[Location] University of Zeltiva Registrar's Office

by **Hadrian** on March 23rd, 2010, 7:07 am

1st Spring, 510 A.V.

Hadrian ambled into the registrar's office with the ho-hum, old-hats bravado of an upperclassman. He had been here for years now, but it was time to register for the next round of classes. His hair wasn't quite in order, and his student's robes were artfully unkempt in what he and some of his colleagues considered "rakish."

Truth be told, whatever pull he had within the University likely wouldn't amount to a hill of beans elsewhere, but academia was a soap bubble, gleaming and perfect. And fragile. He would get to the bubble-bursting soon enough, but for now he was a brilliant student; a big fish, perhaps, but kept in a relatively tame pond.

"Hullo, Registrar Sanderson," he greeted, all chummy. "Here we are again, eh? Well, I'm to enroll in more anthro and magecrafting, of course. Getting all prepared for my practicum."

Once he was sufficiently prepared, he would be a journeyman, sent out of the ivory tower to learn from experience and less academic instructors.

"And, I suppose, if anyone has recommended me for other classes this term while I was on the break... Thank you."

by **Liminal** on March 28th, 2010, 12:41 am

Sanderson looked up, and a rare smile briefly found its way to his face. "Hadrian, good to see you. You had a pleasant break, I trust?"

"As for classes..." He adjusted some papers in front of him. "Professor Stonemiller has agreed to take you on for magecrafting, in preparation for your Academic Mastership exam. He'll be in the library, as usual -- I don't think the man ever uses his office." Professor Stonemiller was the head of the entire Arcane Department, and to have him take on a student spoke well of the University's view of that student's potential.

"As for anthro...we've got a visiting scholar, Professor Rochlas, here from Abura. Different perspectives and all that. At any rate, you can join his class. Are you paying this term, or are you planning on doing assistant work?"

by **Hadrian** on March 28th, 2010, 5:01 am

"Oh, assistant work, please. The parents aren't keen on my field of study, so I'm trying to save whatever financial aid they send to help me get on my feet once I graduate." He gave a rueful smile, but it was obvious that he liked outsmarting his parents. They would have been livid at his worn student robes, his modest housing, and the way he was hoarding nilos and mizas like they were going out of style.

"I'll check in with the profs. Would you keep my name on the lists of tutors? I could use the extra money and I really feel like I understand things more perfectly when I have to explain them to someone else... you know, who doesn't understand already."

by **Liminal** on March 29th, 2010, 1:56 pm

Sanderson nodded. "Absolutely." He made some markings on his paper and then placed it carefully in the stack.

"I'll let both of them know that you'll be an assistant this term. In the meantime, you can check in with them as soon as you can." He inclined his head in the formal Zeltivan fashion, and unless Hadrian had any other questions, he would be on to work with the next student.

by **Torc Ironwood** on April 3rd, 2010, 4:20 pm

28th Spring, 510 A.V.

Torc took his time getting to the university, the structure was massive and the craftsmen masterful. He received odd looks as he used his hand to go over the outside of the polished stone. How much back breaking labor had gone into using sand to polish the stone just so. As he saw the carved stone lions he chest fell a little bit. He had been arrived at the university in hopes of offering his skill for lessons and a humble salary. The look of the oaken doors showed that they were well maintained and crafted.

Around Torc excited students talked about what classes they would take, girls displayed new clothes and boys describe grand knowledge that Torc could barely follow. With each step Torc felt like a small mouse entering the jaws of a cat. Who was he to ask for work and knowledge? Who was he to say that his work was worth value? Torc began to feel anger build. As his jaws clenched and release, ripples of hard rip cord muscles moved across his faced, his eyes began to get a hard gleam in them, and his hands began to form hard fists making his stance into one of hostility.

Slowly the student around Torc began to quiet, as they eyed him and talked in hush tones Torc began to expand his thinking. Who are they to look at me with such venom? I was an orphan and I will be a great craftsmen! I will not be a lost cause, the Twins will be proud of me. They can depend on me to be a tool that wouldn’t break or dull. Torc felt the promise unspoken to Priests and Priestesses he grew up with. The Twins claimed lost causes, but there joy can from the good that lost cause brought.

A boy openly gave Torc a look and as Torc turned to him his smile faded and his eyes quickly turned to the ground. Stepping up to the desk Torc turned his heated glazed to the Registrar. He felt like a bull be examined for auction as the man looked at him. Torc neck muscles pulled hard lifting up his chest and back to stretch across the gray work shirt he wore. “Looking for work, and perhaps a class on Glyphing or Magecraft.”

by **Liminal** on April 6th, 2010, 2:23 am

Registrar Sanderson hardly blinked as Torc gave his response, though he gave a barely perceptible nod.

"Anyone wanting to take any magic classes has to speak with Professor Stonemiller, who will either approve or deny the application. Once you're finished here, you can find him in the Wright Library." Magic was a dangerous thing, and being accepted into the University's classes was by no means automatic.

"As for work -- what sort of work are you looking for? What skills do you have to offer?" It was a neutral question, promising nothing, but also not shading toward a no.

by **Torc Ironwood** on April 6th, 2010, 1:46 pm

Torc stood looking at the Registrar for a moment. He crossed his arms feeling the fabric pull tight upon his heavily muscled arms and chest. He swallowed the moistness from his mouth, feeling the muscles ripple from his jaw down his neck. Torc was trying to calm down, but the stares from other students didn’t help much. At times like this he felt like a man being examined, a caged beast being evaluated to see if it would break before it would bite, still Torc felt the Registrar was at least trying to answer his question. Torc wondered if the man was intimidated, he didn’t want that, but these damn students and their fancy ways was starting to get under his skin.

Torc took a moment to swing his gaze from the Registrar to some of the students hanging about. He felt his jaw set and his eyes tighten as he saw some pompous ass talking to a pretty girl. Even though the student looked fit, Torc felt like going over to him and punching him in the face. Damn fool probably comes from money and thinks that just because of the cut of his shirt he can chat up good looking women! Shaking his head for a moment to clear the thought, Torc turned his gaze back to the Registrar, wondering if the heat and anger was still burning in his eyes.

“Right then after our business I will go to Professor Stonemiller. I did work for a temple; construction, carpentry, bit of smithen’. I can handle myself around a forge and even create a bit of fluff with iron, but I am not so proud as to think I can't unload a wagon or repair doors, chairs, and tables. I ain’t lazy sir, and I have done a full 10 hours of work and 3 hours of study before.”

by **Liminal** on April 11th, 2010, 12:00 am

The Registrar paused to think about this. One could almost see the wheels turning in his head, though if he noticed Torc's anger, he didn't say anything.

"Most of the University's jobs are in specialized academic fields or clerical work," he said slowly. "We do have some openings for janitorial work -- scrubbing floors, removing trash, that sort of thing. I don't know whether that would have any interest for you. If not, your best idea for employment may be to talk to the Sailors' Guild, as they're often hiring for stevedores and dockworkers."

by **Torc Ironwood** on April 11th, 2010, 4:04 pm

Torc felt his hand close in a fist, muscles rippled across his forearm, and his heart began to beat faster. A vision of picking up the Registrar desk and throwing it against the wall with his brute strength came to his mind. This wisp of a man offers me janitorial work?! I have the strength to take his skull in my hands and squeeze till I hear a satisfying crack! Torc felt the heat raise to his eyes and muscles across his body became apparent that they were ready for action.

Perhaps it was a moment or more, but before action sprung to his arms and legs he saw a vision of Priestess Lara within his mind. Now Torc, the man didn’t mean any offense, he offered the only type of work they had. Remember the twins simply don’t give gifts, they wait for those that work hard to show favor on them. Count to ten and thank the man.

Torc felt the heat slowly loosen its grasp on him as he counted down from 10. Muscles on his flesh loosened, and he felt… a little closer to calm. After reaching two, Torc could finally speak. “The Sailors’ Guild, makes sense they might need a few apprentices for shipwrights. I had hoped the university sponsored a mageforge, but I suppose I will have to talk to Professor Stonemiller. If you could please give me directions to find him, we both can resume our respected business.”

If anything Torc could leave this place, and the smug smiles of people who judged him, and didn't know better.

by **Isikais** on April 12th, 2010, 11:59 pm

11th Day of Spring 510 AV

He would have arrived before the sun came up, avoiding the clutter of inquisitive eyes, doing his business there and leaving. Hadrian, however, did not wake until much later. So Isikais was forced to mill among the many students still registering for their classes. He hoped too avoid too many unpleasant questions, maintaining the disguise of mortality that he had practiced through the night.

"Registrar Sanderson, I presume?" Straight to the point and all business, Isikais was uninterested in friendly banter with the old man. He imagined that with such a repetitive job and so much to do, the man would welcome at least one laconic exhange.

"I would like to register to study with Professor Stonemiller. I am a moderately experienced practitioner of both personal and world magics. I do not intend to work for the University in any capacity, and need your assistance only in registration and referral." That should do it, Isikais decided, and to avoid any impropriety, worked his facial muscles into a friendly smile.