The place: Eventide University. A large, brick structure initially built only a few months after the appearance of the Tears in order to house and educate the creatures that had begun appearing across the world. Since then, it has become a place of learning not just for Dimensional Beings, but for their children and anyone interested in the new world of magic that had seemingly appeared overnight. One would expect that such a school located in the generally-closeminded south of the United States would be frowned upon by the locals, but it had, perhaps wisely, been decided to build the school on the outskirts of the city of New Orleans, which had, as one can expect from the city’s history and culture, been quite welcoming to their new neighbors, to the point that many alumni in those early years had decided to stick around and build their lives there. As a result, not only has the city become one of the most magically-populated places on the planet, it had even stopped getting regularly levelled by hurricanes due to a sizable population of wind and water spirits helping to either break their backs while well out to sea or simply divert them away from the city itself.
Presently, several vehicles are pulling up the long drive to the university itself, within them several members of the newly- accepted class. Some local, some from far-flung climes, each with their own history, nature, and outlook that would no doubt shape the character of their education. All of them find themselves raising their eyes to the sky as the school appears on the horizon, or more specifically to the black clouds that hover over it, an angry red… thing in its center. This was another reason this school had been built here. A Tear, relatively benign compared to many others, and perfectly suited to research. Luckily for some of them, it threw the grounds into a perpetual, red-tinged twilight, the source of the school’s unusual name.
Soon, they would reach the school, their transportation finding its way to the front of the school and letting them out, all but one car, which would instead circle around to the back, the two… students? Prisoners? (To be honest, neither the ones transporting them or, likely, the girls themselves knew quite which they were, if not perhaps both) inside only let out once those escorting them were quite sure they were secure and ready in case the two tried anything. Ultimately, they’d all find themselves led inside, to a central auditorium, and from there to their seats. All these students would find themselves seated together, though the two who had been brought in under guard would be a few seats away, isolated, somewhat, from the rest.
It is quiet, for now. They’re supposed to be here for something of a welcoming speech, but that has yet to start, and would likely be some time coming, so for now, they have time to get to know each other, and consider what path their studies will take going forward...
Each student has 9 blocks to sign up for classes per semester. At least 6 of these slots need to be used for General Education credits. General education credits generally (very slowly) increase base stats, while elective courses increase proficiency levels which eventually lead to new active skills. Each student can also spend their weekend studying to further increase these skills (though this is more or less efficient depending on what resources they have available), or for other actions that may prove more effective.
Attributes
Essence: Affects (MP Equivalent)
Attunement: Affects cost and effectiveness of magic-based Skills
Strength: Affects non-magical damage (basic attack/physical skills), factored into movement
Endurance: Affects HP
Dexterity: Affects Hit/Evade rates, also factored into movement
Intellect: Affects speed of skill gains and unlocks advanced proficiencies
All stats start at 10
Proficiencies
Proficiencies range from 0 to 100, and represent your active knowledge of a given branch of study. They are raised by elective/non-general courses and through study (generally only effective when studying with an expert) Each student may choose one proficiency to raise to 10 at character creation, which will unlock the first tier of secondary Proficiencies.
Thaumic Science - Required for most Thaumaturgy Proficiencies. Gives skills that have to do with direct knowledge of the mechanics of magic
Example Skills:
Enhanced Respiration: recover (MP equivalent) as a function of Essence.
Efficiency: Regain a small portion of any Skill’s cost after using it.
Power: Double the cost of next skill used to increase the power of that skill by 150%
Combat Training - (slight increase to Str/End/Dex), unlocks Weapon/Physical Combat Proficiencies.
Example Skills:
Hair Trigger: Bonus to initiative at the start of combat.
Recenter: Set init to max
Dodge Roll: Bonus to Evasion
Battlefield Awareness: Decrease penalties for engaging multiple opponents at once
Knowledge (History/Supernatural Biology/Magical Theory) - Can be used to ask the GM questions about relevant information. (Doesn’t provide active skills)
Courses:
(these are not an exhaustive list, feel free to suggest other courses)
Thaumaturgy 101 - Raises Attunement, Essence
Magical Theory - Raises Thaumic Science
Operations 101 - Raises Combat Training
[KNOWLEDGE PROFICIENCY] studies - Raises related Knowledge Proficiency
Free Block (Counts as a General Studies course, can be used to selectively raise one non-magical stat/week)
Mathematics (Intellect)
History (History Knowledge)
Social Studies (Intellect)
P.E classes (Specify the course/club and assign appropriate stats. Example: Track. Dexterity, Edurance)
Pottery (Dexterity, Intellect)
Music (Intellect, Attunement)
Weekends
Each Weekend, you can take two of the following actions:
Rest: Recovers fatigue, which can be gained by taking certain actions.
Study: Raise a single attribute by .2 or a proficiency by 2, or two of such by half as much, with the same mechanics as taking a class in that subject.
Explore: Go out on the town and see if you can find anything interesting. Consumes a day and generates Fatigue, but may result in useful discoveries.
Development: Attempt to refine your own natural magic to produce a new innate skill. Gains bonuses from having a tutor or some other source of knowledge about your potential abilities.
or visit a location -
Crystal Rose - A new age shop dealing largely in spiritual trinkets, cures and self-improvement. Highly popular with a small community of mystics, the shop is well stocked with helpful "white magic" items such as chakra-balancing crystals, dream catchers, incense and other aids for empowering or enlightening the self. Owned by a middle aged couple helped by their children, the store often houses activities such as meditation circles or acupuncture lessons. -- Spending the evening at the store counts as a mentored class in Essence and Attunement. In addition, certain magical and pseudo-magical items can be purchased here.
Arcane - A highly popular boardwalk arcade stocked with rare and highly challenging games. On the weekends it has a discount for infinite-ticket cards allowing those who have the patience to stand in like to have as many goes as they like at a particular game. Or at least as many as time and popularity allows. Can either be challenged by yourself or with a partner. When playing with a partner, the results of the separate players' checks will be added together and used to calculate stat gains.
1-75 no gains.
76-99 +.5
100-150 +1
151-199 +2
200 +3
Undead residence -- A two-man light-gun game facing mounting difficulty against hordes of demons and zombies. Requires a partner but gives a highly boosted Dexterity growth
Fortune crumble -- a typical (but rumored to be far more accurate) fortune telling game. The life-like wooden statue dispenses slips of good or bad fortune. Daring your luck at this "game" can lead to good or bad luck for the coming week. (can only be played solo, 50/50 chance of applying a +10/-10 to your rolls for the following week)
Rhythm Renaissance -- A extremely popular rhythm game. Serves as a boosted Dex/End growth.
Cello Protagonist -- Learn to play the cello with this cutting-edge simulator! Dex/Att growth.
Alley Brawler -- A fighting game with fierce competition. Due to it's limited but highly versetile caste of characters, it doesn't just test your skill but your ability to read your opponent. Raises Dexterity and Attunement
SOUL CLASH -- TEST THE MIGHT OF YOUR SOUL AGAINST YOUR FRIENDS! MAKE THEM BOW DOWN TO YOUR SUPERIOR MAGE-PEEN. att/ess growth
THE TRUNADE -- 25% chance to get a random minor enchanted item, 10% to get a more powerful one!*
Parkway -
In a prime location between the interstates, nestled in the very heart of New Orleans, lies a restaurant that has survived the test of time since 1911. Inside, the hardwood floors and wall paneling really sell the idea that the place was built two centuries ago. Hunting and fishing trophies line the walls, and live music plays on the weekends. Famous for its gator sausage and featuring several secret menu items you have to know a local to hear about, Parkway runs almost entirely on southern charm.
Failing at eating one of the 'special menu' items produces no results, and failing by too wide a margin causes Fatigue.
THE GATOR: A giant sausage that you swear still has scales! Successfully eating this monstrosity and ABSORBING IT'S POWER increases a characters Endurance and Essence by 1. It stands to reason that failing isn't good for your health, though.
Batting Cages - A run down cluster of outdoor batting cages in a equally less-than-stellar park. Clearly held onto more for sentimental value than actual business accument or profit, this place is infamous for two things.
Something always being broken and DIFFICULTY. Unlike most such establishments where it doesn't take a lot to find the rythm and start hitting the balls reliably, given clear warning and so on, this is no mean feat and perfect sets are rare and very far between. While excellent practice, the place is closed sundays and too far to visit on schooldays.
Attempting the batting cages is the same as studying a course, except it raises all three physical stats rather than two.
Alfrbok - A small residence in the oldest part of town converted into a library. Walking into the place is less like stepping into a clean and organized city library and more like walking into a personal collection. One vast enough to fill the first two floors with vaguely organized and endlessly piling stacks. Curiously - but perfectly in keeping with the atmosphere - borrowing books is not allowed. Making incredibly rare find of heavy and vastly informative tomes the university do not in fact have a copy of a treasure worth visiting for. Especially for those looking to branch out this magical talents beyond the cut and dry.
The owner, a young woman and the only child of the powerful wizard that supposedly gathered the books in the first place, is welcoming (if not very talkative) but very particular and quite protective of each and every piece of the collection.
Studying with access to the rare and powerful manuscripts and grimoires here doubles the growth of mystical proficiencies.
Osmosis Theatre - Gain stats through osmosis by watching movies! one movie each month is available, which raises a given stat.
Currently at the Movie Theatre:
100 Nights of Day - A vampire tries to defend itself from 100 Monster Hunters trying to eliminate it during the Alaskan summer where night does not fall.
Genre: Horror
Builds: Endurance
GONUTS DONUTS
A popular bakery especially famous for it's large and especially tasty donuts. While hard to get - as they sell out incredibly quickly - the DELISCIOUSNESS stick with you all week.
Having consumed a box of donuts (unfortunately they're only sold in boxes by flavor) leaves you with a gold lining, making everything seem just a little easier.
A box of Gonuts Donuts increases the growth of a certain stat every time a growth is rolled by .1
FLAVORS!
Plain - Strength
Chocolate - Endurance
Vanilla - Dexterity
Strawberry Glace - Intelligence
Caramel - Essence
Cream-filled - Attunement
Auntie Laquishawnika's House of Eats:
A downhome restaurant in the French Quarter, seemingly run by Auntie Laquishawnika for as long as anyone can remember. Current special:
GRANDMA' MAUD'S SOUL EMPOWERING FIXER ELIXER - Supposedly a family recipe made of about a dozen kinds of unidentifiable liquid, either ignites your soul with unseen power or dampens its growth for a short time depending on your body's reaction. +1 Essence/Attunement or unable to gain any point in those stats next week.
Karaoke - Only on Sunday, you can go to the House Of Eats to take place in their weekly karaoke competition. If you do well, you gain a small amount of Attunement, which grows larger with each time you do so.
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Topic: Eventide University IC: The Fourth Awakening (Read 32305 times)