[center][b]Mages[/b][/center] [hider=Onyx Hall: Dakota, Cassandra, Damien] [color=0EF3AC]“Excellent question! Yes, foci can assist in preventing Resonance. They help separate the mage from the magic, drawing some hard lines between their experiences so the mage doesn’t “chase” the magic down a rabbit hole!”[/color] Carina replied cheerily. [color=0EF3AC]“Unfortunately, Resonance research is… difficult. The subjects kept disappearing so the Council put its foot down on it. For good reason! So there may be one, and a focus always helps, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the mage to stay in control. External stuff can only help so much.”[/color] [color=DodgerBlue]“So how do Conditionals find out what they are?”[/color] Damien asked almost as soon as she finished talking, like he was holding in the question the entire time. [color=0EF3AC]“Well, there are a few different ways but have you used your magic without meaning to or expecting it?”[/color] Damien slunk down in his seat with a little nod, his face totally red. [color=0EF3AC]“Oh, bad one huh? Well, probably a Primary but maybe a secondary. You’ll get a handle on it through Affinity classes or doing some research! Or a Diviner.”[/color] Carina rolled her eyes at the name but shook it off. She perked up at the next student to throw her a question. [color=0EF3AC]“Another good question! Wands are popular since they are easily carried no matter what material they are made of but foci can take on basically any shape; gears, sticks, staffs, rings, a rock―as long as there is a significant enough emotional connection, it’ll work as an excellent focus! If you don’t really have anything that fits the bill, carry an item around with you that is sturdy and reliable for a week or so. It should pick up enough emotional residue that it’ll get you started.”[/color] As she finished her explanation, the bell rang and she waved everyone out with a cheery, [color=0EF3AC]“Have a fantastic night!”[/color] [/hider] [hider=Rose Hall: Aaron, Lilie] [color=DEEB11]“Technically, anything can be a focus. They take a myriad of forms, from simple pins to grand blades. They are as varied as the mages who wield them and you’ll often find the focus is an accurate representation of themselves. We have a lightning mage who uses a worn gear from his first lab here at the Academy.”[/color] Hayes elaborated on Lilie’s question. [color=DEEB11]“As for Resonance, foci do act as a sort of buffer but not nearly as much as with Dissonance. Foci force the magic to travel through a seperate object prior to the effect and creates emotional distance between the pair. Resonance can be controlled even without a focus but it is extremely difficult to do. Foci reduce the chance of Resonating. Only a mage can truly control themselves. A crutch will only help for so long.”[/color] With that, the bell rang and Hayes shooed the class out, far too many of them practically gone before the sound stopped. The professor shook his head as he packed up his own things as he waited for the hall to clear. [/hider] [hider=Cerulean Hall: Maxwell, Salem] The bell rang loudly in the silence after Manuel’s lecture. He shrugged and offered a wave as people headed out the door. He glanced up at Max, waiting to see if he’d take him up on his offer. He’d have no problem excusing Max from his next class. Magic was what he was here to learn after all. [/hider] [center][b]Vampires[/b][/center] [Hider=Nightingale Hall: All purebloods] The Astorio’s entrance earned him a disapproving look from Dame Patel, but otherwise she made no comment. There was a brief silence after his arrival before a voice piped up from the back, belonging to a bored-looking vampiress with her feet perched on the empty seat next to her, draped in an oversized hoodie and holding a pencil aloft. [color=5b6aff]“Why do we want to… ‘cultivate dependence’ anyway?”[/color] She asked, making air quotes around the words. [color=5b6aff]“I just want mine to behave when I feed from him, I don’t really care what else he does or who he hangs out with. Can mortals really not figure themselves out without us having to micromanage their whole lives?”[/color] [color=FF69B4]“A fair question. When left in their own environments away from the lifestyles of immortals, yes. However, their magic has disrupted their precious routines and rituals that make their short lives bearable and they are left in a limbo with little to cling to. It is the duty of the master, the duty of the parent, to make sure that transition is bearable by creating a standard they can cling to. Cultivating dependence makes us, the only constant in these chaotic times, their foundation, their center, their fall back. Even when the world around them crumbles apart, we stand firm and they will always use us to find their ways.”[/color] Dame Patel responded, the last part practically cooed into her mage’s hair as she petted it. She turned her attention back to the vampiress. [color=FF69B4]“Furthermore, this dependence helps curtail problematic behavior because such behaviour is often the responsibility of the vampire in question. I don’t believe you’d care to have someone like me knock on your door and execute you because you didn’t train your pet and it found its way into the wrong bed now would you?”[/color] The bell interrupted Dame Patel’s question and she looked startled. [color=FF69B4] “Oh dear, is it that time already? Well, have fun my little Chickities! I’ll see you tomorrow for our next lesson on mage behaviors!”[/color] She blew a few kisses as her students left, more than a few groaning at all the work they may have to put into their mage. [/hider] [Hider=Cardinal Hall: Joryldin] Ms. Talney sat down as the bell rung, obviously unimpressed with the lack of questions at the end. [color=F55C41]“My assigned reading is on blackboard. I recommend you start soon. All of the books can be found in our library and there are more than enough for all of you.”[/color] [/hider] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmMyMTgwMC5RWEpsYm1FLC4y/shlop.regular.png[/img] [img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjU0LmMyMTgwMC5Nem94TlNCQlRRLCwuMgAA/shlop.regular.png[/img][/center] Bright lights illuminated the Arena sands. The barrier periodically shimmered, blue and purple rippling across its surface before settling to its translucent state once again. The equipment once lining the Arena walls was absent, the various racks still bolted on but empty, and a few red robed older students grumbled about being on polishing duty as they left the sands. Several pairs of students could be seen beyond the barrier, many of them wearing red robes as well, eager to watch the newest class after hearing a few nobles, a promiscuous Starag, and the ill-tempered Royal Guardsman would all be in attendance. The entrances onto the sands were blocked off by Arena guild members, pausing the students for a moment. Beyond them, a man easily brushing seven feet waited for the lagging students to clear the field. Built like a tree trunk, the man stared intently with just the hint of a hunch in his shoulders and wore simple clothes, nothing more than a well fitting short sleeved shirt, pants, and sensible boots. He showed signs of early balding and a handlebar mustache decorated his scarred face. A sturdy scabbard hung from his belt, a longsword with a large lavender stone in the hilt swaying as he fidgeted briefly. A piercing whistle caught his attention as the last of the grumbling students left the Arena. The students at the sands entrances began incanting simultaneously, drawing a series of symbols in the air before them. As they spoke, faint blue lines scattered across the air until they covered the opening fully, flashed once, and vanished. Once the mages completed their spells, each one signalled the man in center and he gripped his weapon with one hand and made a grand sweeping gesture with the other. For a moment, nothing happened. Until the sand exploded into the air, obscuring everything and rushing towards the entrances. Blue flared and the whirling sand scraped against the shining wards. It receded second by second, something dark visible in the center. As the sand thinned, the students could see the sand flowing around the man and solidifying into a stone pillar in the center. It tilted on its side, and with a sharp rap of his knuckles, thin rods of stone broke free and took position on the weapon racks while the remaining pieces piled themselves neatly around the edge. The red robed mages dismissed the wards with a wave of the hand, the blue lines dissapaiting like smoke, and bowed the students through. [color=FF8300]“Let’s get a good look at ‘cha, why don’t we?”[/color] The man rumbled from deep in his chest, his voice booming across the Arena. [color=FF8300]“Not the best lookin’ bunch are ye? But ya don’t much need pretty when you run a man through now do ya? Step up, step up. I’m Arena Master Dracion though most just call me Dracion. Simple and quick. And ya better learn that quick; round here’s the only place in the world where your title means jack shit unless you’re the council. And aye, your skill can speak for ya here―and it will―but I expect respect amongst all ya little ingrates.”[/color] He looked over the group with a stern eye. [color=FF8300]“Ground rules. One, no fighting without my or my team’s permission or I bury you in the ground. Literally. Two, your titles mean shit on these sands. Rank pulling results in getting buried. Three, no killing or breaking each other. Tensions run high during fights; you run outta control, [i]bam[/i] you’re taking a dirt nap. And when I say bury, I mean under five feet of rock.”[/color] He gestured at the various stone rods around the room. [color=FF8300]“Now we got through the boring crap, let’s talk shop. This is Self Defense, the basic requirement you gotta take so you can defend yourself in the event of a formal duel or rabid dog attack. We will cover hand to hand combat, the basics of a longsword, and dagger fighting. We have plenty of equipment here for you but you are more than welcome to bring your own. Saves me on equipment costs when you inevitably break or lose something. This class and one more are required before you can join any of our three annual combat tournaments. One is for vampires, traditional format, and two are for mages, traditional and―by suicidal popular request― limited Titan format. For those who have sensible hobbies, that means no inner shields and only temporary outer shields but still mage only.”[/color] [color=FF8300]“Now we got a bit of a change in pace here today. Normally, there’s some fancy footwork a guy’s gotta do to test outta this class but there’s a bit of an exception considering his expertise, and he’s done part of the heavy work already anyways so why not. Bordeleaux will be our secondary this semester and will work with our more experienced group.”[/color] Dracion pulled his phone back out, squinting at it. [color=FF8300]“Starag, Dionne, Astorio. You’ll be evaluated by Bordeleaux today on hand to hand skills. Over there.”[/color] He gestured towards one side of the arena where attendants were putting out sparring gear, cushioned for the mortals. [color=FF8300]“The rest of you, other side. Let’s get you paired and geared up. Head protectors, chest guards, sparring gloves, and shin protectors. Come on, lets go. Hustle, hustle, hustle!”[/color] Dracion shouted as he walked towards the other side. All the gear was in Noila colors and came in a variety of sizes. [color=FF8300]“Once you’ve gotten yourself geared up, pair up where I point you.”[/color] As the students geared up, he checked them, adjusting here and there, and directing them to their group once he cleared them. [hider=Inexperienced Pairings] Pairings:[list] [*]Cassandra Roth, Salem Spellman [*]Maxwell Alderman, Damien Baker, Dakota Brookes [*]Amaris, Eris, Joryldin - All Rotating [/list][/hider] [color=FF8300]“Listen up. Take a few swings at your partner. Anything ya know, try it. Need to see how hopeless the lot of ya are.”[/color]