Scene 9,closed: Assembly
The headmaster, a portly greying man of about 45, stood before the assembled student body. Nearly 700 faces, mostly human, looked up at him as he grasped the lecturn.
"Welcome, and welcome back. You have all, unless this is your first year with us, just participated in a time honored tradition, the summer break. It arose from agricultural needs and has been a part of school tradition for as long as there have been schools. It may seem odd to some of you that we call it summer break, as you may have gone home to find yourselves in the midst of any season imaginable. Snow, changing leaves, budding leaves, or even possibly summer may have greeted you along with your families. We choose to call it summer break for two reasons other than the obvious fact that it is summer here.
"First, as a school of magic, we value tradition and ritual quite highly. Second, it serves as a reminder of one of the things we strive here to teach: the Planes are vast and varried. This one simple fact will help you find your ways in the world better than any magic you may master here. Somewhere, there is a place for you, a place where your particular skills and assets will make you a king. Find that place and you find sucess.
"Here we will help you to look for that place, or at least to understand how to begin looking. As you do, remember caution. Right now I look out at 700 of you. By the time the summer solstice again approaches, if this year is like most, I will be looking at nearly 150 less of you. Some will have failed in the struggle for grades, but more will have failed in the struggle for existence. Instructors are lost too. We welcome a new abjuration professor; the Professor Blaine was lost to us when his wards failed and he was dragged screaming into Pandemonium. We teach you to play with the fabric of existence, and that is not safe. Be warned, and be careful.
"Take heart, though; the rewards are great. Find your places now, and you would be kings; find your places after graduation, and you will be gods."
8 comments:
"Uh.. oh hey. Caught me off guard. I believe she said that it had a very basic ward that would grant a little more protection to whomever donned it. It's currently sitting on my mantel in the room, I have plans on using it soon. Which reminds me, since you helped me complete my assignment, if you ever find yourself in need of it's ability, please don't hesitate to ask. I wouldn't mind you borrowing it from time to time."
Ionjae looks about, sees that noone is paying too much attention to either of them, and whispers towards Varian, "I'm getting my first pact in the upcoming day or two. I'll only make me that more powerful, as our honorable headmaster is saying." A quick smirk passes Ionjae's face, and disappears before Varian can quiet comprehend it.
OOC: Heh, whoops. I guess that's what I get for posting while tired. I didn't mean that Ionjae disappears, but that his smirk disappears. D'oh!
"I appreciate you looking, it doesn't seem like anyone else here is." Ionjae looks off towards the Headmaster for a few minutes, his eyes not really focusing before he leans towards Varian, "... a pact is an agreement made between a type of creature and a summoner. My goal is the Neutral Evil plane, where I plan on making a pact with the Phase Spiders. As for your assistance, you're more than welcome to come along, the way I see it is, the more people who are with me, the easier it will for us to get back out alive."
Varian smiled a good deal at Ionjae when he said that last line assuming it was a bit of a joke, but the look on Ionjae's face was grim and the boy continued, "... not much of a laughing matter, the Neutral Evil plane has all sorts of baddies just waiting to do what it is that they do best. Thankfully, the Phase Spider should be near where we enter, and we won't need to spend too much time there... presumably, that is."
Ionjae looks down at his hands, turning them over slowly. "Have you ever seen what a Phase Spider can do to someone? It's gruesome, I was doing some research in the library and came across an old tome, covered with dust and cobwebs, detailing the process they use to ensnare and devour the unlucky bastard who strays too close."
"The plus side though, the Neutral Evil plane is visited by many travelers... some of them are very ill prepared to journey and because of that there will be a good deal of spoils to be found there. You in?"
OOC: I'm assuming this occurs a few days before I cause the abuse at the schoolyard, and Varian goes hunting for the half-orcs. Am I right to assume that?
Ionjae's eyebrows arched for a split moment, "In a few nights. I'm planning on asking my roommate for some help. He's dabbled like you, but has a good head on his shoulders should something arise. My advise to you is to gear up and be ready to move out at a moments notice."
Pausing for a moment to think, he says, "No, that should be it."
"Yeah, sort of redirects the energy of a weapon away from the helm. So, if an arrow was going to take you out, a little bit of force would redirect it away from you, same thing with a sword too. I guess rain and fire don't count though... oh yes, supposedly it prevents mind reading. But, I need to urge you that it is very weak."
Nah, that's it on the assembly. Just a start of year address from the headmaster. Good job backdating the scene. Yes, it deos happen before your fun with the freshmen.
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