Fandom High School

"I herd the radio broadcast last night. Having a daughter of my own I can sympathize with your situation. This will be a free study period, or, if any of you have your wee ones with you, I would be happy to answer their questions. I'm sure my TAs would as well.

The only thing I have to say on the subject of having children while engaging in a battle against darker forces is that you firstly keep them safe. Your home should be a veritable cornucopia of protective measures both mundane and arcane. Never underestimate the value of a good old fashioned, ear splitting, alarm.

And secondly, you must be firm with them! Do not give into their demands! Particularly if they want their own bathroom and the only room with one is in the northeast corner of the house."

( Before class )

Right about then is when Orpheus walks into the room.

"I'm sorry to be later then usual students, but I can't help but shake this feeling that something is amiss and I.... Oh my goodness look at that, one of our number has been transformed into a swine! This is... Splendid! Today's class was scheduled to be about curses and the breaking thereof."

Reading material about curses and ways to brake them is passed out.

"When they don't involve an act of atonement for some wrong doing on the part of the cursed. Most curse breaking techniques involve breaking, kissing, killing, or 'cleansing' something. Now since we're lucky enough to have a cursed individual in our midst, your assignment for today is to try and break the enchantment."

Byron made witchyfingers at the pig, causing it to glow pink and levitate up to the front of the class.

"Have at it."

[ooc: please wait for OCD. Special thanks to Chris and Phoebe muns for their help with the class. :D

Once the students settle down the lights dim until they were nearly out.

It is dark, you're likely to be eaten by a grue if it gets darker...

Then, the sound of a bell is heard.

And Orpheus' voice rings out,
"O ye who go about saying unto each, 'Hello Sailor':
Dost thou know the magnitude of thy sin before the gods?
Yea, verily, thou shalt be ground between two stones.
Shall the angry gods cast thy body into the whirlpool?
Surely, thy eye shall be put out with a sharp stick!
Even unto the ends of the earth shalt thou wander and
Unto the land of the dead shalt thou be sent at last.
Surely thou shalt repent of thy cunning."

There's a flair of light and a candle is lit.

( THE POWER OF ELVIS COMPELS YOU! )

Byron looked around the room.

"And of course, it goes without saying that after an exorcism everybody should have some chocolate. So, any thoughts, experiences or questions anybody would like to share?"

[[ooc: please wait for OCD

As the students arrived today, they will notice there's something a little different about the classroom. There's a slight haze and a heavy (hopefully not unpleasant) sent in the air.

Scattered about the room are a variety of different incense burnders, some of which are actively giving off the aforementioned haze and smell.

Anybody or anything that spends any amount of time in the room today? Will probably smell like incense for a while unless extreme measures are taken.

"Smoke and sent have been used since time in memorial for spiritual purposes. Cleansing, carrying prayers up to heaven or into the spirit plane, or even to repel evil. Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner." Byron explained producing a large platter with an assortment of incenses on it. "Stick incense, coil incense, cone incense, loose powder, smudge sticks, frankincense and murr to name a few.

And don't even get me started on scented candles.

Incense composition requires one to be rather precise in the case of direct burning incense since it must be carefully proportioned and blended such that it has ability to slowly and evenly burn itself in its entirety.

While indirect burning incense consists mainly of fragrant materials and need not adhere to any specific proportion, recipes and mixes for all direct burning incense must include and balance two things: fragrant materials and a combustible base."

Instructions and materials for making incense are passed out. A table off to the side provides a dizzying (if you're not already dizzy from the smell) number of ingredients. (Including agarwood.)

"You may follow that recipe to the letter or use it simply as a guide. In order obtain the desired combustion qualities, attention has to be paid to certain proportions in direct burning incense mixtures:

Firstly, oil content: Resinous materials such as Myrrh and Frankincense must not exceed the amount of dry materials in the mixture to such a degree that the incense will not smolder and burn. The higher the oil content relative to the dry mass, the less likely the mixture is to burn effectively.

Secondly, oxidizer quantity: The amount of chemical oxidizer in gum bound incense must be carefully proportioned. Too little, and the incense will not ignite, too much, and the incense will burn too quickly and not produce fragrant smoke.

Thirdly, mixture density: Incense mixture made with natural binders must not be combined with too much water in mixing, or over-compressed while being formed. This either results in uneven air distribution or undesirable density in the mixture, which causes the incense to burn unevenly, too slowly, or too quickly.

The manner with which you burn or heat your incense is entirely up to you. Something more ceremonial, special made and consecrated for a purpose can heighten a spiritual or arcane effect... Covered verses uncovered is also entirely up to you. Though I believe that covered is rather better for safety reasons. But honestly, all that matters is that the smoke can escape and air be given access so that the incense may continue to burn and not be smothered by its own smoke.

The spirits don't care if you burn you incense in a vessel that's shaped like an alien smoking a hookah if such a thing suits your nature...

Anyway.

Your task for today, if you have not already surmised is to make your own incense. Have at it."

[[ooc: Please wait for OCD. Open! Today's class was supposed to be about something else, but we're pushing that to next week.]]

"Good morning students. Today we will talk briefly about malevolent creatures and the seemingly myriad and bizarre number of rules they apparently need to follow. For instance, evil spirits in India must travel in strait lines. Certain varieties of vampires, Slavic and Romanian for example, are compelled to count seeds or grains of wheat or sand. Some modes of thinking in certain Asian circles believe that Oh Sea Dee in people is the result of possession. In much of the older Western European folklore; fairies, who can be either benevolent or malevolent, can be driven away buy putting on a garment inside out, boiling egg shells to make beer, trying to draw water with a sieve, or other wise deviating from the status quo. It is most often with creatures who are under a time constraint, such as needing to be gone at sun rise. Folk wisdom tells us that piles of grain or never ending designs will keep evil spirits occupied until such time as they must retreat."

Orpheus walked over to the board and drew out a number of designs.

"The never ending line." Byron said motioning to the board. "A path that weaves over and under itself, on and on for eternity. Spirits and creatures who are compelled to count grains are likewise mesmerized by such designs. Considerably less messy then a pile of mustard seeds. Though I suppose if you were to make a design out of grains of some sort it could possibly make the creature's head asplode as the kids say."

A handout on how to draw knotwork is passed around.

"Today, I would like you to try your hand at creating a knotwork design, it doesn't have to be fancy. ...Though if you're last name rhymes with 'Holly Well' I'll expect something just a tad more complex.

For next week we're going to meet in the Danger Shop. Please dress warmly and bring either a blanket or beach chair."

[[ooc: open]]

"Greetings students. Today we're going to start talking in earnest about... Apotropaic Magic!"

( Horns, glowing, you know the drill by now. )

Byron waved his hand to indicate a number of books on a shelf to the side as well as a table of art supplies.

"Your homework will be to create for yourself a protective item. You may use the rest of the period to check these reference materials. I would like a preliminary sketch by the end of the period of what you intend to make."

[[ooc: Please wait for ocd Open!

As soon as the class was settled the teacher appears in the requisite purple sparkling mushroom cloud of moaning skull shapes.

"Greetings students! I trust the intervening week has been a fruitful one! This week the knowledge I shall impart unto you is of the Somatic variety. I speak of course of mystical gesticulation!"

( Doctor Orpheus is f'ing metal! )

"For today's exercise I would like you to pair up, practice some mudra, and discuss any gestures from your own cultures with mystical applications. If you can not find a partner, Mr. Dornez, Mr. Drake, or myself will assist you."

[[ooc: Please wait for OCD Open! Wooo! \m/ ]]