House Mandalay

The House of Mandalay

"Our eyes are towards the stars, searching for our future among them. In our surroundings, we find inspiration."

"No matter the obstacles we may reach, we shall craft our way over and to a better future for all. Of our struggles, we seek to be adaptable."

"Our lives are a canvas and our body is a tool to be fine tuned. Of our world, we choose innovation."

Structure

Just like every house that is part of Astra Nova, House Mandalay is overseen and headed by a teacher at the school and accomplished member of the faculty, who also functions as that specific houses homeroom teacher.


Underneath the Head of House is a singular esteemed student of the upper-class of that particular house, chosen by the Head themselves. This student leader is deemed as the "House Scion" and serve as role models, team leaders, mentors, and liaisons between the students and faculty.

The house is then made up of a student body of young initiate heroes who always meet first with their homeroom teacher in a large seminar style class before being released to attend the rest of the classes assigned to their pre-determined schedules.

Students are sometimes assigned to upkeep the House with cleaning tasks or other chores.

Public Agenda

Mandalay is the house of dreamers and creators. To them, the world is an oyster shell of opportunities that the spirited can take advantage of. Whilst being a hero is a task that requires one to be skilled or strong, it is not enough for House Mandalay to be just status quo. Students of this house are encouraged to go beyond to find new things for themselves. They strive to build the next big weapon design, scribe an entirely new magic spell, or push their bodies to greater heights of physical achievement. Ideas aren't tossed in the bin immediately based one one's preconceived notions, as House Mandalay knows better than to doubt the age old adage that you learn something new every day, and the most surprising solutions come from the most unlikely place.Their three edicts, encouraged more regularly than any others are:


Creativity - Students learn how to be self starters and to be mindful of their aspirations. The goal of House Mandalay's students is not to be simply a practitioner of their future fields, but to be the one to bring fresh new ideas inside of said fields. Days in homeroom and in their free-time is spent working on whatever projects they are working on. House Mandalay invites forum over new or old ideas, and for collaborators to help each other find ways of tackling the problems ahead of them. Whether they seek to push themselves physically, mentally, or any way in between, Mandalay welcomes the creative spirit into the hearts of it's students.

Adaptability - The world is vast and diverse. On the path to new things, all heroes will face adversity. House Mandalay tries to teach their students how to deal and overcome with those problems, whether it be external, or internal. A new hypothesis for an alchemical formula you've botched time and time before, a mantra that will inspire you to get through 20 more pull up reps than you did yesterday, the stillness of the mind needed to rise into a proper state of deep meditation. All examples of the convictions of Mandalay in play are seen in their daily actions. Struggle and challenge aren't reasons to give up, but the world testing you if you are truly ready to pioneer something new of your world or your own body.


Innovation - A student of House Mandalay isn't looking to be a hero who just creates or simply does their job. Innovation is always the master goal. House Mandalay is the student body that will give other heroes a leg up in the fight against evil. They look to show those around them there is no limit past what you choose to push for. Mandalay stands to remind others that there isn't always one solution to a problem, and that the wonderful and unique things that the people of Sonenheim have at their disposal is the ability to think and create from nothing.

Assets

All Astra Nova houses have their own color scheme that of which is found in ample amounts around the house commons as well as their flag hung up in the main hall. Each student is given one of two color schemes of tops to wear, that of which have their own moniker. Each house has two of said selections, and students are allowed to swap the scheme they where at any time by notifying Mx. Alabaster in the Development and Design Department. The student dress code is made up of a house designated top accompanied by a black or white tank top or crew shirt, shoes, and the student's choice of pants, leggings, or skirt, all of which come in black or white and are available to any student regardless of season. Modification of these items is prohibited, including cutting, trimming, dying,or the removal or addition of sown elements. Students can however accompany themselves with discrete, non offending accessories, including gloves, shoulder-capes, ties, bows, chaps, belts, or suspenders. Students are provided one large cloak, that of which is black and has their house emblem imprinted on the heart area that of which has a hood and can also be worn, though distracting adornment of said cloak on campus may lead to the student being prohibited from wearing it outside of weather appropriate times.

Spark Set

Spirit Set

History

Mandalay is said to have been the son of a not so liked Chief of an Aspis Desert tribe who secretly communed with a god of dark intent, as well as looked to ever grow his own power by marrying off daughters he sired to other suitors in exchange for money and goods. He gave birth to a son however first, who he dissowned along with the wife that he had him with, leading to them struggling for food and shelter whilst keeping his other wives close to birth him sisters from then on. This male first born however was imbued with a supernatural gift, wherein that within his first year of life could already speak and was learning to walk soon after, as well as helped his mom as a growing child find food from the wilderness. Eventually he had grown enough he had become fairly self sufficient, caring for mother and wishing to save his sisters from a life of impending suffering at the hands of the terrible suitors he knew his father would simply throw them with without regards to their character. He devised a plan to rescue his family from his father and successfully ferried his sisters, mother, and himself away in a boat down the river, arriving in Cyress and landing shelter and a job as the King's assistant thanks to the skills he had in both intellect, and the ability to use a source of magic that would later become alchemy. He served as the King's cherished assistant, advisor, and miracle worker, improving many lives in Cyress with his seemingly impossible creations. The time came when as a grown and mature man, nightmares started to plague the dreams of his sisters, who told him that their father would bring about the end of Cyress. Mandalay resolved to face his father and stop him, as well as the god who was behind the encroaching threat to cause a life ending famine in the city. His mother instructed him to visit a goddess who lived in the mountains that her family venerated deeply for aid, and Mandalay agreed to do so, meeting the forge goddess, who is said to have transformed his body into one made of metal instead of skin, but yet was still human and flexible. He faced his father and ended his life and reign of terror, but could not initially find out how to stop the god of destruction threatening his home. He built a great device, an entire fortress worth of chambers and mechanisms underneath Cyress that he entombed himself inside. Sat inside this machine, he relinquished his soul so it could be used as a power source to prevent Cyress and the desert's erosion into a wasteland and keep the rivers flowing and the land verdant enough to farm. The magnum opus is said to still be what allows Cyress to remain the biggest civilization in the Aspis Desert, and Mandalay's techniques of transforming or combining ingredients of one kind into a finished products of another kind were shared and researched by certain mages, going on to become the version of alchemy now present in Sonenheim. Mandalay is venerated in Cyriss for his sacrifice, as well as an innovator who sought to improve the well beings of others for the sake of innovation. His invention of alchemy is also toted as a show of his intelligence and understanding of the world. Full Story

Creativity, Adaptability, Innovation

House Info

Head of House
-

House Scion

Maverick D'chanaa

Alternative Names

Umlilo Nova

Controlled Territories

• Mandalay Hall

Notable Members

• Maverick D'Chanaa III

Most Common Graduates
Alchemists
Carpenters
Enchanters
Merchants
Architect
Gunslingers
Contest Athletes
Monks
Arcanists
Armorers
Marksman
Artists
Dancers
Caravan Leaders
Professors
Theurgecasters
Spellcrafters
Weaponsmiths
Seperatist Clergy
Weaponmasters
Artificers
Writers
Bodybuilders

Stereotypes
Sonnungr "All that passion talk is nice, but it's based on whims and split second decisions. Being flexible doesn't mean you can't commit to long term goals. We do many different things, but we have scope. We click so well, I totally think we could help you in that department in a couple of collabs."
Corvian "Why so down all the time? The world is harsh sometimes, but it doesn't mean you have to give up finding something greater because of it. You have skills, we know you do. Use it before you lose it sticking in the shadows and being so modest with your skills."
Solos "Please don't try and tell us that we go overboard. We are very much looking to NOT stay in the same place by the end of school. Progress comes to you guys, just sucks it'll come leagues behind everyone else. We appreciate it when you can help us clean up some of the messes that get too out of hand however. We acknowledge backup plans are important and all that I guess."
Yotamo "You're amazing helping hands. But we seriously have to ask you.... How in the world can you sit there and not go for things yourselves? We never hear about anything great you're doing for yourselves. Lot's of times we almost feel bad you seem to be so focused on helping others and thinking on a communal scale you don't have the time to strike out on your own nearly as much as some of the other houses."

House Sönnungr
House Corvian
House Solos
House Yotamo