Setting
S.L.O.B.s or, Sentient. Living. Organic. Beings. are basically re-animated bodies placed in liquid filled suits. They are incredibly strong but rather slow unless they are given enough time to build up momentum. The noises they produce are very similar to any undead such as groans, gurgles and weezing. Only, through fluid. The only people who can give them orders are the Dean and the ones who built them. They are mostly around for both heavy labor and security but have been known to perform other tasks. If clumsily. Though they are completely safe themselves, students are not allowed to attempt to interact with them. S.L.O.B.s are primarily located in the older sections of the school. Occasionally they will be seen in the newer areas but only at night or during an emergency.
Hunters are what you would call the jocks of the university. But they also serve a very important purpose as campus security for any non-humans or humanoids who get out of hand seeing as the school can't simply hire campus police. This isn't to say that anyone studying to become a hunter can play with a crossbow. Only students who have been properly trained for at least a year can carry any "suppression gear". Its only during extreme situations that excessive force can be used with permission from several teachers if the dean himself cannot be contacted. They can be seen anywhere on campus, except they are required to wear normal campus clothes in the new sections of campus. In the older sections they are usually seen toting their gear.
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The newer campus buildings are built on top of the old masonry work. Some look like they are from a medieval era, others look more colonial and the newest additions look like normal modern buildings. The "regular" classes take place in the new buildings while the more unusual curriculum take place in the older parts of the university.
The reason for this is that the campus has only recently added the modern classes to their roster and when inspectors or officials show up to the campus they make sure to hide, lock down, or block off the older sections of the school keeping many secrets safe. This is part of the reason why many of the more exotic students have to hide their extra appendages, fangs or scales in the main areas for just in case they get a surprise visit from an inspector.
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Those students are already working on their next projects on the campus. A couple even managed to make it to a level where they are allowed independent study. An occurrence that doesn't happen very often.
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"Hi there" she said kinda quietly.
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With a shrug, Calliope rolled the window up and pulled away from where Shadonna was walking. I wonder if the school will be as lonely as this road, she thought. It wound up the mountain ridge, obvious that there was only destination for this road. She watched as the forest became thicker and the imposing school came in and out of view. Their was something about it that seemed to pull her toward it. The facade seemed stark and imposing, yet there was something almost familiar about it.
She pulled into the parking lot and turned the engine off. Sitting for a moment, she wondered what was in store for her at this school. She was surprised they had a program she was interested in. Holistic therapy wasn't the most common or accepted form of medicine, but she was happy that it was offered here. She really hadn't received much information, so she wasn't sure what to expect, but ... as her mom had always said, 'each day is a new adventure, you just have to take the first step'. So, here goes, she thought to herself and stepped out of her car.
Standing just inside the door, she saw Shadonna walk in.
"Hi there" she said kinda quietly.
"Hi Shadonna, just waiting. How was your walk?"
She smiled at Calli "It was pleasant enough. The wind let me clear my thoughts a bit." she said pulling her hat over her ears a little bit more snugly. "Any idea what to expect?" she asked looking around at the other students both normal and not so normal standing alike. She could tell the normal ones. . . perfect outfits without a care in the world. . . the others. . . like her. . . she could sense a bit of anxiety, wonder, and excitement in them. . . She continued looking around the campus slowly with her muscles getting achy again. . . She needed to stretch or she was going to cramp up worse than the car ride up here.
Both Calli's and Shadonna's conversation were cut short when they heard a motorized chair whirr towards their direction. A frail looking elderly gentleman in a rather dapper looking outfit. He appeared to still be learning how to use the wheel chair's controller as it was veering every few seconds after he would straighten out its orientation towards a more linear path. Nearly tripping students who attempted to walk past him. He would continuously apologize for his 'clumsiness' and then proceed to do the exact same thing a few seconds later. Its when he finally reaches the group of antsy students that he seems to have a slight better handle on stopping as opposed to barreling straight through them. Up close he looked as though a good sneeze would be more than enough to do the poor man's heart in. Be it from a student or himself didn't seem to matter providing that either gave him a good enough jostle.
Despite everything he still makes an effort to stand up; using his cane to support himself "I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience. The new signs were supposed to go up today but there seems to have been a miscommunication. For those who still need to attend the orientation or at least stretch more than their arms and legs-" He gives them a wink to let the students who needed to hide more than a couple anomalies attention. "-I would like you to head towards the older sections of the campus which is over this way. Don't worry about getting lost, just follow the stones and you will be able to find where you need to be." It was at that moments that more than a few students would recognize that the old coot was Mr. Fortwick himself. He lived up to his name by going around and checking on the students himself. It didn't seem to matter how much work he had piled up at his office, he would be sure to step out, or wheel out in this case to greet the new students as well as check on the returning ones. He was also open to answering just about any and every question that any of them asked though sometimes his words would leave them with more questions than answers.
Whether Calli and Shadonna would stay behind for a bit or take Mr. Fortwick's advice to head towards the older area, they would inevitably have to go for the orientation. The further they walked the older the bricks became and eventually they would find themselves completely indoors with old masonry surrounding them. Occasionally a lumbering S.L.O.B would be standing motionless in its place, only to lift an arm when someone approached them; pointing in the direction where they were supposed to go. This, of course, made it difficult for some students to travel passed the suited giants out of fear even though they would do nothing but wheeze and made occasional churning noises. Its not until they reach an area that looks like a courtyard that's been built over. All of the lights were artificial in a sense of the term. There were no openings to the outside making it safe from prying eyes but there were no signs of electricity flowing to the orbs that hung from the ceiling and walls. The areas where plants were supposed to be were somewhat different from the normal terrestrial plants. They lacked the familiar green color that their above ground cousin's sported to help absorb light. Instead these were more a pale blue, red, purple or simply lacked color altogether. Then again it would be hard to pay attention to such details when the first thing all new students would notice was that many who wore more clothes than necessary previously, were now disrobing to relieve themselves of overly heavy, hot or cramped disguises to pass themselves off as normal.
Currently he was studying about a man named Nickolas Flamel, a man who, a few hundred years ago, was said to have created some sort of potion that gave him eternal life. Stories varied drastically depending on who you heard them from, but from what he could understand, Nickolas and his wife drank the potion and could potentially still be walking around today.
"That does raise a good question," Issac says suddenly, aloud but thinking to himself. Closing the book and tucking it under his arm he looks down at Absente. "If that demon wants my soul, but I can't die, then how could he take it? I mean, it stands to reason you die when you lose your soul...but if you can't die..." Thinking about it more he raises his head and look off into the sky. It looked calm enough up there, but for some reason he felt the winds of change were on the way. These thoughts are taken from his head, though, when the scar on his nose darkens suddenly and he begins to feel feverish. "Damnedable demons... Absente, let's head back to the dorms. I think I'm on to something, but I need to lie down with a cool rag for a bit."
The lizard-dog makes his usual odd bark-hiss of agreement, and with his master turns around.
Absente was actually a huge surprise for Issac, at least the fact that he survived. A short time after entering the academy Issac had been wandering the woods and had come across a German Sheppard that had been hurt. It looked like he had been attacked by something big, a bear or a wild boar or something worse. Thinking that alchemy might be able to heal the dogs wounds, Issac kneels down beside the poor thing and drew a few circles and symbols on the ground beside it. After pouring out the right amount of a few specific materials, he placed his hands on the circle and activated it. Surprisingly, it worked. Even more surprisingly, the little lizard that had been crawling about beside the wounded dog had gotten trapped in the transmutation as well. And so, Absente was now slightly smaller than your average Shepard, and rather than fur he was covered in green scales, with a long lizard tail and bright yellow lizard eyes. And the quick, forked tongue. Issac had named the chimera after the somewhat banned alcohol which he had just finished reading about.
Finally sticking the key back in his pants pocket, he grabs his book bag and exits the dinged Buick and heads for the University. He shoved his hand into his other back pocket searching for his wallet just in case he needed his I.D. He feels the folded leather inside his pocket, pulling out to see it in the palm of his hand, observing the warn out grey leather before closing his fingers around it. He pulled his pack all the way on just before adjusting his black billowy scarf. He put his wallet in his coat pocket just so it was easier to reach, putting both his hands in his coat pockets to warm them up.
He circled the campus before finding the front doorway labeled "Fortwick University". He entered through the large victorian style doorways. He felt in his pocket for his communicator that was no way to be found. If he could curse, he would just now, leaving his wallet in his pocket, he pulled his backpack of and set it down on the floor and knelt behind it, just inside the foyer/lobby of the large building. He dig through it, looking for the little rectangular device. Nothing. He checked the side pockets and smiled with relief as he spotted it in the left pocket. He zipped the backpack, standing then effortlessly throwing it back over his shoulder. Salem turned out the communicator and setting it in yet another pocket where it could be reached with ease.
A voice comes out from behind Issac. The thick New Orleans accent can be heard projecting from Nabuscu's hefty chest. "What on earth are ya' doin' boy? What if a visitor sees yer hissin' mutt? It's still orientation day if ya don't remember." The woman approaches him till she's almost eye to eye with him. Not that she was as tall as him but that she was perched on top of her giant pet crab. She was quite the substitute teacher. More often than not she would assign herself any odd job around camp. It was more fitting to guess that she didn't have much better to do with her time. Her arms are folded with a scowl on her face. With the way she was posturing and with her expression she looked like she had her anger aimed more towards preschoolers rather than college students. Wesley is not far from where Nabuscu is located so he can clearly hear every word that she speaks.
"Miss Naba I can't help but notice the irony that you are placing on display in front of the students." A softer, raspy voice calls out from none other than the dean Mr. Fortwick. He stands with his wait resting mostly on his cane which is placed in front of himself. "The last day this place was open to visitors was yesterday. Be glad that I don't write you up for misinforming students as well as negligence to the rules." He didn't have a mean bone in his body. His words sounded professional as if he rehearsed them in front of a mirror. Clean cut words to go with his mostly clean cut look. He looks to Issac and then his pet. He's unafraid to stroll up and pat the chimera gently on the head. "Though I would appreciate it that you give him a collar. Something bright, so that any greenhorn hunters don't mistake him for a wild beast. The last thing we need is-"
The dean is cut short with a loud droning bellow echo through the campus. A S.L.O.B. recklessly tromps haphazardly past students who barely have enough time to dodge away from its path. Its large gloved hands cover its helmet defensively and shaking its upper body while making what best can be described as fearful droning. Something is on top of the S.L.O.B.s back. Its head is large and nearly blends with the neck and back making it difficult for it to turn its head. Its claws dig at the back of the S.L.O.B. where tubing connects causing neon green fluid to ooze out. The S.L.O.B. doesn't see that its headed right for Wes.
Wesley saw the fluid leak from it, and the odd creature that dug into its back. For some reason Wesley could not will himself to move, he just watched in awe. It was not like he could make any exclamations or scream, so he just stood there like a dear in the head lights. The thing hit him before he could do anything about it, but he wasn't scared as much as dizzy.
The creature had passed right through him, leaving him spinning for a moment, then falling on his bum. Finally the large hallway stopped spinning and he could see straight again, moving a bit of his hair from his face. He still couldn't stand, but he just sort of sat there, hoping the S.L.O.B wouldn't come back around and trample him unprepared.
He eyed the multitude of cars parked this way and that around the campus and approached one curiously. He towered over the small ones easily, his hindquarters about at the height of their hood. He bent to look through the driver's window, placing a hand atop the hood for balance. His brow furrowed at all the buttons and levers inside. "Strange contraption.....for two legs."
He straightened up and combed his fingers through his beard then made his way to the front door, leaping the front steps with ease. With a swift motion he opened the doors and stepped inside. He stepped to the side avoiding the strange creature that barreled by. His hand went immediately to the sword hilt at his side which he had begun to draw, but once he moved out of the S.L.O.B's way he noted that it did not come back around to attack him so he kept it in its sheath. He turned to look at the man sitting on the ground clearly knocked over by the strange being that had barreled on past and he approached him. Don unceremoniously grabbed Wes by the back of the shirt and lifted him to his feet....hoping to do so as a favor but clearly without the gentle politeness of a passing stranger. "Are you alright, stranger?"
Celadon's voice was booming, and without strain. His sharp blue eyes peered at Wesley, thick brows furrowed. The ponytail on his beard swayed with his every movement. Don straightened up and turned to look where the S.L.O.B. had wandered off to "That creature didn't harm you did he?" As he spoke he shuffled in his place, his hooves making a pronounced sound against the flooring, the muscles in his grand body twitching with every motion.
All their voices were coming at him yet he could not find what he had done with his communicator, which didn't seem to be in his pocket anymore. He put up a finger in a gesture that usually meant "Give me a second." He would totally learn sign language, which he did know some, but barely anybody knew how to speak it... Er... Use it these days.
Wesley continued to dig around his pockets. Things like this always seemed to happen with him, all of a sudden objects would disappear off his person. He finally found it in his inside coat pocket, which he was extremely baffled, he had remember specifically putting it in his outside coat pocket, but no matter. He immediately began typing on the square metallic grey device that rested between both hands. The soft clicking of the keys he had always liked.
Eventually a robotic monotoned voice spoke up. "I'm fine, really." It was a female voice which Wesley quickly corrected to be male. "My name is Wesley," he added with another few taps of the keyboard, looking and smiling up at both the centaur and the young man at the same time, running his fingers through his dark hair again to remove it from his rounded glasses so he could get a better look at the two.
He shook his head, making the ponytail at the back of his head sway and he frowned. He wasn't sure he liked all this technology. He looked to Issac whom apparently had full speaking capabilities and he wondered what was different about this Wesley boy. Finally it dawned on him that perhaps he was a mute and simply hadn't the ability to speak. He'd met one person long ago that was a mute it was a female a centaur like himself and he had been sure she was simply too shy to speak for herself. He studied Issac and smiled and bowed his head to the two. "I am Celadon of the wandering herd. I'm glad you where not harmed, Wesley."
Don had missed the instant where the S.L.O.B had literally went through him and was simply under the impression that Wesley had been knocked over. He looked over at Issac wondering what he meant going on about curses and specters. He looked like a normal human to him.
Wesley straightened his black thick scarf, the air still cool from the many times the doors of the university had been opened. He was kind of excited never meeting a centaur before, definitely something to remember. Maybe they could be friends. Wesley smiled back at Isaac for the offer to help from before.
Wesley shook his head to move his overgrown hair out of his face again, though it persisted to get in the way. Wes eventually ignored it. Taking off his circular glasses and cleaning them off with the other end of the scarf, he noticed a small crack in them, but it probably wouldn't effect his line of vision all that much.
The Dean never let his eyes turn away from the thing on the back of the S.L.O.B. for one instant. By the way he stared it down with a nearly visible scowl made it apparent that this was not something he was wholly unfamiliar with. Moreover his stare was sharp enough to bore holes into stone. He didn't have to do anything. Crabb had been dismounted by Madam Nabuscu allowing it to go after the panicking S.L.O.B. as it somehow managed to double back. It doesn't get the chance to come close to the growing group. The crab used its body to trip the S.L.O.B. forcing it to cover the face of its helmet; shielding it from the hard ground. Just as the S.L.O.B. is about to hit the ground a claw snaps out and grasps the unruly creature by its neck. Crabb's eye stalks twitch watching the thing squirm and squeal something awful. Naba blows a cloud of powder into its face, possibly a sort of sleeping powder as it went limp within seconds. No exchange of words were needed. Nabuscu immediately ordered Crabb to follow her away and out of sight from the students.
Mr. Fortwick slowly shuffles towards the still downed S.L.O.B. who's having a hard time getting back up. It continuously oozed the neon green fluid despite its attempts to stop the 'bleeding'. "Ahhhh, and here I thought today would be a slow day. You're going to need to have that looked at. I wonder where that North fellow wandered off to, I wonder if he's arrived yet." Fortwick looks over the the group, almost forgetting that they were there. "Ah, carry on. Nothing to see here-" He looks at Don's hooves. "We're going to need something done about those. Please have them covered before you go indoors I just had the floors buffed."
He didn't forget what he had seen earlier. These students appeared to be handling themselves well this year while showing some unique characteristics from each other. It was nice to see such diversity coming together in one place that never would normally occur anywhere else. It was something that he could be proud of.
"Calm down boy, it's alright, no need to freak out." Issac says with a smile, though it quickly turns to a frown when he begins to feel a little sick at his stomach. It was due to his curse, but he was afraid the new arrival, Celedon he believed his name was if he had heard right, might think it had something to do with him. And he didn't want a centaur mad at him, so he refrains from covering his mouth as he straightens up again. "I'm glad to see you're alright Wesley, and it's nice to meet you as well Celedon. I have seen very few centaurs even at this academy. My name is Issac."
He was about to go on and say something about Absente and his being an alchemist, but just then the S.L.O.B. decided to turn around, but a glance at the professors told him they had it under control, so he just takes a step back and watches.
It always surprised him how fast Crabb could move, and how strong he seemed to be, but what didn't surprise him was that Madam Nabuscu hurried off with whatever it was on the S.L.O.B.'s back. Issac didn't have the chance to get a good look at it, but from what he had been able to glimpse it was nothing he had seen before. Turning back he looks down at the S.L.O.B. now lying on the ground, bleeding rather badly. With a frown the alchemist reaches into one of his various pouches and takes out a small red bag. From the bag he takes a powder which he sprinkles lightly on the wounds, then returns the bag and dusts his hands off.
"It's always interesting the first few days of school, huh Mr. Fortwick?" Issac says, still dusting off his hands as he turns to look at the headmaster. "I won't bother to ask what that was about. The powder I used should speed up the coagulation process and slow the bleeding down if nothing else. Hope the poor thing will be alright."
His gaze turned to the Chimera as he heard it's nervous growling and his brow furrowed once more. "What is that?" He asked Issac. "It isn't natural...Nothing is natural here is it. What was that beast that barreled through a moment before?....And a giant crab..."
Celadon shook his head causing his beard to waggle back and foth. "This place....I have yet to understand a sliver of it. I am not even sure of the machines outside, they travel faster than a centaur's gallop and they don't even have legs. I fear this world has become too much for me."
He watched as the ginormous crab left the room, then drew his attention back to the centaur.
Franklin North a returning medical at Fortwick. Is now trying to navigate is way through the busy campus. "Ugh freshmen." he said as his car abruptly stops while a group of students cross in front of him. No honking of his horn even if it was justifiable. Frankie just moved along to a less populated area of the campus. As he drove to what he believed to be the quieter area. Frankie witness a cacophony of events and things happening in the distance. From a centaur to one of Madame N's crabs attacking some kind of creature trying to tear apart a S.L.O.B as Dean Fortwick and a group of students watches. "I don't believe this."
The bug stops at the nearest curb, Frankie popped open his car's trunk. Inside there is the common roadside emergency items. Aside from a baseball bag and a large black leather bag. He started to unzip the baseball bag to retrieve a wooden baseball bat. Frankie looks back to the situation at hand. The commotion seems to be under control by the hands of that giant crustacean. Frankie grabs the large leather bag with both hands and makes his way to the fallen S.L.O.B. As he gets closer he notice one of the other students pouring some kind powdery agent on the S.L.O.B. Which made Frankie a bit upset, but he didn't want to lose composer in front of the Dean. He walk past the centaur and the other two students to see what condition the S.L.O.B is in. Frankie notice the reaction the S.L.O.B's fluids is having with the unknown powder causing the green fluid to turn gelatinous. "It's contaminated." Frankie said a bit to loud. The S.L.O.B looks up at student looking over the damage, Frankie crouches down to look back at it. "Sorry number 29 your suits been compromised I have to shut you down."
Frankie opens his bag and pulls out a pair of thick gloves and some odd tools. He precedes to open back container of the S.L.O.B. First the fluid line is cut off to prevent further leakage. Second he locates the S.L.O.B's power core and turns it off. The S.L.O.B let out a loud ghastly yell before going limp and lifeless. Third Frankie pulls out a vile of blue preservative liquid agent and a syringe. He fills the syringe with the mystery liquid and locates an adapter to stick the syringe needle into. After he finish pumping the blue fluid into the S.L.O.B Frankie pats number 29's cold helmet before getting up and turning to Dean Fortwick and the group. For a moment Frankie glared at young man with the weird creature, then back to the Dean. "So this is a fine start for a new semester." He said in his normally composed tone.
Wesley stood with his fingers intertwined in front of him, he had always known himself as tall but not as tall as the centaur that towered over him. Hm. He watches the dean kneel beside the slob and flinching at the cry from the creature right before it... It died... Hm.. How sad. Wesley frowned faintly then turned back around, waiting for some sort of er, well he wasn't really altogether sure what he was waiting for.
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