OPENING CEREMONY EXPLORE THE WILDERNESS

mentioning: @Amalie Leclerc, @Clark Stellan, @Chatt Auclair, @Azzure Solace, @Marigold Wesley, @Andrea Woodsburn, @Julia Evans

The veil of rain still hung heavily around the mountain as the students headed down towards the small village. You couldn't even see the top of the mountain when you looked up-only a massive, hundreds-of-millennia-old stone wall wrapped in a shroud of fog. Some of the international students preferred to walk the footpath around the mountain, but Denisse went with those headed for the cable car line, excited for her first glimpse of Uagadou.

As the cable car glided upward, the school finally revealed itself, carved directly into the heart of the cavernous mountain. They reached the lowest level, the New Moon Gate. Someone near her muttered about the entrance, and a student guide nearby casually explained that while they entered through the New Moon Gate today, they'd be leaving through the First Quarter Gate when the phase shifted. It was wild to think a whole magic school’s architecture was synced directly to the lunar cycle.

Step one past the threshold, and the sheer scale of the place hit her.

From above, a huge waterfall roared in the mountain, splashing over the top, into the dark cavern below. Inside the mountain, clear water snaked through thick, green grass, headed for the enormous fields of crops- the school's food supply…inside the stone walls. They passed massive stone dormitories, in the distance, before heading down a paved road toward the Great Hall.

As they strolled, she stopped to gaze at a lineup of stone statues along their route. Each statue had a small plaque made of bronze at its foot.

Uagadou was a magnificent, textured sculpture of the mountain scenery. She saw a name etched onto a small tablet, and read that the history of Uagadou remained as opaque as the distant fog. According to ancient legend, the principal founder of the mountain was established during the 8th century. However, some claimed a solitary founder erected the mountain, while other groups believed it was a band of the Uagadou Tribe, who resided in the local mountains, where they devoted themselves to rigorous ethical conduct, reverent spirituality and unswerving fidelity to their originating doctrines.

Just past the first statue was the second- a young girl with a tiny golden token in her small, graceful hands. The note explained the school's connection to the moon, the sky, and dreams. Denisse's gaze stopped briefly on the entry about their admissions selection process– each year, on New Year's Day, the Headmaster receives Deliverers of Dreams to reach out to students.

To accept, each recipient child carries their Dream Token to the moon and says, "Together, we shall follow our dreams."

It is said children are filled with visions of a ten-year-old girl when the token reaches them- a direct successor from the original tribe's leader.

The third statue surprised her completely: a gorgeous Three-Horned Chameleon that depicted the native tribe of Uagadou's traditional focuses. Uagadou's ancient ancestors were protégé-shapeshifters-what you now call Animagi-and that tradition continues: in addition to Transfiguration, Astronomy, and Alchemy (specialized in after your fourth year for internships and mentorships), Uagadou specializes in advanced Wandless Magic–the prospect of swinging your wand with a flick of the finger made her own wand arm feel a little underpowered.

Finally, they made their way through the foreboding gates into the Great Hall.

It was breathtaking. Circular tables covered the floor, with an assortment of brightly colored Everlasting Flowers and Wild Orchids covering them. Silver and purple banners draped from the ceiling, which was close to the roof of the hall, along the walls, which were lined with floating candles, with clumps of glowing Red-Hot Poker plants floating around them. In the center of the hall was the Sculpture of Dreams, the base engraved with the names of all the graduates that had come before; Denisse looked at the sculpture for a full minute, watching the form move and change-it apparently looks completely different for everyone who sees it, whatever it is that the observer most desires.

Denisse sat down at one of the round tables, listening to the babble of students coming from magic schools all over the world.

A woman approached a large wooden lectern at the front of the hall, her hands clasped behind her back. Headmistress. She surveyed the packed room, paused a beat for the crowd to quiet, and cleared her throat.

Her voice carried with a magical clarity and warmth as she spoke to the cavernous chamber.

"Karibuni wote!"

The remaining chatter died down instantly. Nadira smiled, letting her hands rest comfortably on the edges of the podium.

"Welcome students and faculty to Uagadou. We are so very pleased to have you all attending this event hosted by myself and Headmaster Albrecht." Her bright smile made the massive hall feel a little more welcoming. "Today you will all be treated to a lovely lunch prepared for you with ingredients from our very own fields, and then you will be taking part in setting up your tents with your tentmates. I hope you will all enjoy yourselves throughout the week. Now..."

Before she even finished her sentence, a feast of freshly prepared food materialized on the tables right in front of us, sending rich, savory aromas wafting into the air.

"...enjoy your meals, you will need all the energy you can get," Nadira added with a soft chuckle before stepping away from the podium.

I looked down at the steaming plate in front of me, pulled my seat in closer, and smiled. Whatever this week had in store for us, it was off to an incredible start.

wc: 925
location: Uagadou

wc.927	09.21.2026.date
location.Uagadou	open to interactions.mentions

It was so foggy this morning you could hardly see two steps in front, but you could feel the charge in the atmosphere. Students from all magical schools all over the world were arriving, one by one to the village and all heading toward the same place – Uagadou.

Ivy decided to ascend the mountainside by the footpath rather than the cable car so she could appreciate the breathtaking expanse of the land. When Ivy was looking up at the school as she stood at the base of the mountain it looked so unbelievable to see it carved right into the rocky side of the mountain. When they entered at the New Moon Gate, the lowest level of the school, she heard a few students whispering to one another regarding the gates but a local student was able to clear up their question. Although they entered today through the New Moon Gate, by the time they leave it will be the First Quarter Gate.

When Ivy walked into the New Moon Gate, there was nothing that got to her more than the sound – a powerful, roaring waterfall rushing down from high above.

Gazing across the cavernous interior of the mountain, Ivy couldn't help but feel impressed. Clear, sparkling streams of water scurried across the mountain's interior on its lush grass. They streamed their way past giant stone dormitories and sprawling fields of crops. For a mountain-based school, they had an incredible amount of natural light and thriving, lively life.

But Ivy took some time after heading to the Great Hall to also read the three bronze plaques embedded along the path.

The first statue was a rough-hewn sculpture of the mountains. There was a plaque explaining the ancient origins of Uagadou - how it was born in as much mist as the mountains themselves. Whether the school was founded by one man or many, the ancient tribe of Uagadou lived in these very mountains, steeped in strict morality and spiritual humility, loyally following the original teachings of the founder. Official documents say the school was founded sometime around the 8th century.

The second statue depicted a tiny girl clutching her very own miniature Dream Token in her tiny hands. When Ivy read the plaque she realized the school's deep-seated connection to the moon, sky, and dreams – in fact, the local range is called the Mountains of the Moon. Each January 1st, their tradition is for the Headmaster to send Dream Messengers to future students, and to accept their spot, children await moonlight, raise their Dream Token skyward, and proclaim, "Together, we will follow our dreams". Legend claims that many see a ten-year-old girl when the token arrives – a direct descendent of the original tribe founder.

Third was a fantastic, delicately sculpted Three-Horned Chameleon. This pillar told of Uagadou's connection to the natural world, and their ability to shape shift. Every ancient Uagadou is a trained Animagus, able to transform into one animal at a time at will. Today this famed ability remains, with Uagadou's celebrated Transfiguration, Astronomy, and Alchemy-specialty students can choose to begin after their fourth year of schooling so as to gain a mentor, summer internship, and careers specializing in those subjects, each having legendary mastery of wandless magic (learned by many during their early years).

They went through the arch of the third statue and entered into the great hall.

The hall shimmered with color and light. Huge round tables filled the space, each complete with exquisite arrangements of Everlasting Flowers and Wild Orchids. Silver and purple banners hung from the rafters, while mysterious candles floated in the air beside the stone walls, casting a gentle glow over mounds of colorful Red-Hot Poker plants.

There was the Sculpture of Dreams in the center of the hall: underneath it were the names of the most prominent graduates. As she passed by it, the statue appeared to flutter and unfold into a shape that was entirely new to her – a sort of magic of a most intriguing type that bears the deepest dream of whomever looks upon it.

Ivy took a seat at one of the circular tables, she could hear the excited murmur of foreign accents.

The Headmistress was positioned behind a grand wooden podium at the very front of the room, her hands criss-crossed neatly behind her back, awaiting to start the conversation. As the last group of international students sat down, she took it all in.

She cleared her throat and her voice sounded like a booming whisper in the Great Hall.

"Karibuni wote!"

The hall went quiet almost instantly. Nadira gave a warm, bright smile and rested her hands gently on the edges of the podium.

"Welcome students and faculty to Uagadou. We are so very pleased to have you all attending this event hosted by myself and Headmaster Albrecht." She paused, her eyes glowing with hospitality. "Today you will all be treated to a lovely lunch prepared for you with ingredients from our very own fields and then you will be taking part in setting up your tents with your tentmates. I hope you will all enjoy yourselves throughout the week. Now..."

Right on cue, an array of delicious, steaming dishes materialized across every table in the hall.

"...enjoy your meals, you will need all the energy you can get," Nadira added with a soft chuckle before stepping back from the podium.

I glanced over at the incredible spread of food, feeling my stomach rumble, ready to see what the rest of the week at Uagadou would bring.