NOT A GENIE

-fairly soon the time will tell-

bobthewizard — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:06:29 GMT

Anybody who hasn't turned in your homework for the last week, please, please do so now. Otherwise your grade will have to be held over, and that would be a shame, considering how well you've all done this term.

The play and the club presentations were very enjoyable. Miss Jones, well done to you and the rest of the Explorer's Club; I'm sure everyone learned something new about the castle!

[[Private, 10% hackable to friends]]

Why they let Kidd into the Spirit Division is beyond me. Pity none of those self-proclaimed has-beens possesses any practical knowledge of title in movable property..... Surely even they couldn't be idiots enough to reverse the legislation, after all that.

*wry chuckle, sarcasm... he hopes* ~~Good God, I'm doomed.~~

[[/private]]

[[Pretend the Explorer's Club presented something about Escheresque passages and out-of-the-way classrooms and ways to persuade the staircases not to change while you're on them? XD;;

Homework grading is as follows: the usual 0-5 points for second/third years, 0-10 for fourth/fifth years, 0-15 for sixth/seventh years, each with up to five points extra credit and canonical letter grades from T(errible) to O(utstanding).

2nd-3rd years: transcription and magic circle theory. Extra credit for neatness, points taken for sloppiness.
4th-5th years: spell construction and ward drafting. Extra credit for a working ward, points taken (and band-aids administered) if it blows up.
--Also, for fifth-years, an additional OWL practice exam graded on a pass/fail basis, earning five points for passing and costing five points for failure. It should not be difficult to pass unless your character is a hardcore slacker.~
6th-7th years: spellcrafting in different languages; translating spells to and from various languages; outline of an end-of-term project on use of written magic in the real world (magical journals, hieroglyphic curses on tombs, shouting currency for the sight-impaired, signage invisible to Muggles, ink-based healing runes, etc). Extra credit for thoroughness, points taken for haphazard research.
--Also, for seventh-years, an additional NEWT practice exam administered and graded along the same lines as the OWL one.

Any end-of-term exams will have taken place last week. Come getcher last-minute points! \o/]]

-this cruel trick of fate-

bobthewizard — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:10:22 GMT

*several crumpled pages; following that, a few lines in a script spikier than usual... a perceptive eye might almost call it bitter*

Castiel, Gabriel, honestly. You sound as though this sort of thing has never happened to you before. It probably won't be the last time either, but still, try not to waste it.

[[Private; 50% hackable to people familiar he talks to a lot]]

Nothing I can do, even like this... *a dent in the page, as of some blunt, round object ~~like the edge of a thick bracelet~~ digging into it* It's sure to wear off any moment. Just like the last time this happened, and the time before that.... and on into eternity.

[[/private]]

[[Backdated to late, late, LATE Friday night. Bob was in the library without his journal up until now, trying to break his curse and not succeeding. He's now sitting on a book-box in his tiny office, exhausted and hungry and possibly ~~emoing~~ falling asleep at his desk.]]

-he is equally cunning with dice-

bobthewizard — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:27:00 GMT

Marco! Take that mouse out of the classroom immedi-- NO, DON'T DROP IT--

..*sigh*

If someone could locate and remove the mouse that is currently hiding in my classroom, I would be much obliged.

*stalking through a desk to get to the supply cupboard for a closer look at the animal, is surprised that it seems to be more difficult than usual to move through the solid material, but waves it off as the castle having a bad day.*

[[Filtered to Kate]]

Mz Beckett, I wonder if you would be obliging enough to transport my skull to the location for Castiel's funeary rites tomorrow?

[[/filtered]]

[[He has a satchel to put the skull in when it needs to go anywhere, which Kate would probably have seen when they went to the teacher's conference.]]

-and may my blood stop running blue-

bobthewizard — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:39:46 GMT

~~.........Did he have to call it "G.H.O.S.T."~~

As some of you may already be aware, I will be sponsoring the Explorer's Club. Your student representative will be Miss Coraline Jones; please apply to her for the time of the first meeting.

[[Private]]

This couldn't be better if I'd planned it.

[[/private]]

[[Filtered to Ancient Runes students]]

We'll be moving on this week into the practical aspect of the craft. Seventh- and sixth-years, please bring Advanced Rune Translation to class. Fifth-years, don't forget your dragonhide gloves -- you'll only be writing one character today, but you'll be doing it with four different corrosive inks. Fourth years and up, bring your wands, and everyone do remember to bring your minds -- you're going to need them.

[[/filtered]]

(Meanwhile, Bob's cat Marco wanders into an open classroom on the third floor and is investigating the intriguing area beneath the front desk when a breeze shuts the door behind him. OOPS.)

[[That's right, it's a HOMEWORK POST! \o/ As usual, respond with name, House, year, and how your character handles the assignment.

Grading: will be the usual scale of 0-5 points for second and third years, 0-10 for fourth and fifth, and 0-15 for sixth and seventh, with up to five extra credit points for class behavior and successful results, as well as the canonical letter grades from T(roll) to O(utstanding).

Class topics will be as follows:
Second-year: a passage written in runes, with a spell in the middle. Students will be asked to translate the passage and identify the spell.
Third-year: use of rulers and compasses to resize and align the lettering for a written spell.
Fourth-year: compose a runic translation for one of several simple spells, using syllables from a list.
Fifth-year: etch the Anglo-Saxon rune hægl (meaning hail) on a stone, using a different ink for each line, and drawing them in proportion to one another so the stone doesn't explode.
Sixth-year: create a symbol in the style of your language track (Semitic abjads, Egyptian hieroglyphics, Celtic runes, or the Chinese Oracle Bone alphabet and its descendants). Use the chart in Advanced Rune Translation to define possible meanings and magical properties inherent in its shape.
Seventh-year: transcribe a sample passage from Spellman's Syllabary onto wood, stone, hide, paper, or shell, including a spell-word transliterated from a different language into Runes, and using mediums whose properties will allow the spell to preserve itself even if the rest of the passage is obliterated.]

-and the winds will drive-

bobthewizard — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:39 GMT

Congratulations to our newly minted Prefects and Heads of Houses. I'll be looking forward to working with you all again this year.

Castiel, I see that Marco is in the staff room now, if Lilith could be persuaded to join him there. Do you know where any of the other kittens are at the moment?

[[Filtered to Spencer]]

Spencer, my skull is in my classroom. When do you plan to head out?

[[/filtered]]

*checks that his office door is fastened ~~and properly warded against, ahem, Peeves~~ and takes the scenic route up the stairs instead of going straight through the ceiling*

[[Totally backdated to yesterday. Remember, kids, sign up for Ancient Runes here! Also, some of you may presently get uber-late last-week comments from my characters. >___> Sorry they're so very uber-late.]]

-and maybe something's got a hold on you-

bobthewizard — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:39:55 GMT

Ancient Runes
Houses: all.
Years: 2-7.

[[will just leave this here, then.~ You know the drill: name, House, and year. Proper Bob post coming up soon 'cos he and Cas have to do some CAT WATCHING.]]

-what do the simple folk do-

bobthewizard — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:14:05 GMT

...finally.

Apologies for my being out of touch. I had to order a new journal from Diagon Alley and it only just arrived. Students who wish to take Ancient Runes in the upcoming year will be given the opportunity to sign up for the class within a few days.

~~Castiel, you must have been quite busy for the last few days, since I haven't seen you since~~

*reads a few pages back; strikes that out*

I swear, this place is like a zoo sometimes.

[[Filtered to Gabriel]]

...............................Gabriel, before you do anything irreversible, consider that Dumbledore and the Ministry might not take kindly to the murder of one of our staff.

[[/filtered]]

*stares at journal, slams it shut with a word, turns his back on it, and commences to glare a metaphorical hole through the wall*

[[Thobari-mun etc, Bob can't reach the dungeons from his location -- is there anything else that could have alerted him that there was stuff with wards and dark magic going on? ~~That stuff's kind of his specialty.~~]]

-in the arms of a squid-

bobthewizard — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:05:44 GMT

PEEVES!! Come back here with th

*mad laughter, ZAP, howling, a few char marks*

Eeeeheheheheh! Wicked ghostie, putting electric wards on a pretty book like this! How can we make it nicer? I know -- with a dunk in the lake!<3

[[Bob's in the front hall, but can't get outside the castle. Somebody save his journal? XD]]

-you are the sentinels-

bobthewizard — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:45:58 GMT

[[Private]]

Hm. If Dumbledore will install new spirits in the castle without notifying the current inhabitants, I'd better see about restoring the wards on my classroom. It was bad enough keeping Peeves out....

[[/private]]

*ink blot, a couple of scratches and pawprints* ..Marco! How many times must I tell you....

[[Filtered to Castiel]]

Was that your voice I heard in the Great Hall earlier?

[[/filtered]]

-wasn't born to walk on water-

bobthewizard — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:54:30 GMT

~~..Well, that went well.~~ *NOT*

Hm, it's about time to start restocking for next year's classes. I'll be in my ~~skull~~ office if anybody needs me.

*the next two pages are covered with INCREDIBLY BORING notes about Runes supplies, prices, quantities, ordering information, ETC ETC ETC*

[[Strikes oh so unhackable. B| Bob thinks he needs some time to himself after all the recent stuff that's happened. ~~Others may disagree, especially as Bob doesn't know Thobari has now heard about some of what happened.~~~]]

-all those tremulous stars still glitter-

bobthewizard — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:03:07 GMT

*nothing here but a long string of curses, much scribbled out*

[[Private]]

"Are you sure we want him to have more range"? Really? Oh, he's a ghost, he's inhuman and spooky; let's just leave him in his chains, then, because obviously no good could come of trusting him to his own devices? If that's how you feel, my friend, forgive me for preferring not to submit my own case to your mighty judgment.

..If Dumbledore didn't want this to happen, he should have gotten rid of those books the way I told him to three years ago.

[[/private]]

*will be lurking in his office for the next few days because all the books have been shelved, he couldn't understand them as a ghost anyway, and really, where else is there for him to go*

-was there a witness to this-

bobthewizard — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:54:51 GMT

*sits up with a start -- her head had fallen forward on a large stack of books*

Ugh... Kate, I'm afraid there'll be a crick in your neck when we go back to normal. My first chance to sleep in six hundred years, and I spend it at a library desk! There's no justice in the world.

*wearily pulls another volume over, skims the index and table of contents... maaay or may not be nodding off again*

*some time later, sits up again sharply, then stands up; Kate's slender fingers tremble as they riffle through pages of notes -- and then Bob roars right above his open journal, unconcerned about the rest of the castle hearing him*

Castiel! Meet me in the Restricted Section, NOW!

[[If you're in Hogwarts, feel free to have happened upon Kate!Bob asleep at the desk. XD The rest of the action takes place in the evening, near (though they don't know it yet) the end of the body-switch event.]]

-and they'll never be the same-

bobthewizard — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:39:43 GMT

[[Filtered to everyone who's switched]]

For those of you experiencing....................................... issues of bodily integrity, you should be aware that there are medical spells to assist with the basic biological functions. However, since many of you are under-age, you'll have to locate a competent adult to cast them for you -- as you should anyway, since the consequences of a botched medical spell can be... messy.

Do let us know if you need help. *secure in the knowledge that in Kate's body, he can Apparate practically anywhere*

[[/filtered]]

-no spirit could win me-

bobthewizard — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:30:17 GMT

*wakes suddenly in a dark room between unfamiliar sheets*

~~Winifred--?~~ What -- I -- what's wrong with my voice oh good God.

*sits up, running a hand through ~~his~~ her much-too-long hair; makes a few sketchy hand motions, but oh look, can't produce light from her fingertips as she'd been able to for the last several hundred years*

*fumbles for a wand -- wizards usually put them nearby when sleeping, right? -- and bumps her head on the bedboard and her shins on the night-table and ARGH being alive certainly has its disadvantages... but finally manages to cast a half-decent Lumos and look around*

[[Filtered to Kate and also himself]]

Miss Beckett, I believe we may have a situation on our hands. ..Well, technically, on yours. If you're in my office, you'd best not stray too far; I'll be down in a moment and we'll see if we can get this sorted out.
--Bob Bainbridge

[[/filtered]]

[[Filtered to Hogwarts students and staff]]

Well now, look at that. Apparently the whole school has been hit by a slow-acting remotely-triggered body-switching hex ~~again~~. Keep calm and it'll wear off eventually. ~~And remember, you're still going to have to look your counterparts in the face again next school year.~~

[[/filtered]]

[[Bob figures that Kate hopped into his ghostly body, as he hasn't experienced a three-way switch before, so he's hoping she'll be able to see a filter directed to both of them. Unfortunately such is not the case. :D *hopes I'm doing this right* Spence, Kate, ball's in your court!~]]

-but his soul remains alive-

bobthewizard — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:37:01 GMT

And that's that.

Just for clarification, is anybody actually still here?

*drifts up to the second floor; the script from his charmed quill goes all sharp with annoyance* ..Ah, how very predictable. I distinctly told Mr. Filch to leave the classroom door shut! And it looks like Peeves has already been in there. Well, that'll be another nasty mess for him to deal with when he returns. ~~At least my skull wasn't in there this time.~~

-hold onto the night-

bobthewizard — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:00:48 GMT

*potters about his classroom, writing a few last-minute exam instructions in his usual floaty glowing lettering in front of the blackboard*

With today's exams, my work for this year will be done. ~~I wish.~~ Ancient Runes students, I hope you all got enough sleep and had a nourishing breakfast this morning, because this is going to be good.

So, plans for the summer? Anybody going anywhere interesting?

[[That's right, the Ancient Runes final exam is here -- last chance (probably) to get house points from Bob this year! If your character's taking this exam, leave a brief comment with their name, House, and how well they do on the test. Grades will be on the usual sliding scale of D(readful) to O(utstanding), with points ranging from 0-5 points (second and third years), 0-10 points (fourth and fifth), and 0-15 points (sixth and seventh), plus up to five extra points for putting theory into practice.
Supplies:
Second year: full set of quills and inks of different colors, consistencies, and compositions
Third-year: chisel, holly oil, #2 brush; other supplies will be provided
Fourth-year through seventh-year: dragon-hide gloves, wand, full sets of brushes, solvents, and inks; other supplies will be provided

Exam topics:
Second-years: Elder Futhark; pronunciation and translation; drawing simple wards on parchment.
Third-years: other Norse rune systems; use of drafting tools to draw and letter more complex wards on parchment and wood.
Fourth-years: syllabic interpretation; acid etching of runes on stone; translating existing spells into and out of any Norse rune system.
Fifth-years: OWL-level -- this is a very major exam. Translating spells into Elder, Younger, and Anglo-Saxon runes and back again; creating multilinguistic ward stones; use of materials to imbue words with different magical effects than they would normally have. Bob teaches ahead of his year, so his students should be well prepared for the standardized test; grasp of the class-specific material will depend on how well they've paid attention.
Sixth-years: working with their chosen NEWTs language track (Semitic abjads, Egyptian hieroglyphics, or Chinese scripts); translating freely between English letters, ancient runes, and their new language characters; art as a supplement to lettering when symbology is uncertain; translate and defuse a dangerous defensive ward (which includes a chance of eyebrow singeing if not done correctly).
Seventh-years: NEWT-level -- another difficult one; translating simple spells into and out of their chosen language; use of all standard materials for runework and wardcrafting; imbuing written words with trigger-spells; preserving written material without destroying its magical components. Half-hour practical section to complete actual wards, bespelled writing, and preserved material.

-can't seem to find the angels-

bobthewizard — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:15:25 GMT

[[Filtered to Ancient Runes students]]

To those of you who will be here this morning for your first exam of the week, good luck. Just think, another few hours and it will all be over.~ Other years will have to wait a day or even two before coming to this point; try not to exhaust yourselves with anticipation. Scholastically speaking, I would call this a productive year for us all, so most of you have little to fret about.

And if I find out who switched all the sorrel inks with the etching acid, there will be.... consequences. After all, somebody has to replace that washbasin.

[[/filtered]]

*list of heavily locked notations, with "erfidityes" and "ins aeternum ocu" barely legible if you really look for it, trailing off into an exasperated scribble*

....................Has anybody seen my cat?

*...........who, for his part, is elsewhere in the castle, methodically shredding the edge of a tapestry<3*

[[Feel free to have done the prank, if you want to accept the Consequences (plumbing repairs and detention for a week).~ Also note: this is not the exam post. It will come in a day or so when I finish writing it. ^^]]

-did we drown too easily-

bobthewizard — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:35:15 GMT

Due to the recent atrocities, pending assignments for my class will be ~~canceled~~ extended until Friday. My most sincere condolences to those whose loved ones were affected by the attacks. Remember, too, that as a society, we are of a piece; what harms one harms us all. It is of importance in these troubled times to remember that.

[[Filtered to staff]]

I assume there will be a memorial gathering of some sort? Have we been able to obtain the list of casualties yet? Several of my pupils have expressed concern for loved ones in the area.

[[/filtered]]

-hunt for this man-

bobthewizard — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:36:47 GMT

[[Private; 10% hackable]]

..it makes no sense. If someone had really written that all over the walls, I wouldn't be here now. Or any other ghost in Hogwarts. Nor is anything else... untoward... in any of the journal entries now.

I didn't even know I could hallucinate.

[[/private]]

Notwithstanding the last two days' shakeups, I must inform you that your midterms, at least those I'm responsible for, will proceed as scheduled. However, I know your capabilities by now; rest assured that any lingering effects of what you have all endured will not affect your final grade.

[[Exam post is here. The exams will ICly be today and Friday; Bob will allow for event-based dips in peoples' normal grade levels, but if your character would have done badly anyway and blames it on the event, Bob will know. XD~]]

-no comfort, no escape-

bobthewizard — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:38:49 GMT

There's something strange about the atmosphere this evening. One doesn't often see Albus Dumbledore looking... twitchy....

Ah well, no matter. If it's significant, no doubt I'll hear about it in due time.

[[Filtered to Ancient Runes students]]

The balance of you have been progressing at a satisfactory pace this term, despite the constant interruptions for which this school is well known. However, straining as you are to be gone, we cannot neglect the opportunity to find out how much you have learned so far.

That's right; I'm talking about an exam. Don't all applaud at once.~

From Wednesday to Friday, I will be administering practical exams in the usual classroom. They will touch upon every subject we've covered this term, so bring your complete notes to class on Tuesday and see that there are no treacherous spots of ignorance in your knowledge. There will be a bonus question on the most recent chapter of The Polyglot Peril; read it with attention on the changeability of language and the importance of actual and perceived intent in crafting a verbal spell. There will, of course, be House points given for the practical portion of the test. Ravenclaw's recent win gives their House a significant lead for the House Cup, so you should all welcome the chance for some friendly academic competition.

You'll find a list of supplies tacked to the door of my office. Come armed with everything you need, ignoring any items that Peeves may have added in crayon.

[[/filtered]]

Supplies:
Second year: full set of quills and inks of different colors, consistencies, and compositions*
Third-year: chisel, holly oil, #2 brush; other supplies will be provided
Fourth-year through seventh-year: dragon-hide gloves, wand, full sets of brushes, solvents, and inks; other supplies will be provided

Exam topics:
Second-years: Elder Futhark; pronunciation and translation; drawing simple wards on parchment.
Third-years: other Norse rune systems; use of drafting tools to draw and letter more complex wards on parchment and wood.
Fourth-years: runes at spellcrafting level; syllabic interpretation; acid etching of runes on stone.
Fifth-years: OWL-level, so it will be hard. Translating spells into Elder, Younger, and Anglo-Saxon runes and back again; creating multilinguistic ward stones; use of materials to imbue words with different magical effects than they would normally have.
Sixth-years: working with their chosen NEWTs language track (Semitic abjads, Egyptian hieroglyphics, or Chinese scripts); translating freely between English letters, ancient runes, and their new language characters; art as a supplement to lettering when symbology is uncertain.
Seventh-years: NEWT-level; translating simple spells into and out of their chosen language; use of all standard materials for runework and wardcrafting; imbuing written words with trigger-spells; preserving written material without destroying its magical components.

[[That's right, it's a HOMEWORK POST! \o/ Exams will be graded on the usual sliding scale of D(readful) to O(utstanding), and the points range will be 0-5 points (second and third years), 0-10 points (fourth and fifth), and 0-15 points (sixth and seventh), with up to five extra points for putting theory into practice. Leave a brief comment with your character's name, house, and how well they do on the test -- continuity-wise, the testing will occur a day or so after the fear event.

If you're not sure if you're in this class, check the sign-up list here.]]

-for he will do as he will do-

bobthewizard — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:21:39 GMT

*it's lunchtime, and a hairless, tattooed man ~~mercifully clad in a scant loincloth~~ is swaggering into the Great Hall, smooth and alert and curious about everything around him -- his sense of smell isn't so keen in this form, but he can still smell the food*

*over at the teacher's table, Professor Bob glances up, meets the animal's eye, and then just sighs and goes back to whatever conversation he was having*

[[Those of you who were around last time this happened will recognize the human form of Bob's cat, Marco.]]

-at least we all heard that somebody purred-

bobthewizard — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:29:42 GMT

Well, it's been a ~~surprisingly~~ nice, uneventful start of the term... although whoever charmed the suits of armor in the Front Hall to sing I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside whenever anybody walks by would be well advised to choose a more euphonious melody next time.

[[Filtered to Tohru]]

I look forward to working with you this year, Miss Honda. We have a promising second-year crop and I'm sure we'll get them off to a good start.

[[/filtered]]

[[Filtered to Gareki]]

Have you any time this week for that project we discussed?

[[/filtered]]

[[Filtered to Bob's students]]

For the most part, you all did well on the review. Those who didn't: you know who you are; kindly stay after your next class and we will discuss how to put you on par with those in your year.

This week we will begin serious translations and transliterations. Second through fourth years, please prepare the appropriate Futhark charts in your Wright's workbook. Concentrate on the first aett of the alphabet; by next week you will be able to string them together to create words. Those of you above your fourth year should already be able to read the Elder and Anglo-Saxon Futhark runes; you will focus on translating Swedish, Danish, and Hungarian spells from old texts into Younger Futhork. We will not start on Orkhon or Cirth until mid-year. The fifth year, linguistically at least, will be devoted to synthesizing the various Western runic alphabets and translating to and from the languages they were used to write.

Students beginning their sixth year will have a harder task. Now that you are familiar with the process of assimilating a new alphabet, you will apply it to either proto-Canaanite and the Semitic abjads (Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic), Egyptian hieroglyphics, or Chinese Oracle Bone alphabet and its descendants. Once you've read the introduction, please see me to choose a language track for your NEWT studies.

As for seventh year... Haldah, Chapter Four, and Cove, Chapter One. I hope you're prepared for an intensive scholastic experience.

[[/filtered]]

[[Homework:
ICly due Monday, 21 September, and OOCly as long as the link's up on the main assignment page; please leave an OOC comment about how your character did.
Points will be given on a 0-5 scale for second and third years, 0-10 for fourth and fifth, and 0-15 for sixth and seventh, with least = didn't do it or completely bungled it, and most = went above and beyond.

Second years: Elder Futhark; learning the names, sounds, and shapes of the letters
Third years: Anglo-Saxon Futhark; differentiating from Elder Futhark
Fourth years: Younger Futhork; translating simple spells from runes to English
Fifth years: all of the above, translating simple spells from English to runes
Sixth years: introduction to Semitic abjads, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and Chinese scripts; choose one language track for NEWTs
Seventh years: translating simple spells into and out of the language chosen from previous year]]

-but where's the gentleman gone-

bobthewizard — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:20:43 GMT

..As I expected. Runes starts today, and the classroom is virtually unprepared, the sink clogged, every surface dust-ridden, the supplies still boxed up, and my office still full of spiders. Pity that elf-magic can't be trusted around the mummy dust....

Two days into the year and I already need a break. I must be getting soft.

*paces, fuming*

[[Filtered to Reggie]]

Mr. Theophilus, you will please present yourself in the Ancient Runes classroom on the second floor today, at... teatime. Bring a quill and a mop.

[[/filtered]]

[[Filtered to Runes students]]

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the term's first Runes classes are being postponed until tomorrow. You will have an extra free period today. Please read the introduction to your year's edition of White's, and be prepared to answer review questions about the material you learned last year. Thank you.

[[/filtered]]

[[Strike readable by staff, barely hackable if students are really, really good at it.]]

-no time to change the world-

bobthewizard — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:29:32 GMT

Well. *rubs hands* Who's looking forward to going back to school?

[[Filtered to Ancient Runes students, second-year and up]]

If you're taking my class in the fall and haven't yet confirmed it on your class schedule, please do so at the first opportunity.

You will need the following texts: for second years, clean copies of Twenty-Five Magical Languages by Ufar Haldah and Deciphering Ancient Runes by Smedly Lurge; upperclassmen will retain Haldah and add Angela Cove's Symbols of Power: Linguistic Secrets Revealed, and everyone will need the year-appropriate volume of Wright's White Rites Rightly Writ with its accompanying workbook. Much of your homework will be detailed in Wright's, so don't start your year without it.

To those who are taking this class for the first time, welcome, and I trust you will find it illuminating. In days to come, you will use runes, hieroglyphs, and other ancient writings frequently in your studies; they are invaluable for everything from Transfiguration to Arithmancy. You will draw them on the surfaces of potions; you will inscribe them on wards to shield your loved ones from harm; by the end of the year you will know the pros and cons of six types of parchment, eight other material surfaces, and thirty types of inks with which to create symbolic magic, along with the scripts to write it all with. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

[[/filtered]]

*a note is here appended for Reggie, detailing materials, supplies, and texts needed for the coming year... although Bob isn't exactly sanguine in thinking that anything in the note will get through to his new TA*

-he can creep through the tiniest crack-

bobthewizard — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:31:22 GMT

..I always did have a weakness for open-air events. ~~Now if only I could carry my skull around myself....~~

For all Ancient Runes students attending today's festival, you'll want to pick up your year's edition of Wright's White Rites Rightly Writ at the supplies booth. I hear the discount from the usual price is considerable.

*jots down a few notes about textbook prices and the names of some obscure books with which to pad out the year's curriculum*

[[Private]]

Well, letting this journal float through the crowd is certainly out. I shall just have to resign myself to verbal communication for the day.

[[/private]]

[[Filtered to Harry]]

Well, did you manage to escape, or should I be waiting for a gloating owl from Ancient Mai?

[[/filtered]]

[[Filtered to close friends*]]

I find myself in need of transportation for part of the day -- would anybody care to help me out?

[[/filtered]]

[[*Meaning close friends who already know that his skull limits his mobility. (If your character doesn't yet, but wants to find out, that can be arranged. ^^)]