Shard

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

Time of Day Early Morning
Location Dormitory Kitchens
Interacting with @CaptainMarvel@Lurking Shadow

Willow's frown would eventually fade into a soft sigh, his head shaking somewhat at the girl's question. She was quite sweet, and Willow couldn't help but offer her a tender smile fitting such an approach. Indeed, she reminded the boy of his mother, in a way. Calm, collected, and with a heart clearly worn on her sleeve. Hopefully, that manner of innocence wouldn't get her hurt. Willow had seen it happen, before. Now, the speeding orc accelerating his pace out of the kitchen was a relief in and of itself, despite his raid of fresh ingredients. "No, it's fine," Willow responded, "just racial degeneracy at work." He finished, reaching for another few cloves of onion which he'd proceed to fluidly peel the outer layer from his newly acquired ingredient. 

"Yes! Say it as it is! Now, beat yourself up over the fact that you LET HIM ESCAPE!" Blackmore exclaimed, flicking Willow's shoulder. "He was right there! He touched your chopping block! Burn it, and kill him! Do it, do it, do it, do it!"

Shutting his eyes for a moment, the boy turned to eventually stare at Blackmore who simply stared back with a grin. "It's nice to meet you, Thalia," the young sorcerer continued, turning further to meet the female Enuri's face once more. It was then that yet another creature came to visit the kitchen. The room had never gotten this amount of traffic in the past. It was most definitely a first. This lizard, this.., entity, it was quite peculiar. Not only did it look quite odd, but it also spoke in a manner less than civilized. Though, its mention of eating the orc brought an unstifled smirk to Willow's lips. He was unable to contain it, despite backing up against the wooden counter as the creature proceeded to move closer towards him. 

"Uhm..," the boy eventually blinked in slight confusion. A live animal? Did it want to eat a live animal? This creature was nothing new. Willow had seen similar beings in the past. In fact, he had seen quite a lot, for his age, given his old lifestyle of never-ending travel. Enuri actually considered the species now only inches from his face, as one of their own. He, on the other hand, could not relate to the culture, nor the sentiment. "We don't keep live food in here," the boy explained, raising one of those slim eyebrows, "have you.., tried the market in the city plaza?" Willow proceeded, "or uh.., the forest?"

"What are you doing, idiot!? FEED HIM THE ORC!" Blackmore slipped between the reptile and the Enuri, placing his hands on Willow's shoulders with their noses a mere inch apart. "We'll make it look like an accident..." As tempting as it was, the young Enuri mage had to concede to his previous statements. 

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

Time of Day Early Morning
Location Dormitory Kitchens
Interacting with @CaptainMarvel@OrkytheOrc

Tensing at the sound of a new voice, one not from within, Willow nearly cut his finger off when chopping a newly shaved carrot. Turning to meet the new arrival, the Enuri saw another, one of his own kind. Truth be told, Willow never grew up among his people, but rather with merchant parents traveling the world. Even so, he was well aware of the Enri culture and to see another, this far away from their ancestral home was quite a rare sight, indeed. "Eh, hey..," the young sorcerer managed, dropping carrot slices into the kettle. Though Blackmore had christened the meal a soup, one would be more accurate in considering it a stew. "Heh, thanks," Willow proceeded with a soft smirk making itself to his face, those sharp teeth visible in a fanged grin.

"Hah! Look at this," Blackmore grinned, crossing his arms where he stood, close to the newly arrived Enuri. His hand came to trace its way across her pet's back, though a sound mind would separate fiction from reality. The scene took place in none other than Willow's eyes, and it would stay within his mind. "She's cute, don't you think? Wonder how long she'll survive, here. I mean, she's got a dog, might help." Blackmore appeared next to Willow only moments later, leaning against his host with that trademark grin never leaving the shade's lips. It was an ironic sight, to be sure, as if looking at a chaotic reflection of Willow himself. That confident smirk, that air of absolute 'fuck all', a Blackmore himself described it. "Do you think they fu-..?"

"Welcome to the guild," Willow spoke, cutting his doppelganger off before he was able to finish the more controversial statement he was about to state. "Uhm.., finding your way around?" The boy continued, "it's a big place and whatnot," he shrugged. "Oh, I'm Willow, by the way. Heh, been here for a few months, now." Still a novice and still new. One would be a fool to assume him more adept at the location. Despite the months spent at the guild, Willow had only attended his classes and been present at the kitchen and his room. The many countless halls and doors standing stall across the vast structure were still a mystery.

Though a prolonged conversation was quickly cut short at the sound of commotion in the hallways, Willow maintained his gaze at the girl for some time before eventually, a less than spectacular sight came to grace them. An orc, a presence which immediately brought forth a frown, Willow's eyes shifted to be fixed on the green-skinned creature. It was a scowl, to be sure, an expression hinting at disapproval and most of all, hatred. "Hoe-lee shit! Blackmore exclaimed, pointing at the orcish being. "The freak's even more mental than you."

"Mummy? Garlic..?" Willow blinked, with a sigh. These creatures were all deranged. "Stop messing up my kitchen," the Enuri glared, "garlic doesn't work against mummies, they don't breathe...," the boy sighed. "Is this an orc thing, or is there actually an undead within the guild? The latter's impossible so I'll chalk it down to the obvious." Willow frowned. 

"Hah! Savage.." Blackmore burst out laughing, sitting himself on the table as he watched the exchange. 

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

Time of Day Early Morning
Location Dormitory Kitchens
Interacting with None

"You need more thyme," came a voice, one none other could note, nor hear. Willow turned towards this peculiar specter, an individual whom had known him for the longest time. They were friends, indeed, but a relationship considered healthy might have been quite subjective. Would one delve into Willow's mind, a sense of confusion would surely come to wash over the enchanter in question. Is there another, living within the boy's skull? Indeed, a shade, a ghast or a reflection. Whichever title one would claim, the young sorcerer was surely less than sane, as therapists of the mind would put it. Indeed, they would keep a close eye on the boy, making sure that nothing snaps, so to speak, or rather, that fractured mind affected by a doe beyond Willow's might. Around these parts, many spoke with the language of fire and cinder, of the arcane and the dark arts. There was much to protect a student from, a novice. 

"I don't need more thyme," Willow's sighed, turning his attention to the reflection of himself, a creature with the same height, the same scrawny frame, and the very same face. An arm came to be draped around Willow's shoulder, those large brown eyes meeting their very own mirror image. It would be a lie to say that the two weren't close, that they weren't the very best of friends, but Willow was no fool. He was well aware that this specter hailing from the dark corners of his mind was impulsive, chaotic and mischevious. Now, it would indeed be a fool's errand to stretch this into terms of 'evil' or maleficent. However, a devil on Willow's shoulder could perhaps be a good metaphor. Reaching for an ornate glass bottle, one with a label depicting olives, Willow uncorked the ingredient from pouring a stream of thick liquid into the soup. "Olive oil, it needs olive oil."

"Holy shit, you put olive oil in literally everything, Willow!" The specter rolled his eyes before slipping back onto a chair. Of course, though the sorcerer could hear and even see the furniture move in tune with the shades motions, in another's eyes, the kitchen was undisturbed. Such was the power of an affected mind. There had been offers for an enchanter to delve into his psyche, to deal with this issue, as it was. Though, Willow vehemently denied the suggestion. He had named this ghast, this shadow of himself. He had named him Blackmore, after a mighty magician Willow came across in a book. The shade immediately pointed the name out, claiming that this would be his title, his name. "Have you ever considered, like.., broadening your horizons? You're making chicken soup, spice it up a little."

"And what would the mighty, all-knowing Blackmore suggest?" Willow managed a soft smirk as he turned towards the shade, "virgin's tears and blood of an innocent?"

"Yes. That. Get that." Blackmore snapped his fingers, pointing at Willow excitedly. "It has to be a fair maid. You won't work.., even if you're into men."

"Not so loud, you idiot..," the sorcerer tensed, turning to see if there was anyone else in the kitchen. There wasn't, but it's fair to say that this would not have mattered, for quite obvious reasons. None other could hear, see or note Blackmore in the slightest. 

"Are you serious? Did you just lose a bit more of your sanity?" The shade raised an eyebrow, those feline ears atop his head flickering.

A moment passed before Willow eventually spoke. As if the reality of the situation finally came to strike at his sense of reason, the boy cleared his throat before turning his attention back to the soup. That was an embarrassing endeavor, to be sure. Reaching for a knife, newly sharpened with their surroundings reflected on the peerless surface of steel, the sorcerer cut down into an onion. He repeated the process once, twice and seven more times, mincing the onion to a manageable state before adding it to the soup. "I think they'll like it." He spoke, motioning towards the large kettle. Changing the subject seemed like a stellar idea.

"They're about as bland as the soup, so yeah, they probably will," Blackmore smirked, weightless steps bringing him towards the stove where he leaned with a stretch, followed by a yawn. "Think any interesting new students will come along? Oh, more orcs! Let's hope for more orcs!"

Turning towards the shade with a frown, Willow had since an age grown used to Blackmore's sense of humor, and his playful personality. "No." The sorcerer simply stated. 

"What's that one freak's name. Orky? Why haven't you just melted him already?" Blackmore tapped his chin in thought, considering the scenario with a soft grin. The young sorcerer paused for a moment, looking at his, by all means, imaginary friend. Was he going to grace that with an answer? No. No, he was not. The boy shifted his attention back to the soup once more, reaching out for some pepper, followed by a spicy pinch of chili. "I mean, it's not enough. Every orc should die, but you have to start somewhere, right?

"You need to relax. Tiana will probably be here, soon." Willow finished, letting the soup simmer.

"I think the bitch is bad news. She's a gnome, come on." Blackmore flicked Willow's forehead. The boy felt it, indeed.

Raising his hand towards the area, Willow winced with a frown before quickly returning the favor. "Stop being so paranoid all the time. I'm making friends, okay? Better to have allies than enemies."

"Pff.., I'm the only ally you need, babe." Blackmore giggled with a bright grin.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

@Stitches

Waiting on the GM.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

@ShwiggityShwah

I don't think anyone else will be annoyed if you make a character who shares some characteristics.

We have way too many quiet, reserved characters. My initial thought for Willow was polite and somewhat reserved, but I am going to play him more.., bratty and reclusive, rather than shy, to get some variation.

As long as you don't make another quiet corner mouse, you're fine.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

@Stitches

Willow would likely kind of cling, somewhat, to a mother figure, given his past. He could have a somewhat close relationship to Mama Gnome, if you'd like.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

@Stitches

Mama would be able to teach Willow a lot, which he already has some knowledge in, like cooking and sewing. This, of course, as well as magic and control over his powers.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

I’m up for her being Willow’s mentor. Sounds fun.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

@Moyai

Not everyone, depends entirely on who wants what.

The Mage Guild of Alsijan

Considering writing a relationship chart for Willow, how he views all the others. Might be fun.

Could be good to discuss the relationships between characters, too, and who lives with whom in the dorms.

Finally, I'd recommend a Discord chat for players to just hang out.