To Judge a Book by its Colour |
Terrible Presence in Effect
| Aura of Unease Present |
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There is something that is just... not right about him. A chill in the air, a sense felt deep in the bones. The shadows might seem more lively, the night might play more tricks on his opponents' eyes. Yet there is one, undeniable truth -- the source is him.
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It had been quite a while since he had set foot in Hogwarts after his departure from his short-lived tenure as the Astronomy professor, yet it seemed that just as he had observed when he had first arrived into that position and had reflected upon the last time he had stalked the halls over two decades prior, very little had changed. The same could not be said of the matters of his personal affairs, which for the time being he much preferred to ensure that they remained as such, but for the time being as he straightened the cloth on the little table that held an array of pendulums, crystal balls, and a few simple tarot decks as well as a custom-made book that Noé had put together with his help to translate his intentions into English, he was determined to ensure that today's career day presentation went off without a hitch. His table was, perhaps, less elegant than others, but the line of work he occupied did require the ability to appreciate the subtle and to ignore the flashiness of first glances.
Noé had learned of this event and had requested that Leonardo go as representative on his behalf due to a prior engagement in Portugal that had been made weeks in advance. So here the Chiadovini was with his eyes closed for the moment as he readied himself for what was likely going to be an exhaustive multi-hour event in front of students that were more than anxious to escape from the confines of their school so that they might return home for the summer and forget most everything that they had learned over the course of the educational year in a matter of the span of a couple months. The subject matter was, of course, something he was more than familiar with. What he was not as sold on was the level of desire and interest of the student body that might be in attendance at the event.
But, with Macbeth on his shoulder preening for a moment before contentedly nestling himself into a sleepy ball of feathers, Leonardo finally found in himself the will to try his hand at one last lecture.
"Good day, students." Came the soft and cordial tone of the British-Italian accent that caused the air to vibrate slightly with the resonance. "My name is Leonardo Chiadovini, and my work is as an Oracle Aide in the realm of Aurology." A wan, almost unnerving smile artificially tracked its way across his features. It did not help that the very air around the man seemed chilly even by early summer's standards, as if a cool darkness wrapped heavy around his very essence. "Does anyone know what the art of Aurology is?"
He would try to let them guide their own lesson. Some knew, others didn't and gaped at him blankly. "Aurology is the art of divining and studying... auras." It was rather simple, actually. "Be they of humans, objects, or places. It is an aspect of divination, and while its direct utilization is often unappreciated in comparison to more "mainline" uses of other divination techniques, aurology is often utilized in these techniques rather unconsciously as the means by which to intuit that there is something "out of the ordinary" or "not as it first seems"." The Seer had not moved an inch since the beginning of his presentation, his arms and hands hidden beneath his velvet cloak in a way that almost made it seem as if he was partially formless from the shoulders down. "In other words, basic Aurology is akin to a "gut feeling", but is capable in its advanced study of being refined into the ability to pinpoint "unusual" changes in our day-to-day world or to even "read" the potential intentions and natures of those around us. There has been much speculation on the concept of auras being the magical "fingerprint" of wizardkind, but this is better left for your own research purposes for the time being."
At last, Leonardo reached out from his cloak, opening the book on the table and flipping through a few pages. "As an Aide to an Aurologist, your early tasks will include developing and sharpening your "gut feeling" into something consistent and useful. Some of you may be particularly good at this art. Some of you... not so much." His silvery eyes passed over the gathered students. He could see in their own eyes the sparkle or the lack thereof--some of these students took very well to their Divination studies, he was sure. Others... they had about as much hope of being amateurs to the art as a tree spontaneously self-transmogrifying into a tuber. "The simplest and easiest technique to practice is the art of reading the aura of a person--that is, attempting to discern if there is "something" about them that stands out in a way that would not otherwise be notable on first glance. Often... this might be in the form of a physical colour associated with this person--something like an emanation or "halo" that radiates from their person, if you would."
Some of the students shifted uncomfortably. He was willing to make an educated guess as to why. That sickly smile appeared and then faded again. "Sometimes, the aura of a person can be much more palpable than others'. For example... I am willing to bet that more than a few of you are feeling a little unnerved and are not quite able to put your fingers on why that may be. I am also willing to guess that some of you are drawing connections between that unsettling sensation and my presence. I assure you, your feelings are not misguided--whether you realize it or not, you have just utilized the art of Aurology in analyzing the feeling of unease and ascribing it to me." He bowed slightly in acknowledgement. "It is the work of Aurologists to take that small-scale assessment and to apply it on a much broader scale, sometimes even at a local or regional level. Aurologists have historically been utilized to identify early warning signs of growing dark magic and identifying the origins of certain Obscurals--things that have a tendency to create "sinister auras" in places they linger in for long enough."
The page that he had turned the little sample booklet to was a very simple series of techniques to practice basic aura-detection and what certain auras might mean. "When it comes to detecting auras, practice makes better." The Seer was very firm on his utilization of a comparison and not a superlative. "There are ways to disguise an aura, though it is difficult to do. Even polyjuice, curses, or certain transmogrification abilities that are intended to successfully conceal one's identity often cannot overcome the inherent aura that they give off. Therefore, it is wise to learn how to detect an aura, and even more so how to realize that an aura is... off. In a practice setting, it is best to choose an area with plain and colour-neutral backgrounds and very little distracting lighting or intense shadow. Allow your eyes to relax."
He watched some of the students attempt this with a slightly bemused smile. "Relax your gaze on your subject, focusing your eyes as if you are looking at the background behind them. Utilize your peripheral vision; it will help you detect variances in their outline." Noting that some seemed to be straining, he offered a little more guidance. "Relax yourselves as well. A few breaths through the nose with exhales through the mouth. Center yourself and your own energies, as if preparing to cast a spell."
The students started to relax a bit more. "Reading a person's aura tends to be easier if they remove items or outerwear that are too flashy or bulky. So, for the purposes of this demonstration and your practice," Long, thin fingers that were pale and spindly unclasped his cloak's clasp and then removed the object from his shoulders as Macbeth fluttered away from his former perch, placing it neatly folded over on the table. Under the cloak he wore a simple black vest with a white long-sleeved undershirt. The silver chain of a pocketwatch hung in a soft arc out of one of the vest's pockets. The man was, altogether, thin as a rail and appeared almost frail despite the determined storminess in his eyes. "I will let you attempt to read mine."
It was quiet for a little bit, and he watched the manifestation of a sense of distance in the students' eyes. The courtyard may be a bit tricky to do this in, he reflected, but perhaps the softness of the greys and darks of the stones that made it would sufficiently counter the presence of the otherwise bright natural light. "The most common colours you are likely to run across include reds, orange, yellows, greens, violets, and variants of those colours such as indigos or beige that mix those colours--mixtures being indications that several emotional or aural states are occurring simultaneously. White auras and black auras are extremely uncommon, with the former indicating that the individual has "transcended" spiritually the need for physical experience and black auras tending to indicate a deeper spiritual conflict in the individual ranging from psychological disorder to a curse or spiritual antagonism, variants of white and black can indicate the "err" of the current aura towards those extremes. Auras are capable of subtly shifting based on emotional and spiritual development over time."
"Mister Chiadovini, you have a very dark aura." One piped up, speaking softly as if frightened to say anything to begin with. "Sort of... purply blackish silvery? It doesn't... that doesn't make much sense?"
The Seer fixed them with a steady, almost blank expression. Finally, he nodded. "That's very good. You might have a very successful future in Aurology. I am a Seer, which would explain your inklings of "purply" and silver. Purple and silver both have strong connotations with the third eye, divination, and prophetic dreams, all of which I have experienced or practiced in. As for the black, black is often associated with negative energies or blockage of energy. Black or darkened auras can indicate that the individual is... experiencing an emotional or spiritual repression or may be in a depression. A true black aura is, as I mentioned before, very rare and may indicate a sort of "void" or total lack of energy. But... black auras, especially of the "obsidian" variety can also be an indication of "self-protection", absorbing negativity from the environment and attempting to shield the individual from further harm so that introspection and healing can occur." There was a momentary flicker in his eye, present for a moment before immediately vanishing away.
He quickly pivoted. "Why don't you try practicing on each other? This sample booklet was made by my current employer and good friend, a Mister Noé Vero who works in the field of Aurology. Who knows, perhaps one day you will read some of his works when you go into an apprenticeship in Divination."
As they practiced and perused the divination objects on the table as well as the book, he would explain a few of the common colours that they might see in one another.
"Red is associated with primal ambitions--the pursuit of survival, love or lust, leadership, impulsiveness, and intensity. Imbalance may indicate anger, deficiency might indicate fatigue or lethargy.
Orange auras tend to indicate creativity, a social nature, confidence, and optimism. These are often charmers, visionaries, and youthful souls. In excess, arrogance and lewdness can present, and in deficiency a notable shyness or pessimism is possible.
Yellows and golds are common for those who have strong logical minds and organizational skills mingled with a desire to learn, gather information, and plan. Excessive yellow nature can present as anxiety and neuroticism incapable of flexible thinking, whereas deficiency might present as indecision or lack of an ability to concentrate.
Greens are often associated with healing abilities, harmony, and compassion. These are the empaths and peacemakers, balancing pragmatism with kindness. Excessiveness of this can create an inability to understand boundaries or martyr-like behaviors that lead to self-sabotage or toxic empathy. Deficiency in it can lead to self-isolation and a desire to withdraw rather than confront interpersonal issues.
Blues are associated with communication, expression, truth-telling, and peace. These are the peacemakers and great communicators, capable of both understanding and making others understand. These individuals tend to be highly intuitive and easy to trust.
Purples are often affiliated with mysticism and magic. As you can guess, many wizards and witches possess some kind of purple aura. However, even among witches and wizards, Seers are often the common possessors of this aura, often being in tune with "otherworldly" awareness or a "third eye"."
When other students came in, he would give them a lecture of a similar nature, shorter or longer depending on their level of interest and more tailored towards their level of experience and school advancement. Questions that were posed to him were answered with a highly analytical and professional countenance, prioritizing a scholarly and educational nature intended to enable them to think and answer their own questions as he posed logical questions back to them to enhance their understandings.
Overall... he would consider the day a success. He kept a careful eye on his breakable equipment, minded the younger students who may have been more interested in mischief than a final lecture of their school by a strange wizard, and tried to "enjoy" himself as much as he could in the halls of his former school. Perhaps he did miss the life of teaching more than he thought he did...
NOTE: I am permitting light godmodding of Leonardo in this thread. He answers questions curtly and as politely as possible but will not delve too deeply into matters of personal or private importance.
I do intend to reply to this thread (with much shorter responses) if it becomes popular/of interest/if I am owled or DMed for a specific sort of interaction. However, I would appreciate non-dramatic events occurring in general (such as trying to break his equipment or being a general nuisance)--Leonardo is dealing with a lot of you in character and his patience for tomfoolery is very low.
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2,278 words
Reducio
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─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────Statistics & Abilities
Stamina 7 ⬥ Strength 1 ⬥ Evasion 10 ⬥ Wisdom 15 ⬥ Accuracy 14 ⬥ Arcane Power 18
Seer ⬥ Fearless ⬥ Advanced Casting ⬥ Terrible Presence ⬥ Spell Spread ⬥ Crucio─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Seer⬥ Uncanny Insight ~ 10% Auto-Dodge & Auto-Hit Rate
⬥ Prophesy ~ Vision Occurrence Chance 1ce/Thread (1/1)
⬥ Indiscriminate Knowledge ~ No Critical Failure Chance & +1 Critical Success Range
⬥ Fatespinning ~ Reroll an Ability Check 3ce/Thread (3/3)
⬥ Prophesy ~ Vision Occurrence Chance 1ce/Thread (1/1)
⬥ Indiscriminate Knowledge ~ No Critical Failure Chance & +1 Critical Success Range
⬥ Fatespinning ~ Reroll an Ability Check 3ce/Thread (3/3)
Fearless ~ Immunity to Fear Effects, Spells, and PotionsAdvanced Casting ~ +1 Critical Success Range while Casting SpellsTerrible Presence ~ Aura of +1 Critical Failure and 10% Automiss & Damage ReductionSpell Spread ~ +2 Wisdom DC, +1 Critical Failure Range, -2 Accuracy, +1 TargetCrucio ~ Capability of Casting the Unforgivable Torturing Curse─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
⟣𝙱𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚜, / 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜⟢
To Judge a Book by its Colour |
As a first year, Millie not yet sure where she will set her sights for the future. What will she choose to do. What will she seek onto. What will she delve into. It's all still vague. Like the vision itself still slumbering deep in the darkest mist of her desire. Could only be seen until she has a firm, steady grasped to be lead on.
So in this called Career Day, Millie just stroll the school ground mindlessly. Stopping several times to the topics or subjects she liked to hear more thoroughly from its specialist. She secretly hoped that will be one which could sparked her interest too. But, alas, what could be expected to the twelve years old girl who just recently knows she has magic power on her.
"When it comes to detecting auras, practice makes better."
Her ears perked up when she heard that. Aura? Like that one tent of magician she occasionally found on amusement park or bazaar who offered to read your luck or your love live for some pounds? Millie may obviously doubted that one, but here, in magical world and Hogwarts no less, it could be the real one.
Millie then decided to approached that stan and listening to the man who somehow emitting such an odd feeling while roaming his eyes to the audience, yet as time went on didn't do such dramatic or exaggerating act whatsoever. Even when he describing each colours meaning one by one with such details, Millie almost couldn't believe her own ears and eyes that here, she really is meeting a real deal specialist and not a scammer who can only swindle gullible people.
"Mister Chiadovini, a question, if I may," Millie approaching the man while the situation is favorable enough after he finished his presentation. Once she face to face with him, she cleared her throat. "As someone working in this field, can you advise me how to differentiate between the real practitioners and the fake one?" She glanced away for a moment to the other students around her, fidgeting her fingers. "I'm sorry if you find this question of mine quite offensive ..."
359WC
School courtyard
June 20, 2026 of Career Day
Consulating with @Leonardo Chiadovini
School courtyard
June 20, 2026 of Career Day
Consulating with @Leonardo Chiadovini
Stealthy little one, who has
cat's Grace & Sixth Sense
cat's Grace & Sixth Sense
To Judge a Book by its Colour |
Gemini, having just reached his third year, had barely started divination, but he took a moment to stop at a booth that drew his interest. He wasn't sure quite what it was- perhaps the small size of the crowd of students who were actually interested, or maybe it was the man running the booth itself. The man was... strange. Gem noted the way he conducted the lecture and held his posture, but he was intimidating in a way beyond that, in a way Gem wasn't used to seeing.
Or maybe it was the topic itself that caught his eye. As he walked past, the first sentence he heard was "the means by which to intuit that there is something "out of the ordinary" or "not as it first seems," and that inexplicably pulled his attention.
The longer he listened, the more interested he got. The art sounded fairly... underrated, perhaps. Not that I'm experienced enough to judge, but it's normal to make assumptions, right?
"Practice makes better..." he murmured to himself, echoing the seer. Gemini liked that for reasons unrelated to the lecture itself. The phrase "practice makes perfect" had always felt too showy to him.
He felt somehow a little guilty, though, as he began to spend more of his attention trying to study the man in front of him than the words coming out of his mouth. I don't really know what to make of him... he's interesting, but maybe my standards are low since I've not met a many adult witches and wizards. Feeling that it might be conducive to learning both more about the topic and more about the Seer, at his prompting Gem tried to read his aura. He could barely make out any of it at all, but he could somewhat agree with the other student- purple, silver, black. I can't see much, but I guess enough? Maybe it's just like he said- it takes practice.
Gemini noted the seeming slight discomfort as the Seer explained the meanings of a black aura, but quickly moved on as they went into the meanings of all the other common colours, then an invitation to try to practice on each other.
This might just turn out to be really interesting. I wonder if I'll be okay at it? It would be really cool if I could read someone's aura, useful too... And he said it changes slightly based on emotional states too, right? How much is slightly? I guess I should ask...
"Mister... uh, sir-" he began, then faltered, realising he'd arrived a little late and didn't know the man's name. He was quickly saved when another student asked a question of her own.
"Mister Chiadovini, a question, if I may, as someone working in this field, can you advise me how to differentiate between the real practitioners and the fake one?" the other student asked.
That's... actually a pretty good question. I wonder what he'll say?
"Mister Chiadovini, I was just wondering, how significant is the impact of one's emotions on their aura? Does it differ if it's a certain emotion, or if it's felt for longer?" Gemini asked.
I wonder what other students might see if they try and read my aura... I'm not sure if it'll be good... he suddenly thought as he waited for Chiadovini's reply.
Note:
Hi! This is such an interesting topic, I'm OOC interested in this part of the HP universe now. If you do choose to respond (I do hope this thread grows in popularity), it'd be really cool to see. Thanks for putting this out!
WC: 598
🄴verybody 🄻ies, 🄴verybody 🄳ies. Live your best life and tell your best lies.
Abilities: cat's Grace