Fallenreaper

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

*wiggles this alive*

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

@yoshua171@Fallenreaper
Hi! Thanks for the help.
Well I could play Prae but I guess I need a bit more background information? (I've read the backstory and everything) is there any sort of personality in the characters that you are lacking?

@ineffable

I noticed this wasn't answered, so I'll tell you what I know as I've made one as a NJP (Non Joint Player Character) and sat in while another player asked questions. Also a lot of the information is in the chatroom in the Lore channel which I believe might help you. From what I recall asking Yosh and Cel about it, Prae are a bit indoctrinate culture wise and their main focus is having motives to benefit their race as a whole rather than individual desires. This also could've changed with time in Medius as they aren't surrounded by their race or that benefit the race attitude.

To be honest, we have all sorts from shy, timid characters to jaded immortals to strict mafia businessman to eccentric shopkeeper to naive Licentia to Traditional Prae and even a mentally unstable Prae. So feel free to go wild. :P

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

♤ Darius M Cain ♤

---

Time

Day 3~ 4 P.M.

Location

Nightclub, Entertainment District in Ominar

---

“I’m more careful than you,” Darius softly warned. His eyes jerked upright and noticed Cortes’ gaze, their eyes locked for a moment. If looks could create sparks, this one would’ve set a wildfire. Lingering well after Cortes forced himself to turn away, the Fox adjusted his suit and gave one last bow before departing. He trusted that Mash knew what she was doing. If not, Afua would ensure the woman didn’t die.

Upon reaching the exit, his phone rang and vibrated in his pocket. Darius carefully pulled it out then flipped it open to review the messages. Two names caught his attention promptly: Mr. Aeon and Ms. Quarin. He hadn’t heard the latter in a long time as a mixture of dark and light memories surfaced to his attention, ones which took place during his time in Torqueo. It was a strange place for him. A time he didn’t wish to ever remember.

He snapped back into the present almost immediately.

His thumb darted over the touch screen to arrange the two meetings. Lily, despite her latter timing on her request, was scheduled today. He requested she wait for him at the Sinner’s Luck casino where he would pick her up and continue their meeting at his estate. Aeon’s would be tomorrow afternoon because of his impatience. It surprised Darius that such an ‘elderly’ individual would actually behave like his physical appearance. Either something was wrong, or Aeon wasn’t nearly as old as his manners seemed to portray. Finished with his current business, Darius pocketed his cell once more and stepped into the waiting car.

Matthew Cortes

---

Cortes’ head turned slightly from the bar and from the corner of his vision, watched the exchange between the two. He eyed specifically Darius very carefully. It was difficult to play a viper in the grass especially being this close to the Kitsune. One misstep and it would all come crashing down in a horrible fire of failure. He couldn’t allow it to happen. The thought crossed his mind as he leaned into the bar, his arm reached for the shitty shot of whiskey his second rate bartender poured.

It was a ruse they both developed in order to prevent business from thriving. If this place went down, Darius would consider selling it and place it on the market. During that time, the gang he associated with and began to lead would chase off any potential buyers when necessary. Then they would create a nest to overthrow the Fox from his comfortable throne.

Distracted by his thoughts, Cortes barely realized that Masha had turned her attention upon him. He coughed to hide it as he twisted about in his chair and set his attention onto her. With the Fox gone, he didn’t have to tiptoe as carefully.

“I’m surprised you really want to turn this [i[place[/i] into something more,” He politely put it, trying to keep the charm up and hopefully talk her out of it. He took a sip of his whiskey then crunched his nose. It was disgusting by his standards but he beared through it, managing to hold his constitution past the burn down his throat and until the very end. He was a little disappointed that the aftertaste didn’t fade too.

Not willing to drink more, he slide the glass over to his employee to clean up. His words still directed to Mash, “However, you’re the boss and you’ll find out soon enough. Where do you want to make changes first?”

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Alright, currently in a collab with Xodus. XD

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Nox Alignment Ceremony

_{@Rtron,@Lucius Cypher, @May, & @Luna}

Darell jerked to his right and rolled. Two tentacles slapped the area he once stood and then retracted back, the jagged rows of teeth grinded slightly. It sounded like rocks being clashed together. A scream was heard as one of the students they had picked up immediately moved behind Annabeth. Meanwhile, Annabeth already had her weapon raised and ready to defend herself and the girl, their shadows advancing upon them.

Drake already began to hack then slice at his current shadow. It flinched, the physical attack sliced off several appendages before they promptly grew back. This caused a horrified expression to surface upon his face as newer tentacle shot forward then penetrated his shoulder.

A blood curdling scream erupted from him, the sound echoed throughout the room. His sword dropped from his hand and his body crashed to the ground, helpless as the thing’s mouth clamped down on upon his foot.

“Help me! Please!” Drake begged as he reached for his sword, the blade just out of his reach.

The Uth tugged his foot and jerked him away. His foot kicked out but seemed to not affect it, the teeth biting down harder and began to shake him.

Upon hearing Helena, Darell’s head jerked into her direction, “Uth are deep Nox dwellers. Physical attacks aren’t going to do shit unless you combine it with magic, any type works. However, it won’t do us much good-Shit!”

Darell’s Uth lunged forward. His figure jerked to the side in an attempt to avoid, only to find the creature twist about and smack his chest with its back hoof. Blood splattered from the slice deeply into his skin and bone. Crack! His body slid along the stone and into the abyss, his arm jerked out just in time to present himself from plummeting down. The Uth snarled as it casually advanced, intending to finish the job.

Uncovering Shadows

Lyn, Hysteria (Djarkel)

---

Lyn’s legs struggled to gain some holding upon the smoothed stone surface. Each time she tried to pull herself upon the roof, her foot slipped and whatever gain she had was immediately lost. The worse part, she felt her fingers slipping gradually. She knew it wouldn’t be long before she would be falling to the ground. Her eyes looked over her shoulders just when her hands lost their grip.

Her heart stopped in her chest. Air rushed about her when she began to fall and her arms flailed a bit, her mind imagining herself hitting the ground and becoming a red smear upon the stone. Her plummet suddenly came to an abrupt halt when something snatched her wrist. Her arm jerked and her body dangled there several moments before she opened her eyes to realize her fall had been stalled. Lyn’s eyes glanced upward to spy Ssarak, his arm extended and firmly fastened to her wrist to stop her.

‘Thank goodness,’ she thought and reached her other arm up for him to grab.

Upon reaching the roof, her arm rubbed her now slightly sore wrist until it was gone. After a few moments she patted her trousers and shirt clear of any dirt that clinged to her. Satisfied with her examination that nothing was broken, her lips frowned at his mention of wings. Her chest inhaled and her arms crossed over it, her head tilted in what her father called her teenager pose.

She spoke in an insistent tone when Ssarak finally finished, “I just misjudged the jump was all or I would’ve made it.”

Upon hearing the mention of more than one, her eyes snapped to the Esyire. She bit her lip then spoke what was on her mind, “That’s not normal… is it? This wasn’t some random theft, or am I over thinking this?”

Without waiting for an answer, her face scanned the roof for some way in. She shortly spied a single wooden hatch and possibly their way in. However, if anyone attempted to open it than they would find it jiggled easily but didn’t give easily. It would take time and risked someone hearing them.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG Season 2- New Horizons (Closed)

&

Location: Hilton hotel, Las Vegas (lobby)
Time: About 9 pm in the Evening

After a good half an hour of explaining nearly everything new in the room, Ben had managed to finally lay his things upon the bed in an orderly fashion. He glanced at his watched. He had realized a while ago he wouldn’t have time to complete his set task before leaving, but it was still worth trying. As he discarded some plastic wrapping from a health bar, he turned to Katarina and examined her a moment. His thoughts trailed back to when they originally came.

She reminded him of a little kid. So excited and filled with wonder, it irritated him to waste the time going over what he already knew. However, he didn’t make it known on the outside. One thing was pretty clear: he couldn’t simply leave her within the hotel room or the whole thing might go up in flames in his absence.

Ben sighed. His hand zipped up the bag and turned to the newly risen vampire, “Alright, are you ready to head down to the lounge? I want to see if anyone arrived before we go shopping.”

Katarina gaped at the room. So much technology, so much progress, so much stuff! A television, a separate room called a bathroom, with something called a shower? She’d have to test that out later. Kat looked out from the window at the city of Las Vegas. The very view of the city astonished her - the idea that a metropolis of this magnitude, this sophistication, could be constructed seemingly out of nothing in the vast deserts of… No Water? Nevada? Katarina giggled at the joke she had just thought of. Small wonder the locals called it Nevada... there was no water here. “Nevada… Las Vegas… it’s all so much to take in. Amerika in general is so huge, it’s nothing like even the largest cities in the Holy Roman Empire when I visited them. The idea of a place like this… larger than Koln, or Lubeck, but built in a desert? I don’t know what to say.”

Kat walked back over to her beau and kissed him on the cheek, giving a sly smile. ”You’ll have to take me around it sometime. At night… I heard on the plane from several people that Vegas really… ah, what did they say, they said it ‘comes alive at night’. Sort of like me, ja? But for now...” Katarina sighed and played with a strand of her silver hair, pulling slightly at the neck of a leather jacket Ben had lent to her. Sadly, it was a couple sizes too small - as were most of Ben’s clothes - but it would serve the purpose for now; Katarina could do without the added risks of using supernatural powers in such a heavily-built up and highly-populated environment. Which was also all the more reason she was thankful Ben was close at hand… just in case she grew thirsty.

”Sorry. Back to the task at hand. I’m ready. Unlike you… I don’t have lots of luggage to carry around with me.”

“It also means you don’t have anything to wear aside from my clothes. We’ll have to go clothes shopping as well, or I’ll run out of them at this rate. I’ve already got an issue with keeping them intact,” Ben commented. He had struggled not to react to her kiss as the sensation still tingled on his skin and created goosebumps across the surface. A brief memory of Kat’s teeth reaching for his neck pulsed through his mind causing him to brace. Immediately as it came, it was gone.

Ignoring his sudden fear, Ben moved toward the door then gestured for Kat to follow him out into the lobby.

Marie sat legs crossed on a burgundy sofa in a small section of the lobby, nearest the breakfast bar and across from the main elevator. It was a comfortable enough position that kept her from tapping her feet on the carpet in anticipation. She stared down at her mobile phone, the fluorescent light from the dining area glinting off the dark screen giving the illusion of a notification or incoming message. She’d been waiting for ten minutes or so, taking in the drab lobby decor which held the familiar hotel charm she’d become accustomed to over years of family vacations.

Holt too seemed impatient, pacing around the sofa as a spectral feline, impishly pawing at the table cloths and throws that were neatly tucked onto the backs of the dinettes surrounding the breakfast bar. Passersby looked curiously at the sight, seeing fabric move as if influenced by a draft, but feeling no such sensation.

It would seem that our host is running late, Holt mentally groaned, jumping onto the sofa that sat Marie and curling up behind her neck. Or perhaps he was as exhausted as you from the excitement of his transformation a few days ago.

Marie sighed, eyes glue to her phone.

If he is asleep, he won’t be for long once he catches a whiff of my magic. Marie responded promptly, her mental tone conveying her anxiety. She knew not whether Rune and Otto would make their appearance tonight, nor if they were to begin the magicians’ quest, nor if they would have the time to begin the hunt for the next of Gwyneth’s artifacts.

The ding of the elevator caught Marie’s attention. She turned with a hopeful smile and, sure enough, out stepped Ben with a rather strange and bewildered woman.

Ben’s attention spread between navigating their path and eyeing Kat. He didn't want her wandering off or touching anything that wasn't suppose to be touched. Currently she was behaving, but he didn't trust that to last very long. His hands found his pockets as he was the first one off the elevator.

The magical scent hit him like a freight train. His steps immediately grinder to an abrupt stop and his head scanned the lobby in alert, his nose the only thing guiding him. The stronger the scent become, the more difficult it was to fight the urge to just coat himself in it. His teeth grinded against his cheek while he approached a petite woman in a white sundress and hat, his hand gestured to Kat to follow him.

“That's not at all what I expected you to look like.”

”Verdammt, that’s strong…” The magical aura stopped Katarina in her tracks as she followed Ben. Immediately, her eyes changed from their usual black colour to slits of red, as her blood tracking took over from her normal self. She hissed softly, scanning around for the source of the witchcraft; she was all to used to that powerful aura - Revinskas had taught her much of the ways of the witch, though Katarina did not use them, opting instead for necromancy as the source of her strength - but was unable to pinpoint its exact location.

Another thing that stopped her was the main lobby’s appearance itself. Katarina was momentarily stunned as she beheld its appearance, a far cry from the halls of her ancestors, from the environs of Castle Neuhausen. Pillars of stone, veritable sheets of glass covering whole walls, polished stone tiles, staircases that spiralled away from the ground floor, wide enough for potentially two men to ride on horses side-by-side… it amazed her to see such opulence and such architectural splendour outside of perhaps the richest Gothic English cathedrals of her time… and she was sure that the amount of colour was far superior in this massive room than in even Canterbury or York Minster. Katarina shook her head in disbelief as she raised her head to look at the ceilings, high above them all. And then… she felt the heat. The heat of the bright lights, the discomfort she felt as their rays touched her pale and deathless skin… Miniature suns, they seemed to be, of all different colours. Red, blue, pink, purple… all the colours of the rainbow, and then some. She shifted uneasily, and fingered a crucifix about her neck that she had bought at the… what did they call it, an airport?

“Vertraue auf den Herrn, und er wird dich beschützen… My mother’s own words.” she breathed to herself as she felt the light’s effects slowly die away, a transparent layer of shadow thread coating her skin protecting her from the worst of their harsh glare. It was an old tactic she had learned from Vytautas when he had been forced to operate during the day. Vytautas claimed that he was no more vulnerable to the sun than any other man with it… but Katarina had also stabbed him in the chest, and he had said he was the most powerful man in Poland shortly before. She had learned to take his words with a pinch of salt. Bringing herself back to her senses, Katarina saw Ben over with a woman in white… a surge of jealousy and anger came to the fore, but Katarina quickly suppressed it. Instead, she, too, walked over, just in time to catch Ben talking to the woman.

”It would appear you two already know each other. Intriguing…” Katarina gave a small smile, careful not to expose her teeth. For all she knew, this woman might be a hunter, or a vampire slayer.

Marie nodded to Ben and his strange companion, taking note of her dismayed approach.

”Nice to see you too, Ben.” Marie unfolded her legs and sat up slightly, a hint of sarcasm in her voice for the unorthodox greeting she’d received. Not that she expected open arms. ”I know I look a little more civilian than our last meeting, although I doubt anyone would bat an eye if I wore the costume . . . who’s your friend there?” Marie nodded to Katarina. ”Found someone else to join the cause?”

Holt sized up the newcomer, death noticeably pouring off her skin.

She’s a vampire, Holt sent Marie a mental warning. Marie looked at her again for a brief moment but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Ben flinched at being called Benjamin but upon noting Kat’s reaction, his attention turned to address her first. He ignored the sarcasm in the woman’s voice from his greeting as he replied, “I met her, and others over the last two days, in usual circumstances. It's been a bit hellish to be honest and seems I'm a supernatural magnetic.”

His hand rubbed through his short hair as he considered what to say next, “Katarina, this is Marie. Marie, Katarina. As for joining the case, that's up to her. She arrived at my doorstep after you dropped me off, saved my ass from jerk metas, and is the primary reason I was able to get here at all without becoming a reported runaway.”

”Pleasure to meet you, Katarina. It’s nice that someone else is looking out for Ben, although I think he’s probably got a few too many of us at the moment.”

Marie turned her head to the side, ”See, it’s fine.” she said in a hushed voice to no one.

”What can you say, you have such a… magnetic personality, Benjamin...” Katarina giggled slightly at her joke, and carelessly, unknowingly, flashed a fang in the woman’s direction. Turning her attention back to the woman before her, Katarina curtsied slightly, dropping her head in a respectful bow. ”Well then, well met, fraulein Marie. As Benjamin has already said, my name is Katarina, of the family von Rysech.” Be on your guard, Katarina, she thought to herself, for this one is most definitely one to be trifled with. Katarina looked down and scanned Marie with her eyes, trying to take in every detail, every nook and cranny of the woman’s visage. Yet, as she did so, she could feel her mental image slipping from her even as she looked. Perhaps some sorcery to turn her sight? Some hex that surrounded her as she walked, ensuring her anonymity in the crowds of the American commonfolk? But how? She was the only woman dressed as she was, at least as far as Katarina could see. A woman in white. A witch in white, to be more precise. Perhaps she called herself the weiße Hexe. It would make sense after all. The Red Countess meeting the White Witch… in the city of colour.

Katarina’s suspicions were heightened as she heard Marie talking to someone… something, behind her. Katarina’s steely, reddened gaze switched to the area behind Marie, where slowly, almost reluctantly, a shape began to coalesce from a mist… something was behind Marie, and seemed to be looking straight back at Katarina. Or was that a trick of the mind? No… there was something there, alright.

“I can smell your friend, which is putting me on edge because I can't see him,” Ben commented and added, “And my name is Benjamin, don't call me Ben again. So… we’re heading off to get some food and clothes shop for Katarina. Do you want to come with us?”

Marie felt tense. This was exactly why she didn’t want to join this rag tag team of teens in the first place. But she was determined to make the most of it, even if she felt little remorse for her part in Broker’s scheme.

”Sorry,” Marie responded dejectedly, ”Won’t happen again. And maybe this will be easier for you to handle.”

Marie turned her head again to Holt. After a moment, a small, pitch black hare hopped down from behind her head and planted itself in her lap, fur black as night and eyes milky white.

”Now you can see him, and I promise he won’t surprise you like he did the last time.”

“Thank you,” came Ben’s words, his tone a bit less irritated, but I explanation came forward for his sour mood. The hare still looked creepy as fuck with its undead eyes and twitching nose. A slight shiver trailed down his spine but he ignored it.

“So, Kat, where you want to stop first at? Smith’s or clothes shopping?” his eyes drifted to Kat’s direction for an answer.

Katarina stared as the mists coalesced into the hare that now sat upon the witch’s lap. So… a familiar, eh? Interesting, but not wholly unusual - women of Marie’s type and ability always had need of familiars, for guidance, sometimes protection, other times to do things that the witch themselves simply could not do. It made sense… though Katarina eyed it suspiciously. It had already seemed to be… hostile to Katarina’s approach, and showed no signs of growing any warmer. Still, if this witch had helped Ben, as she claimed to have done, she wasn’t wholly untrustworthy. Yet. Kat’s attention snapped back to Ben as he spoke up. She looked over at him, an unconscious lust in her eyes which was present all the time she was with him. Was it lust? Was it love? Was it anything? Or was it just a… thingy?

”Food is of little concern to me at this point, though I can appreciate you must be hungry after such a long journey, so I would argue that is our primary concern. Let us locate food first, and then you and I can discuss what we do next. And, if she so wishes,” Katarina turned her eyes back over to Marie, ”She may come with us in our little excursion… an expedition into the City of Many Colours.”

There was something in the way Katarina spoke that Marie found odd, almost out of place. It reminded her of the way in which many old world Fey spoke in English, with archaic words and affectations. She didn’t dwell on it, however.

”I could go for something sweet right about now. If you’re going out for dinner I could tag along and grab a dessert.” Marie chimed in merily, moving to the edge of the sofa as if to stand, holding Holt closer to her so he wouldn’t fall.

Marie also thought it odd how no explanation was needed for any of what had just happened. Odd . . . but refreshing. She was accustomed to seeing many strange sights at The Red Devil that it almost didn’t occur to her that such things weren’t commonplace for most.

“Well, it will be on the go. I found out I eat rather much like an animal. It’s a fact that makes me uncomfortable and I’m sure no one wants to draw attention while we’re here. That alright with you two?” Ben asked mainly to be polite. If either of them denied his request, it wasn’t likely to matter much and he was going to order his food on the run.

“Now my only worry is finding somewhere that doesn’t serve fully cooked meat.”

”Ever the picky eater. I’m sure we can find some establishment or public house that will serve its meat bleu or saignant for you. If not… then we can always acquire some from a market or butchery for your delectation.” Katarina grinned and shook her head, snickering. ”And I think you and I can get along just fine. Coffee and chocolate are my only mortal vices. And tobacco.” She had let it slip! Katarina cursed herself inwardly. The stupid fool, what if she *was* a hunter? She might have been waiting for an opportunity to strike, feigning friendliness with Ben! Katarina’s hand strayed to her side, expecting her rapier hilt… only to remember that it was in the room.

Fuck.

Marie glanced over to Katarina as she stood up fully.

”Are you alright?” she asked with slight concern. ”There’s no reason to be worried. Holt told me what you were the moment you walked over.” She looked down at the jet black hare in her arms.

Holt look up at Katarina and made a nodding gesture.

”You weren’t exactly subtle about hiding it, either. You might want to work on that. In my line of work, I’ve spoken with plenty of vampires, I have no quarrel with your kind, but there are plenty of aspiring hunters in this city who would likely be less forthcoming; It’s good to stay alert.” Marie offered a bright smile before turning back to Ben.

”And if it’s rare you want, I could have Holt snag a choice cut from a butcher or deli while we’re out.”

Again, Holt looked up, this time at Ben, and offered a small nod.

”I’ve had too many experiences with those who would rather see me impaled upon a wooden spike, little more than a rotting corpse, crumbling to dust. Forgive me, but I do not trust easily, though I appreciate your candour. I suppose I can breathe easier now.” Katarina visibly relaxed, a warmer and contented smile on her features. ”And your familiar… Holt. I sensed his presence… but I could not see him until I approached... Your aura is powerful, fraulein witch. You may want to… ‘work on that’.” Kat winked and turned to Ben.

”I think… we are ready to depart.”

“I hate to break both of your bubbles, but no one’s killing anyone in front of me. Not unless you want me to wolf out. With that settled and we’re all in agreement that no one’s getting into a fight, I agree it’s time to go,” Ben gestured toward the lobby exit and led the two women out, his hand raised for a taxi. After delivering directions to a local fast food joint, he plopped his back upon the seat as it pulled away.

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

@ineffable no problem.

Formaroth: Battle for the Throne

Location: Nyhem, Formaroth (Docks to Thale Manor)
Time: Present Day
By: @Sundered Echo & @Fallenreaper

---

“I think that’s it,” Dyril said as she finished writing the list of her wares.

Her hunched over figure lifted upright and her dark eyes looked over the Mao at her side. Kiseo appeared rather nervous about her given task as she cautiously took the extended letter from Dyril’s hand and pocketed it into her satchel. She still held bags under her feline eyes thanks to the disrupted slumber during her first experience in a real bed. It was obviously miserable for her all night thank to the anxiety and restlessness causing her to tumble to the floor where she at last fell into a deep slumber.

The next morning, they both had risen early to categorize their goods locked within the ship and determine how much gold was required to make this trip worth it. Through not dwarven metal, any profit was going to benefit them in the long run for the war happening back home. At least until Dyril’s grandfather discovered her current situation and either forced her back home or completely disowned her, neither were pleasant as it meant complete isolation.

Dyril inhaled a breath to sooth her nerves before she nudged Kiseo along to her given task. There was still much for the half elven woman to attend to, primarily getting her wares somewhere else and stored safely until they were sold.

Kiseo bowed her head obediently before she vanished into the crowded streets of Nyhem.

~~|An Hour later|~~

After asking around and trying to navigate her way through numerous buildings, Kiseo managed to simply become ‘lost’ in one section of the city. While she knew the way back to the docks, going forward with little knowledge of how was simply impossible for now. Anxiety built in her core when she approach a pair of guards standing on a path’s corner and surveying the crowded streets of merchants to common folks, all attending to their daily business. It was a nerve wrecking start that ended up causing her to slip into her native language on instinct. This drew a look from both men as one nodded his head then turned to her, requesting she wait with him.

She nodded her understanding through she was not exactly enthusiastic about it since it meant she might’ve caused trouble for Dyril now. After several minutes passed, the second guard arrived with two other men who bore the familiar symbol of the Thale Manor. Kiseo’s shoulders immediately relaxed upon the sight and she stepped forward, her words spoken in broken Formaroth with a request to see Magister Lady Dionisa.

After hearing her request, they escorted her to the Thale Manor. Kiseo memorized their path for the future as she timidly stepped into the grand doors and was ordered to wait in the grandhall while a servant fetched Lady Dionisa. Forced to wait, the Mao observed the room.

Lana was in her study on the top floor, looking over various documents from the palace. It was a boring job, and most of the reports of ‘magical activity’ from around the city and its surroundings were superstitious, ill-informed or attention seeking. The few genuine ones were typically explainable quite easily and not worth investigating. The rest of the stack of paper was logistics, and even more boring the fearful ramblings of the peasants. It had been one thing to manage House Thale, but her workload had near quadrupled with her promotion. Frankly, she didn’t know how Aurelia had dealt with it. It certainly explained her friends lack of time. At this rate she was genuinely toying with the possibility of delegating the Thale management to someone else, to say nothing of managing the task of restoring her own families recently re-granted assets.

She was pleasantly interrupted from the tedious yet necessary paperwork by the chime of an ethereal bell - caused by the disruption of a subtle sustained illusion around her room - a warning spell to tell her when people approached. She shuffled the papers to the side and walked towards the door - reaching it just in time for a polite knock, followed by a servant’s voice.

“Mistress, there is a…” The voice - Lana could now tell it belonged to the dark haired maid Mary - faltered. “Creature… to see you downstairs.”

Taking a short moment to secure an illusory dress of black of and purple over her form, she then opened the door and thanked Mary, before descending to the hall on the first floor. As she appeared, she noted the presence of the Knight of St. Eleanor assigned to guard her - who immediately stood slightly taller when he noticed her. She also noticed the creature that had accompanied the Elf earlier admiring some of the plants set around the edges of the room.

“Kiseo, was it?” Lana said, sure that she was butchering the name. Learning elven was one of the things she had always intended to do… eventually.

“It is Key-see-o, not Kay-see-o, Magister,” Kiseo politely corrected as she retracted her attention from the nearest potted plant. Both her hands gripped the scroll and held it in front of her, aware she still had to deliver it. Her tail curled tightly against her backside. It didn’t sway like in the carriage as her mind was still wary of the last time her tail became too relaxed.

Swallowing her emotions, Kiseo stepped forward to out hold the scroll, “Inventory request from mistress. Please the Magister, I hope, and detailed it is.”

There was obvious struggle with the words she chose as she attempted to adjust her own understanding, but still seemed to fail to grasp the foundation rules over the language.

“Thank you” Lana said, taking the scroll. She held it delicately, but did not open it. “I will look at it later. Did you wish to stay here a while and speak?” She asked expectantly. It was difficult to read the creature's emotions - a rather disconcerting element for Lana - though she was already applying her shape-shifting lessons for learning about creatures in order to gain that basic knowledge. She had no intent to study this creature enough to take its shape, but some basic knowledge was vital and would likely help facilitate communication.

“Not use to talking free is me so please forgive. About many things, I am curious like clothes of yours… but normal ones rustle, these don’t,” Kiseo stated, attempting to make her sentences a bit more clearer, as her tone took on a questioning one. She wasn’t fully sure she was speaking as well as she wanted, her curiosity getting into the way and trying to edge her into speaking Mao when her mistress forbade her to. Part of her wished there was some type of magic that might make communication easier.

Lana’s eyes widened ever so slightly as she comprehended the words of the creature. That was not an element of her illusion she usually worried about - most people were not attentive enough to notice. “Why don't you come with me and we can speak a little more privately?” Lana said, turning on her heel and moving further into the house - up to the second story and to a sitting room that had a view of the evening sun. The Knight followed her, but she instructed him to remain outside the door.

“Yes, Magister,” Kiseo said seeing no way out of this without being impolite. Being within an individual’s home without Dyril made the Mao overly aware of her surroundings and she intended on avoiding a misstep that might cause issues for her Mistress in the future. Inhaling, she moved quickly behind the woman whose clothes weren’t following the natural laws as she made sure to keep an eye on her tail. The moment the Knight moved, her movement hesitated for a second causing her head to tilt to the right. She had learned in her youth that following steps often lead to trouble when she wasn’t always aware of their location. It was a habit she never broke for fear of suffering pain and misery like the first time.

She was relieved when the man was asked to remain outside and edged cautiously into the room. Feeling the light upon her fur, the sun peaking through the window and warming her, caused a soft rattling to erupt from her throat much like a purring cat. However, Kiseo didn’t close her eyes slowly to enjoy it for long as her attention turned to the master of the home.

Lana basked in the fading sunlight, appreciating the light warmth on the skin, but moreso the cascade of color on the horizon - a display that was far more magical to her than anything she could conjure to fool the masses. Even as she appreciated the light, anothe rpart of her mind noted every motion and sound that came from her guest. The latest sounds suggesting even more that Kiseo was essentially a giant, intelligent cat.

“Are you familiar with magic and how it is used in Formaroth?” She asked as a lead up to what she was going to tell the creature.

Kiseo’s attention was drawn from her distraction and her eyes darted to the Magister. Her purring had immediately ceased as she studied the woman’s words, then replied, “A knowledge little, I do… yes.”

Her ears erected with an alertness while her foot twitched, eager to move from her spot and pace. However, good training and fear kept it in check. She fixed her unblinking eyes upon the woman before she added more, “In Formaroth, no sadly, because little we found.”

It was completely true, through Kiseo was careful she didn’t detail her knowledge source or how. She might’ve had the talent but Dyril, despite being a non mage, knew far more then herself. The hybrid studied material when she had nothing else to do. This impressed even the priests when conversations reared up over the topic, but they still frowned upon her inability to cast the fine arts and often moved back to their own company. It didn’t help Dyril’s family would often interfere with matters of trade and other subjects that required immediate attention, preventing additional progression from her runt rank among the family.

Lana took in the words carefully, unsure yet if they were chosen carefully or if Kiseo really had such a poor grasp of her language. Still, she pressed on. “Ah. Magister, my title, denotes many things, but one is my skill with magic. There are greater titles than mine, but they are few. I am versed in several schools of magic, including illusion, which I spent several years teaching at the Circle of Mages, Formaroth’s premier center for magical learning. I am among the most capable of mages in this city.”

Kiseo decided to nod this time rather than say yes. It indicated she understood the rank and importance that Lana held within the city, a fact she had figured out beforehand during her conversation with Dyril. Being a lower ranking individual, correcting her better was very much frowned upon causing her to resist commenting on it.

“Well respected, you would be back at home,” she added, her voice quieted a bit with the words.

“Oh, I’m sure.” Lana said, before catching herself. “Though, my dear, I do not flaunt my titles to impress, or claim superiority. Merely to provide context. Are you curious why you cannot hear my clothing?” Lana asked. She wanted to see if the creature would press for an answer, and indulge in some curiosity.

“Yes, am I. Interesting to see if … guesses of mine are right,” Kiseo said perhaps a bit too eagerly. She suspected maybe they weren't real at all or merely magical in nature, an illusion or expensive cloth designed to be silent. Either way, it was best to get the actual answer from the woman herself than continue to make theories over it.

Lana smiled, ever so slightly mischievously. It wasn’t often she got to show off her illusory skills - though for good reason. They worked better the fewer people knew of them…

She raised her right hand to her left shoulder, her fingers aglow as they touched the mock ‘fabric.’ Sliding them fairly quickly down her arm, she dissipated the illusory sleeve, showing the bare skin of her arm beneath. “That is why my clothes make no sound.” She said with just a hint of pride. Restoring the illusion as quickly as she removed it, she continued speaking, slipping into her ‘teacher’ tone of voice. “It would be quite rude to look too closely at me now you know this little secret. Disbelieving another mages illusion is simply not done in polite company.”

Kiseo’s eyes widened slightly. Not because she had never seen magic performed, the act rather uncommon among the higher society Elves like Dyril, but because she was correct in her theory. The clothes weren’t real at all. Her tail twitched in excitement like a cat that had found a mouse in the grass and held intentions to toy with it before moving on. The motion reminded her of Lana’s reprimand earlier in the carriage about being careful not to let her tail stray too close to another’s personal space causing her hand to jerk out to the side and bat it back behind her.

“Not hard, that is,” Kiseo began to explain, “Not the first mage I’ve meet, but taught well I am. No worries.”

Another question surfaced within the Mao, “Illusion magic is all you know?”

“I am talented in many fields of magic.” Lana said proudly. “But it would be foolish of me to reveal all of my talents to one I barely know…” She continued slyly. “Perhaps I will demonstrate some more spells if you answer some of my questions first?” She did not wait for a reply before launching into the main question she had. “Tell me, does your species possess the gift? Are there those among you that can perform magic?”

Kiseo tilted her head, her eyes narrowed and thought for a moment. The subject became dangerously close to home for her as she sought the correct method to use in order to handle the answer. She decided to go with what the Priests had once told Dyril’s grandfather, both lucky enough to be in the room when it happened, and play it safe. She exhaled before she answered the question, “Mao, not many. An unlucky few.”

Lana was puzzled at that response. She quickly thought through the possible meanings while comparing with what she knew of the Elven culture and law. The possible conclusions she came to didn’t make much sense to her, and were not good overall. Narrowing her eyes, she asked “What do you mean by unlucky few…. Magic is a gift.”

Kiseo lowered her eyes, her posture submissive and guarded as she explained, “Elves, it is a gift. Any race beneath them are slaves and the experience, frightening it is. Magical slaves are taken from masters and sell again to Priests. Experiments they are use for, often maim or dies.”

At the words, the Mao was instinctively trying to sooth over her anxiety on the topic. Her tail remained still and close to her body as her hands began to rub at her lower arms, her chest inhaling deeply then exhaled in a steady rhythm over and over. After a few moments, she managed to collect her calm once more. Her head lifted upright to bring her vision to Lana’s chest out of instinct.

Lana’s face contorted in shock at the prospect that any mage - no matter the species - could be experimented on until they died. It was disgusting. Just as bad as the burnings in Formaroth. “I had no idea…” She began. “No clue that Elven culture was so brutal to my kind…” Suddenly, she was quite glad she had never visited elven lands, for, with no elven blood, she would likely classify as one to be enslaved by their standards. At one time, she had considered reaching out to the elves to assist her plans, but this revelation quite firmly removed that consideration.

Kiseo resisted the urge to console the broken belief, a reality she once experienced herself. Her expression softened as she took a step closer, hoping her present might help, and continued to speak, “Truth, dirtier it is than hope. Rare immunity diplomats share, but stay in their host’s lands they must or risk slavery.”

“Wise words.” Lana began. “But they do little to console my conscience… Perhaps one day I shall be able to extend my plans to bring freedom there as well-” She caught herself abruptly, realising what she had just said aloud, and to whom. “But enough of that. How are you finding the fair city of Nyhem so far?” She mentally chastised herself as she rapidly switched the topic. This was not her first slip up in remembering that she was among mundane company. It would have to be her last though.

The Mao nodded her head as she observed the woman. There was a moment lapse in compassion, something that made the Magister almost human, but she expected never to see it. The sight was refreshing compared to the sober Elven senate whose expression seemed more rigid and stiff compared to humans.

“Streets, confusing they is. Adjust, I shall with time before I can… navigate the city without getting lost,” She mentioned, taking the topic shift presented without protest. She let the answer linger a moment then added, “Any other questions, is there?”

“Are you curious about this city? Or Formaroth in general?” Lana asked, starting to get a little annoyed at the extreme deference her guest was showing. “I studied a great deal about the culture and history of Formaroth while I was in the Circle of Mages. There are few in this city better equipped to answer questions than I about such things. You should ask while you have the chance.”

“Many questions I have, but doubtful I am they can be cover by this visit. This is my first city since leaving the Imperium and very odd it is, not to see slaves roaming about in routines to their masters,” the Mao pointed out. This was the first thing she noticed that differed between Formaroth and the Elven Lands, one that held mixed emotions in her mind. Slaves were highly dependent on their masters which made freedom both a blessing and a curse in her mind.

Her head tilted for a moment, her right ear tilted downward in thought then snapped back up again, “Magical talents not practice, what happens to mage? I have only seen a few mages but little knowledge.”

“That is an… odd question.” Lana began. She didn’t know why any mage would not want to practice their talents. Even those hiding from the stake often still practiced in secret. “Though it is not something that has been tested much, to the best of my knowledge, it will not diminish the potential, nor raise it. Magic is like a limb, in a way. You must know how to use it, and regularly exercise it to get any results from it. If you did not use your arm, it would still be attached to you.” It was an awkward metaphor, but it was the one she was taught and the one she repeated on the rare occasion something like this came up. “The one difference, and danger, of not learning magic, is that in times of great stress people can occasionally manifest raw and uncontrolled spells. These can be a danger to not only those around the latent mage, but the mage herself. And so it is best for everyone if those with the gift recieve at least some training.”

Lana finished her lecturing response, but before more could be said quickly added “Do you know someone who is hiding their talent? I can endorse their tutelage at the Summer Isles, or at least teach them myself how not to lose control of magic in a time of stress…” She was genuinely concerned as she spoke, though in the back of her mind she was going through possibilities already. There were not many people Kiseo could know in Formaroth...

At the mention her question being an odd one and the brief pause, Kiseo’s heart thumped hard against her chest. It rattled and briefly skipped its pace causing her to inhale deeply through her nose to catch her breath. She had been caught up in getting some critical questions asked about magic, hopefully to benefit herself, that she hadn’t realized how sloppy she became with the wording. Even worst there was a fact that training was unavoidable which wasn’t something that she hoped to hear from the Magister. She would’ve been happy if her magic had just faded away or became a limp, useless ‘arm’, a view much different than the woman before her.

Upon being asked about if she knew anyone, a lie was already forming in her head. Instinctively, her right paw like hand rubbed at her side where the faded scars of her whipping still remained. They weren’t as terrible as they should’ve been because she could harden her skin and protected herself during the event. Thankfully, Dyril’s family didn’t bother to assess the damage afterwards or she would’ve been sent away.

Deep down, she hoped her next words would be a convincing enough lie, “Witness I did a slave once demonstrate magic back home. A Mao he was, like me. Frightened when a banded crocodile, vicious and large, attack and he set on fire protecting a young straying kit to the edge of the river. Suppose to be helping him I am, but distracted I am with the other kits. After separate from us, never forget his face I shall. It is of pure horror and cause me to wonder if intentional or uncontrol outburst.”

She hoped the lie sounded convincing enough to ease the Magister’s unsettling attention and then bowed her head, her body bent at the waist as she added, “Thank you. Much clearer that incident is in my mind.”

“I see” Lana replied. It was an interesting tale, but the whole conversation didn’t quite line up in her head. She had a feeling that there was more to this subject that Kiseo wasn’t telling her… But for now, it was neither terribly important nor particularly polite to press for more, and so she respected the apparent desire to change the subject.

“Going, I should. Dyril is waiting for me and much still to do,” Kiseo bravely began to say in order to allow a smooth departure as she waited for the Magister to release her. It was hard to tell if her lie was working as it had been woven on the spot, a mix of truth and lies from her past, and her eyes pointedly fixed upon the woman for longer than was ideal for someone in her stature. At least in Imperium lands.

She inhaled softly through her nose then thought to add an afterthought,” See you again, can I?”

“Of course. Though I may not always be available immediately, you will always be welcome in Thale manor.”

⊰Manifest Anima: Planes Divided⊱

@ineffable

Hi! ^-^ Nice to see interest. Any ideas of what you want to create? MA is pretty much a sandbox with a bit of a overlaying story and the GMs are pretty helpful over anything you want to create. Granted, some things don't work well but they will work with you to try to create something that does!

~Chrono Asylum: Devil's Plague

Yo! Y'all still got some spots open? Lowkey wanna jump back into this RP uno

@Torack

Yep, we do. I wasn't around when you joined, but you look familiar- WAIT A MINUTE! I KNOW YOU AS YOU JOINED BLOOD ACT! The pestilence elf! It's been three years, but nice to see you again.