diatuooc | Test Drive #1

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Airship

The idea of floating airships wasn't something that Peach typically enjoyed, considering the awkward history that she's personally had when being aboard them. Though, while first reluctant to board, the Princess cannot help but admire the architecture and splendor of the flying ship. Rather than simple panels of wood and noisy cannons, the ship seems more like a pleasure cruise than a prison cell.

Not one to be bashful or waste an opportunity, the former ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom takes it upon herself to meet and greet those aboard. Cite her royal upbringing or her way of trying to feel more comfortable, nevertheless there's another eager young girl on the ship that's looking to make a good first impression with some unfamiliar faces.]

My, what lovely weather for a flight, wouldn't you agree? It's awfully nice of them to let us take a ride on such a beautiful ship. My name is Peach, Peach Toadstool. Are you a visitor in this land as well?

Bala-inlota Practice

[Practice had finally finished, and it certainly showed on the young Princess' form. Peach was used to these sort of exerting and trying physical sports, considering the crowd she usually hung out with. Soccer had been a breeze for her, and golf a casual game with its own dangers. A rough sport such as this had been a welcome addition to her past-times, though due to her over-eagerness she had sustained a rather brutal sprain to her ankle that put her onto the sidelines rather early.

A precursory glance at the wound gave the tell-tale signs of a minor injury, though one that would need some manner of treatment.. and soon. Were there any healers on the field? Or would this mean a trip to the school's infirmary?

Either way, the poor girl is holding back small tears while assuring her teammates that she's fine and can continue to play.. despite being told otherwise.]

[Parsee was legitimately shocked to have someone who looked like nobility or royalty walking right up to her like she was someone worth talking to and speaking directly to her, asking her her name and just chatting. It was like she was treating her like a person, not just an irritation or obstacle.

She was, initially, a little taken aback and confused by the sight, her eyes popping widely while she thought about what had just been said.]

Uhhhh... I ... guess? It's Parsee, and yeah, some idiot brought me here on accident. [Blink blink. What the heck?]

[Well, here's two opposites for you. Sweet young princess -- and a grizzled shirtless guy who's halfway towards looking like a wild animal pulled in from the forest. But despite that feral appearance, her greeting makes him grin.] You really think I fit in with the locals?

[He's at least a little self-aware.]

Name's Jecht.

Test Drive #1

Princess Peach Toadstool | Super Mario Bros.

Airship

Airship