It is a brisk autumn day as you arrive at Strixhaven University. The sun is shining from a sky filled with puffy white clouds. It lends a little bit of warmth, except when a passing cloud floats past.
Those arriving from other planes had received a note containing a magic phrase to be used at the appointed time. 'The number of teleportation circles is limited. Failure to adhere to the printed time may result in failure of the spell and in rare cases mislocation.' the note had read. These students ended up in a large hall supported by columns on all sides. They opened out to the central campus. From there it was a fairly short walk to Dresar Hall.
Those arriving by air had been directed to the aerodrome, a bit removed from the central campus. After debarking from whatever mode of transportation they had employed, there was a brief carriage ride to the dormitory.
And those taking more standard transports were directed straight to the residence hall. There, numerous attendants and helpers directed everyone to quickly unload so that the area could be kept clear. Students were pointed towards the building entrance.
There was a bustle of activity as students of all kinds were arriving. Many were human, halfling, elf, gnome or dwarf. But wow a few other races were to be seen - a few genasi, a goblin, several Loxodon, and a few others as well.
The directions had said to find your Resident Assistant Lesviel Turnardi. But the letter had not said how exactly to do that. There seem to be tables set up in the dining hall, staffed by students wearing various colors of robes.
(Time to jump in! Feel free to describe your charcter amidst the chaos. And as charcters 'find' each other they are more than welcome to interact!)
Wow! It seemed such an innocuous word for such an event. From the magical and slightly disconcerting inter-planar transportation to Arcavios via the Plane Shift spell, Mellori barely had time to reflect on the brief feeling of nausea before her senses were quite literally overwhelmed. Sights and sounds greeted her and the images she’d seen in the tomes she’d read did not do the university justice.
From the sheer scale of the place to the fascinating carriages drawn by horse-like automata, everywhere she looked she saw something new and amazing.
She stood there, feeling oddly stiff in her new uniform of black, white, and grey – yet simultaneously proud to wear the clothes that made her a part of something. Yes, she had family but she always felt like a fish out of water. Her kin were humble fishing folk, whilst she yearned for something else. Something more. But the ‘what else’ and ‘what more’ she’d never been able to identify.
Until today.
She stood, blinking in the autumn sun – yet at the same time glad for the warm tunic she wore. Aware she was supposed to be somewhere else, she continued her walk to Dresar Hall, her meagre possessions carried in a single backpack.
She smiled at the cosmopolitan nature of the university. She’d seen few elves in her day and one halfling – but dwarves and…yes, she was sure that was a goblin. It made her realise how sheltered she had been on her islands – and how lucky she was to be here now.
She headed into the dining hall, expecting to meet her Resident Assistant. But who exactly was Lesviel Turnardi? She had no idea of their gender, let alone their race!
So she stood there, marvelling at the bustle of activity and simultaneously rooted to the spot, unsure what to do next.
Guardok stands amidst the hustle and bustle, much akin to a small outcropping of gem encrusted rock, were it to have been dressed up in brightly coloured clothes. His skin is a polished grey hue, and instead of hair there are turquoise gems spiking out from the top of his head, his eyes sharing the same colour. He wears the costume of his troupe still, mostly made of a flamboyant burnt orange colour, rather than the school uniform provided. He has travelled light, a small rucksack sitting alongside a lute on his back, and at his waist a rapier and dagger share the space with a pair of maracas.
Standing perfectly still, as if rooted to the spot, his head is angled up as he watches a pair of Loxodon walk by. Once they are passed the sight of the entrance to Dresar Hall comes back into view, where he had been directed to go by some attendants. He starts to make his way towards it, seemingly gliding across the ground as he does so, his steps somehow merging with the ground under his feet. Once inside, he spots the crowds milling around some tables in the dining hall, and makes his way across.
He was used to crowds, but he wasn’t used to being lost amongst them. Standing next to a young human lady with red hair, he digs into his backpack for the letter he received. Without even turning to look at her, he asks in a low gravelly voice that belies his stature, “Any idea which of these people is Lesviel Turnardi?”.
Apprehensively stepping into Dresar Hall comes a purple-skinned tiefling, large horns curving back over his dark hair. His fiery red eyes darting back and forth as if assessing threats, social threats, but there is also a hint of curiosity in them making him continue into the dining hall. The tiefling is not yet wearing the first year uniform of the univeristy, instead purple robes of a scholar. He carries a shoulder bag likely holding some large books among other things, one purple hand on it to make sure it is always there.
The tiefling was certainly no stranger to the wonders of magic, but the transdimensional journey had been his first and he still felt a bit unbalanced by the experience. Still, the prospect of mastering planar travel was something he wanted dearly and would devote much time for during the coming years, of that he was determined.
Seeing the multitude of races represented made him relax somewhat, maybe being a tiefling would not be such a stigma as he had felt it was back home in Baldur's Gate. Now, how was he supposed to find this Lesviel Turnardi? He couldn't spot any obvious person who seemed to greet new students. Maybe if he dared to ask someone. His old self would avoid that to any cost, but maybe this would be a chance to reinvent himself. He was certainly not here primarily for making acquaintances but looking around at all the people that had yet to sneer at him for his appearance he felt like maybe making a friend would not be impossible. Most of the other students looked like they were heading somewhere but then there was a girl standing like she was waiting for someone. Silently wishing himself good luck, the purple-skinned tiefling steps forward to the red-haired girl. "Excuse me, I just arrived, you wouldn't know where to find Resident Assistant Lesviel Turnardi?" He says, clearly nervous but offering a friendly smile.
Mae arrived on schedule at the teleport area, taking a moment to steady herself as well from the planeshift, before assessing that all of her belongings had made it, then strode off toward the dormitory after a ride on the automata carriage which she thought was just splendid. The campus was a real marvel to her, as there simply wasn't anything like at all where she came from. The entire place seemed to brim with possibility and magic, no doubt she would find endless inspiration here at the school. Taking the stop off by the residences, she took an easy gait toward Dresar hall, as if relishing every sense around her while still not tarrying too long. On the way she fixed her golden hair and student robes, which she thought were a little drab but easy enough to deal with later probably. She pulled out the letter again and checked the name: Lesviel Turnardi. It mentioned they lived on the ground floor as well so she figured it shouldn't be that hard to find them, right? She smiled at various persons as she approached the hall, but not her usual, overly warm smile, but more reserved as she really didn't want history to repeat itself. Intent on finding the Resident Assistant though, she began to walk right by the small gathering of students in search of the soon-to-be familiar Lesviel Turnardi and then hopefully find her room as well.
It's with an unceremonious "UMPH" that Mei arrives at Strixhaven University. On her rear.
Emerging from a tree just beyond the entrance to the residence hall, Mei falls out of the portal formed in the ridges of bark in a flurry of robes and arcane butterflies and books that scatter every which way. While transport via plants is extremely practical as a means of quick travel, she always finds the brevity of the spell stressful and had haphazardly hurried through, tripping on her robes just as she entered. Rubbing her sore bum with a grimace that shifts into a sheepish grin as she looks over shoulder, she reassures the faces of her family still looking through the other side, "I-I'm okay! ThankyouIloveyoualltalksoon!" before the magical link closes.
With a sigh, she tucks a bit of bangs behind her ear and, as she glances about the area, her bruised derrière is quickly forgotten. So many people and grand buildings, the university is a metropolis all its own. Squinting up against the sun--'Is that Karu or Ezza?' she wonders--Mei can already feel the arcane energy that permeates through this place, a tapestry of magic threaded and knotted and tangled through the cobblestones and plants and every being that walks past. She shifts in such a way that one of the great Star Arches blocks the glare of the sun, allowing her to blink and marvel up at them. There is far more power here than in the mystical, Fey-blessed wisteria forest of her village. And if there is anywhere she might learn why her Dreams have changed and how to harness them, this is surely it, where that underlying magical reality rests at her very fingertips.
Shaking herself from her awe, Mei begins to recollect her things, dusting off her pillow and shoving books back into her bag.
First order of business: A nap. No, no. No time for that.
Caffeine? Nope, you had three coffees before leaving.
Find the RA. Yes, that's the one.
Mei stretches for a book that's fallen just out of reach, startling with a furious blush when she realizes the cover and title, Fifty Shades of Greyhawk, is on full display to every passerby. She scrambles for it.
Knap, clutching tightly aloft a giant eagle, squeals in excitement: "We're here, we're here!" As the sprawling grounds and mesmerising sights of Strixhaven come into view. With a gentle tilt of its wing the eagle begins to make a descent toward the aerodrome where other airborne arrivals are also making their way.
Before the eagle lands, Knap leaps from its back and lands onto the solid ground, glancing around him in wonder. The eagle lands as feathers meld together reforming into skin, fur, and spiralled horns, and emerging from the cacophony of forms the eagle-come-Satyr stands proud, austere beside Knap.
"Thanks Unc'' Knap says as he gives the older Satyr an heartfelt hug. "Study hard, remember who you are and where you come from" his uncle says returning the hug and fixing Knap's hand-me-down top hat and formal jacket that had been disheveled during the journey.
And with that, Knap trots off following the procession of students making their way out of the aerodrome toward what he presumes to be residence hall.
Arriving at the hall, Knap is unable contain his excitement and to anyone that appears less in awe and confusion than he, Knap says as though he'd practiced it a million times:
"Good day, my name is Knap Shaka-Grasspear and I'm looking for Lesviel Turnardi?" Knap turns to another, "Good day, my name is Knap Shaka-Grasspear and I'm looking for Lesviel Turnardi?" He continues this earnestly and without embarrassment.
Chara springs into existence seemingly out of nowhere, feeling a little bit queasy from the unfamiliar sensation of being teleported across the multiverse. She flaps her large, bat-like wings a few times to steady herself, leaning on her staff.
"Well... that was... something," the tiefling girl says.
Once she's regained her footing a bit, she runs a hand through her silver hair and looks around at the school. The campus looks absolutely huge to her! She's never been anywhere like this, or even remotely similar, in her entire life! She's used to living in a small town, usually trying to convince her fellow villagers that no, she wasn't a creature straight from the Nine Hells and no, she wasn't going to steal their souls.
As she scans the area, her gaze falls upon... a devil? Like her? Chara stares at the purple tiefling for a few moments in surprise. She's never actually seen another tiefling before. It takes her a moment to realize that she's being a bit rude and quickly decides to speak with him rather than gawking.
Gathering up her courage, she walks up to the purple tiefling and the red-haired girl.
"Um... excuse me... do either of you know where to find the Resident Assistant?" she asks, still stealing glances at the purple tiefling's horns. "Also... um... sorry if it seems like I'm staring... it's just... I've never seen someone like me before."
(Contrary to the picture, Chara is actually wearing her uniform right now)
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Knapquickly finds that most of those he speaks to simply ignore him and keep moving along. It is the fifth person he asks, a gnome woman with thin round glasses, that finally replies. She's wearing a uniform of blue and green. "Oh! I'm sorry, I don't know any Lesviel Turnardi. But you must be a new student? Ah, I remember my first days, it was quite the chaotic day, and I was so lost! It turns out... Oh, you probably don't want to hear about me. Do you know what hall you are looking for?" A quick conversation and she is telling you, "Desar Hall is still a bit further down towards the Biblioplex. You're almost there!" she says encouragingly. She parts ways with you, leaving you to follow her directions to the building, which isn't far away.
Meiis also still trying to get to Dresar Hall as well. As she tries to corral her book, she is quite certain a passing dryad boy clearly saw the cover. Though he keeps moving, at the same time a young woman, dressed in a black and white uniform, comes alongside, scooping up the book and pressing it to you so the cover is no longer showing. "Are you alright?" she says, her voice filled with concern. Lowering her voice she adds, "Don't worry about it, there are a lot of us that like that book. I'm sorry but I'm going to be late for my shift if I don't go. Best of luck!" she calls out as she hurries away.
Mellori is looking about when she is interrupted by both an Earth Genasi and a Tiefling. And they are both asking about Lesviel! And then a second Tiefling approached as well. Mellori had kind of noticed though that what she presumes are new students seem to be lining up to talk to those in the colored uniforms at the tables. There is a bit of a long line however.
Maeheads straight on in to what is normally the dining hall. She too noticed the students queuing up to reach the tables. Examining the signs, she sees there are spots divided up by floor. She easily pinpoints the one with the "4" on it.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Knap is delighted that someone, anyone, took the time to direct him towards where he needed to go; he knows he's prone to wandering and taking the scenic road to any destination. Committing the kind gnome's face to memory with the intent of one day returning the favour, Knap dreamily dawdles and zigzags onward offering druidic salutations to the occasional tree he passes. He knows they won't respond to him just yet but still considers it a curtesy to let them know he's there.
Convinced he's arrived at the front of Dresar Hall, Knap pauses. He strokes his soft, patchy and newly developing beard with one hand; the other hand nervously reaches into a pouch tied to his belt, a pouch full of pebbles collected from his pond-side home that is no more. He takes a deep breath. He enters the building.
Knap notices students forming long lines and he joins one after a casual Eeny, meeny, miny, moe 3. (d4 rolled)
Mellori’s face shows her surprise that she, of all people, is being asked for directions. Firstly, she is less than comfortable that she does not know the answer to the question – she really does not like being caught out. Secondly, she is not used to being the centre of attention and despite her self-belief that she is socially aware, anyone who knows her will share a different story.
“I…um…” she replies, smoothing her hands on the front of her trousers, “that is…I’m not entirely sure. I was hoping someone else could tell me. But given we’re all looking for the same person, there ought to be safety in numbers.”She wrinkles her brow. “Although that doesn’t really make sense, does it?”
She glances around, “I see there are different queues, so one of them is bound to be the right one. We could join one each and once one of us knows we’re in the right one, let the others know. Or we could stick together. I’m OK with either option. Or a third choice if someone has a better idea?”
She takes a deep breath, slightly breathless, and her cheeks slightly flushed now.
Guardok finally looks up at the red haired woman, and notices the pair of tieflings also talking to her as he mumbles, "404".
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt", he says in that same low gravelly voice. "Hm, everyone else seems to know where to go", he adds looking at the different queues and trying to work out what differentiates them whilst being surrounded by taller folk blocking his view.
He idly takes one of the maracas from his belt, and starts to spin it between the fingers of one hand, making a sound similar to rain falling on a roof.
As her hand touches the other young woman's, Mei's dark amethyst eyes go glassy with a waking Dream--a flash of something in the woman's future, impossible to interpret without the cards to guide her. By the time she regains her wits about her, the Silverquill student is hurrying off. A soft squeak of a "Thank you!" chases after her, accompanied by an owlish blink-blink before Mei tucks the novel back amongst her more academic tomes.
'...a lot of us that like that book.'
Her lips curve into a tired smile as she walks towards Dresar Hall, daydreaming all the while about the other sorts of like-minded people she might meet here. But the hand that touched the other student's fists in the fabric over her stomach and a distant voice cautions her from a memory, 'Keep these new Dreams to yourself, kohana. You don't want to scare any new friends away.'
The smile fades.
Eventually, she enters the grand, repurposed space and retrieves a letter from her pocket. Dresar Hall #402. She looks at the marked tables at the head of each queue. "Four-oh-two. Fourth floor. Table... 4," she affirms aloud, briefly distracted by the sound of rain as she passes a genasi with eye-catching turquoise hair. With the reassuring bounce of her tarot cards in their hip holster, she heads for the end of the line, eyes scrunching briefly shut in a yawn. Sleep evaded her for a number of reasons the night before, only one of which was the excitement about today. But between her closed eyes and mind full of the relaxing lull of rain, the line arrives far sooner than anticipated and she bumps into the last person to join it.
"Oh," she jolts, voice soft and dreamy even when startled. "S-sorry, 'scuse me! I should have been paying attention." Bowing deep in apology, she gazes up, then up a little further, at the tall, golden-haired student before her. Supposing she might as well make introductions seeing as she all but accosted her, Mei straightens and frees a hand from the grip on her pillow, offering it to shake. "Mei Fujimori! A first year like, well, everyone else here I suppose!" she smiles, looking around at all the identical first year uniforms."Are you... also on the fourth floor?"
((Using her passive investigation of 16 to infer table 4 is the right one if that's okay!))
The purple-skinned tiefling has barely opened his mouth before his attention is drawn to winged tiefling girl coming up behind him. Turning to face her he is at first awed by her appearance, almost taking a step back. To him she looks absolutely radiant, and he just stares at her at first, mouth slightly open, quite awkwardly he realizes after a moment. He feels his cheeks get hot but he is relieved by knowing his purple skin is not making his blush so obvious. She wasn't the first tiefling he had met, the streets of Baldur's Gate had their fair share of devil-spawns, but he had only read about those endowed with wings, they looked quite impressive on her, she looked quite impressive. If it wasn't for being awed, almost intimidated, he would likely realize the tiefling girl was also very pretty.
He snaps out of his staring as the red-haired girl speaks. Was she nervous too? She was so pretty after all, whatever did she have to fear from people around her? For some reason he had thought he was the only one being nervous about being here while the others would be much more comfortable with being in a new place with new people, so many people...
The genasi seemed more relaxed though, casually using some kind of instrument to make strange noises, not at all afraid of drawing attention to himself it seemed, the purple-skinned tiefling realizes he deeply envies that. Maybe he would feel more secure and confident one day, maybe studying the confident genasi would help him with that.
Considering the options the red-haired girl had suggested he decides to stay with the group. After all none of them had frowned upon his arguably menacing presence so better stick with them if they'd let him. "I am Malvyn by the way..." He says, trying to keep his voice steady in front of the girls. "...I don't suppose you know a..." pausing briefly to look at his acceptance letter. "... a Knap Shaka-Grasspear." He asks in a polite tone. "And sorry if I mispronounced that."
“Mei. Mei Fujimori,”Mellori blurted out. Spurred on by the purple-skinned tiefling’s introduction, she remembered she had a second name she could use. “Not me, by the way. No, not at all. But that’s my room-mate. I don’t suppose any of you are Mei? That’s the name Mei, not ‘my’ as in belonging to me. I’m Mellori. Mellori Bragai.”
If her cheeks could have gone a deeper shade of red, they would have by now. “Did any of that makes sense? Am I babbling? I'll stop now...”
The apparent nervousness of the pretty red-haired girl was strangely relaxing to the purple-skinned tiefling, he was evidently not the only one feeling anxious over being here. "I made sense of that..." The purple-skinned tiefling hears soemone say, and then realizes it was himself speaking. "I...I mean it made perfect sense to me, I mean to us..."He says finally, looking around at the others for confirmation to try and comfort the girl whose name he thinks is Mellori. "And I don't know any Mei but I'm sure we will find her for you." He says, offering a friendly smile.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After a short time in line Knap realises he's probably found himself in the wrong place again. He breaks away and begins wandering through the crowd until he hears the sweet sound of rain. It remind him of home and he closes his eyes to listen more intently. As he does…Knap swears he hears his name said aloud.
Mae watched the various other students getting in line in the hall with some curiosity and her own brand of nervousness, but it was all the same in the end to her as she was rather used to seeing and meeting new people regularly. At least this time, she thought to herself, they are not here to see me. No pressure to perform. She had almost begun to daydream a bit while waiting in line when there was bump to her backside. She turned around to see another girl behind her and giggled softly. "Why hello, Mei Fujimori! Yes, I believe most of us here are first year students. We...well most of us are wearing the same uniform robes so I think that makes sense." She smiled a little, "Are you all right? Or do you usually run into people to greet them?"Her voice carried with warm, soft levity. "I am Maeleve Fairlight, but everyone calls me Mae." She reached out a hand to either help or shake, while simultaneously taking a step back to keep up with the slowly moving line.
Guardok sees there are signs hung above the tables. The first has 2, 3, 4. The second has 5, 6, 7. The third 8, 9, 10. The last has 11, 12. There is a line for each table.
Mei tries to figure out her bearings as she entered Dresar Hall. She sees the signs as Guardok had. It seems the sign with the "4" on it must be the floor, so that would be the first table. Of course, she happens to bump into Mae as she gets into line.
Knap is able to find the source of the rain-like sound eventually. It seems to be an Earth Genasi who is gathered with a few others. Just as he approaches he heard a purple Tiefling mention his name.
“Hm, I wonder why those numbers above the tables don’t start from one”, Guardok says idly, still spinning one of his maracas. “Perhaps it is to do with our room number, mine starts with a 4, so I go to the first table”, he adds before realising the people he was stood with were talking.
”Oh, no I am not Knap Shaka-Grasspear or Mei Fujimori. Names Guardok”, he says smiling up at the others and showing off his polished turquoise gemlike teeth.
”I think I am going to join the queue for the first table, because my room starts with a 4”.
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Move in day!
It is a brisk autumn day as you arrive at Strixhaven University. The sun is shining from a sky filled with puffy white clouds. It lends a little bit of warmth, except when a passing cloud floats past.
Those arriving from other planes had received a note containing a magic phrase to be used at the appointed time. 'The number of teleportation circles is limited. Failure to adhere to the printed time may result in failure of the spell and in rare cases mislocation.' the note had read. These students ended up in a large hall supported by columns on all sides. They opened out to the central campus. From there it was a fairly short walk to Dresar Hall.
Those arriving by air had been directed to the aerodrome, a bit removed from the central campus. After debarking from whatever mode of transportation they had employed, there was a brief carriage ride to the dormitory.
And those taking more standard transports were directed straight to the residence hall. There, numerous attendants and helpers directed everyone to quickly unload so that the area could be kept clear. Students were pointed towards the building entrance.
There was a bustle of activity as students of all kinds were arriving. Many were human, halfling, elf, gnome or dwarf. But wow a few other races were to be seen - a few genasi, a goblin, several Loxodon, and a few others as well.
The directions had said to find your Resident Assistant Lesviel Turnardi. But the letter had not said how exactly to do that. There seem to be tables set up in the dining hall, staffed by students wearing various colors of robes.
(Time to jump in! Feel free to describe your charcter amidst the chaos. And as charcters 'find' each other they are more than welcome to interact!)
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
Wow! It seemed such an innocuous word for such an event. From the magical and slightly disconcerting inter-planar transportation to Arcavios via the Plane Shift spell, Mellori barely had time to reflect on the brief feeling of nausea before her senses were quite literally overwhelmed. Sights and sounds greeted her and the images she’d seen in the tomes she’d read did not do the university justice.
From the sheer scale of the place to the fascinating carriages drawn by horse-like automata, everywhere she looked she saw something new and amazing.
She stood there, feeling oddly stiff in her new uniform of black, white, and grey – yet simultaneously proud to wear the clothes that made her a part of something. Yes, she had family but she always felt like a fish out of water. Her kin were humble fishing folk, whilst she yearned for something else. Something more. But the ‘what else’ and ‘what more’ she’d never been able to identify.
Until today.
She stood, blinking in the autumn sun – yet at the same time glad for the warm tunic she wore. Aware she was supposed to be somewhere else, she continued her walk to Dresar Hall, her meagre possessions carried in a single backpack.
She smiled at the cosmopolitan nature of the university. She’d seen few elves in her day and one halfling – but dwarves and…yes, she was sure that was a goblin. It made her realise how sheltered she had been on her islands – and how lucky she was to be here now.
She headed into the dining hall, expecting to meet her Resident Assistant. But who exactly was Lesviel Turnardi? She had no idea of their gender, let alone their race!
So she stood there, marvelling at the bustle of activity and simultaneously rooted to the spot, unsure what to do next.
Guardok stands amidst the hustle and bustle, much akin to a small outcropping of gem encrusted rock, were it to have been dressed up in brightly coloured clothes. His skin is a polished grey hue, and instead of hair there are turquoise gems spiking out from the top of his head, his eyes sharing the same colour. He wears the costume of his troupe still, mostly made of a flamboyant burnt orange colour, rather than the school uniform provided. He has travelled light, a small rucksack sitting alongside a lute on his back, and at his waist a rapier and dagger share the space with a pair of maracas.
Standing perfectly still, as if rooted to the spot, his head is angled up as he watches a pair of Loxodon walk by. Once they are passed the sight of the entrance to Dresar Hall comes back into view, where he had been directed to go by some attendants. He starts to make his way towards it, seemingly gliding across the ground as he does so, his steps somehow merging with the ground under his feet. Once inside, he spots the crowds milling around some tables in the dining hall, and makes his way across.
He was used to crowds, but he wasn’t used to being lost amongst them. Standing next to a young human lady with red hair, he digs into his backpack for the letter he received. Without even turning to look at her, he asks in a low gravelly voice that belies his stature, “Any idea which of these people is Lesviel Turnardi?”.
Apprehensively stepping into Dresar Hall comes a purple-skinned tiefling, large horns curving back over his dark hair. His fiery red eyes darting back and forth as if assessing threats, social threats, but there is also a hint of curiosity in them making him continue into the dining hall. The tiefling is not yet wearing the first year uniform of the univeristy, instead purple robes of a scholar. He carries a shoulder bag likely holding some large books among other things, one purple hand on it to make sure it is always there.
The tiefling was certainly no stranger to the wonders of magic, but the transdimensional journey had been his first and he still felt a bit unbalanced by the experience. Still, the prospect of mastering planar travel was something he wanted dearly and would devote much time for during the coming years, of that he was determined.
Seeing the multitude of races represented made him relax somewhat, maybe being a tiefling would not be such a stigma as he had felt it was back home in Baldur's Gate. Now, how was he supposed to find this Lesviel Turnardi? He couldn't spot any obvious person who seemed to greet new students. Maybe if he dared to ask someone. His old self would avoid that to any cost, but maybe this would be a chance to reinvent himself. He was certainly not here primarily for making acquaintances but looking around at all the people that had yet to sneer at him for his appearance he felt like maybe making a friend would not be impossible. Most of the other students looked like they were heading somewhere but then there was a girl standing like she was waiting for someone. Silently wishing himself good luck, the purple-skinned tiefling steps forward to the red-haired girl. "Excuse me, I just arrived, you wouldn't know where to find Resident Assistant Lesviel Turnardi?" He says, clearly nervous but offering a friendly smile.
Mae arrived on schedule at the teleport area, taking a moment to steady herself as well from the planeshift, before assessing that all of her belongings had made it, then strode off toward the dormitory after a ride on the automata carriage which she thought was just splendid. The campus was a real marvel to her, as there simply wasn't anything like at all where she came from. The entire place seemed to brim with possibility and magic, no doubt she would find endless inspiration here at the school. Taking the stop off by the residences, she took an easy gait toward Dresar hall, as if relishing every sense around her while still not tarrying too long. On the way she fixed her golden hair and student robes, which she thought were a little drab but easy enough to deal with later probably. She pulled out the letter again and checked the name: Lesviel Turnardi. It mentioned they lived on the ground floor as well so she figured it shouldn't be that hard to find them, right? She smiled at various persons as she approached the hall, but not her usual, overly warm smile, but more reserved as she really didn't want history to repeat itself. Intent on finding the Resident Assistant though, she began to walk right by the small gathering of students in search of the soon-to-be familiar Lesviel Turnardi and then hopefully find her room as well.
It's with an unceremonious "UMPH" that Mei arrives at Strixhaven University. On her rear.
Emerging from a tree just beyond the entrance to the residence hall, Mei falls out of the portal formed in the ridges of bark in a flurry of robes and arcane butterflies and books that scatter every which way. While transport via plants is extremely practical as a means of quick travel, she always finds the brevity of the spell stressful and had haphazardly hurried through, tripping on her robes just as she entered. Rubbing her sore bum with a grimace that shifts into a sheepish grin as she looks over shoulder, she reassures the faces of her family still looking through the other side, "I-I'm okay! ThankyouIloveyoualltalksoon!" before the magical link closes.
With a sigh, she tucks a bit of bangs behind her ear and, as she glances about the area, her bruised derrière is quickly forgotten. So many people and grand buildings, the university is a metropolis all its own. Squinting up against the sun--'Is that Karu or Ezza?' she wonders--Mei can already feel the arcane energy that permeates through this place, a tapestry of magic threaded and knotted and tangled through the cobblestones and plants and every being that walks past. She shifts in such a way that one of the great Star Arches blocks the glare of the sun, allowing her to blink and marvel up at them. There is far more power here than in the mystical, Fey-blessed wisteria forest of her village. And if there is anywhere she might learn why her Dreams have changed and how to harness them, this is surely it, where that underlying magical reality rests at her very fingertips.
Shaking herself from her awe, Mei begins to recollect her things, dusting off her pillow and shoving books back into her bag.
First order of business: A nap. No, no. No time for that.
Caffeine? Nope, you had three coffees before leaving.
Find the RA. Yes, that's the one.
Mei stretches for a book that's fallen just out of reach, startling with a furious blush when she realizes the cover and title, Fifty Shades of Greyhawk, is on full display to every passerby. She scrambles for it.
Knap, clutching tightly aloft a giant eagle, squeals in excitement: "We're here, we're here!" As the sprawling grounds and mesmerising sights of Strixhaven come into view.
With a gentle tilt of its wing the eagle begins to make a descent toward the aerodrome where other airborne arrivals are also making their way.
Before the eagle lands, Knap leaps from its back and lands onto the solid ground, glancing around him in wonder. The eagle lands as feathers meld together reforming into skin, fur, and spiralled horns, and emerging from the cacophony of forms the eagle-come-Satyr stands proud, austere beside Knap.
"Thanks Unc'' Knap says as he gives the older Satyr an heartfelt hug. "Study hard, remember who you are and where you come from" his uncle says returning the hug and fixing Knap's hand-me-down top hat and formal jacket that had been disheveled during the journey.
And with that, Knap trots off following the procession of students making their way out of the aerodrome toward what he presumes to be residence hall.
Arriving at the hall, Knap is unable contain his excitement and to anyone that appears less in awe and confusion than he, Knap says as though he'd practiced it a million times:
"Good day, my name is Knap Shaka-Grasspear and I'm looking for Lesviel Turnardi?" Knap turns to another, "Good day, my name is Knap Shaka-Grasspear and I'm looking for Lesviel Turnardi?" He continues this earnestly and without embarrassment.
Chara springs into existence seemingly out of nowhere, feeling a little bit queasy from the unfamiliar sensation of being teleported across the multiverse. She flaps her large, bat-like wings a few times to steady herself, leaning on her staff.
"Well... that was... something," the tiefling girl says.
Once she's regained her footing a bit, she runs a hand through her silver hair and looks around at the school. The campus looks absolutely huge to her! She's never been anywhere like this, or even remotely similar, in her entire life! She's used to living in a small town, usually trying to convince her fellow villagers that no, she wasn't a creature straight from the Nine Hells and no, she wasn't going to steal their souls.
As she scans the area, her gaze falls upon... a devil? Like her? Chara stares at the purple tiefling for a few moments in surprise. She's never actually seen another tiefling before. It takes her a moment to realize that she's being a bit rude and quickly decides to speak with him rather than gawking.
Gathering up her courage, she walks up to the purple tiefling and the red-haired girl.
"Um... excuse me... do either of you know where to find the Resident Assistant?" she asks, still stealing glances at the purple tiefling's horns. "Also... um... sorry if it seems like I'm staring... it's just... I've never seen someone like me before."
(Contrary to the picture, Chara is actually wearing her uniform right now)
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Knap quickly finds that most of those he speaks to simply ignore him and keep moving along. It is the fifth person he asks, a gnome woman with thin round glasses, that finally replies. She's wearing a uniform of blue and green. "Oh! I'm sorry, I don't know any Lesviel Turnardi. But you must be a new student? Ah, I remember my first days, it was quite the chaotic day, and I was so lost! It turns out... Oh, you probably don't want to hear about me. Do you know what hall you are looking for?" A quick conversation and she is telling you, "Desar Hall is still a bit further down towards the Biblioplex. You're almost there!" she says encouragingly. She parts ways with you, leaving you to follow her directions to the building, which isn't far away.
Mei is also still trying to get to Dresar Hall as well. As she tries to corral her book, she is quite certain a passing dryad boy clearly saw the cover. Though he keeps moving, at the same time a young woman, dressed in a black and white uniform, comes alongside, scooping up the book and pressing it to you so the cover is no longer showing. "Are you alright?" she says, her voice filled with concern. Lowering her voice she adds, "Don't worry about it, there are a lot of us that like that book. I'm sorry but I'm going to be late for my shift if I don't go. Best of luck!" she calls out as she hurries away.
Mellori is looking about when she is interrupted by both an Earth Genasi and a Tiefling. And they are both asking about Lesviel! And then a second Tiefling approached as well. Mellori had kind of noticed though that what she presumes are new students seem to be lining up to talk to those in the colored uniforms at the tables. There is a bit of a long line however.
Mae heads straight on in to what is normally the dining hall. She too noticed the students queuing up to reach the tables. Examining the signs, she sees there are spots divided up by floor. She easily pinpoints the one with the "4" on it.
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Knap is delighted that someone, anyone, took the time to direct him towards where he needed to go; he knows he's prone to wandering and taking the scenic road to any destination. Committing the kind gnome's face to memory with the intent of one day returning the favour, Knap dreamily dawdles and zigzags onward offering druidic salutations to the occasional tree he passes. He knows they won't respond to him just yet but still considers it a curtesy to let them know he's there.
Convinced he's arrived at the front of Dresar Hall, Knap pauses. He strokes his soft, patchy and newly developing beard with one hand; the other hand nervously reaches into a pouch tied to his belt, a pouch full of pebbles collected from his pond-side home that is no more. He takes a deep breath. He enters the building.
Knap notices students forming long lines and he joins one after a casual Eeny, meeny, miny, moe 3. (d4 rolled)
Mellori’s face shows her surprise that she, of all people, is being asked for directions. Firstly, she is less than comfortable that she does not know the answer to the question – she really does not like being caught out. Secondly, she is not used to being the centre of attention and despite her self-belief that she is socially aware, anyone who knows her will share a different story.
“I…um…” she replies, smoothing her hands on the front of her trousers, “that is…I’m not entirely sure. I was hoping someone else could tell me. But given we’re all looking for the same person, there ought to be safety in numbers.” She wrinkles her brow. “Although that doesn’t really make sense, does it?”
She glances around, “I see there are different queues, so one of them is bound to be the right one. We could join one each and once one of us knows we’re in the right one, let the others know. Or we could stick together. I’m OK with either option. Or a third choice if someone has a better idea?”
She takes a deep breath, slightly breathless, and her cheeks slightly flushed now.
Guardok finally looks up at the red haired woman, and notices the pair of tieflings also talking to her as he mumbles, "404".
"Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt", he says in that same low gravelly voice. "Hm, everyone else seems to know where to go", he adds looking at the different queues and trying to work out what differentiates them whilst being surrounded by taller folk blocking his view.
He idly takes one of the maracas from his belt, and starts to spin it between the fingers of one hand, making a sound similar to rain falling on a roof.
Perception: 9+5=14 (Passive: 15)
As her hand touches the other young woman's, Mei's dark amethyst eyes go glassy with a waking Dream--a flash of something in the woman's future, impossible to interpret without the cards to guide her. By the time she regains her wits about her, the Silverquill student is hurrying off. A soft squeak of a "Thank you!" chases after her, accompanied by an owlish blink-blink before Mei tucks the novel back amongst her more academic tomes.
'...a lot of us that like that book.'
Her lips curve into a tired smile as she walks towards Dresar Hall, daydreaming all the while about the other sorts of like-minded people she might meet here. But the hand that touched the other student's fists in the fabric over her stomach and a distant voice cautions her from a memory, 'Keep these new Dreams to yourself, kohana. You don't want to scare any new friends away.'
The smile fades.
Eventually, she enters the grand, repurposed space and retrieves a letter from her pocket. Dresar Hall #402. She looks at the marked tables at the head of each queue. "Four-oh-two. Fourth floor. Table... 4," she affirms aloud, briefly distracted by the sound of rain as she passes a genasi with eye-catching turquoise hair. With the reassuring bounce of her tarot cards in their hip holster, she heads for the end of the line, eyes scrunching briefly shut in a yawn. Sleep evaded her for a number of reasons the night before, only one of which was the excitement about today. But between her closed eyes and mind full of the relaxing lull of rain, the line arrives far sooner than anticipated and she bumps into the last person to join it.
"Oh," she jolts, voice soft and dreamy even when startled. "S-sorry, 'scuse me! I should have been paying attention." Bowing deep in apology, she gazes up, then up a little further, at the tall, golden-haired student before her. Supposing she might as well make introductions seeing as she all but accosted her, Mei straightens and frees a hand from the grip on her pillow, offering it to shake. "Mei Fujimori! A first year like, well, everyone else here I suppose!" she smiles, looking around at all the identical first year uniforms. "Are you... also on the fourth floor?"
((Using her passive investigation of 16 to infer table 4 is the right one if that's okay!))
The purple-skinned tiefling has barely opened his mouth before his attention is drawn to winged tiefling girl coming up behind him. Turning to face her he is at first awed by her appearance, almost taking a step back. To him she looks absolutely radiant, and he just stares at her at first, mouth slightly open, quite awkwardly he realizes after a moment. He feels his cheeks get hot but he is relieved by knowing his purple skin is not making his blush so obvious. She wasn't the first tiefling he had met, the streets of Baldur's Gate had their fair share of devil-spawns, but he had only read about those endowed with wings, they looked quite impressive on her, she looked quite impressive. If it wasn't for being awed, almost intimidated, he would likely realize the tiefling girl was also very pretty.
He snaps out of his staring as the red-haired girl speaks. Was she nervous too? She was so pretty after all, whatever did she have to fear from people around her? For some reason he had thought he was the only one being nervous about being here while the others would be much more comfortable with being in a new place with new people, so many people...
The genasi seemed more relaxed though, casually using some kind of instrument to make strange noises, not at all afraid of drawing attention to himself it seemed, the purple-skinned tiefling realizes he deeply envies that. Maybe he would feel more secure and confident one day, maybe studying the confident genasi would help him with that.
Considering the options the red-haired girl had suggested he decides to stay with the group. After all none of them had frowned upon his arguably menacing presence so better stick with them if they'd let him. "I am Malvyn by the way..." He says, trying to keep his voice steady in front of the girls. "...I don't suppose you know a..." pausing briefly to look at his acceptance letter. "... a Knap Shaka-Grasspear." He asks in a polite tone. "And sorry if I mispronounced that."
“Mei. Mei Fujimori,” Mellori blurted out. Spurred on by the purple-skinned tiefling’s introduction, she remembered she had a second name she could use. “Not me, by the way. No, not at all. But that’s my room-mate. I don’t suppose any of you are Mei? That’s the name Mei, not ‘my’ as in belonging to me. I’m Mellori. Mellori Bragai.”
If her cheeks could have gone a deeper shade of red, they would have by now. “Did any of that makes sense? Am I babbling? I'll stop now...”
The apparent nervousness of the pretty red-haired girl was strangely relaxing to the purple-skinned tiefling, he was evidently not the only one feeling anxious over being here. "I made sense of that..." The purple-skinned tiefling hears soemone say, and then realizes it was himself speaking. "I...I mean it made perfect sense to me, I mean to us..." He says finally, looking around at the others for confirmation to try and comfort the girl whose name he thinks is Mellori. "And I don't know any Mei but I'm sure we will find her for you." He says, offering a friendly smile.
After a short time in line Knap realises he's probably found himself in the wrong place again. He breaks away and begins wandering through the crowd until he hears the sweet sound of rain. It remind him of home and he closes his eyes to listen more intently. As he does…Knap swears he hears his name said aloud.
Perception 15
Mae watched the various other students getting in line in the hall with some curiosity and her own brand of nervousness, but it was all the same in the end to her as she was rather used to seeing and meeting new people regularly. At least this time, she thought to herself, they are not here to see me. No pressure to perform. She had almost begun to daydream a bit while waiting in line when there was bump to her backside. She turned around to see another girl behind her and giggled softly. "Why hello, Mei Fujimori! Yes, I believe most of us here are first year students. We...well most of us are wearing the same uniform robes so I think that makes sense." She smiled a little, "Are you all right? Or do you usually run into people to greet them?" Her voice carried with warm, soft levity. "I am Maeleve Fairlight, but everyone calls me Mae." She reached out a hand to either help or shake, while simultaneously taking a step back to keep up with the slowly moving line.
Guardok sees there are signs hung above the tables. The first has 2, 3, 4. The second has 5, 6, 7. The third 8, 9, 10. The last has 11, 12. There is a line for each table.
Mei tries to figure out her bearings as she entered Dresar Hall. She sees the signs as Guardok had. It seems the sign with the "4" on it must be the floor, so that would be the first table. Of course, she happens to bump into Mae as she gets into line.
Knap is able to find the source of the rain-like sound eventually. It seems to be an Earth Genasi who is gathered with a few others. Just as he approaches he heard a purple Tiefling mention his name.
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“Hm, I wonder why those numbers above the tables don’t start from one”, Guardok says idly, still spinning one of his maracas. “Perhaps it is to do with our room number, mine starts with a 4, so I go to the first table”, he adds before realising the people he was stood with were talking.
”Oh, no I am not Knap Shaka-Grasspear or Mei Fujimori. Names Guardok”, he says smiling up at the others and showing off his polished turquoise gemlike teeth.
”I think I am going to join the queue for the first table, because my room starts with a 4”.