[hr][hr][center][img]https://s2.postimg.cc/9u4ekd45l/darke.png[/img][hr][img]https://s13.postimg.cc/bqokv8vef/ezgif-2-aec9dbc0b0.gif[/img][hr][@Nallore][@BlueSky44][@FantasyChic][@mnkee][@LadyRunic][@Dragoknighte][@KazAlkemi][@jdh97][/center][hr][hr][center][h3][color=10A133][b]Present Day - The Castle: December 21st, 12,507 - 9:45 AM [/b][/color][/h3][/center][hr][@jdh97]: Jadis' face soured. She didn't bother to keep how much that thought bothered her. She had gone to great lengths in order to persuade her brother to propose marriage to dear little Valda. In fact, she may have had to threaten him with a hex or two if he didn't cooperate. But eventually, Puck had come to see reason. It would be advantageous for both siblings - and Valda wasn't fit to rule. Not really. As much as Jadis loved her, the throne would suit her ill. "Then I will expect you to convince her otherwise, Little-Bell," Jadis finally said. The Wendron Witches had finally made it to the Palace. The guards, understandably, appeared less than thrilled to see them. 

"Names?" a sour faced guard stated. 

"The Wendron Witches, invited here by Queen Valda." 

"She isn't Queen yet."

[@LadyRunic]: The message rat accepted the message, informing Rhys that it would have half a crown. It was more expensive than normal but so many people were sending message rats on this day, both due to the coronation and because of the Winter Solstice. And unfortunately, they didn't give out discounts to rogue ex-wizards. "Unless you can get the broken apprentice in the corner to move, then it's a quarter crown," the rat then offered. 

As soon as Rhys turns to look, he'll see a boy rocking back and forth in the corner, muttering under his breath the same few sentences over and over again. [i]"I mustn't tell them. I mustn't tell them. She'll be angry with me. Very angry. But they're all going to die...They're going to die...I need to tell...But I can't...Carlan said I mustn't..."[/i] He'll recognize him, of course. It's [url=https://s9.postimg.cc/6wajjklf3/giphy.gif]Tom Meadow[/url] - his fence's eldest son. And thanks to Rhys' skill in [b]Magyk[/b], he'll be able to tell what's wrong with Tom instantly - someone used powerful mental magyk on him, a bit carelessly even. It's deep set psychic trauma. Likely irreversible as well. Tom's [b]Magyk[/b] is probably the only thing keeping him alive. 

[@KazAlkemi]: Rowland looked at Cuyler with sympathy, before reaching into a small pocket on his belt. He withdrew a small glimmering [b]Charm[/b] and handed it over to the Northern Trader. "This is a [b]SafeCharm[/b] - may it prevent further tragedy from entering your life," Rowland explained. [b]SafeCharms[/b] were powerful pieces of [b]Magyk[/b], designed to keep the holder from harm. They worked for anyone, [b]Magykal[/b] talent or not. There were stories of people escaping fires unscathed because of them. 

"You have my condolences," Yule then said, his head bowed slightly. "Just as there are so many who use [b]Magyk[/b] for good...so are there those who use it for evil."

Rowland nodded. He paused for a moment before returning to a lighter subject. "I'll take whichever one you recommend for Arya - and I'll pay double the asking price." (If Cuyler accepts the [b]SafeCharm[/b], please add it to your possessions). 

[@Nallore]: The delegation from the Eastern SnowPlains exited their rooms, having concluded their prayer session. Empress Astris had attended Queen Meliscente's funeral, yet she had sent her sister, [url=http://cdn.collider.com/wp-content/uploads/maleficent-elle-fanning-slice.jpg]Princess Snaera[/url], to attend Valda's coronation. There had been no grand explanation offered for it, other than that Empress Astris was rather busy. Her own father had perished not too long after Queen Meliscente had died, causing her to inherit the empire. Now, Princess Snaera was accompanied by [url=https://s9.postimg.cc/c84nj9q4f/54a010ba8c1469c3f1279d1a327999c2.jpg]Grand Magician Peter Wylie[/url]. Wylie was a native to the Castle, the former apprentice of Blaise Rowland - yet he did not complete his apprenticeship. 

"You're late," Snaera said coolly. She fiddled with a ring on her finger, not hiding a look of disgust on her face. Relations with the Eastern SnowPlains had been great under Queen Meliscente - apparently they had deteriorated as of late...

[@BlueSky44]: Puck relaxed considerably, surprisingly seeming to be okay with Valda's response. He nodded and gave her a deep bow, before smiling at her warmly. "I can have the Young Army fully situated in two hours. We are encamped on the north road. If you would not mind, might I use the Palace line to the message rat headquarters? It will be the most efficient way to communicate the good news to my men. And we wouldn't want them to be delayed a single moment on your special day, Princess Valda."

As soon as Puck finishes, the herald will return. "Your highness, the Wendron Witches have arrived. They are being detained at the front steps. What shall we do?"

[@Dragoknighte]: The creature struggled slightly in a desperate attempt to break free. But rather than breaking Atkin's grip on it, it instead outgassed slightly. The scent is truly awful - imagine the worst  odor you have ever experienced and multiply it times a thousand. Fortunately, Atkin will manage to avoid puking - and unfortunately, the creature doesn't have anything helpful to say. "Oh great powerful one, please do release me...This is most unseemly..."

A thought will occur to Atkin, however. If he can get the creature to Wizard Tower, he can just lock it up in the Stranger Chamber and let Arya deal with it later. She might be able to tell him what exactly it is as well - and that smell is truly awful. It's hanging in the air, so it might be a good idea to get a change of scenery...[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=#9B30FF]Arya Rincewind[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://s9.postimg.cc/6tuc8047j/tumblr_inline_mh9g18863_U1qz4rgp.gif[/img][hr][color=#9B30FF][b]Location:[/b][/color] Wizard Tower - Great Hall[/center][hr]	Arya frowned sharply at Louanna's words, yet they were soothing at the same time. The last [b]Questing[/b] stone had been drawn what felt like eons ago. In fact, Arya remembered the name of the ExtraOrdinary Apprentice who went on the final [b]Queste[/b] - Septimus Heap. ExtraOrdinary Apprentices still drew from the [b]Questing[/b] Pot during their apprenticeship, but it was a mere formality. It no longer carried the specter of death that it once had. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"Miss Moon, there are no more [b]Questing[/b] stones - only pebbles remain in the pot,"[/color] Arya reminded the ghost gently. It generally didn't help to get cross with the spirits - they couldn't help getting their memories mixed up with the present. It was sometimes better that way as well. She had had to [b]banish[/b] a particularly unruly ghost of an Ordinary Wizard from Wizard Tower a few weeks ago - a Erik Halaway. He kept tormenting the new apprentices, fully aware of his actions. 

	"There weren't anymore and now there are...You need to be careful. When the [b]Draw[/b] happens, the pot is filled with [b]Questing[/b] stones," Louanna said. She spoke in a soft monotone. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"And who could have replaced the stones, Louanna? Hotep-Ra?"[/color] Arya asked incredulously. There was only one [b]Questing[/b] stone in the Castle and it had been marked as complete. It couldn't be turned back into a blank slate - a death sentence for a new apprentice. 

	"I saw an apprentice go to the pot like he was in a trance," Louanna said calmly. "I couldn't tell what he did - there was a flash of green light - but when he left, I went to look at the pot...I lost my apprentice to the [b]Queste[/b]...and it was filled with [b]Questing[/b] stones."

	[color=#9B30FF]"How long ago did this happen? And Miss Moon...Do you know who the apprentice was?"[/color] Arya asked. A chill had run down her spine. She wasn't certain whether or not to believe Louanna, yet her intuition was telling her that Louanna believed every word she said. Louanna hadn't exhibited any of the senile behavior some ghosts had - the poor thing had died young - and she truthfully didn't have any reason to doubt her. But for someone to fill the pot with [b]Questing[/b] stones, so soon after the Queen died and a witch was posed to take the throne...

	Arya took a deep breath. Her thoughts had begun to spiral and that wasn't what Wizard Tower needed of its ExtraOrdinary Wizard. 

	"Tom Meadow," Louanna said. 

	Arya bit her nails, tapping her foot against the floor. The floor was uncharacteristically silent, not displaying any greetings or words of wisdom. They were short staffed that day at Wizard Tower, with many of the Ordinaries taking the day off to enjoy the coronation. Atkin was too inexperienced when it came to [b]Magyk[/b] for him to be of much service either. And she was needed at the Palace desperately, apparently. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"Miss Moon, please see which ExtraOrdinary ghosts would be willing to watch Wizard Tower in my absence. We will be [b]barring[/b] the Tower to all visitors - including members of the Royal Family. Should Mr. Meadow return, he is to be taken to the Stranger Chamber and held there until I return,"[/color] Arya instructed. The Tower itself heard the command of its ExtraOrdinary Wizard and began to subtly transform. [b]Anyone who could see the tower, even in the distance, would notice the change.[/b] Its purple aura grew stronger, and sheets of metal and bars slid and covered all exits, aside from the main entrance. 

	[color=#9B30FF]"You two - please stand guard to the Tower,"[/color] Arya then said, spotting two Sub-Wizards chatting off the Great Hall's main corridor. [color=#9B30FF]"There is something [b]Darke[/b] making itself at home in the Castle..."[/color] she then offered as explanation. [hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=7bcdc8]Nera Hawthorn[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://s9.postimg.cc/9cg18nv2n/giphy-30.gif[/img][hr][color=7bcdc8][b]Location:[/b][/color] Port Witch Coven House[/center][hr]	Sig hardly blinked an eye at Fleur's attempts to intimidate him. Either he was very brave or very stupid. The man then opened his coat, showing a row of silver bullets. "I know a thing or two about names as well. You see this one?" Sig explained, gesturing to one with [i]F.L.M.[/i] carved into it. "It's for you. Kill me and togethah, well, we'll take our medicine," the man spat. 

	Nera's eyes flashed dangerously. [b]Named bullets[/b] were nothing to joke about. In many ways, they were more dangerous than a witch knowing one's name. Once put into action, a [b]named bullet[/b] cannot be stopped. It will defy logic and physics as it soars through the air, even penetrating land or sea, to kill its target. She held out her hand, making perfect eye contact with Sigmund. 

	[color=7bcdc8]"D'num,"[/color] Nera said. The black flecks appeared to overpower the blue in her eyes. She extended her hand and then snapped her fingers. A moment later, a ball of [b]Darke[/b] energy hit the ground next to Sig. She snapped her fingers again, causing another one to hit. She was about to cast a third when she noticed Sig clutching at his chest, barely able to speak or move. He was red and splotchy - more than normal - before he promptly keeled over. He had died of fright. 

	[color=7bcdc8]"What a shame...He expired so quickly,"[/color] Nera said with a sigh. [color=7bcdc8]"I am ready to leave for the Castle whenever you two are."[/color]

	In general, the rest of the Coven seems to be in good spirits. Two of the kids came screaming down the stairs, chasing each other with little orbs of energy and light. It's not an uncommon game for the children of the Port Witch Coven. There are some older members of the Coven, so there's already someone there to babysit them. Nothing else for Fleur and the others to attend to - though they may wish to dispose of the body...[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=ff0000]Myrus Silvers[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://s9.postimg.cc/42b2h1xvj/tumblr_inline_naz1rpis_Mx1qce4fj.gif[/img][hr][color=ff0000][b]Location:[/b][/color] Servants Quarters - The Palace[/center][hr]	Myrus' eyes watered slightly at Lyra's words and he tried to think of ways to excuse what Mavis had said to him. But he was quite literally saved by the bell - or in this case, a knock at the door. They had left it ajar, and Myrus turned with a bit of a jump. It was the delegation from the Big Wild Land Over the Ocean - they weren't due for at least another half an hour. The young prince blushed furiously, eliciting a smile from [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/0/09/Black_Panther_Textless_Character_Poster_08.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20171201052654]the shorter of the two delegates[/url]. 

	[color=ff0000]"Asha the [b]Magykal[/b], Emperor Taj, my apologies...I was not aware that your vessel had arrived at the Palace docks,"[/color] Myrus said, bending his knee. He motioned for Lyra to do the same. The Big Wild Land Over the Ocean was not a country that most in the Castle knew about - and certainly not in the Land of Long Nights. Yet even without prior knowledge of them, it was already clear how formidable they were. 

	"It is no trouble, Prince Myrus," Asha said with a smile. She was positively radiating [b]Magyk[/b], her purple aura visible to those who could not see [b]Magyk[/b]. Around her neck, she wore a simple purple stone, yet it glowed with the same energy. Its immense power was palatable. It was clear that Asha possessed a strength that the Castle's ExtraOrdinary Wizard would pale in comparison to. "We took the Ancient Ways - a much more pleasant trip than any vessel," Asha explained. 

	[url=http://zazabava.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/BP_master-1.jpg]Emperor Taj[/url] had remained silent, yet he was giving Myrus and Lyra a friendly smile. 

	[color=ff0000]"Then please allow me to welcome you personally to the Small Wet Country Across the Sea - to the Castle - and to the Palace,"[/color] Myrus said, rising from his knelt position. [color=ff0000]"Should you require anything, please let me know and I will see to it personally. Princess Valda is so honored to have your presence here for her coronation."[/color]

	"There is something that I must regret not having done yet, Prince Myrus," Taj said finally. "I wish to pay my respects to Queen Meliscente - if I may."