Professor Taransay
October 11, 2016 3:36 PM
Is it a stork? Is it a heron? No, it's a... [Intermediates] by Professor Taransay
“Good morning, class,” called Rory, bringing the students to order. “Now, my plan was to keep things fairly quiet and tame this term, so as to let the third years settle in before things get dangerous. However, tame and quiet sounds a bit too boring.” He chuckled. Rory had never been one to keep things particularly quiet, and working as a teacher was, it seemed, no exception to the rule.Now for the slight inconvenience to those already seated, although he was sure they wouldn’t object. “Those of you who have already got your books and quills out of your bags, could you please put them away. We’re going outside!”
Making sure everyone was following, Rory led the class out of the classroom and towards the labyrinth gardens. Stopping a little way into the maze, he waited until everyone was gathered round before speaking again.
“Ok, the creatures we’re going to work with today can be considered dangerous,” he warned, his face stern and serious. “They take offense very easily, so make sure you bow to them, and wait for them to bow back before approaching. Keep eye contact with them at all times and, if you’re at all unsure about the situation, back away from them. Obviously I’m here if anything goes wrong, but anyone who puts themselves or the creatures unnecessarily at risk will be asked to leave today’s class.”
Giving up the stern expression, his face broke out into an excited grin. “I now present to you: Hippogriffs!” he announced, leading them round a corner into a large open space, where a herd of hippogriffs were lazing around in a paddock under the supervision of one of Rory’s old colleagues, Janus McGraith, who had kindly volunteered his hippogriffs for Rory's use.
Stopping again, this time by the fence separating the class from the hippogriffs, Rory turned once more to his class. “I’m going to demonstrate, then I’d like a fifth year volunteer to have a go before I let you all loose.”
Rory removed his jacket and then vaulted over the fence. Giving the class a running commentary on his actions, he walked a few paces towards the nearest hippogriff before stopping and bowing, making sure to maintain eye contact. After a few seconds the creature bowed back, and Rory approached, confidently and calmly. He spent a few moments stroking the creature, then turned back to the class.
“Ok, who’s our volunteer? Yes, it has to be a fifth year – I want one of the older students to try first.”
Rory talked the student through approaching the hippogriff correctly, making sure that his instructions had been understood. He was fairly confident that, unless a student did something stupid, there wouldn’t be any horrific accidents in today’s class. McGraith’s herd of hippogriffs were used to being around people, so were perhaps a little more tolerant than many.
“Right, now it’s all your turn! Work in twos or threes, please, and choose a hippogriff to say hello to. I’ll be here watching in case you have any problems, or any questions.”
Learning more about the creatures would be the subject of the next lesson. For now, Rory was content to let the students see these amazing creatures up close. Hands-on experience with magical creatures was, for him, the best part of the subject, and something that just book learning could never full make up for.
OOC: Normal class rules apply. Tag Professor Taransay as needed, and please remember that he would not let a situation become dangerous without being there straight away. The hippogriffs should not be particularly aggressive without provocation, but you may describe their actions. Also, no one would have been left behind on the way without Professor Taransay realising.
If your character is a fifth year, feel free to volunteer them as the test subject (first person to claim it gets the role!). Professor Taransay would have talked them through the process, reassuring them if they were scared and advising them on what to do if anything got a little out of hand (not that it should…). Tag him if necessary.
Subthreads: Not a dragon, but I can live with that by Gabe Valenti [Teppenpaw] with Kyte Collindale, Pecari
Back into the thicket by Nevaeh Reed [Aladren] with Arne Reinhardt
I'll just stay in the back... by Jax Donovan (Aladren) with Caelia Lucan
Volunteering like a good student. by Jack Spencer, Aladren
I may or may not be a bit of an ornithophobe by Cameron Dempsey, Pecari
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Professor Taransay
Is it a stork? Is it a heron? No, it's a... [Intermediates]
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Professor Taransay
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Nevaeh Reed [Aladren]
October 13, 2016 2:56 AM
Back into the thicket by Nevaeh Reed [Aladren]
As much as the break was appreciated, it felt good to be back to classes, getting into the scholastic swing of things. Maybe that was just the nerd in her, but Nevaeh was glad to resume her education. Even beyond that, it was just nice to get back to Sonora. As much as she loved her parents, she also liked getting to spend time with her school friends. And, to her own surprise, when she was away, she kinda missed Isis. She hadn’t expected that.She tried her best to push that thought from her mind, to swallow the knot in her throat, a bubble of conversation a part of her wanted to have with the Pecari Head of House. Scout could tell she was distracted as she almost missed their turn; he gave a little tug of the harness and a quiet whimper to bring her back to him. “Sorry,” said Nevaeh weakly. “You’re right. Care of Magical Creatures next. I know it’s your favorite.”
Despite the almost-detour, the Aladren and her guide dog arrived precisely on time, sliding into a seat near the front, although she didn’t stay seated long before Professor Taransay announced that they were headed outside. Then it was another trek into the edge of the Gardens. Hippogriffs! Nevaeh had read some about them and could only imagine how beautiful they had to be. The faint grey blurs she perceived obviously not doing them any justice.
To some extent, she envied the fifth year volunteer. Nevaeh wanted to get closer as soon as possible, so that maybe she could see something, anything, to suggest their true beauty. But she knew she’d have to wait her turn; even if she were a fifth year and therefore an appropriate-level to volunteer, she couldn’t because there was no way she could approach one of these creatures without assistance.
She wasn’t super sure why the Professor wanted them to work in groups unless it was to prevent kids from fighting over an insufficient number of hippogriffs, but it did benefit her, at least. “Hey, want to do this together?” she asked. The third year did not really leave enough time for an answer simply because she couldn’t imagine any reason the person would say no. “I want to practice my bow on you first so you can tell me if I’m doing it right, and then when we go up to one of them, I’m going to need you to let me know if it bows back. Is that okay?”
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Nevaeh Reed [Aladren]
Back into the thicket
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Arne Reinhardt
October 19, 2016 4:04 AM
What are you, Briar Rose’s blind prince? by Arne Reinhardt
The Care of Magical Creatures teacher was not necessarily Arne’s favorite. Both Professor Taransay and Professor Perrault, the Charms teacher, were pretty boys and Arne didn’t really know if he trusted pretty boys. He hadn’t trusted Professor Pye either and then the guy had talked about his days as an auror and Arne had been compelled to step into the library for once and do a bit of research to see if it was even possible for the guy to have done all of that. He did have such a pretty face.But hippogriffs were pretty cool, Arne thought begrudgingly. He had to give the COMC teacher that, at least. He was in the midst of looking for Louis Valois, his best bro, when that blind third year asked Arne if he wanted to practice with her. He didn’t know if she could see him really or how bad her sight was other that that she wasn’t the sort to see nothing and that she had a seeing eye dog. But that was enough to convince Arne that she was blind enough to not be able to tell if he was doing his properly and that didn’t particularly bother him in the least. Either he was going to do it well and pass the class or he was going to get trampled and then have some awesome scars to show off to the ladies.
“Sure,” he grinned in response. “Go for it, and don’t worry if you can’t let me know how I’m doing. I’m rather growing fond of the idea of leaving class with a scar.”
OOC: It looks short but it's definitely over 200 words, I checked :)
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Arne Reinhardt
What are you, Briar Rose’s blind prince?
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Nevaeh
November 02, 2016 1:48 AM
*Princess, thanks. by Nevaeh
The fact that Nevaeh did not immediately recognize the voice that responded to her meant that she had approached someone she didn’t usually talk to, but that was alright, especially since he--even despite being young teenagers, the voice was easily male--seemed agreeable. She smiled at his (probably a joke?) about leaving with a scar. “More like a hoof print than a scar, I imagine, but hey, suit yourself,” she countered playfully.“Okay, I’m gonna try it now,” she announced. The Aladren lowered her head, bent slightly at the chest, and dropped her knees a little, her motion slow and deliberate, as careful as if she was actually approaching one of the hippogriffs. After all, they would be soon, and the creatures could be dangerous if they were offended. Nevaeh was not one to take unnecessary risk, preferring to be orderly and have a plan, so she wanted to do this as best she could.
“How was that?” she said, straightening back up. “Anything like what Professor Taransay demonstrated? Oh,” the third year added as the thought occurred to her. “Do you think Scout needs to bow or anything?” The German Shepherd's ears swiveled in her direction at the sound of his name. “Like, I bet I could get him to lower his head or something. Or if not and he’d be in trouble, I guess I could leave him over here if you wouldn’t mind making sure I don’t, like, trip on a particularly big rock.”
OOC: That's okay. Mine isn't much longer AND it took forever.
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Nevaeh
*Princess, thanks.
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