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

[paradoxical_personality]

The noncommittal answer seemed to be all the evidence Hel needed to proceed. Imagine, running into someone who likely had knowledge of poisons and could have been the one responsible for poisoning the rivers in Helheim so soon. She wouldn't kill her- not at first. What she needed most was the antidote. That wouldn't stop her from getting in some strikes in the meantime to weaken her opponent. Hel would get her to talk, no matter what, she needed to purify the water and rescue her people. People who had already lived their lives and deserved a peaceful afterlife. Of all the deplorable things to do, targeting the dead. There would be no forgiveness for it. Hel preferred a position more in the middle, someone with a higher defense in front to guard her while she dealt out heavier blows from her magic, and someone at the aft to fire off their own ranged attacks. It was more balanced that way for a team. A team? What need would she have for anyone else's help when she was capable on her own? "It is your belief that we all spontaneously passed through a portal to this land?" What nonsense. "Destroy us...?"

More visions flashed before her eyes but she wasn't sure exactly where they were coming from. Asgard was in flames, and Midgard was almost completely obliterated. Ragnarok. It could only be. Hel shook her head. "You're trying to confuse me." Worst of all it seemed to be working.

The fanwork is impressive, and Hel might have attested to as much if the circumstances were different. It took great skill to turn a seemingly ordinary object into a useful deflection tool. Right now, she would have rather knocked it from those slim fingers so it would no longer be a distraction.

When she was forced to stop the woman's words muddled around in her mind. Parts of them were familiar, and others were foreign. Trying to recall the last few moments she saw flashes of the researchers, the waving of wands, and then there was a random image of Nidhogg slap in the middle of everything. "No......"

"No, no no....." She repeated shaking her head. "It wasn't the humans...." Fighting the urge to drop to her knees, she was able to see the academy with clarity. "What have I been..." Then she focused on the other girl, with her defensive stance. Had there been a fight? "I know that." To the portion about being a student at Diatu. "What exactly were you protecting them from?" It was evident that she was only catching bits and pieces but Hel was trying not to show herself to be anymore vulnerable than she already had.

[darkenedmoon]

"No, my dear. I was only trying to make you see." Since she seems to be regaining her senses, Yotsuyu snaps her fan shut and secrets it in the sleeve of her robe, her defensive stance turning to one of concern. It wasn't confusion she was trying to foment, but clarity. Nor did she mean to sound patronizing, but she didn't know the girl's name. So she was still trying to be soothing.

The call for clarity seems to have worked, however. "I am not certain what happened to you, but you were attacking all and sundry in the halls, here, until I stepped in. Are you all right?"

Because no one else was there but the two of them, now. At least no one had run off to call a teacher to break it up--though if anyone had, Yotsuyu would have firmly defended this girl in saying that she hadn't been in her proper senses, and perhaps a story would come out.

"I would like to know where you were before this--I doubt anyone takes leave of their senses willingly, but you were...not yourself."

She isn't much of a diplomat, truthfully, but she is trying. Nor did Yotsuyu think that this girl was the type to randomly brawl in the halls--certainly they would have been warned of someone like that, having been there for a month.

[paradoxical_personality]

The pigtailed girl was still reeling from the random visions that had flashed before her eyes. The sight of all those cities in flames was a reminder of what she was trying to prevent, and why it was imperative to return home. It had been that need that had placed her in this uncomfortable situation now, and she was going to have to be more careful in future. Apparently her first assessment of this research had been the correct one. It wasn't for her. "......................................." Now, what was a graceful way to respond without admitting what they both knew to be true.

Hel almost said that it had only been a test of the sundered's abilities to see if they were ready to defend themselves if need be but that would have been a blatant lie, and a lame one at that. Also, it reminded her of something Odin had pulled in the past that had irritated her to no end. "It's ..... it was that new sundering spell, they're testing out today." She finally found herself admitting. More and more she was beginning to see that this arcane magic that had been forbidden for so long, still should be. They were meddling with forces they had no business with. ".... I've only injured my dignity." Flipping one of her pigtails over her shoulder.

"Was anyone else hurt?" Though she had stated she was fine, it was possible she would have a bruise or two of her own later.

"All this? I was in one of the research rooms or if you mean in my own world, I was on a quest." Not to save just Helheim but all the realms. "It doesn't matter since I'm still here..." It's just as well, diplomats could be too stuffy for Hel's liking. Sometimes you just needed someone to be straight with you. "I was reliving another time when I attacked others without true provocation." Not sounding proud of herself.

[darkenedmoon]

"Ugh, that," Yotsuyu's disdain was evident in her voice as the girl admitted to undertaking the Sundering research. "At least it was only your dignity injured, the Twelve know what else might have happened with that ridiculousness. I know they need to research it to send us home, but they are not careful enough!"

She entirely understood why Garlemald eschewed magic the way it did. Magic was nothing but trouble, and the only reason she herself was bothering to learn it was the threat of destruction if she didn't...

...though having power never hurt, either.

"No, and you did no lasting harm to me, either. I also did my best not to leave you any lasting hurt. I felt that you were not intending to--do that." Tactful again. She frowned slightly. Quests? Those were something she at least understood, somewhat. No wonder the girl had been so troubled.

"You cannot be blamed for that--and I would only lay slight blame on the Sundering researchers. You had no idea how you might be affected. Or perhaps afflicted is a better word. I doubt they had much more of an idea, themselves." Though that last part was a mutter. "It would be different, likely, had you intended harm to anyone, but you did not. So do not beat yourself up over it, it does not do you any good."

Gods, if Yotsuyu couldn't identify with that...

"Do you need to be at class soon? You could come with me, we could get some tea, and you could...compose yourself, if not." Again, not trying to be patronizing, but honestly, if alcohol were served on campus, Yotsuyu would consider getting herself a stiff drink, right about now.

[paradoxical_personality]

At least. The words rang loud in her ears. From Hel's perspective making a fool of herself was one of her paramount concerns. There really wasn't anything she could say to amend the statement since the reverse would have meant incurring both physical harm and the hit to her pride. She should have never trusted these fools and their spells. It's not a mistake she would be making again. "When they implied that they might have found something I had a lapse in judgement."

Hel did not have an issue with magic overall- well... her own magic. This world's magic was apparently untamed and chaotic. It's own people had no mastery over the various versions. It was a wonder they could even keep the definitions of them straight.

"It's lucky for you that I am without my Aesir abilities or that would not have been the case." Normally Hel possessed a plethora of deadly spells at her command and when she was angry enough like she had been in that moment she had been reliving she would have used them. "...... I appreciate your efforts." Said a bit more softly as if showing gratitude was not something she was altogether used to or liked doling out. Still, you have to give credit where it was due.

"They're idiots. I'm surprised they even know the difference between a wand and a scepter." Not trying to mask her displeasure with the researchers. It was nice of this woman to try and mitigate the blame, but Hel still placed much of it on herself. The first month she'd known not to get involved, and she got careless. That much she could surely be held responsible for. "It's over... or it will be soon, and I will move on from there." Taking a stronger stance out loud because she didn't really wish to keep showing off her weaknesses.

"I am composed," Hel replied a little too swiftly to be believed. Then looking aside. ".... but I would like some tea." That way she could gain some companionship while things were still a little off, without admitting she wanted any. "Later, I shall seek out the ones responsible and give them what they deserve..." The last part was said more to herself.

[darkenedmoon]

"Lapse in judgement? Hardly. It is clear that you desire to return home; and if you have a quest to take up again, there, it is no surprise." Just because she herself did not want to go home did not meant that everyone felt the same as Yotsuyu. "You had hope. That is not a flaw or a failure."

She inclined her head in agreement. "Likely, that is so. I had no special abilities where I was from, so you would indeed have an advantage over me." Well, unless she had been able to call upon Tsukuyomi again, but Yotsuyu did not believe that such power would have stayed with her. She only bowed slightly to Hel's next words. Respectfully. She certainly knew how difficult it was to thank a person. Those words did not come easily to her, either. So she appreciated them.

"They are learning. This magic has been forbidden for years, here. It is not so easy to call things back once they have been laid to rest. I am positive they are not attempting to discomfit anyone. They are trying to live up to their promises." Not that Yotsuyu had much patience with their foibles, either, but she could afford to be magnanimous, since she wasn't the one who had been so afflicted.

"Well, come with me, then. We shall have tea, and perhaps some sweets. The cafeteria is nearest. Perhaps we can find an area that is secluded, so we may have some privacy." With that, Yotsuyu started off, slowly, so Hel could keep up.

[paradoxical_personality]

Hel refrained from saying and look where that hope got me, since Yotsuyu was making such an effort to raise her spirits. It would have seemed like too much like a slap in the face to her kind intentions. "I did, and still do desire to return. As queen of Helheim I should not be trapped here when it could be facing destruction."

Nodding to that, it only further cemented the notion that these tests could become detrimental to innocent people and that something must be done to curb that. It was also nice running into a kindred spirit on that score. Yotsuyu knew how to accept gratitude with grace, and without lording it over someone's head. More people could learn from her mastery of this seemingly simple etiquette.

"........" She let her flat expression do the talking for her. Hel clearly didn't want to hear someone speaking up on the researchers behalf, at least not right at this moment. "So far they've only succeeded in stirring my ire." That likely did make all the difference. Had Hel stuck to her earlier decision not to submit to their tests then perhaps she would be giving someone a similar speech. Or..... she would be joining in on the nay-saying with some other victim which was more likely.

"You're not one of those people who think things can be smoothed over with food are you?" To an extent they could, but it was a tactic better served- literally -to Skuld. "I suppose we will see what's available." This was one of those rare occasions when a treat sounded agreeable to her. Hel proceeded to walk after her, since at this point she hadn't perfected the ability to hover here. Soon she would because this walking stuff was for the humans. It was far too plodding, and slow for her liking.

[darkenedmoon]

"Between you and I, there is nothing to smooth over, is there? But after such exertions, a bit of refreshment would not go amiss, I think." Because both Hel and Yotsuyu had had a bit of an inadvertent workout, there, whether they had intended to or not. She did not think Hel had done anything precisely wrong; nor had Hel been in her proper mindset. Had that been the case, it was likely that nothing at all would have happened.

On Yotsuyu's part, it was less bolstering the researchers, and simply speaking the truth. Though Yotsuyu was no student of magic on Hydaelyn, she at least knew of hidden magics that had taken decades of careful study to return to public consumption. But that might be discussed better over tea, if nothing else.

"Do not think that just because I am defending their methods, that I would willingly submit myself to such research. I am not particularly in a hurry to go home...despite understanding such reasoning for others. Then again, I admit I feel some small guilt for not doing so. You have an excellent reason for wishing to return; have others not the same?"