Strixhaven Campus, Arcavios, Friday (Fandom Time)

[deathsmajesty]

For once, Liliana hadn't made too much of a fuss getting up early. Today was the Midsummer Music Festival at her alma mater, Strixhaven University, and as a thank you to Prompto for finishing the job of teaching her to drive, she had invited him to go see it. Which, of course, had turned into an invitation to his family, and there was no way that Ignis wasn't going to come along, and also no way that Prompto would stand for leaving anyone out, and so it was a merry party of seven that stepped through the portal. Liliana had asked folks to wear nothing too Earth modern and explained that very few people, if anybody, they would meet knew about other planes (many, many, many Quandrix theories aside) and to please keep it that way. Once any questions were out of the way, they stepped through a portal...

...And onto into a large walkway made from gleaming white stone. A short staircase led up to a park, full of greenery, fountains, and comfortable benches. In the center of the park was an imposing statue of a magic user made of white marble and curving over its head was a arc of huge stones, the largest easily hundreds of feet long, hanging in the air in a perfect arch. Above them shone two suns, beaming brightly down, though the heat was not particularly oppressive. The area was crowded with people, though there was still enough room for people to walk without being pressed against anyone else. "Welcome to the Archway Commons," Liliana said, possibly grinning more broadly than any of them had ever experienced, save Ignis. "So named because of the star arch above there - the second largest star arch on campus. The largest is the Dawnbow, over the Bibloplex. Star arches get their name from their irregular spokes evoke the radiating lines of a shining celestial star. They're found all over Arcavios, made from spokes of natural materials that float in an arch shape, with a precise inner curve and a rough and irregular outer arch. They can stand straight or lie at an angle; they can be small or enormous, whole or broken, grown over or mysteriously clean. Their origins are a mystery lost to the Dawning Age, though many people have said that they've seen an arch appear to them at a critical juncture in their lives, helping them understand a lesson or answer a burning question in their mind." She laughed. "It's important to note that I've never had a star arch manifest in front of me, so I can't say for certain how accurate that is, but there are plenty of theories about them."

Arm laced through Ignis', she led them forward through the central campus, pointing out various landmarks, though there were a few that she clearly didn't recognize, like the Strixhaven Stadium where it seemed like some kind of game was underway, the stands maybe half full of cheering people. The large crowds continued as they went along, an excitement in the air.

"I see the popularity of the Midsummer Music Festival has grown since I was a student here," Liliana said with an almost apologetic smile. Almost. Liliana Vess didn't apologize. "It was large even then but not like this!" Strange what a difference almost two hundred years could make. "Anyway, I brought us early enough that we'd have enough time for quick tours around the other college campuses if you'd like? We can also go right to Prismari, there's plenty to explore there and we can get set up."

[For thems what are here! NFB for awayness.]

Comments

Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

Welcome to the one place in the Multiverse where Liliana is just...uncomplicatedly happy.

(Don't worry, this unfettered happiness will be ruined for her later.)

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[hashtag_chocobro]

"Oh, wow," said Prompto, wide-eyed as they arrived to get their first look at Strixhaven, feeling like this had made the whole entire struggle of convincing Noctra to wear something other than her chocobo outfit worth it. His fingers were itching for his camera right now, though, but he was reminding himself that if they even had to be careful about how they dressed for this thing, then whipping out his LOKTON was definitely right out. He'd just have to settle for pointing things out to Noctra as he saw them, his grin growing wider and brighter by the minute, and just sort of shaking his head as he marveled.

He'd only been there the once, and it had been incredibly brief, and they hadn't exactly had the time or desire to sight-see while they were there, but Prompto couldn't help wondering if this was what Tenebrae had been like. He wanted to ask Ignis, since he was the only one who had spent any notable time there, when he and Noct were kids, but, well...obviously, he wasn't going to do that.

He was just going to gawk a little and appreciate it in the moment, and shake his head a little wonderingly at the idea that, in some potential future, he might have sent his kids here. Would it be too early to start filling out an application for Noctra while they were here, actually?

"This place is amazing."

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

"I know," Liliana said. Usually that would have been said with a fair bit of smugness (of course it was amazing, why else would she have brought everyone here/did he think would she have gone anywhere not amazing for her continuing education?), but - for the moment anyway - her voice held nothing but happy agreement.

And then she was giving him an extra bright smile, all just for him. "No pictures?" she asked innocently. "And here I thought you wouldn't be able to keep your proprietary magical artifact out of your hand as soon as we arrived."

Jeans? Jeans were weird. Immediately raised questions about what that fabric was and where did they get it and who was wearing it that way. Made peoplecurious. Magical artifacts? Especially on Strixhaven campus? Easily a dime a dozen. And calling it proprietary meant that even if some curious person came over to talk about it, Prompto had a reason he couldn't show them how it worked.

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[sword_chocobro]

Had Gladio considered using the directive to not wearing anything too Earth modern as the basis for an appeal to just go shirtless? Yes. Obviously. Of course he had. But he was being good and wearing a shirt without complaint (he'd feel the vibe of the place first before trying to find excuses to conveniently lose it, though, maybe), and he was giving Strixhaven a seemingly mild inspection as they arrived, before his eyes sort of drifted to Liliana, momentarily, with the faint quirks he wanted to give his brow and his smirk in check. He did shake his head, though, and went back to just sort of checking things out and glancing over at Prompto, too, since, you know, this whole thing was essentially for him in the first place...

Oh, did he have thoughts. But he was definitely keeping them all to himself, and decided to just focus on what kind of food they were going to be able to get at this thing, because that he was more interested in than most of the music and grandeur, and sticking close to Nell and taking note of good places to step aside for a breather if she started to get a little overwhelmed with it all.

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

"I think you'll enjoy Lorehold, if you end up visiting," Liliana said, stepping up to him, for once not even sounding exasperated. "And the Biblioplex. Granted, I think everyone should be impressed by the Biblioplex, but as a noted bibliophile, I think you might truly appreciate it."

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[chef_chocobro]

Hopefully, Ignis could be forgiven for not being quite so stunned by the aesthetic grandeur of the place, though he expected Liliana would help him to appreciate it a little more when they had a little more time. Either way, though, he felt he could discern enough of an understanding of it from the reactions of his companions, which he was carefully noting, and a soft smile for the way Liliana did describe it thus far, informative from an introductory standpoint as well as to fill in some of those visual gaps.

Besides, there was plenty enough of a feast for sounds and scents to catch his attention, but what struck him and influenced his perception the most was that clear excitement and the sense o celebration and anticipation in the air, easily feeding into his own, and if there was a moment or two where his arm tightened against Liliana's laced through it as a sort sign of appreciation, then what of it?

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

And, of course, there was the way that Liliana was almost vibrating on his arm, similar to how she felt when she had a surprise, though not quite. This was pure kid-in-a-candy-shop excitement that she was trying to downplay--with less success than she'd like, but even that wasn't enough to lessen her effervescent pleasure.

"Shall I describe things for you, love?" she asked. "Or are you still taking things in in other ways? We can also walk about the commons a bit more, give you a feel for the space?"

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[flamesburned]

Liz was definitely in awe as she looked around the campus, even though she would have loved to have taken photos she knew that would definitely raise too many questions so she was content to look around and take everything in and was looking forward to spending time away with her family and friends.

“This place is incredible,” she remarked as she looked around.

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

"It turns out that when the founders of your school are five ancient dragons, you have both the means and incentive to go all out," Liliana said with a soft laugh. And then, like she had with Prompto, urged Liz to take her camera out. "If anyone tries to ask you about it, say it's a proprietary magical artifact and you can't explain more."

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[hashtag_chocobro]

Noctra still in his arms because he knew the second he set her down, that girl was going to go running and they'd spend the rest of this tour chasing after a surprisingly sneaky toddler, Prompto leaned his shoulder in against Liz's, and grinned at her.

"Forget potentially sending our possible future triplets to school here," he noted. "I'm wondering if I can attend!"

He didn't have a single magical thing about him, but whatever!

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[mylandmyrules]

Nell's long skirts and tunic top were probably just fine here. She gazed in awe at everything around her, sticking close to the group - especially Gladio - with the huge crowd of people around. "This is amazing!"

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[sword_chocobro]

And, yeah, Gladio definitely wasn't going to let him steer too far from Nell, either. At least not at first. Pretty much until the siren call of the library was a little bit too strong for him to ignore.

But for now? He was grinning over at Nell and watching her as she took it all in.

"Yeah," he said, "it's okay, I guess."

Re: Arrive At Strixhaven

[deathsmajesty]

"Thank you, darling," Liliana said, grinning. "I loved my time here very much."

Campus Tours

[deathsmajesty]

There are almost too many places to visit in just a few hours, with the power of narrative magic, somehow you can hit as many as you want!

Feel free to stick together, to split up and explore, or handle this however you feel like! Visit all, skip some, have a post or two of narrative and then bail...feel free to engage with as much or as little as you'd like!

So, Strixhaven occupies hundreds of acres, spread out over six campuses. Each of the university's five colleges has its own campus, and the central campus serves as a hub for university life. Well-maintained roads connect the six campuses, and walking from one to another can take a half an hour or more. Regular shuttles - large carriages drawn by horselike automata - run on an hourly schedule between a station near the Biblioplex and each of the satellite campuses, making the journey in about fifteen minutes. In addition, each campus has multiple permanent teleportation circles, which are usually limited to faculty, advanced students, and disabled students, but are open to everyone today in an effort to keep congestion low.

The Biblioplex (and the rest of Central Campus)

[deathsmajesty]

The Biblioplex is a vast library that is said to hold the knowledge of the Multiverse. The largest library in Liliana's Multiverse, it is an enormous domed building that rises above the rest of the campus, in the direct center of it all. All roads in Strixhaven lead to the Biblioplex.

Quite literally, actually. The Torches of Enlightenment, five lines of beacon-towers radiate out from the center of Strixhaven like enormous spokes, stretching more than a hundred miles out into the surrounding countryside. These Torches of Enlightenment burn eternally with magical flame, symbolizing the path toward learning and an escape from ignorance. The five lines converge at the Biblioplex.

Doorless, arch-shaped entrances welcome inquisitive minds into the library. Inside, almost every surface from floor to unreasonably high ceiling is jammed with stacks of books. The interior of the Biblioplex is vast, with impossibly long hallways, archive chambers tall enough to have their own weather, and even pools and moat passages that must be crossed by boat. About one hundred expeditions have been mounted to find students lost in its winding book stacks.

There is a cafe within, but just outside the Biblioplex is the cozy Firejolt Cafe. The cafe's name comes from its trademark beverage which the manager, an elf mage named Ellina, brews with her fire magic.

There are plenty of other place to visit in the center of campus! Its extensive grounds include residence halls for first-year students, dining halls, administration buildings, classrooms and laboratories (mostly for first-year classes and interdisciplinary studies), and space for social events.

Look, the Biblioplex and the Firejolt are the major draws here but if there are other named spots on the map of Central Campus you wanna explore, sure!

Re: The Biblioplex (and the rest of Central Campus)

[sword_chocobro]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. They all knew this was going to happen. But there was no way Gladio wasn't making time to check out this Biblioplex, and he had to admit, he was not disappointed.

The only problem was knowing where to even start, especially with the limited amount of time that they had. He supposed it wouldn't be a bad method to just consider which areas of the library just looked the most interesting and go from there.

Lorehold Campus

[deathsmajesty]

Lorehold is the College of Archaeomancy, a term that describes the exploration of ancient things through magic. Its mages explore the past by pouring over archaeological sites, calling forth magical energies from ancient tomes, and summoning the spirits of long-dead historical figures. They travel far and wide across the plane, gathering ancient relics and learning dead languages to unpack the secrets of history. Devoted to the study of history (broadly understood to include the various aspects of culture, behavior, and social relationships that shape historical events), its studies include subjects like military history, archaeology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, religion, economics, and overlaps with Prismari in the field of art history. Lorehold examines the interconnection of "human" nature - whether society is more about the structures we build (white magic) or the relationships we build (red magic).

Looking at a map of Lorehold, there are three major places to tour:
Pillardrop is a series of historical buildings excavated directly out of sheer, perpendicular cliffs, now used for research, classwork, and housing. Travelers walk along treacherous bridges from one "neighborhood" of Pillardrop to another, often passing directly by the enormous stone faces of ancient, excavated statues. Many daring students rappel down, and even more daring student fling themselves over the edge and trust in various spells to help them get down safely.

Effigy Row is a main campus area of Lorehold. Its pathways are lined with monuments of famous historical figures, including past professors and prominent mage-students as well as war heroes and heads of state from ages past.

Kollema Hall is a grand, multi-tiered gallery where Lorehold mages gather for large lectures and demonstrations. Thousand-foot-long scrolls spill over the balconies as mages study ancient texts. The center of Kollema Hall is the magnificently restored statue of Kollema, the wise monk who was one of the first Lorehold professors at the founding of Strixhaven.

Quandrix Campus

[deathsmajesty]

Quandrix is the College of Numeromancy, a term that encompasses the study of patterns, fractals, and symmetries to wield power over the fundamental mathematics of nature. Quandrix mages are ingenious math magicians. They'll solve intricate puzzles while contemplating the metaphysical properties of the universe. Their color combination ponders whether the sciences are a feat of ingenuity (the blue perception) or merely a lens to observe nature's majesty (the green perception). They are also able to expand their knowledge and even their physical size through the manipulation and bending of numbers. Their magic is formulaic, blending math into their spellcasting. The studies undertaken within Quandrix include mathematics, physics, logic, statistics, metaphysics, and various fields of theoretical magic. Quandrix's studies of nature and Witherbloom's exploration of practical biology have some significant overlap.

Looking at a map of Quandrix, the three places to visit are:
Torus Hall is a central hall of Quandrix campus that lies at the end of a geometric series of walkways, ending in the ascending ramps to the towering building. Inside, Torus Hall's architecture is mapped to an ever-changing three-dimensional grid that slowly changes and evolves over time. Some Quandrix professors insist that mage-students shouldn't linger too long inside the Hall, lest its geometry eventually turns itself inside out while they're still within it.

The Quandrix campus is alive with dynamic sculptures made of water behaving in odd ways: cube-shaped fountains, arching aqueducts that flow through the air, towers of solid-seeming water. One water structure holds a secret: a mysterious inner expanse called the Arithmodrome. From the outside, the Arithmodrome looks like a large cube of water, 10 feet on each side. Inside, it's an infinite-seeming theory-space where the rules of reality are suspended. Mages use this space to explore theoretical numerical possibilities.

The Cultivarium is a eye-popping, sun-drenched garden of spiraling, cyclical plants and fractalized animals. Quandrix professors have repeatedly taught growth spells in this part of campus, and over the centuries, the area has come to intensify any growth magic cast within it.

Silverquill Campus

[deathsmajesty]

Silverquill is the College of Eloquence, wielding the magic of words, both spoken, like inspiring battle poetry or biting arcane insults to magical manifestations of the written word, scribing patterns of runic ink in the air. From all colleges, Silverquill has the fastest magic because words can be spoken quickly (unlike mixing ingredients, for example). Because of this they are also the most adept in combat magic, and their training has military aspects. Stylish, intimidating, and tirelessly competitive, these mages are born leaders with a razor-sharp wit and natural charisma that can be used for good or for ill. This power is what fuels the internal conflict for Silverquill; the power of words is inherently self-biased, so should those with this power use it for themselves (ambition and black mana) or for the good of society (order and white mana)? The curriculum of Silverquill College revolves around words, encompassing literature (including fiction, essays, drama, and poetry), languages, rhetoric, and dramatic performance. Silverquill and Prismari see overlap in the area of performing arts, with Silverquill emphasizing verbal performance and Prismari focusing on dance and other forms of movement.

Looking at a map of Silverquill, the three places to visit are:
The main Silverquill building is Grandloft Hall, a vast train-station-like space with shafts of light streaking in from the enchanted windowpanes far above. Grandloft is filled with balconies, loges, booths, daises, and other spaces where orators can perform their craft. Inklings flit around the high windowed ceiling, and enchanted spotlights automatically focus on any mage who's using powerful magic.

Rose Stage is a rotating circular platform on the Silverquill campus with a backdrop of roses made of magical ink (tributes left by spectators of past performances) that create excellent acoustics. Mage-students meet at the Rose Stage to practice performances, spar, or engage in honor duels. Professors and faculty often observe performances at the Rose Stage, watching and coaching the students' magical displays from the sidelines.

The Dramarium is a facility where Silverquill students train in physical fitness, dance, martial arts, and other acts of physical performance. Students can avail themselves of the preparation space called the Gray Room (actually a chain of rooms), which has hair and makeup salons, voice rehearsal booths, mirrored oration rehearsal spaces, and spa facilities. The back of the Dramarium has a special sensory deprivation chamber for mage-students who want complete silence in which to meditate and center themselves.

Witherbloom Campus

[deathsmajesty]

Witherbloom, the College of Essence Studies, mages draw power from opposing and rival forces, with the best example being life and death. These mages brew their spells from natural components and the essence of living creatures, using that power to heal or harm the living or raise or entreat the dead. They can cause entire forests to blossom out of nowhere or call down old curses that scourge flesh from bone. Some Witherbloom mages defend ecosystems from pollution, while others revel in the power of corruption. The curriculum of Witherbloom College focuses on various sciences, revolving around life sciences. Biology, ecology, botany, chemistry, and the related sciences combine with the study and manipulation of the primal forces of life and death. Witherbloom's curriculum shares some overlap with Quandrix's analysis of the mathematical patterns in nature.

Looking at a map of Witherbloom, the three places to visit are:
The Sedgemoor ishe bayou area that encompasses the Witherbloom campus. It's is known for a range of strange swamp beasts: undead animals, bats, crocodilian monsters, decomposing bayoustriders called trudges, and marsh-dwelling canine beasts called bogroffs. Sedgemoor is an excellent place to find pests, herbs, spider silk, fungi, and other potent ingredients for potions and spells. Necroluminescence is common among the undead creatures of Sedgemoor, giving the midnight swamp an eerie glow.

The center of the Witherbloom campus is Widdershins Hall, a kind of bog mansion that looks like it was grown out of Sedgemoor itself. Widdershins is a network of interconnected wooden pods with planked walkways leading out of it like the tentacles of some kind of swamp creature. Widdershins Hall has a cozy inner chamber where professors bring together student witches for classwork.

Wiltroot Hall, otherwise known as 'the Witch's Clinic' are Witherbloom's medical facilities, where students from all campuses are invited to come for medical aid, provided by Witherbloom faculty, staff, and students. Not many do.

There is also the Detention Bog, but you probably don't want to visit there. It is a stinking, thoroughly unpleasant marshland adjacent to the Sedgemoor, plagued by cantankerous creatures called vineclingers. Witherbloom professors send misbehaving students here as punishment, but it's also an excellent place to gather herbs for certain powerful cures and curses

Prismari Campus (Where the Festival Is!)

[deathsmajesty]

Prismari, the College of Elemental Arts, is devoted to the study and practice of art intertwined with magic. The mage-students of Prismari wield magic in spectacles of creativity: masterpieces of showy, over-the-top magic. They use elemental magic to express who they are and how they see the world, often combining different types of energy - fire, water, air, earth, lightning, heat, cold - in powerful expressions of conflict and harmony. Prismari's colors reflect the metaphysical nature of art - is it about the technique and how it stimulates the mind (the blue approach), or is it about the expression and how it moves the soul (the red approach). Their magic is gesture and movement-based, putting emphasis on the creation rather than the product - it is not the statue that is magic, but the forming of it. Prismari studies focus on visual arts (including architecture, painting, and sculpture) and performing arts (such as dance, music, and theater). The curriculum overlaps with Lorehold in the field of art history and with Silverquill in the literary arts.

Looking at a map of Prismari, the three places to visit are:
Conjurot Hall is a towering structure with a glassed-in observation area at the top, encircled by constantly changing strands of elemental energy. Artist-mages can see for miles from the Conjurot's main turret, and the view has inspired many artistic creations.

Opus Walk is a winding path through the central campus buildings, along which hundreds of Prismari elemental creations are displayed. Some of the more famous pieces of magical art have been displayed along the Opus Walk for centuries, while other transient bursts of creativity last only a few moments.

Furygale is a notorious region of the Prismari campus where the abandoned creations of thousands of past artist-mages have coalesced over the years. Roped off by wards and warning signs, Furygale is several square blocks of ever-changing magical energies, gales of ice and wind and fire, and elementals gone rogue. It's inherently dangerous but also a source of wild creative inspiration, and despite its dangers, it remains a popular spot for students who want to duel without being interrupted by authority figures.

The Midsummer Music Festival

[deathsmajesty]

Starting in the afternoon is more casual, the earlier shows are more casual, including some people that wander around and perform for small groups of people. There are food vendors, and craft areas, guided tours of the Opus Walk, even face paint. There are streamers with illusions woven into them for people to wear around their wrists and ankles to mimic some of the effects of the performers. A few enterprising students are renting blankets for people to sit on for the performances.

There are elemental expressionist that use music to summon elementals for people to ride, the complexity of their music leading to the complexity of the ride. Dancers show off their moves, sometimes even dancing with guests to display their talents.

As the suns set and nightfall comes, the performances get more impressive, both musically as well as magically. Dance battles that are also magical duels take place, soloists sing beautiful arias and summon elementals to perform breathtaking tricks or create exquisite illusions.

The final performances of the night are Dean Nassari herself, a ballerina whose performance evokes the passage of time through a year while different elemental sensations and illusions wash over the crowd; Zaffai, Thunder Conductor whose orchestra summons a series of wild storms, including a tornado and a blizzard, though the audience remains protected by a dome of magic; and finally a rock concert by the student band Stage Revolution.

Enchanted earmuffs are offered to muffle or even silence the music, for those uncomfortable with loud noises, with sensitive hearing, or have small children.

Re: The Midsummer Music Festival

[hashtag_chocobro]

Hey! Prompto had a small child!

Of course, he'd brought Noctra's earmuffs from home, but he was more than happy to switch them out with some enchanted ones if the option was available! She didn't even seem to mind getting them fitted on, either, barely noticing the addition as those big blue eyes that shared so distinctly with her father (heartbreaking as he found them to be sometimes) were just trying to watch and soak in everything around her.

Prompto himself, unfortunately, probably would be missing a lot more of the performances, because he was honestly a little too enchanted with watching Noctra be captivated by all of it to have paid that much attention. Up until some of the slower pieces in the performances sort of lulled her to sleep against his shoulder and he, moved by both the swells of the music as well as everything about this whole adventure as a whole, was just going to be blinking tears away from his big blue eyes and just...enjoying it. All of it. Every little bit.

Re: The Midsummer Music Festival

[deathsmajesty]

Liliana settled next to him and tilted an inquiring brow at him. She had wanted this to be a thank you, Prompto. Had it been a good one?

OOC

[deathsmajesty]

I am pathologically unable to NOT go overboard with things.

NOT EVEN SORRY.