October Event Log

[magicademymods]

October Event Log Fall Cleaning Suddenly and without warning, the lighting in or near every building on campus goes red. A second later, a deep alarm rises in volume as the buildings begin to shake. The faculty barely bat an eye as they direct students to get outside quickly. "Fall cleaning," they explain wearily to those students who have never experienced this phenomenon. Older students offer their own explanation as they move: at some point every fall the buildings of the Magicademy rearrange themselves so the cleaning golems can repair their foundations, tend to the ground around them, keep them from sinking into the caverns, that sort of thing. Totally harmless. Well, until you realize no one knows where your House tower went. Or till you need to get to class promptly except Kedrigan Hall is in the middle of a lake somehow. Or till the Library of Starchime is down in the middle of the lab caverns and you have to try to study while students practice magic in the aisles. But it's okay! This will only last for a couple of days! You can get by, right? The Bonfire To say goodbye to the warmth and hello to the frost, the Magicademy celebrates the changing of seasons with a great bonfire. A massive conglomeration of burning wood sends flame licking up some sixty feet into the air, and the warmth pouring from the huge fire wards off any hint of cold from those nearby. By tradition, the bonfire burns till morning, and many students have bedrolls or tents or even straight-out beds parked nearby so they can take their spot in keeping it lit. Others have brought food and drink, enough to selflessly share with everyone. The whole things is one big party, really; House rivalries and personal animosities and music duels are all set aside for a night as the campus unites in solidarity. It's one of the nicer times you could ask for. This Is Halloween Bad news. Terrible news. The worst news imaginable. Headmaster Birony has found out about Halloween. Diatu Magicademy is nothing but orange and black now. Carved pumpkins wander the campus and aggressively pose for anyone who glances their way (or doesn't...). Spiderwebs litter every hallways and passage, complete with spiders that patiently move their webs out of the way and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience with a sort of weariness that says they know exactly who to blame for this. A twelve-foot-high menorah sits in the Great Hall, leading some to suspect that the Headmaster's Intimations to learn more about the holiday did not produce universally-accurate results. Headmaster Birony herself patrols the grounds like a madwoman, slinging extra spookiness wherever she passes and occasionally Discovering costumes straight onto the innocent students she passes. "Spirit of the season!" she yells before fleeing, candy and toilet paper left behind in her path. If by this point you are questioning whether the Headmaster ever does actual work, rest assured you're not the first, nor will you be the last, to wonder that. Research on the SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) SUNDERDOG! (Sunderdog!) This month's assignment, for those willing to undertake it: actually nothing disastrous! Instead, the researchers ask that you compare your world to another Sundered student's, then report back to them on the differences and similarities. They're most interested in magic styles, but anything you give them will have value!

Comments

[cometophobic]

[The Bonfire]

It should have been evident to the staff that Marisol was not an ideal student. Though she hadn't told anyone, she couldn't read the texts for class having never needed that skill before, and Jenghis could only read so fast. Well- if she'd been focusing on the coursework that is. The longer it took her to learn magic and grow the longer it would be before she had to resume her responsibilities elsewhere.

So, she did enjoy the musical element of her house, and was showing progress in activities related to that.... but otherwise she was trending towards recreational endeavors.

Like this convenient bonfire here. Currently she had sidled up closer to the open flame, so she could toast this peculiar white squishy cylinder. Everyone else was doing it, so why question it. She can also be found singing, dancing, or just resting in various locations.

[Fall Cleaning<]

As it would happen, Marisol had been fortunate enough to have been outside when everything started going off. She was reclining on a bench, letting her tail flip lazily. One arm was tucked behind her head to prop it up, and the other was raised up before her face to make it easier to converse with the walking stick bug sitting on said arm. Without having any warning, she startled easily, jumping to her feet and hurling poor unfortunate Jenghis into a nearby bush.

"What in the-?!"

Her ears flattened against her head trying to prevent some of the sharp notes of the alarm from deafening her. Then the rumbling commenced. The buildings raised from their sitting places and started shuffling every which way. Jenghis to his credit had managed to free himself from the bush, and was crawling back to her when they both made a terrible realization at the same time. Some of the buildings were aimed right for them.

In a desperate act Jenghis increased his size, so he was large enough to carry a passenger, and in this manner they proceeded to flee as fast as he could skitter out of the way,

[This is Halloween]

The traditions were quite different here than what Marisol was used to so when she found the giant candlestick-thing she never questioned it.

"Where did they ever find candles that big.....?" Cocking her head to one side, you could just tell that she had this strange desire to find a way to climb up there.

[burningbrighter]

"Magic, I guess..." Sunset answered her with a curious look up, clutching a pile of books. "Though I've never seen anything like it in a Nightmare Night celebration. I think the headmaster might be a little confused."

[cometophobic]

Magic was the easiest way to explain anything that transpired here, Marisol silently reprimanded herself for not coming up with that on her own. "It's likely the Growth spell from Advanced Studies in Discovery Magicks Vol. 63". You know, assuming there even is such a tome by that name.

Rather than lingering on the subject Marisol started circling around the base of the thing looking for anything she could potentially grab onto. She stopped this quest and looked to the other girl. "Is that what they call it in your land?"

[burningbrighter]

"Yup. It's in honor of the queen of nightmares herself, Nightmare Moon. Though I hear my friend finally saved her and she guards all dreams now."

It's a long and tedious story, but she'll just smile and shake her head. "Maybe we should come back later?"

[cometophobic]

Being a fan of stories herself, Marisol was pleased to listen to the little snippet she received. "... but what did they save her from?"

"If we come back later this thing might not still be here." Implying this to be a bad thing.

[burningbrighter]

"From the darkness in her heart, of course. She's back to normal now, and no longer resents her sister."

Sunset stares up at it. "And you're sure you want to climb that? Isn't it dangerous?

Fall Cleaning

[mithrarin]

"Whoa!"

Dust found himself scrambling away from the bala-inlota equipment shed, which seemed hellbent on trampling him on its route to wherever the heck. If he went over the grass, it might be a good dodge, but if not he'd be that much slower in getting away from it --

--and up ahead, there's that girl and her huge familiar making their own break from buildings.

"Hey, look out!"

[cometophobic]

These buildings for all their haste didn't seem to be taking safety into account for the paths they chose. That did explain the need for the earlier warnings but perhaps evacuations should have been started well before now.

"I'm looking, I'm looking!" Thankfully Jenghis could move faster than he could talk, but even then it was a gamble trying to weave through the chaos. Wait. She recognized that voice and whoever it was must be on foot. "Jenghis! Ack-" She was about to issue an order to turn back to scoop up the other student, when the large bug had to skid to an abrupt halt. He narrowly evaded colliding face first with a stray tower. His rider fell from his back as he reared up.

The ground seemed to come rushing up to meet her.

[mithrarin]

Dust was oddly used to this, which probably said a great deal about either his life choices or the Magicademy as a whole. Quick as could be, he flung himself forward, half-rolling and half-flipping to cross the distance between them.

He was a solid Warmblood despite looking slender, but being caught by him had to be better than crashing into the ground.