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

Alphonse Elric | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

[bloodseals]

✨ The Airship There
[For all the traveling that Alphonse Elric has done in his life, this certainly takes the cake. He's chosen to sit in one of the viewing seats up front, though he's left his belongings in his chair. Instead, those who might also be in the viewing area will notice a large set of armor with its hands up against the glass, looking somehow almost as wide eyed as a kid in a candy store. He isn't actually vibrating with excitement, but he might as well be.

When he turns to someone next to him, the only way to perceive his expression is by the glee in his tinny sounding voice.]

I can't believe we're actually flying in a ship! Have you ever been on one of these before?

✨ Rain, Rain
[Unsurprisingly, despite the rain, Al is immediately drawn to the group of students drawing all sorts of formulas on the ground. He'd figured out earlier about losing his alchemy and had initially been quite distressed—but this? This is almost familiar in a strange way, even if it doesn't all fit together the same way as alchemy does. But it's close enough that Al's eyes are watching the other student's work with a slowly growing beginning of understanding regarding what they're doing.

It's then that he notices the one boy's slash going wild and Al's eyes widen (as much as they do anyway, it's mostly the glow inside that widens a bit). He moves quickly to shield someone near him, clanking with the quick, aggressive motions. Luckily for Alphonse, the sudden drop in temperature won't affect him—and he's relieved the result wasn't some kind of explosion either. He looks down at the person he'd just shielded and lets out a weak laugh.]

Sorry, you're okay right? We should probably get you inside.

✨ Thaumaturgy 101
[Alphonse is, at his core, an absolute nerd. So he's been listening and taking notes with the utmost precision and dedication, nodding along while the professor explains how things work—even the most boring parts. The basics and foundations are the most important parts if you're going to do something right.

The moment they're released from note taking to do their first actual spell, Al picks up his wand and looks eagerly from the drawn sigil to the person next to him.]

So it's Sound, Sight, and Semantics, right? The way this is all explained, it really does remind me of all the studying my brother and I did when we were learning alchemy, just a little different in the end.

Rain

[bridge_princess]

[Seeing someone else lunge out to protect her from an errant blast of magic was probably one of the last things that Parsee had ever expected to experience in her life. She was more stunned by that than the sight of the magic being flung about in the way that it was. Her eyes widened and she stared up at the statuesque, almost gargantuan man in a suit of armor, or at least what she assumed was a big man in armor.]

What? I'm fine! Why'd you do something like that?

[She was hustling with her meager possessions towards the door, confusion evident in her features. Really, she'd meant 'why'd you do that for someone like me?' But it was hard to actually vocalize such a thing so openly.]

[bloodseals]

Um, well. It seemed like the right thing to do. I didn't want you to get hurt... [he glances back towards the other students, watching them scramble about as a couple start to argue with the boy who'd made the mistake.]

Besides, what if it had been something other than just a temperature change? [he's just going to clank clonk along after her, the apparent crankiness not really seeming to have an effect on him. He's dealt with worse.]

[bridge_princess]

[Once out of the chill of the weather, she rounded and stared up at him. He was following her? Why was he following her? The right thing to do? The right thing to do was just to ignore the bridge princess, she assumed. It's what everyone did, even the shining knights like Reimu. She grunted and folded her arms, dripping water and slush down sloppily to the ground.]

You don't even know me. Do you just jump out in front of everyone who might get hurt from a random spell?

[He wasn't really that noble was he? Well, maybe the armor was enchanted to protect him.]

[bloodseals]

[So grumpy... and also dripping wet. Hm. Al looks down both ends of the corridor they're now in, as though he's trying to figure out what to do next. She needs a towel, at the least and probably dry clothes. But he's just as new as she is most likely...]

I guess... so? Why shouldn't I? But um, you're all soaking wet now, why don't we find an infirmary or something so you can dry off? You're going to catch a cold if you stand around in that.

[bridge_princess]

[She was already starting to shake her hair dry of the slush and wring out her clothes. It was a start at least, but she wasn't that worried about shivering or colds. She'd always been tough. You had to be, if you lived under a bridge.]

Because I'm not the sort of person that people go out of their way for. People like you going out of their way for others. You'd just do that for a stranger? [She grunted.] I'm a little jealous of that.

[bloodseals]

[maybe u shouldnt live under a bridge then you don't look like a troll.

...don't live under a bridge here, Parsee pretty sure there's gotta be dorm rooms or SOMETHING....]

What makes you say that? You're kinda grumpy, but you're still a person. Besides, I'm a lot more sturdy in this armor, so why shouldn't I? [why are you jealous of that....]

Thaumaturgy

[shiningkindness]

[Having been practicing the spell movement before actually performing the spell, she glances up, and is a bit surprised that the young-sounding voice was coming what she had assumed was someone older wearing a suit of armor.]

O-Oh...really?

[She'd heard of alchemy before, but not so much anyone really practicing it.]

So this is, at least a little familiar for you?

[bloodseals]

Brother would probably disagree with me, but yeah. It's magic, but it's still kind of related to science a little. Alchemy's a science where I come from, and it has a lot of similar pieces to the magic they have here.

[He laughs a little, then holds his hand out to her.] My name's Alphonse, by the way. It's nice to meet you! Especially if we're going to be classmates.

[shiningkindness]

Oh wow...that’s really interesting. It’s actually the opposite of where I’m from. There’s magic in my world, but it’s pretty different than the magic that we’re being taught here.

[It really helps when she’s meeting new people when they were at least friendly, and she takes his hand with a soft smile.]

My name’s Fluttershy. It’s nice to meet you too.

[bloodseals]

What's it like? Your magic at home, I mean.

[Alphonse is used to intimidating people at first. In fact he's kind of used to it at this point. But the day is saved by manners!]

[shiningkindness]

Well, it’s...kind of hard to explain. Magic isn’t really native to my world, and was kind of brought in from another world where one of my friends is from.

[Her world is complicated.]

But the magic that my friends and I use is related to who we are, and resprents an aspect of ourselves.

[bloodseals]

Related to who you.. are? [he tilts his head to the side slightly. You're going to have to take baby steps with him here, Fluttershy.]

But that's still really amazing!

Airship

[dragonshores]

[Spyro shares Alphonse's excitement. Though flight is nothing new to him, he is nevertheless fascinated by magic ships and traveling. Spyro copies this strange suit of armor, turning in his seat and resting his front paws on the seat back to bear his weight. The dragon's warm breath puffs against the glass, unintentionally fogging his view. Sparx buzzes above Spyro's head, happy that the fog cannot obscure his part of the window.]

I've been on magic airships before, but nothing like this. I just fly most of the time. But this is awesome! They feed you in here!

[bloodseals]

[Al had been staring at Spyro for a while, maybe before the dragon even noticed him. So when they wind up together he's kind of excited. A Real Breathing Dragon. Not a chimera or anything like that. Just like everything else Al has experienced here, it's amazing.

The comment about food though? Gets him to laugh.]

Haha, do they? I bet that helps make a lot of people feel at home.

[food remains to be a touchy subject sometimes with Al.]

[dragonshores]

Yeah! It's like a vacation but without the games. This thing is so big, they could probably fit two ice hockey rinks in here.

[Spyro's reply is exuberant, to say the least. He's no hatchling, but he still has a lot of growing in his future, and a young dragon has to eat to grow. The reflection of a silver tray drifting by catches his eye, but he is still full from his previous snacking session. Instead of pursuing the tray, he proceeds to climb the back of his seat with all four feet.]

flying

[handsforhealing]

[Of course, it's hard to miss the sight of her armored friend. Even if Winry wasn't looking for Ed and Al first thing, she would have caught up to Al pretty quickly. She doesn't even bother taking a seat next to Al: Winry is staring, with her face pressed so close to the glass that it fogs up.

The smile on her face reflects enough excitement for both her expressionless friend, and her nerdy self.]

How do you think they manage it? Is it a special metal? It would have to be light weight to lift it off the ground, but sturdy enough to hold so many people... I wonder what type of engine it uses? [Her nerdy rambling would continue, but Winry pauses purposefully. Al is also scientifically minded and a nerd, so he might actually have thoughtful opinions to share. This luxury, reserved specifically for Al.]

[bloodseals]

Haha, it could be anything! Do you think they use magic to make it float? Brother would probably be losing his mind right now if he saw this! [He's excited up and to the point where he's sad again. Ah. Ed's missing out on this. It's disappointing, but at least he's not here alone.

He has Winry. he's going to let her ramble too, watching her with an air of fondness that just doesn't display on his face despite it being somehow obvious.]

Airship

[silent_princess]

[The sight of an armor-cladden knight was something the young Princess was familiar with. For this reason, Zelda does not bat an eye or flinch in the presence of her fellow passenger. Her bright smile matches the enthusiasm of the excited knight, her blonde head nodding in response as she looked out past the glass to marvel at her current situation.]

Briefly, but nothing quite this grand or exciting. It is a far better seat sitting here in comfort than resting upon hard rock or stone while flying through the air.

Do they not have aerial modes of transportation where you come from, Sir Knight?

[bloodseals]

[OH NO SHE'S SO PRETTY. And pointed ears? Is she an elf? Alphonse might not have eyes to widen, but the light inside the eye-holes of his helmet do get bigger. AND she's calling him a knight!!!]

No way! We have cars and stuff, but nothing like this. Brother and I have traveled by boat, train, car... pretty much every kind of land travel but this is amazing. We're so high up!!

[This whole experience is something new and amazing for Alphonse. He can barely take it all in.]

Re: Alphonse Elric | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

[thena_starling]

Rain Rain

Thena had been studying what the students were doing, trying to learn the spell herself when one of them drew a line oddly. That couldn't be righ.....

The next thing she knew, a suit of armor had barreled into her to defend her. She blinked startled, then nodded at his question. "Yes, thank you. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one from Hogwarts here." He had to be one of the suits of armor from the great hall, right? There was one set of three, and she knew the middle of that set was always moving, because half the time she looked he'd swapped what he was holding with the one next to him. And Penny said she heard a rumor that the suits of armor were spelled to protect the students.

[bloodseals]

"Oh, um... I'm not actually..." The voice that comes from inside the armor is young, and embarrassed. Luckily he doesn't seem to be offended or upset by the misunderstanding. Instead, he's trying to usher her inside, it's still very wet and she looks like she could catch a cold if she isn't warmed up and dried off.

"I've never heard of Hogwarts, miss." He finally says, offering a small uncertain laugh afterwards. Hopefully that news wouldn't be too upsetting.

[thena_starling]

She blinked a few times, startled, then smiled a bit. He did sound young for Hogwarts. but with ghosts and enchanter armor, she supposed it could be hard to tell. She let him guide her inside though, as she thought.

"Well, when we find a way home, I am certain I could ask the teachers to let you enroll. I know some of the other schools are supposed to be quite good as well, but as far as I know, Hogwarts is the best wizarding school there is."

[bloodseals]

Wait. He pauses, tilting his head to the side a little. There's more than one? He wonders for a moment just how many places have wizarding schools, magical academies... it's all so much. He laughs a little.

"Oh, um. We might be from really different places. There's no such thing as magic where I come from. Just science." But that isn't as important as guiding her to the infirmary, where people seem to be gathered with towels ready—apparently news of magical accidents travels fast here.

I appologize for the lack of icons, I am still taking screenshots of the game

[thena_starling]

She looked up at him, confusion in her green eyes. "You're a muggle?" she asked, startled. Nothing wrong with being a muggle, of course. Some of the best people at school were muggle born, after all. But... how did he explain himself without magic? She knew some science thanks to sneaking a look at some of the Muggle Studies textbooks in the Common Room, but she was pretty sure that a small child in a huge suit of armor had to break the statute of secrecy...

And if it didn't... well she was about to be in far worse trouble than when she had been caught dueling in the halls...