Mod Account for Diatu Magicademy ([personal profile] magicademymods) wrote in [community profile] diatuooc2019-05-15 07:30 pm
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Test Drive #5 Is Alive


Test Drive #5




Class Is In Session

The Metacurriculum of Glyphics contains within it the fine and honored art of potionmaking, in which glyphs scribed into a cauldron are distilled within a liquid especially prepared to hold the enchantment. The task is remarkably finicky, and thus not particularly utilized outside of the classroom; generations of teachers have been forced to deal with the question of "when will we ever use this in real life?!", to their inevitable despair.

A pinch of cilantro, a dash of goat hoof, stir carefully and apply liberal amounts of electricity -- and you foolishly used alternating current instead of direct. Rather than a Potion of Supreme Might, your mixture has turned a vile grey, and a dark spirit has arisen from it to tell you that your personal hygiene leaves much to be desired and that your soul is so black with sin no heaven will ever accept it. This is no good -- the syllabus explicitly states that profane manifestations of magic are only worth partial credit at best. Can you and your partner rectify your mistake before the professor pops by to see how you're doing?

Shady Business

"'Ey! You!" calls a voice from the Merchant District Alley, coming from the throat of a pop-eyed, scraggle-faced man that couldn't be a shadier character if he was real slim. On catching your attention, he motions you over. "Sees that you're wizard-likes," he says, rolling his words around in his mouth in a particularly rhythmic sort of way that doesn't disguise his inability to hold one accent for more than a phrase. "Well I've got summat'll knock your bonzer socks off. Behold!"

Sweeping one hand towards a ratty old table, he whips off a cloth to reveal a rack of weapons. Pointy swords, massive maces, warhammers that resemble the smaller historical version rather than the fantasy types one pictures dwarves with, a bow and arrows, a stiletto, any number of different implements of death. "Priced as marked," the shady guy says, "and sold as is. No refunds! Some of them are probably cursed, is what I'm hinting at. Full disclosure."

The price is so good, the risk of a curse might be worth it. Did you purchase the Sword of Flaming Death, or the Dagger of Wedgies-to-the-Wielder? Is the greataxe mighty and potent, or actually foil-covered chocolate? Choose your weapon wisely. We -- we recommend you don't pick up the one that causes you to attack the nearest person in a rage of bloodlust, but what do we know?

Etreia Day

Everyone looks forward to Etreia Day in the dining hall, that special day when the food delivered to students and staff comes from that landlocked nation deep in the Tier Mountains. Little cultural blending and spices unique to the deep peaks and valleys of the isolated country have lead to a unique and renowned cultural menu that everyone is eager to partake of.

The effect isn't magical, merely biochemical, but no one can deny that Etreian food affects human emotions significantly. Light sauces and dry-rubbed fowl are terrific for energy and mood, pushing the eater into a flurry of cheerful activity that their body will likely pay for later. Sour dishes and dark bastes produce solemn moods and inhibit playfulness. Spicy foods are something of a wildcard, pushing different people to different extremes, be they happy or sad, angry or joyous. To those who expect this, experiencing these different emotions is as much a part of the meal as the taste and texture of the food itself.

To those who don't expect this, well, it's a bit of a surprise.

Labwork

Not every magical disaster is caused by some wayward student you don't know. Many of them are caused by you instead. To wit: you're on the spot in one of the magical labs, being called on to demonstrate a technique more advanced than others you've mastered so far. Failure is expected, and the wards should prevent any injury to others from a miscast spell. But will the sparks of your magic just sputter out and die? Or will you inadvertently mispronounce, misform, misshape, or miscalculate in a way that brings chaos to you and your lab partner?

(You could also manage to succeed in casting the spell, but that isn't very fun.)
woo_oo: by cupcake_graphics (Default)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-21 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
And as always, Webby was easily distracted. "Sure I do! I named him Jörmungandr after the world-eating snake of Norse Mythology, but I call him Jorry for short. I think he wants to meet you!"

... How long has her snake been crawling up his leg?
couldabeenturbo: (don't dew it)

[personal profile] couldabeenturbo 2019-05-21 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"He does?" Dewey glanced down. "HOLY CATS HE DOES. AAAAAAHhhhhhhhhh, hi, Jorry." He recovered easily, crouching down to tickle him under his chin. "Sorry. Your mom just needs to teach you how to say hi first. But you're a great little showbiz star, aren't you? Oh yes you are."

He grinned up at Webby. "What have you taught him to do?"
woo_oo: (I Won't Give Up)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-21 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
Mom? That was a new one. But she managed to stay focused for now.

"Mmmostly not to eat other familiars. It's a work in progress."

Jorry flashed a grin of fangs, hopefully not in the mood for duck fingers.
couldabeenturbo: (dew you see what I see)

[personal profile] couldabeenturbo 2019-05-21 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Well, she took care of Jorry, that meant she was his mom, obviously. "Oh, that's not half as exciting. I thought you said you were teaching him tricks!"
woo_oo: (I Wanna See You Be Brave)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-21 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I said I was trying. I didn't say I succeeded."

She held out her hand, and her snake loyally began to slink back up her arm.
couldabeenturbo: (dewn't even think about it)

[personal profile] couldabeenturbo 2019-05-22 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh. Yeah, that is definitely a difference." Dewey watched him until he was out of striking range, then tried his best not to look relieved.

"So I just need to do my best not to look like a walking buffet? Is that how this works?"
woo_oo: by cupcake_graphics (Or Rewrite History)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-22 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think so." Jorry continued to slither up Webby, taking a rest in on her head.

"... By the way, exactly how long has that spirit been yelling at us?" Oh yeah, weren't they supposed to be doing something?
couldabeenturbo: (dew I stay or dew I go)

[personal profile] couldabeenturbo 2019-05-29 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"'Kay." He shrugged it off, since it wasn't really exciting or fun anymore, and turned his attention back to the rude miasma bubbling up out of their cauldron.

"Um. Probably long enough that it's starting to run out of things to say about my -"

"-- such a monochromatic color scheme--"

"HEY! I AM NOT MELODRAMATIC!"
woo_oo: (I'll Keep On Making)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-29 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"He's saying your colors are boring." Which was so not true, and so rude.

Webby moved her wand around - maybe the electricity was the problem? "I've got an idea. Lena and Louie and I once snuck into a light concert, and I learned some neat light-based magic!"
couldabeenturbo: (know what to dew)

[personal profile] couldabeenturbo 2019-05-29 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh. I may not know when he's insulting my outfit - RUDE, by the way! - but I do know that's called electricity, Webster."

He still watched her closely, though: just like so many other exciting things - like dart gun war games - she knew more than he did. He wasn't about to admit that to her face, but studying Webby almost always paid off.
woo_oo: by cupcake_graphics (Default)

[personal profile] woo_oo 2019-05-29 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"But light-based magic sounds cooler." Can you argue with that?

Anyway, a wave of her wand, muttering this and that, and she summoned a direct current instead of alternating! "This might make the difference!"