Scribe of Thoth

Just Another Hero

I'm down, I like the idea of chars being second years.

Of Blood and Magic

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"Better not be a clue written in astronomy trivia," Max mumbled halfheartedly back. He was tempted to try the magical approach again, but he had no idea where Eris' hand was in relation to the vampire's own star, or if he was even using the armored arm. The mage would just have to hope they were close enough on timing that the... illusion? This had to be an illusion, right? - recognized it as 'tandem'. Quite frankly, he didn't have high hopes. They were alright at mutual complaining, but any synergy beyond that was out the window.

He sent a narrow-eyed glare up at the blue moon out of spite. The moon, unsurprisingly, did nothing to defend itself. Coward. They were missing something here, and Max didn't like it. It wasn't anxiety about failing, either; it was far worse - if they fucked up here, whatever smug chucklefuck designed this test would get the satisfaction of knowing it tricked them. Max certainly couldn't allow that

After a few too many moments of silence and deliberation, Max let out an annoyed huff and started the countdown, "Whatever. Three. Two. One. Go."

He barely restrained himself from batting at the star like an angry cat, figuring that Eris would've likely gone for a softer approach and their timing would've been way off if he'd smacked the shit out of the little light the way he wanted to. Instead, he gingerly tapped it, already squinting and turning his head away in anticipation of a coming explosion of light. At least, he hoped it would only be light.

---

@Hero

Of Blood and Magic

---

Huh, that was actually a good thought on Eris' part. Couldn't hurt to try it, at least. As for the riddle, Max was out of ideas. It seemed to explain how to get into this... wherever they were, but nothing suggested what to do once actually inside. Did the stars spell out another set of instructions and they were just too dense to notice?

"All it said was something about siblings in tandem and choosing your fate. Stars and fate could be linked, I guess," The mage grumbled, vocalizing his thoughts in case Eris had an idea how to make sense of it. Barring that, they'd have to play two halves of a whole idiot and hope they could bullshit their way out at this point, because Max himself was certainly out of ideas. Thankfully, the sudden glow of yellow caught his eye in contrast to the earlier blue, prompting Max to swivel his head back and forth from the moon to the star.

"Hang on, there's a yellow star now. Is there anything blue on your end? Maybe we're switching colors. Or... maybe I'm supposed to touch that star at the same time you touch one of yours." But then what the fuck was the point of the moon? Was it just misdirection? There was some asinine symbolism in this somewhere, he was sure of it. The constellation had to mean something, but Eris didn't seem like he had a clue as to what it was. Maybe the exam designers had assumed a vapid celebrity would be an astrology expert. An easy mistake; Max could totally see Eris blaming his faults on his sun sign being a tortoise in retrograde.

Fuck it.

"I'm touching it, any objections?" Max called as he crouched down and extended his hand. He kept his fingers hovering near the star, but not close enough that it might brush the glowing orb should it suddenly grow in size or something.

---

@Hero

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Science-Fantasy Magic Academy

Khotanebre Bekenamun

Name: Khotanebre Bekenamun

Age: 16

Appearance: Kho's appearance puts his less than pure Aemeni heritage on full display, with carmine hair and a complexion far more olive than it is tan. He still has a boyish fragility to his features, with feminine eyelashes and narrow shoulders only serving to make him look more diminutive despite being around average height for his age. He typically dresses in brightly dyed robes to create less of a jarring contrast with his hair.

Kho & Tekenkhasut

Background: The House of Bekenamun is an established but relatively unimportant facet of the aristocracy from the earliest waves of non-Aemeni tribesmen to Photep, more known for their military contribution to the Red Orders than any political influence or exceptional wealth that other noble families might hold. The family produces magically-inclined children fairly regularly, much to the chagrin of many Bekenamun patriarchs trying to choose their successor, and quite a few of them throughout the lineage's history have had the distinction of serving in the Orders Sekhmet and Khenetai. Khotanebre is the secondborn son of the current Lord Bekenamun and was raised in a comfortable manner befitting a young noble, as he would've been next in line for inheritance should his older brother have ended up presenting an affinity for sorcery. Coincidentally, it was Kho that ended up showing magical talent instead, and his family wasted little time in pushing him into the Pesedjet with every bit of influence they had. He was a diligent and capable student of magic, though he didn't particularly stand out amongst the impressiveness of his peers at such a prestigious institution. Not that it bothered him; Kho had few aspirations aside from a vague familial hope that he'd be selected for one of the Red Orders and a desire to be simply be useful to the Photepi people wherever he was assigned.

Personality: Kho is generally polite and superficially mild-mannered, though there's a restless energeticism bubbling just under the surface, waiting to erupt in animated movements and enthusiasm whenever he finds something that excites him. Politically, his Lion upbringing clearly shows through; as far as Kho is concerned, Photep is the greatest civilization that will ever exist, its prosperity is of the utmost importance, and none are more fit to lead it there than the aristocracy that have led the city this far to begin with. He sees the academics that compose his political opposition as important, but ultimately arrogant. Not because he considers them trying to rise above their station, but because his view on magic is a decently humble one, believing that sorcerers are - and likely always will be - the metaphysical equivalent of children playing with blocks compared to the entities of the Aether. He truly believes in the heaven-sent origin of the Crimson King, and yet even His Majesty must draw his power from that realm; which Kho takes as reason to believe that even stronger entities exist out there somewhere. Nevertheless, he's excited for his role as a sorcerer and to be able to twist the energies of the Aether to Photep's benefit.

Aptitude: Kho's excitability lends itself well to pyromancy, with his magic manifesting just as explosively as his sudden episodes of enthusiasm do. He's a fairly average practitioner of magic in other fields, but he picked up on shooting little flames around remarkably quick.

Tutelary: Recently summoned, Tekenkhasut takes the form of a stern-eyed falcon, typically adorned in a colorful little scarf to match with his master. Despite what his rigid appearance may suggest, Tekenkhasut has a propensity toward acting mischievous, if not outright obnoxious. He exhibits a certain fondness for destruction and mayhem, constantly pushing Kho toward the more combative aspects of pyromancy and magic in general. While this may sound sadistic, the familiar is self-admittedly more interested in the resulting light show than deriving any satisfaction from hurting people, and his suggestions are usually harmless beyond minor property damage.

Totally forgot to post this. Lemme know if you want anything changed/clarified.

Of Blood and Magic

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Max was expecting some kind of magical bullshit to happen, so the initial mist elicited little more than a wary glance around the area from the mage. He couldn't tell if the disappearing bird was a clue or a warning, and that was a bit worrying. He doubted they would've included anything dangerous, so touching the stars probably wouldn't blink him out of existence, but if it expelled him from the illusion when he still needed to be in it, they'd have a problem.

He lifted an arm as his vambrace unlocked in preparation to shoot one of the stars, when he was suddenly thrown off balance by the ground's sudden shifting. After stumbling his way back into a less precarious stance, he glanced around for Eris. No sign of him, just... the moon?

Max swiveled his head around as he heard Eris talking. He sounded like he was above him, but... was he behind the moon? Eris clearly wasn't seeing the same thing he was, and it looked like the illusions matched the images on their respective blocks. Wait, Eris could see? Max doubted that would last for the rest of the test, but he wouldn't complain if it did - less work on his end.

Whatever, it didn't matter. Right now he needed to focus on that riddle. Blue moon and - daffodil, what a pedantic jackass; it's fucking yellow, Eris - stars. Something about solace in others or mind or whatever. He certainly didn't see any others around, and his mind just thought this was bullshit.

"All I see is a moon," Max called blindly into the abyss, "There's a blue light that looks like it's getting brighter on my end too. I think they match the blocks we were carrying, but fuck if I know what the riddles had to do with this. Maybe we're supposed to touch it when it gets close enough like that bird did."

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@Hero

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Science-Fantasy Magic Academy

@Dead Cruiser Pyromancer it is then. In a rough political oversimplification, are Lions generally more supportive of the Red Orders and the Eagles more supportive of the Cults given their values or do those groups have no correlation?

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Science-Fantasy Magic Academy

What lumps aeromancy in with the more forbidden stuff? Lack of understanding or is this some big brain Amun reference where 'air' entails way more than just air?

Either way, I was thinking either that or pyromancy. Maybe a Sekhmet aspirant.

Scion: Children of Light - Bronze Age Science-Fantasy Magic Academy

I am a simple man. I see Egypt, I click.

Of Blood and Magic

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"The riddle says the game starts when they're whole again, so I'd assume something stupid is gonna happen after we do this, but it doesn't give any directions we can go on otherwise." Max responded as he switched his own block to his armored hand. Better to just guide both in magically to be safe; he wasn't quite sure how perfectly syncronized they'd need to be for the test to consider them 'in tandem'. The vambraces moved of their own accord, raising both their limp arms upward and, after a quick glance by Max confirming they were aligned with the holes, tugged their hands forward to fit the blocks snugly into their assigned slots.

"Okay, now five paces back," Max instructed as he followed his own advice, all the while watching Eris' movements for confirmation. Ideally, even their steps should be syncronized, but that was a lot harder to do when Eris couldn't see and he didn't have nearly enough metal present to just puppet the vampire's legs like a marionette. When they were both in position, Max turned his gaze back toward the magic bird feeder in front of him. Best case scenario? This opens a neat little portal to the finish line. Worst case? He didn't even want to guess; the only thing this school had really taught him is that even his most pessimistic predictions could be exceeded at any moment.

"Alright, ready? Three... Two... One. Oceleusi Picon."

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@Hero

Pokemon: Shadows of Orre

Y'all still taking people?