[Magic Training] every time a bell rings

As the Ursur charged him and got a tusk stuck in his shirt, Loren found himself tossed around a bit. Thankfully, the Ursur seemed as surprised as he was, since he was left with a hole in his shirt, a slight gash, and some bruises from getting rammed into. Still right next to the beast, the healer did his best to keep his fear response under control. Thankfully, he had the presence of mind to remember the rules. Unfortunately, he didn't think bloody meat would do the trick. So he decided to see if he could make other animal byproducts for some reason. Miraculously, a length of leather cord appeared in his hands. Throwing caution to the wind, he attempted to throw himself on the Ursur's back. If successful, he'd try to wrap the cord around its neck and choke it out. Loren creates a length of leather cord. Then he tries to jump on the Ursur's back and choke it out with the cord. LOREN Not quite an open book

MAEA

She had just begun to celebrate getting hold of the bell, when Zariah's next order came. Kill the Ursur. Maea's stomach dropped. Not only was it a cruel and pointless thing to do, but she had only five feet of telekinetic range! What was she supposed to do, poke the beast in the eye? Her stomach roiled in protest at the idea, wanted to rile and object against needless slaughter for training. But... if she refused, it would no doubt mean elimination from this class. No credits. No development.

And had she not come here to learn how to be wicked, just in case?

But that still left the tricky part, of how to kill this monster of an animal with only thought magic. And how to get Loren away from the tusk that had snagged in his shirt, and also how to help Weaver pass her task without actually helping her.

Gritting her teeth, Maea looked around for something, anything that might prove useful as a weapon. Then her eyes went to the bell she held in her hand, and in sudden inspiration she began to pry at the bell with her magic, attempting to bend the metal out of shape until the clapper would come loose. If she did, Maea would try to get closer to the Ursur and use the clapper as a small projectile and shoot it with her telekinesis towards the eye of the bear, hoping to pierce so deep it would penetrate into the brain.

It was a reckless plan, and she wasn't sure it would work... but it was something, at least.

-------

Maea tried to take the bell apart with her telekinesis, to use the clapper as a projectile. She tried to get closer to the Ursur, and aims to shoot it in the eye, hoping to pierce the brain of the animal.

Nothing lasts forever, I thought you should know

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Arcane Academy

Apparently ordering them to kill the bear before Weaver could get her bell was the kick in the pants the Halovian needed to get her shit together. The fire distraction worked wonderfully, and the Ursur roared as it whirled around to investigate the sudden burning on its side. As it snarl and bit at the flames (for it was not a particularly bright beast) Weaver had the opening she needed to snatch up her bell.

Which was a good thing because the other two had really taken to heart Zariah's order. Maea had no issue dismantling her bell into sharp shards of metal, but and Ursur eye was small, and with it thrashing about as it was, she lacked the refined skills necessary with her telekinesis to hit it. Instead the bell shrapnel bounced uselessly off the side of its head, scattering into the snow.

But no second attempt would be necessary, as Loren showed his true Launceleyn colors. He managed to create a thick cord of leather, and with surprising grace and skill jumped atop the thrashing beast despite his only 5% chance of being able to accomplish this the lucky bastard. In the same fell swoop the leath noose found its way around the Ursur's neck, and in a display of shocking physical strength slowly, painfully strangled the great beast to death.

It crashed to its side, foam and blood spewing from its mouth as it gurgled its last attempt at breath, the summoner just barely escaping having his leg crushed in its fall. A sad death for such a great beast, but one that could not be avoided given the limitations the Grand Sorceress placed on them. Zariah waited a moment before she began descending the stairs, clapping in time with the sound of her heels clicking against the stone.

"Well done, students." she said, voice low and velvety. She stopped infront of them, glancing at the dead Ursur before surveying them once more with a blank hazel gaze. "Before I give you all passing marks, tell me, what did you learn from this lesson about magic and combat?" she asked, expecting an answer from each of them.

---

The fighting is done but class isn't quite over! Answer Zariah's question!

No post order! You have 48 hours to reply!

Roll Results
M atk: SUCCESS
M atk: FAIL

L atk: SUCCESS
L atk: SUCCESS
L jump: CRITICAL SUCCESS

W atk: SUCCESS
W grab: SUCCESS

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As Loren's wild jump succeeded, and moreover, his cord actually strangled the Ursur, he grinned savagely. Even the near miss with his leg didn't deter him from the triumphant feeling he felt spreading through him. Dismounting the Ursur, he moved to stand with the other students. Only then did he turn towards Zariah. At her question, he raised an eyebrow. "That creativity, imagination, perseverance, and resilience matter just as much, if not more, than the strength of one's magic." There was almost a challenging edge (and certainly a snarky one) to the words. Then he glanced at Weaver and Maea, curious to hear what lessons, if any, they'd taken from this exercise. LOREN Not quite an open book

She snags the bell, feels it firmly in her hands, before getting away from the chaos. Loren does what she’d considered, surprising her yet again (though maybe not, she was pretty he had a death wish). Loren is successful in killing the beast, the death gruesome and ugly, and all Weaver can see as she watches the scene is dinner that would probably be wasted in the hands of the Archmage. Also that could have been a hell of a cleaner death with a blade, but she doesn’t say anything.

Zariah comes down from the platform is those completely ridiculous heels (seriously, they are useless anywhere and definitely in Halo), clapping as she comes. It feels like the sort of clap that’s akin to a smile that doesn’t reach the eyes though, the sort of thing given out a requirement and nothing more.

She asks what they learned, and Weaver bites down a snort and every immediate answer that comes to mind. That you are more insane than anyone prepared me for. That this entire lesson was complete bullshit. That I have learned nothing but I assume it was great amusement for you. She keeps her mouth firmly shut and her face impassive, for once not wearing her emotions on her sleeve, though it kills her to behave. She needs the school, even if she’s growing to detest its Archmage.

Loren, mercifully, answers first. It’s a good answer, and she wonders if she can just steal it. Because honestly, she just disagrees with this whole method of training and she can’t quite bring herself to muster past it. Instead, she decides to throw Zariah’s words back at her. ”As you said, that we are only as strong as our weakest magic. To become stronger, we must learn to strengthen even the weakest parts of ourselves.” This at least, is something she can agree with.

weaver

-- ask no questions, and you'll be told no lies --

Quote by Charles Dickens

MAEA

Maea was quite relieved that her attack missed. The blood of the Ursur was still on her hands in a way, and she regretted pushing the dirty task of killing it onto Loren, but... at least she had not caused the animal any further pain.

Straightening to catch her breath, Maea watched Zariah approach with impassive expression. The applause seemed a mockery of the creature that lay dead in the snow, and the congratulations felt hollow. What had she learned today? Stay away from Ursurs.

"Power is neither good nor bad. It is the intent of the wielder to make it so, just like a sword or a bow. Magic... It's only another tool to be mastered."

Maea shrugged, knowing her answer sounded rather bleak and unimpressed. Echoing the sentiment of the others. Perhaps her aching ribs could excuse her there; she raised a hand to her side and prodded them surrepticiously, checking to see if any were broken.

Nothing lasts forever, I thought you should know

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

Arcane Academy

The urge to groan was strong and she only barely stomached it. What pandering simpletons. She did sigh, closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly. "It is a shame your cleverness does not extend passed your subconscious'." she said, eyes opening to look at them all. Here she had been impressed, and clearly they had all missed the point.

First she looked at Loren, distant, but clearly disappointed. "If you see those traits as separate and distinct from magical strength, you'd best ask your brother for some refresher sessions on the basics of magic theory." she said in a clipped tone. Despite his classic Launceleyn performance on the battle field, it was clear Loren had yet to internalize the real lessons that made them the superior wielders of magic. Next she looked Maea, the only one who got moderately close. "Indeed, magic is a tool. But this lesson was less about the magic, more about the situation." They had been tossed, without warning, into a potentially deadly situation, with strict limitations, and no option but to succeed. Could they really not see what this mimicked? Finally, her eyes shifted to Weaver, her defiance clear in her tone and the snide way in which she shot back her own words at her. She simply held her gaze, expression naught but a perfect porcelain mask. "I expect to see you in my office later." she said simply. A command, not a request.

"You will all receive a third of the meat butchered from the Ursur and portions of the fur. Class dismissed." she said, allowing no further room for comment.

---

Congratulations on completing the class even if Zariah think's you all missed the point! I hope you all had fun!

Weaver's next post/thread in the Arcane Academy must be a follow up meeting with Zariah.

Please use the appropriate code in the pinned Academy thread to claim your level up for basic magic.

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