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

[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."