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

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis was only too happy to indulge the leopard in as many scratches as she wanted. He definitely had a soft spot for cats. One would only have to ask his small retinue about the cat in Galdin Quay. It had been hungry so he went fishing for it. Discovering the cat didn't want a raw fish, the king had the fish cooked specifically for the feline.

Then he ran into it again at Cape Caem. The same process happened, and Monica had been kind enough to cook the fish the second time. And when he showed up here, he would swear it was the same cat that was now his familiar.

So he could understand Kuja's words about things changing along with appearances. "Well, we're in a magic academy. I'm sure people and things aren't always what they seem in this place."

There's a half pointed look at the former warrior of Spiritus, but he doesn't let the gaze linger before turning back to pay full attention to the leopard.

[treno_nobleman]

The look Noctis gave him spoke volumes more than could be said in the space of time that it lasted. If he looked hard enough, Kuja was sure he could see a veiled threat somewhere in it, but swept the notion away in the next instant. If Noctis had any intention of betraying him here, the grounds would be shaky at best. No one knew either of them; Kuja barely knew Noctis, though he wasn't sure about how much Noctis knew about Kuja or what Zidane might have told him.

All that was certain was that they were on different sides of the same war, once upon a time, not through any choice of their own. The gods of those worlds reached out into other realms and cherry picked who fought for them without ever asking their soldiers what they wanted.

Outwardly, Kuja calmly watched Noctis lavishing affection on Califleur, unconcerned. "No truth could be more plain. People will hide what they must, whether or not they intend to do so. If any world out there contradicts this, I don't think I should ever like to visit it."

[fatedsacrifice]

There was no threat in the gaze. It was merely an acknowledgment that if he chose to, Kuja could have been the jerk that Materia's warriors had (or at least Noctis personally had) of Spiritus' team. But in the cold reality, they'd learned the others hadn't been there because they wanted to be either.

Here the two were though, and Kuja was proving to be a good guy so it was definitely something he hadn't really expected. So that's what had been meant by his words of things not always being what they seem.

The king smiled slightly at the words of people hiding what they must because they were playing their own game with each other, the game of getting to know each other as people and not as warriors of different teams. So maybe that chess set was pretty fitting.

Half laughing at his own thoughts, his blue eyes looked over at the chess set and then at Kuja.

"I agree."

And then he went back to petting the leopard.

[treno_nobleman]

As much attention as the Oh leopard was getting here, Kuja thought she might be hard to peel away from the other's hand to get them back to their dorm. The thought amused him somewhere in his depths, but he didn't laugh at it or even crack a smile. Instead, he looked down to the board between them, left more or less untouched, then turned his gaze to the battlegrounds where a few students had already started tussling.

He had no love for that, but sitting idle like this wasn't appealing to him any longer. "I believe we can both also agree that this is not suiting us. So then, what are we to do with this time?"

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis shrugged at the question. "Not really sure." The game wasn't working but he didn't consider it a total waste of time. They wouldn't have had time like this back under the different Gods. Well, unless Kuja considered it a waste of time, but the king wasn't going to ask.

Fighting wasn't going to work, and they weren't playing the board game because the leopard had come and interrupted and dominated the king's brain. He noticed the other kids there on the field so it might be worth it to get up and go train with them.

And maybe he'd sat here long enough for Kuja to get tired of him. So he pets the cat a few more times and picked up his father's sword.

"Guess I'll get going then. See ya around and thanks..for the company."

That felt weird to say, but Noctis nodded and turned to leave.

[treno_nobleman]

He didn't bother to look at Califleur's disappointed expression when Noctis took up his weapon and rose to leave. The soft whurrf was enough for both of them to know just how she felt about that. But Noctis was bored of them, and he thought it was time he moved on as well. They were doing nothing of value.

Kuja stood, rising slowly, and offered the man a short bow of his head. "No thanks are necessary. None of us are going anywhere any time soon."

They would surely see each other again, sooner rather than later. Before he abandoned the board entirely, Kuja set the pieces back where they had been, for no better reason than to do so. They looked out of place, even to his inexperienced eyes, and it bothered him enough to do something about it. Califleur gave him a look far too knowing for what it should have been, then one last glance at Noctis before following her master to wherever they would go next.