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

Alphinaud Leveilleur | Final Fantasy XIV

[delusionsofleveilleur]

The Airship There

[Alphinaud is quick to survey the surroundings, first searching for any books that might be available to gain insight on the land. Short of that, he settles for the old fashioned way, making his way to the front of the ship towards the glass viewing area. Sadly, there isn't much to be gained here, either, and he sighs.

He'll just have to wait until their arrival, he supposes, but it doesn't ease his restlessness in the meantime. He glances about the passengers and notes that there seems to be quite a variety here. What that means, he can't even begin to guess, but he has to keep his mind at it, lest he lose it.

Deciding to look about the ship some more, he quickly turns around— a bit too quickly as he accidentally bumps into someone the moment that he does.]

Ah—

Rain, Rain...

[The downpour is unpleasant, but at least it isn't snow... Or at least, it isn't until the failed spell instantly plunges their surroundings into a winter blunderland. The freeze happens so fast, taking advantage of his soaked clothes and features, that he barely has a chance to react before it's already become so difficult to breathe. He does terribly in such weather with preparation, and yet here he is left to succumb to the elements. The wind in particular is not doing him any favors. It's so cold, and he holds his shoulders as he starts to hunch over, trying anything to block the wind from exacerbating the situation, but finding it incredibly difficult to move forward.

No, no. It's hard, but he has to move! Freezing to death here is definitely not an option! And the longer he waits, the harder it's going to become. Already he can feel the wetness clinging to his body hardening into ice. He's endured worse than this. He's endured worse, he tells himself with each step, but each time he thinks the discomfort of it might start to numb, the wind blows harder and sets it off again.

It feels like a thousand yalms before he finally makes it inside, but once he does, the ice all over him starts to feel as fire instead. He slides over to the wall and lowers himself to the ground, leaning against it for support. He can't stop shaking as the cold has set in to the bone. With enough time he should return to normal, but... That was a bit much.]

That was... some magic.

[bearshermark]

Rain, rain..

[Eleven shudders a few short steps away, arms crossed over his chest and desperately trying to rub warmth back into them. His feet march in place in a similar dance, but he manages the strength for a short smile for his fellow Sundered.]

I really.. don't like cold magic.

[Hands shaking, he curls them into a circle and performs a brief, sweeping gesture, but no fire flickers to life between them. He's disappointed, but shrugs and goes back to shivering through the lingering chill.]

W-was worth a try.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Alphinaud looks beside him; he's hardly the only one suffering from the sudden onslaught, and as such, he realizes that he ought to at least attempt to withstand it a little better. He rises, slowly, to his feet and brushes off some of the ice and snow, that which is already settling back into the raindrops which had coated him initially. There. He still has his dignity, perhaps.]

I share your affliction for the cold. If what we've experienced is the result of a spell gone wrong, I should loathe to receive one that has been properly cast.

[He watches curiously while the other attempts a remedy, of what exactly Alphinaud cannot tell.]

You have prior knowledge of magicks?

[bearshermark]

Some.

[He's not Veronica, Serena, or even Rab, but he is the Luminary. ..Or he was. Eleven breathes into his palms and rubs them together]

I knew a few spells, but oft favored my sword. Are magics something you're familiar with?

[delusionsofleveilleur]

Aye, though whether that knowledge will serve me any purpose here is yet to be discovered. Depending on the similarities, I presume that I may not encounter much difficulty with adjusting, but as it stands now, I have nothing without the necessary tools... Namely, my grimoire.

[Which means he won't have Carbuncle at his side for quite some time, either. A shame really, since he's such a trustworthy companion. But without that book, he won't be able to cast a single spell. Unless there is a similar tool here, he'll have to start from the beginning.]

Both sword and spells, though. My sister follows a similar discipline. I'm aware that it can be difficult to manage the balance, but once you do so, the results are worth the effort.

Airship! I hope you don't mind her

[linkpearls]

[Bumping into a stranger may get some concerns but when that person is a comrade, the reaction changes. But in this case, it is a mix of both.]

Are you alri-Alphinaud?!

[Minfilia cannot help but feel both concern and relief at the same time. In all honesty, she had every right to be considering she and the others were just running through the waterways under Ul'dah and they kept spliting off to give time to escape.]

GASP of course not!!

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He doesn't have the opportunity to apologize in return, not when that and any words he might offer are stolen from his lips by the visage before him. She speaks his name as well, so he doesn't have an instant to believe that it might be a case of mistaken identity... Not that he would necessarily assume so, but...

For her, it was the waterways of Ul'dah. For Alphinaud, it's been... so much longer.]

Minfilia! Had I not already accepted that this is not, in fact, one long drawn-out dream, I might have required a pinch.

[No, that's such an inconsequential thing to say. But the how and the why of it are beyond him. Furthermore, they're not what's important right now. His stunned face slowly resets itself and then continues into a gentle smile.]

But it is good to see you. Circumstances aside, I cannot express how glad I am to see you well.

:D

[linkpearls]

[Now knowing that he is in fact here with her in this strange new world, Minfilia will have no issues with giving the boy the biggest hug she can muster. It's been a very long day, they need this badly.]

I was afraid that the Brass Blades had gotten to you. Full glad am I proven to be wrong.

[But...what about their friend? Surely they had gotten out, right?]

♥

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[He's taken /aback by the sudden embrace—! Or rather, he would be if there was a bone in his body capable of denying her this moment. It takes him by surprise nonetheless, and he can't help but blush in embarrassment. He's stiff at first, not often placed in such a position, but the circumstances do call for such an exchange. Slowly, gently, he places his hands around her back to return the favor, amazed that he's even able to do this with her.

As a plus note, this temporary pause in their conversation gives him the opportunity to assess it. "The Brass Blades"... Truly, that is the last time that he had seen Minfilia in this state. There are already powerful magicks at work in this place; control over time is a possibility he cannot rule out. Or perhaps he's overthinking it... In any case, it's nothing he should burden her with until he has more information himself.]

I could say the same for you. How long has it been exactly...?

[He's smooth; he's so smooth.]

[distantfuture]

[Hope drops to the floor at Alphinaud's feet with a rather plop. He didn't exactly mean to trip and fall, but it was starting to become difficult to feel his feet. His clothes have bits of ice and snow all over that are rapidly melting due to the warmth of the school.

He groans and places his hand over the frozen brand on his arm, momentarily forgetting he can't use his magic and vainly tries to summon a fire spell. It doesn't work, of course, and he soon realizes that he would need to harness this new magic if he wanted any semblance of his abilities back.]

N-Never thought I-I'd m-miss that...

[His teeth were chattering horribly as Hope began to push himself off the ground from his embarrassing fall. He knows they are just students but what had they even been hoping to accomplish?]

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Seeing the other boy collapse before him, Alphinaud's lips curl into a slight smile. It seems they were both equally at the mercy of the elements, and as such, it helps him to feel a little less frustrated with his aversion to the cold and on a larger scale, his utter inability to be of any use within it.

Seeing this boy fight to raise himself to his feet, he feels that perhaps he ought to show at least the same amount of resilience, and he picks himself up, though the cold bothers him every ilm of the way. He brushes some flakes and flecks of ice off from his clothing, cold but pleasant to discard at least, and takes another deep breath or two to try to regulate himself.]

Is something amiss? Ah— mayhap a comfort of home?

[distantfuture]

[He manages to get to his knees when he feels the other brush at the flakes on his clothes. He crosses his arms and seats himself now, rather than a miserable pile on the ground, and regards the other teen.

At least, he thinks he's a teen. The pointed ears are certainly new, but unsurprising given all who else were on board that airship. He rubs his arms and shakes his head.]

N-No. I don't kn-know if I'd call it a c-comfort. But it was useful for the t-time I had it. Magic from home.

[delusionsofleveilleur]

I see.

[He sniffles, still trying to adjust to the warm air, and before he can continue speaking, he can feel it building up into a sneeze... which escapes into his sleeve as he raises his arm to block it.]

Ah, my apologies. I do believe the cold is something for which I shall never be rid of my incompatibility. [Now, where were they? Ah, yes, magick.] I, too, feel even more at a loss without my spellbook. Had this happened after the training we are to receive, mayhap we could have a means to combat it.

[He looks at the other boy, shivering to death, and then down the hallway.]

Come, there ought to be something we can do to hasten our recovery. A kitchen, perhaps? I should be glad for a warm cup of tea right now.

[rain]

[spellswords]

[Alphinaud doesn't get much time to rest before someone else comes barreling through the door in a much less graceful manner. She's brushing ice and snow off her person, leaving a trail of it as she stomps inside.]

Gods, of all the inconvenient... [She trails off as she notices him. Of course she would and she turns around to face him, surprised.]

Alphinaud! [He's in an equally sorry state, she notes. The surprise snowstorm caught them both. More importantly... he's here.

Her expression melts into a slight smile.]

'Twould seem we both faired poorly against the elements. [Her poor legs.]

hello!! ♥

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[The door bursts open, bringing with it another harsh blast of the cold, which sets off the chill coursing through his body once more. The force of the wind causes him to shut his eyes momentarily, and he shields his face from the intensity of it. As the door closes, his eyes open, though he can hardly believe the sight that awaits him.]

Alisaie!

[He jogs towards her, quickly closing the distance, and it's clear that he desperately wants to express each and every question, comment, and concern that surfaces in his mind. However, her more casual approach and that small smile of hers give pause to those thoughts, and he returns the favor.]

And here I thought that I could brave anything by now. I regret to say that my travels to Coerthas did not have quite the lingering effect that I hoped they might.

HELLO i am here for this :>

[spellswords]

[She's relieved that he appears unharmed. Cold and miserable, like she is, but unharmed. Not that she was worried. She isn't the one who is usually the worrywart. It fills her with relief to see him here nevertheless. This situation was a lot to take in even if being a student of magic wasn't a new concept to either of them. Knowing he's in the same boat makes it a lot easier to face though.]

Well you always did hate the cold. [He certainly complained about it enough. But in his defense she doesn't think anyone would enjoy being rained on only to have it immediately freeze on you. Even time in Coerthas can't prepare you for that.

She wraps her arms around herself and shivers. It's terrible...] We can't very well stand here like this. We should find something to warm us up first. [Maybe there are towels or blankets or something around here they can use. Or a fireplace. Maybe even a change of clothing, ideally.]

We can talk as we search although I suspect your story of how you got here won't be much different than mine. [She can't believe she missed him on the airship. The crowd had been pretty big but still...]

I am so excited ;w;

[delusionsofleveilleur]

A sound plan. I should be grateful for the ability to feel my fingertips once more.

[He nods in agreement as he turns to walk down the hall. Normally, it might be faster of a search for the two to divide and conquer, though he's hesitant to part with his sister so soon after reuniting, particularly in such a peculiar fashion.]

Am I correct to assume that you have also heard the voice? [He raises his fist to his chin in contemplation, recalling the strange event that occurred prior to his arrival here. Nothing since has felt quite as familiar as that sensation, but logic dictates that the two events are like to be linked.] I labored to understand it on my own, but if it reached you as well, it only adds to the mystery.

The Airship There, with all my apologies.

[darkenedmoon]

[This is not a face Alphinaud wanted to see. Or, perhaps, ever expected to see again. He is definitely not the only one somewhat shocked, to judge by the wide yellow eyes that greet him; though Yotsuyu goe Brutus draws herself up to her full height in an attempt to tower over the Elezen youth. That done, however, she offers no violence to him. Not yet. Not...yet.]

How curious to see you here, Master Leveilleur. I do hope you did not arrive the way I did.

[As she figures that, being the diplomatic sort, the news of her demise would not have escaped him. The tiniest hint of a smile--one that may or may not be cruel once it blossoms--twitches at one side of her mouth, and she arches a black brow at him, smirking slightly.]

I might have shrieked irl bless you so much!!

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[It's bad enough that he's bumped into her, literally and figuratively, but he recognizes the voice before he looks up and matches it with her presence. His breath catches, and he instantly staggers back in shock, not only from the familiar face, but by way of this one that ought to have a certain quality about her that makes this quite impossible... Yes, she should have perished. The Warrior of Light witnessed and confirmed this.]

Yotsuyu...!

[He might even be inclined to believe it's a case of mistaken identity, had she not identified him outright. On top of that, her characteristic tone is markedly hers— belonging not even to Tsuyu, but to Yotsuyu.

He narrows his eyes, on guard due to this fact, even though he has nothing to defend himself with. He understands that in this situation, both parties have little to gain by engaging the other, but does she understand this as well? No, moreover, does she care?]

I couldn't hope to say without first hearing of your journey... How is it you've come to be here?

She's the scary one! But it's so nice to see Alphinaud here. :)

[darkenedmoon]

[It may be that she does understand. She is still the witch of Doma in tone and stature, but Yotsuyu has ever been a master of biding her time when necessary. It is a bitter smile that twists her lips, now, even as her eyes widen slightly.]

If it answers your question, I recall the events at Fluminis quite...pointedly, shall we say. I trust my...darling brother shared my fate?

[It was unlikely that he'd escaped her, and yet, grasping still, she had to know. Not likely that it is due to any charity in her heart towards the Eorzeans; no, she just had to know if that bastard Asahi was really, truly dead. Ancestors, grant her that...

She spreads her hands, then, and shrugs. When next she speaks, there is no small bit of derision in her tone, though it is more self-directed than aimed at him.]

I had thought my tale done, Master Leveilleur. And yet I woke here just the same. It is not the hell I expected, but so far, it may be a hell nonetheless.

even at her scariest Yotsuyu is precious bae! ♥

[delusionsofleveilleur]

[Impossible... He wants to say that it's impossible, but he has seen equally strange things, not the least of which is his own arrival here, dead or otherwise. She describes it as a hell, and for just a moment, Alphinaud does question his own mortality. It is, however, a powerful magick that has brought them to this land; of that he is certain. Restoring one's life... may be possible for them.

He doesn't share the information she desires to hear so much, that of Asahi's demise. He takes it as a rhetorical question regardless, and he's much more focused on the how and why of all of this.]

That, as always, will be yours to decide. [He, too, cannot refrain from a slightly sharp tongue. He's known her as both Yotsuyu and as Tsuyu. He knows that she has a choice in the path she chooses forward, though she could not help her past.] For now, it does seem that we share the same fate. Our differences will serve no motivation in this realm.

Airship!

[bluebloodyblazes]

((Sorry I'm a bit late on this, you don't have to match format either :3))

Let's be real, Rin absolutely could have chosen a better place to stand than this but he's been staring at everything but the other passengers as he gawks at everything in the ship.

"We're really flying? And it's not in a plane? This is like, real proper magic!" Rin's tail is wagging back and forth, his childish excitement near palpable this close range. He easily catches Alphinaud as he gets bumped into, grinning as he comes face to face with the elezen.

"Ah! An Elf!" His grin becomes even bigger, "It's like being in an RPG game," he cackles.

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

[delusionsofleveilleur]

Before Alphinaud is given the chance to apologize for his misstep, he's caught in the arms of this boy, and his excitement takes the words from his mouth. An "elf"... Was that supposed to refer to him? It did sound akin to "Elezen," though he already knows that people have arrived from various worlds, many of which are likely very dissimilar to his own. Although, as he looks the young man over, his eye catches the rapidly swinging tail, something which resembles that of the Au Ra of Eorzea.

He clears his throat, taking a step back to give back the boy's personal space. "My apologies for that," he says at last. "I may have immersed myself overmuch in the surroundings. You seem rather taken with them as well."

IT'S OKAY IM LATE BACK

[bluebloodyblazes]

"Nah, don't worry about it," he says, "There's too much goin' on at the moment, I don't blame you for getting distracted," he laughs.

"I'm Rin, nice to meet cha," He holds out his hand. "Man, I know that they're pullin' people from all over but I didn't think they'd pick Elves." Though he has to wonder if maybe in other worlds if Elves aren't more common than humans... maybe? Which is rich coming from him, considering his ears are also kind of pointed at the moment too.

"Let me take a wild guess, you already know magic?"

NO WORRIES FRIEND :]

[delusionsofleveilleur]

Whatever Rin may be referring to that's classified Alphinaud as an "Elf," it must be physiologically similar to his race. Furthermore, his assumption is... indeed correct, although that's hardly something limited to Elezen of his world.

"I am studied in the arts of summoning magicks," he agrees, a curious tilt of his head as to why that was an easy guess for him to make. But more pressingly, Rin has introduced himself, and as such, Alphinaud should extend the same courtesy. "I am Alphinaud Leveilleur, hailing from the realm of Hydaelyn. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well."