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

[scattered_rose]

[Golem on the Loose]
[So. Finding himself somewhere new, and magical at that, had been a surprise. He had been adapting well enough, one could suppose, though finding a way for him to... er, sustain himself had been an interesting conversation. But he was here, in magical school now one supposed, might as well go along with it.

At least until a golem burst into his classroom. He was one of the unfortunate students hauled up by the ankles and dragged back outside, past a restricted hallway he'd clearly gone through to get to class in the first place (even though it hadn't been closed until five minutes ago but, DETAILS), and then dumped down to be cleaned.

One of the students with him, perhaps? A passing witness to the spectacle? Or someone that could find entertainment in a vampire Perfectly Normal Student trying to get away before being rigorously cleaned like a dog that'd gotten into the garden patch? Either way, HELP.]


[Bala-inlota Parade]
[All the activity was certainly something else to see. The excitement was contagious, and with a bit of antsiness born of wanting to wander, he got out in the crowds to explore, carefully keeping his cloak's hood tucked over his head of course. The trinkets get a few curious glances, and doubly so the projection constructs, but he doesn't really buy anything. Just spends his time taking in the sights and the world at large.

One may find him browsing a stand or off to one side, peoplewatching. And there's at least once where he's found a bench off by himself, cloak down even tighter around him, bent over as if tired. Must be a few too many people.]


[Wonders Await/Wildcard]
[The parade weekend proved, if nothing else, there was a LOT to see. If not during the whole golem event, you can also find him going to classes, hanging out in the common area of Gekronus Maius, or in the library. At times he'll be alone, or others he'll have his familiar- a bat, because magic thinks it's funny -hanging off a somewhat unusual backpack.

Here is also the part where something specific can be plotted, either by PM or zumidotexe~]

Golem on the Loose

[shiningkindness]

[Just as the Golem was nearing, something suddenly rose up from the ground underneath it - was...that a tail? - and the Golem was suddenly tossed away.

Another moment later, Fluttershy rounded a corner, and surveying what had happened, headed over to him.]

A-Are you okay?

[scattered_rose]

[He stared at the... whatever-happened, and turned at a voice.]

Uh. Yeah, I guess so, thanks.

[shiningkindness]

[She nodded, then glanced at...something approaching - is that a dorsal fin?]

I heard that the Golem has been causing trouble all over campus. I had a run-in with it earlier, but I guess it's still upset.

[scattered_rose]

[He eyed that, head turning as it moved. Then he shook himself out of it and looked over.]

Apparently so. Guess I gotta figure out the long way around.

wonders await

[woo_oo]

[In the library, Webby had been so pleased to find out there wasn't some crazy lady sending her on errand-quests in order to do research. How nice! But she was making up for lost time a bit too hard - she had so many books stacked that it blocked her line of sight.

So, have a bump into your legs/hip, boyo.]

Whoops!

[scattered_rose]

[He let out a startled noise at the bump, then scrambled to catch the book that'd jumped out of his hands. Turning to see what'd caused it, he blinked at the giant stack of books, leaned down- stack with legs, that is. Amusement quirked up the corners of his mouth as he looked around it, seeing Webby herself now.]

You uh, find what you were looking for?

[woo_oo]

[She tilted her head so she could see him.]

I'll find out once I start reading! I've been trying to grab everything I can about magical cloth and keeping certain people away.

[scattered_rose]

[Curious eyebrow, raised.]

That seems pretty specific. You in trouble?

Bala-Inlota Parade

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[Oh, sure, maybe it was a few too many people, but Cliff was going to check on the guy anyway. He's a solid kid, so him taking up the far end of the bench is definitely something noticeable.]

Hey, you all right? You need a drink or something? I didn't think it was that hot out here, but then again, home was kind of like this in the springtime.

[Normally he's not this much of a chatterbox, but he's watched his twin try to defuse a situation by talking, and he feels a bit awkward. But even if he gets grunted at to go away, he'll probably sit there and run interference. Being quiet is something he's good at.]

[scattered_rose]

[It was mostly the cloak that jostled when Cliff sat down, though Daniel did hazard a glance after a moment or so. He paused, then waved a hand.]

No, it's- alright, but thanks. Just not used to... quite so many people in one place at one time. Kinda overwhelmed my senses.

[The stranger doesn't have to know why, right? Right.]

[nomoremistergneissguy]

[Right. Not that Cliff wouldn't be curious, but he tries not to be nosey. That's his twin's job, and she's not here. So the guy should be safe.]

Hope you don't mind me hanging out a moment, but I'll stop talking. Unless you want to chat.

[He chuckled a little at that, returning the guy's wave, and suited his words to actions, just crossing his hands over his waist and people watching. Though after a few moments, a large marble sphere rolls up to his feet, sprouts arms, and begins waving at him. He leans forward to address it quietly, brows furrowing.]

You almost got stepped on a couple times? I told you to be careful...but you got drinks for later. Okay. Thanks, Rounder!

[He tried to make it a short exchange, anyway, before going right back to watching the crowds in silence. Though if he's told he's being a nuisance, he'll head out.]

[scattered_rose]

[Daniel does nod at the words, but for the moment elects not to chat, simply on getting himself back to feeling 100%.

...At least, until the strange sight of the... marble? showed up.]

Your... familiar?

[STAB IN THE DARK. Aren't most familiars, uh, squishy organic things?]

Bala-inlota Parade

[plusfivedex]

[A few days pass before Kamala has her second run-in with Daniel. It's at that Bala-inlota festivities that she finally does, on a cheerily bright and sunny day.

Well, cheerily bright and sunny for her, anyway. Daniel doesn't look great, and Kamala definitely remembers what he'd told her about how he fares in the sun. She unfastens her special cloak as she approaches with a smile.]

Let's see if I've got this figured out yet.

[She holds the cloak out over Daniel's head, then whispers - to the fabric:]

Float.

[And when she lets go of the cloak, it obeys, leaving Kamala free to put her hands on her knees and crouch down closer to eye-level.]

That better?

[scattered_rose]

[The sudden shading over him drew his attention and he looked up, then sat up a bit more in surprise.]

Kamala?

[Then a small laugh and he nodded.]

Yeah, a little. ...Thanks.

[plusfivedex]

What're friends for, right?

[She lightly claps him on the shoulder. It's nice to see him again!]

So, how are you adjusting to life here? And what do you think of all this?

[She removed her hand from his shoulder to gesture around them at the stalls and entertainment.]

[scattered_rose]

I've been adjusting okay, I guess? The sheer density of people here kinda got to me, s'why I tend to avoid town square back home...

[A soft chuckle as he half-shrugged, looking around them.]

But I got curious anyway. It's really interesting, seeing all this here...

wonders await

[pawper]

[Lys doesn't much care for libraries. Or maybe she's just not used to having one so handily within reach, let alone practical, even pressing reasons to spend any time there. Books were for smart people and thus not any business of hers. Except that familiar rule of thumb no longer applied once you found yourself made a student, with responsibilities like "homework" and "studying" and, most terrifying of all, "required reading".

So when her very dapper-dressed capybara familiar wanders over to try and make friends with yonder Backpack Bat, she's got her nose buried in a heavy tome (that very well might have been pulled off the shelf at random) and doesn't notice his absence until it's entirely too late.]

Arthur? Arthur, where did you— oh, geez. [Said a bit too loudly, forgetting their surroundings. Then, more quietly:] Sorry, was he bothering you?

[She also doesn't seem to have noticed that her book is upside down.]

[scattered_rose]

[Said Backpack Bat watches the capybara approach, but rather than shy away, just crept down the bag a bit more instead to investigate.

At the voice, Daniel looked up from the book he was browsing, standing near a shelf. He turned and looked down, watching the other familiar for a moment or two. Then he shook his head, a smile crooking up a bit.]

No, that's alright. He's- [Only the briefest of pause when he noticed her book was upside-down. Huh.] -perfectly fine.

[pawper]

[Arthur blinks slowly at the bat, nose twitching, and Lys scritches him behind the ears just to make sure his mood stays friendly. Then again, Arthur was always friendly, but she's never had a pet before — magical capybara or otherwise. Not much point in making friends with animals that might end up on a dinner plate, and all that.]

Okay, that's good. [She watches both familiars for a little while longer, then shuts her upside-down book with a sigh and turns to offer an awkward, apologetic smile.] He's always doing stuff like this for some reason. Still can't figure out why, but at least he's never bitten anyone.

[scattered_rose]

That's good at least, right? Being bitten's a pain in the neck. [Get it? Because he's a- eh, nevermind. Not like he meant to put it quite like that anyway.] In my experience, animals tend to be pretty curious, I guess the same must extend to familiars.

[They are supposed to be super intelligent, right? He watched Arthur a moment more, then brought around his backpack enough to offer a hand down to the bat.]

C'mon, Primrose. [When the feet detached and went to his finger instead, he held the hand out so Arthur, or owner, could see better.]

Golem on the loose

[stillnewatthis]

Oh, hello!

[Speaking of students dumped on the ground to be cleaned -- his comrade in this sentence is a robot that probably oughtweighs the golem and definitely has more legs than it. But Orisa merely sits there, her brief attitude of forlorn dismay interrupted by the chance to say hello.]

Have you violated protocols as well?

[scattered_rose]

[Daniel has been busy attempting at getting his clothing back in order, the rude snatching up of the golem having heartily twisted his layered shirts. He tugged one down, then the other, and glanced up when another student is dropped down. The fact that it's a multi-legged robot doesn't get much of a reaction beyond a curious glance, then he huffed a sharp exhale.]

I guess? Though it'd be nice if there'd been a heads up somewhere that they could get like this sometimes.

[stillnewatthis]

I am not certain what I even did to violate protocol. I hope I get an explanation at some point. I do not want to be a bad omnic.

[Orisa sounds deeply sad and regretful. Efi would be so embarrassed if she were here! Orisa is supposed to be a hero, not a misbehaver!]

[scattered_rose]

Something about being muddy, I guess? Which I don't know how they expect us not to, it's storm central outside.

[He huffed one last bit of temper out, then sighed and glanced along at the robot.]

I definitely don't think it was anything you did on purpose. The golem's just gotten a little... too into what it does, I guess.

[And maybe they can both get away while it's trying to find other students to clean. Hmm.]