The Arcane Academy. In all honesty, Ambika had never done a proper visit of this place. Books were not really her thing, and while she generally had little objection to academies aside from the tuition costs they generally entailed - costs her family very much could not afford due to Cordelia's condition - she made absolutely sure to steer clear of the Arcane Academy. The Haysinthes very much had the wealth and connections to enrol their peers into this gilded cage, and magic was a much 'cleaner' demonstration of power compared to gritty implements that would spill blood. She highly doubted Kishan would be here, given his awareness of the Haysinthes' treatment of his father, but knowing her son, forging a false identity would not be beneath him so it was worth a search.

With that in mind, Ambika had a request for Gafelker.
"Gafelker, I would like to request that you refer to me as Shanti throughout our time here." She would be relatively forthcoming in her reasons. "I have enemies among nobles, and I would prefer the other name remain unspoken here."

As the two walked along the entrance halls, they were quickly beset by frantic screams and the sounds of rushing footsteps.
"You two! This way if you don't want to be smashed by ivory fists!" a Sun Elf instructor shouted at them while running westwards.

There was a Fellblood student who was fast running out of breath and their legs were quickly giving up on them. Not one to just stand back and watch, Shanti activated Long Stride and pulled said student out of the reach of the ivory golem's attack while jumping over to the opposite side. Just barely pausing, she proceeded to take another cast of Long Stride and hopped towards the direction the instructor had given them with the student in tow.

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Roaming the Halls
Participants: Two or more
Location: Arcane Academy
Post Requirements: 6 post per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown, Choice of 2 Common crafting materials
Description: Mages from the Arcane Academy have been asking for help in dealing with an experiment gone wrong. A couple of students had been experimenting with a few Ivorling's which have become animated and are now rampaging around the school. 6 foot golems made of pure ivory have been roaming the school causing mayhem and chaos, but have not been deadly yet. While having their normal abilities, it seems the students also built in anti magic, making them immune to most common magics. The academy needs people to come in, track down the golems and render them docile before they cause irreparable damage.

Observing Shanti's move to save the student was remarkable. Gafelker was surprised she reacted that fast. Gafelker himself has to start to move if he does not want to be the Golem's next victim. He wondered what halfwit infused the ivory golem with a fire stone.

[1] Insanely, with a swirl of wind and lightning, Gafelker dashes backward, getting out of the way of the ivory golem. Everyone scatters in different directions to avoid getting caught by the golem as it continues its rampage.

Gafelker got an angry expression on his face. "What moron infused the golem with a firestone?" shouted Gafelker, grumbling, thinking about what to do next. Thinking Gafelker knew you could not put a fire catalyst in an ivory golem. The first thing is it can burn down the ivory golem fires and is unpredictable in ivory golems. That is why you use fire catalysts in stone or earth-type golems.

Ice catalysts worked best in ivory golems, as taught in the beginning constructs class. Someone just wanted it to work to pass the class, thought Gafelker. He knew he should have paid more attention to lessons with anti-magic spells. [2] Gafelker spoke some ancient words of magic and tapped his staff on the ground. A ghostly figure appeared next to Gafelker. The wolf was almost as tall as him as it appeared. "Hay you! You ugly misbehaving ivory golem," shouted Gafelker in anger. Gafelker just hoped he could lead it outside.


[1] Bullet Dash
[2] Guardian Spirit / Spirit Shroud

Keeping her senses sharp on the approximate distance the ivory golem was lumbering between her and Gafelker, Shanti brought the Fellblood student to the room the others were taking refuge in and set them down by a far wall.
"Thank you, fair maiden." The Sun Elf instructor who hollered at them just now gave their thanks, and she finally had a good look at his features. "Though I must confess, I rarely chance upon your ilk in these halls. What brings you here?"
But of course. Of course she had to chance upon a bloody Haysinthe immediately after entering the academy. Was she perhaps doomed to be involved with these bastards once Florentio was no longer around to steer her away, or was she just horribly unfortunate in this case?

Steeling herself in her heart, Shanti spoke carefully and deliberately so as to not give away her inner feelings. "Accompany a friend of mine. It appears he was summoned by the Academy." She turned around to the hallway. "I should check on him."
"Hey, wait!" The instructor tried to stop her, but Shanti was disinterested in staying in his presence for any longer than she had to. She could already feel the burning disdain welling up in her gut.
Returning to Gafelker, the Spirit Wolf seemed to be keeping the ivory golem at bay... Then she sensed tremors from further down the hallway.
"There is more than one?" Shanti exclaimed in frustration, mostly so that Gafelker would also be aware. This was going to be a long day, wasn't it?
"We need more information." Shanti said to Gafelker, and for all her loathing of what it meant, continued, "The Sun Elf instructor should have more details," as she prepared another cast of Long Stride to spring themselves towards the room.

Looking, Gafelker sees Shanti moving away from the Ivory Golem. Gafelker thinks Shanti has the right idea of moving away and down the hall. The staff that Gafelker had in his hands glowed as he channeled his magic energy through it. Runes light up and glow as Gafelker speaks, and a swirl of wind and lightning surrounds Gafelker. He moves with lightning speed next to Shanti.

He saw what Shanti hinted at as the second Ivory Golem lumbered down the hallway and approached them. "Two of them, really. What in all the domains have they done?" shouted Gafelker angrily and frustratedly. His eyes narrowed. "I can slow them down for now," said Gafelker to Shanti. "We need to break the fire catalysts to stop these Ivory Golems. But I am not sure," Gafelker suggested, looking at them.

Then, the staff changes color. Green runes glow as he taps his staff on the ground, and the sound of rock sliding as a stone wall emerges. It takes up the hallway entirely, blocking the two Ivory Golem. Gafelker turned to the Sun Elf instructor. "What have you guys done this time? You were supposed to be watching the students, I thought." Gafelker asked, looking at the Sun Elf instructor with some irritation. You could hear the Ivory Golems start to touch the wall on the other side with scratching sounds. 


[1] Bullet Dash
[2] Stone Wall

"You dare accuse me of this horrendous disaster, you uncouth little gnome!?" Ah, definitely a Haysinthe, alright. Nothing like the sheer arrogance exhibited amidst a literally hazardous situation.
"Have you any interest in explaining this situation, or no?" Shanti quickly interjected before it escalated into an argument.
"I, Diaroth Cecil Haysinthe, grace my presence to provide assistance, and this is how you treat me, you mangy mongrel!?" The Sun Elf instructor hissed in puerile rage, before the trembling reverberations of cracking stone reeled him back to the reality facing the academy. "Ahem. In light of our current... malaise, I shall close an eye this time. Now, to explain the events that transpired, a group of foolish, excuse me, inattentive students, desperate to receiving a passing score to retain their privilege to the academy, enacted a half-baked plan to animate and control a pair of Ivorlings for a major assignment."
The echoes of scratched stones inched ever closer as the Haysinthe continued his explanation. "And in a bid to seem more impressive, those ingrates also had the brilliant idea of implementing anti-magic measures even though they hadn't any guarantees they could even have them operating as intended. This, is the result."
"I see. Thank you," Shanti loathed the idea of even expressing gratitude to a bloody Haysinthe of all people, but she was not one to forget acknowledgement where it was due. "So, how shall we deal with this?"

"Those shortsighted dimwits used fire catalysts alongside ice catalysts under the childish presumption that more meant better. It seems the ice catalysts helped bolster its anti-magic capabilities while simultaneously preventing them from exploding into shards of ivory due to its infusion with fire catalysts. Would have been ingenious, if it did not send the blasted golems on an unstoppable rampage in a locale mainly consisting of personnel ill-equipped to corral them."

Shanti could sense the gears of ambition spinning in Diaroth's mind. Never one to miss an opportunity for further profit, was Florentio's description of his close cousin. One to immediately assume the worst of the Haysinthes, she theorized he was likely in the academy to steal ideas from prospective students while seeming like the saviour to the underprivileged and milking them for all they were worth before discarding them and leaving them battered and broken. That was a thought that belonged neither here nor there, however, and so she would simply prepare herself for the incoming automata they had to disable.

Hissing back to Master Haysinthe, "I know of school from my uncle, who knows this place and this school and why he insisted on training me, Master Haysinthe," replied Gafelker angrily. He wondered how they would deal with the Ivory Golems, antimagic, and how to bypass that. Things started to run through his mind. He oversaw the earth wall as cracks started to appear, and the Ivory Golem began to hit the wall.

Listening to Master Haysinthe's explanation about the Ivory Golems made Gafelker raise an eyebrow. Students? Somehow, Gafelker did not believe what he said about the students. They would have to get the catalyst from the instructors, but that was not something to fight about right now. He looked at his staff and back at the wall. We can not use magic by ordinary means.

"I am sure we can not use magic directly against them, but we can use magic around them like my wall was not dispelled when they touched it," Gafelker pointed out as a piece of the wall fell to the ground. "Physical attacks can hurt them if I am correct," Gafelker guessed as more of the earth wall fell to the ground. "The Ivory Golems are immune to Fire and ice magic. So what about wind?" questioned the Gnome. Part of one of the Ivory Golems can now be seen. [1] Gafelke's staff started to have teal runes, and they began to glow on the staff. At the end of the staff, five little wind orbs spiral. These tiny orbs of wind spun fast like little arrow tips. Gafelke finished his magic words. The five spinning orbs shot off, peppering one of the Ivory Golems. Three of the five wind orbs stuck the Golem, chipping away at it. The Ivory Golem stepped back some and made an eerie hissing sound.


[1] Air Bullets
Staff: While this staff changes color, it deals with elemental damage equal to the color associated with it. This elemental damage will also ignore damage resistances and can not be ignored.

Shanti noted the suspicion on Gafelker's expression, and decided it might be something worth filing for later - at the very least, she had more reason to trust him over Diaroth. Anyhow, the Ivorlings came first, and Gafelker's words spoke enough sense for the Haysinthe to attempt some magic of his own. Specifically, the earth shot up from the exposed patches of ground in the aftermath of the closer Ivorling's lumbering footsteps, raining down on before binding the farther Ivorling in place.[1]

"Hmph. Well, figure out something while I keep that other one away, will you?" Diaroth screeched, glaring at the two. Shanti saw no reason to indulge him with a response and simply got to work, throwing an improvised grappling hook[2] onto the awning of one of the side columns, then climbing up to see if there was anything she could discern from an overlooking angle. There! Embedded behind the closer Ivorling's head was a red and light blue crystal about the size of an arm. Climbing further up to dislodge the anchor from the awning, she would look around for other anchor points, but no dice. Which unfortunately meant that she would have to get onto the Ivorling's back through other means.

Taking a deep breath, Shanti channelled her energies to her legs, and attempted to perform a long jump towards the Ivorling's back. However, it would appear she was coming short, forcing her to throw her anchor towards its head in an attempt to prevent her momentum leading her to the ground. She would manage, at least, and loop through the Ivorling's underbody to do a backwards somersault and land right on top.

Unfortunately, however, the inertia from the landing would leave her open to the Ivorling's tail stab.

---

[1]Diaroth: Earth Bind

[2]Improvisation Engineer: Spidersilk Wire + Anchor + Carabiner

Gafelker pondered Shanti's question about keeping the other Ivory Golem busy and how he would do that. Some ideas ran through Gafelker's mind as he watched Shanti's daring move and acrobatics. She needed help now as she flipped in the air. Gafelker's staff started to have a lighting arc across the staff. [1] In a flash of lightning, Gafelker disappeared in a streek that led between the Ivory Golems. The burst of light and crackling energy that passed then got their attention. Gafelker appeared on the other side of the wall with a pop noise.

The Ivory Golems turned to look at Gafelker and suddenly appeared in the hallway, where the lighting stopped. Moving his staff and using magic words, an orb of dark domain magic appeared, spinning in the air. The orb of mystic darkness shot forward even faster. The orb grew in power, hitting the Ivory Golem closer to him. There was a pop and sizzle noise as the dark magic ate away at the Ivory Golem. They were keeping the attention on Gafelker. "Hay, you an overgrown toy!" shouted Gafelker to keep their focus on him. "Shanti, Dark magic is there weakness." shouted Gafelker, letting everyone know.

Gafelker's usual calm domineering was melting away the longer the fight went on. He was worried that he did not have enough power to take down the Ivory Golem. Gafelker could feel the earth domain calling to him. He might have to try something else.

[1] Bolt Dancer
[2] Chromatic Blast

Guardian Spirit / Spirit Shroud is still in effect.
Passive Electrical Surge +1

The dark magic fired by Gafelker successfully threw the tail slightly off-course, saving Shanti from an inopportune back injury. It also meant the footing was less stable now, but she will manage. She hurled an exploding glass sphere[1] near one corner of the catalyst as she carefully inched her way towards it. The resulting non-magical explosion would cause cracks to form along the ivory surface and a few dislodged chunks falling away, revealing sand within. The Ivorling was not carved solely from ivory, which was good news because it meant pulling out the elemental catalyst was going to be less of a pain, even if only slightly.
"What are you doing, you old crone!? Those catalysts cost more than your yearly earnings!" Diaroth shouted indignantly. Ah. Haysinthes. Always demanding the best, but never reciprocating with the appropriate attitude.
"Come up here and pull it out yourself then." Shanti had little interest in entertaining him, really, and Florentio did say something about his hair-trigger temper. Perhaps this could be useful.
"Fine! I will!" At the next instant, Diaroth was inches away from Shanti[2] and dug his hands into the sand and pulling away.
"Don't just stand there, you age-old dolt! Help me!" he shouted with pure distaste at the fact those words even had to be said. Shanti would readily confess she was petty enough to want those words spoken, a minor revenge against the Haysinthes' general cruelty towards her, Florentio and everyone else who was caught in the crossfire. But she would help, for it was still the right thing to do.

The Ivorling would attempt to shake off the two, and a bad footing would lead to the Ivorling losing balance and slipping onto the ground, which also sent the two careening towards the floor... and the catalyst dislodged from its slot.

Acting quickly, Shanti would grab Diaroth by the waist and cause the spidersilk wire still connected to her carabiner to pull upwards[3], breaking the fall and preventing them both from crashing onto the debris-filled surface. She then quickly lowered them both as the physical strain from carrying an able-bodied man was already becoming unbearable.
"Hmph." Diaroth had little care for the rescue Shanti had just performed, his only focus at the catalyst now lying on the ground intact, and the other Ivorling that had already broken out of their earthen prison at this point in time. "Darkness, you say?" A sinister grin was swiftly carving onto his face as a crackling bolt of bright purple energy[4] flew from his hand and onto one of the Ivorling's legs.

---

[1]Improvised Engineer: Glass Sphere + Crude Gunpowder + Flash Powder

[2]Diaroth: Blink
[3]Minor Trickery

[4]Diaroth: Chaos Bolt

"Talk about taking a bite out of the Ivory Golem," commented Gafelker, watching the dark domain emergy eat away at the Ivory Golem. Hearing Diaroth yell at Ambika did not change Gafelker's mood. If anything, it made him angry. Ambika was nothing but help. This would be going in a different direction, which is the wrong direction. Gafelker would have words with Diaroth when this was all over.

The still-standing Ivory Golem started to move towards Gafelker, which got him out of his train of thought about Diaroth. He eyed the Golem, which now had one of its legs injured from Ambika's bolt of bright purple energy strikes. , and walked with a slight limp. [1] Gafelker's hands started to glow red, almost turning to flame. The flame disappeared. The metallic serpents around his arms turned red, dropped to the ground, and began to slither around him. With a word, the two metallic serpents quickly moved, attacking the Golem's legs, biting them, and coiling around the Golem's legs.

The Ivory Golem fell face-first onto the stone floor, struggling with the metallic serpents. "What to do, what to do?" mumbled Gafelker. He let out a sigh. Gafelker did not like to be physically normal. It did not end well for him. [2] Gafelker starches his hand out level with the ground. The ground shakes, and pieces of rock start to move and vibrate. The rock flies and sticks together, forming a construct of a Rock Golem. The construct was five feet in height and 4 feet in width. Its eyes glowed and started to move on its own. The Rock Golem walks over to the Ivory Golem. "Gray sit down on Ivory Golem," commands Gafelker as he pints at the Ivory Golem.

The Rock Golem, now called Gray, did as it was told and sat on the back of the Ivory Golem. The Ivory Golem flailed, trying to get Gray off its back. "I bet you guys did not see that coming did you dumb Ivory block head!" Said Gafelker with some satisfaction.



[1] Coiled Wyrm Bracers:
[2] Animate Stone: 

Thin sheets of ice[1] formed along the Ivorling's forelegs, cooling the metallic serpents coiled along its legs and rendering it free to move again. Though it appeared that the ice was thinner than expected, if Diaroth's narrowing eyes were any indication. Now with the capacity to move once more, the Ivorling would charge forwards and swerve around madly in an attempt to shake off the stone golem with Gafelker straight ahead in its trajectory.

Not on Shanti's watch, obviously. She quickly loaded an obsidian bolt[2] and shot straight at the very leg Diaroth had damaged just now, the resulting explosion of shards breaking the leg into two and causing it to collapse onto the floor. Following that, she would do a mad leap[3] towards the Ivorling's back where the stone golem remained seated and helped keep it down.

Diaroth was ahead of Shanti with yet another Blink[4] and standing at the higher side of the Ivorling. Dark green energies bubbled from his hand, coalescing into a ray[5] that shot diagonally at the Ivorling's head near where the catalyst was located. The ivory would dissolve away enough for him to get a good hold of it, and he quite swiftly yanked it off its holder, disabling the other Ivorling for good.

"Now, then." Diaroth blinked[4] over to the other catalyst and picked it up. "If you will excuse me, I have other affairs to attend to." Not even a word of thanks. But of course. Shanti wished she had the capacity to even be surprised at his behaviour.

---

[1]Ivorling: Cold Touch

[2]Obsidian Arrow

[3]Long Stride

[4]Diaroth: Blink
[5]Diaroth: Corrosive Blast

Seeing that most of the trouble was over, Gafelker walked over to his Wyrm Bracers, picked them up, and placed them back on. "Diaroth, not so fast. Do not think you can outrun me either." Gafelker gave no room to guess what he wanted. "Explain yourself. You have been hindering us from the beginning. Do not think I won't go to the console either. If you do not answer, I think you are lying." Warned Gafelker in a polite but stern tone.

Something was up to dismiss us so fast, thought Gafelker. He did not trust Diaroth as far as he could throw him, and that was about a few feet. Even Ambika seemed to have problems with Diaroth. He had heard stuff from the village wizard while learning to use the different domains. The Rock Golem turned to look at Diaroth as well, looking like it was ready for anything.

Students and other instructors started to come and look at the mess in the hallway. A crowd was forming fast, and the students talked to one another as more people showed up. "Diaroth, I am sorry, but there is no getting out of it now. Just tell us what happened and the truth this time. Hay, look at the sunny side. You will get credit this time for the work," Gafelker commented, his tone one of some sarcasm and resentment. He smiled and leaned his staff in the direction of Diaroth.

"That will not be necessary, Master Gafelker Konell." An Archmage appeared from the end of the hallway with two companions, likely bodyguards and walked over to the crowd, the students parting to give way and hushed whispers would fill the space before a stern slam of the staff they held heralded silence.
"Master Diaroth Cecil Haysinthe. You are hereby suspended for the next two weeks while we investigate this matter. Now, please hand over the catalysts." The two bodyguards made their way to Diaroth, and the latter would hand over the catalysts without so much as a word of protest and follow the bodyguards as they escorted him out of the premises. Ah, the smoky scent of a staged farce designed to placate the students, and in the case, Gafelker as well. Shanti was willing to bet all her Solars that Diaroth would somehow be cleared of all wrongdoing and be back to teaching the students once more after his suspension ended. The Haysinthes were too valuable for the Arcane Academy that they wouldn't genuinely risk losing their privilege, both in terms of wealth and connections.

The Archmage then turned to Gafelker.
"Please allow me to apologize in behalf of the Academy for this... unfortunate incident you had to experience. You have my thanks for resolving this matter." They did a deep bow before raising their upper body once more. "Master Gafelker. Please, come with me." They gestured for Gafelker to follow, likely in regards to the matter of his summons. It was then that the Archmage finally directed their attention to Shanti.
"Master Heather! See to it that our guest is treated with respect!" The Archmage turned around once more and left with Gafelker. Shanti would find herself escorted to a guest lounge, served some fancy high tea along with some payment for their role in stopping the chaos from spreading further, and if she had to guess, a bribe to buy their silence.

The affairs settled, Shanti and Gafelker would be escorted out of their premises, and once she was certain they were far enough from the Arcane Academy, she made sure to inform Gafelker that nothing substantial will happen to Diaroth as his family was too influential for the Academy to risk burning bridges. She would refuse to elaborate beyond that, though.