[Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

The story unfolds around Osaka, Japan, with the unlocking of one girl's hidden potential, and a gathering of Young mages whom are destined to change the fate of the Earth.
User avatar
Kai
Site Admin
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:18 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Kai »

Kat smiled gently at Johann's unoffended reaction, and his blunt observation of the key. just like the unadorned key, the 'treasure' within the box was likewise quite mundane, but equally useful. The half-Japanese mage gave a bit of a curtsy to Laiose's praise, before they continued their journey, eventually meeting up once more with the other group. Waving a bit jovially, she urged the other group closer, and upon hearing Drysi's question, spent a moment in thought before giving her opinion on the matter.

"Well, I find it highly unlikely that even our entire group could even hope to kill Mr. Flynn even if we tried, however, there are many, many ways to take something from a man without resorting to violence or even altercation," was the blonde's supposition, which she followed by showing off the fruits of her and Johann's labor. "I'm assuming that your own trials have lead you to the same ending point as our own, as both groups now appear to be headed for the same target."
User avatar
Gwathdraug
Posts: 281
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:48 am

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Gwathdraug »

The space in front of Drysi - empty and compromised of only a clear line of sight to Laoise and the other two students - was replaced by a rush of groaning air as Vrey appeared in front of the triclops. The bald teen was calmly walking backwards with her hands shoved deep into her skirt and then the pockets of her track pants even further below. Vrey tilted her head curiously and then pulled outthe stone the pond carp had spat at her forehead early and displayed it confidently between two fingers.

"The stone and you-" Vrey smiled as veins rose across her face, her pallid skin lighting up green as her magic tunneled to the fore, and her eyes shifted from dull grey to the same squirming colour claiming territory across her cheeks. "-guard it for a gift." Staring hard at Drysi again Vrey turned her head sideways in thought before relaxing and nodding to herself. "Catch!" As her final words came out the girl pushed the pebble, now covered with a glowing green lattice of wire thin tendrils, closer towards the triclops.

When Vrey let go of the small stone it remained frozen in the air as the green tendrils began to whirl and shrink - loosening their hold over the object.

Done with the conversation, the hairless girl nodded encouragingly with another smile before disappearing and reappearing in a run towards the reunited portion of the group. Setting her aim towards Chuffy, Vrey actually dashed instead of just teleporting towards the dog before stopping next to the re-risen animal with a slide that left her laying down in a scuffed stretch of soil looking up at the animal.

"Hello." The girl nodded seriously towards Chuffy. "I met the Spring King." Vrey paused, as if waiting for a response and then nodding in understanding towards seemingly nothing. A large grin bloomed on the teen. Grin tendrils wiggled about jauntily from her cheeks. "He had whiskers like this!" Vrey's gauntlet clad hands joined her magic in making wavy motions next to her face in a demonstration that did little justice to the Carp King's earlier demeanor.
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

Johann averted his eyes at Laoise's praise, barely concealing his sheepish smile. The key gave them a map, and the map led them back to the rest of the group. Regarding the inquiry of how to acquire the handkerchief, Johann had a simple thought. "We could per-per-perhaps asisisisk him?"

His eyes remained fixated on the dirt path before his dark shoes, so he was completely unaware of Vrey engaging Chuffy until she began speaking. At first, he thought she had been speaking to him. Actually looking at someone, apparently, was a good way to tell if they were actually speaking to you. Vrey was not speaking to him, she was regaling his dog with a synopsis of her recent adventures.

Chuffy, excellent listener that he was, panted along pleasantly. At the sight of Vrey's magical whiskers, he gave the girl's cheek a friendly lick. His tongue was dry and rough, but not painfully so. Otherwise, he was content to bask in her affection quietly, his eyes glowing contentedly. His happiness put a small smile on Johann's face as well, and he patted his loyal and best friend on the head.
User avatar
Kokuten
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Kokuten »

Drysi leaned back as the stone was offered to her, she was still quite afraid of anything that came from spirits, animals, animal spirts or anything Vrey pushed in her direction. More than that, Drysi's somewhat awakened vision made the odd girl look blinding to her. The stone's webbing glow was brilliant to look at, but it was silhouetted by the corona of light that was Vrey.

"Th-... Thank you," she sputtered, blinking tears out of her eyes. The immense source of energy found something else to take her attention. Wiping her eyes, Drysi looked down at the rock, grumbling as she put it away in her bag. "Everything hurts my eyes now... I wish I had brought my transition lenses... Where is my-- OH!"

Drysi bounced in place. With an arm tucked away in the satchel, she grabbed the Willow's hand and ran to join the rest of the group, pulling the Druid in her wake. "I have it! I forgot I had it!"

Cutting off the advance of the group for a moment, she yanked out what looked like a magazine. It had thoughtmark printed on the front, so its title was translated to whatever language their eyes could most easily interpret. The cover was emblazoned with M4GE'S MONTHLY in a stacked font, the person flashed on the cover was immediately recognizable as a white-haired idol conducting a photo-shoot. The corner blurbs had things like, "Strange Feeling When You're Assensing? You Might Have a Shadow Mage. pg 31" and "The Five Most Powerful Evokers ON THE PLANET. pg 42" and "The Six Most Famous Mages That No One Can Find. pg 11" and "Guns Aren't Just for Mundies Anymore, American Mages on the Rise. Page 35"

The most prominent headline in the center read, "The SILVER-HAIRED SENSATION takes Both Worlds by STORM!"

And then one below it read, "The Truth Behind this MYSTERIOUS MAN."

The girl's thin finger pointed to a fellow in the background of the shot who seemed to be trying to explain something to another man wearing a shirt that read 'SECURITY'. The figure had a striking resemblance to their instructor.

"This copy of Mage Monthly mentions Mr. Flynn in it! And they go into depth on who he is!" said Drysi with excitement, holding the magazine aloft so that everyone got a eyeful, including Laoise, "I bet if we read it, it will key us in to some weakness we can exploit with Mr. Flynn, and he'll have to give us his handkerchief!"
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Straken »

Willow looked at the magazine with genuine interest; gawking over Drysi’s shoulder, amazed that such a publication existed. Laoise blushed and grimaced a bit, shrinking back behind the group some as they walked.

“So what all’s in there?” asked the Brit as she tried to read some of the text. “It’s not like Mr. Flynn would have told a magazine some dire flaw in his fighting strategy, right?”

The group of students had another few minutes to walk and talk strategy, Laoise purposefully falling back a ways further so she didn’t subconsciously give any details away to Ruarc.

Before too long though, the path came to a sheltered glade that was about sixty feet across. The air here was cool as a gentle breeze made the surrounding timberland speak softly in its own vernal tongue. Somewhere off in the distance a woodpecker could be heard tapping away, more birds sang all around, and a couple of squirrels were running through the branches above the path as the group reached the glade. Plain for everyone to see, sitting directly across from them was Ruarc; who appeared to be napping against a couple of boulders on the edge of some shade. If he had noticed the group, he did not move to show it.
User avatar
Kokuten
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Kokuten »

"Of course not, Willow. Mr. Flynn isn't stupid," commented Drysi matter-of-factly as she flipped through the pages of the magazine. "At least as far as we know. Look here, he's interviewed about his connection to Ms. Flynn. Take a look at the content of the questions and the way he answers them. He's probed specific, sometimes insulting inquiries about his social life and connections, but each question has a respectable answer."

Drysi let go of the magazine, and it was left to hover, one of her hands directing its position while she fished into her satchel. She pulled out a quill and began underlining everything the magazine reported Ruarc saying. "Even something so probing as, 'What would you say is your biggest weakness?' is answered somewhat honestly, as you can see here, he offers something pithy. Tea and Faeries. We know the first is true, and the second must be a more specific reference because he's choosing to snooze in a forest filled with fae creatures. The magazine goes further to insinuate a romantic connection between the two, which we also know isn't true; before diving into an odd three-way branching love map involving three potential suitors. Mr. Flynn is described as a 'millionaire playboy bacherlor', which means he did not hide the fact he resides at Safeholme."

The triclops raised a finger, "We learn a few things from this interview about our target. One, he is a patient individual, considering that the interview starts after the picture on the cover was taken, but the interviewer notes no aggression or aversion."

She raised another finger, "Two, he is honest and straightforward with a potential to be easily lead. While his answers are guarded, they are most certainly candid and open to exploitation."

Then the ring finger, "Three, he is a man of simple means and approach; he likely will not account too deeply past a straightforward plan, considering how he was almost forcibly ejected from event that was attended and led by a person he is most immediately acquainted."

Drysi folded her hand, and the magazine, filled with salacious stories of Ruarc's wonton desire, closed.

"Until now, our Master has been distant, the way a teacher is to their students. The magazine gives us a candid look to his personality and possible reactions. He likely isn't expecting any deception from us, so that means we should lead into that. Willow, I recommend you walk up to him and ask for the item directly, along with Vrey. Vrey will disrupt any easy sense of mana so that rich girl, the German, and myself can work on removing the item while his guard is down."

At that the Triclops rubbed her chin before pulling the rock out, drawing a small inscription on the surface for a tracking spell, "Vrey, take this back. Get a sense for it. Should things go south, try to plant it on Mr. Flynn's person. It should prevent us from losing him in a chase."

She then looked at Katarina, "Rich girl, you're an elementalist aren't you? You can be our muscle here. The moment things go off you just put out something disruptive, or throw money at him."

Then finally Johann, "And Herr Turban. Does your animal have all its teeth? A taste for pantlegs? If he can latch on to the man before he gets away in a disaster, that would make our efforts much easier."
User avatar
Kai
Site Admin
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:18 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Kai »

Katerina was a bit nonplussed at being referred to simply as 'Rich girl', and while the descriptor may have technically been true, she was still a student equal to everyone else, and a person with a name, to boot. "You know, I do have a name..." she complained, but that was shut down as Drysi simply referred to her as 'Rich girl' once more, the complaint falling upon the triclops' seemingly deaf ears. And to top it off, apparently all she was good for was 'muscle?' Preposterous. Still, she couldn't really complain about the spirit of the plan, though, she had a feeling that the elder Druid could probably fend off her attacks quite easily.
"I don't think I could serve as much muscle... I can basically do one strong spell and it won't last long, otherwise it's just more subtle work like moving something or making it rain a little, or even lighting candles or something..."

Then, an idea sparked in her mind. "Now, this might be crazy, but, what if I lit the handkerchief on fire? Perhaps he might toss it away rather than allow it to engulf his entire outfit?"
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

Johann was just about to ask what his role was when she called him Herr Turban. "Um... Herr Krieger, ack-ack-ack... it's Krieger." Flustered with his latest bout of stuttering, he turned his red cheeks away and scratched at the right one, just below his hidden eye. "He... We are not... violently inclined. I'mmmmmm," he conquered his trembling jaw after a moment, clamped it tight, then tried again. "I'm sure we can find another solution."
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Straken »

Willow listened intently as Drysi spoke. As silly as the concept had been at first, the Welsh girl had actually extrapolated fairly relevant information. What's more she formulated a strategy from it. The strategy was, well, straight forward, but with Willow’s skillset there was likely little else she was likely to contribute. Sighing lightly, the Brit found herself feeling thirsty. Grabbing the water bottle hooked to her belt only to find it empty. As the strategy meeting was wrapping up Laoise stepped over to Willow and offered her own bottle that she had filled from the river; assuring the girl that the water flowing through the property was quite safe to drink.

Refreshed, Willow turned on her heel with a renewed pep in her step. Walking with a swagger she was starting to feel positively giddy. She was about to see some sparring magic in play, even if it was between a teacher and some fresh students it would be fun to watch. Her pace slowed a hair at the thought. She really was excited to watch, but she really wanted to take part in more of a manner than asking for the handkerchief. Regardless, she was going to do her best.

Stepping into the glade Willow felt relaxed and like the worries she had about being self conscious eased; it was no wonder Mr. Flynn was napping here after sitting for almost an hour. Crossing the distance into the cool shade on the far side of the clearing, keeping her pace reasonable now to let everyone settle into their own positions.

“Mr. Flynn,” Willow announced when she stood a few feet away before starting into the request slash ruse. “We made it, and saw some really neat things. What’s more, everything about this place seems peaceful and in harmony, so we believe the way to get the handkerchief from you is peacefully.”

“So, Mr. Flynn, would you please give us the cloth?” Willow said extending her arm for effect. Ruarc didn’t stir, and frankly had a pretty silly look on his face as he continued napping.

“Drysi, he’s really out of it, it seems,” turning back to the triclops.
User avatar
Kokuten
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 pm

Re: [Episode 1] A Practical Morning Exercise

Post by Kokuten »

As Willow looked back at Drysi, she saw the triclops stare right back at her, somewhat dumb-founded. At first it seemed like the little Welshling was about to reprimand the apprentice's prognosis of the situation. Then, suddenly, all three of her eyes opened very wide, bright sparkling, green orbs reflecting an emotion on a neurotic face very clearly, pure shock. It was the look of someone's expectations falling apart, and Drysi began fishing into her bag quickly. A spell scroll floated out, unfurling in front her, while she furiously yanked out the rock from before they had entered into the forest.

Quickly, she read the incantations on the scroll, and it began to light up. It took a few seconds, but the effect was clear as a small ball of heat formed on Mr. Flynn's resting body, like a tiny fire sprite. The Spark spell ignited, and produced a fiery flare that was enough to catch linens and other combustibles on fire.

The spell cast, she began to whip around wildly, aiming her rock into the woods surrounding the glade.

"Where are you..." she mumbled, sweating.
Locked