PAINTING
You approach the painting. It’s a portrait of Bartholomew Corkhoof, a renowned Viator wizard of the past. Next to the portrait is a small plaque. Pacing back and forth nearby is the Minister of Magic Education, Roderick Dunhampton.
You take a closer look at the painting. Bartholomew Corkhoof was once a student of House Viator, like you, and it’s rumored that he was once briefly expelled for smuggling a dragon into the castle. After a lifetime of travelling, he became a professor at Lumenspire, and quickly rose to fame as the head of House Viator, best known for his contributions to the introduction of magical creatures into the syllabus. The painting depicts him holding his second favorite pastime, a glass of wine.
Suddenly, the figure in the painting lurches forward a bit, sloshing a small amount of wine towards you and causing you to reflexively take a quick step back before Corkhoof begins speaking in a brash yet dazed tone, as if awoken from a dream.
“Eh? No Mr. Korhonen, I’ve been keepin’ no dragons in ‘ere.”
He shakes his head rapidly, regaining his bearings.
“Whassat? A student was attacked? Surely it was by the hand of a fellow witch or wizard. Folk are always in such a hurry to blame such things on a creature or beast, yet it is the human heart that lacks in tameness.”
Bartholomew takes a noisy sip from his wine glass, then uses the back of his other hand to wipe the remnants from his mustache.
“So you’re a Viator, eh? Course you are! Look at that wily spark in yer eye! Just earlier I got to witness one o’ them professors tear into a third-year Viator student for having already trespassed into a restricted corridor. Docked a whole five points for it, too! Bravo for House Viator! There are some rules that were just meant to be broken, they say. During my own days here as a student, I was recognized for earning AND losing Viator the most points in a single school year! Not to mention the year I almost got fired… To think they’d be so judgemental when all I’d done was bring a kelpie colt in for class study.”
You take a closer look at the painting. Bartholomew Corkhoof was once a student of House Viator, like you, and it’s rumored that he was once briefly expelled for smuggling a dragon into the castle. After a lifetime of travelling, he became a professor at Lumenspire, and quickly rose to fame as the head of House Viator, best known for his contributions to the introduction of magical creatures into the syllabus. The painting depicts him holding his second favorite pastime, a glass of wine.
Suddenly, the figure in the painting lurches forward a bit, sloshing a small amount of wine towards you and causing you to reflexively take a quick step back before Corkhoof begins speaking in a brash yet dazed tone, as if awoken from a dream.
“Eh? No Mr. Korhonen, I’ve been keepin’ no dragons in ‘ere.”
He shakes his head rapidly, regaining his bearings.
“Whassat? A student was attacked? Surely it was by the hand of a fellow witch or wizard. Folk are always in such a hurry to blame such things on a creature or beast, yet it is the human heart that lacks in tameness.”
Bartholomew takes a noisy sip from his wine glass, then uses the back of his other hand to wipe the remnants from his mustache.
“So you’re a Viator, eh? Course you are! Look at that wily spark in yer eye! Just earlier I got to witness one o’ them professors tear into a third-year Viator student for having already trespassed into a restricted corridor. Docked a whole five points for it, too! Bravo for House Viator! There are some rules that were just meant to be broken, they say. During my own days here as a student, I was recognized for earning AND losing Viator the most points in a single school year! Not to mention the year I almost got fired… To think they’d be so judgemental when all I’d done was bring a kelpie colt in for class study.”
Separate from the painting is a plaque containing an inspiring quote from Zephora del Cor, the founder of House Viator:
“We howl together on the uncharted path, knowing that being the first is a journey, not a destination.”
-Zephora del Cor
Well put! Now there was a lady who knew how to live!
You approach the Minister of Magic Education, Roderick Dunhampton, as he paces back and forth with a concerned look on his face.
“How could this be? Lysandra Bloodthorne, back from the grave! And after all these years… terrible, terrible! That old fool of a headmaster was right all along! I should have listened to him. Now we’re all doomed! Ah – hello there, young student.”
He abruptly halts his pacing and straightens his posture into one of confidence, but you can see that he’s visibly shaken.
“No need to be concerned, now. I’ve already sent word to the Ministry of Magic. They’ll have a team here at once! With the dark witch’s return, and that escaped criminal on the loose, we’ll need to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of the students and the security of this academy. You’ll all have the full support of the Ministry, I can guarantee that. No need for worry, young one. We’ll all be fine, ha ha. And your dear friend, Oliphant, er, Oliver, he’ll be fine, too! Just a sleeping spell, thank goodness. Yes, the fact that your friend isn’t dead is a sign of fortune! It means that Lysandra is not yet back to full strength! Otherwise, I fear we’d have no chance!”
The minister’s face seems to light up at this revelation, and his eyes dart to and fro.
“Now stay put, and don’t meddle about. I’m going to have a word with that old – er, your esteemed headmaster, Leopold, about getting this place up to par on security!”
“We howl together on the uncharted path, knowing that being the first is a journey, not a destination.”
-Zephora del Cor
Well put! Now there was a lady who knew how to live!
You approach the Minister of Magic Education, Roderick Dunhampton, as he paces back and forth with a concerned look on his face.
“How could this be? Lysandra Bloodthorne, back from the grave! And after all these years… terrible, terrible! That old fool of a headmaster was right all along! I should have listened to him. Now we’re all doomed! Ah – hello there, young student.”
He abruptly halts his pacing and straightens his posture into one of confidence, but you can see that he’s visibly shaken.
“No need to be concerned, now. I’ve already sent word to the Ministry of Magic. They’ll have a team here at once! With the dark witch’s return, and that escaped criminal on the loose, we’ll need to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of the students and the security of this academy. You’ll all have the full support of the Ministry, I can guarantee that. No need for worry, young one. We’ll all be fine, ha ha. And your dear friend, Oliphant, er, Oliver, he’ll be fine, too! Just a sleeping spell, thank goodness. Yes, the fact that your friend isn’t dead is a sign of fortune! It means that Lysandra is not yet back to full strength! Otherwise, I fear we’d have no chance!”
The minister’s face seems to light up at this revelation, and his eyes dart to and fro.
“Now stay put, and don’t meddle about. I’m going to have a word with that old – er, your esteemed headmaster, Leopold, about getting this place up to par on security!”