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

[darkenedmoon]

"Mahjong, then, I suppose. I am familiar enough with it, and hopefully it will give them what they want." She glanced over at the waiting researchers with narrowed eyes, even as she began setting up the tiles. Once she was done, she dropped a hand, reaching out to the Oh leopard. It had been a while, and she would not be remiss in saying hello to Califleur. As was his wont, Gosetsu was pretending to be her belt, though he lifted his head to observe both the leopard and her master with oildrop eyes.

"You seem to be acclimating well. More at ease now than you were when first we met." Then again, Kuja had just been harassed by bullies, then, and Yotsuyu certainly couldn't blame him for being ill at ease, then. Still, she was glad to see it, even if she might not put it into so many words.

[treno_nobleman]

Completely out of his depth with this game, for now, Kuja watches her set the board and notes the pieces, tail rolling gently beside him. Califleur, being what she is, swaggers over and butts her head right into the offered palm. She offers a friendly sniff to Gosetsu, making sure not to leave him out of her greeting, whiskers all forward, ears perked.

Kuja, of course, ignores her. He knows well enough to know she won't put herself in any danger. "There wasn't much choice left in the matter, but yes. I have been learning this world and what it is. Not much to offer except distractions, but I'll confess I just don't know where I would rather be."

Before she has a chance to address that, he'll set a fingernail on one of the pieces nearest to him, lightly enough that it won't move. She took such care to set the board up. "I'll have to ask you to teach me this game as we go. This board and I are perfect strangers."

[darkenedmoon]

No, the blue racer has manners, far be it from him to harm, or even offer offense to a familiar who had not done him ill first. Though he may make Califleur sneeze, when Gosetsu flickers his tongue at her nose. If he does so, he just draws back, blinking curiously.

Despite his surliness towards another's familiar so long ago, Yotsuyu allows Gosetsu his whims. Califleur is much larger than an owl, and Gosetsu has some sense. "There is the small matter of the necessity of learning magic...if you believe that, as I have chosen to." Yotsuyu had heard enough about how magic and aetherial manipulation worked to know that something was awake within her that she had not had before, and thus chose to believe it.

"In truth, with a pair of us, it is not quite...proper, but in the interest of teaching you, this will suffice. The objective is matching tiles, and they are numbered so." Yotsuyu goes on to describe the different sets of tiles, as well as the special ones--the dragons and the four winds, and so on. She does her best, but to a novice, it might still be as clear as mud, and she shrugs.

"It is no problem if you pick it up as you go, either. You get thirteen tiles to start, chosen at random." Which explains why she had set them all with the blank sides up...

[treno_nobleman]

She won't sneeze, not from a little nose tickle, but she does pull back to paw at her nose briefly before moving in again to whisker at the snake familiar. He is friendly, or at least tolerant of her, and she intends to make friends here today. She may also be purring faintly now.

For his part, Kuja tilts his head, watching Yotsuyu instead. "It works, therefore, it must exist. The powers I once possessed are absent, disturbingly so, but if this is what I am left with, I would rather not be helpless in this place." The truth of it was, he could not be left helpless in this place. It might kill him to do so, having lived a life of near complete independence as long as he had. He knew what it was to be under someone else's beck and call and command, and if ever he returned to that life, even if it wasn't under Garland as it had once been, he thought it would grate him too badly.

Rather than focus on that, he looked to the game board as she led her explanation. "It will take some getting used to, but I will manage. What determines the winning hand?"

[darkenedmoon]

Gosetsu has no good way to show his approval, being a snake. Though perhaps the fact that he brushes against Califleur's whiskered cheek briefly is enough. She's certainly warmer than Yotsuyu, with so much fur, but there are standards of propriety to be maintained, and since she's been a lady, he's inclined to be a gentleman.

"I understand that feeling only too well. I would...not be helpless again, ever, could I help it. I am no flower waiting to be plucked!" Thus, since she'd gained power, Yotsuyu perhaps was grasping for it. It was not a comfortable feeling, but her thoughts mirrored Kuja's own in that she would not allow herself to be subjugated once again.

"A set of four, and then a pair." She turned over a tile, then, to show Kuja the inscribed surface. "There are three others that look like this one, but they are in different colors--this one is blue, so there are black, green, and red still hidden. Should I get all four, that is a set. And then the pair is probably self-explanatory."

[treno_nobleman]

There had already been a good amount of purring in the air before the greeting was returned, but now that Califleur knows her friendliness is accepted and even returned, there is a deal more of it. Kuja supposes it will keep her busy for now, so he continues to ignore it, as much as one can ignore such a sound.

Instead, the board had his attention, though he did offer a neutral glance at her comment. So they both knew of suffering, in their own way. It wasn't a shock, but he opted not to attempt to elaborate on his own or ask about hers. Some doors were better off left closed. "Simple enough in theory, as many things are. Shall we give it a try and see if I can learn your game as well as you seem to?"