Chapter 3: Forgotten History, Familiar FacesTime passes quickly at the Great Academy of Chromatic Magic, the most prestigious mystic institution in the Kingdom of Iolaion and the cornerstone of the philosophy of the Six Schools. Here, students from around the kingdom congregate, study, and grow from gifted children into true masters of the mystic arts.
But the students aren't the only ones whose magical abilities are growing stronger. As a strong nexus of magical energy, it is only natural that spirits are prone to manifesting spontaneously from the aether in this place, whether through overt spellcasting or the magically-charged hopes, dreams and fears of the school's inhabitants. Some of these spirits become familiars, learning and growing alongside the human they have bonded with. Others maintain an independent existence, haunting the halls, classrooms and facilities - though Headmaster Fintan has grown quite adept at putting down the more obnoxious ones. The giant magical sword he likes to carry around isn't just for show.
The school year has been largely uneventful so far. But soon, all that will change. Rumor has it that a conflict is brewing on the kingdom's borders, and the Queen will likely be seeking talented mages to fight on the front lines. The faculty and students await a visit from Iolaion's representatives.
A fourth-year student in a blue robe sits in the library's Restricted section, poring over a set of books open in front of him. Some of the titles include *Famous Battles during the Conflict of the Light*, *Red Magic Traditions in the Far West*, *Seekers of Eternity: The Lost Art of Immortality*, and *Power through Sacrifice: Why the Black School Failed*. As his eyes flit over the open texts, a small blue aura seems to flicker around his head.
"Find anything yet?" A girl in orange steps up behind him, jarring him out of his trance.
"Nothing. Every time I think I've solved the puzzle, something else comes up that makes my theory impossible. It's like the Dragon Lord doesn't follow the normal rules of magic. Doesn't help that it's so hard to get any information on his past either.""Isn't he supposed to be like a million years old?""Somewhere in the area of 500 years, at any rate. This isn't the first time he's clashing with the Queen either. Their armies have fought at least five times, and they have engaged in direct combat at least twice. The Queen's power exceeds his, but it seems that every time he's killed, he just comes back a few decades later, and nobody understands how or why.""What about the Queen? You'd think another Seeker of Eternity would know more about it than anyone else."The boy in the blue robes shakes his head.
"That's the most annoying part. She says that *his* key to immortality must be different than hers, but how am I supposed to figure out the source of his immortality when half of the information on the subject of *immortality itself* is forbidden?""You'll figure it out, Brook.""Well, I'll try, at any rate. With half of the Blue Mages in the Academy trying to solve the puzzle, I'm sure one of us will come up with the answer."Neither of them pay a great deal of attention to the girl who is currently being detained in a magic circle near the library's entrance. The anti-theft ward had gone off a few minutes ago, but she denied any awareness of a theft. Concerned, the librarian had sent another student to the Headmaster's office, to warn him that they had a possible "rider".
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Bound to: A book, Unbound Mortality, currently restrained in the Forbidden section of the Library.
Unique Abilities:
Mindsurf (2): Allows you to jump directly from one inhabited creature into another, provided you, or the creature you are inhabiting, can see them. The further away you get from the book, the weaker your influence becomes. Current host: Grenadine, Magenta Mage.
Unseal Page (1): You make it easier to open the book to a particular page.
Devour Spell (5) (10): You can absorb a spell cast in your vicinity. It seems you can only use this (2) times, however.
The rider in question is the demon
Shaa, who had up until recently been trapped in a book. It is currently residing in the mind of Grenadine, the student who is now heading towards the Headmaster's office. Sensing the urgency in the librarian's voice, she is hurrying quickly, pausing only for a moment to watch an argument between a second-year Yellow and a first-year still in his gray robes.
"You think this is funny? You think this is a joke?" The older student towers over the first-year, slowly walking towards him. The boy backs up until his back is against the wall.
"You'd better watch yourself, Komori. And you'd better be careful with who you decide to side with. You think I don't know what this thing means?" He jabs a finger at a small, midnight-blue pendant around the boy's neck.
"Back off, Zume. It's none of your business.""What are you going to do about it, Blue? Read a book at me?" He shoves the boy to the floor.
"Get rid of that thing. If I see you wearing it around here again, I'll pound you into dust."Grenadine considers doing something, but thinks better of it and keeps walking. It looks as though there are some other people converging on the location anyway. One of them is another first-year, Cole - she doesn't expect him to be able to stand up to a Yellow - but the students he's walking with are known for their street-smarts. She recognizes Radish, a Magenta whose father owns a night club or something, Pyro, a strong if somewhat uncreative Red, and Hex, who is probably a Magenta judging by her nickname but she's not really sure. They don't really follow the rules but they are a decent enough bunch. She wonders momentarily what they are doing with a bookish student like Cole.
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Bound to: Cole, a first-year (undecided).
Unique Abilities:
Soul Bond (5): You spiritually empower a believer, enhancing their senses and physical abilities.
Scout (3): You may fly around freely and observe things while intangible.
Not far away, she passes Esme Alora, a first-year from a Green family with a fox familiar, talking with Kevin. It looks like she is teaching him how to manifest a familiar of his own. A small eye briefly flickers into existence beside him.
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Bound to: Esme, a first-year (Aspiring Green).
Soul Bond (5): You spiritually empower a believer, enhancing their senses and physical abilities.
Manifest (5): You may briefly manifest a physical form. (Fox)
Speech (5): You may speak verbally to a human.
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Bound to: A pen in the possession of Kevin, a first-year (Aspiring Green).
Danger Sense: You passively gain a bit of knowledge about the future as it pertains to danger.
Manifest (5): You may briefly manifest a physical form. (Eye made of ink)
Scout (3): You may fly around freely and observe things while intangible.
She smiles briefly and then is suddenly startled by a freaky puppet hanging in the air. She gasps briefly.
"COREY!" she yells as a familiar snicker can be heard from nearby and the puppet dances away down the hall. Honestly, that boy has been insufferable ever since he learned how to levitate objects. An aspiring first-year Magenta, Amy Cruent, huffs as she passes down the hall towards the library. She is carrying a load of arcane books, most of which appear to be far beyond first-year level.
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Bound to: A puppet in the possession of Corey, a first-year (Aspiring Magenta).
Unique Abilities:
Unseen Movement (5): You may move your puppet body under your own power, but only when not being watched.
The Headmaster's office is not far.
All unmentioned players may insert themselves at any point using a basic ability.
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Topic: Chromatic Spirits RPG: Ghosts to Gods: Round 16: Battle against a Pumpkin (Read 21221 times)