#sp:reason

[delicatevalentine]

tea(se) » chrom & hilda

Reason and Faith band together to put on this month’s special seminar: the history of tasseomancy! You will be learning the “magic” behind divination and how the old masters used the remains of tea leaves and coffee grounds to predict future events. Just in time for the moon of love, you will all be divining your romantic futures from a delicious cup of white rose tea. [Grants Reason or Faith +1]

Wasn’t this school supposed to be about producing hardened warriors? Gathering the heirs and the talented young adults of the continents together in one place to train and hone their battle skills? If that was the case, then why was Hilda currently sitting in a seminar listening to an eccentric guest professor try to convince her that the future could be predicted from wet leaves? 

Reason and Faith were certainly not her strongest skills. Magic wasn’t something she put much stock in at all, more trusting of the physical arts to take her through battle. Divination, in particular, did not strike her as being an especially useful skill, seeing as she held no belief in the practice whatsoever. 

After droning on for some time about the history and methodology of tasseomancy, the instructor announced that they should now partner up and begin brewing and drinking their tea, ready to unveil the predictions for their love lives from the dregs.  Well, at least they had provided one of her favourite teas.

She turned to face the student that she’d been partnered up with, a Blue Lion who she was unfamiliar with. He certainly looked the part for his house, with navy hair and piercing blue eyes making up his -- admittedly, rather attractive -- features. 

Folding her hands under her chin, she gave him a doe-eyed stare. “Now, you aren’t going to make a lady brew her own tea, are you?”

@ylisseanstar​

[luneirika]

disney princess storybook tea party playset

Reason and Faith band together to put on this month’s special seminar: the history of tasseomancy! You will be learning the “magic” behind divination and how the old masters used the remains of tea leaves and coffee grounds to predict future events. Just in time for the moon of love, you will all be divining your romantic futures from a delicious cup of white rose tea. [Grants Reason or Faith +1]

The classroom is abuzz with quiet but excited chatter before the seminar starts. Gossip seems to be in the air today, Eirika notes quietly to herself, pulling out the tasseomancy guidebook from the reading list. Divination was a tricky topic, not in it's academic complexity but rather that Eirika knew full well the dangers of knowing the future too well. Knowing too much and being powerless to halt the coming ruin. Falling into the abyss oneself in a vainglorious attempt to control destiny and fate.

The lengths good, kind men could be driven to by prophecy.

Flicking through the handbook though, it seems to dwell on lighter topics. Predictions about dating and romance mostly, and all of them rather vague. Likely nothing of concern but it's impossible for her to deny the fact she'd rather study almost anything else.

The delicate sent of white roses floods her senses, as she pours water from the tea pot over the leaves in her own cup. She supposes that, whilst things could be better they could also be much worse. Chair legs scrape across the floor and another young woman takes the seat across from her. Hair as blue as the night sky obscures her face for a moment before being swept away, revealing a gentle face with sparkling eyes. For a moment, Eirika is left speechless. It would however, be rude to stare.

"Good afternoon. I take it you're here for the seminar as well? I'm pleased to share your company," her hands grasp the porcelain handle of the teapot, feeling the warmth bleed through into her fingers. It's not so hot as to be unpleasant, thankfully. With careful attention she pours water into the other woman's cup before settling it down to one side, out of the way and so as to not create a barrier between the two of them. "I'm Princess Eirika of Renais and the pleasure truly is all mine."

@arcaeda

[amitieos]

the sound of silence

How much one remembers from the past year seems to vary among the villagers. Some may not remember a thing while their brothers, their mothers, their friends remain haunted by their past traumas. Reason magic bears the blunt of the blame for what transpired here. Your mages undergo a fair bit of scrutiny, but it’s one of their own that becomes a target of their paranoia. A young mage, normally considering a blessing in a small village like this, has been arrested for practicing dark magic. The terrified child insists that it’s the only kind of magic he is capable of casting. Find out his story and judge whether or not he’s telling the truth about his innocence… you have until his “exorcism” to do so. [Grants Reason +1]

It's eerily quiet as the pair approached the village. No sign of hunters in the forest, or children frolicking in the nearby fields. Something isn’t quite right with this picture and Elincia is left feeling anxious, as if she’s standing on the edge of a precipice waiting to be pushed into the abyss. She glances at Micaiah uneasily and links their hands together, granting her a sense of security. Grounding her in the present and letting her focus on the task at hand. They were to act as envoys for the church, help provide aid and reassurance to the villagers. Many of them were traumatised by the events of the past year and yet others still were rendered amnesiacs. Sometimes, she wishes she could forget the events of the end of last year herself. A familiar face, with dark pink hair and a coquettish smile conjures itself in her mind.

“Do you have any idea what could have caused some people to forget?” Elincia asks Micaiah quietly as they walk. Her companion is far better versed in reason magic than she is, this much at least she knows. That and the fact that many of the villagers seem to be placing the blame on reason magic itself. She doubts one can blame magic, itself completely neutral by nature. Perhaps someone sufficiently motivated could use it for their twisted purposes though. “I wonder if the explanation isn’t more mundane. Sometimes people forget things because remembering them is too painful.”

They make their way through winding streets, lined with villagers gossiping loudly. Something about an arrest, of a suspected culprit who practiced malicious dark magic. Elincia bristled at that - dark magic wasn’t inherently evil. She knew that, knew that when she conjured Miasma it was to protect and defend those she loved. Things took a more disturbing twist though.

“A child? Micaiah, we have to find them. How on earth can they blame an innocent chid?”

@frauleindermorgen​

[lalamines]

fly me to the moon

There’s always rumors about new kinds of magic and spells, but this one seems to have spread far and wide. Some say that it’s within Reason magic to be able to levitate someone else with a new unofficial incantation making the rounds! Is the risk worth the reward? [Grants Reason +1]

Late spring bathes the world around her in honeyed hues and delicate warmth. Mercedes thinks the world is beautiful and sends a quiet prayer to the Goddess in thanks. Petals stream across the path she walks back into the monastery and she basks in the serenity of the moment.

It’s broken when she returns, though she remains calm regardless. Professor Setsuna, who is clearly injured seems just as relaxed - completely nonplussed about the blood pooling at the knees of her leggings. Mercedes dashes over and places a gentle hand on the woman’s shoulder. 

“Oh dear, Professor. Did you fall in another trap?” Mercedes asks softly as she gently guides the wounded party to sit on a bench nearby. “No worries, I can be pretty clumsy too,” she giggles lightly, kneeling next to the archery professor. “Could you pull the fabric over your knee for me, please?” The request is gentle as she unlaces the older woman’s boots to get a better look at the injury. It’s clean and fairly shallow, nothing a little heal spell couldn’t cure in seconds. White light gathers in her hands and pulsates at her fingertips as Mercedes allows them to dance just millimetres above the broken skin. The wound knits together quickly, with no complications and she rises back to her feet and straightens her skirt.

“All better, professor!” Her voice chimes as she adjusts her shawl. No messy bandages required! It’s only now, that her attention isn’t fixated on easing pain and healing that she notices the chatter of a group of mages nearby. “Hmm, I wonder what’s got them so enthralled...” Mercedes muses mostly to herself.

@heartstringbound

[constanzea]

the burden of curiosity

How much one remembers from the past year seems to vary among the villagers. Some may not remember a thing while their brothers, their mothers, their friends remain haunted by their past traumas. Reason magic bears the blunt of the blame for what transpired here. Your mages undergo a fair bit of scrutiny, but it’s one of their own that becomes a target of their paranoia. A young mage, normally considering a blessing in a small village like this, has been arrested for practicing dark magic. The terrified child insists that it’s the only kind of magic he is capable of casting. Find out his story and judge whether or not he’s telling the truth about his innocence… you have until his “exorcism” to do so. [Grants Reason +1]

Their trek to the village was, thankfully, overcast but Constance idly twirled the parasol in her left hand. It was always a risk, venturing outside before sunset in the summer months. Alas, she had little choice in the matter, being called out to accompany one of the Black Eagles students on an important mission. At least the details were fascinating.

The ability of some to “magically” forget their trauma? Whatever complex, nuanced magic was behind that (if it was magic of course, assumptions could be such folly!) could be groundbreaking. Could solve her little... problem, although with a high price. It was certainly worth looking into though, even if it all came to naught the mental rigor and exercises should be useful in the future. The thought of a small child being behind such intricate and arduous magic sounded utterly preposterous. All a makeshift exorcism could do was harm the poor child and the church clearly wanted them to put a stop to it.

If they even got there in time. Linhardt was just as idle and lethargic as she remembered. It must be nice, being so carefree. The heir to House Hevring has everything on a silver platter. What need did he have for steadfast determination, or ambition? Not like her, at least.

From what she heard though, his curiosity had become even more stubborn. Perhaps she could leverage that to get things moving. The village was, finally, in sight.

“Linhardt, sally forth! If we don’t get there soon,” an innocent child will be harmed, “there’ll be precious little to investigate. Are you not intrigued by the magic at play here? The time for repose is not now!”

@nappingscholar​

[coeurenais]

of ebon wings

Naturally, the Pegasus Moon coincided with the annual migration of pegasi in droves to nest amongst the mountains of Fodlan. Garreg Mach itself was surrounded by an array of peaks and, this year, welcomed a flock of sable pegasi.

Eirika had seen pegasi before, many of her friends rode them into battle and she had been invited to see Frelia’s ivory flocks on more than one occasion. Until now, she had thought all pegasi were white as the driven snow, which would help them avoid threats during their breeding season. When she’d heard of the new arrivals, she had donned a scarf and sturdy boots and found the time to take a trek up to the craggy mountaintops that surrounded the monastery.

Her boots crushed freshly fallen snow underfoot as she walked, marvelling at the natural beauty of the area. The alpine air was fresh and invigorating and the world around her seemed so still and silent, picturesque as a painting.

Then she heard an alarming crash and saw a lone pegasus fly above the tree canopy and soar off out of view.

She ran as fast as she could through the snow, heating up under her thick scarf. It was strenuous work so close to the mountaintop but she pushed forwards. Someone needed her help. When she made it to the grove she found a young man with dusky, the shade of indigo ink. He seemed to be trying to get back on his feet, which was a relief at least. Eirika wasn’t sure what she’could have done if he’d broken bones or had been found unconscious. She stepped forward towards him slowly, so as to avoid frightening him.

“Excuse me? Are you alright? That sounded like a tremendous fall.” Eirika said, offering out her arm to support him, if he required it.

@pirrhyc

[lalamines]

come out swinging

Magic isn’t real and anyone stupid enough to think it is is just another sheeple, so says a group of naysayers protesting outside of the church. All black magic? Fake. All white magic? The work of a charlatan. All the Reason teachers have had enough. See if you can get rid of them, but with discretion. [Grants Reason +1]

“Wake up sheeple! Magic isn’t real, these so-called mages and healers are just trying to have you depend on them!”

Mercedes would have rather just ignored the protesters at the monastery, situating themselves outside the cathedral and the classrooms. Some people would simply refuse to see reason and there was little that could be done about it. Better to let them tire themselves out and go home than start an argument. Who knew how volatile these people could be? Likely, they were here just for attention and the best thing, in her mind, was to refuse them it. Which she would have done, had Professor Hanneman not approached her and asked her to have a ‘polite word’ with them for disrupting his classes.

She supposed he’d chosen her because she was older than the others, maybe less likely to be derided as a child by the mob of protesters. Or simply because she was hard to rattle and rile up. If things got nasty she wasn’t the type to engage any further. Either way, Mercedes found herself listening to their leader’s tirade about how white magic was the work of charlatans.

It bristled her a little as someone who dedicated herself to healing others. Mercedes took a deep breath, weaving her way through the crowd. Her intent was just to ask them if they could take their protests elsewhere whilst class was in session. That was until she spotted someone she recognised instantly.

“Felix?” Mercedes was surprised to find him here and somewhat concerned. He seemed to have precious little interest in magic but here he was, looking more irritated than usual. The groups ringleader shouted something incredibly rude at him and the young swordsman looked ready to retort when she interrupted him.

“Excuse me? That isn’t very nice,” she said to the man, clearly already in his middle-age. You’d think he’d have better things to do than get into petty arguments with teenagers. Mercedes frowned at him, the same way she did was Annie was too reckless in battle or Dimitri was being self-deprecating. The look of disappointment. “I think you should apologise to my friend.”

[lalamines]

but home is nowhere

How much one remembers from the past year seems to vary among the villagers. Some may not remember a thing while their brothers, their mothers, their friends remain haunted by their past traumas. Reason magic bears the blunt of the blame for what transpired here. Your mages undergo a fair bit of scrutiny, but it’s one of their own that becomes a target of their paranoia. A young mage, normally considering a blessing in a small village like this, has been arrested for practicing dark magic. The terrified child insists that it’s the only kind of magic he is capable of casting. Find out his story and judge whether or not he’s telling the truth about his innocence… you have until his “exorcism” to do so. [Grants Reason +1]

Their trip to the village itself was fairly uneventful. She’d spent the afternoon wiling away hours in the back of the carriage, chatting to Deirdre. The young woman was a relaxing presence, calm and kind in equal measure but her story sounded bittersweet. A love story for the ages but cursed by a sudden amnesia. It sounded like something from an old fairy tale Mercedes had read once as a child...

The carriage comes to a halt and Mercedes suddenly draws to attention. She had not expected such shouting and discontent to be coming from the supposedly peaceful little village. Their mission was to help reassure the villagers on behalf of the church and it seemed they’d arrived not a moment too soon.

“I think our presecence is required, Deirdre,” Mercedes exited the carriage first, waiting with an outstretched hand for her companion. Both of them on terra firma, they made their way towards the village and the commotion going on at the square. “I wonder what could have gotten everyone so riled up...”

The answer quickly became apparent as the pair made their way closer. Mercedes jaw dropped in horror. That was child. An innocent child, surrounded by a mob of screaming adults throwing around all kinds of insults and accusations. She locked eyes with Deirdre, both of them understanding they had to act swiftly to protect the young boy. He was a child. Surely there was nothing he could have done to justify such a reaction from an angry mob like this.

@secretforestlady