That night you dream of fairies. Tiny winged humanoids between monsters and the civilized races, dancing with your tribe as your flames flicker. You feel dizzy as you try to track all of them, ensuring not one of the little tricksters escapes you, but as you spin and twist you realize you've been pulled into the dance. As a fairy with a smirk and a crown approaches you, he opens his mouth and you hear…
"AYO BREE WAKE UP."
And wake with enough of a start that you might have fallen out of bed if it was actually supporting your weight. Instead, you look up with tired eyes at one of your roommates standing over you, holding a sausage roll.
"The slophouse here is giving away better food than I've ever eaten! Almost makes up for the tiny room. And I'm pretty sure they're gonna run out if you're not dressed and out of here in the next hour or so."
The chubby woman took a big bite of her roll and you blinked slowly, adjusting to the fact that you were, in fact, now awake. From what you had managed to gather, or, rather, from what she had loudly told you; your more gregarious roommate was Ada Oyler, and had come from 'just down the road' in Lezterhalt after realizing what a great scam wizards had going on.
The specific scam, according to her, was 'Not dying until at least their eighties' so you couldn't blame her for wanting in; but between her wrinkles was a piercing gaze and a sharp mind. You hoped she wasn't as much of a gossip as she looked.
At the very least, after your introductions yesterday she seemed to have taken how sickly you looked by the end of the night as an excuse for mothering you, which was better than some kinds of attention.
But you already get the feeling your other roomie will be easier to get along with.
Well, you hoped, but the he subtle sound of steel scraping against stone coming from behind you sets every instinct of yours on edge. It takes a panic-filled moment to remind yourself that you aren't at home with the tribe and there isn't anyone attacking, and then turn around normally.
When Beatriz had introduced herself as Officer Candidate Beatriz Teles of the 7th Kharian Flying Mages company, you had expected someone prim, proper, and a major threat to your everything. The stringy-haired sword-nerd who slept with a zweihander like a teddy bear, sharpening it before even getting out of the sheets, stands somewhat at odds with that image. The fact that she said you reminded her of her little sister almost as soon as you met, even more so. Your new one is just what she is, a young girl piled into her bunk with floor-length hair cascading around the mattress, eagerly running a whetstone along a gleaming adamant blade.
"Morning, Macabre. I was just finishing off my morning routine. If you ever decide to join me, I'll show you the ropes."
Getting used to 'swords' being friendly might take some getting used to. Although Beatriz certainly intends to try.
Scratch that, they both might need a lot of work to actually get along with.
You sigh and start getting ready yourself. The dorm has something expensive-sounding called 'indoor plumbing' and all the girls are supposed to share a room equipped with hot water. Fortunately, there are stalls and always a lot of noise, so you can hide the fact that you don't actually do anything while in there. You at least know your false body is getting all of its maintenance from magic.
…Actually, how much magic is that costing you? You realize you need to find out, and wince as you change your outfit before dashing out of the dorm.
The massed crowds on the street outside make you pause your panicked run, the streets where you now live are a rather chaotic place.
Alongside cobblestone roads, dozens if not hundreds of carts are set up, hawking their wares to students who got outside earlier. Bowls of thick sauced pasta and rolls literally fly through the air in some places as they get served.
You've never tried human food, and it smells a lot better than the marsh, but it's still a bit more than you'd like from 'first-time' cuisine, and are considering whether skipping breakfast would make passing the streets easier or more difficult when you catch a spirit heading down a side street in the corner of your eye.
[Otherworldly Awareness: 'Navigate the Streets' check bypassed]
You quickly follow it and find a side alley featuring only ONE cart with a rather depressed-looking vendor, a spirit of regret leaning against his back.
"Oh, hey kid," the merchant greets you, "You want a Redbird Wrap?"
After quickly explaining that every restaurant serves students for free on their first day to try and get their brands out and get people talking, he slumps down, noting that the exotic beasts he imported are considered inappropriate to consume for religious reasons around here. Still, he's more than happy to offer you one on his way out.
[Accept a wrap?]
[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Other/mixed (write-in)
Talking with him is much faster than navigating the crowds regardless, and soon you've managed to reach the nearest laboratory building, the one closest to your dorm in the market district technically belongs to the Refutation classes, but all of them have some basic facilities.
Once inside you manage to confirm a few things in private after getting some alone time with a spare bag of reader crystals.
[Reader crystals checked. Made of shards of mana stone too small and inert to otherwise be useful, reader crystals change color on exposure to magic, and focusing your mana into them is a good way to figure out how much you have based upon how many change at once and in total. Looks like currently you have a Mana rating of 3/50, but your disguise is cutting that down to 2/20. Don't understand the slash? Get to class!]
You sigh in relief, it's costly, but staying incognito is at least not going to prevent you from getting started with the basics.
Speaking of, you need to pick your classes. You don't really have any clue what most of them are! The sign-up sheet provides class descriptions, at least.
Better still, you can change classes without too much trouble at any time in the first 4 Weeks, so if you're willing to work extra hard you can check out quite a few of them…
[You must pick at least four classes to qualify as a full-time student. But can take as many as eight. However, each class takes an action, or half an action if you skimp on homework for the week (which may or may not be advisable). You currently receive eight actions per turn. A turn covers nine days or one week. All classes you qualify to take will remain available indefinitely unless otherwise noted.]
Focus Classes, the Eight Schools of Magic [you MUST take at least one of these, and taking less than two eventually is ill-advised]
[ ] Introductory Illusions
Half magic and half art, illusions will teach you the tricky art of achieving your goals with magic that doesn't technically do anything unless somebody lets it. The discipline is neither easy nor predictable, but it is fun and will get you started on the path to much more popular sub-disciplines such as Mirror magic and Shadow magic. Teacher: Professor Fritz [Archmage Hana guest lecture second week!]
[ ] Verity 101
Both opposite and identical to illusion, while illusion channels magic to create anything you want with no presence at all, Verity channels MORE magic to create things of magic itself. Most spells known to the ignorant such as lightning and fire can be found in Verity, and while a rare mage would want to specialize in it, a rarer one would ignore it entirely! Teacher: Simon Briarcatch [Archmage Ibert guest lecture third week.]
[ ] Starting Soulsight!
You are a piece of clay, yet to be formed, yet to be fired. Soulsight is the way to make yourself into the best you, you can possibly be both in body and in mind. There is nothing more to it and nothing less. [Teacher: Lawrence McOss]
[ ] Farsight for Incompetents.
Fine, I'll meet the eight word minimum description.
Teacher: Archmage Aya Bungin
[ ] Vivomancy
Life and magic both flow through all things, vivomancy allows one to harness both in the creation of the greater whole. Within this track one shall learn how to manipulate the natural form, analyze and understand the natural world, and unleash the inherent qualities provided by nature. Teacher: Lance Ironfrog [Guest lecture date TBA]
[ ] Necromancy, which is just as good as vivomancy we promise
Negative influence is just as necessary as positive, and the magic of death has just as much of a home as that of life. We teach spells for preserving, healing, strangling, disintegrating, and so much more than just zombies. Note: We also don't teach how to make zombies, that's illegal.
Teacher: Hatti Bladestone [Archmage Gilder guest lecture week two]
[ ] The Fundamental Foundations of Refutation
Refutation is power, the power to deny the flow of magic through force of will. Undoing is usually easier than doing, and in a battle between two mages, the better refuter will most often win. In a survey, seven out of eight archmages say Refutation is the school they'd least want to be completely without (besides their specialty). Teacher: Gorg of the Gilded Hammer [Archmage Suzu of the Shortstaff guest lectures week four]
[ ] General Generation
Magic inherently runs parallel to the physical world. So we'll teach you how to hold it down and MAKE it intersect, permanently altering physical reality in the form of true creation! Well, okay, at entry level we'll mostly be having snowball fights, but you have to start somewhere. Teacher: Mr. Pfeffer [Archmage Thunderhoof has declined to guest lecture]
Minor Classes
[ ] Guidance for Magisters
To be a Magister is to engage with magic on a deeper level than anyone else, the fusion of instinct and understanding stretching spells beyond their normal limits. ["Mandatory" pick for this semester]
[ ] Potions
[ ] Script
[ ] Charges
[ ] Talismans
[ ] Forging
Hmm, looks like crafting electives are only available during the first semester to students in the crafting district.
[ ] Magical Safety and You
Proper safety procedures for magical experimentation and testing. Part of the spell invention minor. [Taught by Steven Coridae]
[ ] Adult Magic Magic for Adult Magic that is Useful for Adulthood
A special early practical course teaching some very cheap and eclectic spells that are extremely useful for day-to-day life, along with a brief history of civilian magic use. Learn the coveted secrets of the spell World's End Elixir. [Taught by Archmage Hana. First semester only class.]
[ ] Principles of Magic
Learning your weave from your wave the truth of the highs and lows and the importance of rain filling the ocean. Part of the magic history minor. [Taught by Lawrence McOss]
[ ] Starter Self Defense
How to not get killed in your first fight and other critical skills. Testing out is allowed. Part of the combat-trained minor. [Taught by Regina Longears]
[ ] Algebra
Esoteric math knowledge with significant use in magic and research! This can lead to the advanced mundane science of calculus. [Taught by Corrine Fisher]
[ ] World Politics
Learn about the world, its politics, the important movers and shakers, and where you can and can not expect a warm welcome for certain spells and why.
[ ] World History
Learn about the PAST world, it's, etc., etc.
[ ] [A variety of combat classes for those who pass the starter test go here]
[ ] Bestiary 101
Biology class with a focus on monsters, how they relate to magic, and how they may be survived.
[ ] Good Study Habits and You!
Learn how to learn. Read about how to read. Before jumping into scholarship, receive expert instruction on what it means to be a scholar. [Teacher: William Ferrier. First semester only class.]
Social
[ ] Get to know Beatriz
Taking Beatriz up on the offer of joining her in her "morning routine" would mean a couple of days of getting up early but it feels like she is trying to include you in something that matters a lot to her.
[ ] Get to know Ada
You're not quite sure how to bond with Ada at all… but if you express an interest, you get the feeling she'll be more than happy to lead.
[ ] Social Scene by Day
Hundreds upon hundreds of people attend, research, teach, and simply exist within the academy, the number of gatherings is seemingly endless. There are garden tea parties, coffee house debates and add in the pile of pamphlets and handbills advertising various clubs and groups sitting in the dorm's front hall, there are all sorts of opportunities ripe for the taking.
[Charisma DC 30]
[ ]Gathering at Night
As night falls over the academy the amount of gatherings barely decreases but also takes a turn in their character. Rambunctious parties, moonlit dances, and morbid meetings all can be found though most need some level of invitation or recommendation.
[Charisma DC 40]
[ ] Scour the Markets
Countless things pass through the academy's market stalls each and every day as merchants come and go… though at the moment you don't have any money you might be able to work something out and you never know who you might meet.
[ ]Ear to the ground
Everywhere you go there is a cacophony of voices so much so that most don't even consider they could be overheard. The markets are filled with spots where you can just stop and listen to the tide of civilization.
[Intuition Scaling]
[ ] Lesser spirits
Most solitary spirits are small feeble things below notice and lacking power, but you are sensitive enough to see them and interact with them and they tend to be desperate for interaction.
[Charisma DC 20]
[ ] Outsiders Looking in
Usually, extraplanar beings don't actually pay much attention to affairs of mortals except in the broadest of pictures. Luckily you are in an academy with a whole track dedicated to Warlocks, so more than a few are sure to be paying attention.
[Intuition DC 60]
Work
[ ] Look for general work
While the academy covers basic room and board, you are going to need money if you ever want to throw a party, get some exotic materials, or get a copy of a book made. You just have to go out there and find something you can do, right? [Steady amount of funds, will require an action each turn. Charisma DC 20/40/50/60/80]
[ ] Search for intermittent work
Though trying to fit in doing something regularly when you don't even know how many of the nine days in the week you'll be free could be a bit hasty. Maybe finding something you can pick up as needed would work better?
[Income and availability of work will vary. Charisma DC 10/30/50/70]
[ ] Try out for a dungeon team
You might have to beg or borrow equipment and you can't bring much magically to the table but then again neither would most other first years, so you have a shot.
[Prowess DC Scaling]
Library
[ ] Books of common knowledge
The number of things you don't know about human society could fill stacks upon stacks of books, luckily those very same stacks of books exist somewhere in the library.
[Studiousness DC 20]
[ ] First-year cantrips (General)
The utmost basics when it comes to magic, (almost) everyone has to start somewhere
[Studiousness DC 30]
[ ] Browse the Shelves
Wander around the library for a while and see what books catch your interest, who knows what you might find and what inspiration might strike you.
[Studiousness scaling]
Prophecy
[ ] A rider in black
Your vision of the black rider is hazy and indistinct leaving you almost nothing to go on. If you could just claw out one or two more details no matter how small would help narrow things down.
[Intuition DC?]
[ ] A four spired staff
The one clear defining feature you are certain of was the rider's staff, its design was unlike any you had seen before or since.
[Studiousness DC?]
[ ] A spell of ash
Your entire tribe was destroyed by a single spell, everyone from the weakest to the strongest, and even the homes built into the trees and pools were turned to ash in the span of a heartbeat. Try and find out what that spell was and if there is some way to counter it or at least how powerful someone would have to be to cast something like it.
[Studiousness DC?]
Watch the Markets:
As a market student district, it's very simple to keep an eye out for any bargains, thrown-out goods, or special deals. You don't currently have any money, but this week the rumors tell you that you can probably spend a little bit between actions…
[Free Action based on location, less impactful than Scour the Markets:]
[ ] Finding better job opportunities for later
[ ] Locating the best coffee shop for hangouts
[ ] Finding which bookseller has the best deals
[ ] Picking up a little extra cash as a gofer
