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[color=fff200][h2]- A Beginning of Sorts -[/h2][/color][/center]
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[i][center]I stood upon the edge of eternity,
and watched the end of all things.
I saw the sky shatter, and with it fell the stars.
With the stars fell a great, endless darkness that choked the earth itself.
The land screamed in agony as it struggled,
Writhing for a thousand ages,
Calling for the gods to undo the catastrophe,
But the gods had long since fallen silent,
And man had long since met the same fate.
And so, I stood upon the edge of eternity,
Until I too became nothing.
[i][sub]-Adondum VII[/sub][/i][/center][/i]

[center][color=silver]𝓝𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝟕𝓽𝓱, 𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟕   / /   𝓐𝓾𝓼𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓭   / /   𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓪𝓷'𝓼 𝓔𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓮   / /  𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰[/color]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/iDKDTFD.png[/img][/center]
A line of carriages slowly progressed down a dirt road as dawn rose over the the home of Dalgen Carridan, somewhere on the outskirts of Ausfeld. As the vehicles approached the mansion, a swarm of men dressed in dull, grey robes seemed to pour out of the building, attending to various tasks in preparation of the first caravan's arrival. Their tasks, much to the dismay of several of Carridan's servants weaving their way through the crowd, seemed to have nothing to do with actually bringing in the horses and carriages. Rather, the men of the Church were bringing out stacks of documents, doing quiet prayers, or just standing in the way in the case of some. 

It only took a few moments after the surge of low-ranking church members for the caravan to actually begin to stop in front of the mansion. The line of six carriages quickly emptied, most of the passengers being more members of the Church, though their robes much more extravagant to mark their higher places in the generally esoteric ranking system of the Church of Adondeus. One such figure, Alles Moranth, exited his vehicle wrapped in robes of a pristine white, their gold trim painstakingly inscribed with blue runes and symbols over their entire length. His identity as a member of the Second Hand, the second highest rank of the Church, was unmistakable. Along with him came a retinue of men wrapped in the red robes of the Emperor's own Magi, who he quickly dismissed into the building.

Moranth raised a bony hand, and one of the churchmen handed him a stack of documents. His eyes scanned the parchment as he walked into the front hall, most of the churchmen following behind him. Alles seemed to emanate an aura of importance around him, though whether that was due to how held himself or just his status didn't really matter, he seemed to take joy in it either way.

[color=00aeef]"Where's the Truthkeeper who wrote this?"[/color] Moranth spoke to no one in particular; someone in the crowd was bound to answer. A form shuffled through the crowd, muttered something, and bounded off down some hallway. A few moments later, he was back with a man who seemed no taller than an average child.

[color=00aeef]"You wished to see me, Your Holiness?"[/color] The voice, which belonged to Aers Tolle, was about as meek as one would expect out of someone so short.

[color=00aeef]"What is the meaning of this?"[/color] Alles waved the stack of documents in front of the small scribe, his ancient face contorted in anger. [color=00aeef]"My orders were a report from the leading Keeper, AND Seeker of this operation. I see a complete detailing of our personnel, supplies, and everything on Carridan's end, but I don't see any information on security. Where is the Truthseeker?"[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Lemare... Lemare hasn't come back from doing his rounds of the perimeter. I can send for him, if you wish--"[/color] A raised hand and a deep sigh stopped Tolle before he could finish.

[color=00aeef]"Just take me to Carridan. Have someone inform this... Lemare where to find me when he finally returns."[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iDKDTFD.png[/img][/center]

It had been over two hours, and still there was no sign of the Truthseeker. Conversation in the third floor meeting room had slowed to a halt. Tolle sat at one of the massive table's ends, copying down something being whispered to him by a grey-clad churchman. Carridan sat toward the center, nursing what seemed to be tea, but was much more likely to be some sort of alcohol. One of the Emperor's Magi had made his way into the room at some point, sitting across from Carridan in stark silence.

The tall, bony Moranth stood in front of the room's only window, at the end of the room across the table from Tolle, and stared down at the grounds below. Servants and churchmen still worked, carrying several crates and bags into the mansion. One of the carriages sat untouched, clearly still occupied. Inside waited the first of the Celestial Bonds, who Moranth had ordered be told to wait until after he had met with Lemare. Of course, he had not anticipated them sitting there for this long.

[color=00aeef]"No sign of your Seeker, then, eh?"[/color] The grumbled line came from the gravely voice of Dalgen Carridan, the brick-like man still hunched over his drink. He certainly didn't look like a nearly 50-year-old general, or a successful one at that. The scar that crossed over his face framing a socket that now contained a glass eye, though, certainly marked him as a man that had seen battle.

[color=00aeef]"General, I think it would be best to go down and begin your greetings. Let us not keep your guests much longer. There will soon be fourteen more of them to get settled in, of course."[/color] Alles spoke slowly and deliberately, though from his tone alone it was obvious that he was more perturbed by Carridan's tone than by wasting anyone's time.

[color=00aeef]"Ye, I hear ya, Your Holiness. I think you've got a point there, at least."[/color] The old soldier rose from seat with a loud grunt, pressing his weight against the table enough to disturb the mage across from him, who had appeared to have fallen asleep during the long silence. [color=00aeef]"Oh, by the way,"[/color] Carridan added while standing up, [color=00aeef]"will I be seeing you at dinner tonight, Your Holiness? And what 'bout your churchmen? There sure are a lot of 'em. You're lucky I've a lot of extra room in the servant quarters..."[/color] He trailed off.

[color=00aeef]"No,"[/color] was the only response Moranth gave, though Tolle managed to fill in the rest before Carridan left the room. 

[color=00aeef]"Most of the Tenths'll be leaving before nightfall. No need to feed them more."[/color] The phrasing felt too curt for Tolle's sheepish nature, though that was explained by the fact that he was reading from one of the various stacks of paper laid out in front of him. With that, Carridan left, and Moranth turned his attention backed to the scene unfolding on the grounds below. A strangely confident looking woman was walking up the road to the mansion, followed by a man in a white cloak that seemed resigned.

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[color=00aeef]"Why can't I come through? Don't you know who I am?"[/color] The red-headed woman repeated at the guards. Behind them stood an imposing gate, the metal styled into the figure of a lion, the ferocity of which completely contrasted the men that protected it. The two guards looked baffled, and almost afraid of the girl. She stood almost a head taller than the shorter of the two guards, who must of been average height at worst. Her slender frame was wrapped in a thick fur coat, giving her something of an imposing look, despite being nothing more than a lone woman yelling at two baffled guards.

[color=fff200]"No, miss. We don',"[/color] the left guard muttered, with the right simply shaking his head as to say the same thing. They both held their guns awkwardly, not sure if they should point them at the strange woman, or keep them to the air.

[color=00aeef]"Okay. I'll spell it out for you both, then. L-Y-S-A-N-D-R-A. A-U-L-M-O-O-R-E,"[/color] True to her word, she loudly proclaimed every last letter, to the guards exasperation.

[color=fff200]"Yes, miss, you already said that. We still can't just let you onto the property. We'll have to ask you for documentation, or anything to prove that you are who you say you are,"[/color] once again the left guard did all the speaking, with the right guard sticking to appropriate head motions.

[color=00aeef]"Oh, you want documentation? I'll give you documentation."[/color] A wide smirk dragged it's way across Miss Aulmoore's face as she pulled a letter from the satchel that hung at her side. [color=00aeef]"Here."[/color] She showed the front of it to the guards, clearly showing the wax seal, and the marking within. [color=00aeef]"A letter from the Emperor himself!"[/color] The left guard quickly snatched it, flipping it in every which direction as he stared at it as intently as he probably was capable of. For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to lick it, but his compatriot snatched it before he could. After a similarly close inspection, the guard handed the letter back.

[color=fff200]"So, we can't really verify dis,"[/color] The left guard concluded, [color=fff200]"We'll need an official to verify somethin' of dis caliber."[/color]

Aulmoore sighed and pulled five other letters out her bag.

[color=00aeef]"Okay, if a letter from the Emperor himself won't do, how about this? A letter from EACH of the First Hand."[/color] Sure enough, each letter was stamped with a different seal, marking them as from the leaders of the Church. The two guards both gave a series of shrugs and sighs. Neither seemed willing to let Lysandra through.

[color=00aeef]"What seems to be the matter, miss?"[/color] A deep voice pierced the air from behind Aulmoore, and as she turned around she found that it belonged to an absurdly large man, standing at least a head and a half above Lysandra, and nearly four times as wide in the shoulders. The giant was wrapped in a white cloak, marked with the symbol of the Third Eye of the Church, the Truthseekers. Behind him trailed a pair of more reasonably sized men, though wrapped in black cloaks and clearly holding rifles.

[color=00aeef]"I'm just trying to get through to the Carridan residence, Truthseeker,"[/color] Lysandra followed with a curtsy and an introduction, [color=00aeef]"Lysandra Aulmoore, of the Seventh."[/color] Immediately, the Truthseeker's expression darkened.

[color=00aeef]"Documentation."[/color] Lysandra silently handed him all six letters. He didn't bother opening them to check their contents. He knew exactly who he was looking at just by the fact that she had them. He handed them back gingerly. [color=00aeef]"Alright then,"[/color] his light tone didn't fit his stern expression. [color=00aeef]"My name is Dinn Lemare. Nice to meet you, Miss Aulmoore."[/color] He rose his gloved hand towards the woman, who accepted it in a firm handshake.

[color=00aeef]"Likewise."[/color] The pair quickly turned to the gate, which was being opened by the two guards who had denied the woman entry only moments ago. Lemare waved his two followers to stay behind at the gate for a short while, he would go ahead with the woman. After a few moments, the gate was closed again, and the two were alone on the road up to the mansion. [color=00aeef]"You really should do something about those guards."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Lotte and Tobbs? They're good men, please don't give them too much trouble."[/color] He let out a deep sigh, sinking into somewhat of a lurched posture as he walked, removing a lot of the intimidation in his sheer height.

[color=00aeef]"I'll try. No promises,"[/color] she snickered, with Lemare releasing another sigh.

[color=00aeef]"Honestly, you are the worst woman I've ever met."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"I am the last woman you should say that to, Truthseeker,"[/color] She crossed her arms, a smirk running across her face.

[color=00aeef]"Just Dinn would be fine, Lys."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Then you can call me by the full Lysandra Aulmoore then, Dinn. Really, if anything you're the worst man I've ever met. My husband would murder you if he ever laid his eyes on you."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"Yes, yes. I will prepare for his full wrath. Anyway, if you're going to give everyone a headache, try to keep it minimal. A good number of them are still children."[/color]

[color=00aeef]"I'll try. No promises."[/color] After a few moments, they fell into silence, though Aulmoore did let out a few quips here and there that seemed to shrink the Truthseeker more into his lurch, though he had mostly recovered by the time they reached the front steps of the mansion. The pair were immediately directed to Moranth and Tolle by Carridan himself.

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Over the course of the day, Carridan had greeted each and every one of the Celestial Bonds, finishing the last before nightfall. His greetings for most of the pairs had been little more than the requisite pleasantries, a prayer from one of the churchmen which had gotten obnoxious after the ninth repetition of the same verse, and a send off to some of his servants who would actually give them a tour of the premises. Carridan wasn't exactly great with guests, but that much he could manage, especially with the knowledge that he'd be whipping them into shape soon enough.

The servant's short tour was at least somewhat comprehensive, but before anything they asked if the pairs would want separate rooms, or to share. After that abrupt question, some other servants quickly ran off to the second floor before the tour group. The first stop was the kitchen and dining hall where, there pairs were informed, they could request a meal at any time, though it was recommended to avoid eating too heavily as dinner would be served at seven that night, and all were expected to arrive. Following that, the pairs were shown to the gardens, which filled much of the grounds to one side of the mansion. The extensive gardens made a rather relaxing spot, though the servant also mentioned that the garden also functioned as a memorial to some of Carridan's more recently lost family members, so it was recommended to avoid the gardens if he was there. Despite this dour note, the beauty of the gardens was not something one could ignore. An endless maze of magnificent, meticulously trimmed hedges, and endless flowerbeds, with some small fruit trees and more edible plants also dotting the place.

Whilst showing the pairs the gardens, the servant also informed them of the other locations on the rather extensive property, such as a large field being prepared that would be used for training in the coming days, as well a graveyard on the northwest edge. There was also some groves and farmland towards the eastern edge of the property, but these, as well as the graveyard, were off limits mostly due to their distance from the mansion itself, each being one or two hours of walking from the buildings. In addition, there was a second building near the mansion that functioned as the servant quarters, and the pairs were asked to stray from this building for obvious reasons.

After this, the pairs were lead through the rest of the ground floor, which mostly consisted of several rooms being used for storage, as well as a few rooms deemed off-limits, their doors locked. The second floor was mostly a maze of unused rooms like the first, though there was a few hallways of rooms clearly prepared to be lived in. At this point, the servant unlocked one or two of the rooms, based on requests for shared or separate rooms, and informed the pairs that if they had any requests for their living arrangements, they had only to ring the bells on the wall inside their rooms to call a servant, and the request would be fulfilled in a timely fashion. The servant also informed the pairs that restrooms were place at the end of each hall on the second floor, though the first floor's restrooms were mostly off-limits. As well, the third floor was also deemed off-limits for the time being.

The servant reminded the pairs that dinner would be at seven, and left them to their rooms, in which everything seemed brand new. A comfortable-looking bed, an expensive looking dresser, as well as a similar nightstand, a wardrobe, and a solitary desk and chair were all that occupied the room, each of those items doubled for those pairs sharing rooms. The walls were only a dull off-white, but just as pristine and fresh-looking as every other item in the room, either painstakingly added prior to their arrival, or long untouched. The wardrobes also seemed to have some contents, a few outfits seemingly tailor made for each of the eighteen, fitting their taste to some degree, though a bit more extravagant in some cases.

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Dalgen Carridan had taken his place at the end of the seemingly endless dining table, and within a few minutes his guests had begun to file in. To his left sat Dinn Lamure, and Aers Tolle sat to Carridan's right. The bulk of the table's length was reserved for the eighteen guests, each place even marked with a nameplate, with each individual sitting across from their partner. The other end of the table was capped off by a pair of the Emperor's magi, with the seat at the table's end still unoccupied. Carridan would rather it stay that way, but he didn't have a large enough table otherwise.

[color=00aeef]"Alright'n,"[/color] Carridan began, as the last of the eighteen had arrived at the table, [color=00aeef]"As you've all only arrived today, and I'm sure you're little more than strangers with each other, as well as myself, that it'd be best to start with some introductions, especially since your fates are intertwined in some sense. I guess I'll start, these two,"[/color] he motioned to the churchmen to his left and right, [color=00aeef]"and the Magi there can follow, and we'll move around the table from there."[/color] Carridan let the room fill with silence as he took a swig of his drink. [color=00aeef]"Anyway, as ya know, I'm Dalgen Carridan. Fifty... seven, I must be? Fifty-eight or so if I've lost count. Been a general 'bout as long as I can remember, but after some things came up, I retired. It was after that that I lost my eye, actually, not that I'll be telling ya 'bout that'n,"[/color] his hand passed over his glass eye as he spoke. [color=00aeef]"I was asked to whip the lot of ya into fightin' shape, which I'm still more than capable of. We'll start the day after tomorrow, by the way, just to warn you."[/color] Carridan silently motioned to Lemare.

[color=00aeef]"My name is Dinn Lemare, Truthseeker of the Third Eye of the Church of Adondeus. My job mostly involves seeking out heretics and false prophets and dealing with them, though in this case I'll be assisting Carridan, as well as making sure you all stay safe. If you're itching to explore the property, please make sure to run it by me so I can send some hounds with you."[/color] After some obvious confusion, Lemare clarified that the Hounds were the black-cloaked churchmen openly carrying weapons, which seemed to dot the property. After a few moments of silence, the next speaker stood.

[color=00aeef]"I-I'm Aers Tolle,"[/color] his voice shook as he spoke, [color=00aeef]"Truthkeeper. Scribe."[/color] Realizing his compatriot's nervousness, Lemare picked up the rest of Tolle's introduction.

[color=00aeef]"He basically makes sure everyone knows what they need to know. If you need a copy of anything, or information on anything, he's who you should ask. Though, I do admit he's a bit sheepish, so go easy on him, alright?"[/color] Tolle nodded along with Lemare's points.

Next were the two mages, who simply introduced themselves by name and sat back down. Both were in their late fifties at the youngest, with the older-looking of the two sporting a grey beard and a completely bald head, the other still having some wisps of black hair on his own scalp. The bald one was Calmes, his less-bald friend being Hann. After the two finished, there was a short silence. None at the table spoke, not for unwillingness, but rather because an obnoxious woman was making her way through the dining hall as loudly as possible. 

[color=00aeef]"Ahem,"[/color] she sounded as she reached the table, resting one arm on the back of the empty chair, [color=00aeef]"sorry I'm late, I had some business with Moranth. He really doesn't like losing power, does he?"[/color] Silence filled the hall as she removed her fur coat and tossed it a nearby servant, revealing an elaborate crimson dress that seemed more trouble than it was worth, but she seemed to be comfortable enough in it. [color=00aeef]"So, are we doing introductions, then?"[/color] She asked as she sat down. [color=00aeef]"In that case, I'm Lysandra Aulmoore, and I am now technically in command of this operation, isn't that wonderful?"[/color] She clapped a bit, though stopped herself when no one joined in, dropping her face into a pout. [color=00aeef]"Oh, and this operation, to just give everyone a quick refresher, is the training and protection of the eighteen of you, whilst our good friends the Emperor's mages,"[/color] She enthusiastically gestured to Calmes and Hann, [color=00aeef]"will be working to figure out exactly how your powers are supposed to stop the end of the world."[/color] Baffling silence fell for a good few seconds, but with a clap of her hands, Lysandra went right back into rambling. 

[color=00aeef]"Oh right, I should be talking about myself a bit more. Well, I'm a mage of an empowered bond, sort of like you all, but without the whole destiny bit. Me and my partner, our abilities are more suited to dealing with other bonds than actually fighting, which is part of why I'm here, actually. He would be here in my place, given his ability to see into people's pasts, but he had a... prior engagement and couldn't make it. So, for the time being, you have me. Don't worry, I don't bite... much. Oh, and my focus, it's a little thing called romance."[/color] With that, and a quick snicker, Lysandra Aulmoore finally shut up, allowing the guests to finally process the stream of consciousness they just received, as well as tend to their own introductions, as he had a little bit of everything prepared, his servants laying out a veritable feast on the table.

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[hider=OOC Notes]
[@January][@RedDusk][@GreenGoat][@Diggerton][@Snagglepuss89][@Lasrever][@PapiTan][@Chasers115][@Baklava][@banjoanjo][@dragonmancer][@Riffus Maximus][@Pink Khione][@ImAMushie][@Almalthia]
Your characters will all arrive at the Carridan mansion throughout the day, at any time between the early morning and late afternoon (the pair that arrives at dawn has already been decided), with no two pairs arriving at the same time. Feel free to include arrival and the tour in your posts. This introductory period will cover the time from dawn to the end of dinner on the 7th. Feel free to have characters interact before dinner, but please make sure to include your character's introduction in a post before the end of the period. Remember to ping a GM if you require NPC interaction.[/hider]