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

[stillnewatthis]

[Orisa considers this a moment, her eyes rotating to resume their same slitted configuration. She knows the answer as a matter of data, but how to verbalize it?]

Accepting that is the only logical conclusion based on the evidence, no matter how implausible such a concept may seem.

[outofyourshadow]

[She can't help a bit of a sigh.]

So not a lot of choice in the matter.

[That's about what she figured too.]

[stillnewatthis]

It is a fascinating prospect! To be able to perform such feats is remarkable itself, but sharing this ability with humans and others is more evidence that we share a nature despite our physical differences.

[outofyourshadow]

...huh. I guess that's one way of looking at it.

[She hadn't really thought all that much about it like that. But at least whoever snatched them up from their worlds were equal opportunists.]

[stillnewatthis]

If you have not had to consider such things, you are fortunate. Humans and omnics are close to another war where I come from. Many people on either side do not believe they can live in harmony. If they could see this, they would be forced to accept that there is less difference between them than they think.

[Numbani may be an exception, but Orisa knows perfectly well how things are elsewhere in the world. Part of her purpose is to prove that omnics and humans can indeed work together.]

[outofyourshadow]

[She couldn't help frowning a bit.]

So is it that humans don't trust...what as it, omnics? Or does it go both ways?

[She'd read a lot of "war against machines" and "machine uprising" scenarios, so she knew that her world was probably capable of such. There didn't seem to be robots that were as free-thinking as Orisa is now, though.]

[stillnewatthis]

[Orisa's eyeshields narrow, then rotate vertically.]

Many years ago, the omniums that had been shut down reactivated and produced an army of omnics to wage war on humanity. I do not believe most omnics share any responsibility for this, but humans have understandably been angry and afraid since that time.

[outofyourshadow]

[She sighs.]

Yeah, that sounds about right.

But what caused those other guys to reactivate and start an army anyway?

[stillnewatthis]

That... is a great mystery. [Orisa's fusion driver rotates slightly, before she returns it to its original position.] I do not know. I do not think many do at all.

[outofyourshadow]

Hmm. I wonder if it was intentional.

[Like someone had wanted the robots to start a war with humans.]

[stillnewatthis]

I am certain some intent must have been behind it. There is no way something like that occurred by accident! [Too coordinated, too persistent, too effective.]

[outofyourshadow]

Yeah, that would seem more likely.

[The question would by why. But then, it wasn't really any of her business, especially right now.]

Well, I guess that's something you don't have to worry about while you're here.

[stillnewatthis]

I hope that is true. There is a possibility that the humans of this land will perceive an omnic as something less than they are, or dangerous as well. I do have a fusion driver for an arm, after all.

[outofyourshadow]

[She shrugs.]

You're learning magic just like we are, so that puts you on the same level as any of us. And as long as you're not hurting anyone, I don't see why there should be an issue.

[stillnewatthis]

I am very glad you think that way! [This is the sort of positive acceptance that omnics hoped for the world over! Even in Numbani, things were not perfect. It is a paradise for sure, but the failure of the OR-15 models cast a shadow over the hopes and dreams of the people there. ] And if it is not true, I will work hard to make it true.

[outofyourshadow]

[In a way, she can understand that...wanting to be more than what people expected you to be. And she could totally get behind it.]

Well hey, good luck.

[And she means it.]

[stillnewatthis]

[Orisa brightens at the words.] Thank you very much! If others are wishing for my success, I think I must be doing good already.

[outofyourshadow]

[She can't help a small smile. There's something about Orisa that seems a bit...familiar.

Maybe that's why she finds herself kinda liking the robot.]

Probably. And hey, if you run into any trouble, just lemme know.

[She knows at least one other person who'd help her beat up anyone giving her a hard time.]

[stillnewatthis]

[Orisa straightens, drawing herself to her full height as her four legs spread slightly to strengthen her stance.]

There should be no situation I am unable to handle!

[But then all those metallic joints relax just a little, as her eyes swivel to wide vertical slits.]

But I still have so much to learn, that is only an ideal. So I will be happy to call on you if I need aid.

[outofyourshadow]

[She nods.]

Sure. Name's Lena.

[stillnewatthis]

I am Orisa! It is very nice to meet you, Lena. If you ever have need, I will aid you!

[That's Orisa in a nutshell.]

[outofyourshadow]

[She laughs softly. Definitely reminds her of Webby.]

Thanks.

[stillnewatthis]

No thanks are necessary. I'm just following my programming. [Which she is proud and happy to do, so it's its own reward!]

[outofyourshadow]

Well, I guess I'm lucky your programming is the friendly kind.

[stillnewatthis]

I will convey your thanks to Efi when I next see her. I hope it is soon.