#Casimir Halloran

[starspice-y]

Drawing my Candela Obscura circle as fuckass stock images (+Sheldon)

[lacependragonwrites]

I have finalized the class schedule for Wren, Jules, and Sabine's first year at Starmont. There are four schedules total, each with the same classes each semester but at different times, and this is Schedule C, technically.

Students start at Starmont at age fourteen, with very few exceptions, and attend for six years, graduating most often at twenty. The purpose of Starmont is to provide useful and comprehensive knowledge of the world, both magical and mundane, as well as train a witch in a given house's vocations so as to pursue magic occupations after graduation.

Over the course of first year, students take a total of 22 classes. 14 of these classes are full term classes, meaning they are taken 6 days a week for an entire term (or semester). 8 of these classes are half term classes, meaning they are taken three days a week and are paired off with other half term classes in the schedule.

Students take classes 6 of the 8 days a week. They have two days off: Clawday, which separates the half-term classes, and Lunday, which does the same in the other direction. Classes begin at 8am and run to 4pm each day, except in second semester, where classes start at 9:10am and pause at 4pm, then there is an hour long class from 10pm to 11pm. Anyone who takes Astronomy deals with this altered schedule.

First Year at Starmont

First year students at Starmont are not specialty witches or "house witches", as they are more commonly known. Instead, they are known as sprout witches and they spend the year learning about magic, as well as the magic of each house in preparation for when magic chooses their house at the end of first year.

Therefore, the purpose of many of the classes in first year is to provide an overview and an introductory dive into many subjects, while only delving deep into the more general and foundational parts of magic.

Below the cut, you'll find a list of all the first year classes and a brief description of them.

Spring Term - from Linawl 4 to Petel 27 (111 days)

Magic & Wellness (half-term) with Professor Cassandra Belmont (heartwitch)

A class devoted to understanding the connection between magic, spell casting, and the health of the witch - body, mind, and soul. Physical activity, nutrition education, mindfulness, yoga, that sort of thing, as well as how potions, pills, charms, and etc., all affect the body both immediately and over time

Introductory Broom Riding (half-term) with Professor Cassandra Belmont

Learning to ride a broom is an important part of every young witch's education. Brooms are the primary mode of transportation for many witches, as they are fast, low maintenance, and don't require the good will of maintenance workers for a smooth ride. This class teaches the basics of broom riding, broom safety, and broom travel and courtesy laws. A witch is not allowed to ride a broom at Starmont before passing this class.

Principles of Magic I (full term) with Professor Casimir Gagnon (hedgewitch)

An introduction to magic as a whole. The course includes a run-down of the basics of the seven houses, the various forms of magic they use, as well as information about spell types, dust types, the aether and aether dust in general, aethermals and familiars, and more.

Fundamental Mathematics (half-term) with Professor Keeva Halloran (tinkerwitch)

Due to the vast amount of math used in spellcasting and spell learning, it is paramount for witches to understand mathematics. This class also ensures that witches understand the arithmetic and other fundamentals needed to function in everyday society.

Geometry (half-term) with Professor Keeva Halloran

Geometry serves as the other foundational math course, teaching students about geometry in order to create and shape complex spells known also as arrays. The ability to create specific, intentional shapes of specific sizes and angles is the basis of all arrays, which is the basis of all advanced spellwork.

Herbology I (full term) with Professor Marceline Paquet (hedgewitch)

An introduction to the world of herbology. Students learn about plants and their magical properties and uses, as well as the basics of gardening with magical plants. Largely this class is focused on herbs and roots, as those are the easiest of the plants to learn. Much of the class takes place in the greenhouse.

Composition & Literacy I (full term) with Professor Theodora Charbonneau (dustwitch)

To prepare students for life, and assignments, this course teaches students to read closely and critically, write assignments and reports, research for assignments in both their own books and the library, manage time for assignments, and make coherent and comprehensive arguments for their views.

Runology I (full term) with Professor Marion Charbonneau (tinkerwitch)

The most magical class of first semester, to many. Runology teaches students many of the most common runes for magic, as well as the basics of casting spells. It teaches how to draw the runes, what direction they must be pointed, as well as how to conjure them with the mind. Some of the runes include Mend, Light, and Clear.

Harvest Term - from Glosta 16 to Harron 2 (103 days)

History of Magic I (full term) with Professor Alphonse Bonheur (craftwitch)

An introductory and cursory look at the history of magic, witches, and our knowledge of the aether. As well, it includes how humanity figured out magic, and some of the wars caused over the use and distribution of dust. It also touches on modern problems, such as the decline in witches and magic.

Runic Geometry I (full term) with Professor Marion Charbonneau

The first class to combine runes and geometry to create arrays, more complex spells that allow for the combination, connection, and alteration of multiple runes. This class focuses on how the act of encircling a rune creates an array with much more possibility and much more mental concentration and decision in using it. The beginning of connecting runes is also taught.

Potions & Pharmaceuticals I (full term) with Professor Casimir Gagnon

Creating potions, poultices, salves, pills, and other forms of organic concoction is a long-standing tradition for witches. This course teaches the basics of potion making and how to create some of the most common and useful potions. Learning to measure, mix, boil, cook, dice, and weigh ingredients is an involved process and takes a great deal of concentration.

Animal Biology I (half term) with Madame Lilou Fortier (wildwitch)

Learning the basics of animal biology, including mammals, birds, fish, and some reptiles. It largely sticks to things native to Mokeno and particularly the area Starmont and its students are from. It does not delve into magical animals, though everyone wishes it did.

Human Biology I (half term) with Professor Halima Singh (heartwitch)

Learning the basics of human biology, as we understand it, including the reproductive system, sex ed, digestive system, lungs and heart, the brain, as well as how magic travels through each of these and interacts with them.

Fundamentals & Principles of Art (full term) with Professor Edith Mandel (craftwitch)

For an entire term, students learn the basics of many art skills, showing them enough to see if their interest lies with them. Examples include painting, sketching, sculpture, pottery, woodworking, metalworking, knitting, sewing, embroidery, and more. When students find something they enjoy, they are free to continue pursuing it instead of trying others.

Astronomy I (full term) with Professor Bashar Shukri (tinkerwitch)

The stars and constellations form the backbone of all magic. Understanding them is key to understanding how to alter arrays. Spells are shaped based on the constellations, and in this class students learn the basics of spotting and identifying constellations, the movement of the stars, how it connects to magic and spellcasting, and how it deepens magic. They also learn the construction and importance of the most common constellations in spellwork.

Winter Term - from Harron 20 to Sihen 6 (111 days)

Runology II (full term) with Professor Marion Charbonneau

Now that students understand basic runes and runic geometry, more advanced and powerful runes can be taught. This course focuses on teaching foundational runes that will be used in upper year classes, as well as runes that are useful in a wider variety of situations. There is also work on how runes combine in arrays to form powerful spells.

History of Mokeno I (full term) with Professor Alphonse Bonheur

An introductory and cursory overview of Mokeno's long and rich history, including its several wars. There is also some focus on modern problems, such as the decline of witches in the country and the lack of Veilwitches. However, most of the class focuses on the founding of Mokeno and the big wars leading up to its present day.

Fundamentals of Magicanics (full term) with Professor Keeva Halloran

Students are taught how mechanics and machines combine with magic. Students are taught about machinery and mechanics, including basic pulley systems, gears, etc., and then are taught to supplement these things with magic. Very physics based.

Application of Magic in Art (full term) with Professor Edith Mandel

A second art course which focuses on how to enhance and alter art with magic. Students are taught how to combine their magic with artworks and to create artwork which uses magic at its foundation, or considers magic at its foundation.

Life of Magical Creatures (half-term) with Professor Gabin Laurent (wildwitch)

A course designed as a supplement to Animal Biology I, this time with focus on magical creatures. Creatures include dragons, griffins, phoenixes, and more, including both more common and rarer magical creatures. The class is designed to give an overview of how these creatures work, how they differ, how their magic works, and then go in-depth with a couple of common ones.

Finding & Feeding Familiars (half-term) with Professor Gabin Laurent

Almost all witches eventually end up with a familiar and not having one is seen as a failure as a witch. This course is designed to help students learn to find their familiar, if they haven't already, as well as how to care for their familiar, raise it, train it, and ensure it doesn't act out their worst desires.

Hex Defense I (full term) with Professor Yvette Travere (thornwitch)

The class people talk about from day one: Hex Defense. This course is designed to begin training young witches to face off against combative magic - the legal kind, including invocations and familiar battles, and the illegal kind, hexes, curses, and jinxes. Primarily, this is a defense focused class, and it works with wards and spatial awareness.

[starspice-y]

Our M.D. in our Candela Obscura group, Casimir Halloran (He/Him)!

Older doctor and war medic from a small coastal town. He’s a bit eccentric and very private even with those closest to him. He’s ashamed of himself for reasons no one really knows.

In our group, he represents the element of water!

[kylo-renakin]

Nano Prep: Day Twenty-Four - Diversity

Okay, so this is an interesting one. My idea for the Synthetics is that they are randomly assorted genes, so almost all of the Synthetics are mixed race. Because most all Synthetics are mixed race, there’s not noticeable racism amongst them; they’re all treated as inferior due to their being Synthetic. But it is immediately noticeable that a lot of the people in charge (and the wealthy people in the city) are primarily white, and this is a holdover from society as it is today. Because of the Synthetics as the new scapegoat, racism and homophobia aren’t as rampant as they are today, but there are echoes of that prejudice in the structure of the society.

The main character, Kaylee, is intended to be Latina and Filipina. The actress face claim is Shay Mitchell, who is part Filipina, but I chose her because I came across the specific face claim image and she was almost perfectly how I pictured Kaylee. Dark hair, ochre skin tones, with fairly high, narrow cheekbones.

Rian is Eurasian. His features are quite similar to Kaylee’s, but with a lighter skin tone. I picked Darren Criss for the face claim as he was the closest I could think of, but he’s not quite right. Rian is also ace.

Pax Halloran, with the face claim of Harry Shum Jr, is my babe. He’s of Chinese descent, and super flirty.

Casimir (who has the coolest name of all the peeps) is of African American descent, and he’s bisexual. Of my more main characters, he’s the only one who is private about his sexuality, because his father was super strict, military-like, and he fears his disapproval.

Zara Lane is the best, I tell you. So, she is of Indian descent. She lived in the poorer parts of the city as a child, but managed to land a very wealthy husband at a young age (19) due to her incredible beauty. My favorite thing about Zara is that she is 100% gay, which is okay in this society (though there are still some assholes about it, like Caz’s dad), but she chose to marry a rich man because she wanted his money. When he died a little later (slightly suspicious circumstances, but nothing was ever proven), she inherited all his massive wealth and is now loves to throw lavish parties and have her many affairs with her female lovers. I adore Zara.

Five of my main characters are non-white, and of the remaining four characters who are white, two are villains! Out of nine characters I have three who are non-heterosexual. 

I was playing with the idea of Calliope, one of the villains, being a bisexual woman who had previously had a fling with Zara. I’m not sure about this, though, because I don’t want to be insensitive, and I’d love feedback on this idea.

Much love,

Millie x