fault her for enthusiasm.

"Hey there, duck, you are the best!
Stand apart from all the rest!
You're a delight around the school!
To make it clear: you rule!"

[woo_oo]

"... Neat!" Aw, that was adorable!

"Thanks, Orisa, always nice to have an ego-boost."

[stillnewatthis]

"I am always glad to oblige," Orisa said as her limbs slowed their frenzy of motion, "but it is not from me. Someone admires your spirit, and has paid me a fee to express that!"

[woo_oo]

"Oh. Really?"

Webby's smile got even bigger, if it was possible. "Do you have any idea who it was?"

[stillnewatthis]

"They requested to remain anonymous! I believe they were concerned it would be construed as romantic." Which was awkward on a number of levels, as Orisa understood from her programmed knowledge of social mores.

Welp

[talkyourwayout]

"Orisa!"

It came out practically as a cheer as relief flooded the little duck, and he hugged one of her legs. "I'm so glad you're here."

[stillnewatthis]

"I'm just following my programming," she said, a bit sheepishly. This was not so special that she needed a frantic hug for doing it! But she put aside the modesty after a moment and positioned herself more cleanly in front of the duckling.

"Stay safely behind me. My armor is not rated for spectral incursions or non-Euclidian opponents, but that is because of a lack of testing and not because I believe it will be ineffectual.

w e l p

[pawper]

[Of all the things that Lys has become accustomed to over the course of her young and often dangerous life, other people jumping in to protect her is decidedly not one of them. Werewolves learned quickly that taking down the main threat came before all else; tending to your hurts at any time before was the wiser choice only if they were truly debilitating. Like, say, having your guts unzipped from throat to crotch. Something like that.

Which is why she's been crouching behind a convenient bit of architecture, taking cover from the spells flying thick and fast through the air as she struggles to trace sigils from memory that would dispel the frost magic she had been oh so unlucky enough to take square on the face, her eyes (and nose) frozen shut by a solid layer of ice.]

....Orisa? Wait, don't— you're way too big to be out here! ["Of a target" is what she means, but details.] I'll be fine!

[??? in what universe, you big dummy]

[stillnewatthis]

You have already taken ice to the face. This is not compatible with your assertion. Do not worry: this is what I was designed to do!

[Now, how can she help free Lys from her duress? Oh!]

Please allow me to aid you. I can Modify the temperature of the ice so that it melts.

[pawper]

That you were "designed" to do it doesn't....

[She was going somewhere with that, but it's hard to be articulate when half of your head is encased in ice. Lys reaches out blindly until she can touch Orisa's metal shell, fingers curling against it in mute frustration.]

Not saying you can't help, just. I don't want you to get hit by anything either.

[Then again, she couldn't do anything to help prevent that while stuck like this, so....]

[stillnewatthis]

Unlike most people here, I possess armor! [Orisa quickly scribes out a simple addition onto the ground, vocalizing it as she focuses on Lys's ice mask. The temperature does indeed increase, up to about 20C.] For that reason if anyone should take a hit, it should be me.

[pawper]

You're a lot tougher than a normal person, yeah.....

[Somehow she manages to wait out the thawing ice without fidgeting too much or sounding impatient, feeling cold water begin to run down her face in thin streams — the parts that haven't gone numb, anyway — and neck and back, the stiff line of her shoulders. She licks absently at the moisture trickling past her mouth, not thinking about whether her concern might just be a little hypocritical. Not knowing to.]

But that doesn't mean you're invincible. Once I can see again, I'll help with that.

Special Delivery

[holdyourhorns]

Far from affronted by the strange greeting, the dragon tilts his head at the dance being performed by such an amazingly complicated and advanced-looking robot. He's enjoying the show thus far at least.

"A message, huh? From who?"

He doubts it's from a certain elder dragon.

[stillnewatthis]

"The sender asked to remain anonymous!" Orisa said, continuing to romp despite being unable to give the message quite yet. "I believe they did not wish it understood as romantic interest!"

[holdyourhorns]

"That's fine by me," Spyro responds, already prepared for whatever said message could be thanks to the information. "Falling in love is for chumps anyway."

[stillnewatthis]

"I am not certain I agree with that viewpoint," Orisa said matter-of-factly, still stepping back and forth in time with a beat only she could hear. "But setting that aside, may I proceed?"

[holdyourhorns]

The dragon doesn't have much more to say on that note, especially since he's not the sort that's so easily offended- so he nods with approval.

"You can."