So what's your name?
Calliope. That’s four sounds.

Spell it? I don’t know how to do that!

Why do you look like that?
Are you saying that because of my eyes? Everyone bullies me for my eyes. They are all black— no light at all, like the shadows in Ash Tower.

You're weird. I bet you can do some cool stuff.
I’m not much different from the other kids, really. I am very strong, though— strong enough to pick up shadows. I can’t pick up much else, though. I’m only strong when it comes to shadows. They come in handy.

So where's your home? Is it as weird as you are?
Home? I don’t have one of those. If you’re asking where I came from, that’s Ash Tower. You may have heard of it. It’s the big and scary tower that’s somewhere around here. People always tell me that they think Ash Tower moves around the Tangle randomly. What’s it like? Oh… Ash Tower isn’t a fun place. There’s no doors and no windows so no one gets in or out, and navigating its dark halls is almost impossible. They are always twisting and turning and moving. There’s no toys or sweets or anything in there. There’s not even any light in there except for the fires… That’s why it’s called Ash Tower. Luckily enough, there are other kids there. They are just like me, but meaner. They don’t know why we are there either. I escaped, but I’m the only one. So don’t tell anyone!

What's your favorite candy?
I’ve never had candy. Sometimes, if I wanted a treat I would eat the shadows of Ash Tower and pretend they were candy. My teeth are sharp enough to eat right through them.

Do you have any?
I’m sure there’s some shadows around here somewhere...

High Concept: Black-Eyed Stranger
Explanation: Calliope escaped from a place no person was ever meant to enter or leave, and that’s about all the citizens of the Tangle know about her. No one really knows who she is, what she does, or why she does it, but she certainly isn’t a normal little girl. She wanders the Tangle not only to escape her mysterious past, but to discover the world for the first time.

Trouble: Child of the Tower
Explanation: No one really understands what goes on in that foreboding tower, but none may ever find out. All the people know is the sole child that came from the tower is not right. It is as if Calliope has an off-putting aura that surrounds her. No matter what it was that was actually going on beyond the crenellations, the citizens of the Tangle know it certainly wasn’t good.

1st Aspect: Killer Curiosity
Explanation: Calliope grew up with nothing to look at. The whole world is a mystery to her, and discovering what secrets that mystery might hold is her top priority. This desire can manifest in dangerous ways, as Calliope often seeks to go where she is forbidden for one reason or another. Her craving to explore has a tendency to get her into very dangerous spots.

2nd Aspect: Dulled Sense of Danger
Explanation: Calliope is extremely abnormal for a child when it comes to facing monumentous tasks or grave challenges. It almost seems like fear has an entirely different definition to Calliope. When stuck in dangerous situations, her carefree attitude will often shine through. At times, this fearlessness may be a bane, but just as much, Calliope can use it to her advantage.

3rd Aspect: Faustian Pactmaker
Explanation: No matter what is said about the little black-eyed child, one aspect of her personality remains true above all else and can always be counted on. If Calliope makes a deal with someone, she is unable to defy her words and will find herself bound to uphold the deal. Of course, this goes both ways. Calliope will always ultimately try to ensure both sides of any agreement she makes are met.

So what's your nam--

Nay. Let me ask you the first question:

And so what would you call me, darling?

Well, here is a hint. Those that fear me call me; 'The Angel of Death.' Those that know me call me; Sister Reaper. Those that wish to flatter me with all respects will call me; She of the Crossing. But you...?

You will address me as Lady Leaza.

Why do you look like that?

I have wings made of the Dead Lit Skies to fly through the Abyss and take you to your Final Destinations. Know that I am shrouded not in shadow, but shrouded in the Abyss. For shadow, 'tis the absence of light. The Abyss is the absence of life, darling. You will not see my face until you are ready. But my eyes, you will see if you are in my sights. Know that once I 'see you with the eyes of the Abyss,' I will claim you and you will be ready to fly with me to where you belong.

You're weird. I bet you can do some cool stuff.

'Weird...?' Hah. You do not even know the half of it, darling. If I wish to be seen, I will will it. If I wish to fly through Abyss or through worlds like this Tangle, I will will it. If I wish to pass through the absence of light, I will will it. If I wish to tease out the shades of your fear of Death, I will will it. If I wish to claim you, and you are made ready, you will be powerless against my blades; I will cleave the tether of life from your body. I am one with my wicked Unlived Steel. Darling... I am the 'Angel of Death...' whatever you think I can do, I will do. Is that 'cool stuff' enough for you?

So where's your home? Is it as weird as you are?

Beyond the Abyss, just before the doorstep of death, that is where I reside. That inkling in the back of your skull, that fear that you deny in the worst way possible, that feeling that you will be the next victim, that is where I find my home.

But here in the Tangle, it is beyond the double doors, hidden deep in the pasture Greenery of my 'Sister' Ina'Raynjara, the last Unicorn of the Tangle, and, the first Unicorn to turn to stone. Darling, let it be known that I love her dearly, although she has made many successful attempts to thwart mine own power. So do know I still love her as an Ancient would another Ancient and do know this, and hear this only once; defile her Greenery and you too will be defiled in the worst manner by her Sister Reaper. That's me, Darling.

But should you find me at my home, be respectful and I shall pour you a drink from mine own cabinet; 'tis the best place for you to 'chat pressing matters' with me. If you can savvy such savvy, darling.


What's your favorite candy?

'Candy?' Hah. Easy answer; 'Shards of Broken Souls.' Bring them to me, darling, and know that you flatter Lady Leaza that much more...!

Do you have any?

Oh, but sadly, no I do not, darling. Yet should I find a Lost Soul, I will be sure to break it and share the shards with you...



High Concept: The Angel of Death.

Explanation: She is one of the Ancients here; known and revered here as She of The Crossing. There are others here that she considers as Ancients and knows as: She of the Door (The Sphinx), The Queen of the Greenery (The Unicorn), The Rock Whisperer (The Geologist) and many others. But she too is also known as the 'Angel of Death,' a messenger, a carrier, a sender to the Final Destinations of those who are deceased here in the Tangle. She does try to sway things in her favour and push those past half-dead to become all-dead, but she will make a bargain with select few depending on their ‘near-deadness’ condition.

Trouble: Do we have a deal…?

Explanation: You will not cheat Death, lest you wish to curse your new-dead self and generations to come. But what would you give to delay or even change your death or the death of others? What would you give for such a favour. Would you bargain with Lady Leaza? Would it sound too good to be true?

She is a sucker for bartering where lives are at stake and the truest place to bargain with her is in her home beyond, the Unicorn’s Greenery. But should you strike her fancy in the waking day, you just may get her talking long enough to get her distracted with making a deal.

1st Aspect: Flattery Gets you Somewhere.

Explanation: Of all things, She of the Crossing is not a beast without pride. And this pride over the centuries has turned her quite vain and thusly she loves to be adored. Buttering her up before actually striking a bargain with her or asking her to do something is the best way to go. But mind your manners and mind the path you tread. If she catches you in a lie or if you make certainty out of blatant assumption, know that the life you lead beyond your death will be Hell.

2nd Aspect: Ancient Ways, Modern Wonders.

Explanation: She is a relic of the time when the Tangle was much more than different than it is now. Her sole purpose here was to do her duties as She of the Crossing. The legendary ‘Angel of Death’ was meant to watch and deal with the near-Mortals in such plain fashion; she was Deaths errand girl. But as time went on, she began to notice changes and patterns broken in the cultures, practices and beliefs of the near-Mortals here. But again, she was never involved in such matters until it was brought to her bargaining table.

But now that she must interact in the physical sense of the Tangle, she marvels now at such things she has been missing. Take for example a road. It was paved and created for near-Mortals to traipse and traverse upon not merely there for near-Mortals to be run over by stray wagons or stabbed by robbers. It is full of purpose and worth more than a means for death! Mind blown!

3rd Aspect: You Cheat Death No Longer

Explanation: Lady Leaza is desperate to stop this affliction in the Tangle. Those that have been turned to stone, she may never know if they are still alive. But regardless, as they remain in stasis they are cheating her of her sway in the Tangle because if they are still alive, they have found some kind of loop-hole to escape their fate from being sent to the Final Destinations. She must end such cheatery! Also, ever since near-Mortal folk have ended up being turned to stone, she cannot see folk’s ‘near-deadness’ properly in the Tangle any longer and thusly she may not impress her will in all authority here. That and for all those that have so wronged her by taking the route of the ‘death-cheater loop-hole,’ Lady Leaza may never ever get to show off to them her ancient and beautiful face! Such travesty!

So she has now taken a physical form until such time that the the aforementioned travesty is ended. And now here she is in the gathering in the Grove. She must do what has to be done to end this nullification of her power.