Valvatorez (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
arcadianvampire) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
daybreakacademy2019-01-23 02:53 pm
arcadianvampire) wrote in daybreakacademy2019-01-23 02:53 pm
You Better Have Done Your Reading...
Who: Valvatorez and You
What: [A] Lecture Time! or [B] Office Hours! Join Valvatorez for one of his (in)famous lectures in Daemon Defense, though before the Practical classes have begun. Alternatively, if you're seeking academic help, have a question, or want to get to know one of hte professors, you can reach him at his office hours. Faculty are welcome to both attend his lecture or come to his office. His door's open to everyone.
When: ....Whenever in January fits.
Where: The classroom, or Valvatorez's office
Warnings: Lots of ham, most likely. And Defense Against Vampires and Daemons Class.
[A: The Lecture]
[To those who are attending the class for the first time, many of the rumors you might've heard about this class quickly turn out to be true: Valvatorez hands out a syllabus to anyone attending his class, and it's packed. The homework demands are pretty rough, requiring quite a lot of reading outside of class, and if people are considering the practical portion of the class, there's even more. Worse, the works are that much more difficult to digest at the higher level. Breakdowns of the lectures are included in the syllabus as well... but with a proviso that information might change on a moment's notice. And being a Daemon, this is not an idle threat: rumors will have persisted about Valvatorez changing lecture subject matter entirely, and while it seems like a whim, it's actually more calculated than that. In truth, it's his way of ensuring his students are not inclined to skip his class.
If this happens to not be the first class of the term, the lecture will start going over the required reading very early... and Valvatorez will be quick to keep an eye out for weakness: students who have not done the reading will find themselves singled out to answer questions unless their poker face is perfect. He will not be making deductions for lack of performance in class yet, but he definitely keeps notes as to who might be slacking or simply falling behind.
For the lecture's part, Valvatorez is quite an orator, and delivers his class with intensity and a controlled enthusiasm. If there's one thing you cannot accuse him of, it's being dry or boring. Peppered throughout his lecture include personal anecdotes and experience; actually useful bits of information, given the context. While the early part of the lecture might come off as more stern, this part has him more at ease, so long as no one's causing trouble. You're not causing trouble, are you?]
So then, I hope you have all learned something valuable today. Remember, what vampires are weak to can vary greatly from instance to instance: some are vulnerable to sunlight, some are not. Some can be turned by religious imagery, others, like myself, will simply laugh at you if you try it. The required reading for the next class will cover these differences in greater detail, and because vampires are such dangerous and cunning foes, you would do well to read and reread the section. Make flashcards or a mnemonic device for them if you must. Anything it takes to help you retain this information.
And importantly, if you are confused, do not be afraid to come to my office hours and ask for additional instruction. My door is open for a reason.
[He then quietly claps his hands in front of him.]
Now then, are there any questions? And do not be shy. If you do not ask, I cannot help you.
[B]
[Valvatorez's office hours are posted, and as promised, while he is present in his office, his door is open. The inside of it is filled with several bookcases, stuffed to the brim with magical tomes, grimoires, Hunter manuals, monstrous bestiaries, scientific journals, and scientific books on the ocean and marine biology. The aesthetic of the office might not appear terribly inviting however, as it is... well, somewhat Gothic in nature, including... well, gargoyles, mounted on the walls and magical torches that burn with smokeless and heatless flame. In front of his desk sat three large, stuffed chairs with bright red fabric; they actually looked comfortable, though the backs of the chairs appeared to sprout carved bat wings made of a dark wood. His own chair, though, was reasonably sized, with a back shaped more like a coffin sprouting similar wings.
Mounted in various places around the room include several trophies of dead monsters; often skulls of fantastic, dangerous beasts that are known to terrorize humans that Valvatorez doubtlessly brought down. There was even what appeared to be a dragon skull mounted above his desk. ...Though it was truthfully just a replica, as the original was too large and too valuable to keep for a trophy when the Academy had more use for it.
Suffice it to say, his office was truly as extra as he was. But he liked it that way, and he wasn't going to change it for anyone. The only thing seemingly out of place is a surprisingly plain assortment of soft drinks and bags of snacks in a basket on the corner of his desk. ...That, and the floor-to-ceiling cylindrical aquarium filled with sardines and other fish in the rear portion of his office. What? You didn't think he'd have something like that?
Upon someone coming into the door, Val's red eyes would dart from the book he was reading and meet his visitor squarely... and with it, a surprisingly sincere, if small, smile.]
Ah, hello! Do come in, and have a seat, and help yourself to something in the basket, if you would like.
What: [A] Lecture Time! or [B] Office Hours! Join Valvatorez for one of his (in)famous lectures in Daemon Defense, though before the Practical classes have begun. Alternatively, if you're seeking academic help, have a question, or want to get to know one of hte professors, you can reach him at his office hours. Faculty are welcome to both attend his lecture or come to his office. His door's open to everyone.
When: ....Whenever in January fits.
Where: The classroom, or Valvatorez's office
Warnings: Lots of ham, most likely. And Defense Against Vampires and Daemons Class.
[A: The Lecture]
[To those who are attending the class for the first time, many of the rumors you might've heard about this class quickly turn out to be true: Valvatorez hands out a syllabus to anyone attending his class, and it's packed. The homework demands are pretty rough, requiring quite a lot of reading outside of class, and if people are considering the practical portion of the class, there's even more. Worse, the works are that much more difficult to digest at the higher level. Breakdowns of the lectures are included in the syllabus as well... but with a proviso that information might change on a moment's notice. And being a Daemon, this is not an idle threat: rumors will have persisted about Valvatorez changing lecture subject matter entirely, and while it seems like a whim, it's actually more calculated than that. In truth, it's his way of ensuring his students are not inclined to skip his class.
If this happens to not be the first class of the term, the lecture will start going over the required reading very early... and Valvatorez will be quick to keep an eye out for weakness: students who have not done the reading will find themselves singled out to answer questions unless their poker face is perfect. He will not be making deductions for lack of performance in class yet, but he definitely keeps notes as to who might be slacking or simply falling behind.
For the lecture's part, Valvatorez is quite an orator, and delivers his class with intensity and a controlled enthusiasm. If there's one thing you cannot accuse him of, it's being dry or boring. Peppered throughout his lecture include personal anecdotes and experience; actually useful bits of information, given the context. While the early part of the lecture might come off as more stern, this part has him more at ease, so long as no one's causing trouble. You're not causing trouble, are you?]
So then, I hope you have all learned something valuable today. Remember, what vampires are weak to can vary greatly from instance to instance: some are vulnerable to sunlight, some are not. Some can be turned by religious imagery, others, like myself, will simply laugh at you if you try it. The required reading for the next class will cover these differences in greater detail, and because vampires are such dangerous and cunning foes, you would do well to read and reread the section. Make flashcards or a mnemonic device for them if you must. Anything it takes to help you retain this information.
And importantly, if you are confused, do not be afraid to come to my office hours and ask for additional instruction. My door is open for a reason.
[He then quietly claps his hands in front of him.]
Now then, are there any questions? And do not be shy. If you do not ask, I cannot help you.
[B]
[Valvatorez's office hours are posted, and as promised, while he is present in his office, his door is open. The inside of it is filled with several bookcases, stuffed to the brim with magical tomes, grimoires, Hunter manuals, monstrous bestiaries, scientific journals, and scientific books on the ocean and marine biology. The aesthetic of the office might not appear terribly inviting however, as it is... well, somewhat Gothic in nature, including... well, gargoyles, mounted on the walls and magical torches that burn with smokeless and heatless flame. In front of his desk sat three large, stuffed chairs with bright red fabric; they actually looked comfortable, though the backs of the chairs appeared to sprout carved bat wings made of a dark wood. His own chair, though, was reasonably sized, with a back shaped more like a coffin sprouting similar wings.
Mounted in various places around the room include several trophies of dead monsters; often skulls of fantastic, dangerous beasts that are known to terrorize humans that Valvatorez doubtlessly brought down. There was even what appeared to be a dragon skull mounted above his desk. ...Though it was truthfully just a replica, as the original was too large and too valuable to keep for a trophy when the Academy had more use for it.
Suffice it to say, his office was truly as extra as he was. But he liked it that way, and he wasn't going to change it for anyone. The only thing seemingly out of place is a surprisingly plain assortment of soft drinks and bags of snacks in a basket on the corner of his desk. ...That, and the floor-to-ceiling cylindrical aquarium filled with sardines and other fish in the rear portion of his office. What? You didn't think he'd have something like that?
Upon someone coming into the door, Val's red eyes would dart from the book he was reading and meet his visitor squarely... and with it, a surprisingly sincere, if small, smile.]
Ah, hello! Do come in, and have a seat, and help yourself to something in the basket, if you would like.
no subject
[Valvatorez straightens up and paces a few steps to the side.]
The best thing you can rely on is experience and preparation; which is why there are so many readings on this subject. There are reasons why there are Hunter clans exclusively dedicated to hunting vampires: those two factors matter more than almost anything else, and are by far your most reliable tool.
In an ideal world, you will not confront a vampire without knowing exactly what you're up against. Unfortunately, the world isn't an ideal place.
[He frowns a bit, his expression turning a little dour.]
Very few vampires will strike if they believe the deck is stacked against them. Odds are, if the vampire you encounter appears to try to actively thwart you, you can assume they are in a position where they don't believe their weakness is in play. And there's a good bet you won't have it on you if they catch you unaware. Worse, especially skilled vampires will not telegraph important information about themselves.
At that point, it will be a battle of predators. And without knowledge, you will not have the advantage. However, the quickest way to expose the threat you might be dealing with is to try to force the vampires to use their supernatural abilities somehow. Knowing what they can do can help you deduce their weaknesses quickly, so long as you remember what vampires do what.
Assuming you survive.
no subject
no subject
Luck wouldn't hurt you, but you'd be a fool to rely on it alone. Creativity, quick thinking, and cunning will serve you better.
If there's one thing humans are truthfully incredibly good at, it's improvising. Adaptability might be humankind's greatest strength, next to their ability to work together.
no subject
no subject
[And a big fling of his cape, as he regains more of his energy.]
A good way to keep yourself prepared is having a method to seal, jam, or disable magic, preferably in a way that prevents them from using it, but not you. That is, unless you're fully confident in your ability to fight them straight on or you have no magic to lose to begin with, then a global jam works. That's a favorite trick of Hunters.
As well, any tricks you have up your sleeve that might repel Blight might buy you the time you need. Human vampires are all a result of Blight in some form, after all. However, if a vampire has reason to believe you have access to such abilities, they are more likely to avoid you. Of course, this is less likely to work on daemon vampires such as myself, or especially powerful human vampires.
But sometimes the very threat of those magics might be enough of a deterrent. Bluffing can work as a last resort, if you're confident in your ability to do so.
no subject
[ Ren takes some notes at that response ]
Are there spells that are universally good to have up your sleeve?