Around the World in Sixteen Challenges, Thursday, March 10, 2016

[sith_happened]

Today found the students on an island off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, an enormous, flat mountain in the background. "Welcome to Robben Island," Anakin said. "This was an island used for banishment and imprisonment--especially of political prisoners--for hundreds of years of South African history, but is most remembered for being the prison for Nelson Mandela, the man who eventually helped to overthrow decades of apartheid rule in this country."

He glanced to Obi-Wan, hoping he'd done the research on this place, too.

"Mandela went on to become president of this nation," Obi-Wan continued fluidly. "As did Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma, two other famous inmates of this place. Before that time, many other local leaders were held here. And before them, it was used to isolate people suffering from a condition called leprosy from the rest of the country."

"We're not going to have you run through here because that would be tacky and disrespectful," Anakin said, "but we couldn't come to this part of the world and not let you see some of the history--and not all history is pleasant."

"So you may take your time to consider this place, if you wish," Obi-Wan said quietly. "For many of you, this is part of your history, and it is worthy of your time and attention. We will move on from here for your first task. Soon."

Defending Yourself Against Magic | Friday, period 2

[nuclear_snide]

The Danger Room this week was back to simulating a room, this time one that looked a bit like an alchemist's lab, albeit a well-lit one with lots of windows.

"So," he said, clapping his hands, "not all defence is something active. One sort you should definitely learn about is wards. Broadly defined, a ward is anything that keeps something from coming near it, crossing over it, or affecting it. More specifically, they tend to be symbols or substances - or both - that keep away things that want to hurt you. There are a lot of different kinds of ( wards )