He who knows no hardships will know no hardihood. He who faces no calamity will need no courage. Mysterious though it is, the characteristics in human nature which we love best grow in a soil with a strong mixture of troubles.
Harry Emerson FosdickStudents who have braved the
abandoned warehouse and received their pendants from a silent, bald, blue man (
was he...?) find themselves in a possibly underwhelming landscape of a typical boarding school campus;
green sports fields, low brown
stables and what seemed to be a
giant bath bubble emerging from the ground.
Ah, so! Not so underwhelming.
Approaching the bubble, perhaps new students will pass each other; they're all, of course, free to roam and explore at will. When they are drawn to the bubble in the ground (which by now you may have inferred is not truly a bubble, though smaller ones in bath tubs are likely to be found within their designated bathing areas), they will discover that there are
partitions in the surface; windows. This is their new school. Not a stuffy old stone building, but a spiral filled with rooms on the way up and open space through the center. The building doesn't hum, it crackles with anticipation.
You might have met your dormmate briefly as you approached, or the boy down the hall. Maybe you arrived with people from your hometown going through the same thing, and now you're surrounded by people just like you. As nerve-wracking as the situation may be, you might find that it's the most relaxing, too.
The acceptance letter detailed that students should pick up dormmate assignments and class schedules upon arrival -- the more normal-looking building closest to the school building. On each of the two desks at the ends of two beds in each
dorm room is a welcome package; a list of rules, a student handbook that explains everything you'd need to know to function at Talanton, a few maps (of the surrounding area, of the campus, of the class sections within the school) and encouragement to customize your side of the dorm room as you see fit. There is also a letter from the headmaster:
Hello, New Arrival!
Welcome to Talanton Academy. We're excited to have you all here. Hopefully you've found your room mate and your dorm room without any trouble. Remember, you may have a mini 'fridge', microwave and coffee maker in your room, but no 'hot plates'. Take care with any open flames such as candles. (We would very much prefer not to have the dorms burn down, especially smelling of brussels sprouts and sausage soup, even though it is my personal favorite!) Here are a few other rules that you need to remember:
- During classes we expect you to be in class. If you do find yourself sick, make a visit to the medical office. The nurse will be able to excuse you from classes.
- Curfew is 10:00 PM on weekdays. On off nights, curfew is midnight. You may speak to the headmaster if you've a special circumstance and need a pass for a particular event. Otherwise, you are to be in your room, lights off.
- Pendants must be worn at all times, even when not on school grounds. They will allow you to return to Talanton grounds. If you've ever any problem returning to school grounds, there is a phone located in the street front building you may use to request someone to retrieve you.
- We do not allow alcohol or drugs on school grounds. If caught with them you will be faced with consequences.
- Boys and girls are not allowed in each others rooms after curfew. There are public areas that you may congregate like the library and common rooms.
- Please pick up after yourself. If this is a problem, you may be required to assist the janitors until it's been determined you understand this rule.
- Please take care when using your powers so that you do not harm others. Many of you have come here to learn control and we understand that in order to do that, you must use your powers. If it is found out you are abusing your powers, they will be removed for a period of time to be decided by the Headmaster.
- Have respect for your fellow students, your room mates, team mates and your teachers.
- Enjoy yourselves, take advantage of all the opportunities afforded you and learn something.
A mandatory welcoming ceremony dinner will be held at 18:00 in the dining hall of this, the dormitory building tonight. Class will begin the day after tomorrow, on Monday. If you have any questions, you should flag down a member of staff to assist you. And if you happen to notice a bonfire out by the lake after supper, bring along some marshmallows. I do enjoy a good s'more.
Headmaster Reginhard
[
ooc: this is the opening game post! this is it! any questions, check out this post -- otherwise, have at it! If you haven't seen it yet, room mate roster is here ]
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