>>28183484
-LAST TIME IN SALEM-
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/28057838/

You, Natalia Jean-Louis, a young american witch of afro-caribbean descent started your third day of class. Your second day wasn’t quite as emotional as the first day, in which a Turtle House member spilled a baldness potion on you intentionally. Thankfully, the nurse gave you a tonic that seems to be growing your hair back fairly quickly. Unfortunately you found out this morning that sometime during the night, a fellow Housemate passed away under mysterious circumstances. The student who found him was none other than Allen, the upperclassman who has been really nice to you ever since you arrived. You met Allen in the forges soon after you found out and bonded with him, learning a new form of magic in the process: the ability to enchant objects you smith via rune engraving. During breakfast you received a message from your Dad and Helen that was overall encouraging, apart from a weird note at the end that had been redacted somehow. Somehow you kept getting deterred whenever you tried to write a reply- at least in the process you overheard a friend of the dead student talking about how he seemed out-of-character the past few weeks. Either way, you have bigger problems: your second dueling class was supposed to have started about twenty minutes ago, but Professor Squall had yet to show up.

Keep updated here: twitter.com/Salem_Institute

This quest uses a ROLL-UNDER system. I'll usually take the best of the first 3 1d100 rolls that are linked to my post. Critical fails are 98-100, Critical successes are 1-5 and take precedence.

There is an -ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED- Fate point system in which for every THREE achievements Natalia unlocks, you get ONE Fate Token which can reroll ONE die-roll. If someone expresses a wish to use a token, I’ll call for a y/n vote on whether to use one based on consensus.

Current Fate Tokens: 1
Achievements Needed to next Token: 1

File: 1383961026949.jpg-(52 KB, 1023x631, SMITHING-INTENSIFIES.jpg-l.jpg)

52 KB JPG

>>28183576
Oh by the way, another HUGE SHOUT-OUT to Doodlefag for drawfagging it up for us again! It looks amazing.

>>28183618
That actually looks really good, I'm not used to quality drawfag in quests

>>28183576
As five minutes soon became twenty and then into thirty you began to grow a bit anxious. It didn’t seem like Squall to be late for anything let alone her class. The group of students seem to have a mixed response. Some think that it would be best to alert another professor to see if something has happened to her, others want nothing more than to slink off back to their dorms to have more free time, but most are content to continue waiting.

However, just as the group seemed to get into some sort of consensus you see a figure erupt from a thick grove of trees north of the field, towards the thick area of the forest that engulfed the island. Mahogany hair braided tightly and then wound into a bun sat atop her head but was the only thing about your teacher that seemed in order as she strides towards the group with purpose and punctuality. Her dueling robes seemed slightly disheveled with dirt and remnants of plane life. As she enters the field you see her toss an empty black bag on to the ground with a pronounced frown.

Roll 1d100, please.

Rolled 53

>>28183662

>>28183484
Not trying to stir up shit but if you could please put the word "Quest" somewhere in the thread topic the next time you make one of these threads? Both myself and many others on the board use that for custom filters.

Thanks and enjoy your quest.

>>28183691
Yeah, sorry about that, I forget about half the time. It's not because I'm trying to start shit or annoy you guys, I promise.

Rolled 46

>>28183662
Surprise attack/someone caught us being out last night?

Rolled 96

>>28183662
Crit fail time?

Rolled 69

>>28183662

>>28183794
Close, but not quite.

>>28183770
It is apparent that she is very angry about something, but she gives you no indication as to why.

The students still seemed to be in a bout of murmurous confusion until Squall puts two fingers in her mouth to produce a deafening whistle.

“We have no time to waste,” she commands to your mass.

“Everyone line up, now!”

Shocked first years quickly get themselves into single file line in front of the instructor. She turns on her heel and mutters a phrase you can not understand while looping her wand in a large circular motion around her head. A large metal plated mannequin springs up from a hidden panel in the ground. Its large plated arms and chest hand down in a drooped position as it sits upon some sort of loose looking pole. You look into the empty space behind its metal face plate, trying to detect any sentence to it like the Automatons, the schools mechanical servants, have.

Though the craftsmanship is similar to them you do not see any signs that the metal dummy has any sort of thought process. It is simply an empty metal figurine.

“Watch closely!” Squall barks and makes a tugging motion with her wand. The mannequin responds by slowly gliding towards Squall.

She takes a deep breath and gives her wand a fast, whip like motion. “Flippindo!”

The metal figure is knocked back to his starting point with monstrous force.

Squall turns back to the group to begin drills, saying nothing more besides the magical words needed to control the dueling puppet.

Roll 1d100, please.

Rolled 45

>>28183863
Time to fail at any non forge-based magic.

Rolled 14

>>28183863

Rolled 57

>>28183863
Flippindo eh?

I remember those games.

Rolled 43

>>28183863

>>28183905
All too soon it’s your turn. Your stomach clenches with the thoughts of your previous failure from last class.
You take your position on the field and the mannequin comes zooming towards you. You think about what Squall told you during your tutoring session. Magic is bending the natural will of other objects and creatures. It is the dummy’s will to continue moving towards you, it is yours to knock it back.

You picture the result vividly in your mind and your wand emits a loud ‘crack’ as you flick it in the air.

“Flipindo!” The word feels confident and powerful as soon as you say it. The metal practice dummy zooms back a few feet. Not as impressive as Squall’s example, but you’ll take it. You look to your teacher for some sort of sign of approval but you only see her staring ahead placidly. She doesn’t seem to be paying much attention.

The class runs through several more drills and then comes to a conclusion with reviewing ‘accio’ from last class. Once the time had run out Squall picked up the limp bag and left the field without muttering a word to any of her students.

Angela comes up to you with a confused expression on her face once your small class starts to dissipate.

“Who put a bee hive in her bonnet?” She jabs a finger in Squall’s direction.

>Do you think it has something to do with Oliver, the student that was… found?
>We should try to go look in that bag
>I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s obviously personal.
>Other

>>28184153
>>Do you think it has something to do with Oliver, the student that was… found?

>>28184153
>>I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s obviously personal.

We don't have to solve every mystery.

>>28184153
>I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s obviously personal.

A student was just found killed, and now a powerful duelist is visibly shaken? Anything that would upset HER, WE should stay out of. Don't wanna get in over our heads.

>>28184153
>Do you think it has something to do with Oliver, the student that was… found?
She did come from the woods...

Rolled 1

>>28184179
>>28184486

>>28184228
>>28184431

Rolling to break tie. 1 = Do you think it has something to do with Oliver, 2 = I wouldn't worry about it.

>>28184590
The dice have spoken.

>>28184590
“You think it has something to do with Oliver?” His name feels ominous as it slips off your tongue.

Angela furrows her blond eyebrows for a moment before letting them loose in a shrug. “I’m not sure. They say he died of an aneurysm, though. If that’s true then there’s nothing to be worried about.”

“Well,” You begin, “Besides the whole ‘former student being found dead’ thing.”

Your classmate gives you an odd look. “Yeah but I don’t think that someone as well composed as Miss Squall would be shaken simply by somethin’ as simple as death.”

You suppose she might have a point.

>How many people do you think she’s seen die?
>Invite another classmate with you on your way to lunch to join in on the discussion. (Choice: Todd or Jeremy)

>>28184707
>Invite Todd

>>28184707
>>How many people do you think she’s seen die?

>>28184707
>>Invite another classmate with you on your way to lunch to join in on the discussion. (Choice: Todd or Jeremy)

Jeremy is the one from starfish house right? Invite him.

Rolled 2

>>28184769
>>28184774
>>28184904
Rolling to break tie again.

>>28185009
“How many people do you think she’s seen die?” You ask in a hushed voice, not sure if the question was appropriate or not.

Angela seems to give it some actual thought for a moment. She then begins to count on her fingers as if going down a list.

“Eleven.” She states bluntly with little fanfair.

>Wait. Where did you get that number?
>Awkwardly laugh, she’s clearly joking.
>Other

>>28185069
>>Awkwardly laugh, she’s clearly joking.

>>28185069
>Wait. Where did you get that number?
>Tell me more

>>28185069
> Both.
Ahaha...wait, what?

>>28185069
>Wait. Where did you get that number?

She better not be holding out on us

>>28185069
>>Wait. Where did you get that number?

>>28185069

>Awkwardly laugh, she’s clearly joking.
Sweet got in early on this

>>28185103
>>28185136
>>28185137
You start to laugh instinctively but then stop suddenly. “Wait, what? Where did you get that from?”

She looks at you blankly and then lets out a small giggle. “Come on Natalia! Re-Lax!” Her small hand gives you a firm slap on the back. “It was only an estimate.”

You want to question her a bit more but you are uncertain about her response. The two of you wander over to the Main House for lunch casually talking to eachother about school, pets, and other eleven year old things.

As soon as the two of you enter the Main House and make your way to the Eel House tables you see something odd. Todd is sitting at the tables but he is not alone. A golden skinned boy is talking to him excitedly.

>Approach the two.
>Sit with Angela only
>Other

>>28185510
>>Approach the two.

>>28185510
>Approach the two.
New friend!!!!!

>>28185510
>Approach the two.
Let's see what's up with the two and maybe hear some juicy gossip.

>>28185545
>>28185548
>>28185556
“Who’s that?” You ask Angela as the two of you walk towards him.

“Looks familiar,” Angela remarks.

Todd sees the two of you and flashes a small grin in response. The boy with him, now aware of your presence, turns to face the two of you approaching. He is a handsome boy, not as much as Allen of course, with a gently rounded nose and thick black hair which was very well combed for a boy his age.

“Hey Natalia, Angela. This is-” Todd begins calmly as his friend’s voice overlaps his.

“Samir, Samir Doshi.” The boy extends a hand to the two of you. Looking at his lapel you see a silver octopus with long tendrils twisted upon one another.

>Introduce yourself.
>Ask what they were talking about.
>Ask how they know each other.

>>28185735
>>Introduce yourself.
>>Ask what they were talking about.

>>28185735
>>Introduce yourself.

>>28185735
>Introduce yourself.
As an aside, I'm not sure what ethnicity "golden skin" implies. Clarify?

>>28185924
Asian?

>>28185754
>>28185756

“Natalia Jean-Louis.” You take his hand and give it a firm shake.

“And I’m Angela Copland!” Your blond colleague quickly takes Samir’s free hand and shakes it vigorously.

You are a little bit surprised to see Samir not react to either your or Angela’s notable pure-blood names. Maybe a Muggleborn then.

“I met Samir on the boat trip over here.” Todd explains.

“Yeah! And this loser has taken this long to say even a ‘hello’ to me again after sorting! Can you believe it?” Samir gives him a playful jab.

“It’s only the third day of classes.” Todd replies.

>Ask them what they were talking about
>Ask if Samir has any good gossip.
>Ask Samir about himself

>>28186024
>>Ask Samir about himself

>>28185924
indian/middle eastern

>>28186024
>Ask Samir about himself.
We've a good track record of making friends this way.

>>28186024
Let's learn more about this guy.

>>28186050
>>28186207
>>28186222
“So, tell me about yourself, Samir” you say.

“Well, “ he began, “My folks are both Muggles so this is all pretty new and exciting to me. A lot has happened to me in the past few months I’m sure you can imagine.”

“Wow, I couldn’t even imagine.” Angela says in slight awe.

“Yeah I know! Both of my parents are engineers who wanted me to be like them when I grew up. They were quite surprised when I got my letter. Thought it was a scam.” Samir gives a small wave of his hand to dismiss the events. He then begins talking about his various hobbies like playing the guitar.

You notice Todd has a vacant look in his eye as Samir talks. You wonder why he doesn’t seem as excited to see his friend as his friend is to see him. As you begin to eat your food, you go over in your mind what you would like to say in your letter to your Dad and Helen. Wait, you still haven’t found out what that weird postscript was.

>Hey you guys, have you ever seen a letter that said “REDACTED” on it?
>Finish lunch quickly and try to go ask Professor Squall about it
>Finish lunch quickly and try to go to the forges and see Allen, letters can wait.

>>28186397
>>Hey you guys, have you ever seen a letter that said “REDACTED” on it?

>>28186397
>Finish lunch quickly and try to go ask Professor Squall about it

>>28186397
>>Finish lunch quickly and try to go ask Professor Squall about it

A teacher would probably know more.

>>28186397
>Hey you guys, have you ever seen a letter that said “REDACTED” on it?
Angela has family in the gov't, right? She may have run across something like this before.

>>28186397
>>Hey you guys, have you ever seen a letter that said “REDACTED” on it?
>>Finish lunch quickly and try to go ask Professor Squall about it

Both of them.

>>28186509
>>28186542
You quickly finish your lunch before departing for the stairs once more. If you recall correctly the teacher’s private offices are on the third story of this building between the nurses office and library, right below the access to the rooftop aviary.

You pass by some older students on their way to the library but otherwise you do not see anything unusual on your way. Maybe this talk with Squall would shed some light on her unusual behavior in class today, at least, you hoped it would. You felt a bit guilty at having ulterior motives, but really, you were concerned about the letter. You can’t help but feel a bit lost without your dad. The last few days had been very eventful, and between the drama with Sophia and the dead student, you feel fairly shaken. You’re just glad there are people like Angela and Allen to keep you company.

You arrive at the floor that houses the teachers’ offices and turn a corner. Squall’s office is right there, and the door is cracked. You hear hushed, low tones coming from inside.

-NEXT TIME IN SALEM-
-Natalia talks with Squall!
-Natalia goes to Magic History and learns stuff maybe!
-Natalia goes to investigate with Todd!

All this and more, next time, on…

-SALEM INSTITUTE QUEST!-

I’m sorry about the short update today, guys, Ive had a really exhausting past few days and Im running quite low on sleep. I promise you’ll get a nice chunk of update next time. Probably going to update on SUNDAY around normal time, that is 0:00- 0:30 GMT.

Gonna skip the Q&A tonight and collapse now.