Elsewhere University Jaunt Info

[powersthatbe]

Elsewhere University
based on charminglyantiquated's Elsewhere University world
September 19 - October 29

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The University was founded on ordinary, flat ground in the late 1800s in the country of New England. No one knows its original name. The fairy hill came later, around the 1920s. For the unknowing, Elsewhere University--EU or Elsewhere U for short--is a typical school, albeit with a few quirks. Iron washers on strings are given to all the freshmen. Green is noted as bad luck, but it's still the school colors (although the actual shades change frequently). Everyone must go by false names and never, ever say their true names. Ever.

About a third of the campus knows of the Gentry, the Fair Folk, the Good Neighbors, the Lords and Ladies. Call them what you will, call them even by your own culture's name for beings like them, for that is how they may appear to you, but always with reverence. Hailing from a magical world dubbed the Elsewhere, Fae come in all shapes, sizes, and scuttles of life.

A human may be unexpectedly swapped with a Changeling Fae. It happens. The Treaty says no severe harm shall come to or from the Changeling, and that the Taken human may be retrieved at the end of the semester. However, human, Fae, and Other will be caught up in a potentially disastrous Changeling exchange that will lead to an emergency rescue mission in the Elsewhere. Those on both sides of the divide will be tasked with helping one another with wit, bravery, knowledge, diplomacy, and of course, Deals.

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LOCATIONS

[powersthatbe]

Campus - The part of the United States known as New England to us (the players) is its own country here, and Elsewhere University seems a world unto itself. The fairy hill and its weirdness is cordoned off by the River Argent, a highway, and abandoned train tracks. Campus buildings cluster in the center of the several square miles of school land. No vehicles are allowed on campus, except for the maintenance golf carts and 24-hour campus security shuttles.

Dorms - Traditional folklore says to leave a bowl of cream by your door overnight. Hallways are lined with foil butter patties and other dairy offerings. It is common to glue or duct tape salt lines on the thresholds. RAs also live here.

Forest, The - The heavily forested area in the south borders the highway and a good portion of the river. It's almost always November, regardless of the world outside. A very few still know the University's forest as Morganwode, which pales next to its real counterpart deep in the Elsewhere. Optimistic outdoorsfolk have set up color-coded hiking trails over the years, which are generally safe. The deeper one goes off-trail, the older and darker the forest gets. The mushroom Fairy Circles here, unlike most others, are malevolent and suck in the unwilling to dangerous parts of the Elsewhere.

Library - It serves nothing but the books, has no agenda, holds no loyalties. Ordinary human librarians maintain it, as well as Other Librarians who both live and work here. Internet, computers, cafe, digital catalogues. Possibly the most liminal place on campus: Some books are only found in the card catalogues, others just appear. It is advisable to complete a Safety Certification course before pursuing either of these. Some books, when read, have... interesting side effects. Contains an official Fairy Circle door into the Elsewhere and several uncharted Thin Spots.

Pool - Passage to the Elsewhere. Sometimes the indoor pool becomes bottomless, and chaotic neutral merfolk appear in it. Other Fairy Circles to the Elsewhere are not guaranteed to open onto a safe place, especially for humans. This one always opens into a body of water, and is always safe. A strong swimmer can make use of it without a mer escort.

Theatre - Several Thin Spots and a Fairy Circle closet backstage. Since the Fae love theater, this is a high-traffic area. Actors' superstition means this place is ironclad, so to speak, but it's also very easy to incur consequences for breaking rules. Side effects and "accidents" can occur.
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Elsewhere, The - Realm of the Fae, where people are Taken. Liminal Portals only work between locations within the Elsewhere*. The Psychic Network doesn't work. Time may be wibbly-wobbly here, but generally slower than the mundane world. The beliefs and traditions someone carries with them shape their interactions with the Elsewhere. Unless Taken, don't eat the food. From EU, it's easy to enter, even on accident. It's possible to escape through being rescued, kicked out, convincing a doting captor, Dealing, winning a game of skill, being beloved of the crows (rare), and/or very brave and clever navigation. A human would take one to several days to find an exit unaided. Someone Other enough may be able to navigate the Elsewhere in less time than a human. Time spent here may result in interesting side effects.

Fairy Circle - Fae stationary portal created by 7+ Fae in a ritual, marked by physical object(s) not always necessarily circle-shaped. An official passage between the Elsewhere and this world, as well as a hotspot for weirdness. Can also be used as a meeting place for the Fae. It's possible to pass through accidentally. Where one comes out can vary.

Thin Spots - Where the Elsewhere and this world unofficially mix. An unregulated hotspot for weirdness that may cause physical side effects. These are usually uncanny "liminal spaces" like the Laundry Room, That One Classroom, That One Hallway, etc. *Investigators with Liminal Bridge + Liminal Endurance + Liminal Power can punch through Thin Spots and portal into the Elsewhere if they wish to be more secretive about their entry. Cooldowns apply. Psychic Bridge does not work.
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Town - One doesn't know the name, and strangely, one doesn't care. Fairfield? Something-ville? It's within walking distance. The townies are mostly Uninvolved. There are no Fae lurking, since they can't cross beyond Elsewhere U borders, and it is the safest place to discuss The Forbidden Major.