[D1 Late Afternoon, The Sorting] We All Know There Are Four Kinds of Kids...

[Rahvin]

We All Know There Are Four Kinds of Kids...
An Ilvermorny Sorting Ceremony
Image by JsandArt

Late in the afternoon, a chime sounds throughout the school. By this point, most of the students in the school knows what it means - the first years (and those apparently common transfer students) are about to be sorted and the school is expected to watch and welcome their new members. The entire student populace turns out, waiting for the uncommon double or even triple claims from the statues to call out in support of their favourite house from among those that have laid claim to the student (always in support of their own when it's among the options, of course).

Ten minutes exactly after the chime sounds, the front doors crack open and the first years shuffle in, lead by the Deputy Headmaster, Phineus Maximus (and accompanied by one fifth year, a white-haired transfer student who looks rather sheepish as student whisper about the presence of another non-first year being sorted this year - the school will definitely be talking about that one). The year seems a little bigger than normal, a line spanning halfway around the entrance hall on both sides of the large main doors. Many of the students look positively rattled at being under as much scrutiny as they are...

Silence falls over the hall as, up above, a door opens and the headmaster emerges on to his private balcony to watch the ceremony. A wide smile covers Zeloph King's pale face and he waves at all the students below; the presence of a new headmaster is definitely something to be talking about.

"Welcome to Ilvermorny!" he cries and there is a burst of applause and cheers from the crowds below. "I know my dear friend, your previous headmaster, used to give some sort of speech before the Sorting. This year, being my first, I thought I'd keep it a lot more brief!"

There is a couple cheers at that sentiment and the headmaster chuckles before continuing, "I consider it an honour to have been chosen for this illustrious position. It has always been my belief that the education of the youth of today is the best gift a generation can pass on and now I am glad to be a proper part of that process! Now, I know school can be hard and stressful, especially for those of you who will be taking your IMPs and your ORCs this year, and want you all to know that my door is always open should you need to talk!"

He claps, "Now, before we get started with this, there are a few announcements. As always, I am told, the Maze is out of bounds to all students - I have been informed of last year's Valentine's Day Vanishing and hope those of you involved have thoroughly learned your lesson after spending a week wandering in the dark, yes?" Zeloph pauses, glancing around to see a few guilty looks among the crowd, before continuing, "Additionally..." He paused for a brief moment, "Well, this has gone on too long. I find my stomach grumbles so we can save the rest of those announcements for later, huh? Ilvermorny, welcome your new classmates!"

A thunderous roar of applause and cheers overtakes the entrance hall. Zeloph has to put his wand to his throat and cast a spell to be heard, "Let the sorting begin!"

The cheers die away and Zeloph smiles, "Andrews, Liam - step forward!"

And so it begins...

Mechanics
Well, look at this - another roleplay thread. We don't get very many of those around these parts! While the first years - and our fifth year transfer student - are sorted, the older students watch on from their house balconies overlooking the circle. Occasionally, the GMs will be posting as students are sorted; if you yourself need sorted, feel free to post at some point in here and take some liberties with how your sorting goes.

[Arlington Wayne]

He remembered standing down there, the nervousness, the uncertainty. It had felt like the most important moment of his life. It was definitely one of them.

The thing Arlington remembered most, what left the biggest impression, were the cheers from above. It didn't wipe away all of his fears. But, it assured him that he wouldn't face them alone.

Every year he made certain to watch the ceremony, to welcome every Thunderbird with cheers.

[Jerric Mason]

Jay had walked into his sorting ceremony pretty uncertain, he wasnt always the guy he was today. Jerric Mason was a small and frankly frightened young boy when he wandered in. He had only just realized he had powers and that magic was real a few months prior. His talent was small, almost missed it and likely without instruction and nurturing he wouldnt have really noticed it at all.

And when he made it into Wumpus he wasnt sure it was the place for him but the way the other students welcomed him and the upperclassmen tutored and advised him he eventually unlocked that fierce warrior spirit that all wumpus have.

Jay for now sat casually as he watched chatting around with others as the ceremony went on below them.

[Fitz Crowinshield]

Fitz looks down, recognizing the familiar round, pleasant face of his cousin: Clarence Downing Crowinshield. One of the Crowinshields, as opposed to Fitz himself, relegated to a Crowinshield. It was a subtle difference to an outsider, but sweet Christmas was it hammered home at every family gathering. Everyone had been so proud to send of the heir of the Crowinshield family out, toasting to the future of their leader, while Fitz hemmed around the background, sneaking drinks.

The tug of jealousy and resentment surprises Fitz when he recognizes it, and for a moment he feels shame. It's not Clarence's fault, though if he is as dumb as he's looked as long as Fitz has known him, the family is in for some rocky years ahead.

[Grace Wilkinson]

Grace sat at the Horned Serpent balcony, at the front, surrounded by Serpents from years higher and lowers. She waved to Layla, though she wasn't sure if the poor girl would notice. She was quite curious about the crop of up and comers, hoping to get some real winners for her House.

[Mischa Primakov]

Mischa, being on the short side, was fortunate he had enough charisma and respect to get a front seat at the balcony and was looking the first years over, trying to decide which would be joining them this year in the House of Cat.

The white haired fifth year caught his eye as well, but he soon moved his sight on.

Grace was all over that one, probably another Snek.

[Uru Miskwa'a]

A young Native-american girl leaned forward on the railing of the balcony to look down at the students waiting to be sorted. This was always an exciting event and for someone who truly tried to make everyone feel welcome at school it was always something she watched carefully... But today was different. Today her one and only little brother was about to be sorted. She could see him and his little frame down there on the floor with his poor posture and uncomfortable aura.

She stood with a big smile on her face looking down just in case he would look up... he would see his sister there... and know that someone was excited for him and waiting to help him.

[Xanthe Vanderwyck]

Xanthe was there on the balcony, by herself again as every year; the unnatural glow of her eyes cast down at the first years below. When it had been her turn down there, two statues had reacted for her. The decision she made that day is still one that she's regretted from time to time, and she didn't like the idea of anyone else having to be faced with such a difficult decision.

She wasn't sure if she was rooting for anyone in particular. There may have been a vaguely familiar face or two down there, but she wasn't sure.

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain arrived right after the headmaster's speech about the maze...a convenient timing of one would use the ''I must have missed that part'' excuse.

Why would he have missed it thought? Because he was finishing a few boards with THUNDER and THUNDERSTRUCK written on them in the house colors. He clearly intended to waved them around singing part of AC/DC's Thunderstruck (aided with a mp3 player on speaker) so they) when they would get a new first year.

He passed them around with all of the discretion he could manage.

[Arlington Wayne]

Arlington took one from Sylvain with a grin. "So, that's where you were."

[Layla Smith]

Layla found the building to be nice, although nothing compared to hogwarts. She was super curious for how the ceremony would be, and also idly wondered who to complain about these awful robes to!

A whole year of this? I'm so glad I have nice clothes to wear at other times...

Standing in the group waiting to be sorted, surrounded by kids so much younger than her, she waited to be called up.

[Rahvin]

Like many years, this is a large class - almost one-hundred fifty students, many of whom will never talk to each other. It's hard to focus on all the names but a number are called and gone through:

Clarence Crowinshield - there is a grinding noise as the Pukwudgie statue lifts its arrow into the air.

Sarah Filmore - she stands under the gaze of the statues for almost a full minute, muttering something under her breath. The entire hall is silent before, with a creak, the wings of the Thunderbird statue flap. A look of shock crosses her face and she lets out a gasp.

Hazel Hayle - she barely steps into the Gordian Knot before the Pukwudgie's arrow lifts into the air once more.

Wu Han Jian - her wand already at her side, she steps slowly into the Gordian Knot, her gaze down on the floor as she squeezes her eyes shut. She barely opens them in time to see the gem on the Horned Serpent statue glow to life.

Steve Kowalski - he steps into the Gordian Knot, sneezing twice while he stands before the statues, a focused look on his face as he stares at each of the statues in turn. This sorting takes the longest of any so far, with Steve turning from statue to statue with a look of growing frustration on his face. Finally, as one, the Horned Serpent's gem lights, the Pukwudgie's arrow lifts, and the Wampus statue roars. Steve stops, a little look of fear on his face as he looks between the three and then stares at the Thunderbird statue for a moment. Zeloph urges the boy to choose his fate. The young boy eventually stammers out, "W-Wampus."

The ceremony goes on...

[Arlington Wayne]

Arlington gave a cheer for the Filmore girl, lifting one of Sylvain's boards into the air.

[Sylvain Leloup]

When the young Filmore joins the Thunderbirds Sylvain amps up the mp3 having Axl roar loudly in the room accompanied by the students.

"YOU'VE BEEN THUNDERSTRUCK!!"

Boards when up with cheers

[Jerric Mason]

Jay had been watching the Steve kid intently, it was always interesting when a sorting took a lot of time and even more so when they had a choice to make. When the kid said Wampus Jay let out a loud cheer "Atta boy!"

Mischa, being on the short side, was fortunate he had enough charisma and respect to get a front seat at the balcony and was looking the first years over, trying to decide which would be joining them this year in the House of Cat.

The white haired fifth year caught his eye as well, but he soon moved his sight on.

Grace was all over that one, probably another Snek.

Jay moved a few rows down and plopped down next to Mischa, leaning back a bit "What up G, what do you think about the new crop?" He asked with one raised eye brow

[Fitz Crowinshield]

Fitz is unable to resist a snort as his cousin is put into Pugwudgie.

Figures. Well, it could be worse, he could have gone into Thunderbird with me.

[Cian]

A young Native-american girl leaned forward on the railing of the balcony to look down at the students waiting to be sorted. This was always an exciting event and for someone who truly tried to make everyone feel welcome at school it was always something she watched carefully... But today was different. Today her one and only little brother was about to be sorted. She could see him and his little frame down there on the floor with his poor posture and uncomfortable aura.

She stood with a big smile on her face looking down just in case he would look up... he would see his sister there... and know that someone was excited for him and waiting to help him.

Leaning just nearby, on the right side, Cian had himself propped up against the railing along the balcony with his hands outstretched. Looking down he watched the events ongoing with only a slightly amused interest, often-times glancing off toward the horizon to share a thought with himself before returning his focus to the sorting.

"Excited?" he asked Uru, keeping his eye on the sorting area. Ensuring he didn't distract her at the wrong time and have her miss anything.

[Grace Wilkinson]

An illusionary Horned Serpent flew from Grace's wand, along with the words "Welcome Wu Han Jian!".

It wasn't as obnoxious as the Thunderbirds, but it was something at least.

[Ondine Corbeau]

Ondine was late for all of this but didn't make fuss on entering. Nor was she particularly taken by the hype, symbolism, gravity, pomp and fatefulness of the occasion. It was kinda... interesting, like a Gumball episode you've already seen, so you knew the jokes while not being able to banish the tickle of deja vu.

She joined her flock... well storm... of Thunderbirds, playing a quidditch-shaped hand spinner, slated to just enjoy the show.

[Uru Miskwa'a]

Leaning just nearby, on the right side, Cian had himself propped up against the railing along the balcony with his hands outstretched. Looking down he watched the events ongoing with only a slightly amused interest, often-times glancing off toward the horizon to share a thought with himself before returning his focus to the sorting.

"Excited?" he asked Uru, keeping his eye on the sorting area. Ensuring he didn't distract her at the wrong time and have her miss anything.

She looked over at him for a second and then back to the floor with her head nodding quickly in a mix of anxiety and excitement. "Yeah! It's my little brother's year to be sorted... I doubt my brothers cared that much for my ceremony... But me... I'm super... I don't know if excited is the word for it..."

[Cian]

"I get you," he said, nodding. Not that it was anything he could have ever experienced himself, still, he felt he did. Glancing across the other balconies was interesting enough, seeing just how different they all were. Yet, here they all were too. Welcoming the new kids.

"Any hopes? Way I figure, you either hope he sorts in with us or doesn't."

[Uru Miskwa'a]

"I just want him to fit in... I don't think he'd do that here. He's too shy and inside himself... I'm thinking HS or TB..." She replied as she kept her eyes on her brother who seemed to be infatuated with the bottom of his robe and the floor.

[Mischa Primakov]

Jay had been watching the Steve kid intently, it was always interesting when a sorting took a lot of time and even more so when they had a choice to make. When the kid said Wampus Jay let out a loud cheer "Atta boy!"

Jay moved a few rows down and plopped down next to Mischa, leaning back a bit "What up G, what do you think about the new crop?" He asked with one raised eye brow

He turned with a smile, flaying blonde hair around at the speed.

"He almost got all four and still picked us. Classy!"

[Raul Villabrujos]

Raul sat with the other Wampus' (Wampi?), watching the sorting ceremony with vested interest. He was relaxed, only a raised eyebrow at the event, though his smile widened whenever another Wampus was found.

[Cian]

"I just want him to fit in... I don't think he'd do that here. He's too shy and inside himself... I'm thinking HS or TB..." She replied as she kept her eyes on her brother who seemed to be infatuated with the bottom of his robe and the floor.

"Quiet kids don't stay that way long in the birds," he remarked, shrugging at his shoulders ever so slightly from how he stood. "Anyway, whole sorting ceremony is meant to find him a place he's meant to be yea? So, I'd not worry all that much. Sure he'll do fine, fit right in."

"Anyway," he said, slipping his hands off the balcony so he could put his elbows on it instead, propping up his head in his hands. "Kids got his big sis here, sure he'll do alright."