%(orange)[**โโโโโโโโ โ
โขโ
โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ
โขโ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ**]
%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐๐ช๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฌ is something that one is born with, though it takes years of study and practice in order to perfect it. Children with at least one magical parent are always born with magic, and there are also cases where children with no magical ancestry at all are born with magic.]
%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[There are many ways to practice magic, though the form taught at the Institute and spear-headed by its original founders is widely regarded as the "official" way of doing so. It is described as an energy from within that magical individuals must harness in order to put it to use. It is a precise, exacting science, and even one slight mispronunciation of a spell could send the entire thing out of whack. ]
%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[Magic, as it is taught at the Institute, is inherently spell-based. Even so-called 'magic potions' require an activation spell, and charms, talismans, and magical amulets and artifacts are usually all created with spells and enchantments as well. Many spells read like short poems, and are written the same way that one would write a haiku (5-7-5 syllables per line) or a classical Chinese verse (4 lines, 5 characters per line, AABA or ABCB rhyme scheme). There are also a number of spells that have been incorporated into Chinese culture as common 4-word sayings. All spells are taught in Asian languages at the Institute, with the most common language being, unsurprisingly, Mandarin Chinese.]
||๐๐ธ๐ต๐ธ๐ป๐ผ ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐๐ธ๐ป๐ญ ๐ช๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท๐ผ derived from two words that have become associated with each other through their pronunciations also have magical importance, though this 'science' is much less precise than that of spells. Some examples:
๐๐ฎ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฑ **(ๆญปไบก):** the color white, the number four (ๅ)
๐๐พ๐ฌ๐ด: the colors red/yellow/gold, hanging a ็ฆ (fu) sign upside down, chicken (because the word for chicken, ้ธก/ji, is similar to the first word of the phrase for auspicious ๅๅฉ/ji li)
๐๐ป๐ธ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฝ๐: the number eight (ๅ
ซ/ba), because its pronunciation is very similar to the word associated with getting rich (ๅ/fa)
๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ: the number two (ไบ/er), because it sounds like the word for love (็ฑ/ai)
๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ: the number three (ไธ/san)
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๐๐ฎ๐ท๐ฐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐พ๐ฒ, also known as ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ช๐ท๐ฌ๐, is (according to Wikipedia) "a pseudoscience originating from China, which claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment". The truth, however, is a lot more complicated-some feng shui practices stem from true magical origins, while others are laughably useless, and still others are just plain...common sense.
While spells and most other magical applications require the use of internal energy, ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ถ๐ช๐ท๐ฌ๐ requires that one harness *external* spiritual energy. However, this external energy is usually quite weak, so more often than not, geomancy is used in addition to regular ol' spell-casting in order to achieve the desired effect. A few basic examples:
๐๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ช๐ต ๐ซ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ผ **(ๆฐดๆถ็)** infused with the correct spells are used to bring harmonious, calming energy to any space. For example, a clear quartz crystal ball can be placed in the living room to soothe and clear the energy. Contrary to popular belief, they have no uses in seeing the future.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฌ๐ต๐ฎ๐ผ help encourage auspicious harmony. As such, circular rugs and circular tables are quite popular.
๐๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท๐ผ are also regarded as auspicious, and they allegedly protect homes and businesses from evil. Although the magical community knows that plain old stone lions really don't do anything, magic folk will nevertheless take advantage of their popularity and/or ubiquitous nature and convert them into magical items that serve protective purposes.
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ธ๐ป๐ผ are all placed on the inside of closet doors. Since students at the Institute are learning basic astral projection, and returning spirits may get confused to which medium-the reflection of the body, or the actual body-they should go back in. Therefore, having mirrors reflecting into the room or reflecting the bed makes people tired and dizzy the next morning.
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๐ข๐ฑ๐ช๐น๐ฎ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ ๐ช๐ท๐ญ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฝ๐ป๐ช๐ต ๐น๐ป๐ธ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท are two skills that can be mastered through intense study and practice, though even the Institute only has the capacity to teach students basic astral projection during their time at the school (and shapeshifting isn't even touched upon). A student must be taught how to separate their spirit from their physical body, which is definitely not an easy process. However, while learning how to do so, there are many times where the spirit and the body will separate themselves (outside of the volition of the person themselves), especially when the person is sleeping.
๐๐ธ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท๐ผ exist for a variety of uses. In fact, many traditional Asian herbal remedies are derived from magical potions (though they do not include the spell component, which is an essential part of all potions).]
๐ข๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ of nature and the dead can be communicated with, though delving into the spirit world is always fraught with risk and should not be taken lightly. ||
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โขโ
โฐโโโฝเผโพโโโฑโ
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%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐ฆ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ท๐ช๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท is used to sort incoming students into four different houses. Students are brought to a wide river, and given a stone. A professor gives them four different sets of spells to try out, all centered around getting the stone across the river. Students are sorted into houses depending on which one they find the easiest. ]
||The ๐ญ๐ธ๐ท๐ฐ-๐ท๐ฒ๐พ technique requires actively navigating the stone across the river at an even pace, skirting around any obstacles that are encountered and taking advantage of the river's currents. It requires focus, concentration, and patience. This is the technique of ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ.
The ๐ฌ๐ฑ๐พ๐ท-๐ฝ๐พ technique involves using a series of spells to quite literally *skip* the stone across the water while avoiding any potential obstacles. It requires quick-thinking and creativity-and above all, energy. This is the technique of ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐ท.
The ๐บ๐ฒ๐พ-๐ผ๐ฑ๐พ technique involves using spells in order to take advantage of the surrounding environment-other stones, plants, the wind, water currents, even debris such as driftwood and litter. It requires cleverness, intelligence, and an analytical assessment of the big picture. This is the technique of ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐พ.
Finally, the ๐๐ฒ๐ช-๐ฑ๐พ technique involves using magic to have the stone plow straight across the water, heedless of any potential obstacles or the water's currents. It requires determination, resolve, and an ability to take challenges head-on. This is the technique of ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ช๐ท.||
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%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ is the house of the ox, the plum blossom, and winter. Their colors are dark pink and white, and sorceresses in House Mei are known for their resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity; like the plum blossoms that bloom vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow or the water-ox that swam untiringly across the Heavenly River to earn its place on the zodiac, these sorceresses don't know the meaning of 'giving up'. They are diligent, patient, determined, and tend to make decisions based on logic and a rational analysis of the situation. However, they are usually also stubborn and inflexible, unable to easily adapt to drastic changes, and they tend to play by the rules, no matter what. House Mei's dorms are located in a cozy house with plenty of sofas and a warm, comfortable cream and dull orange color palette.]
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%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐ท is the house of the rabbit, the orchid, and spring. Their colors are purple and yellow, and sorceresses in House Lan are known for their friendly and outgoing nature. Like the rabbit who hopped from stone to stone across the Heavenly River in order to earn its place on the zodiac, sorceresses of House Lan are tirelessly energetic. They love deeply, and they have an open-minded empathy for others that makes them well-liked by their peers; it isn't an exaggeration to say that they can see the silver lining on every storm cloud. However, these sorceresses are also perfectionists, always striving to meet the high standards that they set for themselves, and they can be manipulative, petty, and two-faced if they think they have been wronged. They tend to be rather emotional, and they can also be quite indecisive, not wanting to hurt anybody's feelings. House Lan's dorms are located in a renovated ancient Chinese village, with pagodas and water lilies and moon doors galore.]
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%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐พ is the house of the rat, the chrysanthemum, and autumn. Their colors are orange and gold, and sorceresses of House Ju are known for their cleverness and intelligence, taking after the rat who became first on the zodiac by devising a cunning plan in order to win the race across the Heavenly River. Quick-witted, charming, and persuasive, these sorceresses are smart and adaptable, capable of seeing the "big picture" and quickly analyzing all the different components of a situation. They are risk-takers who aren't afraid to think outside the box and try something that nobody has ever tried before. However, sorceresses who are placed in House Ju are sometimes described as sly, cunning, and ruthless-and although this is an extreme characterization of them, it stems from a seed of truth. They are not afraid to bend the rules for their own benefit, and can be a bit judgmental of other people. House Ju's dorms are located in house that brings back memories of 1930s Shanghai; all gilt-lined panels and luxurious four-poster beds.]
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๐๐ธ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ
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%(white)[โโ]%(sandybrown)[๐๐ธ๐พ๐ผ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ช๐ท is the house of the tiger, the lotus, and summer. Their colors are light pink and green, and sorceresses of House Ju are known for their courage and resolve. Indeed, like the lotus blossom itself, the sorceresses of House Lian are capable of going through hell and back without letting the world change their core values. Energetic and humorous, they are the true "rebels with a cause", though they also tend to be emotionally sensitive (almost *prickly*) and go way too overboard with some things. Sorceresses of House Lian thrive in the limelight, almost to the point of being attention whores, and they can also be rather reckless and/or impulsive; indeed, there are definitely people who have said that they can't tell whether these sorceresses are reckless, brave, or both). House Lian's dorms are located in a vintage luxury hotel/lodge. They love scaring people with the giant stuffed tiger in the main foyer.]
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AlteredTundra
Punished GN
shylarah