yoshua171

Yoshua's Character Storage Mark VII

⇂↿ NAME GO HERE ↾⇃

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⇂↿↾⇃Interests: TEXT GO HERE

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Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

^{Mistress of the Mists⇂↿↾⇃Zenith⇂↿↾⇃The Arcane Source⇂↿↾⇃Nadir⇂↿↾⇃Keeper of the Well}

^{“I am the Source and the Catalyst.”
Theme I ♦ Theme II ♦ Theme III}

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Hider

^{M A Y A H L A H R E E}

Domain
^♦Arcana♦

♦
♦

The Arcane mysteries of Power both Personal and Cosmic, flow through us—giving life and consciousness—and around us, imparting motion and action and change upon the world. Arcana is the force that changes, that transforms, empowers, creates, and in equal parts destroys—always paring away at the world to reveal truths deeper still. With dominion over—if not mastery of—this power, Mae-Alari threads themselves through the world, desiring to understand it and herself as well.

In this way, Arcana is the expression of these ideas and ideals. In the living, Arcana exists primarily in the form of the Soul, whereas within the world it exists as the driving force for change, manifesting as the numerous energies that flow in and through the cosmos. This allows Mae-Alari to draw upon, manipulate, and manifest the many energies of the world by harnessing the potential energy contained within them. This potential energy can then be transmuted into any other form of energy or even new varieties. However, as a caveat, Mae-Alari cannot directly create, destroy, nor manipulate matter—instead they must influence it through the lens of energy. Where another god might create stone from their very essence whole-cloth, Mae-Alari must take pre-existing substance and mould its form and nature with energy, coaxing it into a new state. Though it may seem strange, while matter may not be created whole-cloth, more of existing matter can be propagated.

Tl;dr: Mae-Alari’s prime domain gives them power over the energies of the world, above all others being Potential Energy, Quintessence, the Breath, and the Soul. However, as a caveat to this incredible power, matter is beyond them. Stone must be coaxed by heat and pressure to become steel. Water heated or cooled to become gas or ice, whereas another god might simply bring these spontaneously into being.

Aspect
^{♦Curious ♦ Enigmatic ♦ Wise♦}

♦♦♦

Mae-Alari is, first and foremost a being seeking understanding of itself through interaction with all else. Through its interactions with other deities and their myriad creations--as well as the reflection of its own expression through such objects, places, and peoples--the Arcane Source is always on the search for further aspects of itself. In this way its curiosity is clear as it finds a fascination with all things, particularly those it does not understand. Yet, despite its obsession with the world's workings, Mae-Alari is unquestionably wise, capable of drawing unexpected knowledge and insight from almost everything it encounters. In this way they contain both the aspects of an ancient sage and the overflowing enthusiasm of child-like curiosity.

As Mae-Alari's purpose is ultimately to understand themselves in all their vast and incalculable complexity, it follows that they are prone to change and--furthermore--difficult to fully grasp even for others. This often makes their intentions opaque and the reasoning behind their actions sometimes inscrutable, leading others top an enigmatic impression of their character. Still, despite their seemingly malleable and indiscernibility, Mae-Alari can always be relied on for their perceptiveness and willingness to assist others. Still, not everyone is wont to risk seeking them out given that often the true reasons behind Alari's giving nature are--at best--difficult to ascertain.

Visage
^{♦True Form♦}

♦
♦

Nested within the beauteous vessel of the Goddess dwells a singularity most sublime, its churning patterns the sum total of all Arcana. It is a sigil, an evolving pattern of energy catalyzing itself into yet greater forms. It is the eye and the heart and the mind as one, bound and unbound, endless yet circumscript. It is the Arcane Source, the Unseen Wellspring and it devours and blooms in equal measure.

Additional Art

Primordial Form

Upon her conception in the Great Void before the World was born, Mae-Alari took in a wholly different shape, one far more alien and strange.

Incarnation

A more worldly manifestation, pared down from her full divinity for the sake of the mortal mind.

Contemplation & Intensity

Fury

More will be added.

Yoshua's Character Storage Mark VII

^{Mistress of the Mists⇂↿↾⇃Zenith⇂↿↾⇃The Arcane Source⇂↿↾⇃Nadir⇂↿↾⇃Keeper of the Well}

^{“I am the Source and the Catalyst.”
Theme I ♦ Theme II ♦ Theme III}

---

---

Hider

^{M A Y A H L A H R E E}

Domain
^♦Arcana♦

♦
♦

The Arcane mysteries of Power both Personal and Cosmic, flow through us—giving life and consciousness—and around us, imparting motion and action and change upon the world. Arcana is the force that changes, that transforms, empowers, creates, and in equal parts destroys—always paring away at the world to reveal truths deeper still. With dominion over—if not mastery of—this power, Mae-Alari threads themselves through the world, desiring to understand it and herself as well.

In this way, Arcana is the expression of these ideas and ideals. In the living, Arcana exists primarily in the form of the Soul, whereas within the world it exists as the driving force for change, manifesting as the numerous energies that flow in and through the cosmos. This allows Mae-Alari to draw upon, manipulate, and manifest the many energies of the world by harnessing the potential energy contained within them. This potential energy can then be transmuted into any other form of energy or even new varieties. However, as a caveat, Mae-Alari cannot directly create, destroy, nor manipulate matter—instead they must influence it through the lens of energy. Where another god might create stone from their very essence whole-cloth, Mae-Alari must take pre-existing substance and mould its form and nature with energy, coaxing it into a new state. Though it may seem strange, while matter may not be created whole-cloth, more of existing matter can be propagated.

Tl;dr: Mae-Alari’s prime domain gives them power over the energies of the world, above all others being Potential Energy, Quintessence, the Breath, and the Soul. However, as a caveat to this incredible power, matter is beyond them. Stone must be coaxed by heat and pressure to become steel. Water heated or cooled to become gas or ice, whereas another god might simply bring these spontaneously into being.

Aspect
^{♦Curious ♦ Enigmatic ♦ Wise♦}

♦♦♦

Mae-Alari is, first and foremost a being seeking understanding of itself through interaction with all else. Through its interactions with other deities and their myriad creations--as well as the reflection of its own expression through such objects, places, and peoples--the Arcane Source is always on the search for further aspects of itself. In this way its curiosity is clear as it finds a fascination with all things, particularly those it does not understand. Yet, despite its obsession with the world's workings, Mae-Alari is unquestionably wise, capable of drawing unexpected knowledge and insight from almost everything it encounters. In this way they contain both the aspects of an ancient sage and the overflowing enthusiasm of child-like curiosity.

As Mae-Alari's purpose is ultimately to understand themselves in all their vast and incalculable complexity, it follows that they are prone to change and--furthermore--difficult to fully grasp even for others. This often makes their intentions opaque and the reasoning behind their actions sometimes inscrutable, leading others top an enigmatic impression of their character. Still, despite their seemingly malleable and indiscernibility, Mae-Alari can always be relied on for their perceptiveness and willingness to assist others. Still, not everyone is wont to risk seeking them out given that often the true reasons behind Alari's giving nature are--at best--difficult to ascertain.

Visage
^{♦True Form♦}

♦
♦

Nested within the beauteous vessel of the Goddess dwells a singularity most sublime, its churning patterns the sum total of all Arcana. It is a sigil, an evolving pattern of energy catalyzing itself into yet greater forms. It is the eye and the heart and the mind as one, bound and unbound, endless yet circumscript. It is the Arcane Source, the Unseen Wellspring and it devours and blooms in equal measure.

Additional Art

Primordial Form

Upon her conception in the Great Void before the World was born, Mae-Alari took in a wholly different shape, one far more alien and strange.

Incarnation

A more worldly manifestation, pared down from her full divinity for the sake of the mortal mind.

Contemplation & Intensity

Fury

More will be added.

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

@Dark Cloud no problem fam. Don’t forget that you can join the discord and come chill ^_^

Divinus Mk. 8: The Eleventh Cycle (A God Roleplay)

@Dark Cloud, dear sir, each god is meant to start with one domain ^^;

The Hourglass Order

【The Uncertainty of Truth】

【 Valerian & Golden Monkey】

~A Collab by @Force and Fury & @yoshua171~

---

They entered the hedge maze from a little ways back, and it was immediately and abundantly clear that the place was gorged with energy that should not have been there. In a word: magic.

Golden Monkey was wordless, the air swollen with an unspoken tension between the two men. His steps were light and ripe with the potential for action. His motions even craved it, perhaps. In a nutshell, however, it did not come to pass, at least not at such an early juncture.

"A good enemy you were," the yasoi admitted both suddenly and offhandedly. "You struck me. You figured out my gimmick." He let out a low, unsettling chuckle. "Not often that happens, and not from..." His face became a momentary sneer. "Someone like you."

There was an extended pause. Save for their magical senses, they were well and truly lost to the maze now, and perhaps that had been the intent. Perhaps there was something nefarious at play or perhaps it was merely the innocent wandering of a yasoi who was, after all, still just a person, much as he was a monster as well.

"Be honest with ya, I'm gonna." He nodded as if resolving himself to it. He scrunched his nose up in distaste and peered down at the shorter human. "The Twins wanted me to ply you with riches." He almost laughed as he shrugged. "But you're already rich and you don't care anyway." He sniffed the air. "They're a necessary evil, or this country becomes chaos and you get someone like the Jiang, who commit genocide twice and blame it on us." He snorted. "A black legend doesn't much bother me. I know the truth. I'm a killer, but with purpose I kill. "

His body language was antsy as a tamarin peered out from the hedges. "Fight you again I wanna. You fucked up the last time and you know it. Damn near killed your whole group." He shook his head. "Most of them are weak or don't really know fighting. Must've rankled to be the scapegoat instead of the hero. The whole lot of you might've even won, but you fucked up. I want a fair fight. No interlopers. You want another crack. I'd do it right here and now. Thing is, I'd squish you, one on one." He twisted and grinned with impish malevolence. "I don't brag, of course. I state facts."

The pathways between the hedges were bathed in deep cool shadow and a different set of animals took up the background chorus as sunset loomed. "Make you a sanguinaire, I wanna. Give you your grandfather's power. Now he was a legend." Golden Monkey shook his head eagerly.

"You're nothing compared to him, Valerian Remi Leclere, but you could be. Paragons, you could. You help us take out the selfish dragon. What makes him any better an option? Because he bows before the ogauraq for his betrayal and then throws them at us like chaff into the fire? Because he'd murder every sanguinaire for the crime of existing? And Ash? He'd force his religion on this country like they forced their religion on my people." For a moment, his voice turned bitter. "And don't think that's some weakness you can exploit. I'm over it. Make no mistake, the Twins are tyrants, but Ash would be even worse. And the Nikanese? They seek only the ruin of a peaceful neighbour." He shook his head tightly and snorted into the golden air. "No. Those are all bad plays. Help us take them out. Then you gain power. I don't care what you do with it. Have all the time you need. Go change the world. Learn about it what I did." He twisted on the spot, walking backwards now, in front of Vel. "The weak don't rule. Not because they shouldn't - because they can't. There's no one here worthy of your blood and sweat. Help us. Get something. Then fight me."

Though the tension between them was palpable at first, things began to ease as Golden Monkey spoke. He was surprisingly honest and straightforward, all told, not that Valerian trusted him.

However, while Vel might have been amicable to some agreement, the yasoi made a critical mistake. He mentioned his grandfather. While Valerian hadn't had any particular relationship with the man, he knew that his father had only treated him as he had because of the sanguinaire's lingering influence. Had it not been for the way Marius was raised, Vel's brother would still be around.

Nonetheless, Valerian managed a smile, well used to having to display false emotions in court. As they walked he didn't meet Golden Monkey's gaze, even as the man walked ahead of him--facing him by walking backward. Still, it wouldn't do to dismiss the Blackguard off-hand, so Vel finally met the yasoi's gaze and tilted his head slightly.

"What's on offer?" He queried with a look of faint amusement. At the same time, Vel noted the strange abundance of energy in the hedge maze. He kept such senses sharply focused on every little detail, keeping track of the movement of energy all around them. If there was to be an ambush or an attempt at a sneak attack, he'd be aware of it well beforehand.

"Power," the yasoi said simply. "Made that pretty clear, thought I had. Same power as your grandfather. Not all legends are good. Maybe you can use it better than he did." Golden Monkey shrugged. "Power and membership. Be one of us. You'll never achieve anything by slamming your head into a brick wall again and again." He shook his head. "A monolith us sangs are not. The more decent people we have among us the more decent we are as a group."

He'd halted now, forcing Vel to halt as well, and his expression fell oddly between scowl and a knowing grin as he took in the boy's paranoia. "A bloody demon that Progenitor is. Uses places like Vossoriya and Retan to farm people. For five thousand years, he's gone unchallenged on the sanguine council, but now the Twins have risen." He shook his head earnestly. "Now the fucker's scared. That's what started this whole mess and now you have bandwagon jumpers like Wu Long, Ash, and the Nikanese. He's trying to take the Tens out because they're something new. They're something novel. They work together. They care about their people, in their own way. It's harsh. It's oppressive, and they ain't half as nice as they act around that table, but they do want the best for their nation and they're building a power structure independent of the Progenitor to do it."

He spread his arms. "Listen: I could've killed you the first time that we fought. I could do it right now. Fact that I haven't should tell you that it ain't my goal. Changing this place the right way - bit by bit with the eternity I have to live - is. You know they're going to marry the Jiang girl? End the dynastic strife? Offer pardons to Jiang supporters? Liberalize our trade?" He shook his head. "A generation ago, never woulda believed it. Now, with the ten of us and the exemplars in the Twins' ears, it's happening. Ain't flashy or exciting, but it's happening. Other things we've got for excitement, like dealing with all of Retan's little problems." He traced a dragon in the air with a brightened fingertip, leaving a momentary burning afterimage. "And the big ones too. Those fuckers ain't good, and definitely not any better than us. You fight alongside them, I'll waste you. I don't wanna just yet, but I'll do it all the same, and you'll have died for nothing instead of lived for the chance to really achieve something."

He let his hands fall to his sides. There was a great deal of ambient energy in the air, but it fast began to evaporate. "That's it. My peace I've said, kid." His eyes said the rest: 'Now what's it gonna be?'

Valerian's smile slipped as a more thoughtful expression took hold. There was a lot to consider here and foremost among those considerations was whether or not he was being shortsighted. Further, was his decision based on a narrow view of things? One that was too idealistic, naive even? Was he moralizing a situation too complicated to be put in simple terms such as right and wrong? What did the history say? Retan’s history, the history of Perrence, or the other major powers.

The precedent did dictate that the larger a nation was, the harder it was to maintain order and quality of life without certain sacrifices. At the same time though, what did his morals mean if he couldn’t honor them just because things got complicated? Vel frowned, his eyes on the ground even though his senses were still stretched to their limits–just in case. Was it better to allow the Twins to continue their reign if it meant that–in the long term–ReTan was stable and that its people slowly gained an improved quality of life? Was it worth the terrible sacrifice of certain freedoms, and the not-so-quiet atrocities of oppression? Furthermore, what message did that send? Besides, what had his mission been? To let an oppressive regime persist?

That wasn’t what Ersand’Enise would want, they desired the freedom of magic so that such things could be further advanced and shared throughout the world. What of his fellow students? What if some didn’t accept the offer and he did and they then had to work together in the future? Would they trust his judgment? Then again, did they even trust it now? He had almost gotten them all killed….

Valerian sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, his magical senses nonetheless focused. Could he, a single mage, do enough good to offset him making the selfish choice? If all of them made that choice, could they offset that harm collectively? If he made the choice…could he live with the knowledge that his selfishness had caused very significant harm? Could he live with knowing that his words to Wu Long–to the Ogauraq–had essentially been empty?

“What of the Ogauraq?” As he asked, he opened his eyes and met Golden Monkey’s gaze, his own expression serious, but otherwise unreadable.

"What of them?" the yasoi replied. "Those who fight against us will be treated as enemies. Those who don't have nothing to fear." He shrugged. "I'm wary of them, to be honest. For hundreds of years, they've logged our northern forests to create more of the tundra they prefer. They've outright exterminated my people, who used to live there. There aren't many of us left these days."

His nose scrunched up and he scowled. "I'm sure they shared their thought-pictures about how they were the innocent, oppressed victims. In their minds, I'm sure they are." Golden Monkey shook his head. "Unlike any of the Ogauraq you 'spoke' to, though, I was there. I saw how they marched on the capital and occupied it, first in our name before turning on us. I knew of their demands: how they wanted the yanii to cede the north of Retan to them alone - to forsake the right to a land where they had both peacefully coexisted for thousands of years before the Jiang."

He settled into a crouch, gazing up at Valerian in the burgeoning gloom with reflective golden eyes. "I was part of the army that stopped them, that freed our capital. We were being held hostage. They were so smug and morally superior." He leaned to the side and spat. There was an antsiness to the yasoi now. His fingers drummed the air idly. He bounced lightly on his haunches. "The straight answer is that we'll leave them alone as long as they leave us alone: same as we've always wanted. They fight against us, though, they die." He shook his head. "I'm not about to repeat history's mistakes." Finally, he rose.

Listening to the yasoi, indeed watching what must have been a somewhat visceral emotional response from the man, Vel found himself somewhat at a loss. He was usually better about this sort of thing, able to sort through people’s motivations and the influences that had brought them to a situation. From there he could usually do what he felt was right. This though, this, was different. The circumstances he’d navigated before this were part of what he hated about the world. It all smelled of the duplicitous, complicated, fraught nature of decades of politics and conflict.

Openly unsure now, Valerian raised a hand and rubbed his temples before shaking his head. If he chose not to accept it could mean his own death and perhaps the death of his comrades. He couldn’t do anything in the future…if he didn’t have one. Further, every side of this conflict had goals and positions that made some degree of sense and while many actions were indeed deplorable, the motivations behind such actions were no longer so clearly vile and unacceptable. These things were not so black and white anymore, not even close. Further, he could not tell if he was being lied to. Every decision seemed the wrong one in that moment and in that moment a frown formed on his face.

“Very well,” Vel said even as he felt a deep sense of personal disappointment settle in his stomach. Was this a decision wrought from fear? Perhaps, but he had to admit…he didn’t want to lead, it just had never been where his aims led. Furthermore, who would replace the Twins? The Dragon, perhaps one of the many factions that were gunning for the dissolution of Retan as a stable country. Was the instability and horror of true war and revolution really what was best for the Retanese people? He couldn’t see how it was. As to the minority of Yasoi, and of course, the Ogauraq, the reality of things was simple. Even if his decision was wrong, both decisions were wrong. Thus, the only thing that made sense was to improve himself so that he could make better decisions and help more people in the future.

At least, that’s what he was telling himself.

Vel met the Blackguard’s eyes, a certain grim–resigned–determination in his features.

“I accept.”

The Hourglass Order

【A Flash Against the Black】

【 Valerian & The Ogauraq /|\ Lucky Dragon & Golden Monkey】

---

Night’s embrace, darkness, sleep, then noise and golden light. Valerian shot out of bed like a bullet, his body reacting before his mind could fully process having gone from asleep to awake. Yet, when his bleary eyes focused on the carnage unfolding around him, he felt the surge of adrenaline tear away the comforting grip of sleep. Though Dragon Smirk had healed up fine before they’d returned for the night after their unexpected and violent encounter with the Black Guard, Vel had never quite shaken the deep-seated sense of dread in his stomach.

Now–like bile–it rose up his throat and threatened to cloud his thoughts as a downright feral mage armed himself and lunged. It was at that moment that fear crystallized in his veins, and for a terrible instant, he was too stunned to act. The mage hurtled at him, terrifyingly fast and clearly far beyond his own skill or potency, yet Vel knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had to fight him anyways.

For a moment the figure’s countenance was that of another, of someone familiar. His brother.

Vel clenched his teeth, jaw popping as all his muscles tensed for in the next instant he’d remembered what had driven them to such conflict. Though it often left him uncertain, he had vowed to never be so powerless again. Four simultaneous actions happened in rapid succession. The first was the drawing of energy from every possible source around him.

Snow became ice as it and the air around it became absolutely frigid in the absence of heat; light dimmed dramatically as it pulled inwards towards his person; and the mountain winds died utterly in an instant as he drew upon the kinetic energy that fueled them.

He didn’t bother converting the energy but instead shunted some of the kinetic energy to his left in an attempt to avoid his adversary. At the same time, Valerian wreathed himself in a storm of fire, light, and force. If the man wanted to hit him, he’d just have to make that as painful as possible.

It didn’t seem it would matter as the yasoi grinned gleefully, arresting control of his own movement with kinetic magic, even as he turned the now icy ground into an advantage. In a brutal strike, and with a laugh, the figure swept the tent pole through the ice and sent a wave of force flying through the cloud of sharp shards.

Evaporating into steam as it collided with the storm of magic around Vel it blinded him during a critical moment. Instinctively several barriers of force sprang into being around his body.

Then he was hurtling back through the air, the breath knocked out of him entirely. Gasping, Vel stuck to his training and clawed at the air. Planes of forces manifested beneath his fingers, and he redirected his momentum, curving himself violently to one side even as a lance of force–then a blur that could only be a body–rocketed past him. Regaining some of his composure, Vel managed to reorient himself just as his assailant was striking him square in the stomach.

The air left his lungs once more as the yasoi’s fist slammed him backward. Vel tried to swear, but no sound came out. He tried to retaliate, with daggers of kinetic energy, but the man spun the tent pole and deflected them before aiming a wicked-fast strike at his temple.

This, Vel just barely avoided, the metal pole ruffling his hair as it slipped overhead. Drawing upon some of the energy he was pulling, Vel converted it into a single point between them, but it immediately blasted apart. Flying downwards and striking earth, Vel tumbled a moment before he could bleed off momentum with magic.

Eyes darting about as he realized that he’d been thrown into the nearby grove of trees, Vel tried to sight his opponent. It was fruitless, the man was simply too fast as he darted between pines, apparently waiting for the first sign of weakness–or perhaps just a particularly amusing moment. Vel gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. They wouldn’t be enough to help him. Focusing, Vel narrowed his attention to his surroundings, honing in on the moving goliath of manas and their gathered energy as it flitted around him.

There!

Vel released kinetic energy, creating a series of forcefields at precise timings as his adversary’s energy approached at speed.

Somehow, his timing was off for most either missed entirely, were batted aside, or simply shattered.

Vel’s eyes flashed open as his second spell completed–the backup plan–creating an energy-dense series of interlocking planes of energy. A thunderous crack echoed out, though it was likely no one else heard it.

“Hah!” The man laughed, his improvised staff–the tent pole–having met with an invisible object at that last moment. Vel was already releasing all the heat energy he’d gathered earlier in a tight thermal beam. The yasoi’s eyes widened as the beam blitzed past their weapons and magics and landed a searing blow across his side as the more experienced mage turned sideways to minimize his profile.

He flicked the pole and the force in that attack was enough to throw off Vel’s defense and force him three steps back. The Blackguard capitalized on every mistake, his weapon spinning back into motion in a whirling dervish of strikes at Vel’s person.

Some he could stop or redirect, but a great many turned into glancing blows, his assailant’s manic grin widening for each blow Vel took. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Vel knew he needed to change tacts, but wasn’t sure exactly why.

His timing should’ve been enough, but for some reason, the bastard’s strikes just kept slipping past his defenses. He tried adjusting his timing as blow after blow came in, each from a new angle and with greater force than those prior. Then—during the tiniest of instants between strikes—Vel struck at the Blackguard’s weapon from below with a series of kinetic spikes.

Only one of them did the job, and the yasoi only gave Vel an instant to realize the strange discrepancy that had caused his failures to defend.

Temporal warping.

Vel’s eyes narrowed and he threw himself into the air with a pulse of force to avoid the yasoi’s next strike. In that tiny window of respite, several thoughts crossed his mind in rapid succession.

Should he surpass his limit, risk everything today and be useless in the coming fights? No, the Twins had to fall.

What could he do then, how to survive, not to mention save his allies if at all possible. He wasn’t fast enough to slip away, he had no talent for the schools that might allow him to teleport elsewhere, let alone account for the exact nature of his adversary’s attacks.

So what did he have?

His eyes widened slightly, then his face transformed into a resolute mask.

He had his blood.

For once in his life, Valerian silently thanked the gods for his father’s obsession. After all, he was a Dualblood and while he couldn’t risk overclocking his manas, that was hardly the only benefit his unique situation afforded him.

As if to punctuate his realization, a sudden surge of energy beneath him tipped him off to the Black Guard’s next move. His senses screamed, but he didn’t panic.

Instead, he reached out with his will and pulled. Immediately he felt his adversary’s resistance, but for once it didn’t matter, while the Blackguard was certainly more powerful and more experienced, Vel had something that he didn’t.

Two mana colonies and the tremendous focus it took to micromanage and control them.

His will honed to a narrow point, Vel at once altered his orientation so he was parallel to the ground and pulled energy. Shaping his draw into a precise cone, Vel parted a veritable inferno around his person as it erupted upwards from the ground like some fell god.

Still, the air was almost hot enough to burn, but he persisted nonetheless, reaching out his senses past the flames and latching onto the moving target that was the Golden Monkey.

The Blackguard did not let up, the flames turning from red, to orange, then blue. Valerian gritted his teeth as he felt the beginnings of burns touch his flesh, yet he did not relent, traveling down and through the column with abandon as he drew as much energy as he possibly could. That power became like searing, crackling lightning in his veins, but he persisted anyways, even allowing some of the energy to saturate the air around him as light. Then, locating his adversary, Vel abruptly sundered the Black Guard’s magic, not by coopting the energy, but instead by using a typically defensive binding technique, and his understanding of Chemical magic to convert the very air the flames used as fuel into energy.

The inferno guttered out, the sky darkened, and Vel unleashed his attack as he felt hesitation in the Golden Monkey’s casting. The Blackguard tried to breathe, and drew only the tiniest amount of air from his surroundings, revealing that Vel hadn’t just drawn from the air in the column, but in a vast web, creating an entire network of spiderweb-thin threads of air. Momentarily stunned, the yasoi nonetheless shot into motion, but Vel tasted the beginnings of doubt.

Unable to help himself, a tiny smirk formed on his lips, and then all that energy he’d stockpiled was suddenly–and violently–converted into two separate charges as he called on what little knowledge of the Magnetic school he had.

The air exploded in a single, tremendous, rolling thunderclap as lightning arced wildly outwards from Valerian, channeled through a vast web of conductive air surrounded by utter vacuum. The Yasoi threw up barriers of force, drew heat from the bolts, and evaded a great many bolts of lightning, but no one could escape the wrath of the heavens forever. Little by little arcs of coruscating light closed in on him and while they did, Valerian fled at speed, propelled by Kinetic energy alone as he flew through the air and rejoined his allies.

He knew he’d not won, not even close, in fact, he’d likely only tied up the Black Guard for a brief time, and in exchange he’d burned, bruised, and battered himself both body and manas alike. Still, he hadn’t boosted himself, hadn’t let the careful balance of his colonies shift enough to collapse. Still, as he looked back at his work he noticed a terrible truth…the other Blackguard had intervened.

“Fuck,” Vel swore, but in the next moment, he felt the familiar touch of chemical magic and the particular sort he’d only experienced from the Ogauraq.

An image of something swiftly falling towards the camp, then an impression of space twisting, and an image of somewhere else far away.

Vel didn’t hesitate, didn’t think, he just redoubled his speed and hurtled towards the earth, before bracing himself and slowing to a halt just in time. Couldn’t stop all at once after all, ‘falling’ to one’s death was something of a misnomer after all…as it wasn’t the fall that killed you, but the sudden stop.

As he slid into camp, erecting barriers and slinging pairs of force lances and fireballs, he caught sight of his allies engaged in fierce combat. For a moment he understood the terror the patrolmen had likely been experiencing as he saw the Ogauraq–few in number though they were–tear both physically and magically through the Retanese shock troops. Still, they were outnumbered and Vel did his part to free up enough of them so that a pair could rig them a tunnel out of dodge.

Senses finetuned, Vel erected barriers, superheated metal armor, and generally unleashed a storm of mayhem amongst the enemy soldiers until a hole twisted in space behind him. Gritting his teeth, Vel’s gaze flickered back to the cage of lightning that was beginning to dissipate some distance away from them. Then he watched in horror–eyes widening, as that very lightning began to gather together and arc towards them.

“Portal, now!” he yelled, managing a few frantic disorderly illusions as he grabbed several Ogauraq with telekinesis and pulled them into the portal with him. Eyes widening further as the others leapt in after him, Valerian screamed out as an Ogauraq who was a moment too late light up in a conflagration of azure lightning a mere instant before the portal slammed shut behind them, spitting them out in some other stretch of wilderness nearby the capital.

Heartbeat drumming in his ears, blood pumping as if a dam had been broken, Valerian collapsed onto his ass, breathing hard and filled with a cold terror.

He hoped the others were having better luck than him.

Vel looked forward to finding out.

The Hourglass Order

【Narrow Paths】

【 Valerian /|\ Wu Long】

~A Collab by @Force and Fury & @yoshua171~

---

Beyond the cave he’d entered and somewhere behind the man with which he shared its space lay a power so vast that it was hard to comprehend. In some ways, that made it hard to detect. It almost faded into an energy-rich background like some great distant rumble. Yet, it was there and it was very much detectable for one as attuned to all of the little fluctuations of manas as Vel was.

Glancing over the man and the environment within the cave he had entered, Valerian was relieved to find that he hadn’t walked himself straight into peril right out the gate. Relaxing as he heard the name ‘Wu Long,’ Vel nonetheless kept his wits about him. After all, he had no idea what the power he was sensing correlated to, nor could he assume that Wu Long was entirely to be trusted.

Nonetheless, he bowed his head respectfully and flashed the burly man a smile as he closed more of the distance between them. “The pleasure is mine. I’m Valerian, but please, call me Vel,” he said, introducing himself in short order and establishing a baseline of rapport between himself and the relative stranger before him. For the moment—knowing as little as he did in reality—Vel decided to allow Jocasta’s tentative ally to lead. If he felt the need to redirect he could certainly do so.
m.
“I do appreciate you meeting with me on such short notice,” Vel said, his smile waning slightly as he cut to business. “What shall we cover first?”

“Straight to the chase,” the well-dressed Retanese man replied. “Simply put, you’re here because you volunteered to be, and life is about choices, after all.” He gestured at their surroundings. It was no longer a cave once one had taken more than a few steps in, but a temple of sorts. “Take this place, for example.” He smiled. “I choose to serve the Great White Dragon, when I do not have to. That is his power you sense in the backdrop, by the way, and he is at rest.”

Vel nodded, as if understanding the greater truth of what the man was intending to communicate. In reality it was all rather obscure. Wu Long was being deliberately vague it seemed, or at least he was avoiding the question. “The White Dragon, huh? I see…and what does that service entail?” Vel began to walk slowly around the room, glancing about slowly as if admiring the cavernous space and its furnishings–as it were.

“Hiding,” the exemplar said simply, ”and Making decisions that others would find difficult.” He unclasped his hands. “Being loyal to two masters and yearning to be one’s own.” He reclapsed them in front of himself. “Seeing two perspectives and synthesizing one’s own.” The large man smiled tightly and knowingly. “I am speaking in riddles, I know. It is tiresome, but my people - Retanese people - are quite fond of it. To speak in such a way that others will infer your meaning of their own desires is a much coveted and admired skill in this land.” He shook his head. “Yet, I do not like it.” He glanced out towards the entrance of the cavern. “There was a time when we were honest. When there was no need to hide…” He trailed off, turning to face the entrance for an extended moment. “Or to look for allies among radicals who do not understand this place.” All at once, he turned back to Valerian. “Do you know of what I speak?”

Almost circling the man given the path his pacing took him on, Vel considered Wu Long’s words as they reached him. He was not sure if they were meant to confound him, but he’d grown up dealing with both the violent bluntness of his father and the serpentine guile of the Perrench Court, as it were. Though this was something different, hailing from another culture, it was not altogether alien to him. Slowly, Valerian began to nod, a thoughtful expression on his features as he idly drew upon the energies around them before releasing them in short order. As the man’s query settled in his mind, Vel spoke and ruefully found himself smiling.

“I know something of what it is to be pulled between two things. Two worlds, Two times. Two natures…” his gaze darkened for a moment as an image of his father flashed through his mind. “I can understand the desire for something simpler…or failing that, at least more honest.” His smile returned and it was sympathetic now as he tried to meet the Retanese man’s gaze–if only for a moment.

Vel turned his back to the man, clasping his hands behind his waist, two fingers around one wrist. He stopped pacing. “I wager I’ll have to make some difficult decisions of my own,” he said, somehow alluding to understanding even as he spoke little of it. Perhaps it was in the fact that he hadn’t asked Wu Long to clarify his meaning. Perhaps it was something else.

An act? A lie? A farce?

Who was to say.

If he knew or cared, the exemplar gave little indication. Instead, he walked to the cavern entrance, forcing Vel to follow or be left behind. “Down there -” he gestured “You will find the others who came from your school, or some of them, at least.” He twisted to look at the youth and left a quick smile behind for him. “They are on the path that leads to the Snake Tree - you will recognize it for its shape. You should go to them, I think. Tell them what you will, listen to what you will, but lead them here, if you please. It is time that some truths are told.”

Detecting the subtle shift in kinetic energy as Wu Long moved, Vel turned and followed, arriving at the man’s shoulder after a moment. Nodding, Vel–for an interval–did not return the exemplar’s smile. However, after a moment’s thought he flashed Wu Long his own grin, though his was far more boyish. “Very well. I’ll see what I can do.”

That said, Vel bowed his head to Wu Long, the gesture far more formal than those prior, before heading out.

However, he paused before he’d gotten far, but rather than turn, he spoke while standing in place. “To a more honest world,” he said, then he departed.

Faintly, behind him, he could hear a refrain. “And a more just one.”

The Hourglass Order

【Into the Metropolis】

Valerian “Vel” Remi Leclerè
&
Jocasta Re

~A Collab by @Force and Fury & @yoshua171~

---

A crossroads at the heart of the city, Dami’s Cross was truly a wonderful location to sit and enjoy the liveliness of Ersand’Enise. Well manicured lawns, pruned bushes and trees, the gentle ambiance of flowing water from the canals and the gentle chatter and movement of people making their way to-and-fro. It relaxed Valerian, who sat at a bench near the center of the Cross, well–if somewhat haphazardly–dressed in finely tailored clothes. On the bench beside him were the remains of what one might consider a rather heavy meal—not to mention an impromptu one. Nonetheless, people more or less let him be, not sparing him more than a passing glance.

A great many were used to seeing him at Dami’s Cross as it was one of his most frequented haunts and on top of that he was a student and it wasn’t uncommon to see them moving about these parts. Of course, today he’d come alone and decidedly to simply enjoy the pleasant weather and the simplicity of watching people go about their day-to-day doings.

However, as he enjoyed his leisure time away from classes and the busy work of both his school and his maintaining his numerous–if shallow–relationships with his schoolmates he found a sudden interruption as a note appeared out of nowhere in the palm of his hand. Attention shifting downwards, he raised a single eyebrow, a curious smile tugging one edge of his lips upwards. It wasn’t often that this sort of thing occurred, particularly to him. He’d made a point of staying well away from the various machinations of politicking that he knew a great many students involved themselves with. Shaking his head slightly—and admitting that he was equal parts bored and intrigued—Vel brought the note into the light and held it fast so the day’s breeze wouldn’t carry it away.

His attention diverted, he turned to reading the note.

It said:

Library, half an hour: third floor, old wing, the study booth with the crooked owl on its door. Extra credit.

Note

“Curious…” he said to himself, his voice lost in the sound of casual park-goers enjoying the fine stresian day. Sighing slightly—resigned that he’d have to answer what was effectively a summons—Vel pushed up from his seat and read the note once more before stowing it in a pocket.

The handwriting was clearly Jocasta’s and, for that reason, it was not as if he could exactly ignore the message. ‘Ah well, there goes my peaceful afternoon in the park,’ he thought as he headed for the library.

Though the note had given him a deadline of sorts, Vel made zero effort to hurry, instead taking a rather leisurely stroll. On his way he bought himself a light snack, which was finished well before the building in question came into view. Making his way inside he wove past other students, staff, and the occasional visitor keeping his silence until he noticed the crooked owl. Staring for a moment, Vel turned from the door, looking about the library for a spell before deciding that he’d not make any trouble. It was too much effort and it wasn’t as if this was clandestine. He knew who had called him.

So it was that he pushed the door open and entered the small—even cozy—study booth. The Tan-Zeno was seated there in her wheelchair, hands folded over a series of papers in her lap. She had been a student the previous year, before receiving a special evaluation and passing a series of exams. Now, she was an instructor, if a junior one: his, in fact, for Preservation. She raised an eyebrow. “If I’d added the word urgent, would it have made a difference?”

Vel chuckled lightly and sat down with ease, his eyes flitting to the intricate ring on his left hand, noting where each of its two dials were before he glanced up and met Jocasta’s eyes. “Mmn, couldn’t be that urgent if you’re calling me,” he replied with another chuckle, his manner as easy and relaxed as they were casually self-effacing.

“Besides, I figured I’d give you time to arrive,” he gave her a small smirk as his eyes darted to the wheelchair for an instant. There was no malice or insult there, if anything it was more like he was playing at being overly-considerate.

Then, she was not where she had been. She was behind him, tapping him on the shoulder. “We’re going to talk as we walk,” she replied, turning and wheeling down the hall. ”Do try to keep up for once, Vel.”

Sighing, Valerian got back on his feet and followed her. A beat passed before he replied, “You know I can’t match your stride, Jocasta.”

As he said the words a faint metallic clang rang out. She’d sense some of the power he was constantly drawing being released as a faint flick against the metal of her wheelchair.

“I can always help,” she offered sweetly. “Now,” she continued, voice lowering, “Much as I enjoy slapping you around verbally, I didn’t call you here for something social.” Vel could feel the familiar echo effect of a sonic dampening bubble take shape around them. “There’s a problem or… an opportunity,” she admitted, “depending on how you look at it. I figured it might be something that appealed to you.” She stopped all of a sudden, palms scrubbing all of the speed from her wheels, and turned to regard him. “This is your last chance to leave, or you’ll be obligated to listen to every word of my damsel-in-distress plea.” Beneath the joking words, there was a hard-to-miss seriousness to her tone, however.

Matching pace with her as the bubble went up around the, invisible but very much apparent to his senses, Vel raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly as he gave her a sidelong glance. Following her lead he stopped and considered her words. After a brief moment of thought he sighed and shrugged with that familiar begrudging smile. “As a gentleman and a blooded heir of the noble house of Leclère I have little choice, but to listen.” Though his tone was flippant and amused, the words themselves belied them, serving as an acceptance of her proposal. Clearly she had his attention, if not his interest—though that was harder to gauge.

“Niallus Saberhagen, Maura Mercador, Ingrid Penderson, Abdel Bukhari, Trypano Somia, Kaureerah Wenhan, Rikard Ambrus, and Yalen Castel. Maybe you know some of them from previous classes?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “They were dispatched on a diplomatic embassy to Retan by Zenith Upta. They’re supposed to track down and kill an agent of the Traveler who’s been operating there.” Her voice remained informative, but he would be a fool to miss that she was evaluating him in some way.

Though his easy smile remained, something in his expression shifted, his eyes becoming more thoughtful as he considered her words. “Standout students,” he commented idly as he listened. However, as she mentioned the Traveler, his eyes darted back to her, revealing a brief flash of intensity, before he deliberately relaxed.

‘This is serious…and she’s trusting me with it. What does that say about me? What does that say about her judgement?’ Pausing, he reconsidered. No, he trusted her judgement, this was something else. “An opportunity. You want to bring me into this.” It wasn’t a question he was posing as he met her eyes and she offered a tight nod in response. “Truth be told, I don’t want to bring anyone into anything,” she admitted, starting to move again, “But the school establishment’s sucking up to the Twin Emperors and they’re…” she lowered her voice even though they were in the bubble “fucking evil. We also have a couple who might try to flip things and bail out the Traveler’s agent and start some kind of coup.”

She was coasting along, just in front of him now, and she slowed up and glanced over her shoulder as they approached an archway into the other wing. “And why’d I come to you?” Her smile was toothy. “You like authority like a cat likes baths, Vel, and I’m sick of older people telling us what we should want and do.”

At that comment Vel couldn’t help but smirk, a glimmer of that familiar mischief entering his amber eyes as he regarded her. So unassuming and inoffensive if you judged her by her appearance. Just a small pretty thing in a wheelchair, all smiles, but the reality was different. She was sharp as nails, tough as diamondscale hide and had all the guile of a wizened old fox that had seen far too many coups.

He knew she grated on some, but Vel thought that was some of her appeal. He hated to admit that it might be some of the Leclère blood in him. Nonetheless, she was waiting for his answer and he could hardly keep a lady waiting long.

“You know me too well, Lady Re,” he said, giving her a mock bow, his smile having grown. As much as he’d tried to stay out of the politicking of his peers, this he had to admit was almost certainly worth his time. “Besides, I can hardly say no now, I know too much.” Ever playful, even in the face of events with incredibly dire ramifications.

“I’d hoped so,” she replied, turning on the spot. She fished one of the papers off of her lap and handed it to him. “I checked in last night. This is how things have evolved. This is what our group’s been up to.” She pursed her lips, preparing to drop the bubble. “Thing is, they’re there in an ’official’ capacity. You need to be… not there…officially. You’ve got the pigpox if anyone asks. I’ve used my Zeno powers to write you a note for it.” She sniffed and glanced around. A handful of people had glanced their way, but that was a regular occurrence with the Tan-Zeno. “Meet me tonight at 2:00 HD: door five in the warehouse by the Silk Gate. I’m going to teleport you in, outside of the city where their magic censors can’t detect and nab you. Remember, magic use is licensed there, so be careful using it. You’ll be meeting someone I spoke with last night. I’m pretty sure he’s an ally. For now, read up, stay safe, and stay away from me, lest anyone suspect too much.” She smiled and kept her body language casual through the whole thing, making it look, from the outside, like some friendly gossip and nothing more.

Taking the dossier in his right hand, Vel turned, looking out a window and into the outside world, the bubble of silence still veiling their words. Leaning on the sill he peered out, his arm shielding his mouth from any would-be lip-readers as he spoke once more. “So, keep a low profile as much as possible and use my dualistic nature as a front for my, let’s call them extracurricular activities. Sound about right?”

Jocasta nodded. “That’s why you make the big bucks.” She brushed some hair from her eyes. “You have any other questions, you ask me, okay? Need anything else that’s not just an ego-stroking, you ask me too.” When the bubble fell, she was laughing at a joke he’d told and bidding him goodbye. ”You are just awful,” she squealed, “But my lips are sealed. I’ll see you after class, hmm?”

---

It had taken him only a few hours to properly appoint himself for his little outing in addition to acquiring medicine and the like for his supposed illness. It would keep the ruse going hopefully for long enough to take care of the Tan-Zeno’s business in the Metropolis. As he’d finished those preparations and made his way towards the warehouse that Jocasta had instructed they reconvene at Valerian had begun to consider in greater detail what he would be doing.

This would be distinctly dangerous, but it wasn’t like he hadn’t been sent on the occasional unofficial mission before. He was an ideal candidate after all for his Dualblood nature meant that any suspicion aroused from detecting magic usage in his vicinity would immediately be tempered by the fact that it was a necessity for him to be doing so every hour, minute, and second of every day. While some of that process was made reliable and easy enough by practice that he almost did so unconsciously, much of it required his constant attention. Nonetheless, this meant that even energy spikes that authorities would typically be suspicious of became mild fluctuations accounted for by his need to modulate his energy intake and output.

In tangent with this, his high status–but essentially non-existent reputation–made it far easier for him to operate under the radar. Anything else was often smoothed out by his personable nature. Still, this job felt different somehow…more dangerous and certainly with higher stakes than anything Jocasta–or any of the others–had tasked him with before.

If he was being honest, it made him equal parts excited and apprehensive, enough so that for once he would actually be early to arrive. Typically, for missions of any importance, he would strictly be on time. He made a point of being fashionably late for anything casual, but when it came to things of import he made sure he was always punctual–this did not necessarily include his classes however.

So it was that he came within view of the fifth door of the warehouse that she’d indicated to him in her instructions. Rather than enter straight away, Valerian focused as he walked casually in the direction–though he behaved as if he wasn’t even near his destination. Stretching out his arcane senses, Valerian took note of any and all people nearby based on their heat signatures, bio-electric, and biochemical signals in their bodies. Furthermore he determined the orientation of each of them, noting that none of them were quite faced in his direction. With that done he drew upon the energies around him, but this time more strongly than he typically did, thus dimming the illumination within his range, but subtly and on a gradient. Though he’d wanted the gradient to shift–as if it were based on a static location, rather than centered on his person–he quickly found that a bit beyond him. It was of little matter, this was ultimately just a simple precaution after all.

Properly concealed, Vel entered the door and shut it behind himself quietly, adjusting the gradient back to normal light levels as he did so–though he made sure to have the semi-circle that was still outside gradually adjust rather than suddenly return to normal. Relaxing, Vel casually glanced down at his left hand, noting the change in his dual mana counts and then vented energy accordingly to balance the two out once more. The vast majority of that energy took the form of heat, which he harmlessly distributed into the ground. The rest he allowed to be converted by his body into chemical energy.

It would stave off his appetite for a bit longer.

Glancing about, Vel made an effort to locate Jocasta–though he was certain she’d come to him soon enough. She’d have sensed his use of energy from a mile off most likely.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were turning over a new leaf.” Jocasta was waiting, as was her custom. Her eyes searched him up and down. “Good. You’re covered.” Her hands were on her wheels and she turned on the spot, easing over a crack in the floor. “You’ll recognize the contact, then?” she prodded, “Wu Long. Great big guy, red and gold clothes, bushy beard, speaks scarily fluent Avincian.” She wasn’t leaving much room for formalities or frivolities. “Thanks for doing this, and don’t hesitate to benefit yourself as well. Now,” she concluded, already starting to draw from space and time in preparation for opening a portal, “Any last questions?”

Vel, despite her to-the-point attitude, only smiled and gave her one reply. “Only one. How much will you owe me if I pull this off?”

She smiled mischievously. “Could be quite a bit, or… you might even find yourself owing me.” With that, came a wink and then a flare of temporal energy, but it was a mere blip compared to the great nexus that was the Silk Gate. A portal swirled into existence and, on the other side, what looked like a mountainside and a cave. Jocasta nodded in the Perrenchman’s direction. “Reshta favour you, Vel.”

Bowing his head with a smile, Vel then turned his gaze to the portal and walked through seemingly without hesitation. As he emerged into the cool mountain air, the winds pulling at the edges of his coat and whipping his hair into motion, Valerian gave himself a moment to acclimate himself to his surroundings. Taking a breath, he made a point of not looking back into the portal even as he cast his gaze in a wide arc, taking in his new surroundings.

Everywhere he looked were signs of disaster. It was not the sort that concerned people, but that which would have impacted nature and the animals that called it home. The broken roots and branches of shrubs and scraggly trees could be seen poking through the recently-disrupted snow. Cracked boulders were strewn about randomly, and there were great gashes in evidence about the mountainside as if it had been scoured clean.

It was dawn. There was a cave. The inside of it burned with energy.

Shielding his eyes with an upraised arm as the dawnlight reached his eyes, Vel narrowed his eyes slightly at the cave. Some small part of him wondered what he’d gotten himself into even while another marveled at the beauty. Still, aside from all that, the source of energy he sensed nearby was surely of note–though whether it was wise to investigate was another question entirely.

Taking in a deep breath, Valerian cast his awareness out, narrowing it and his drawing of energy such that he’d gain a clearer mental image of whatever–or whoever–the energy might be coming from. Brow creasing, Valerian discovered little, though he was able to tell that there were two sources of energy. One greater than the other…so great in fact that it seemed beyond his scope to properly measure.

Opening his eyes, he frowned and relaxed, returning his manas to a state of equilibrium. As he considered what little he had learned, Valerian turned and briefly gazed down upon the Metropolis of Wanggang far below. Was he to enter the cave or traverse down the mountain to the city? He began to weigh his options and the likelihood of Jocasta expecting each of him.

‘On the one hand, that could be the contact Jocasta spoke of…on the other…’ Vel sighed and shook his head. Whatever was in there was strong enough that it’d make short work of him if it so desired, but the real question was not whether he could handle it. The real question was simpler, would Jocasta send him into the clutches of something he couldn’t handle?

Unlikely, though she had stressed the precarious nature of the situation. Sighing, Vel resigned himself to risk. Stepping into the cave, he quickly found the light dimming, and so raised a palm and began casting a simple cantrip. Creating something of a feedback loop in his palm, Vel generated a small bright light from his hand and recycled the light and trace heat that escaped.

At least this way he wouldn’t be caught unawares.

Then… let there be light. He was in a grand hall, the ceiling some forty feet above his head, and great pillars rose to either side of him. It was almost unbearably bright, and rendered even more so by the polished marble floors and quartz statues. These seemed to come in pairs, with the figures that they depicted in some form of indirect opposition. In the middle of it, standing before a pair of enormous doors in the Retanese style, was a man. He was large and burly, but not uncouth-looking. His bristly facial hair framed a face that was at once stern and merry, jovial and wise, and his fine robes were of gold and red silk. He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled in greeting. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said. “I am Wu Long, and we have much to discuss.”

The Hourglass Order

【Valerian, Remi. Leclère】

【Theme I/|\Theme II/|\Theme III】

~“The past casts a long shadow.”~

Hider

_{[ ❖ ] B I O}

---

❖ Name:Valerian Remi Leclère.
❖ Age: 18.
❖ Birthplace: Perrence.
❖ Height: 6 ft.
❖ Weight: 213 lbs.
❖ Physique: Tall and in shape with faintly wavy, not-quite-straight, white hair, and amber eyes, Vel is the sort of person who easily stands out in a crowd. With an easy air about him, Vel moves with confidence in his stride and the natural grace of an athlete. Possessed of the pale flesh of someone from colder climates and the muscle of someone who takes care of themselves in all the ways one should, there is a certain discipline to him. His clothes are often well-cared-for, without scuffs or holes or loose threads, despite the fact that he often wears them almost sloppily. Yet, as if as a deliberate contrast, Vel can often be seen in well-tailored, and certainly expensive, clothes—not that such things could quite be described as ‘finery.’ On the other hand, he has a penchant for jewelry, wearing a few rings, one of which is the signet ring of his house—which he wears as a pendant around his neck, often hidden beneath his clothes as if to make a statement. While Valerian can often be seen with a smile, there is nonetheless something off about him; perhaps he’s seen too much….

❖ History:

[+]

Perrence born and raised, Valerian—or Vel for short—was a product of deliberate breeding, an experiment by his father—Marius Phillidor Leclère—to create ‘the perfect mage,’ insofar as one could even attempt such a thing. The ambitious, if callous and almost cruel, man had always desired only to bring his family—and his own—reputation and status to ever greater heights. In his wisdom, Marius married a Blarthic noblewoman despite her status even as he lusted after the distinctive Blood Type that ran in her line: Dualblood. So it was that arrangements were made and maiden names were shed as the families were joined as the two were wed. In swift order, a child was conceived and then another as Marius made sure he would always have an heir regardless of their circumstances. Though it was hard on Vel’s mother—Laufey Sessilia Leclère was made of sterner stuff than most. Thus were born Émeric, then Valerian, and of course, his sister Nina-Blær, though each was several years apart by necessity. While their mother cared for them all equally and her serving women assisted, Marius spent time and care with only one: Émeric.

Marius, it seemed, could not have asked for a more perfect candidate for an heir, as the boy had not only inherited his mother’s Dualblood manas, but had both a high RAS value of 8.25 and two stable mana colonies. So it was that Valerian grew up in the shadow of his older brother’s accomplishments—even though his parents believed that he too was possessed of the rare dual colony arrangement, something that he eventually discovered was not true (a fact that he quietly kept to himself). Of course, with a father who paid him little mind, Valerian often found himself somewhat desperately vying for the man’s approval, until eventually, Marius lost his temper. Berating the young boy, Marius drove a single truth into Vel—it was better to not be noticed.

So it was that for much of his childhood, and practically all of his adolescence, Vel made sure not to garner his father’s attention. He kept up with his studies, listened to his tutors, and diligently developed his magics if only to make good on his parents’ belief that he’d manifested two mana colonies at birth. At the young age of 13 Valerian finally—after many attempts since his Gift awakened at 9–managed to create a stable population split between two mana colonies. Of course, given that he couldn’t tell anyone he received no acclaim for the feat, but rather was treated rather poorly despite being what he’d thought was up to his father’s standards.

It turned out that meeting expectations was simply not enough for Marius, no, to please the man one would need to exceed such things. For a time, Vel did what he’d always done, doing his utmost to ignore the harsh words and displeased glances his father cast his way. That was until an argument between Vel and his older brother broke out when Vel was merely 15.

Yet though there was certainly a serious disagreement between them, it was their father who took things too far. Tired of their arguing and furious with Vel’s “lacking” performance, Marius forced the two into a no-holds-barred duel.

It ended in tragedy.

---

A year passed between his brother’s…unfortunate passing and Vel’s withdrawal from his family. Rather than stay in their primary estate, he took up permanent residence in one of their other properties along with a small array of servants. It seemed to Vel—now haunted by his brother’s shocked final gaze—that while he’d finally earned his father’s respect, it had come at a cost far too great. Indeed, it had been one he had not willingly paid. So it was that for some time—indeed until the ripe age of 18–that he ignored all of his father’s correspondence and buried himself in frivolity.

It was an empty time, one devoid of any true joy, or at least absent of anything meaningful or lasting. However, when the clock struck midnight on his 18th birthday, it appeared that his father was quite done with his sulking. Showing up unannounced, the man gave Vel an ultimatum.

Attend Ersand’Enise Academy and further his father’s goals or be disowned.

Reluctantly, Valerian chose the former.

_{[ ❖ ] P E R S O N A L I T Y}

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❖ Motivation: Having few proper drives, let alone clear goals, perhaps the only thing that can be said about Vel’s motivations is that he has almost none. If there were one thing though, it would likely be that he desires to be better and perhaps make sure that fewer people like his father are left to roam free in the world.

❖ Persona:

♦Intelligent
♦Observant
♦Loyal
♦Considerate
♦Easy-going
♦Charismatic
♦Selfless

[+]

Sharp-witted and with a tongue that could lash if he ever desired such, Vel is something of an ambivert preferring both more cerebral activities at some times and people at others. He is fiercely loyal, but often takes on an almost aloof affect as if he isn’t particularly attached to anything in the world. While he’s certainly no doormat, it couldn’t exactly be said that Valerian is the sort who tends to deliberately attract or seek attention, nor is he one to make much of a fuss about most things. Insults and slights roll off him like oil and water, almost never sinking in or mixing; whether this is a result of his not caring for himself much or a thick skin due to his father’s ravings is anyone’s guess. Yet despite his seemingly aloof nature, Vel is in fact fiercely loyal to those he truly connects with and could easily be considered a staunch defender of anyone he cares for. Furthermore, Vel is particularly opposed to the selfish or self-obsessed, and in particular, anyone with manipulative or exploitative behavior, which he absolutely abhors. Beyond this, he is slow to anger and eminently rational when it comes to most matters. At the same time however, he is a lover of the absurd and can at times take on mildly reckless, and decidedly mischievous, behavior so long as it is not at the expense of others–or at least only a fairly mild inconvenience.

It should be said that Valerian is decidedly good with people regardless of their age, creed, or gender. Easy-going, observant, and understanding he has fairly strong intuition and as such adapts rather quickly to both people and situations. However, perhaps one of his greatest flaws is that he simply cannot abide certain forms of injustice—even if he cares little about law and crime. Bullying, malicious pranks, narcissism, and cruelty are things that he not only hates but simply cannot tolerate. If he sees them, he will act, often before or without thinking and frequently with little regard for himself. Such situations are perhaps the only ones that are likely to result in his openly expressing and acting upon his anger—an emotion that he is rather unfamiliar with processing, let alone dealing with in anything remotely resembling a healthy manner.

Perhaps this is simply the cost of trauma.

_{[ ❖ ] C A P A B I L I T I E S}

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_{[ ❖ ] T H E G I F T ^{| RAS {7.37[7.88](88)+8+24}}}

Kinetic{4.5}Arcane{4}Chemical{2}.

Blueblood ❖ Dualblood ❖ Sanguinaire

❖ Experience: While he’s certainly not been to a school or other similar institution for mages prior to Ersand’Enise’s prestigious Academy, Vel has been tutored by skilled mages and experts since he first displayed the Gift. As a direct result of this and his own experimentation, Vel is surprisingly adroit in his use of magic. While he has managed to maintain a stable pair of mana colonies for the last five years, the young nobleman’s ability to ‘boost’ himself is inconsistent at best and dismal on average. However, he has gained sizable control over the colonies allowing him higher efficiency and control than the average mage of his skill level.

Beyond this, due to his extensive experimentation–if only in the interest of distracting himself since the…incident with his brother–Vel has developed some signature skills with the Kinetic school in particular. This school of magic is easily his most developed, allowing him to draw, expel, control, and cycle kinetic energy–and convert other energies into it–far more efficiently than with other schools. While his ability with the Arcane and Chemical schools is drastically less developed, one could more accurately state that he has overspecialized at the cost of many foundational skills. In the case of both schools, he uses them almost solely to draw energy and convert it, or to manage his own body’s energies to a degree. Nonetheless, he is somewhat more capable with the Arcane School, allowing him relatively standard–or at least simple–expressions of its signature magics.

❖ Skills

[+]

Catalyze
Chemical{2-5}

By narrowing their focus, the mage drastically increases their awareness of their own biological make-up to the point that they can precisely detect even the mana colonies inhabiting their body. At this stage, the mage will begin drawing energy from their surroundings, deliberately catalyzing the reproductive processes of their colonies. This ability—while not terribly useful for most magic users—is absolutely pivotal for mages possessing the Dualblood Mana Type.

Essentially, by deliberately feeding a sharp influx of power into their mana colony (or colonies) they cause the manas to rapidly begin reproducing, thus causing a sizable increase in their RAS value. Eventually, mages using this spell can hone their control to such a degree that they can actually deliberately target only groups of their manas, allowing them to control the strength of the boost they receive up to a point. At the highest level, these individuals can even turn off the “reproduction signal” in their manas allowing them to more quickly recover from—but never entirely get rid of—the refractory period suffered by Dualblood mages.

❖ Spells

[+]

Force Implement
Kinetic{3-7}

Through a series of varied and complex calculations, a mage skilled in the Kinetic School may arrest control of a chosen amount of air in their surroundings through the use of applied kinetic force. Following this, the mage can ‘shape’ the air using patterns of continuously generated kinetic energy moving in two or more opposing vectors. This results in largely invisible, but entirely tangible, ‘objects’ composed of pressurized air. These objects can be moved and otherwise manipulated by altering the position and orientation of the kinetic energy patterns. Notably, the kinetic force applied to the outside of the ‘object’ moving inwards is incrementally less than the force moving from the core moving outwards. The amount of kinetic energy used can vary. Lastly, if the ‘construct’ is destabilized the outer kinetic field will always fail first, resulting in a localized kinetic explosion. Notably, the pressurized air gradually increases in temperature the longer the spell remains active.

Force Lance
Kinetic{4}

Functioning by the principles of Force Implement, this spell differs only in its shape and in the fact that it has a sort of internal kinetic energy reservoir that Vel can specifically use to—on command—and in an instant accelerate it to frightful speeds. Beyond this, the spell is only particularly notable in that Vel is exceptionally familiar with it due to having practiced extensively in its use.

_{[ ❖ ] L A N G U A G E S}

❖Perrench - Native speaker.
❖Blarthic Eskandish - Native speaker.
❖Avincian - Fluent spoken. Advanced written.
❖Revidian - Fluent spoken. Advanced written.

Valerian is natively bilingual, being a native speaker in both Perrench and Blarthic Eskandish. Additionally, Valerian had to become fluent in Avincian and Revidian due to his noble upbringing. He is passable in several other local languages, but his grammar is significantly more rough.

_{[ ❖ ] T A L E N T S & F L A W S}

[+]

TL;DR

^{_{[ ❖ ] Strengths & Flaws}}

❖ Knowledgeable - Skilled with magical calculations
❖ Athletic - High stamina (Limited)
❖ Exceptional Focus - Multitasker
❖ High pain threshold
❖ Fast Learner
❖ Resilient

❖ Unmotivated - Situational
❖ Emotionally Intelligent
❖ Mischievous
❖ Aloof

❖ Blinded in the face of Injustice
❖ Conflict Avoidant - Emotional
❖ Dismissive - Situational
❖ Part-time Overthinker
❖ Prone to heatstroke
❖ Bad with authority
❖ Physically Limited

Though he’s not one to bring it up, it should not be understated that Valerian is, in fact, a polymath—otherwise known as an individual with wide-reaching knowledge, in this case with his particular areas of expertise being physics and what he refers to as ‘Magical Calculus.’ This form of math is essentially designed around making complex calculations and considerations that allow the magic-user to then create and maintain spells of particular complexity. In tangent with his exceptional ability to multitask, Vel becomes a significantly more impressive specimen than one might think considering his fairly ‘average’ (for a mage) RAS score.

Beyond the above, Vel is in good shape and fairly athletic, if only because he had to increase his physical stamina to compensate for the taxing nature of his mana blood type. Furthermore, on account of his being a dualblood with two active mana colonies, Vel runs particularly hot making him prone to overheating and things such as heatstroke. This means that despite him being in good shape it is not particularly safe for him to exercise or exert himself physically for long periods of time without magical aid. He is, like all Dualbloods, prone to sudden and unexpected bruising—though this has died down more and more as his colonies gradually acclimate to one another’s continued existence.

While he doesn’t suffer from issues of self-esteem, Vel often questions whether he ought to continue on given the sins of his past. This leaves him somewhat directionless and somewhat unmotivated beyond distracting or enjoying himself much of the time. In this way, he can sometimes be misunderstood and thought to simply not care for much of anything at all. Having been more or less controlled by his father’s whims for his entire life, Vel is wont to follow rather than lead. As, though he desires independence, he knows not at all what to do with it. Additionally, though he appears aloof to most things and largely unflappable, the reality is that he is actually far more aware of the harm that simple words or careless actions can cause. While this doesn’t always make him hesitant, it certainly can, and in addition to that, it means that any action he takes that might harm another is one he is likely to secretly agonize over far more than most. Yet, at the same time, Vel is just as likely to challenge authority as he is to follow the leader. This is the result of virtually all such figures in his life abusing their power more often than not. On another note, when faced with his own anger, Vel will often shut down–freezing and fleeing rather than choosing to fight. Only if cornered–physically or emotionally–is he ever likely to choose to fight as he has seen the damage his father’s lack of self-control caused and is adamant not to repeat the man’s mistakes. The only exception, however, is when his anger is in response to injustice, in which it will burn cold and quietly. During such times Vel will often ignore logic and his instincts, instead gunning recklessly to right perceived wrongs.

As a result of the physical limitations imposed on him by his mana blood type, Valerian tends to favor ranged magic. This is largely due to his having to expend energy to keep himself from overheating or otherwise overexerting himself. It should additionally be notated that the variety of his casting is somewhat limited—or at least specialized—due to his lack of training and unique situation. This has resulted in his being particularly good at drawing and casting, whereas his ability to contain energy is severely lacking relative to most mages and his conversion rate is rather middling.

_{[ ❖ ] I N V E N T O R Y}

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[+]

Money - Owned: Vel has about 349 Magus to his name in the bank, but only carries about 2 Magus worth at any given time.

Wardrobe - Owned: Largely kept in his quarters at Ersand’Enise, Vel has a wide assortment of clothes, the majority of which are high-quality. He does have a series of garments that are…lower class at best, as sometimes he enjoys consorting with commoners as he’s not above such things. This assortment of clothes includes a few different sets of jewelry–mostly rings and necklaces, though there are the rare, but simple earrings for when he’s in the mood for such things.

L'Oeil Ensanglanté - Worn: A Strangely gorgeous and intricate ring made of multiple moving rings, With the 2 most center rings appearing to be made of gears. These central rings each have intricate cravings within and are made of dark steel and vibrant bronze. Each tooth of the gear is marked with a number going from 1-9. The ring has a very intricate enchantment made specifically to assist in the daily life of Dualbloods. The ring is able to keep track of the amount of manas in circulation within the wearer's body, which makes it essentially useless to non-dualbloods. For Dualbloods however, it is an essential tool as each ring is attuned to one of the wearer's mana colonies. As a result, the numbers of the gears serve as a means for the wearer to keep track of their colonies. Each denotation on the gears represents a factor of 10%. Keeping the gears at roughly 5 each is often best.

Stats and Appearance

Additive Effect: 3 manas
Mana Type: None
Longevity: Platinum 2
Efficiency: Platinum
Density: Gold
Capacity: Platinum
Attunement: Platinum 3
Final Grade: Platinum 2

The Pendant of Guilty Conscience - Worn: A gift from Abdel as recognition for taking the high road in a conflict with Ingrid Penderson after the battle in Retan. For Valerian, this necklace is more of a reminder of the person he desires not to be, than it is a useful tool. As, in addition to simply providing 8 manas, each time that this pendant's bearer substantially lies, betrays a friend, murders, or commits a crime greater than petty theft, this pendant will gain one charge. Each charge will grant its bearer a spellcasting benefit as follows, stacking:

Charges

1) One extra advantage roll per cycle.
2) A +4 benefit to any two spells per cycle.
3) One extra skill modifier tier in a chosen school.
4) Defense boosted by two tiers twice per cycle.
5) The ability to revive a dead ally/enemy (they're pretty much the same thing, right?)

Masterwork Seven: Akuma - Worn: Gained after the Pendant when Ingrid instigated a second conflict. Valerian finally lost his temper and stood against the bully in a hand-to-hand fight with magic barred. Coming out the victor, he thus took the seventh Masterwork of Kagemitsu Kenshin back as his spoils. This haureenium katana exudes a faint glow and a subtle aura of heat. It begins with 24 manas and enjoys the following effects:

Mechanics

1. [HEATING UP]: The sword constantly draws heat from its environment, boosting all heat-based offensive and defensive magic (arcane, some chemical, some atomic, and some magnetic) by one RAS modifier tier and gradually strengthening itself by gaining two manas per use, up to a total of 32. These extra manas can exceed the normal limit of 32 available from items.

2. Each successful defense also builds a charge of [INFERNAL WRATH]. Once the Akuma 7 builds five, it will release their power into the VOID, drawing (roll a d5 with advantage) tier 2 demon sprites into reality.

3. This weapon allows its user to be an [IRRITANT], forcing an enemy to prioritize them as target when rolling to decide.

Lilac - Owned: A horse, affectionately named and cared for, Lilac is Vel’s favored mount and in a way, his closest confidante. She is fast, strong, well-trained, and incredibly loyal–if somewhat fiery in her temperament.

Signet Ring Pendant - Worn: Always on his person, if typically hidden beneath his shirt, is the signet ring of his house, which on top of denoting his lineage also serves as a universal sign of his position as heir. The ring is, all-in-all, incredibly intricate and rather ostentatious. It is rather valuable as one might expect of such a thing.

_{[ ❖ ] J O U R N E Y}

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[+]

This will be updated as the RP goes on.

【Entry title】

_{Entry location/date}

WRITTEN ENTRY

_{[ ❖ ] M I S C E L L A N E O U S}

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[+]

_{The Leclère Family}

~ “Bloodless and Bloodied.” ~

[+]

_{[ ❖ ] R E P U T A T I O N}

Starting with Lazare who was essentially the family’s founder, the Leclère Family has held the favor of three kings since their rise to power. Notably, Benedict the Blessed, Guillaume II, and now Rouis XI have favored the Leclères, with Marius outright having Rouis XI’s ear. They are—nonetheless—considered an upstart and rather young noble family, if a powerful one. The oldblood noble houses hold them largely in disdain, with some notable exceptions for those who have worked with them historically, and perhaps one or two who have recognized their rather impressive rise to prominence. The Leclères are considered unwise to cross, even if they are held—to a degree—in low esteem by some of the old blood houses.

Holding the King’s ear, and a relatively stable standing amongst the high nobility, much of their power comes from political maneuvering, historical reputation, and allies rather than large holdings or huge stakes in the economy. In recent years, there have been rumors that have rather put into question whether it is strictly wise to allow the Leclères in their positions. As such, some of the lower and middling noble houses have closely watched their dealings, watching and waiting for any weakness or opportunity to take them down. This has been what the current head of the family: Marius Phillidor Leclère has been working against as no one would have dared oppose them when his father was in power. So it is that Marius works to ensure that they will not dare do so in the future as well.

_{[ ❖ ] H I S T O R Y}

[+]

Lazare Phillipe Leclère–Marius’ father–raised their family’s position from that of lesser nobles during the great unrest caused by the War of the Glades. Capitalizing on the shifting political situation and unstable footing of a great many noble houses, Lazare took a gamble on his holdings to raise a small militia, which he went on to train alongside several compatriots who he later allowed to inconspicuously go missing. Once his force was thoroughly trained, he waged a smaller guerilla war on the usurpers to gain the favor of Benedict the Blessed while he remained in hiding. Lazare’s small, but elite, force came to be known as the ghosts of the countryside and demons of the night, striking unexpectedly and with a ferocity not often seen in a force so small.

While they could hardly win a war entirely on their own, their efforts did ultimately earn the King-in-hiding’s attention, which eventually allowed Lazare to join forces with Benedict’s allies. With time and underground collaboration–keeping their plans and troop movements as clandestine as possible–they were eventually able to assist Benedict in reclaiming his throne and securing his rule.

So it was that in the aftermath Lazare and his family were rewarded for their patriotism and loyalty earning themselves land and titles to match. For some time, Lazare bided his time, but to his chagrin opportunity would not present itself again in his generation, so instead he trained his sons such that they could continue his legacy and rise amongst the peerage. Years later, after Lazare had passed–and Marius had “outlived” all his brothers–strife once more reared its head in Perrence. With the country threatened by foreign powers that had once been theirs to control, King Rouis XI found himself desperately in need of allies and advisors whom he knew he could trust. Thus he called upon his old friend. Marius Leclère as the two had attended the same Academy in their youth and the two began their plans to unite the nobility and resolve the war that would come to be known as the Joruban Revolution.

_{[ ❖ ] M E M B E R S & T I T L E S}

Lazare Phillipe Leclère
Marquess Marius Phillidor Leclère.
Marchioness Laufey Sessilia Leclère.
Lord & Heir Valerian Remi Leclère.
Lady Nina-Blær Leclère.