fandomhigh | Magical Theory 101 (Wednesday, 01/11/2006, 4th Period)

{{Class is closed for grading.}}

Jenny stood at the front of the classroom. The door to the hallway was closed to minimize disturbances to the lecture. If anyone left the door open on their way in, Jenny asked them to please close the door behind them.

After the students signed in and took their seats, Jenny started today's lecture.

"Okay, first off, one thing I forgot to mention on Monday, guys. That's my detention policy. Cause a disturbance in class? Possible detention, depending on the disturbance. Miss two classes? Detention. Unless you have a good reason. Come and talk to me if you do."

{{OOC: In other words, I get that RL can come up in a heartbeat Let me know if it does.}}

"My introduction on Monday? Kinda sparse too. As you know, I'm Ms. Calendar, your teacher. And my magical knowledge involves practically breathing this stuff in as I grew up. I come from a specific familial and cultural tradition, and it looks like we might have some more people in the class who're from a fam trad. We'll be covering that concept later in the term. Questions on that?

Now, on to the lecture. The principles of sympathy, contagion, and antipathy. Not so yicky as it sounds. These are the basics on how to cast a spell on someone--or how a spell can be cast on you. Sympathy's easy. Like attracts like. Roses are a symbol of love, right? Therefore, you'd use rose petals in a love spell.

Now, love spells? Whole different story. And let me make this really darn clear to you guys: Do not be casting love spells. Almost invariably? They're gonna go wrong. No questions on that; we'll be dealing with the topic later in the term.

Right. Moving on. Voodoo dolls are a representation of a person. And therefore? Sympathetic. Get a bit of hair or some nail clippings on the person you're making a voodoo doll--also known as a poppet--of, and you're starting to get into the principle of contagion here. A small bit of something can affect the greater whole. In other words, you got a sample of someone's hair? You can affect the body. So if you're not in the mood to have a spell cast on you? Ditch the nail clippings, get rid of the hair from your hair brush, and blood? Do not be leaving your blood around for anyone to get ahold of. Blood is powerful magic, guys.

Antipathy's a little more complicated in practice, but in theory, it's not so bad. To boil it down: opposites repel. A cross drives off a vampire. Silver and werewolves? Generally not gonna find them in each other's company either. Salt and zombies don't get along so well either, just so you guys know. Rumor has it they've been a concern in the past. An exorcism is a whole big pile of antipathy heaped on a malignant spirit. In another way of putting it--anything that's been done? Can be undone. No spell's permanent. Laws of magic say there's gotta be a loophole somewhere, and if you look hard enough? You're probably gonna find it.

Next week? We'll get into the concept of expending magical energy. Today? Let's start talking about sympathy, contagion, and antipathy. You can discuss the classroom material either with your classmates, or with me.

{{OOC: OCD comment threads ~~going up shortly~~ are up. Comment away!}}

Useful Links:
Ms. Calendar's Voice Mail
Ms. Calendar's E-Mail

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maia frowned slightly at this thinking it over. "Well its really not a secret that she's an Auror." Maia said remembering the trip to Seattle and the fact all of her friends knew about it, even her mother. "What if her kind does not use sympathetic magic? What if thats just in Ms. Calendar's realm of magic and it doesn't extend to my friends realm of magic?"

"You're the one who said she was a secret agent," Krycek shrugged. "But, either way, you're assuming the lack of it, which is dangerous. How do you know that Ms. Calendar's style of magic couldn't work in your friend's world?"

Maia shrugged "It was the closest thing in our world to give a general idea of what she does and I don't know if it works in her world or not. Thats why we have this class to get a better understanding of magical theory." Maia said turning back around in her seat.

"Maia," said Jenny. "If your friend is really a secret agent, I doubt that she'd be telling anyone." She shrugged. "I'm thinking that's the whole point of being a secret agent."

"Second, Krycek raised a valid point. Given that this is a discussion-based class, I would appreciate it if you would answer him instead of avoiding the topic. I don't expect you to know the answer, but I do expect you to respond to questions from other students as well as from me."

Maia frowned a little, her face going red from embarrassment. "She never said she was a secret agent, she's an Auror, the way she described her job to me made me think that it resembled a secret agent so thats what I used to describe what it sounded to me like she does." Maia stared down at the top of her desk thinking this could possibly be the worst day of her life. After a few minutes she turned to Krycek and said in an apologetic tone "I'm sorry Krycek that was rude of me to not answer you. I don't know if that sort of magic exsists in her world or not and if it would work if someone did try. I'll try to ask her this weekend and I'll let you know what she says."

"That's a very good point, Alex," said Jenny. "Let's see what Maia thinks of it."

Magical Theory 101 (Wednesday, 01/11/2006, 4th Period)

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Sympathy, Contagion, & Antipathy