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Jacks White Oak Field Trip Goblin Market Night 240328

On an enigmatic field trip to the Goblin Market, students and their guide, Jack, navigate through a bustling bazaar filled with all manner of arcane and mysterious wares. Amidst their exploration, Viktorin's curiosity about flesh-forming—a formidable magic that transforms skin as one desires—sparks a series of explanations and grim warnings about the dangers and moral implications of magic. Sienna, with a whimsical threat to use flesh-forming to alter Viktorin's appearance, reveals a personal longing to learn this art despite familial entanglements with contracts that have ensnared her twice. The conversation takes a dark turn as Jack, a defrocked priest and one of the town's more powerful magicians, labels magic as inherently evil, a sentiment echoed by others in the group.

As the field trip concludes, the group contemplates the risks and realities of dwelling within such a perilous environment, with Jack offering guidance on safer alternatives for accommodation. Despite an air of camaraderie, the underlying tension and caution about the use and consequences of magic linger. Viktorin's phone call, alongside Jack's plans for a future trip explicitly focused on the magical workshop, hints at ongoing adventures and learning in this complex world where curiosity and caution must balance. Jack's methodical approach in ensuring safe return for all, contrasted with the characters' mixed feelings towards their experiences, encapsulates the trip's blend of wonder, danger, and the inevitable quest for knowledge within the mystical and unknown.
(Jack's [White Oak] Field Trip: Goblin Market (Night))

[Wed Mar 27 2024]

In the North side of the Bazaar
The large stone chamber continues, market stalls line the walls while
others are set up scattered through the middle of the area forcing people to
walk twisted paths to get to wherever they're going. Crowds throng through
the area, some notably dressed in strange or esoteric garb and a few even
with notably inhuman features. Several board stuck up to the sides of
stalls feature fliers and news items while the stalls themselves sell a wide
variety of mundane, arcane, and illegal items, each promised to be better
than the last by their proprietors.

It is about 50F(10C) degrees.

"I'm curious, what's flesh-forming all about," Viktorin asks quizzically, tapping his chin.

"It's where we fae turn your skin into clay and shape you to however we desire," Sienna dramatically tells Viktorin in quiet aside, leaning over to wiggle her fingers at him, "I could make you look exactly like Donald Trump and Gollum if I so desired."

Meridith raises her brows at Sienna. Curious for a moment about something

"You could not," Jack tells Sienna, his voice dry. "But it is the fundamental power the ancient sorcerers -- some of whom became the true fae -- used to make all of the terrible creatures we see," he says. "It's also how they extended their own lives, and for those of you with some supernatural bloodline? True fleshforming or the powers akin to it are likely the origin of your own power." He pauses. "Miss Matsui is right, though. These hearts are a kind of... currency. There are magicians here that can use that power on you, but they expect to paid in misery." He nods to the northwestern door and the Fleshforming Clinic.

Meridith says "God magic is hideous..."
Meridith grimaces.

Caelum agrees with Meridith.

"Magic is awful," Jack tells Meridith, his eyes dark. "Everything about it is, at its heart, evil." So proclaims the defrocked priest, one of the town's more powerful magicians.

"We are coming to the end of our field trip," Jack tells those here. "North of us is a tavern with some places to sleep," he says. "And in addition to the fleshforming clinic, there is an alchemical laboratory, an engineering workshop, and a place to spar. Any questions before we head back to town?" he says.

"I swear, it's like he just wants to take all the fun out of these classes," Sienna mumbles under her breath about Jack's interjection, shifting to retreat to a stand beside Viktorin. "So, even though -I- can't do it. A few of my family members, they can. I want to learn some day, to see the science of it, but my great aunt is a fickle bitch and I don't always want to risk getting trapped up in another contract. She got me twice already this year," she mumbles under her breath.

Meridith says "How do you get tricked...a second time?"
"People sleep here?" Aristotle wonders, looking over towards the tavern pointed out to the north. "...That can't be safe, right?"

Meridith says "Oh...yeah not really"
Meridith rubs the back of her head. "For the best, I'm sure."

"I suspect no more or less safe than the Longhouse," Jack tells Aristotle. "I'd certainly recommend the dorms." He pauses. "I'm going to see if I can lead us back to Camp White Oak," he says. "But I may end up in the forest in some dangerous place. If so, I'll text Mr. Wilson and he can take you all out through the abandoned ward."

Meridith says "I'm at the psych ward."
Meridith says "Bikes there"
Meridith says "Cheers everyone"
Meridith offers a half wave.

As Jack walks south, he says, "We're going to return for a future field trip to discuss some of the things that can be done in the magical workshop, for instance -- there's quite a bit that can be done there, and it's really a class of its own."

"Go, Miss Walker," Jack tells Meridith.

Jack glances at Aristotle. "This is really a best guess," he says. "Are you prepared to take them out another way if I end up in the deep forest?"

Viktorin says "Just go to the forge door."
"No." Aristotle says, shaking his head at Jack. "I don't do deep forest things. I also don't have a vest on me for the critters."

Jack says to Viktorin, "Is that Camp White Oak?" He glances at Aristotle. "If I end up through the wrong door, take them out through the psych ward door north of us."

Jack says "It's likely then that Camp White Oak is to the western door. A moment, and I'll find out."
Jack says "So it is!"
Jack goes to take some chalk, writing on the wall.

Aristotle crinkles his nose for a moment, briefly, slipping his hands into his pocket.

Viktorin says "The one labeled Death?"
Viktorin says "I never went through that one. Last thing I want to do is get thrown in the middle of Rhagost or something."
"It turns out," Jack tells Viktorin with a little smile, "That it didn't lead to death."

"But -- to Mr. Wilson's point -- be very careful about such things," Jack says. "I have a kind of... contingency set up, an incantation that can bring me to safety, though at a little cost. But without that, or without the ability, for instance, to shape-change into a bird and fly?" he says. "It's very dangerous. I've been lost in the deep forest before, and even the nightmare doesn't bring safety."

Viktorin tells Sienna, "Oh! I'm not very well attuned to the family dynamics around here. I'm sorry you had to go through that though."

"Mr. Cross, Miss Swann, I know you drove together," Jack says. "Once Mr. Teptic joins us the rest of us can head back to campus."

Jack raises his voice. "Mr. Teptic! Van is loading up!"

Jack turns the Christian rock back up as he drives.

"Well," Jack tells Viktorin, Konami and Aristotle. "Obviously, there's a lot more to explore at the market -- but that's a taste, at least."

Once the van is parked and everyone clambers out, Aristotle follows suit. "Thanks for the field trip, Father Jack." he says. "You said there's another one we'll do for that workshop in there?"

Jack nods to Aristotle. "Yes. Perhaps next week or the week after."

"Okay. I'll make sure not to miss it." Aristotle says with a nod.

Konami nods atthat, and says, "Yeah, seems like there is. Thanks for the field trip and the lesson, Father."

Viktorin nods before waving to the others around him, worriedly glancing at his phone. "Thanks for the trip. I'm going to make a phone call."