Open Chronicles The Schools of Magic[Elbion & Vel Anir]

[Selina Della Altas]

Selina had spent the night fitfully. The vision returned over and over again, more and more vivid each time. She awoke several times during the night when the ritual concluded and all the specters turned to look at her. She was glad she was alone in the tent, or she might have disturbed someone.
Finally after the fourth time she awoke she grew frustrated and lit a candle, she pulled out her spellbook and her ink and quill and began writing, it was all she could think of to calm herself down.

What the vision meant she couldn't fathom, but more and more she was convinced that the woman in her vision was her in the future, probably the distant future.
This spell was complex conjuration magic and more of a ritual than a traditional spell. She really wanted to try this spell out, but she realized that she didn't have all of the necessary components, especially after her wand shattered from her spell.
She needed a bit of charcoal, incense, and a few basic herbs burned in a brazier. And she didn't have the correct herbs or the brazier.

She sighed. At least now she knew. It was a fairly universal spell, but the challenge of the wizard was discovering the spell for herself. She flipped through her spellbook some more. She had to prepare spells for tomorrow. At least this time she had more warning and time to prepare, they were to go through a maze but it's safe to assume that it's no normal maze. Possibly dangerous if the collage and Dreadlords worked together to build it. She had heard of a divination spell that could guide the caster through such a maze to their destination, but she had yet to learn such a spell. So she had to make due with what she had in her spellbook, which was sorely lacking in comparison to full fledged wizards.
At some point she knew she had to learn more variety rather than focusing on honing the spells she already had.

By the time she closed her spellbook the sun was rising and the activity of the festivities was beginning once more. Selina was tired, but she was prepared. She dressed and then collected her spellbook and drop scrolls. She reached for her wand but grimaced when she remembered its destruction. Casting spells will be difficult for her from now on until she can craft a new arcane focus.
She threw on her cloak and went outside to prepare for the contest of the maze.

She approached the area and saw several Dreadlords already waiting there. She pulled her hood up and tried to casually not look at them, which was hard for her habits of a social butterfly, but these Dreadlords put her on edge now, for some reason.

 

[Harry]

Talus - Sierra - Luther Urahil​

As Henry stood on the platform next to the other Apprentices, he was absorbed in thought. He didn't care about Nickolas or Alloi, their wellbeing at least. He was more concerned about their potential to compromise what Talus had planned in regards to what Crane wanted. If anything, the two estranged Apprentices were more volatile elements to their plan than any help. Even then, there was no guarantee Luther or Sierra would come to Hal and Talus' aid.

We clear on everything? Talus' inquiry brought Henry back to reality. The older Apprentice gave their "leader" a nod. It was never spoken among them, but they all knew of Talus' ability to lead. They leaned on him for many things. Hal leaned on him especially regarding their issue with the Archon.

"I just want this over with," He admitted to the three, staying quiet enough to that neither Nockilas nor Alloi heard.

He thought little of the potential dangers in the maze. Those would most likely be a trifle if the four of them worked together.

Then, the first College student strode past them. It was Hal's opponent. After a moment of thought, he recalled her name.

"Her. Selina," He suddenly spoke to Talus. Perhaps it would be obvious if something happened to her in the mage, that it may appear as a clear act of revenge. But, it would no doubt please the Archon. Conflicting feelings rose in Hal. He didn't want to murder the girl, but what he wanted less was to be at the mercy of The Calamity himself. A chill ran down his spine at the mere thought.

 

[Kara Orin]

Kara, Arne, and Rothi enjoyed the rest of the first day – visiting stalls and trying the exotic Terin food.

Near the end, Arne asked Kara, “What’s your plan for the maze thing tomorrow?”

The smile on Kara’s face faded after Arne asked that question. She looked down to her feet for a second.

“I’ll think of something,” Kara told her brother.

Looking back up to him, Kara added, “Just don’t worry when-“

---

Selina Altas | Ukrit Nahr

The next day, College students gathered for the Maze. Selina was already at the meeting area when Kara arrived. Ukrit was listed as a participant for this challenge despite the wound he took the previous day. Three other College students were to join in the Maze – brining things to an even six-on-six match.

Kara wore the same attire as yesterday. She still had two daggers and several pouches lining her belt. She at least had the same runic dagger that she used during the golem match.

Stands lined the perimeter of the stone maze. Spectators could easily see through the permeable webbing that acted as the labyrinth’s ceiling. Arne and Rothi already took their seats. Kara’s brother already had a drink in hand.

Looking at the Dreadlord team, Kara first examined yesterday’s opponent – Talus. She then looked over to Hal. A blink. Her eyes wandered to Selina. A few moments passed as her eyes drifted to the bottom left.

Then, Kara turned to Talus. As she was walking by, she paused to tell Talus, “I’m surprised your proctors didn’t beat you black and blue.”

 

[Talus]

Talus glanced over towards the girl that Hal pointed out, his lips thinning for a moment as the girl that he had faced walked towards them.

The Apprentice Dreadlord made a small motion with his hands, a command that would hopefully silence the others before they said anything foolish in front of the girl. The last thing they wanted now was to give away any of their...task.

It would be the end of all of this, not just them.

For some reason he did not entirely expect the words Kara spoke to him, and he couldn't help but blink in confusion for a moment. Her tone of voice was not that of taunting, but the words she used were. Lips thinned and briefly he glanced towards his sword.

Killing them in duels would have been so much easier.

"I didn't lose." Talus said instead with a shrug, echoing the words of Idrig Crane.

He wondered if that was in the end what had actually spared his life. If the Archon had wanted he could easily have executed both him and Hal without even a second thought to it. No excuse would have been needed, nothing.

 

[Phillipa Ebonheart]

Phillipa had found her colleagues and spoke at length about the matches. She mulled over the details while looking over paperwork, writing notes about odd details of the match and possible information about the dreadlords. They had done and exceptional job at hiding their abilities thus far, revealing as much as was needed to give them an edge in their matches but not enough for fighting full force.

Phillipa narrowed her eyes at the furiously short listing of details at the dreadlords, turning her chair to the fire and tapping her finger on the desk. A sudden wave of pain filled her head as a headache made itself aware, and the professor slid her hands into her hair at the roots, pulling gently to appease the onset of a headache she now had.

They were a frustrating bunch, but she hoped they would give up more in the coming competition.

---

Phillipa did not sit in the risers this time, instead waiting for the students to assemble and looking over each of them before they headed off into the maze. She stroked a few of the feathers on her mantle before pulling one out and blowing on it in a cupped hand. A small iridescent black bird formed, no bigger than her hand as it took flight over the field and flew for a time.

It returned, not yet being consumed by magical fire as she sent it off to continually fly over the field. She wouldn't interfere, but knowing how well the college students did in a maze was something she would make note of for the other professors.

Kara spoke to the dreadlord from her match as Phillipa beckoned for Selina to come speak to her. The girl had asked for Phillipa's opinion, and having spoke with the others, she had a few things to advise her on.

 

[Selina Della Altas]

Selina noticed Phillipa's invitation and moved over to her. Worry was clear on her face. She knew some of the reputation of the Dreadlords and she fully expected something bad was going to happen today. She had even skipped breakfast with this eating at her mind among other things.

She clutched at the hems of her college robes in an unsuccessful attempt to stop her hands from shaking. She was psyching herself out. She wasn't nearly this scared yesterday when she faced down a Manticore.

She had her spellbook close as always, and her drop scrolls were within easy reach. But one element was missing which added to her nervousness, her last spell against the Manticore had disintegrated the skeletal structure of the beast, but had also turned her wand to dust as well when it was caught in the area of the shatter spell.

"You wanted to speak with me, Professor Ebonheart?"

 

[Phillipa Ebonheart]

Phillipa smiled at Selina and watched her approach. Nervous energy twisted through her, plain enough for even untrained eyes to see. She couldn't be blamed considering she had used a spell that had turned the bones of a beast to literal dust and consumed her focus, then promptly fell unconscious. Part of her reason for coming to speak with miss Altas.

"I understand you find yourself without an arcane focus, and I may have a temporary solution for that, if you would be willing." Phillipa informed her with a hushed tone. The item in question had been requested the day before, and a runner had been dispatched to fetch it with haste. It had only reached her a few minutes earlier, in time for the gathering but only just. "As for my suggestions, I can make them after this match. So that part can wait, otherwise I might just prattle on."

 

[Isabeau]

“You are quite welcome Selina; it’s been an honor.” She bowed her head, leaving those last words with the girl, that and.

“Good luck.” She’d turned back to go about cleaning up, the disembodied voice of the girl hadn’t appeared again, and that uneasiness that spirits leave, was no longer felt.

The idea that some poor student had met their death from previous festivals made her cringe and she hoped she was wrong. The moments flew by as she cleaned up Mary’s tent and went to head back to her own, to only stop first by Gabby.

Gabby was happily devouring some hay and drinking the water left by the assistant. She’d gently she’d stroke her Equine friend and whisper in her ear, before moving inside her own tent. She expecting to hear her assistant moving about but no, it was obvious the tent once again found itself empty.

She turned on her heals and headed out of the tent, moving over to Gabby and quietly knelt.

“Let’s go for a small walk, hmm?” She gently untied Gabby from the post and began to move toward the crowds, but she would only go to far. The duo followed the sounds of the crowd and she stood back, as there was no reason for Issy to want to see what was going on.

She’d stand in the back of the crowd listening to all that was around her, the smells of the typical festival foods around her, the different conversations flooding her ears was a bit over whelming but with experience she found that, the calm came to her a lot faster.

The soft fingers of Issy’s would gently dig themselves in to Gabby’s main, as she kept the animal calm from all that could possibly disturb her. Another cheer from a woman, who was enjoying what she was watching echo in Issy’s ear, and she couldn’t help but show a bit of a wincing.

A deep breath and she’d go about to listening to the crowd, but the one thing she couldn’t get rid of, the feeling a dark cloud was coming soon, she hoped she was wrong.

 

[Alistair Wren]

Alistair had healed Ukrit back to health, but unfortunately he had lost a lot of blood and had to spend the day in bed. Wearing canary yellow robes, Alistair met his colleagues at the edge of the maze. He had slept well and kept his fluids up for the day ahead, but regretted that Ukrit could not be there. He saw Kara talking to Talus, the dreadlord she had faced and repressed his anger as he walked past him, unable to repress his anger over his comrade shooting Ukrit with an arrow.

The young mages had a big day ahead, including himself. Each one of them would be sent into a maze, where they would face off the fierce dreadlords of Vel Anir. If Alistair had it his way, the Elbion mages would be victorious and would show the brutes the true craft of magic. Professor Ebonheart was talking to Selina, a colleague of his he had recently made friends with back at school. Breathing in, he retained his composure and walked over to her.

"Hello Selina, just wanted to wish you good luck out there," Alistair smiled, his cheeks reddening as he blushed.

He turned to face Lady Ebonheart, "Professor, I did my best, but I'm afraid Ukrit will not be attending, he lost a lot of blood and must spend today resting," Alistair said, hanging his head in regret.

 

[Selina Della Altas]

Phillipa Ebonheart offered her a spare arcane focus, that would make everything so much better! Even if she didn't have a bond with it, it would still make casting spells so much easier!
She didn't have an actual magical affinity, she had no magic in her blood or genetics that allowed her to summon or use magic like the others could. But she could focus it through an arcane focus, like a wand or a staff to cast spells, it was still taxing to herself, but it was doable. But if she tried to use her own body as that focus?... Either she simple isn't there yet, or she simply wasn't meant to have magic forced through her body like that.

She looked so relieved when she heard her offer, "Thank you so much Professor Ebonheart! That will take a huge load off of my mind, you have no idea!"
She heard a greeting behind her and turned to see Alistair Wren approaching. Apparently he was participating in the maze as well, but Selina didn't even realize he was at the tournament at all!
She smiled and waved, feeling better and better by the minute.
"Hello Alistair. Good of you to join us!"

 

[Phillipa Ebonheart]

Selina came over, and gave her a positive towards the focus. Alistair appeared, and informed her that Ukrit would not be joining the maze. A small trouble, but so long as he wasn't deceased not a terrible imposition on the college.

"You are welcome, though I must warn you the item can be a bit, temperamental at times." Phillipa admitted, producing a small golden and rune covered globe. "When you use it, the orb will open and expose the casting stone inside, until then, hold it close and allow it to connect with you. You and I can discuss what improvements can be made when the games are over."

Phillipa turned to Alistair after finishing her words to Selina. "That is fine, so long as he recovers it should not be any issue. Thank you for your effort."

 

[Selina Della Altas]

Selina bowed and accepted the focus. But when the golden globe was placed in her hand it seemed to open and 'bite' her, drawing blood from her finger and a surprised yelp from Selina. She should have expected it though, this was forming a temporary bond with her which would allow her to cast spells like she normally did.
She grimaced and felt slightly nauseous at the sight of her own blood, but forced a smile, "Thank you... Professor Ebonheart!"
She gave another halfhearted bow and turned back to the maze, sucking on her bleeding finger.

But this was good. Now she could stand a chance in there. And with her colleagues by her side she was confident that the students of Elbion would succeed.
If she expected danger in the maze from the involvement of Dreadlords in its creation, she could just as easily expect complex puzzles from the involvement of the professors of Elbion. And if the students of the college lacked anything in the physical department, they made up for it two fold in their intelligence and problem solving abilities.

And if there were dangers in the maze... Her drop scrolls may provide the answers they need to surpass their other trials. She just hoped splitting up wasn't part of their plan.

 

[Harry]

With folded arms and a raised brow, he looked at the college student that approached Talus. Hal listened to their brief interaction in silence. He wondered if Crane was watching, or any Proctors.

Cold blue eyes never once left the student. He made it a point to ask Talus of her abilities later in the maze. When his gaze did break from the one that approached Talus, it shifted to the group of students that would be facing off against him and his fellow Apprentices. They looked a frail group, hardly fit for whatever challenges awaited in the maze.

The spiteful thoughts quickly faded as he remembered his own bout. What they lacked in physical abilities they more than made up for with ingenuity and intelligence. Though, he couldn't help but feel his own loss was a fluke.

Again, he wished for this whole thing to be over as soon as possible.

 

[Selina Della Altas]

Selina faced the maze. Its stone walls were about ten feet tall, three feet thick and quite ominous. As she looked at it there was little doubt in her mind that it was magical, and not just the magic dome over the top of it, the walls themselves radiated magic and she could only guess what tricks, traps, obstacles, puzzles, and enchantments the walls hid.

She glanced over at Kara and the other Dreadlords. Kara didn't seem to be intimidated by the battle mages in the least, so Selina decided to follow her lead. She put the focus in her pouch and approached Henry Bauer, Talus, and Sierra, and any of the other Dreadlords present. But she specifically approached Henry.
She couldn't conceal her nervousness completely as she addressed her opponent.
"Mr Bauer, right? Umm... I never got the chance to congratulate you for a good match. I don't know what the outcome was, but I certainly hope that you were successful in your battle!"
Her words were genuine, but her smile was nervous and her voice quivered a little. She had to admit that he looked much older and more mature than he was, moreso than others she knew of about the same age who were immature and childish.
She hopped that he didn't begrudge her for helping him fight his Manticore.

 

[Talus]

Talus was about to speak again, perhaps even rebuke the other competitors that had made their way over once more, but as soon as he opened his mouth the announcer called out and drowned out any sound that he could have made.

"COMPETITORS TAKE YOUR PLACES!"

The Apprentice frowned, then simply shook his head and turned away from the Elbion students. The others quickly followed him, taking their place on one side of the platform.

Directly in front of them was an entrance to the maze, an archway closing at the top with an odd sort of gargoyle sitting at its peak. Talus stared at it while the announcer read the rules of the competition ahead of them.

They were simple enough; first team to reach the center of the maze and touch the trophy one. They could use any magic, the only limit being no harming members of the opposing team purposefully. Talus nodded along, his spine tingling slightly as he glanced over towards the Elbion students. He knew what he would have to do.

Knew what was required of them.

The anouncer said something else, adding that the maze was not just filled with walls and that competitors would have to watch out, but the words were half drowned out by his own thoughts. There was a pause, then a call.

"Begin!"

As soon as the call went out Talus dew his blade and stepped through the archway. The moment he did a shimmer passed over the opening like glass, the apprentice moving passing it, but finding he could not step back once through.

The only way was forward.

 

[Harry]

Hal would have liked to converse with the student mage, but for the sake of appearances only offered a look of disdain towards her. The awkward interaction did not last long, however, as the announcer soon began to speak with his disembodied voice.

He was quick to follow Talus into the maze, and watched as his friend tested going back through the entrance.

"No turning back, now," Hal said with a wry smile.

 

[Selina Della Altas]

Selina didn't know what the cold shoulder meant, but it felt like a cold pit just opened up in her stomach. Whatever it meant boded nothing well for her, she just knew it. Dejected she returned to the Elbion group as the announcer sounded off the rules.
As expected, no fighting. There would be about four different obstacles and five different zones, of course the announcer didn't give any spoilers as to what each zone was.
There was confirmation about the traps, that was something at least, and they would likely get more and more challenging as they got deeper into the maze.

Selina grasped the focus in her pocket, feeling the runed metal under her palm. She had a sense of foreboding, but the acolytes wouldn't try anything in the maze, would they? She had noticed the raven Phillipa Ebonheart sent up earlier, so that put her at ease, but only a little bit.

As they were given clearance to begin Selina stepped through the arch after the acolytes, hopefully with Kara Orin and Alistair Wren with her. She discovered as the others had that their passage back was blocked, so forward was the only way. The first thing they were all faced with was a short hall with three options up ahead.
A passage to the left and right, and a passage forward.

She looked back at the others in the Elbion group, she didn't want to make a decision without them.