Ok, as I mentioned in the OP, players have been selected by random draw, so the timezone someone lives in doesn't affect their chances of playing. VishDaFish, Parishbre56, The_Two_Eternities, NatureGirl, Syvarris and Ozarck are all
in, and ziizo, Egan_BW, Yottawhat and TricMagic are in the
waitlist in that order. From now on, the waitlist will behave as a normal queue.
Turn 0: In which nothing happensSix mages stand on a muddy track in the pouring rain, crowded around a map of the nearby lands, discussing where the school is going to be. Finally, a vote is taken.
The West Isle is sparsely inhabited, playing a small part in the politics of the lands of the Wyvish sea, the extent of the known world on this planet. It has the highest concentration of magical energy to be found anywhere on this world, not that that's anything special by your standards. That's why the school is going to be here, rather than in Merril, Codnor or Baslow, or any of the innumerable smaller islands scattered across the oceans.
The administration has identified five different potential locations for the school, fives nexuses of the occult energy vital to developing powerful young mages. It would be most sensible to teach in one of these five spots, in order to tap this potent magical resource.
The five locations with ideal occult properties for the creation of a magic school are:
1. Ockell Port : a location in a medium-sized port town, bustling with life and activity. Ockell is the largest settlement in the West Isle, and the centre of government and commerce. Ships from Merril frequently come and go, and vessels can even be seen hailing from lands as far as Codnor. The only location that's actually in a settlement.
2. Wheatcroft Hill: in the warm south of the island, a gentle hill rises from the agricultural land, surrounded by grassy plains and golden fields. A prosperous village sits in a valley a few miles away, and a mild stream rolls past the base of the hill. A lovely spot, if a little boring.
3. Grimtooth Point: The highest mountain in the East Isle, in the middle of a mountain range known as the Jaw. There's no village anywhere remotely near here. There are a couple of mountain caves. Nobody's sure what lives in them.
4. Mosswood Glades: deep in the shady Mosswoods to the north of the island, perhaps the wildest place in the West Isle. Located a good few miles from a small settlement on the edge of the Mosswoods, the Mosswood Glades offer ample sunlight, ready timber and sparkling streams. Despite all this, the residents of the West Isle refuse to have anything to do with them, or with the interior of the Mosswood in general.
5. Hookwind: a tiny fishing village nestled in the mountainous west of the island, exposed to the vicious winds and raging storms of the open sea. The school would be situated a little way from the village, on the opposite bank of the thundering river Blacktorrent. With dramatic cliffs to one side and the briny deep on the other, this place promises little comfort and less distraction.
The six wizards chosen to found the school should vote on where it will be, picking from the five spots above. Feel free to discuss this choice for a reasonable length of time.