March Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

March Event and Intro Log Golem On The Loose The rain never stops. Water and mud track all over campus. Diligent cleaning golems stomp about, mopping and scrubbing and polishing and then going back to do it all over again, and again, and again... One of them seems to have had it. The renegade golem bursts into Kedrigan Hall -- interrupting classes and disrupting labwork to furiously seize students and scrub every last scrap of mud and dirt off of them. All the halls have been locked off with "Under Cleaning" signs, and anyone who enters them meets with the golem's wrath, as it violently plays a pre-recorded message about not interfering with groundskeeping and deploys a giant claw-like tool to grab the interloper and put them back on unforbidden ground. The professors, who are after all completely immune to the golem's attention by its very design, seem to think this is a good learning opportunity for students. Is it? Horrible Spell Doom? "Are you sure you're ready for the test on Advanced Gaseous Discovery?" one upperclassman asks the other. "Of course I'm sure," the second says confidently. Whipping out a wand from a holster on her belt, she sweeps her wand through the air gracefully, pronouncing several Osmarian sigils as she draws them. Probably. "See, that's a blue cloud--" Said blue cloud, which puffs into being as the last syllable left her lips, abruptly doubls in size. Then it doubles in size again. And again. The upperclassmen, who have been in Diatu for several years and know exactly what this sort of thing means, don't hesitate. Not even stopping to share a glance between them, they run like crazy, leaving the growing cloud behind just as classes let out and students begin to enter the halls. But... surely it doesn't have any weird and wacky side effects, right? The Bala-inlota Parade (aka The Non-Horrible Prompt) To celebrate the start of the Bala-inlota season, Anastara spares no expense. The great parade and associated festival stretches the whole weekend, and the whole city puts on their colors and turns out for the fun. Enterprising vendors sell food, drinks, and souvenirs ranging from small and crude figurines to magical constructs that shine field displays onto flat surfaces so you can watch the action up-close! (Good luck affording that, students.) Practically any sort of entertainment you could want appears on the streets and canals of Anastara, and food and drink flow freely. 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 team has developed a Sundering spell that they warn is crude and unpolished, because the Curriculum is so unpracticed. They hope it will connect to your home worlds and establish a magical link they can build off of to open further passages. No promises! And to those who do undergo this spellwork... it has a certain side effect of confusion, as brief images from your home world flicker across your vision for a few hours afterwards. Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Have fun!

A Special Note

If you thread out one or more scenes based on the confusion from "Research on the Sundered", respond to the comment on this post with a link to that thread. The results of this will be revealed next month! (It is, we're afraid, not a regain, lest your participation be based solely on that hope!)

Comments

[woo_oo]

You could make up for all your weaknesses!

[Pause, considering.]

Do you have all the basic vampire weaknesses? Garlic, holy water, stakes...?

[woo_oo]

Yeah... but that changed when I went adventuring with Uncle Scrooge and the boys! Now she totally trusts me!

[stillnewatthis]

"I am not designed for passengers. It may not be comfortable," Orisa said, matter-of-factly. "If this is acceptable, certainly!"

[darkenedmoon]

She nodded back at him, crossing her arms over her chest for a moment. Yotsuyu wasn't certain if she wanted to help, or let him entertain himself that way for now.

Though she probably ought to help, since it was honestly for her sake that he was looking at all. That had her moving further down the shelving he'd started at, slender fingers going over the spines of the tomes listed.

Her brow furrowed in thought, but she finally made a selection. "I suppose we ought to find a table or some such," she murmured. Pity she hadn't brought a chapbook to take notes in, though.

[perfectenn]

Tenn's smile turns bold at the acknowledgement. “I was an entertainer. And I’d like perform here as well.” It will be different, not only with magic, but going solo. It’s been years since his acts were entirely his own… there’s a great deal to consider.

Though he doesn’t join in the laugh, his expression brightens; the idea of a priest who forges and wields swords is amusing. “If you enjoy it and it brings others happiness, it's worth considering, isn’t it?”

[bearshermark]

"Yes, maybe." His grin fades a bit, then complicates. "But my- I'm already bound to a goddess. While there are similarities, I don't know if I could be devout enough to Raida to become a priest of Hers."

He runs his fingers through his hair, then shrugs. "I could ask what's required though, I guess."

[nomoremistergneissguy]

Not yet. Mostly 'cause I'm not a mage mage. I have a brother and a sister who are, but I took after my dad. At home I was what they called an elementalist. I could control earth.

[Though he pauses at that, and glances down, looking over at the marble sphere spinning calmly nearby.] Though it's kinda neat, they gave me a familiar made of rock here. His name's Rounder. He's not from my world, but I kind of feel like he's a little bit of home, even if he's only kinda a call back.

[A little more thought.] And Discovery comes a little easier, probably because I was used to making things out of earth and rock and stuff like that. But it's specifically stuff I already sort of know?

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

Well? Can ya?

[He isn't sure if Ballet will give an answer to him, he isn't her wizard or anything, and probably a lot less fun to have around than the girl here. But hey, not gonna pretend she ain't right here!]

[pawper]

That's a good plan, yeah.

[It's not an impulse she can readily understand, but clearly that just means Daniel is super smart and belongs in a place like this. And so agreeing with him is easy, the reasons why blithely accepted as simple fact.]

I just had an essay to work on, myself. [A sigh that tries to be lighthearted but instead ends up sounding a lot more frustrated than she had ever intended to reveal.] Something about the first people to really study Thaumaturgy......you wouldn't happen to know where I could find a good book about that, would you? I've been looking around, but no luck so far.

[If he squints, he can make out "Founders of Thaumaturgy" written in bold lettering across the spine of her book. It's just upside down, obviously.]

[pawper]

Ohhh, I get it. [Nodding now as well, though she does fidget when he mentions his "powers" — but only a little. Because wouldn't anyone, if they possessed an ability like that? Useful, valuable, something that wasn't inherently twisted and cursed.] Yeah, that does sound a lot easier.

[She hums, thoughtful.]

It can, but you could say the same about a lot of things. I can definitely think of a few times when my country would've been happy to know a hydromancer.

[pawper]

[Lys watches quietly, perfectly attentive and genuinely curious, startling only a little at the toad's sudden appearance. When the mildly unlucky creature (there are worse fates to befall a test animal, surely) suddenly turns blue, Lys gasps. And then immediately starts clapping, grinning not a touch stupidly.]

Wow, that's incredible! You did it on the first try and everything!

[That was what Orisa meant to do, right? Sure it was!]

[pawper]

[Though her hands automatically raise in a conciliatory gesture, palms up and facing him, the look of concern hardly flickers. Tough was tough, yeah.....but stone was stone!]

I don't doubt it! But tackling something like a golem can still leave bruises, you know? [A tilt of her head, a relieved smile.] If you're fine, though, then I'm really happy to hear it.

[pawper]

[Her bow is more enthusiastic, low and sweeping and accompanied by a broad grin — Arthur mimics the gesture the best he can by nodding graciously and bending a knee — but she's already forgotten it by the time she too leaves the stage, quickly outpacing her own escort as she makes a beeline for Fluttershy.]

Amazing! That was amazing, wasn't it?

[Oh no, the gangly stranger still wants to talk.]

Thanks so much for doing it with me. I had a lot of fun!

[outofyourshadow]

Yup, that's pretty much it.

[There was the spell that she cast to down the golem, but she decided that one wasn't worth mentioning.]

[shiningkindness]

[Ballet gives a rumble in reply, but Fluttershy frowns a bit.]

I don't think she's really answering the question.

[shiningkindness]

Well, that's good! But this is still your first time in a school, huh?

[This school, at least, was more exciting than most schools go.]

[shiningkindness]

[Though a bit surprised, she doesn't mind having a conversation, especially now that she's off the stage and people aren't watching her anymore.

Plus she's fascinated by the other girl's familiar, but anyway.]

Yes, that was pretty cool. But I should be thanking you for coming up with me. I don't know if I could've been up there on my own.

[stillnewatthis]

[It must be, because Orisa seems very delighted! The effect is small and simple, and possibly easier because it is being performed on her familiar, but nonetheless Orisa claps her hand against her fusion driver, delight practically radiating from her.]

I did! Your advice was very helpful!

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

I'll take your word for it. [What'd he know about land whales or anything?] Doesn't matter, though, I guess. She's plenty useful and helpful, water or not.

[sublimelymagnificentblitz]

I've taken harder hits in team scrimmages! This guy ain't anything. [Jecht rotates one shoulder, then slaps his fist hard into his opposite palm, just to show off that he's in great shape. No need to worry here.] You want ugly, you should see some of the fiends I had to take down back in Spira. Stuff here wouldn't be an appetizer to 'em!

[nomoremistergneissguy]

Yeah, I grew up in...well, it was a little like this, but more forested and we got snow in winter. The mountain passes could get snowed in, that sort of thing. I'm going to want to swim if it gets too hot here.

[Hopefully no one minded a half naked dude frolicking in the rivers, when and if it came to that, because Cliff was not going to balk at that.]

That doesn't help you though. Though they might be able to make a bunch of ice for cold drinks and stuff. They seem to be selling enough cooled stuff here...when they aren't giving it away.

[Cliff just gestured back towards the street, in the direction of the vendors.]

[puzzlers]

[ at least yugi's on the shorter side, so louie probably doesn't have to struggle to keep up as much as he would have if he were walking alongside, oh say kaiba. ]

Oh, I don't think I checked out that shop yet. I seem to go to the same couple of places when I go into town. [ he laughs a bit sheepishly. ] I did want to check out that Zoology Foundation. Have you ever been there?

[plusfivedex]

[Kamala smiles back, albeit more innocently, though she does suspect there's some intentional irony to Lena's words.]

I hear that has its benefits.

So, Lena, if I can ask - you said you don't usually do crowds, right? So what brought you out here?

[plusfivedex]

Oh... Wow.

[Kamala rubs at the back of her neck as she digests this. She definitely believes in second chances, but usually that has applied to people like Zoe. People who weren't vengeful dictators... Or at least, it sounded like that was what Yotsuyu was getting at.

But, Yotsuyu was kind, and seemed genuinely remorseful. And if nothing else, being in here could be a new start for her. After a moment's consideration, Kamala smiled sadly.]

So, it sounds like you've made some mistakes, huh? But you've learned form them, right? And that's always good.

[plusfivedex]

"What?" Kamala blinked in surprise at the very noble gesture, but she wasn't about to let Cliff potentially get hurt so she wouldn't. That wasn't what a good hero did; what a good person did.

Unfortunately, Kamala didn't get to make up her mind on that, though, because the golem made a jerking turn, and Kamala lost her grip, falling to the ground.

"Uh-oh..." She was sore, but not injured, and scrambled to her feet.