[hr][hr][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989753-c0d4-751e-94b6-ac932f65638b.webp[/img][hr][@Achronum][@Trainerblue192][@Morose][@Blizz][@Kirah][@PatientBean][@Teyao][@KazAlkemi][@kittyluna45][@Half Pint][hr][h3][color=57F287][b]Evening - Thur. Oct. 31, 2040 [/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr]

Anguish was the background to perfection. 

It thrummed inside the walls; broken voices and broken minds in a dizzying cacophony as nails scratched at stone and faces pressed against the plaster. All but one task was completed. Every stone counted, every nail shined, every crack smoothed away, and now the brief recess it afforded its labor would end. The task was made to be completed and it was made to complete tasks so this task would be completed and anguish would be the canvas. 

It started with shackles of cotton, that no bodies would rise. It grew to planks of wood, that no sound would disturb. It ended with locks of paper, that no magic would find its way home.  

The minds were left conscious to witness their failure. 

[hr]

Each student would wake on October 1st, 2040 to a puzzle box near their beds. Composed of strange metal bars (lacquered mahogany for Finley), they seemed welded together in a cage, but each bar sang a single note when tapped. Playing the correct song found the bars falling apart but every failure made the box smaller. 

Successfully removing all the bars found a message scratched into the backs of them:

[Hider=Acceptance Letter]
To Our Most Esteemed Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance to a Strange Academy Coven. Whether you are returning for another year or you are newly enrolled, consider this a most applaudable achievement. Your potential has not gone unnoticed - we are excited to see what you do with it this year. 

Your First Eve ceremony will commence on October 31st at 6:15pm in the Hall of Ancients. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to commencement. You will receive your room and Coven assignments at this time. 

We look forward to the wonders you will work.[/hider]

[hr]

The setting sun found the Academy Courtyard alight with lanterns drifting freely about, swaying through the small crowd on a gentle autumn breeze. Music, played on enchanted instruments out of sight, followed in their wake and spectral hands carried trays of horderves and drinks to the students milling around the central fountain. It was the first night of the Academy, opening on All Hallow’s Eve, and anticipation was high. Students with newly awoken magic mingled with those who had honed their crafts over long centuries, a melting pot of traditions and techniques the world had yet to see among the magical world. This was the goal of the Academy: Strengthen the bonds between all magics and forge something new for a brighter tomorrow. 

Given plenty of time to arrive, the striking of a bell found three doors thrown wide. Those who had attended Strange Academy before would know each room hosted a different set of students based on their placement for the year, offer them an opportunity to mingle with their classmates, and then learn how their year would progress and how they would be assessed for competency and skill. The Myrmian Hall hosted the novices, just growing into their power and young enough to need a strong, structured Academic experience. The Wandering Hall hosted those who had mastered the basics, but still needed still more academic experience. 

And finally, The Hall of Ancients. This would host those whose magics (newly awoken or not) demanded an individually curtailed curriculum or those who needed to be challenged more directly to grow. The hall itself was usually barred from entry but those entering the coven system were invited into its grandeur just this once each year to feel the weight of the power they sought. Thirteen statues held the ceiling aloft here, six flanking each side and one commanding attention at the head of the room. Those sensitive to such things could hear the whispers of those who they represented, though their meanings long lost to time. Marbled floor stretched from the doorway to the last statue, where a short set of stairs ended in a raised platform with a single table and the three Coven Heads speaking softly amongst each other. Fish of dazzling colors swam in a crystal fish tank and changed into new ones every few seconds. A small note in front of the tank simply said:

[Center][i]Catch One[/i][/center] 

[Hider=Keys]
Please reach out to the GMs before posting so you can get the key you pull! People who have matching keys will be rooming together! It is completely randomized so good luck![/hider]

[hider=Relevant Passives]
[color=F739D7]Dysphoria: Danger Sense[/color]
[color=#B22222]Callaghan: Predatory Instincts[/color][/hider]

[hr][hr]
[center]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989952-34dd-77e2-88e8-b6226c136e67.webp[/img]
[hr]
[color=5b8a9a]Location:[/color] Hall of Ancients, Strange Academy
[color=5b8a9a]Grimore:[/color] Invisibility, Image
[color=5b8a9a]Skills:[/color] N/A
[/center]
[hr][hr]


Invisible beneath the layers of his magic, Nicholas ignored the recommendation and timed his arrival perfectly with the opening of the doors. He didn’t care for the bread and circuses the faculty put on. He’d much rather be holed away in the greenhouse or sipping a drink with a decent book and pipe, but here he was and unseen he’d remain if he could help it. New blood was entering this year and it was always uncertain how civil they’d be. If there were going to be problems, Nicholas wanted nothing to do with it and he’d drag his ostentatious brother out of the way too. 

As soon as the doors opened, Nicholas slipped in and wasted no time heading to the tank. Rooming assignments were always “creative” and this year was no exception. A fish tank was better than last year; catching embers spitting out of a raging bonfire was not an experience Nicholas was interested in repeating. He ignored the nagging curiosity at the room for now. There would be plenty of time to investigate once he’d confirmed none of the new blood were [i]threats[/i]. He ascended the few steps to the tank, where the Professors were chatting softly to the side and Professor Mikkail and Professor Croan paused in their conversation. Nicholas carefully dipped his hand in the water and stilled. 

“Truely, you could not muster up a single iota of care for our expectations? These events are typically attended [i]visibly[/i].” [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0198945d-a80d-76b0-9d25-a452caf966af.webp]Professor Croan[/url] tsked. 

“Oh! Nicholas is here? I hadn’t even noticed. Excellent spellwork!” [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0198944b-e9d4-706d-826a-30bcd48b5a4b.webp]Professor Mikkail[/url] laughed. “Let him do as he pleases, Varn. If he doesn’t wish to make a spectacle of himself, then he shouldn’t have to. Right, Sariel?”

“Hm, what?” [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/0198949e-f359-74c9-9e45-00de218a2d2e.webp]Professor Sariel[/url] looked up from her book, which she snapped shut after her gaze trailed toward the open doors. “The purpose of this exercise is to introduce the other students to each other’s magic. He’s using his magic. What’s the problem?” She asked as she side-eyed the vampire. 

[i][color=5b8a9a]“A mood has taken Croan. Tread carefully.”[/color][/i] Nicholas thought to his brother, electing not to respond to any of them and wait for the fish to forget there was ever a disturbance. Soon enough, one brushed his hand and he snatched it from the water. As soon as Nicky pulled it out, the fish changed and instead left a slightly damp [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/01989523-fb17-73ce-8761-614c2158a2a3.webp]key[/url] in his hand. It vanished beneath his spell as he closed his hand and he stalked off to the side. He attempted to conjure an illusion of himself a handful of paces away but instead his invisibility spell turned to smoke and drifted away. His skin crawled. He fished out a flask from his coat pocket and took a long swig from it.