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

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He bows his head courteously in appreciation as he accepts his belongings. As Eleven speaks of his gods, Alphinaud is reminded of his World Tree and the blessing he received of one of his deities. With such an important connection to the gods, he can understand the burden it carries as well. Yet there are those without such loyalty? He is rather curious, himself, but he doesn't know enough to address it just yet, and so he'll let that question alone for now.]

You assume correctly, though I am bound for the tower of Gekronus Maius now. I couldn't help but explore just bit more before taking my leave.

[bearshermark]

It's an interesting place. [But one he's not comfortable traversing without his sword just yet. The weight of it on his back is a comfort]

Do you mind if I go along with you?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

Not at all. Though I've no apprehension towards the path, 'tis always a more enjoyable experience to traverse with a companion.

[And it's a comfort to have some support should he find himself in any other predicaments... His mislike of the snow is only bound to increase at this rate.]

[bearshermark]

[Eleven adjusts his sword baldric with a smile. Alphinaud might not resemble any of his companions, but it nearly feels as though he could have been.]

Where did you want to explore to?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He looks down at the armful of items in his possession.]

Mayhap I should take these to my lodgings first, but that should prove no difficult task. After that, I've a mind to take in as much as I can before nightfall.

[bearshermark]

Makes sense.

[That's what he had done after all]

Well I'll accompany you there, then wait outside the tower for you. I assume we aren't allowed in the others anyway.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

I hadn't considered that, but it is like to be true.

[The both of them could test this theory, but Alphinaud worries about the ramifications of trying to sneak past what ought to be forbidden. At least it shouldn't take long to drop off his items.]

And I do apologize for the slight delay, but it shouldn't take long at all.

[Looking ahead, he tries to get his bearings again. He's not entirely certain, but... He points to a spire.]

I believe it's that one that I'm after.

[bearshermark]

I don't mind- I did ask to come along, after all.

[He tracks the direction of Alphinaud's finger and nods, then after a moment's indecision, elects to follow rather than lead. While he's reasonably confident they won't be attacked outright, a bit of caution still suits and Alphinaud doesn't have a sword.]

I almost want to draw a map of this place.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He barely takes a few steps before Eleven makes such a remarkable suggestion, stopping him in his tracks.]

A map!

[Yes, that would help tremendously! He shuffles through his things, holding the quill aside as he flips through his books for a blank one. He finds it and holds it open at the first page while he turns this way and that, committing the appearance and distance to memory as best as he can. While he's not exactly the world's best cartographer, he has studied it and does have a knack for drawing.

He starts sketching quickly, eyes flicking here and there to reference the surroundings, and in just a few moments, he holds up what he's drawn for Eleven to see.]

How is this for a start?

[bearshermark]

[Eleven blinks, then peers at the paper with a slowly spreading smile. It's a lot better than he'd be able to do, certainly. The distances look consistent and the few landmarks on it are recognizable]

It looks wonderful already. I'd readily commission you for a copy.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

I will gladly pen you a copy once it's filled out a bit more. After all, you are helping me to chart the land as we discover it.

[He closes it for now, however, and proceeds towards his intended destination.]

[bearshermark]

Thank you.

[It might not be an adventure around the world, but as he follows Alphinaud along, the excitement of it stirs anyway. The best part of his journey so far has most certainly been the ability to see new places.]

I'll be happy to assist any time you like.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He thanks him once more for the assistance and continues to guide them on their path, and soon enough, they reach the spire!]

Let's see... This does appear to be the correct building. I will be just one moment!

[He bows in courtesy as he takes his leave, hurrying to deposit his belongings before quickly returning outside the tower. He... is slightly out of breath because he really did try to not keep Eleven waiting long.]

Th-There. That's much better... Shall we proceed?

[bearshermark]

[He laughs a little]

You really didn't have to rush for me. But yes, all right. We can head for the courtyard first if you want a central point to start from, then go from there.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

T‐ 'Twas no difficult task...!

[He says through his heavy breathing. On the bright side, the chill in the air feels moderately pleasant after that.]

Yes, that sounds perfect. I intend to write or draw as much as I can throughout the journey, so I shall let you take the lead from here on.

[bearshermark]

[Journey. Eleven brightens and takes the lead. Although he isn't the one drawing the map, he also spends more time looking around as they walk. It can't hurt to familiarize.]

Have you been on one before? A journey or adventure?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Alphinaud looks up from his book, having completed his last addition to the page anyway.]

Indeed I have. Though it compares little to the adventures of the Warrior of Light of our realm, I have gained some experience in the field myself.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven turns so fast that he very nearly trips over himself. His heart races and he stares at Alphinaud like he'd just said something blasphemous]

Warrior of Light? Who is that?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Alphinaud is caught off-guard by the sudden reaction. He isn't sure why, but he can sense that he's said something amiss.]

That is the name given to the hero of our realm. We are home to many adventurers who risk life and limb for the good of all on Hydaelyn, but this one in particular has prevented us from calamity time and time again.

Not so long ago, there were warriors like that. Our realm stood on the brink of destruction, but they sacrificed themselves to save it and all within. Despite this great tragedy, none since have been able to recall their faces— merely figures enveloped in light. To that end, there is one whose deeds rival that of their predecessors and have since been bestowed with the same title in their honor.

[bearshermark]

Oh.. [His voice sounds distant to his own ears, but he blinks and tries to focus]

So it's a title granted to- I understand.

[Deeds make the hero, not birth. That's probably how it should be.]

We have a similar tale in Erdrea, of the Luminary of Legend, Erdwin. He existed centuries ago, and banished the darkness from the world alongside his companions.

[He relaxes somewhat, managing a brief smile] I wondered if he existed in your realm as well, but if you can't remember them.. Did you say there's a current incarnation?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Alphinaud listens intently, and he is quite amazed at the similarities. He does already know of the existence of other realms quite similar to his own... The arrival of the Warriors of Darkness taught them as such. However, he still doesn't know much about the specifics. Still, he has to wonder if Eleven's realm is one of them.]

While there is none in history by that name that I know, our records are hardly proof of all that has ever happened. Sometimes, it manifests itself in faerie tales— once perceived as children's stories, some of these have had at least some basis on actual events.

If not our realm, however, it is possible that there is some sort of link between ours. By now, I would not be as surprised by such a revelation.

[bearshermark]

[Eleven grapples with that idea, not sure whether or not he'd prefer it to be true]

Well, they say that at the end of his life, Erdwin ascended the heavens and became a star, where he watches over Erdrea to this day.

[His eyes scan the sky for it now, although it's much too bright and clouded over to see anything]

Erdwin's Lantern is a bright red star that never moves. I know you said Yggdrasil doesn't exist in your realm, but is there anything like Erdwin's Lantern?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Alphinaud notices that he looks towards the sky, and so he follows his gaze towards it. A bright red star...]

While I have some knowledge of the skies, I am no Astrologian. [He says this with a smile that indicates a jest, though he realizes the term would be lost on his friend.] However, there was once something similar.

It was one of our realm's two moons, which one day turned red and began to grow larger, threatening to plummet into the land. It was called Dalamud, and as it turns out, there was more to it than met the eye. It was also the cause of the calamity which claimed the lives of the Warriors of Light.

Similar, and yet much unlike your own.

[bearshermark]

[He winces. More unlike than like, he thinks. But he's thought of something else- also entirely unrelated to what they set out to do]

All right then, what is the source of life in your realm, if you don't have a World Tree?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

I believe you are referring to the Lifestream. All life is composed of aether, and at its expiration, it is returned to the currents. Aether is unique to each individual; in other words, it is the soul that fills our bodies.