[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210302/3e34eb8da93341268107c451662f2b1b.png[/img] January 7th - 11:15pm[/center] [center][b][u]Mage Classes[/u][/b][/center] [hider=Aaron, Varis] [center][color=E4D7A0][u][b]The Mystery in Light[/b][/u][/color] [sub]Aaron and Varis[/sub][/center] Varis sent Eris a withering look. [color=f7976a]“If you think I’m going to indulge that particular trend of laziness, I recommend dropping the class. Study sessions are one thing; reteaching because you’re too busy plotting your next scheme is another thing entirely. It won’t take your intelligence to see through whatever propaganda the instructor spews and bridge the gap with reasonable explanations.”[/color] Varis snapped, his irritation practically oozing off him. He didn’t have the time nor the patience to drag Eris through the slog that the history of the royal line would dump on them. If Eris showed any sign of actual disinterest in the class, Varis would just force him to keep his nose to the grind. Varis wasn’t about to let one of his things reflect poorly on him of all vampires. Varis was prepared to take the next fork to head to his mage’s class when none other than Count Eve approached them. Varis slowed a step to give the Count a moment to catch up. [color=f7976a] “And to you as well, Count Eve. You have fortuitous timing. Eris and I were just discussing the Princess’ peculiar taste in instructors but my concerns over my mage’s first advanced class have me distracted. I’m sure Eris would love to hear your opinion on the subject in the meantime while I step away to observe the boy for a bit. Perhaps you can catch me up on the conversation during the lunch period.”[/color] Varis suggested, giving a polite bow as he took the next fork and sped walked across campus, making his way to the boy’s class. Hopefully, the boy would make a fool of himself; the opportunity to tear the boy down in front of his instructor would prove a soothing balm to his foul mood. Varis narrowed his eyes as he drew closer, his mage outside on his phone. Wasn’t it nearly time for class to start? He fished out his pocket watch and confirmed. What was the boy thinking? How many times did Varis have to tell him that being early is on time and on time is late? Varis was almost disappointed at how easy the boy was making this for him. [color=f7976a]“And you think this is how you earn your way into the Mental program? How many times have I had to repeat myself about punctuality?”[/color] Varis demanded before he’d even reached the boy. [color=f7976a] “You could be preparing yourself for your next lesson and inside I find you outside distracted. I was expecting a display of good behavior and better performance that would indicate I didn’t make a mistake in permitting you this route and already you’ve proven a disappointment.”[/color] Varis rolled his eyes, not bothering to wait for Aaron. The boy knew better than to hesitate; Varis had full confidence in that after the first night at least. He pushed into the building and then into the classroom. Duan had just taken a sip of coffee when Varis strode through the door and he choked, coughing as he tried to screw on the cap of his thermos while hacking and wheezing. Varis’ lip curled in disgust as he took a step away from the ungraceful display. Professor Duan took a moment to collect himself before bowing to the Count. [color=E4D7A0]“My apologies, Count Sinnenodel. I wasn’t prepared for the honor of your presence but I’m pleased to receive you in my humble classroom all the same.”[/color] Varis afforded the Professor a slight inclination of his head. [color=E4D7A0]“This room isn’t the best for observation but as we aren’t working with natural sunlight, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy yourself nonetheless. Is there anything I can get you before we start the lesson?”[/color] [color=f7976a]“A chair will suffice.”[/color] The Professor nodded and grabbed a folding chair for Varis to sit in, muttering a brief apology for the quality as Varis took his seat at the head of the room. [color=f7976a]“I’m quite interested to see how my mage is performing. I was regretfully uninvolved in his magical career last semester but I intend to be fully present for this semester.”[/color] [color=E4D7A0]“An admirable quality, Count Sinnenodel. Aaron has been nothing but a model student and incredibly quick to grasp new concepts. He works well with others and does an excellent job incorporating feedback efficiently.”[/color] Professor Duan praised, sending Aaron a supportive smile. [color=E4D7A0] “But words can only do so much so by your leave, I’ll start class and you can judge for yourself.”[/color] Varis nodded and settled in, watching Aaron closely. [color=E4D7A0]“Welcome back, Aaron. It feels like I only saw you last period.”[/color] Daun laughed, walking over to the set up in the center of the room. [color=E4D7A0]“This semester we’ll be taking what you’ve learned and applying motion to complex shapes. The culmination of everything you’ve learned should result in almost perfect replicas of smaller creatures and then we’ll grow them into larger, even more complex creatures and structures such as…” Light whirled around him for a few moments before curling around his back one last time as a fully formed lion paced out from behind him. It shook itself, the image perfectly proportioned, and then dissolved back into light. “But for now, let’s see where you are instinctively. Step back into the circle you were in last class.”[/color] Daun gestured to the hula hoop. [color=E4D7A0]“Now, complex illusions like these require planning and focus so take a moment and close your eyes, envision the ball from our very first lesson, and let it grow into any shape or creature you’d like. Watch how each part expands for the ball and take note. Once you feel like you’ve got how the creature will emerge from the ball, gather your light and follow the pattern. Take it nice and slow. It’s more important you get it right than finishing it fast.”[/color] [/hider] [hider=Lilie, Max, Maddie] [color=EC38F1][u][b][center]Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus[/center][/b][/u][/color] [sub][center]Lilie, Max, and Maddie[/center][/sub] [color=EC38F1]“Alright everyone, find a seat quickly. We have a lot to cover and very little time.”[/color] A voice boomed around the auditorium. The room was familiar to some, several students recognizing it from Spell Theory 101 last year. The far right wall had the same doors that lead into a lab environment and several tiers of seats descended to a stage where a woman stared impassively at the students filing in, arms crossed and a single unimpressed eyebrow raised. She tapped her finger impatiently as students scurried around to find seats. The stage behind her was empty. [color=EC38F1]“It doesn’t matter if you can’t sit next to your best friend; you’re here to learn, not to socialize. Do that on your own time.”[/color] She snapped, staring pointedly at a group of three that straggled in behind the rest. [color=EC38F1]“Five, four, three, two, one.”[/color] One student tried to slide into a seat just after she finished counting and she stepped off the stage, stomping up the stairs until she reached the offending student, and grabbed him unceremoniously by the arm. The poor kid yelped as they were dragged from their seat and marched to the door, where the Professor promptly tossed them out like they weighed nothing and locked the door behind them. The black dress the Professor wore had an intricate embroidered Noila crest covering the entire back. [color=EC38F1]“Let me make something clear. As soon as you step into this classroom, your time is mine. You were graciously extended an invitation to attend the most prestigious magic academy in the world and if you chose to waste that generosity, then you are a waste of my time and I will treat you accordingly. Understood?"[/color] Her voice bounced around the room effortlessly as she returned to the stage. [color=EC38F1]"Before we get into the subject of the class, there are a few points we need to cover. First and foremost, this is a pass or fail class. You've either learned to dowse or you haven't. Second, computer and cell phone usage is strictly prohibited. If you're taking notes and you don't wish to write them down like a proper student, you may use a tape recorder or something of similar nature that [i]only[/i] records audio. If I find you breaking this policy, you will be locked out and counted as absent for the entire day. Third and most importantly, miss three days and you fail. Unless the administration intervenes on your behalf, you will no longer be permitted to continue developing your dowsing skills at this institution. For the rest of your time here, you may address me as Professor Mara."[/color] She raked her eyes over the class, looking for anyone even mildly disinterested before continuing. [color=EC38F1]"Dowsing is the practice of expanding your magical awareness in order to identify materials your affinity may manipulate that remain undetected to the traditional senses for any reason. A simple one is a metal affinity detecting a metal support beam inside of a building. You can't see that beam, touch that beam, or otherwise interact with it with your mundane senses but dowsing makes it possible for the metal affinity to become aware of it regardless and can then manipulate it from there."[/color] She launched into her explanation without preamble, fully expecting her students to keep up. [color=EC38F1]"As such, some affinities benefit more from dowsing than others. Affinities that require either a high degree of technical skill, like life affinities, or affinities that manipulate sources that are usually concealed or removed from direct contact, like water affinities in a city, benefit the most from this skill. Dowsing opens opportunities that previously could not be approached."[/color] [color=EC38F1]"As any application of magic, dowsing will wear on your magical reserves. A wide variety of factors can change how tiring dowsing will be, including what is blocking you from naturally reaching your goal and the substance of that goal. For example, a water mage may have an equally difficult time dowsing for a freshwater source three feet beneath concrete and asphalt that's carried in a metal pipe as they would dowsing for a saltwater source thrice the distance beneath limestone."[/color] She continued, unmoving as she lectured. [color=EC38F1]"Because dowsing is best learned through experience, this class will transition from lectures to mostly practical exercises by the end of the first month. I will reduce the class discussion period each lesson until we only briefly review experiences and issues from the previous class and then push forward into practice, practice, practice. I highly recommend you use these first few weeks to get a feel on how tiring this is for you and plan around it so you can exceed expectations in all your magic classes. An inability to regulate yourself is no reason for failure."[/color] She glanced at Max briefly before continuing to address the room. [color=EC38F1]"And for those of you who have developed a natural talent for dowsing already, do not think this class will treat you lightly. I have a few more personalized exercises for you to complete and they will be as challenging as your classmates find the basics. Before we move into the technique and then a little practice, do we have any questions so far?"[/color] [/hider] [hider=Salem] [color=0DB393][center][u][b]Sticks and Stones may Break my Bones[/b][/u][/center][/color] [center][sub]Salem[/sub][/center] [color=0DB393]“Welcome one, welcome all!”[/color] A short, leathery faced man called out in a high, nasally voice. Introduction to Transmutation was held in the back of Onyx Hall. It was far more similar to Salem’s last class rather than any of the lecture halls he’d sat in last semester. Twelve long solid black tables took up almost all the space in the room. Each table had four chairs, a pair of safety goggles and gloves neatly stacked in front of each other. Various supplies were piled up in the glass door cabinets lining the walls: glass vials full of various substances, piles of precious metals and gems, and even some reptiles and insects in terrariums and cages. The Professor bounced up and down as the students filed in, a staff nearly twice his height leaning on the wall behind him. [color=0DB393]“Take your seats quickly, quickly now! We have lots to go over before we get to the fun stuff!”[/color] He waited until everyone was settled into place before launching into his introductions. [color=0DB393]“It is truly my honor to be teaching such a bright eyed, bushy tailed group of students this year! My name is Hector Nieverra and together we’re going to go on an exploration through the basics of transmutation! And in order to do that, you must know a little bit about this fantastical and amazing arcane school!”[/color] He picked up his staff and started wandering the classroom as he spoke, almost entirely disappearing from eyesight except for his pointed hat and staff. [color=0DB393]“The arcane school of Transmutation aims to change matter through deliberate and precise application of magic. How does this differ from typical affinity magic? The most obvious difference is the limitations. As an arcane school, Transmutation works on a wide variety of materials and substances, not just what your affinity dictates. Another major difference is speed and magical expenditure. Transmutation may give a mage the ability to mimic a number of effects of other affinities, such as shaping a structure out of metal as you manipulate the shape of the material, but at a much slower rate. There are quite a number of more technical differences but those will be explored in future classes! Right now, we’re just here for fun!”[/color] Professor Hector laughed, a high pitched and squeaky sound as he thumped his staff on the ground. [color=0DB393]“Now, we should probably do the responsible thing before we start learning incantations and spell patterns and discuss some of the lab rules.” Professor Hector toddled over to his desk at the front, standing up on the chair he had behind the table. “You’ll find copies of the rules on your school website that you’ll need to electronically sign later so don’t forget! It’s your first grade and your first homework assignment! Your first and most important rule: No magic other than what we are practicing is permitted in the lab! Some of the substances we’ll be working with are quite volatile and accidentally getting it involved in magical roughhousing or anything of that nature will likely end in a trip to the life mages so none of that nonsense!”[/color] He held up his hands as he spoke, counting along as he continued. [color=0DB393]“Your second rule is always wear your safety equipment! You’ll find that each night, I will have laid out equipment on your desk and I expect that you will immediately put all of it on as soon as you enter! Your third rule is to keep any loose clothing, hair, etc securely tied back and out of the way. Rubber bands, hair ties, rope, I don’t care--as long as it isn’t a magical method and it doesn’t also dangle! This includes jewellery and foci. If you accidently transmute your personal belongings because you refused to take it off or secure it, I will not fix it.”[/color] He pulled on his own gloves and goggles and then propped his hands on his hips, giving the class a stern look. [color=0DB393]“The final rule is not to attempt these spells without a licensed Transmuter overseeing you. Attempting these spells without an experienced eye calculating the possible results is a dangerous test and can result in serious injury and/or damage. I cannot stress that enough. Do not, and I repeat, do not practice these spells without appropriate supervision. Everyone clear on that? Any questions on lab safety rules before we continue into the basic reduction spell?”[/color] [/hider] [hr] [center][b][u]Vampire Classes[/u][/b][/center] [hider=Ben, Eris] [center][color=D50790][u][b]The Weight of Power[/b][/u][/color] [sub]Ben and Eris[/sub][/center] Flickering torches cast long shadows through the room, the lingering smoke sluggishly gathering at the ceiling.Twenty seven chairs cluttered the room in some haphazard mockery of rows. Other students had already arrived, sitting nervously on the edge of the seat as they glanced around uneasily. There were no desks and no other adornments. The same stone slabs made up the floor, the wall, and the ceilings, reminiscent of a dungeon rather than a classroom. The only other things in the room were a figure sitting in heavy robes that seemed far too large for their size, draped over their body like a curtain rather than clothing. Their head was bowed even as the noise of conversation managed to break the oppressive hush of the room. Their mage stood next to them, adorned in a similar robe but one that actually fit. Her good was let down, head shaved bald, and she stared at the incoming students with an empty stare. She stood still, arms tucked away in deep sleeves, until everyone filed in and the heavy door shut with a resounding thud. She shifted behind her vampire once the class had found their seats, every move calculated and graceful, and bent down to whisper in the vampire’s ear, [color=08A5D5]“The class has arrived.”[/color] [color=D50790]“In the early nights, violence was all any creature knew. Endless bloodshed, slaking naught but a vengeful thirst and breaking hopes and dreams of those that sought a better world.”[/color] The vampire spoke, it’s voice as frail as time brittled pages. It barely carried across the room, causing even those close to lean forward. [color=D50790]“Iron to iron, claw to tooth, fang to flesh… despair and grief were the only constants. Order and organization were second to survival, mortal and vampire united in a desperate attempt to [i]live[/i]. But vampires overfed, mortals cowered and died, and so the fate of our world seemed sealed.”[/color] There was a long pause. [color=D50790]“King Geoffry Noila was the first to see the truth of the situation, to rise above his instincts and truly see how far our world had fallen, how close we’d brought ourselves to the end of despair. Nearly a millennia before the creation of the Treaty, King Geoffry brought his children to heel and issued them the Proclamation of Unity. This Proclamation demanded that the Noila line take responsibility for the state of the world and that in an effort to solve it, would bring together the most powerful vampire lineages and unite them as one ruling body so disaster would be avoided.”[/color] [color=D50790]“Sound in theory but the same violence plagued the House. His children had formed factions and fought against each other for the honor of bringing other vampires into the fold so they may earn the right to stand at his side in the new world.”[/color] A sad weariness bled into the vampire’s words and the man placed a comforting hand on it’s shoulder. [/hider] [hider=Amaris] [center][color=f26522][b][u]When the going gets Tough, the Tough say Fuck[/u][/b][/color] [sub]Amaris[/sub][/center] Culinary 101 was a massive white room, dominated by rolling metal prep tables. One wall housed eight stoves, each with six burners, underneath a ventilation hood and,more noticeably, an unnecessary complex fire suppression system, including bags of sand and several tubes labelled “Fire retardant”. Red buckets were at each prep cart label “In case of Fire” full of water. The opposite wall housed a large walk-in pantry and a walk-in cooler and freezer that held various ingredients. Each prep table had a piece of paper folded in half and propped up like a name plate with a specific student’s name scrawled on it in crayon. Amaris’ was closest to the front, right in front of a familiar vampire. Nasir ibn Tariq grinned as he tossed a pineapple up and down once again. [color=f26522]“Where to start, where to start for all you culinarily impeded fledglings…”[/color] He took a few moments and then snapped his fingers, popping up off the wall and stumbled. [color=f26522] “The beginning’s probably the best for you whippersnappers. What is cooking? It’s making stuff yummy and delicious for mortals by applying some type of [i]fire[/i]! Oooooooh gasp, fire! How terrible and awful, I’m sure you’re all saying, but if you don't, half the time the mortal ends up dead! They’re so finicky like that.”[/color] [color=f26522] “And of course then you must be thinking, just set some fruit on fire and then they can eat it right? Wrong!”[/color] He waggles his finger back and forth. [color=f26522] “Unacceptable! Setting things on fire the wrong way and then feeding it to a mortal probably won’t kill them but it can make them regurgitate everything they’ve ever eaten and with what goes on in a mortal’s stomach, that is truly disgusting. So we have to make sure we heat it properly with all the right stuff because if it doesn’t taste right, your mortal suffers and then their blood tastes bad!”[/color] Nasir explained very seriously, cradling the pineapple. [color=f26522]“Oh where is my mind today? Out with my assistant today, I suppose.”[/color] He mused over that for a few minutes before he turned back to the class and startled. [color=f26522] “Oh, right! I am Professor Nadir ibn Tariq, culinary expert and explorer extraordinaire! I’m here to teach you how to cook without ever tasting your food! With the rise of the puries, it’s become an essential skill if you want to find your way around a kitchen! So I’m sure now you’re wondering how your grade will be determined for your monthly projects and your final! You’ll be feeding your creations to your partner of course and if I see even the [i]tiniest[/i] hint of disgustion, revolusion, or illness, you lose points! Isn’t that exciting? High stakes and effective!”[/color] Nadir laughed, slapping his knee as he howled. [color=f26522] “Okay, okay, okay. Rules. Since all you dumb dumbs like to get a head of yourselves, we got some stuff to go over. Don’t touch anything unless I’ve said okay. Lots of this stuff will burn you and we all know how much fun fire is right? Not at all. Zero fun so don’t mess that up! Next, stay on the recipe. That’s simple. It’s like one but not me saying it and if you do go off recipe, you make it that much more likely you’ll kill your partner!”[/color] He paused for a few moments, considering the next part carefully but his expression cleared up almost immediately. [color=f26522] “So that’s about all the rules! Questions before we talk about stew?”[/color][/hider] [hider=Victor] [center][color=9BD508][b][u]Slow and Steady Wins the Race[/u][/b][/color] [sub]Victor[/sub][/center] Unarmed Back to Basics was held back on the sands of the arena. There were only a few vampires, most evaluating the other students. One vampire kept her eyes fixed on the ground, hands clasped behind her back in a white knuckle grip if she’d been mortal. She stood motionless, tense, in sharp contrast to the relaxed and confident poses of her peers. She only looked up briefly to see when Victor came in and returned her gaze back to the ground. She traced patterns in the sand with her foot. [color=9BD508]“Aight, aight.”[/color] A vampire entered the arena, barely touching 5’ 4”, wearing a tight Noila Academy shirt and shorts. He held a clipboard as he scanned the students. [color=9BD508] “Let’s get this shit on the road. Anyone here for the basics unarmed can get in the center; everyone else can get the fuck…”[/color] He did a double take at the sight of Victor and glanced back at his paper. [color=9BD508] “Okay, Astorio’s here. I thought that was a fucking misprint but those assholes in the office but aight, I guess. Waste your time if you want.”[/color] He shrugged, waving everyone over as he reached the center. [color=9BD508]“So, we’ve got a wide variety of experience here from nothing to full on murder in his sleep. Well shit, this is gunna be fun to balance.”[/color]He muttered to himself. He clicked his tongue and shrugged. [color=9BD508] “I’ll figure it out as we go along. Anyways, I’m Tomas and I’m going to be teaching you some basic hand to hand combat to build on the self defense lessons you took last semester. We’ll start with a few exercises to figure out exactly where everyone is in skill level and then I’ll adjust our lesson plan accordingly. There aren’t many of you so I’ll have some time to give everyone some individual attention for once. Okay!”[/color] He dropped the clipboard in the sand. [color=9BD508]“Okay, ground rules! I’m sure you already heard this before but I’ll say this again so I can check that off the list with the big boss. First, rank, career, status means nothing here so don’t try and pull it. Second, y’all can knock around each other as hard as you want as long as no one dies. If someone dies, you get expelled and maybe dragged in front of the Council. Third, if I call for a stop, landing a hit after that will result in a grade drop. Three simple rules, don’t fuck it up.”[/color] Tomas demanded and then stared at Victor for several long moments. [color=9BD508] “I gotta be honest. What the fuck are you looking from this?”[/color] Tomas sighed, looking up at the giant. [color=9BD508] “I’m pretty sure even with every trick in the book, you could lay me out no problem. Why did you join a basics program?”[/color][/hider]