⌦ for 15 points
Using the vacuum you used in class, continue being a 'living black hole' around the castle and vacuum up some more dust, dirt, grim and felines. Find areas that look as though could really use a good cleaning. I personally recommend the Divination Tower and Professor Elwood's office. You will find the vacuums in a charmed wooden cabinet outside my office.

OOC: RP using your vacuum around the castle in any thread you please. Be sure to use the charm Professor Flamsteed taught in the lesson! You do NOT need RP going to his office to retrieve your vacuum - just pretend as though you already did. There is a 5 post minimum requirement for this assignment.

Please PM me with the links to your posts along with the other requirement stated in my rules.

Up to 5 points may be given for outstanding efforts.
⌦ this assignment is due May 26th @ noon GMT+9

Please be sure you have read through Astronomy & Space Navigation and paid particular attention to the rules regarding homework submission. Late homework submissions will not be accepted. Any questions, concerns, or what have you can be sent to me via PM.

:: Ancient Runes Project ::

Make Your Own Gandr:
Steps:
1. Select a wood & locate a suitable living tree. (2 posts)
2. Communicate with your chosen tree. (1 post)
3. Ask permission from the tree to take from its bark for your Gandr. (1 post)
4. Make an offering to the tree, thank it by chanting the verse in your textbook, and cut your Gandr using your magical wand. (3 posts)
5. Thank the tree once again by chanting the second official verse in your textbook. (1 post)
6. Strip the bark off your cut Gandr & collect the shavings in a small pouch. (1 post)
7. Write a thank-you song to the tree with no more than 2 verses. (2 posts)
8. Go back to the tree and sprinkle the collected bark bits at its base, sing the song to it while walking around the base 3 times clockwise. (2 posts)
9. Leave the stripped Gandr for an entire moon cycle while working on smoothing its surface each day. (3 posts)
10. Use the spell "Intaglio" to carve the runes on the Gandr's smooth surface. (See next step)
11. State the purpose of each rune and sense the direction of its energy, this will help you decide where to start the cutting. Chant the Galdr of the rune you're carving on the surface to help you focus and evoke its energy. (5 posts)
12. Redden the runes using any reddening pigments. You don't have to use the galdrstaf to do it, use your wand or a brush or any other tool. (1 post)
13. Use beeswax to seal your wand by dipping it in the beeswax tank located in the classroom, then use your wand to dry it out. (1 post)
14. Personalize your wand by adding whatever accessories you want. However you cannot carve, burn marks or permanently change the Gandr's body. (1 post)
15. Deliver your Gandr to the classroom, choose a holster for it, and add a tag with your name/house/year on it. (1 post)

Notes:
- A neutral Gandr is what you're expected to make; Carve all runes (from Elder Futhark) equally on the Gandr's surface.
- Rune carving spell:

Incantation: Intaglio.
The wand movement: move your magical wand against the surface exactly where you wish to cut. Remember to always keep concentration on the chosen rune, chant the Galdr for more focus.

- This assignment is part of your Ancient Runes final, pay attention and be thoughtful.

ooc instructions:
- The deadline is the end of this term: 31st / July (11:59 pm GMT / 06:59 pm EST).
- There is no specific place where you're expected to do this project. As for steps 13 & 15, a thread will be created some time during the term for you.
- The minimum number of posts required for you to get full credit is determined at the end of each step.
- In step 7: a verse equals 4 lines.
- Title your posts with (AR project post #1/#2/#3..etc).
- When submitting, please include links to your posts in your PM.
- All rules about submitting a homework apply to this project too, please refresh yourself with them here.
- Refer to the textbook thread for more details about each step. If you still have questions, you can PM/IM/Tweet/DM me (do not VM because sometimes I use SS lite).
- Please read the instructions & steps carefully before asking any questions. I will know if you haven't read them and I will take that into consideration when grading your assignment.
- Have fun, be creative and don't fuss about it. It's the effort that counts in the end. :)

⌦ Help Maintain Your School
As you all are aware by now, Hogwarts is going through some hard times. With my schedule, I cannot maintain everything in the Astronomy Tower. The Tower Patch is in shambles and this is why I am asking you for your assistance. There are no special gardening tools for you - you all have wands so that shouldn't be an issue - but if you feel the need for something specific you should seek out Professor Bentley.

Some things you can do in the Tower Patch include ::

• trim the hedges
• clean the fountain
• water plants
• plant and replant vegetation
• anything else you can think of!

Your efforts will not go unnoticed nor unrewarded!

OOC: In a nut shell, just RP taking care and cleaning up the Tower Patch in the Tower Patch thread. This activity will be open all term and there is no post minimum. Do whatever you and your character feel is appropriate. Any questions can be asked IC to Professor Flamsteed or OOC to me in a PM or VM. You do NOT need to PM me any links, just RP in the thread.