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

Potent Potables

[perfectenn]

Tenn is meticulously trying to manage a sizable wing without getting messy. He is not entirely succeeding (wizard robes were not made with this activity in mind), but had foresight enough that his bangs are pulled back with slim hairpins. And so it is with some appreciation that he regards her - and her carefully arranged hair.

"This particular flavor?" Tenn returns to studying the food. "It is likely a base of sugar and tomatoes with spices and sauces. It's a fairly easy recipe, though I was not aware all the ingredients were available here."

[healingincantation]

"I see," Rapunzel breathes, with the expression of someone who had just been offered great wisdom and wasn't sure what to do with it. "I wonder if I could figure something out... I mean, this was made here, right? So there has to be some way! Do you know if they let students use the kitchens?"

She pauses, though, when she realizes she hasn't even introduced herself. "...Sorry, um, I forgot to- I'm Rapunzel."

[perfectenn]

"There are facilities for students to use, though they prefer not to be bothered in the main kitchen." Granted, that might just be him, since his familiar hasn't left a good impression. "Some of the ingredients would have to be purchased in town. Or prepared in advance. But the kitchens should have all the equipment you'll need. Have you fixed sauces from scratch before?"

Rapunzel... a curious look crosses his face for just an instant, but then he's smiling in a fast recovery. "Tenn. Pleased to meet you."

[healingincantation]

Rapunzel considers this with a nod. It makes sense to her; the the school cooks had a job to do and would want to focus on that, not cleaning up the messes students may cause, or other distractions they'd bring.

"Hm, alright. Thank you, Tenn - and yes, I have. I prepare a lot of the food my mother and I eat back at my home. And the young woman I lived with for the past month loved to bake and cook." There's a moment's pause and a fleeting expression of sadness on her face. It's only been a few days, but she does miss Snow, and the others from Verens.

"I wonder if time's passing there," she mused to herself, aloud but in a mutter. "People there said it didn't back home, so... Maybe not."

[perfectenn]

It's a little nostalgic, thinking of cooking with one's family. He hadn't remembered until now, as midterms consumed his days and his memories returned to more academic things.

Then his brow creases in light confusion. He must have misheard; time passes the same over all the Tenscore Kingdoms, doesn't it?

"You mean the place you stayed before being sent to Diatu?" While Tenn was brought to the academy immediately and only lived on the surface a few days, he knew that was not the case for everyone. "Which of the kingdoms were you living in?"

[healingincantation]

"Oh, it wasn't here! Sorry, this is going to be a little confusing, I think," she offered, before going on to explain. As she spoke, her hands moved to indicate different points in time.

"There's my home, where I've grown up, but I spent the past month in a different world than that or this one. I was on a different island, called Empatheias, in a town called Verens. That's where I lived with Snow, but a few days ago I found myself here - well, not at the school, exactly, but I took the airship here after my first day in the Tenscore Kingdoms, so it wasn't that long after!"

[perfectenn]

There’s some initial surprise in the form of raised eyebrows. But… no, this isn’t the first conversation he’s had like this; the Valkyrie he’d met months ago had introduced the idea of transferring between multiple worlds. He just didn’t think he’d meet another.

"I… see. It must be difficult, traveling from one place to another so soon." His brows draw together in concern. Something about that wording… "Was any of this voluntary on your part?"

[healingincantation]

"No," Rapunzel answered, but she didn't sound too upset about that - her smile did falter, but only a little. "I wasn't expecting to leave, either time, and I miss my family and home, and my friends in Verens. But I'm glad this happened. I've been learning a lot."

About the world, and about herself.

[perfectenn]

It's a good perspective; Tenn's smile returns gently. "It is like being an exchange student. Though, easier than studying abroad since we don't have to learn a new language." Been there, done that; it was a lot of work. Though if he is honest, learning magic is harder.

"Verens. What was it like? You said it was another island? So that world had magic, too?"

[healingincantation]

"Imagine if magic didn't let us all speak the same language here!" she giggles. "Verens was a city on the island, it was where most of the Otherworlders lived, I think. Otherworlders are really the same as Sundered. The island itself was called Empathieas, and it also floated in the sky, which is strange. Don't most islands float in water?"

She really isn't certain, though.

"And yes, the magic there was called Dunamis, and some people could sometimes control it, but mostly it was magic that came from our emotions." She pauses, trying to think of the best example, although unfortunately the clearest way to illustrate it isn't exactly a happy memory. "When I first got there, I was very frightened, and the ground around me became covered in ice."

[perfectenn]

It sounds closer to this world than others he's heard of, certainly. Tenn sets his plate aside, giving her his full attention. "They do. Though 'float' is not the right term for it. Most islands are merely mountains underwater, after all." At least, where he's from.

"It doesn't sound very different than here. Willpower and emotion are different, but they overlap at times. I've found magic easier to use when my emotions are engaged." Especially Fantastics, but perhaps that is true for most of its’ practitioners.

That she’s making the distinction in the first place leads to more interest as he asks, "The world you come from originally… did it also have a similar form of magic?"

[healingincantation]

"Mountains underwater," she repeats quietly, eyebrows furrowed. "Interesting..."

It's also not the real point, though, so she shifts her focus. "Is that so? Well, maybe that will help me while I catch up to what everyone else has already learned. As for magic where I'm from... It's very different. I mean, I've heard about magic..." A slight pause, because she hates to lie, but this is one of those important times to play it safe. "But it's just very unusual to find."

[perfectenn]

"I see." There is a pause in his questions while he connects these things. Three worlds with magic (two running on similar theories). Two transportations - neither voluntary. He links them into previous conversations, mulls over the results. The most interesting thing is that the other world granted magical power to arrivals as well… a coincidence? A requirement of living in that world?

"When you were in Verens, was it mentioned how or why you were drawn there?"

[healingincantation]

"Actually, yes." She clasps her hands together as she explains, "We were brought to help rebuild the island, although I'm not exactly sure how we were doing that... Sometimes it seemed like us being there caused problems."