KazAlkemi

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: Everforge, Otherworld
Magic Items:
Fit

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Luna pinched the bridge of her nose. ”I mean, sure. Have more than half of us go to the Everforge and leave the rest back here to defend and protect themselves in a sand structure that does not belong here. That’s not a beacon for anyone around, either. Nope. Not at all.” Luna would have preferred a smaller party to venture to entreat with the dwarves. For the danger is likely to be greater in the middle of this desert.

Luna accepted the stone and paper from Leah and Victoria, respectively. She pocketed both items. ”I will do the negotiating with my friend. Perhaps she will let me cash in a favour. The rest of you, don’t die. And Chase, if you call me Tristan, I will punch you. Use Glimpse or Luna. I am known here. My name is not as powerful as my former title was.” She walked out of the small doorway, nodding at Leah. ”Have fun. Hopefully, we won’t be long.”

She watched Dorian and Percy fly away. Without the others. ”Bloody fucking idiots,” Luna cursed. ”Oi! If we’re going, we go now. Or those two are going to be the ones negotiating,” Luna called back to the rest of the leaving party.

Roll Request

IF no one can/offers to carry Luna for flying, roll for her Enhanced Speed to get her to the Walking Mountain (Everforge). Plzzzz

✨ Under Black Stars ✨

Jack had wronged many people in his life. Annika had been caught in the crossfire before, so what her father had to say was nothing new. But how he said it, the remorse and regret? That was new.

Annika shifted to comfort her father when the door opened, and he pushed her away. Annika stared at the book, upset that this Reza had tried to trick her just to get his revenge.

”No. I’m not leaving you.” Annika came to stand by her father, her small hands balled into fists. ”Hey! I don’t know how sentient you are, or if you just have the last remnants of a man wronged in there, but I’m not letting you kill my dad. He may be a lot of things, but he chose to protect and raise me. So whatever memory you’re holding onto, it’s time to let it go because he is not the same man. So if you want my dad, you have to go through me.”

Annika glared at the book, something she had found so fascinating earlier, and a shadow bow formed in her hand, with a full quiver of arrows on her back. She strung one but didn’t point it at the book. She may be fiercely trying to protect her father, but she still had hope that whatever was left of Reza had some intelligence.

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: California —> Everforge, Otherworld
Magic Items:
Fit

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Luna grinned at Percy before shaking her head. ”Lucky for you, I am only a quarter Fae. My knowledge comes for free. I only ask that when the time comes, you remember that the Otherworld is my home. I have many loved ones and people I care about there. Remember that when you are trying to retrieve Ser Nemo.”

Sacrifices would be made on this journey. If the tarot cards held any truth to them, that was already evident. It was nothing Luna wasn’t already used to, and playing both sides as she was would surely bring problems to their doorstep, but it was something Luna had to do.

Luna didn’t hold Sabine’s reaction against her. It was healthy to be nervous. It meant that you cared and would be cautious. Hopefully, the others would hold that same temperament. She had her doubts.

Luna frowned at Chase. ”You can’t use names that already belong to people. Your world’s stories about King Arthur, Avalon, and Merlin are not mere stories. They are real. I need you to understand that. The Land of Stories is very real and needs to be taken seriously.”

A sudden warmth was in front of Luna, and she stepped back, frowning at Danni’s teasing. She opened her mouth to protest when Danni started speaking in rapid fire. She blinked, doing her best to keep track of everything he was asking.

”Wow.” Luna shifted her weight and shook her head. ”No one is required to help us. We can ask, but they could refuse. You can make offers, but if you are the one asking the questions, you have less authority to make the bargain, as they hold all the cards. I suppose you can make a bargain to have no bad hair days, but I wouldn’t waste it on that if you have more important questions to ask. And a price has to be paid. No one wants a rash. But if you want beautiful hair, a sacrifice must be made in order to gain what you desire. It is fair. At least according to the fae. An eye for an eye and all that,” Luna said, waving her hand dramatically.

And then Gideon stepped through the portal. Luna opened her mouth to protest, but they disappeared. And then one by one people started jumping through. Luna sighed.

”I’m surrounded by igits,” Luna groaned. She glanced at Victoria, who stepped forward to take her turn in crossing over. Luna grinned and laughed, nodding. ”I suppose there are worse ghosts out there.”

Luna watched Victoria disappear and sighed. She hoped the humanoid would find her way and arrive where she needed to be—that she wouldn’t be alone.

Once Danni stepped through, Luna took a moment to survey the building behind her. Everything was changing. Luna just hoped it would be for the better when it came to her family and her home.

Luna shut her eyes and stepped into the ring of mushrooms. The ground disappeared beneath her feet, and she plummeted to the ground before tumbling forward.

”Ah, bloody hell,” Luna grumbled. She opened her eyes to blinding sunshine and shifted her weight only to feel the ground moving easily underneath her. Sand. Luna ran her fingers through the fine grit and grinned. They were exactly where they needed to be.

Luna stood quickly, her midnight-blue cloak billowing behind her as she surveyed the horizon, looking for familiar sights. Her clothes remained the same; the only change was the addition of a cowl and a cloak with a hood that could shield her face from the wind, the sun, and her identity. The atmosphere of the space around her suddenly pressed down on her. Luna turned her head to take in the crowd of teenagers. Most of them surrounded one of the girls who lay on the ground. Luna’s eyes widened.

”It can’t be… I mean, I’ve heard of it, but not in this capacity. Not after crossing over.” She took another step forward, removing the cowl from around her face. ”She’s transitioning.” Luna’s eyes shifted from awe to confusion. ”I think your friend might be fae. Sometimes they bloom late, transitioning all at once. It’s incredibly painful.” Luna looked sympathetically at Leah. ”There’s nothing that can be done. We must let what has begun finish. But once we help Victoria, we will be in need of finding the fae quicker than I had intended. I can only teach her so much.”

Luna turned her attention back to the distance, seeing the Walking Mountain and smiled. ”That is our destination, Victoria. We can walk, but we cannot move Sabine. Not while she is transitioning. Danni.” Luna turned her head to look at the boy with the now dog-sized dragon. ”Can you do your little fire trick again? Into the sky this time, if you would. We must try to signal the dwarves. Unless one of you can fly? The rest of you, form a circle. This land is known to hold bandits and smugglers. Once we attempt to signal the mountain, all will know we are here.”

Luna supposed she could try to send Tish, but Luna had a flair for the dramatic.

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: The Neverish, Strange Academy
Grimore:
Skills:

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The darkness outside deepened, allowing the shadows to play. Annika’s chest felt tight while she watched. Shapes disappeared as quickly as they formed, giving the illusion that something was out there, but nothing came forth. She sighed and turned away from the window.

A foreign language tickled Annika’s ears, and she looked at Rohan. Japanese? Interesting. Annika felt her cheeks warm and turned quickly away, busying her hands by looking at what bubbled in the stew pot. She knew she liked Rohan, but she didn’t realize she was starting to like Rohan.

A delicious smell of rabbit, pork, and chicken hit Annika. She inhaled, her stomach grumbling in response. Vegetables bobbed in and out of view, tempting Annika to have a taste. However, she knew that was a stupid idea. Sort of.

Slam!

The sudden noise in the small room made Annika jump back and spin around. She looked around frantically, finally seeing Rohan on the ground with the book he had been looking at firmly shut in the middle of the table. She swallowed, approaching the table.

The last time she had read a book that had a mind of its own, it almost killed her father. Her hand shook as she reached out to touch the cover of the journal, ignoring Rohan’s warnings.

The whispers of a long-dead language she couldn’t place filled her ears. She shut her eyes, cocking her head as she strained to hear the sorrowful sound, tinged with longing and regret. Annika’s chest ached. Whoever wrote this had once lived a full life, perhaps full of strain and misery. Annika was sure of it.

She opened her eyes and pulled her hand back. ”Should we bring the book back with us when we go?” Would it willingly leave this world? And if it did, what would they bring into the next?”

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Location: Mikkail’s Sitting Room, Strange Academy
Grimore: Predatory Instinct; Dragonic Morphing; Hunter’s Mark
Skills: History
Fit

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Cal (or was it the dragon within?) grumbled at Nick’s reassurances. He stepped aside, unblocking Cassie and Willow. He turned to look at them, but not in a way that left his back exposed to Jake. He was on edge with all these people around his injured coven members. As for Nick’s comment about the night before, Cal simply nodded once.

Cassiopeia’s sudden shift in her reactions had him kneeling at her side, ensuring the book was out of her reach and Jake’s. He doubted the others would try to take it off him.

”Cassie, my love, this was not your fault,” Cal said, brushing some of her hair behind her ear. ”I asked you to do something you might not have been fully comfortable with, and we stepped into that risk willingly. Those of us accepted into Strange Academy are made of sterner things. We can handle pressure, we can handle pain, and we can handle things when they do not go our way. I admire your fire and your need for revenge.” The fire in Cal’s own dragon eyes continued to burn even as he spoke tenderly to Cassie. ”But this journal has answers we need. I will not ask you to take this task on again. I will take it to Mikkail’s tower and glean what I can. After that, if the book remains, we can destroy it together. This is the best I can offer you.”

✨ Under Black Stars ✨

Reza’s journal remained silent, unsatisfied with Annika’s question. She sat back on her heels, thinking of a different question. It was one thing to have questions about a book that you read versus one that waited patiently for you to ask. There was a movie Annika watched once. There was a wizarding school for kids, and a book was actually the soul of the original owner. Annika had dreamed about that book. Wondering what her soul in book form would look like. Her mind drifted when the book she held suddenly slammed shut.

Bang!

Annika jumped back, releasing the book as it rose into the air. She stared at it in awe. Swords formed and glowed in a circle around the book, drawing Annika in despite the violence those glowing weapons promised.

Annika jumped again at the sound of her name. She turned to see her dad. The colour drained from her face, worried she would be in trouble for letting her curiosity get the best of her. Again.

”Da—” Jack’s fierce voice broke off Annika’s plea. Her fear of being caught turned into real fear when the book pursued her dad, the swirling swords pointed at him.

”Dad!” Annika watched her dad, fear and confusion mixing together as the book became increasingly violent.

Jack managed to break away, and Annika moved towards him before they were enveloped in shadows. She buried her head in his chest, breathing in his comforting scent.

”I’m okay. Noch and I were exploring when that book called to me. Dad…who was Reza Cabrera, and why does he want you dead?” It was clear to Annika that Reza, even the book form of him, did not like Jack. Not many people liked Annika’s dad. It had become glaringly obvious to her over the years as she had been present at several altercations, but a book hating her dad was a new one. Something had very clearly happened on their journey. Something that led to Reza’s death.

✨ Under Black Stars ✨

Reza Cabrera, the Shining Witch. Well, that would explain the glowing letters. Annika reread the text twice.

”A life well lived, hmm.” As far as Annika knew, her father still lived, so it seemed this Reza had passed, and her father retained the journal of their tales. However, the magic contained in this book seemed to hide the whole of it. Only responding if the reader was smart enough to ask the correct questions.

Annika was curious about who Abraham was and what kind of magic Reza wielded, but mostly about her father and his involvement in this adventure.

”Were you successful in opening the gate? Where did it lead?”

Portal magic was a constant teaching in Annika’s life. When used correctly, she could go anywhere or create anything from a few well-placed shadows and well-timed portal creations. But the portal this book wrote of, Annika wasn’t sure. Had her father ever mentioned a Reza Cabrera in his teachings?

Avengers Academy: X of Swords ⚔️

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Location: California
Magic Items:
Fit

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Luna rose with the sun the next morning. She tried her best to sleep through the night, but her anxious thoughts inhibited her ability to relax. Her years in the Otherworld had given her the confidence to lead effectively and keep people safe. Of course, there were always the unforeseen circumstances that led to injury or, more regretably, loss. But by wearing the Captain Britian mantle, Luna had learned to harness those feelings and create a strong and capable army. She had learned to make tough decisions and live with them, but being back here, all those former insecurities resurfaced.

After borrowing a different, looser pair of clothes, Luna left the campus and went for an early morning run. The sun here was brilliant. It felt warmer to her, brighter than the sun she experienced when she visited her parents back home. The people here seemed livelier as well. She wasn’t the only one running at dawn. She passed several joggers and runners, along with a sprinkling of people heading down to the beach to surf or take photos of the gorgeous views. Maybe she would bring the girls here. They would probably love the warm Pacific compared to the cold Atlantic.

Luna ran until she felt properly warm and level-headed before returning to Victoria’s room. She gathered her clothes and supplies for the shower, then took a moment to enjoy the sound of running water. With all the travelling they potentially had to do, Luna did not know when she would get the luxury of enjoying a proper shower or bath again.

Dressed once more in the clothes she had arrived in from the Otherworld, Luna made her way to the Haunted Tree. She had located it in the middle of the quad moments before Percy and the others started to trickle in. Having no aversion to things magical or spooky, Luna leaned against the tree, watching and listening to the growing group. She shuffled her tarot deck, keeping silent until everyone was present. As soon as the last person joined the group, a card fell to the ground. Luna ceased her shuffling and bent over to pick it up.

Death. How fitting. They would be experiencing transformation today.

Luna lifted her eyes until she found the boy depicted in the card. She walked over to Ben, stared at him for a moment, then handed him the card.

”Don’t lose that,” she said before walking away. She didn’t know why, but she felt he needed it.

Luna stood next to the tree once more, half a step from the fairy ring, and met the many eyes of the children before her. Children. They were just children, about to enter a foreign land to try to save someone they cared about. Flashes of the MU greeted her train of thought, and she looked at Andy before speaking.

”We are about to enter a completely different world. One where halflings, dwarves, vampires, fae, and beasts all exist and don’t all take kindly to outsiders or people staring at them. Although, to be fair, they will probably stare at you. Once we cross over, our first mission is to get Victoria to the dwarves. If we don’t, she will be lost to us. As we move, we can gather intel on what is happening with Ser Nemo, and what her Royal Whyness is up to.” Luna watched the others to gauge their reactions. ”Should we get separated when we cross over, find your way to the Starlight Citadel. It is at the centre of our world, and where both our missions will meet their epic conclusion." Luna paused, looking at Sabine. "I would keep an eye on that dog. They’d make a lovely little treat for Capybaras," she said before turning her attention (unfortunately) onto Danni. "Your dragon should manage just fine, but be warned, they would make a fine prize for those looking for an easy mark." James would kill Luna if something happened to Danni. Even though she hadn't spoken to him, this was his kid. But if Danni screeched like during their journey? He would bring every unsavoury creature out from the shadows.

"Something else we may encounter is trade and bartering. You are entering a land where currency, as you have it on Earth, does not exist. You will have to trade or barter to get information, supplies, and sometimes even directions. It can be simple items like a favour, whatever you hold in your right pocket, or your water bottle. Or it can be something worse, a lock of hair, your name, your ability to turn left. Do not make rash decisions and do not make promises, say thank you, or give away something you can’t afford to lose. We could be journeying for days or weeks, depending on how your Story is meant to go. I no longer have my standing as Captain Britian or head of the corps. We are, for all intense inpurposes, on our own. I have made some connections before my title, but we will likely have a few scraps along the way to the Citadel. Now, questions. One, at a time,” Luna spoke firmly. Her “mom” voice paled due to her young age, but there was intent there.

Inventory

Clothes on her back
Tish
Brass Knuckles (hidden)
Tarot Deck
Rubik's Cube Keychain (motorcycle)
Assassin's Blade (hidden/body modification)
Andy's Lotion (she liked the smell)

Château de La Lune

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Rihannon Linx

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Location: Sam’s Room
Skills: N/A
Fit

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Rhiannon elected to join the others in Sam’s room without retrieving their supper clothes. They would just leave a little earlier to change. And then Rhiannon might have a moment to breathe and process everything that had been happening in the last twenty-four hours.

As soon as the door shut behind them, Sam and Ralph launched right into a conversation on what had transpired. Rhi leaned against the desk, refusing to sit on any other surface in the room. Crossing their arms, Rhiannon listened to Ralph’s recap before jumping in.

”Ya, she did some serious research into Lawrence’s old job and found a colleague he didn’t get along with mysteriously disappeared after they had some big fight. Plus, some of the workers here are apparently escorts Lawrence has hired in the past. Lena hired them to work to try to shake Lawrence up. Oh, and Lena is trying to remove Lawrence from the will. So there’s that,” Rhi said, shifting away from the desk to wander around the room.

If anyone started changing while Rhi spoke, they gave no notice.

Camp Lava Lake

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Ezekiel Kel

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Location: Camp Lava Lake
Skills:

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Zeke was just getting back to the main campsite after lingering away from the others for a bit longer when he heard the bell. Zeke poked his head around the corner to see Demi. He smiled, setting the guitar down to lean against the deck before he popped up over the railing and rested his arm around Demi.

”Did you help with supper? Are we all about to die from food poisoning?” he asked, teasing Demi. Zeke kissed Demi’s cheek before taking a step back. ”I’m sorry about earlier…I freaked out more than I should have…but, um, ya…thank you for helping her.”

Strange Academy: Journey into Mystery

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Location: The Neverish, Strange Academy
Grimore: Find Familiar;
Skills:

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The space around Rohan seemed electric, tense with some unnamed entity. As the group started to inch forward, Annika’s eyes scanned the surrounding forest. It didn’t seem wrong to her, but she hadn’t seen this Rohan alert yet. Was this normal behaviour for him? Or something they all needed to be healthily aware of? Annika stepped closer to Rohan, looking over at him.

”What’s wrong?”

Once the group reached the cabin, Annika took in its surrounding structure. It was simply built, but Annika figured it was sturdy enough to withstand nature’s temperament. Nochella hovered at the door, pacing back and forth until Finley opened it. Nochella raced inside, quickly disappearing from view (which was interesting considering the home had only one room). Annika wasn’t concerned. Noch constantly explored and disappeared. She had gone weeks in the Everdark without ever seeing Nochella, only for the cat to appear on Annika’s headboard or lying by the fire. This behaviour was nothing new; besides, Noch seemed content to Annika.

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Location: Mikkail’s Sitting Room, Strange Academy
Grimore: Predatory Instinct; Dragonic Morphing; Hunter’s Mark
Skills: History
Fit

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Cal cocked his head at Nicholas’ request. He frowned. Cal’s eyes drifted to the ice shard wedge that had penetrated the wall behind when Nick had been standing. His own shoulder throbbed from the memory of it, but it was nothing now. A combination of Barty’s magic with Cal’s own enhanced healing aided in the dragon’s well-being. He shook his head and nodded at Nick.

”Of course. Look after them, and a favour from me you will be owed.” He bowed his head slightly, out of respect and thanks, before Cal refocused on Willow. His nose twitched from the herbs Barty was reapplying to Willow’s wound, and he sneezed.

Cal growled at Barty, not happy with the witch’s tone or words. ”I will not have more of my coven come to harm because of that thing.” If his professor entrusted him with this task, then Cal would carry it through. He would glean what he could out of the wretched journal before he removed its vile filth from the earth.

The sound of a voice that had remained absent for too long finally entered the conversation. Cal shifted his attention to Cassie and walked over. He stood near her awkwardly, assessing his position before he knelt down. Cal looked at the missing hand before he rested a hand on Cassie’s thigh and met her eyes.

”Forgive me.” He scooped the girl into his arms and carried her over to Willow before he set Cassie down next to her friend. He leaned forward and kissed Cassie’s forehead before he stepped back, just as Jake entered the room.

Cal tensed as the strange boy reached the wounded of his coven. His eyes narrowed as he watched Jake fade slightly before his magic filled the space. Cal shifted his stance, half-blocking his two weakened coven members, but whatever occurred next led to more of Willow’s healing. He relaxed for only half a second when the boy spoke Gaelic. Fire erupted in Cal’s eyes. Only he knew of the twins speaking that language. Perhaps a few professors. But now this creature spoke to them in a language Cal considered sacred.

”What did he say?” Cal demanded, his fiery gaze trained on Nicholas. Cal remained standing in front of Willow and Cassie, refusing to let anyone closer to them. He could consent to Connie taking them to Ravoux, but no one else. Not now.