Dance Dance Reprobation

[magicademymods]

The Twilight Ball Arrival The Promenade has been transformed. Literally. With Modification. Ha ha. Cough. Crickets. Toad familiars eat the crickets. Circle of life. Animals bow before singing lions. You get the idea. Neither tree nor stone form the Promenade now. It is instead a long bridge over a shallow and brilliant pool, the gentle ripples of which catch the afternoon sun and scatter it into a million highlights that play over the Great Hall, the bridge, and those who walk down it. There is no formal receiving line, merely a gentle procession of people across the bridge at whatever speed feels comfortable, slowly making their way to the Great Hall. The Great Hall itself has been enchanted to be completely invisible while one is inside it, save for the outline of doors so people can actually find their way out through means other than smacking their noses into the invisible walls till they find a place with no resistance. Thus the twilight for which the ball is named will show all around the dancers, while they are protected from any errant breezes, faint hints of rain, or slime monsters that might otherwise threaten the festivity. Come in. Find your date and get comfortable. The fun is just beginning. Let the Revels Begin After Headmaster Birony welcomes everyone with a speech about she's going to get on her boat, go upriver, and kick that sonuvabitch Bison's ass so HORDT that the next Bison-wannabe is gonna feel it, the dance formally begins with a peppy number designed to get people out and moving. The orchestra here comprises some of the finest players available anywhere in the world, thanks to the whole Valhudor shtick and graduates of said house, and the music is infectious as it drifts through the slowly-darkening air. But as the dance progresses, they play something for everyone. Martial waltzes and slow dance ballroom numbers. Powerful tunes to lose yourself in, and gentle melodies that slip beneath conversation and encourage intimacy and closeness. Professors Trammel and King treat everyone to an exhibition of what an Earth resident might call 'swing dancing on amphetamines' and many students do call 'the closest I have ever come to death'. No pause for speeches, no announcements or interruptions -- just a steady stream of music, bringing dates and lovers together in dance, as the sun sets and casts the room into gentle and romantic twilight. Also a dolphin and a whale are swimming through the floor and they, too, are unmistakably dancing. If this is the weirdest thing you've seen all night, you need your eyes checked. "Food! One of the food tables has been discreetly slid against a wall, where it positively shudders under the weight of a massive buffet open to everyone. The food here tends towards the light, such as fish and vegetables, cucumber sandwiches and thin-sliced meats. Things that will give you energy without weighing you down, so you can keep dancing till the dawn comes. At one end of the table, an owl the size of a cupboard sits on a perch, serenely watching the varied drinks laid out for consumption. 'Spiking the punch' is so cliche that no one is going to pretend it won't happen or the students will behave on their honor, so here you get a chaperone. Even so, this whole area is a popular gathering spot for those between dances or partners, drawing steady attention throughout the night. Meanwhile, Elsewhere Shockingly, not everyone has found that loving feeling, asked out an attractive someone, and gone to the dance with romance on their minds. The rest of the campus, and of course Anastara itself, remain open as normal... and perhaps even less-minded than normal. The faculty, the familiars, the cleaning golems -- almost all attention is on the dance itself. If there's mischief to manage, now would be the perfect time... or just something else besides wallflowering and missing out. Wait, Wasn't There a Ghost Dragon and an Off-Brand Shoggoth? Professor King managed to find a way around the protoplasmic ooze's resistance to magic and splatted it (with no small amount of help from students and faculty!). The dragon disappeared into the caverns beneath the Magicademy. That certainly isn't ominous and won't inspire anyone to go down there, will it? Don't fall in the river down there. Please don't fall in the river.

Comments

[king_of_egypt]

Both the timing and the attire were suspicious, that much Atem could admit, but he hadn't wanted to be followed either. The evening was complicated enough with the mix of emotions that it had generated, he didn't want to risk anyone else's safety when he went to see about this dragon. It might have been a bit foolhardy on his part, but his heart was in the right place. As this stranger points out, Atem was ill-[prepared for venturing into the caves. Neither of his familiars could generate light, and the Millennium puzzle certainly wasn't in the habit of being used as a flashlight even though activating it's powers often triggered a bright light. Besides, he wasn't even sure if he could tap into that ancient form of magic here or if it too ad been suppressed.

That would leave him with the task of casting an illumination spell... or....

This other boy does have a lantern. So without being asked or asking himself, Atem does start to follow along after him. "Then it's lucky for me that you happened along. I should have assumed as much considering the hour- an oversight on my part."

[perfectenn]

It doesn’t take more than a few steps when another set of footfalls joins his, except they aren’t branching off, and now Tenn casts an incredulous look over his shoulder. Hmph, not meeting someone for a secret rendezvous, then. Nor retreating to one of the deserted labs.

But it is getting interesting, and it’ll look more suspicious if he tries to chase him off. "It’s been a long evening, so some oversights are to be expected. Well then, stay close. The Forges are this way." He settles to walking beside Atem, preferring that to having a stranger at his back.

Reaching the Forging labs, Tenn's circle of light passes over the tables and cold furnaces to illuminate the streams of water directed in through manmade channels. Some of the water-powered equipment is still active; he focuses on a waterwheel, still patiently turning even at this hour. Should he cast for Sense Magic? No, there are forging materials, the enchantments on them might get in the way of reading the water itself.

Casually, he asks, "Have you seen the River of Metal before? Here underground, I mean."

[king_of_egypt]

The longer Atem remained the more he revealed about his motivations for being here in the first place. Perhaps he just should have been perfectly honest about it but still he evaded it for now. If this other student really had no interest in the ghost dragon, Atem shouldn't foster any. Conversely if he was already here to seek it out, there was some question as to why.

"It truly has been," Given the emotional roller coasters he had either been on himself or witnessed in others. It seemed as if everyone had needed the opportunity to let the usual walls fall, and to be able to discuss some of their greatest concerns. Nodding to the request, Atem complied staying near the boy as they walked. He'd not had the occasion to go to the forges before, since it was not in his usual curriculum so in that sense he would be learning more about the layout of the school afterall. "Thank you." For not immediately trying to lose him. "I... don't believe we have met before have we...? I'm Atem of Aer et Calculum. You are?" A bit of an introduction was in order.

As the light spreads over the room casting shadows in some areas, then moving to cast them in others Atem tries to take in what he is seeing. The room looks rather ordinary, everything is still in place for the next lesson. The equipment looks a little intimidating, as he can just imagine the temperatures the forges can reach. The sound of flowing water, gets him to look for it's source- the aforementioned waterwheel. Should it still be running ar this hour? He's not really sure.

"No- I can't say that I have." A river of metal? Now that is intriguing. What temperature must it remain at to keep the contents from solidifying, or was it purely magical like some of the other elements to be found here? Either way, it wasn't the sort of waterway one should risk submerging themselves in. "You do seem to know a lot about this area." Which corroborated the earlier story about spending a lot of time down here. "Is there anything else I should know about?"

I may have to delay this thread a little while waiting for Action results

[perfectenn]

"We haven't." Tenn confirms. Now that he thought of it, he'd seen the boy around for months now... one of the first arrivals? Everything was confusing then; he had not been able to meet everyone. "I am Tenn from Valhudor." And the first name basis is fine; if he's been increasingly leaving his family name off his introductions... well, surely no one notices this way.

Apparently unconcerned by the equipment, Tenn glances at him. "A few of the lab rooms have good acoustics." Says the Valhudor member with confidence. Yes, he knows that’s not what is being asked. But that is the main reason he comes down here; sometimes the Music Room is too crowded for his tastes.

Back to the matter at hand, he swings the light around, observing the branching off rooms and passages. "The river travels through these lower areas. I have not been to all the rooms it reaches." Echoing faintly, he can hear the rushing of water. "I've heard the water can be used to aid spells, and the Forges are not the only place it serves a purpose. Though, an underground river is difficult to track. And it's hard to say how many of the rumors have any truth to them."

Noted!

[king_of_egypt]

That much was understandable. They all had to undergo an adjustment period to their new surroundings which varied from person to person. Atem hadn't managed to meet all of the earliest arrivals either. "That's the house that focuses on magic in terms of musical attributes isn't it?" Conversely, Atem simply didn't have a last name to offer. It was something that could confound archaeologists later when they tried to discern which pharaoh came in which order later. Especially since the king's list might omit a certain nameless pharaoh. But, no. In this instance Tenn omitting his last name didn't seem that peculiar. "It's nice to officially meet you Tenn."

That explains some of Tenn's interest in this section of the school. It makes Atem think maybe he was being a little overly cautious before. "Are you a singer?" If Tenn excelled at an instrument he didn't seem to have brought it with him on this excursion- as one wouldn't were practicing not their aim.

"I can think of one easy way.... were the channels of the river only large enough," Which undoubtedly they were not. Eyes scanning the other passageways Atem realizes what a arduous search this may be. The ghost dragon likely didn't have to concern itself with physical barriers or limitations. It could traverse this area much swifter than it's pursuers.

[perfectenn]

"I am." There is no disguising the pride in his tone. Clearly, he is as confident in his voice as his dancing. "The high ceilings are excellent canvases for Fantastics. The Music Room can’t compare if you’re practicing for an auditorium."

A hint of a smirk follows Atem's idea. "If the passages were wider? Or we were smaller?" That was a very bad suggestion, so don’t think about it too hard. "What spell in particular did you have in mind?" Since he is not in Thaumaturgy, it's probably not one he knows, but Tenn is always willing to pick up new concepts.

The frequent use of the space is obvious as he sends restless light dancing over the worktables. Clearly, work hasn’t been affected… the most immediate of his concerns ease. Whatever the dragon’s purpose down here, this was not a target. (Thank goodness; it would be a riot if the Forges went down right before midterms.)

Still, it would be best to check the magical purity of the water – downstream if not at the source. Tenn nods towards one of the exits.

"Well, do you want to see it? The main river is this way."