Field Mission 6: A Day in Thay, Part 1

[balancemod]

oh man best of luck out there dudes NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! Ready or not, rested or not, it's time to get moving, Reclaimers. You've got a very, very long day ahead of you. And another one. And another one. And, you get the joke. Early Friday morning, with the Director there to see them off, the Reclaimers load up into the Bureau's transportation orbs for the sixth time since this whole ordeal began, and make their way to about a mile or two outside of Thay. It's important to try to stick to the story, at least — that you're all visitors from a faraway school, here to spend some time with the students and faculty of Boarbumps. As much as Lucretia would have liked to join you, she can't. None of the other leading members of the Bureau of Balance can. Whoever enters Thay, after all, is entering a bubble, after all. A time trap. Nobody will be able to leave until the Relic, the Lamp of Undoing, is either retrieved or destroyed. Someone needs to be able to continue if you all can't. 1. SEVEN O'CLOCK ALREADY As we noted in the OOC post, prompts on this log will be a quick few sentences of specific things happening during each hour. It's expected that Reclaimers will be seeing all of these events multiple times! So feel free to play with them as you see fit. If you're not sure if something you want to do would warrant a roll, please ask us in the RNG thread. ○ The Reclaimers have arrived in Thay, much to the curiosity of the highly intelligent, occasionally highly ... suspicious ... residents. Nevertheless, they recognize you as visiting, esteemed students, and, though perhaps still suspicious, welcome you into their fold. Also, as a note: Every time the relic is used, time is reset to this moment. ○ Boarbumps Academy for the Magically Inclined opens its doors to the Reclaimers. This is your first opening to explore the school — afternoon classes begin in an hour. ○ Rainer Arunsun, The Regent of Thay and Highest of the Hermetic Order of Red Wizards, can be seen watching the new arrivals by the entrance to the Red Keep. It's difficult to discern any emotion on her face. Shortly before 1 p.m., she retreats back inside. ○ Afternoon classes at Boarbumps begin, starting with a lecture on the magical circuits of the common toad. If you happen to sit in on this one, as a visitor from another school, you may be asked to assist in the dissection. You will be heckled by the rest of the class as deemed fit. ○ Erinne and Adriel can be seen within the hallways of Boarbumps arguing in a very heated manner. Some... less than choice words are exchanged between the two before one, or both of them take their wands out and begin throwing magic missiles at each other. No one knows why the fight starts, but the two have had bad blood before, and this isn't the first quarrel to happen at Boarbumps between them. A staff member arrives on the scene and is accidentally paralyzed by a misfire. ○ The town proper, surrounding the Red Keep, is open for a farmer's market. A bountiful harvest of goods are on display, but in particular, Thay is known for its amazing quality of medicinal herbs and magical reagants, many of which are rare without travel to the area. The merchants typically shoo students off, unless they have a hall pass provided to them by the faculty to retrieve something of import for class. ○ The second afternoon class at Boarbumps begins. Are you three or four time loops in and in desperate need of a nap? This class, The History of Boarbumps, is for you. You will be treated to a long and droning lecture about how the students attending during Boarbumps' very first semester banded together to stop a particularly plucky troll. Which you'd think would be an interesting tale. It is not. ○ Someone's enchanted several books at the library to begin rattling and shaking from the shelves themselves. All over the racks, spines pop out from their homes and fall to the ground, magically lift up and return to some other, non-Dewey decimal approved locale. Other books begin dancing — yes, you've read this correctly — dancing on the tables. Leon would be going into cardiac arrest at the moment, but it looks like someone's playing a prank in here. Again. This librarian looks far less tilted by this. It must be a somewhat normal afternoon for her. ○ Over in the center of town, music, a single violin playing a mournful tune, begins to play. It's unclear where exactly it's coming from. ○ The third and final afternoon class at Boarbumps — Fighting with Fire — begins. The professor, known to be slightly more unorthodox in her teaching methods, will recruit any Reclaimer who happens to be there to defend themselves from the students' incoming fireball spells. The potency of the fireballs themselves range from the tickle of a candle, to that one time you ate a ghost pepper, to one particularly fiery spell that might actually hurt you. ○ There's a scream in the girls' bathroom on the 3rd floor of Boarbumps. Anyone who enters realizes, very quickly, that no one is actually in there. Apparently, this particular lavatory is haunted. ○ Szass Astrosz dips class to go visit the local shrines within the town of Thay. He's been known to skip class before, so his departure from the halls of Boarbumps is rather nondescript. He spends time there praying quietly to his god. ○ There's a slight catastrophe over in the Town Square. That is to say, a giant spider seems to have escaped from Boarbumps and is terrorizing the vendors, to everyone's surprise. Subdue or dispatch it, it's up to you. ○ There's a scheduled council meeting to take place within the Red Keep, a usual weekly affair where Rainer, Casariel, Onerion, Gromph, and the rest meet to discuss matters of the town. Today's is canceled, as Gromph is called out to take care of the arachnid chaos currently convening around the Town Square. ○ Someone places a standing mirror around the corner of Boarbumps. If you happen to stand in front of it, it doesn't show your reflection — rather, it shows the person that you desire most. The mirror is gone by 5 p.m. ○ Cleanup of whatever damage the spider did is underway. In the meantime, the faculty of Boarbumps and the Hermetic Order of Red Wizards invite the Reclaimers to a small dinner in one of the public meeting rooms at the Red Keep. Every member of the Red Wizards are present, aside from Onerion Wyvernspur and Brian Darling. ○ The shops around the town of Thay begin to close for the evening. People are somewhere between annoyed and blase — the spider escaping was new enough, but weird Magic Things are, as you can imagine, pretty commonplace. ○ Over at The Sleepy Willow, cozy, fluffy pillows are arranged on the floor around a large fireplace. The owners will also serve you dinner, if you decide to skip the meal at The Red Keep. This may be one of the only peaceful moments you have to study everything that you've learned thus far. ○ No matter where you are in Thay, you'll feel the ground rumble underneath your feet. The residents largely pass it off as an earthquake, but will note that they have become much more frequent lately. ○ Towards the latter half of the hour, the rumbling within the school grounds causes several of the animal cages used in Onerion's Wondrous Beasts class to come unfastened as they begin to escape. Shortly thereafter, various beasts of all shapes and sizes are set free and begin running for freedom. None of them seem intent on hurting students, but they look to make an exit out of town in the quickest way possible. ○ Droves of the skeletal undead that are used around town seem to freeze in place, no longer retaining their animation. Whatever they're holding currently falls to the floor. Whatever task they're working on comes to a halt. No one understands why that is, but even the best necromancers around town can't seem to wake them back up. ○ With a sudden loud roar, the ground of the town square suddenly begins to split. People, shops, and everything else begin to drop into the chasm, despite the Red Wizards, and everyone else's, attempts to save them. ○ In the last split second you remember, if you happen to look down in the chasm, you'll notice a pair of bright, glowing eyes. Whatever exactly is down there begins to claw its way to the surface. ○ And then, just as suddenly, your vision turns white, and you're briefly overtaken by dizziness. When the haze clears, you are standing at the entrance to Thay. The sun hangs directly overhead in the sky. You have returned to 12 p.m. 2. OOC: A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT You are welcome to keep track of how your character experiences these time loops as much or as little as you're comfortable with — we'll also be tracking what you all are doing! Our Minato player Kel came up with some extremely snazzy coding if you would like to track how each loop plays out for your character more closely. Thank you, Kel! Of course, this is completely optional. Keep up with as much as you'd like, have fun as you see fit, and we hope you enjoy this mission! blurb code by photosynthesis

Comments

Fuck These Six Fish In Particular [Loop 1, 3 PM]

[unrecovered]

[Wash has spent this first loop wandering the school trying to get his bearings - he'll need them for future loops. It's weird to think about - was this how Wyoming thought with Gamma on board?]

[His thoughts are interrupted by a familiar, angry voice - that's Ferran - and follows it to a classroom with an open yet blocked door and an enthusiastically arguing teacher. He doesn't know what the situation is, but Ferran wants out, and a glance at Ferran's expression tells him there's more than anger at play here. Right now, that's all he needs to know.]

There you are!

[It's loud - loud enough to be heard over the teacher - and when she looks over her shoulder at him, he locks eyes with her, wearing his best Disapproving Commanding Officer expression. That glare is very nearly a physical force.]

He had a meeting with me fifteen minutes ago, and I don't appreciate being kept waiting.

the most unexpected rescue.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran was halfway to retrieving his wand when Wash calls out, catching his attention as well. Although this is clearly an attempt to help, the tense look on his face doesn't disappear immediately.

The professor folds her arms, being faced with a dilemma. Her lips are pressed together as she considers the situation, and while she obviously isn't pleased at having her points about teamwork, risks, and responsibility invalidated, even she isn't quite up to arguing with another school's staff. After turning to exchange a mutually judgmental look with the boy, she replies to Wash with, Well, alright then, and turns to observe the other unfortunate Reclaimers.

Ferran steps out of the door as soon as he possibly can, Agate shuffling her feathers as she settles down on his shoulders.]

this class is actually Getting People Out of Unwanted Social Situations 101

[unrecovered]

[Wash just holds his gaze until the teacher gives up. It takes a moment or two, but it's worth it.]

Thank you.

[The words say gratitude; the tone says go fuck yourself.]

[Wash follows Ferran out the door and puts a hand on his back, steering him down the hall and into an open classroom. He closes the door behind them and makes for damn sure it's shut before leaning against the wall.]

Jeez. What the hell was her problem?

[The commentary is more for his benefit than Ferran's, and his tone softens considerably as he looks at Ferran.]

Are you okay?

wash passed with flying colors

[noblegarnet]

[Agate bats Wash's hand away from Ferran, though not aggressively, and he goes along with the direction regardless. Ferran heads towards the nearest flat surface in the classroom and supports himself against it, arms trembling.

He doesn't know what her problem was, and he doesn't care. He just never wants to see her again.]

Are people here insane? Jesus Christ...

[Who the fuck just lets their inexperienced students toss fire at a bunch of kids???]

I can't even make myself cast the damn spell. Like hell I can take being on the other end of it.

teach by example, right?

[unrecovered]

[Evidently the answer to "are you okay?" is an emphatic hell no. For now, Wash stays where he is - Agate seems the overprotective type, and there's no sense in making things worse.]

I mean, probably.

[Shitty Looper Hogwarts doesn't exactly seem like a bastion of sanity, but here they are anyway.]

[But then Ferran continues, and Wash's eyes narrow just a bit. Just what the hell were they trying to do in that classroom?]

What spell?

thumbs up.

[noblegarnet]

[She absolutely is, and that's kind of what he needs. It was definitely what he needed in Wonderland, and while he doesn't see this getting nearly as bad as that, he still appreciates her weight on his shoulders. It's comforting, so this is the familiar he's chosen for now.

He rubs his forehead, carefully avoiding touching the rest of his face. The reason is probably obvious enough to Wash, since he saw the scars on Ferran's face before he started concealing them. His answer is equally disgruntled as it is exhausted.]

Fireball.

[unrecovered]

[For a moment, Wash is silent. Then-]

What?

[Here we go.]

You mean to tell me that she's having students cast fireball on OTHER PEOPLE in an ENCLOSED SPACE?!

[That got a little more intense than he'd intended, and he reels it back in and lowers the volume.]

Yeah, she's completely fucking insane.

[Though the No Swearing In Front Of the Kids rule seems to have temporarily gone out the window.]

[He takes a breath and lets it out. This isn't about him.]

No wonder you wanted out of there.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran, at least, isn't daunted by Wash's volume—his anxiety over the fire (and the relief of being removed from the situation) overrides just about everything else right now. He straightens up and sits on the desktop he was leaning over, a slow sigh escaping him. Wash, apparently, has similar reservations with similar intensity... which would make some sense, now that he thinks about it.]

Well, I'm glad we agree... [He folds his arms, frowning.] Even if she happens to have precautions in place, which I doubt, throwing uncontrolled flames at visitors isn't exactly a good welcome.

[And half mumbled:] Even for people who don't have phobias.

[unrecovered]

[He's about to agree - he's only a teacher by necessity (because teachers for the Bureau's combat class seem to come and go), but he's still pretty sure he could teach that teacher a thing or two about classroom practices - when he hears that last half-mumbled addendum.]

[For a moment, Wash just stares at Ferran. How does he know? Wash has told all of two people about his magic phobia, so how does Ferran know? Wash isn't that obvious, is he?]

[...or maybe Ferran has a phobia he's not talking about.]

[That would be the slightly more logical answer, right?]

Like what?

[It's not exactly subtle, but right now, neither is Wash.]

[noblegarnet]

[Wash stares at Ferran, and Ferran stares back. At first, it's without thought, just a reaction to being looked at in a conversation. But then... hm.]

Ah... [... not very helpful to keep this particular secret, is it? Not from his teammates, even contentious ones. Might as well.] Like fire, specifically.

Or... [There's a faint furrow in his brow as he watches Wash's reaction. He thinks, correlates. Takes a guess.] Something like... spells in general...?

[unrecovered]

[...so he isn't that obvious, but evidently he'd left enough clues around Ferran, and he watches the last one - his own reaction - click into place as Ferran continues on with his question.]

[...there's a clever girl joke here, but for all their worlds are similar, Wash isn't honestly sure if Ferran's had Jurassic Park.]

[For now, Wash simply continues to hold Ferran's gaze, expression carefully blank, for longer than should be comfortable. Yeah, Ferran worked it out, but that doesn't mean Wash isn't going to continue to make him work for it. He'll give his secrets to the right people; having them worked out feels like a violation. It isn't - he can recognize that much, at least - but still.]

[Not to mention, Ferran had also given Wash answers of his own in that first example.]

[It's a few very long seconds before Wash moves, folding his arms and resuming his lean against the wall.]

You first. [He nods at Ferran.] Why fire?

[Sure, this will eventually be mutual, but Wash still wants it on his terms.]

[noblegarnet]

[An exchange, then. Ferran doesn't actually know if it will be an equal one, but enough people know the bits and pieces that it feels trivial to admit to it. Sure, he'll bite.

He brushes his hair back into place carefully, looking just to the side.]

My house was burned down. My family died, and I almost did too.

[He turns his gaze back to Wash, the question and expectation clear in his expression. Why waste his breath on the obvious? Your turn.]

[unrecovered]

[His family died in a fire, and when Ferran died himself, he lost their names. God damn. Life sure likes kicking Ferran in the face, doesn't it.]

[But Ferran doesn't look like he's looking for sympathy or commiseration - just Wash's half of the deal. He holds Ferran's gaze when he speaks.]

Death cost.

[The two people who know about his magic phobia are the only two people who know he died at all, excluding Dr. Tank. Ferran is now the third.]

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran winces in sympathy. Even aside from not knowing about Wash's death, he didn't think of the death penalty as something that could be forced into them rather than taking something from them. He's only had a year and some to get through his own fear, so it's possible he might work through it one day, but... can someone ever get past a fear forced onto them by death itself?

How long has this been a thing? Obviously at least since that one encounter, but...]

When?

[unrecovered]

[Consider it less gaining a fear and more the absence of courage in very specific circumstances. It fucking sucks either way.]

[Wash's arms stay folded. He doesn't want to talk about this; he doesn't want to give out any more details; but at this point it might be better to give Ferran enough to sate his curiosity but not enough for a full picture. A compromise.]

Lyrabar.

[But he's drawing the line after this.]

[noblegarnet]

I see.

[Ferran didn't expect much more detail than just that, and it gives him the confirmation he was looking for. If there is the possibility of working through it, it's definitely going to take longer than just a handful of months.

... it's still screwed up that he threw a knife at his teenage teammate, but.]

Does anyone else know?

[unrecovered]

[And there's the line.]

Does anyone know about your fear of fire?

[It's simple, matter of fact, and absolutely meant to make a point. How many people do you tell your debilitating fears to, Ferran?]

[noblegarnet]

[He folds his arms.]

Yeah. A few people.

[Point absolutely obliterated, thank you very much, Wash! Although Maya's familiar had kind of necessitated that some people learned about it at first... well, after that, there was only so much point trying to hide it. He'd told Blake, after she saw his memory in the mermaids' archives. And then when they'd fought Adrian, it was too important not to bring up.]

I don't spread it around, but I mention it when it's relevant.

[unrecovered]

[It's not exactly the point he'd been trying to make, but it'll work well enough for his purposes. Ferran doesn't share his trauma with the world; why would he expect anything different from Wash?]

Exactly.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran sighs, a little annoyed and a lot tired.]

So you have no intention of actually answering the question.

[Figures. Wash is so cagey... and especially after everything he's seen from Ferran? But, then again, it's not like he expected anything else.

He adjusts his coat as he takes a slow breath and tries to gather himself together, Agate moving her talons to allow it.]

Well, whatever... Thanks for the save, I guess.