July Event Log

[magicademymods]

July Event Log A Reading Rainbow Though the publication is ordinarily drier than dry toast Modified to be drier than dried toast, this quarter's issue of Thaumaturgy Today is all the rage around campus. The reason: a series of advances in motile spells! Easier and more powerful than those found in your standard book of spells (any grade), these spells achieve their power by specificity. One spell for lifting fruit, one for lifting laundry, one for lifting books, the list goes on. Though Professor Loshakle is deep at work writing a blistering reply criticizing every nuance of these spells, outside of his wrathful gaze the spells flourish as people practice them on everything they can. Copies of the issue are easy to get your hands on, if you want to give these new spells a whirl. On the other hand, your stuff or you yourself might fall victim to the spells of other students, whether by mistake or cruel jest. And woe betide those not human -- since no spell explains how to lift an anthropomorphic duck or a robot, for example, enterprising students are particularly eager to come up with one on their own, and there's only one way to test such things... It's Raw, You Donkey! There was an incident. Mistakes were made. Rice balls were detonated. Puddings were animated and sent on rampages. A cheesebread was found lodged in Makerion Keep, sunk to a depth of three feet in the walls. Whatever happened, and no one seems to have details... the Great Hall is closed and no food is being served. So... what're you going to eat? Several pop-up stands have emerged, as enterprising students try to cash in, but that costs money and who knows how the quality is. Headmaster Birony keeps showing up with pies, having made several savory ones that taste really good, actually, but can you really live on pie alone? (And do you really trust Headmaster Birony?) Some students have taken to the ultimate last resort: cooking. As it happens, the skills of the chef and of the aspiring mage are not exclusive in principle, but generally learning the one means little time to devote to the other. Faced with an oven or a grill, can you muster up the capability to make something edible? Or will you burn the water and turn bread back into grain, and thus have no choice but to avail yourself of pricey booth cooking or Cam-pies? Of course, the Great Hall will PROBABLY be open again soon, you might be able to last until then... The Defense Association In light of certain recent activities, like horrible monster attacks, Professors Trammel and Kith have teamed up to provide self-defense lessons to students who so desire. Purely optional, this extra class at the end of the school day promises study in shields, wards, basic attack spells, and mobility spells (because sometimes the best thing is to run like heck). Needless to say, these classes are quite the adventure! Students find themselves in dueling circles quite frequently, expected to carefully deflect each other's spells. Hopefully you've got the knack of it; the practice spells they have taught you don't cause any harm, but they sting like the dickens! Research on the Sundered Conflict. Conflict seems to be key. As near as the researchers can tell, all the Sundered lead lives that are simply not ordinary, and their experiments in conflict from last month produced results they didn't expect (as you all have learned) but that are most promising. Professor King herself has taken the lead on this experiment, and she warns anyone who volunteers that it is likely to be very dangerous, and they will be taking this very slow. They are, she explains, going to try to bridge the gap between you and the world you came from. A SMALL bridge, a proof of concept, no portal home and celebrations yet. But they hope it will work, and be the first step towards getting you back where you belong. If you agree, they get to work. Any student who undergoes this process immediately regains a power of their choice. It does not have to be on their application, and you do not have to provide proof during AC. It's here now. Only if you do not have a power to regain, you may regain an item instead. The price? For the next three days, you will be haunted by visions of your greatest enemy, your most hated foe, or the person you least wish to see in the world. Perhaps you hear their laughter in the darkness of your room at night. Perhaps you see a fellow student as them. Perhaps they are taunting you from just behind your shoulder... Whatever form it takes, for three days, you will be at their mercy. Or the mercy of your own mind's imagining them. Or perhaps a combination of the two. Who can say...?

Comments

Regain Questions

[magicademymods]

If you have them, ask them here!

[woo_oo]

It's Raw

[Oooh, this sounds like a new challenge to her! And how hard can cooking be? So later on in the day, be you stranger or best friend, she's approaching you, and there's an odd smell coming from that thing hidden under cloth a plate she's carrying...]

Hey! You wanna taste-test something?

[You could say no, but look at that face. Look at it.]

Research

[Dangerous? Right up her alley! What's the worst that can happen?

Hearing Magica De Spell's wicked cackling 24/7, apparently, is the worst thing that can happen. She's got bags under her eyes from barely sleeping, she stumbles as she walks... but, uh, hey, she's got her child-sized grappling hook back! Hurray!

Less hurray when she hears you making a noise, and suddenly aims the damn thing at you.]

I WON'T LET YOU HURT HER AGAIN! ... Oh. Hi.

[Good thing she didn't fire... this time.]

Re: Regain Questions

[grim_heaper]

Fair to presume that Noise (creation and control) would NOT be returned to Sho?

Also, with the spell on him if he tries to cause harm... if he tries to kill his worst foe... um... how bad will this be for him?

For V: Given D&D, are we talking about a single spell, a level worth of spells, a feat, a class skill.... or....?

[king_of_egypt]

The Defense Association

Given some of the recent events, Atem agrees that it would be wise to brush up on defensive magics since it would better prepare him to defend either the school as a whole or his friends and acquaintances. Therefore, he makes the time to swing by after his regular classes. Combined with all the extra studying he did last month, he isn't leaving much time for recreational activities. That's just as well since he'd allowed Fantastic Foils and other games to consume much of his time in previous months.

"Ha- you've fallen into my trap." Atem replied a bit smugly during one of his practice duels. "You must have missed when I placed that glyph there moments after we started." As intended, really. The more overt spells he'd cast had been for the express purpose of distracting his opponent's attention.

The small but effective explosive energy of the glyph felled his "foe" with relative ease. Once the match was called, Atem moved over to offer them a hand up. "It was a valiant effort though, I'm sure the same trick will not work again."

Research on the Sundered

Having stuck with the research this far, Atem saw no reason to stop now. Yes, there might be danger involved but if it would help the other sundered find a way to their own dimensions then so be it. It was a risk he was willing to take. At first he didn't perceive a noticeable change, but that was how these things usually worked. There was often a delay of a few hours to even a day before the results manifested so he wasn't overly concerned, just quietly hoping that it would not mean winding up in a compromising situation.

In fact, he'd nearly forgotten about it when he was sitting in one of his classes, listening to the lecture that was in progress. That continued even after a husky began speaking to him from an adjacent desk.

Oh, isn't this convenient.... for you pharaoh. The emphasis on the last word displayed the speaker's utter disgust. Atem turned in his seat, gaping at who he saw before standing up.

"Bakura!?" It was a shame that no one else could see the delusions he was now experiencing.

... Getting a second chance at life, or is this a third? The shaggy-haired specter continued. A shame that the villagers of Kul Elna were never afforded such an opportunity. The delusion tilted his head to one side and followed that with a laugh lacking mirth. Tell me, pharaoh, what would all your new friends think about you if they knew the origins of that puzzle around your neck.

"Enough! I don't know what you're playing at this time- but mark my words it will fail just as before!" Someone might want to escort Atem out of the room before he causes more of a scene than he has already.

It's Raw

[paradoxical_personality]

[Crinkling her nose in a mix of uncertainty and revulsion she looked down at the small therian and replied]

Do... I look like I have a death wish?

[paradoxical_personality]

A Reading Rainbow

At first glance, Hel scoffed at the contents of the Thaumaturgy Today magazine. Sure the spells it contained looked simple, they were meant to, likely dumbed down to appease their simpleton subscribers. So she cast the rag aside, before her curiosity got the better of her. Her studies were progressing swiftly, but not really fast enough for her liking. She may not actually try these spells, but there was really no harm just in perusing them.

So, finding a comfy chair to sit upon in one of the common areas, she flipped casually through the pages, her eyes roving over them. "They're so specific..." She noted verbally. "Why should you need multiple lifting spells when a universal one should suffice..." Said from experience, since she had mastered levitation in her own dimension and was working on those skills here.

Once she made it to the back cover, she shook her head and stood up, leaving the magazine on the arm of the chair.

Research on the Sundered

Conflict was usually at the root of the problem in her dimension too, when people from other dimensions arrived, so there was little she could say to argue with them. When Saber and Rin appeared there was Gilgamesh to fight. When Asuka, Rei and Shinji appeared, it was the Angels- and so forth. The only exception had been the Vocaloids really. They just arrived sporadically to hold concerts. So just by the averages alone, conflict was more likely to spur a dimensional crossover.

Hel was almost offended when they asked her if she'd like to proceed, as if she were frightened of some mere humans with an ounce of magic to their name. Granted, the researchers were right to question her as Hel had been very reluctant before. It was as if the near altercation with the professor had eased her mind about it in some fashion. That and she still needed to return to stop Ragnarok.

"Let's just get it over with." After they underwent the process she could feel something powerful and familiar coursing through her, and she knew instinctively that some bit of her power had been returned to her. The cost would come later, and when she least expected it.
______

Later in the hallway, Hel spotted the Jotun Ymir as cocky as ever spouting nonsense about what Odin had allegedly done to him and trying to garner sympathy.

"That won't work on me." She stated to him, before unfurling the cloth of infinity to ensnare him in it. Guess it was a good thing she learned that it could place a person in stasis. She would bind Ymir for now, and when she returned they could deal with him then. For now, this world would be safe from him as he was sealed.

.... Of course Ymir wasn't here, and she likely bundled someone else in the cloth instead. When she comes to her senses, she'll let them out.

[darkenedmoon]

It's Raw, You Donkey!

Luckily for the other students, Yotsuyu can cook. She even has enough funds to at least attempt to give the truly starving a deal, though she gruffly demands they say as little about it as they possibly can. Though really, what she makes is...the same thing, pretty much, every day. Marinated yakitori, vegetable skewers, rice balls (although hers do not detonate, thank the kami), and flatbread. No alterations, no substitutions. Though she might alternate chicken and steak. If she can get her hands on other ingredients, she might even offer fish! But for now, you get what you get!


The Defense Association

It likely comes as no surprise that Yotsuyu allows her reputation to precede her--at least her classroom reputation. Unyielding taskmaster that she was. Though most of her opponents (save the ones who might know her well) forget that she's just as unyielding to herself, and so she's relentlessly practiced a defensive spell or two. This study is just to cement things in her mind, and take advantage of more learning. Just in case.

But she already knew fleeing was a good thing, thank you...


Research on the Sundered

They had been in the midst of the war, never mind that Hien Rijin had been attempting peace talks with Garlemald. But, that seemed to not be conflict enough.

"It is not pressure," Yotsuyu sniffed at Professor King, when the woman asked, once more, if she wanted to undertake such a thing. "There are others who want--nay, need, to go home. Even if I do not wish it, any iota of research helps, does it not?"

Given the affirmative, Yotsuyu nodded, and settled in to undergo their spellcasting. And she did feel...different, somehow, though she could not yet put a delicately manicured finger upon it. Oh, well--certainly she'd learn later, wouldn't she?

Or perhaps now, no, dear sister? What an insipid whisper it was, that twisted its way through her mind. She scowled--best to pretend that it was nothing, nothing at all, and make her way out of the building.

"If it isn't the cold-blooded little worm," she growled to herself. "Crawling your way through my rotten heart even now, Asahi?"

But oh, Yotsuyu, you were the one who disappointed me. When you could not even take care of the Warrior of Light? What good were you?

"You were just jealous! As ever! It did not matter to you what you were given, always you grasped and clawed for more! Even when I was given naught but a pittance, you would devour your share and snatch mine from me as well! And when I had given my all--you gave me death, you snivelling bastard, whining about Zenos! Well, I am here, and you are but a memory! As you deserve!"

Not that anyone could miss her ranting to herself as she walked towards the living quarters. Likely, the question was--would she see the one who challenged her, or would she see Asahi sas Brutus, her chief tormentor?

[woo_oo]

[boo you suck!!!

Not but she keeps on being cheerful.]

There aren't any dangerous chemicals in it!

[... She's 75% sure. 65%.]

[paradoxical_personality]

[If there was one person on campus who could resist someone's charms or exuberance it was the Queen of the Underworld herself]

Aesir do not require sustenance. [Wait. Haven't you all seen Hel in the dining hall partaking of their meals before?]

research. now we've both lost it.

[replaceme]

Lady hadn't really been interested in offering the researchers any assistance, because she didn't really trust them. She'd heard whispers of effects both good and bad, and still pretty nervous about this place she didn't want to throw herself into harm's way. It took several hours of serious thought to realize that if she didn't help, then she very well might be stuck here. Permanently. And that was even scarier. She didn't mind this place, but that didn't mean she didn't want to go home.

And so she took them up on their offer.

She was sitting in class with Atem when her own delusions began to manifest. The cultists from that fateful day surrounding her desk and taunting her until she was on the verge of tears, but she was quick to excuse herself, ducking her head and hurrying into the hall as the followed. Reaching for her. Getting closer and closer and- She snapped upright when she head Atem yell from inside, their ghostly visage dispersing as she quickly ran back in. "..." The entire class had turned to look at him, so she quickly ran over and took his wrist, all but yanking him out of the chair and dragging him into the hall.

[king_of_egypt]

Ignoring all of the eyes now staring at him in bewilderment, Atem kept his eyes trained on the source of his unease. Temper, temper... you're making quite a scene. The amusement evident in his non-existent voice. Finally, the pharaoh looked aside and up to the professor.

"I don't know when Bakura arrived, but you cannot allow him to study here with the others. This man can't be trusted." The student he'd actually been shouting out slipped lower in his chair wishing he was anywhere but here. It was obvious that he wasn't this Bakura fellow, and he had no idea what Atem was going on about.

It was about this time when Lady drug him out of the room, and he struggled with her a bit to try and free himself but discovered she was surprisingly strong. "Lady, I am sure there must be a good reason for this, but I have to see this through. If.. he's here then others may be in danger as well. He's not the sort of person who cares who gets hurt in the process."

[replaceme]

Surprise! She's a lot stronger than she looks. "Atem." She did her best to ignore the people talking to her, the whispered threat of torture on their tongues. Her grip doesn't ease up and, instead, tightens as she forcibly turns him back toward the class. "Look a- and look hard. Bakura, whoever that is, he's... he's not there."

Finally she let go of him, but only so she could lash out at the phantoms. "Get away from me!" She shouted, her words warping into a roar loud enough to shake the building. "Leave me alone. Leave me alone." She moved away from Atem, taking her head in hand as she doubled over, defensively. "I'll kill you if you touch me. I'll fight back this time. I- I'll fight back!"

[king_of_egypt]

That would stand to reason since she wasn't exactly human to start with. "Not there!?" Atem questioned as she spun him to look into the room. "What to you mean, he's right there in the desk just to the rig-.. he's gone?". Feeling even more puzzled, when no one else had gone through that door save for the pair of them. It would have been foolish to go out a window from this height. Then he looked back towards Lady. "You... mean you didn't see him at all?"

Before she could answer, she started shouting herself. "You're the one that pulled me out here...?" It came out as more of a question than a statement. It didn't take long to figure out that she was talking to something or someone he couldn't see either. "Lady! Get ahold yourself."

"It's just the two of us out here". Taking a step forward, he only halted when she said she would kill to defend herself. Eyebrows furrowing, he wondered just what it was that she had experienced in some point in her life to be acting this way. "Lady please... listen to my voice. There's no one else here. No one is going to hurt you."

Re: Regain Questions

[afterthemoon]

Two questions:

Can the "worst enemy" be a version of themselves?

Can the "worst enemy" be multiple people?

[bearshermark]

It's Raw

[Eleven's fingers jingle in his pockets. It's an unusual sound after only having a handful of coins at any given time for months on end. He wants to save the windfall as much as possible, but.. neither is he a particularly gifted cook. He eyes a student's offerings and hesitates]

Er, thank you, but I think I might just fish something up somewhere.


Defense Association

[Coincidentally, it's these sorts of spells that have taken up the majority of his focus since arriving. He's quite adept at protecting himself and rebounding spells, but he's been lacking in attack-oriented magic as a result and hadn't even considered mobility spells until a few lessons in.

He steps up to his practice partner with a cautious smile.]

Do you want to practice attacking or defending?


Research

A mistake. He'd made a mistake.

His nightmares had been blessedly infrequent since arriving in Diatu. Now for the second night in a row, he awoke in cold sweats, body trapped in stasis as his mind roiled with visions of death, destruction, failure, and guilt.

Worse still, they seemed to follow him even in his waking hours. He turned at every sound, fingers itching for the sword strapped to his back. He couldn't sleep for fear, and the third day saw him jumping everywhere shadows lurked. He clutched his chest and recoiled from contact only to offer breathless apologies when they passed.

But he'd made the mistake of dozing off after classes let out, and woke to what at first had seemed like just another student, only to warp and twist into another form altogether.

The Lord of Shadows loomed, a cruel smile stretched across painted lips.

Eleven's heart seized, but wide eyes were drawn to a familiar warmth on the back of his hand. The mark there shone with a soft, golden light and he watched as it shot up to the darkening sky, amplified and pulsing white against the clouds.

Lightning burst from the heavens and screamed to earth.

it's raw

[zanarkandian]

Sure! What'cha got?

[ One of Tidus's many fatal flaws: he can never seem to turn down food. He gives her an eager grin. ]

[zanarkandian]

It's Raw

[ It's the worst thing to ever happen. Tidus is miserable without food, and he's new enough that he doesn't have a steady income source yet. He's desperate enough to trade favors. If he sees anyone carrying ingredients...]

Hey, I can help! I'll follow your lead. Promise.

[ The rest of the time he paces nervously, as if trying to think through his predicament. ]

Defense Association

[ He is all for practical uses of their magic. Dodging with his quick reflexes and athletic prowess seems to be his favored strategy, but when backed into a corner he counters---or tries to.

He seems to be floating away, still slightly singed from the latest hit---at this development he looks down, bewildered. ]

Ah...was that supposed to happen?

research

[ His inner demon is someone the other students know very well. How could it not be? That familiar growl is always there to whisper:

Give it up, kid. Everyone can see you just don't measure up. Gonna cry about it?

The teen seems to growl at random intervals, and he might occasionally take a swing over his shoulder. Hope you weren't too close. ]

Buzz off, dad! I hate you!

[blue_ice]

reading rainbow

[ Kaiba is sitting down to study when he spots the magazine. It's potentially useful for class, so he picks it up, cracks it open....

And a bright rainbow bursts out of the pages, having the nerve to sparkle. He yelps and drops it like it's hot. ]

What the---

[He backs away and opens his class notebook. More rainbow. Dropped just as fast. Next textbook. Flung to the ground so fast. Kaiba shoots off rainbows one after the other, flinging each book away in disgust.

Inspiration strikes. He opens one book against the floor, limiting the rainbow's arc. ]

How do I stop this.

research

[ Kaiba knows by now that these research questions are really a bad idea, but he's in such a foul mood from the rainbow incident that he'll do anything to get it to stop. The promise of a treasured item helps too.

At last, the locket shaped like a trading card is in its rightful place on his chest, but it came at a terrible price. Everywhere he looks, there's a memory. Cruel laughter that he whirls to face. Cold taunts during study hours. Lonely nights with the howl of the wind.

He tries to maintain a stiff upper lip, as he'd needed to back then, but after a night of no sleep he's rather twitchy. One shadow hits the wrong way and he sees double, whirling on anyone who crosses him. ]

Leave him ALONE, you monster---

[ Whoops. ]

[burningbrighter]

reading rainbow

Ooh, this is the kind of stuff she loves to learn! Sunset devours the books happily, and she can be seen lifting the desks in an empty classroom. One problem...they're stuck up there.

"Okay...hmm. How to get them down..."

it's raw

Hungry? No problem! Well...maybe a bit of a problem. Sunset's a vegetarian, and her dietary options are more limited than most. She can be seen gathering plants and herbs, eventually setting up a salad station on campus.

"Don't forget your veggies!"

research

They need to get closer to solving this mystery, and Sunset's prize is a little red necklace around her neck. There's more to it than that, but for now...she's getting a crash course in facing her fears.

A cold voice tells her she hasn't changed. That the duel last month was just a taste of freedom, and soon...soon she'll conquer this pathetic world too! Sunset falls to her knees and covers her ears.

"No! No, I won't listen!"

[holdyourhorns]

Is it possible for Spyro could have Sparx back?

The best friend + 4 hit blocker (before passing out) + gemstone (dragon-cut) tracker + destroyer of butterflies

[fatedsacrifice]

It's raw

Noctis worked in a sushi restaurant when he was younger. So the most he can really manage is rice balls and simple ingredient sushi things. Luckily he still had some of the fish leftovers from the beach fishing excursion so that got worked into the rice.

Unfortunately, Ignis isn't here so the king has to manage on his own. And he won't talk about how much his advisor is missed, especially at times like this. Nor will he be discussing the time about how he asked Ignis about the pan he blackened and had almost thrown out so long ago when he had his own place. The only reason it 'lived' was because of his advisor cleaning the thing.

He's not really trying to feed anyone, but should anyone ask he just shrugs.

"Go ahead, help yourself."

Research

When he heard about a chance to figure out how to possibly go home, Noctis moved his tail. The last time the researchers wanted something, he hadn't given them a glance when they asked for hair samples and whatever other crazy things they'd requested of him.

He sat perfectly still now though for Professor King and didn't even care about the danger that she mentioned because he was already gone in his world. If he got lucky, hopefully soon Noctis would find himself home and be able to go to sleep at the very least.

And if this worked, maybe others could go home too. As a king, helping others was what he did though he'd done that as a prince too if all those hunts and quests were anything to go by. On top of that, it was just him and Yotsuyu that night in case the daemon got out to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting people that were gathered there. But he hadn't told her he'd send her running first before he asked her to help him.

The part about conflict had no effect on him. That had been the story throughout his life. Fight this thing, do this, go over here to this place, fight this thing. The hunts he'd done and the many battles he'd had to fight were numerous so conflict was nothing new. This time though he'd be fighting without his friends. However, he'd faced other things and Ardyn alone though he'd had a lot more of an arsenal back then.

He went out for a walk a few hours later, not sure what to think and somehow waited for something to happen. The results hadn't been revealed to him, so he summoned a green plastic drink sword. Pondering going home he tossed it and watched it sail away from him into a small pine tree.

The next thing he knew there was a flash of blue, and he blinked and was right on the little sword. The king's blue eyes looked around and didn't see anyone. So he took his father's blade off of his back and tried the exact same thing with a bigger tree and a much bigger and emptier area.

Yup, same result. Noctis was elated because now he had his Warp Strike back! So he used it all damn day until he tired himself out. Going to bed that night though, he had a dream of seeing Ardyn and he was back in Insomnia.

'The once hapless and helpless prince. Is he now ready to claim his crown? Don't let us down.' Ardyn drawled menacingly. Noct then raced to clash against the other. They both crashed into buildings, and then warped to the ground and stood, facing each other. 'Let the games..begin.' Ardyn said in a low tone. 'No, now they end.' the king declared determinedly. Armigers then came out and the two battled fiercely.

Waking up with a start, Noct shook it off as just a bad dream. That was until he was walking to class and could swear he heard Ardyn's laugh and turned around to no one there. Or when he would turn his head, he thought he saw a glimpse of the black hat or long coat out of the corner of his eye.

It was almost like a wild goose chase, and wherever Ardyn seemed to be, the king would try and catch up.

Please don't get run over or run into by a guy thinking he's seeing an old adversary.

Cooking

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik had been wandering around, brain fried from exams. He'd doubled down on studying because he wasn't half as smart as Jasper, so it took him extra time. To his surprise, he'd been called a nerd and wasn't quite sure what that meant.

But as he wandered around, he turned the corner and saw Yotsuyu standing there cooking. So the knight moved over and looked everything over. She had quite the spread which reminded him of the night he had taught her to dance.

Looking back at her, he nodded. "I had not expected to find you here, but is there something that I might be of assistance with to help prepare?"

Helpful, this man is it.

Research

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight had just finished taking a shower and was walking along a path. As he was about to get back to his room, he remembered that he'd forgotten a book. So he turned around and went right back for it.

Lightning lit the sky and Hendrik had a feeling he needed to find the Luminary. So he did double-time in order to locate his charge. He kept moving and felt like it was his first day here that he'd seen Eleven, chasing after him as he had been.

Finally, his blue-green eyes saw the boy in question and knelt before him. "Are you alright?"

[woo_oo]

... But I've seen you eat before. Tons of times!

[woo_oo]

I'm pretty sure it's desert.

[pretty... sure...?]

In the mood for some chocolate?