Illumin0sity

Journey to the East

Walking with his arm around Elann brought him a certain warmth as well. It wasn’t physical, but mental and emotional. Noah was perfectly content walking in the moodless breezes with his bondmate at his side, arm draped around her to form some sort of physical connection. The touch, alongside with being outside the wagon, was freshening up his mind where it had once been bogged down because of the puzzling gems. He was becoming feather-light and wondrously minded once more, the birds singing above helping him realize that he was somewhere he loved being: in the forest. Having his bondmate out there with him in a place he loved was all the more comforting.

Noah looked down at Elann as she spoke, questioning him about his communication with the birds. He nodded at the first question, confirming it.

“All birds,” he said. “When I first moved to Syliras I met a Parrot Kelvic. Her name was Altaira. She was the bondmate of another Benshira, Oriah. We talked as birds before we talked as people.”

She asked him what they said, to which hummed in thought. Translating the simple tweets, whistles, and calls could be tricky sometimes.

“They were talking about the caravan,” he finally said. “They don’t see people often, so when they do it’s exciting. It’s why they’re following the caravan. Haven’t you noticed?”

“They’re curious, and I told them about you because they wondered why I was walking with you like this. I said it was because you were my person. Basically saying that I’m walking with you like this because you’re special to me,” he expressed, looking back up into the overhead branches.

“Some of them are smarter than others, like people,” he joked. “Ravens and crows, they are smart. Owls, falcons, and hawks are smart too. These birds are a little stupid, but they’re funny too. They’re like… the fool equivalent of people, because some fool people are funny. They’re like that.”

He kind of smiled, liking that he was able to talk about this part of his life. Comparing people to the different species of birds had helped him understand some people better. Living in Syliras was kind of dulling in that regard because there wasn’t a large variety of birds, and the birds that were there weren’t as lively as they ones outside of the castle city. It seemed the grey walls drug everything down with them, depressing not only the people but the animals who were caught in there by either accident or time. Out here, like him, they were wild, happy, and free; it showed.

“How is your sewing project going?” he asked.

Noah reached his other hand over to Elann, brushing the hair on the side of her face behind her ear so that he could see her better. While they hadn’t been talking much throughout the trip in the last few days since their last fight, he had been paying close attention to her, quietly watching as she put herself through the movements of stitching and weaving.

Journey to the East

Elann’s hands smoothing down his back and shoulders were relaxing and easing to his mind, a mind that was heavy with the thoughts of what to do with his gifts from the gods. He was at his end for the moment with the gems, unsure of where to go next. It wasn’t often that he got stumped, usually able to find the ends for problems that often eluded others, but now, he was stuck with no clear direction to go. His focused eyes were strained and his muscles were tense, cramped in his position for most of the morning looking over his gems.

Noah nodded, humming in affirmation. The gems were dangerous, but that wasn’t the only reason for his carefulness. He didn’t want to offend his god by improperly tampering with the divine gifts either. The secrets held within were to be tapped by natural means, just as they were created in the same way. Atop of that, he had already been zapped by the charges within the gems. He was unsure what would happen if he tried anything more invasive.

“I would say so,” he said in reply as he packed up the gifts.

When they were packed, the bag tied loosely, Elann’s breath brought his attention to her. Noah peered up at her behind him, careening his head back to look at her in an upside down way. The offer came and he accepted, nodding.

He pushed himself to stand, the bag of gems in hand. He drifted towards the front of the wagon first, putting the sack with the rest of their things before heading towards the back to join his wife outside. A walk would be a nice escape from what he was toiling over, the heat of his constantly simmering thoughts allowed to relax in the cool breezes of early spring.

Once outside he observed that they weren’t the only ones who wanted to take a stroll with the wagons. A few others were out and about as well, walking alongside the wagons, some people talking to the drivers, others just enjoying the nature they were submerged in. He helped his wife out of the wagon then took up post walking by her side as he enjoyed the freshness of the air. Above, the birds sang in off again on again tunes that he understood, causing him to curiously look up to them.

There was a specific tune that caught his attention, and with a lick of his lips, he replayed it, calling back to the bird who originally sang it. He got a reply, to which he replied again, the tune perfect in its crafting as it left his lips. He preoccupied a little bit of his time with the same back and forth, a few other avian comrades joining in as they realized Noah was more than the man he appeared to be. Soon he disconnected himself from the conversation, whistling his goodbye, before setting his sights on the path ahead.

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

Chapter 1 | Saturday Morning | West Gate of Ambrosia

---

The morning so far had been uneventful for Ely. The night before was much the same, in all honesty. A week earlier Ely had been in one of the towns on the outskirts playing as a man-of-the-people for those less fortunate than he. In matters of wealth they were equal for Ely had very little coin in his coffers, but in the relations of spirituality, Ely’s pockets were nearly endless. From an early age he had been engrossed in the flows of magical preaching, and for years more he had been a helper to those in need. Despite this all, he was no zealot, but understanding and patient in his movements. He had to be with his chosen, yet unchosen, craft: magic.

While his first exposure to magic was abrupt, catastrophic, and jarring, he had learned to control his preferred element, Air, and held a vast knowledge on the other elements as well. Air was chosen for various reasons, it’s versatility being the most supreme. In one moment he could be casting a cutting burst of wind, in the next he could be shielding himself from harm. With the flip of a dime that defense could turn to offense, or be repurposed entirely for utility. Years it took to develop the expertise in his practice, but that wasn’t the only thing in his repertoire. With him he had a spear; a two-meter-long metallic weapon with a grip fashioned from heavy cloth wrappings. It resembled an ancient Roman hasta in appearance and was one of his most prized possessions, the other two being his vehicle and magical crystal.

He twirled that crystal now sitting in his silver buggy with his boots propped up on the dashboard. The windows were open, allowing the cool breezes of the outside air to funnel in and keep the calm alongside the music streaming softly from the radio. He was in a state of calm, parked outside of the house he grew up in. Inside was his father, a man whose years were catching up to him but he refused to sit down. It was a somber thing, being out there, but he yearned to be home, yearned to see his father. Now that he saw him though, there was a twinge of regret in his mind.

The night before, he had traveled up from the south, travelling through the falling sun, through dusk, to reach Ambrosia by total nightfall. It was a dangerous venture but it was something he felt he had to do. It had been years since he saw his father properly. Now he realized why.

Suddenly the music stopped, a crackling taking over his speakers that brought him pause. He was not miffed because of the abrupt silence, but he was curious. Ely slid his feet of the dash and set them down properly in order to listen to the broadcast. The Jarl, Janne Gustaven, spoke on about how the wealthy were putting their efforts, and resources, into a combined project. The Great Reclamation Project, it was called. Curious still, Ely shifted, leaning into his speaker more readily. Next the Jarl said the Ambrosian Conscription Rule was to be invoked, requiring every hunter, engineer, and ADF agent to heed the call of the invocation.

Ely looked sadly to the house he grew up in. His father was inside resting after a night shift and now the man was being called again but for something else entirely. This was bigger than his usual patrols, this was something on a grander scale. Ely wondered if his old man could keep up with that sort of project, the sudden laying of the foundation of the West Coast. That was momentous, was it not?

Ely sat back in his seat, biting down on his thumbnail in thought. There was nothing said about mages but he knew the Pledge would lend their support. While he was no longer an official member of the Pledge, he still held up their ideals and followed - mostly - in their decisions. He believed he still represented them, at least until he was able to set a stage for himself, if at all. The Pledge would remain a deep part of who he was and, in the recesses of his gut, he knew he would face reprimanding for not signing up.

Almost begrudgingly, he started his car and backed out of his father’s rubble-filled driveway and onto the road. After that he sped on to the plaza where the sign-ups were being held. He parked, braced himself for the crowds, then piled out of his car, making sure the doors were locked before heading off.

Ely’s spear gleaned in the sunlight, freshly cleaned, pale metal refracting the rays crisply. It swayed some small ways about his head as he walked onward through the crowds. The crystal around his neck, the catalyst of his power, swung like a pendulum with each step. The elongated shard trailed down to the center of his belly, bound at the top tightly by metal braces. He lost himself in the sea of people, his shining spear swaying above him the entire walk towards his objective: signing up.

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

@Nytefall, he said he was working on the IC two days ago. I don't think we'll be waiting long. There's a good amount of interest, and he worked hard on the OOC. I don't think he'd just up and leave it, especially given how many posts he has and how long he's been here.

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

Woo~ I'll keep an eye out for when we begin then. I look forward to writing with you all!

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

Ely Finley Newport

Ely

---

Full Name... Ely Finley Newport
Age... Twenty-four

Archtype... Mage
Specialization... Combat Mage

Appearance

Standing six foot two and weighing approximately one-hundred and fifty pounds, Ely is a rather thin and nimble young man. He possesses a nearly childlike face despite approaching his mid-twenties, the facial hair simply not coming to him after the flows of puberty. All that did come was his height and tuned muscles that lace his skeleton. On his head are the wavy strands of brown, each strand adding in length of fall past his ears but just shy of his shoulders. His eyes, while not mutated, show the spark of one attuned to magic. The irises are a dark yet iridescent green flecked with streaks of grey to further reveal his magical preference. Overtop his visual orbs are two dark brows full of expression. Ely’s face holds angle and hollows in his cheeks, high cheekbone residing over the softness of his facial flesh.

Clothing-wise, Ely’s often seen in form fitting pants and loose shirts. The shoes he wears are lightweight, wrapped several times over by cloth to maintain the grip over the years. It’s more than past time for new shoes, but he’s not had the care to do so. Instead he maintains what he has, keeping them patched up by occasional trips to the various towns surrounding Ambrosia.

Personality

Ely is dark, but not immensely somber. He’s made his peace with his mother and sisters’ deaths, but still harbors quiet sadness for his father’s loneliness. He’s jaded, having witnessed the murder of more than half of his immediate family. That said, he is broody at times, taking events to mean more than they actually may. Overthinking is a dual-sided trait of his, both harboring favorableness and disadvantageous aspects alike. Still, he is kind and charitable, compassionate and merciful especially to those less fortunate than himself. In the shattered world he lives in now, he would say that most aren’t as lucky as him.

In his training he learned to overcome the impulsiveness that most untrained magi fall under. He is mindful of his limits but presses them in times of trying. That said, he is determined to eventually raise those limits but knows that his ceiling must be delicately pushed. It is fragile and easily he could fall back under the addiction to the arcane that once held him eight years ago.

Biography

Ely was born in 36 AF within the city of Ambrosia. He was the last born of two siblings, both of which were more than five years older than him. His parents, Kennedy and Lexia Newport, were hardworking citizens of the city. His father was a member of Ambrosian Defense Force, not making many strides in rank because he was a content man. So long as he was able bring in enough money to feed his family, he was happy. Ely’s mother was a nurse within one of the clinics of the city. She, too, was rather humble and quiet, keeping to herself when on and off of work. Ambition did not strive within them; therefore, it did not grow within Ely.

Four years later, hunters brought down a great thunder bird, a legendary beast whose death marked the next era of expansion for the city. In that time Ely saw less of his father due to the man being almost obligated to take extra shifts in patrols. The need for the city to be expanded meant the guard had to cover more ground. Unfortunately, it also meant Ely’s father would work long hours, mostly at night, and would return home only to sleep in preparation for the next shift.

Due to his father’s ghostlike presence, Ely looked to his mother as more of a parental figure instead. He often accompanied her to the clinic she worked at, observing as she helped patients and was tasked with various odd jobs and errands. Not one to complain, Ely happily did his part for the clinic at his young age, refusing to leave his mother’s side. His want to be with his mother also meant that his education came in the way of homeschooling. If he wasn’t being taught by his mother in her free time, he was being taught by his two older sisters.

About a month or so before his sixteenth birthday Ely accompanied his mother and siblings on a trip to Junction Point, a settlement where his mother’s brother lived with his family. Pleasantries were had, Ely was reconnected with his distant relatives, and his uncle began to fill the void his father left within his parentage. Just as the hole was being fill though, the raiders, the Clan, came to Junction Point, sacking it. The militia of the town was overwhelmed, but managed to hold out enough for Ely and his family to start on the road back to Ambrosia. Misfortune followed the family still; what distance they covered by running was quickly closed by pursuers.

Ely's mother and two sisters were murdered before his eyes on the road. Even then, the glint in his eyes did not waver, his attunement to magic becoming known to both him and his would-be murderers. In his scrambling Ely discovered a small lightening crystal, formed by the storms that ravaged the area. Tapping into the crystal, he discharged its payload at his assailants. The surging of power forced him out of consciousness but ultimately killed two of his assailants, forcing the others to flee.

In the passing days Ely returned to Ambrosia. His run-in with magic opened his eyes to an entirely new world and the urges to cast more were prevalent and amazingly strong. His father recognized the signs of addiction. Kennedy opted to take his son to one of the small settlements on the outskirts, somewhere Ely could get treatment for his piquing addiction and learn to harness his powers if he so wished it. Ely did wish it and there he remained with his new brethren, the Crystalline Pledge.

With the Pledge he learned how to master he abilities over the next eight years. He partook in charity, acted in magi acceptance movements, and trained in the martial feats alongside his spellcasting. Ely willingly set out from the Pledge with a new goal in mind. He could only do so much within the limits of the Pledge. Outside of it, he could show the recovering world his charity and do good with his magic, his gift.

Skills

• Knowledge
  
  • Knowledge of the Arcane: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Electricity

• Combat
  
  • Spellcasting: Air
    
    • Spell: Cutting Burst... a single, powerful spurt of air is expelled from the palms, sailing in the intended direction by the caster's hands.
    • Spell: Backlash... a concentrated gust of air is expelled from the crystal, knocking the first person hit back thirty feet.
    • Spell: Engulfment... torrential winds surround the caster, and the area immediately around them, protecting them from projectiles... can be detonated into a lesser variant of Backlash... can only be kept up for thirty seconds, weakens in strength by a third every ten seconds.
  • Weapon: Half-Spear

• Specialties
  
  • Nimble

Weapon(s)

Half Spear

Crystal Pendant

Equipment

Ride

A small off-terrain vehicle meant to seat two people. In his time away from the Pledge, the vehicle has served as his home in conjunction with providing transportation from city to city.

• Backpack
• Canteen
• New World Map

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

@Hellis, fixed! Edited another time for the corrections.

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

@Hellis, I fixed the errors in my character sheet and lowered the amount of skills down to seven, including two spells, one defensive, one offensive. I may have overlooked the limit of skills given that it was awfully late when I posted the character. Sorry about that.

Terra Magica (Open/Accepting Players!)

Ely Finley Newport

Ely

---

Full Name... Ely Finley Newport
Age... Twenty-four

Archtype... Mage
Specialization... Combat Mage

Appearance

Standing six foot two and weighing approximately one-hundred and fifty pounds, Ely is a rather thin and nimble young man. He possesses a nearly childlike face despite approaching his mid-twenties, the facial hair simply not coming to him after the flows of puberty. All that did come was his height and tuned muscles that lace his skeleton. On his head are the wavy strands of brown, each strand adding in length of fall past his ears but just shy of his shoulders. His eyes, while not mutated, show the spark of one attuned to magic. The irises are a dark yet iridescent green flecked with streaks of grey to further reveal his magical preference. Overtop his visual orbs are two dark brows full of expression. Ely’s face holds angle and hollows in his cheeks, high cheekbone residing over the softness of his facial flesh.

Clothing-wise, Ely’s often seen in form fitting pants and loose shirts. The shoes he wears are lightweight, wrapped several times over by cloth to maintain the grip over the years. It’s more than past time for new shoes, but he’s not had the care to do so. Instead he maintains what he has, keeping them patched up by occasional trips to the various towns surrounding Ambrosia.

Personality

Ely is dark, but not immensely somber. He’s made his peace with his mother and sisters’ deaths, but still harbors quiet sadness for his father’s loneliness. He’s jaded, having witnessed the murder of more than half of his immediate family. That said, he is broody at times, taking events to mean more than they actually may. Overthinking is a dual-sided trait of his, both harboring favorableness and disadvantageous aspects alike. Still, he is kind and charitable, compassionate and merciful especially to those less fortunate than himself. In the shattered world he lives in now, he would say that most aren’t as lucky as him.

In his training he learned to overcome the impulsiveness that most untrained magi fall under. He is mindful of his limits but presses them in times of trying. That said, he is determined to eventually raise those limits but knows that his ceiling must be delicately pushed. It is fragile and easily he could fall back under the addiction to the arcane that once held him eight years ago.

Biography

Ely was born in 36 AF within the city of Ambrosia. He was the last born of two siblings, both of which were more than five years older than him. His parents, Kennedy and Lexia Newport, were hardworking citizens of the city. His father was a member of Ambrosian Defense Force, not making many strides in rank because he was a content man. So long as he was able bring in enough money to feed his family, he was happy. Ely’s mother was a nurse within one of the clinics of the city. She, too, was rather humble and quiet, keeping to herself when on and off of work. Ambition did not strive within them; therefore, it did not grow within Ely.

Four years later, hunters brought down a great thunder bird, a legendary beast whose death marked the next era of expansion for the city. In that time Ely saw less of his father due to the man being almost obligated to take extra shifts in patrols. The need for the city to be expanded meant the guard had to cover more ground. Unfortunately, it also meant Ely’s father would work long hours, mostly at night, and would return home only to sleep in preparation for the next shift.

Due to his father’s ghostlike presence, Ely looked to his mother as more of a parental figure instead. He often accompanied her to the clinic she worked at, observing as she helped patients and was tasked with various odd jobs and errands. Not one to complain, Ely happily did his part for the clinic at his young age, refusing to leave his mother’s side. His want to be with his mother also meant that his education came in the way of homeschooling. If he wasn’t being taught by his mother in her free time, he was being taught by his two older sisters.

About a month or so before his sixteenth birthday Ely accompanied his mother and siblings on a trip to Junction Point, a settlement where his mother’s brother lived with his family. Pleasantries were had, Ely was reconnected with his distant relatives, and his uncle began to fill the void his father left within his parentage. Just as the hole was being fill though, the raiders, the Clan, came to Junction Point, sacking it. The militia of the town was overwhelmed, but managed to hold out enough for Ely and his family to start on the road back to Ambrosia. Misfortune followed the family still; what distance they covered by running was quickly closed by pursuers.

Ely's mother and two sisters were murdered before his eyes on the road. Even then, the glint in his eyes did not waver, his attunement to magic becoming known to both him and his would-be murderers. In his scrambling Ely discovered a small lightening crystal, formed by the storms that ravaged the area. Tapping into the crystal, he discharged its payload at his assailants. The surging of power forced him out of consciousness but ultimately killed two of his assailants, forcing the others to flee.

In the passing days Ely returned to Ambrosia. His run-in with magic opened his eyes to an entirely new world and the urges to cast more were prevalent and amazingly strong. His father recognized the signs of addiction. Kennedy opted to take his son to one of the small settlements on the outskirts, somewhere Ely could get treatment for his piquing addiction and learn to harness his powers if he so wished it. Ely did wish it and there he remained with his new brethren, the Crystalline Pledge.

With the Pledge he learned how to master he abilities over the next eight years. He partook in charity, acted in magi acceptance movements, and trained in the martial feats alongside his spellcasting. Ely willingly set out from the Pledge with a new goal in mind. He could only do so much within the limits of the Pledge. Outside of it, he could show the recovering world his charity and do good with his magic, his gift.

Skills

• Knowledge
  
  • Knowledge of the Arcane: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Electricity

• Combat
  
  • Spellcasting: Air
    
    • Spell: Cutting Burst... a single, powerful spurt of air is expelled from the palms, sailing in the intended direction by the caster's hands.
    • Spell: Backlash... a concentrated gust of air is expelled from the crystal, knocking the first person hit back thirty feet.
    • Spell: Engulfment... torrential winds surround the caster, and the area immediately around them, protecting them from projectiles... can be detonated into a lesser variant of Backlash... can only be kept up for thirty seconds, weakens in strength by a third every ten seconds.
  • Weapon: Half-Spear

• Specialties
  
  • Nimble

Weapon(s)

Half Spear

Crystal Pendant

Equipment

Ride

A small off-terrain vehicle meant to seat two people. In his time away from the Pledge, the vehicle has served as his home in conjunction with providing transportation from city to city.

• Backpack
• Canteen
• New World Map

Sorry that it took so long. I got preoccupied by getting back into school. Everything should be good now! I hope you like what I've created. It only took about an hour and some, so if there are errors or inconsistencies, let me know.

Crusader Kings, A game of Thrones (Gilded Throne Reborn)

Hey all,

Wanted to say that I'm interested. I've done something like this in the past, just not on this site, and would like to give it another try.