April Event and Intro Log

[magicademymods]

April Event and Intro Log Plants Off The Path Green grass and radiant flower gardens bracket all the major walks on campus, and fragrant scents fill the air all around. Note the key words "major walks" there. Move off the common paths and onto 'shortcuts' or less frequented areas of the vast campus and things are quite different. Here, the plants grow just as experience with this chaotic and often dangerous school would lead you to expect. Broad-leafed stalks stretch upwards, petals unfolding to reveal long jets of fire instead of a sensible stamen. Bushes have large toothy mouths, and viciously swallow anyone who comes near (though they are still just bushes, and the victims end up on the their other side just a few scratches worse for wear). A tree grows quills instead of needles; another sprouts paper airplanes instead of leaves. An extremely aggressive pitcher-plant wanders the pathways, mugging students at knifepoint. It's a jungle out there. Bullies, Of Course Surely a Magicademy, with many students already adults and with such an emphasis on learning and control, wouldn't have those who used their magic for such petty ends as making others suffer? Uh-huh. A pack of bullies with more spell experience than wisdom has banded together to take delight in the suffering of others. They overtly pick on the small, the meek, and those with less magical skill; they torment the larger, the bold, and the powerful in secret. Worse, they are the clever sorts of bullies, who go out of their way not to get caught and not to do anything that can't be played off or explained away. Maybe you attracted their attention by looking weak enough to pick on. Or strong enough to need to be taken down a notch. Or weird enough that you were the Other and thus lesser. Or pretty/handsome enough that you needed to look less attractive so they would look more so. They are pretty good at justifying picking on anyone, really. Are they pestering you by magical tripping or property destruction? Playing keep-away with your class books? Better be careful how you respond; their fathers might hear about it. Wind At The Docks (aka The Prompt Where You Don't Get Mugged) The winds of spring bring something of a dark pastime to Anastara -- dockwatching. Aware that a sudden blast of air can rip across the island at a moment's notice, crowds gather at the docks with the air of those expecting spectacle. All too often, they are rewarded -- in the wake of a sudden wind, airships list violently, or bump into each other, or desperately pull sails and power up their flotation cores to avoid a worse collision. Curses fly through the air, and sometimes even spells. With luck, the audience might even see a pair of vessels engage in an all-out air duel, as two captains driven by pride or vengeance refuse to back down. Now, to their credit, the assembled people aren't heartless. If a ship truly looks to be in trouble, or if it's smashed to the ground or into a dock, the people of Anastara don't hesitate to help those on board to safety or ensure that they don't go down with their ship. But mostly it's watching the chaos. It IS quite a show... 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 Glyph designed to detect any influence of the magic on you. Painted on your arm, it will shine with a bright light when a Sundering effect attempts to influence you. They explain that they believe the Sundered are still subject to either the spell that brought them here or new ones, because they have detected remnants of Sundering magic in the wake of students who have mysteriously disappeared. They ask only that you report back when it lights up. Problem: when the Glyph erupts, either because of the Glyph itself or the spell it has detected... those who bear it find themselves no longer where they started. Perhaps they find themselves in a classroom late at night. Or the wrong dormitory. Or in the Great Hall in their nightshirt. Or for the utterly lowbrow amongst you, a restroom occupied by the wrong gender. Whatever the case: sorry. 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 some sort of regain this month!)

Comments

[woo_oo]

"H-Hey, you can't use a sword, that's cheating!" One of the bullies stammered, backing up.

Webby cheerfully tilted her head to the side. "Really? I didn't know there were rules about this. I don't think he's breaking a single one." She flashed a grin at the taller human. "Thanks!"

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik tried to fight fair if he could and easy wins weren't his style. But he would do what it took to keep Webby safe. His eyes narrowed at the bullies' words and before the knight took a step, he looked back at her with a nod, speaking in a low tone.

"Since they are students, I shall have to hit them with the flat of my blade, but I should hope they will learn their lesson."

Then he walked towards the bullies menacingly because no one was going to hurt his friends. And should Webby needs his aid after this incident, she most definitely had it.

[woo_oo]

Webby gave double thumbs up, showing she approved of this plan. If he wanted her to be in the audience, so be it.

Two of the more cowardly students began running off - "Hey! Get back here!"- but the last one was definitely more stubborn. With a defiant growl, he lashed out his wand, trying to fire off a lighting spell...

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight smiled coldly as the two others ran off because that was two more opponents that he didn't have to fight. The third one he silently gave credit to, because he was trying to stand his ground.

Good luck trying to do that against a battle-hardened and very well seasoned knight there, kid. He's been fighting monsters when you weren't able to even walk yet.

Hendrik advanced as close as he could before swinging his greatsword. The purpose was to knock the wand out of the user's hand and then subdue him. And having endured many magic spells from Jasper, Hendrik knew that it was dangerous to give a magic user distance.

[woo_oo]

Fortunately for everyone involved, the kid had more bark than bite. It only took one swing to knock the wand out of his hand, and he howled in pain, clutching his fingers. "I-I'm going to tell my father about this!"

A little oblivious, Webby tilted her head. "Why would you tell your dad you lost?"

[unswervingcompanion]

Knowing when to hold back, Hendrik put his sword on his back as the kid howled. But at hearing Webby speak, he turned to look back at her briefly.

"I take it he is going to tell his father that a fellow student threatened him, not so much about the loss."

The knight is sure that it will come up, however. And once the kid left, he turned and walked over to her and knelt down beside her.

"Are you injured?"

[woo_oo]

"Well he started it." Honestly, this was ridiculous. She didn't really get the 'point' of bulling.

But within seconds, she was smiling all over again. "Oh, I'm fine! I've handled way worse than that... but I really appreciate you helping me out!"

[unswervingcompanion]

He nodded. "If you ever have need of my help, you only need ask."

Standing up after that, Hendrik took a look around. There didn't seem to be any more bullies or anyone else to bother her, but the knight wasn't taking chances.

"Where are you headed now that this incident is over?"

[woo_oo]

"I was going to head to the library to study." Webby said with a small shrug of her shoulders. "Today, my focus is all about snakes and other magical familiars!"

[unswervingcompanion]

That didn't sound like fun research for himself, but Hendrik wouldn't ever tell anyone what they could and couldn't enjoy. But still, it raised a question in his mind.

"If you are to visit the library, would you allow me to accompany you to prevent any further mishaps?"

Hendrik didn't want to leave Webby only to find out something happened to her because he'd left.

[woo_oo]

"Sure, okay!" Walking with a friend was always nice! She began to walk, expecting him to follow.

"I'm hoping to learn more about my familiar and unlock whatever special powers he has."

Granted, she has no evidence he has secret special powers.

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik followed behind, but he was one step behind her, turning his head and looking for signs of any sort of trouble.

But Webby's words about her familiar caught the knight's attention.

"Do familiars have special powers?" He's of course thinking of his green toad Sir Gawain.

[woo_oo]

"They might!" Webby said cheerfully. "Or they might not. But the only way to find out is to try, try, try!"

[unswervingcompanion]

He couldn't help but smile a bit at her enthusiasm.

The amusement is still plainly heard in the knight's tone as he asks.

"And how do you intend to find this out?"

[woo_oo]

"By researching and reading absolutely everything I can get my hands on." And she says it with such conviction, you might just believe her.

"Even if it means every last book in this world!"

[unswervingcompanion]

"That would be quite the accomplishment if you read every book in this world." And again it brought Jasper to mind, but Hendrik mentally swiped the memory away.

"Then may I may be so bold as to ask a favor, that if you do find something on this, that you let me know where you found such information?"

The knight was definitely interested.

[woo_oo]

Webby pauses, then smiles - she was being asked to help? Score!

"Sure thing! Why, I'll share it with everyone!"

[unswervingcompanion]

He was pleased that Webbigail had accepted his request. It wasn't asked out of any sort of form of payback, because doing the right thing was its own reward. And the knight wasn't the type to ever ask for repayment of anything.

But Hendrik smiled ever so slightly and nodded.

"Your research may help others."

[woo_oo]

"That would be the best!" Webby twirled a bit on her heel. "That's one of my favorite things to do, helping people!"

[unswervingcompanion]

"It would appear to be so, considering you had the forethought to create that charm to help others."

Faith in you Webby, Hendrik has it.

[woo_oo]

Ah, about that... Webby has always been honest to a fault, and this makes her stop.

"Well... I didn't exactly create that charm to help everyone. It was just for one person."

[unswervingcompanion]

"And who was it for?"

He's not disappointed, he's just curious.

[woo_oo]

Webby hesitates to answer, her eyes away.

"For someone important to me." She's reluctant to give away Lena's backstory, since the girl already had so little to herself to begin with. "I just want to keep her safe."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight doesn't know what to do when Webby turns away, but whatever it is, it has to be hard. But when he hears that, he smiles slightly.

"If it was to protect another, then that is a noble cause."

[woo_oo]

Just like that, she's all sweetness and smiles again.

"Aw, thanks! I'm just trying to do my best for those I care about... don't we all?"