PAINTING
As you approach the painting, you find it to be a portrait of Bartholomew Corkhoof, a renowned 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. From what you know, Bartholomew Corkhoof was a professor at Lumenspire several decades ago. A seasoned traveler, he had quickly risen to fame as the head of House Viator and was 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, sloshing a small amount of wine which hits the ground in front of you, a few drops splashing onto your shoes. Corkhoof begins speaking in a brash yet dazed tone, as if having just 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 an Erudia, eh? Always with an eye for the school guidelines, I bet, even these days. Sure you are! I just heard a professor give an Erudia student two house points for tattlin’ – er… I mean, for letting them know a Bellator kid was bullying new students. Good, good, for House Erudia, o’ course, but don’t get too bogged down by all the rules. I never let the rules stop me from doing right by students. I lost count of the number of times I got scolded for taking students out to the forest lake to listen to merrow-songs.”
You take a closer look at the painting. From what you know, Bartholomew Corkhoof was a professor at Lumenspire several decades ago. A seasoned traveler, he had quickly risen to fame as the head of House Viator and was 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, sloshing a small amount of wine which hits the ground in front of you, a few drops splashing onto your shoes. Corkhoof begins speaking in a brash yet dazed tone, as if having just 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 an Erudia, eh? Always with an eye for the school guidelines, I bet, even these days. Sure you are! I just heard a professor give an Erudia student two house points for tattlin’ – er… I mean, for letting them know a Bellator kid was bullying new students. Good, good, for House Erudia, o’ course, but don’t get too bogged down by all the rules. I never let the rules stop me from doing right by students. I lost count of the number of times I got scolded for taking students out to the forest lake to listen to merrow-songs.”
Separate from the painting is a plaque containing a 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
No wonder Viator is known for such unstructured thinking.
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, as though trying to convey a sense of confidence and control despite the concern on his brow.
“No need to worry, 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
No wonder Viator is known for such unstructured thinking.
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, as though trying to convey a sense of confidence and control despite the concern on his brow.
“No need to worry, 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!”