Test Drive #1

[magicademymods]

Test Drive #1



The Airship There

By carriage or coach, spellwagon or ship, perhaps even on the wings of magic, the Sundered heed the call to gather at the Tenzin High Dock of Vulbaria. On this, the appointed day, a great passenger airship sits in the dock, the seals of the six Houses fluttering from flagpoles along her length and her wooden planks atremble as if it is eager to be off. At last, the gangplank descends, and the Hand of Diatu opens her doors to the Sundered so they can take their first step on the path towards protection and salvation.

Inside, you may choose from long comfortable couches, broad circular tables surrounded by straight-backed, cushioned chairs, or viewing seats at the glass front of the ship. Sundered who need special accommodations are quickly provided for, ensuring everyone travels in comfort. Trays drift through the air periodically, offering snacks and drinks to the passengers.

This may be the first chance you've had to truly relax since being swept to this strange world. Certainly it is the first chance you've had to meet your fellow Sundered. As the airship lifts gracefully off from the High Dock, your journey to Diatu begins. Excited? Nervous? Simply angry? Or perhaps searching among the crowd here for a familiar face or some sign of hope?

Rain, Rain...

Welcome to Diatu Magicademy. It's raining.

Seriously raining. One of those downpours that feels like a curtain has dropped on you, that soaks to the bone within a second of stepping into it. Obviously, this won't do, and a civic-minded cluster of Purifeul students has taken it upon themselves to solve this problem. No sooner do you step through the gates then you practically run into a giant and complex runic diagram being drawn out with long staffs by several students, all of them speaking seeming nonsense about derivatives, limits, and equations. Magic! In action right before your eyes!

And yet, just as their mathemagics wind towards the center of the diagram and they all make their final stroke -- one student slashes his line off on a weird tangent, speaking an equation that sounds nothing at all like what his fellows utter. The spell completes... weirdly, as the students look in horror at each other. The temperature abruptly drops seventy degrees, and a cold wind begins to blow.

Welcome to Diatu Magicademy. Please get out of the blizzard before you freeze.

Thaumaturgy 101

After some fifteen minutes of grumbling from Professor Loshakle, followed by half an hour of theory and basics, the grouchy old man finally gets to drawing a magical symbol on the board. "This is straight out of Fundamental Principles of Wizarding," he says, writing Sense Magic next to the symbol. "As is everything you'll learn here. I'll emphasize yet again, you MUST know the name of the spell and the proper gestures. You can't simply wave your wand in any old pattern and say any old words. That isn't how it works," he says, glaring around the class as if daring someone to question him.

But he gives no one the opportunity, instead producing a wand and making the gesture to trace the symbol he'd drawn in midair. "Sense Magic," he intones, and the air and his wand both shimmer.

"Now. You all try." Just like that. What the Professor doesn't mention is that this spell can produce some very interesting results if the symbol is off, or the timing...

Bala-inlota Practice

Bala-inlota is the main interaction the Magicademies have with each other -- the sport of wizards! Two teams take the field, with the goal of heaving a ball through their opponent's hoop. The rules primarily revolve around not inflicting lethal injury, because bala-inlota is a free-for-all at best, where each team relies on both physical and magical might to win the day.

You kind of wish someone had told you this BEFORE you got hauled onto the field so the coach could see if you've got what it takes.

Now half a dozen players are charging down the field at your ragtag group of semi-willing recruits, while another half-dozen are preparing spells that you've been absolutely assured aren't as nasty as the ones deployed in actual play. On your side: the ball, your wits, your physical ability, and maybe three classes's worth of magical education.

On the upside, magic is pretty good at healing.

Comments

[perfectenn]

He's not facing her at first, busy hanging his head to shake the snow out then buried in a towel trying to stave off a cold he can feel incoming. His voice, however, remains clear and sharp.

"Were you paying attention at all? One of the students sabotaged the performance." Tenn trails off in his sulking as he surfaces from the linens and turns to look at who's speaking, a startled blink interrupting his glare. Oh… the blizzard was not kind to her. His hands tighten on his own towel, then he reaches out to fetch a fresh one and hands it to her with a tempered tone.

"Here. You’ll feel better once you’re warm."

[revidolize]

Warm, cold... What's the difference to a zombie? She takes the towel, though, staring it down for a moment before lazily dabbing it at her hair. He's wrong; she doesn't feel any better, not even with his insistence that what happened was deliberate. Maybe it would look that way to the untrained eye, but it's the predictability that settles it for her.

"The result is still the same. Everyone underwent an unfortunate experience," she explains further, but with little detail. "You're disappointed, aren't you? You're angry? It's all the same to me, so you can tell me how you feel."

[perfectenn]

He studies her, concerned for both her physical condition and frame of mind. It's not the first time he's seen someone overwhelmed and acting illogically since the incident.

"You seem more distraught than I am." Yes, he is angry. Though the presence of a girl in distress makes him want to look less so. "It's true that I've been frustrated since I was brought to a foreign land without my consent, but that isn’t your concern. I'm sure you and everyone here has been through much the same." More firmly, he adds, "I won't take it out on the others here."

[revidolize]

Why? Why is he being so kind? The guilt in her heart flares up, and she wants to be different. She wants to be that girl she saw when her memories of being a zombie returned to her, but it's impossible now that she's regained the memories of when she was alive. It's impossible because it's already happened again, even though she had made such good friends...

"I can't really be angry," she replies, "when I have no one but myself to blame. It was an accident that brought us here? What sort of misfortune would be required for one of such magnitude? I'm here, so I know the answer for that."

This whole time, she's been tough about the situation and tough on herself, but everyone she encounters is so kind and positive... It really makes it harder. She wants to cry, but she can't push past her own numbness to even display the depths of her sorrow.

[perfectenn]

"Someone made a foolish decision to play with magic beyond the realm humans are meant to comprehend." Though it’s hardly comforting, the explanation they were given was sensible, and Tenn has no desire to debate it until he knows more. That no one has blamed them for the incident is a relief; it means they have the leeway to investigate without undue suspicion.

Tenn ruffles the towel through his hair then wraps it around his shoulders, fingering through his silvery hair. The towel dried it strangely fast... is everything here going to be enchanted? It brings to mind that, as morose as the girl seems, there may be a reason. Calmly, without accusation, he adds, "Unless you were conducting interdimensional experiments of your own, I do not see a reason to blame you."

[revidolize]

"I didn't say I was directly responsible..." she amends. "But that doesn't mean I don't share at least a part of the responsibility for it."

She sighs. She isn't exactly determined to sway his opinion, though it may seem otherwise, but it seems like she just can't ever give people enough warning until it's time to say, "I told you so." At best, as unlikable as she is like this, the others will want nothing to do with her. Maybe by avoiding contact, they can also avoid her curse. It's not like she wants it, but because of that, it's best for her to be alone.

"If that won't satisfy you, I guess there's nothing left for me to say."

[perfectenn]

"That's correct. You aren't saying anything directly." His eyes narrow. After the warnings about the Sundered having unstable magic, they should be open about this. Aren’t they here for the purpose of training those powers so they don’t hurt others?

He tugs at his bangs. Why does he keep running into strange, poetic girls during this trip? Circumstances haven't left him with much patience for it. Standing here in their destination, knowing their actions will determine their fate in this strange place, he's even less inclined to tolerance. And she's right: he isn't satisfied, and he won't be until he finds a way to return home. Tenn finally gives into a sigh.

"Not wanting to explain yourself to me is fine. Condemning yourself without any explanation is not." Presumptuous for all that he looks like a half-drowned cat, he adds, "I will be seeking out the administration to inquire into this incident. If you have something you’d like to tell them, you may come along."

[revidolize]

Something to tell them? No, not particularly. Nothing really matters anyway. As far as explaining herself, she just doesn't have the drive. She just went through this whole song and dance with her friends what feels like only a moment ago, and that, too, turned out to be for naught. And she's not "condemning" herself for stating what's only a fact.

In contrast, he explains himself so clearly, his every word stating his intentions and allowing her the freedom to contend with them. She clutches at the hem of her skirt, focused on her breathing as she considers the outcome of each situation in her mind. She thinks of her friends and their persistence. She thinks of the words that have kept her going for so long, despite all odds, and she inhales sharply.

"I— I'll come, too," she says finally, expelling her breath in a quick burst of effort. She won't look him in the eye, though. Her gaze focuses on something nondescript in the corner of the room. "I might as well hear what they have to say."

[perfectenn]

Though she won't meet his eyes, Tenn maintains his gaze while waiting for her answer.

Whether she steps up or not won't change what happened, so he can hardly offer reassurance. But it could prevent the same from happening in the future. Making a good impression by awareness of their own magical influence will go far in securing a favorable place for themselves in this school. That is worth his consideration… and patience.

Since she still won't look at him, she'll miss the hint of a smile and nod. His voice, though brisk, at least does not sound disappointed. "Good. We’ll find out together, then." And trusting her to follow, he sets off to locate the staff.

(Does Tenn know where the headmaster or administration is? No. Will he liberally apply his deductive skills and sharp tongue to finding out? Absolutely.)

[revidolize]

"Y-Yeah..." she replies softly as she follows behind him. Now that she's gone and placed herself in an awkward situation, she looks about at the decor of their surroundings. It's rather fancy, especially in comparison to the rundown mansion she arrived from, and it seems like it could exist in her "world" as well, if not for all of this strange magic... Though, magic might have brought her back to life...ish? She doesn't really know, to be honest.

She keeps pace behind him, occasionally looking his way, but the air feels thick, and— She knows that's her fault. It's only a little, but he did help relieve the tension of her negativity. And, he had no reason to, but he was rather kind and patient with her. She closes her eyes for a moment and takes another deep breath before skipping ahead to his side.

"Th... Thank you!" she forces out, still trying to be moderately mindful of her manners. "You're so calm about all of this... I can tell that you're upset, too, but you're handling it so well..."

[perfectenn]

His first impression from the airship windows was that the architecture had a European flair. It was comforting, somewhat, after all the foreign sights. Inside, he notes that the building is well-kept, the furniture and rugs in good condition. Then what they were told was true: this is a high-end academy.

Tenn pauses when she steps up beside him. She seems awfully preoccupied with his emotional state... perhaps he was too open earlier. He relaxes his shoulders, meeting her gaze if she will.

"I didn't do anything. You chose to come with me." He reminds, as more of an affirmation than a dismissal. He only opened a door; she chose to walk through it. As she’s making a better impression now, it was a good choice. Being proactive usually is, in his experience, even when the first step is hard. "I think it's important to stay calm. We are still getting used to this place, after all. I want the staff to know that we appreciate their efforts towards us." But he’s still going to confront them about their students' conduct.