Magical Theory (Monday, 5/1/2005, 5th Period)

[romanywitch]

"Your presentations are due this week," said Jenny. "Either today or on Thursday--your call if you want them in and over with now, or later."

OOC: Feel free to handwave if you want, though I'd love to see what you guys come up with. And let me know what grade you think your character deserves for the final paper/project, and the class.

Comments

Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[romanywitch]

...

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[kikidelivers.livejournal.com]

"I did my project on Transformation Magic," Kiki began.

"Transformation, or Metamorphosis, is the branch of magic that deals with altering the condition, nature, or appearance of an object into something else. Transformation magic is a fundamental school of magical technique, and is the magical sister to the physical science of chemistry in the study of alchemy. It enables the wielder to alter nearly any physical property of a tangible object; the only limitation is the degree of energy required to effect the change. For instance, a color change may be the objective, or, more difficult would be altering the shape.

"Metamorphic magic is broken down further into two major categories: Transfiguration and Transmutation. Transfiguration is often viewed as the 'easier' of the two categories, and magic users often learn to use this before moving on to transmutive magic. Transfiguration is used to change the outward appearance of an object - color or shape, for example. Transmutation is an alteration in the nature, properties or innate characteristics of the object being transmuted. The two are, naturally, very closely aligned; often transmutations carry transfigurations as secondary results, also called 'piggyback effects.' Easy as they appear to be, transfigurations may slip dangerously and accidently into transmutations if they are not handled with delicacy.

"For example, a common but highly advanced form of metamorphic magic is for the caster to take on the shape of another organism, as in changing themselves to look like a cat. This would be a transfiguration - they are changing their appearance. It is a complicated transfiguration, but the caster is still fundamentally human. If they cast the spell as a transmutation, then they would actually be a true feline, stuck in that shape until someone freed them from it. Another example would be changing a bronze figurine into a pewter figurine. This would be a transmutive spell, as the spell caster is actually changing the chemical make-up of the object. However, since the color of the figurine would change, the spell carries a transfigurative secondary effect."

Kiki places three white folded origami cranes on a desk at the front of the classroom. "Here is a small demonstration of transformations. First, a simple transfiguration." Kiki held one of the cranes cupped in her hands for a moment, and when she set it down again, the bird was a bright blue color with a yellow sunflower pattern across the paper. "Some might say that because I'm actually changing the physical properties of the dye that this is really a transmutation - there are some who feel that there is no such thing as a transfiguration, and that all transformative magics are really transmutations. Those who subscribe to the idea of the two categories say that because the point of the spell is just to change the color, it is still transfiguration."

"Now, a slightly more advanced transfiguration." Kiki held the second crane in her hands, and when she set it down, it had turned into an origami frog. "It's still a piece of paper, but I've changed it's shape magically, not manually."

"And last, a transmutation," Kiki said. "I'll give this crane properties paper does not normally have." When she released this crane, it rose from her hands and fluttered about, spiraling slowly upwards on paper wings.

Kiki, looking pleased with herself, bowed. "Are there any questions?"

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[romanywitch]

"Very nice, Kiki," said Jenny, smiling. "It seems like you've covered the topic thoroughly. Anyone else in the class have any more questions?"

OOC: Wow, very nice!

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[kikidelivers.livejournal.com]

[ooc: *blush* Thank you! :) All culled from Harry Potter, Dungeons and Dragons, and the Oxford English Dictionary. I <3 being a geek, hee!]

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[soldtoarmenians]

...After a weekend of splitting migraines that show no sign of stopping WTF weetiny lack of studying? Xander is so totally waiting until Thursday to give his presentation. Yup.

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[romanywitch]

OOC: OMG! Feel better soon!

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[demonbelthazor]

Bel gives his presentation on the medieval witch hunts, comparing and contrasting with the Salem witch hunts that they'd gone over in class. He went over the typical victim of the medieval hunts (75% of the accused were women, usually older than 40, poor, single (widowed or never married), and some kind of "non-conformist" like a healer or someone who lived alone), and the legal (such as allowance of torture to get confessions), social, and religious changes that made the witch hunts possible. From there he went into how actual witches during the times did not fit so easily into the stereotype, and how the victims were largely innocent people or at most mere dabblers in the mystical arts. The hunts, however, forced people with real skills to keep them secret, which annoyed the demon world to no end because it made them harder to find.

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[romanywitch]

"Good job, Belthazor," said Jenny. "And working the persecution of non-magical humans and the persecution of magical humans together was a nice addition."

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[absolutesnark]

Piper gives a presentation on how casting spells for personal gain can go very wrong. She specifically talks about how messy spells that involve emotions can be, especially love spells. She might have mentioned a love spell cast a few months that went very wrong, but she didn't mention names. She also mentioned that casting spells for personal gain backfire in very bad ways.

The presentation was decent but not flawless. This is because she she planned part of it at the last minute due to wacky weetiny hijinks over the weekend.

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[maias-notebook.livejournal.com]

Maia's project board opened out, included on it where several variations of aspirin on one side with the listed ingredients and on the other, what appreared to be the ingredients for a potion. Including several different grains of white powder, two yellow roots and several sprigs of what could be mistaken for parsley.

"The use of Alchemy as a scientific basis for today's modern medicine" was the header on her project board.

*handwavey's a report*

"And that is why, while much safer to use just an aspirin today because the dosages on the paste I made can be tricky. The results are pretty much the same. Thinned blood, anti-inflamatory of the joints and known to break fevers. However, many alchemists who are just learning have accidentally created poison instead of cures; don't try this at home."

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[the4thsister.livejournal.com]

"My presentation is about the persecution of witches in different times and cultures." Paige says and proceeds to give a report looking at witch doctors in Africa and the way witches were burned on pyres in the medieval era and what happened in Salem.

((my brain it is ded))

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[romanywitch]

"Very similar to what Belthazor did, but I didn't require that everyone pick a different topic," said Jenny. "Good work, Paige, and you did go into different geographical areas than Belthazor."

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[sakuracchyan.livejournal.com]

Sakura definately has it planned to give her handwave presentation on Thursday. Because... uh. Presentation? What presentation? She will not be sleeping until it is done.

Re: Final Presentations - Magical Theory, 5/1

[krycek-rat.livejournal.com]

Krycek totally handwaved his project about contrasting magical practices in a number of worlds, but it was pretty good if you totally ignored that. Let's say an A on the project, B on the class.