[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.cdn.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjk2LmEyMjhhNC5WR2hsSUZkcGJHd2diMllnZEdobElFZHZaQzFSZFdWbGJnLCwuMAAAAAA,/haunted-eyes.regular.png[/img][/center]

The city of Solhavre was awash in the glow of hundreds of lanterns amidst the dusky blanket of twilight covering the sky. It had long been a tradition that whenever an important dignitary arrived, paper lanterns were made and thrown to the winds in celebration of their safe arrival and in hope that their stay would be pleasant and prosperous. Tonight, they had created the lanterns for Ashariel vei Inaris - a visiting Exeo from Priscus who had come to the city in hopes of furthering diplomatic relations between the resident humans and the Prae. Though ostensibly chosen for its pleasant seaside location and warm, welcoming people Ashariel had not selected the city for its mundane qualities but for its location, some 30 miles across the ocean from the city of Ominar. Influence, she knew, was like a network of vines: it was largely a matter of time, and the growth was quickest closest to the core. They had developed quite the system of roots across the channel, and Ashariel's job was to ensure that that little nest of influence found fertile soil within Solhavre.

Though the embassy had already been tailored to her every need - such was her right as an Exeo - Ashariel was uncomfortable. As she stepped out on to the balcony to survey the lovely seafront view that the embassy offered, her thoughts could not help but drift towards distant Ominar. Despite the light of the lanterns gently illuminating the seafront, much of the inky depths had only the last dwindling threads of sunlight to reveal them, and were close to becoming a field of inky blackness that stretched as far as she could see. She longed to see the shining beacon that was Ominar amidst the sprawling darkness of uncertainty, to feel Aismael's presence once more - the Queen's Spear was magnificent in ways she still couldn't fully comprehend. The thought comforted her somewhat against the prevailing chill in the air. A series of sharp knocking sounds, seven notes played in tune, brought Ashariel from her brief reverie. Rico was early, though that was not necessarily a bad thing - given the chill in the air and the encroaching darkness, Ashariel would much rather remain inside. She turned around slowly, letting her gaze linger out towards the dappled darkness, before returning indoors and closing the doors to the balcony.

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/fxrPiFa.png[/img][/center]

Ceptum would never get the chance to experience Medius as a mortal. She had watched it from distant Pylae for the last three or four thousand years, eager to see what the landscape would become - to watch its fledgling people rise up from the filth and muck and achieve their potential.

She had been gravely disappointed.

In them she noted all of the negative qualities that her brethren had let consume them, and when she looked for that spark of progress, that instinctual wisp of genius that drove the brilliant to madness or clarity... She saw only rot. They were a mayfly people with mayfly lives buzzing around in a world that they could not understand, never mind begin to [i]master[/i] as her people once had. For all the flaws of its people, however, she found Medius to be an interesting place. It was free of the ever-present radiance of Priscus, and in the absence of that coruscating light the shadows had found much more purchase. There were entire spectrums of colour and sound and taste that she could not find in her beloved homeworld, and that had kept her [i]interested[/i]. 

Her physical presence on Medius indicated that something had pushed her beyond mere interest. The truth had been revealed to her.

There were no words to express the outrage she felt. It was like a flame consuming her very thoughts from within, burning down the years of rational and careful precaution that she had built up in her long exile; a searing, caustic pain that somehow made her feel [i]alive[/i] again! What Aismael had done was unforgivable, unthinkable except to the most depraved mind Ceptum could imagine - she had taken [i]everything[/i] from the Prae - even themselves. She would rather have seen Priscus burn that be reduced to what it was - and all of that emotion had churned around within her, boiling until the point of bursting. It had brought her to Medius, and it would bring low those that had aided Aismael in her transgression.

As she stood atop the chalky cliffs, she gazed down towards the city of lights below her. This was the beginning of a vendetta, the first step in righting a wrong that had gone uncorrected for far too long. She would strike at the heart of the false queen for all those that had been lost and for all those that could yet be saved. She would ensure that the God-Queen's will - her true will - would be spread to her wayward children and she would ensure that this time she could not be ignored. 

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/fxrPiFa.png[/img][/center]

Ashariel perched her hands together, the muscles contorting in rhythm with her face. The scowl she wore was unbefitting of her radiant beauty, and yet only a scowl could accurately convey how she felt about what Rico had told her. She took a moment to compose herself before standing and nodding.

[color=#D40000]"[/color][color=#D20202]Y[/color][color=#D10505]o[/color][color=#D00808]u[/color] [color=#CE0E0E]h[/color][color=#CD1111]a[/color][color=#CC1414]v[/color][color=#CB1716]e[/color] [color=#C91C1C]f[/color][color=#C81F1F]a[/color][color=#C72222]i[/color][color=#C62525]l[/color][color=#C52828]e[/color][color=#C42B2B]d[/color][color=#C32E2D],[/color] [color=#C03333]t[/color][color=#BF3636]h[/color][color=#BE3939]e[/color][color=#BD3C3C]n[/color][color=#BC3F3F].[/color] [color=#BA4544]A[/color][color=#B94847]i[/color][color=#B84B4A]s[/color][color=#B74D4D]m[/color][color=#B65050]a[/color][color=#B55353]e[/color][color=#B45656]l[/color] [color=#B25C5B]w[/color][color=#B15F5E]o[/color][color=#B06261]u[/color][color=#AF6564]l[/color][color=#AD6767]d[/color] [color=#AB6D6C]p[/color][color=#AA706F]u[/color][color=#A97372]n[/color][color=#A87675]i[/color][color=#A77978]s[/color][color=#A67C7B]h[/color] [color=#A48181]y[/color][color=#A38483]o[/color][color=#A28786]u[/color][color=#A18A89],[/color] [color=#9F908F]b[/color][color=#9E9392]u[/color][color=#9D9695]t[/color] [color=#9D9695]I[/color] [color=#9F908F]a[/color][color=#A08D8C]m[/color] [color=#A28786]a[/color] [color=#A48181]b[/color][color=#A57F7E]e[/color][color=#A67C7B]l[/color][color=#A77978]i[/color][color=#A87675]e[/color][color=#A97372]v[/color][color=#AA706F]e[/color][color=#AB6D6C]r[/color] [color=#AD6767]i[/color][color=#AF6564]n[/color] [color=#B15F5E]r[/color][color=#B25C5B]e[/color][color=#B35958]d[/color][color=#B45656]e[/color][color=#B55353]m[/color][color=#B65050]p[/color][color=#B74D4D]t[/color][color=#B84B4A]i[/color][color=#B94847]o[/color][color=#BA4544]n[/color][color=#BB4241].[/color][color=#BC3F3F].[/color][color=#BD3C3C].[/color] [color=#BF3636]I[/color][color=#C03333]n[/color] [color=#C32E2D]s[/color][color=#C42B2B]e[/color][color=#C52828]c[/color][color=#C62525]o[/color][color=#C72222]n[/color][color=#C81F1F]d[/color] [color=#CA1919]c[/color][color=#CB1716]h[/color][color=#CC1414]a[/color][color=#CD1111]n[/color][color=#CE0E0E]c[/color][color=#CF0B0B]e[/color][color=#D00808]s[/color][color=#D10505].[/color][color=#D20202]"[/color] Ashariel smiled, walking over to the disgruntled Prae and placing a hand gently upon his shoulder. She gripped it firmly, enough to cause just a little sensation of pain, before letting him go and walking out of the door. This late at night the embassy was largely deserted, and the building was certainly not small. She led Rico down the stairs towards the Grand Hall, and gave him a slight telekinetic nudge that shoved him quite efficiently into the room as the doors slammed shut behind them.

[color=#D40000]"[/color][color=#D30202]Y[/color][color=#D20404]o[/color][color=#D10606]u[/color] [color=#CF0B0B]w[/color][color=#CF0D0D]e[/color][color=#CE0F0F]r[/color][color=#CD1211]e[/color] [color=#CB1616]s[/color][color=#CA1818]l[/color][color=#CA1B1A]o[/color][color=#C91D1D]p[/color][color=#C81F1F]p[/color][color=#C72121]y[/color][color=#C62423].[/color] [color=#C52828]T[/color][color=#C42A2A]h[/color][color=#C32D2C]i[/color][color=#C22F2E]s[/color] [color=#C13333]t[/color][color=#C03635]i[/color][color=#BF3837]m[/color][color=#BE3A3A]e[/color][color=#BD3C3C],[/color] [color=#BC4140]y[/color][color=#BB4343]o[/color][color=#BA4545]u[/color] [color=#B84A49]w[/color][color=#B84C4B]o[/color][color=#B74E4E]n[/color][color=#B65150]'[/color][color=#B55352]t[/color] [color=#B35757]i[/color][color=#B35A59]n[/color][color=#B25C5B]f[/color][color=#B15E5D]i[/color][color=#B06060]l[/color][color=#AF6362]t[/color][color=#AE6564]r[/color][color=#AE6766]a[/color][color=#AD6969]t[/color][color=#AC6C6B]e[/color] [color=#AA706F]t[/color][color=#AA7271]h[/color][color=#A97574]e[/color][color=#A87776]m[/color] [color=#A67B7A]-[/color] [color=#A5807F]y[/color][color=#A48281]o[/color][color=#A38483]u[/color][color=#A28786]'[/color][color=#A18988]r[/color][color=#A08B8A]e[/color] [color=#9F908F]g[/color][color=#9E9291]o[/color][color=#9D9493]i[/color][color=#9C9695]n[/color][color=#9C9998]g[/color] [color=#9D9493]t[/color][color=#9E9291]o[/color] [color=#A08D8C]a[/color][color=#A08B8A]p[/color][color=#A18988]p[/color][color=#A28786]r[/color][color=#A38483]e[/color][color=#A48281]h[/color][color=#A5807F]e[/color][color=#A57E7D]n[/color][color=#A67B7A]d[/color] [color=#A87776]t[/color][color=#A97574]h[/color][color=#AA7271]e[/color][color=#AA706F]m[/color][color=#AB6E6D].[/color][color=#AC6C6B].[/color][color=#AD6969].[/color] [color=#AE6564]S[/color][color=#AF6362]t[/color][color=#B06060]a[/color][color=#B15E5D]r[/color][color=#B25C5B]t[/color][color=#B35A59]i[/color][color=#B35757]n[/color][color=#B45554]g[/color] [color=#B65150]w[/color][color=#B74E4E]i[/color][color=#B84C4C]t[/color][color=#B84A49]h[/color] [color=#BA4545]t[/color][color=#BB4343]h[/color][color=#BC4140]e[/color] [color=#BD3C3C]l[/color][color=#BE3A3A]e[/color][color=#BF3837]a[/color][color=#C03635]d[/color][color=#C13333]e[/color][color=#C13131]r[/color] [color=#C32D2C]t[/color][color=#C42A2A]h[/color][color=#C52828]a[/color][color=#C62626]t[/color] [color=#C72121]y[/color][color=#C81F1F]o[/color][color=#C91D1D]u[/color] [color=#CA1818]i[/color][color=#CB1616]n[/color][color=#CC1414]s[/color][color=#CD1211]t[/color][color=#CE0F0F]a[/color][color=#CF0D0D]l[/color][color=#CF0B0B]l[/color][color=#D00908]e[/color][color=#D10606]d[/color][color=#D20404].[/color][color=#D30202]"[/color] she calmly stated, the same smile she had previously worn in her office on her face. 

[color=1BD629]"Yes, Exeo."[/color] came the reply from Rico, who simply bowed and turned as if to leave.

[color=#D40000]"[/color][color=#D20303]D[/color][color=#D10707]o[/color] [color=#CE0E0E]n[/color][color=#CD1212]o[/color][color=#CB1515]t[/color] [color=#C91D1C]f[/color][color=#C72020]a[/color][color=#C62424]i[/color][color=#C52827]l[/color] [color=#C22F2F]t[/color][color=#C13332]h[/color][color=#BF3636]e[/color] [color=#BD3D3D]G[/color][color=#BB4141]o[/color][color=#BA4544]d[/color][color=#B94848]-[/color][color=#B74C4C]Q[/color][color=#B6504F]u[/color][color=#B55353]e[/color][color=#B35756]e[/color][color=#B25B5A]n[/color] [color=#AF6261]a[/color][color=#AE6565]g[/color][color=#AD6968]a[/color][color=#AB6D6C]i[/color][color=#AA7070]n[/color][color=#A97473],[/color] [color=#A67B7B]R[/color][color=#A57F7E]i[/color][color=#A38382]c[/color][color=#A28685]o[/color][color=#A18A89].[/color] [color=#9E9190]M[/color][color=#9D9594]y[/color] [color=#9D9594]m[/color][color=#9E9190]e[/color][color=#9F8E8D]r[/color][color=#A18A89]c[/color][color=#A28685]y[/color] [color=#A57F7E]d[/color][color=#A67B7B]o[/color][color=#A77877]e[/color][color=#A97473]s[/color] [color=#AB6D6C]n[/color][color=#AD6968]o[/color][color=#AE6665]t[/color] [color=#B15E5E]e[/color][color=#B25B5A]x[/color][color=#B35756]t[/color][color=#B55353]e[/color][color=#B6504F]n[/color][color=#B74C4C]d[/color] [color=#BA4544]t[/color][color=#BB4141]o[/color] [color=#BE3A39]a[/color] [color=#C13332]t[/color][color=#C22F2F]h[/color][color=#C32B2B]i[/color][color=#C52827]r[/color][color=#C62424]d[/color] [color=#C91D1C]c[/color][color=#CA1919]h[/color][color=#CB1515]a[/color][color=#CD1212]n[/color][color=#CE0E0E]c[/color][color=#CF0A0A]e[/color][color=#D10707].[/color][color=#D20303]"[/color] Ashariel called out, the words echoing in the cavernous room. The only other sound was that of gentle footsteps, their pitter-patter creating a soft rhythm that filled the empty silence. Rico closed the double doors behind him, watching Ashariel through the rapidly closing space between the doors, before visibly exhaling the pregnant breath he'd been holding. He took a second to collect himself before continuing his walk out of the doors of the embassy.

As he opened the door, he was met with a figure unlike any he'd ever seen. He didn't so much see them as he [i]felt[/i] them - their vis heavy and cloying, yet with a certain frenetic energy that he couldn't quite place. As he focused and looked up, he could see that the figure was visibly female - her skin almost ashen but marred with crackling lines of purple energy that vaguely reminded him of his own markings. He opened his mouth as if to speak, to ask her who she was, but found himself unable to even begin to vocalise any of the words running through his head. 

[color=D4AF37]"What mockery is this? That you would call yourself [i]prae[/i] is an abomination."[/color] came the voice, raspy and throaty and yet with a clear feminine edge. It sounded like gravel spilling from the mouth, before dissipating into ashes that coated his mind. Whomever this voice belonged to, he could tell immediately that they were no longer among the living - and from their vis he could sense an unthinkable amount of power. Scared as he'd been of Ashariel - and even more so Aismael - his mind screamed at him that this [i]thing[/i] in front of him was far more dangerous than both. 

Before he could even think about reacting, her hand was around his neck and he had been lifted off of the floor. It took all of his wherewithal to clutch at the figure's arms fruitlessly, before he realised that the more tightly he pressed against her body the more her vis was invading his. The process began slowly, but as he flailed and choked it expedited significantly, and before he knew it his own dead flesh was sloughing off of his body and exposing both his bone and musculature. The rot continued to progress, his arms quickly reduced to bare bone, before he finally managed to let out a piercing shriek of anguish - though before he could finish it, its source fell to the floor and shrivelled into dust.

The terrible noise echoed within his empty ribcage, and as his mind faded away he felt what was left of his flesh join the mounting pile of himself on the floor. Within seconds he was nothing but a skeleton, and shortly thereafter even that had been reduced to a fine gray ash littering the marble porch of the embassy.

Ceptum stepped through the ashes, blasting the doors of the embassy wide open with a thought, and walked through the main hall.

Ashariel did the same.

Ceptum's eyes met Ashariel's - one set pale and radiant, imperious and graceful; the other vibrant and pulsating with energy, hiding behind them the embers of a flame rekindled.

[color=#D40000]"[/color][color=#D20505].[/color][color=#D00A0A].[/color][color=#CE1010].[/color] [color=#CA1B1B]S[/color][color=#C82020]o[/color] [color=#C42B2B]t[/color][color=#C23130]h[/color][color=#C03636]e[/color] [color=#BC4141]l[/color][color=#BA4746]e[/color][color=#B84C4C]g[/color][color=#B65151]e[/color][color=#B45756]n[/color][color=#B25C5C]d[/color][color=#B06261]s[/color] [color=#AC6D6C]a[/color][color=#AA7272]r[/color][color=#A87877]e[/color] [color=#A48382]t[/color][color=#A28887]r[/color][color=#A08E8D]u[/color][color=#9E9392]e[/color][color=#9C9897]?[/color] [color=#A08E8D]T[/color][color=#A28887]h[/color][color=#A48382]e[/color] [color=#A87877]R[/color][color=#AA7272]a[/color][color=#AC6D6C]c[/color][color=#AE6767]e[/color][color=#B06261]-[/color][color=#B25C5C]T[/color][color=#B45756]r[/color][color=#B65151]a[/color][color=#B84C4C]i[/color][color=#BA4746]t[/color][color=#BC4141]o[/color][color=#BE3C3B]r[/color] [color=#C23130]e[/color][color=#C42B2B]x[/color][color=#C62625]i[/color][color=#C82020]s[/color][color=#CA1B1B]t[/color][color=#CC1515]s[/color][color=#CE1010].[/color][color=#D00A0A].[/color][color=#D20505].[/color][color=#D40100]"[/color] Ashariel bristled, clearly surprised at the figure standing in front of her's existence. She'd read those stories in the history books and in children’s fables - and while she knew that much of the history of their race was vague and arcane at best she’d never assumed the likeness to be so… Accurate, or for that matter, real at all. Still, when it was staring you in the face it was difficult to dismiss as a fairytale.

If half of what she had done in those tales was true, though… Ashariel spat on the floor in disgust and contempt rolled off of her in waves, almost palpable and electric within the air.

[color=D4AF37]"You have no right to address me. I answer to the God-Queen, not some churlish pretender with delusions of grandeur."[/color]

[color=#D40000]"[/color][color=#D20302]C[/color][color=#D10605]h[/color][color=#D00908]u[/color][color=#CF0C0B]r[/color][color=#CE0F0E]l[/color][color=#CD1211]i[/color][color=#CC1514]s[/color][color=#CB1817]h[/color][color=#CA1B1A]?[/color] [color=#C72120]P[/color][color=#C62423]r[/color][color=#C52726]e[/color][color=#C42A29]t[/color][color=#C32D2C]e[/color][color=#C2302F]n[/color][color=#C13332]d[/color][color=#C03635]e[/color][color=#BF3938]r[/color][color=#BE3C3B]?[/color] [color=#BB4241]S[/color][color=#BA4544]h[/color][color=#B94847]e[/color] [color=#B74E4D]i[/color][color=#B65150]s[/color] [color=#B45756]t[/color][color=#B35A59]h[/color][color=#B15D5C]e[/color] [color=#AF6362]t[/color][color=#AE6665]i[/color][color=#AD6968]p[/color] [color=#AB6F6E]o[/color][color=#AA7271]f[/color] [color=#A87877]t[/color][color=#A67B7A]h[/color][color=#A57E7D]e[/color] [color=#A38483]s[/color][color=#A28786]p[/color][color=#A18A89]e[/color][color=#A08D8C]a[/color][color=#9F908F]r[/color][color=#9E9392],[/color] [color=#9C9998]t[/color][color=#9D9695]h[/color][color=#9E9392]e[/color] [color=#A08D8C]f[/color][color=#A18A89]u[/color][color=#A28786]t[/color][color=#A38483]u[/color][color=#A48180]r[/color][color=#A57E7D]e[/color] [color=#A87877]o[/color][color=#A97574]f[/color] [color=#AB6F6E]o[/color][color=#AC6C6B]u[/color][color=#AD6968]r[/color] [color=#AF6362]r[/color][color=#B0605F]a[/color][color=#B15D5C]c[/color][color=#B35A59]e[/color][color=#B45756],[/color] [color=#B65150]o[/color][color=#B74E4D]u[/color][color=#B84B4A]r[/color] [color=#BA4544]l[/color][color=#BB4241]i[/color][color=#BC3F3E]n[/color][color=#BE3C3B]k[/color] [color=#C03635]t[/color][color=#C13332]o[/color] [color=#C32D2C]t[/color][color=#C42A29]h[/color][color=#C52726]e[/color] [color=#C72120]G[/color][color=#C91E1D]o[/color][color=#CA1B1A]d[/color][color=#CB1817]-[/color][color=#CC1514]Q[/color][color=#CD1211]u[/color][color=#CE0F0E]e[/color][color=#CF0C0B]e[/color][color=#D00908]n[/color][color=#D10605]![/color][color=#D20302]"[/color]

[color=D4AF37]"[i]Our[/i] race? No. You are abominations all, and you are [i]not[/i] Prae - even that has been denied from you."[/color]

The confrontation came to a standstill as Ashariel considered the weight of Ceptum's words. What did she mean by 'not Prae'? The implications of such a statement, if true, were mind boggling - and the contempt with which she'd been addressed certainly attested to the being telling the truth. Even so, she refused on a fundamental level to accept what this [i]traitor[/i] was saying.

[color=#FF0000]"[/color][color=#FF0303]Y[/color][color=#FF0606]o[/color][color=#FF0A0A]u[/color] [color=#FF1111]w[/color][color=#FF1414]e[/color][color=#FF1818]r[/color][color=#FF1B1B]e[/color] [color=#FF2222]a[/color] [color=#FF2929]f[/color][color=#FF2C2C]o[/color][color=#FF3030]o[/color][color=#FF3333]l[/color] [color=#FF3A3A]t[/color][color=#FF3E3E]o[/color] [color=#FF4444]c[/color][color=#FF4848]o[/color][color=#FF4B4B]m[/color][color=#FF4F4F]e[/color] [color=#FF5656]h[/color][color=#FF5959]e[/color][color=#FF5D5D]r[/color][color=#FF6060]e[/color][color=#FF6363],[/color] [color=#FF6A6A]t[/color][color=#FF6E6E]r[/color][color=#FF7171]a[/color][color=#FF7575]i[/color][color=#FF7878]t[/color][color=#FF7C7C]o[/color][color=#FF7F7F]r[/color][color=#FF8282].[/color] [color=#FF8989]I[/color] [color=#FF9090]s[/color][color=#FF9494]h[/color][color=#FF9797]a[/color][color=#FF9B9B]l[/color][color=#FF9E9E]l[/color] [color=#FFA5A5]p[/color][color=#FFA8A8]u[/color][color=#FFACAC]t[/color] [color=#FFB3B3]y[/color][color=#FFB6B6]o[/color][color=#FFBABA]u[/color] [color=#FFC0C0]d[/color][color=#FFC4C4]o[/color][color=#FFC7C7]w[/color][color=#FFCBCB]n[/color] [color=#FFD2D2]i[/color][color=#FFD5D5]n[/color] [color=#FFDCDC][i]h[/i][/color][color=#FFDFDF][i]e[/i][/color][color=#FFE3E3][i]r[/i][/color] [color=#FFEAEA]n[/color][color=#FFEDED]a[/color][color=#FFF1F1]m[/color][color=#FFF4F4]e[/color][color=#FFF8F8]![/color][color=#FFFBFB]"[/color]  Ashariel hissed, gathering her vis and entering her manifest state. From her back sprouted enormous, feathery wings the colour of freshly fallen snow, and her entire body surged visibly with energy of the same colour. In an instant, Ashariel was wreathed in a bright white flame that seemed to illuminate the room around them with the same pristine glow as Priscus itself. In the blink of an eye, she was rushing towards Ceptum, using her wings to propel her motion rather than fly - and her fist impacted Ceptum's sternum with a loud crack and the crackle of the flames burning away the flesh. Ceptum went flying back like a ragdoll, and Ashariel slammed the doors shut to catch her. Gouts of flame cushioned the blow somewhat, preventing the door from completely splintering, but the sound of bones breaking was distinct among the chaos.

Ashariel lifted Ceptum up with her telekinesis, bringing her almost face to face with the Exeo before spitting at her and engulfing her in an enormous column of searing white flames. The blaze lasted for a couple of seconds before dying out, and Ashariel let the lich go, causing her to crumple to the floor in a smoking heap. Not content to simply let it lie there, the Exeo focused even greater blasts of the white flame at the prone body on the floor, screaming with white-hot rage as she did so. After a couple of moments of attempting to thoroughly disintegrate Ceptum's body, Ashariel picked her up with her bare hands and held her still with telekinetic force before unleashing a flurry of furious blows at her limp, smoking body. Time after time her blows broke Ceptum's body as the flame scorched her vis, and by the time Ashariel had brought herself to stop there was only a smoking pile of ash remaining on the floor in front of her. She paused for a moment with the sheer exertion of it, breaths quivering gently in her lungs before being released. Ceptum’s body had taken far more energy to destroy than she’d anticipated - and she’d [i]begun[/i] with enough force and vis to annihilate a normal prae’s body a hundred times over. 

[color=#F5F5F5]"[/color][color=#F1DEDC]P[/color][color=#EEC7C4]a[/color][color=#EBB0AC]t[/color][color=#E79A94]h[/color][color=#E4837C]e[/color][color=#E16C64]t[/color][color=#DD564C]i[/color][color=#DA3F34]c[/color] [color=#D31204]c[/color][color=#D7281C]r[/color][color=#DA3F34]e[/color][color=#DD564C]a[/color][color=#E16C64]t[/color][color=#E4837C]u[/color][color=#E79A94]r[/color][color=#EBB0AC]e[/color][color=#EEC7C4].[/color][color=#F1DEDC]"[/color] she spoke as she spat down into the pile of ash.

[color=D4AF37]"Your first mistake, Exeo, was thinking that I would let you live long enough to make a second."[/color] Ceptum's voice called out from the hallway, and Ashariel looked upwards in shock. Much to her dismay, there the Race-Traitor stood, hale and whole. Unfazed by the veritable onslaught she'd just delivered. How was such a thing possible? What remained of the body in front of her was no illusion - she'd sensed the burning vis, heard the bones snap, felt the body crumple beneath her fury. What in the Queen's name [i]was[/i] the traitor?

[color=D4AF37]"You labour under the misapprehension that I am limited to a single body, or even that my body matters. It is merely a construct created by my will - a tool to serve a purpose. If that is all that a so-called Exeo can do to it... You truly have fallen."[/color] Ceptum stated, sighing condescendingly

[color=D4AF37]"Let us see how much of [i]my[/i] onslaught you can weather."[/color]

In a moment, Ceptum was in front of Ashariel and her hands were around her neck. Ashariel gasped at the suddenness of the movement and tried to fight it both with her arms and her telekinesis, but found both to be completely ineffective. In contrast to before, where it had been like moving a ragdoll with her mind, Ceptum's body now proved to be completely unassailable by her force. Ceptum lifted Ashariel off of the ground, and focused her vis at the tips of the Exeo's wings. By virtue of her undeath, Ceptum had access to an inordinate amount of necromantic power - able to rot and wither mortal flesh with nothing but a thought. Now she was introducing it to the Exeo's wings, and she wanted to see just how long it would take for those pretty white wings to decay. The energy travelled slowly, at first - largely kept at bay by the flames surrounding her. Seconds passed, and soon Ashariel began to scream as the rot and miasma began to work upon the feathers of her wings. Once it had taken hold it took virtually no time at all to strip her appendages down to the bone, and only slightly longer to remove them entirely. All the while, Ashariel's screams of pain and terror only grew. She wanted with all of her heart to curse Ceptum, to bring her to her knees and force her before Aismael herself - but all her mind could articulate were gurgles and screams. 

[color=D4AF37]"You are an abomination."[/color] Ceptum spoke, releasing her grip on Ashariel's throat and suspending her midair with telekinesis, just as had been previously done to her.

[color=#FF0000]"[/color][color=#FF1C1C]Y[/color][color=#FF3838]o[/color][color=#FF5555]u[/color][color=#FF7171].[/color][color=#FF8D8D].[/color][color=#FFAAAA].[/color] [color=#FFE2E2]Y[/color][color=#FFFFFF]o[/color][color=#FFE2E2]u[/color] [color=#FFAAAA]a[/color][color=#FF8D8D]r[/color][color=#FF7171]e[/color][color=#FF5555].[/color][color=#FF3838].[/color][color=#FF1C1C].[/color][color=#FF0707]"[/color] she coughed and spluttered, almost choking on the air that she gasped in, heavy and gulping.

[color=#FF0000]"[/color][color=#FF0F0F]T[/color][color=#FF1E1E]h[/color][color=#FF2D2D]e[/color] [color=#FF4B4B]a[/color][color=#FF5A5A]b[/color][color=#FF6969]o[/color][color=#FF7878]m[/color][color=#FF8787]i[/color][color=#FF9696]n[/color][color=#FFA5A5]a[/color][color=#FFB4B4]t[/color][color=#FFC3C3]i[/color][color=#FFD2D2]o[/color][color=#FFE1E1]n[/color][color=#FFF0F0]…[/color] [color=#FFF0F0]Y[/color][color=#FFE1E1]o[/color][color=#FFD2D2]u[/color] [color=#FFB4B4]a[/color][color=#FFA5A5]r[/color][color=#FF9696]e[/color] [color=#FF7878]n[/color][color=#FF6969]o[/color] [color=#FF4B4B]p[/color][color=#FF3C3C]r[/color][color=#FF2D2D]a[/color][color=#FF1E1E]e[/color][color=#FF0F0F]![/color][color=#FF0000]"[/color] Ashariel managed to sputter through laboured breaths, slowly composing herself as she managed to regulate her breathing and soothe the burn in her throat from Ceptum's caustic touch.

[color=D4AF37]"It is [i]you[/i] that is not prae. You are a half-breed, a mere shadow of what we were and an insult to what we should be! I am a [i]Lich[/i] and even I am more recognisable as a true prae than you!"[/color] Ceptum roared back in response, appalled at the arrogance and ignorance displayed by this pathetic excuse for an Exeo.

[color=D4AF37]"I am sorry, Amana, for what I must do."[/color]

Ceptum began the process of extending her own vis - much of which was the raw stuff of Pylae, filtered through her phylactery - into the ambient vis around Solhavre. With an almighty surge of effort inwards, she began drawing on both the energy in the land around her as well as that from Pylae and concentrating it within Ashariel's body. Simultaneously, Ceptum forced the white flame that heralded Ashariel's manifest state inwards and used it as the beginnings of her spell. As she intoned low, arcane words Ashariel's body began to swell, visibly bloating with the sheer enormity of the energy forced within her. Ceptum continued to chant for several minutes, each word uttered further concentrating the white flame and feeding it until it was beginning to boil and sizzle Ashariel's skin from the inside out, several cracks appearing and leaking radiant white energy. As Ceptum finished the spell, she teleported herself and Ashariel to a couple of hundred feet above the embassy and looked out towards where she knew Ominar was.

Aismael's Spire was radiant and beautiful, reminiscent of the pristine ivory sunrise in Priscus. Ceptum resolved to make a Spire out of Ashariel to rival even the most beautiful morning in her homeworld - an end all too good for the creature that dared call itself an Exeo.

Ceptum took a moment to savour what was about to happen before turning Ashariel around to face her and savouring the terror in her eyes as she reached up towards her forehead and with a single swift motion plucked the small crystal from her. The second it was removed Ashariel immediately died, falling slack and limp, and the hungry white flames within her began to escape their prison of flesh. Ceptum teleported her body several miles away, hovering at the same height above the ocean, and preparing for the first spectacle of many necessary to enforce Amana's will. The God-Queen had been ignored for far too long, and it had had [i]dire[/i] consequences - at this moment in time, mostly for one Ashariel vei Inaris.

As she was no longer alive to keep the flames trapped within her, Ashariel's corpse simply burst from the immensity of the vis inside her. Her very own white flames combined with the chaotic energy of Pylae collided with one another forcibly, and the resulting explosion of energy was so fierce that the light it gave off rivalled that of an early sunrise, bathing the area for miles upon miles with its coruscating glare. Then, just as the flash of brilliance began to wane, the sheer force of the blast hit the city. As the raw, white chaos engulfed the prae embassy it simultaneously cracked from the pressure and exploded outwards in massive streaking arcs of white flame before crumbling to ash, and just as the ash begun to settle each of the buildings in their vicinity suffered the same fate. Brilliant white flames engulfed the entire promenade upon which the embassy had stood, spiralling outwards and through everything in their path. The ground beneath them quaked and trembled before it too was split open from the sheer force of the flame, and the earth seemed to erupt in glaring ivory light as if in protest before being pulverised. The flames spread outwards like a terrible ring of destruction, levelling half of the city of Solhavre before burning out and dissipating into loose clusters of glittering ash and dust within the night sky. Where once lanterns had floated about in an idyllic scene, now only the lingering white flames of destruction remained in a mimicry of what had come before. As the ashes fell into the smoking and boiling sea around them, the majority of the city atop the cliffs fell into that yawning, black abyss. 

[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.cdn.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjk2LmQ5ODMwZC5WR2hsSUU1bGVIUWdUVzl5Ym1sdVp3LCwuMAAAAAAA/haunted-eyes.regular.png[/img][/center]

The next morning, the entire city of Ominar was abuzz with the news of the destruction of Solhavre. Newspapers everywhere commented on the sheer magnitude of the destruction and that no trace of the visiting Exeo Ashariel vei Inaris - who was known to be a close colleague of Aismael vea-Vartari - had been found. The authorities stated only that there had been an altercation at the embassy and that the blast had originated from the location of the building, and they were working closely with Ominar's government to determine the exact cause of the event, as well as the person responsible.

Aismael would find on her desk that morning a copy of the newspaper with the news, as well as a charred wooden box. Contained within was the crystal from Ashariel's forehead, as well as a handwritten note:

[color=D4AF37]"More shall be cleansed until all evidence of your foulness is purged. - Race-Traitor"[/color]

[hr]

[h1][center]Character Summaries during the Timeskip[/center][/h1]

Damian: Busy doing work for Nabri, Darius, and Masha, getting bullied by Vi, going over to Corinna's house sometime during this mess, and maybe befriending Emmett on how much being a Licentia can suck.


- Nabriales has been working at One Night in Hell with Masha and is helping prepare for the club's grand reopening after they have remodelled. Nabriales has also assisted Vi with concealing her identity and joining the IHO. Nabriales has also joined up with the Resistance, offering access to his considerable funding and stock of potions. 

- Fandaniel has come to Ominar with Yvette, joined the IHO, and has opened a dialogue with Sophia and Nabriales regarding their shared heritage. Fandaniel has joined the resistance, unwilling to abide the prejudice against what she believes are a largely innocent race. 

- Ithuriel has been working on his art and partaking in hunts at the IHO. He has been partnered with Vi in a new mentoring scheme to help transition new hunters into their roles. 

- Truth has been digging around Ominar and has pledged itself to the resistance.
- Aeris has adopted, and enrolled Emmett and Olivia into the university, while also helping Emmett learn about his nature at home. While teaching Emmett how to control his powers, she has also started teaching Olivia how to fight her brother's fear aura. She has also begun to participate more readily in resistance missions. 

- Sophia has reunited with Mairyell, and found out that not only does he have a girlfriend, he has two adopted children. Hearing about the resistance from her brother, she has added her considerable wealth to its resources. 

- Nysi and Szayeis met up, and Szayeis created more safe houses for her. She moves between them quite often. 

- Leah has gotten registered for classes, and has moved in with Reates for the duration of her time at the university. She may meet Emmett, Olivia, Erin/Clara, Corinna, or Emma at any point in time. Interest in Maddie is building. 

- Yvette has joined the resistance at the behest of her mother, and in an attempt to show solidarity with those she holds pacts with.
- Erin has been spending time at Corinna's. She has been noticing Clara being strangely good. The girl has been trying to speak with Olivia and Emmett with a little bit of luck. She's been able to form a friendship with Azulia and getting to classes on time without problems. Mysterious scratching around home. 
- Killian has been undercover with gang. He's been getting to know Emma and has dating her for a bit. Spending time with little sister.
-Vi has settled in at Victorious Secret with Nabriales and the new subject of her disdain, Damian. With the help of Nabriales, Vi has acquired a new identity as Sylvia Morel and has begun to disguise her appearance. She has joined the IHO and is being mentored by Ithuriel. After hearing about the Resistance from Nabriales, Vi has tentatively thrown in her support for the movement.

Emmett/Olivia  
SoL
Day 4-end of the SoL
 1. Aeris and Darius work out the paperwork to allow Aeris to foster Emmett and Olivia. (Memory to come)
 
Month 1-3
 1. Mai has to ID Raiden and Aeris has to make arrangements for the funerals of both parents. Aeris is notified of a will from both Raiden and Alice. (Cel, I’ve PMed the details.)  
 2. Register for school, kids met Azulia and start class.
 3. Emmett and Olivia get adjusted, the papers allow them to foster the children. They are also assigned a caseworker.
 4. Mai and Aeris need to go through the stuff in the apartment. Deciding what to keep or sell. Not sure if you want to bring the kids along, which by this time they are slowly healing.
 5. The investigation, I’m assuming they have to due to protocol, happens and the case is close to Alice and Raiden. At least for the police. (Yosh has a pm over the scene with Raiden and will follow up with )  
 6. Raiden and Alice funeral.  Due to Emmett and Olivia being their age, it’s up to Aeris to decide if it’s an open or closed casket. For Raiden, the open casket is not possible.
 7. Met Damian (memory to follow)
 
-	Darius
SoL
Day 4-end of the SoL
Killian contacted Darius, information about Charles in exchange for employment. Killian currently works for Darius, by becoming involved in the Thunder Dragons and building rep over the next few months.
Both M’ve and Nabriales has gained a sample of the poison that Krysta hit him with. Primary to create an antidote for the future. (Aeris called M’ve to check in on Darius ICly, Post title: Finer Things)  
 
Serpientes de Ouroboros: starting to grow in members, they clashed with the Royal Bloods and various other gangs in the Entertainment District. Slowly dragging Darius into having to deal with this.
Month 2-3
 1. Gotten closer to Masha. He’s even helped her improve her shape-shifting skills with a keen eye for detail and advice. Their relationship is still outside of the public eyes, though occasionally Darius has been spotted in her company.
 2.  Darius had grown another tail, increasing his power. As a result, he’s been forced to contact Szayeis to update his crystal. The price of this has yet to be made known.  
 3.  Krysta hasn’t been seen or heard from since. She seems to be laying low… Darius doesn’t know.
 4.  Within the last week, odd things have been happening. Small moments of time are lost in his memory (longest was an hour), a sense of being watched, and glimpses of something lurking in his peripheral vision in mirrors or other shiny surfaces. (Those who worked frequently with him would notice odd behaviour - Players who want to, contact me over this.)  
 5. Darius had been digging up information about Charles Aeon, for Killian.
   6. Afua has been removed from Masha's employ as of last week.
 
Lily  
 
Month 1-3
- Works at One Night in Hell, the lead singer in the club and bar occasionally.
- She contacted an associate, another Licenti, to retrieve the crystal that Nabriales required. Currently, she had delivered it to the Alchemist as a precaution.
- Visit from Szayeis (?)

Charles

Month 1-3 
 1.  Adjusting to being Azulia’s guardian, while judging his college courses and substituting for teachers. Including move Killian into his room (Charles’ memories and bulk of his unimportant stuff in storage) then set Az up in her room.

 2. Had Az meet Emmett and Olivia, which they likely occasionally stay  here supervised. (old fashion traditions…yeah) 

 3. Forced resistance organization (all in his head btw then dropped into a special memory box): Met with new additions allowing him to determine everyone’s skills/talents as well as reasons for being there, which he’s also likely done this with others. Created a temporary method to move money without being traced. Been looking into renting or gaining a new location for a base (untraceable to anyone), which he’s likely been using the College/his home for the meetings. 

   4. Been keeping his ears open for news over the aftermath of the jailbreak, Prae activities, and additional changes to what he can compare to the city’s past activity. 

 5. Visited Lilith 2-3 week, fortnight at most. She appears to be getting better, nearly normal. But Charles know she’s following a pattern in her behavior. He’s dreading when it reaches its peak.

 6. Flipped out some of his spells and popped a few memories over old skills he gained during a few of his lives, which I’ll add/alter later. He’s also been improving and practicing them with Killian, or anyone interested, in evening sparring matches (hidden as magic tutoring). He kept his vis one. 

 7. Been tunnel vision on the memory that Rico taunted with him, hoping to find clues. Caused him to study other memories which fit the same pattern, which he’s only found one: the night he met with Charlotte's murders. Dead ends right now.
 
 8. Been looking into how to allow Az to explore her Prae heritage. Also struggling with it.


- Emma... Well Emma will be doing the exciting thing called school… and more school… and some dating of Killian. 


- Masha has been working on the reconstruction and remodelling of the club, hiring new people to replace those who left after her 'contract' with Darius for his men ran out. Any who want to stay on (like Damian and Killian) are welcome, but new pay negotiations will arise. Socially, mostly seeing Darius, though mainly because she doesn't have much time for anyone else. Is also actually working at befriending Nikki, not just seducing her.

- Corinna has been going to the night club and generally trying to seduce others & provoke them, tormenting Damian (letting him get extremely uncomfortable if he is on his normal form by provoking him, flirting and trying to seduce the poor boy, or provoking him and really tormenting him if he is in his other form), regarding Erin and Clara, Corinna is still testing the waters. She is very curious about both Clara and Erin, being provocative enough to keep Erin interested, but not enough to scare Clara away.

- Mairyell 

What has Mairyell been doing? Well, mostly Aeris. Though he’s also adjusted to Emmett and Olivia being apart of his life. He has also run various contracts and done research on Raiden’s murder along with the occasional meeting with members of the Resistance. 


- Szayeis 

>Deceiving people. 
>Killing things. 
>Making various arrangements for his [i]dastardly schemes.[/i] 
>Stopped by “One Night in Hell,” to greet Lily. 
>Visited Darius. 
>Sent a prae paladin/hunter to intimidate/threaten Charles in order to keep him with the Resistance proper. 


- Madison
 
> School 
>Hanging out with friends, such as Leah. 
>Taking care of her younger cousin occasionally. 


- Bree 

>Chased Dranai due to contracts/favors owed to Aismael. 
>Failed to permanently capture him. 


- Dranai 

>Managed to figure out who hired Bree. 
>Managed to get his Focus back. 
>Eluded Bree. 

- Aismael 
>Received word of Ashariel’s... demise. 
>Received word of Bree’s failure to capture Dranai.
>Increased prae/police presence in Ominar. 
>Put more people on the task of figuring out who was behind the jailbreak.