Magic is real. The Fog keeps it from mundane eyes. But the Strange is persistent, and sometimes, infectious. Ordinary people can experience some kind of event that makes them into Conduits: humans who are now part of, and able to channel, the forces of the Strange.

Somewhere in America stands the Tower, a skyscraper that houses the Academy of the Occult. Conduits are invited there to learn how to master their unique Talent, and to learn how to do other magic besides.

There’s a lot of knowledge and power to be gained, but also danger. Forces of the Strange are drawn to the Tower, and students sometimes must contend with supernatural attacks or hostile infiltrations.

Regardless of the danger, enough Conduits across America think its worth it to attend the Academy of the Occult and become mages. You found it worth it, for one reason or another. And your time at the school is about to begin.

Fast Times at the Academy of the Occult is a Storium game for as many players who wish to join. The premise of the game is designed to allow for players to easily enter and exit the narrative.

The game is a magic school, urban fantasy, modern myth game with a mostly serious tone, with comedic and black comedic undertones. Players will be Conduits of the Strange who are training to become mages at the Academy of the Occult, in the mysterious and magical skyscraper called the Tower.

Each scene will be a standalone episode, so players do not need to read the game so far in order to jump in. What episode comes next will be decided on by player vote. Player ideas for new episodes are welcome.

The game will has a dedicated channel on the Storium Slack, called occult-tower. Episode voting will take place in this channel. Membership is strongly encouraged, but not required.

There is an external game guide.

This game is a spiritual cousin to Fast Times at the Institute of the Accursed and Fast Times at the Academy of the Powered. Shout out to Luxtizer for running those games, and letting me steal a lot of their ideas!

Dearest Claire,
The whole town is in search of you. You’re really really missed and I need you to come back. For goodness sake, please don’t be dead. Please Claire. I hope you just left town for a bit, and your coming back… but it feels like this time it’s different. Please prove me wrong, Claire. Please. I miss you.

-Rowan

(I’m playing Rowan)

A group of teenagers, from all different walks of life, are connected because of the disappearance of Claire Robinson. Regardless of who they are, they decide to work together by either the others trying to convince your character or everyone just agrees. They feel like the cops are moving too slow, and they don’t have time to just wait around.

1786

Deep within the Andes mountains, nestled in a mountain valley there is a little village by the name of Sunny Meadows.

Overlooking the village, a few hundred yards up the mountain, there is a red brick mansion. Seemingly abandoned, the people of Sunny Meadows stay away from the house. But when the moon is full, and the village is quiet, the mansion comes to life. Music can be heard. The chattering of happy guests drifts over the quiet village.

Once, years ago, a young man decided to investigate. The villagers waited in excited anticipation for the boy to return. But as the sun came up and the mansion died once again, it became painfully clear that the boy wasn’t going to return.

Since then, the villagers have steered clear of the mansion. And since then every full moon someone from the village disappears.

That is, until a reporter from out of town showed up, curious at the urban legends spreading about the mansion that comes to life on the full moon.

Trouble is in the town.

First a villain had sabotaged the lift in a skyscraper, endangering life and causing chaos - apparently as a protest against nighttime light pollution.

Then a bizarre kidnapping at a power station caused the city power supply to be cut - long enough to assist a prison break in another part of town.

Heroes are needed - to control the outbreak, and track down the escapees - and, more importantly, finally bring those responsible to justice.

If that was not bad enough - evidence is mounting of a plot to perpetrate some very doubtful genetic “improvements”…

In this game we are not overly obsessed with canon.

You can adopt a known character, or create your own.

We will build the game together.

Many Storium games slow down after the first couple of scenes…. this game is designed to be 2-3 scenes long, with the opportunity to continue in a sequel for those who wish to…

For this story, we are especially encouraging players to develop the interaction and teambuilding between characters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the rooms of her ice-water mansion
The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald;
Gordon Lightfoot.

Lake Superior is the largest, deepest, coldest, most storied and least predictable of the Great Lakes. Called Gichi-gami by the natives who once worshipped her, it has often been said that she keeps her secrets. But not all secrets she keeps are her own and not all her dead were taken by her own hand.

Superior is home to the most rugged and militant of People First! militias, the slickest of secret of organized crime hideouts, the most varied of both baseline and cryptid wildlife and the most organized of the Native American diaspora tribes. Like Gichi-gami herself her people are slow to trust but their loyalty once earned is bountiful. They are also slow to anger, but when they do finally blow, the consequences are dire.

Duluth, on the southwest point of the lake is currently a tense place. Between Covid 19; Cryptid Lives Matter protests after a certain revelation by a Duluth police officer of the systemic racism he himself had nearly acted on; the recent revelation of a kidnapping plot against the Governor of Wisconsin and the undercurrent caused by issues between the Cryptid community and the People First! militias; The area doesn’t need to add in a planned Pipeline not from the Canadian Oil sands, but from somewhere in Western Ontario that nobody has heard of; but that is what it just got.

Recently both MSNBC and Fox news are reporting on strange occurrences going on on both sides of the Pipeline battle which barely have airtime between the riots, the protests, and the upcoming election.

It is into this chaos that a veritable scrabble board of agency acronyms from both Canada and the US have been thrust, each with differing direction from the top.

Like any man or god, Superior has her own dreams, loves, secrets and purposes. They may or may not match with those of her people. Will She give up her secrets and sing or hold them close like she holds her dead; deep in her ice water mansion? And can this mystery be solved before the Storms of November close the lake, and many of the roads?

Before Covid (AKA corona-virus) , there were crazy parties that included people crying, getting drunk, having sex, making out, getting cheated on, having mental breakdowns and panic attacks, and sometimes even the Police showed up.

Yup, that’s why it’s “crazy parties”.

But what about now? Now that corona hit? Now that we’re all on lock down?

When someone makes a group chat, it becomes chaotic. Hell, half the people in the group chat don’t even like each other!

Anyways, there are face-times, calls, texts, emails, and letters that are exchanged.

It’s almost like Covid never hit.

Almost.

Dear reader,
Hello, there! You will be attending Wintershold Academy! If you haven’t noticed or been told already, your a witch/wizard. You will arrive at Wintershold on September 21st, at precisely 5:00 PM. You will receive more information on how you will arrive later. Be ready and have everything you need. First years (yes, you are a first year!) will be taken on a “field trip” to get their wands and books and things with all the other first years. Don’t worry, we’ll explain more when you arrive safely here, and after you’ve eaten. And then, you’ll go to Oliver’s Odd Shop and get something special, depending on what your power is. Yes, you will be ASSIGNED one special power, and you’ll have to live with that power forever. Oh, and one more thing.
Welcome to Wintershold Academy!

Just like the letter you just read says.

Welcome to Wintershold Academy!

It’s a magic school, if you couldn’t tell.

The game is kind of based off of Harry Potter, but with waaaaay different characters and twists and rOmAnCe!

Only the best have been invited to Wintershold, so…

Anyways, in Wintershold, you’ll be learning magic, finding out your power, making friends and enemies, fighting villains, studying like crazy, and exploring.

Oh, and in between that you’ll have some fun and twists and turns that go every which way.

Interested?

Great, but be ready!

Information about Wintershold:

It was created in 1492, by a group of people.

Three women, and two men.

Their names were Bella Wright, Julie Ightz, Jade Ronder, Jamie Glip, and Juan Pablo.

Juan and Julie got married, and Jamie and Jade got married. What about Bella, you ask? She stayed a single pringle.

Some people say that the school is cursed for obvious reasons, but some say ‘what, no way, that’s such bullshit!’. But it’s your character’s choice what they believe and pick.

But…why would they think that?

Because they know the history.

More information in first scene-first cliffhanger, I know.

Looks of the Castle and surrounding area:

The outside of the castle.
Wizard dorm rooms.
Witch dorm rooms.
Dining Hall/Cafeteria
House rooms {Depends on what House for the color}
Outside Pool
Huge outside in general

This game is sort of like Dungeons & Dragons except only story elements.

A group of travelers meet in a tavern right in the heart of the city of Nefrit. They hear from the barkeep that an young maiden is planning a quest! They don’t know what they are going to find, but they know it will be fun and dangerous.

This is happening at the same time as Dungeon Master. However, here we begin in a sister city. Rather than The City of Gold, The City of Jade.

Storium University

The First Official University in Storium History

Some games, are based off of Universities, some games are setted in Universities, but this game, is in fact not a game, it’s the start of a new Storium Era. Welcome, to Storium University!

Since, this is the University of Storium, we will teach you different Story Genres, how to write a good story, what a good move is all about, how to host and narrate, and much more! But, of course, it’s a university, meaning that you will also gain knowledge of many other things! Including: Reading, Writing, Historic Literature, Musical Theater, Science, Bot Development, Web Development, Spanish, Korean, French, Art, Fashion, Character Creation, Dementia Awareness, Psychology, History, and more!

You can pick a major, but it most be related to writing or Storium Activities.

We also offer a wide range of clubs! Some correspond with some classes as well! Like: Fashion, Art, History, Computer Science, Mental Illness Awareness, Music, Drama, Korean Community, French Community, Spanish community, and more!

We also have a Library, Dorms, Classrooms, Study hall, and google classrooms!

As a Storium University Student, you are required to complete classwork and homework on time, with nothing less than a 70%!

Your Teachers:

@Lunar_Moon - Ms. Luna
@Aubrey11 - Ms. Aubrey
@Kezboheme - Ms. Kelly
@NYANcat - Ms. Luaren
@Crimsonsun - Ms. May

Staff:

@Lunar_Moon - Head of School and Administration
@Aubrey11 - Principal
@Kezboheme - Administration Officer, Vice Principal
@NYANcat - Head Teacher and Librarian
@Crimsonsun - Admissions Officer

Interested in being a staff member? Please Private Message any of the above staff!

This is a Private University, Open Submissions are on, but after the enrollment period, you may not apply! This will be Private after open submissions end.

No more than 50 students allowed!

This fantasy adventure game taking place in the modern day was created with the intention of helping new Storium members learn the mechanics of the game. As such, there will be a rotating cast of players and characters, as well as a fluctuating focus in genre.

You must be very confused. You saw a white envelope with no writing on the side you can see. Maybe it was on your doorstep. Maybe it was in your locker. Maybe it was stuck in a tree that you’re about to climb. Wherever you found it, however you found it, you reached for the envelope.
 
Now you’re standing at the top of a mountain, where the cleared trees have allowed you to see that you’re on an island. If the weather is clear, you might be able to see a few more land masses, but let me assure you, they’re islands, too. At least you have enough clarity left to open this letter.
 
You see those oddly shaped buildings on the islands? Yes, that’s where we are. But before you start walking down there, there’s a shortcut. You see those tree stumps? Yeah, the ones with the strange markings. Find the stump with a marking matching one on the lower right of this letter. Go ahead and stand on it. You’ll be taken to your assigned primary division, where you’ll be met by one of our proctors to get you settled in.
 
And just in case you’re tempted not to follow the instructions above, let me give you a tip; the hellhounds on the island are perpetually hungry.
 
- The Director

Welcome to the Institute. We are an organization that helps maintain stable and mutually beneficial relationships between all species, collects and studies rare artifacts, and seeks out and recruits individuals with high potential to help us accomplish the above.

Individuals here are identified by their order, specialty(s), and length of time at the Institute (also known as their OST).

Orders

• Field Work (Field): These adaptable individuals are deployed to the field to make contact with other species or retrieve items.
• Laboratory Research (Lab): These forward-looking individuals can often be found in one of many research facilities, working on the next new thing.
• Training (Tee): These fresh individuals are either in charge of teaching new arrivals, or are going through training themselves.
• Administration (Ad): These organized individuals are in charge of keeping the Institute running.

Specialties

• Elementals (L): early recruitment, as young as age 5 years
  – These strong individuals take one chosen element into their body. Later use of the element is extremely taxing on the body, so efficiency is emphasized in their intensive training.
• Enchanters (N): early recruitment, as young as age 14 years
  – These creative individuals study and implement archaic runes and symbols into objects, allowing them to possess special characteristics. They are often the first to test out their own creations
• Summoners (S): ranged recruitment, usually between ages 8 and 40 years
  – These compassionate individuals form a contract with another living species, from canines and felines to snakes and insects. This contract only allows for communication, though depending on the species, can also be used for commanding less intelligent species.
• Brewers (B): ranged recruitment, usually between ages 20 and 50 years
  – These focused individuals carefully study, prototype, and test consumables to aid the other divisions and species. Their work is extremely fragile, and thus have an island to themselves.
• Manipulators (M): polar recruitment, usually below age 7 years or above age 60 years
  – These calm individuals focus inward to focus outward, spending their initial years of training in long sessions of meditation. Over the years, they will be able to induce out-of-body experiences and influence the emotions and thoughts of others.
• Artifacts (A): varied recruitment
  – These random individuals have been chosen by certain artifacts, and it is extremely dangerous to attempt to separate the artifacts from them. As such, these individuals have learned to live with and use the artifacts, oftentimes doing so for the benefit of the Institution.

Note: Primary specialties are assigned upon arrival to the Institute (usually the reason they are recruited). Secondary specialties are chosen upon showing mastery of the primary specialty, usually around 5 years after their arrival at the Institute.

Length of Time

• Described as a number appended at the end, though numbers above ten are rounded down to the nearest ten.

Examples

• A new trainee that’s just arrived and assigned to the Manipulators specialty describes themselves as “Tee-M0”. (tee-em-zero)
• A field agent with a primary specialty as an Artifact, but a secondary specialty as a Brewer that’s been here for nine years describes themselves as “Field-Ab9”. (field-ay-bee-nine)
• An administrator with a primary specialty as an Enchanter with a secondary specialty as a Manipulator that’s been here for 32 years describes themselves as “Ad-Nm30.” (ad-en-em-thirty)