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

[unswervingcompanion]

He waited for her though he'd noticed the students moving to get out of the building. But there was no way that he was leaving Yotsuyu behind. Hendrik didn't make any comments as he waited either. He figured she would find some way to deal with the perpetrators, but that had to come from her in her own time.

But once they were outside, the knight looked over at Yotsuyu. "I take it you have no idea as to who the culprit might be?" Yes, they're going to have to answer to him, but that's going unsaid. And after a moment or two, he looked around and back to her. "Are all of your students present?"

If they're not, he's going back in for them.

[darkenedmoon]

Yotsuyu waited to respond to the knight. Mostly, because she was counting heads and making certain all of her Espionage students--save the perpetrators, of course, she'd seen them making their escape--were accounted for.

"Oh, I have complete knowledge of who the little worms were," she hissed quietly. "However, I also have my priorities straight as to what I should do with a room full of noxious gas that is also full of my students. But I appreciate your aid." Because she could be certain that all of her innocent students were accounted for.

"They are all here. So long as they remain out here, they should also be safe. They can wait to claim their belongings--we did have a window open on this lovely spring day. It should clear out, eventually."

Though said lovely spring day had been a bit marred by the pranksters' excuse for 'wit'.

[unswervingcompanion]

If Yotsuyu knew who did the deed, then all he would do was wait to be asked to accompany her. Hendrik had faith that she could certainly handle herself, (especially with the tone she was using) and he didn't want to be seen as overbearing or interfering. And he decided right there and then that he never wanted to be on her bad side if he could absolutely help it.

He looked at the students once she'd said they were all present and accounted for and the knight remembered the times he'd had to ensure the safety and protection of his own men. He hadn't realized how much he missed them until this moment.

Sighing, he turned his gaze back to her. "I am glad you and all of your students have gotten to safety."

[darkenedmoon]

The fact that Hendrik did not want to be on Yotsuyu's bad side just proved that he was both wise, and perhaps more understanding of females than he had first thought. But her anger, with the safety of her students, was clearly passing, and she gave him a smile.

"I have you to thank for that, as I am not certain I might have been able to do so without your help. And you know I am grateful on my students' behalf."

Even if some of them might not be--teenagers tended to have their pride, after all.

"I am not certain that you taking the...perpetrators to task would be the best idea. I do not want you to have any trouble, after all." As it were, she wasn't terribly certain how she'd take them to task, either. Especially since their first reaction tended to be to run crying to their daddies.

[unswervingcompanion]

He nodded at Yotsuyu's gratitude, unsure as to what to say. Hendrik was just trying to help her and her students get to safety. And maybe that smile she gave him was simply a part of that.

"If you do not plan on punishing the wrongdoers, then how do you propose a way to deter them from doing such an act again?"

This had him genuinely confused. If she didn't stop them now, what was to say that they wouldn't try this harmful thing or something worse in the future.

[darkenedmoon]

"Who says I do not plan on punishing them?" Yotsuyu gave the knight a quizzical look at that, brows arching. She folded her arms over her chest and leveled a mild glare at Hendrik, lips curving in nothing short of a malicious smile.

"Oh, I do, but I do not plan for them to see it coming. What they cannot suspect, they cannot go whinging to their fathers about, you see?" At that, she nodded, lips thinning.

"That, and it leaves you out of it, so you are not embroiled more than necessary in this little scenario. I do need to think up proper torment for the malicious little worms, however."

Because she had no intent whatsoever to let them get off scot free, but if she could handle it herself and not involve the Headmaster, so much the better.

[unswervingcompanion]

Again the knight was glad he wasn't the one on the receiving end of such a look. Yes, it was directed at him but he knew it wasn't meant for him. He'd been on the receiving end of looks like that from Jasper when he was about to cause problems for others.

Hendrik wasn't sure why Yotsuyu was trying to protect him though he was innocent in the nature of it. All he'd done was to get her and her students out of the vicinity of danger, but heavens help the person should they have still been lurking.

Something about the way she was going on made him inwardly smile though it didn't appear on his face. With Jasper, he'd always tried to be the voice of reason, like when he saved the people of the Luminary's home village of Cobblestone from execution.

But this time he might be entertained to a degree so he simply nodded.

"If that is your wish."

[darkenedmoon]

"Yes, it is. Nothing too harmful, but something to truly make them regret their actions..."

That might sound familiar, too, but Yotsuyu simply paced for a few moments, casting concerned glances over at her still-recovering students. They seemed to be all right, breathing easier, with no remaining ill effects, but she still planned to keep an eye on them.

"Children," she called to them, suddenly. "You are not required to stay, I believe. If the classroom is clear enough for you, gather your things. I believe we are finished for the day."

That certainly seemed like a popular decision, at least. And Yotsuyu turned to shrug at Hendrik for the moment. "I have nothing that immediately comes to mind, but I suppose the only recourse is to let this pot simmer, and see what rises to the surface."

[unswervingcompanion]

"Then I shall leave it to you to see to their punishment." Ya he totally wasn't going to get involved if she sounded like she did.

He looked over as she dismissed her class and he smiled as the students began getting their things and heading out for the day.

Nodding at her pot simmer comment, the knight watched a student walk by them and turned to Yotsuyu.

"Now that your class is out, what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

[darkenedmoon]

She gave him a fervent nod, also taking stock of her students. It did seem fairly clear that they were no longer worse for wear, and that the classroom also seemed to have cleared. Good.

By her expression, however, Hendrik's next question startled her slightly. Yotsuyu gave him a wide-eyed look, arching a brow at him.

"Plans? Truthfully, I had not thought of any. Dinner at some point, of course. My homework is done save for review. I should retrieve my belongings from the classroom, but that done, I suppose I am at loose ends. Why do you ask?"

[unswervingcompanion]

He really wasn't sure what that wide-eyed expression was about that Yotsuyu did. It was almost as if he'd asked her to reveal his age and Hendrik knew damn well that you never asked a lady her age unless you were expecting grief and trouble.

The knight had really just asked her plans simply to be friendly. But with the way that she put it, she made it sound like he was expecting her to go somewhere with him. Wait. He was just simply trying to be polite.

Was there somewhere he could ask her to go? But she didn't have dinner, and he shouldn't interfere with eating. But he stumbled over his words at first.

"I..w..we have not yet journeyed to the temples. But that can wait for another day if that would be better."

For all the world, the knight wished his mind worked quicker sometimes. What he wouldn't give at times for Jasper's quicksilver mind.

[darkenedmoon]

He had made it sound, to her, as if he were requesting her presence, since she had no plans. By now, Yotsuyu was quite confused--because she could see him foundering. She blinked at him.

"I--well. The temples might be better served another day, especially if you decide you might wish to take in devotions or some such. I am not sure I would stay that long, but I am...not terribly devout." Her faith had never been one of her strong points, be it kami, Twelve, or any other little gods who one might owe lip service.

"I did not mean to put you on the spot--it merely sounded to me as if you wished my presence for something. If that is not the case, you need not try to force anything. I am sure you have things to do." She certainly knew she was not the easiest person to get along with, even though she was fond of Hendrik and he seemed to enjoy her company as well. She was not about to force anyone to stay around her a moment longer than was necessary.

[unswervingcompanion]

Not for the first time Hendrik had thought of humbling himself to whatever deity was around to see if that would help Yotsuyu. He would do whatever it took and if doing so would help her, then he wouldn't hesitate. And with her stating that she wasn't devout only brought those thoughts to mind.

"I admit that I share your views." And then he resolved that's where he was going. The knight figured it couldn't hurt to ask and offer to do some sort of service in return for saving her if that's what they did.

However, Yotsuyu's further steeled his resolve so she made up his mind for him really. "I will be going there. And I would be delighted if you would accompany me, provided this arrangement is agreeable."

[darkenedmoon]

"It is!" Though it was true Yotsuyu had little else to do, either, she could not say she enjoyed Hendrik's company, and then act as if she wanted to quit it altogether too soon. Well, she did not.

"We can see what we can discover, I suppose. Then perhaps have dinner together--I certainly do not mind paying for it, since I am also the one to suggest it." Kami help her if she offend his knightly sensibilities. But Yotsuyu saw no difference if she paid for a dinner they shared, or if she made it with her own hands.

"I have not even been to the temple district, so you shall have to lead the way, this time."

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik nodded until she mentioned dinner. Wait, why was she..? He then turned his head and sighed. He was the one that was supposed to pay for things and somehow that got turned around.

He'd just have to be faster next time, which he wouldn't end up doing of course.

So the knight tried not to let the thought of Yotsuyu paying for dinner bother him overly. Well, there was this temple business to attend to and then he would see about dinner. Work first as always. Food and all of that could come later.

Moving a few steps ahead, he turned back, almost holding his hand out but deciding against it.

"This way."