Zeroth

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

Does one person go at a time, or are several people lined up? I know there are multiple columns, but would rather check. If there are multiple people and the floating platforms are close enough I suppose 'kill stealing' could happen?

@SilverPaw

People are called up one at a time per station, but Players should just post with the assumption that everyone's called in order, they're the only one on the given range at the time, and so forth. We don't need to wait for Official responses in-between posts, and other players can't really interfere in another's test...yet. *ye olde winky face*

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

Okay so, REALLY LONG POST has been updated! Apologies, I included a TL;DR at the bottom! If anyone's unclear on anything or has other questions, please let me know!

Feel free to do the trials in your own way, within reason of course (nobody should be able to like, completely atomize one of the stone columns or crack the audience barrier, for instance). This is a chance for the characters to really show out if they want to, with the big booms and the pew pews, before they try to test us on things that require actual brainpower/creativity! XD

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

PLEASE SEE BOTTOM FOR TL;DR

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@Expllo@Databug@imia@Xaltwind

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As Hikari and Kohra continued on their way, they would witness the aftermath of Parin's little prank on the pompadour'd noble and his pals. The spray of water drew a few gasps, and plenty of laughter afterwards as the nobles were shocked out of their wits--but, the little magical outburst hadn't been harmful, and aside from a few shouts of "Watch it over there!" and the like, it didn't seem like any officials would interfere.

Pompadour and his lackeys squealed in surprise and tumbled over each other as the water pushed them to the ground. They spluttered and pushed each other in a scramble to get back on their feet, and by the time they'd finally done so the perpetrator was nowhere to be seen. Several others in the crowd--both noble and commoner--were enjoying the spectacle and being none-too-subtle about it. Pompadour's face, now partially covered by his drooping (yet amazingly, still stylistically intact) hair turned a swollen shade of red as he glared all around them.

"Whoever did that, you'd better pray I don't find you!" he angrily howled, shaking his fist at the sky. After a few fruitless moments of searching the crowd, the three--still wringing water from their clothes--made their way inside with the rest of the applicants...

Hikari and Kohra would enter the same way Camilla had earlier, finding themselves among the now quite thick crowd. They could see Tristan standing further towards the front, arms crossed as he waited patiently. On the other side of the room, Camilla stood out unmistakably, though she seemed to be in conversation with another fellow and the girl who had sprayed the nobles.

"That would be my question, too, hah!" Gunnar laughed as Parin questioned Camilla's definition of cute. However, the red-clad man wiggled his cigarette between his lips as he winked at the busty bluette. "But, I think the lady means 'cute' like, say...a little dog. Not the same kinda 'cute' I'd use for, say, a pretty face. Am I right...cutie?"

From their position, Camilla and Parin would be able to see Hikari and Kohra enter...as well as a girl who seemed to be trailing behind them unnoticed, yet was watching the pair the way a snake watches a rat before striking out...

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@Th3King0fChaos

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As Illios told Bryant his name, and where he was from, and excitedly explained some of the perks of his magic, the other boy nodded along enthusiastically as he crunched through his onion rings, then finished off his kebab. Brushing crumbs on his pants, he looked up at the portcullis as the two of them neared the coliseum.

"Oh, my magic?" the boy repeated after Illios's question...with a suddenly coy smirk. He rolled his shoulders, looking out of the corner of his eye as he began to increase his walking pace. "Well, it's really nothing special, ya know, not compared with something as rare as Sun Magic--!" The two of them had entered the arena now, and suddenly Bryant's long legs loped forward. He gave Illios one last grin--though this one wasn't quite so welcoming.

"Maybe you'll see it if we get matched up, though! No worries, I'll keep everything you said about yours in mind!"

Then he shouldered in between some other people and ducked down--aside from a ripple in between bodies, he was gone into the crowd.

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@ERode

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"...You didn't have many playmates as a kid, didja?" the huntress replied before Kreszenz dropped down to the streets. Shrugging, the muscular girl performed her own impressive parkour maneuver to get down from the rooftop and quickly followed, though not so much out of pursuit for the lightning-clad young lady as out of a similar desire to get into the coliseum. While Kreszenz stopped for nothing, the huntress did pause for a moment to laugh at the three nobles who had been soaked with water by another contestant. When the three came angrily stomping towards the portcullis, however, she increased her pace until she was shoulder to shoulder with the ozone-scented heiress.

"Welp, good luck to ya, if ya want it! Name's Jayde Wakeley, by the by!" With another gap-toothed grin and a wave of her hand, she separated from Kreszenz and was soon lost among the throng.

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@Remram

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"As much as I would like to do that," Isvelt sniffed as he folded his arms, "Look at the crowd--we'd better get inside." True, it seemed like the streets had thinned considerably. Maverick fidgeted impatiently again.

"Oh geez, oh geez! C'mon, guys!" Gesturing to Ludo and the royal with one broad arm, he once again sped up his pace just like when he'd crashed into them. But by following behind the giant, they found their own paths quite clear. Soon they were passing under the iron bars, just behind a gaggle of lesser nobles at whom Isvelt wrinkled his nose.

"Why do they look like they've taken a dip in the river? You'd almost think they'd been raised...well, like you." he muttered to Ludo.

Once inside the coliseum, however, the disadvantage of hanging out with Maverick was revealed--it was really hard to see over him.

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@Duthguy

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"David Abelona? Haven't heard of him. He a Commoner pal of yours?" The man scribbled in his notepad, then looked at Albie expectantly--but when no other information followed, and the boy suggested they move somewhere more private, the old man rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Hey, if you don't trust me, kid, that's your problem. Things are gonna start soon and I gotta get a good seat in the audience..." He looked towards the portcullis, and seemed about to leave...but then, he sighed again and looked back at Albie.

"Look, you seem like you're outta your depth here, farm-boy. I'll give ya a freebie." The old man adjusted the collar of his hood. "Watch out for a noble named Snyder Glassard. He's arrogant, but with good reason--an academic genius, but no slouch with combat magic. His element is Glass, fittingly enough, and supposedly he's a bit of a sadist." The man pocketed his notebook, and began shuffling away from Albie.

"If ya come up against him in sparring, might be better to forfeit!"

With the streets now almost empty, Albie would no doubt be quick to make his way inside the coliseum. Again, he spotted that blue-haired girl, talking to another girl and a man who seemed like he might be a noble, but it was hard to tell.

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@Agunimon

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As Lanner's siblings made their way up into the audience chambers, the pink-haired girl would work her way through the crowd of other participants to find herself standing closer to the front, where the open skies beamed down on her with a welcoming warmth. Next to her was a quiet young man with red hair, who didn't seem to know what to do with one of his hands. His fingers kept fiddling with the tall collar of his cloak. While it hid the expression of his lips, and his eyes were fixed on the far wall of the circular arena, his breathing was clearly nervous.

Of course, he and she were only two of hundreds now cramming into the room, all in different stages of excitement, anxiety, and determination...

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@SilverPaw

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Solveig would find herself entering at the back of the crowd, though not the last to enter. She stood next to a tall, brown-haired-and-brown-eyed young man who seemed to be quite intently watching a blue-haired young woman--was it, perhaps, a crush? Love at first sight, even?

As the crowd shifted, however, she would catch a glimpse--just that--of the man she'd encountered in the alleyway. He seemed to be hugging himself, and his hunch was more pronounced than before. Was he sick as the official had employed, due to that scammer selling potions? Or was it just because he was an unsociable sort, thrust into this claustrophobia inducing crowd? Then he was gone again.

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Another rolling drumline and trumpet blare marked the beginning of the Magic Knight Selection Exam. All within the arena heard and felt the rumbling as the huge doors behind them slowly closed. This was it. They could only hope they had prepared themselves for this moment...

Especially those who had been given their orders.

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Sometime before the Exam...

"...but what if any of us are caught?"

"Caught doing what? You have as much right to take the Exam as anyone else, don't you?" A handful of hooded figures, of different heights and builds, met in a secluded place. One spoke to the others with the authority of an adult speaking to children. The others listened with the obedience of worshipers following a priest's sermon.

"There is no crime here. The reason you must keep your involvement secret, is merely so that others may judge your words for their own merit, and not make presuppositions." The leader walked down the line of individuals, patting one on the shoulder here, giving another one a respectful nod there. "And once you are within the Magic Knights, do not blurt out everything at the first opportunity. Feed them little by little...like leading a chicken to the coop, one kernel of corn at a time."

"What about the nobles? Or what if someone starts an argument with us--?"

"Don't make the mistake of thinking we have no friends at all among the nobility. Were some of you not such, before you joined our cause?" The leader chuckled as if they themselves didn't believe their words. "There are some who will listen. As for those who argue--keep it in good faith. Let them win here or there, if it assuages their mood. Especially if your refusal to engage them makes them angry--it will only make you look better in the eyes of the other knights, and them look the fool."

The leader turned their back and paced away, before addressing their agents once more.

"All you must do, is remind the Magic Knights of who they truly serve. Then, when the time is right...they, too, will join our revolution!" He pumped one fist high, and those behind him did the same. "For the People!"

"For the People!" repeated several voices as one.

The hooded figures would soon disperse. Come the day of the Exam, there would be no cloaks or hidden faces. They would be out in the open, like all the other applicants...

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Inside the Coliseum

"Attention, all applicants!" An older gentleman, dressed in green robes with a white stole, held a Magic Tool shaped like a large, conical horn to address everyone in the chamber. "Please stand in orderly fashion and remain silent! Momentarily, we shall explain this year's trials for the Magic Knights Selection Exam!" In the seats above the arena floor, the audience clapped for a short while, then they too fell silent. From somewhere, a magical spotlight swept across the coliseum before falling on the nine, high backed seats in the balcony!

"We will now introduce our beloved Captains!" Another dramatic bit of music played, as nine figures walked out from a hidden alcove somewhere, and made their way to their seats...

"Captain of the Golden Dawn--Argos Everhart!" The first man bowed gracefully, his long blond hair billowing.

"Of the Silver Eagles--Helve Silva!" Next to the taller men she stood between, the woman looked almost like a doll.

"Crimson Lions--Azarleon Vermillion!" This man smiled so charmingly several young women in the crowd swooned, while waving his hand in perfect parade manner.

"Blue Rose! Jennifer Greenvalley!" The cheery-faced blonde woman spun in place before putting two gauntlet-covered fingers to her cheeks with a big, shiny smile.

"Green Mantis, Giles Lavaretz! Coral Peacock, Owen Walder! Aqua Deer, Bisera Melanthius!" A pirate, a priest, and a witch walked up to their seats. The sea-dog actually leaped up onto the balcony, prompting a cheer from those watching and generally hyping up the crowd. The priest, a huge beast of a man, smiled but nonetheless pulled the showboat back down with a gentle hand. The beautiful woman wearing the wide-brimmed hat, however, worked the crowd in a different way--blowing a kiss that many of the male applicants would swear was directed at them in particular.

"The Purple Orca, Grant Eisenfaust!" Compared to the three before him, the next captain merely approached his seat and sat down with no excitement whatsoever. He didn't even acknowledge the crowd or the applicants, merely folding his arms and sitting with ramrod straight posture. It was a wonder he could even do so comfortably, considering he was covered head to toe in black armor that hid every feature...

"And our newest captain, please welcome the leader of the Black Bulls--" Many of the applicants began to mutter as the next figure approached, causing the announcer to speak up louder, "--Captain Birusk of Elysia, to his first Selection!" Now the mutters became outright gasps as a ripple of gossip spread among the applicants.

"That's an Elf?!" "I heard about him, he's only been a Magic Knight for a year and he's already a Captain!" "What about that one in the armor, ain't he new too?" "Yeah, but he was here last year! They both went up through the ranks super fast!" "Ain't no way he's stronger than Argos!"

Of course, there were other exclamations regarding the other Captains as well.

"Princess Helve is as beautiful as--!" "Hey, be quiet! People aren't supposed to call her that, it's not official!" "Oi, don't shove me! She's definitely gonna get picked as the Royal Heir, and you know it!"

"They call that guy the Two Headed Flame Demon? He doesn't look that scary to me..." "Don't let him hear you say that! They say his training is brutal!" "But he's so handsome~!" "He's already married, though..." "W-what!?! NO! </3"

"Hell yeah, Captain Jenny! I hope she'll pick me!" "The Blue Rose only picks guys as errand boys, stupid!" "What?! But she's so strong, she'll definitely like strong dudes like me!" "I heard she once pulverized a whole mountain with one punch, man..."

"Captain Giles looks so cool!" "Surely he's not actually a pirate, right? Would they let a criminal be a Magic Knight?" "He's a real sailor, though! They say he's had all kinds of badass adventures--sunken treasure, sea monsters, the works!"

"Is that guy a priest?" "Yeah, that's Father Owen! I've seen him a lot, going around the different orphanages and doing charity and stuff!" "He's so huge! The guy must be like, six and a half feet tall!"

"Captain Bisera is crazy hot!" "I dunno, man, she's from the Witches' Forest--aren't they all psycho man-haters?" "Dude, if she let me hit it, I wouldn't care if she killed me afterward--like one of those widow spiders, ya know? Just bite my head off." "...Bro, you got problems..."

"Applicants! Applicants, quiet please!" the elderly announcer called once more as all the Captains were seated. When order was restored, he cleared his throat and made a gesture. Officials, who entered the arena from side-alcoves, raised their hands and began to cast different magical spells. A transparent shielding aura formed a dome between those on the floor and those in the audience. Then, from the stone floor, some tiles lifted of the own accord as magical lights traced a bulls-eye shape on their surfaces. All of these floating tiles moved towards one side of the floor, while on the other side, large rectangular columns rose from the floor in ordered lines. The columns were made of solid brick, but glowed with a layer of magical reinforcement as well.

"We shall begin the first two tests! When your name and number is called, please approach the testing station! For the floating targets, you are only allowed to use ranged magic--if your magic is not well suited for projectiles, Magic Bullets will suffice! The targets will move randomly--do your best to hit as many as you can in one minute!"

"At the second station, the targets will remain stationary! You may use any spell or technique you wish--your performance will be graded on how thoroughly the target is destroyed! However, you may only attack ONE column, and you may only use ONE spell!"

A few of the officials demonstrated. One of them used bolts of lightning to blast several flying tiles, which were then replaced. Another summoned a great cloud of fire, which he then condensed into the shape of a jousting lance. Upon striking the stone pillar, he burned a large hole, with a spiral ridge pattern, all the way through the column. This, too, was quickly replaced.

"Keep in mind that this Exam is your chance to show the Captains your capabilities--it is not solely determined by each individual test, but by the strengths and abilities you are able to show off! Endure until the end, and good luck to you all!" Then, the old man took one more breath.

"BEGIN!"

TL;DR

• Everyone makes their way into the coliseum somehow or another. Many characters are in proximity to others and their conversations, though all are cut short.
• A FLASHBACK REVEALS THERE ARE INFILTRATORS AMONG THE APPLICANTS!
• The Magic Knight Captains are revealed! Left to Right, they are Golden Dawn, Silver Eagles, Crimson Lions, Blue Rose, Green Mantis, Coral Peacock, Aqua Deer, Purple Orca, and Black Bull.
  • Purple Orca and Black Bull have new captains, with the Black Bull's being completely unknown to the applicants before this moment.
  • Black Bull's captain is an ELF!?
• The first two tests are laid out: Shoot down as many flying targets as you can within ONE minute using ONLY ranged magic or Magic Bullets, AND try your best to destroy one reinforced stone column with a SINGLE spell of any type!

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

any policy on new spell creation? From the manga so far it often seems to be...desperation or need based on the short term, a result of studying/training/inspiration on the long term.

@SilverPaw

The series proper shows that most new spells are learned/created through training, and apparently there's some implication that some forms of magic/spells can be found within the setting's Dungeons? Being that some forms of magic are more common than others, I would also assume that people with compatible magic types could somewhat "teach" their spells, or at least variations, to others.

As far as the "new spell shows up in dire moments" type stuff, Black Clover actually does a good job of tying that into character development, and not just the usual shonen last-moment turnaround tropes. The desperation and need, or the near-death experience, often serves as the tipping point to really make whatever realization stick in the character's mind, but it's their own personal growth and epiphany that triggers the spell and whatever form the spell takes will reflect that. For example, when the character Gauche (Mirror Magic) learns to rely on others instead of just himself, he learns to make mirror-image clones of himself and his allies.

In the RP, whenever a character "qualifies" to gain some new powerup or some sort, I'll notify them in some fashion. It might be a little gamified, like reaching a level up after a certain number of milestones, but I definitely want to emphasize character growth along with the classic power creep.

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

@ExplloI like that exercise, I've done similar things in the past as well as participated in some RPs where there were New Vegas-like "Reputations" between different characters and factions. Might do something for Tristan once he's actually met everyone, showing his first impressions without the narrative to hide his "real" thoughts, lol.

@Agunimon Welcome back! Hey, at least you made it just in time lol

@Xaltwind Camilla would be the one to dramatically retell her childhood trauma in the Sharing Circle, making Hikari feel like an asshole, and then after a long silence Tristan would end up being the one who had to follow that up XD

"...I, uh...I missed the billet once on a hammer swing and broke my favorite pair of tongs..." *sadly looks down at his hand and mimics the gripping motion* "...They never slipped..."

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

@Expllo@Databug
You two are playing with forces beyond your ken...

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

And look, a cute girl came to talk to Camilla! I bet she'll be happy to swap her dwarf smoking conversational partner for this new, shiny and substantiually better-smelling one!

@Xaltwind

Women really do just wish all men under 6' would die, huh? XD XD XD

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

Went ahead and put in an update, since it's still mostly just interactions. I'd like my next update to be a full GM post though, moving into the start of the exams, so don't feel pressured to extend any interaction past what feels natural!

If anyone who hasn't made their intro yet needs help with a summary of events, or suggestions on how to slip in, etc, just let me know!

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

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@ERode

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As Kreszenz escaped her awkward encounter with the servant boy, his noble master, and the seemingly dull-witted giant trodding alongside them, she found herself with an aerial view of the coliseum road. Traveling from rooftop to rooftop would get her ahead of the lines quite easily, but on the last building before she would need to drop to ground level once again, something stopped her. Apparently, she wasn't the only one to have this idea.

Crouched at the lip of the roof was a young woman who, had she been standing straight, would be quite tall for a lady. Her body, too, was packed with defined muscle, especially her shoulders and back. She wore hunters' leathers, a cutoff-shirt and pants made from buckskin along with a thick, brown fur vest. Before Kreszenz had even approached her, the girl seemed to sense her presence and turned to face her without rising from her perch. The allure of glittering amber eyes and a delicate face were somewhat thrown off by her grin; she was missing one of her top teeth on the right side. Her black hair was wild in the front, but bound into a long braid at the back.

"Howzzit goin'?" she chirped at the incognito noble, waving her hand in greeting. "You scopin' out the competition too?"

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@Xaltwind

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As Camilla entered the Coliseum proper, she would find it a rather plain structure despite its grandiose size. More officials stood within the entrance chamber just beyond the portcullis, directing the applicants and the audience in different directions. Those who were only here to see the spectacle were directed to one of two hallways on either side of the main path, which would rise up via stairs and ramps to the seating areas. The applicants, on the other hand, would proceed under another set of iron bars, before passing through two great double-doors. Camilla, and a hundred other hopeful prospects, stepped onto the arena floor.

She saw that same flash of red hair from before, bobbing up here and there among the crowd. But where she stood, it seemed there were a few others doing their best to stand out as well.

A young man with long, straight blue hair hanging over a furrowed brow stood with his arms crossed. Intense gray eyes set in narrow sockets glared at the upper levels of the coliseum--particularly, at a balcony where nine high backed chairs sat. A thin duelist's scar marred the left side of an otherwise perfectly smooth, chiseled face. He wore a teal vest over a white turtleneck, and navy leggings tucked into black, fur-lined boots. An elegant rapier hung at his side--as did a whole crowd of apparent admirers.

"This test will be a cinch for you, Alwin-sama!" giggled a preppy girl pressing herself to his side. "I hope we end up in the same squad!"

"Hah! As if anyone will even pick you! Alwin-sama, don't you think we'd look good in matching knight robes?" countered another from the other side. A third got into the mix somewhere, but it looked like a couple of male cronies were present as well, just like that pompadouche outside. The apparent object of their affections, however, never responded to any of them.

"Makes ya sick, don't it?" said a rough voice nearby Camilla. The man it belonged to was short, yet thickly muscled beneath his dark red doublet. A pair of riding boots rose to the knee of his beige trousers, their spurs still jingling as he shifted his weight. A flick of his thumb produced a flame to light a cigarette, which he drew from while meeting Camilla's eyes. Black, shoulder-length hair in a tight ponytail revealed an angular, serious face with small, dark eyes. His nose was slightly crooked, and he had the beginnings of five o'clock shadow. Pursing his lips to one side, he blew the cloud of smoke upward before flicking the ash down.

"Gunnar Einsley." he introduced himself, holding out a rough palm to Camilla. "And if ya don't mind me sayin' so, you are the definition of high class." He winked at her as he brought the cigarette back to his lips.

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@Expllo@Databug

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As Hikari and Kohra exchanged words, then made their own way towards the coliseum gates, they would be able to see the aftermath of the pompadour-styled noble as Camilla left him hanging like wet laundry.

"...You hear that, boys?" The noble slowly turned to his two lackeys, before throwing an arm over each of them as they engaged in a huddle like some kind of sports team. "She's gonna go freshen up for me! I do believe I have her, as they say, in the bag!"

"Yeah, big bro! She was eyeing you up, I saw it!"

"Did ya see the way she was shaking her hips!? She wants him bad!"

"Dohohohoho!" Pompadour chortled as he threw his head back. One could practically see his nose growing with pride. "Well, don't fret too much, boys! I'm sure we can find a few more nice wenches for the two of you--there's got to be a few good-looking commoners out and about, as many of them have swarmed the city today!" His cronies joined in the laughter, shaking each other back and forth with much patting of the backs as boys are wont to do.

@imia Of course, this meant the three of them weren't paying any attention at all to the crowd around them...

Meanwhile, trailing Hikari and Kohra from a different direction, was a girl currently chewing on the hem of her own dress (luckily, the white shift beneath preserved her modesty). Her eyes blazed with hatred as they locked onto the young woman at Hikari's side, completely unnoticed by the other two applicants.

"_{Who is that hussy!? How dare she touch his arm so...so...so callously!}" Elyssa hissed, a gust of cold air rolling off her like heavy fog. Others in the crowd were giving her a wide berth, and a few of them even crossed themselves with a prayer under their breaths...

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@Remram

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"O-oh, um, it's...it's okay, really! I'm the one who should apologize!" Maverick held his hands up in supplication as Ludo and Isvelt expressed their guilt over their quick judgments. "Besides, I'm, I'm used to it...I am really big and clumsy, after all..." He rubbed his arm self consciously as the three of them proceeded down the road. At the offer of glasses, however, he suddenly brightened up. Grabbing Isvelt's whole forearm with his palms, Maverick "shook hands" the way a gorilla shakes a snake to death.

"R-really!? Oh gosh, oh wow! Mr. Isvelt--no, Lord Isvelt, you're so kind! I don't know how to thank you enough!" With a sniffle, he wiped a tear away from his eyes as he positively beamed at his two newfound friends.

When Ludo bumped into Kreszenz, and the noblewoman started charging up some kind of electrical magic, Isvelt once again jumped behind his manservant in the case of any violence--and the huge Maverick jumped behind the nobleman, sticking out like a comically sore thumb as he shook with an audible rattling noise like some kind of small dog.

Luckily for them, however, it seemed this lady had a flair for the dramatic as well as a forgiving heart. She disappeared over the rooftops in a crackling flash. As Maverick stared up after her, a bright red blush crept over his granite-like face.

"...She should be careful going up high like that. People m-might see her, her p-p-puh, puh, puh p-panties..."

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@Th3King0fChaos

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"Shoo amf!" Bryant confirmed through the last mouthful of his pretzel, giving Illios a thumbs up and a wink. As he gulped, then shifted the towering kebab of various meats, he nodded at Illios's own badge. "I'm from Kokki, right on the edge of the Common Realm and the Forsaken Realm! What about you, huh?" They walked side by side towards the portcullis, past the odd sight of a giant following two other boys, and coming up on what seemed to be some kind of huddle session among three nobles, one of whom had a rather outlandish hairstyle.

"What's your name? Where ya from?" Bryant took another huge bite, juice from the meat drizzling down his chin. "Ann whash yore majjick laik?"

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@Duthguy

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"No money?! We-he-heelll, that means we're in the same boat, m'lad!" the old man chortled. "How's about this, huh? You give me a name, and if I don't already know it, I give you a name! Maybe even yours? Or..." The informant shrugged, and twirled his graphite stick between his fingers. "Maybe, I cut you a little credit, and if you make it into the Knights, you can pay me back later? Huh? How's that for ya?"

The man again looked around as if expecting to shoo away eavesdroppers, then back to Albie.

"I'm tellin' ya, I got good stuff here! If you come up against any of these folks, don't you wanna know what kind of magic they use? What kind of training these noble brats get? It's only fair, ain't it--you and me, we're Commoners, we gotta use our brains to even the scales if our Mana can't do it for us..."

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@SilverPaw

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As Solveig proceeded up the streets, she would see many sights that hadn't been here the last time she'd visited Kikka. Other mages around her age, of all sizes and shapes, were steadily proceeding towards the coliseum. Some of them had armfuls of food in hand as they chatted amicably, others stood out by their great size, and she even saw one girl suddenly leap onto a rooftop!

There was also a guy whose stall didn't seem to be doing well, yelling that he had "Anything and Everything, On-a-Stick!"

But as she walked, the noblewoman would also see another odd character moving in the opposite direction as the rest of the crowd, despite having an applicant's badge of his own. Gray, frizzy hair hung over a long, sallow face with hollow blue eyes set in dark sockets. A small patch of freckles sat over each pale cheek, as the figure smiled creepily at a glowing blue flask of liquid in his hands. The man had a tall and athletic build, but walked with a wide gait and hunched shoulders. Under his breath he seemed to be laughing to himself.

He ducked into an alley, uncorked the potion, and began chugging it down...

Black Clover: Fool's Arcana

should the player characters have any insight or knowledge of the Magic Knight Orders and their current reputation/standing in the kingdom? Or are we going with everyone being an Asta, and having absolutely no idea about anything regarding the Knights? ^^

@Xaltwind

What most people would know about them, unless you choose to have your character be less informed (which, just saying, would make sense to not know EVERYTHING), will be introduced along with the captains themselves. The "big three" of Golden Dawn, Silver Eagles, and Crimson Lions would probably be more known among the nobility for sure, while Green Mantis, Coral Peacock, and Black Bulls would likely have more widespread reputations among commoners at this point in time. And there are probably lots of fanclubs for Blue Rose scattered around, lol.