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[Introduction]

Font size increased at the request of a Writing.Com member.

Background

This story takes place in a world like ours, but unknown to us. Thus, though general similarities exist, most of their history and ours, is different. Therefore, feel free to be creative, and to combine different elements of different stories.

Prologue

Eons ago, a great war had raged between good and evil, light and dark in the Land of Allyan. All the scattered kingdoms of Allyan fought against the tyrannical and blood-thirsty forces of Khra - slowly and inevitably losing as their forces were overtaken by dark magic. Even Elven magic was powerless.

It was only when an ancient prophesy was uncovered at the Temple of Dawn that the tide of the war began to turn. For this prophesy gave the kingdoms a new font of magic. It revived the ancient powers of the land, uniting the elements and repelling the shadowy magic of Khra. It enabled peasants weave their love of their land, nobles to harness their passion, and wizards to seek from the earth, wind and fire.... United under the Banner of Shylia - the priestess of Light, the amateur wizards and sorceresses, armed with their newfound knowledge in magic, managed to push back the invading forces.

Yet even this would not have been enough, had Shylia not challenged the Lord of Tarn, the dark embodiment of the Dark King of Khra to single battle. She was a priestess, and not trained for battle such as he. But she had faith in the prophesy; which told of a priestess of Light staying the dark hand with the one true power. But she fell in combat, and with a triumphant laugh, the Lord of Tarn plunged his dark slicked blade into her. Yet, even as she fell, she used the blade to channel a spell that bound the Lord to her in death. And as the light died from her eyes, so did the breath in the Lord of Tarn - locked in breathless sleep. Neither awake nor dead. And so did the Prophesy to the True Power fade as well.

Without the force of their Lord to goad them, the leaders of the Khravian forces dissolved. But the Dark Lord was not so easily defeated. From within his unnatural slumber, his evil mind reached out, to seers and oracles, whom he subverted to be his voice. And the Dark King promised a return. An invasion which he himself would lead - the King who would be a God.

That had been over a millennia ago. Since then, the kingdoms had forgotten that only in uniting together had they managed to triumph. The treaties of peace, written after the devastating war lay enshrined at the Temple of Dawn - now a forgotten place, with Gods that no one paid tribute to. The scrolls of prophecy, so crucial in battle, were lost.

"Hail, the unborn Queen! Thou needst gaze to the darkest past - for there shalt you reign upon the land long unmade. The land once Allyan" whispered the ancient voices in prophesy...

Three great powers had emerged in the Land of Allyan. The old delineations of race had faded. And though traces remained of the old faerie kingdoms, they had for the most part dissolved and become incorporated into the new lands.

To the North, the flat Kingdom of Dynia flourished. Renowned for their skilled trades people and their well organized economic system. Once strictly the home of the River Elves, it was now home to all who wished to use their skills. The Elven homestead still existed, but no longer surrounded by mists and trees, for it now stood in the midst of a bustling new Kingdom.

In the West was the mountainous land of Aradan. They had a strong infrastructure and defenses, which was somewhat unusual for mostly agricultural kingdom. The people of Aradan were known to be stoic and simple. This was the ancestral land of the Dwarves, and their presence was still strong there, though many had traveled to other lands.

In the East lay Echenar. The land of luxury and despair. It was a land of remarkable culture and beauty, yet also one that had the worst poverty and depravity. Geographically rich in gold and silver mines, it also was home to the worlds largest forest which gave Echenar medicinal and herbal advantages. The Sprites and Dryads of that realm had most retreated deeper into the forest, some and found their own niches within Echenar.

In the South was mostly small townships and villages. An unremarkable land that no one had sought to conquer, thus leaving the scattered populace in relative peace. Except that this had been the battleground of ages past. This had been the land where great magicks had raged, and perhaps lingered still. This was the land that lay between the dark borders of Khra and the rest of Allyan.

Within the very center of Allyan, stood the majestic city of Shale. Named for the Priestess Shylia, now, remembered in myth as a goddess. The city had sprung from the remnants of war, and was neutral territory for all Kingdoms. The Dawn Order, established by the kingdoms to protect against future attacks, ran the sprawling city of Shale and received tithe from each established State. Shale had become the hub of the land. The universities and hospitals and all other scholarly enterprises were housed at Shale, which had grown into a small kingdom itself.

But while peace and prosperity seemed to reign over Allyan, darkness was brewing in the shadows. The borders of Khra, closed for over a thousand years, were stirring. Few in Allyan had remained vigilant to the threat from the far South… But some had.

The Order of Dawn, originally created to preserve and enhance the magic and knowledge utilized in the Great War – had lost its true aim long ago. It had become a small, bureaucratic nation – intent on preserving its power within Allyan.

For when the Order of Dawn began losing its path, the very magicks it had been created to protect began to be shunned. Even many of the Faerie folk, forgot that their magic had failed in the face of darkness, and only the magic of the prophecy had prevailed.

But some remembered. And thus, the secret order of Jade came to be. The order existed in utmost secrecy – for elemental magic was becoming tantamount to heresy. But it was shunned not because it was evil, but because it was passionate. It was a magic that did not come from within, as did most magic – but from without, and required a discipline and faith that most could not muster. Then there were the prophecies, which made heroes out of peasants and bystanders of kings.

Present Day

The forces were stirring. The time for the Order of Jade to Act would soon be here. Would they be prepared?

Arras University was one of the most popular scholarly institutions in Shale. It was renowned for its strict academic standards, as well as its strenuous athletic training. Admission to Arras was tough, and many were turned away from its prestigious doors. Though termed a University, it was more a boarding school for all levels. For its students ranged from toddling children to doddering men.

But Arras wasn’t just any school. It was the motherhouse for the Jade Order. Each student, professor and groundskeeper within the walls was bound by an Oath to protect Allyan. And each possessed a unique talent that would undoubtedly be tested soon. From diverse backgrounds, populace of Arras trained diligently for the coming War. But would a passel of scholars be enough to defend against an entire dark army?

I have given a background for Allyan only. Feel free to add some details about the dark Lands of Khra if you choose to be a character from that land.

The rules are as usual:

1. No excessive profanity.
2. No explicit sexual scenes, though romance and oblique hints are ok.
3. No killing of another character without permission.
4. No excessive blood and gore.
5. No posting without a bio-block.
6. Minimum of 250 words per post (really - thats NOT alot at all!)
7. Please try to use proper punctuation and grammer as much as possible.
8. HAVE FUN!!
9. You have 5 days to post.
Please let me know in advance if I need to skip you..

Refer to this item for information on proper Campfire Etiquette, courtesy of WDC member Taryn.

ID: 1138668
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by Not Available.

Bio-Block Requirements

Name:
Age (actual or appearing):
Special power (cannot be all-powerful):
Alliance:
Limits and weaknesses to power (must list something!!):
Family History:
Personality Traits:
Appearance:
Other:

Name: Aashni

Age: 30 Years old, but her dabbling in magic has slowed her aging. She appears to be about 16 - about the age she was when she first tapped elemental magic. She does not divulge her true age to many.

Special Powers: Though just beginning to harness her abilities, she is strong in Elemental magic. Her knowledge of spells and potions is lacking at the moment though. She is also a latent telepath, though her ability comes and goes. Though not formally trained in weaponscraft, she is true with a bow and arrow.

Alliance: She is from a small town in the Middle South (also called the Hinterlands), allied with Allyan. A recent recruit of Arras University. She is yet to be initiated into the Jade Order.

Limits/Weaknesses: Her telepathy is sporadic. She does not know what triggers it. She does not have any formal training in weapons or fighting. Good with a bow, but not with swords/lances etc. Very sensitive - cannot bear to hurt another, though she masks this very well.

Family History: She is a foundling. She was found wandering the forests close to the Khra border as a child, with no memory of who is was. It is assumed that her family was destroyed by the dark forces that haunt the Khra borderland

Personality: Brought up as an orphan, and often abused and tortured as a child, she learned to mask and control her emotions. She rarely lets her emotions get the better of her, or even admits to having emotions. It is the only way she can protect her true sensitive nature. She is very wary and finds it hard to trust others, even those she knows she should trust. Has a hard time being social due to this.

Background: She has just made her way to Shale, was offered a scholarship at Arras, much to her surprise. Though wary - she is excited about not having to work for a living for the first time in her life.

Appearance: Aashni (Ash for short) is fragile looking - but with a character and personality as strong as steel. She stands at five foot two and has a slender frame that makes her look child-like. Her features are even and delicate, and heartstoppingly beautiful, when she isn't glaring at everything in sight. Her eyes are large and luminous, a deep chestnut shade, with long, curled lashes that she has used to her benefit when absolutely desperate. She has smooth and clear skin, with deep golden undertones. Her hair is dark, almost black with glints of mahogany and amber. Despite her outer, somber personality, she dresses in bright colors and changes her clothes as often as she can.

The Heavenly Blade

Name: Vex Bellmont

Age: 28

Special Power: Known for his use of magic that is arguably evil. Blood Magic and Spirit Communion are his strong points. He normally won't use his own blood, but the blood of his enemies to perform powerful magic that can mimic other brands of power. Spirit communion allows him to talk to those that are dead or undead even. Restless spirits can be bound to him to carry out tasks as well. Mostly like spying though he can force them to fight if his will is great enough.

Alliance: From a small nameless village to the South. It sat almost directly on the border to the dark lands. Some speculate that is where Vex first learned his darker form of magic. Though it was not inherently evil, most are slow to use it.

Limits/Weakness: His weakness is his strength, his magic. It makes people wary of him once they learn what he can do and the extremes he is capable of. Also to make his magic work he generally needs blood or bone of what he is working with, is very much against using his own. Communing with spirits is also very dangerous, mostly people fear losing control of spirits or having their soul get too close in contact and actually leave their body in essence killing them over time.

Family History: Little is known to others about Vex or his family. He came from the South near the border of the dark lands, that is the most common knowledge. His father left, his mother died. He says he knows of some brothers and a sister but he is not sure where they are any longer. He came to the school when he was 19 and had steeped himself in learning about controlling his newfound abilities.

Personality Traits: He is nice, but reserved. Highly articulate and loves to debate and discuss things with those even in the most acclaimed intellectual circles. He is completely trusting of others because he is so used to people not trusting him. However, he is a shrewd and devious person on the sly. He's the type to buy a present for his friends from a store he loves but then steal something for himself. He has a very skewed sense of right and wrong, but he does nothing to hurt people purposefully unless they try to harm him physically.

Appearance: His naturally blonde hair was dyed to pitch black. His eyes are a solid blue but he uses a simple blood spell to give them a red tint. His skin is pale naturally, and never seems to tan no matter how long he stays in the sun. Some say its because of his connection to death. His body always feels cold as well.

Background: He is in the Jade Order but has no particularly special title. He is a valued member for his knowledge and love of studying. Some call him the unofficial Lore Keeper because he can tell you many tidbits of information that most do not know about the dark lands and the clouded history that few recall any longer.

First Day

Aashni had no trouble finding the Arras campus. But she was certainly surprised at its magnificence. The admissions building to which she was directed had two tall towers and spires beneath. There were graceful arches that swept overhead as she entered and intricate parquet beneath her feet.

Realizing that she was staring like a simpleton, Ash snapped her mouth closed and marched up to the front desk. Her face stern and closed.

Before she could present the scholarship papers, the girl behind the enormous rosewood desk said, “Lady Aashni, I have been expecting you. We are delighted that you have chosen Arras as your academic institution.” The smile that the girl offered was warm and sincere, with no hint of sarcasm in her lilting voice.

“I – err – thank you!” murmured Ash.

It was not as though she had much choice. The man who had appeared at the Inn had known more about her than she had ever told anyone… Even the secret things that she had refused to admit to herself. When he offered her the scholarship, she had laughed in his face.

“What do you want?” she had asked coldly, certain that he was offering a barter.

“For you to learn.” He had responded. “I will not lie to you. I offer you this opportunity because I sense great potential and strength in you. I hope that one day, after you have learned as much as you can about the world, and have learned to harness your abilities, you will choose to champion my cause. But that choice will be entirely up to you. If you refuse, I will be happy to know that your potential had not been wasted.”

When Ash did not respond, he had continued in a hushed voice, “There is more to the world than the misery and pain that you have seen. I am truly regretful that I was not able to find you sooner, for I would have spared you the life you have led. But do not let that prevent you from having some comfort and joy now!”

“Why would you that?” Ash had demanded, her voice brittle, “Why should you care about me? Why would you offer me a life of leisure and not ask for anything in return?”

He had shook his head, “You take me wrong Aashni, I do expect things from you. And it is not a life of leisure I offer you – for I will expect complete dedication and hard work from you. It will be a more comfortable life than this, but certainly not an easy one. I will expect you to adhere to strict codes of morality and honor. Indeed, I expect more from you than I would from other students, for I sense the raw talent in you – and thus would not let you waste it. I shall work you harder than most, for I know that you are capable of more than most.”

Again Ash had been silent, battling the mistrust and anger that years of mistreatment had left her with.

“You possess magical abilities. You have already admitted as much. Moreover, you know as well as I, that you do not know how to fully control them. Would you turn away your chance at learning your own strength?”

It had been his final argument. And he had known that he would need no other. “What do you have to lose, Ash? Would you prefer to continue to work as a maid at this Inn? Is that the height of your ambition and ability?”

The girl arose from behind her desk, startling Ash out of her reverie. It was only then that Ash got a good look at her. She was gorgeous! She had seemed tiny and diminutive from behind her desk, but upon standing, she towered over Ash. Obviously her height was mostly in her legs. Ash judged her to be about five foot seven or eight. But she looked taller due to her slim built. She had midnight dark eyes and ebony hair that framed her smiling face before falling to her back in gentle waves. She was dressed in a simple blue gown, with an under tunic of soft white. A gauzy white mantle was draped over one shoulder. A slim silver coronet graced her warm olive forehead. She was gazing at Ash expectantly.

Color flooded Ash’s face as she realized that in gawking at the woman, she had not heard a word she had said. “I – err. I’m sorry. I – I didn’t hear what you said.” Muttered Ash, her voice low in embarrassment.

The girl smiled, and executed a graceful curtsy, as she extended a slender hand in welcome, “I am Sylvania Arradorn. Headmistress of Arras.”

‘Headmistress!’ Thought Ash with a start. ‘She is barely 17!’

She had never before encountered others who had magical ability. And no one had ever told her that she looked much younger than her own true years, for no one knew it.

Hours later, Ash found herself alone in the room she was to share with another student. She had not met her roommate yet, but she had had enough new experiences and revelations today to last her a week. Could she survive Arras – where everyone seemed to hold a secret, yet everyone knew hers? For every new thing she had learnt today, it had spawned 5 new mysteries. She had more questions now, than she had when she arrived that morning… It was her first day at school!

The Heavenly Blade

Vex sighed deeply. The world seemed such a somber place through his eyes. His quill flowed across a piece of parchment filling it with his graceful handwriting, but the words that he wrote were hollow to him.

Death. He sensed it lurking close by. He had long ago taught himself to forget and black this sense of foreboding that nagged him in the back of his concious. Yet, today was different, it was something that struck closer to home. Was it in Arras itself, a threat that was plotting to tear at them unawares.

"You're thinking too much Bellmont," it was a familiar voice that spoke to him through the darkness that shrouded his dark corner in a secluded room. Whenever his thoughts started to become too dark and pensive he would jostle himself out of his reveries and realize that the world was fine. The sun still shone, the rain still came, the birds still sang, and most importantly, he was still alive.

Yet, the feeling still remained, a nagging, pestering, and insistent feeling. Vex quietly placed the quill back into the ink and rose from his desk.

In a span of a few minutes he found himself hanging out on one of the second story balconies over looking the training yard. He saw Alasdair and Sylvania. A single creased marred Vex's face as he wondered what seemed out of place. Their fight began.

Evra Von was Zircron

Name:Zane Gardina

Age :He is 45 but looks 19

Special power:He can control a few things. On is crystal. It alows him to make crystal and do many things with it.The crystal emensley slows down his ageing. Another is lightning. He can create it or draw it from the sky even when there isn't clouds. He can also control metal. He can turn it solid of melt it. His last is plants. He can make exotic plants and different things.

Alliance:Aradan, he lived there for a until he was 19 and got his powers. Then he was soon inducted into the Jade Order.

Limits and weaknesses to power:His weakness is with a few of his powers. When he does plants they sometimes have a mind of their own. when he is useing lightning he can he be a lightning rod. It stricks him but doesn't hurt him but others around hi. Also when there is a strom he will get surges of electricity and blast out random shots.

Family History:He was born in the moutains and fround in a pile of ash. The people who found him thought it was a fire but it was his mother that was hit by lighnting. Most of his life he spent in the moutains with his foster parents who had hardly anything. For the past 20 years Zane has been sending them provisions.

Personality Traits:: Zane is very loyal. A few times he has almost been killed because of it. He has almost a heart of gold but can also lie to get out of things. He is also negative and optimistic. He is also open to many emotions. That makes him weak, but he tries to stand strong.

Appearance:Zane has white hair that is short on the sides and has long bangs.He has a charter mark for plants on his head. He has blood red eyes. He is 6'3 and 145 pounds. He is very lean and slim. He wears baggy black jeans and a tight white shirt. He also wears a red robe that is trimmed with a black stripe. Zane also wears knee high canvas shoes.

Background:He was born in the moutains and fround in a pile of ash. The people who found him thought it was a fire but it was his mother that was hit by lighnting. Most of his life he spent in the moutains with his foster parents who had hardly anything. For the past 20 years Zane has been sending them provisions.

Me.

Name: Chiran

Age: looks 17

Special power: Chiran is a vampire. Becoming a bat, sucking blood, the whole shabang.

Alliance: The Jade

Limits: Like all vampires, he avoids sunlight. He also must keep a blood quota, which he tells people he fills through domestic animals but no one can actually tell. Also, people outside the Jade don't trust him for what he is and people inside the Jade are afraid of trusting him because they think he might be a spy.

Family History: No one knows. He has been around for so long that any siblings he had would be elderly or dead.

Personality Traits: Very secretive, he doesn't talk unless he has to and even then uses as few words as possible, giving the impression that he is dumb. He always seems to know what is going on, however.

Appearance: He wears a black cape that covers most of his body. He hair is white, and covers his ears and most of his neck.

Other: He has a long rapier that he uses to fight.

This is to recap portions of the storyline now missing. The description of the epic battle between the demon, the infamous Lord Alasdair and headmistress Sylvania, as well as shadowy glimpses of a traitor within Arras were deleted when Campfire member Silver! had to cancel his account. (Silver! is currently on a Human Aid Mission to Bangladesh, according to his last email and no longer has regular email access). In addition, all details of the character Alasdair have also been deleted. Silver! has given us permission to continue using this character if we choose. I will attempt to recap a little of the background and battle as Silver! had described it, though it certainly will not be nearly as eloquent as the original.

About Alasdair….

Alasdair is the Head Arms Instructor at Arras. The truth of his background is not well known, there are murmurings of noble birth. Though best with a broadsword, he is also proficient with a shortsword, rapier, bow, mace, club, staff, daggers and a myriad other manner of weapons. His magical skills are considered rudimentary, but again, there are whisperings of fearsome abilities unleashed in a passion. He is a senior member of the faculty and privy to the deepest secrets and plans of the Jade Order.

Tall and lean, Alasdair has a sober, mysterious air about him, perhaps fostered by the fact that he is the only one within Arras allowed to bear arms at all times. He has a lithe, sinewy built, is agile on his feet, and imparts a certain elegance to even the most barbaric of attack maneuvers. He has an uncanny ability to appear nondescript at will, but is possessed with a fairly attractive visage, with sandy hair and reserved green eyes – often called cold by his students. He appears to be in the latter part of his third decade, which at least, is known to be false. Like many at Arras, having once harnessed elemental, his true age will never be accurately reflected in his appearance.

The Battle….

There was a hush of excitement in the air. It was exhibition day – and in a rare treat, their famed Weapons Master, Lord Alasdair would be demonstrating broadsword techniques against the more magically inclined Headmistress Sylvania.

Though not often seen at the training grounds, Sylvania was also rumored to have a somewhat of a knack with physical warfare. It was slated to be quite an exciting event, and most of the school hard turned out at the hard-packed training field.

Alasdair stepped into the arena. His attire was simple, such as he normally wore when on the field; a heather green, linen tunic that laced up the front over a thin, forest green undershirt. His olive green breeches were tucked into plain half-boots. The baldric that held his enormous broadsword strapped snuggly to his back however, was of exquisitely tooled leather. Bereft of ornamentation, it was nonetheless beautiful to behold, with carefully wrought runes and symbols etched subtly into the scabbard and straps. The hilt of the sword, was similarly well made, with further lines of power and magic ebbing just beneath visibility.

At the opposite end of the Arena appeared Sylvania. She wore the same simple garments as Alasdair, save in her customary blue. She wore no sword belt or baldric, but instead held her broadsword firmly in both hands, ready for combat.

The exhibition began just as it should have. Both participants giving no quarter, yet neither attempting to murder the other. It was a friendly demonstration after-all. Yet minutes into the match, both Sylvania and Alasdair knew that something was amiss. There was murderous intent in the air, and suddenly, Sylvania was fighting for her life…

Safely ensconced behind hordes of spectators, a figure watched in glee, Alasdair’s cloak clutched in its hands as it whispered dark incantations, its thoughts as dark as its deeds...
‘I cannot wait to hear Alasdair lament – when he learns that he himself is to blame for his esteemed headmistress’ death! No other victory would be so sweet, as to have Alasdair will himself into despair over his guilt! Ah – how perfect is my plan… to rid myself of the sorceress Sylvania, and to torture Alasdair with his guilt, for he will no longer be a threat once he succumbs to his own self-loathing! But hush! I must not let my mind falter… the demon would just as soon have me if I do but weaken for a moment! Its putrid mind even now reaches for mine, but it shall do my bidding! Heel you spawn of darkness! And hide yet within my protection of invisibility… and bide, bide, bide your thirst – for ye must strike only as Alasdair strikes….

The following is the actual addition to the campfire.

Ashni stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes suddenly saucer-wide in her face. She sensed acute danger, cresting in dark waves over her. It had manifested suddenly, exploding over Ash in its malevolence, leaving her breathless. The aura of evil was so strong that she had to clutch the walls to keep from being forced to her knees. It was a sort of darkness that she had never encountered before, more powerful and malicious than she could have described and the sheer terror it inspired left her mind in chaos.

With a gasp, Ashni realized that the evil was here, manifest at Arras! Her mind reeled, for with her first step upon the grounds of Arras she had known that powerful wards guarded the campus, layer upon layer of safeguards that disabled the magick of any not sanctioned. How could the evil had slipped past such powerful charms?

“Of earth to earth, I cast to thee” she murmured slowly, her forehead beading with perspiration as she struggled to focus her mind and dispel the blanket of evil that threatened to push her to madness. Her breath was starting to come in shallow gasps, her vision blurring as the pressure around her increased – the evil was gathering itself for an attack. “Bring to vision, this spawn of thee. Unholy evil that stalks thy womb – bring to eye this spawn I have found!” an unbidden groan escaped her gritted teeth as she dug deep within herself to channel earthen magic to power her spell.

The moment the casting was complete, the overwhelming blanket of despair that had enveloped her eased. Her mind once more her own, banished of the swirling chaos that pushed her almost to the edge of reason. The enormity of what she had done escaped Ash, for she had no cause to know that only her extraordinary will had prevented her mind from crumbling to ashes when faced with such ultimate evil. Few of the others who had been blessed (or cursed) with her sensitivity to such things had survived an actual encounter.

Straightening from her hunched position, she threw open her mind – searching for the physical manifestation of the evil she had made visible. She had thrown off it’s cloak of shadows – but it was far from defeated.

She was on the second floor of her dormitory building. Instantly she whirled and barged into the room nearest her – the palpable sense of evil leading her unerringly to the balcony.

She found Vex Bellmont, whom Sylvania had introduced to her briefly, balanced on the rail, his pale face drawn. The air around him crackled, as he gathered his magic. Ashni had no need to ask any questions. She turned to face the same direction as he.

Evra Von was Zircron

Zane sat at a chair in his room. On the desk was scattered papers and drawings. He wrote with such elegance on the paper. For he was writeing a letter to his foster mother. He wrote how he missed her.

Zane brought his head up and looked out the window. He smelt the horrid stench of demon. Zane got up and looked out the window. His hair rushed past him. He could tell something was behind it. He felt how angery the demons were. A question breeched his mind.'How could something enter Arras!?'

Zane watched out frow his balcony. His hair crackled with lightning. He streched his hand out and a bolt of pure ligthning surrounded the arena. It was almost invisible, but if something got near it would zap them, to surely kill.

Ashni stood panting, slumped against the railing next to Vex, her midnight curls eddying about her head in the errant currents of magic that still swept across Arras, the luminous depths of her velvet gaze pinned on the still, almost serene form of Sylvania, headmistress of Arras.

The battle was done - the demon repelled, but the cost was more than they had bargained for; Alasdair had not returned from his battle. It was now several days after the evil had been unleashed; several days of frantic, yet determined investigation into how such a thing could have been managed; Arras was SECURE!! But no spell, no warding, no shield is without its failing, and in this case, it was a demon.

The magical protections of Arras was aimed at keeping evil spells, charms and wards from being cast within Arras, cast by a human. It had not been meant to keep out demons, and thus had Arras' guardians failed, and lost one of their brightest hopes against the darkness.

In the days after Battle X,(the students had dubbed it thus, as it has originally been meant has an exhibition battle between Sylvania and Alasdair) the populace of Arras saw a new headmistress Sylvania emerge. Although always a formidable opponent of wit and magic, she had had a gentleness and softness about her that had made her a confidante to everyone. Her smile had charmed and disarmed even the most intrepid of warriors and heartened the most timid of scholars. But her gentleness and softness had fallen from her like an un-needed mantle, after battle X; the steel and power emanating from her in palpable waves. Gone were her customary simple gowns of blue linen, instead, she had taken to wearing tunics and breeches such as she wore on the practise field, a plain black cloak thrown about her slim shoulders. But the greatest difference lay in the blue black depts of her eyes, which glittered with a coldness and darkness that had not existed before. Her demeanor left no room for argument or leniency, and she was determined to find the foul, miscreant who had lured a demon within Arras - if the demon had not dragged him to eternal damnation already.

Ashni was waiting nervously outside Sylvania's office, her hair gleaming with shades of fire in the lowering light filtering in from the large windows. She had been warned, multiple times, that she should stay away from principal Sylvania just yet - no one had any doubts that the tenseness of the new Sylvania would not take well to a novice scholar's hunches. A scholar bereft of even the most rudimentary of magical knowledge, much less political or intellectual. Yet Ashni had persisted, begged and demanded until Sylvania's asstant had agreed to allow her two minutes alone with the volatile Sylvania...

The Heavenly Blade

Vex Bellmont sat at his desk, he found himself there more than ever these days. Ashni had come by every now and then, though she was no longer here at the moment. He had few words for most people and thus he was not the best of company. Ashni seemed to want to talk to Sylvania the last time they spoke.

"I am unsure if it is a wise decision," Vex admitted, "She is different, but at the same time...if you feel it is necessary, then you must."

"Perhaps you're right." Ashni nodded and looked at Vex who had not stopped writing since she had entered the room.

"I wonder where she is now..." Vex stopped thinking of the past and stood up, putting his quill down a moment. He decided it would be best to find out if she had talked to Sylvania yet by going to Sylvania herself.

Jason Simmons

Name: Nathan Guilliam

Age (actual or appearing): 21

Special power (cannot be all-powerful): Lightning

Alliance: Independant, but helps the Jade Alliance when they ask for it.

Limits and weaknesses to power (must list something!!): His power is too sporadic. He also has a weakness to sound-based attacks.

Family History: He is an orphan who was found by the Guilliam family and raised to be proud.

Personality Traits: Very kind and caring to others but can easily lose it when someone he cares for is being hurt or in trouble.

Appearance: Nathan is 5' 10" with brown hair and hazel eyes. He has a scar from his upper lid to chin.

Quaddy

Name: Lynx Belladonna

Age: Older than she looks, to say the least. She looks about 35, but she is much older

Special power: War Magicks- they're purely destructive in nature, though they can often lead to rebirth through destruction.

Alliance: Jade Alliance. Most members had a big objection to allowing a War Mage into their group, but the Headmistress of Arras School, Sylvania Arradorn pushed her membership through and Lynx was made a member. A lot of people still don't trust her, but Sylvania has always kept her up-to-date and often contacts her for opinions.

Limits and weaknesses to power: War Magicks are the Magicks of the Dark Army of Khra, and are the most dangerous and dark-touched of all the magicks. They are looked down upon by everyone with even an inkling of knowledge of magick and are very chaotic. Because they are the Magicks of the Crone, they are a magick of wisdom and death, but are also the magicks that sow the seeds for rebirth and fertility. A lot of people don't understand that Darkness is a part of Light, however, and Lynx is often barred from using them. They take a lot out of the person who uses them- while they are the most powerful because they are the product of anger and passion, they can also destroy the Mage who attempts to wield them. Though she's pretty much mastered them, Lynx runs the chance of tearing her soul into shreads every time she taps into her Gift.

Family History: The Belladonna family has a long, very dark history. No one has ever had War Magick like Lynx does, but they've always been on the darker side of things. They lived along the border with Khra for a long time, but moved to Shale to escape persecution. While the family is dark, they are not evil; their gifts just lend to the darker side of things. They feel that people must understand that without Dark, there can be no Light, just as there can be no Rebirth without Destruction and no Life without Death. They do remember the prophesy and wait for the girl who will fulfill it, hoping that she will understand the duality of magick and the Universe. Without it, Khra will win when they rise again. The Belladonna family is very spiritual and makes sure that different members are placed in different situations to know as much as possible. Certain members are scholars, some are monks, some are trackers/hunters, some are Wizards, etc. Lynx was trained as a Warrior not necessarily because she wanted to be but because of her magick. It leant itself to weapons taining so well that she really had no choice.

Personality Traits: Lynx is fierce and noble, but she can be ruthless and rather unpersonable at times. She believes in the Warrior's Code and is always seeking justice on the field. A good person, with an honorable heart and a chivalrous mode of livng, Lynx is nonetheless often very angry and intene because of the hatred and misunderstanding she has to deal with on a daily basis. As a female warrior, a War Mage, and a Belladonna, Lynx is faced with a great deal of opposition in life, and has often had to escape into the countryside because she just can't deal with all the pressure. Lynx isn't a bad person, but she really isn't a good person, either; her magick does tend to make her an explosive person, with a connection to death, pain, and destruction. She is a dangerous person, and unpredictable in her actions, but she is one of those people who believes that destruction is necessary for life to continue. But she will always fight for Good, for the Cycle to continue, and she is a very spiritual person. She's almost Shamanic in her approach to magick and life, and even though she's often off-putting, she is very wise and very intelligent.

Appearance: Lynx is easily 6'1, with a slender, muscled frame that has come from great athleticism and many years of training with weapons. She has some feminine softness because she makes sure she doesn't lose it (some vanity, ya know?), but she isn't some uber-femme chick. Her hair is long and black, falling to mid-back, and she normally keeps it up in a single, straight braid. Lynx's skin is an olive tone and very healthy, though criss-crossed with various scars except for her face, which has remained free of scarring. She has beautiful features- straight nose, full lips, large almond-shaped ice-blue eyes framed by long lashes. Her face is very angular, which can detract from her beauty depending on her expression, but she's certainly a striking woman. Because she is a warrior, she is always wearing the weapons she specializes in, along with strong boots, soft-leather breeches, a light shirt, and a soft-leather vest filled with pockets to hide various potions and small weapons. She also often wears a black cloak trimmed in purple marked with a purple rose and belladonna, the family crest of Belladonna. Lynx almost always looks ready for a fight or to travel/hunt.

Other: Lynx is a master in blades and marksmanship; anything that needs real skill and placement. She carries a pair of sai on her belt, a broadsword on her back, a back of throwing stars, a wrist-held cross bow, and a longbow with a side quiver. In various pockets, she also carries potions, spells, and other little surprises that she only uses if she absolutely has to. She's been traveling for years, but given the events at Arras school, the headmistress Sylvania has hired her to teach weaponry to the older students...provided that she never show them her magick.

KC is a teacher now!

Name: Eryx

Age: 22

Special Power: Alchemy; Potion-making, magical weapons, & items

Alliance: aspiring to the Jade Alliance, student at the university

Limits and Weaknesses to Power: The volatile chemicals and other materials that Eryx experiments with are impossible to fully predict. He has his own, completely separate portion of the university to live in because his 'experiments' have a tendency to explode. What time he's not using to concoct his potions and magicks he must spend rebuilding his quarters. A week without bringing the roof down in his tower is a rare occassion.

Family History: Eryx is from a small river community called Hylland in Dynia. His family runs the town ferry. He's the youngest of seven boys and the only one manifesting any of the magical talent from his mother's side of the family. She was an elf and died in a tragic accident when he was a year old. She loved the simple life of the river town and raised her sons to love it, too. All the boys spent time in Shale, at Hamlit College. They studied business of course. All except Eryx. When he was six, he managed to combine items in the family kitchen to create an explosion that set the house on fire. They barely escaped with their lives. Eryx sustained bad burns to his upper body, especially his face and hands. At that point, he was sent to Shale, to Arras University, at the behest of several relatives.

Personality Traits: Eryx loves being at Arras. He writes letters home infrequently, but holds no grudges for being sent away. He's considered quite strange by most of his classmates but he doesn't mind the solitude. He lives for the challenge of creating something out of nothing.

Appearance: At 5 ft 10 in, Eryx is the shortest in his family. He has flaming red hair, blue eyes, and lots of freckles. He's the spitting image of his grandfather. He's usually covered in soot or dust from his experiments and all his clothes have acid-like holes and weird stains.

Other: Eryx has one love outside his chemistry set and that is running. He is very fast and loves to race. In competitions with the other schools, he is the reigning city champion at the 400 yd dash and holds the city record for the mile.

Name: Zaria Angel
Age (actual or appearing): appears early twenties, real age unknown
Special power (cannot be all-powerful): Can maniuplpate the course of time, on a very limited basis...
Alliance: Indipendent, she wanders around the earth, like a nomad
Limits and weaknesses to power (must list something!!): doesn't have any memories at all, if she's hit one too many times... she can be a uncontrolling gargoyle who can attack anyone...
Family History: Her memories, when she committed suicide, has also been erased.
Personality Traits: Clumsy at times, but she's actually quiet and reserved, has a mystery about her. She will help anyone who needs help (after all, that's her mission in order to get into heaven!)
Appearance: around five foot seven, lavender-emerald-grey eyes, pale skin, long black hair with deep green bangs at the front. And no wings.
Other: Other than her suicide over a lost crush, she is wandering around the earth, trying to help people as much as she can until she regain all of her memories so that she can enter heaven.

Average Joe

Name: Lilra Serveros

Age: 10

Special power: Transmutation of the shape and material makeup of matter. The ability to psychically see distant things.

Alliance: The Jade order, and her father’s merchant company.

Limits and weaknesses to power: When she is using her psychic ability-fargazing, she calls it-she is very vulnerable. Also, using her magic seems to attract attention from things only Lilra can sense, which makes her wary of using it.

Family History: The Serveros family was an old merchant family from Dynia which had carved out something of a name for itself over the years. Her parents had always tried to get Lilra, and her siblings, the best care and education possible, so she was discovered to have magical talents fairly early in life. They insisted that Lilra go to the best institution available. Although the achademy obviously wouldn’t have accepted her if she had no talent, but to hear her parents tell it they pactically had to bribe Sylvania, who couldn’t realize what an honor it was to accept their daughter.

Personality Traits: Lilra had always been an extraordinarily precocious girl, and as such she started to resent the way society treated children very early in life. She’s become very outspoken and often sarcastic, saying whatever she feels like saying. When she’s alone, or among people she trusts, she tends to be more at peace. At heart Lilra is a deeply philosophical person, and likes nothing better than to just sit and think without any distractions.

Appearance: Small, even for a child of her age, with dark hair and dark eyes. Her hair is long and very well maintained and, while she doesn’t wear the most expensive clothes, they’re much nicer than most peoples’. She typically wears a long tunic, tights, boots, and goggles atop her head, because some of her transmutations can create a lot of dust and debris.

Name: Raina
Age: 20
Special power (cannot be all-powerful): Raina has the ability to sense a soul- emotions and pains- in the form of music. She can manipulate the notes and the instruments to encourage emotions, growth or healing, or conversely, block the music to cause death. Raina, however, is completely untrained and and isn’t even aware she has magic of any form. She just simply hears the music, plays with the simple melodies (mainly plants, sometimes animals) and believes it is as natural as breathing. As such, she can only use her power in the simplest forms until she is better trained.
Alliance: The woods, trees, field, and rest of the natural world of Allyan
Limits and weaknesses to power (must list something!!): Depending on the form of life, a musical pattern may be simple (plant form) or complex (human). Complex arrangements can be too difficult for Raina, some she may only be able to manipulate a little, others not at all. The music in other cases may be simply too strong for her, meaning a very strong willed person. Also, sometimes, when a certain beat is missing, Raina discovered she can add a beat from her own personal music, which really means she is giving a piece of her soul. Too much of this behavior will cause her to give away too much of her soul and eventually die. Luckily, she has only done this once.
Family History: Raina can’t really remember a family and has spent most of her life living in the woods in the East, listening to its music and keeping it healthy by manipulating the tones in the plants, and some of the animals as she grew. She never really saw many people and so never considered herself much of a human either. Around her twentieth birthday her forest burned, and she could do nothing to stop the clashing sounds from her ears. Driven from the forest, she heard the interesting tones of the plants coming from the Arras, and took a position as a gardener.
Personality Traits:Raina is skitterish and shy, much like a forest animal, and is incredibly ignorant of the human world, which makes her glad she works as a gardener. People make her generally uncomfortable although often their music fascinates her. Her ignorance, however, makes her extremely curious and sometimes she has a small stash of books in her room. She is a very gentle, caring soul and doesn’t like to hear or see anything in pain. Only when cornered will she fight, but then only for freedom.
Appearance: Tall and slim with wavy golden hair (usually braided or piled behind her head) and large honey colored eyes. Her skin turns golden in the summer from working outdoors.
Other: She plays a small harp which she keeps in her room. A small falcon also stays with her whom she once saved by giving it part of her soul- not knowing and still ignorant of what exactly she did.

Saldale Hall: Library of Theology and History

Ashni knocked politely to announce her arrival, the burnished mahogany of the door smooth beneath her hands, before stepping into the enormous library that had become Sylvania’s office of late.

Why was Sylvania spending so much time digging through the dusty theological tomes? She wondered. But she didn't have a chance to ponder the question; the head of Arras stood by the window, turning a hefty book to the summer light sifting in through the majestic oaks outside. Her midnight locks, normally curling carelessly about her shoulders, were scraped back from her face, glistening blue-black in the light from the heavy candelabras. She still looked young, but this Sylvania would never be mistaken for a little girl as Ashni once had. She turned as Ashni entered, gesturing her towards a couple of chairs pulled up by the hearth. She was silent as they both seated themselves, and then asked, her voice solemn and hard.

“You sensed the demon. That day – you cast a spell. Tell me about it.”

Startled by the abruptness of the question, Ashni’s gaze flew to Sylvania – searching for the reassurance of the smiling young woman who had made Arras feel so welcome to her on her first day. But Sylvania’s expression was shuttered, not cruel, but still hard. Her manner reminded Ashni of steel now, not the gentleness that she had first found.

“I – er – yes. I sensed the demon, though ‘twas more agony than anything as gentle as a ‘sense’. I could feel its malevolence – it was so strong that I couldn’t understand why no one else felt it.” She licked her suddenly dry lips and risked another glance at Sylvania, who was listening gravely, “It was using earthen magic – that’s why I could feel it so strongly. It had layers of spells, like veils to keep it from view – both magical and normal view. I don’t know why the spells didn’t work on me. But the source of the magic – earthen magic is natural to me. The spell I cast – it merely severed the thread of control.”

She paused once more, wondering why Sylvania needed to hear it again. She and Vex had both been thoroughly questioned by multiple members of the faculty and by several high ranking members of the Jade Order after Battle X. Surely they had related their findings to Sylvania?

“Thank you!” said Sylvania briskly, a small smile softening her expression for the first time in days. “Now – I know this seems redundant, but I need you to describe to me, in as much detail as possible, exactly what you ‘sensed’ about the shield before you cast the spell to strip it away.”

Puzzled, Ashni did as the headmistress asked, silently wondering why Sylvania wasn’t more concerned about the demon instead of the invisibility shield. Those weren’t all that difficult to create, surely t’would make more sense to seek the origins of the demon?

Sylvania listened intently to Ashni’s description, interrupting every now and then to ask questions. She didn’t let her gloss over even the smallest detail – asking her for the nuances of every sensation she felt as she fought against the stench of evil, and struggled on hold on to her sanity.

“You are a powerful Auror. Even without training. Not many mages who claim the ability are nearly as strong as you. Many succumb to the terror of feeling such pure malice, and lose all coherence; others cannot combat the spells of invisibility and deception. Yet you, an untrained woods sorceress did it both – thank you! And thank you for the information you have given me today. It is the first lead that I can truly pursue!”

“Lead?” asked Ashni, glowing at Sylvania’s words of praise, “but we spoke only of the cloaking spell. How is that to help?”

Like kindling on banked embers, Sylvania’s eyes sparked with determination; the chance of finding the traitor within Arras, fueling a gleam of hope.

“The thread of magic that fed the cloak – it did not come from the demon. Indeed, most demons cannot wield even such rudimentary magicks as that. And as you said, the strand of control came from without – that’s how you were able to disable the veiling spell. That is why the wards and protections of Arras failed – “

Ashni inhaled sharply, the horrified realization dawning, “- The spell was wrought within Arras – by one sworn to the Jade Order. A traitor!”

“Indeed.” Murmured Sylvania, her gaze focusing on the tranquil panorama visible through her window. Students and faculty milled convivially around the oak lined central quad; seated on benches, gathered in crowds, sprawled on the lush emerald lawn. The air was soft with laughter and the warm summer breeze – the very picture of idyllic refuge. But somewhere within the campus city of Arras lurked a trusted traitor.

Jason Simmons

Nathan stood in the shadows of the room in which headmistress Sylvania and the girl, Ashni, were speaking in. He had been called by the headmistress for a mission, and had told him to wait until she was done with Ashni to let his presence be known.

When he heard them speak of a traitor, he knew that it was time to reveal himself. He stepped from the shadows, surprising Ashni, causing her to try something foolish.

She sent a spell at him which he easily deflected, considering only sound-based and his own attacks could do any true damage to him. He merely strode up to her and held out his hand as a gesture of kinship.

"This is Nathan Guilliam, Ashni," Headmistress Sylvania told her."He has been helping the Jade Alliance with some problems we've been having. I called him here for an important mission. I want the two of you to track down the traitor.

"I know it is neither of you for two reasons. Ashni, the reason I know it not to be you is that you have given all and more to the Jade Alliance. And Nathan, I don't really entirely trust you, but you are under contract spell, only one of few spells that can affect you, to not betray us under strict penalty.

"But before I can set you on the trail of the traitor - there is something more that I must ask of you..."

Sylvania paused, studying both Nathan and Ashni solemnly.

"...there are larger forces at work here than most know. But you two - you innately sensed the dawning of a momentous time. That is why I have chosen you two for this. For the time of prophecies draws near, and we need the truest members of the Jade Order to combat the evil that seeks to destroy all of Allyan."

"Don't tell me," interrupted Nathan dryly, his gaze resigned, "You need my help track down and convince people to join your quest?"

"Yes Nathan - I need your help. But I need your acceptance as well. The contract spell will force you to do as I bid. But your role in this time is a part of your destiny. And I would rather that you fulfilled your destiny without coercion."

Nathan merely raised an eyebrow, his grin irreverent.

Sylvania signed, then gestured them both to a couch by the fire.

"Sit - we have details to discuss. Ashni - your magic is still passive, and we have not the time to train you as I would have chosen. But I have faith in your abilities. No one in Arras is chosen wrongly. Everyone in Arras has a part to play - even if it is to bring about another dark war." Her tone grew steely as she uttered the last words, her thoughts obviously on the traitor within the Jade Order.

She shook her head, as if to dispel murderous thoughts of the unknown assailant and turned back to the cynical gaze of Nathan.

"You both are destined to play a critical role in the upcoming time of tumult. But there are others whose talents and powers we will need. The Jade Order needs its knights now. And you have to bring them to me.

"Finding the traitor is only the beginning. In the weeks since the demon attacked, I have scoured texts and scrolls. The most powerful seers and oracles have plumbed the depths beyond sight, and the verdict is unanimous - this was the first gauntlet. The forces of Khra stir once again - and we must be prepared to meet it. You will track the traitor - but first, I need you two to act as messengers, and summon these people to Arras."

She handed a parchment to Ashni and Nathan, who had both turned grey at the mention of Khra. For thought most of the world had forgotten the battle of long ago - none with true power could deny that they had all sensed a darkness encroaching.

As Nathan glanced at the list, his expression darkened in a mixture of anger and disbelief, "Vex Bellmont? The blood magician?" he demanded.

"Yes," replied Sylvania calmly. "But you needn't trouble yourself with finding him, he is here at Arras. And is a valued ally - his powers may draw on the dark, but he is strong enough to resist turning to darkness himself.

"It has been writ in the stars long before any of the people on the list were born, that a league such as we plan to form will have to sacrifice all to once again save the world from the darkness from Khra - and whether you approve or not, they are a part of this."

Taking the list from him, she read aloud, "Zane Gardina - crystal mage, Chiran - vampire, Lynx Belladonna - war magician, Eryx - alchemist, Zaria Angel - temporal sorceress, Lilra Serveros - transmutator & Raina - music bender"

"Who is the unborn Queen?" asked Ashni quietly, "the prophecy will fail if we do not find the Queen."

"You have heard of the Unborn Queen?" demanded Sylvania in shock. That was a part of the prophecy that had been uttered on battlefield by the Priestess Shyllia over a millennia ago - and lost to all but a few members of the Jade Order, who had lost the details of the written word, but passed the prophecy to each leader of the Order. "How could you know of this? The scrolls of the Prophesy have long been lost - how do you know?" Sylvania's voice was hard and her eyes held Ashni's in an iron gaze.

"I - I have had visions of this ever since I can remember. Dreams in which I see a woman, dressed for battle. She urges a scribe to record this. She insists that we will fail, for without the Unborn Queen, the darkness will prevail."

"Do you know what it means?" asked Sylvania, even as she reached out to lay hand along Ashni's face, magic pulsing a pale blue in her palm in the dim firelight.

Ashni closed her eyes as the gently probing magic flowed over her, letting her memories of the dreams and visions surface. "I didn't know that it meant until I arrived at Arras. Then I realized that the woman was the Priestess Shyllia. And that her words were prophecy."

"A seer as well," murmured Sylvania as she withdrew her hand. "Well little one, it would seem that you have hidden depths of talent. I'm glad that fortune chose you to be one of us."

She turned to Nathan, a smile lighting up her face, "And you, lightening bearer - you may think that you do good only because of the spell, but you are one of the chosen. You would be here, at this time, because it was destined.

"We need to assemble everyone here within a fortnight." For the first time since Aladair's battle with the demon, there was a light in her eyes, "So you two have fourteen days to find the League of the Chosen. I place weight of prophecy in your capable hands."

Nathan got up first, sketching a curt bow at Sylvania, he strode towards the door, where he paused a moment, looking back at Ashni, "We ride at first light. Better pack light. Goodnight."

Jason Simmons

Nathan was none too pleased that the Headmistress thought him to be an important part of some master plan. But he simply returned to his small cottage to prepare for the next day's journey. He wouldn't need much, just enough supplies to always have semi-fresh clothes and food that would last.

He thought about the dreams that the one girl(if he could truly call her that considering her real age) had had about the queen. She was strong, she just didn't know it. In time, her magic would surpass many, including Nathan's own power of resistance to most magics.

No. The one weakness Nathan would have was sound-based attacks. They interfered with the electrostatic charge of his powers, causing a shut-off. But he would worry about that when and if the need occured.

He finished packing and quickly fell into a fevered sleep.

KC is a teacher now!

BOOM!

Coughing, gasping for breath, half-blind from the fumes that made his eyes water, and temporarily deaf from the huge explosion, Eryx crawled through the rubble and raining roof tiles to the door. Blocked, but with a half-muttered word, the wood collapsed to ash and Eryx pulled himself through and to his feet, to stagger to the nearest window and lean out. He sucked in huge breaths of the fresh air, unmindful of the clouds of smoke passing over his back.

When he'd somewhat gathered himself, Eryx sank to the floor next to the window and wiped a sooty sleeve across his eyes. He spat a little and blinked watery eyes, still seeing very little. His ears hurt, and he wiped some blood from his nose, but he seemed otherwise okay.

"O - kay," he muttered slowly, his voice sounding weird and distorted, but at least he could still hear. "I guess that wasn't the right percentage of talc after all ...."

The strong breeze soon carried the smoke away and Eryx staggered back to his lab, to survey the damage. He sighed. The wall he'd just re-built (not even two weeks ago!) was reduced to dust again, taking with it a large chunk of the floor and roof. But on a happier note, his supply closet remained intact on the other side of the room, proof that the spells he'd managed to infuse into its making had indeed protected it. The contents? He sighed with relief. Yes, they were fine, too. All his glass phials and decanters and such had not survived, however. He shook his head, musing that, once again, he'd be spending his entire allowance on replenishing his equipment. At this rate, he ought to hire himself out as a mason. Maybe that way he'd be putting all his building experience to use.

"Uh-hm."

Eryx turned his head, to see a girl, perhaps 16 or so, small, dainty, but with the biggest eyes Eryx had ever seen. Next to her was a boy, or rather, young man, with a scar that completely dominated his face.

"IT'S PROBABLY NOT REAL SAFE AT THE MOMENT," Eryx said.

The two looked at each other and slowly backed out of the doorway.

"Why are you shouting?" asked the boy.

"WHAT?"

"Why are you shouting?!"

"WHAT? SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR RIGHT NOW."

The young man grimaced, but the girl was quite obviously trying desperately not to laugh. Eryx shrugged to himself. He got that reaction often.

"NEVERMIND!" shouted the young man. "I'M NATHAN. THIS IS ASHNI. WHAT THE DEVIL HAPPENED?"

Eryx started to answer, but, remembering himself, began to search through the rubble. "AH!" he said in excitement when he found it. He held up something that, to the untrained eye, appeared to be a chipped marble bowl, now with a larger chunk missing on one side, and a shorter piece of marble, like a thick stick.

"I WAS WORKING ON A POTION."

"FOR WHAT?"

Eryx shrugged. He slogged back through the muck to his stores, pulled a jar of liquid out and carefully washed the two marble objects. He cleaned them with a rag from the cabinet and placed everything back inside. Then he grabbed a bag of powder, poured more water into a glass and dropped in a pinch of scarlet powder. He downed the mixture with a grimace of distaste and put everything away.

He rubbed his ears. "There, that's better." He still heard a faint ringing sound, but at least he'd be able to talk normally again. He turned back to the other two. "Who did you say you were?"

Still staring in from the mostly intact hall, Ashni exchanged a look with Nathan and said, "I'm Ashni and this is Nathan. We're looking for Eryx."

"That's me," replied Eryx, giving them a curious glance. "You're not looking to have a wall built somewhere, are you?"

Ashni couldn't hold back any longer; she burst out laughing. Nathan was not far behind. Despite himself, Eryx felt a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"As you can see," he said dryly, "I've had lots of experience!"

"That's .. what .. the .. head .. mistress .. said!" gasped Ashni.

Eryx brushed ineffectually at the soot and stone dust covering him head to foot and shifted awkwardly while the two got control of themselves again. He was used to people laughing at him, but that didn't mean he didn't still feel it. He stared morosely at the ruined lab. He'd be weeks repairing it. He'd probably have to wait another six months before conditions would be right to try this particular concoction again.

"So what do you want?" he asked, as the giggles died away.

Nathan stared at him sullenly. "The headmistress has sent us on a quest, and she thinks you could be of some use."

Eryx closed his mouth with a snap. "Really? I mean, really?" He advanced on the two. "I mean, I'm ready, I'm sure, at least, I think so."

"Do you have anything that doesn't blow up?" asked Ashni from behind her hands. She didn't trust herself not to start giggling again at the slightest provocation.

"I make stuff," Eryx replied with a shrug. His shoulders slumped. "Are you only here for potions?"

"No, numb-skull," snapped Nathan. "You're coming with us -- so long's as you don't blow us all to pieces."

Eryx grinned. "I knew it! I knew it! At last, something to really test my skills! Just wait'll you see what I've got!" He dashed back to another room, his bedroom, specially sealed to be impervious to his explosions, and came back, slipping and sliding, with his arms full of bottles and jars and leather sacks and one particularly large bundle that appeared to be a jade monkey.

He skittered into the corridor and began laying things out on the stones. "Look! Potions for channelling fire, and for melting stone, and this one will let you fly (at least I think it will). A pinch of this stuff will let you send a message on the wind, and this stuff will let you jump great distances. Drink this one," he continued, holding up a tiny flask of a blue liquid, "and you'll be protected from the dangers of cold, and this one heat, and this one lightning, and this one can cure minor injuries, and this here will let you hide from your enemies."

He dumped a collection of rings into his hand from one of his sacks. "These will slow a fall so that you don't smack into a million pieces at the bottom and this one will let you climb like a spider, on any surface, and this one will let you breathe underwater, and this one let's you talk to dogs, and this one makes you stronger."

Eryx ignored the rest for the meantime, wanting to only highlight the coolest of his inventions. He finished up by pointing at the jade monkey. "And this guy can come to life."

Nathan eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure it won't just blow up?"

If the Gods wanted to hand out punishments, this would be the moment. As in the supreme moment. The girl, the one with the long raven hair with deep green bangs, was in a dilema. She was tempted, very tempted to buy a staff, one of those ornate, decorative wooden staffs... but the price was heavy. It was more than three thousand gold coins, and her pouch: it had three thousand coins, gold. She can:

Either go bankrupt (meaning a few more sleepless nights underneath the oak trees or whatever they were, she cannot remember what trees they were)

OR

She gets to miss out to try this very fine and ornate staff, and still search for another one, probably miles and miles from here.

Hence, her dilema.

"Oh drats, which one, I wonder?" she muttered to herself before she heard a big explosion from a few miles back. What was it? Zaria was very hesitant on whether to investigate it or not.

"What was that?" Zaria asked, not sure what the source of the sound came from. The man, who was one of those perky merchants that came by boat, shrugged his shoulders as though he didn't care.

"I don't know. Must be someone blowing up stuff," he suggested as Zaria bit her lips. Should she investigate it? She looked at the staff one last time before she shook her head.

"A fine staff, but... I'll have to pass. I think I should investigate what happened back there. Do you know what that place could be?" Zaria asked as the merchant shook his head. Obviously, he had no clue.

"Very well..." she went off, in the direction where the trouble was somewhat brewing...

Average Joe

Lilra stared up through the branches of a tree as she lay beneath it, her hands behind her head. Her black hair, which reached midway down her back, lay beneath her. She wore a green tunic and a grey skirt; black boots covered her feet and black stockings covered her legs. A pair of goggles rested on the ground beside her. She closed her eyes, letting the sun beat down upon her face.

"Excuse me. Are you Lilra Serveros?"

The young girl opened one eye to see two people standing over her. "Who wants to know?" she asked.

The man exchanged looks with his companion, smiled and said, "Pardon me. I'm called Nathan, and this is Ashani. The headmistress thinks you are one of the prime candidates for a mission of the Jade Order."

Lilra snorted. "Me?" she said snidely, "but I'm just an oh-so-defenseless little girl. I like whispering about boys and giggling and dolls and... I don't know... flowers, or soemthing. Surely I'm not big enough to go on such a big adventure."

Ashani said, "Please, don't be difficult. You are coming with us."

Lilra stood, picking her goggles up off the ground, pulling her hair through the loop, and fixing them just above her eyes. She started to walk off.

"Seriously," Nathan sighed, "We really don't want to have to drag you back."

Lilra turned around. "Well, I guess I'd better go, then, tough guy. I certainly wouldn't want to have to stand up to you."

The piccolo danced a melody of light, dancing and twining with each drop of sun. Sharp staccato met each snap of the clipper and the melody rose, twining its notes with an oboe. It grew and hummed as a dead head fell, kissing the earth as the many eyed sunflowers turned their gaze to the sun.
She smiled as the hum of life filled her bones and she removed her dirt stained gloves to run her fingers over each sturdy stalk and let the music twine around her fingertips, whole, complete, healthy. Carefully, she coaxed the piccolo higher and the flower stretched its neck to the sky.
“Assistant Gardener.”
And she rose, muscles taut, ready to run, scatter, like a wild thing among the sunflowers. Slow melodies of low horns mixed, complex as the weathered, leathery face of the old master gardener leaned on his hoe, watching her as wind teased hair the color of bone.
“I’ve never seen the sunflowers this happy,” he murmured, white teeth flashing against his skin.
She relaxed as the word molded itself around her again and bees wove trail of liquid gold, matching her hair. “They love the sun,” Raina murmured and he approached, piccolo growing excited in his presence.
“They love you,” he said, stroking a petal. He was a harmless man, gentle man, Raina had learned in the months since she had come. Gentle voice, careful fingers, he was a human she could understand. “Rarely have my plants been so healthy, or my job so easy. It has been a long time since I have had such a talented assistant. Have you here is like hiding a great secret.”
He examined the soil, weighing the black dirt in his hands. “They could do well with more fertilizer,” he said and she nodded, tucking dirt stained gloves behind her belt. “You know,” he said with a sigh. “So few appreciate these little things.” That’s because humans are strange, humans are mystifying, she wanted to say. But she stayed silent; watching almost entranced at the love in the master gardeners face. “They have hearts,” he said.
“They have souls.”
He smiled and bowed his head. “That they do.” He looked at the sun and his eyes strayed around the garden and hers followed his then to the buildings where she and humans lived.
“It hasn’t exploded today,” she said softly.
“What?”
“The tower. The exploding one. It’s not growing back again either. Is it sick?” She frowned. That was ridiculous. It had no melody to coax.
He snorted a laugh and she colored a little at her ignorance. “It will grow back eventually. These things take time.”
“Why does it explode?”
“Some fool boy with some fool chemicals. I’ve given up planting around that place.” She nodded in agreement, remembering the chords of fear spiking in a shrub she had once carried near.
A sudden shout, noise carried by the wind brought their eyes ‘round to the practice fields where practice swords met and clashed, a woman stalked sharp eyes flashing. The people of this place had been on edge, the entire melody taut and strange, as if too sharp. It itched at her mind, made her uncomfortable.
“It’s been strange here, since it happened,” the gardener said, as if lifting her thoughts from her mind and putting them on his own lips. She didn’t know what he was speaking of and she knew he knew. She was only a simple gardener making the plants sing. “Take a break, assistant,” he said suddenly, “You’ve been up since dawn.”
Nodding, she picked up a bag of loose seedlings and moved across the grass, melting golden through a ray of sun and emerging as silently as she could into the greenhouse.
She avoided the people of this place as a deer avoided humans. Their world, complex and interesting, was at the same time intimidating and of no business of hers. The complexity of the melodies hidden beneath their skin were baffling and part of her wondered what would happen if one string were pulled and if the notes would skip off the page. And so she disappeared into the greenhouse, full of its warmth and earthy smell of life, and to her room above where she could see beyond the gates and out. People were coming and going like ants about their business.
Melodies far away reached her ears rising suddenly: anticipation.

Ash gritted her teeth, and forced a less than credible smile at a passing colleague. As new as she was to Arras, she understood that she was the low in the hierarchy, but that did not mean that she bore the patronizing manner in which most people treated her well.

Only Sylvania failed to act as though Ash were an adorable, but young child.

She and Nathan had been charged with the task of gathering a motley group, which was somehow supposed to save the world. And even now, the two of them were trudging towards the beautifully maintained, yet organic looking gardens, where the melody weaver, Raina was supposed to be found.

Ash chuckled as she recalled the last girl they had had to summon to Arras. Lilra's verbose, yet sarcastic manner had been highly entertaining; especially in contrast to her companion Nathan's more quite and subtle sarcasm. But Lilra had not exactly been impressed by the summons - in fact, she seemed disdainful of it. Did she truly not care? Wondered Ash, or was her edge as much a defense as a weapon?

"HHEEEYYY!!"

Ash paused, looking over her shoulder as Eryx, the alchemist sprinted to catch up with them.

"I though I'd come along." he said, easily catching up to them, his breathing barely accelerated after his run all the way from the opposite end of campus.

Nathan eyed him with new appreciation, "Did you just run here, all the way from the North Quad? Not too shabby old boy!"

Eryx grinned good-naturedly; he was used to people assuming that any physical assertion was beyond someone in his profession. "Now that my hearing is restored, I thought some fresh air might be in order. I've been told that Sylvania is away and not expected to return for a few days, so we won't find out what she wants from us for a few more days."

Ash found herself grinning back at Eryx, his easy nature seemed contagious. Nathan and Ash quickened their pace, while Eryx slowed his and they continued towards the gardens at a matched, swift stride.

"I went to your lab earlier," said Ash "to make sure that it was secured during your absence. Sylvania left instructions that we are all to be housed at the Jade Tower. She has already had your belongings moved there."

She glanced at the two men. She knew that they both had pivotal parts to play in what lay ahead. She wondered if they knew. Even without foresight like hers, surely they could feel the fates converging. If their magic and their destiny were as powerful as Sylvania believed it to be, then they too felt the import of the upcoming days. But what would they choose? What would each of the people chosen eons before the moment of their birth decide? And what would their choices mean to the world?

She shook her head, trying to force away the weight of knowing the difficulty of the road ahead and instead focused on the task at hand.

"A young woman showed up at your lab moments after we left." she continued, "she was ready to defend against attack - for your explosion certainly seemed deadly enough, and everyone is wary, even within Arras now. But we need to track her down after we find Raina. I think that she is Zaria - the temporal sorceress."

" Temporal sorceress?" said Eryx, his blue eyes bright with interest. "Oh I say - I'm looking forward to having a chat with her!"

"Perhaps you might ponder how to track her down first." said Nathan wryly, an unwilling smile lurking in his eyes. "Ah - here we are. There is the master gardener; I'll go ask him about Raina."

Ash and Eryx stood admiring the profusion of flora as Nathan went off to talk to the aged man hunched over a bed of peonies.

Her eyes closed and she tilted her head back, feeling the gentle warmth of the afternoon sun on her face. She could almost feel a certain warmth and contentment from the plants themselves. The rich smell of grass mingled with the earthy scent of the soil. The sweet smell of roses brought out the lighter notes in the lily of the valley. There were layer upon layer of different scents, each complementing the other... And for the moment, prophesy and time receded, and only the moment existed, perfect and serene, with a soft breeze lifting around her.

In the meanwhile...

Zaria was on her way, to the source of the 'booming' noise. Her deep green bangs was swept by the wind, it touched her soft skin as she slowly sensed her way into the woods. She thinks that the building, a few miles away from her, was the source. Her nomadic ways reminded her of something... but she doesn't know what it was. Her childhood, perhaps? She bit her lips and shook it off, it wasn't the time for her to go and remincince. Zaria needed to know what the source of the exploding sound was.

"I wonder..." she muttered as she slowly made her way to the tower. For the first time, she looked at the object, and blinked. It was bigger than the far-off version, but... it had something that made Zaria wary.

She heard them before she saw them. They began softly, quietly, for they were far away but soon the unusual melodies grew in volume, cutting through the normal thrum she was used to and she almost dropped the lavender she was drying. The drum beat of her own heart began to pick up the pace as she looked around her small room. Trapped…I’m trapped…run… Her falcon clacked it’s beak and flapped its wings, a piece of its own heart matching her beat and she turned and winced at the cacophony in her ears.

Raina had never thought her room, with the windowed walls and just enough room for a bed, desk and sills, was large but with the sudden flood of bodies and music it had never felt smaller. Three people could that it seemed. Three people was magic. And Raina was suddenly very aware that she was wincing at three human strangers, disheveled, with dirt clinging to her hair and even more aware that it was too late to clothe herself in the darkness beneath her bed.

A girl stepped forward from the group and breathed a word, a sentence but it was transformed into a questioning note and Raina blinked for a moment in confusion. Too many sounds, too many notes, and a light blush the color of rose dusted her cheekbones.I’m coming off as a mute fool I’m sure. Carefully, she wove notes of silence, replacing notes with air, around herself and the music dimmed to a low murmur in her ears. “I’m…I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “But what did you say?”

“Are you the one called Raina,” the girl repeated and she blinked and nodded. How would these people know her name? A name that was only breathed among the whispered among the gardeners, and sung among the plants. “You have been one of a very few called for a mission of great importance, by the headmistress Sylvania herself.”

Raina didn’t know who she was, the headmistress, but bit her tongue on asking. She had to be important in this human world and it would only prove her ignorance if she asked. She didn’t know who this girl was either, with the soft gentle beauty with hair like chestnut wood. Her melodies were layered, circled one on top of the other like an onion. A lighter layer, of stringed instruments, followed by low bass mixed with harsh clangs and symbols. The notes pulled at her mind, at her fingers. They wanted to bleed into each other form and mold and transform the onion completely. Or was it only the center the symbols and the bass that wanted it. She could almost reach out, and tuck and errant chord back into its proper place, maybe make it less harsh by adding just a half step…but no, who knew what damaged that would cause to the rest of the melody. Her melody. It seemed…old. Or rather older than the girl looked and that was something Raina didn’t understand but maybe…

The girl said something else and Raina almost blushed again at her wandering curiosity. “I’m Ash,” the girl repeated again. “And this is Eryx and Nathan,” she gestured to the two males. Eryx. Fife, piccolo, clarinet, flute, their notes dripped from his fingers and off the heels of his feet, dancing in and out and weaving themselves in such a light quick tune, the notes themselves slipped through her fingers like water. Beneath somewhere beneath the fireflies of song was a harp and something else she couldn’t quite catch, something hollow woven into the melody. Nathan. They didn’t layer, they didn’t weave, but the instruments mismatched themselves into something unknowable. There was something else there too, something beyond the unknowable and her brow wrinkled. It was almost foreign. A melody of someone else’s that had been transposed on top of his own.

“But…” she brought herself back this time. “I don’t understand. I’m just a gardener.” I’m a gardener and I grow plants and dig in the dirt and groom my falcon, why would they need me?

Ash shrugged. “I didn’t make the prophecy.”

“It’s wrong, I think, or you have the wrong person.”

“You think the prophecy is wrong?” That came from Nathan and she tried not to blush again.

Part of her said yes, it could be. One of the times she snuck into the library she had read the writings of a man who said that people made their own destinies and went into a long dissertation that kept her up half the night thinking. But she wasn’t going to say that, not now. So she simply shrugged and murmured. “How do we know they’re always right? Or that we interpret them properly?” Another family, she thought suddenly, or a lover to whom he is very close. That’s where that foreign song is from. He’s close so it transposes itself on his own music. Is that possible?

“Enough.” Ash raised a hand. “You’re to be housed now in the Jade tower. We’re all to be together, you see, and we’ll gather when Sylvania returns.”

But you have the wrong person! she wanted to scream and she felt her own music rise and fall like a wave. And I still don’t understand why were are doing all this. But humans are strange, humans are different… But she had to admit she was curious. It smelled of something new, of a story to tell and be told. Before she knew it she had given a quick nod and they were gone before she realized she had forgotten to ask if she could bring her bird.

Princess♥BooBoo

Name: Lillielle
Age (actual or appearing): 19
Special power (cannot be all-powerful): she can turn herself invisible
Alliance: the Jade Order
Limits and weaknesses to power (must list something!!): she can only do it while humming, and the humming can be heard, so she has to be extra careful
Family History: She was born in a tiny village in the mountains. Her whole family is dead.
Personality Traits: She is very shy, but she is also very intelligent, something people don't always realize because she's so shy and quiet. She doesn't really have a temper, but when it goes off, she can be explosive.
Appearance: She's very petite and thin, with long black hair and lavender eyes. Her face almost looks elfin, and her eyes always have sadness in them.

Breezy-E ~ In College

Name: Glace
Age: Looks to be in his early twenties.
Special Power: Can turn his blood to ice.
Alliance: As long as the Jade Order continues as it has begun, Glace will do what he can to help them. But if they turn from their path like the Order of Dawn did, he won't hesitate to go against them.
Limits and Weakness: He can use his ice-blood as a weapon, but he needs to have opened a vein to get enough blood out to use.
Family History: Who knows? He occasionally lets out cryptic remarks about his siblings, but even these are rare.
Personality Traits: Glace is cool in his better moods, but in his worse ones he's as cold as ice. He seems to know what's going on better than any of the others, but how he would know is either a mystery or an impossibility. He seems to feel it his duty to protect the Chosen group.
Appearance: Glace is fairly tall, with short blue-silver hair that doesn't seem to have been dyed. His left eye is a piercing blue while his right eye is completely white, though he still seems to be able to see through it. Around his white eye is a strange scar in the shape of a snowflake.

~~~~

The rain started shortly after Ash and co. made it inside. Another person wasn't as fortunate.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't let just anyone in to see the Headmistress," the doorkeeper protested to the man shrouded in a cloak as he stood dripping before him.

"Can you at least take her a token of mine? She can direct whether to let me in or not," the man replied cooly, fumbling for something under his cloak. "Here -- give her this."

The doorkeeper eyed the dull metal object, then took it. "If you will please wait here a moment, sir."

***

The group was coming together fast, Ash thought proudly as she made her way to see Sylvania. Hearing someone talking inside, she paused. The door was ajar, and she could see a man with his back to her.

"...If it wasn't important," she heard the man say.

"Of course not! I'm just surprised to see you," the Headmistress's voice floated through the air. "How long has it been...?"

"Long enough," the man grunted. "If circumstances hadn't called for it, I would have waited a while longer to join them. You did know I'm supposed to, right?"

"You are?" Sylvania asked in surprise. "I'm sorry... I didn't see your name on the scroll. Where is it? Oh, yes, I gave it to Aashni."

"Hmph. My name isn't in plain sight. I thought you would have found my symbol, but I guess not. Put an icecube on the bottom right corner." He held his hands out in front of the fire a moment, then pulled his hood down and turned to warm his back.

Ash gasped at his unusual appearance. His hair was a silver-blue, which was odd enough. But what attracted her attention the most was his face: one eye was completely white, and around it was a large scar shaped like, of all things, a snowflake!

"I told her at the time that it was a bad dea to put names on like that. It was just asking for trouble. Do you know how hard it's been keeping all the proper family lines alive, with the other side trying to kill everyone off?" He snorted. "I insisted that my name be hidden, if it had to be on at all. Oh, you'll probably have some extra people in the final party. She did leave a few names off at my request; she smiled at me and said that the names that needed to be on were, and those that needed to be off wouldn't be added."

He turned back around, sighing. "I suppose she did what she was supposed to. I don't see all ends; I'm not a seer. As long as I do my best and trust others to do theirs, that should be enough, right?"

"Glace, I'm sure everything will be fine. Now you probably want to meet them," said the Headmistress, giving a name to the stranger. Glace...

"I already have. How do you think they've lated all this time? I must say that Bellmont was particularly difficult, living so close to the enemy. I can't be in numerous places at once, but I trust that all the names are comong together in the flesh. And as for them meeting me, that can wait until tomorrow."

"Here." An arm appeared from behind the door, offering Glace some sort of object. "I believe you once said that you had only one of your 'calling cards'."

Glace took the object, his hand going under his cloak to dispose of it in some hidden pocket. "Thank you."

"Since the weather is so wet, why don't you spend the night here?" continued Sylvania.

"Sorry, I can't, but I do have a dry place nearby. Until tomorrow, my lady." And with a deep bow, Glace walked to the door. Ash scrambled out of sight just as he opened it the rest of the way and left.

Another member to their swiftly-growing party would be added on the morrow, and it looked to be an interesting addition.

Ashni paced around her small room, her thoughts chaotic. She and Nathan, and even Eryx had been busy the past weeks, trying to convince, cajole, and command the people Sylvania had requested. But the mission was not complete... there was something gnawing at her. Something about the prophecy - just at the periphery of her mind. She had no idea what it was. Nor did she know why it bothered her so. Why did this fight, the Jade Order, the upcoming battle, the battles of the past all seem so familiar, when she had only found out about it all such a short time ago?

With a frustrated sigh, she flopped onto her narrow cot, gazing out into the silver sheened University courtyard through the open, second story window.

Her agitated tapping suddenly froze, while her heartbeat accelerated, for the translucent moonlight had coalesced into a spectral figure of unfathomable beauty. It hung in mid-air outside her window, cloaked in both shadow and light, refuting any possible claim to earthly origins.

Ashni swallowed, then raised her chin. “I am NOT imagining this! I refuse to believe myself prone to hallucinations.” She had half hoped that speaking out loud would dispel the apparition. But the figure merely smiled and glided into the room – right through the stone wall.

The voice that spoke was lilting and musical, like a crystal chime. And to Ashni’s surprise, bubbled with humor. “No seeress, you are not imagining this. I had some information for Sylvania, so I thought I would pop in and let you deliver it for me.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed and she walked slowly around the figure, searching for strings or other evidence of a hoax. “You don’t speak like I imagined a ghost would.” She said finally, as she faced the woman.

“Oh pish! Of course I’m not a ghost. Not really, anyway! Right now, I am a projection-“She paused as she caught sight of herself in the mirror behind Ashni. “Oh dear – I understand your confusion, I got a little carried away with vanity, didn’t I? Well, try not to let my appearance dazzle you too much. I am a vision of loveliness, if I say so myself, but not nearly to the extent that you see right now.” She made a deprecating gesture, but ruined the effect by grinning impishly.

Now – you’re a seer. So I can communicate with you this way. Your telepathic essence is what enables me to do this.” She gestured negligently to her glowing, transparent form, as she continued, “Alright then, down to business – can you tell my big sister that I miss her? Oh – and also. Let her know that the scroll she possesses is not the true scroll. Things have changed, and the players have too. Only the Oracle has the true scroll. And she needs to unlock the prophecy before time runs out.” The form drifted toward the window, “Well, have to dash now – this projection is quite tiresome, even with all the magic I’m pilfering from you.”

“No – wait!” cried Ash, as the misty figure glided toward the window. “Who is your sister? And why didn’t you go to Sylvania?”

The ghostly woman sighed in exaggerated exasperation, “Do pay attention dear, your telepathic essence enables me to tap into it – my sister is powerful, but not a seeress – I can’t project this far without help. And I can only project to the person whose ability I am – er – borrowing.” She glanced somewhat shamefacedly at Ashni, “You might want to sit down. As soon as I end the spell, you will become VERY tired. And don’t forget the message. Farewell for now seeress. We shall meet again…”

Moonlight and shadow began separating as the unspeakably beautiful face began to fade. Ash ran to the window, “Stop! Where is the Oracle – the scroll?”

The unearthly form had dissolved back into the night, but a voice came back hollowly, fading into silence on the last note “Right here, seeress. You are the Oraccllleee….”

Quaddy

"Atropa belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, is one of the world's most unusual and peculiar plants. Unremarkable at first glance, it blends into its shadowy home, disappearing into the darkness that gives it succor and hiding beneath the grandeur of other, more elaborate plants. Belladonna, however, hides a secret, guarding it carefully amongst its bell-shaped flowers and rather dull leaves." Lynx looked up from her scroll, ice-blue eyes sparking with familial pride and childhood wonder, as her tutor smiled violently and held up a radiantly beautiful black berry. "The berry of the belladonna plant is the least deadly section, though it poses the greatest danger to the uneducated."

Lynx looked down at her scroll and scribbled notes in tiny, cramped handwriting that, to even the most casual glance, seemed dangerous. It bespoke of one whose natural inclination was to darkness, who thrived amongst chaos and death, who understood the secrets of the universe and knew how to manipulate them to their will. That it belonged to a ten-year-old was even more frightening. Wisdom such as this belonged locked away, kept separate from the lives of all that was light and life and gaity; it was dark and death and fear wrapped into ink, formed into compact letters.

"The secret of the belladonna plant is not that its berries are poisonous, but that the entire plant is deadly, right down to the roots. It defies the logic of the natural world. The berries are not red- they do not scream out in warning to the unsuspecting traveler- and the flowers are a dull, indeterminate shade of purple. For the uneducated, the belladonna plant might seem an outrageously fortunate find- berries, thick leaves, and roots that look simply divine. And, furthermore, creatures may eat of them with no adverse side effects. But belladonna does not like to be eaten. No, she will lash out at those who take succor from her! And she will take even those who take succor from the creatures to whom she grants pardon. The rabbit may eat of the belladonna and feel no pain, but the human who eats that rabbit will die just the same.

"You see, Lynx, your ancestors took the name Belladonna because they, too, were shadowy. They, too, seemed innocuous and unworthy of attention. But they bit the darkness back during the war, just as much as the other forces that struck against Khra. The forces of dark underestimated our family and suffered greatly for it. Our family never led a charge, nor did it receive accolaids for great service. They were silent killers, clandestine assassins for light, going where fire died and night thrived. The Belladonna family have grown influential since then- no longer are they an unthreatening rabble of self-proclaimed shadow mages and scholars- but their influence is still largely underestimated." Mordred no Alcaes de Belladonna leaned onto Lynx's desk, his dark eyes flashing dangerously bright, black curls swirling about his shoulders.

"Lynx, my cousin, the Belladonna family has more Shadow Mages, more politicians, more assassins and alchemists and mercenaries and spies than any other clan. We are all creatures of shadow, as deadly and unknowable as the plant for which we are named. And yet all of us are Jade Alliance, fighting for life, striving to see that light shines bright and eternal." Mordred's handsome face folded into a bright smile and a dark hand came to brush a lank strand of Lynx's black hair from her face. Lynx felt the power in his hand and shuddered, a delicious strand of desire flowing, for the first time, to a place that had before been unknowable. "Do you know how this could be so, beautiful one?"

Lynx sat up, fixing her icy eyes into the fires of Mordred's face and smiled coldly. "It is because darkness thrives at the edge of the brightest fire. Without dark, there can be no light, just as there can be no dark without light. The Belladonna clan is the night, the completion of the Goddess Cycle, the death that must occur for every life, the sickness that makes life all the more beautiful. We are that which everyone fears and which everyone must know. We are the black and the white that make reds and purples and blues all the more vivid. People despise us without thinking that we are exactly what they need, that we are what allows them to appreciate the lives they have been given. We are the Crone, the Willow, the Serpent. Belladonna is rebirth, reincarnation, reification." Lynx, ten years old, burned with desire for the man before her and knew exactly what it meant, knew that the power of her people had burst forth within her. Knew what she was. "In short, Belladonna is the Divine."

Mordred stood before her, panting with the keen pleasure of Belladonna power, feeling his own magick come to mingle with the newborn ability of his cousin before him. He stood, his eyes closed, feeling the waves of magickal ability diffuse into his blood, tasting the energy of the little girl that sat before him, of the girl-woman that stared at him with frightening wisdom and understanding. Having reached maturity in his magickal abilities, Mordred had by this time learned that his gifts lay in the realm of Seeking, of Knowing, and of teaching. It was his duty to know when a Belladonna mage was blooming, to know what it would take to bring their abilities forth, and to know what shape their power would take. Never before, however, had Mordred ever felt a power like this one. Never before had Mordred ever used explicit sexuality, the allure of power, the seductiveness of complete understanding to break a Mage. Never before had anyone been able to taste his power and know instinctively how to destroy him, to annihilate his will and lay waste to his individual essence. And yet that's what Mordred had tasted in her power, had heard sizzling beneath the harsh whisper of her words, had seen in her penetrating gaze, had felt in the waves of energy pouring through her skin and into the air like crackling thunderbolts.

Lynx Belladonna was different. Special. And frightening. At ten years old, she knew more than the average Mage did after a lifetime of training. What was she? And what would she be able to do for the fortunes of the Belladonna family? Mordred stood, breaking her spell, feeling freedom wash over him, feeling the slashes in his soul begin to mend themselves feverishly. The desire was still there, the need to feel this girl, the yearning. He wanted to feel that energy again, to willingly submit himself to her power, to dash himself on the rocks of her dangerous ability. Mordred wanted Lynx to have him, knowing that it would mean his destruction in soul if not in life.

"You are dismissed for the day, Lynx," Mordred panted out, feeling the uncomfortable tightness in his groin that meant a visit to the local brothel, as he sat behind his desk. He stared at Lynx as she gathered her things, seeing the woman that she would become, seeing her full lips and finely shaped features, knowing instinctively that she would be the finest woman he had ever seen or would ever see. Mordred wanted this woman, or what this girl-child would become, suddenly knowing that he would die for it. He suddenly knew, as if the Gods themselves had dropped the knowledge into his soul, why Lynx was different and why she danced the keen edge of destruction. Why he would die to have her, and why having her would destroy him.

The powers had chosen him to Initiate a War Mage.

*****

Lynx licked her lips and undulated her torso, brushing her stiff nipples softly against the wiry muscles of the man that writhed against her. She felt the heat rising from them and drank it in, feeling the raw energy of passion diffuse into her magick-fed blood. Leaning down, Lynx bit the taunt skin at the base of her lover's neck, shivering in delight as the action elicited a moaned response. Her body coiled, energy building in her every muscle, strung tight like the pull of a bow. Lynx moaned as strong fingers dug into her back and dragged, nails scratching against her skin painfully. "Ah..." she breathed out, feeling the tension build further, stronger, threatening to spill over into her entire being.

"Feel me," she growled, straddling her lover, staring into his unrecognizing green eyes, wondering just how she had met him earlier that night. Lynx remembered walking into town during the middle of the day and finding him working in the fields. Her power had risen within her, demanding that she taste him, knowing that his essence would feed the voracious monster within her. In her many years, Lynx had had innumerable lovers, both men and women; since her first, Lynx had learned how to leave her lovers alive. No longer did her gifts escalate to a zenith, burning through her skin and destroying the being just as she swam in ecstasy. Her screams of pleasure had been echoed first by the torments of an entity being consumed- Mordred's screams still echoed within as she, but a War Mage initiate, burned his essence away with her power; but she had grown so much since then- and then by the pants of mutual pleasure. "Love me," Lynx said again, this time her voice hardened by the intense pounding of her urgings.

The man before her, all naivety and untried chivalry, moved slowly and carefully, unsure of himself and the motions. Lynx pushed him down onto the bed, taking charge, lost within the rushing blood and magick that the warrior within demanded. Around her, the sounds of the night sang, filling her with the song of war, knowing that she would turn this garnered power into the rage of soul destruction. It would fulfill her, make her replete with physical and magickal pleasure. Beneath her, the boy bit his lip and lay back, suffused with bliss, his eyes closed and chest rising in falling rapidly as tension built within him. He began to cry out soon, as Lynx began to circulate her hips as she had done earlier with her torso, his words incomprehensibly clouded by husky desire. Grasping Lynx's waist, he squeezed hard as a wave of pleasure washed over him.

"Ah gods!" Lynx screamed then as she lost control of her desire and pleasure, feeling it build and grow, as she tightened and straightened her back, speeding up into a frenzy. She was at the brink, she was at the edge; Lynx felt the power grow in her, a ball of tension and excitement and everything building, ready to explode into waves of perfect ecstasy. Leaning down, Lynx whispered into the man's ear. "Now."

She felt him oblige her demand with a series of jerky cries, felt his life force in that rapture, breathing in his power, drinking it in and allowing it to suffuse her body. As it mixed with her own power, Lynx erupted, screaming as she worked to hold the power within her skin, knowing it would would to burst forth and destroy the boy beneath her. She bucked hard as muscles contracted and her mind stopped and her power grew, singing within her as she fed the ball of electricity at her core. The man-boy hadn't been a particularly prodigious lover, but his connection to light and life had fed her shadow, had danced within her soul before immersing itself into the darkness and becoming one with her. He gave another husky cry, feeling her power dance within him, but fell silent once more as the last waves of pleasure faded away. Lynx fell off of the boy, still twitching, gorged on power, sweaty and limp.

Next to her, the boy lay back for a few minutes, then sat up and began to dress himself carefully. "Thank you," he said awkwardly. "That was...wonderful." Lynx smiled to herself. The gods had seen fit to grant her an untried boy, whose power would expand Lynx's exponentially. He smiled carefully, bowing slightly and running from the room, smelling deeply of guilt and shame. Lynx sat up then, laughing and brushing her long hair from her face. She got dressed slowly, giving herself time to revel in her recharge, to feel the power coursing through her veins as heatedly as the sexual pleasure that had pounded through moments earlier. The night sky seemed all the darker, the stars all the brighter, and world all that much more magickal. Lynx only hoped that the boy didn't feel anything for her; she would leave town the following morning for the family home in Shale. She had to visit Mordred's grave and thank him for his gift to her, and then she would continue with her lessons.

"Lynx Bella--eck" The voice came out of the darkness, and Lynx waved out, magickally choking the air from the speaker's lungs. She heard the dying sounds and, feeling the breaking of the soul, judged the being that charged toward her. Lynx knew that the creature was dying, that he would likely be dead before she let him go, but she didn't particularly care. No one snuck up on a Belladonna without punishment.

"Who are you?" she asked, letting air back into the man's lungs, taking hold of the fear in his soul and grasping it hard. The soul was a relatively unstable one, unable to hide its weaknesses, its fears and its discrepancies; Lynx pulled at him, yanking him toward her. "Speak up and tell me who you are, intruder!"

Another voice broke out from the silence, this one softer, more feminine. The soul was stronger, too, though by no means unbreakable. "He is called Nathan. I am Aashni. Are you Lynx Belladonna, War Mage?"

Lynx stared at the girl, raising an eyebrow. "I might be. Who sent you, and how do you know of War Gifts?"

This time Nathan spoke up, though he continued to choke and writhe against the control Lynx had over his soul. "We were sent by Headmistress Sylvania Arradorn of Arras School. She has requested your presence at the school." Lynx let go of his soul then, knowing that he spoke the truth. She pulled her hair into a bun and, realizing that she was still naked from the waist up, pulled her siarc over her head and down to her hips. As she thought about the summons, Lynx tied her family cloak about her shoulders and attached her weapons.

"Sylvania has been having issues with out of control magick within Arras and I have heard that she is without a Weapons Master. She could use one in these dark days." Lynx turned around and faced the group of people before her, sizing up each of their souls. None were without their flaws, but the girl was strongest. Intriguing, even. "I will accept. Let us go."

Zaria noitced that the door was open. Not unlocked, but opened. She slowly made her way inside, and looked around, cautiously.

If I wasn't careful, I'd be toast by now... now, where did the source of the booms come from? I have to find out, now! She thought, but the stairs told her to 'come on up'. With a few moments of hesitation, she took up the offer, step by step, to the mysterious place that was on top of the stairs.

"I'll better be careful," Zaria muttered to herself, as she slowly took out her scythe, holding it in a defence position as she slowly made her way up. As she made her way up, there was something, a flash of light: is this something that she was before?

"Hey!"

A three year old Zaria was playing happily with the pile of leaves that someone cleaned up earlier. She made a mess, as per usual... unfortunately, this didn't please the person who cleaned it up in the first place.

"Oi! Get off that pile, now!" a strong, and burly man hollered at the top of his voice as Zaria quickly zipped off the pile. She was fast, but she had a lot of fun, mischief. It was second nature to her.

"Hey!"

Zaria woke up. She's dazed, but... she's at the top of the tower. At the moment.

Average Joe

Lilra waited around in the Jade tower, staring out one of the windows. In idleness she pressed her fingers in the stone sill, making small impressions in the rock. This was typically all the fine control she had over her ability, but it was good practice, and calming. This was important, because Lilra wanted to explode at someone.

The door opened behind the young girl. “It better be important,” Lilra snapped, turning around. She saw, not Ash or Nathan, as she was expecting, but a woman she didn’t know. The young woman stood frozen, as if in fear or embarrassment. “Er, sorry,” Lilra said sheepishly, “I thought you were someone else.” She turned back to staring out the window once more.

“Um... hi... I... I guess we are supposed to share this room. For now.”

Lilra rolled her eyes, but looking away from her new roommate. “Perfect. All I need. Well, I guess I should play nice if we’re going to room.” Lilra walked boldly up to the older woman and held out one hand. “They call me Lilra. What do they call you.”

“I... my name? My name’s Raina.”

“Charmed. I’m sure.” Lilra answered, the words rolling dryly off her tongue, “Hey, Raina, did anyone tell you that you come off a little... ah, what’s the word... wierd?”