⍟ OCCULT CLUB MINGLE ⍟
Who: OCCULT CLUB and whoever wants to drop in!
When: All through August
What: Catch-all mingle post for occult club activities! Anyone is free to make a toplevel here for all your occult needs, hell yeah hell yeah
Warnings: Paganism?? please try not to murder anyone in occult club, will update this if needed

The Occult Club can be found set up in room 1-C or 3-C after the normal class hours, marked by a magically glowing paper sign tacked to the door and the ever-present scent of candles and herbs. Though it may not be an "official" club, anyone is welcome to drop in or ask for help with whatever they might need, be it learning about magic, warding against something, or requesting aid or supplies for spells of their own. The club leaders, Clamor and Lucifer, will usually be around to answer questions or help out as needed.
Those looking to join the club, or those who are just curious, can find magic affinity tests stacked neatly near the front of the room... which is really just a fancy way of saying "sheet of paper with a simple spell circle drawn on it". All it does is glow when activated, but hey, you have to start somewhere, right? Not everyone can use magic, but you won't know unless you try. Why not give it a go?
Those who find themselves unfortunately deemed non-magical won't be turned away, either. Anyone can benefit from the pursuit of knowledge! And besides, magical items can be used by anyone, and Yogen seems to have an abundance of them. Bring in your latest weird find for an appraisal, or maybe just mess around with it and hope it's not dangerous!
There's also a pot of tea set up on one end of the room, in case anyone wants to try their hand at tasseography... or if you're thirsty. Actually, it's just for drinking. But the pot seems to stay piping warm no matter how long it's left sitting there, so if you need an example of the wonders of magitech, well, there you go.
When: All through August
What: Catch-all mingle post for occult club activities! Anyone is free to make a toplevel here for all your occult needs, hell yeah hell yeah
Warnings: Paganism?? please try not to murder anyone in occult club, will update this if needed

The Occult Club can be found set up in room 1-C or 3-C after the normal class hours, marked by a magically glowing paper sign tacked to the door and the ever-present scent of candles and herbs. Though it may not be an "official" club, anyone is welcome to drop in or ask for help with whatever they might need, be it learning about magic, warding against something, or requesting aid or supplies for spells of their own. The club leaders, Clamor and Lucifer, will usually be around to answer questions or help out as needed.
Those looking to join the club, or those who are just curious, can find magic affinity tests stacked neatly near the front of the room... which is really just a fancy way of saying "sheet of paper with a simple spell circle drawn on it". All it does is glow when activated, but hey, you have to start somewhere, right? Not everyone can use magic, but you won't know unless you try. Why not give it a go?
Those who find themselves unfortunately deemed non-magical won't be turned away, either. Anyone can benefit from the pursuit of knowledge! And besides, magical items can be used by anyone, and Yogen seems to have an abundance of them. Bring in your latest weird find for an appraisal, or maybe just mess around with it and hope it's not dangerous!
There's also a pot of tea set up on one end of the room, in case anyone wants to try their hand at tasseography... or if you're thirsty. Actually, it's just for drinking. But the pot seems to stay piping warm no matter how long it's left sitting there, so if you need an example of the wonders of magitech, well, there you go.

shows up here with starbucks, hey,
Something smells... spicy? Is one of the herbs spicy... Noah doesn't know enough about herbs to say.
Noah will just... sit somewhere in the back and watch for now. He's totally not interested in anything happening, no, not at all. This isn't like how he used to watch Clamor do magic during that short moment he spent in Seven Tower, nope, not at all. Not fascinated. He does not want to figure out anything going on here, especially not how to do things like make a pencil write for him or something... nope.]
Clamor Ventus | OTA! | assume threads to be before the 7th for now
[B]
for Natsume
Because it is, well, a little more involved than the basic lessons everyone else is getting.
Clamor has his spellbook open, thankfully having marked the page (again) beforehand. It's been a hell of a long time since he's studied celestial magic, so this is a refresher for him as well. An astrology chart takes up most of one page, with a few complicated-looking spell circles and diagrams covering the other side.]
I know you're already good with divination, so this shouldn't be too difficult for you to learn. The biggest hurdle with celestial magic is that it combines both light and dark magic, so no matter how hard you study, you still need to have an affinity for both to really accomplish anything. Most people just aren't fit for it... I wasted a whole year on that course before giving up. [SIGH. he could've studied something useful to his major in that time... rip his tuition...]
Divination also draws on the power of the planets and stars, though, so if you can do that then this should be no problem! Well? What do you think?
[is natsume a real enough wizard to make pretty lights appear??? time to find out]
for Lucifer
Anyway, he gets drained pretty quickly in his current state so he's gonna sit down for a few minutes to recharge. Maybe drink some tea... refill the pot with some non-contaminated air-water...]
Maybe I should try starting with something a little more... gentle? [is there such a thing as a gentle hex...]
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...it's simple? He supposes? Lucifer sits down across from Clamor, legs crossed, reclining just slightly in these uncomfortable-ass desk chairs.]
Prank-type hexes might serve as a more basic starting ground, admittedly. Where I hail from, words are power, which is why our spells are based in incantations of that length, though borrowing the incantations of another may not make such things suitably "powerful" enough in your case.
I have a couple suggestions. [and then he explains the whole bugs thing because I am too lazy to type it out again, following it up with,] I suggest you also find what words are "powerful" to you and employ those in your technique next time.
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I appreciate the faith you have in my abiliTIES. ( ...he really should just tell clamor he doesn't perform magic the way clamor does, or anyone else who has more fantasy-style magic here does, but maybe... a lot of weird things go on here, so maybe... he feels like a little kid thinking about the possibility.
especially when he peers at clamor's spellbook, the astrology chart first catching his attention — he compares it to what he remembers of his world's own to the best of his ability, a childish smile at play on his face. and then the spell circles, too—
it really is a lot. he really might just disappoint someone today, but all of this is so... this is so... it's the second most exciting thing to happen to him all year. ) I'll do my very BEST, Clamor-san. Thank you for the opportuniTY.
( ...despite everything, is the unspoken follow-up to that. he knows. he knows. but: thank you. and then, just because he's curious: )
Why did you want to learn IT?
a
Uh, hmm...
[ whenever he can catch Clamor at a good time ]
Do you know a lot about... demon summoning?
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Oh... you probably want to ask Lucifer about that! I think he stepped out just a minute ago. He's the tall, dark, [handsome] h-horned... aha, yeah, he'd be hard to miss! I'm sure you'll know him when you see him.
[... on the other hand, a bit more sternly] What do you want to know about demon summoning for? I hope you're not planning on starting another imp infestation. Summoning is a difficult and dangerous branch of magic, you know, especially if you're inexperienced!
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Haha, incantations aren't much different from sigil-based magic! If you think about it, speaking the words aloud serves the same purpose as writing out symbols... there are some forms of magic in Elrios that work better with incantations as well, but those are usually a lot more simple than this. Most combat magic relies more on spoken commands and a focus like a wand or staff. It's not really practical to run around with a book in your hands in the heat of battle.
[... which is kind of why they're doing this is the first place, right. maybe what he really needs is a good staff.]
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Well, he's thought about teaching Noah some of it too... but there's no reason why they can't both learn it. It's a powerful branch of magic, just not for Clamor.]
Celestial magic? Well, I had room for one more class, and that one happened to be close to the top of the list. I thought it might be kind of fun to try. Sitting under the starry sky, reading the signs, helping people...
... it was more like having to stay up all night, getting all the readings wrong, and then being told I had no future in divination. But! It was still a valuable experience! I did learn a lot about celestial navigation and cramming late at night. [that last one probably wasn't in the course description]
You can't be good at everything, but it never hurts to try something new. Who knows? Maybe you'll surprise yourself.
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No, I just want to know that they're okay...
[ Difficult and dangerous aren't things he'll contest, but he has experience in spades and not by choice. ]
What happened with the imps?
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He sighs and folds his arms, recalling that rather harrowing experience.] A bunch of amateur summoners thought it'd be a good idea to summon some imps without any controlling spells in place... or any plans on how to get rid of them after. After a month, they went from nasty pranks to attacking people outright. We're lucky there weren't more casualties.
You don't have to worry, though! They imps have been taken care of, and the culprits won't be repeating that mistake any time soon. Everyone has been thoroughly educated on proper summoning safety. [and if he ever catches the cultists pulling something like that again without consulting him or Lucifer first they're going straight to New And Improved Magic Baby Jail™ for the scolding of their lives]
Do you have experience with demon summoning? [it's a guess, but since he's asking if it's okay and not how to learn it...] I'd feel better if you spoke with Lucifer first, but as long as you know what you're doing and won't put other people in danger... honestly, we could probably use more people with those kinds of skills.
no subject
[Lucifer, however, is not a man in the habits of making pacts, lest control be taken from him.]
It might be simple to craft you a wand. Wood from the wisteria tree should suffice, [that thing outside is going to kill them,] and a small stone set into it from what we have on-hand here. It won't be the most elegant thing, but items made by hand are more powerful than those you can buy from traditional shops anyway.
[But that's not for now, and Lucifer smiles, perhaps a bit deviously.]
That said, are you ready to try again? Little spells like this aren't too difficult. I can demonstrate.
[Get ready for Bugs™.]
A
In front of him was a candle. Lighting it? Seems simple enough. However, he didn't want to go too overboard and start anything too big. He looks over at Clamor. ]
How much focus do you suggest? Should my power prove too great, I don't wish to burn down this room in such an inferno. [ He snickers a bit. It probably won't happen since he's actually very careful, but just having reassurance is helpful. ]
i feel responsible for b after telling you i wanted one of clamor's mini-fridges
Let me guess — that one's going to be for cold?
sets nene down gently
s. scooped her up? and brought here here? and set her back down again. so.
that happened. but she's certainly curious, as you can see by the way she quietly looks over everything with wide, wonder-filled eyes- even after months as hanako-kun's assistant, she's still enamored with all things new and magical and not trying to kill her or her friends. )
no subject
It's always trickiest the first time... and no two people are the same when it comes to magic. You just have to keep trying until you get the hang of it. That said, I would suggest starting as small as you can. We'll ease you into it! [please don't make the candle explode]
no subject
Chilling spells like this one would normally be used on bottles for potions or other goods that need to be kept cool, but you can apply it to almost anything with a bit of effort. If we put in an artificial spirit using magitech, we can keep whatever's inside cool for a longer time and keep the cold from seeping out. I call it a "dry ice box"!
[he sounds very proud of himself, even though he already knows refrigerators exist now..... but can you put a refrigerator in your desk?? probably not? this was really impressive 1,000 years ago he'll be sad if it doesn't hold up anymore]
no subject
Using "dry ice" in the name might bring something specific to mind for people, but I can't say it doesn't sound useful. Does it need a constant source of energy, or is it good on its own once you set it up?
( that's where the real value of it is decided. )
no subject
That said... the mana in the air here is a bit thin. It might need to be "recharged" every now and then, but it should still work just fine as long as the seal isn't disturbed.
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( it's only polite to ask about something he's so proud of, right? oh, but wouldn't that be nice, never having to replace something once it's set up. a downside to technology as opposed to magic, amami supposes, when he catches on to something that was said so naturally that it almost went right over his head. eyes widening, as he glances to clamor with a look of surprise. )
—Wait, if you know that, does that mean you're over a thousand years old?
( forget "dad", you're noah's grandpa... )
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Ah. Well, curiosity does get the best of some people. It's not a topic that makes Clamor uncomfortable, per se, but he does look a bit weary at the idea of trying to explain this mess. He can gloss over the worst details, but trying to explain it to someone from a world that doesn't even have magic...]
Technically, yes... but I was sealed away for all that time, so I can't say I'm a thousand years wiser for it. It's more like I fell asleep and woke up a thousand years later.
[don't call him a grandpa he's still young... he's not even 30 yet in living-years]
no subject
Sealed, like... your spirit?
( which doesn't' come out as accusatory as it might look. it's just that his first thought was "like a demon or something," but he can recognize that much as likely to be rude. anyway, point is that demons sleep when they're sealed — when people are sealed they're usually... just in jail. unless it's on a deeper level than that anyway, which is why amami is asking. to his credit, he at least looks more genuinely interested in understanding than anything else. )
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Sorry for all the questions, it's still just kind of hard to believe. We don't have magic at all where I come from, so I was wondering what's possible with it.
( or, well, they don't have it that he knows of? they do have some pretty weird freak shit, just that they usually lean scientific. )
no subject
Curiosity isn't something to apologize for! I don't mind. Honestly, I still have a hard time imagining a world without magic myself...
But I don't think we're all that different, either. Magic is just another way for people to solve problems. It's like this dry ice box—you have something called a refrigerator that does the same thing, right?
no subject
Yeah, but I think ours is... well, last I saw it, it was in 2-D? Maybe you have the right idea with making these now.
( just a huge empty space in the kitchen where it used to be. )
To tell the truth, yours actually sounds better. With no wiring or power needed to keep it running, it's a lot more practical.
( you know how like 1/3rd of your fridge is just stuff to keep it cold? and then it's never the right temperature? and you get freezerburn on the top shelf? and it's bad. it's just bad. a very cold cardboard box is also better for camping with. )
no subject
Ah, but there are some disadvantages. A cardboard box doesn't have much insulation, so it's harder to keep the cold from getting out, and if the circle gets scratched or damaged the whole spell can fall apart! Condensation from the ice magic can wear both down over time, with these materials it'll need to be replaced or fixed when that happens. Artificial spirits are also less effective in places where El is scarce... and, of course, only mages can make magitech. Craftsmanship like this is normally quite pricey, or at least it was back in my day. Better materials, a more complicated spell, or having to bring it back for repairs... all of that can add up quickly.
A dry ice box might be better in some situations, but I think a refrigerator is useful, too. You say wiring or power is a problem, but if you ask me, I think that's even more impressive than the fridge—here, we have electrical energy that can travel through wires all across the school! They never had anything like that in Seven Tower. If you wanted to power something, you always had to do it yourself.
[he gets more and more giddy about modern technology the more he goes on about it, he might be a fan]
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Focus...
Focus...
! The wick sets off a small spark before the candle lights up! It's lit! Gundham grins to himself, very proud and very excited! ]
Fuhahaha! As I expected would happen.
no subject
You didn't have any way to transfer power? I mean, artificial spirits don't sound too different from our batteries. ( is that rude to say? that might be rude to say. just how much spirit is in those artificials... ) You'd think that with something called magitech, there'd be, uh...
( he points, for a moment, bringing his finger up to his chin after as he tries to think of the word. god, this is gundham's area of expertise, amami does not read that much manga to know the correct term off the top of his head. given a moment he kind of sighs instead, waving his hand as if he's waving the effort away. )
Those lines. You know, the ones magic can go through. ( he's thinking of ley lines or something but knows nothing about how they might actually work, so. )
But I guess it really puts things into perspective if even a plain cardboard box can turn into something valuable.
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Although... I think Nasod technology used raw El energy to get around that? Ah, but that's outside of my expertise. And, well, it was apparently quite the controversy... sorry, I went off on a bit of a tangent there, didn't I?
Anyway! [checking the box once more, he's been multitasking but maybe it's done now... time to stick his hand inside and try to turn it on.] Plain boxes are still useful for storage, you know! I'm sure whoever came up with the idea was quite pleased with himself.
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It's alright, it's pretty interesting learning how these things work — if the classes here were anything like this, maybe studying would actually feel worth it. ( since lets be real here, do you think he cares about any of his lessons other than, like, geography? ... not really! but this is different. or maybe it's clamor's passion for the topic that makes it seem more interesting and the teachers here just suck. who knows. either way: ) If it's fine with you, I'd be interested in hearing more later.
( to spare you from compiling more of elsword's mess of lore for him in-character, something something playing 20-questions offscreen where amami is a surprisingly good student.
in the meantime, he leans in a little to peer into the box when clamor reaches in. )
Did it work?
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I do, but I don't have my— uh... summoning medium, I guess it'd be.
[ The only way to summon without one is fusion spells and maybe he shouldn't summon Lucifer and Satan in front of Clamor's Lucifer. ]
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Oh! Like a focus? Or... hmm, I guess sometimes you do summon directly from an object... to be honest, I don't actually know very much about summoning. You'd know better than I would! [everything he knows he learned from Lucifer, really, and it's not like he's keen on summoning imps sO]
Well, if there's anything you need help with, you're welcome to ask me or Lucifer any time! Personal items have been known to crop up from time to time, so maybe your summoning medium will, too.
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[but throwing fireballs would be hard if mages had to carry fuel around everywhere, so. Clamor holds his hands around the lit candle, and after a moment the flame starts to grow... not by too much, but more than a normal candle flame should, logically speaking. He lets it drop back to normal after a few seconds, smiling at Gundham.]
Mana is pure energy, and we can use that to fuel the fire! That's how you can hold a flame in your hand—or sustain any elemental force, really. So this time, I want you to imagine the mana flowing out of you and into the candle. It's easier if you keep your hands close to it, but you can still burn yourself, so remember to be careful and exercise restraint.
no subject
There's a bit of a sparkle within the box as the circle within it glows, glittering like pale ice dust and a quiet tinkling sound... but it fades once the light dies down, and it still looks like just an ordinary box. Clamor takes his hand off the circle, picking it up to scrutinize his work, turning it around...]
Hmmm... why don't you see for yourself? [...and, with a bright smile, holding the open box out to Amami.
The outside is only slightly cool to the touch, but if he actually sticks his hand inside of it it'll be kinda like sticking your hand in a pile of ice cubes, except it's just an invisible pocket of ice-cold air. It might also feel like it's moving around a little. Try not to be too startled.]
whats cooler than being cool........................
and speaking of this demonstration, it only takes a moment of peering at the box before amami decides to go on ahead and skip to sticking his hand right in. it's fine, how much harm could a snowflake rune really do? except, judging by the face he makes, it's definitely a bit colder than he'd expected. pulling his hand back out, he shakes it like he's trying to get the cold off, laughing a bit sheepishly as he does. )
Oh, yep. Looks like you got it. Might be more like a freezer than a fridge, though.