Alfhedil

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

Here you go, the Shitp post.

Ship Post

@Ti

Hey look, I'm working on it lmaoooooooooooo. Though do think it's great you put her full name in there, even if hearing someone's full name being thrown at them is a moment of existential horror. Especially considering I'm concepting her home as FantasyItalian backwoods lol.

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

I thought this was a magic academy, not a harbor :o

@vietmyke

>Anime aesthetics
>Academy setting
>Mostly late teens early adult cast

My brother in crab, it would be a surprise if people didn't get shipped lmao

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

Edit: Occurs to me to actually denote it's finished for now lmao. I'll extend out the background later as I get time and such. Also the sketches came in from friendo and getting up a series of poses for a single character sheet going first, so that will be pretty baller when it's time.

Corrine Marchesi

◈ A p p e a r a n c e ◈
A soft bronzed olive tone criss-crossed by pale jagged marks across her body in varying degrees, there is a story within a story to be told simply by the appearance of the young woman called Steelheart. The hard metal of her limbs, mechanical hands either utterly still and eerily unlifelike, or twitching with the motions of gears and mechanisms within conflict with the oft less serious nature of her expressive face. It's hard not to draw a smile from her, bringing a genuine brightness to her features as she lets her feelings sit out in the open for even non-psychiccers to be able to pick up on and just like that, the machine gives way to humanity. Yet just so, even while wearing her most life-like prosthetics, those almost indistinguishable from real flesh... There is the unmistakable toll that the life of a mystic such as her has taken upon her. From just the most visible, the large gash down the left side of her face and the artificial eye matching the natural emerald hued one. Scratches and claw marks marr her shoulders and back, some deeper than others and a discernable bite mark in her side that she's still grouchy about. But while she's not adverse to talking about most of her scars or her prosthetics, there is only one that she is a bit too sensitive about to actually speak of.

From her collarbone and marking a wicked path down towards her waist there is the one that gave her the name she bears. Born from an incident before arriving at the Academy, it was Tyren who put her back together and wove new ribs and repaired as much damage as he could, but the scar and her artificed heart still linger as reminders. So she tends to keep herself covered for the most part to hide at least that mark, keeping to the traditional school uniform unless necessary such as when working in the heat of the workshops or elsewhere. That said, she is rather partial to the battle uniform especially considering the frequency of her forays into the portals. That and it's a little easier to swap arms without having to deal with the robes... Just try not to fall for the "Need a hand?" gag. Beyond that she's a little oblivious to the school trends and fashion of the other girls. More than a few times she's been assumed a tomboy, to mild confusion and necessary explanation of the term. That was at least for a little bit in her earlier years, now there's a lot less of that especially as her jet-black hair has grown out quite a bit and she's entered into a phase of refusing to even so much as trim it, leading her to wear it in a loose ponytail.

◈ "Hahaha! I'm a genius! Oh no!" ◈

◈ N a m e
Corrina Lucretia Parisi-Di Cosma Marchesi

◈ S p e l l c a s t e r N a m e
Steelheart

◈ A g e, H e i g h t, a n d W e i g h t
20, 5'1", 96lbs(Without prosthetics//128lbs with "Vitae"//490lbs with "Murata")

◈ R a c e
Mystic (Seraph's Kiss)

◈ G e n d e r
Female

◈ S e x u a l O r i e n t a t i o n
"THESE HANDS! HAHA- WAIT NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT. DON'T WRITE THAT DOWN!"

◈ Y e a r
6th

◈ P e t
A turquoise Gupoo named "Mr Puff"

◈ H o u s e
House of Seraphine

◈ I l l u m i n a i r e
No

◈ C l a s s e s

◈ Gifts

◈ Artificing and Magi-Tech Advancements

◈ Portal Exploration

◈ Daemons

◈ General Combat Training

◈ Apprenticeship and Support

◈ A r e Y o u O n Y o u r H o u s e ' s W a a g a T e a m?
Absolutely not.

◈ "I'm not asking if the island rapidly approaching our position has teeth or not, I'm asking W H Y it has teeth." ◈

◈ P e r s o n a l i t y
Eccentric ◈ Aloof ◈ Mercurial ◈ Humble ◈ Loyal ◈ Unyielding

For someone called Steelheart as her mystic name, there are in truth very few times where she can be considered as cold as such. Sure she has her moments where she appears above everything, a cold and strangely above it all type of woman, but just the slightest bit of input from another will show the reality. She was really just entirely absorbed in her own headspace working through schematics for the next thing, thinking on the reactions between different compounds, or even just what she was going to eat that day for lunch. Assuming she even remembered to stop for lunch that is. Sometimes she can get so absorbed in her current project that she loses track of time, having to set reminders for her next class and even then barely paying attention. There's a bit of that weirdness to her in that aspect, always obsessing over something that not many of her classmates would really understand or care for, but in that one moment where someone actually does show some interest then she gets this excitement akin to girls talking crushes. It's a legitimate passion for her, but despite that she still stops and takes that effort to ensure she's not losing someone in all the technicalities or sciences of it. Because really, even if it is a passion for her and she's a bit(okay, a lot) weird about it, she still knows that not everyone is as into it as she is. And that's assuming someone can keep her focused on one topic for long enough. That coincides with her more... "Free-spirited" nature as it were. Corrine was never really someone who thought about being a mystic and for the longest time before she joined the academy, she flitted between dreams and intended professions. Even in the academy she has that nebulous focus when it comes to most things, moving from one subject to another and only ever staying invested in artifice.

But that's just one side of her, and for anyone who has ever seen the other side of Corrine Marchesi, it's not the part that matters most. It can come in those small moments between classes, in a pinch for a group project, or in the arena where she is needed most by her team. No matter the circumstance, no matter the obstacle, there is nothing to keep her from doing what she needs to do in order to help those who need her. At her core, that is the true heart of steel, the loyalty towards those who look to her to do everything in her power for them. That unyielding spirit that refuses to back down, giving her an almost indomitable presence at times even if it has cost her dearly. And yet, despite her accomplishments, despite how anyone who has worked with her will insist upon her reliability and ability... Corrine has this tendency to almost look past it. Not in the way of some who feel it to be expected, but as if she doesn't believe her own deeds. She sees herself as just like anyone else, just with metal hands.

◈ H i s t o r y

Glossary of Terms

Just to help clarify a couple things in the background, even if they are explained nominally therein.

Thelathri Currents - Far Eastern region of the Endless Sea and home to the Marthallan people.
Marthial - A region far to the east and home to a fiercely independent people with ideals of elected leaders and mercantilistic values. They nominally accept rule by the Parliament so long as their cultural heritage isn't infringed upon and that they do not overstep their authority.
Tethered Islands - A common occurrence in Marthial, where a large number of islands were tethered together in the past to create larger single islands for farming and eventually where forests grew further connecting them together. Some of the smaller ones appear just as large islands, where some can be large enough to create the illusion of not being an island at all.
Villanova - "The Inverted Island" "The Alabaster Mountain" "First Among Equals" "The Free City" and a dozen more names beside, it serves as the capital of Marthial and home to much of the primary infrastructure of their institutions. The Armata resides here, as well as the Marthallan Academy of Masonic Arts, the Grand Bazaar of Villanova and the Phoenician Observatorium. It can be seen from tens of miles away as a jagged white tooth rising up along the horizon, owing to the massive mountain of white marble and alabaster the island is composed of. At some point in the distant past it is believed to have once been just as any other island, but was struck by either another island or some leviathan and flipped upside down where it remains to this day.
The Armata - A long standing tradition of the Marthallan peoples, and a way of reducing the strain on the Parliament in modernity, the Armata is the governing body of the mercenary companies prevalent in the region.
Campagnia - A mercenary company native to particular regions of Marthial, typically calling one of the free cities home and sponsored by the local doge or signore.
Campagnia Stregoni - A notable Campagnia known for employing exclusively mystics in their ranks and considered to be exceptionally skilled in warfare. In order to comply with the Parliament they are often called upon for duties outside of Marthial when needed. It is considered one of the highest honors among Marthallans to be considered a member of the Stregoni.
Signore - An elected leader of one of the free cities. The Signore are typically considered to be the more reasonable of the two factions native to the Free Cities of Marthial, with the Doges their counterparts and heads of the aristocratic families of the merchant republics. It is always a Signore that rules from Villanova, elected every ten years, and only rarely is one a mystic. In those instances where a mystic is elected it is in a time of strife and they are called "The Captain and Defender". The last time such a person was elected was during the Liberation Wars.

Far to the east along the Thelathri Currents in the forested islands of eastern Marthial another was born to the family of carpenters called Marchesi. A humble family with humble roots, Corrina still had the whole world at her doorstep, just more so in the way of those frontiersman of eld. It was a rugged life far from the villages of the tethered islands, and farther still from the great cities of Marthial. But as much as it was a simple life of logging and carpentry, it was an enjoyable one free from all the trappings of civilization. As the years passed there wasn't a thought at all of what it may mean to be a mystic, instead looking to her older sister who was already establishing herself as a decent huntress, or her brother who was periodically studying in the nearby village to become a constable. In truth, the powers of a mystic were uncommon among the Marthiallans, and especially so outside the cities, so for Corrine and her family it was more of a surprise that her older sister Valeria manifested her gift at all. But it was that one moment that made her think of what it could be like to have that kind of power, to be able to go to Villanova with the gift and join the Armata as one of the famed Campagnia Stregoni. A war-wizard... It was something that tended to be the fantasy of the boys back in the village, but she couldn't deny the appeal of it.

And then just a few months after her thirteenth birthday something happened which changed her life forever. She could feel things changing within her, a current about her that was not wind or water, but something else. For a while she thought of taking the test, to submit herself for inquiry at the local Armata offices, but she also thought of what it may mean to do so and not have the gift at all. So she waited. Weeks passed. Then months. The feeling lingered but she didn't have any discernable powers, so she just assumed it was something completely different, perhaps a shift in the natural vitesse of the region that she was more sensitive to or something like that. And it all just passed over until the captain of the local Campagnia came by with most of the Evening-Star Company to hunt a dangerous creature active in the area.

Six months later she awoke within the infirmary of Harold's Academy with an old man she didn't recognize working magic on her, and the Signore of Mharchia, the local city that governed her home region back in Marthial. It was weird for her though, since she knew that the Academy was quite some ways from her home and that generally only students and their guardians were allowed within the halls, and the latter only under specific circumstances. That was when she was given the briefest of details of what had happened. The Evening-Star Company had been destroyed, and in the chaos she had apparently been discovered as a mystic by Tyren the Bonemender. Her gift as it were was something very similar to his, the ability to create and bring life to artificial limbs and organs, having been manifested when she was injured during the event. Any other details of what happened were sparse, with Signore Sforza only reassuring her that it was through the actions of the Evening-Star that no one else was harmed and that when she graduates she would have her place in Villanova if she chose.

It was a lot to think about, especially considering she was sporting a rather gnarly scar down her chest and apparently a completely artificial heart. But as she started her first year in the academy and was already struggling enough with adjusting to the rather bustling corridors and so many people, Tyren chose to drop another bit of information on her. It was something to keep close and keep secret, not just because of the very nature of what was to be revealed, but also for what wasn't known just yet. She did not just have the gift of artifice and living metal, she was one of those distinctly uncommon people to have been born with the misfortune of having two aeonhearts. The Seraph's Kiss as it were, a mark upon her soul forever setting her as a target not just among the Ni-Seraphi but also her own people. To say it weighed upon her would be an understatement, her first year being a rollercoaster of trying to handle her courses and learning of mystics and their role in society, of the rest of the world she had never known about. It was an interesting sight of course to see her homeland and their tethered islands shown on a map, but it was just one of many for a country girl brought deep into civilization.

Of course it wasn't all treading water as it were, for as she learned and became adjusted to school-life she found herself enamored by the vastness of what a mystic was and all the differing schools of study and powers. Elementalists reminded her of her sister, who she found had graduated a few years prior as "The Stormcaller", and so her name was something of a known quantity among the upper classmen. One in particular made himself known towards the end of her second year, a certain Alasdair Kinnaird who was already looking at a prominent role in the Royal Guard. The issue came twofold with Alasdair "The Swordmaster of Hoenheimm". First was completely beyond her control, in that as a freshman he tried to gain the attention of her sister who was utterly uninterested. The second was also completely beyond her control, in that his gift was the creation of blades from the elements, and apparently some people were talking about her ability and how she could also make things. So one thing led to another and they were set to have an exhibition match with near-full combat. Three minutes into their match with minus an arm to show for it, victory was declared for Corrine and her standing among the Academy was forever changed.

Thankfully the following years were quite a bit less interesting as a whole to that incident. She nominally attempted to stay under the radar, denying the rank of Illuminaire in her third and fourth years despite being approached with a decent bit of support. Artificery classes were one of the few things to truly capture and hold her attention in the Academy, even if she was a little less than careful at times. At least there was Tyren there to guide her through some of the more dangerous experiments, and to help her put herself back together when things got a little volatile. Overall as she settled in over the years, she found herself actually liking the Academy and city-life, even making a couple friends among the other Artificers and medical staff. Though most recently she had to assert to a particular red-head that she really wasn't trying to get put in the infirmary. It probably would have been a little more believable if she wasn't there being treated for wounds taken from a minotaur on a portal expedition.

Looking forward though, Corrine has her sights set on something in particular. As the years have passed she has learned how to use "Living Metal" to a degree it's almost second nature to her. She can manifest tools for herself and others, can even change the shapes of existing items, but there is still that unknown factor lingering in the back of her mind. It comes from an old story from her homeland, and the name has been given to her second power. Once a king of Marthial of eld had entertained the heckling of a man in his court, and given him the crown for a single day. For that day he had power unrivaled, the ability to indulge in whatever his heart desired and to bask in the luxuries of a king. However, the king had seen to it that a blade hung above the throne at all times, tethered only by a single strand of maiden's hair. By the end of the day the man gave back the crown without hesitation, unable to bear the weight of such power and the dangers intrinsically linked to maintaining it. For all the children of Marthial it was supposed to be a tale evoking the ideals of a simple and virtuous life, and for the adults and learned people the ideals of a republic. For Corrine though, she felt the weight looming above her head as the years passed and she still knew nothing of this gift, of the pointed blade hanging over her just as the sword of...

DAMOCLES

Extended Background

In order to get the CS ready sooner rather than later, I'm just going to expand on already posted things as we go as sort of a writing exercise when I have the time and inspiration. I'll notify when changes are made, of course.
DREAMS OF VILLANOVA

STEELHEART

THE SWORDMASTER OF HOENHEIM

METALLO VIVO IN VERITA

PLANESTRIDER

IACTA ALEA EST

◈ R e p u t a t i o n
Initially, Corrine was just that weird kid from out beyond the grapes as it were. Just a bumpkin according to the other kids who grew up closer to proper civilization and full of wonder at all that had been accomplished. Sure she was good with artificery, having a gift for knowing how things worked and good with her hands when it came to mechanics. Her status slowly rose like any other decent student with a passion, until she met someone else with something to prove. In the second year at the Academy and just starting to really come into her own, one of the 8th year students marked for the Royal Guard and supposedly some aristocrat.

There in front of half the school they had an exhibition match that was supposed to be his glorious send off, showing that he was the best in swordsmanship and out of those with the gift to create vitesse weapons. After almost two whole minutes of terror and panic later, Corrine was suddenly seen quite differently by the school. Now she's often on the list of support mystics for group projects, most students of her year and later knowing that while she is an agent of chaos and panic, she is utterly reliable no matter the circumstances, and will put forward her best effort possible. Not for herself of course, but for those who depend upon her because that's who she is. That, and while she has this larger than life reputation at times as "Planestrider", "Steelheart", "Nightbane"(don't ask), and all sorts of other epithets... Anyone who knows her understands that she's in reality incredibly humble and is just doing the best she can as someone who is at best, only nominally skilled. She's just really, really, so very lucky.

◈ G o a l s
At the face of it, her goals are like any other mystic. To excel in her craft, to understand her gift until it becomes second nature, and to perhaps even achieve something great with it. She does want most of that, and her love of artifice shows it clearly that she enjoys what she does. To create something, to mend something with her hands is a feeling of accomplishment like nothing else for her. Yet... There are other things that she desires, that drive her more than all of that. At the core of it, what drives her to be the best artificer possible and to understand her primary gift, is to take back what she feels was stolen from her. Even if her prosthetics provide more for her than her organic limbs ever did, she can't help but want them back. And that's nothing to say of what she had to endure that others cannot see. But she also wants to understand her own nature, and the gift that she can't seem to manifest...

◈ R e l a t i o n s
Tyren the Bonemender - Unofficial Grandpa//Mentor
Massimo - Father and village carpenter
Elisabetta - Mother and village innkeeper
Valeria Parisi-Di Cosma Amantea "Stormcaller" - Oldest sister, graduated from the Academy ten years ago as the Illuminaire of House Seraphine six years in a row.
Luciano Aurelianus - Older brother and regional constable, rather negative opinion towards mystics.
Maria Vittoria - Older sister
Gaetana - Older sister, local hunt-leader
Leonora - Non-identical twin sister, platinum mad she isn't a mystic
Serafina - Youngest sister

◈ "WHY CAN'T YOU BE A NORMAL OLD MAN WITH NORMAL HOBBIES?!" ◈

◈ M y s t i c C l a s s i f i c a t i o n
Astra

◈ G i f t
Metallo Vivo

◈ M y s t i c C o d e
It is the bending of metal like water, the melding of flesh and machine into a single entity with the soft light of life. Artificery married to Medicine. Those who have born this gift and its variants pioneered the fields of artificery and magitech with the first prosthetics, with machines fueled by the very essences of life. While Corrine is not quite at those levels yet, she has a mentor in the way of Tyren The Bonemender, one of the few to actually artifice pseudo-organic limbs and organs that were near indistinguishable from their natural counterparts. She has learned this art in the traditional ways and in the spirit of those first Artificers, she has fully embraced the ideal of "Discovery requires experimentation". Her hands are steel, copper, bronze and star-metal. A finger can shift to form a pen, a welding point, a knife or a light. She can stride with the steps of metal legs, bound across distances and soar with the power of vitesse propelling her physically through the air. She is the maker, the mender, the muse, the work, and the artificer.

ARTIFICE: The most basic and most widely understood principles of her gift. It has an entire class about it in fact. But the idea of it is the fusion of machining and tinkering with vitesse and creating things that run off the arcane. Everything from lamps that ignite with the briefest pulse of vitesse, to flying machines and even firearms.

LIVING METAL: Where her gift differs from the vast majority of Artificery is that she can do it in the field and without tools. Called "Living Metal" or "Metallo Vivo", she is able to shift materials according to designs in her mind, spending vitesse to create things from the physical world around her. Most often this is just used in the way of quickly creating a tool for her more precise work, or a quick weapon on the fly when out adventuring the portals for class or even in duelling, but there is the capability to create far more complex things.

WELD: Simply put, sticking something to something else, and often when it is not wanted. Okay, not that often but it did come in handy that one time. With the simple application of vitesse to two different objects, and a bit of concentration, she can induce a bond similar to a weld between two pieces of metal. If uninterrupted she's able to strengthen the bond, and even moreso if she's actually in direct contact with both objects. Like say, someone's shoes to the paving stones.

◈ L i m i t a t i o n s a n d W e a k n e s s e s
Living Metal as a gift has helped Corrine quite a bit since she learned how to use it, especially in the way of being able to artifice her own prosthetics, but like any gift there are some downsides that are rather difficult to ignore. The biggest one is perhaps the actual viability of it in the field. Sure, she can take all the time she needs in a safe and secure workshop to rebuild an arm, a hand or what have you, but it is quite a bit harder to do so when under pressure. Like, both pressure in the form of her team needing something to assist in the current group activity, and actual physical pressure of something trying to eat her(again). It is primarily a power that requires either intense concentration or the kind of indomitable force of will to be able to invoke it regardless of what is going on around the user. And that's just Living Metal and standard Artifice. The biggest and most obvious drawback to Weld is that... Well, it's basically like gluing someone's hands together. Any mystic of decent enough skill would only stumble from tactical application, and with just a bit of vitesse be able to undo the bond just as easily.

◈ G i f t
DAMOCLES

◈ M y s t i c C o d e
"I saw it once, and it is to this day the only time she has invoked it. A flash of piercing blue light, streaking into the sky undaunted. I had to shield my eyes but I felt this wave wash over me even from afar, both heat and pressure but not destructive... I actually felt... Strange enough to say inspired. It was like this indomitable force of will was lifting me up and urging me forwards, giving me purpose and the strength to defy odds. And even when that faded, there was still that pillar of eerie blue light lingering, but rather than document the event further I did have other concerns in the moment. Since that day she hasn't been able to manifest it again, though very nearly I saw a hint of it when she fought The Swordmaster of Hoenheim in the Academy Arena."

DAMOCLES: ???

◈ L i m i t a t i o n s a n d W e a k n e s s e s
As a gift so far there are no actual benefits to having a second gift since she can't even use it, there being a rather distinct lack of understanding in how to use it. Normally, that would be solved through the mandatory Gifts class, but with the nature of the Seraph's Kiss and her own distaste for said "gift" there's not much to do about it. So she's got a second aeonheart that marks her as a relative delicacy to the Ni-Seraphi, already quite the weight on a young woman's shoulders, and she's only ever manifested her ability once without memory of doing so. With all that, there is no wonder that she has considered some rather forbidden means, only choosing otherwise by the counsel of Tyren.

Corrine Relations Chart

Anastasia: Healer from Harold and the Illuminaire. Has had a few run-ins with her mostly due to her own accident-prone nature, so her reputation is completely transparent with her. Unsure if she's actually okay with being called Ana, but is certain she would much prefer she doesn't spend several days out of the week in the infirmary despite her protests that it's not just to visit her. Or as insisted: "I would like to insist strongly that I am not doing this on purpose. I actually do not like getting chewed on by things or for my work to literally blow up in my face." Overall pretty keen on the ginger, thinks she's a warm person and reliable.

Walter: A curiousity due to his gift of Alchemy, but as a first year she doesn't know too much about him. Apparently can be a bit opportunistic, but to her so are a lot of mystics.

Melle: Upperclassmen and someone she looked up to in her first couple years at the Academy due to sharing the same house. Feels that she's still a very reliable person despite her more recent lack of drive, just that maybe the high intensity burned her out. Has a gupoo named Sparey Airy and she's sent a few offers of letting their gupoos play together. Is on the short list for people to match with for team-games due to the potential versatility of her hammerspace.

Petyr: Fairly mysterious fourth year of her house, not quite certain of his motivations or how to really read him. Only thing she can be sure of is his interest in Waaga that she does not share, knowing that he's on their house's team and seems to be a little more driven during those activities. Despite that he's never come across as unreliable, even of late with his new friends.

Myrion: Illuminaire with Eusebia and a fellow Gupoo friend with one named Albondiga. Has a reputation for being quite reliable and hard-working, and she can tell he's not like most of the other students from the cities and a little more down to earth, or at least wasn't raised in opulence like some people. She's been cautioned about putting him on her list for team-games, but she feels the utility of his power drastically outweighs any potential danger. Has also sent a few offers to him for gupoo playdates.

Leah: Highest potential synergy of gifts on her list and one of the only ones she's noted for duos. Has a certain intensity about her but she's rather indifferent to it and regularly offers to spar with her both in combat classes and outside of them. Probably one of the most reliable classmates she can think of.

Primrose: Another unknown quantity, though this time due to the rather severe differences in their chosen fields. Has a Gupoo named Goo though, and despite the divide between their mindsets, has offered for their Gupoos to play together. Overall while she doesn't quite understand her, she knows that Primrose is quite knowledgeable when it comes to herbology and ecological fields and can be relied upon in instances where such is necessary.

Lisa: Another person for the team-games list due to her raw physical ability and her gift. She seems incredibly motivated but only towards things in her interest and can be questionably reliable. Overall the least arrogant noble at the Academy that she's met so far and thinks they could get along well, and while she's up for a spar any time, doesn't exactly look forward to being put on her back on the mats. Has emphatically insisted to avoid her face.

Fasha: Illuminaire and supposedly an incredibly reliable and likeable person, quite a few others profess just as much to her, but can't help but notice a strangeness about her. Hasn't actually had any run-ins directly with her as of yet, but notices a rather pleasant scent that lingers about her at all time and has felt noticeably relaxed in her presence. Someone to be careful around for sure.

Kaspaan: While he seems to be a bit too energetic for her and others, can be pretty chill at times. Sometimes has a bit of a frosty demeanor, and occasionally a little glacial in getting to where he needs to go, but feels he's reliable when necessary.

Lhoren: Seems pretty nice and kind to everyone around her, but has noticed that the girl's gift has unintended consequences like most telepaths. Has to be quite conscious of her thoughts around her which can be draining, and while she feels that she could really use a hug at times, is unsure if it would be wise considering her rather rough memories.

Raff: Another of the first years, and someone else with telepath powers to be careful about, but also so far seeming fairly sweet. Could most definitely use a hug and she's always sure to keep a few candies about for her just in case. Has a gupoo named Pooka that she's attempted to introduce Mr Puff to. Feels a bit of kinship towards her, but isn't entirely sure why.

Sylvia: Second year and a bit catty, but feels there's some similarities between them and understands the difficulty of having a gift not quite fully under control yet. Over all doesn't think she's a bad person, just a little adventurous and eerily quiet. Has snuck up on her more than once and nearly scared the bolts off her. Does wonder if she likes ear scritches like a cait..

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

<Snipped quote by Alfhedil>

Some pets just arent gonna be that smart. That's how it is sometimes. LOL I think if the Gupoo doesn't work for you, there are absolutely better pets that can fit your interests, like the Tree Monkey, which is super smart and can probably be trained to be your workshop assistant. Why go for the least useful pet when there are many other pets that can achieve what your wanting from a pet. You know? lol

@Aeolian

While yes the Tree Monkey would one hundred percent be the logical choice when it comes to a pet assistant for things as simple as handing over tools, there is also the idea of a Gupoo just floating around in an artificed harness with a bunch of arms on it carrying things around and tidying up the room. Like a much less malevolent probe droid from Star Wars lmao. Also the puffballs are absolutely adorable and I feel it better suits the character lol.

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

<Snipped quote by Alfhedil>

Aeolian
Honestly, they're not that smart. They're just cute fluff balls really. They're the least intelligent of the pet options. I mean, they can be taught commands, like come and stay. LOL But they have no extremities to be able to do much of anything. They don't even eat or drink like normal animals do cause they have no mouths. It's really just a glorified plush doll tbh. LOL

@Aeolian

Disappointing but not unexpected lmao. I was honestly expecting that they wouldn't even be sentient. I suppose I'll have to shelve the concept of Corrine lowkey dabbling in madscience in her spare time and making artificed things for Mr Snips to use as her workshop assistant lol. Then again... Nothing to say that she isn't actively trying and convinced that with just a little more work, and maybe a telepath or three she could actually get her puffball to understand how to be more than a floating pillow.

Also neat that there is another Seraphine and someone to take Illuminaire instead of Corrine. I was putting in my CS that she wasn't unless absolutely necessary but that she wouldn't like it, so this works for me.

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

@Aeolian

Still concepting some ideas for my girl, and just out of curiousity was looking at the pets and had a question regarding the Gupoo. Like, your answer won't change whether or not she has one, just some minor details lmao. The main question is just how intelligent they are. Are they just floating puffballs that have some vague sentience, or are they actually capable of nominally higher intelligence? Building off that, considering they seem to be rather affectionate creatures and bond with people easily, are they capable of being taught commands as it were?

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

@CaliforniaState

There's no specific number. It will depend on how many character submissions we get and how many players out of that number want to have the Seraph's Kiss. Statistically and narratively, far more students won't have it than will, and as we can see, many players want the Seraph's Kiss. Ideally, it should be 25% of characters will have "the kiss" and the other 75% will not. It's not a first come, first serve thing for me. It's about quality, thematic cohesion, magical balance, creativity, narrative integration, etc. Create your character as you want; don't let current submissions sway your creativity. But if too many players want "the kiss", I'll have to make some tough choices once I'm able to thoroughly review all the character sheets. I want to be fair, but narratively, it's just something only a few players can have, unfortunately. :)

@Aeolian

I honestly assumed it was going to be rarer than not, though as it tends to go it seems more than a few like the idea of it for their characters. Which is entirely fair you know, just hoping we all get to play the characters we want lol. On that note I was going to have Corrine have it, though her secondary ability only manifested once and she hasn't been able to use it since. So really, unless someone gets the old man to talk or she actually manages to manifest that ability again, she's playing the best game of hide the gift possible on accident lmao.

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

I was most likely going to commission the friend I usually go with, since I'm not really too big on going with AI character art and it can sometimes be a bit of a pain to find a reference that is just right lol. Either way, I'm pretty slow with character sheets so it might be a bit before I even get a WiP up just as an FYI.

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

Wonderful character concept. Very cool indeed! The ideas you have really help to flesh her out in this world and make her more well-rounded and real.

Although you won't be happy to read this lol But I only mentioned magical guns as an example of something that does exist in the world. Students at the academy don't use weapons. It's not an academy thing. Those weapons would be used by the Royal Guard, which is something a student might aspire to be after graduation. Now, if you're character's artificing skills help them, to say, create some kind of makeshift magical gun-like weapon for just herself, then I think that would be okay since she's a senior student and may have gotten permission from a professor to use it. Kind of like Forge from X-men uses his power to create magi-techy weapons for himself, but just himself. Weapons aren't something just readily available to students at the academy. They must rely on their magical gifts for combat and not everyone has a gift that is well-suited for combat. And that's okay. They can be useful in other ways.

It's funny, I went back and forth on whether or not students used weapons like guns, wands, swords, bow and arrows, etc. I even had created an Armory room and art for it at one point while drafting. Ultimately, I decided against it because I don't necessarily want this RP to be a fight fight fight fight fight kind of RP where everyone can run into any dangerous situation guns a blazing. I liked the more X-men approach, where students have to be more clever in combat situations because they are limited to the capabilities and weaknesses of their magical gift and nothing else. This also would require more thoughtful teamwork and would allow non-combat focused characters opportunities to shine in their own unique way. Guns and weapons and such kind of oversimplify any dangerous situation. So ultimately yeah, students don't use guns and weapons LOL

@Aeolian

Despite building what would otherwise be a fairly combat heavy character, there was actually the idea of leaning more on the artifice side of things for her lol. Like, yeah on one hand in my head there was the gunslinger with artificed revolvers and some kind of 1600's style magitech wheel-lock repeating rifle going on monster hunts with the class or using specialized ammunition during the magic duels mentioned in the OP for the Colosseum or Dueling Room. Then on the other there was the idea of exploring the entire concept of actually making these things and testing them in something like the Halls of Artifice or whatever kinds of workshops they may have. Things like building new arms and legs, new and hopefully improved tools for expeditions, and of course a vitesse controlled laser eye. You know, to replace the one she lost lmao.

But yeah, I totally get trying to lean more towards the actual school-life aspect of X-Men rather than what we usually get from it, though I would say that there could still be a place for things like weapons training and hunting classes. I mean, not every jaunt through a portal is going to be a nice and relaxing one, right?

And I am considering a Discord. I'm not strictly opposed to it so long as everyone is Respectful of one another. That's REALLY big for me. I've seen Discords divulge into pettiness, personal attacks and really toxic behavior. Soooo, I'm not sure I'll start one for this RP, but I won't say no definitively. Giving it thoughtful consideration. Again, respect and kindness is KEY. Even if people disagree about something, it should be discussed with civility and maturity, no matter what.

As for Discord, in my experience RPs with them last longer than RPs without, but yeah toxic people are a concern. I RP with a few people here though, namely Crimson Flame, TheNoCoKid and Emeth, and can attest that they're respectful.

@LuckyBlackCat

Having been around the forums for a bit now, I do feel that while there is a downside to Discord in that it can direct more conversations away from the thread and present the appearance of inactivity, there is a much greater benefit to having it from the expedience of character planning, the ability to quickly and dynamically develop pre-existing character relations, and of course the most important thing of all... A place to shitpost without disrupting the thread lmao.

But also, while I don't really know many of the people who have expressed interest so far, that at least means that most of the people here are alright enough that they don't have a reputation for themselves lmao. That I know of...

Harold's Academy for the Magically Inclined

@Alfhedil Hi! Students attend the school for eight years. So 1st years to 8th years. A student's time at the school essentially starts once their gift manifests, so a late bloomer whose gift manifests when they are 19, would start as a 19-year-old first year and wouldn't graduate until their 8th year as a 26-year-old (this is rare, of course). Your year isn't determined by your age, but when your gift appears, since that marks your mandatory enrollment in the academy. However, it is very rare for someone's gift to manifest so late, but it does happen. Similarly, someone's gift may manifest well before puberty, but again, both cases are extremely rare and someone whose gift manifests as a baby, for example, would be sent somewhere else. For this RP, a character's age should be between 13-20. Generally, you will find most 1st-4th years within the 13-16 age range, while 5th-8th years are generally within the 16-20 age range, though this is not a hard and fast rule, just the norm for most students.

Excellent, that works pretty well with both ideas I had in mind and gives me a bit of a better idea on how to work things.

Both of your character concepts would work; I think it's moreso a matter of which one you would find more interesting to write about as the story unfolds. :) Your gift concept sounds interesting, probably an Astra, though I don't exactly get how it works exactly. But that's kind of the point of Astras right? Their powers aren't usually cut and dry. lol I love creative power concepts anyways, so once you write it out in more detail, I'm sure it'll be great. Seems like a character who would absolutely take the Apprenticeship and Support class so they can apprentice for/or provide support to the Artificing and Magi-Tech Advancements Professor.

Anyways, that was a lot. Hope I answered your questions.

Cheers!

Okay so, with a bit more thonking involved and reworking some old ideas for the same character, the idea I'm leaning more towards is this. Sixth or Seventh year at most, but right around 20 either way and someone quite specialized in artifice due to her mentor. Workshopping an NPC here, a rather old man who's been around the Academy for #awhile and for a brief time fought in the 72 Year Liberation Wars as Tyren the Boneweaver for his combination of in-depth medical and artifice knowledge, but he's not really inclined to speak about those times simply referring to how he helped put people back together after the war. He's basically teaching Corrine(Just the first name for now for convenience lol) everything he knows about artifice and doing his best to steer her down the path of building and repairing, though she's not even near his level yet. There's more to the relationship between the two, but most I'll say for now is that it was Tyren who brought her to the Academy after putting her back together from a rather traumatic event.

And on the other end of the character, aside from her skill with artifice and love for making her own replacement parts, I was leaning towards the idea of her being older for a bit of a theme I like for this one in particular. That idea being that she's got a bit of a reputation for heroics and taking on rather dangerous missions through the portals. All sorts of rumors about how she's done this and that, how each trip through the portal is some epic saga. In truth, she's an absolute disaster and is winging it. Which is why she's more artifice than person at this point and to those who really know her feel she's more of a bad luck charm than anything. Like, she's almost a magnet for bad stuff lol. But hey, she makes it work somehow.

magical guns do exist

@Aeolian

This is excellent, as I was going to rock a bit of a arcane/magitech gunslinger vibe with Corrine lmao. Also discord is pretty convenient, just to add in from above.