diatu | March Event and Intro Log

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March Event and Intro Log

March Event and Intro Log

Golem On The Loose

Horrible Spell Doom?

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

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!)

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[She's quick to open her eyes again when addressed, peeking out at him from between her fingers — too quick, visions strong enough to be almost hallucinatory still patterned over raw sensory input. Lys shuts them again, biting back further sounds of discomfort. Not wanting to complain, not over something so small.]

Uh-huh, that makes a lot of sense. [Slow, deep breaths through her nose, attempting to focus on that and not the racing heartbeat in her ears. Sometimes adrenaline was helpful, sometimes it was anything but.] You, uh.....you think it might not be real?

[Sounding a little incredulous — and also completely missing that terrible accidental joke, she's so sorry.]

[At least she doesn't seem to be the violent type. That's reassuring, so he keeps going, speaking softly.] The visions? No, I just got a lot of visions of home, my family, stuff like that. I realize that's not gonna be the same for everyone, but...I'm not home and they aren't here either, so...

[He spreads his hands in a helpless gesture, then. He'd rather be home, but that wasn't likely at the moment, so wish in one hand...]

I mean, I'm glad they're not here, but that kinda speaks to it not being real real. The events might be real back home, but...you're only seeing them. Not actually there, you know?

[If he suddenly threw a punch or swung something at her head, struck out while she was distracted and confused, then maybe she'd respond with violence — but only out of simple reflex, guild training rising up in lieu of conscious thought. For now, Lys is primed to do nothing except sit and wait and breathe, straightening up with a relieved sigh after a few long moments.]

Mm, I get it. [As the visions fade, she does her best to perk up and lighten the mood, offering a sunny and artless smile.] Honestly, I hope they're just.....bad dreams or something. I'd hate knowing what was happening back home and not being able to do anything about it.

[But she'd rather not think about that, so:]

Anyway, I'm Lys. Are you new here too?

I hear that, that'd be super frustrating! I mean, my family can take care of themselves, but I'd still want to be there.

[Offer violence when he hadn't been given any in return? Nah, that's not in Cliff's nature. Compared to her, he's less a 'gentle giant' than a 'gentle kind of tall dude', but he hasn't hit his full height yet. He smiles right back, cheerful nature easily reasserting itself.]

Yeah, I am. I'm Cliff, and my familiar is around here someplace. It looks like a giant marble ball, so if he comes rolling up, don't be too startled, in his case, you are definitely not seeing things! [And at that, he chuckles.]

Nice to meet you, Cliff!

[Sounding genuine, being genuine, nodding easily as he talks of home and family, careful not to interrupt. A friendly face was always too precious to take for granted. Then the smile falters a bit, blue eyes widening just so.]

A...giant marble ball?

[And she thought a familiar that came with their own top hat and dapper suit was passing strange. But there's no judgement in the incredulity; if anything, she's curious to hear more.]

[As if he'd been summoned, up rolls--indeed, as Cliff had stated, a foot tall marble ball, featureless, though as it ceases its movement, one arm pops out and waves at Lys, politely.]

There he is. That's Rounder, he's my familiar. [He probably hadn't caught sight of the capybara, or he'd ooh and ah over the dapper little guy.]

Sometimes he acts like he thinks I want to get rid of him, and I don't know why.

[Without really thinking about it, she waves back. Seems rude not to, you know?]

Really? That's a shame. [Glancing from Rounder to Cliff, then back to Rounder again, a little concerned.] ....maybe he used to follow around someone that was mean to him?

[As though sensing the turn in her mood, said capybara comes ambling out from behind a nearby chair, bumping against her leg and blinking slowly at the newcomers. Slowly....and perhaps even cutely.]

Maybe. I kind of wonder. But I try not to be mean to him. I think he's pretty cool, really...

[But then he does catch sight of the capybara and his eyes go wide, his mouth pursing into an 'o' shape. And his voice gets a little high pitched, but doesn't quite break. He is, hopefully, past that...]

Oh my gosh, is that guy yours? He's so cute!!

Maybe he just needs a little more time to get used to you, then. I've had farm animals like that.....skittish, not all the way trusting yet. They always warmed up eventually.

[She's on the verge of saying more when Arthur oh so cutely interrupts, handlebar mustache twitching with each curious sniff. Lys glances down at him, smiles, and leans down a bit to pet him behind the ears.]

Oh, this little guy's Arthur! Arthur, uh....Arthur Worthington. Would you believe he showed up dressed like that?

[He hauls his attention away from Arthur Worthington for a moment to gaze at Lys, wide-eyed. He'd never owned farm animals, or even any pets as a kid, really, so while he's surprised, what she says makes sense.]

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks. I mean. I don't want him to go away for good, I think he's cool!

But so is Arthur--but he belongs to you! [Cliff says that quickly, for obvious reasons.] You know, if a marble ball can show up out of who knows where and attach himself to me...I can believe in a capybara in a top hat and tails...

Mm? I guess he does, yeah. Or something like that.

[Totally missing how Cliff tries to brush past the fact, thinking only about how weird it felt to suddenly be someone who owned much of anything. Not that she saw Arthur as a thing, just — it was weird! But then, so was finding herself in another world and suddenly capable of magic that had nothing to do with fangs or fur, so.

She watches Arthur pad over to Rounder, intent (as always) on making a new friend, thoughtful as she considers what Cliff said.]

I wonder if there's a reason why we're given these little guys to take care of. They're magical, right? Just like everything else in this school.

Yeah. I mean I guess not really belongs, but we get to watch over them and stuff. [Cliff didn't like the idea of ownership, really. Mostly because he didn't consider Rounder as an object or worse, someone to push around or bully. Or like a slave. No. That was not cool.

He watches Rounder and Arthur with a careful eye--mostly for Arthur's sake. Rounder can be...weird. But the marble sphere just sticks out an arm and gently strokes Arthur's nose.]

Yeah, see, he has arms. And he can hold stuff for me. So I think he's great. And Arthur's adorable. And yeah, I think they are magical--most rock doesn't move under its own volition. [But being a geomancer, even a former one, having Rounder amuses him. It's like they matched him perfectly.]

[She listens attentively to everything he says, head tilted toward him even as her gaze lingers on their familiars, nodding in all the right places.]

I guess I'm just not sure if they really need us. Not like a cow or a chicken would, you know? [Leaning back in her chair] I mean, Arthur's only been with me for a little while and he's already gotten me out of trouble a bunch of times.

[Wait, does that make her sound like a delinquent—]

Misunderstandings, accidents, stuff like that. [haha ANYWAY] And Rounder can give himself hands!

Yeah, I hear you. I mean, they're pretty self-sufficient--if Rounder got away from a bad master, like I think he did, he doesn't need me. It means he's willing to give being a familiar to someone another chance.

[Cliff didn't even realize that she'd been making herself sound that way. Or Cliff didn't think that Lys was capable of real delinquency. But he definitely believes that Arthur and his sheer charisma could get her out of any number of scrapes.]

I believe it. And yeah, he can! And hold stuff too. Like bottles of drinks and stuff. It's like being able to carry a tavern around with me! [Yeah, bottles are not exactly a common thing, where he's from.]

Huh....yeah, I guess that makes sense. I'm glad he ended up with you, then!

[Everyone deserved a second chance, didn't they? (Except stupid skinny werewolves named Lys, but you know.) She watches Arthur sprawl out on his stomach next to Rounder, apparently content with their new acquaintanceship, but glances up when Cliff starts going on about bottles and taverns and hey wait a second—]

You like to drink, Cliff?

Me too! [Cliff might argue about her deserving a second chance too, if he knew these things. But he doesn't, so.]

Yeah, but not like...really hard stuff. But where I'm from, not everyone knows a hydromancer to tell them their water's pure. Or can purify it themselves like my mom can. So taverns are popular. So is beer. My dad and older sister like whiskey, though.

[And to judge by his expression, he's kind of grossed out by that.] But they're pyromancers, so it's not like they ever get drunk. And they're already rowdy!

[woah there friend you might need to slow down]

Hydromancer? ....pyromancer?

[Wait, there's at least one or two context clues even she's not dense enough to miss completely. Something about water, phrased like a job or trade.]

Where I'm from, just boiling water is enough to purify it. [Except for things like lead, but you know.] Is that what you mean?

Yeah, but that can be time consuming. With magic, a hydromancer can just...purify your whole well, that sort of thing. It's easier.

[Cliff thinks about this for a few moments.] I might be able to, but it'd take longer. I mean. Back at home, if I had my powers. Here, it probably is easier to just boil it...unless you're a wizard.

[He shrugs.] I guess sometimes magic can overcomplicate things, too...

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.

Yeah, and geomancers like me are useful, too. Or...you know. [He shrugs, then, offering up a sheepish smile.]

But it's like...if you're having a bad year for your crops, we can try doing something about that, if it's got to do with the soil being a bit thin, or off some other way. If it's too dry, though, that's a hydromancer again, they can call rain. So yeah. We have our uses, but every elementalist does.

I talked way too much, though. What about you? You kind of remind me of my sister Ellyn, just a little. She's got elementalism too, but she inherited our dad's sword and knows how to use it, too.

[Still nodding in all the right places, listening with genuine interest — only to abruptly freeze when he turns the question on her. It's hard to tell if the look on her face is simple surprise or something closer to stage fright.]

About me?

[uhhhHHHH]

I don't have any powers like that. [Which was the truth! None of what Cliff just described exists in her world. That it's an incomplete truth...well, that's not important.] But I'm doing my best to learn magic! My house is, um....Aer et Calculum? I think I said that right.

[She rubs the back of her neck, obscurely pleased to be told she reminded him of a sibling. For so long (too long, Anja liked to sneer), family had come first, before all things.]

I can use a sword too, though I'm sure your sister is better at it. I didn't inherit mine, you know? I just....learned by doing. [A "what can you do" sort of shrug.] Magic's a lot more complicated.

I'm in Gekronus Maius! [As if the vibrant green of his robes weren't a dead giveaway.] And it sounded right to me.

[He kind of makes a face at that.] Well. Ellyn does try, and Dad has done his best to show her some techniques, but while magic is complicated, for her, swordplay isn't that easy, either. I mean, I usually get a branch to use as a cudgel, because I chose the path of "one or the other, not both". So really, you probably had more training than Ellyn did. But enthusiasm...

[That, he shakes his head ruefully at. No one could say his sisters lacked that. Any of them.]

[A slight tilt of her head, caught between wanting to protest that offhand assumption and not seeing much benefit in drawing attention to it. Calling what her guild had done "training" seemed a little too generous to ring entirely true, but maybe that was splitting hairs.]

She likes using it, then? Half the time I just feel like I'm gonna cut myself on accident.

[As much as indifference and general carelessness counted as an accident, anyway.]

She doesn't usually get that much of a chance to--then again, she got to go on an adventure with our eldest brother, Eiros.

[Which galls him a bit, but...]

I think Ellyn likes brandishing Trouble like a giant club, more. Between that and the fact that she can basically kind of set herself on fire, I think that's scary enough, you know?

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