Zemeia nods as she sits. "Thank you. I have already eaten, but I appreciate the offer." She turns her almost too intense eyes on Fianna and says, "You were one of only a handful of groups to complete all elements of the scavenger hunt, and you were also the only students to run toward an unknown and potentially dangerous situation. I believe that makes you all uniquely adaptive and efficient. And these are skills I want to cultivate in myself." Then to Darby, she says, "Your delivery of the poem was impressive from the parts I was able to hear. Though I believe cultural differences may be limiting my ability to understand the deeper metaphorical implications of it." She takes a moment to breathe and continues, her eyes moving among the group. "I would have to say my talents lie in focus and dedication to improving myself. My skills are more of the martial sort, but I have learned how to channel some of my natural abilities as a hell-touched and hope to improve further through my studies. As for why I am here ..."Her gaze shifts to the middle distance and she goes quiet for a pause that stretches to the nearer edge of uncomfortable. Then her eyes focus again and she says, "I am here to further my studies as a potential heir to my father's legacy, and at great expense, as my mother often reminds me."
As Zemeia concludes her introduction, a human male in sharply pressed Silverquill clothing, hair affixed with precision and carrying his own air of importance about him, walks by, seeming to catch the end of her speech. "Ah, someone else who understands how things run around here." His eyes wander over the group for a brief moment, quickly scrutinizing you all. "The name is Grayson Wildemere, entrepreneur and columnist for the Strixhaven Star. I've heard about what happened earlier. That was you all? But not you." He looks back at Zemeia. "Perhaps just as well. It was rather muddled affair as I hear it. Would any of you like to give a comment for our first upcoming issue?" You see a small pad of paper and a quill appear floating next to him for a moment.
Aard'len gives the briefest of appraisals to the newest face to introduce themself, and from the manner of Grayson's question realises that whatever is said will get twisted to suit his own impression. His first thought of saying nothing at all gets quickly dismissed for a similar reason, "How have you heard it told so far? We can correct any inconsistencies in your data from our own perspectives. It would be tragic if the first issue were to contain errors."
Addressing Grayson, Katar says "It was certainly strange, but I don't think you want to hear what I have to say." He gestures to Fianna, Darby, and Aard'len '"They're the ones who killed it, not me."
Grayson chuckled once. "I never make errors, but of course I'd be delighted to hear from the source directly! You were there in the Biblioplex when a great commotion started? And what were you doing? How did you find the monster? How did you subdue it?" He continues on for a minute with a few other...questionably useful questions. "Ah good, and your names?" After taking down whoever offers their names, he bids you all farewell and hurries off to meet up with some other students, where he can be seen scribbling in his notebook.
Fianna lies. She lies her ass off. She lies about her name, about the commotion, about the monster and mostly about her suspicions that someone somehow lured it there as a prank. “My name is Cruella DeVille,” she starts and it just continues. The mimic becomes a hellhound “more a hell puppy, really. A puppy of purgatory perhaps?” And the 20 second battle was a half an hour war that left many wounded.
Zemeia's eyes grow wide at Fianna's blatant exaggeration, and she actually tries to cover a smile that starts to bloom on her face. Once Grayson leaves, she clears her throat lightly and turns to Katar. "My father is Vaulcroth. He has many titles, but those are irrelevant to me. On my home plane he is a tyrannical ruler uses fear and brutality to stay in power. He united a continent under one banner, but also soaked the land in blood. He has decreed that his children, myself and my siblings, must prove who is the strongest and most capable to inherit his throne. My mother has always vied for more political power beyond being his consort, and so has always found me tutors and training that would allow me to become a ruler. So she sent me here, to Strixhaven, to learn how to imbue my words with magic in the College of Silverquill." She looks down at the table and seems a bit embarrassed of what she has said.
"I see, well you've certainly come to the right place. That seems like a lot of pressure to perform, the reason I came here was just to learn more about my magical gifts. I don't know if you overheard me earlier, but I come from a village that feared my gifts because they didn't understand them. I'm sure it must make you nervous to have all that pressure to perform here." Katar pauses before adding. "I don't mean to pry, I understand talking about these things might make you nervous."
After Grayson's departure, Aard'len provides a small applause, only slightly satirical, to Fianna for her tale of fiction and the gradually increasing embellishments. "Bravo, It will be worth reading the issue just to see if you managed to actually get any of that slipped into the article!" The words ring in Fianna's head with an air of approval to them.
Returning to his cumbersome but circumstantially more efficient communications, "I'd wager that is certainly one of the more unique tales of the inductee class. We were all about to vote one which of ours was the most boring. It was a close cut thing... Fianna came here to get away from family. Darby, Katar, and myself all saw this as the best, or only, way to improve our talents. So, where are you rooming?"
(Zemeiya would have been informed that due to some recent changes, they will be rooming with the rest of you in lieu of the previous occupant who has since departed)
Zemeia visibly relaxes at Katar's and Aard'len's responses. The corners of her lips rise slightly, but she still seems hesitant to smile. "I'm not sure. I only just found out I was moved to Semmet Hall from my initial assignment." She pulls out her own introductory packet from a satchel. She flips it open and a surprised look appears on her face. "I think I'm actually with you all. That's somewhat uncanny."
"The school has seemingly known in what groups people would fall into even though we all arrived randomly from the get go," Fianna points out. "I think we can expect uncanny to be a bit more common here than back home."
"Well, welcome, " Darby replies to Zemeia after Fianna's tale concludes. "Fianna...I remember things a little differently, " the dwarf interject telling the reporter the actual story and giving Fianna a curiously confused look. "I believe it might have been summoned but by who or for what purpose I haven't a foggy clue," Darby says next thinking briefly of the sample they are planning to study after they return to the dorms.
Darby will wait until later but will definitely want to speak to Fianna about her interpretation of the truth which includes the party's reputations not just her own.
"Zemeia we're lucky to have someone handy with a weapon and a little healing. I can do some myself but I'm in no way dedicated to the practice of the healing arts, " the dwarf explains snapping their fingers as Sprocket returns to orb form and Darby stands up from the dining table. "I think I'll unpack my things, " they explain before exiting the dining hall heading towards Semmet Hall.
And so the new school gets officially underway, the simmering excitement quickly turning into less enthusiastic chatter as the studying begins. Some students relishing the opportunity to learn new things and apply new skills, others are here for other reasons. But nonetheless things get on with relative ease since the hiccup during orientation, including the gathering of clubs and jobs. All extracurriculurs and jobs are after classes each day.
Over at the Fantastical Horticulture club, Katar and Darby get to meet up with Urzmaktok Grojsh, an orc from the Witherbloom college. Expositions on new and promising herbs and brews are brought up and discussions over cultivating a new type of grass to cover the Strixhaven lawns spark a lively debate.
First to class, last to leave, and always asking for additional homework, Urzmaktok is a meticulous student. Despite his consistently high marks, Urzmaktok makes no attempt to show off, although his studies seem rudimentary to him. Rumor has it that he is completing enough credits to earn multiple degrees when he graduates. Urzmaktok works for the Campus Magic Labs as a specimen preparer. This additional access to the labs also allows him to run his personal experiments in peace. Unsurprisingly, he is also a member of the Fantastical Horticulture Club. There, he looks to develop new species of plants that might yield new ingredients for potions. Urzmaktok makes it clear he wants everyone to use his full first name. Should anyone use a nickname, he won’t acknowledge the address.
The first meeting of the Dragonchess club gets underway with several exposition matches between a few of the more advanced students. There, Zemeiya meets up with Tilana Kapule, a beautiful mocha cream skinned human who is also a Quandrix student. She stands by the tables, making stunningly insightful comments about the match...but also the players.
Tilana’s poised demeanor and steady gaze are remarkable. An excellent judge of character, she doesn’t associate with those she deems mean-spirited. Her exacting judgment has led her to join the Dragonchess Club, and while she is still honing her skill at the game itself, she compensates by reading her opponent instead of the board. Many a foe has struggled to sit in silence as she gives them her full attention, probing for weaknesses, the pieces seemingly incidental. Surprising to some, Tilana has also joined the Intramural Silkball Club. During matches, she focuses on trying to understand and preempt the opposing sides’ strategies. More than once she has suggested new plays mid-game that have caught the opposing team off guard. The faculty at Strixhaven are convinced that, if she wished, one day Tilana would make an excellent professor.
A night later, music and noise is heard from the intramural fields as the Strixhaven Show Band Association kicks its year off with dazzling displays and performances from some of the senior students as well, inviting newcomers to join their ranks and begin planning this year's end of season show. There, Fianna and Aard'len bump into Aurora Luna Wynterstarr again, the exotic dhampir who is delighted to see them take an interest in the association.
Before arriving at Strixhaven, Aurora changed her name and appearance to that of her on-stage persona: Aurora Luna Wynterstarr, the brilliant singer and songwriter. Aurora was born a dhampir (a partial vampire), which she’s taken as a cosmic sign that she is meant for greatness. An accomplished musician on several instruments, Aurora is often found at Bow’s End Tavern performing beautiful dirges on the hurdy-gurdy for the assembled patrons. Aurora is also a member of the Strixhaven Show Band Association, though she believes the music they play lacks the raw emotion of her original compositions. She works as a groundskeeper at the Strixhaven Stadium, where she takes great pleasure in using magic to blight undesirable vegetation on the field.
At the first meeting of the Dragonsguard Historical Society, a lecture on the Magical Treatise of Extraplanar and Outer Circle Beings Both Benign and Otherwise first drafted over a millennia ago is recounted, along with notable addendums and provisions mentioned at the appropriate times. Darby ends up sitting next to Bhedum “Rampart” Sooviij, a loxodon (elephant persons) in the Lorehold college, who is only too happy to comment throughout the lecture before mentioning that at the next meeting, he would be recounting the Vastlands' Battle between the Bridges of 143 (P.T. of course, that is, Planar Time).
Since their name is difficult to pronounce without a trunk, Bhedum has taken to referring to themself as “Rampart,” the closest translation of their name in Common. They are often found poring over ancient texts detailing battles, seeking to better understand the tactical decisions that result in victory and defeat. Rampart is happy to discuss their knowledge with fellow members of the Dragonsguard Historical Society, often doing so late into the night. Rampart’s opponents at the Dragonchess Club find themselves outmatched time and again by the loxodon’s technique, though Rampart is a gracious winner. They attend all their classes clad in gilded, centuries-old plate armor, with an immense and similarly decorated sword strapped to their back. Rampart explains that doing so better simulates the battlefield conditions they study.
Meanwhile, the Playactors Drama Guild meets up with another stunning monologue from "The Shadow's Visage" by a one, Rubina Larkingdale, an imposing human lady with deep dark eyes from the Silverquill college. While a force to be reckoned with on the stage, she is found to be an old soul and gladly welcomes Aard'len and Zemeiya while also impressing on them the need to take the dramatic art seriously.
When Rubina walks into a room, people take notice. A measured performer with gravitas beyond her years, Rubina is a valued member of the Playactors Drama Guild who can handle weightier roles that more melodramatic actors can’t. This has caused friction within the guild as members vie for parts. Rubina’s stage presence extends to delivering presentations in class. When she orates, one can almost imagine a hardened general marshaling her bloodied and exhausted troops for a final push against a far superior foe. Rubina is part of the Strixhaven Show Band Association and has moved from playing to conducting. No previous student conductor has demanded and received such unwavering respect as Rubina. With merely a look and a raised eyebrow, she can quiet even the most raucous orchestra sections.
The Strixhaven Star is also in a flurry of activity, scouting sources and prepping columns, exchanging gossip of all kinds and delighting that something of curious interest already happened so the first issue can really shock and inspire. While Katar does see Grayson milling around, he is approached by Mina Lee, an established Silverquill human lady with a real gift for words, eager to help Katar verbalize their thoughts and find their own voice. She is also an avid coffee drinker.
Mina’s greatest love is the use of language; she adores how subtle differences in intonation and vocabulary can shape one’s perception of reality. Her fascination with language extends to spells and verbal components. After graduation, she plans to conduct research on the variance of language in spells and how one might tweak verbal components that the greater magical community considers immutable. Mina’s love of language and nuance has led her to join the Strixhaven Star as an investigative journalist. Here, she reveals truth, corrects misconceptions, and combats injustice. She has also taken a job as a server at Firejolt Café, which not only provides some cash but also puts her in a position to overhear snippets of conversation that might provide leads for her journalistic investigations.
Last but not least, Fianna meets up with Javenesh Stoutclaw, an tough looking owlin in the Lorehold college and assistant manager at the Bow's End Tavern, who happily takes her under his..uh...wing and sets her up as a hostess and tells her to let him know anytime the patrons get a little too rowdy.
Javenesh is an imposing and powerfully built owlin who looks permanently scruffy despite his best efforts. Contributing to his dishevelment are tufts of juvenile plumage that refuse to smooth down, a handful of scars whose origin he’s not sure of, and at least one hole in whatever clothing he’s wearing. Contrary to what people initially assume, Javenesh is a friendly sort. To make ends meet, he works at Bow’s End Tavern, managing servers and keeping the peace, relying on his rough appearance to dissuade those intent on making trouble. When not attending classes, Javenesh is an intimidating presence at the Intramural Silkball Club, where few people want to see him barreling toward them. He wishes more people would take the effort to get to know him, rather than be put off by his size and rough exterior.
Zemeia is immediately drawn to Rubina Larkingdale, impressed by the force of personality and way with words the human has. Zemeia knows she'll have to watch Rubina to learn as much as possible. Of the club itself, she finds the acting portion a bit embarrassing. Trying to get out of her own head is uncomfortable, but she enjoys any piece with strong civic and military leaders, and reads the speeches and monologues until she mutters them to herself under her breath as she walks around campus.
On the other hand, Tilana Kapule makes her a bit nervous. The way she can pick apart her opponents through observation reminds Zemeia of some of the people from her home: those with sharp tongues to make up for their lack of physical prowess. But Zemeia finds herself drawn to the game, trying to learn the variation in rules and understand the complexity of play. She often stays later than the rest of the club to play mock matches against herself, trying to get to a point where the pieces and their movement are second nature.
As the seniors demonstrate their talents in what is truly an impressive performance, Aard'len send occasional thoughts to Fianna about this element or that harmony, the dexterity of some performers, or the vocal talents of individuals. Making the most of being able to confer without getting shushed by other members of the audience, as some students had been. At the end of the performance, when the recruiters are out in force, Aard'len makes his way to Aurora, and tries to catch her attention.
"That was a wonderful show." His thoughts ring through into her mind, "How did you learn to sing like that? It was so different to the shanties sung back home." He listens and asks polite questions, but quickly realises that time is not inexhaustible, so a little sheepishly builds to the question he wanted to ask. "Do you think I could learn to sing? My throat and voice have been 'broken' since I was young, I hoped that here..." He let the statement hang in the air... well, float in Aurora's head to be more literal.
At the Playactors meet, Aard'len spots Rubina and recognises her from the Show Band performance, where she had been conducting the musicians as she wove their individual sounds into a triumphant concordance. Here her voice carries more weight than her gestures had previously, and the rendition is quite rousing.
The troubles of a weakly voiced actor are painfully obvious, and Aard'len can see the difference in quality of those without his own difficulties. There is something about the flow or words though, as with the music of the show band, that relaxes his mind and let's him escape from his normal logic and methodical thoughts. Though monologued, the variation in pitch, cadence and manner brought to life the unassuming words inked so uniformly onto the paper.
Katar tries to start conversation with Urzmaktok on a few occasions, but is confused by a lot of the terms the orc uses. The debate on a new type of grass for the lawns of Strixhaven excites Katar; but he has trouble keeping up with the other students, especially Urzmaktok. Katar tries using the nickname "Urz", but quickly realizes that the orc will respond to nothing but his full name.
On the other hand, Mina excites and engages Katar. He has had little practice in working for a paper, but Mina helps him pick up everything easily. Katar really enjoys trying to find interesting stories around Strixhaven, especially since it lets him explore the academy and learn more about it.
Darby meeting their peers interested in intense study the dwarf seems to come more to life than ever before. In Fantastical Horticulture club Darby hovers at Urzmaktok Grojsh elbow curiosity overwhelming better judgment.
"Fascinating," Darby replies smiling at the orc several times offering their help regardless if they fully understand what Urzmsktok is doing.
Later at Dragonsguard Historical Society meeting the loxodon Rampart the dwarf seems to have found a bit if a rival! Darby assures them battles should be learned from to prevent them not to improve the ways to fight. Darby seems particularly opinionated about weapons and armor too which seems to split their peers into yet even more interested new friends or rivals.
After these meetings of their clubs Darby returns to Semmet Hall and their room. The dwarf hopes to get cleaned up and dressed for bed before doing a little light reading. Darby will catch up with their roommates when they return.
And so the year has begun, introductions made, routines established, books read and plenty of coffee drunk by some.
New grass is implemented in one corner of the Archway commons and watched over closely by members of the Horticulture club, inspecting every blade and running numerous tests on the plant and soil. Katar is one of the students tasked with measuring the new grass, which sounds exceedingly dull, but as they measure over the weeks, patterns begin to emerge in the growth rate, along with variations in colors depending on the exact soil composition in the area, meaning each new day could produce a different look in the test area.
The historical society goes into a frantic array when someone showed up with a fragment of a document hitherto unrecorded and possibly bringing a new revelation to the Sidewinder Affair which, if it holds up, would mean rewriting a sizeable chunk of history. Darby is given the opportunity to work with a small group of other enthusiasts in drawing up a revised recreation of the event, and having noted her affinity for mechanical contraptions, suggest she help them making some larger working models and using their magic to enhance her artifice.
The showband's rehearsals are heard regularly on that side of campus, with only a few minor tiffs over whether the flutes or the viols should be placed in front and the usual rigamarole from the drums in the back, always making people around them laugh at their antics and get glares from the conductors.
Aard'len:
Aurora tells Aard'len that he should find his own voice, and that he is always welcome to practice his art with her. She knows very well that not everyone will appreciate what you bring to the table, so be true to yourself and let the expression flow from there.
The playactors guild get deep into their own rehearsals for "An Inky Conundrum", a dark murder mystery that is always nonetheless very popular due to having an incredibly satisfying twist ending. One other defining feature of the play is its unique use of set design, implementing visual conundrums along with the devious dialogue, helping the audience get pulled into the story deeper. Aard'len is given a bit part and also assigned to assist with the set design, with coaching sessions from Rubina now and then.
As Zemeiya begins working on learning the basics of dragonchess, she gets a chance to practice against other newcomers, several times overseen by Tilana. After every game Zemeiya is given a sheet of notes on both her and her opponent from Tilana, both good and bad but always instructive. While she might remind Zemeiya of some the people from home, it might also suggest she is someone Zemeiya would much rather have on her side if need be.
Silkball games begin and teams beat the stuffing out of each other. Only 3 people went to the medical ward so far.
The Strixhaven Star makes weekly publications, with its reporters and investigators always lurking around doorways and crossroads, eating areas and quiet corners, just waiting for the latest news and gossip. All of the acitivities mentioned already are reported on in the Star, where Mina is happy to keep working with Katar, helping him learn everything from insightful questioning and note taking, to paper layout and printing. But mostly questions. All the questions.
(As the year wears on, what does your life look like? By yourself and as a group? Feel free to add that on your next post if you wish.)
About halfway through the term, as the weather has cooled just a bit and the dreariness of lectures and assignments weighs over you, you all find yourselves hanging out in the central part of campus one late afternoon. Murmurs of excited curiosity ripple through the clusters of students around you, and Mina suddenly barrels toward you, laughing uproariously.
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Zemeia nods as she sits. "Thank you. I have already eaten, but I appreciate the offer." She turns her almost too intense eyes on Fianna and says, "You were one of only a handful of groups to complete all elements of the scavenger hunt, and you were also the only students to run toward an unknown and potentially dangerous situation. I believe that makes you all uniquely adaptive and efficient. And these are skills I want to cultivate in myself." Then to Darby, she says, "Your delivery of the poem was impressive from the parts I was able to hear. Though I believe cultural differences may be limiting my ability to understand the deeper metaphorical implications of it." She takes a moment to breathe and continues, her eyes moving among the group. "I would have to say my talents lie in focus and dedication to improving myself. My skills are more of the martial sort, but I have learned how to channel some of my natural abilities as a hell-touched and hope to improve further through my studies. As for why I am here ..." Her gaze shifts to the middle distance and she goes quiet for a pause that stretches to the nearer edge of uncomfortable. Then her eyes focus again and she says, "I am here to further my studies as a potential heir to my father's legacy, and at great expense, as my mother often reminds me."
As Zemeia concludes her introduction, a human male in sharply pressed Silverquill clothing, hair affixed with precision and carrying his own air of importance about him, walks by, seeming to catch the end of her speech. "Ah, someone else who understands how things run around here." His eyes wander over the group for a brief moment, quickly scrutinizing you all. "The name is Grayson Wildemere, entrepreneur and columnist for the Strixhaven Star. I've heard about what happened earlier. That was you all? But not you." He looks back at Zemeia. "Perhaps just as well. It was rather muddled affair as I hear it. Would any of you like to give a comment for our first upcoming issue?" You see a small pad of paper and a quill appear floating next to him for a moment.
Aard'len gives the briefest of appraisals to the newest face to introduce themself, and from the manner of Grayson's question realises that whatever is said will get twisted to suit his own impression. His first thought of saying nothing at all gets quickly dismissed for a similar reason, "How have you heard it told so far? We can correct any inconsistencies in your data from our own perspectives. It would be tragic if the first issue were to contain errors."
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"Welcome Zemeia, I'm sure you're just as talented as any of us. Who's your father?"
Addressing Grayson, Katar says "It was certainly strange, but I don't think you want to hear what I have to say." He gestures to Fianna, Darby, and Aard'len '"They're the ones who killed it, not me."
Grayson chuckled once. "I never make errors, but of course I'd be delighted to hear from the source directly! You were there in the Biblioplex when a great commotion started? And what were you doing? How did you find the monster? How did you subdue it?" He continues on for a minute with a few other...questionably useful questions. "Ah good, and your names?" After taking down whoever offers their names, he bids you all farewell and hurries off to meet up with some other students, where he can be seen scribbling in his notebook.
Fianna lies. She lies her ass off. She lies about her name, about the commotion, about the monster and mostly about her suspicions that someone somehow lured it there as a prank. “My name is Cruella DeVille,” she starts and it just continues. The mimic becomes a hellhound “more a hell puppy, really. A puppy of purgatory perhaps?” And the 20 second battle was a half an hour war that left many wounded.
Zemeia's eyes grow wide at Fianna's blatant exaggeration, and she actually tries to cover a smile that starts to bloom on her face. Once Grayson leaves, she clears her throat lightly and turns to Katar. "My father is Vaulcroth. He has many titles, but those are irrelevant to me. On my home plane he is a tyrannical ruler uses fear and brutality to stay in power. He united a continent under one banner, but also soaked the land in blood. He has decreed that his children, myself and my siblings, must prove who is the strongest and most capable to inherit his throne. My mother has always vied for more political power beyond being his consort, and so has always found me tutors and training that would allow me to become a ruler. So she sent me here, to Strixhaven, to learn how to imbue my words with magic in the College of Silverquill." She looks down at the table and seems a bit embarrassed of what she has said.
"I see, well you've certainly come to the right place. That seems like a lot of pressure to perform, the reason I came here was just to learn more about my magical gifts. I don't know if you overheard me earlier, but I come from a village that feared my gifts because they didn't understand them. I'm sure it must make you nervous to have all that pressure to perform here." Katar pauses before adding. "I don't mean to pry, I understand talking about these things might make you nervous."
After Grayson's departure, Aard'len provides a small applause, only slightly satirical, to Fianna for her tale of fiction and the gradually increasing embellishments. "Bravo, It will be worth reading the issue just to see if you managed to actually get any of that slipped into the article!" The words ring in Fianna's head with an air of approval to them.
Returning to his cumbersome but circumstantially more efficient communications, "I'd wager that is certainly one of the more unique tales of the inductee class. We were all about to vote one which of ours was the most boring. It was a close cut thing... Fianna came here to get away from family. Darby, Katar, and myself all saw this as the best, or only, way to improve our talents. So, where are you rooming?"
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
(Zemeiya would have been informed that due to some recent changes, they will be rooming with the rest of you in lieu of the previous occupant who has since departed)
Zemeia visibly relaxes at Katar's and Aard'len's responses. The corners of her lips rise slightly, but she still seems hesitant to smile. "I'm not sure. I only just found out I was moved to Semmet Hall from my initial assignment." She pulls out her own introductory packet from a satchel. She flips it open and a surprised look appears on her face. "I think I'm actually with you all. That's somewhat uncanny."
"The school has seemingly known in what groups people would fall into even though we all arrived randomly from the get go," Fianna points out. "I think we can expect uncanny to be a bit more common here than back home."
"Wherever home was."
"Well, welcome, " Darby replies to Zemeia after Fianna's tale concludes. "Fianna...I remember things a little differently, " the dwarf interject telling the reporter the actual story and giving Fianna a curiously confused look. "I believe it might have been summoned but by who or for what purpose I haven't a foggy clue," Darby says next thinking briefly of the sample they are planning to study after they return to the dorms.
Darby will wait until later but will definitely want to speak to Fianna about her interpretation of the truth which includes the party's reputations not just her own.
"Zemeia we're lucky to have someone handy with a weapon and a little healing. I can do some myself but I'm in no way dedicated to the practice of the healing arts, " the dwarf explains snapping their fingers as Sprocket returns to orb form and Darby stands up from the dining table. "I think I'll unpack my things, " they explain before exiting the dining hall heading towards Semmet Hall.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
And so the new school gets officially underway, the simmering excitement quickly turning into less enthusiastic chatter as the studying begins. Some students relishing the opportunity to learn new things and apply new skills, others are here for other reasons. But nonetheless things get on with relative ease since the hiccup during orientation, including the gathering of clubs and jobs. All extracurriculurs and jobs are after classes each day.
Over at the Fantastical Horticulture club, Katar and Darby get to meet up with Urzmaktok Grojsh, an orc from the Witherbloom college. Expositions on new and promising herbs and brews are brought up and discussions over cultivating a new type of grass to cover the Strixhaven lawns spark a lively debate.
First to class, last to leave, and always asking for additional homework, Urzmaktok is a meticulous student. Despite his consistently high marks, Urzmaktok makes no attempt to show off, although his studies seem rudimentary to him. Rumor has it that he is completing enough credits to earn multiple degrees when he graduates. Urzmaktok works for the Campus Magic Labs as a specimen preparer. This additional access to the labs also allows him to run his personal experiments in peace. Unsurprisingly, he is also a member of the Fantastical Horticulture Club. There, he looks to develop new species of plants that might yield new ingredients for potions. Urzmaktok makes it clear he wants everyone to use his full first name. Should anyone use a nickname, he won’t acknowledge the address.
The first meeting of the Dragonchess club gets underway with several exposition matches between a few of the more advanced students. There, Zemeiya meets up with Tilana Kapule, a beautiful mocha cream skinned human who is also a Quandrix student. She stands by the tables, making stunningly insightful comments about the match...but also the players.
Tilana’s poised demeanor and steady gaze are remarkable. An excellent judge of character, she doesn’t associate with those she deems mean-spirited. Her exacting judgment has led her to join the Dragonchess Club, and while she is still honing her skill at the game itself, she compensates by reading her opponent instead of the board. Many a foe has struggled to sit in silence as she gives them her full attention, probing for weaknesses, the pieces seemingly incidental. Surprising to some, Tilana has also joined the Intramural Silkball Club. During matches, she focuses on trying to understand and preempt the opposing sides’ strategies. More than once she has suggested new plays mid-game that have caught the opposing team off guard. The faculty at Strixhaven are convinced that, if she wished, one day Tilana would make an excellent professor.
A night later, music and noise is heard from the intramural fields as the Strixhaven Show Band Association kicks its year off with dazzling displays and performances from some of the senior students as well, inviting newcomers to join their ranks and begin planning this year's end of season show. There, Fianna and Aard'len bump into Aurora Luna Wynterstarr again, the exotic dhampir who is delighted to see them take an interest in the association.
Before arriving at Strixhaven, Aurora changed her name and appearance to that of her on-stage persona: Aurora Luna Wynterstarr, the brilliant singer and songwriter. Aurora was born a dhampir (a partial vampire), which she’s taken as a cosmic sign that she is meant for greatness. An accomplished musician on several instruments, Aurora is often found at Bow’s End Tavern performing beautiful dirges on the hurdy-gurdy for the assembled patrons. Aurora is also a member of the Strixhaven Show Band Association, though she believes the music they play lacks the raw emotion of her original compositions. She works as a groundskeeper at the Strixhaven Stadium, where she takes great pleasure in using magic to blight undesirable vegetation on the field.
At the first meeting of the Dragonsguard Historical Society, a lecture on the Magical Treatise of Extraplanar and Outer Circle Beings Both Benign and Otherwise first drafted over a millennia ago is recounted, along with notable addendums and provisions mentioned at the appropriate times. Darby ends up sitting next to Bhedum “Rampart” Sooviij, a loxodon (elephant persons) in the Lorehold college, who is only too happy to comment throughout the lecture before mentioning that at the next meeting, he would be recounting the Vastlands' Battle between the Bridges of 143 (P.T. of course, that is, Planar Time).
Since their name is difficult to pronounce without a trunk, Bhedum has taken to referring to themself as “Rampart,” the closest translation of their name in Common. They are often found poring over ancient texts detailing battles, seeking to better understand the tactical decisions that result in victory and defeat. Rampart is happy to discuss their knowledge with fellow members of the Dragonsguard Historical Society, often doing so late into the night. Rampart’s opponents at the Dragonchess Club find themselves outmatched time and again by the loxodon’s technique, though Rampart is a gracious winner. They attend all their classes clad in gilded, centuries-old plate armor, with an immense and similarly decorated sword strapped to their back. Rampart explains that doing so better simulates the battlefield conditions they study.
Meanwhile, the Playactors Drama Guild meets up with another stunning monologue from "The Shadow's Visage" by a one, Rubina Larkingdale, an imposing human lady with deep dark eyes from the Silverquill college. While a force to be reckoned with on the stage, she is found to be an old soul and gladly welcomes Aard'len and Zemeiya while also impressing on them the need to take the dramatic art seriously.
When Rubina walks into a room, people take notice. A measured performer with gravitas beyond her years, Rubina is a valued member of the Playactors Drama Guild who can handle weightier roles that more melodramatic actors can’t. This has caused friction within the guild as members vie for parts. Rubina’s stage presence extends to delivering presentations in class. When she orates, one can almost imagine a hardened general marshaling her bloodied and exhausted troops for a final push against a far superior foe. Rubina is part of the Strixhaven Show Band Association and has moved from playing to conducting. No previous student conductor has demanded and received such unwavering respect as Rubina. With merely a look and a raised eyebrow, she can quiet even the most raucous orchestra sections.
The Strixhaven Star is also in a flurry of activity, scouting sources and prepping columns, exchanging gossip of all kinds and delighting that something of curious interest already happened so the first issue can really shock and inspire. While Katar does see Grayson milling around, he is approached by Mina Lee, an established Silverquill human lady with a real gift for words, eager to help Katar verbalize their thoughts and find their own voice. She is also an avid coffee drinker.
Mina’s greatest love is the use of language; she adores how subtle differences in intonation and vocabulary can shape one’s perception of reality. Her fascination with language extends to spells and verbal components. After graduation, she plans to conduct research on the variance of language in spells and how one might tweak verbal components that the greater magical community considers immutable. Mina’s love of language and nuance has led her to join the Strixhaven Star as an investigative journalist. Here, she reveals truth, corrects misconceptions, and combats injustice. She has also taken a job as a server at Firejolt Café, which not only provides some cash but also puts her in a position to overhear snippets of conversation that might provide leads for her journalistic investigations.
Last but not least, Fianna meets up with Javenesh Stoutclaw, an tough looking owlin in the Lorehold college and assistant manager at the Bow's End Tavern, who happily takes her under his..uh...wing and sets her up as a hostess and tells her to let him know anytime the patrons get a little too rowdy.
Javenesh is an imposing and powerfully built owlin who looks permanently scruffy despite his best efforts. Contributing to his dishevelment are tufts of juvenile plumage that refuse to smooth down, a handful of scars whose origin he’s not sure of, and at least one hole in whatever clothing he’s wearing. Contrary to what people initially assume, Javenesh is a friendly sort. To make ends meet, he works at Bow’s End Tavern, managing servers and keeping the peace, relying on his rough appearance to dissuade those intent on making trouble. When not attending classes, Javenesh is an intimidating presence at the Intramural Silkball Club, where few people want to see him barreling toward them. He wishes more people would take the effort to get to know him, rather than be put off by his size and rough exterior.
Zemeia is immediately drawn to Rubina Larkingdale, impressed by the force of personality and way with words the human has. Zemeia knows she'll have to watch Rubina to learn as much as possible. Of the club itself, she finds the acting portion a bit embarrassing. Trying to get out of her own head is uncomfortable, but she enjoys any piece with strong civic and military leaders, and reads the speeches and monologues until she mutters them to herself under her breath as she walks around campus.
On the other hand, Tilana Kapule makes her a bit nervous. The way she can pick apart her opponents through observation reminds Zemeia of some of the people from her home: those with sharp tongues to make up for their lack of physical prowess. But Zemeia finds herself drawn to the game, trying to learn the variation in rules and understand the complexity of play. She often stays later than the rest of the club to play mock matches against herself, trying to get to a point where the pieces and their movement are second nature.
As the seniors demonstrate their talents in what is truly an impressive performance, Aard'len send occasional thoughts to Fianna about this element or that harmony, the dexterity of some performers, or the vocal talents of individuals. Making the most of being able to confer without getting shushed by other members of the audience, as some students had been. At the end of the performance, when the recruiters are out in force, Aard'len makes his way to Aurora, and tries to catch her attention.
"That was a wonderful show." His thoughts ring through into her mind, "How did you learn to sing like that? It was so different to the shanties sung back home." He listens and asks polite questions, but quickly realises that time is not inexhaustible, so a little sheepishly builds to the question he wanted to ask. "Do you think I could learn to sing? My throat and voice have been 'broken' since I was young, I hoped that here..." He let the statement hang in the air... well, float in Aurora's head to be more literal.
At the Playactors meet, Aard'len spots Rubina and recognises her from the Show Band performance, where she had been conducting the musicians as she wove their individual sounds into a triumphant concordance. Here her voice carries more weight than her gestures had previously, and the rendition is quite rousing.
The troubles of a weakly voiced actor are painfully obvious, and Aard'len can see the difference in quality of those without his own difficulties. There is something about the flow or words though, as with the music of the show band, that relaxes his mind and let's him escape from his normal logic and methodical thoughts. Though monologued, the variation in pitch, cadence and manner brought to life the unassuming words inked so uniformly onto the paper.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Katar tries to start conversation with Urzmaktok on a few occasions, but is confused by a lot of the terms the orc uses. The debate on a new type of grass for the lawns of Strixhaven excites Katar; but he has trouble keeping up with the other students, especially Urzmaktok. Katar tries using the nickname "Urz", but quickly realizes that the orc will respond to nothing but his full name.
On the other hand, Mina excites and engages Katar. He has had little practice in working for a paper, but Mina helps him pick up everything easily. Katar really enjoys trying to find interesting stories around Strixhaven, especially since it lets him explore the academy and learn more about it.
Darby meeting their peers interested in intense study the dwarf seems to come more to life than ever before. In Fantastical Horticulture club Darby hovers at Urzmaktok Grojsh elbow curiosity overwhelming better judgment.
"Fascinating," Darby replies smiling at the orc several times offering their help regardless if they fully understand what Urzmsktok is doing.
Later at Dragonsguard Historical Society meeting the loxodon Rampart the dwarf seems to have found a bit if a rival! Darby assures them battles should be learned from to prevent them not to improve the ways to fight. Darby seems particularly opinionated about weapons and armor too which seems to split their peers into yet even more interested new friends or rivals.
After these meetings of their clubs Darby returns to Semmet Hall and their room. The dwarf hopes to get cleaned up and dressed for bed before doing a little light reading. Darby will catch up with their roommates when they return.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
And so the year has begun, introductions made, routines established, books read and plenty of coffee drunk by some.
Aurora tells Aard'len that he should find his own voice, and that he is always welcome to practice his art with her. She knows very well that not everyone will appreciate what you bring to the table, so be true to yourself and let the expression flow from there.
(As the year wears on, what does your life look like? By yourself and as a group? Feel free to add that on your next post if you wish.)
About halfway through the term, as the weather has cooled just a bit and the dreariness of lectures and assignments weighs over you, you all find yourselves hanging out in the central part of campus one late afternoon. Murmurs of excited curiosity ripple through the clusters of students around you, and Mina suddenly barrels toward you, laughing uproariously.