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

[logdates]

He breathes fire. And throws fire. He generally does a lot with fire.

[She sighs wearily.]

It's pesky.

[woo_oo]

Does it require oxygen like breathing, or does he summon it, or is able to create fire out of a whole new method?

[This isn't annoying, right?]

[logdates]

[She'll perhaps be annoyed soon enough, but Peridot loves hearing herself talk. Especially when she gets to sound smart.]

He's a magical fire, so he doesn't seem to require oxygen - I think he summons it. At first, I thought he was just throwing parts of himself around. [He is literally made of flame, after all!] But he hasn't gotten any smaller, so...

[woo_oo]

Maybe he regenerates faster than the eye can see!

[She flails a bit at the fire beast.]

Hey, do it again, we'll watch you really closely!

[logdates]

[Cornelius' two coal-like eyes - the extend of his face - actually widened. Inexplicably. Someone actually wants him to put on a show? That isn't normal... He glances at Peridot, uncertain.]

Go on.

Right. Alright, then. [His voice is hard to make out, at first, because it comes from the crackling of flames.

Another ball of fire is propelled toward Webby's snake.]

[woo_oo]

[Snake's eyes nearly pop out of her head, and then DART - right into Webby's hair, popping its head atop of hers.]

... Um. Maybe... don't try to barbecue my familiar? It's not very nice.

[logdates]

Uh, right. Cornelius, how about not doing that anymore?

Fine...

Does your familiar have a name?

[A beat. She should probably...]

And you?

[Maybe people who look like birds don't use names - she doesn't know.]

[woo_oo]

Oh, yeah!

[Points at snake.]

This is Jörmungandr! Jorry for short.

[Points at self.]

And I'm Webbigail Vanderquack. Webby for short.

[logdates]

Huh. [She glances down to Webby's feet. She's seen ducks before - not like her, of course, but still.] Webby. Vanderquack. Really?

[It seems... Very on the nose. Not that she's one to talk, she supposes, but that's different. Somehow.

Either way, it doesn't really matter. After a moment of consideration, she decides the only friendly thing she can bring herself to say is:]

Your snake has a good name.

[woo_oo]

[She remains oblivious to her punny name - instead, her hands clasp and she leans in.]

Are you a fan of Norse mythology too? I think it's so colorful and creative! I'd love to see Valhalla, without dying early.

[logdates]

What? No, I don't know what that is. I just think it's a good name for a snake. It... Fits?

[Why, she can't be sure. It's not exactly a logical name - as far as she knows - so the fact that it feels fitting to her leaves Peridot a bit baffled.]

But, yes. Not dying early is a good priority.

[woo_oo]

Oh, well.

[In that case, TIME TO GET EDUCATED!]

In Norse mythology, he's the middle child of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboða. He grew to be so large that he encircles the world underneath the sea, and it's said that once he lets go, it will be the beginning of Ragnarök and the end of everything, lest the god of thunder, Thor, defeat it.

[As she says this, Jorry just rolls around in her hair.]

Neat, huh?

[logdates]

Oh.

[While Webby speaks, Peridot watches Jorry.]

That's interesting, I guess, but I think I have to take back what I said about the name fitting.

[woo_oo]

[A little laugh.]

Yeah, not exactly world-sized just yet!

[... yet?]

[logdates]

Yet.

[That sounds kind of worrisome to Peridot. She regards Webby carefully.]

Are you planning to use magic to make him grow?

[woo_oo]

Oh, no, that would be like cheating!

... But if Jorry did grow that way naturally, it would be excellent training in case the real one ever shows up in my world.

[logdates]

It's good to be prepared, but that seems excessive. I mean, is that actually likely to happen in your world?

[woo_oo]

[muffled mun laughter in the distance]

Honestly? Yes. Yes it is.

I've been learning that adventuring with Uncle Scrooge means a lot of mythology is actually hidden history.

[logdates]

Oh?

[That's actually quite interesting to Peridot. She doesn't understand much of the context Webby mentioned, but hidden history is an intriguing concept on name alone.]

You know, it might be... Worthwhile to learn more about the mythology of your world. If you're interested in teaching.

[woo_oo]

[Her eyes widen, and all of a sudden GOODBYE PERIDOT'S PERSONAL SPACE-]

Oooh, really? That would be so much fun! I can teach you all kinds of different mythology! Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Native American, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!

[logdates]

Yikes!

[Peridot nods a little, but her facial expression is one of discomfort.]

That sounds fine, but can you step back a little?

[woo_oo]

Okay!

[She bounces backward.]

I'm going to go draw up a lesson plan right now! I hope this world has power-point!

[logdates]

Um... Alright.

[Peridot just kind of watches as Webby gets excited, wondering if she's just gotten herself in over her head. At least it looks like she'll be learning a lot.]

[woo_oo]

I'll see you soon, and you'll be bursting with knowledge before you know it!

[With that, she sprints off, soooo excited!]