Philosophy of Mana, Thursday, Period 2

[deathsmajesty]

Around them was a gigantic bayou, full of towering trees and long, hanging vines. Unseen things sometimes moved unseen below the dark waters. The scent of rich loam perfumed the air - the scent of decomposition, though most didn't realize that was so. The scent many people associated with rich life was, in fact, the scent of death. On such juxtapositions was Witherbloom founded. From the center of the swamp rose a kind of bog mansion that looked like it was grown out of Sedgemoor itself. It had a network of interconnected wooden pods with planked walkways leading out of it like the tentacles of some kind of swamp creature. Necroluminescence shone brightly throughout the swamp, giving it an eerie glow; though there were also fireflies and delicate golden moths that added to the bog's illumination.

Liliana sat on a tree root that had grown up out of the marsh, easily as wide as she was tall, with stones sunk into the side of the root closest to the mansion to serve as stairs of a sort. "Welcome to the Sedgemoor," Liliana said, giving the class a smile that held true warmth and fondness for their locale. "Home to Witherbloom College, part of Strixhaven University. It was here I attended college when I was little older than Cal and Illyana. That there is Widdershins Hall, where many classes of the College were held, our dorms were scattered around the Sedgemoor itself." Unlike last week, when their refreshments had been provided from various island restaurants with no explanation, today at the center of the ring of blankets and cushions was a fondue set, a large pot of cheese surrounded by smaller platters of moddable foods to dip within it, some quite familiar, others entirely foreign, native to the plane of Arcavios, where Strixhaven had been founded.
Power
• What does black mana desire? What is its end goal?

• What means does black mana use to achieve these ends?

• What does black mana care about? What does it represent?

• What does black mana despise? What negatively drives it?

• What is black mana's greatest strength? Greatest weakness?

( Power Through Ruthlessness )

"Again, because free will is paramount, there is no such thing as a 'slippery slope' whereby using more black mana will somehow condemn you to become a power-hungry monster or to see the rest of the world as a toy to play with. Black does not provide a set of goals that black-aligned individuals have to pursue; we are not required to chase political, martial, or financial dominance. Abyss, we do not even even need to pursue selfish goals. Blac provides only only a method - do not abide by needless restrictions - and a worldview - power enough to secure our own free will is mandatory. Beyond that, one can choose any goal they desire, for whatever reasons they desire. To have it any other way would be anathema to free will itself. Of course, black encourages people to take care of themselves and discourages putting others first, but - and this is vital - it neither commands the former nor forbids the latter. Black is not above being humble or empathizing with others, or radically changing its self-image and priorities when it's necessary. Black's goals can include finding love, true friendship, and happiness within a community, even living out a life of self-sacrifice or servitude to another without any difficulty at all. The only, only intolerable thing for a black mana philosopher is not being able to decide the course of their own life, everything else is negotiable.

A Shot in the Dark: A Comprehensive Guide to Coffee; Thursday, 4th Period [06/27].

[chef_chocobro]

"For our final class of this session," said Ignis, standing in the front of the classroom with the usual assortment of various coffees and cups, "I'd like to almost go a little full circle, but in a way that expands further on something we've touched on a little bit through each class, and that is the art of coffee tasting. Just as with tasting wines, tasting coffee can sometime require a refined palate, but it is also a palate that can be trained, but only if you know what to look for. We've done a little light comparison and consideration in our tastings throughout the course, but our attention has mostly been in difference in preparation styles and methods, and noticing the more obvious differences, like between, say, a light roast and a dark roast. Today, I'd like to leave you with the tools to go beyond the surface level and into the deeper layers of notes and flavors in a coffee, with an intensive overview of what to seek out when you sip.

"Before me, I've got variety of some of the highest regarded coffee roasts known to this world, one of which," he smiled briefly, "should already be familiar to you. We will have a tasting, and, in doing so, we will break down the essentials for how to do a proper coffee tasting and the finer points of notes and how to find them.

"So, with that...." He began to pour from the first carafe, "let us all come grab a cup and enjoy while we learn..."

Arts & Metal Crafts; Thursday, Fifth Period [06/27].

[special_rabbit]

It was time to drag out the mini metal foundries! Anyone who'd been in some of Amaya's shop classes would definitely be familiar with those little guys, and, thankfully, because she'd done the lesson on how to make them so much, they didn't need to waste time on that part, and could jump right into the fun part!

Which also explained the large stack of incredibly moddable stainless steel muffin tins and cake molds with interesting designs cluttering a table, and the large bags of aluminum cans and tins she saved up specifically for these classes!

"Today," she announced, "we're doing one of my favorite projects, and that's making mini metal muffins and/or biscuits! We're going to be working with some pretty hot stuff, so take a moment and make sure you've got your proper safety gear, and then we'll get right into it!"

Arts & Crafts For Beginners [Thursday, Period Three]

[needsacatchphrase]

For the last class of the session, there was still glitter. You had to know that, right? Always glitter.

But in this instance, it was glittery puffy paint and a variety of plain t-shirts for the class to pick from.

"It's the last day, so we decided to let you make shirts to remember the experience," Jane said.

"Apparently it's a 'traditional summer activity'," Cara added, sounding absolutely thrilled.

"Aww, it's sweet! Kind of a summer camp thing." Jane was totally into it at least.

"Oh, like the eldritch horrors when I was a student here." No, those were the reason the school hadn't actually used the campground since Cara was a student here.

"Wait, what?" CARA, EXPLAIN.

"People turned into monstrous terrors at the campgrounds." Cara sounded fond and nostalgic. "I defeated Principal Winchester in battle." She was still so very proud of that moment.

Jane stared for a long moment. "Let's avoid that her, okay?"

Booze Tasting & Drinking Games - Thursday, Period 1

[single_man_tear]

Anyone coming into class today would find several glowing bottles of green liquor that Dean and Tino were pouring into shot glasses on the bar.

"I have no idea what this is," Dean announced to everyone as he continued to pour. "I found it in the back room in an old box that just had the name 'Lorne' written on it. Having tasted it? I'd say it's..."

He looked at the glowing shot glass in front of him.

"Green."

He shrugged.

"Anyway, today's game is 'I drink and I know things'. Have a shot of the mystery drink and then we'll get started."

Library, Thursday 6/27

[noonedecidesmyfate]

There were CPR dummies scattered all over the floor of the library today. Belle had to step around and over them to make it the desk.

The gremlin sized ones were interesting, at least. That was something Belle had never seen before.

"I wonder if it isn't better not to ask," Belle said to herself. "Or if I ought to find out."

At least the beeping had stopped?

Cultural Appreciation, Thursday, June 27, 2024

[meepmeepmeep]

The class has been told to meet at the Portalocity Office today! It was the last class of this session and since Beaker was just going to assume you hadn't taken it to learn anything (sorry not sorry, Sam), he certainly wasn't going to subject you to a test! His colleague might've had other ideas, though?

No, this class was not about examinations! This class was about culture!

“Today marks the end of our time together, students!” Sam said. Do try and contain your disappointment. Especially you, Beaker. “In honor of that, we shall be taking a trip to one of the most cultural cities in the world! PARIS!”

Beaker pulled a beret from somewhere. "Meep meep meep!"

Somehow the meeps had a French accent. Don't ask.

“If you will all follow us to the portal waiting just outside the room,” Sam said, waving a wing in the direction of the door. “We shall soon be in Paris to experience some of the finest culture! Museums! Food! Architecture!”

…heat not unlike the surface of the sun? "Meep meep meep," Beaker said, looking as shifty as a Muppet whose eyes didn't move possibly could. Maybe there was a reason this portal was such a good deal: no one wanted to go to Paris, Texas this close to July.

“Beaker. What have you done?” Sam knew he shouldn’t have allowed Beaker to make the arrangements, even with detailed written instructions to hand over to the gnomes. He should have called a halt to the proceedings before ushering everyone through the portal. And yet.

It wasn't like they had anything else planned! "Meep meep meep meep," Beaker, beret and all, said, heading into town. Didn't everyone want to see a 63 foot tall Eiffel Tower wearing a cowboy hat? You know you did.

“Beaker! This is not Paris!” But it was, Sam. It was.