Hero

The Shattering of Aegis

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Ermes' protest didn't go unnoticed. Did he really think Kyreth wasn't capable of waking the others up if something happened? Eila couldn't help but frown at him. Maybe Ermes had the same prejudice the people in town did since Kyreth was Tainted. That would explain his wariness when Liliann left with Ceolfric. Hm, but maybe she was making assumptions. He may have meant it literally in that they were the ones being tested. She gave him the benefit of the doubt, instead focusing on eating and trying hard not to think too much on running on four hours of sleep. She hated to admit it, but she was tired, and the thought of walking more tomorrow didn't help.

Fortunately, the watch was easy enough. She let her mind wander once or twice more than she should have, but ultimately, things worked out. For one, once Liliann took over, she was so tired that she fell asleep right away. The ground was uncomfortable enough that she woke up easily once Ceolfric woke her up. Ermes was pleasant company and made it easier to stay up, but she'd be lying if she said her daydreams were filled with thoughts of the inn. She couldn't believe this trip had made her miss a bed so much.

Eila didn't pay much attention to the weather, more focused on the task at hand and being very curious as to why Cerric looked so tired. No, not tired, he looked exhausted! Should she just ask him? Would that be considered impolite? Her chance at asking was gone, however, once they stopped. The horse had become upset at a dying wolf, but Eila hardly paid attention as she noticed how utterly devoid of aether the creature was. Aether took time to dissipate from dying creatures but--wait, it was limping, but it didn't look particularly injured.

"What..." The word left her mouth as Eila stared at it, shocked. She looked to Cerric, who looked entertained. Both Ceolfric and Kyreth spoke, furthering her own confusion. No, now wasn't the time to stand around. Eila immediately withdrew her bow from her back with one hand, the other plucking an arrow from her quiver as she moved away from the caravan. She took aim and fired at the creature, bracing herself for a reaction.

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Court of Nuhl

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Lyra knew she was going to want to strangle someone by the end of the mission, but she was so sure it'd be the enemy, not her own 'teammates'. Donovan was full of it, for one; she had interacted with enough vampires that she knew almost every single word out of his mouth was absolute garbage pretending to be sanctimonious for appearances' sake. Everything sounded fine, sure, but it didn't match the smirk on his face--and she wasn't stupid, she knew he was watching her, appraising her, mocking her in whatever thoughts he had running through his head. Chadwick piped up and agreed with Donovan, much to her chagrin. Of course, both vampires were on the same side--no surprise there--but she had to bite down on her tongue hard not to retort to the Astorio, especially since that stupid smug grin was begging for a response. She must have had some bad luck if she was stuck with two annoying, judgmental vampires.

And of course, Mr. Righteousness over there was splashing around in his puddle acting like he was above everyone else. 'Discussing who likes who,' what was he, stupid? Did he think she wasn't taking this seriously? Was not wanting to get talked down to suddenly a crime? She needed to calm down or she was going to end up setting everyone that wasn't Quinn--who she noted was much more receptive to the nickname than his full name, she'd definitely remember that--on fire. Donovan was going to be first, and if looks could kill, he'd be on the floor after he decided to pinch her cheek. The only person allowed to do that was her mom, and even then Lyra hated it. She smacked his hand away, less than pleased as she glared at him. Condescending asshole.

Taking in a deep breath, Lyra decided since everyone was sick of her talking, she wasn't going to say anything else. Well, if everyone was telling her that she was the problem, then she probably was. It wasn't like they were wrong, maybe she was trying too hard. She looked down at her bracelet, thumb running over the letters. She didn't want to admit she was nervous, even if it was probably obvious. She wasn't exactly expecting almost everyone to dismiss her so suddenly, though. Welp, since she was the problem, then she'd have to be the one to suck it up and make sure everyone got along. And that meant apologizing even if she didn't want to.

Letting out a huff, she waved off everyone's words. "Fine, you're both right. Sorry," She said, deliberately holding back lest she further offend, though she softened as she watched Quinn. "C'mon." She gently tugged his sleeve, gesturing him to follow her. Since everyone was on her to just go, she decided not to wait and instead headed in the direction they needed to go. Her lighter footsteps took up enough of her attention. It took a little adjustment, but she was certain she had the hang of it. Gravity magic was pretty neat, wasn't it?

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Court of Nuhl

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No objections, that was a good sign. Lyra definitely felt a little relieved that neither vampire questioned her, even if she could do without their judgment. Donovan over there was watching her like she was a little kid, and Chadwick was...bored? Okay, maybe she could kinda sympathize since she'd rather go for a direct fight, too, but come on, there was danger all around them! Then again, she wasn't sure why she expected any different. Most Astorios she knew were the same, and if Chadwick was anything like Nelda, they were always looking for a challenge. She held back a sigh as she tried to decide which was worse, him, or the one who wouldn't stop staring at her.

She did her best to stow away her annoyance. Her mom warned her that vampires were easily offended, and she'd rather not get into it here. Instead, she turned her attention back to Quintus. She didn't miss him looking at the camera--maybe he didn't like her using his full name? She probably should've asked, but it was too late for that. At least he was way more amiable to her suggestions, and did as asked. The difference was pretty staggering even without taking any steps. Her already short hair already floated away from her face, and she felt a lot lighter.

Taking a few steps, she figured she could handle it. She turned back to him with a nod of approval. "Nicely done, Quinn," She paid him the compliment first and hoped he would like the nickname better before turning to Chadwick. "We'll see what state they're in and go from there. If we need to split up, we will. You'll get your chance to rip more heads off soon enough."

She almost added that she'd appreciate less commentary, but that was pointless. Instead, she looked back at the smug Eve. Despite knowing there was likely a better time for this, she figured it was better to just get it out in the open. "If you have any problems with me, either spit it out or stop staring at me," Lyra told Donovan. "I already know what you're thinking. I'm here to help because I want to be here. Now, unless there's any other objections, let's go."

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Court of Nuhl

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To Leave the Nest

All Lyra had to do was open the door. Not a lot of people had the privileges she did, so announcing herself wasn't really a thing when it came to herself and the leader of Dawn Rising. There were no meetings, no appointments, it was just her mother in that room. She had planned out a speech to prepare herself for an argument--and oh boy, there was definitely going to be one. Her heart was beating against her chest as her hand touched the door, a deep breath doing absolutely nothing to calm herself as she knocked on the door. A gentle voice told her to come in, and the dark haired girl reminded herself that there wasn't any backing out.

Lyra entered the room and quietly closed the door behind her, staring at the door until she was sure she didn't look nervous. She heard a tiny gasp and immediately turned around, watching as her mom's jaw dropped.

Lilie was as casual as she could be in her quarters, a cream colored robe covering her nightdress and a brush in hand telling her that she had caught her as she was getting ready for bed. She abandoned her brush on the small dresser, her own white hair spilled over her shoulders, contrary to their usual neatness. She crossed the room to get a better look, sapphire eyes admiring her. "You cut your hair!" She expressed her surprise, eyebrows high on her forehead as she was unable to hide her shock.

Lyra's hand immediately shot up to said hair out of instinct. Oh, right, she didn't get the chance to show her after her uncle cut it. "Oh, yeah, I, uh...I wanted a change," She replied, clasping her hands together.

Her expression softened considerably. "Do you like it?" She asked her gently.

No. "You don't?" Lyra flipped her hair up, forcing herself to smile. "It's really different, yeah, but it's also fresh and new. And easier to wash, too."

Lilie slowly nodded, but Lyra knew she was doing that thing where she was studying her expression to see how she actually felt. "You look lovely," She told her. "It's just...sudden, is all. Is everything alright?"

And there it was. But for once, Lyra was glad. It was a bad segue but a good distraction. "Actually, I also wanted to talk to you about something," She said, knowing that if she didn't get it all out now, she'd chicken out. "I'm going to volunteer to help Commander Agevee at Caeli."

The speed at which her mom went from concerned to downright stern was, as always, impressive. Still, Lyra was a little spoiled in the sense that Lilie never believed in saying the word 'no' to her children. What she usually liked to say came out of her mouth immediately: "Absolutely not."

"They need help. And I think I'll do well helping the commander," Lyra replied.

"Absolutely not," Lilie repeated herself. "We're already having a few transfers to help the commander, you don't have to worry yourself about that."

Lyra couldn't help but bristle a little at the second denial. "Mama, I'm not asking you. I'm telling you," She said slowly.

Lilie narrowed her eyes. "And I'm denying your application for a transfer," She replied calmly.

Lyra let out a huff. Man, she didn't want to push it, but Lilie wasn't budging. "I think that as Leader, even you have to admit that leaving a talented fire mage in HQ doing nothing here is better off actually helping out. I can't just ignore the Commander's call for help."

"No one's ignoring him, I already told you, we have others helping," The fact that her mom managed to stay so collected was starting to annoy her. "What do you think people will say if I let my only daughter leave my side?"

"That you trust me enough to handle my own business and that you believe in my magic," Lyra was quick to respond to that. "I'm a great fire mage, I can take down people bigger than me, and I can be useful."

"No, they'll see it as desperate," Lilie corrected her. "Things are rocky enough as it is, and I can't just let you go out there and endanger yourself. You're safe here, you're protected. There's so many people that would give everything to be in your position."

Lyra scoffed. "If you have their numbers, I'm happy to call them," She outright rolled her eyes. "I'm sure they'd love to be babysat at every minute and have constant restrictions on where they can go. I'm twenty three, but you treat me like I'm still sixteen."

Lilie rubbed her temples as she took a pause, shaking her head. "I am sorry if you are unhappy being here, but you are safe. That's all that matters to me," She said, dropping her hands. "I can watch over you here. I can protect you here. I'm not letting you go out there where you can get hurt or killed or--"

"We were safe in Cordis until they came knocking on our door, and look what happened!" Lyra couldn't help but blurt out, frustrated.

"That's exactly why you have to be here! I will never let that happen to you again," Lilie matched Lyra's frustration.

Lyra shut her mouth before she would say something she would end up regretting. She mentally counted to three before speaking again, "I'm going. With or without your blessing."

"You're not. I'm not budging on this, Lyra Rose," Lilie replied coldly, crossing her arms. "You might not appreciate it now, but everything I do has your best interests in mind."

For some reason, hearing that set Lyra off. Yeah, she had heard of a lot of the good her mom always did. She wouldn't be the leader of the rebellion right now if it wasn't for everything she had done at Ben's side. She always did what was needed and it was always for the good of everyone. Everyone but her and her sister. Everyone always told them how lucky they were, but...

"Was leaving us alone all the time also in our best interest?"

It slipped out like water spilling from a glass, smooth in the air until it fell flat and splashed. Lyra would be lying if she didn't admit that there was a part of her that was happy to have it out in the open, but as her mom's eyes widened and she saw the shame on her face, she knew she had messed up. Lilie dropped her gaze in what had to be guilt, her hands rubbing her arms as she withdrew a little.

Lyra regretted ever letting those words leave her, immediately closing the gap between them. How could she just say that? She wasn't a little kid, she knew how much her mom had been through. "I'm so sorry, I--I didn't mean that," Lyra touched her hand, immensely apologetic. "I know you didn't want to. And we weren't alone, we had Peepa and Meema and Ren, and I just...I spoke out of anger. I didn't mean it."

Lilie shook her head, hand patting Lyra's. "You don't have to lie," She said softly, raising her head to look at her. She took Lyra's face in her hands, making sure she made direct eye contact before she continued, "I promise you that everything I did, everything I do, and everything I will do is for you. I need you to trust me. To believe in me."

"I need that, too," Lyra's reply came quick, even if it was quieter than usual. "Don't you believe in me?"

Lilie fell silent for a moment, her eyes searching Lyra's. She let out a heavy sigh, letting Lyra go as she looked down at Lyra's wrist. Lyra followed her gaze, noticing Eden's name facing upwards on her bracelet. She had a feeling they were both thinking about the same thing.

"The last thing I want to do is leave you alone," Lyra frowned. "I want to prove myself. To everyone. And to you."

Once again, Lilie was silent. Her fingers traced Eden's name engraved on the bracelet, and she took Lyra's hands in both of hers. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something, but ultimately decided against it. "I'll think about it," She finally spoke. "For now, why don't you go to bed?"

It wasn't the yes she was looking for, but at the very least she didn't hear a no again. She would have to settle for that and see if she could remember the speech she had initially prepared that sorta flew out the window once they started talking. "Okay," Lyra nodded as Lilie let her hand go. "I love you, Mama."

Lilie looked at Lyra once again, giving her a warm smile as she touched her short hair. "I love you, too, Lyra. More than anything. Don't ever forget that."

Being in the action so quickly had Lyra's blood pumping. Granted, she was more equipped for a direct fight than stealth, but infiltration was just as vital. She was motivated to do well and to hold her weight, even if she was putting her memory skills to the test. Not that she had a bad memory--the faces of the people that needed rescue and the layout of the place had been scratched into her brain the entire way here--but working with people she had never met before was just a little unnerving. She recognized some and had never met others, but for some reason she was expecting to work with an entirely familiar group. She was a little surprised that there would only be two vampires joining them, but the assortment of magic and abilities between them meant that they should accomplish their task successfully.

Whether that meant doing it stealthily was another question entirely.

Confidence in an outright brawl aside, she tapped her chin as she let herself think of a possible plan. Five of them, three people to find, and a lot of bad guys all too happy to kill them. She almost wished she was a sound mage, if only to try to hear for potential conversations that could maybe give a clue on where they should go first. But she'd make do with what she knew. Splitting up would cover more ground, but it'd turn into a disaster if anyone alone needed help. She didn't think they'd be so lucky to encounter who they were looking for in the first place they looked, but it was also possible the three were split up. So all they had to do was pick one and go for it.

"I don't think they'd still be interrogating them three months in," Lyra offered her guesswork quietly. "But the holding cells would take the longest to search. I think our safest bet would be to check the execution room first. If that area's clear, we can go upwards from there."

It'd be easier to search from bottom up, anyway, even if they were already on the middle floor. At least, that was Lyra's logic in all this. She looked to the duo of vampires, a little wary; as she didn't know how either would respond to her giving them orders, but she figured they knew what they were in for.

"I think focusing on listening around us would help, since you guys can hear if anyone's approaching, or if anyone's...being tortured," She didn't mean to hesitate on that point, but she quickly recovered and continued with, "I know it's harder to move as a group, but I also think we should stick together as much as possible. Just in case. The vampires can also quiet their footsteps, and we can have--"

Shoot, what was his name again? She looked at the purple haired guy, hoping his face would match a name. "--Quintus try to make us less heavy so our footsteps are quieter, too," She gestured to herself and Caspian as well. And if all else failed, she figured setting the place on fire was a good backup plan. But she wasn't going to say that. She also looked at everyone expectantly--if there were any objections or suggestions, now was the time to speak up.

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The Shattering of Aegis

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Hm, Eila was taking a lot for granted. She thought that having something for everyone would help morale, but she hadn't considered that she'd have to bring her own cooking tools. She had a knife and the like for preparation purposes at least, but she had dropped the ball on one of the most important elements. Holding back a sigh of frustration, she instead returned Ermes' smile with one of her own as she led him back to her bag. Alright, just because she was used to certain things didn't mean she had go walk around making assumptions of everything. She just needed to...stop and make a checklist. That would help!

Fortunately she had made this recipe before and instructed Ermes on what to do. Not that it was that difficult as it was mostly just chopping things and throwing them into the pot in a certain order, but soon everyone would be able to smell the stew cooking. She somehow remembered to bring everything else she needed, and after taking a taste, deemed it a job well done. It was actually a relief; for some reason, she thought she would've forgotten something or added too much of anything.

That said, that was only because she had been thinking about how they should divide themselves for the night. She was sure they wouldn't be able to rely on Cerric for help as this was their test, so that left four of them. Kyreth seemed too uneasy to be left alone, but maybe he would be more comfortable with someone else? That would make it five people, but it still left her with some hesitation. Kyreth, Liliann, and Ermes all seemed too green to be left alone. Not that Eila was some battle hardened archer herself, and anyone could argue that the only one qualified was likely Ceolfric. Putting Kyreth with Liliann could be alright as Liliann could maybe distract any enemies while Kyreth woke up the rest of the group. But what about Ermes? After giving it some thought, Elia figured someone was going to need to pull double duty. And as Ceolfric was unlikely to volunteer, she would have to. Just the thought of getting less sleep was enough to make her weary, but then again, if she framed it as punishment for arriving late and wanting to show a gesture of goodwill to both the group and the client, then it would be fine. Probably.

It needed just a little more time, but they were basically done. Once everything else was put away, she let herself relax. "A job well done, I would say," Eila told Ermes cheerfully. She did, however, also think now was as good a time as ever to ask something.

"As we cooked, I considered how we should divide up the night's watch," She noted, making sure to speak loud enough for everyone to hear her. "I will take the first watch and the last, with Ermes accompanying me in the second watch. Liliann and Kyreth can take second, and Ceolfric third. Any objections?"

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Court of Nuhl

@Bert Macklin You are approved! He's such a Good Boi :D

@Achronum

"good"

Pariah Online: A Voyage into the Intangible Aether

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Kazuki wanted to leave.

He tried not to look too bored as he let everyone speak. Truthfully, he hadn't the slightest idea on what to do or where to go. Leadership was something usually thrusted onto him and he was all too glad to let Benkei and Alja ask what they needed. Though if other guilds didn't like them, then they would be in for a rough road. Half their crew was dealing with their own shit and the other half were lost. He was, to no one's surprise, probably on both sides. He previously got around needing to persuade anyone with a high charisma stat, but who knew if that ever applied anymore. He had already pissed Graves off as well as the townsfolk earlier, so he figured his stats wouldn't get him anywhere. Unfortunate, he used to like giving deadpan responses only for the game to sing his praises on how 'charismatic' he was.

He was brought of his thoughts once he saw Luci, though he didn't have any of Kazuma's guts to look at her for too long. He let the conversation take place and chose to remain silent. Honestly, he didn't have anything worth saying, anyway. Better to keep his mouth shut than utter some half-assed apology that'd probably just piss her off.

He made some noise of affirmation in response to Rael's question and didn't bother waiting as he turned around and made for the exit. No Alja to drag him back or Seele to guilt him into staying, so he was done here.

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Court of Nuhl

Lyra Rose

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_______________________________________________ "Remember what we're fighting for." _______________________________________________ Lyra Rose Luscin Female | 23 | Fire Martial Artist | Protection Specialist _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ✦ Likes ✦ Homemade crafts Sewing Playing the guitar Hot showers ✦ Dislikes ✦ Getting belittled Feeling abandoned Her reflection Cruelty towards humans and mages ✦ Habits ✦ Has a tendency to fiddle with her hair, albeit she is still getting used to her shorter hair Can be heard talking to herself as she coaches herself through a task she needs to accomplish ✦ Other ✦ Despite her moody demeanor, she is very expressive Loves climbing things. Trees, cliffs, buildings... Idolizes Feliks Vasiliev's work _______________________________________________

"Only thorns left on this rose." ✦ Appearance ✦ Standing at five feet seven inches, Lyra is a beautiful young woman. Many have described her matching her namesake, having inherited the best features of both her parents, though most note she strongly resembles her mother more than her father. She sports fair skin and large, bright grey-blue eyes. Her black hair hands in a bob, framing her heart-shaped face and bringing out the soft features in her face. She has a fit figure with an ample bust, a pair of long legs, and generous hips. ✦ Personality ✦ Outwardly, Lyra is a confident, if somewhat sarcastic young woman. She always seems to have a quip ready and isn't afraid to poke fun at someone's expense, often adding a sardonic comment whether it is warranted or not. Whether that drives people away doesn't concern her too much as she has a tendency to keep people at arm's length. It tends to confuse people as she desires to know people better, but dislikes opening up about herself. Of course, all this is to protect herself. At heart she is a romantic and a dreamer, dangerous things to be during a war. She wants nothing more than to have her fantasies come true and to be swept off her feet by a man she loves and loves her in return. She feels that the only way to fill the emptiness in her heart is to find love, but such a thing isn't possible right now, and the very real possibility that the war won't end in her lifetime terrifies her. She wants to be vulnerable but is afraid of getting hurt, and as she gets older her inner child comes out more whether she wants it to or not. She is still determined to fight as needed and will not hesitate to stand for what is right. While things are bleak, she firmly believes that the rebellion will prevail and knows that they fight for the good of people who cannot fight themselves. The sacrifices and losses that have occurred drive her, and she is courageous and spirited as a result. She is also fiercely loyal to those she cares about and the cause, and despite her mother's wishes, is willing to lay her life on the line for what is right. ✦ Background ✦ Born to Lilie Dionne and Noah Luscin, Lyra and Eden were born in the midst of war after a near-death experience and an order from Benjamin Eve. From birth they were showered with as much love as one could give during the circumstances, albeit in their younger years, they were hidden away with their maternal human family. While their grandmother Felicia was strict, their grandfather Will was caring, and they often balanced each other out to give the girls as much of a healthy upbringing as possible. As they got older, they moved from place to place with Lilie. While their adolescence was unsteady and uncertain, their family made sure that the girls were loved. Once their Awakening came around, the pair insisted on enlisting in the rebellion. To the surprise of few, their mother outright refused, having planned to stash them and their uncle somewhere safe after the passing of their grandparents. Both girls argued back but it wasn't until their father intervened that they were allowed under one condition: Lyra was outright forbidden from using her magic outside any camps. While Eden's lightning was easily excusable, fire mages were outright forbidden and were taken away from their families. The pair were then in the care of Nelda Astorio, who would see to it that the pair were shaped into fine mages. Unfortunately, tragedy would see to it that Eden's life would be taken in the fighting. But there was little time to heal; grieving the loss of Benjamin Eve, Lyra's father grew reckless, and soon he, too, was lost to the war. Lyra never really recovered from the string of losses, and as her mother quickly stepped up as the new leader of the rebellion, she chose instead to repress most of her grief. She ended up throwing herself entirely into her training, feeling that if the war is won, then what was taken from her would have been for something. That said, she has all but neglected her mental health otherwise, and as a result has resorted to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Still, so long as she is ready for the next fight, she feels she is fine. ✦ Theme ✦ Will the whole world know your name When we dance with destiny? Yea, I've been there, and I've seen it I'm never gonna stop believing You'll find your flame Now here we go, it's the end of the show Hear them, they're calling your name Cause in the end It's you and your friends You'll find your flame Color Code: [crimson] "The only thing on my mind is revenge."

Court of Nuhl

SINCE SOMEONE WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED CALLED ME OUT IM DOUBLE POSTING

Lyra Rose

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_______________________________________________ Lyra Rose Luscin Female | 23 | Fire Martial Artist | Protection Specialist _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ✦ Likes ✦ Homemade crafts Sewing Playing the guitar Hot showers ✦ Dislikes ✦ Getting belittled Feeling abandoned Her reflection Cruelty towards humans and mages ✦ Habits ✦ Has a tendency to fiddle with her hair, albeit she is still getting used to her shorter hair Can be heard talking to herself as she coaches herself through a task she needs to accomplish ✦ Other ✦ Despite her moody demeanor, she is very expressive Loves climbing things. Trees, cliffs, buildings... Idolizes Feliks Vasiliev's work _______________________________________________

"Only thorns left on this rose." ✦ Appearance ✦ Standing at five feet seven inches, Lyra is a beautiful young woman. Many have described her matching her namesake, having inherited the best features of both her parents, though most note she strongly resembles her mother more than her father. She sports fair skin and large, bright grey-blue eyes. Her black hair hands in a bob, framing her heart-shaped face and bringing out the soft features in her face. She has a fit figure with an ample bust, a pair of long legs, and generous hips. ✦ Personality ✦ Outwardly, Lyra is a confident, if somewhat sarcastic young woman. She always seems to have a quip ready and isn't afraid to poke fun at someone's expense, often adding a sardonic comment whether it is warranted or not. Whether that drives people away doesn't concern her too much as she has a tendency to keep people at arm's length. It tends to confuse people as she desires to know people better, but dislikes opening up about herself. Of course, all this is to protect herself. At heart she is a romantic and a dreamer, dangerous things to be during a war. She wants nothing more than to have her fantasies come true and to be swept off her feet by a man she loves and loves her in return. She feels that the only way to fill the emptiness in her heart is to find love, but such a thing isn't possible right now, and the very real possibility that the war won't end in her lifetime terrifies her. She wants to be vulnerable but is afraid of getting hurt, and as she gets older her inner child comes out more whether she wants it to or not. She is still determined to fight as needed and will not hesitate to stand for what is right. While things are bleak, she firmly believes that the rebellion will prevail and knows that they fight for the good of people who cannot fight themselves. The sacrifices and losses that have occurred drive her, and she is courageous and spirited as a result. She is also fiercely loyal to those she cares about and the cause, and despite her mother's wishes, is willing to lay her life on the line for what is right. ✦ Background ✦ Born to Lilie Dionne and Noah Luscin, Lyra and Eden were born in the midst of war after a near-death experience and an order from Benjamin Eve. From birth they were showered with as much love as one could give during the circumstances, albeit in their younger years, they were hidden away with their maternal human family. While their grandmother Felicia was strict, their grandfather Will was caring, and they often balanced each other out to give the girls as much of a healthy upbringing as possible. As they got older, they moved from place to place with Lilie. While their adolescence was unsteady and uncertain, their family made sure that the girls were loved. Once their Awakening came around, the pair insisted on enlisting in the rebellion. To the surprise of few, their mother outright refused, having planned to stash them and their uncle somewhere safe after the passing of their grandparents. Both girls argued back but it wasn't until their father intervened that they were allowed under one condition: Lyra was outright forbidden from using her magic outside any camps. While Eden's lightning was easily excusable, fire mages were outright forbidden and were taken away from their families. The pair were then in the care of Nelda Astorio, who would see to it that the pair were shaped into fine mages. Unfortunately, tragedy would see to it that Eden's life would be taken in the fighting. But there was little time to heal; grieving the loss of Benjamin Eve, Lyra's father grew reckless, and soon he, too, was lost to the war. Lyra never really recovered from the string of losses, and as her mother quickly stepped up as the new leader of the rebellion, she chose instead to repress most of her grief. She ended up throwing herself entirely into her training, feeling that if the war is won, then what was taken from her would have been for something. That said, she has all but neglected her mental health otherwise, and as a result has resorted to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Still, so long as she is ready for the next fight, she feels she is fine. ✦ Theme ✦ We carry on through the storm Tired soldiers in this war Remember what we're fighting for Meet me on the battlefield Even on the darkest night I will be your sword and shield, your camouflage And you will be mine Echoes and the shots ring out We may be the first to fall Everything can stay the same, or we could change it all Meet me on the battlefield Color Code: [crimson] "The only thing on my mind is revenge."

Stacia Marivaldi

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_______________________________________________ Anastacia Cornelia Marivaldi Female | 438 | Marivaldi Countess | PhD in Medicine _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ✦ Likes ✦ The smell of fresh flowers The aroma of homegrown tea ✦ Dislikes ✦ Uncultured mages Wasted talent Being spoken down to People who insist her name is spelled wrong (it isn't) ✦ Habits ✦ Prefers her blood in teacups. The only bad habit she somehow can't knock is chewing on her pinky nail when she gets overly stressed. She only does it alone or in trusted company. ✦ Other ✦ Often speaks of her father's many oddities rather casually. The quickest way to make her angry is to interrupt her. Even after four hundred something years she will still (politely) correct someone on the spelling of her name. Said name, despite its difference, is the result of her father regarding the queen in high esteem. ✦ Theme ✦ There's a room where the light won't find you Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down When they do, I'll be right behind you So glad we've almost made it So sad they had to fade it Everybody wants to rule the world Color Code: [fb9ebb] _______________________________________________

"Complacency is the enemy of progress." ✦ Appearance ✦ As with most vampires, Stacia is considered to be the pinnacle of beauty. In spite of her age, she remains incredibly beautiful and lively. She sports an ideal slim and curvaceous figure and her flawless, pale skin is pampered to perfection. Manicured and clean, her eyebrows and makeup are meant to enhance her looks with attention drawn to her dark blue eyes. Her fiery red hair stands out as a stark contrast, albeit she considers it a point of pride nowadays. ✦ Personality ✦ Since Stacia was decades old, she has always been a calm, collected young woman. She always looks to hold herself in the highest dignity and to always act with grace. That said, she is far from naïve--she is experienced, knowledgeable, and has no problem putting someone in their place if they are to underestimate her. While she is not the type of person to take up arms over every slight, she will not forget, and she will not have mercy on those who disrespect her. Those that do give her respect are often allies for life, and she is more than happy to support those that deserve it. Her views on mages is very antiquated. She predates the Marivaldi love of mortals, but that isn't to say that she would treat them badly. On the contrary, she believes well-treated mages are more loyal. Still, while she gives them respect, there is a sense of infantilization. Mages are creatures that need to be taken care of to her. They're capable of great things, of course, but overall their short lifespan means they lack foresight, and they are often too impulsive for their own good. While she has always been restrained, there is always an inner desire to better herself. If she was to become a bride, she would be the ideal bride. If she was to become a businesswoman, then she would know the ins and outs of that business. This adaptation was necessary as despite being an immortal being, the world around her was constantly changing. She firmly believed that as a result, the worst thing someone could do was remain stagnant. Those who desire to keep things as they were without proper reasons as to stay that way are often a disappointment to her. ✦ Background ✦ Stacia's life is far too long to properly speak of. While it is notable that she was born to Reginald Marivaldi and her mage mother, her youth was spent learning to be a proper lady so that one day her father could ensure that her hand would be one men would fight for. Granted, that was also several centuries ago, and the only times she speaks to her husband is for business purposes with little love lost between them. The most relevant event in her history is her father's death, which she would say is the point she left behind the idea of becoming like him. He was an honorable man, but stuck in his ways--she determined that the best way to spend eternity is to change with the world. In the passing decades, Stacia taken on the role of observer in society. Granted, it was only temporary as her recent accomplishments include diving into the study of modern medicine and its benefits in comparison to life magic. The topic fascinated her enough to fund several hospitals, medicines, and a multitude of collecting data in order to bolster the legitimacy of the study. She has written several books to back up her research, waltzing into the medical field with sincere interest and determined to come out with results. In terms of current events, she has expressed distaste in the current war that has driven back society. Her main concern stems from the power imbalance of the houses, as where once stood four houses on equal footing, one dictator now remains to tower over the other three. Stacia was responsible for holding the house together once their leader left for the rebellion, and to her surprise, her efforts were largely ignored once Immerila was placed as the new Head. The insult has not gone unnoticed, and Stacia replied in kind and refused to give up any of her fire and light mages in her employ as a result. She found Ryner's decisions foolish, but she was a little surprised when the princess was staked. She finds the remnants of the rebellion honorable and put in an impossible place; with Benjamin Eve gone, she thinks the current leader has no choice but to continue despite being likely to lose the war. With that said, however, she is not entirely satisfied, her numerous concerns over the current state of vampiric politics giving her great pause...

Stacia's Mages

	Dr. Tatius Ricci, MD - Life Mage | 33 Stacia's co-writer of her most recent research, Tatius has a brilliant mind for medicine. Since he was a child he studied the human body exclusively, wishing to become a surgeon from a young age. It was fitting that he would become a life mage as his entire life has revolved around healing and medicine. While a polite enough mage, Tatius is not as social as Stacia's other mages, though he is excellent at reading body language and typically adapts the conversation. In his free time, he is often burying his nose in some medical journal and constantly striving to improve his research.
	Alexei Russo - Air mage | 26 Stacia's current right hand mage after her previous one passed. While he hasn't been in the position for long, he has long since gained Stacia's trust. That said, he is something of a wild card, his actions unpredictable and one can never be completely sure of his motives. That said, he is fiercely loyal to Stacia and follows orders without question, even if he does occasionally execute them his own way. He's different from her other mages in this way, but Stacia hardly bats an eye to his antics. Some believe that because his lineage can be traced back to being a direct descendant to Stacia's mother, she gives him more leeway.
	Marianne Bella - Light mage | 21 The position of Stacia's favorite mage is one of little responsibility and is equivalent to becoming a pet of sorts as Stacia showers them with luxury and attention. They are always at her side, otherwise they are being pampered and waited on. Marianne is Stacia's current pet and is nearly always by her side as a result. She is bright, obedient, and sociable, though she is also very smug when it comes to dealing with the other mages under Stacia.

Court of Nuhl

where the sheet at tho bruh @Trainerblue192