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. |
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diatu2019-06-07 03:00 pm
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The annoyance in her voice was clear, and she threw up her hands briefly. A huff of air escaped her, but her attitude softened, and she nodded to Tidus, then.
"Yes, I am certainly trying. My past should stay there, as I am not the woman I was then." Gods knew she'd been trying.
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"He's...uh. Probably gonna explode at some point in the near future because a lot of it probably has to do with me. Fair warning, but I'll try to get us through it."
He has issues too, but... "I don't want to tell you all of his business, and I don't know how much he told you, but we don't come from a very happy place. We did our best with a bad situation, but it still put him in a really bad spot."
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Even if there was a good chance she ought to be. Yotsuyu was fairly sure that Jecht would not harm her. After all, she'd backhanded him curtly thinking he'd sent her cursed lingerie, and all he'd done was shout at her...
She'd deserved worse.
"I...yes, I do believe he told me that. Not much else, but just that things were...not good. And that you were the one that put them right."
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That bright look in his eye? That's respect. It's...kind of nice to have someone to talk to about this, as much as he now knows difficult conversations are going to come.
"Well, the really short version is that a crazy cult was lying to everyone and sacrificing people every now and then to supposedly keep a giant monster at bay. Dad came there before me and tried to stop the cycle...but an even worse fate happened to him."
"Then I got there. I fell in love with a girl who was going to sacrifice herself, but I made the sacrifice instead. She taught me that some things are worth giving up everything for...and I didn't want to see Dad suffer anymore either, no matter what I thought of him."
He shrugged his shoulders. "And that's about where we're at at the moment. I'll help if I can, but I'm probably about to be kicked out of school anyway."
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The faintest of smiles crossed her lips as he continued. Sometimes, that was the way of things, was it not? Even her stone heart could be touched by such a thing. But it did explain at least a few things about Jecht to her.
"Whyever would you be kicked out of school? You just arrived here, have you not? That makes no sense," she groused. But Yotsuyu realized, belatedly, that there were more than a few things that made no sense, here.
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He has a headache just thinking about it. He ducks his head and rakes a hand through his hair, muttering to himself.
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"So what are your classes? It is not as if I cannot give you a study guide--or tutor you, if it is something I am taking as well. The gods know I shall probably have to help your father." At that, she sighed.
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Yeah, he's totally lost here. He'd barely scraped through enough school to graduate back home, as focused on athletics as he was, but Auron had drilled the importance of education into his head.
"It's all kind of giving me a headache though."
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"I have enough interest in astronomy, 'tis true, though I am not undertaking the class myself."
Yotsuyu gave him a small smile, then, as she nodded. "I understand. If one is more given to physical pursuits, this can certainly seem daunting. But I do not mind helping you."
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Not that he's not grateful, that's just pretty far out of his depth. "I mean...thank you. It was always tough buckling down for school back home, but I had someone giving me a shove back then. I owe it to him not to slip up."
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And she'd had ample time to learn that knowledge was power, as it were. Even if she chose to use it to manipulate others less, now.
"You are welcome, I am always glad to help those who wish it. Even if it is only to pass." But Yotsuyu gave him an amused wink, there. She figured he'd be easier to teach than his father, in truth. Stubborn as an ox, he was.
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Ahem. He knows that all too well. And he's definitely glad to have made his own choices.
"Hah. After Dad left, I had another guardian---one of his friends came back for me. He was a really serious warrior type of guy, he always knew what to do...and he made sure I stayed in school. I think he'd like you."
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"Hn. He would not be the first serious warrior type I knew, if he showed here." Her thoughts turned inexorably to Hendrik--wasn't the man doing the exact same sort of thing for Eleven? Though she thought Eleven enjoyed schoolwork, at least.
"I think I would like that. Your father certainly has little knowledge of what being serious is." Though perhaps he acted like he did because of the influence of this too-serious warrior. Hard to tell.
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Tidus shrugged his shoulders and settled back. "Mm...so are those the kinds of things I should start reading now or after my first class?"
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Not that she wouldn't help the boy, if he wished it. Yotsuyu certainly played to her own strengths, when she could. And she feared no midterm, not with enough preparation!
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He's a star athlete, not a star student. He has limits here.
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Not that his father's tales hadn't helped. Tidus was a good boy.
"I think you might be able to make notations in the study guides in your classes as well-especially the ones I do not also take. I do know where to look, so...do expect library time. I know it will not be fun, but...best to work hard now, and then I suspect you might have a load off your mind afterwards, and thus some time for bala-inlota or some such."
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If he has to listen to Jecht gloat about his superiority all over campus for the next however-long, he might just up and leave. Not that that would be wise, but it's tempting.
"Thanks."
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"You seem a little more inured to studying and doing schoolwork, at the very least. You shall not have nearly so far to struggle. And I am certain you can catch up to him in sports, as well."
It certainly isn't as if she's his father's fawning fangirl, it seems.
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Tidus thinks about that for a moment.
"I'll definitely give it my best shot. And...thank for not just letting him fail. It'd definitely be easy to do."
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It was only proper to return the favor.
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He gives her a smile. "See you soon?"
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She nodded her head at the boy. "You shall, fate permitting. Perhaps more swiftly than you'd care to, I'm a terrible taskmistress!" But she smiled anyway. Hopefully, it would not be too bad, for either Tidus or his father.