Fallenreaper

Steampunk, Eldritch, and Middle Fantasy Homebrew

Absolutely @silvermist1116 @Fallenreaper glad to have you!

@Haydrian Cindel

Please ping me when its up or direct me to the thread, thank you!

Steampunk, Eldritch, and Middle Fantasy Homebrew

I'm not in-depth familiar with the first two genre, but I would be willing to give this a shot. I'm interested to see the world, how it plays out and even got a character in mind for it. So count me in if you don't mind and have room!

[Approved] Mara Cessair, Sith Overseer

I think I got them all, but if I missed some then I'm sorry.

The Haunting of Crestwood Hollow - A Supernatural Coming of Age Story

Emily

---

_{Tuesday, Sept 3. | The ‘Loft’}

While Emily waited for an answer, her nose inhaled an odd scent. Most people assumed deaf or blind people had superhuman senses. This wasn’t true, they were just more aware of the ones they had and noticed differences faster. Instinctively she turned toward the door to see Kayla pop up then let a large, needy husky in. She looked at her friends then she made a quick sign that boiled down to 'Uh?'

She watched the dog follow Kayla back to her seat, finding an ideal place at her feet. It was a cute dog. Emily smiled at the thought of her mother and father mentioned of getting one for her. It would take time because of funds and finding a suitable canine. Not to mention the whole bonding process which lowered her odds.

Brushing off the thought, she continued to read Mr. Lehrer’s hands. He flowed well and fell only slightly behind the pace of each student's introductions. While she couldn’t hear the tone, she could easily guess they enjoyed this as much as she did. For different reasons completely. She couldn't speak properly, often sounding like a screamer or slow. When her turn arrived, she rose upright and walked to the chalkboard.

Upon spotting the teacher preparing to translate her words she held up her hand. Emily quickly signed the reason. I will use the chalkboard instead. After he stepped back, she reached for the chalk and began to write neatly on the board.

Hello, my name is Emily Sawyer. I am deaf. This is my first year officially and it’s a pleasure to meet you all. If you want to chat, I tend to carry a notebook and pen with me. Just tap me on the shoulder and write on your hand with a finger.

She set the chalk down and turned to the class, a small smile of pride on her lips. With a casual step, she walked back to her seat.

Little Brown Bat

---

A small, dark shape fluttered from the local tree into the Loft’s window. His little legs stretched out his claws and snagged whatever crevices he could. Gently he began to hang down into a comfortable position. Carefully hidden in the darkest part, two little black eyes peered in. He watched Emily walk from the chalkboard back to her seat. The moment she sat down, she began signing to Myles and her other friend. His spade-shaped nose twitched. Feeling it would be a while, his wings folded up against his body and shielded him from the daylight.

Relief washed over him to see her safe, especially when she evaded his limited sight. His head cocked when he spotted the other magni within the room. Some he knew, like Myles, due to his agreement with the familiar. That they would watch the two magni whenever the other couldn’t. Each one putting forth their own unique skill set to protect the pair. The wolf had smell and fangs, a perfect defense for immediate action. He had hearing and flight, perfect for recon. It was an added perk that he could sometimes get away with flying in broad daylight. Humans weren’t the most observant beings around.

His eyes never left her as he settled in. When school ended, he would flutter away and follow the pair home.

[Approved] Mara Cessair, Sith Overseer

_OoC

How long do you usually write?
Several paragraphs.
Do you enjoy writing collaborative posts for things like conversations, combat, etc.?
Yes.
Is grammar and depth of writing important to you?
Yes, to the point of understanding. I'm not a Nazi about it, but I want to be able to understand it without struggling.
Are there any writing subjects you particularly enjoy exploring?
Grey shade stories. I like showing different sides of a single coin and exploring character development.
Is there anything you really dislike and want to avoid like the plague?
Auto-killing and god-modding my character.
Is there something you are uncomfortable with happening to your character?
For this one, I'm pretty all right with most things. As long as you check with me first of course.
Do you have any short-term or long-term goals with this character?
Aim to use this character for interactions at the academy, but no really long terms for this character. She is an NPC that allows me to play in areas I otherwise might not be able to play in later.

Imperial personnel files

Name: Overseer Mara Cessair
Species: Human
Pureblood percentage: 56%
Homeworld:
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Military Branch:
Rank: Titled Apprentice
Unit/designation:
Role/specialisation: Overseer
Current place of Service: Academy
Sphere of influence: Philosophy

Imperial Intelligence Reports

_{Short description of candidate.}

Big Image

Apprentice Mara Cassair is a human sith, born and bred in the Empire. Her body has a long and slender built raising to the height of 5’8’. Her eyes are brown and diamond in shape, giving her an intimidating appearance. Her nose curves into a hook while pointing downward. She has high cheekbones with a chiseled chin and well-defined angles. Her skin shows the high Red Sith percentage through a reddish hint in the dark tan skin. She often keeps her long black hair in a well-kept ponytail at the nape of her neck. Her nails are kept slightly longer than expected for a teacher, but not enough to hinder her ability to work.

Her casual wear is comfortable and mobile but holds an elegance to it. She enjoys the feel of silk or natural fibers compared to the artificial ones that are mass-produced. At the academy, she is garbed in the traditional black tunic, pants, and robes. Along with her neck is a small glass vial along a silver chain. When asked, she never reveals exactly what is inside of it. Based on the color, it seems to change weekly.

_{Simplified report on known skills and estimated levels.}

Basic

Training

Force Speed
Force Sense
Precognition
Mind Trick
Force Jump
Force Fear
Breath Control

Tactical Strategy
Statecraft and Governing
Survival Skills
Martial Skills
The Sith Code and Conduct Etiquette

Intermediate

Training
Djem So
Niman

Telekinesis
Force Choke
Force Lightning
Torture and Interrogation
Medical Training

Talent
Sith Alchemy

Expert

Training
Telekinesis Defense
Botany Knowledge
Anatomy Knowledge
Toxins, Poisons and related things Knowledge (More specifically to plants than animals)
Toxin/Poison Resistance- Mara has worked hard to develop a resistance or immunity to most toxic substances in her early academy days. However, if they are something she isn't familiar with then she will have issues.

Talent
Plant Surge
Detoxify Poison

_{Brief report on role, specialization, and responsibilities pertaining to the subject’s military deployment.}

Currently, Mara is an overseer at the Academy. She teaches a wide range of classes, primary subjects* she is well versed in. When certain Neophytes-usually the younger or newer students- require medical attention, a small team headed by herself will tend to them. This is not kindness because it's often a painful experience. It's only due to the fact it would be pointless to end their lives before they had a chance to prove themselves. Another addition to her duties is informing Darths and Lords of potential apprentices that fit their expectations.

* Includes but not limited to:
Toxins (Basics to Advanced classes)
Botany (Basics to Advanced classes)
Anatomy (Basics to Advanced classes)
Torture and Interrogation (Basic classes)
Sith Alchemy (Basics)
Telekinesis Defense (Basics to Advanced classes)
First Aid (Basics classes only)

_{Quick report on political influence, ownerships, associates and rivals.}

As with all Overseers, her power lies primarily in the Academy. She is one of the few that decides which Darths or Lords are informed of suitable apprentices, including when. When it comes to selecting from her list, she has been rumored to put those that upset her at the bottom. Despite this, few of her students ever failed to serve their new master or have returned for re-education.

Outside of the Academy, she is merely another apprentice. One without the ability to hold or gain any ground due to her harsh demands as an Overseer. She still tries to rise despite her continual failure.

Notable items in her possession

Personal Quarters in the Academy
Various Plants from different places. All have been mutated or enhanced in some fashion to ensure their survival. Most are used in various antidotes or toxins, their effects vary based on the concoction.
A few changes of outfits based on her mood.

_{Psychological evaluation of candidate.}

Passionate- Mara is passionate about proving herself in the eyes of her fellow sith. Be it by crawling her way out of her current postion to becoming a recognizable Overseer. For attempts to grab power outside the academy, her results have not been effective so far. Nowadays, she’s taken it upon herself to use her resources in the academy. With her favorites, she is known to be a valuable aid with subtle poisons or underhanded tactics. They are allowed to call on her expertise whenever she has time.

Serious- Few ever see Mara smile or laugh, her expression usually seeped in a serious nature. She is not voided of emotion, but has a deep control over them and uses them when necessary. Most of the time she seems sour in her mood as her face rarely changes from frowning.

When angered by her equals or inferiors, her tone will take on a sarcastic bite to it. This will often follow quick comments or snarky remarks. With those in higher ranks, she will forcibly bite her tongue and take the degrading insults.

Studious- She works long hours learning about her students, picking out the strong from the weak and directing her attention heavily on those stronger individuals. Those who fail to gain her attention, she leaves for other Overseers or signs off as dead weight. This simply means they need to earn it rather than automatically gain it. She is continually redesigning her curriculum to fit the chosen few’s progression, knowing the weaker ones will have to adapt or die to survive it. The world isn't fair so she feels her classroom should reflect that.

Necessarily Cruel- While most students view her to be a bitch, she is only necessarily cruel. The Sith world is a harsh one and will kill the weak if given the chance. Within the confines of the Academy, there's a very thin safety net in the form of the Overseer's responsibilities and lessons. She ensures they learn more than the core material she teaches, giving them a taste of what any carelessness could cost them. They will need it in order to become a good Sith or die in the process. These vary on a case by case basis. The most common of her methods are using the toxins from her classes, which if the student has been paying attention they could identify and cure it. Usually, she has the antidote on hand in case they fail, but she has been known not to use it right away. Those who have still yet to learn from past lessons might be lucky to get it at all. Everything she teaches is meant to be tools to survive or to learn from. She finds painful lessons stick in a student's memory longer and gives them the strength to draw from.

_{List and description of known and suspected flaws. To be put into the restricted database.}

Superior Attitude- In the presence of students or Overseers at her level, she gives off an air of superiority. Merited or not, her voice is spoken through her nose and it feels like she’s talking down on an individual. Especially if the individual has earned her anger. With Lords and Darths, she will often take a more respectful and humble tone toward them. She knows pissing off higher powers will lead to only pain and suffering.

Depends on Low Tactics- While Mara isn’t helpless in a fight, she tends to avoid a fair conflict. Her combat skills fall below more physically trained Sith. She does lean heavily on untraceable toxins to cripple her opponents. If a foe has skills to purge the toxin in their arsenal, it can eliminate the effects and make her advantage vanish. The rate at which the toxins wears off varies. Deciding factors are the victim’s natural resistance, their force level of the detoxify skill, and the strength of the toxin itself.

Over Caution- Mara likes to know as much as possible about those she strikes against. This overcaution has stopped her from being aggressive in obtaining power and leaving the Academy. While it doesn’t cripple her ability to be an Overseer, she will think twice before trying to overpower someone higher on the Sith food chain.

Lacking Resources- Being bound to the Academy, Mara doesn't have much time or ability to dedicate to growing her power outside. Any attempts quickly fall short of success causing her frustration. While she makes an impression on most students she has, few ever keep in touch or help her gain power. Not a surprise since they rarely need her after they survive the Academy. It’s a price for all Overseers to pay.

_{Major achievements and failures on record.}

Achievements
Korriban Sith Academy- While being assigned to the Academy, Mara has enriched the knowledge base of numerous sith. She has never turned away anyone that sought her out, no matter if they are a student or visiting Sith who wished to add more to their skills. There is obvious evidence that some students had to work harder than others to gain assistance in their endeavors. She wouldn't be surprised to learn some of her students find her methods excessive, but she does it to drive them forward. Deep down, she wants them to succeed where she had failed.

Budding Scientist- At the Academy, Mara is a well-known designer of poisons and toxic substances. She uses her knowledge of Botany and Sith Alchemy to assist in her creations, yielding both success and failure in this area. She rarely reports failures, but instead learns from them and move forward. While many of her successes are considered minor, the amount of them can be seen as a major one and makes her a reliable source for this field of study.

Failures

Site Location DXI-321- While looking for Archaeologist Maxir Braven, Apprentices Lerga and Cassair entered the tomb. The Archaeologist or his crew were never found and are suspected to be dead. Instead of returning, the Apprentices went deeper into the tomb itself. They set off a trap that sealed off the inner cave systems. Apprentice Lerga died during the aftermath and additional exploration was made seemingly impossible.

Korriban Sith Academy- Her assignment was involuntary and happened about a year of being an apprentice. During this time, her master appears to have withdrawn her favor.

Limited Influence outside the Academy- Mara has made a few attempts to gain power outside the Academy but failed to make much ground on it. When examined individually, they are considered minor and dismissable. However, when viewed as a whole it adds up to a major failure.

Interview

_{Personal biography, as detailed by the subject for use in imperial archives. Acquired shortly after the last achievement of note.}

My name is Apprentice Mara Cassair.

My mother never hid the facts from me. From a young age, I was informed I was a product of a mutual benefit. A goal to increase the Red Sith in my lineage and ensure future generations were genetically superior. It was a deal struck between Apprentice Valro Cellian and herself, Lord Jynne Cassair. At the time of my conception, my mother was still an apprentice but an accomplished one. Her connections reached numerous resources, including the Spheres of Biotic, Technology and Imperial Intelligence.

This knowledge is what caused my father to approach her with an offer. He had heard that she desired children of higher Red Sith percentage and his own heritage would increase the odds she would accept his request. After a few blood samples, the DNA results were acceptable. I was never privy to the results of his endeavors since I saw little of him afterward. My mother didn’t want him apart of my life, but ‘fate’ seemed to have arranged encounters on the sparse occasion. These interactions were short and yielded no lasting impression on me. I believe he just wanted to remind me he was always watching.

Moving forward.

I spent most of my childhood on Dromund Kaas. My force sensitivity emerged before the age of three. While my mother could have taught me herself, she had found a budding rival attempting to usurp her power in certain areas. She had little time to train me when she needed to resolve it. So she sent me to the Academy like all young Neophytes were. I won’t go over my education in depth because all my records are accessible. I entered among the top students in areas I enjoyed and the required few I didn’t. More specifically anything connected with botany, anatomy and later alchemy. Later on, I edged into increasing my telekinesis defense after an enlightening lesson from one of the Overseers. I had been slacking in the area and much to my shame, he revealed it to everyone in the class. It was an effective push for me to increase my skill level in it rather quickly.

I found rivals and allies during my acolyte years, one specific individual followed me past the academy. His name was Valsi Lerga, a human who wasn’t born into the Empire. It is on record I barely tolerated him during our acolyte years purely because of easily he rose from a few years as a Neophyte. It was no surprise we became rivals and pushed each other to our fullest potential. We ended up catching the attention of Lord Sabe Zapal who monitored our progress then took us under her service. I was twenty-one at the time.

I was only an apprentice for a year before the incident occurred. Apprentice Lerga and I were tasked to check on the Archaeologist, Apprentice Maxir Braven. When we arrived, things appeared abandoned.

We entered the tomb in order to bring back information for our master. Within, we encountered traps, a droid or two, and wildlife in the darkness. The search was halted when we triggered a rather nasty trap. It brought rocks to rain down on us and resulted in blocking the tomb completely. It also took Lerga’s life. His speed was slowed down enough to become crushed underneath the larger rocks. I suspected was due to some unseen wound gained during an earlier encounter. It seems he wasn’t as strong as he believed himself to be.

When I returned to report to Lord Zapal, she was disappointed to hear this. The punishment for my foolishness was becoming an overseer at the Academy. I was assigned to teach or assist in several classes. The most notable ones are botany, anatomy, and toxins class. I also teach the basics of interrogation and torture techniques and finally basic first aid for the new arrivals.

For the following years, I passed my knowledge onto the students. My methods were designed to give both tools and a taste of the world they would find outside the Academy. Most of the students originally found my classes to be an excuse for cruelty, but those that managed to graduate realized it served them well. Some have caught subtle attempts to undermine their power and they crushed it early enough. Whenever I hear of this, I feel pride in it. I find painful lessons stick longer in a student's memory than mere repetition. So I ensure failure usually results in pain of some sort. Emotional, mental or even physical. It will be that pain they will learn to avoid leading them to become more self dependent and careful. There's been an occasion or two a student has approached me for certain assistance, which I provide in exchange for favors. Nothing is freely given without something in return. While I don't find much satisfaction in teaching, I never slouched on ensuring some proper and strong sith rose from my classes. The results show I have to be doing something right.

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

@Fallenreaper

Sounds fun. Let me know if you guys end up in Lost haven, maybe hit your local shady gun store, get yourself a nice shiney laser rifle, maybe some fancy explosives.

@LukasVolkov

Ben is more a hero and supernatural based. I do have Racheli, who is an alien based anti hero in Lost Haven. I'm trying to keep my pcs separate so I'm not crossing story lines and my pcs aren't getting in the way of each other's stories.

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

@VATROU

Is Barron going to be heading to Lost Haven anytime in the future by chance?

@LukasVolkov

Right now, he's busy rounding up a wild werewolf teenager. XD

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

<Snipped quote by LukasVolkov>

Personally, I already had an idea in mind, so I just looked up some GIMP tutorials to achieve the effect I wanted.

@Eddie Brock

I honestly asked a few of the members in the discord chat myself.

Formaroth Part 2: Throne of Lies

Alchemist Curiosity Part 2

Life was finally starting to return to Fishgrove. The streets that were once filled with debris and ash were now cleared and the residents were even laying the old dirt paths with stone. Around half of the burnt down buildings were under the process of being repaired with materials far superior to what they were previously made out of. While the residents of Fishgrove were still bitter towards the De Reimer’s, they weren’t going to turn down the money and materials that they were supplying. While the destruction of Fishgrove still weighed heavy on the Raldian’s hearts they were determined to rebuild their kingdom’s capital to a state greater than it had ever been. However Ignocious had little time to focus on the reconstruction efforts, right now he was more interested in getting Kiseo to the inn so that he could better treat her wound. Their approach into Fishgrove drew many stares but he Ignocious didn’t care. His bodyguard, who’s name he had now learnt was Bailey, had taken over carrying Kiseo from the farmer. Ignocious thought it best, he had already put the farmer in his place and Bailey was far gentler with Kiseo than he had been.

“You holding on in their OK” Bailey said to Kiseo.

“I’ve had much worse. My mistress will not be pleased to hear about this so… could we keep this from her?” Kiseo asked in a meek voice.

She had curled into a ball within Bailey’s arms as he carried her. Her tail wrapped defensively about her and kept out from the man’s legs. She enjoyed the fact he was more gentle than the earlier man who seemed to care little for the additional damage caused by the rougher treatment.

Her eyes flicked to Ignicous and asked a question that was burning insider her conscious since the conflict between the farmer and him.

“Ignicous, you weren’t intending to prosecute the child, were you?”

Ignocious looked at Kiseo with surprise.

"After everything, that's happened and that's what you're worried about"? Though if you're curious I wasn't planning on it, far too much effort for some random farm boy. Anyway, follow me" Ignocious said as he walked towards the tavern door.

“Living as a slave, you become used to pain,” Kiseo admitted, quietly.

Inside, the tavern had been cleared. No patrons or even staff were seen at the tables when the three entered. Just one elder man. He was dressed in butcher garb with a bloody apron on his front. His eyes snapped to the three before he spoke.

“Set her over there,” his thick finger pointed to a clear set up of two tables pushed together.

His kit, consisting of one or two healing herbs and a knife, were set up on a side table. It was clear healing wasn’t his prime career, but a secondary one.

Ignocious looked on in disgust at the so-called surgeon in front of him.

"Are you really the best person they could find. This requires a surgeon, not some butcher who'll wield his knife like a cleaver."

The man pursed his lips and spoke, “Look, I’m the best you’ll get. Our healer died during the slaughter a few months back and there’s been no replacement.”

He moved toward the table, checking his tools while he continued.

“I’m the closest thing we got. If you have a better option and she,” he pointed to Kiseo, “can last, then you’re free to find someone else.”

He turned back to face Ignocious as he placed his hands on his hips to wait on the man’s answer.

Ignocious turned to face Kiseo “Your the one he’s operating on, what do you think,” he said with a shrug.

Kiseo turned her head towards the man. She wasn't a fan of the idea, but she saw no other option.

"I think I'll take the risk. Either way, I do not see another way and leaving a wound to fester is not good." She pointed out the hard facts out. Ignocious simply turned to the man and shrugged once more

“Place her down on the table Bailey”. Bailey slowly walked over to the table and lay Kiseo down as gently as he could.

The butcher examined the wound. He pulled back the simple tunic Kiseo was wearing and revealed the point where the arrow buried into the fur. Bloodstained the black and dirty yellow coat as he examined the wound.

“I’ll need your help holding her down while I take out the arrow. She got lucky, whatever she wore kept it from going too deep.” The Butcher’s words were mildly curious and confused.

“Are you sure she got a direct shot?”

He turned to his table and retrieved his knife, then gestured for Bailey to hold Kiseo down. His fingers pressed into the wound opening and fished around to find the arrowhead. It appeared to have not detached far from the shaft as he carefully pulled it out, widening the wound in the process. More blood squirted out onto the table causing the butcher to curse briefly before he pressed a fresh cloth to it. He then jerked the arrow shaft out, allowing his hand to starch the flow farther.

Meanwhile, Kiseo tried not to thrash from the pain spreading across her muscles. Her body didn’t seem to care as she jerked once or twice during the process. If it wasn’t for Bailey, she might have caused more damage. He cartelized the wound with a knife sitting in the tavern’s embers before wrapping her up.

When the operation drew to a close, the butcher suggested bed rest for the next three days. He turned to clean his tools and left them to take care of Kiseo.

After the butcher left Bailey, who had been trying his best to comfort Kiseo during the operation knelt down by Kiseo’s side.

“Can I get you anything?” he said as softly as he could, even with his gruff voice.

Kiseo cautiously sat upright. Her right arm wrapped about her throbbing side and her legs slid toward the floor. With whatever energy she could muster, she lowered herself onto her feet. As gravity pulled her down, she caught the table’s edge. Leaning heavily on it, she nodded.

“Some water, please.” She moved into a seat to stop the room from spinning.

Bailey quickly left the room with a new mission on hand. Ignocious, who until now had been silently dissecting the operation, made his way over to Kiseo.

"It seems Bailey has taken a liking to you. He shows you more affection than he ever showed me" he said with a smirk "how is your wound feeling? That brute wasn't nearly as oafish as I expected him to be"

"People often connect better when they feel equal to one another." Kiseo pointed out as cradled her side, examining the bandage to see any blood seeping through. She felt relieved at seeing the clean surface.

"Fishgrove is full of surprises, especially in its people. I have seen them struggle to stand on their feet when it was knocked out from under them. Despite their distrust, some are good of heart and worth getting to know."

She paused to inhale then continued.

"I think in about a day I will be able to breath without pain."

"Indeed, most fortunate" Ignocious said "and most unlikely" he continued, he got closer to Kiseo examining her wound "a shot like that should have killed you before we even made it to Fishgrove. Yet you're injury is nowhere near as severe"?

" I'm… lucky. I guess." Kiseo's head leaned back as her eyes didn't look directly at him. Unlike her mistress, she wasn't trained well enough to lie on the spot. She tried to hinder his examination by having her arm remain in place and block most of his view.

Ignocious looked annoyed as Kiseo evaded his question "After helping you out back there, I would have thought honesty would be the least you could give me in return" Ignocious replied.

"You don't know what happens to slaves that have shown magical potential. If you did, you can't blame me. I worry about how Dyril will react if she found out." Kiseo sighed, unsure if she could trust Ignocious to keep her secret.

"She would discard me to protect me. I made a promise to protect her, but I can't do that if I'm not beside her."

After a momentary pause Ignocious responded with a simple “I see” before continuing to look at her wound “I may not be a mage myself, but my experiments led me to research the arcane arts. I have never seen, nor read about magic manifesting itself like this, at least not without sufficient training. How long have you known you were gifted with magic”?

"I don't know for sure, but when I was seven… Dyril was gone for the day and one of her cousins stepped on my tail. I dropped the drinks I was carrying, spilling them across the expensive rug. One of the aunts felt it was proper punishment to string me on the flogging tree, letting the rawhide whip bite into my bare back." Kiseo`s arm wrapped about her other arm. She seemed to recall the day in vivid detail as she continued.

"I was left out there until night. Ting mentioned how odd it was that the wounds appeared so shallow despite how relentless the whipping slave was known to punish others. Mainly to spare himself from suffering the same fate. I knew it had to be magic that saved me…"

Ignocious shuddered upon hearing about Kiseo’s ordeal. Despite his apathetic nature, even he was disturbed by the brutal treatment that Kiseo had received. Regardless he put aside his disgust and focused on the matter at hand “So your magic hardens your skin when in danger is that it? Has it ever manifested itself in any other way”?

"Yes, it's been instinctual for four years now. It has not done anything else that I'm aware of. I've never tried anything else and I mainly hoped it would go away. Dyril can't protect me if we are forced to return. Not without being killed."

Kiseo sighed then explained more.

"Any magic potential found in slaves is required by law to be reported. The slave is then bought from the owner and resold to a priest. They do experiments which can lead from deformity to death. Those who die… are the lucky ones."

“Like I said, I might not be a mage but one thing I know for certain is that magic does not go away, it simply becomes more potent as the individual ages. It’s why most mages in Formaroth are sent to the circle so they can learn how to control their power, else they become a danger to themselves and others” Ignocious paused as he reflected on what Kiseo had said “Wait, you say this happened four years ago when you were seven? You telling me your only eleven years old”?

"Yes. I am. Why are you looking shocked? Mao age faster than humans and especially elves. I'm currently a fully mature adult. Dyril is only thirty-one years old and just hitting adulthood." Kiseo pointed out as she debated on her next step.

"I can't leave here because if I do, the crop might fail. I can't allow that. But I don't want to hurt Dyril or anyone else by mistake so… I'm in a...what's the phrase? Stuck between a rock and something else?"

She looked to the man for help.

Ignocious was shocked at Kiseo’s apparent youth but didn’t doubt it. Her explanation made sense; if elves matured at a different rate there was no reason to believe the same couldn’t be true of Mao. “I’m pretty sure no one wants to risk your crop failing, least of all me. If you are concerned about losing control your best course of action would be finding a mage who can train you. Though as you would imagine those are not exactly in high supply here in Formaroth” Ignocious pondered for a moment as he formulated an idea “I could potentially write a letter to magister Lanaya Dionisa. From what I gather she has an extreme interest in helping mages develop their talents. The fact that you are a Máoróngrōng will likely peak her interest even more”.

Kiseo felt her spine raise up a bit at the mention of the name, her tan, flicked nervously. She began to confess.

"I have met her when we first arrived. I did ask a few questions over mages and I… lied to her. I don't think it was a good one as she didn't seem to believe me, but she didn't press for answers too hard." Kiseo`s face took on a sheepish expression for a cat.

"She also warned me of the same thing you said but I was afraid. I still am."

“I see, so you had the chance to receive training from a magister and you hide the fact you were a mage from her” Ignocious said with a raised eyebrow “At the very least you are getting a second chance at such a golden opportunity. Not many can claim to be so lucky”.

"I won't say my actions were smart, but they aren't unreasonable. Dyril, next to Claus, is the only one I know here and trust. Risks often can lead to death for slaves or worse." Kiseo let the words sink in for the judging man.

"It would be better if I write a letter for her, if you would be kind enough to deliver it?"

“I should be able to see that this letter reaches its rightful place, unhindered and unopened. However what do I get out of delivering it” Ignocious said with a devious smile “Having access to your best stock seems a fair enough deal to me. Ensuring the stock is kept off the king’s ledger if you get what I mean”? Ignocious knew that after the incident he pulled with the spark powder his inventory was being closely monitored by his accountants. All of the mandrakes purchased would now be expected to be used on the golems and nothing else. It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to have some mandrakes kept off the books for his own personal experiments.

Kiseo knew deep inside there had to be a price. She sighed and hopped up onto the table, considering his suggestion. After a moment of adjusting to the pain, she decided on another tactic.

"I am surprised you put profit before your safety. We both established that an untrained mage is dangerous, especially during times of stress. We might've gotten lucky that I didn't just engulf everything in fire." She waited to see his reaction and his answer might change.

“I’ll take my chances,” he said with a smile, “Your talking to a man who spent the past few months in a room of highly volatile materials that could explode upon the smallest contact with flame. All so I could pursue my true goals, I was not deterred then and I will not be deterred now”.

"I can't do that. It takes money from the farm which means less hired help and less mandrakes."

She sighed then made a counter offer.

"What if I send letters keeping you updated on the mandrake development? This would ensure you can arrive first and gain the best stock. Dyril usually sells on a first come, first served basis."

Ignocious considered for a minute, on one side he wanted to push for the chance to get free mandrakes. However he knew that if she wanted to Kiseo could probably get a letter to magister Lanaya with or without him. Through this way he could send Bailey up whenever a fresh batch was ready. He imagined he would enjoy the chance to see Kiseo again, and visa versa. “Very well then, it’s a deal” Ignocious said as he put his hand out for Kiseo to shake it.

For a moment, Kiseo became confused and then it dawned on her. She extended her hand out and carefully took his. Her claws remained in her fingers to avoid cutting him.

"After we load up those mandrakes, I'll work on that letter. I will also send you a heat stone to keep them warm during the trip. It will only last a few weeks so I hope you can create a place to store them."

The Haunting of Crestwood Hollow - A Supernatural Coming of Age Story

Emily

---

_{Tuesday, Sept 3. | The Assembly}

During the assembly, Emily decided to sit near Myles. She quietly watched everyone file in either in groups or individuals, filling up the bleachers. When it seemed everyone was here, the assembly began. Emily fixed her eyes on her aid, Ms. Krauss. The woman had neatly trimmed golden brown hair with curled ends. She kept it straight to match her professional aura, but her eyes reflected something else. When Emily looked into them, she saw much more depth in the aid. Warmth and kindness were there, but pity too. The latter was something she didn’t want. It made her feel weak and a burden to others. Someone better left dead. Emily paused in her negative thoughts as she felt a familiar, icy fear journeyed up her spine.

It must’ve shown on her face because Ms. Krauss looked concerned then signed. Are you all right?

Taking the escape route out of her own mind, Emily’s hands replied back. Yes, I am. Just bored.

The woman continued to look at her a moment longer then moved on. She quickly picked up where she left off, translating what the Principle was saying. When he introduced the newest addition to the school faculty, Emily’s eyes shifted from Ms. Krauss to spot Mr. Lehrer stepping up to the podium. She wasn’t sure what to think of him based on looks. Her attention returned to Ms. Krauss, reading the signs for the gist of his welcome. She shook her head at his corny joke about spreading wings.

At the mention of his Social Conscience Program, her hands pulled out her bag and checked her schedule.

Literature.
Art.
Calculus.
Computer Lab.
Fashion and Retailer.
Chemistry.
Fashion Construction.
Social Conscience.

Emily frowned at the last period, confused at why she was chosen. While it sounded like it might help her insight on popular fashion, it sounded too experimental. Something that straight-A students would have no issue joining. Something she failed at being. In fact, according to her last year's progress report, she barely managed to float on a D average.

She went to ask Ms. Krauss about it, but the woman gestured for her to pay attention. Her questions were pushed aside for the time being and she focused on the rest of the assembly. She would have to check with Charlie and Myles at lunch to see if either of them had it too.

---

_{Tuesday, Sept 3. | The ‘Loft’}

Emily gradually climbed the stairs up to the loft. The atmosphere of the school seemed to change from modern and high tech to something older. It left her pondering the change with awe and timidness. Her self-preservation instinct voted for a retreat, but her curiosity spurred her onward. It didn’t help her aid remained downstairs, informing her that she wasn’t necessary for the last class period. Fear about communication issues began to plague Emily’s courage. Despite that, she kept moving. Eventually, she managed to reach the classroom’s entrance and walk-in.

She stopped in her tracks for a moment. What she expected was several lines of aged desks and boring charts or decor fitting to the teaching subject. Instead, there were large couches facing the teacher’s desk. It gave it an old, musty den feel. Not the classic classroom at all. Realizing she might’ve been holding up any late students, she moved toward Myles.

Her best friend listened to his earphones, enjoying the beats. Emily scooped up the syllabus and pass card before she sat down. She gave the second item a quick look over. The card made her a bit excited to be included in something other than a special needs class. She tapped Myles on the shoulder then signed a greeting. A genuine smile crossed her face at seeing one of the two familiar faces here. When she spotted Charlie, she signed for him to sit beside them and moved over a bit. All her earlier anxiety appeared to have faded in the company of friends.

After chatting with Myles and Charlie for a bit, she caught signing from the corner of her vision. Abruptly her head turned to the front of the classroom. Surprise crossed her expression at seeing the fluid movements that introduced him to everyone. Emily couldn’t help but lean in, engaging in the fact he involved her. A rarity for her, even at Mather Memorial.

Her body leaned back into her seat when he mentioned using his first name rather than Mr. Lehrer. She turned to Myles then Charlie, signing a single word. Weird. She wondered if the other two agreed with her. When his signing turned to the subject of the syllabus, it explained why it needed a signature. Since Charlie and Myles were both in the class, she didn’t think her parents would deny her going on the trips.

The question on the board was not one she looked forward to. Introductions and communications were difficult enough when it came to receiving them, but making them? That was a nightmare she still struggled to overcome. She crossed her arms over her chest as she considered a possible solution. Thankfully, a dark-haired student rose to the challenge and attacked the question with gusto. If it wasn’t for Mr. Lehrer signing, Emily would’ve only caught one in about six words if she was lucky. Lip reading failed miserable for a number of reasons. Accents and terrible pronunciation were a few big ones on that list.

While she wanted to go up there and get her intro done, Emily hasn't finished figuring out what to say. To lighten her nerves, she turned to her friends with a question.

One of you two want to go next? Or should we draw straws? The last bit was meant to be a joke, her lips curled into a smile to make it obvious.