Lucius Cypher

Log Horizon: An American Elder Tale

Yeah aight, I got an idea. Let's get this show on the road.

We be Wizards [D&D 5e] (Everyone died, applications inside!)

7512, Duuri 7th. It’s another cold winter day in the Trasis Republic and the Academy’s winter semester is underway. It has been approximately one week since the initial welcoming ceremony, allowing students to find their dormitories and settle in. This story focuses on those in the Faded Imp House. A fairly small and new dormitory with ten student rooms, single story. The assigned teacher is an imp named Pylia.

Though not a wizard of any caliber even compared to her students, Pylia is highly knowledgeable of the arcane arts and serves as the familiar to one of the academy’s most experienced professors. Her duties is primarily to educate the students in her house of magic, explaining conceptual ideas and phenomenon, as well as organizing projects and expeditions. Being an Imp, Pylia is physically incapable of certain tasks, and thus she has various teacher assistants to aid her.

The first being an eleven man by the name Mi’Durgen. He is the primary night security officer of the dormitory ensures the students peace and safety within the dorms. Though his first impression may leave much to be desired; since his duty is to provide watch during the night shift he’s often found napping throughout the day. Though polite and courteous there’s something to be said of the guardsman literally sleeping on the job.

Fortunately there is another security officer to handle the day shift while Mi’durgen naps. A lizard folk by the name of Eats Well, not only is he the dayshift guard but he also serves as the Faded Imp’s primary chef. A skilled cook specializing in wild game meat, he is however belligerent and surly. Always seems annoyed and far less friendly compared to Mi’Durgen, but an efficient worker nonetheless.

Lastly there Pylia’s personal assistant and cousin, Lithe. A tiefling who used to work as a traveling minstrel, now employed by her cousin to earn money to put herself through Bard’s college. An easy going and fun loving fellow, though she’s a slacker at heart. Why work hard when you can work easier? Indeed as a teacher’s assistant she harder does much teaching or assisting, often delegating menial tasks to Mi’Durgen or Eats Well. Cunning in her own way, if only to do the least amount of work as possible.

After the introductions were completed it would also be explained to the students what their expectations were, as well as their tasks and responsibilities. For starters, there was a matter of their tuition; while every had passed the test to be accepted into the academy on grounds of their magical competence and knowledge, to live on campus requires monthly fees. Fifty gold coins per month to be exact.

After all they weren’t simply living in some tavern room. They lived within the wellspring of knowledge and magical lore that was the Apotheosis Arcanaeum. Fortunately, the academy always had work for those willing to do it. Students are often hired as expedition members and researchers for various projects and experiments. They’re even encouraged to seek out and utilize or sell any noteworthy object or item they come across; the college would pay fairly for such bounties.

Of course students can also supplement their income through other crafts or work. Those with skills in tools can easily find steady work among the various areas around the academy or the city itself. Spelling ones magical services were also a legitimate venture, so long it’s being used for legal purposes. And of course there is mercenary work. While the Trasis Republic is in peace at the moment, they had a brutal civil war roughly ten years ago, with many rebel cells still operating in the jungles or even within the city. Fighting against them will net those willing a bounty for each head, or more for high priority targets.

But that could be an endeavour for later. Pylia has worked long and hard to secure an expedition for her students; they will be traveling around the southern coast for one of the Archmage old hideaway. Back when the Trasis Republic was physically part of Doros, the Archmage has erected various hideaways for his personal research. When he moved the island off the main continent many of these hideaways were lost or destroyed, however Pylia believed that they found one. Scavenge was theirs for the taking, as well as any old relics or tomes the Archmage may have left behind. All they needed to do was secure a specific locked tome for the Archmage and they’ll even be granted payment!

Today was the day the students were to set off. Of course students are also free to not participate, but of course that would mean they reap no benefit from the success of the others. Only Pylia and Lithe would accompany the students; Mi’Durgen and Eats Well must stay to secure the Faded Imp while the students were away. However both did assist by providing supplies for their journey; Mi’Durgen managed to get them a wagon that can carry up to eight people, while Eats Well made rations and brought camping supplies such as tents and bedrolls. Beyond that however, the students were expected to provide for themselves.

“Okay! I hope everyone is ready, our journey shouldn’t takes us longer than eight hours by wagon. We will have two stops, first by a small village named Ferris and a second time somewhere two-thirds if the way to the hideaway. I recommend you bring your books and study while on the journey! Also be warned; once we go pass Ferris we’ll be heading into wilderness. There’s no telling what dangers could find us so be prepared for combat. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask while we are traveling!”

Pylia then flew to sit on the shoulder of Lithe, who would be driving the wagon. “Load up and get comfortable everyone!”

♦ A New Era ♦ - A My Hero Academia RP

The milk was sweet, as milk often is. Very creamy too, so much that it was almost more like a milkshake than straight up milk. Still not bad. "No problem! I was just doing a bit of training myself, trying to make sure my hands were still working." Mamoru raised her hands up for Hitomi to see. They were wrapped in bandages and had an iron scent to them; as if they were once rather bloody. "Normally I use my quirk to protect myself, but I need to stop getting used to that. Strengthen the body and all. You're a hero too! Even if combat isn't going to be your main focus, you should be able to handle yourself when danger crops up." Mamoru crossed her arms and tried to think of what she should say to Hitomi. Frankly, teaching someone how to fight... Wasn't something Mamoru was good at. She could spar, sure, but everyone's quirk made them so unique that it was hard for Mamoru to really teach anyone anything. Heck her own fighting style revolved around her shield and she doesn't know any other hero who does the same.

That's when Mamoru heard Ken off to the side talking to Jett. SHe missed pretty much the whole conversation but whatever it was, it was pretty intense. An idea popped into Mamoru's head. "Looks like danger just found us." She turned towards Hitomi and motioned towards Ken and Jett. "Things are looking pretty intense over there. How do you want to approach it? A hero has to act even when trouble doesn't involve them. Wouldn't do our class any good if our boys are fighting each other... But," Mamoru put her hand to her mouth and pondered a thought. "Far be it from me to interfere in a duel between men, or something like that. So Hitommorow, what do you think? Shall we as heroes, step in, or as friends just stand watch?"

@Silver Carrot

---

Donny's smile faded a little when the girl flinched from his sight. While he remembers to use facial expressions, Donny's head was little more than an expressive hat for his body; his eyes and other sensory organs were mostly in his chest, floating around to whichever side needed more attention at the time. Thus his eyes had little more than bones and goo. That can scare people sometimes. He knew this though. He wasn't going to let it eat at him; if he wanted to grow stronger he needed to learn how to stop being bothered by all these small things. He was quick to move on, just like the girl was as she started to talk about her fruit. He focused on that with far more interest than her surprise from before.

This girl's quirk allowed her to grow fruit. Not just any fruit either, but hybrids of fruit. That was very interesting; they'd surely be useful in the agricultural fields, growing different types of fruit that can grow in harsh environments. "Ah. I'm n-not allergic to anything. A-A-And I like apples. Oh, a banana." She handed him a light green banana. He was hesitant at first as he was almost certain the light green bananas aren't ripe, but then again he never really concerned himself about that sort of thing. He peeled the banana and took a bite. It wasan experience. He's had fruit smoothies before, so the idea of mixing fruit together for a different flavor wasn't new to him. But this flavor... This taste.... He's never had it before. The soft texture of a banana but with the crisp juiciness of a melon. It was sweet, yet not powerfully so. Donny was trying to get an idea of what this melon taste was when he realized even that was a hybrid of many different melons, taking on some of their most powerful qualities into a banana.

"Sasuga..."

Donny ate the rest of the banana, peel and all, savoring the taste. He thought about making something with this. A curry perhaps. Banana curry doesn't seem like a very normal idea, but neither were these banana melons. Besides Donny never ate anything he didn't like. Finishing his banana he looked to the girl who called herself Nia. She wanted to know his name is quirk. He'd gulp if he was eating anything. "Deep breaths Donny. You're suppose to be new, better, stronger. Can't let every small question about yourself turn into some sort of big mess. Breath, and speak." Taking a moment to compose himself, Donny laced his fingers together. "M-My name is Donny Yang. My q-q-quirk uh... Let's me eat anything." He gulped again. No more half-truths. "T-T-T-Thanks to my b-b-b-body being very w-weird. Y-You saw it r-r-r-right? I'm... Not all... Right inside. B-B-But I'm a hero nonetheless!"

@liferusher

---

Other

Life goes on.

That's the theme of 1B's little ruling class. Live and let die, a sort of secondary motto. Retsu's laid back ruling style meant that for the most part, even as the class president she largely lets everyone make their own decisions while she simply makes sure that no one does anything against the school rules. Despite being a bit of a maverick and troublemaker herself Retsu has so far done nothing that would require any punishment aside from her penchant for teasing others and perhaps her tendency to hang out away from school during her downtime. The rest of her posse is similarly well behaved though by no means peaceful. The Vice President, Goroshi Asahi, has always gone out of his way to do things for the class and rallies everyone with his spirit. Granted he can be too passionate sometimes; his grand and lofty goals often require others to match his conviction which is no easy task for the man who needs no rest. Literally; his initial goal to create a large combining mech with his class had the plan and resources, but no one but him had the time to actually work on it. Ultimately it had to be scrapped, something he hated. Hence the Komei Collective.

Though the rest of Retsu's group helped start it up, it was entirely Asahi's responsibility to manage it. And so far while he managed to start the group with a heavy amount of support not all has gone well. Sure enough Asahi's energy wasn't something shared among the rest of collective members. Many who joined still had prior appointments and assignments they needed to complete and Asahi was adamant that they focus only one the projects he had assigned for them. This of course caused a lot of tension to the point that the entire costuming department of the Komei Collective boycotted many of whom joined up with Asahi's rival, Tori. And to make matters worse, there seems to be a slowly growing group of students who are against the collective. And worse still, one of their members was from 1B.

Koizumi Seiko. The class 1B Drama Queen. Though she defeated Fujino during the class rep elections, she came into third behind Asahi and Retsu. And after they came into power, Seiko was never asked to join the administrative counsel that Retsu ran. Not out of any malice or any personal reasons. Quite the opposite actually; Retsu simply never asked Seiko because she didn't know the girl personally. Retsu doesn't even know that Seiko isn't biologically a girl. Still, the clique never bothered anyone in their class beyond what was necessary as a representative, but they have had to deal with Seiko's dramatics from time-to-time. Once more Retsu's laid back administration allows it; she thinks that having someone like Seiko around to constantly challenge their methods is a good way to keep the administrative counsel in check. After all most of the other students in 1B simply didn't care.

However in this instance Seiko has gone too far. Amane Kishimoto is, by no means, liked by the group. He's a lone wolf who doesn't care much for teamwork or cooperation, and just as well the group don't take kindly to his belligerence and attitude. But despite that, neither two ever came to blows. Retsu and her group simply had no reason to attack Amane outside of class. So Seiko's little prank against him meant that she had overstepped the bounds of what was acceptable, even for Retsu's relaxed policies. Not only that but Lysander was also involved, as well as a few other 1A students. This went beyond just Seiko acting delinquent. Even though Retsu's group had their incident with 1A back during the beginning of school, she's felt that they should grow out of such childish pranks and focus on their careers. So Seiko's prank not only insulted that notion, but could also tempt other students of 1A into engaging in such frivolous pranks as well. Or worse, provoke the students of 1B into retaliating. Rival and competition was fine, but the way Seiko and the others went about it was not acceptable.

And so someone has to go deal with them. While Seiko was the main target, Lysander was also being hunted down. Fujino found Lysander quickly, but was unable to confront him as he went into Miss Mako's office. So Fujino simply waited outside so she could deal with him once he was done. As for Seiko, the group's Treasurer and Assassin was sent after her. The Cherry Hunter Nadeshiko Sakura; she was one of the most serious and straight-laced students in 1B. When it came to disciplinary actions she was the one trusted to carry them out. Not because she was the strongest, though she certainly isn't weak. Just that unlike almost everyone Sakura actually has read the entire student manual and has a better understanding of all the rules and punishments in school. And so she was sent out to find Seiko to both berate her and turn Seiko in for her harmful prank against Amane. A strict hand was needed now; even if Seiko doesn't ally with Retsu and her group, Seiko represents 1B through her actions, as well as their status as heroes. Attacking fellow students for some twisted power play was not something that Retsu wanted 1B to represent.

Soon enough Sakura would find Seiko. The pinkette would walk up to the silver-haired gal and speak plainly to her. "Koizumi Seiko. Assaulting a student outside of appropriate class activities is a two-week suspension. Doing so out of malice or intimidation is grounds for immediate expulsion. Coercing or collaborating with other students to carry out an action that goes against school rules or laws is at a minimum one week of mandatory volunteer work, as well as sharing the same punishment as all others involved. Doing so as a student of the Hero course carries even more weight; what you consider a harmless prank besmirches the images of heroes that Komei is raising. During the course of your suspension you will be allowed to observe but not participate in any of your class assignments. You will be expected to complete assignments with the same level of competence and responsibility as your fellow students." Sakura flicked some hair out of her face and gave Seiko a bored and plain tone. "Your actions have already been reported and documented on file. If you have anything to say to try and repeal this mark I'd suggest you accompany me back to class so you can plan yourcase with your class representative. Or you can ignore me and it'll be nolo contendere. Then you'll be punished accordingly by the school's faculty and it'll be out of our hands."

@Silver Carrot

The Faraway Land: Arcane Adventures (Closed 9/30/18)

To me a sorcerer and wizard are two different things. Sorcerers are born or therwise obtained magic without much effort on their part; they basically got lucky and just know how to use it. Wizards are different though. There’s no innate talent for magic, no special abilities or bloodline. They just learned through trial and error.

It’s the difference between a born prodigy and a hard worker. A lot of people want to have the shortcut of having the already innate talent for magic or whatever, but I’d prefer earning my power rather than just getting lucky on the die. Makes you fight smarter rather than harder. Though admittedly, it can be depressing when you e just learned how to sling firebolts and Mage hands while everyone else seems to have the innate ability to burn down entire villages or melt someone from the inside out at level 1. But I digress.

The Faraway Land: Arcane Adventures (Closed 9/30/18)

@Thinslayer

Still here, still interested. Researching and learning a wide variety of magic is what I’m here for. I wanna be a wizard, not a sorcerer; discovering the essence of magic to weave the world around me rather than just being a conduit of it. Goro gunna have some choice words for those with innate magic abilities compared to his entirely academically obtained skills.

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

@rush99999

Before I confirm anything, I just want to let you know that you are committing to these rolls: I fully expect you to be using them immediately, not holding your rolls until the situation changes or for your to discuss with the rest of your party. Because once I give you an answer I can guarantee you that it will start combat immediately before anyone else will get to react. With that in mind, will you still continue to act?

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

@rush99999

None that you can access via roof hopping. Only the orc's hideout and the immediate buildings next to the ruins you're on will give you the benefit of highground/cover, and that's within 30 feet. Anything further than that and you'll have to climb down the ruins and at best hide behind a corner. But even that's only going to be about 40 feet away.

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

@rush99999 Moving around the rooftop you're at you should be fine so long as you're not doing anything too obvious, however if you're moving to a different ruin then yes, with a new acrobatics or athletics since you're trying to preform this maneuver with more difficulty than before.

As for the cyclopse's distance, you're currently thirty feet above the ground and the cyclopes is crouched near the ground making him roughly twenty feet tall, however he would be taller if he stood up. So from the edge of the rooftop to the top of the cyclopes is about ten feet give or take.

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

I’ll leave it to y’all what you’d wanna do.

Ruins of Norn: Walking Apocalypse

@floodtalon

Only if you intend to fight it. Right now I’d say you, like the rest of the party, haven’t been noticed butt you should roll a stealth if you’re going to do anything more complex than moving around, and even then that might need a Roll too.