fandomhigh | DAMM - Monday 1st Period (3/5/2007)

As the students arrived today, they will notice there's something a little different about the classroom. There's a slight haze and a heavy (hopefully not unpleasant) sent in the air.

Scattered about the room are a variety of different incense burnders, some of which are actively giving off the aforementioned haze and smell.

Anybody or anything that spends any amount of time in the room today? Will probably smell like incense for a while unless extreme measures are taken.

"Smoke and sent have been used since time in memorial for spiritual purposes. Cleansing, carrying prayers up to heaven or into the spirit plane, or even to repel evil. Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner." Byron explained producing a large platter with an assortment of incenses on it. "Stick incense, coil incense, cone incense, loose powder, smudge sticks, frankincense and murr to name a few.

And don't even get me started on scented candles.

Incense composition requires one to be rather precise in the case of direct burning incense since it must be carefully proportioned and blended such that it has ability to slowly and evenly burn itself in its entirety.

While indirect burning incense consists mainly of fragrant materials and need not adhere to any specific proportion, recipes and mixes for all direct burning incense must include and balance two things: fragrant materials and a combustible base."

Instructions and materials for making incense are passed out. A table off to the side provides a dizzying (if you're not already dizzy from the smell) number of ingredients. (Including agarwood.)

"You may follow that recipe to the letter or use it simply as a guide. In order obtain the desired combustion qualities, attention has to be paid to certain proportions in direct burning incense mixtures:

Firstly, oil content: Resinous materials such as Myrrh and Frankincense must not exceed the amount of dry materials in the mixture to such a degree that the incense will not smolder and burn. The higher the oil content relative to the dry mass, the less likely the mixture is to burn effectively.

Secondly, oxidizer quantity: The amount of chemical oxidizer in gum bound incense must be carefully proportioned. Too little, and the incense will not ignite, too much, and the incense will burn too quickly and not produce fragrant smoke.

Thirdly, mixture density: Incense mixture made with natural binders must not be combined with too much water in mixing, or over-compressed while being formed. This either results in uneven air distribution or undesirable density in the mixture, which causes the incense to burn unevenly, too slowly, or too quickly.

The manner with which you burn or heat your incense is entirely up to you. Something more ceremonial, special made and consecrated for a purpose can heighten a spiritual or arcane effect... Covered verses uncovered is also entirely up to you. Though I believe that covered is rather better for safety reasons. But honestly, all that matters is that the smoke can escape and air be given access so that the incense may continue to burn and not be smothered by its own smoke.

The spirits don't care if you burn you incense in a vessel that's shaped like an alien smoking a hookah if such a thing suits your nature...

Anyway.

Your task for today, if you have not already surmised is to make your own incense. Have at it."

[[ooc: ~~Please wait for OCD.~~ Open! Today's class was supposed to be about something else, but we're pushing that to next week.]]

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Her beaming smile was probably a pretty good answer.

"Ummmm." Wyatt wasn't sure how to broach the subject. "There, uh, might be a side effect to the spell you used to bring Cole back."

Phoebe looked a little worried. "Like what? Did something else come back with us? Is everyone okay?"

Wyatt, as usual, went for blunt. "Anders can feel it when you and Uncle Cole are having sex."

Phoebe turned a very bright red. "What?!" she hissed.

"He almost started humping my leg last night while you two were going at it," Wyatt went on. "He said he could feel it."

Phoebe might have choked on embarrassment. "You're joking."

"I hope not," Wyatt said, frowning. "Otherwise it was a really weird way to hit on me."

Phoebe covered her face with her hands and was turning bright red. "Oh hell..."

"Think you can undo it?" Wyatt said, really grateful he hadn't gone into the Wastelands. "Or block it or something?"

"I can probably write a spell to block it or undo it or something."

"Good," Wyatt said, grinning. "Last thing I want is Anders clawing at my door every time you and Uncle Cole go at it."

Phoebe glared at him slightly. "You are enjoying this too much."

"You gotta admit, it is kinda funny," Wyatt teased.

"You know... I'm sure I can alter the spell a little so you feel what Anders is feeling," she threatened her nephew lightly.

Of course, she really wouldn't do such a thing to him.

Really.

Maybe.

Okay, that made Wyatt stop laughing. "You wouldn't," he said.

Phoebe raised an eyebrow at him. "Laughing at your aunt's embarrassment could have all kinds of side effects."

Hey, she had been the youngest of three sisters for most of her life and knew how to bargain... or blackmail.

"That's frakked up!" Wyatt protested. "And way too wrong."

Phoebe grinned at him. "I was the youngest sister for most of my life, Wyatt. I learned survival techniques to use against Prue and Andy."

Wyatt decided changing the subject was a good course of action. "You going to tell Uncle Cole about you and Anders?" he said. Oh so innocently.

Phoebe wondered if Piper would get mad at her for smacking her son.

"Of course I am. I don't keep secrets from him."

"You think he's going to be okay with it?" Wyatt persisted.

"Oh, sure. I'll tell him what happened and after he calms down, we'll invite Anders over for a threesome," Phoebe said sarcastically. She sighed. "He's going to be absolutely livid. However, Cole is a reasonable man and I am sure that as soon as he understands that it was drunken accident by two people who were completely broken, he'll realize that it was a mistake that will never happen again." She looked down. "If he forgives me, that is."

"If he hurts you," Wyatt said evenly, "I'll send him straight back to hell."

Phoebe shook her head. "Cole would never hurt me, Wyatt." She was touched by his protectiveness, though. "He just doesn't have it in him to hurt me."

Re: LECTURE

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