Somewhere Near Alaska
11:13am. September 15th, 2012.

There they were, another batch of test subjects, or "students," given the purpose of the experiment. Although the exterior of this helicopter resembled something from a sci-fi movie, the propeller could be heard outside, whipping and beating through the air. Despite the blast of the heater, the cold outside air could be felt on the walls windows if one put their hand there. As a matter of fact, one's hand might freeze on.

There were 20 new subjects in total this time around. Some were having awkward small talk to ward off boredom, or put their minds at ease. Others kept to themselves, all their attention being on their own thoughts, especially about what brought them here.

Evan Stanley was one of the latter. He was stressed still. He couldn't remember the last time he was totally relaxed. It was always for different reasons though. Usually it has to do with his responsibilities, sometimes it was about work or bills. Now it was responsibilities paired with the fact he was far away.

Then he saw it through the window, off in the distance. They had been crossing over the ocean, and he finally saw land. Land covered in white patches of snow.

Frigid. That was the word she would use. She had mused over gelid or just using an adjective like bitter or gnawing, but all of these lacked the harsh bluntness of Frigid. She gazed down from the helicopter at what she had decided to call a wasteland for similar reasons. Even if there were miles of ocean teeming with life, the sight of the island reminded her that the Arctic was barren.

Ursula continued to stare wistfully out the window, watching her inevitable fate near her. It irked her beyond explanation to be here. The whole situation reeked of exploitation and corruption. She hated that she had stooped to working for the man she had dreaded during her best years. If she had other options, she would have taken them.

There was a dark part of herself that was excited, though. She felt beautiful as her hair fluttered in the icy wind. The landscape was bleak, much like her own existence, and she yearned to paint already. Inspiration always came from the strangest places.

Her attention quickly returned to the others in the helicopter. She had thought very little of them so far. No doubt they were fellow wastrels, but referring to them as such felt morally apprehensible. She pondered over them and their various Synonyms as she took in their faces and clothes. Each one is a tapestry of their life subtly unwound; each one was an inspiration, at least in her eyes.

The silence of the ride suddenly felt as barren as the atmosphere. Seeing her new home reminded her that she would be living in isolation with all of these strangers, a word she preferred not to use for her only hope of interaction.

She nudged the closest of the group, gently so as not to spook them. Then she flashed them a disarming smile to ensure they understood she meant no ill will before she spoke.
"So what are you in for?" She said with a teasing look.

Conrad slightly jumped at the nudge and mention of him. His sunken expression got even more stressed when he heard the question. But denying wasnt a good start. "to leave my [CENSORED] of a life."

It seemed too extreme, of course, but Conrad did'nt have much enthousiasm. Glancing at somec of the others, he asked what they were here for.

When they boarded the helicopter, Mags just grabbed a couple of disposable ear plugs to roll and cram in her ears before climbing in the back, waving away the headset. While she'd just been a soldier for just a few years in the Romanian army, she'd quickly learned the importance of sleeping when you can. And with all these bodies crammed in together, the cabin was certainly warm enough.

Sadly, Mags had to turn in her cold weather parka when she left the army. She'd outgrown her clothes at home, and all she had really was her uniforms, with all the patches removed. At least they let her keep the fur hat. She was somewhat acclimated, but she hadn't time to get a decent coat before she had to report, but her father, uncles and aunt said they'd be sending her one. Not that she expected they be outside much.

But she was still a light sleeper, so when people began moving in their seats, her right eye shot open, followed by her left as they swept the cabin. Even with the headsets, were they actually trying to have a conversation over the roar of the engine and the beating of the rotors?

"I needed a job and this sounded interesting," she said loudly, hoping the person next to her could hear what she said.

Her new employers were probably some kind of cult.

Danny hadn't expected the helicopter or all the other people the Maniacles Corporation had recruited for their experiment. "Who knows, maybe they really do believe that magic crap. At least it should be better than sleeping on the streets again." Despite the surprisingly loud engines it seemed some people were actually trying to talk but he had no idea what about.

He briefly wondered if he should try to get some cash before they landed in Alaska of all place, but decided against it. He had already messed up once recently and if he did so here he had nowhere to run. So instead he killed time by looking outside though he quickly lost interest when all there was to see was ocean.

Luckily for him, just when the sight of water, water and more water was getting too much some darkhaired girl managed to get a conversation going by asking why people were would sign up to learn magic.

"I tried pickpocketing a Maniacles suit but got caught and was given the offer of joining their little experiment or dealing with the police. Seemed like an easy choice.

@Birdboy

A man nearby whistled at Ursula. He seemed to be around the same age, with light blonde medium length hair and green eyes that seemed to glow. His thin green jacket did little to hide the bulk of his arms and shoulders.

"I like the goth look." He said shamelessly. It was could be compared to cat calls from day laborers.

Then a tall, slim, mature man with round glasses walked into the passenger area.

"Settle down, Mr. Collins." He said, as if speaking to a poorly behaved child.

The man in the suit then positioned himself at a wall in between the columns of sitting students.

"Hello. My name is Dr Clementine. I will be overseeing the operation Maniacles is performing on Palmer Island, which you can now see from the nearest window."

"Honestly Squeako you worry too much." William Lawson said as he spoke on the phone with someone that a careful listener would note sounded like they had just breathed in a full tank of helium. "Just because the company running this show is called Maniacles, doesn't mean they're a bunch of maniacs. Besides, there weren't really many other options to get Cirque du Merveilles back on its feet besides taking their offer. Speaking of, they've been keeping their end of things over there, right? ...Well there you have it then. If these guys were intending to double cross us, do you really think they would be keeping the circus afloat while I'm away like they agreed to? ...Ok now you're just being pessimistic. Look, either way I can't exactly turn back now. So I might as well just see where this goes and hopefully end up better off than before, yeah? ...Yeah, I'll be careful. You lot be careful on your end too, ok? ...Catch you later, Squeako."

With that said William ended the call and put his phone away. Looking out the window to see their destination finally in sight, William looked down at the winter jacket folded over his lap to confirm that it was still there. Once that was done, he looked up at the luggage stowed in a compartment above him. He took special care to make sure the suitcase containing his ring master attire was still present above all others. William was under no illusions that he was going to be needing to wear it during his stay though. Really he just wanted to bring a little piece of home along with him for his stay at Palmer Island.

At that moment, William heard some of the other passengers near him talking about why they came to the island. Deciding to add his two cents to the matter, William joined the conversation. "Me and mine had fallen on hard times." He said. "Maniacles offered us a hand up if I signed up for this."

Before the conversation could continue further, a cat caller made a flirtatious pass at a goth girl and was almost instantaneously shut down by a teacher arriving on the scene. William listened as the man gave his name and role to the group.

"Hello. My name is Dr Clementine." The man said. "I will be overseeing the operation Maniacles is performing on Palmer Island, which you can now see from the nearest window."

William listened quietly for the time being. Taking in any further information Dr Clementine gave.

Evan looked irritated, but was actually concerned. There was a man arguing with someone over the phone, and another thug looking guy hitting on a woman nearby. These things alone didn't bother him so much, but with what was already on his mind, everything else seemed worse. Luckily, Dr. Clementine was here to quiet everyone down

"I am aware of your skepticism, all of you. Before I understood what I do now, I was skeptical myself."

He held up a thin, black device that resembled an iPad. It was a little larger than an iPad, and the screen was visible to everyone. On the screen were the words "Noetic Energy" and a vertical bar on a graph that moved up and down ever so slightly every couple of seconds. Besides that was also a percentage that changed in sync with the bar. "52%...57%...51%...."

"There are energies we cannot perceive naturally, but can harness. To harness this energy expands our possibilities more than we can dream of." Dr Clementine explained. He points his finger over the percentage sign "Throughout history, people have found numerous ways to connect with this energy, but one can connect more easily and practice most effectively in places where the strength of this energy is around 50% and 80%."

The others seemed to confirm her suspicions. More desperate guttersnipes fending off starvation one fuastian bargin at a time. She was pleasantly surprised by their openness, however. Even the one on the phone loudly proclaimed their predicament, whether they noticed or not. Her smile persisted as she felt the group already finding some level of bond: a veritable plight of the people.

The uncooth vexation from an unprompted compliment did nothing to diminish her smile. It did, however, cause her to look down, as if appraising just how accurate his unprompted comment was. So many of her clothes leaned towards a monochromatic melancholy of blacks, greys, and whites. The few bits of clothing with color she had left behind. None of them would be appropriate attire for the Arctic.

"I think I'd prefer if you used the term 'aesthetic'. My 'look' is purely Ursula," She offered back to the young man, going as far as to offer the boisterous young man a teasing wink.

The attention shifted the moment a new face entered the aerial waiting room. Just by clothes alone, it was clear he was not one of them. Thus entered the man. Before he had even spoken, the energy in the room changed drastically. The things he said ultimately confused her, but Ursula listened intently nonetheless. What they were saying, albeit vague, sounded enticing.

"So you've brought us all here to harness this energy then, but why strangers? Are you looking for side effects?"

@Synonym@Birdboy

Dr Clementine forced a smile "Fortunately, in our studies, every human is capable of harnessing these energies. The varying degree of effectiveness are tied to how much they apply themselves. As for the reason you were chosen well...I have been labeled eccentric before. I wanted to offer...second chances. A fresh start for all of you. And what could make a restart better than becoming a mage in the process? Also..." He looked at Clover "It's best to study with a sober mind."

"Oh man, so I can't grab a beer?" Exclaimed the blonde haired boy from earlier.

Evan then looked at his phone to check Google maps, only to find he couldn't access the Internet and his service was gone.

"The secrets to harness Noetic Energy is a secret, as are the communities of those who can harness it. Palmer Island has a deal with Maniacles to help their island maintain a low profile, and Maniacles always delivers."

A few other people could also be seen checking their phones to see they've lost service.

Mags smiles, feeling lost. All she could hear from the people around her was muffled, even the big guy in the nice suit.

Was this a briefing? Who holds a briefing in flight? This wasn't a rescue mission, it was a transport flight, only without those little packets of honey roasted peanuts.

He was waving his hands towards the window where she could see land, finally. Hopefully this meant they'd be landing soon, but when she glances back, he was holding up a tablet with "Noetic Energy" and a constantly changing percentage sign of just over 50%.

Clearly this was somehow important, but why try to tell them now? And why were people checking their phones?

Reaching inside her field jacket, Mags pulls out her phone - there was no signal. She slips it back and glances around her curiously. What did they expect? They were flying out over Pacific waters, they'd been out of range of cell towers for a long while now. Hopefully they had one on the island, or at least payphones. Otherwise there were going to be a lot of upset people on and off the island.

Her brother and his friends would definitely come looking for her if she stayed quiet too long.

From what Danny could tell no one seemed to judge him for being a pickpocket, or even worry he was dumb enough to try something while they were still in the air. Before he could really think about that, Collins and Clementine started their little speech, and with how Collins introduced himself Danny could tell he probably wasn't going to like the man.

He wasn't too sure about Clementine given the fact that his second chances could just as easily be a way to pick up people that wouldn't be missed but he was willing to give both him and Maniacles the benefit of the doubt for now.

Since he didn't have a phone to check he just looked outside again, curious about their new "home" and wondering what he would use that Noetic Energy for. "Maybe telekinesis to make it easier to get money. Ugh I'm thinking too small. I'll worry about it later, if it actually works."

"Why not just call it magic? I mean that is what that Noetic Energy is supposed to be.

Evan felt the helicopter begin to drop as the island came into clearer view from the window. They passed over trees and fields where the green of the grass and the brown of the dirt were beginning to peak from behind coats of white snow. Then the town began to emerge. Wooden homes, mostly. They looked like mountain homes pioneers may have lived in back in the day. First they were spread out among the trees, then what could be considered proper streets started to emerge. There was a single road paved with stone that ran through the middle of town, forcing the buildings to line up along it. From that road, dirt roads and paths snaked off. Evan didn't notice a single car, or gas station, but saw a few of what could be street lights. As they passed the town, the buildings became scarce again. Evan caught a glimpse of a massive, ornate building last minute, but didn't get a chance to see all the details of it.

As the helicopter left the town behind, it turned, a different cluster of structures came into view. It was a mesh of old and new. The closest buildings were antique. Two built from bricks that looked ancient, which had clearly been reinforced with a mud like mortar. Some of the windows were encrusted with whatever grime had settled over the centuries. The wooden window pane dividers had darkened and petrified with age. One was three stories high, which Evan figured would be where the classes were, and the other was two, possibly the dorms. Evan imagined the bug infestations these buildings might have if they were in a warmer place, and couldn't imagine he would be able to sleep at all if that were the case.

As Evan looked to the left of these two buildings, it was like traveling through time. A paved concrete road; the only one he had seen on this island, led up the mountain and wrapped around a tall glass building. The windowpanes that made up most of this structure were blue, and if the sun was out, the reflection might blind anyone who looked at it. There was also what looked to be a large fuel tank, and armored vehicles like Evan had never seen; they were also the only cars.

The helicopter lowered until it hit the ground with a thud. Doors opened automatically, and Dr Clementine spoke up again.

"Everybody out!"

Then Evan saw them; other students who were already here. There weren't nearly as many as the size of the school would suggest there should be, but they were here. Whether this school taught "magic" or not, it was obviously some kind of educational establishment. The experience so far was nothing like the books Evan had read involving magic schools. It felt more like newcomers to a prison being judged by the prisoners already present. Evan did his best to avoid the spotlight.

---

"Throughout history, people have found numerous ways to connect with this energy, but one can connect more easily and practice most effectively in places where the strength of this energy is around 50% and 80%."

“Mr Clementine, are there drinks on this flight? Cause I’d take a 12%.”

"It's best to study with a sober mind."

Clover’s joke hadn’t landed, it caused her stomach to twist and her face to heat up. It was clear her company at present weren’t a comedic crowd, so she attempted an anxious pivot to win the room over. It was as if a filter had been applied to her in real life, changing her mannerisms as she channeled a curious college graduate. “The secrets of Noetic Energy - this is fascinating, Mr Clementine.” She said studiously, concealing the truth. In fact, she was wondering if she had unwittingly joined a cult. If she had to choose between sacrificing a goat or going to prison, she would kill a thousand goats. Line them up, she thought, ‘I’ll kill every ugly little goat in Alaska.’ - ‘but no satanic sex stuff.’

"Why not just call it magic? I mean that is what that Noetic Energy is supposed to be.

Clover mimed adjusting a pair of glasses she wasn’t wearing. “Mh, excellent question! Mr Clementine, we’re all thrilled to be a part of this experiment.” The helicopter jittered as it neared their destination, landing in an open field near the institution. Clover noticed there was a welcome party of cult members awaiting her arrival, satanists or not, she wanted their admiration. As the first to step out of the aircraft, she lead the walk towards the institute with a fake smile and said, “Incredible! Do you guys feel that? The Noetic Energy here is palpable, it has to be around 50 to 80%, right?”

[[Roll: 1d20+4 Charisma, 16]]

The helicopter dipped, and Mag's stomach dipped with it, but minutes later the helicopter landed near two small buildings. The engines ramped down, but the rotor was still spinning. She wondered where the hanger was for it, surely they didn't leave it out in the weather?

The strange man's spoke and pointed to the door, his meaning was obvious. The door slid open and people began pouring out. Mags gathered her bags from under the seat and waited for a moment for the jam of people trying to leave all at once to clear, then she slipped out, keeping bent over with one hand holding down her fur hat while the duffle and the canvas bread bag were slung over her shoulder.

Once out from under the rotors, Mags straightened herself, then pulls out her phone and took pictures of the... students? The buildings beyond them, then turned around to take a picture of the helicopter and that tall glass tower on the hill. Mags slipped her phone back into her pocket, then pulled out her ear plugs, rubbing her ears as everything around her stopped being muffled and back into clear, sharp noise.

One eyebrow rose sharply in a well-practiced arch as she surveyed the other people who'd come out to meet them, but then she was there in her uniform duds - and not even American duds - no doubt, she looked strange to them, as well. How many would come over and speak loud at her, she wondered, thinking she didn't understand English? Four years among the Romanian Army had sharpened her pronunciation and even taught her a few words undoubtedly kept out of Romanian-English tourist dictionaries.

At least her bangs covered the right side of her face, hiding her burn scars. Her command at first wanted her to maintain their grooming standards, but even they were repulsed by the burns and relented.

Since they had promised to pay her, there had to be someplace to go to spend their money - possibly that town they flew over on their way here? Maybe there was a payphone there, possibly inside a bar? A tiny library and maybe a computer she could use?

"So, uh, where do we go?" Mags asked, in clear English. She wanted a hot cup of coffee, a restroom, and to be shown to her room - but looking around, she didn't think any of that was going to happen soon.

[Roll: 1d20+4 Jiu Jitsu, 6]

"Everybody out!"

At these words, William donned his winter jacket, brought his luggage down from the overhead compartments, and followed the passengers out of the helicopter. If he paid any mind to the upperclassmen eyeing up the new arrivals, William gave no indication of it as he made his way along with everyone else, whistling a merry - and effortlessly well performed - rendition of Entry of the Gladiators as he went.

The helicopter ride was over so suddenly, despite the laborious task of attempting to sit still for such a long ride. Their arrive was a blink of an eye in comparison to the ride itself. She had gotten accustom to the stench of uncleaned clothes and artic sea spray. Before she knew it, they where being ushered out to a pack of wolves waiting, at least that was the term Ursula felt represented this group best. They had predatory eyes, but not the kind that would suggest pride like a Tiger. The kind that weighs it's options more cautiously, and relies on the safety of others.

Ursula mulled over the way she would convey that glint in their eyes, the image of the unwelcoming committee before a barren, cloudless sky and the gothic stylings of the architecture in the foreground. It all spelled out the bleak reality of this vagabond's paradise all too well. So well that she was ecstatic to get a chance to go to her room and do just that.

She did her best to stand towards the back of the group, and there where plenty of people to supply her cover. The man who had been on the phone before make the most scene by walking about whistling in a laisse faire manner. She had to admit that he had the tune down well. With the taller, bulkier and more boisterous of the crowd front and center, she used this change as an ambiguous figure in the crowd to scan stare back.

After the helicopter landed the first one to get was one of the girls who claimed to be able to sense the "Noetic Energy". While Danny wasn't sure if he believed her she also didn't show any signs of lying so who knew. If it was somehow real her being able to sense wouldn't be that out there in comparison to it existing.

Before he got out himself he inspected the schoolgrounds, the buildings looked like they were only marginally better than the streets and the small amount of students also didn't inspire confidence, especially since they didn't look too enthusiastic. All in all it seemed more like a a convenient place for human experimentation than a school for magic. Not everyone seemed to be that worried though, one of the newcomers even whistled as he left the helicopter.

Figuring that not being intimidated was always a good tactic Danny also tried to act nonchalantly. Unfortunately he misjudged the height and nearly tripped as he left the helicopter. At least he managed to catch himself before faceplanting onto the stones but his entrance was no doubt ruined. "Damnit."