Let The Games Begin

[magicademymods]

February Event and Intro Log Orientation Week/Magic Mayhem The campus of Diatu Magicademy stretches out before you, confused and chaotic and surging with energy. Where are you headed? To your dorm or suite, to get settled? Maybe you need some food now? Wherever you head off to as your first stop, you have to deal with the snow. Helpful or proud students are passing out various magical remedies to get you where you need to be -- umbrellas with a nasty tendency to dump snow directly onto other people nearby, an iron tube that projects fire but appears to have no off switch, snowshoes that keep you slightly too high off the snow and thus provide no friction for stopping... Familiar Follies Familiars do not harass or harm each other as a rule -- but that doesn't mean they have no pecking order, and the week of Orientation finds them all jockeying for status and position as suits them. This can take the form of pranks, displays, competitions, or simple physical assertiveness towards each other. The goal is simply to be seen as superior by the student body. New wizards especially may find themselves surprised at this behavior of their familiars... 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 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.) Furthermore, they request to perform a few spells on you for testing purposes. It is, quite regrettably, possible that if you consent to this testing, you will come away with a temporary side effect -- a slight change of hair color, traveling two steps for every one you take, one hand moving about a second behind the arm it should be attached to, or being ridden by a penguin. No need to worry, these changes won't last more than a day! Wonders Await Diatu Magicademy is open to you in all its glory. Have fun!

Comments

[king_of_egypt]

If only all the other creatures and their masters had been half as relaxed as this young woman and her owl. When Atem looked to the source of the voice his gaze settled on her. "You don't...?" He questioned, since he was viewing this situation much differently than she was. Not only was his familiar being a nuisance to countless others, it was serving as a terrible first impression. If the sundered couldn't even trust him to manage his own familiar then how could he be counted on for anything else if a need should arise? Essentially he was putting way too much thought into the ramifications from this single incident. "Well- yes... it is I suppose but usually under their own power," Responding to the portion about feathered creatures. "I just wish he would prove it in other ways." Although talking to her did give him an idea. Capricius was clearly trying to get attention for it's abilities and wasn't getting acknowledged only reprimanded. Perhaps, he was using the wrong approach. Sparing the girl one more look, he then turned to Capricius. "That is a fine skill you possess, Capricius, thank you for showing it to me. Now if you wouldn't mind...." His tone was considerably kinder this time, and his volume wasn't raised. This time his familiar started to lower the others back to their original resting places.

[sorewatopsecret]

As the chaos begins to die down, Takane reaches out with cupped hands, and the owl nestles gracefully in her palms. As if nothing absolutely happened at all. This fellow was quite clever, to quickly understand her hint and deduce what needed to be done to quell this little happening. And for that, she is quite pleased that everything did not escalate further.

It is these sort of minds that will be crucial in researching magic and methods that would all send them back to their worlds. Knowing that there are many here to be found, she can rest easy.

"Splendidly done, good sir," she commends sincerely. "Your familiar's ability is quite impressive as well. And you, Taketori, your composure is admirable."

So she says, exchanging a brief nuzzle with the bird. It was some foresight, to spread the praise equally, lest another 'flexing' competition get fired up. That settled, her eyes gazes up to the... strange, crystal thing.

"I am curious, however. Never had it crossed my mind, the possibility of familiars not being limited to animals. It is... mystifying."

[king_of_egypt]

Honestly, he felt a bit sheepish for not having attempted her method earlier. Didn't most respond more favorably to praise than to commands? The important thing is that it seemed to do the trick, so Atem breathed a sigh of relief and looked back to the girl and her owl. "Thank you." Apparently he just needed to build a relationship with his familiar based on mutual respect and trust. Capricius hadn't been trying to cause harm, he was communicating in the only way he currently knew how.

Placing a hand to the back of his neck he humbly replied,"It was only through your guidance." He wanted to emphasize his gratitude over all else. Capricius seemed to appreciate her words, pleasantly chiming his response. It was heartening that this stranger had already managed to become so close with her familiar and he smiled at the exchange they shared.

"Yes, I suppose it is- though I didn't expect the presence of familiars at all." It was a magical school so the thought wasn't unheard of, however the sorcerers he knew didn't keep pets. With a little nudge from Capricius, Atem dropped his hand back to his side and issued a hasty introduction. "This is Capricius, by the way.... and I'm Atem."

[sorewatopsecret]

"It is very much my pleasure to be of acquaintance, Lord Atem," she regards him with a sharp yet graceful bow, her words archaic and polite as ever, despite having no awareness of the stranger's royal lineage. Rather, with the ease the overly stuffy language flows out of her mouth, it's evident that she addresses nearly everyone in this way. Straightening her posture, she raises the fluffy bird in her cupped hands slightly. "I am one known as Takane Shijou, and as you are already aware, this owl is my familiar, Taketori-no-Okina."

The bird flutters out of Takane's hands to perch onto her shoulder, allowing her hands to be free to place in front of her, posture straight like an Eastern noblewoman.

"It certainly is quite the mystifying situation we have found ourselves in. I can only hope that the extensive studies they intend to apply upon us will prove fruitful in researching methods for our return."

[king_of_egypt]

"... Lord? Oh- no... you don't have to...." The term catching him off-guard as evidenced by his inability to formulate a proper sentence. Then as an afterthought for which he felt profoundly remiss he returned the bow. He might be a king in his time but he hadn't considered that he would run into anyone that followed this level of courtesy. It raised all sorts of questions about where she was from, or what position she might have held in her other life. "A charming name, to accompany an equally charming lady." Now that he had finally composed himself, the conversation could flow a little more naturally. "How do you prefer to be addressed?"

"It is that indeed." Agreeing quite easily with her assessment. "I hope that this inconvenience hasn't come at a inopportune time."

[sorewatopsecret]

Takane takes the compliment gracefully, as she is known to do. As an idol, it was only routine to be praised for her looks, manners, and abilities, and it was important that all of these were polished to their highest level. It would not do to react with denial or embarrassment, especially when the words were borne of common courtesy and custom.

"Fufu~ You flatter me, good sir," she responds with a light giggle, polite smile on her face. "Please feel free to address me simply as Takane, for we are to work together here, as equals."

Of course, she makes no hints as to whether or not this is an inconvenience to her. That's top secret, after all.