June Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

June Event and Intro Log Diatu and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Sundering Midterm Results It turns out that inadvertently summoning a horrible demon of immense and terrible power is still worth a passing grade: minus a lot of points for summoning the entirely wrong thing, but enough extra credit for successfully doing something so incredibly over-the-top to make up for it just a little. Meanwhile, something something power of running water, there's a demon imprisoned in the fountain, locked behind a massive magic circle of protection. Its flames neither evaporate the water nor are quenched by it, its lashing pointy tail stabs futilely at the stone in an attempt at petty vandalism, and otherwise it squats with otherworldly patience, claws drumming on its thighs. Till someone comes close, and then it calls out. "Come! It is in my power to grant a wish to those who ask! Speak your desire and I shall grant it!" Of course, the demon's ability to interpret wishes in an extremely jerkass manner is unparalleled by mortal malice. Still, this doesn't stop those students who think they're clever, can outwit a demon, have a background in legal jargon, or just want a turkey sandwich on rye bread with lettuce and mustard and-and they don’t want any zombie turkeys, they don’t want to turn into a turkey themselves, and they don’t want any other weird surprises. Needless to say, it has gone well for none of them -- but will you be the one to break the streak? As for the circle, it is specifically warded against meddling, so no freeing the demon (accidentally or otherwise). Those who try to touch it or cross through it are promptly hurled with pinpoint accuracy into a nearby pond that has been put there explicitly for this purpose. (Except for Minamimoto -- if HE messes with it, his pants rip themselves off his body, wrap around his head, and haul him away while shouting the multiplication tables incorrectly.) Potent Potables Students work hard, and they play hard. Around midterms, this often takes the form of picnics with unreserved and unrestricted access to not just copious amounts of barbecue and potato salad, but also alcohol. From fine wines to barrels of beer to Liverpunch Whiskey, all sorts of offerings pop up at the parties that occupy space along the Walk or outside the Towers and Keep. Anastara, you see, has no legal drinking age; like most of the Tenscore Kingdoms, children grow up with alcohol, and generally its consumption is seen as no major event and no special treat. And it simply hasn't occurred to anyone that other cultures on other worlds might not function the same. So enjoy a picnic, but also enjoy your free access to the wonders of intoxication. Physical Challenge (aka the Prompt Least Likely To Cause Suffering) Healthy body, healthy mind, the saying goes. Professors Trammel and Kith, adherents to this philosophy, have begun holding extracurricular exercise groups during the off hours. Students can learn proper weightlifting techniques for endurance as well as strength, jog around the campus in groups, play impromptu games that get the body moving, or even just practice slow stretches and what other worlds might call 'yoga'. Captain Lominia aggressively prowls the area, looking for people to scoop into bala-inlota exercises -- far more grueling and dangerous to succeed at if you don't want to be badgered onto the student team, but amazing workouts either way. And Headmaster Birony has set up a fairly extreme obstacle course straight out of a ninja challenge, overseen by Professor Porfsin from behind a cannon which magically flings beanbags at the participants. Those who make it through receive a pie from the Headmaster, who it turns out apparently can make a really darn tasty pie. 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, the researchers wish for you to engage in some sort of conflict, clash, or battle with your fellow Sundered. Spars with blunted weapons are the obvious choice, but games of strategy like go, shogi, or Fantastic Foils are also an option. A rousing debate will do as well -- anything that raises passion and energy. The team explains that they've found many of the Sundered who they interviewed have recently been through some sort of conflict or trouble on their world, and they wish to see if there's any magically-measurable aspect they share when challenged. Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Except for the fountain. You can't swim in the fountain till they figure out how to banish the demon.

Comments

[talkyourwayout]

Hoh boy this is weird. Are you sure? Did someone jinx you or something?

[woo_oo]

I think I'd know if I was jinxed.

[Scoff, then picking up one of the coins to rub it between the fingers and enjoy the feeling.]

By the way, about our little "note-taking deal"... I'd like to change it up.

[talkyourwayout]

Change it up how, exactly?

[The question comes with a sigh. He is getting kind of sick of all the effort.]

[woo_oo]

It kind of feels like I'm getting nothing out of it - I do all the work and you wake up early, and that's it. I'll cut right to the chase.

You want info, you give me dough.

[She makes a rubbing gesture with her fingers - cha-ching!]

[talkyourwayout]

I'm not charging you for the bi-monthly information and my notes.

[He raises an eyebrow, expression otherwise flat.]

You don't want to play this game, Webby.

[woo_oo]

A game implies a fair chance between two equal people.

[She then turns on him, and with each sentence gets closer, poking into her chest-]

You owe me back-interest since we first got here. And since you invited me to that dance, causing me to waste money on a new dress and accessories, I'm more than tempted to charge you for that too! And that whole "Louie Inc." back home, I don't recall ever getting a penny out of it, especially for that harpie business that was at least 75% your fault!

[talkyourwayout]

[If this weren't Webby, he'd be able to try and talk his way out. He'd be smooth and try to fix the situation, if not turn it around in his favor.

But this is Webby, so it just- It really hurts. Especially the "equal people" bit. What had she meant by that? And the dance? That had been a waste to her?

Clearly something's wrong. She's not herself. Still... This is the worst he's felt since he got here. Even worse than when he and Lena were fighting.

His pain shifts to taking the outwards form of anger.]

You could have just not come, then. To the dance.

[woo_oo]

[Something flickers in her eyes just then - her usual personality and the wish fighting it out.]

Well, I did, and "coulda shoulda wouldas" don't pay the bills.

[WHAT BILLS YOU ARE LIKE 12]

[talkyourwayout]

[Wow. This is something else. He's pretty sure even he's never this bad, and his walls just keep going up higher as he tries to protect himself.]

You know what, Webby? You agreed to go with me - if you want to call what we did going to the dance together. I'm not going to reimburse you for your dress, that's not how it works.

[woo_oo]

"Want to call"? What else would it be? You invited, I went, we came in together, that totally counts! If you're going to be that loose with your definitions, you'll never be as rich and successful as Uncle Moneybags.

[WHOA. WHOA.]

[talkyourwayout]

[Okay, you know what? Even Webby doesn't get to do that. To call him out on things that make him that insecure and make a dig at his uncle like that? That's not okay, and it makes him so upset that he doesn't really think about how un-Webby it is for her to do it.

Nope. Instead shoves her away.]

[woo_oo]

[And she's so startled by that that she fumbles backwards, and a few coins spill over onto the ground.]

Eek! My babies!

[She frantically drops to her knees, trying to collect them all as quickly as possible.]

[talkyourwayout]

...What?

You know, Webby, I just can't understand you! I try to, I really do, but- Ugh! Just- Just leave me alone for a while. I don't know what's going on, but I don't want to deal with it.

[woo_oo]

Yeah, yeah, fine, whatever.

[She's barely listening to him - now that the coins have been disturbed, she needs to be sure she has all of them! So now she begins counting them one by one.]