Fourth Wall: We Gather Here to Face the Dusk

[thewatchers]

Fourth Wall: We Gather Here to Face the Dusk
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With the call for aid for the advent of the Suneater, the Academy has become one of the many operational centers around the world. The school while never having been quiet by any measure is now buzzing with extra traffic as those from all walks of life and not-quite-life gathered, preparing to literally fight for the sake of the world.

Whether the added souls were new to the supernatural, old faculty and students returning to the fold, or even legends whispered of in hush voices by those in the know, all are welcomed with open arms, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere despite the grim purpose of their visit.

A. Team-Build Exercises
To help with coordinating for the massive undertaking, team-building measures have been enacted, from trust falls to tag-team spars and even trivia bowls. Everything is designed to bring the disparate groups together to build trust and understanding...with varying results.

B. Breaking Bread
With the increase number of people needing to eat, the kitchen under the helm of Chef Hendersen aka Professor Bigfoot has been bringing out food from all corners of the world and the outlands - to make people feel at home - and for the daring to try the far more exotic fare such as Baatzou Surprise or Cumulus Puff from Celestia. And as it turns out - a speciality for the adults, they found some Ambrosia - drink and be merry.

C. Shop Talk
With the experience and wisdom of all sorts of trades and specialities being brought together, it’s only natural to want to exchange information and see what new innovations or experiments has been underway, or to get into impromptu competitions over whose ideas, spells or artifice will work better, especially if there’s money or bragging rights to be had.

Wild Card
If none of these appeal, make up a prompt of your own.

((ooc: This is the first fourth-wall log before the 5th Herald and opened for ALL characters current, past and not yet here. Feel free to throw any and all characters in to get a feel or get them established before the big battle.

If you'd like to make further plans oocly, we invite you to make use of the CR meme and AU planning meme!))

Comments

[knightofsmiles]

A. So you want to run away to the circus?

[Among all the organizations that arrived... a circus had set up in the fairgrounds of Soleil - though it's clear that it was no ordinary one by the magic tricks that are a little too elaborate, creatures a little too fantastic to be costume and vegetable dye.

When it's time for some team exercises, a tall man dressed as a jester greets them with a cheery wave from the top of a balloon several feet off the ground speaking in both French and English with a noticeable Castilian accent]

Ah! Darlings, Welcome to El Circo de Maravillas. Let me give you a little crash course in how to cooperate to put on the most wonderful, most mind-blowing performance that would put a smile on anyone's face!

[He somersaults, disappearing in mid-air in a burst of flame, reappearing in front of the group as roses seem to rain down from nowhere - touching one of the roses would reveal it's illusionary nature as he leans forward]

You see, if you can work together to make the people smile, you can work to protect those smiles from the darkness coming.

C. Alternate costumes is the best part of the game

[Sylvando makes his presence known among the craftsmen, happily picking up magical fabrics and placing it against himself, asking questions, or testing the weight and heft of whips, swords, or - a throwing knife - he's careful, but please don't startle the man while he's tossing knives]

D.

[A social butterfly, the performer can be found all over Soleil with flute, juggling, or simply unwinding with a pint, unless someone gives off vibes of wanting to be left alone, he immediately approaches people]

So what's your story?

A

[buddinghopes]

[Excuse Lia for not really responding much right away, she's excitedly applauding the display, eyes lit up with delight.]

That was amazing...!

[... Right, right, back on track. Crash course, right.]

C

[hattersgonnahat]

[Now had been a perfect time to find new trinkets of her own, as it will take time to figure out how to incorporate them into the coming battle. Although, it was weird to see so many new faces around, that it was tempting to watch them too. ...Or you know, sneak up behind them at inopportune moments. Throwing knives or no.]

What'cha doing?

D

[untilitisdone]

...

[The Slayer was a man who tended towards action over words. But he was TRYING to be sociable. Or at the very least to not scare off his allies.

So when this...this circus performer addressed him, he actually thought about it for a moment rather than just shoving him out of the way and continuing about his day.]

I kill daemons. Or those who would ally themselves with daemons.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Awakening

[After the event where everyone lapsed into Dreams just before The Beast That Is Man appeared...Moriarty had suddenly and quickly gone into a state not unlike Vampiric Torpor, his internal magic levels extremely low - most likely due to the exertion he had while trying to rescue people.

Sorry about him basically bailing on his classes for months - if he'd had the choice he would have stayed awake, honest!

Regardless, now that Sundowner is upon them - Everyone might suddenly notice the extremely groggy man in their midst, nursing a cup of coffee throughout the day.

Or, if you're some people closer to him, potentially found him groggily wandering around and informed him of his months long cat nap.

Either way, James Moriarty is back for the final battle.]

A - Trust exercises

[Of course, he does find his way eventually into the festivities once he's fully woken up. And, well....trust exercises are needed, after all - with so many returns and new, they'll have to band together if they want to survive this.

Which is why he's adding a little chaos into the situation, because making everything too orderly is anthetical to building true bonds.

Giving one of his brightest, friendliest smiles, he sets himself up to catch someone in a trust fall.]

Ah yes, go ahead! I'll be sure to catch you - only, I may not hold you long. I am an old, decrepit old man, of course! My strength has been waning due to old age...sob sob.

[....Yes he did just verbalize sobbing.]

But please, don't let that bother you! Fall, and I am here, even if I must cushion your fall with my very body!

B - Worldy and Otherworldly Delights

[Of course, he's also not going to let the chance of trying all sorts of foods pass him by. As someone who's traveled the world for more than a century, he's familiar with all kinds of food - but the Outlands fare is more unfamiliar to him.

There's probably a few instances where you can catch him making a choked yelp and running for milk, but in general he seems to be enjoying the variety. If he sees you, he might smile and point to a dish-]

Ah, I'd recommend this one, if you fancy being a bit adventurous. Or, if you'd like something a bit more mundane, this dish should suit your needs.

[He's basically a food guide, helping people out and being nosy - though he's able to figure out what people would most likely want very quickly, and only after a couple of glances and discussion. Odd, and maybe a little suspicious?

And sometimes, you can actually see him helping in the kitchen - and bringing out something from the england of his time, which is still made today. Hope you guys like Kedgeree!]

Awakening

[improbablenotimpossible]

James!

[Oh god, he's awake - he felt it, a certain weight taken off the back of his mind - but of course by the time he got to his brother's room, the man already was out and out - in a groggy fashion.

He doesn't flying-tackle, for one James is not strong enough to handle a vampire slamming into him, secondly, it's utterly undignified and out of character for Sherlock Holmes.

Thirdly, who needs to convey it that way when one is instead smiling broadly and quickening their pace - almost a blur - to catch up]

Oh thank goodness, you're finally awake.

b

[stavros]

You seem to be doing well now!

[Kokoro waves with the hand that's holding... is that boiled starfish? Looks like she's trying all kinds of things out today.]

W-w-w-WILDCARD?? If that's all right

[bolderfell]

[Say, Professor. When's the last time someone broke into your apartment?

Because it looks like someone might be at it again.]

TRUST...EXERCISES

[soft_focus]

[Over the time that Someone's been asleep, Reira's learned to be a little better with people! And also her sprites.

But really the most important thing is people.

Some other stuff happened off campus, but that's not important, don't worry about it.

Instead-] ....

...Should I use Wind to make it lighter? ...I don't want you to be sore...

[Worry about worrying the baby, old man!!!]

B

[evangelclairvoyance]

I seem to be making a habit of trying new things recently, so I think I'll be adventurous.

[He spoons a little onto his plate and eyes some of the desserts in the distance. It's a little early for it, considering he's only barely started his meal, but the prospect of sneaking one dessert before dinner is finished is more tempting than it should be.]

Professor Moriarty, yes? I remember seeing you around the school, but I don't think we ever got the chance to talk.

[Though Moriarty would most assuredly find the four wings on Christo's back to be new.]

A!

[imyoubut]

[Urtz was many things, but the trusting sort? Please. Even if performing a trust exercise with her criminal mastermind idol was a dream come true, especially after he woke up after that incredibly long nap. That isn't to say she didn't trust the professor; far from it. She trusted him very much so.

Enough to know that he'd throw at least a little mischief into this gathering. Far be it from her to stop him, but there was always the possibility of being on the receiving end of things. It certainly seemed that way, what with how he was speaking, but one could never be sure. For a few seconds she stares back at him with a smile on her face and an incredulous look in her eyes, before simply shrugging.]

Alright, Professor. If you insist.

[No harm in playing along. And besides, if this does end with the egg on her face, she's a good enough sport. So she allows herself to fall so that Moriarty can catch her if he so chooses.]

[stormsprite]

A: Shenanigans™
[Though she was actually a pretty frequent sight in and around the Mythril Cage, the fourteen-year-old Celia usually did stuff involving obstable courses; with her particular powers involving wind, being able to command such powerful gusts that she can easily make herself or others fly, a lot of her time here has gone into refining the control she has over it.

She didn't typically involve other students (much less any faculty) in this, which made today's excercises feel more than a little unusual, even a bit uncomfortable to her. Normally, she practiced with training dummies loaded down with enough weights to match the approximate average weight of an adult man of around her father's age; testing her control with actual people just seems needlessly dangerous.]

So uh...you're sure 'bout this? [She asks without looking to whoever's accompanied her here today.] If I screw it up you're prolly gonna be headed straight to the infirmary.

C: Also Shenanigans™
[While she didn't personally dabble in too many things herself, there are some things that Celia is familiar with to at least some minor degree, due simply to being who she is: the (adopted) daughter of the top pilot in the academy's Rune Wing fleet.

Whatever discussions or competitions are going on right now, she might not necessarily be a part of any of them, but at the very least she's certainly listening in or watching to see how things shake out. Just try not to mind it too much if she starts making any commentary.

Or, if you're currently looking for someone to just go show off to, she's a very, very good bet.]

SHENANIGANS

[felmier]

[Epel, daredevil that he is, doesn't seem too fussed about all of this, at the very least. He regards Celia with a smile that doesn't quite match the way he's practically vibrating at the moment.]

I'm sure. Vil's definitely dragged me to Mr. Gehring with worse. Besides, I can use magic to catch myself if I fall! So this is kind of practice for me, too.

[entrainement]

A: Trust Exercises
You know, I realize this is for the whole... camaraderie thing, but isn't a trivia competition kind of...

[Serena gestures vaguely to whoever's on this team with her, a cute pink-and-cream thing sitting on her lap, disinterested.]

... I dunno, it just doesn't seem especially productive to me. What do you think?

B: Breaking Bread
Oh, wow, there's a lot here, huh...

[Unfortunately being spoiled for choice in this case means being paralyzed by it. Give a girl a nudge in the direction of some food? Or at least get her out of the dang way?

Alternatively, she's weaving through the group towards the door, food in hand.]

Whoops, hi there, excuse me, I'm just heading outside with all this...!

[... Seriously, that is a ton of food.]

B

[herokingofyore]

[While Serena browses the food choices, seemingly at a complete loss, eventually a young man approaches her with an easy, friendly smile.]

The Academy never does anything halfway. They do this pretty often. And you really can't go wrong with any of it.

But a good place to start would be to decide what you're craving most first.

[He's dressed quite fancily, oddly wearing armor and a cape. He sort of sticks out a bit, but he's friendly enough.]

[bxbxbxbx]

[For the past month now, Katida's been busying herself by running various errands, mundane or not, without any particular regard for what those errands were, for fellow students or even faculty who didn't quite have the time given how everything has recently gotten to be much busier in and around the academy. She doesn't appear to mind this too much, already having long since gotten accustomed to doing things for people, but she's been tackling these various small jobs at a frankly alarming pace (and often with an even more-alarming efficiency).]

---

(ooc: This is a wildcard prompt with a little twist in that any of the post's provided prompts would technically work. Want to drag her to the Cage and make her put her odd jobs on hold? Go for it. Distract her with food? Hell yes. Strike up a conversation about magic or something? Sure, why not! Got your own idea? Just do it.)

[felmier]

[Katida is always so busy running errands, sometimes Epel can't help but think she makes Vil look relaxed by comparison. Still, it's not as though he doesn't know how to distract her, at least for a little bit.

And that, of course, leads to him flagging her down when it seems she's got a bit of downtime.]

[doodlesuits]

B
[Some of the Outlands-specific fare is... hm. There's a lot and Trey's not entirely sure what to get, actually. He looks over what's available, then turns to whoever's next to him.

If they look familiar with anything available that's on the more outlandish (heh) side:] What would you recommend?

[Otherwise (especially if he's addressing a fellow student!):] Hey, want to split a couple of things from the Outlands stuff?

C:
[Trey isn't really in the thick of the competitions, admittedly. He is, however, listening in rather intently--even as he does his own work.

If anyone wants someone to talk at about something or other, Trey's happy to listen!]

c;

[aquatofana]

[You know who’s willing to lecture other people? Vil. You know who’s excited about everything that can be learned now?

Also Vil.]

I knew quite a few Outlands plants were poisonous, but I didn’t know all of these extraction techniques existed.

[He isn’t usually this excited- his accent is coming out a bit! - and he’s got an array of bottles with him.]

[aquatofana]

a; trust exercises
[So, little known fact about Vil Schoenheit, international model and actor: he's incredibly competitive. Painfully competitive. He will cut a man if it'll me he'll win. Should he be taking these silly competitions so seriously? Probably not, no, but... Doing anything halfway is simply unacceptable.

(And you know he's serious, because he actually takes his heels off whenever he joins a spar.)

What he really excels at are the trivia competitions - intelligence is one of the most important things to have, after all. He'll be getting involved in just about everything he can be, because he'll be damned if the world all goes to hell because other people are a disappointment.

...It would probably help if he actually trusted anyone, huh?]

b; snack time
[He'll give the Outlands this - they certainly know how to make food look... Interesting. A lot of the food from Earth is beautiful as well, but that's typical. Normal.

He just really wants to eat the Cumulus Puffs, okay?]

The professor has outdone himself with all of this.

[They look so fluffy...]

d; wildcard
[Feel free to recognize Vil, or not! Or just throw something wild and random at me! \o/]

A

[buddinghopes]

[Wow, not even your cousin, Vil?

That said, Lia's been watching and... hm.]

You know it defeats the purpose of all of this if you don't actually trust anyone, right?

[It's halfway between amused and exasperated.]

[cleansweeps]

A: Trust Exercise

[It's been a while since Marie has gotten a chance to be around kids her own age. Save Patrica, of course. It's very normal, yet surreal. She's not sure how to feel, but, at the very least, she doesn't feel ostracized. Patricia is here still and many of the children aren't exactly regular humans themselves. For a good portion of the exercises, Marie stays off to the side, idly watching as people do the suggested activities. After taking a deep breath, she walks toward the closest person and attempts to get their attention.]

Excuse me? Might I have a moment of your time?

[If they don't respond, she may tug on their sleeve or pant leg. Or, if that doesn't work, a bony hand will be tapping at their shoulder or waving in front of their face.

Said hand is just floating in middair.]

B: Breaking Bread

[While not entirely new to the academy, Marie still isn't quite familiar with the layout of the kitchen. Not to mention all the food laid out before her is quite a distraction all on its own. She came here with Peacock, but she thought it would be a fun idea to try some stuff on their own and then meet back and share their findings.

...unfortunately, Marie has found herself in a bit of a bind. She isn't sure what to try first. Those sweets especially look mighty appetizing, but it could ruin her appetite. Hmm. Decisions, decisions.]

Have you tried anything yet?

[She says to the nearest person.]

FOR PEACOCK

[After getting to try a good variety of the food, Marie snagged a tupperware container and put some of her favorites inside, sealing it up tight as she goes to look for her friend.]

[paintsthetownred]

[ Peacock is having the time of her life trying out new things. While taste isn't as big a priority for her, texture is still something she can enjoy.

She is apparently trying to find the toughest food she can, like the gremlin she is. But she drops all that for her signature steel-trap grin aimed her best friend's way. ]

Heyyy, Marie! Whatcha up to?

[skyknightone]

[B]

[A longtime employee of Daybreak Academy, Manfred Vaeris had more than once seen the lavish feasts that the chef would put out for students and staff alike. But this time, it felt like this was even greater, bigger than ever. And that suited him, and his team, just fine. Though not part of the teaching staff, Manfred watched the students, teachers and others mingled together. A sample of various foods on his plate and a glass of Ambrosia he was carefully sipping at over time.

He did wear his flight jacket, emblazoned with both his own squadron patch, a Daybreak Academy patch, and his own personal one, featuring a spooky, sword wielding phantom over the word "Specter."

If you're nearby, he's probably been talking to you, and if not, he certainly is now.]

Sure is a lot of new blood around here. That's good though. More of a fighting chance... and a lot more new food. Did you try that stuff from Celestia? Heavenly. ...No pun intended.

[It absolutely was intended.]

[C]

[Though he himself wasn't the most talented mage or artificer at the Academy by a long shot, what Manfred was, however, was their most talented pilot of aircraft, both mundane and rune-enhanced. As such, he found himself being a pretty seasoned expert on practical matters associated with those topics. This included aircraft and vehicle design, armament design, and even other physics and magical-physics related matters toward runic engineering. As such, he made for a decent person to talk to about practical matter and practical use cases in the field.

For now, he's willing to engage in discussion with anyone about whatever designs or ideas they might have, student or otherwise. Or heck, if you want to ask an ace pilot what it's like to fly, or whatever you'd like on a matter of profession.

Alternatively, he might approach you if you're up to something interesting.]

Hey, that sounds promising. Tell me more about that.

[Wildcard]

[A fixture of the Academy at this point, Manfred can be found virtually everywhere barring classrooms. Odds are, if you were ever on a mission that included Rune Wing support, there was a chance he was either one of your dropship pilots or your escort fighter pilot. You've probably seen him around more than once. He's also pretty well known as the adopted father of Celia, despite not even being thirty yet. Maybe you met him through her too. Either way, if you need him or chance across him on campus and have something in mind, this is the place for it.]

B(ish)

[stormsprite]

[Probably one of the first things Manfred had learned after he first took Celia in was that while she already tended to be a handful at times by default, once any not-insignificant amounts of sugar were added into the mix, she often ended up getting cranked all the way up to thirteen. (One small benefit, at least, is that she usually crashes hard afterward, making it easier to make sure that she actually gets to bed on time.)

So guess who's been camping the table with various sweeter offerings and is now beelining toward Manfred fast with an entire tray absolutely loaded down with basically anything that looked even remotely appealing? It's also obvious enough that she's already tried at least a few of them.]

I don't have any idea what half o' this stuff's called but oh my god.

[The sugar rush evidently hasn't started yet, but it probably will later. He might want to keep an eye on her.]

[bolderfell]

(B) Is for Break-Ins Breakfast

[Amidst the bright, noisy circus--literally, in some cases--of new arrivals, it's easy to overlook the unobtrusive young man in a worn Daybreak Academy hoodie. Rather than check in with anyone or even stop to put down his backpack, he slips right on through to the Banquet Hall. A moment later, he leans against the wall in an out-of-the-way corner, takes a bite of his pastry, savors it, and sighs.]

I've missed this.

(C) Anything You Like?

[Therion moves from the fringes of one group to another, eavesdropping on their conversations as they talk shop because... well, mostly because he can. A very subtle glamour diverts attention away from him. It's like he's not even there.

But if he hears anyone talking about stealth strategies or, uh, opportunities for sweet ca$h money, he drops the magic and tilts his head.]

Need a hand with that?

Wildcar(D) Me Up!

((Feel free to notice him around the school or Soleil! Therion was here about a year ago and has been off the grid since last winter. He'll be happy, even if he won't admit it, to greet familiar faces.))

B

[buddinghopes]

[.... Oh, wow, that's a voice she hasn't heard in ages! Lia perks up, turning to Therion with a bright grin.]

Therion! Welcome back!

[benedetta]

A: DO THING
[Viola's been watching the more-physical activities with particular interest, not yet participating in it for herself but definitely considering it. In anticipation of getting in on it, she's in a tank top and shorts rather than the academy uniform that she is usually seen wearing.

Turning to whoever's nearby, she asks:] So what do you think? Feel like giving anything a shot?

---

B: noms of varying amounts of mystery
[When it comes time to grab something to eat, Viola's not too picky, though she does avoid anything that she either knows or suspects would turn out to be sour or bitter, and as a result her plate has quite the variety on it. It's also not an excessive amount, because she isn't a particularly big eater either.

She occasionally glances at some of the things that other nearby people have decided to try out, before nudging the person in the seat next to the one she's taken.]

Hey, what's that? [She points at some random thing on their plate.]

---

C: K.I.S.S.
[At some point, she found herself dragged into a conversation about different kinds of magic. She mostly just listened in on it, really, but when it becomes clear that some kind of input from her is being expected, she looks back and forth and then simply offers:] Personally, I prefer keeping things simple. Doesn't have to be fancy to get the job done, y'know? I mean, sometimes all you need is one really good explosion.

C

[arcadianvampire]

[Valvatorez had been listening to the same conversation, letting the others speak, all the while keeping quiet himself. He quite enjoyed moments like this, when experts and students exchange ideas like that.

And Viola's remark does make him smile, and snort a short laugh.]

Sometimes there's no better way to punctuate a point when dealing with someone who has it coming. And it lets them know exactly where they stand.

It's refreshingly straightforward.

[untilitisdone]

The Slayer didn't stick around Daybreak for long after they had excavated him, but he still felt like they were a useful ally. In the time since he had left, rumors had spread through the supernatural community of his exploits. Demonic castles torn down. Bloodthirsty cults slaughtered to the last man. Ancient plots thrown into chaos by one man with a shotgun and a (supposedly) invulnerable suit of armor.

This was too big for one man, though, no matter how much fury burned in his heart. So he had finally returned to Daybreak Academy to seek allies and prepare for the final battle.

-1: Team building, of a sort-

The Slayer wasn't much for conversation, but he had his own way of making friends. His arrival was heralded by a glowing blue portal opening up on campus and just staying open. On the far side was a fortress of the fallen Outlands kingdom of Argent D'Nur that he had reclaimed as his own base of operations.

The Fortress of Doom was a dismal place, full of baroque statuary and ornate balconies and fortifications. More importantly, though, it was full of weapons. Guns, swords, spears, crossbows, axes, maces...if it was designed to kill, you could probably find it here.

And the Slayer was passing them out like party favors to anyone who dropped by. How's THAT for an icebreaker?

-2: Breaking Bread-

The Slayer was a big guy. Six feet tall at least, and months of freedom had replaced the skeletal thinness he'd had when they had originally found him in that sealed sarcophagus with pure beef.

Naturally, a figure like this required a lot of fuel. The Slayer wasn't much for talking, but he was almost methodical in putting a dent into the offerings from the kitchens. He just kind of sat down with a towering pile of food for every meal and quietly made it all disappear. The only thing he never touched was the alcohol.

-3: Downtime-

The Slayer was nearly singleminded in his preparation. Nearly singleminded. On the rare occasion where he wasn't training or attempting to arm the entire school or any of the other tasks that the advent of Nightfall required, the Slayer disappeared into his Fortress of Doom for solitude. And if anyone was brave enough to enter and find out what he was doing, they'd be surprised how...normal his leisure activities were. There were two main activities you might find him engaged in.

First: Playing guitar. His preferred style was loud and abrasive, but he was pretty damn good at it.

Second: He had a pet rabbit. It wasn't Daisy. Daisy was long dead, and his vengeance for her loss was unending, but...well...there are lots of rabbits. This one was named Rose, and the sight of the hulking mountain of a man fondly taking care of the tiny animal was...weirdly endearing.

-4: Wildcard-

OR JUST MAKE SOME OTHER SHIT UP I DON'T KNOW. LET'S GO CRAZY.

2

[unlogic]

[So Desidera wasn't the only one keeping the kitchen busy; she's been back and forth quite a bit herself, staying mostly-quiet as she did so, occasionally mingling with other students for a bit—particularly her friends or any of the ones she's been tutoring.

In a pretty thinly-veiled attempt at looking for suggestions for what she should try next, she glances over to ask:] So, which of these things would you say you like the most so far? [Assuming that the man even has an answer for the question and would be willing to give it.]

[coccinea]

[ Those who are more magically inclined will probably sense this new instructor's arrival some moments before he actually shows up physically to any location. Glory radiates magical power like a small sun, a rejuvenating, crackling energy that feels like constant overgrowth. Wherever he is, it's easy to tell; this is not a being of stealth.

He can be found cheerfully holding practical lessons on combat magic in the Mythril Cage, or simply wandering around the greener areas of campus, apparently drinking in sunlight. Wherever he goes, plant life tends to become much, much more active around him.

And whoever decides to approach him will get a friendly grin and an equally-friendly greeting. ]

Well, hello there! Can I be of help at all?

[felmier]

[It's honestly kind of impressive, the magical power coming off of Glory. It's enough to make Epel look pretty excited as he approaches.]

Hello! You're the one who's holding the lessons on combat magic, right?

[evangelclairvoyance]

A

[He should be at the Mythril Cage. Even if he doesn't necessarily participate in the fights themselves, it would be beneficial to see how these new arrivals' abilities work with one another and with the student and faculty he's come to know.

However, Christo's gaze keeps straying back toward the trivia contests, an admittedly selfish desire to show off calling to him like a siren song from the deep.

In the end he ends up standing right between the two, humming to himself and looking frustrated as he tries to decide. In the end, it may be up to his trust partner of the moment to drag him over to where he should probably be]


B

[Christo's eyes lock onto the Cumulus Puffs almost immediately, and he hurries over to take a couple onto his plate, practically melting at the first bite.]

Oh my... It's like tasting a piece of my childhood.

[It's then that he notices that he all but pushed someone else out of the way to get to the snack in question, and he has the good grace to step back with a little cough, looking apologetic.]

Ah. My apologies. It seems I was a little too excited.

[standless]

[All but pushed indeed- Jonathan is, granted, a small, small bat, who is very easy to not only miss but also push a bit to the side while at a snack table.

He seems to be taking it well however, laughing warmly.] Quite alright! I imagine I resemble a form of invasive vermin from where I am upon the table after all..! Did you grow up with such pastries then?

Anybody up for a semi-final boss?

[talkstoposters]

[Every time a new Herald rose, it fell thanks to the efforts of Daybreak Academy. But even though their souls might have perished, their machinations could be felt even now. For some, the damage had been done and it was a time for healing. For others, there would be obstacles to come. Works of evil left behind to haunt humanity and its allies even after the bringers of Night fell. One such work lay in a former professor. Although Bowser returned to his kingdom to take care of business, he promised to return one day. And while Bowser wasn't exactly a good guy, he was pretty reliable when it came to keep promises. So what happened?

Well, it seems we finally know.

For several days, reports of various outlands coming under attack by a mysterious force had come in. However, most were not very helpful. Finally, though, a transmission got through that served to be more informative. A massive turtle-like beast was rampaging throughout various lands, laying waste to anything in its path. And whatever wasn't destroyed was being corrupted by this sticky, inklike liquid. The beast was also drenched in the stuff, yet this liquid never seemed to slide off or decrease in mass. Finally, it seems like magical light, such as radiance, is effective on it, and that the creature is almost subconsciously making its way toward the Mushroom Kingdom.

Should anyone wish to investigate, the Mushroom Kingdom is very much still there, but there are signs of trouble brewing. For starters, it hasn't stopped raining in several days. Earthquakes plague the region and the water has slowly started to be corrupted by the inky goo. Despite the state of affairs, Princess Peach warmly welcomes any to her kingdom and plays the role of an excellent host, though it's clear the troubles are worrying her and she very much appreciates the help.

Various power-ups have been collected in preparation for the big fight, including Mega Mushrooms, which will no doubt be helpful against what they can only assume is Bowser or someone copying him. A day later, the storm and the ooze have only begun to spread further and strike harder, with some of the mushroom citizens becoming corrupted by it. The source seems to be a new mountain range that has formed.

A mountain range that begins to spin.

Said mountain range, which now is quite clearly a massive shell with spikes, jumps in the air and shatters, revealing an all-too-familiar figure who seems to have gotten a makeover. "Bowser" lets loose a mighty, earth-shaking roar and begins to charge with Peach's Castle in his sights.]

((OOC: OKAY SO, here's a boss fight against Fury Bowser! Seems like the coach has undergone a bit of trouble during his time away. I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle. Feel free to go as crazy as you want. Mega Mushrooms are especially helpful in this fight, as they can even the playing field a bit. They won't make you quite as a big as Bowser, but they'll allow you to actually do damage to him no matter what. Likewise, magic and especially radiance will still be effective, so it's a matter of working with what you have. Feel free to get creative! If you ever wanted to use a power-up in the Marioverse, now's as good a time as any!))

[stavros]

This is not what we needed right now!

[Kokoro's already got Stavros and Trigon equipped, and she takes off into the air, firing sunlight lasers at the... giant mountain man.]

All month, OTA

[hattersgonnahat]

[Throughout this time, Puella had been running around collecting as much things as she could find...almost as per usual. Food had been occasionally stolen from kitchens, namely cookies and pastries though sometimes other snacks too. But she had gotten more careless as of late, crumb trails or other evidence pointing towards her had gotten much more obvious as she had been too preoccupied by other things.]

[Shops and stalls were also visited frequently for the right materials. Everything had to be just perfect after all. On one occasion she was seen leaving with a bunch of purple, blue, and yellow fabric, plus at least a handful of other magical items on other trips. Always in a bit of a hurry to get back to work.]

[Finally after everything was said and done, it was ready. She might have gotten some help with the design on and off campus; all major battles required some sort of new wardrobe change though! Especially if said upgrade is more than just a visual one. Which is why now she waited at Mythril Cage for someone to challenge.]

[imyoubut]

[As an expert thief, Urtz is well-versed in what to look for when things go missing. At first it was a bit of challenge, though Puella was still very much in her list of suspects. But over time, she started to get more sloppy, which made it rather obvious who the culprit was. Normally she wouldn't care, but she did have a good standing with the kitchen staff and as such, they had asked her for her help. It would be unwise to ruin her standing.

Decisions, decisions.

After a bit of mulling it over, Urtz comes to a decision that should be beneficial to all parties involved. When Puella next comes to steal some food from the kitchen, Urtz is prepared. The young girl is fully able to grab whatever she likes, but as she attempts to exist the room, she'll find that her goods have gone missing. If she turns around, she'll find them hovering behind her, as if suspending in the air by something or someone.]