• Solo • Furry Friends

[Shl'Drei]

21st Cylus, Arc 721

When was the last time he'd entered a classroom? Well, if you counted his birthtrial, never. Specifically, his schooling had been handled by his father who, for lack of better terms, did decently in the some categories and horribly in others. Though, as awkward as Shl'drei was socially, he was good at what his father could manage. There was either perfection or failure, there was no in between with his father's teaching. Mistakes made for harsh punishments, a slap on the knuckles with a baton of sorts for instance. He visibly cringed at the thought. Scarier still, he was a grown man and decent conversation was hard. He played it off as best he could (horribly actually) and tried to move through it. He was sure at least three out of five people could tell as much as they spoke to him.

The trial before he'd applied for lessons in a classroom setting, hoping to at least be able to converse and learn. He'd stayed in Scalvoris town for the night, holed up in a dingy inn. it sucked, and he missed Leora, but he figured it was best not to bring a full grown lumen to class with him. Eventually, reluctantly, he'd dressed in warm clothes, wrapped his cloak and whispered goodbye to his companion. He grabbed the rickety lantern and went on his way- though the glow was dim it was enough to get him to where he needed to go. He stood there for a few bits to observe the building since he was early. Large from the parts he could see, and bright enough inside that he wouldn't need the lantern on once he entered.

He stood there just staring for a few bits, trying to convince himself that he could handle a classroom. It wasn't like he was going to teach, all he had to do was sit and listen, maybe even take some notes. His backpack had a few notebooks and a quill- he was prepared as he could've been and yet he was still anxious. Jittery, fidgety, you name it he was doing it. Though eventually he realized he'd be late if he kept gawking, so he hesitantly opened the doors and walked through. According to the receptionist, he was due in the rightmost building and should report to a Professor Seams.

Remember, he reminded himself. Think like they're animals, they'll sense your nerves and then you won't stand a chance. He flicked his free hand and shook out any snow on his cloak in the process. Time to crush it. He pushed past the doors until he reached what he assumed was the right classroom and then he hesitated.

He liked animals, he loved them in fact, but how did you deal with people? He stood there dumbly as he watched the class pile in. It's only a introduction to the class and professor, he thought. It's not a big deal. Inhale, exhale, enter. No one turned to him or eyed him funny as he turned off the lantern and looked around, but he was clearly out of place because everyone had made into groups. They paid no attention to the tamer, which was a relief in a way. He snagged a seat in the front row and shrugged off his cloak and backpack. He pulled out his things, set them on the table as neatly as he could as he looked around carefully.

Most of his classmates were huddled together in some shape or form, familiar with the people around them. In the very back stood a girl who looked bored, but when she caught Shl'drei's eye she glared and he went to look elsewhere immediately. The last thing he needed was to piss someone off the first day in class. Looking around the classroom proved boring- there were desks of course, a chalkboard up front, a few other things scattered that he couldn't name, and the students.

Before he could get ay further, a.. person? Owl? How would one describe the feathered thingy that walked into the classroom. Everyone seemed to quiet down quickly and eagerly, as if they knew something the tamer clearly didn't. No one seemed keen on disrupting the owl, but looking around, he wasn't the only dumbfounded by the professors appearance. Some looked on curiously, others in disbelief. All eyes were on the owl until he took a stance before the mini podium in front.

"Sit, sit. Welcome class,"He started, a chorus of hellos and greetings murmured quietly around the room. "I am Professor Drumpf."

OOC

Extra Credit: In order to lessen the strain of gaining knowledges, there is a "pay-in" system: a PC may do an extra study/homework/work thread of at least 1500 (their words if collaboration), which "buys off" 5 knowledges.

[Shl'Drei]

"Let's see then, you two remain for introductions. You there, young lady," Professor Drumpf gestured gently towards the girl who glared at the tamer - at least he thought she had - earlier. Now that introductions were being done, she'd sat directly to his right in the desk beside him. She gestured to herself and sighed when the professor nodded. "Yes my dear, you. Come now, let's see your confidence."

"Lyah Parka," She said, pulling her long hair into a ponytail and binding it with some sort of band. She looked excited, nervous, and annoyed all at once. It was hard to tell though, since Shl'drei avoided looking directly at her as to not get on her nerves. Before she continued, she relaxed her arms at her sides. "Studying for... Veterinary experience." She seemed to scow at that- her excitement died and her irritation seemed to triple as she spat the words. Shl'drei raised a brow, but turned away and looked at the professor until she sat back down.

Ah, she didn't give more than necessary., he thought as the professor looked at him expectantly. "Right well, here goes..." He murmured under his breath. He looked around the classroom, a great deal of these students were younger than him by appearances. Lyah looked bored already, but he steeled himself and tried not to let his nerves show. "Shl'drei. I want to train animals professionally, though I guess I already am. N-not that I'm any good at it." He caught himself quickly, not wanting to seem as if he was superior because he had experience.

"Right, you can take a seat young man," He nodded enthusiastically, and the professor flashed what he and the others assumed was a smile. "As you hear, I am Professor Drumpf. And as you can tell I'm not exactly ordinary. On my quest to understand the creatures around me I became enamored with Becoming. A very dangerous magic, yes, but one that has served me well in my academic career." A round of murmurs that he nipped by holding up a feathered... hand? "There will be time for questions, children. Now, can anyone tell me what we're here for?"

"Class?" Someone said with confusion. A chorus of more confused agreement. Looking around Shl'drei had the same thought- they were here for class right? He prayed that their would be no tests or any such thing, but the possibility was out there.

"Correct but incorrect. We are here to learn and have fun," Professor Drumpf started. "This is science department. As such, some courses are highly sought after for their usefulness and professors take their time to put together a course, a class, that will benefit all levels of skill. Your minds are young, impressionable. I intend to make certain you gain something form this class. Now, this is the animal training curse, can anyone tell me the difference between animal training and animal husbandry?"

"Animal husbandry is the art of taking care of animals. It's about care and affection, raising if you will. 'Think of the art as helping animals'." Lyah's boredom was clear. Shl'drei opened his notebook and quickly jotted down the words Training vs. Husbandry, splitting the page in two with a line down the center. "Most people think of ranch hands when husbandry is brought up."

Shl'drei wrote the bit that stood out to him in clean print, think of the art as helping animals. If that was the case, he probably had the answer to animal training. "So if animal husbandry is the art of helping animals, would that make training the art of teaching animals? I feel the difference between them is vague- wouldn't it be more helpful to have both? To train an animal you'd need trust and patience, which husbandry is a good teacher." He put a knuckle to his lip as he tried to organize his thoughts. "Though, now that I'm thinking on it, training would be impossible if you had no knowledge about the animals behaviors and such. I'm not sure that works backwards?"

"I see we have two stars in the making," Drumpf sung happily. "You're both correct. You Shl'drei, have raised an excellent point. To train an animlal is easier if you're familiar with said animal. Each animal will have different behaviors, temperaments, diets, habitat, and so on. If one is too train correclty, you'd need to be knowledgeable to some extent on such things, yes? So, what's an a common animal that can be trained?"

"Dogs!"

The professor hummed his agreement, glad to see more enthusiasm. He then turned to the board, and wrote the word canine on the board. "This cycles focus will be training canines. Our next will focus on felines. Until we cover these breeds, we won't be going further. Understood?" A chorus of agreement. "Excellent. The class will now be assigned a date where we will all be visiting the Menagerie in Scalvoris. There we will start our first lesson and you will be assigned a partner. With his partner you will be choosing one of the canines to train for the rest of the cycle. Once this cycle ends you will be evaluated on the quality of the training, and depending will be told to take this course again or move on. You'll all had dorms assigned to you."

"Question, Professor."

"Yes, my boy?"

"How do we know who are partners are? Are they preassigned? Do we get to pick?"

"Oh yes of course, He shuffled a bit behind the desk and chalkboard before he pulled out a sheet of paper. "Most of you have already noticed that the doors are two students per space. Your roommate is indeed your assigned partner for this cycle. If you have any questions or need help do let me know. You have two trials to get used to your partner before you will be expected at the menagerie to pick up your trainee." Professor Drumpf explained. Shl'drei realized he'd never actually gone to his dorm, he'd been houses in sweetwine for a while but msot of his possession were in his dorm... Well Leora and Sek were at the menagerie for the first day of school, but he planned to get them after and bring them to the dorm. With that last bit, the professor reiterated the cycle's' assignment before everyone was dismissed.

[Jackalope]

Experience: +10 xp

Knowledge:

ETA: Changed "Animal Husbandry" to "Animal Training"

Animal Training X 5
Etiquette: It’s rude to stare.

Non-skill:
Harold Drumpf: Zoology Professor

Skillplay: Appropriate to level

Loot: None.

Injuries/Overstepping: None.

Magic Experience?: None.

Renown: +5 for introducing yourself to a Professor and a class.

Comments:
First day of class for Shl’drei. Ever.

We all remember how nervous we were on the first day of school. How much more nervous would one be if one had never been in a classroom before one’s twenties? You portray Shl’drei’s self-consciousness and social awkwardness well; also, the idea of waiting to see what another student would do first and how it flew with the class and instructor was clever -and also believable.

Speaking of flew: You went, as I did in another thread, with the idea that Professor Drumpf presents as a mix of humanoid and owl features. And you had Shl’drei react naturally to his strangeness.

I added “Etiquette: It’s rude to stare” to your knowledges. Non-skills don’t count towards your limit.

Let me know if you have any questions/feedback. Enjoy your rewards!