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

[perfectenn]

"It's fine." Reassured he’s made it clear that there was no harm intended, Tenn relaxes back into his cool demeanor.

Though it seems he won’t be able to dismiss the incident without some explanation. Tenn studies him a moment. Enough people have participated in the experiment that there’s no reason to hide the truth.

"That was an illusion of my world. I've had visions of it since I participated in the Sundering research." Tenn glances away, masking his frustration. He doesn’t want to sound homesick. "I wondered if I could enhance the connection of the spell through my own magic."

sorry for the lateness!

[bearshermark]

"Oh. That was your world...?"

It looked like nothing he'd ever seen before. He'd seen cities before, and though Anastara was certainly the largest he'd ever set foot in, it still held more similarities than the vision he'd just seen.

"Your magic was strong; I've never seen anything like that before. ..What was it that ran through me?"

[perfectenn]

"Not particularly. I've only taken Fantastics for a month. Were this been sung by an experienced wizard, there would be more sensory detail."

This self-critique is presented in an even, evaluating tone. It's a work in progress. He just has to keep practicing. But that his beginners' effort is appreciated, a small smile crosses his face before the next question.

"That was a transportation vehicle. They are used to travel long distances." A frown creases his brow as he realizes there’s no easy comparison in the Tenscore Kingdoms. "Unlike transports here, they are not run by magic. And normally, one is loud enough that you would have had forewarning."

[bearshermark]

Goosebumps crawled up his arms. Something like that, but it didn't operate through magical means? It seemed so foreign.

"That sort of speed doesn't seem safe," was all he could think to say. "Maybe I should have taken Fantastics instead of Discovery. I've been studying Intimation magic rather intensely for the same amount of time, and all I know how to do is ask questions of the Gods."

[perfectenn]

And Eleven is not the first to think that; Tenn just has great trust in the people who normally drive him.

"Fantastics is intangible, so I’m taking Discovery as well." Tenn admits without guilt – he is an artist at heart, and like their professor, he wants to be well-rounded. "It requires strategy to use and is not enduring. But it is capable of moving people, if that is your goal. I imagine your prayers are, too." Though he skipped Intimation for… reasons.

[bearshermark]

Eleven hummed, wondering about that. Prayer was a more private affair than music, and largely dependent on whether or not he could move the gods.

"I guess we all have different talents. You could be an entertainer with a voice like that." He laughed, struck by a thought. "And maybe I'll become a priest."

[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."

[perfectenn]

Tenn pauses; his conversation skills don't provide an immediate answer. But studying Eleven’s fallen expression, silence doesn’t seem appropriate.

“Since it’s important to you, I’m sure you’ll find what is best.” He says finally, respectful but in a subdued tone. Though he can acknowledge the weight of the dilemma, he doesn’t understand it, if he’s honest, doesn’t want to. Not now.

Considering their previous meeting, Tenn presses on to ask, “Are you practicing forging?”

… Not like he was uncomfortable with the previous subject.

[bearshermark]

"Of course." Eleven's expression clears, content to wave off more divine considerations for later. Could students even become priests? His status as Yggdrasil's Chosen might not matter at all.

"It's probably my favorite class. It's unusual for a wizard as you might expect, but I've decided my first focus will be sword-smithing."

Considering the sword he never seems to be without, it probably isn't actually all that surprising.

[perfectenn]

Tenn shakes his head slightly. "It’s not unusual. There's great potential for magic to be woven into weaponry. A sword would require the expertise of someone versed in both magic and swordsmanship. You may find there's more demand for the service than you expect."

[bearshermark]

Eleven blinks, smile slight. "You think so? I know how useful magical swords can be, but most wizards appear to favor wands up here. Wandmaking is very popular. Maybe among the Sundered though.."

If there was a demand for it though- well, he had some years of study before that.

"Do you have some skill with a blade?"

[perfectenn]

"I studied theatrical swordplay. It’s not the same, since it’s only designed to look good to the audience." Gently, from his sleeve, Tenn draws out a thin, silvery wand – the weight at one end gives it the appearance of a conductor’s baton – to show him. It's an elegant upgrade from the basic wooden ones they had practiced with prior.

"But I sometimes wonder if this and my voice would be sufficient in a fight. I’ve never been in real combat." Fist fights don’t count, probably.

[bearshermark]

It's a beautiful wand, and he can appreciate its elegance. Wandmakers are probably capable of a great deal, but the craft simply hasn't appealed to him.

"That might depend on the type of fight," he observes. "But in a magical duel, if you can cast those sort of illusions, I think you would have a fair chance. Maybe when I've learned a few real spells, we could practice."

[perfectenn]

"I'd appreciate that." Tenn returns the wand to his sleeve. "I don't intend to rely on Fantastics. If I’m singing, my opponent will know it’s an illusion. It’s only a distraction. I have to back it up with something." A brief smile; the performances of idols are made of dreams, but it's what's under the vision that makes or breaks them. “If using Discovery doesn’t suffice, I may take up a weapon as well.”

[bearshermark]

Eleven nodded. That made sense.

"Discovery takes time to cast," he mused. "The Osmarius sigils need to be drawn and recited. But if you're buying yourself time with Fantastics, it could work out." He brightened. "Maybe if you planned them even, you could lure opponents into traps."