The Journey to Strixhaven

[strixmod]

MAKING THE JOURNEY

"You're Accepted!
We look forward to seeing you
at Strixhaven University
on September 19th."
This is the extent of information your character received after applying to Strixhaven, delivered to them in a mysterious wax-sealed envelope which appears in front of them in a dramatic puff of smoke, usually within six weeks. If they did not apply, this missive may still find its way to them in the early weeks of August.

Information that unfortunately remains undisclosed includes where Strixhaven is or how to get there. That will be up to your character to divine or discover. Also unmentioned is the fact that Strixhaven's pocket dimension is "closed" during the summer, and any attempts to reach or contact it before September 9th will automatically fail. While the campus opens early for the eager and nervous, returning students and faculty rarely make the journey to campus more than a day or two ahead of term starting, and the campus is a ghost town if you arrive promptly on opening day.

Your character may arrive to campus whenever you want. Characters are free to begin to meet and interact with each other outside of their pre-established connection in this IC/OOC!

Here is an overview of the sections of this IC/OOC:

❖ The Journey: For scenes set in your character's home realm, regarding their attempt(s) to reach Strixhaven. Additional information on each realm's relationship to interplanar travel is available below.
❖ Arrivals: Let us know when your character arrived to campus and what they're getting up to before term starts!
❖ Archway Commons: For scenes set in Strixhaven's "Quad", this park is where new arrivals are expected to camp out before term starts.
❖ Bow's End Tavern: For IC drinking games and scenes set in Bow's End, which is currently the only open dining establishment, as well as a social hotspot.
❖ The Delve: For seeing what your character can dig up from the magical thrift shop in the Central Campus.
❖ Around Campus: For scenes set anywhere else around Central Campus.
❖ OOC: GM Inquiries: If you need my input as GM for anything, please make your inquiries here! Feel free to request information, NPC interactions, or say "What happens if my character does this?".
❖ OOC: Planning & Plotting: Just a catch-all section for finding scene partners, pitching ideas, etc. Have fun!

INTERPLANAR TRAVEL

❖ Faerûn: There is a permanent teleportation circle to Strixhaven in the Yawning Portal, a famed tavern in the city of Waterdeep. Arkin Minexes, a dragonborn bard, is a regular patron of the tavern as well as a newly minted Strixhaven professor.

❖ Ravnica: The Izzet League, the Simic Combine, the Orzhov Syndicate, the Boros Legion, and the Golgari Swarm all have ties to Strixhaven and may have information or means of travel to the campus. Additionally, interplanar travel is exceedingly common in Ravnica, and a simple teleportation spell can easily be bought for a moderate price.

❖ Eldraine: Strixhaven has an ill reputation in this realm. Will and Rowan Kenrith, the twin heirs of the throne of Eldraine, famously left for Strixhaven three years ago and haven't been seen since. Mentioning the school in public often draws negative attention. However, general inquiries into realm-walking may reveal legends of a powerful portal in the form of a Magic Mirror, which is located somewhere in the depths of Castle Vantress.

❖ Ikoria: An Ikorian's best bet for reliable interplanar travel would be to capture a nightmare beast, terrible apex predators with the extradimensional ability of phasing. These creatures are cunning and exacting, and while it is possible to cut deals with them, they may come with consequences.

❖ Innistrad: Getting off Innistrad can be a real trick, because the vampiric aristocrats who run Thraben try to keep knowledge of interplanar travel privileged and secret. Because if the common folk of Innistrad were able to leave, they would. Strixhaven students may need to cut an unseemly deal with the ruling vampires, make a pact with a demonic entity in exchange for power, or read an eldritch tome full of forbidden knowledge to execute a one-time teleportation spell themselves.

❖ Kaldheim: The easiest way to leave Kaldheim is via the strange, alien forests of Littjara. The veil is thin there, and it's possible to tumble through realms accidentally. With a little luck and preparation, Littjara's natural portals may be utilized to travel directly to Strixhaven. The unlucky may find themselves in another realm before they reach their target destination.

❖ New Capenna: Interdimensional travel is possible via the use of halo, the angelic essence that keeps the magic in New Capenna powered. Halo is controlled entirely by the Cabaretti crime family, and they are extremely judicious about distributing it.

❖ Theros: Gods are able to grant boons to heroes who prove their worth, and will happily send their champions along to Strixhaven. The city of Meletis features several permanent teleportation circles, one of which connects to Waterdeep in Faerûn. Many pirate crews in Theros possess ships crafted from magical wood with enchanted cloth sails, which can be used to sail between realms with Thassa's blessing.

❖ Zendikar: Your best bet for getting off Zendikar would likely be to venture into one of the many magical ruins that dot the landscape. Powerful magical artifacts are found in plenty in these ruins, and can often be used for interplanar travel. Even those that don't allow this directly may be traded for something of more use in the Skyclave's marketplaces.

THE CAMPOUT

Any students who arrive to campus before term officially begins will find it largely shuttered and vacant. The pathways which lead to the College campuses are gated and inaccessible, as are many buildings on Central Campus. This does unfortunately include both the Biblioplex, the grand library at the heart of campus, as well as the housing for visitors and new students.

Luckily for you, helpful automatons have set up a temporary campsite in the Archway Commons furnished with dozens of bright, multi-colored tents. Each has a plush sleeping bag and a small trunk with a few complimentary pieces of Strixhaven swag, including sweatpants and athletic t-shirts. A bonfire has been built in the center of the park, and the tents are set up to ring it in a half-moon arrangement.

More information on the layout and facilities of the Central Campus can be found here.

Additionally, two of the many on-campus businesses are open early.

BOW'S END TAVERN

This tavern is a popular social spot for older students, although it is oftentimes empty this week. It is a squat but comfortable-looking building, its gleaming wooden exterior carved in overlapping Strixhaven star motifs. The interior is dim and cozy, featuring rich mahogany floors and well-worn furniture of oak and black leather.

Right now, it's the only place on campus to eat. Meals will run you a couple silver pieces each, and are hearty but simple dishes like stews and pot pies.

The tavern has a tiny library of its own: a library of games from thousands of cultures. There are a few leatherbound tomes which detail rules for various drinking games, as well as a large collection of boardgames.

The tavern is currently staffed only by Javenesh Stoutclaw, an incoming Lorehold junior. Javenesh is a very large owlin, and his surly personality make him difficult to get to know.

THE DELVE

The only other establishment that is currently staffed is The Delve, a thrift shop operated by a grey-haired gnome woman named Lorixi Ripplemapple. If you'd like to see what your character can find while rustling around in last year's overstock, leave a comment under the Delve header with their general sense of fashion, what sort of trinkets tend to draw their eye, or what kind of magical items intrigue them. Also include an Intelligence Check to see how well they do at investigating the crowded aisles and myriad backrooms.

(CODE)

Comments

NEVER HAVE I EVER

[strixmod]

In comments below, drop your characters' Never Have I Evers and respond to other prompts.

NHIE: Tried the local liquor

[quickwitted]

"Never have I ever... drank whatever this is," Farrow says, suspiciously considering the glass of viscous green alcohol she's been handed.

NHIE: Tried the local liquor

[fullofstars]

Astra's been here a week already, which has given her time to sample the tavern's entire menu. She drinks! She doesn't even make a face at the medicinal, sickly-sweet taste of this particular spirit.

NHIE: Tried the local liquor

[unluckycosmos]

"Not until now," which means Cosmo doesn't need to drink, but does anyway.

NHIE: Tried the local liquor

[annarrgeal]

"I abstain from alcohol of all sorts." Annarrgeal's tone is not judgmental, and yet... somehow it is. "I think it's very charming when others are inebriated. Sometimes."

Re: NHIE: Tried the local liquor

[rhodie]

"I think it's made from grass," Rhodie says, staring at the green drink in Farrow's hand. "Is it local grass? I had it earlier and I don't think this grass wants to be eaten."

NHIE: Started a fist fight

[czerno]

"Never have I ever..." Cze's brain screeches to a stop as he struggles to imagine both what he has never done and what would be normal in the multiverse for someone to have never done. "...started a fist fight."

This is blatantly untrue. Fuck.

NHIE: Started a fist fight

[helmineblackwater]

While Czerno's scars and formidable physique immediately leave Helmine with doubts about this claim, she grins and taps the edge of her drink. "Let me guess, tough guy, you don't start fights, you only finish them?" She's fairly certain she's heard men like him toss around like lines like that. Regardless, she seems amused and makes no move to lift her glass.

NHIE: Started a fist fight

[unluckycosmos]

"Oh, same," Cosmo says with no doubt in his mind. "Although I've been punched a time or three. Maybe four?"

NHIE: Started a fist fight

[annarrgeal]

"How barbaric," she gasps, a hand to her heart. "I'd never lay hands on another." Her smile turns soft and understanding. "What a noble heart you must possess."

Re: NHIE: Started a fist fight

[rhodie]

"Oh, wow!" Rhodie smiles benignly and places his chin on the back of his hands. "How did you get your scars then? Is it a fascinating story?" He doesn't seem to understand that this is a game.

NHIE: Slept in a tent (...until now!)

[helmineblackwater]

So far, Strixhaven isn't what Helmine had imagined at all. Certainly, she'd at least expected to have a proper bed, early arrival or not, and she's already dreading returning to the Commons at the end of the night. Since this won't be the case much longer, she taps her glass morosely and huffs, "Never have I ever slept in a tent."

She can't be the only one, but many of her peers look like they've probably slept in (or perhaps even own) tents.

NHIE: Slept in a tent (...until now!)

[fullofstars]

Astra drinks, but seems more intrigued to further interrogate Helmine's life story than anything. "How about under the stars?" she asks (a rare treat for her, thanks to the lack of stars in Kaldheim).

NHIE: Slept in a tent (...until now!)

[unluckycosmos]

"What counts as a tent?" Cosmo has the drink almost to his lips. "Is a shack just a wooden tent? What's a lean-to?"

NHIE: Slept in a tent (...until now!)

[annarrgeal]

"But the wilderness is lovely sometimes," Annarrgeal says even as she sits in a gown made from countless crystals and unimaginable silks. "To look upon the stars, unfettered by city lights. You truly must experience it."

Re: NHIE: Slept in a tent (...until now!)

[rhodie]

Rhodie gasps softly and passes his glass of water from hand to hand. Is he supposed to be doing something with this?? "This is going to be such an experience. If you're up at dawn we should explore your feelings on it."

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

Never Have I Ever is a strange game for Lunulata. Largely because there are so many things he's never done and his drink has so far gone untouched. Still! It's a wonderful feeling to be included and his light eyes are skipping keenly from person to person as the rounds go on. He's certain he'll get to drink one eventually.

When it's his turn, he smiles and tucks his hair behind one ear and considers.

"Ah. Ahhh. Never have I ever...danced with a partner?"

He's seen land-dwellers do it at festivals and it seems delightful. If a bit clumsy. Someday!

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[profundity]

Adrian, a veteran of many fancy parties, takes a drink.

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[unluckycosmos]

Cosmo takes a little sip. He's danced at taverns before, giddy affairs when the vampires were busy eating someone else. "But do you dance alone?"

NHIE: Lied to my father

[quickwitted]

After Farrow gets over her aversion to this frankly disgusting drink she's been served, she shifts focus and sets her sights on winning this game. Which requires a little bit of dirty tactics.

"Never have I ever lied to my father," she says, which is easy enough for her, because she's never met her father.

NHIE: Been skinny dipping

[profundity]

"Never have I ever been skinny dipping." Following a similar thought process to Helmine, Adrian thinks that a lot of you look like you grew up in the woods. The only places to swim in New Capenna are pools, usually in fancy hotels or someone else's home, and he's not an exhibitionist.

NHIE: Played this game before

[bogparty]

After ten true minutes of standing just a half-step outside of the circle of her peers, looming wordlessly, Edie thinks she finally understands the point of all these seemingly random confessions. She retreats to the bar, haggles for a long time with the barkeep, and eventually returns with an extremely short pour of grain liquor mixed with coala. It turns her teeth gritty and black.

"Never have I ever played this game before," she butts in, sounding smug.

NHIE: Worn Shoes

[unluckycosmos]

With a deranged, proud delight, Cosmo props his hooves up on the table. From ankle to thigh, his legs are that of a goat. It's clear his trousers needed a fair amount of tailoring to fit him, but for once, he gets to win.

"I've never worn shoes."

NHIE: Lived in a permanent place

[rhodie]

Oh! Oh it's his turn to say something!! Rhodie sits up straight and announces, "Never have I ever lived in one place for more than one lunar cycle!" Then he takes a drink, because he's still confused but he's got the spirit.

NEVER HAVE I EVER: Bought a Clothes

[underhandling]

He could go on for a while with these, Ned suspects. It's the opposite instinct to the fancy kids, because, "Never've I ever bought a new clothes item." There was no point, when he could just like, take them. Sustainable.