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

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

[lunulata]

Seeing the first person drink in response to his question, Lunulata beams. He's got this game down!

"Do you enjoy it?" he inquires once Adrian has started to lower this glass, "Dancing with a partner."

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: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

"Certainly!" Lunulata replies brightly, "Whenever I'm on land or on a ship, I try to find time for it."

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[unluckycosmos]

"Land or a ship?" Cosmo pushes his glasses back up his nose. "Where else would you be? Up in the sky?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

This earns a cheerful laugh from Lunulata and he shakes his head. Even to him, living in the sky seems like a fantastical proposition. "The sea. Mostly. To better serve the will of Thassa. We, my kin and I, come on land when there's a need for it, but that isn't so often."

He pauses for a moment before it occurs to him to push back his hair and turn his head briefly so Cosmo can get a look at his gills. That should help to clarify the matter! "I'm Genasi. I...should've led with that?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[unluckycosmos]

Cosmo laughs — at himself, at Lunulata, at being drunk, at the surprise. His laugh is too loud and too grating, but he doesn't seem to care. "No, no, lead with what you want to lead with!" Cosmo grabs his own tail to show it to Lunulata with a face-splitting grin. "We've all got some kind of the odd, sea dancer. Dunno what this Thassa wants with your dancing but hopefully it's fun, yeah?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

Lunulata doesn't immediately understand why Cosmo is laughing, but the young man seems to be in good spirits and he is too and that's enough for him. He enthusiastically admires the tail when it's presented to him, smiling and insisting, "Tails aren't odd; tails are useful! I bet your balance is impressive. Leonin have tails like yours and they're remarkably agile!" While all the Leonin he's encountered have admittedly been trained warriors with well-honed feline grace, he's certain the tail helps too.

He's just considering whether or not touching the tufted tip of the tail would be rude when the rest of Cosmo's words finally register. They leave him feeling uncertain, pangs of guilt pressing him to correct the other boy even if it will make no difference to him. "...Ah. The dancing is for me. Not for Thassa. But. It's fun."

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[annarrgeal]

Annarrgeal giggles, a sweet, musical sound that is almost alien to mere mortals (or so she thinks). "My dance card is always full," she admits, feigning modesty as she takes the tiniest, itty-bittiest, sip. Just to be polite. She remains resolutely sober.

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

While Annarrgeal's laugh is fairly melodic, that isn't what catches Lunulata's attention and he looks at her curiously. "Your...'dance card'?" He's never heard of such a thing and certainly doesn't have one and can only hope he hasn't been breaking some sort of dance law this entire time.

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[annarrgeal]

Annarrgeal scoots over to sit next to him, and hooks her arm through his, smiling prettily. This one seems... naïve, to put it gently. "Oh, dear. Have you never been to court?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

Lunulata doesn't mind the girl sitting beside him or hooking her arm through his, though he couldn't begin to guess why she's doing it. He just keeps listening and smiles back and slowly shakes his head. "Ah. No, I haven't! Is that where you get the dance card?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[annarrgeal]

"Oh, it's not so official." Anna waves her free hand in the air, as though dismissing the formality of it all. "You see, in court who you dance with and who you don't dance with is very important. It just means these are the people you have promised to give your time to. The elder folk would write them down on little cards. A little silly, isn't it?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

This is all new information and Lunulata nods along silently. He doesn't understand it. But he's certainly no stranger to being told what to do or how to spend his time or to keeping promises.

"...Why is it important?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[annarrgeal]

Annarrgeal lowers her voice, like she would at a real dance, playfully secretive. She still maintains a casual lightness, though, from training over decades. Her smile is easy and untroubled. "Because people are always watching, of course. Who you're friends with tells people who you really are."

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

Leaning in to better hear this near-whisper, Lunulata doesn't seem to know what to make of this revelation and promptly leans back again so he can look Annarrgeal in the face. Her expression doesn't give much away, though. "I think...your actions tell people who you are?"

Re: NHIE: Danced with a partner

[rhodie]

"Oh!" Rhodie drinks, because he sees other people drinking and he thinks he's figuring out this game?? (He's not.) "You should! Do you want to?"

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

While Lunulata hadn't predicted this possibility when he'd made the statement, his features light up at the prospect of finding his first ever dance partner! "Right now?" He sounds hopeful and seems more than ready to spring out of his seat if given confirmation.

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[rhodie]

"Absolutely, new friend!" Rhodie springs up too hard and smacks his head on a hanging light fixture. Completely unfazed, he extends his hand for a dance.

NHIE: Danced with a partner

[lunulata]

First dance partner! New friend! This night is getting better all the time. Lunulata is up on his feet just as quickly, though he's not tall enough to worry about evading the light fixture, and moves around their peers to take Rhodie's extended hand.