[System]
Physical Form:

Abilities:
Smarter then thou: What Twich lacks in physical strength and size, he makes up for with a cruel cunning, a twisted intellect and a surprisingly strong will.

Alchemist Training: There are only two things that an alchemist needs to be able to do in order to be a good alchemist; The ability to flip a table and be on the other side of it when what they are working on explodes and the ability to know exactly when to do this. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

If you don't want to eat it just because it has some mold growing on it, hand it over.: Twich is a kobold. They can eat just about anything regardless of how rotten its become just fine without ill effect. They are also immune to horrible smells that would make others sick.

Love the BOOM!: There is something about arson and explosions that just appeals to Twich's soul. The fact that he is very good at creating things that explode and set things on fire makes his inner hatchling very happy.

WHY?! FOR SCIENCE!: Twich doesn't always create or tamper with things to make them explode or catch fire (At least, not as the end goal). Often he likes to create concoctions or perform experiments for a large number of reasons, more often then not because he felt like it or just wants to see if the current theory in his head has any basis in reality.

Personality:
Those who meet Twich would surprisingly discover that he is, above everything else, quite civil. Those above or greater then him will get the recognition that they deserve of course but those of equal and even lower standing will be treated with professional, polite conversation when talking with Twich. They will also quickly discover that he is quite 'mad'; His mind seems to operate on a completely different wavelength then everyone around him and he often views the world far differently from other people as well.

If one really wants to see him in his prime however, all they need to do is suggest a possible alchemy or science experiment within Twich's hearing range. The quest for discovery and knowledge burns within him brighter then the flames of hell themselves; Despite this he has made it quite clear to several demons that have offered him deals for knowledge and alchemist/scientific discoveries in exchange for his soul that he is not interested because 'That was the path of cowards and fools'.

Even the most evil of beings would find the calm, professional and somewhat detracted approach that Twich takes with his experiments rather... unnerving. Almost all of his experiments are performed on live test subjects... often without their knowledge let alone consent.

Wants/Needs: A bigger lab, more resources and freedom to explore with his various fields of science and alchemy. First pick of any group of slaves and captives with no questions asked as to why he wants/needs them. The right to take any student that he wishes.

Relationships: Fairly civil, shows the needed respect to those that require it.

Backstory: Twich was born to the Snakebiter tribe, a kobold tribe that had its tunnels located underneath a somewhat poisonous swamp. Taken to be trained as an alchemist rather early on when he showed he had a knack for it, Twich rather quickly learned everything that his tribe knew about it and found himself consumed by the desire to learn more. At first traveling to other kobold tribes to study, Twich soon found himself learning from many of the other underworld denizens in exchange for his services; At times he even found teachers among the more open minded of the surface dwelling races. When he ran out of teachers who could offer him new knowledge, Twich wasn't satisfied. He needed to know more and that meant he needed to create more things to learn himself.

This is rather challenging as an independent working alone... but with the raise of the Master and his 'Hordes of Darkness', Twich found a patron who could make his dreams and desires a reality in exchange for his services.

Other: -

[User]
After the meteorite had arrived, Umbra noticed the flow of imps into the streets along with the Master at their sides. It wasn't long before he realized that the meteor was quite possibly the master's doing. Holding back his rage he gathered in the plaza area with the others, and quietly waited.

The Master had little intention of addressing his careless act. Athinar however, refused to leave it be going as far as addressing the Master's actions. The situation only escalated when the Master shoved the question to the side and asked Athinar to beg, as an owner would treat a dog.

As this happened Umbra stood still and watched. While just as furious as Athinar, he had no intention on fighting the master, at least not until he had gotten what he wanted. Instead he possessed a nearby goblin like creature and shouted "Master when you are done, I suggest we get onto more pressing issues, such as the management of this town. In my former life, if you could call it that, I had experience in managing small villages and various other practices that could be useful."

[Assistant]
Torrens gave a salute and started to leave when the altercation with Athinar began. Torrens stayed at the edge of the town square for a few moments to see how the events fared, interested in seeing how this encounter turned for Athinar. A few seconds later, after Athinar had made his response (whatever it was), Torrens turned again and sprinted down the road and out of the town. He found a road which didn't lead to a village they had already razed, which Octavius wasn't covering and which hadn't been thoroughly blockaded by the orcs, and sprinted down it. While he could not match the pace of a galloping steed, Torrens could maintain a full sprint indefinitely, which should be adequate to overtake any villagers fleeing on foot.

After maybe half an hour of travel, he saw the light of torches appear from over the horizon. From that torchlight Torrens could tell that they seemed to be ordinary people travelling away from the town, and lacking any notable luggage, and he inferred that those people must be the refugees he had been sent to hunt down. Instead of charge straight in, however, he left the road and ascended a hill. The undergrowth around his feet burst into flame, although he figured that he was far enough back for that not to be easily noticed. From the top of the hill he had a far better view. The numbers in this group of refugees was quite large- it looked like it must contain several full households' worth of people. To simply charge them, being incandescent as he is, would have them all scatter into the night, meaning he could easily lose some of them. Although he grinned as he noticed that ahead of them, another few kilometers away, was the beginning of a forest. He would wait for them to be in the middle of the forest, then strike.

So Torrens returned to the road and continued to follow his prey, keeping as far away as he could without losing track of them, although even that could be too close, considering that he had no means of concealing his fiery glow. Still, he continued, and as the villagers entered the forest Torrens changed from a walk to a sprint in order to catch them before they left the forest. When he himself reached the edge, he immediately got to work on starting a forest fire, blocking off the way they had came. Torrens spent a good few minutes cultivating the inferno and feeding on the flames, building a ferocious wall of fire which would eventually grow and consume the forest.

However, Torrens could not trust this bush fire to expand fast enough to overtake the villagers before they escaped. He needed to fence them in. So Torrens gathered up some of the energy he ahd gained from this fire and unleashed it all in a ferocious jet directed from his feet, rocketing him high into the air, soaring across the forest to the other side in mere seconds. To land, Torrens did not bother to rocket to a gentle landing, for rocketing is horribly inefficient. Instead, Torrens crash landed in a tree, which exploded into flame on impact. His return to the ground was far from graceful, involving him falling face first into the dirt, but he picked himself up and got to work on setting up a second wall of fire, sandwiching in the villagers.

Torrens cackled with glee, for forest fires were his favourite type of fire. The ferocity, scale and destruction were unmatched by anything else on this world. Sure, other fires might burn hotter, and some things such as lava are hotter again, but none of those span many hectares at any given moment or leave whole swaths of countryside a charred wasteland. His only regret was that he couldn't be in all of it at once, to enjoy every bit of the fire.

He did eventually find the villagers, but by it was already too late for them to escape, as the fire was closing in much faster than they could hope to go around and escape. Given the apparent surety of his victory, Torrens didn't bother to kill them on sight. Instead, he chased them deeper into the forest, although none of them lasted long before they succumbed to the heat or the smoke. Torrens stayed for some hours more, basking in the flames to bolster his strength, and also scouring the rest of the forest and the surrounds to see if he could spot any survivors. While the chances were remote, a villager or two could have escaped his trap and fled into the night. Torrens was counting on that being exceedingly improbable, since he had no hope of finding them if they did successfully escape as they would be employing stealth and could be anywhere in the countryside. For official purposes, he would assume he had caught all of them which had been taking his route.

It was not until the sun had already been up for an hour that the fires started to wane as the forest burned out. Only then did Torrens begin to make his way back to the Dungeon. He would probably get there sometime around midday or the afternoon, and he would seem noticeably brighter and hotter thanks to that forest fire.


[System]
Nicknames/Aliases: N/A

X-Men Code Name: Cosmos

Gender: Female

Age: 18

Physical Description:
Height: 4'10"
Weight: 81 lbs
Skin: Medium-fair
Eyes: Black (Green pre-mutation)
Hair: Dark brown
Distinctive Markings: Freckles, a mole above her mouth
Mutations: Astral Projection
Aya is capable of extending her consciousness outside of her body. Invisible to others, her spirit form is capable of passing through solid objects or going into dangerous situations or environments that she otherwise would avoid. She can also create projections of other people if she's touching them, separating their consciousness from their bodies. She has to be touching them to bring them back for the astral plane, however. If Aya snaps back to her body without touching the other person's projection, then the person will be stuck there until she snaps to the other side again to bring them back.

When maintaining her projection, her physical body is more or less helpless, and she is oblivious to her surroundings. Due to her projection's intangible nature, she's also unable to influence her spiritual environment or talk to anyone through it. She still knows very little about her powers -- she doesn't know how long she can keep it up for yet, or how far away she can travel from her body. Her current record is 3 days and about 1.5 miles.

Aya is still uncomfortable with the fact that she's a mutant and so tends to not use her powers. Of course, this refusal to train her abilities makes it so she has very little control -- when under emotional stress or scared, Aya can accidentally activate them.

However, since coming to the Ashford Institute her powers Aya is gaining more control. She can now activate her powers on command, though it's not always perfect, and she only very rarely uses her powers on accident. She can now also maintain a sense of awareness over her body if she deliberately uses her powers -- she can hear sounds and feel whatever her body goes through physically to a certain degree.
Personality: Aya is quiet and reserved, equal parts mature and insecure. Her introverted nature makes it hard to connect to the people around her, but when she does open up, she reveals a sensitive heart, a sharp mind, and a sardonic sense of humor.

Background: Originally from the island of Oahu, Aya is the only child of an American father and Japanese mother. Her childhood was fairly normal. She played piano, danced hula, went to Japanese school after her normal school day finished... then her father was diagnosed with lung cancer when she was 11, and life got a bit harder. Her mother, unable to deal with the emotional hardship, simply up and left one day. She tried to take Aya with her, but the little girl screamed and cried, refusing to go back to Japan and abandon her father. Aya's relationship with her today is still strained, to say the least. Her dad finally succumbed to his cancer when Aya was 17, just two weeks before she graduated high school. She doesn't like to talk about him.

After graduating she decided to come to Ashford. While she's highly intelligent, her grades had suffered during her last few years of high school due to Aya devoting all her free time to working and caring for her dad, and so her college prospects were abysmal. Ashford was her best option for escaping the island she'd spent her entire life on, and she hopes the school will give her enough control over her powers so she never uses them again.

Recap of your mutations awakening: Aya was 16 years old and at the only high school party she'd ever attended. When the night finished she and her classmate, Kainoa Young, were found unconscious on the bed in his room, Kainoa on top of her. At first everyone just laughed, assuming they were about to get it on when they'd passed out from drunkenness. But then no one could wake them up.

Eventually Aya and Kainoa were placed in a hospital as doctors struggled to figure out why the two teens were in comas -- they were healthy, young, and while they'd been drinking at the party there were no signs of alcohol poisoning. Three days passed.

Then Aya finally woke up. Her eyes, which were once a rich green color, were now black as coal. She seemed shaken and disoriented. She claimed not to remember anything from the party, or why they'd both passed out.

Kainoa never woke up. The longer he slept, the weaker and weaker his body became. Kainoa deteriorated until he needed to be hooked up to a machine to even breathe. Then finally, after months of being on life support, his body simply shut down.

When the school held a ceremony after his death, Aya was the only student absent.

[User]
Ayel Rozenfeldt

"Pretender hunters laying snares, thinking they can catch a deer or two. Not ever considering that in the forest, they are not the only hunters."  Ayel tried to reassure Aya, as he moved towards Heidi. "Time is of the essence, we must make haste. Every moment wasted is a moment longer your friend is in danger." The blonde man nodded towards the much shorter Heidi.

"That's right Heidi, it would take too long on foot. Yet there are swifter ways to traverse our beautiful world." He gave a soft smile and then tried to walk up and place his arm around Heidi's waist and back. "I suggest you hold on. It may get abit windy." Ayel began to shortly afterwards lift himself off the ground, with Heidi aswell unless she would struggle and try get out of his grasp. The hooded man gave a look back to Aya and Jason.

"You two stay behind and let your other friends know what has happened. Tell them to proceed with outmost caution."

Ayel waited to hear Heidi's instructions as to how to get to the place, as he gradually levitated higher and higher up. There was surely going to be all manner of problems, if there were guns involved then it was likely humans behind it. Seldom would those amongst their kind turn to using human weaponry, not when having been bestowed with the power to be a god.

[Assistant]
---

---

Heidi Williams

---

Location: Outside Avalon.
 Interacting With: Ayel @Dezuel; Jason @Eric Horst

---

---

Ayel's metaphor concerned Heidi, as her mind over-analysed it. There were going to the enemy, hat was true. They'd probably be victorious unless there are a lot of men there, or they have their own mutants. But even so, choosing a hunter metaphor over any other possible scenario was concerning. Did he see himself as a predator and the kidnappers as his prey? Was he planning on killing? If he was, Heidi would have to stop him. There was a lot to worry about. They were heading towards a group of armed opponents who knew they were coming, probably have knowledge of mutants, might have a mutant in their ranks, and to add to all that, Heidi would have to keep an eye on Ayel's actions too.

Ayel started to provide his answer to the transportation problem, but then placed his had around Heidi's waist, and told her to hold on. This didn't take a genius to figure out, and Heidi braced herself for flight. When they started to lift off the ground, she grabbed handfuls of his shirt and clung on tight. Clearly both nervous from flying, and embarrassed from being held in such a manner, she couldn't look less comfortable. Se gave an apologetic glance to Jason. They didn't even get to have any time together to have their...date...thing? Nothing had gone to plan tonight.

"Alright. From here, you'll want to head southeast, in the same direction as that factory in the distance. Also, I'll just get this out the way now. Don't kill anyone. We should be able to resolve this without taking lives. Therefore we must."

[User]
Ayel Rozenfeldt

As soon as Heidi had told Ayel in which direction to go, he began to fly in that direction. Being able to get there by air would save alot of effort having to follow the various streets. "Nay need to feel embarassed." The blonde said in a low manner to Heidi, trying to get eye-contact with her. Whomever had taken this Una, were likely humans. Humans kidnapping his fellow kind, this was not new to him. Though upon hearing Heidi's words of not killing anyone, Ayel opened his mouth to reply to her.

"Do you want to rescue your friend? If so, you've ought to purge your mind of any doubt and hesitation. These people have taken your friend, and whom knows what they've done with her. She is still alive however, I know that much. Otherwise they would not wait for more to come." Ayel said in a soft, reassuring tone of voice. One which Heidi wouldn't be able to hear. He set his sight ahead towards the direction they were flying towards, and continued speaking.

"If you hesitate to destroy an evil, if you do not seize the moment when it presents itself. Then perhaps you will be the one dying instead, or one of your friends. Actions have consequences, nay matter how much someone might wish to solve things peacefully. The real world isn't as kind as the world in the fairytales. What will stop these people from doing what they've done anew? If not us, what will? Could you live knowing you could have ended a future disaster if only you would had been able to pull the trigger? Though by such a time, it would be useless to look back. You cannot go back in time to fix things. That's why you must make the right choice, take the right path to begin with. With no hesitation."  Ayel exhaled softly as they were flying, the wind not as violent as he had thought. "Sometimes we are left with cruel choices, yet even so we've have to chose. My advice is to make up your mind before the scenario present itself before you. One may not be able to foresee the future, but one may indeed prepare for it. So what kind of future do you want Heidi? One where these thugs roam free to continue their wicked work? Or a safe future without them as a threat."

The blonde man gave a soft smile to Heidi, looking at her while they were getting closer to their destination.

"They will expect you. They want to capture you and your friends, that is why they have taken this Una. It is as plain as day. For what purpose? To weaponize you most likely, or outright gather you in order to kill you. How much blood do these captors have on their hands now, or could have on their hands if they are not stopped? Do you really want to know? Once we arrive on the scene, I want you to stay hidden. Watch and memorize their looks and weaponry. When the rest arrive, you will give them the intel they need to proceed, lest they dash into the darkness. Knowledge is power after all, I am certain you should know this better than anyone, Heidi?" Ayel had a slight upturn form at the corner of his mouth.

"However... they do not expect..." The blonde said, his smirk forming into a grin. "Me." The dark clothed man took a better hold of Heidi to make sure she would not fall, as they were quite the distance up into the air. Strands of his long blond hair flickered in the wind and his hood fell back from the wind blowing.

 "I'll make them run out of bullets to fire. You'll make it your priority to guide the rest into whatever place we'd be to enter. Your goal is getting Una out of there. Leave the captors to me, I shall draw their undivided attention, perhaps a lesson in nature science would do them well. Aswell as whomever is pulling their strings, if you pull a doll hard enough the puppeteer might appear. As the curtains are closing, some would do anything necessary to extend their act and time upon the stage. Yet what is a play without some drama and tragedy, let's make certain this very lethal play will not have a tragic ending shall we? Rescue Una and the coming applause shall drown the wicked."

[Assistant]
Aya, still in pain and disoriented, couldn't do much but watch as the stranger whisked Heidi away, up into the air. She bit her lip. They weren't prepared. She needed to tell the others, she needed --

A wave of pain shot through her head and down her spine. Aya sucked in a breath, squeazing her eyes shut. She pressed the heel of her palm against her temple. Aya didn't even know where she was, she remembered. Forcing an eye open, she ran her other hand along the wall, using it to support herself as she tried to find the door. It was close enough. Aya stumbled out into the open night air. Immediately a weight lifted from her chest. She hadn't realized how claustrophobic she'd felt in that building.

The bright LA lights shined, illuminating the road. Avalon was across the street. They hadn't moved her very far, at least. There was a crash. Shouts, a roar, and the hiss and crackle of fire. The Sluagh. Aya had to help. She had to --

She tottered forward in her heeled boots, squinting against the neon lights. Aya entered the club, a blast of hot, dry air hitting her face. Cleo, Nik, and Drake were there, hurling words and attacks at the Sluagh that just seemed to shrug off every blow. Aya squeaked and ducked down behind a toppled table as Nik threw explosions that rocked the building.

Uná... Heidi and the stranger... guns... urgency and panic swirled the thoughts in her head, making the different thoughts impossible to pick out. Her head pounded. Her limbs still didn't quite fit right. She didn't know what she could do. What could she do? She wasn't a fighter, she wasn't brave, she didn't belong here.

And yet.

Aya bit her lip, wincing at the sounds of the fight. Drake was slurring out a challenge. They weren't equipped to deal with this. How had this night become such a mess? She needed... she needed --

Aya stood up from behind the table, only stumbling a little from the surge. "Sluagh!" Aya called out before she fully knew what she was doing. Her voice stopped in her throat. She glanced at Drake, like he could somehow help her. She looked back at the monster. "I -- I know where Uná is!" Aya prayed she hadn't just made the biggest mistake of her life.


[System]
Lass

16

Female

Straight

MerMaid

Sometimes it is hard to guess that Thalassa is actually a princess. Her reserved and naive personality makes that so. She is rather quiet. Seeming to shrink back whenever she is put on the spotlight. She does not handle attention very well. So being the princess causes her great anxiety. In which can result in break downs. Her break downs are not made up of screaming and kicking, like most people would picture. But instead, she freezes. Consumed by her thoughts and dreading worries. Some would say she's being over dramatic. But she knew since she was a little girl, that the responsibility of being the next queen would weigh down on her shoulders. And drag her down. Lass wises only for peace. She believes that all creatures and people could live peacefully together. If they could put their differences aside. She hates the aspect of war. It scares her. If she sees a creature, or anyone, in danger or hurt. She has to help them, it is simply who she is.

Lass is rather small for a Mermaid. A slim and frail creature, with an elegant build. She is slim, and her ribs poke out a bit from beneath her skin. Along with other bones. Although she is rather skinny, she has an odd sense of beauty to her, like most mermaids. Her chest is covered in scales of sea green. Keeping them modestly hidden from prying eyes. Her hair is long, curling against the salty waves as she swims. The ends of her hair are a bright yellow, while the rest is a sky blue. Her tail stands out against the calm colors of her upper body. It is covered in bright pink scales. Streaked with black stripes. Her fin is a dark more magenta pink. Her fin is also not shaped like most other mermaid tails. Instead of the naturally curtain like fin, of say a fish, she has the thick scaled fin shaped like a dolphins tail. Most would think her colors to replicate that of a tropical fish. Which is quite true. Although her fair, pale skin, suggests otherwise. The scales of her tail smoothly blend into her skin. At the tires, slowly blending from fish scales, to smooth human skin. Her eyes are a soft pink, her eye lashes naturally long and dark. Her face is smooth and heart-shaped in nature.

She has a flute that has been passed down the generations of her mothers families for thousands of years. The origins of it's magic is certainly unknown. It is a flute whittled from
A long golden sea-shellfish figure. The legend that has travelled with it through her family is that the flute was a gift from single horns horses on the land. Who needed rain to provide their food, in exchange for rain, they gave her mothers ancestors a flute. Said to be carved out of a unicorns horn. The sound
It makes is higher pitched in key. But beautiful and soothing. By playing this flute, schools of small fish come to her assistance. Depending on what songs she plays, is what they do and how they react. Lass is a talented musician. But few know this fact, due to her shyness and fear of any sort of spotlight.

Klisi, Floga
Krill

23

male

Straight

Naga

Krill's personality and essence can be put simply into three words. Trouble maker, and playful. He can seem like an over sized child at times. He tends to poke at peoples buttons. And it's not like he doesn't intend to. He wants to. Teasing people is his number one sport, next to tricks. Some may describe his tricks as immature, and annoying. While others find his actions rather amusing. Which is possibly the only reason that anyone Bother to have him around at all. His train of thought is often disrupted, and he can hardly stay focused on anything. One moment he's talking to you, the next he's chasing a fish. Although his appearance says otherwise, truly he's a bubbly, sarcastic, exciting male. Krill is goofy enough that he does not care one bit if he makes a fool of himself.

Krill's body is shaped long and thin. Unlike most muscular males, he is rather bony, with a flop like quality. His muscles can be seen through Olive skin, but are rather small compared to most other Mer-men of the same age. His skin, like his twin, is a Olive-grey color. A tan slightly hinted green, making it easier for him to blend into Seagrass. His hair is pure white. Streaked with a Olive green paler than that of his skin. While dry, his hair is long enough that it reaches the tip of his slightly pointed ears. His hair is usually wet, living underwater most of the time, it flows above his head. Krill's eyes are a sea-green. With a bright, electric quality to them. His eyes are almond shaped, just like the majority of his face. His face is long and thin, but with a goofy and kind quality to his brightly toned cheeks. His tail is scattered with green scales, splattered with many different shades and varieties of green. The underbelly of his tail his a soft gold, a color that trails up through his skin, covering his chest. A layer if spines goes from the back of his neck, to the tip Of his tail. The folded between each spine are golden like the underbelly. These spines trail along the back of his arms, to the tips of his fingers. His fingers are scale covered around the pads. With webbing between his fingers.

Nothing about him is very unknown. His twin brother, (name), is very close to him. And together they cause quite a bit of trouble for everyone and everyone

Mairanna
Mare

17 years old

female

Straight

Humacampus

Mare is a strictly serious type of person. She hardly ever smiles, and has literally no sense of humor. Although she is kind, and thoughful of others. Doing anything that is against her standard is strickly forbidden. She believes in equality, that no one race is better than the next. Along with that everything one earth has emotion, from the long blades of sea grass in the ocean, to even the sky and sea. She has little tolerance for anyone who dare talks back to her, or be rude about anyone. She is not afraid to smack someone upside the head to knock some sense in them. She is easily annoyed, but does not explode. Simply curses under her breath. Although her curses are a bit strange, and mostly in another language.

Mare is a sea dragon, Humacampus. Her tail is long and curled, like that of anyother seahorse creature. It a pure white tail. With splatters and speckls of gold and purple. Her skin is pure white, just like that of her tail. Her tail smoothly blended into her torso. the pads and fingertips of her hands are dark purple, while her stomach and chest are brightly colored gold that trails around her tail. Around her back, and arms, there are natural drape like skin. They don't look like skin, more like white seaweed attached elegantly to her. Flowing around her like a dress. Her body is slick and slim. And she has beautiful curves and her chest is covered by a seaweed dress she makes. Her hair is purple, dark and enticing. While her eyes are golden.

She has grown up all by herself. And everything she has ever received, was something that she has earned. Never has she been given anything. She has to work hard for anything and everything. Mkaing her quite a resilent creature. At the edge of town, she has build a small little building, that she carved into the rocks. It doubles as her house and hospital. She has a small hospital, where she uses her healing ablities to help other. She is unnaturally gifted with healing. But her powers are multiplied with a staff she has. It is a magic staff, made of wood, that at the top curls around a gem. with tons at the bottom to keep it from floating away if you were to let it go. No one knows for certain how she recieved this staff. Although the true is she had a sea witch make it for her in exchange for something. She traded the staff for her heart. And if her staff were to be destoried, so would cease to live.

Ramis Yorksure
No nickname currently

10 years

male

Straight

Stable Boy

Remis is a gentle boy. With the personality like that of a stallion. He is calm, and kind. But not afraid to speak his mind. When it is called for. Despite his young age, he is surprisingly wise. Not many would guess that he is actually ten. He has the wisdom of a war veteran, who has seen the horrors of battle. Yet, he has never left the city his entire life. He has no temper at all, and always talks in a calm and collected way.

 Remis is a rather solid individual. With a large build, but a gentle way of movement. His shape is square, and thick. He is a bit on the chubby side, simply because he is still young. And still has the childish roundness of someone who has not yet hit puberty. He hopes that he will grow to be like his big brother. Who had been chubby as a child, but become a solid bulk when he turned 13. His face is square shaped, but still rounded. His hair is cropped short, and black. His skin tan and normally dirty due to his line of work. His eyes are a bright blue, with flecks of gold in their depths. He wears a leather hat, with goggles attached to them, that he puts on when working so nothing gets into his eyes. His clothes are simple and worn. A white long sleeves shirt and worn leather vest he had been given from his father. He wears tan pants, and heavy brown boots.

Remis was born into a mid-classed family. His father was a royal knight, who helped protect the royal family. His mother died when he was born from a diease. He grew up hearing stories from his big brother and father about his mothers song, and about her blue eyes, that he had been given. When he was 5, his father was killed in a squirmish with some bandits. Leaving the two boys to live by themselves. His older brother, Thomas, takes good care of him. And had fallen into his father's footsteps. Being a Knight. Remis has always had a great love for horses. So when Thomas told him about a position open at the stables, he jumped to the occasion. He is now a stableboy, and helps take care and work all of the royal horses at the stables. One of the wealhty families were so pleased with his services, they gave him a horse. Really, the horse has a problem with it's leg, so thats why he has it. but he is overly thankful. The colt is only 6 months old, and was born with a foot that was not formed properly. So it is slightly twisited. The colt is a bay, with a light brown coat, and beautiful black mane. Remis takes good care of his horse, and has named him Crusher.

[User] Thalassa felt as though her skin was crawling with sea crawlers. Her gaze was locked with Arios, and despite wishing to look away. She could not. It was as if his stare was a prison. Once you looked, your gaze could not be removed until he deemed it time. And he would not let her eyes go until she had accepted his request. "Alright" she said softly "I will come along" she felt as though each word was as stiff as rock. As she wondered why her father would want her to patrol. Maybe so she could go use to more of their kingdom, a kingdom that one day she would rule. Her mind worked like her striped tail. Rolling over thoughts at the same pace that her fine pushed to keep her a float. She wondered if maybe she would see humans. And if she did, how would her body respond. She knew the most likely response would be to freeze for a moment, before quickly descending back into the comforting waves where she would be unseen. She feared the slim chance that curiosity would overwhelm her. Causing her to stride closer and closer to the waves. Until she could touch the stern of the ship. She had always had the desire to touch a ship, still drifting above the ocean's exotic world. To jump along side it, with the dolphins that would dance and play in and out of the water. If only there was a way to do this without being seen by men. Thalassa wished every now and again that that she wasn't so fearful. That she could have the courage to explore the things that struck her Interest. But she knew no matter what she did, she wouldn't and couldn't change. She was naive and fearful. That's what made it worse for her. Knowing she would be a queen one day. But what good would a queen be if she couldn't even stand in the crowd of people.

[Assistant]
Arios
"Very good." Arios began to swim away, assuming the princess was following him. He really didn't give her choice in the matter. He had convinced the princess to come along so close to the surface, now the rest was in the hands of lady luck. Once arrived near the city, a small patrol of Naga and mermen were waiting. His people. Half of them were high in rank, were raised in the same orphanage and ready to do everything for Arios. Just as he planned it out. "Okay gentlemen, you know the plan. Let's get to it." And with those words, the 7 Naga and Mermen and mermaids shot up vertically, going straight for the surface. Arios followed them equally fast. Right before they would break the surface of the water, they evened out, going parallel with the waves. And so their patrol began.

And lady Luck was on their side. A caravel, alone in the waters. It was going rather fast. But still, his men and women could follow it. And for an added pleasure, dolphins were accompanying the patrol. A perfect distraction for the princess. Arios thought self-satisfied. With a small hand motion, he ordered the patrol to dive a little deeper. So the sailors on the ship wouldn't see them.

---

Liandrich
"Dolphins at starboard!" yelled a random sailor. And immediately everyone ran towards starboard, where indeed, dolphins were jumping up from the water and making their happy sounds. Even Arios, who was training on the deck once again, stopped and looked over. As usual it was a warm, sunny day. Now with the dolphins, the crew felt very sure that this would be a safe voyage. Though as usual, Liandrich felt something off. His eyes told him that there must be something more in the water. So while most sailors returned to their posts, Liandrich kept looking over the rail of the ship for the 'something more'.


[System]
Persona Data Sheet:
Nicknames and titles- Woebringer, Fiendhewer, Defender of the Southern Marches, Warden of the Frosthills.

Sex: Male
Age: 25
Race: Human

Height: 6'2
Weight: 210 lbs.
Body Type: Lean, athletic, toned muscles
Skin type/color: Tanned faced and upper torso
Scars/tattoos/birthmarks: Several battle wound scars from arrows and cuts
Hair color: Reddish blond
Hair style: Long, pulled back, just above shoulders.
Eye color: Gray-blue
Eye shape: Wide

Class: Knight-errant
Side: Silvershields

Armor/Clothes worn-

Head: Great Helm over padded arming cap and chain bascinet

Torso: Leather brigandine worn over a mail shirt and gambeson. Heavy black hooded tunic.

Upper arm: gambeson and chain from the shirt

Lower arm: leather and plate vambraces protecting the forearms

Hands: chain and leather gauntlets

Waist: heavy double wrap sword belt

Upper legs: heavy suede pants under the draping edges of the gambeson and mail shirt

Lower legs: mail and plate greaves

Feet: heavy calf boots under the greaves

Weapons- (all lengths are overall lengths):

Main hand/primary: 44-inch long war sword with a hardwood grip wrapped in leather

Offhand/secondary: 28-inch kite shield made of wood reinforced with steel bands.

Other weapons carried:

25-inch long war hammer with hardwood handle on the belt.
10-foot long oak spear with a 13-inch long hewing spearhead.
20-inch long poniard on his belt.

Unique skills/special abilities/magic/technology –

Proficiencies:

Literacy, Languages common, elf. Lore- religious. Land navigation. Celestial navigation. Climbing, acrobatics, swimming. Horsemanship. Wilderness survival. Falconry. Haggling.

Weapon proficiencies:

War/Longsword. Two-handed sword. Lance. Polearm/spear. Mace. Ax. Dagger. Shield. Armor usage.

The three horses of Lars: During a jousting tournament, he has a large chestnut red charger that is heavy and strong. In normal combat areas, he uses a lighter courser that is dappled colored. When Lars is not fighting, he uses a palfrey for riding, which is a sleek black mare.

Persona biography-

Lars is the son of Grim, hence Grims'son or Grimsson. Born in the northern reaches of human lands he grew up in a strict household. His father is a minor lord and raised his sons, all seven of them, to be warriors. Lars is the youngest of the boys and has been overshadowed by his brothers and father in terms of their exploits and heroics.

The early training of Lars included the rules of the court, chivalry, music, writing, and weapons. Lars also became devoutly religious having witnessed what he believed to be an angel who had saved him from death at the edge of a lake. Lars has become extremely spiritual over the years, praying early in the morning and after every battle, believing his purpose is a bulwark against evil in all its myriad of forms.

After several years training, at the age of 10, Lars become a squire to his older brother Hafjarl, where his training focused more on combat. Lars expanded his training in weapons and in particular, he learned the tactics of fighting on horseback. This was one of the most important aspects of becoming a knight and one of the hardest skills to master. As a mounted knight, he witnessed the awe and respect that people paid his brothers throughout the land. At 13 Lars worked hard on the list where he mastered the lance and controlling his horse in melee, mastering these skills, becoming a fierce combatant on horseback.

Having gained his knighthood as a member of the minor nobility, Lars decided that he had to leave the small lands and explore the wider world. In this, he hopes to gain the honor and fame that has eluded him and made him the outcast among his family.

Lars has been traveling the last seven years exploring and learning the ways of the world, yet that one fleeting piece of honor and glory continue to elude his grasp. He has served in many armies in many lands. His name is recognized among many mercenary companies as a skilled warrior and he takes his knightly oath of largess and compassion for the weak as well as his unyielding faith in his Gods so seriously that he has made a name for himself, sadly though he can't see this.

[User]
Fear. Blood. Pain. All elements of combat, elements that even the bravest warrior experiences. Such was the events that unfolded in the scant few seconds since the Silver Shields had reached the coach. The orc had raised his sword in some endeavor to present a fearsome visage. It had not worked, evident by the quick thrust by Karvos.

Melee were not clean affairs, combat was messy, with blows felling opponents from every angle. Such would be the outcome today. One against two, unless the one was supremely skilled and the two were inept farmers, the single one would fall in a matter of seconds.

It was amazing, had Lars had time to watch the elaborate move the orc did to avoid being run through, and nary his sword moved from its overhead position. It would have been a marvel of unprecedented skill, balance, and strength. The sinisteral maced moved deftly, body shifting, moving and yet the sword remained overhead even as the orc fell backward. It mattered not though as soon as Karvos made his move so was Lars moving.

Two quick steps and the shield was smashing into the orc even as his mace collided with the halberd shaft, the impact as Lars threw his weight behind it, the shield rising up a bit so that the top edge would be ready to turn away the longsword still held high. It would be easy to set aside the sword from this position.

The war sword, held in a low guard, with a quick flick of the wrist was now moving to get behind the right leg of the orc, as the blade slipped between his legs. With the overly elaborate defense and his falling back, the blade would achieve its aim. To slice through the leather leggings at the orcs right knee, the attempt was to hamstring the orc. With the orc falling backward, along with the impact of the the shield, it would not be beyond the realm of possibilities. With the Orc being preoccupied on his defense, the move would be neigh impossible to avoid. The blade would be withdrawn from its postion, the edge of the blade pressed against the back of the orc's knee as it was drawn out.

[Assistant]
There was a rush of noise, the displacement of air, a shuffling of feet. Phia knew that Gernev would be outnumbered, and despite his skill, would be in need of support. She had confidence that Kirian could handle himself in a duel. She glanced upon her finely made Elven bow, arrow in her hand, gently resting in it's passive state. She could feel it's humble lethality emanating from it, vibrating like it had a mind of it's own. In Phia's mind, the arrows were unique. With their own stories. Each arrow was made by herself, years ago, soaked in enchanted waters and whittled down to perfection. Simple, plain, perfection. A wooden shaft, a piercing tip, and a feathered end. Penetrating armor and bleeding her enemies.

She was leaned against the inner wall of the cart, bracing herself against it, crouching down. She sucked in a quiet breath from underneath her bandana, steadying her hands and face. She pushed off against the wall and turned 180 degrees and side-stepped to look out the window. She pulled her string back and consumed the information that was on the other side of the window. Gernev was locked up with a powerful looking knight. The enemy knight struck her as familiar, perhaps she had read of him, but her mind was already onto the next important thing. Very close nearby, a pole-arm collided with the cart. Her eyes flashed to the source. A man-at-arms, just a short distance away, a prime target. Acting on instinct, she let loose an arrow at the prime target.

It whistled through the air. She did a short whistle along with it.

It would be coming in from his left, almost directly to his left, but an observant man might be able to see it in his peripherals. It should past just above his arm and into his middle-left torso. A painful distraction at the least.

[User]
Nice. His foe had more skill than originally thought to cause him to miss in such a way, but Karvos was still certain that the orc's efforts would be in vain. His primary weapon stuck well and good in the carriage would just put a delay on the inevitable. In the process of plotting his next move against him he caught sight of a swift movement from inside the carriage. It was...an enemy archer. Luckily for Karvos it took less time to simply move his tower shield every so slightly into place than it would to aim effectively at him, causing the arrow to be too late to take advantage of any opening that had previously presented itself during him attacking the orc.

The arrow thumped powerfully into an area near the left of the shield but not powerfully enough to make it completely through, sticking out where it had hit. His normal armor wouldn't be able to stand up to that impressive bow and arrow, so he certainly had to make sure to keep her in mind while he helped fight the orc. Dropping the shield to use both hands to try to un-lodge his halberd would be out of the question for the time being.

Instead he let go of the halberd, moving his hand down to equip himself of his two foot long war hammer as he shuffled forward, keeping his shield raised in the direction of both the archer and the orc, lining them up more together thanks to a slight change in his positioning. He would not be able to get to the confrontation in time to deal with the current exchange of blows between the orc and the knight, but he'd get there for the next should he press his advance.

[Assistant]
A war becomes a duel, a feast for crows becomes a single murder. It was all of this, a glorious clash of steel, blood, sweat, bile, willpower that fed Kirian the Witch Knight.

As he pressed forward, he found his probing strike deflected with all needed deftness. This was unsurprising, given that she'd survived this long in the seige with only one eye. That could very well have been a fatal flaw, and Kirian was well prepared to make good on that. The edge of his blade was deflected outside her guard to Kirian's right side, followed by an arcing slash up towards his face. She may have thought his attack repelled, but his gambit was successful.

Instead of fully retreating, he followed the impact of her parry, ducking down and twisting his right side towards her. To her peril, she'd stepped her right foot well within blade's reach, under an eyesocket without depth perception or peripheral vision. Kirian pivoted low, keeping his grip close to his chest, and used the counter-momentum to rap the inside of her right knee with the last four inches of the flat of his blade. With the torsion of his core behind the strike, it would land as the lady knight's counterattack would have grazed Kirian's face, and just as painfully as a kick. In that window of pain, he'd press his advantage.

Before she had time to pull her sword down, Kirian pushed forward and up with his trailing left leg, angling his sword upward into a modified ox stance. The primary difference would be that instead of pointing his blade forward to level with the centerline, he'd pivot it backward between her arms, as a metal lever behind the heels of her palms. At the same time, he was ramming his shoulder into her diaphragm, just underneath her miniature breastplate. As he'd follow through, he'd complete his turn and push back and outward with his sword. A complicated maneuver, he intended to press his blade roughly against the inside of his opponent's wrists, and bear her heavily back to slam against the side of the carriage.

This assault should wind her further, and part her with her sword through pure physical leverage, if she could surpress the instinct to drop it outright. Even if she did have the presence of mind to pull her guard up to avoid the "grapple", it would bring her center of gravity too far back to resist getting slammed against the carriage. At this range, a hunk of metal like her knife had all the wrong balance. Yes it could be more devastating than a normal sword at the sweetspot of its range, but it would likely be difficult to maneuver without the momentum of the body behind it. At that point, Kirian was close and heavy enough to pin her struggling, and end it with his dagger. A murder settles a battle, a duel settles a war. The lady knight's options had been swiftly severed, and soon her neck would be as well.


[System]
Age: 17
Grade: 5th
Nationality: Empire of Germania
Theme: Discipline Committee armband. Sina is known to be a member of the discipline committee.

Appearance: Sina is 5'6 feet tall and 125lbs. Often wears or otherwise possesses a white scarf made by her grandfather no matter her attire. Often wears the just-past-knee-high version of the uniform, with black stockings.

Bio: Sina Segert was born in the city of Brasren in the Empire of Germania to a poor farmer in the city's local hospital. Both the father and the mother, while happy that they finally had a child after trying so hard to have one, were not in the best financial straits to begin with. Having a child put them in even more danger financially than before. Not wanting their daughter to have to suffer the same as they, Sina's parents managed to scrap enough money together to send their daughter to a local school.

Sina was always a smart kid, far surpassing her peers in her studies and schooling despite them being in better financial waters. Though she had to sometimes come home to nothing but water, Sina was grateful for the opportunity to learn. One of the first lessons that Sina learned was to be prompt and on time, and follow the rules. Most of the other children caused some kind of disturbance but were able to get away with it. However, if Sina caused any kind of commotion she quickly found herself being punished due to being outside the normal social class and the bias that comes with it. She had no friends in her early years, but she certainly proved herself able to handle whatever assignments the teacher handed over, even if her own assignments were startlingly more difficult than the others.

One dream that Sina shared with her classmates was to go to Saint Hirst. Every so often, an opportunity for the students of Germania to take the exam for Saint Hirst would arise. Sina, like her classmates, decided to take the exam to see if she could go to the legendary Saint Hirst. Unlike the rest of her classmates, however, Sina was the only one to pass the exam despite its difficulty. While her classmates claimed that the test was unfair, Sina's parents were ecstatic to hear the news and immediately began to make preparations to allow her to head to the academy as one of its scholarship students, and later decided not to reveal such a status.

The first year of Saint Hirst that Sina attended was when she developed into a young lady. However, while most ladies thought of men as potential suitors Sina developed differently. She started to look at women, feeling no desire towards men. At first, it was strange to her but eventually she figured out that she was only attracted to the same sex. Sina simply became aware of this, took note of it, and moved on. By year three Sina joined the disciplinary committee to both help guide other students onto the right path and because she simply liked having the power over others, though she never abused her power.

Sample Post: An alarm clock sounded as Sina woke up in the at the farm. Every year Sina came back to her parent's farm in Germania to visit her family, and the family was doing well. But today was the final day before she moved back to Saint Hirst. She could never get up without waiting at least a few minutes in bed trying to wake up. Finally, after staring at the ceiling for five minutes Sina lifted her legs out of the bed slowly and rose up. If she were at the academy on a weekday, Sina would be moving at a much faster pace. However, there was no rush here and she decided to allow the luxury.

"Sina! Time for breakfast!" Sina's mother yelled from downstairs, to which Sina replied "I will be there in a minute!" And a minute Sina would be. She quickly got dressed into something more presentable than her night clothing and went downstairs. She was right on time to meet her parents at the dinner table. After sitting down, there was some small talk, followed by talk about Sina heading back to Saint Hirst. Sina shared a few stories of what it was like at Saint Hirst, mostly about the reactions of the students that she had to write up. A few jokes from her mother made Sina giggle while relaxed in her chair just like when she was at Saint Hirst. Eventually, despite the relaxing atmosphere and Sina's own relaxation it was time to go. All of them began to make the preparations to head to the train station that will take Sina and her luggage to the border and finally to Saint Hirst.

Extras: Sina keeps a journal that is used to log her thoughts of a particular day.

[User]
Nadalena Kofenstein

---

Dining Hall, Saint Hirst Academy for Fine Ladies

---

Before Tilia Fitzgerald made her way to the table Nadalena used this time to answer the inquiry as brief and eloquently as she could.

In retrospect, Nadalena knew the girl that Ramona had pointed out; in fact, they had once been in the same club together. It must've been some time ago when the self-destructive economic club forgot their entire purpose being that of geo-political economics, trade values, stocks, and arithmetic – instead falling into drama inspired by idiotic presumptions and idle gossip. Nadalena had been one of the few people who had left the club due to the entire situation and honestly didn't care about the drama of fools and self-aggrandizers. She didn't care who Maya's family was and she didn't put that much value in shallow whispers throughout the academy about the subject. But Nadalena hadn't forgotten any of the information, though she didn't consider it very relevant to explain to Ramona.

"That's Maya Enilsdottir of Telemarin. She's a fourth-year student."

As Tilia introduced herself, Nadalena continued to observe before introducing herself in turn.

"Greetings Tilia, welcome. I'm Princess Nadalena Kofenstein, though I believe we are actually sharing rooms this year so you may have deduced that already." She smiled warmly.

[Assistant]
Ramona Herrman

"That's Maya Enilsdottir of Telemarin. She's a fourth-year student." Nadalena answered, her expression pensive as she seemed to observe her surroundings. Ramona could respect that of her.

The student Seyrun had invited to their table began strutting over in their direction. Once she arrived, Ray could not help but notice something mischievous about her smile. That, and the fact that the zipper to her skirt was down. The red head thought it as a simple wardrobe malfunction and nothing more.

"Hello everyone! I'm Tilia Fitzregald! Nice to meet you all! She greeted with a smile and a slight wave.

However, the warriors attention was again, focused on the mysterious blonde sitting across the room. Ray could not help but wonder why she was eating lunch alone when she was a fourth year. Didn't she have any friends? A pang of sympathy struck her heart causing the brave knight to reflect inward. She too was alone at this school. The table also had plenty of vacant seats. There was no reason for Maya to be all by herself.

"Hello." Ray addressed the newcomer curtly. She did not mean to seem rude, but her focus was mainly on the outcast in the corner of the dining hall. With her chivalrous nature having won her over, (as always) the warrior stood up and pushed in her chair.
"Excuse me ladies, I will be right back." She said as she walked toward Maya.
Before leaving however, she wordlessly paused near Tilia only to reach out and zip up her fly. Simply doing so as to not cause the poor girl any embarrassment. The last thing she would do is point out the fact to everyone.

She turned her heel and continued toward her destination. Maya had her head down, reading what appeared to be the Academy news letter. A curtain of blonde hair hid her features forcing Ray to think of a good way to get her attention. Once there, she cleared her throat and placed her hand on the table.

"Excuse me miss... My name is Ramona." She spoke in a calm tone, her smile warm.
"Would you care to join us? There is plenty of room."

[User]
Maya Enilsdottir

In her little world of boring, irrelevant news, captured by the craftmnship that was printing and words, while closing out the echoes and sounds of the students about, Maya was for once unfocused and off-guard. And so it came to be that someone spoke to her, at her most vulnerable, and she seemed to jump in her seat. The frosty orbs pulled themselves up to the newcomer, curious yet slightly intimidating in nature, while the long, blonde bangs still hung down her face. Indeed, she was still a little sleepy.

"Hmm? Are you speaking to me? she blinked as if confused, her head slightly tilted sideways in an inquiring manner. "If so,
I imagine that wouldn't be very wise."  Her words seemed as cold as her visible aura, stern and even slightly refusing. Yet for a trained ear, a hint of sorrow could be caught, however she quickly adjusted it to seem like it didn't bother her. She was skilled in that, lying to herself to make her seem fine. Whether she was fine or not didn't really matter, in her world appearance is the key to success. Always be on your best side, never reveal who you are. That is weakness.

Maya gave the princess a moment's glance, before retracting her eye after. She'd left their club during the time when the whispers were at their worst, and Maya was certain she left for that reason. The reason that a person of her stature, a princess, could possibly be in the same club as a criminal's daughter, a plight on any a reputation. Shame too, Maya quite enjoyed her company with the girl back then. One of the few she could actually be open about her love for numbers with, atleast when the girl actually gave a damn to listen. Thinking back, that wasn't often.

She looked back up at the swordswoman, offering an... attempted smile in gratitude of the offer. "Do not let my presence cause issues.  She added before examining her. Quite a beauty this one, well trained and with a sweet personality. Strange to carry a sword though. I've not seen you before, Miss Ramona. New, I assume? I worry if you speak with too much, the other students will alienate you.

[Assistant]
✣ The Boss ✣

"Whaaah, you're not still mad at me, are you Rufie? Cause you know I just can't help it," Dana remarked, easily keeping in step with the Student President despite a hanging Blake on her shoulders. Though it was doubtful she'd be getting an answer or reply given the President was keen in dishing out the silent treatment. Well, no one else to talk to but the other resident trash can in this school of theirs.

"Yeah, but you're way too obvious Blake. Didn't you hear Rufie earlier? Oh ho, I'm a real star of the show, a true thespian!" Dana said, once more placing a hand on her chest and flaring her arm out dramatically. "You can just stick to making my background props and backdrops, oh ho!" And when the prospect of food came up, Dana snickered loud enough to where she knew Rufie would be able to hear her.

With Blake still hanging off her, she skipped forward until walking beside Rufie. "Hey, hey, Prez, can't we all go out for a bite? I like Blake's idea of trying out your outfits. Hey, aren't these a little too modern for school curriculum anyway?" Dana asked, speaking a mile a minute only to change topics and looked down at her outfit with genuine curiosity.

The trio of girls would be rounding the corner and, soon enough, approaching the faculty and staff quarters. Not much else could be heard going on from inside though, aside from the frantic scratching of feathered pen on paper. Boss was, as always, hard at work and with the school year having just started, it was going to be a bustling first day.


[System]
Race: Dracon

Appearance: Standing about 6 feet, 5 inches tall (6'1 if one doesn't include his horns), Serapis has the appearance of a heavily-muscled fighter. His red skin, sharp horns, and strong tail all give the impression of power and authority. (Picture to be added later)

Sex: Male

Age: 35

Weapons: In addition to his fangs and claws, Serapis is highly skilled as a sword fighter and he is used to fighting with daggers, spears and bows. He also has a suit of armor, but rarely uses it anymore. As with all dracons, he has the ability to breathe a fine acidic mist.

Abilities: Besides his breath weapons, Serapis is very strong, fairly quick, and has good aim with the bow. He's also a good administrator and has proven to be as responsible in running the orphanage as he was leading his men into combat.

Personality: Serapis is kind and fair, but can be strict. He is like this because most of his adult life has required him to impose order on a chaotic situation for the good of others. He is adventurous, but has had to settle down since he became a father. Like his wife, Serapis is highly protective of his family, and he extends that protectiveness to all of the children in the orphanage.

Quirks: He hides it well, but Serapis really hates it when items are out of order, even slightly. Usually, he waits until others have left the room or turned away, but if something is slightly crooked or tilted, he finds it annoying.

Bio: After leaving his family's farm at age 18, he joined the army of Minbenthac and was wounded in combat a bit later. While recovering, he met Thayva and they hit it off quickly. After leaving the army they wandered for some time, eventually settling in a human realm after Arjun's egg had been laid. They started an orphanage on Thayva's suggestion and have lived among humans ever since. While his time is largely spent working on matters related to the orphanage, he has still managed to find some time to practice with his sword and other weapons.

[User]
Aurelian opened a book in front of him. His book had some characters on it as well. Runes? Letters? Characters? Hieroglyphics? Maybe they were numbers? He wasn't even sure.

"I think so. Haven't seen him in any of the sleeping quarters"

"I suppose we can talk to him later, after class" he replied, trying to keep his voice down.

--------------------

Laura straightened up and paid attention to the teacher. "Now, each of you have assignments to hand in. You may do so at the end of class. For now, we will continue to learn about the history of magic and the different kinds of mages. Who can tell me the difference between a wizard and a sorcerer? Yes, Jorn!"

The halfling looked the instructor in the eye. "Wizards have to learn their magic, sorcerers are born with it."

"That is correct, very good. Now, can someone else tell me what is the difference between the two of them and a warlock? Or a witch, for a female."

--------------------

Serapis quickly caught up to the halfling. "Child, what is wrong? You can tell me." He didn't want to assume that the boy was mute, although it was a possibility which he could not rule out. "If you need something, I'll help." No response was forthcoming. At about the same time, he saw a human masseuse coming down the hall. She was dressed much like a dracon, in a loincloth and a top. Each were quite large for that kind of clothing, and she was well-covered apart from her stomach, arms, and legs. Her white skin and dirty-blonde hair made her stand out among the adult human women who worked at the orphanage.

"Oh, Galatea. Didn't see you there."

"Hello headmaster. What seems to be the problem?" Her voice was soft and soothing.

"This young halfling doesn't want to speak. Or maybe he can't. Do you know his name?"

"I'm afraid I don't, although I've worked on him before. This little one is unusually stressed for someone of his age. Not sure what happened to him. It used to be even worse when he first arrived. He never speaks to me, but his muscles tell me a lot." Serapis suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at Galatea's last statement.

[Assistant]
Glad for her timing and the lack of traffic in the halls, Thayva quickly made her way to the large double front doors of the mansion. A few papers cluttered a board mounted to the wall beside the doorway, advertising various jobs from people in town for the orphans to take up come the weekends, among other bits of information all held up by rugged nails tacked into the board.
 Her tail swished behind her as she pulled the scroll from her waistband, unfurled it, and tacked it to an empty spot of board with a couple unused nails: the newest list of jobs. She scanned the other pages, checking for anything old or out of place.
 After tearing down a couple old job advertisements and pocketing a messily scrawled prank note of someone looking for anyone willing to fish out a fire-breathing duck trapped in one of the boys' privies before it blew up the mansion, she began her usual morning routine of opening the windows facing the front of the house to let in fresh air.
 She paused as an unusually cool breeze blew through the window she had just opened, her nostrils flaring as she sniffed at the crisp scent. The sweet, electric smell of an impending storm rode the breeze.
 Thayva leaned out the window, trying to get a good look at the sky. A line of gray clouds floated just above the tree line surrounding the front yard, looming with a puffy ominousness.
 Have to keep an eye on that. Thayva ducked back inside. Don't want the floors to rot because of an open window during rain.
 She turned and headed toward the kitchen. Driven by a hunger that had begun to gnaw at her stomach, she hoped to scavenge any leftovers from the morning meal before finishing up double checking the most recent test scores.

* * *
 Nick nodded in Aurelian 's direction as Ilyrana eagerly thrust her hand in the air, her face begging for the teacher to pick her. Without waiting for more than the teacher's glance, the elven girl spoke.
 "Wizards," Ilyrana began, ignoring Laya's raised eyebrows, "usually deal in lighter magic, and specialize in one or two subjects, while warlocks delve into the darker stuff, and usually deal in a wider range of areas. Though, they both usually need some kind of staff, wand, or other trinket to channel their magic, since they have to seek it out, instead of it seeking them out."

* * *
 The halfling gave a frustrated sigh at Serapis' persistence. He was late. Of that he was sure. The sounds of other orphans had already faded into oblivion from more than just the distance he had placed between himself and the most-traveled areas. Before the dracon finished speaking, the gentle sound of feet padding against the floorboards drew his attention a short second before Serapis looked over at the woman approaching.
 His brows furrowed irritably when the woman, too, asked about "the problem" in the same kind tone she had used on those couple occasions Galatea had been his masseuse.
 "Or maybe he can't."
 The halfling's head dropped, his gaze turning to the floor and fists clenching at the dracon's words.
 Can't. How he hated that word. But, no matter how often he heard it--mocking or otherwise--he refused to correct it, to prove it wrong. No. He wouldn't break the promise he made himself after...
 He hung his head lower as Galatea answered the headmaster. Turning his attention instead on the hall, he focused on keeping his steps silent as he tried to steal away from the adults, hoping neither would notice until he had already safely slipped into the back of his classroom.

[User]
Serapis noticed the halfling boy heading towards class. Not wanting to disturb the student, he let the boy go.

"Well, please keep an eye on him and let me know if there are any developments, alright?"

Galatea nodded. "Yes, headmaster. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to prepare some of the tables for later today." She shuffled off in near-silence, moving with surprising grace.

-----------------

The teacher thought about it for a moment. While it was not correct, she didn't want to frame it in that way.

"That's not an entirely accurate answer, but you do get some of the generalizations correct. Yes, it is true that many wizards specialize in one or two areas, and warlocks are prone to dark magics. Only thing is, that's not the fundamental difference. Wizards can use dark magics while there are benevolent warlocks out there. And magic staffs aren't related to the distinction between those kinds of mages. Can anyone else answer?" A few more unsuccessful answers followed, after which the teacher simply gave the answer herself.

"A wizard is a mage who was not born with his magic. He has to study to gain any aptitude whatsoever with his magical spells. A warlock also has no magic at birth, but he gains it through a deal with a being who has magical powers to grant. More often than not, this is a demonic or other evil being, but it can be a neutral or even good creature."

Aurelian raised his hands and spoke as soon as he was called on. "What about a sorcerer? Or a cleric?"

"Good questions. Sorcerers are born with magical ability, while clerics don't have magic per se. They request spells from their deity, but do not actually cast them from any magic within themselves."

----------------

A bit later, Serapis met up with Thayva. "Oh. Hi there, love. Just finished making my rounds. Anything new today? Any big jobs for the students to do?" He moved behind her and gave his wife a little nuzzle, and moved to put his hands on her shoulders, awaiting her nod before he'd give her a little shoulder rub. He briefly looked outside, seeing the impending arrival of rain. Even after all these years, he still wasn't used to water falling from the sky. Given the extreme rarity of precipitation in the dracon realms, this was not hard to understand.

[Assistant]
Gray light filtered through the glass of the solarium situated at the back of the house. Various plants sat in the corners of the room designed to hold heat better than the rest of the mansion. Thayva sat on one of the five cushions placed in a circle at the room's center. A stack of papers sat atop a large, round table in front of her. She held a featherless quill, which she dipped in a bottle of red ink every now and again as she marked a couple forgotten tests.
 Wind gently blew through the room from the couple glass panels Thayva had opened, flooding the usually warm space with the fresh scent of the impending storm. Thayva paused and inhaled the smell. Even after the few years she had spent outside the dracon realms, she still had yet to grow used to the pleasant scent of rain.
 She heard the inside door to the solarium open. With the familiar gait and way he shuffled forward, it could only be her beloved Serapis.
 "Good morning, my dear." She glanced up and returned his loving nuzzle before looking back to the papers.
 "Any big jobs for the students to do?"
 Thayva gave him the nod she knew he awaited. "Well," Thayva reached into a small pocket hidden in her skirts, pulled out the prank note, and placed it beside her pile of papers, "I'd say eliminating a fire-breathing duck would count. Don't suppose you've heard anything about it, have you?" A smile pulled at her maul. "Other than that, the blacksmith's apprentice has fallen ill, so he needs an extra pair of hands this weekend, the butcher's looking for an extra hunter, and the potter has offered her knowledge to teach any who may want to learn the art of pottery."
 Thayva glanced out at the yard, then to the sky, trying to gague the time. "It looks nearly eleven. Lunch should be served soon. Would you care to join me?"

* * *
 When the teachers released the orphans for their last class of the day and sent them on their way to lunch, Kia and Laya stopped and waited outside one of the classrooms for Nick and Ilyrana.
 At last, the door all but burst open, and people flooded out. The two girls stood to the side so the others could exit.
 As soon as the other two elves joined them--Nick and Aurelian having separated during their last class--the four headed to the lunch room.
 "Remember, don't sit together," Kia whispered just loud enough for her friends to hear. "And try to make our separation look unintentional. We don't want to arouse suspicion."
 The others nodded. The four separated, losing one another in the crowd of students flooding the halls as they headed to the dining hall.


[System]
EDITED: Ok, now I'm home, I can post the full Character.
Gender: Male

Age: 16

Appearance:

Personality: Lucas is a little quiet around new people at first, usually keeping to himself. However, if he does befriend someone, he will risk his life to protect them.

Quirk/power: My Body is a Weapon! (Almost called it My Body is Ready! lol)
Lucas's quirk allows him to transform any part of his body into any kind of weapon he wishes, though he usually prefers to change his arms into blades or laser cannons. He can also put his arms or legs together to form a bigger version of the weapons, as well as adding his legs in if he's in the air, for a giant cannon. However, doing so shreds any clothing covering his arms or legs, as his clothes do not transform with him. The only exception to this, is his Hero outfit, seen in the appearance pic, as it's specially designed to transform with his body. He can utilize the blast from the cannons to launch himself in any direction he wishes.

Flaw: Firing the cannons, or any other ammo-consuming weapon takes up his own energy, depending on how big the cannon is. The bigger the cannon, the greater the firepower, but also greater energy consumption. Single arm/leg cannon/mouth cannon = 10 shots. Small shoulder cannons = 20 shots. Combining both arms into a single cannon/chest cannon = 5 shots. Combining both arms and both legs into a giant cannon = 1 shot. When he uses up all his energy, he will pass out from exhaustion. If he tries push on through the exhaustion and fire more times, he could kill himself. However, over time, with enough training, he can improve the energy consumption of his cannons, or his overall energy pool through stamina training. However, there is no downside to using his blades, or other melee weapons, other than his arms getting sore from prolonged use.

Reason why they want to be a hero/bio: Ever since he was a child, Lucas had always wanted to be a hero and save people, wondering what his quirk would be. Until one day during class, he sneezed. However, it wasn't any ordinary sneeze. As he sneezed, his mouth and nose turned into a laser cannon and blasted a hole through his desk, and about three floors of the school. Since then, the kids would tease him and call him Laser Face, and he hated it. Until one day, one of the kids was almost crushed by a falling rock, and Lucas blasted it away. From then on, he was called Laser Face not in a teasing, taunting way, but an endearing way. Later on he found out how his quirk actually worked, and the possibilities it held, and began training both his body, and practicing his quirk, so he could get into UA, the best academy for people wanting to become heroes, and even though he rarely turned his mouth into a cannon anymore, sticking to his arms mainly, the name Laser Face stuck with him throughout the rest of his school days, until he left for UA.

Favorite hero: Gunhead

Skills: Along with his quirk, Lucas also took martial arts to be able to fight without his quirk as well as better fight with the blades.

[User]
Haley nodded and slowly raised her head to look up at Lucas but she caught Meruem looking at her. She paused briefly then finished lifting her head to look at Lucas. "I-It's fine. B-but can we please change the subject?" She was practically glowing red at this point, as was her usual reaction when boys complemented her on her looks. She had just wished that she could have had some more girls in the class, normally she could just slink off and chat with the other girls to distract herself from the boys. But this class was very small, and was basically all boys.

She looked back down at her paper. She wasn't really happy with just "Don't be skintight latex." So she looked at Lucas' drawing again then back down at her paper. She kind of zoned out as she wrote more details like wanting a green colour pallet and something that looks confident while also not being intimidating or imposing. She wanted it to stand out from a crowd of civilians but not a party of heroes.

She eventually snapped back to reality and looked up at Lucas. "H-how does this look?" She then presented Lucas with the paper wanting to get an opinion on her clothing request.

[Assistant] "Sounds pretty interesting." he said. "One sec." He pulled out a pad of paper and began sketching, first her, then what he imagined her outfit might look like over her, given her specifications. His rendition of her and her outfit were very flattering.

[User]
Meruem Kiryu - @LeamonZest89

It bothered him immensely. The fact that, instead of clarity, Haley had brought confusion along with her. He hated it really. Just that eye contact had reeled him even further down the rabbit hole. In a classroom full of people aiming to be heroes, she was the only one that stood out to him. So he observed her like a kid would a marble, looking for all the kinks, beauty, and intrigue. She was bright red at the moment, her face tinged a special kind of rose. Was it because they had locked eyes?

His frown turned into a crooked smile. He'd have to pick her brain about his dilemma; talk hero stuff with her, and forge this friendly rivalry with bonding sparks instead of searing flames. He reached into his backpack, tore a blank page from his journal, and scribbled on it. So about lunch? I was thinking we go back out to the exams area.

He folded the paper, laid his head on the desk, and dropped it from his grasp. Before it could touch the floor, his Quirk had activated, black filling the white of his eyes and all. He directed it through the legs of the others, some people noticing it, others not so much. Once it reached Haley's leg, it prodded twice before falling by her shoe. If she wondered who it was and looked up out of curiosity, she would see Meruem looking out the windows, a cherub smile on his face.

[Assistant]
Haley looked at the design and was kind of torn on it. The design was great and looked really good, but it would bring attention to her features which she didn't know if she could handle. She was getting enough attention as it was now, with this outfit she would stand out from a crowd for sure. And she wouldn't look that amazing standing next to other heroes, which is exactly what she wanted. She wasn't there to be noticed. She was there to help people. "I like it." she said not revealing the whole truth but not lying either. "It does really hit that mark of noticeable but not to flashy. I'd say hang onto that picture. Then we can compare it to what the designers here at the school come up with." She smiled still a little red, she was touched by Lucas actually drawing the design for her.

She felt a light tap on her leg and looked down to see Meruem's note drop onto her foot. She looked around not knowing who sent it then picked it up. She read it and knew who it was from instantly, she looked at it for a while then looked at Meruem. She then folded up the paper after scribbling a quick Alright, I'll see you there.. She paused What am I doing? she thought she crumpled up the paper then looked back up at Lucas. "You got any plans for lunch?".

[User] "Well, I was thinking maybe you could sent it to them and have them make it based on this, and your description. However, that is up to you, it's your costume." he said, blushing slightly. Then she asked if he had plans for lunch, to which he got redder and said "N-no, I don't have any p-plans for l-lunch."

[Assistant] "Oh I'm sorry to hear that... I was just going to say." Haley covered her mouth noticing Lucas' blush. "Oh gosh I'm sorry did you think I was asking you out for lunch! I was just asking if you had any plans. Because I do. I'm sorry!" Her cheeks instantly died down now feeling more sorry for Lucas then flustered. She feels really bad right now.

[User] "Oh..." he said, looking down. It was as if he had just been sucker punched in the gut. "Well, I hope you have fun..." he said, slowly getting up and walking back to his seat, placing his head on his desk.

[Assistant] Haley wished she worded her sentence differently. She could see the pain in Lucas' movements. "W-we can catch up after school if you want." She said desperately trying to fix her slip up. She really didn't like hurting people, especially emotionally. She smiled at Lucas hoping that this offer of a separate meeting would mend the damage she caused.

[User] He didn't move from his spot, his mind closed off to the world.

[Assistant] Augustus returned to the classroom. He wrote on the note: Signal booster helmet with verigelfunktion and gasmake. Magnetic Boots (Swarmelt Boots) Magnetic Gloves. The uniform should have a streamlined layer. The uniform should be the best from the inside. The uniform should also be able to withstand strong direct cries and thus damage to rededuziehren. A modern communicator should be installed. There should be a belt with belt-bags. Color of the uniform should be black or silver.

[User]
The bell cut off allike the conversation with its screaming rhythm. Xavier waved goodbye to his class as they would be returning only for their standard education afterwards, and had a rather long lunch break to give him time to prepare. So far his class had been rather nice. As he read through their papers he could just imagine them together as the ultimate fighting team, paragons of justice and all things righteous. The ghastly man seemed to glow with joy.
"Eat well, all that exexcise can take it out of the young body"

[Assistant] Haley got up and went over to Meruem and quickly said to him. "I'll probably only be able to talk with you briefly during lunch. Is that alright? I've got some things I need to do." She discreetly looked at Lucas then quickly back to Meruem. She smiled masking her slight feeling of guilt, she managed this very well with almost no sigh of it on her face.

[User] Augustus fetches his mobile phone and asks :„Can you all give me your phone number? So I can open a chat group."

[Assistant] Lucas heard the bell and slumped out of his seat, dragging his feet as he made his way to the cafeteria to get some lunch, sighing.

[User]
Meruem Kiryu - @LeamonZest89

Meruem was excited... kind of. He felt his stomach tilt but it wasn't anything nauseating, mostly a mild discomfort. He worked through it by packing his stuff up rather quickly, his journal tucked deep in his bag. As he stood up he noticed Haley closing in. A charming, welcoming smile blessed his lips. "You ready for lunch?" he asked abruptly before she could get her own words out.

Once she had spoken however, Meruem was noticeably disappointed, if only for a short moment. "Okay, that's cool." He reached into his bag and pulled out a zip-lock bag; inside of it was a banana, thin ham sandwich, and a parcel of grapes. He slid by her. "Let's walk and talk. That way we'll get more words in," he told her, his attention divided between her in Augustus. "Just... Just hold on one moment."

Meruem hurried over to Augustus' desk. "I don't know about everyone else but I'm down for a chat group. Here's my number... just try not to make it perverted," he jested before passing along his number. Afterwards, he returned to Haley and led her out the door, passing by Lucas without much thought. "I'm really happy you decided to go to lunch with me, Haley. This way we can get to know each other better. Plus I have some questions for you."

[Assistant]
Haley nodded to Meruem the turned to Augustus as he asked for the numbers she quickly scribbled down her number then gave it to Augustus. She smiled briefly then started to head out of the classroom pulling her lunch out of her bag. It was just an apple and a ham and cheese sandwich. She took a bite from the apple then looked at Meruem, "So, what are your questions?" She tilted her head as she asked.

After she did briefly look at Lucas and told herself she would get to him soon enough. She had to make sure he was alright, she really didn't wish to have hurt him the way she did.

[User]
@Renny

The man with engines in his body from the race with Meruem stepped towards Augustus. He smiled and smacked him a bit too hard on the back as he leveled himself with the fellow boy and flipped open his phone to reveal his own name and number, being: Baxter Crash and 759-334-1396. He chuckled happily as his phone was connected to the others in his class and he waved to the others. "heh! I'm a fan of this class, No hard to you Mereum, I'm not like these dweebs, I can actually take a hit or two! Anyway, see you guys I'm off to lunch" He responded happily with a bright smile and a puffed out chest before dashing off at incredible speeds.

[Assistant] Lucas sat down, alone, and ate his lunch in silence.


[System]
Age: 16

Appearance:

Occupation: Princess

Personality: Living a sheltered life where everything is taken care of for you results in a fairly selfish attitude. Anise is a confident girl who believes that she can get whatever she wants so long as she asks for it. She is impatient. She loves stories and art. She is a proud girl with a know-it-all attitude. The only people allowed to tell her what to do in her mind are her father and her fiance. She can be headstrong from time to time, and will often take action without thinking it through. She is extraordinarily naive. Overall... she certainly is quite the princess.

History: Anise grew up without want or need for anything. Everything she asked for she received. Her whole life was perfect as far as she was concerned. She had a personal maid that did everything the told her to. She never learned what fear was. She never knew true hunger. She lived a carefree life in her Father's castle reading books and painting. Her only outside time was spent in the garden on the castle's grounds where she learned about the flowers there. Father had found the perfect prince for her to marry, Harrison Lyons. Never had she actually met the young man, but that didn't matter to her, after all Father knew best. The wedding was supposed to be soon, but now that is completely up in the air, after all she has been spirited away.

[User]
Had she still considered herself a princess, Anise would have snapped at Peck for his lack of manners, but with her time in the forest that life seemed so far away. She watched Peck head into the brush and go to a tree with fruit. She hadn't noticed there were trees with fruit, everything in this forest seemed so barren. However, she realized that she never actually looked for food either. Not since the inn which had disappeared.

She heard the crack of lightning and saw a flash. Then she heard Peck curse at a blood rat before eventually returning to Anise with fruit.

Anise nodded completely self-assured. "I don't think the Dragon is the reason the darkness happened." She held the Spirit Egg close. "She was betrayed. Something else started this, and now the Forest is out of balance. So out of balance that she had to pull people from," she swallowed, somewhat terrified of the power that it must have taken to do this. "Another world, or worlds. Without her, we have no hope of bringing back the sun."

She paused as she took a bite out of the fruit. Peck was right, they tasted like cabbage and nearly had the same texture as well. This truly was the worst fruit she had ever eaten. "I must meet with all of the Spirits. I must find the Kith as well. I at least owe them for what Tyaelaem did for me. I would not have survived this place without him." She took another bite from the tasteless fruit. Regardless of its lack of flavor, Anise felt that it was delicious. Then again, she nearly had forgotten was food tasted like.

She glanced at the White Lantern which Peck held and swallowed her latest bite of fruit. "May I please have the Lantern of Flight back?" She preferred to ask nicely over using the Spirit Egg to make him do it. While she was now fully aware of what she was capable of through the Dragon's power, she suspected that the cost for using it would manifest into something serious. She doubted that the Dragon was giving this power to her freely, especially with the reluctance it had while trying to subdue the Witch. She hoped that her mercy would have a positive effect with the Witch and the Dragon.

[Assistant]
Artemis looked between the two 'Lords' as they bickered. The small one seemed to be full of wisdom. Thank goodness he'd told her to 'not fall off' of the gryphon. Who knew what she'd have done without his advice. She looked back at the gryphon, who seemed to be losing her mind with excitement at the thought of flying. Artemis was suddenly glad she'd yet to eat anything.

"Nura," she said. The gryphon paused for half a second to look at her before bounding over and nearly knocking Artemis to the floor. A foot was forced back to brace herself, and Artemis raised her hands to try and push off 300 lbs of feathers nuzzling into her. Yeah, she figured, Nura would work out fine.

"I've ridden a horse before," Artemis said while trying to control Nura. The gryphon wouldn't keep still, insistent and curious, sniffing at her neck, her hair, her clothes. "Never bareback." She was kinda miffed that she'd have to ride barefoot though. It meant she'd stolen the boots from the Witch for nothing. "First and only priority I have is not dying. Find some food, water, a safe place to sleep I guess." She needed to get her bearings. Artemis glanced over her shoulder at the two men. A thoughtful eyebrow raised.

"The sun-child with the white Lantern has the blue one, too. Almost got the red one earlier. She's trying to free the dragon." Artemis had no idea if the sun-child Reckley was talking about was the same one she'd met with the blue Lantern. She was just curious what sort of reaction that would get. These men were still strangers, after all. Curiosity and caution mixed together to prompt her search for information.

Nura blindsided her with an extra shove and Artemis tumbled to the ground in a prone heap with a yelp. The gryphon seized the opportunity for more nuzzling.

[User]
Peck stared at her while she spoke -- nothing she said made sense according to the lessons he'd been taught since he was a child . . . the knowledge that had been passed down through the generations of pirates. Suddenly there was this weathered and traveled girl from another world -- with strange powers and stranger knowledge -- who said she knew the truth. He didn't know what to believe, but he believed that if anyone could bring the sun back, it was Anise.

He stepped forward, and he held the Lantern out to her. "I hope you know what you're doing," he told her warily, and he looked up through the trees toward the deep expanse of stars above.

"We tell time by the moonrise," he said after awhile; he'd been thinking about the world Anise must have come from. "The month by the phase of the moon, the year by the moving constellations. Nothing else really changes. The shadows get darker. The Lord of the Shadow is getting stronger, the more people die."

He stared up for awhile, then took a breath. "I know how to summon each of the Lords and Ladies, if you want to talk to them. It's usually forbidden, because making one of them mad could be disaster -- but." He shook his head and ruffled his own hair; he couldn't believe he was doing this. "We've already broken most of the rules already. I was going to take you back to the Roost, but if you're going to be summoning the spirits I'd do it far away from there. Finding the Kith is something else, though. There are several tribes, and they don't necessarily like each other."

A thought occurred to him, and he touched one of the trees. "There's a tribe not far from here, it's on the way to the Roost. They're the tree-jumpers, though -- they kill pirates for sport." He gave Anise a look that questioned whether she really wanted to do what she'd set out to do, when every course of action could end in them both being slaughtered or worse.

---

Oseely and Reckley exchanged a skeptical look while Artemis struggled with the gryphon.

"Two Lanterns ain't anything to be concerned about, right?"

"There are two more at the Rook."

"I can feel the red Lantern --"

"I know, I can feel the white one and it's being abused."

Oseely shot him a glare. "Red's at the Witch's house. The trees are all dead, then. How long 'til they're back at full power?"

"Not long enough."

The Lord of the Breeze folded his arms with a solemn frown, and the Lord of the Flame sucked his teeth with the pensive thought of a slacker slowly realizing he might have to do something productive soon. Oseely huffed a sigh and shook his head, laughing, much to Reckley's displeasure. "Doesn't matter. Shadow'll take care of it. For once let's not get in his way."

Reckley shuddered slightly, but he relinquished a sigh and looked down to Artemis with a twitch of a smile. The sight of the bond between rider and gryphon was heartening, at least.

"You'd be better equipped to survive if you don't try to do it alone."

"Aw, stick with me and you'll do just fine!" Oseely gave her a wink and a grin.

Reckley sighed. "You don't sleep and you don't eat. How're you going to help?"

"I eat!"

"You chew bark." Reckley appraised Artemis, his arms still folded. "The Kith or the Pirates would probably take you in. You're in the rare situation of being unaffiliated."

"You don't want to do that. Just steal their stuff and camp in the open fields. There are sigils you can use to ward off critters that'd chew on you in your sleep."

"That's the most idiotic idea I've ever heard," Reckley hissed with distaste.

Oseely grinned. "I thought of it myself!"

[Assistant]
Anise felt that his returning the Lantern to her was an extension of his trust and hope. She accepted the Lantern with a smile to oppose his wary expression. She felt that there should be something to brighten the day of the dwellers of the Forest even though the Dragon seemed to have no interest in their safety. She felt that was no way to rule and really felt the need to have an actual conversation with the Dragon at some point.

That made sense she had seen the moon several times, and if what he said was true she hadn't been here for much more than a week. Not even. She remembered being told by Peck earlier that same thing about the Lord of Shadow about his power over the dead.

Anise looked at the ground in thought. She had several choices to make. She could start summoning the spirits now, or she could start meeting the Kith right now. She knew that the Lord of Shadow would most definitely take offense to a summoning from her, but she also needed to have a conversation with them. The Kith would likely be dangerous for at least Peck, but she felt she could protect him.

Anise appreciated his willingness to suggest a starting point. However one statement from the Dragon weighed heavily on her mind. She had to speak with her children. That took precedence in her mind and felt to be the most important thing in the dream she had just had.

She looked up to Peck and looked him in the eyes. "I would like to start with meeting the Spirits, but isn't there a way to find them that would not insult them? I feel that calling to them without pulling them suddenly from... wherever they are living." She felt that just calling them suddenly would be more harmful than anything. She also remembered the symbol that was left on her hand after her meeting with the Lady of the Pond for the first time.

She glanced at her hand remembering her meeting with the Lady of the Pond not long ago. "After I met with the Lady of the Pond I awakened with this rune on my hand." She raised her hand concentrating on it as she remembered the last time she had done so it had become visible. "I am not sure what it means. I know that the Witch uses runes, but do you know them as well?" She knew it was important, but she understood little of them.