Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: viewtopic.php?t=29487
Name of Ability that you are applying for: Seer
Describe why this fits your character:
Name of Ability that you are applying for: Seer
Describe why this fits your character:
Reducio
The Seer lineage within the Clark family is as ancient as it is mysterious. It began with Aeliana Clark, a prominent witch of her time, whose origins are traced back to an era where magic was regarded with awe and respect. It was whispered that Aeliana’s magic was not just limited to spells and potions, but she also possessed a rare and unique ability: the Sight. Aeliana's visions were known to be startlingly accurate, with prophecies that spoke of events many decades into the future. She was revered and sought after, not just for her magical abilities but also for her uncanny gift of foresight.
Despite Aeliana’s prominence, the trait didn’t seem to pass directly down her lineage. The recessive gene that granted the Sight lay dormant, skipping several generations before surfacing again. This unpredictability became a defining characteristic of the Clark family Seer lineage.
Decades turned into centuries, and the tales of the Seer from the Clark family became more of a legend than a lived reality. However, every now and then, when the stars aligned just right, a Clark was born with that rare gift. It was during these times that the family prospered the most, their destinies guided by the foresight of their Seer.
However, with great power came immense responsibility and inherent danger. Not every generation was kind to Seers. There were times when the Clark Seers had to hide their gifts, fearing persecution or exploitation. The world of magic had its dark corners, and a Seer's vision was a coveted prize for those with malevolent intentions.
The last known Seer in the Clark lineage was Seraphina Clark, born during a turbulent time for the magical community. Her early life was marked by a series of seemingly fortuitous events. Before she even realized her gift, Seraphina’s intuition saved her family from potential disasters on more than one occasion. By the age of 14, her true visions began. Her hair, once a deep shade of chestnut, began to show streaks of white by her 17th birthday, solidifying her identity as a fully developed Seer.
Seraphina's gift was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it provided the Clarks with insights and advantages that few families possessed. On the other, it also attracted unwanted attention. Rumors spread, and soon, Seraphina found herself being courted by various factions within the magical community, each hoping to harness her gift for their own ends. To protect her and the family, the Clarks decided to keep Seraphina's gift a secret, shrouding her abilities in mystery and intrigue.
After Seraphina, the Clark lineage seemed to enter a prolonged Seer-less phase. Generation after generation passed without any indication of the Sight. The tales of Aeliana and Seraphina became bedtime stories for young Clarks, tales of a bygone era.
The recessive nature of the Seer gene meant that while it might have been dormant, it wasn't gone. But with each passing generation, hopes of seeing another Seer in the Clark family dwindled. Some even speculated that perhaps the line had been diluted too much, with marriages outside of magical families, or maybe the magic itself had decided that the Clarks had seen enough.
Today, the Clark family holds a respectable position in the magical community, their Seer legacy a proud but distant memory. Old portraits of Aeliana and Seraphina hang in the Clark ancestral home, silent reminders of a gift that once was. But as history has shown, magic is unpredictable. And while the Clarks might believe that their Seer days are behind them, the future, as always, remains uncertain.
Despite Aeliana’s prominence, the trait didn’t seem to pass directly down her lineage. The recessive gene that granted the Sight lay dormant, skipping several generations before surfacing again. This unpredictability became a defining characteristic of the Clark family Seer lineage.
Decades turned into centuries, and the tales of the Seer from the Clark family became more of a legend than a lived reality. However, every now and then, when the stars aligned just right, a Clark was born with that rare gift. It was during these times that the family prospered the most, their destinies guided by the foresight of their Seer.
However, with great power came immense responsibility and inherent danger. Not every generation was kind to Seers. There were times when the Clark Seers had to hide their gifts, fearing persecution or exploitation. The world of magic had its dark corners, and a Seer's vision was a coveted prize for those with malevolent intentions.
The last known Seer in the Clark lineage was Seraphina Clark, born during a turbulent time for the magical community. Her early life was marked by a series of seemingly fortuitous events. Before she even realized her gift, Seraphina’s intuition saved her family from potential disasters on more than one occasion. By the age of 14, her true visions began. Her hair, once a deep shade of chestnut, began to show streaks of white by her 17th birthday, solidifying her identity as a fully developed Seer.
Seraphina's gift was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it provided the Clarks with insights and advantages that few families possessed. On the other, it also attracted unwanted attention. Rumors spread, and soon, Seraphina found herself being courted by various factions within the magical community, each hoping to harness her gift for their own ends. To protect her and the family, the Clarks decided to keep Seraphina's gift a secret, shrouding her abilities in mystery and intrigue.
After Seraphina, the Clark lineage seemed to enter a prolonged Seer-less phase. Generation after generation passed without any indication of the Sight. The tales of Aeliana and Seraphina became bedtime stories for young Clarks, tales of a bygone era.
The recessive nature of the Seer gene meant that while it might have been dormant, it wasn't gone. But with each passing generation, hopes of seeing another Seer in the Clark family dwindled. Some even speculated that perhaps the line had been diluted too much, with marriages outside of magical families, or maybe the magic itself had decided that the Clarks had seen enough.
Today, the Clark family holds a respectable position in the magical community, their Seer legacy a proud but distant memory. Old portraits of Aeliana and Seraphina hang in the Clark ancestral home, silent reminders of a gift that once was. But as history has shown, magic is unpredictable. And while the Clarks might believe that their Seer days are behind them, the future, as always, remains uncertain.
Status: Denied, Beatrice, 13 October
As per our new quidelines, please include your talent application in your Index registration (as I see you have done so).
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Blamo
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Perfectionist II
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Perfectionist II
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Reducio
Part 1 for story context (if you care)
The efforts from last year had been in vain. Toad thought him a fool. A disappointment to the house of Lansdale and failure of an carer. How was he supposed to provide and protect for such a noble creature in his current state?
His year long peacekeeping mission with Mr. Wand had resulted in yet more embarrassment. The Wand had to have a true cruel streak to disregarded all the work Galton had done to mend their relationships and patch together some semblance of a truce. The sentient stick would not bow to him though.
A fan of spectacles, Mr. Wand should have been placated by Galton's continued use of his flashy abilities. Splitting spells, on paper, was what Mr. Wand would crave. Flashy and powerful magic to fuel the power-hungry wand. But the only time Mr. Wand now raised his fit was when Galton was angling for such feats. Among the countless blowbacks that Mr. Wand had thrown the teen's way this year the two most egregious had both been during critical moments of official duel - right where Toad would be expecting the most from Galton.
He had been cornered, in both cases, outnumbered and alone against two opponents. Birds or snakes, it hadn't made a difference, Mr. Wand chose to whip Galton's wind jinx back at him. It was nonsensical - Mr. Wand was nonsensical. Why would it turn on him at such a crucial time?!
It made no sense to Galton. To any third-party though the case would be quite clear. High-stress casting mixed with high-stress magic was a recipe for mistakes. A soft 'V' and an elongated 's' had damned the Gryffindor. Always room for improvement.
The negotiations would reopen. Like last year's efforts, Galton would take Mr. Wand down to the dueling club and have a chat. Spell spread after spell spread as the two "talked" it out. If it truly was or wasn't an actual conversation between wand and caster was anyone's guess, but to Galton it was real. He tried pleading and begging to no avail. Magic would ultimately end shot back at the boy. He tried bargaining and bribing the wand with a polish or a new sleeping spot. Fruitless. He even turned to flattery and praise. But Mr. Wand would have none of it.
It began to eat away at the young wizard. More and more time would be spent in the dueling club trying to perfect his ability relationship with Mr. Wand. So much time that he even began bringing Toad along, scared he was neglecting the poor cat. It hurt a tad bit more that he was constantly failing in front of his most precious fan, but slowly the fear of disappointing the hairless feline shrunk smaller and smaller.
As did his failures. They became less and less frequent. The negotiations between Mr. Wand and Galton grew more and more into a conversation, a discussion of game-plan. Galton worried less and less about making a move just to please the power-hungry Mr. Wand and when he did make a dazzling display of magic it was for the fun of it. Slowly he could recognize when Mr. Wand was turning sour, throwing the magic back at him. And so he was able to learn how to avoid such situations.
This was, of course, fantastic practice of one's magical skills. Wonderful and useful practice of steering one's self away from complete failure and lessening it. If that was a dodgy cast or no spell production it didn't matter - it was just better than having the spell turned on oneself. The countless hours spent honing the ability shaped into results. Knowledge of how to protect himself from his own total magical failure.
There was a sense of true confidence that grew as his efforts continued. Not the hallow confidence that Galton projected outwardly as a product of his ego, but a true belief in his magical ability. Mr. Wand was not an adversary that controlled the fate of his magical abilities, but a friend that helped make magic all the easier. A friend with powerful tastes - sure - but a friend nonetheless.
With a true friend in hand, Galton was sure he'd shaken the pain of the past. And whether he had or hadn't, he was sure Toad would be perfectly content either way.
720/400Part 1 for story context (if you care)
The efforts from last year had been in vain. Toad thought him a fool. A disappointment to the house of Lansdale and failure of an carer. How was he supposed to provide and protect for such a noble creature in his current state?
His year long peacekeeping mission with Mr. Wand had resulted in yet more embarrassment. The Wand had to have a true cruel streak to disregarded all the work Galton had done to mend their relationships and patch together some semblance of a truce. The sentient stick would not bow to him though.
A fan of spectacles, Mr. Wand should have been placated by Galton's continued use of his flashy abilities. Splitting spells, on paper, was what Mr. Wand would crave. Flashy and powerful magic to fuel the power-hungry wand. But the only time Mr. Wand now raised his fit was when Galton was angling for such feats. Among the countless blowbacks that Mr. Wand had thrown the teen's way this year the two most egregious had both been during critical moments of official duel - right where Toad would be expecting the most from Galton.
He had been cornered, in both cases, outnumbered and alone against two opponents. Birds or snakes, it hadn't made a difference, Mr. Wand chose to whip Galton's wind jinx back at him. It was nonsensical - Mr. Wand was nonsensical. Why would it turn on him at such a crucial time?!
It made no sense to Galton. To any third-party though the case would be quite clear. High-stress casting mixed with high-stress magic was a recipe for mistakes. A soft 'V' and an elongated 's' had damned the Gryffindor. Always room for improvement.
The negotiations would reopen. Like last year's efforts, Galton would take Mr. Wand down to the dueling club and have a chat. Spell spread after spell spread as the two "talked" it out. If it truly was or wasn't an actual conversation between wand and caster was anyone's guess, but to Galton it was real. He tried pleading and begging to no avail. Magic would ultimately end shot back at the boy. He tried bargaining and bribing the wand with a polish or a new sleeping spot. Fruitless. He even turned to flattery and praise. But Mr. Wand would have none of it.
It began to eat away at the young wizard. More and more time would be spent in the dueling club trying to perfect his ability relationship with Mr. Wand. So much time that he even began bringing Toad along, scared he was neglecting the poor cat. It hurt a tad bit more that he was constantly failing in front of his most precious fan, but slowly the fear of disappointing the hairless feline shrunk smaller and smaller.
As did his failures. They became less and less frequent. The negotiations between Mr. Wand and Galton grew more and more into a conversation, a discussion of game-plan. Galton worried less and less about making a move just to please the power-hungry Mr. Wand and when he did make a dazzling display of magic it was for the fun of it. Slowly he could recognize when Mr. Wand was turning sour, throwing the magic back at him. And so he was able to learn how to avoid such situations.
This was, of course, fantastic practice of one's magical skills. Wonderful and useful practice of steering one's self away from complete failure and lessening it. If that was a dodgy cast or no spell production it didn't matter - it was just better than having the spell turned on oneself. The countless hours spent honing the ability shaped into results. Knowledge of how to protect himself from his own total magical failure.
There was a sense of true confidence that grew as his efforts continued. Not the hallow confidence that Galton projected outwardly as a product of his ego, but a true belief in his magical ability. Mr. Wand was not an adversary that controlled the fate of his magical abilities, but a friend that helped make magic all the easier. A friend with powerful tastes - sure - but a friend nonetheless.
With a true friend in hand, Galton was sure he'd shaken the pain of the past. And whether he had or hadn't, he was sure Toad would be perfectly content either way.
Status: Approved | Oct 20 (Phaedra)
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Ta da~
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Evasive Maneuvers
Describe why this fits your character:
ReducioLife as a wizard wasn’t easy, it was dangerous. School was dangerous, Quidditch was especially dangerous, even the bloody dances were dangerous. It was something that, at the end of the day, wasn’t always fun to deal with.
Luckily, for better or worse, Elsian's always had a bit of talent in avoiding things. Responsibilities, people, and most importantly danger.
At a glance you wouldn’t really think it true. He’s rather known for being lazy after all, and what type of lazy person is good at being nimble, dodging things? But it's true none-the-less. In an odd way laziness is a motivator for the boy, just a motivator to avoid things he doesn’t want to do, to deal with, and Elsian very much didn’t like pain. Didn’t like going to the hospital wing or detentions or the aches left behind from being knocked off your broom…
So in turn, one could call him very motivated when it came to dodging or altogether doing his best at avoiding said dangers.
The Gryffindor is a downright evasive little menace when he wanted to be. From falling off the face of the earth after ditching practice last minute, to dodging the wrathful spells of fellow students to escape the consequences of his actions, Elsian has gotten rather good at dodging all sorts of different trouble over his 5 years at Hogwarts.
Which is good, all things considered, since Elsian’s a bit of a trouble magnet and a troublemaker when he’s in one of his moods. Yet, not once has the boy gotten detention after breaking a rule, never been pinned down long enough to have one given to him, and this little disappearing act of his, this evasiveness, often applies to his day to day life, albeit in weird ways. Like throwing himself out of the way of dancing suits of armor, dodging an angry spell by crawling under a table or even avoiding a faceful of feathers when a pillow fight gets a bit too intense. He’s done it all and he’ll likely continue to face such things, but he’s getting better every day. Learning.
He’s escaped a certain housemate's wrathful hexes a few times now, what's one more? It only helps Elsian get faster at avoiding a spell to the head. And when the boy is caught? When the consequences of his actions catch up or he can’t fully avoid a fight? He has an oddly outstanding track record for escaping last minute, or just altogether avoiding the brunt of the fallout much to the irritation of some.
It’s not to say the boy is perfect at avoiding things. To say he was always getting away before things came to a head would be a lie. Nobody’s perfect after all, especially not Elsian. However, there's only so long a person can go before they wise up, before they get better, and Elsian has had plenty of opportunities to grow.
For every hit he’s taken off his broom, for every spell he’s taken when in a fight, for every single thing that’s not gone his way he’s gotten just a little better at picking up when he’s in danger. Of dodging out of the way of stray spells or the odd bludger about to slam into him. Sometimes it’s with the help of lady luck being on his side, other times out of effort & being nimble enough to dodge last second but Elsians skills are growing every day. And with perhaps a healthy dose of spite fueling his actions, who knows how much more he’ll grow by next year.
Word Count: 597
Status: Approved | Oct 20 (Phaedra)
Stamina: 10┈┈ Evasion:17 ┈┈Strength: 1 ┈┈Wisdom: 9 ┈┈Arcane Power: 8┈┈ Accuracy: 10
I'd much rather be sleeping...
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: viewtopic.php?f=169&t=21754
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Advanced Casting
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Lily had always loved duelling ever since she found out she was magical and had read many books about it. She had read several and studied a lot to learn spells. She had talked to her cousin-turned-brother about it. She really wanted to become a duellist the minute she came to Hogwarts for several reasons. 1:It was something extracurricular activity that could help her make new friends and to show support for her house. And 2: it was a way to enhance her studies, get better at casting spells, and generally learn more things.
One day, someone who were years older than her was bullying her because of her house, so she pulled her wand out and pointed it at them. "Just try me." She had snarled an when they wouldn't stop she growled. "Stop it or I'll stun you. Lily snapped. In reality she couldn't cast it and they knew it. "Go ahead, doll." They teased and Lily raised her wand, performing the wand movement perfectly. Green Sparks Charm • Verdimillious she whispered to their surprise as much as hers the spell worked. Lily stood there in shock before taking off towards the library. She took three books and checked them out before running to the Duelling Club room. She spent the next few hours, combing through books, casting spells that were way too advanced for but sure enough, each one worked.Estatic, Lily applied for duellist, telling them she was an advancdd caster. They asked her to show them and she shrugged, taking her wand out and casting stupify, again it worked. She then cast Knockback Jinx • Flipendo at a pillow, making it burst to little tiny pieces. Last but not least, the first year cast the Smokescreen Spell • Fumos That one also worked perfectly. Everyone was amazed at what Lily could do and added her to the team right away. She was a magnificent duellist, casting spells against her opponent with surprising accuracy and strength. She was one of the best duellist and kept studying more advanced magic to help her. When people threatened her or her family, they would deeply regret it./ Lily continued everything she was doing for years to come, keeping her skills perfect and improving on them day by day.
Her magic grew better the more she grew up and was a very accomplished duellist.That would help when she became an auror.
WC:402
"This is the only warning you get." Jaxon Vega, Crave by Tracy Wolff
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Advanced Casting
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Lily had always loved duelling ever since she found out she was magical and had read many books about it. She had read several and studied a lot to learn spells. She had talked to her cousin-turned-brother about it. She really wanted to become a duellist the minute she came to Hogwarts for several reasons. 1:It was something extracurricular activity that could help her make new friends and to show support for her house. And 2: it was a way to enhance her studies, get better at casting spells, and generally learn more things.
One day, someone who were years older than her was bullying her because of her house, so she pulled her wand out and pointed it at them. "Just try me." She had snarled an when they wouldn't stop she growled. "Stop it or I'll stun you. Lily snapped. In reality she couldn't cast it and they knew it. "Go ahead, doll." They teased and Lily raised her wand, performing the wand movement perfectly. Green Sparks Charm • Verdimillious she whispered to their surprise as much as hers the spell worked. Lily stood there in shock before taking off towards the library. She took three books and checked them out before running to the Duelling Club room. She spent the next few hours, combing through books, casting spells that were way too advanced for but sure enough, each one worked.Estatic, Lily applied for duellist, telling them she was an advancdd caster. They asked her to show them and she shrugged, taking her wand out and casting stupify, again it worked. She then cast Knockback Jinx • Flipendo at a pillow, making it burst to little tiny pieces. Last but not least, the first year cast the Smokescreen Spell • Fumos That one also worked perfectly. Everyone was amazed at what Lily could do and added her to the team right away. She was a magnificent duellist, casting spells against her opponent with surprising accuracy and strength. She was one of the best duellist and kept studying more advanced magic to help her. When people threatened her or her family, they would deeply regret it./ Lily continued everything she was doing for years to come, keeping her skills perfect and improving on them day by day.
Her magic grew better the more she grew up and was a very accomplished duellist.That would help when she became an auror.
WC:402
Status: Pending | Owled Oct 20 (Phaedra)
Reason: Your character is in Year Two and already successfully casting Confringo (Year Five) and Stupefy (Year Six). Obscuro (Year Two) may not be used either - although you are currently a second-year, this ability is for Lily's first-year slot, so she would not have access to Obscuro then either. Please choose alternative spells for her to utilize in your application from her first-year. The spell list can be found here. Advanced Casting does not grant access to higher-year spells (that would be Prodigal); it just means your character is more successful (as demonstrated by an increased crit success chance in duels) in spells of their current year.
Status: Approved | Oct 24 (Phaedra)
Last edited by Lily Isobel McCoire on 24 Oct 2023, 20:30, edited 2 times in total.
"This is the only warning you get." Jaxon Vega, Crave by Tracy Wolff
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Ira Morris
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Prodigal Charms Learner
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
421/400
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Prodigal Charms Learner
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Reducio
It wasn’t to say that she didn’t like charms classes, more so that it felt like her parents were forcing it down her throat. It bothered her that the private tutor they hired to drill charms into her spent more time with Ira than they did. But nevertheless, she was studious, hoping to one day regain their attention with her spells.
Eventually the need for their approval faded, but she knew a lot about charms already so it was pointless to drop it now. Although, she did fear that her parents would decide to drop the lessons, there was no point in it since Ira wasn’t excelling in it as much as they had been expecting. While she was exceptionally good at it, likely due to heavy price they had to pay for her tutor with some natural talent and hard work, it was never good enough for them. To combat her doubts, she would decide to ask for a continuation. So, at dinner she requested that the private tutoring continue, to which her mother stated that that had always been the plan, whether she liked it or not, which was certainly not the most enjoyable thing to hear, but nevertheless, it meant charms lessons would continue.
For years afterwards, she would wonder whether it might have been best to just drop it, but Ira would always remind herself that this was for the best. Eventually, she would grow a fondness towards it, and began to genuinely enjoy it, coming to look forward to her lessons. Sure, it would never be her first option for classes, but hey, it would far from be her last option, and she would put continuous effort into making sure she would do well in learning charms.
Eventually, come her time at Hogwarts, she realized she was far ahead of her peers in the subject, around a year ahead. After realizing this, she decided that the lessons would continue to be pointless until she talked to the professor about her past experience. She lay in bed that night, trying to figure out the best course of action to talk to her professor, Ira honestly didn’t know how to approach the situation without sounding convoluted and full of herself, but it was pointless worrying about it until she actually did something.
The next day, after class, she approached her professor. Carefully, with great caution, she explained to her professor her previous tutoring, requesting that she was given access to materials to learn about spells a year above.
Eventually the need for their approval faded, but she knew a lot about charms already so it was pointless to drop it now. Although, she did fear that her parents would decide to drop the lessons, there was no point in it since Ira wasn’t excelling in it as much as they had been expecting. While she was exceptionally good at it, likely due to heavy price they had to pay for her tutor with some natural talent and hard work, it was never good enough for them. To combat her doubts, she would decide to ask for a continuation. So, at dinner she requested that the private tutoring continue, to which her mother stated that that had always been the plan, whether she liked it or not, which was certainly not the most enjoyable thing to hear, but nevertheless, it meant charms lessons would continue.
For years afterwards, she would wonder whether it might have been best to just drop it, but Ira would always remind herself that this was for the best. Eventually, she would grow a fondness towards it, and began to genuinely enjoy it, coming to look forward to her lessons. Sure, it would never be her first option for classes, but hey, it would far from be her last option, and she would put continuous effort into making sure she would do well in learning charms.
Eventually, come her time at Hogwarts, she realized she was far ahead of her peers in the subject, around a year ahead. After realizing this, she decided that the lessons would continue to be pointless until she talked to the professor about her past experience. She lay in bed that night, trying to figure out the best course of action to talk to her professor, Ira honestly didn’t know how to approach the situation without sounding convoluted and full of herself, but it was pointless worrying about it until she actually did something.
The next day, after class, she approached her professor. Carefully, with great caution, she explained to her professor her previous tutoring, requesting that she was given access to materials to learn about spells a year above.
421/400
Status: Approved | Oct 20 (Phaedra)
User still awaiting Index registration; ability added to trunk and trunk locked
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Ella
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Prodigal Transfiguration Learner
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Word count: 670/400
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Prodigal Transfiguration Learner
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Reducio
Sometimes you have to expect the unexpected, as was the case in young Ella Pixley. Her sporadic cases of accidental magic, though few and far between seems to always have things either shifted to a different shape of the same object or transform into a seemingly unrelated thing. Her earliest exposure to Transfiguration occurred (though she had absolutely no clue at the time since she was just angry) when she was 3 years old when she threw a wooden model of a garden gnome into her manor pool in a tantrum. The wooden gnome reshaped itself into a dolphin and swam a few laps before sinking to the bottom, much to her amusement.
Most notably however was her most recent mishap at one of her father's quill dispensaries in Canterbury four years ago in 2019. She was daydreaming about flying or floating to outer space while sitting in an area in the dispensary she thought was secluded from everyone else, when suddenly the stockpile of quill feathers in the nearby wooden crates burst into hundreds of droves of white doves without any explanation or reasoning behind it.
At the time Gareth Pixley was angry and surprised when it happened, demanding accountability from his employees and executives at the distributing location. Imagine a whole stockpile of valuable production components of your product vanishing into the skies by some wise crackpot who either had a poor taste in practical transfiguration pranks or is a corporate spy from one of their competitors looking to sabotage their stock. The mishap definitely did a number on his business financially, albeit briefly. After many days of interrogation sessions with his employees to get to the bottom of this, he eventually realized there was a missing piece to the puzzle after numerous allegations that nobody was near the stockpile that day.
He had brought his young 7 year old daughter with him to work that day, due to conflicting schedules with the manor caretaker and his wife was away on a work related trip that week to Poland. He calmly confronted his daughter about it who eventually admitted that something strange did occur with the quills that day which apparently caused them to turn into birds and fly away, though she had no idea what caused it. It scared her when a bunch of seemingly benign wooden crates suddenly burst open and a ton of doves came flying out.
Mr. Pixley, believing this to show potential for an aptitude in transfiguration, convinced his wife to tutor her as she was a very accomplished practitioner of transfiguration during her days at Hogwarts, earning her OWLs and NEWTs on the subject matter quite effortlessly (she was particularly adept at conjuration, an advanced form of transfiguration). Mrs. Pixley agreed, however unlike her husband, she favored an old- school approach to teaching and was already quite strict in adhering to traditional pureblooded upbringing in raising her children. Thus, she subjected the next four years of Ella's life to rigorous book study on the very basics of Transfiguration, its various branches as well as related subject matter to its art. Ella was also tutored on the basic incantations and spells she'd learn as a first year as well as their practical application. This development likely was a contributing factor to Ella's lack of social skills as she barely had time to meet other witches and wizards in between lectures and readings.
Ella seemed to have acquired a good grasp on the contents of her studies on the subject and did already naturally seem to have a talent for it, whether by inheriting it genetically or from the forced tutorship on the subject from her mother. Her knack for Transfiguration appears to have been further reinforced during her visit to Ollivanders, in which she was chosen by a wand with a Thunderbird tail feather core which is typically very well suited for transfiguration work. As a result, she already had a headstart on learning the subject the moment she stepped foot into Hogwarts.
Most notably however was her most recent mishap at one of her father's quill dispensaries in Canterbury four years ago in 2019. She was daydreaming about flying or floating to outer space while sitting in an area in the dispensary she thought was secluded from everyone else, when suddenly the stockpile of quill feathers in the nearby wooden crates burst into hundreds of droves of white doves without any explanation or reasoning behind it.
At the time Gareth Pixley was angry and surprised when it happened, demanding accountability from his employees and executives at the distributing location. Imagine a whole stockpile of valuable production components of your product vanishing into the skies by some wise crackpot who either had a poor taste in practical transfiguration pranks or is a corporate spy from one of their competitors looking to sabotage their stock. The mishap definitely did a number on his business financially, albeit briefly. After many days of interrogation sessions with his employees to get to the bottom of this, he eventually realized there was a missing piece to the puzzle after numerous allegations that nobody was near the stockpile that day.
He had brought his young 7 year old daughter with him to work that day, due to conflicting schedules with the manor caretaker and his wife was away on a work related trip that week to Poland. He calmly confronted his daughter about it who eventually admitted that something strange did occur with the quills that day which apparently caused them to turn into birds and fly away, though she had no idea what caused it. It scared her when a bunch of seemingly benign wooden crates suddenly burst open and a ton of doves came flying out.
Mr. Pixley, believing this to show potential for an aptitude in transfiguration, convinced his wife to tutor her as she was a very accomplished practitioner of transfiguration during her days at Hogwarts, earning her OWLs and NEWTs on the subject matter quite effortlessly (she was particularly adept at conjuration, an advanced form of transfiguration). Mrs. Pixley agreed, however unlike her husband, she favored an old- school approach to teaching and was already quite strict in adhering to traditional pureblooded upbringing in raising her children. Thus, she subjected the next four years of Ella's life to rigorous book study on the very basics of Transfiguration, its various branches as well as related subject matter to its art. Ella was also tutored on the basic incantations and spells she'd learn as a first year as well as their practical application. This development likely was a contributing factor to Ella's lack of social skills as she barely had time to meet other witches and wizards in between lectures and readings.
Ella seemed to have acquired a good grasp on the contents of her studies on the subject and did already naturally seem to have a talent for it, whether by inheriting it genetically or from the forced tutorship on the subject from her mother. Her knack for Transfiguration appears to have been further reinforced during her visit to Ollivanders, in which she was chosen by a wand with a Thunderbird tail feather core which is typically very well suited for transfiguration work. As a result, she already had a headstart on learning the subject the moment she stepped foot into Hogwarts.
Word count: 670/400
Status: Approved | Oct 20 (Phaedra)
User still awaiting Index registration; ability added to trunk and trunk locked
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: [x]
Name of Ability or Race that you Are Applying for:
Seventh Year: Legilimency
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
ReducioLegilimencyDisappointingly enough, Hogwarts did not teach Legilimency. At least, not officially, but that stood little in the way of Phaedra. With her ambition, self-study taught what the curriculum lacked, and while doing so came with a long list of obstacles, tackling the most primal and powerful form of mental magic was never meant to be easy. Phaedra knew that much and stood for the challenge, having imagined her future self better for it. With her hands having scoured every reachable shelf throughout the years, both at the castle and elsewhere, for relevant learning material, Phaedra could regurgitate any array of knowledge concerning Legilimency, including foundational theory and historical pioneers.
But mastering the theory was only one half of the battle. Practical execution was the other, and a far greater struggle to accomplish alone. With “mind-reading”, as simplistic as it was to call it such, came the reality of nosing around in people’s secrets. Everyone had them. Big and small. Needless to say, willing volunteers to practise on were slim to none among her peers. Despite Phaedra’s protests and pleading close friends for a change of heart on accessing their thoughts, Legilimency would not be achieved by her sixth-year as anticipated, but rather postponed until the summer before her seventh when Grandmother could grace her as a protégé. Some friends, Phaedra would find herself grumbling on occasion, but who needed stubborn subjects, really? At their ages, there was certain to be little of interest rattling within those skulls, anyway.
Helen was, foremost, an enigma as her family’s witches often were. Elusive too, often away engaging in whatever high-up business concerning her sons. It was said that she operated on her time alone, and that was just simply Helen. That no-nonsense attitude was just one of many things Phaedra respected. In addition, was the woman’s propensity for mental magic herself. So when Helen had not only humoured her granddaughter’s aspirations as others had not, but had also offered to mentor her with a vast experience in a similar field, the last thing the adolescent could recall was having a few belongings thrown together in a trunk and granting a farewell to her parents before boarding the woman’s carriage westward.
It was late upon arrival in Liverpool, so the first bout of lessons began the next day. At precisely eight o’clock, Phaedra found herself in Helen’s mostly innocuous office, save for the family Pensieve contained behind a glass cabinet. Despite the adolescent’s existing knowledge, Helen insisted on a reintroduction from the very top. Phaedra supposed she could hardly be surprised; Grandmother was just being as thorough as ever. From then on, Phaedra endured verbal lectures consisting of theories she’d already known, and as the hours ticked on, it became astonishingly clear that the first day’s lesson, similarly to those of the previous months, would lack any hands-on application. Phaedra retired that evening feeling as if her intelligence had been insulted, but upon drifting to sleep, a thought had overcome her; that perhaps there was something to be learned about patience, too.
Navigating the inner layers of any mind was not a prospect to be rushed, and near the seven-day mark of private tutoring, the routine of lecture left Phaedra wondering when the real action would begin. And yet, given her grandmother’s generosity to mentor her at all, she had enough sense than to complain. Read this chapter, discuss this theorist—she was in the middle of such a task, when the office suddenly grew dim by her grandmother’s hand, the old woman taking it upon herself to yank the sole window’s curtains shut. Phaedra stopped mid-sentence and glanced at her with a tired expression. “…Shall I light a lamp?”
“No,” said Helen. “That won’t be necessary. You may put the book away.”
Perhaps more forcefully than she intended, Phaedra slammed the text without concern of losing her place among its many pages. She watched intently as Helen’s chair rose with a wordless incantation, circled the desk, and plopped beside hers, their shoulders certain to almost touch at this proximity once seated. Unless, of course…
With the chair out of the way, the glass cabinet’s doors swung out for Helen’s access. Phaedra nearly tipped over in her seat attempting to steal a view past her shoulders, yet all she could deduce was a silvery, thread-like substance being pulled from the woman’s temples and deposited into the Pensieve. A memory. The action went unquestioned. Even her grandmother, Phaedra realised, had her claims to secrecy. Nonetheless, a twinge of excitement stirred in her chest, the girl enthralled by this very first glimpse into the obscure and mysterious. Just how many truths were out there, dormant, awaiting her discovery?
“Listen carefully, child,” Helen said after locking the cabinet. “This is a dangerous road you’ve chosen. You will see, hear, and feel things you’ll wish you hadn’t; wickedness and deceit reside in the minds of many. But there is reward too; that of knowledge, adventure, and love. I know you are ready, so face me, and let us begin.”
Phaedra’s thumb grazed along the ridge of her wand. It was made of silver-lime—the very wood of choice for an aspiring Legilimens—and was just as perfectly bonded to her as the day of acquisition. If there was any doubt in her potential, why, the silver-lime surely would have never declared itself hers to begin with. Encouraged by its seeming hum of energy now coursing through her limbs, Phaedra’s brown eyes met Helen’s hazel, and she sought entry into her mind with a wave of her hand. “Legilimens.”
The first few attempts, of course, went fruitlessly. Helen sat with thin hands clasped, stoic and impenetrable to her granddaughter’s offences. Phaedra wondered if Helen was doing it on purpose, or if a mind of this difficulty was simply standard given her inexperience. After a pause to light a candle and combat the approaching dusk, Phaedra banished her last mental distractions, and only then did a sight appear to her—cloudy, vague, and with a hint of red, but a sight nonetheless. This emboldened her, and as the session continued, Phaedra targeted this lone memory in particular; obsessed with its potential meaning. As soon as she felt that she was making progress, however, Helen looked at the clock and called it time for bed.
The final day, Phaedra walked into the office as if she owned the place, and it was, unknown to her, precisely the confidence that Helen had wanted to see. In honing her skill with the last indistinct memory, she’d opened additional more; six or seven puzzle pieces, of the tens of thousands throughout Helen’s lifetime, were now floating visibly in the hazy pool of her subconsciousness. Although their context mostly remained unclear—the who, what, when, and whys—the emotions emitted from each were joyous, and Phaedra could feel their radiance as she bounced between them. There was a newborn’s cry, or several, any of which could reasonably belong then to her father and uncles, or Pavlina, or herself. There was word, conversation, and laughter, and then most excitingly, a first decipherable visual; the vague cloud that Phaedra had taken an interest in before now divulged glimpses of red hair and a prolonged embrace. The underlying heartbreak was so intimate that Phaedra averted her eyes and broke the spell.
A minute went by, with Phaedra unsure of how to broach the subject. “…Nan, that woman—”
If Helen was taken aback, she did not show it, instead opting for one of her warmest smiles. “Congratulations, Legilimens. Our family has long sought a mind like yours.”
Words: 1.2k/400
Status: Approved, Oct 28, Jake
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Here
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Blindvision
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it): Word Count: 956/400
Reducio“Father, no!”
A flash of green.
The boy awoke violently, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. Reaching instinctively through the darkness for his wand he fell off the narrow bed, impacting the stone floor with a painful thud. Though he could not see he was certain he was in the Ravenclaw dormitories. The placement of the nightstand was correct and the bed was smaller and firmer than the goose down accommodations he grew up with in Ilkley. Rolling onto his side, he shouted out for help but found he had no voice. Again and again he shouted but all that greeted him was a deafening silence.
A strain in his hand made him realize he was gripping the hilt of his wand tightly. Tighter than was necessary. His nails bit into the palm of his hand, drawing blood. It was a fear response he could not overcome nor did he think he could in that moment. He was terrified. More terrified than he could remember ever being. Arm trembling, he lifted his wand and shouted the words for Lumos into the silent void. Again, nothing.
Cassius began to blink rapidly, hoping his eyes would acclimate to the darkness but to no avail. He crawled, groaning in pain, towards the bed adjacent to his. At least he crawled where he thought it would be. He knew only a few paces separated the dormitory beds but Cassius crawled for what felt like triple the distance. There was simply nothing. No bed, no furniture, no wall even where there undoubtedly should have been one. He crawled back towards his own to find his, too, were gone.
The young Ravenclaw fell onto his back and shouted at the top of his lungs, a primal shout born of anger and terror. Nothing. He let his head fall back and he breathed heavily. He became hyper aware of his own heartbeat then, the sound of his blood thundering through his body. He realized he was freezing too, the cool dampness of his pajamas cooled even further by the bare flagstones of the floor. It did not even occur to him to think that there should have been rugs covering those floors.
He continued to blink, straining for any measure of sight he could gain. He would give anything in that moment just to see even the silhouette of a shape. A blurry outline. A speckle of light. A star. He tried every spell he could think of that might help him, a futile effort without the use of his voice. He was stuck.
Resignation came quickly as every effort proved to be futile. Utterly defeated and exhausted, he let his wand roll from his hand onto the floor, only now becoming aware of the cuts on his palm. He ignored them. Any attempt to magically heal them would be wasted energy. Instead he closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.
As the harsh drumming of his heartbeat began to slow, Cassius noticed something. With his eyes closed his other senses... pulsed? That was the best he could describe it. His other senses pulsed and he became aware of his surroundings despite not seeing them or anything for that matter. He opened his eyes and rolled onto his side, his wand rolling farther away from him. An archway roughly where he imagined the door to his dormitory should have been came not into sight but into feeling. It was there but he was not quite sure how he knew it was there. Cassius lifted himself to his feet, aches that had subsided coming to life anew but he ignored them. He began to walk towards the archway. With each step he became aware of the things around him. They were not in the places he remembered them being but he could sense them. Sense when he was getting too close or getting farther away.
Cassius' heart began to beat faster and as it did he began to lose track of the objects around him. He paused, taking several slow deep breaths. As his heartbeat slowed, his sense grew again in strength. With silent steps he advanced towards the archway. It was unsettling at first to walk with feeling rather than sight. Each step increased the likelihood of walking into something but to his relief he advanced undisturbed.
With each step, too, his awareness of his surroundings began to improve. The archway had an ornate wooden door within it, he could now sense. He could smell the wood of the door and the rust on the iron hinges. It was overwhelming but he pressed on. Gingerly reaching out for the knob, he turned it and was sucked through into a spinning abyss.
Cassius awoke in his dormitory bed in a cool sweat. The early morning sun shone through the windows like a beacon and the young Ravenclaw had to avert his gaze as his eyes reacted to the light. His eyes adjusted quickly and he looked around. Everything was as it should be. Some of the students had already awoken while others were still sleeping. A deep sigh of relief escaped his lips as he laid back down onto the bed. It was just a night tremor. When he held his hand in front of his eyes, however, he realized he could still sense the furniture around him, albeit barely.
In the days that followed, Cassius continued to hone this ability. He practiced walking around his dormitory at night, allowing his other senses to guide him. As he grew more confident, he walked around the castle grounds with his eyes closed. Finally, when he felt sure of his control of this ability, he used it in a practice duelling match.
Pending, Jake, October 29
- Hi Cassius, your app needs some edits to the description of the ability. In it you show that when Cassius has his eyes closed he can make out the outlines of objects etc. Blindvision won't actually give the ability to see with his eyes closed. There are a couple different ways to take this ability...maybe Cassius begins to train his other senses to better increase his awareness of where things are in the dark, or maybe he practices in dark areas to attempt to train his eyes to see better in the dark. But in general it would not be seeing with eyes closed. Maybe in response to his nightmare, Cassius begins to try to get more experience making his way around the dark?
Pending, Jake, October 30
- The app is improved with the addition of using senses, but it still refers to seeing shapes, etc. I checked with the index team with the initial app and the consensus was that blindvision does not refer to actually seeing with eyes closed, per se. He might better be able to hear footsteps, use his sense of smell, etc, but he wouldn't actually see shapes. He is just better at getting around the dark (or perhaps could take it in the direction of being better trained to use his eyes in the dark, but not with his eyes closed)
Pending, Jake, November 29
- Hi Cassius, I will reach out on Discord to discuss this a bit more. I think the description still needs some tweaking to come off more logically based on the other senses and less like a super power.
Last edited by Cassius Eden on 12 Nov 2023, 18:20, edited 2 times in total.
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: viewtopic.php?f=169&t=11389
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Spell Spread
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
Permission given to mention Eun-ji in this application
Trunk coding:
Edited to add link to post in coding
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Spell Spread
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):
411 wordsIt had been Briar who'd suggested it, way back in the November of Lucia's fourth year. The Ravenclaw girl had stumbled upon her older sister in the Room of Requirement, shooting spells at dummies which rolled towards her from all directions (courtesy of the Room's innate magic). "You know, if you're going to face off against ten dummies, you might as well be able to hit more than one at once."
Lucia hadn't been open to the idea at first. The only reason she'd come to the Room in the first place was because she wanted a way to get out the anger that just kept springing up in the weeks after the secret of her Veela heritage was let out. Some days she wasn't sure who or what she was even angry at - her mother? Her so-called friend, @Eun-ji Lee Hunt? The universe itself? - but the urge to break stuff drove her to somewhere she could do that in private. There wasn't any point in getting better at it, so Lucia thought, when she could just leave at any point without being any worse off.
The anger wore off as quickly as it had built up, and with it the allure of beating up dummies in the Room faded as well, instead prompting Lucia to cringe whenever she remembered it. Still, the idea of being able to spread her spells as Briar had suggested lingered in Lucia's mind. Being able to target multiple foes with one shot would be an incredibly useful skill in duelling - in fact, Lucia had duelled several people before who could do it, and they were always formidable opponents. With no clue how to start, though, the thought lay dormant for several more months.
It wasn't until May, when Lucia and Eun-ji became friends again, that the former decided she actually would attempt to learn this skill. Eun-ji had enlisted the help of her duelling captains to give her some pointers, and Lucia tried to pick up what she could from watching Eun-ji herself, and other people (usually older duellists, but not always) in the duelling club. Eun-ji worked it out faster than Lucia did, of course, but over the summer holidays the Hufflepuff kept at it, turning multiple books a different colour in her room. By the time she returned to Hogwarts for her fifth year, she was confident that she would be able to employ this skill in her duelling matches.
Permission given to mention Eun-ji in this application
Trunk coding:
[b][url=https://hogwarts.io/viewtopic.php?p=829830#p829830]Spell Spread[/url][/b] | Target two opponents - accuracy -2, DC +2, crit fail +1 inserted between 'scream' and 'charm'Edited to add link to post in coding
Status: Approved, Oct 28, Jake
│= | #00308F ency • cassie heather | =│ | breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out Part-Veela • Alluring • Perfectionist • Scream • Sta 9 • Eva 9 • Stre 4 • Wis 10 • Arc 8 • Acc 9 | │ |
Ability Applications
Link to your encyclopedia thread: Here!
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Evasive Maneuvers
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it): While no one would ever accuse Julian of being especially agile, he'd long had an uncanny ability to get out of the way fast when danger loomed. It was no wonder, having grown up, as he did, the only child of overbearing and overprotective parents who would happily explain the risks inherent in just about any place or activity, he'd learned young to move carefully and keep an eye peeled out for danger. This ability was reinforced when he started school and discovered that the idiosyncracies that often endeared him to adults--his soft spoken manner, and his love of following rules, of insisting others follow them, of going into long lectures on subjects he was interested in (regardless of how interested his audience might be) and of showing off long words he'd learned--weren't nearly as popular with his peers and made him the target of teasing and bullying.
He never had many friends growing up, which meant there was no one to defend him when the bullies at school decided to pick on him. Some kids might've chosen to hit back, but Julian had never been one to go for violence. He both felt it was beneath him and didn't like thought of hurting people. And while he'd tried his best to talk himself out of sticky situations, he'd never really understood what motivated bullies, which made his attempts rather moot. The only remaining option had been to avoid the boys who gave him trouble, and to be quicker than them when they inevitably found him. And so, he learned to be vigilant, and he learned to be quick.
Hogwarts had been a much happier era for Julian, where he got along with (or at least was ignored by) most of his peers, but joining the duelling team had kept his abilities sharp. He often made a point of prioritising dodging over getting hits in with spells. Not just because getting hit with most of the spells regularly used in duelling could be extremely unpleasant (and he was, like any reasonable person would be, very reasonably scared of pain, burns and tickling), but because he valued being a contributing member of his team, and nothing made him feel like a burden on his duelling partner like being the first person to be knocked out of the duel. You could only help turn a duel around if you were still in the game, after all.
(WC: 404)
Name of Ability that you Are Applying for: Evasive Maneuvers
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it): While no one would ever accuse Julian of being especially agile, he'd long had an uncanny ability to get out of the way fast when danger loomed. It was no wonder, having grown up, as he did, the only child of overbearing and overprotective parents who would happily explain the risks inherent in just about any place or activity, he'd learned young to move carefully and keep an eye peeled out for danger. This ability was reinforced when he started school and discovered that the idiosyncracies that often endeared him to adults--his soft spoken manner, and his love of following rules, of insisting others follow them, of going into long lectures on subjects he was interested in (regardless of how interested his audience might be) and of showing off long words he'd learned--weren't nearly as popular with his peers and made him the target of teasing and bullying.
He never had many friends growing up, which meant there was no one to defend him when the bullies at school decided to pick on him. Some kids might've chosen to hit back, but Julian had never been one to go for violence. He both felt it was beneath him and didn't like thought of hurting people. And while he'd tried his best to talk himself out of sticky situations, he'd never really understood what motivated bullies, which made his attempts rather moot. The only remaining option had been to avoid the boys who gave him trouble, and to be quicker than them when they inevitably found him. And so, he learned to be vigilant, and he learned to be quick.
Hogwarts had been a much happier era for Julian, where he got along with (or at least was ignored by) most of his peers, but joining the duelling team had kept his abilities sharp. He often made a point of prioritising dodging over getting hits in with spells. Not just because getting hit with most of the spells regularly used in duelling could be extremely unpleasant (and he was, like any reasonable person would be, very reasonably scared of pain, burns and tickling), but because he valued being a contributing member of his team, and nothing made him feel like a burden on his duelling partner like being the first person to be knocked out of the duel. You could only help turn a duel around if you were still in the game, after all.
(WC: 404)
Status: Approved, Oct 28, Jake