A Game for Intermediates (3rd-5th Years) on Potions

Professor Fawcett

September 03, 2013 12:59 PM

A Game for Intermediates (3rd-5th Years) by Professor Fawcett

One of the great advantages of living in the actual desert, John reflected as he made a mental note to boil up a peppermint tisane for himself after the Intermediate class, instead of a artificially moistened area might well have been the absence of spring pollen. He was not enough of an expert on deserts to be sure, but it made sense - a lack, after all, of plants to produce the stuff would seem to naturally lead to that. That would also be nearly as pleasant an addition to the life of Man as evolving to have no sinuses, items he had also been more or less unaware of for most of his life but become irritated by since he turned eighty.

His wife, who'd been irritated with hers since she was in her twenties, said he ought not whine, and John knew she was right. He was lucky to only have seasonal allergies so mild the effects could be treated effectively with nothing more than peppermint, and as for his sinuses, well, no one was making him spend quite a lot of time every day in a room full of potion smoke. That was merely his own (utterly mad, according to most people he knew) notion that retirement wouldn't suit him. Still, though, he considered it good for his mental health to have a grumble to himself between classes at least every other day, particularly when dealing with intermediates, and nothing else had especially caught his interest today.

Grumble over the season done, he waved a few stragglers to their seats. "Welcome, welcome," he said. "Get to your seats quickly, please.

"To business. As I'm sure you all know, Quidditch is, according to the designs of our illustrious founders, the primary sport of Sonora, but other broom sports have long and celebrated histories as well. If you were raised in a magical family, you may have had a fall or six at Shuntbumps, or if you have an interest in history, you may have heard of the many attempts to re-legalize Creaothceann." Which one probably could get out of charges on with an insanity plea in his opinion anyway, but he supposed it was to some degree positive that some people still had the strength of their convictions. "America's main contribution to this tradition is the sport of Quodpot, which potioneers take special enjoyment from as it actually requires the presence of a potion to be played, the victory condition being that a team place their ball in a vat of a potion before it explodes.

"In the spirit, then, of patriotism and the season - the former of which often places questions about this potion on the CATS - we shall brew up some Quod solution today. You'll need one ounce essence angel trumpet extract, daisy petals, dried flitterbloom tentacle, sneezewort, horse hair, and just a pinch of powdered wiggenbush bark. Be very careful to always stir counter-clockwise after adding sneezewort at stages three, five, and seven, else the potion may well explode itself, which I'd rather not see happen. Directions are on page 467. Get to work, and don't forget that your papers on non-hydrated solutions are due next week."

OOC: As usual, all posting rules apply, tag if you need John, etc. Be creative and have fun!

0 Professor Fawcett A Game for Intermediates (3rd-5th Years) 0 Professor Fawcett 1 5

Aria Yale, Teppenpaw

September 14, 2013 2:03 PM

I am anti-this game. by Aria Yale, Teppenpaw

Aria had spent most of her life a around potions and their vegan counterparts thanks to her mother’s profession as the Medicine Woman for their community. It was expected (but not demanded) of Aria to take her place once she had completed all the necessary schooling. Aria had grown up believing this to be her absolute desire. She loved working with her mother. She loved the since of ease and relief that she gave to her patients. She loved the sense of being that her mother carried with her. It was a confidence of someone who knew who she was and what her purpose in life was. Aria wanted this to be her purpose too.

So far, Sonora had yet to deter this from Aria’s path. Transfiguration had caught her attention thanks in large part to Professor Skies introducing her to Mechanical Transfiguration, but it was not enough to make that her life’s purpose. Professor Fawcett still allowed her to maintain her beliefs without compromise and he often taught lessons on healing potions, which she appreciated.

At least she had until today. He started the class discussing Quidditch. Aria was not a fan of the game. It condoned violence within the youth (and adults). Aria was a pacifist; she did not agree that playing a game should be entertaining by the use of causing harm to another. She refused to go to the games as she would not enable such behaviors in others despite being acquainted with a few of the players. She thought it was a terrible sport and so, during the games, she went to her little spot in the gardens and meditated. She would pray for the good health of the players and for a quick end to the match. She would give her blessings to the Spirits and to Mother Earth.

But now here she was being asked to make the potion that causing the violence in the more Americanized game of Quadpot. Aria did not want to do it, but she had made other potions that caused unpleasant things, so she couldn’t very well say that she wouldn’t. Plus, she didn’t think the professor was actually going to use it against anyone, but the idea of making it made her feel very uneasy.

Aria gathered up the vegan ingredients to make the lesson and set the water to a low boil. It would take some time to heat, so she began the process of grinding up the wiggenbush bark to a powder. This would take time, but due to her anxiety of brewing a potion made for injury, she let out her frustrations into the bark, which made the process go so much faster and smoother. She just wanted to make it quickly and then apologize for having done so.

6 Aria Yale, Teppenpaw I am anti-this game. 0 Aria Yale, Teppenpaw 0 5

Jade Owen

September 17, 2013 3:57 PM

That doesn't surprise me. by Jade Owen

Potions was boring. Unequivocally, inevitably boring. Jade didn't like Professor Fawcett, because he was dull, and set lots of homework, and actually cared when she submitted it late. She didn't like potions because it was hard, and the textbooks were boring, and she didn't really enjoy using some of the ingredients. She didn't kick up a fuss about it like the hardcore girly-girls or animal lovers, but she would wrinkle her nose in distaste if she had to use bits and pieces of creatures that might have been living if it weren't for their curriculum. Care of Magical Creatures was, by contrast, her favourite subject.

The introductory lecture of this particular potions class momentarily perked Jade's interest as her professor mentioned Quidditch, and she made a note to research whatever that sport was that was illegal - that was probably something she wanted to try - but essentially even an interesting opener led to the same, repetitive brewing of some potion or other. At least the potential for explosion might make the class memorable, but that's all Jade was hoping for as she began to collect together her ingredients.

Having taken from the school's store the many supplies which Jade's own potions kit was lacking (her family's limited funding meant that she only ever carried the most basic and necessary of ingredients), the Pecari fifth year languidly returned to her desk to witness Aria grinding her bark into non-existence. "Good morning, Aria," Jade said ironically as she withdrew a long horse hair from her own kit. She raised an eyebrow and gestured with her chin to the cloud of dust the Teppenpaw was creating. "Either you know something I don't about finely ground powder making a better potion," she said, "or there's something on your mind." She left it at that as she rolled up the bedraggled sleeves of her robe and set about lighting her cauldron.

Aria was an interesting person, Jade had observed. She didn't often think much of other people - that is, she literally just didn't think about them; her concerns were usually far more egotistical - but since Aria had volunteered to help her at the fair this year, Jade had paid her a little more attention. It didn't seem like she had a great many friends (not that Jade could boast a wide circle herself), and she occasionally did different assignments in class, but the fifth year had not bothered to find out why.

0 Jade Owen That doesn't surprise me. 221 Jade Owen 0 5

Aria

September 18, 2013 10:37 PM

Probably doesn't for most. by Aria

Aria blew her hair out of her face while she was grinding and didn’t even look at Jade when she spoke to her. Her arm was getting tired from the grinding and she knew she would have to stop anyway before it become too fine for the potion to be of much use anyway. She set the tools down with a heavy sigh and took the moment to pull her hairs back into a ponytail and out of her face. “I do not agree with the violent sport, so it goes against my better judgment to make the potion for it.” Aria informed Jade. She was aware that Jade played Quidditch. Although Aria had never been to a game before, it was sort of a known thing about who played the game and who didn’t. From what Aria had heard, Jade had won the only game against Aladren had lost in several years. The potion was not for Quidditch, but it was still for an equally violent game.

“I’m sure Professor Fawcett would have allowed me to do another Potion if I had asked, but since no one is actually using the potion, I couldn’t in good conscience request for him to advise me on another project.” Aria explained to Jade. “I’d rather get it done quickly and cleanse myself of the negativity it has drawn upon me.” Aria was aware that most of the things that she said didn’t really make sense to anyone else. She lived in a world with ones’ balance with Nature and self were essential to a life of happiness. Going against what felt natural to her made her feel like her world was tilting and the only way she could straighten it was through meditation and prayer. Whether others cared or understood was becoming less of an issue for her. She was learning to accept herself and worry less about everyone else.

Aria put the powdered bark off to the side and pulled her book over to see what else she was supposed to do. She took another breath to keep her mind straight. “I do not mean to offend you or anything, if I have.” Aria said to Jade. “I know you enjoy these sports. Violence goes against my beliefs, so it’s hard for me to do this.”

6 Aria Probably doesn't for most. 0 Aria 0 5

Jade

September 19, 2013 2:58 PM

That makes you predictable. by Jade

At first jade wasn't sure whether Aria was even going to acknowledge her presence, let alone reply, which would have sucked because at least conversation might help the class to pass more quickly. Thankfully, the younger girl did reply, and she seemed calmer in her spoken response than the bark grinding might have indicated. perhaps she just held her temper better than most, Jade mused. She didn't get what Aria said at all about cleansing herself of negativity... was that like repentance of some kind? She wasn't sure whether she was sufficiently interested to ask.

"It would take much more than that to offend me," Jade replied easily, and while she didn't actually chuckle, there was laughter in her voice. "Being opposed to violence sounds sensible," she commented, though doubted she would be able to survive following Aria's belief system. She wasn't habitually violent towards others, and certainly not towards animals, but she had noted that a well-aimed kick or happily timed elbow in the ribs was often a very effective method of convincing her siblings around to her way of thinking. If the sort of gentle violence present in magical sports was enough to make Aria reluctant to complete a potion, then the two girls were definitely not on the same wavelength.

"Although this potion is designed to prevent the explosion," she commented, unsure whether or not that would make a difference to how Aria felt about it. If she was opposed to violent sports in general then Jade supposed there was little chance it would comfort her, but then that wasn't really Jade's problem. The fifth year's concern for the time being was getting all her ingredients laid out in the right order so she didn't have to mess around cutting things up when she should be stirring them in. She didn't always make such an effort with her concoctions, but those with a risk of exploding demanded more than the usual care.

0 Jade That makes you predictable. 0 Jade 0 5