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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by Hero
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Good, no protests--or at least nothing important enough to warrant protesting out loud. Sara's zeal was admirable, and he credited her to the rest following along. Or at least, it was refreshing to hear some positivity out of all this, and Holly and Daniela seemed to follow the Templar's lead. He wouldn't comment on the misjudgment part, if only because making some goodwill was better than getting offended. That and at minimum it was earned; his reputation was shit and it was stupid to pretend otherwise. Weber's comment was what he had hoped would be true, but even then, at least Prince Aaron was a teen. He doubted a six-year-old could accomplish much on her own. And as much as he wanted to ignore Renault, he wasn't completely wrong.

In regards to Renault, however, he needed to be corrected. "And dedicating ourselves anew is what we will do. But scattering is exactly what we're going to do next," He stated first and foremost as he stood straight. He still felt weak, but he wasn't going to keel over yet. Though he hoped he was lucky enough that if he did collapse, he'd bash his head hard enough to knock himself out. He approached the windows and tapped the jambs, watching as the windows closed themselves and swiftly painted the panes a much darker color. The lights dimmed a touch as the windows formed a single panel, which then lit up into the image of a map of Gaia.

"Going to war with Kaudus is off the table for now, but we need to know more about the enemy. Investigating the Cult is going to be our primary objective," He stated as he walked over to where Doumerc was, tapping the city of Racine. "I have it on good authority that Dr. Rhaveus is at l'École d'Enchantement de la Lune--this is important because he was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding Theodore's disappearance. This, of course, isn't public knowledge, but my gut says he's figured out something big."

He took a few steps backwards and tapped the border between the Lorenzia Republic and Veradis. "I also have it on good authority that the Church is going to ask a few of us to take care of a nest of monsters near Riva del Garda. Templar Everett petitioned the Church for additional assistance and despite the High Cardinal's grumbling, it's getting to be too much for just them to handle. It'll also restore some goodwill among the populace to take care of this--more importantly, we want the Church believing we're falling in line with them, so it's a win-win," He explained. "If I remember right, the monster nests around there are typically harpy ones--airborne monsters. You'd think guns would be enough, but they must be overwhelmed due to sheer numbers. That, or there's more to it that we don't know yet."

Lucas then tapped a location on the border of Estora and Doumerc, his expression souring a touch. "I can't be in two places at once and I'm prioritizing visiting Dr. Rhaevus in person since I have a reason to go to the academy. That said, I did get a request I can't ignore that I'm hoping some of you will go in my place," He tapped the map. "Croia's governor has mentioned that there has been signs of some spirits acting up. They're harmless, but seeing a Scion of the Goddess is enough to get them to listen and go away. I haven't heard other details, but it can't be ignored, either, otherwise people are going to question why I'm in Doumerc instead of going there."

The prince turned to the rest of the room, raising an eyebrow. "We'll take care of these problems in groups--this way if there is any unwarranted action, we won't be caught off guard. The public appearance will also work twofold as we'll show that we aren't hiding in fear and that we're making a united stand. Or something like that, anyway," He shrugged, crossing his arms.

Sonia had remained silent until then, but she didn't seem to happy. She did, however, wait until Lucas was speaking to ask, "Any particular reason we aren't involving the Church in all this? Isn't it foolish not to use every resource we have available?"

"I'm willing to bet High Cardinal Margaret won't be pleased with us looking into the Cult," Lucas stated, noting her dissatisfaction but giving the room at large his attention. "Now, then, who's going where? No need to be shy, raise your hands like good boys and girls and speak up so we can hear you."
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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by Obscene Symphony
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Maya didn’t offer much commentary after her initial contribution. She didn’t miss Edmund’s little remark, but his arguing with the rest of the assembly was more problematic. What had gotten into him? He’d been growing sourer over the past few months, but Maya thought he’d be capable of holding his tongue in a meeting of all current Scions. Her expression darkened as he continued to argue, but she let him speak - for now. With any luck, he’d gather enough rope with his bickering to hang himself with. She’d have to come up with a way to help him remember his place.

She’d never been all that interested in theology, but Lucas’ display would get a rise out of anyone, and Maya was no exception. The new Prophecy was shocking, but immediately Maya’s mind began to work. The red moon was probably a reference to a lunar eclipse (if it was anything other than poetry, anyway), but the mention of the Estoran star gave her pause. There was nothing she knew of suggesting any meaningful overlap of the Estoran star’s course and a lunar eclipse, but the Prophecy made them both sound concurrent. If she could figure out when the two coincided, maybe they would know exactly how much time they had.

Granted, unraveling this new prophecy wasn’t her top priority, but Lucas, darling that he was, offered her the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

“I’ll go with you to Doumerc,” Maya volunteered first, rising from her seat. “It’s been a while since I took a trip home, and you’ll need someone who speaks the language.”

She wasn’t eager to go back to Doumerc, she’d admit - not the least with a bunch of Kaudian cultists crawling around. But oh, how they’d fawn over the Scion of Gravity when she finally returned home! Prime Minister Dumont would be like putty in her hands. What a perfect opportunity to help him decide it was finally time for Doumerc to stand up for itself.

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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by Mcmolly
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It seemed the prince was eager to divide them, which left Renault with a sour taste in his mouth. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think Lucas was displeased with his current selection of Scions, and might have been making an effort to, say, spring clean a few of the less desirables. Rather church-like, and Renault had never taken the royal blemish to be overly devout; perhaps that was just what prophecies did to you.

Either way, Renault wasn’t about to let himself be pruned so early or so easily. His aunt was last to be taken, and he assumed if given the chance, her assailants would gladly snatch up the new Scion of Lightning.

Hunting monsters on the Garda seemed like a complete waste of his time; setting aside it would make him look like the High Cardinal’s bloodhound, when it came to combat he was…rusty. Despite his skill with magic, a year and change in captivity would warrant a little warming up from anyone, to say nothing of the Scion abilities he’d yet to tap beyond meager testing. The trip to Croia was equally unappealing. Renault dealt with the mortal, and he was quite good at it too, but spirits? He could think of few things he wanted less than to doll himself up like a saint for the ethereal.

As little as the prospect of being in Lucas’ company excited him, he would be lying if he said he wouldn’t relish the opportunity to step back into politics. A high-class place like the academy? His mind bristled to think of all the familiar names and faces that might be in attendance. Much of his network had been dismantled during his incarceration, but the information remained, and that was plenty for now. Reconstructing a base of spies and useful idiots would take time, but if there was one thing he’d hammered into the minds of the Doumercene aristocracy, it was that he kept his word.

The Scion of Gravity offered herself up to go along with prince, and Renault hesitated. Instinct told him she would cause problems—too eager, too blood thirsty, too cowardly. She reasoned homesickness and practicality, but he wondered if there was something more. Perhaps, like him, she figured proximity to Lucas would make it more difficult to have her removed. Tricky, to an extent few celebrities were. If only he’d been there at that gala, to see for himself if the mask had slipped.

Well, in the worst case, having the whole of Doumerc swoon at her return would hopefully keep the paparazzi busy while he refamiliarized himself with his home.

A trip to the academy sounds lovely, Your Highness,”” he said, making his intention to join clear. “I was never a student myself, but I’ve visited plenty of times. I’m well acquainted with several alumni and even a few of the professors. Unfortunately, even a place so devoted to the scholarly arts is still steeped in bureaucracy, and it can be rather stifling.

His eyes flicked over to Maya, and lingered a moment longer on her guard dog, Silvaine. It hadn’t escaped Renault how a few of the Templars had tensed at his arrival. He doubted the man would be happy with this arrangement.

In addition to our beloved Scion of Gravity, it may benefit you to bring someone along who’s used to navigating Doumerc’s deceptively turbulent political scene,” he said, looking to Maya once again. Vous n'êtes pas d'accord, madame?
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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by OwO
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Hollyhock

@Hero@Obscene Symphony@Abstract Proxy


Hollyhock had mixed feelings about Princess Rosemary assuming the responsibilities of the prophecy. Hollyhock knew first hand how much someone's life was controlled by their status and how different her childhood was. However, Rosemary was already a princess and scion. No matter what, she would be forever tied to these statuses. The only thing Hollyhock could do for her was be there for her. As such, she nodded alongside Jannick's words.

Dom grabbing a bit of gift ham was also appreciated. Hollyhock gave her a smile and nod as she spoke and looked towards her. She could agree with her words.

The options made her choice simple. While Jannick and her had been practicing for a fight, she would prefer not to fight all manner of beasts. Frankly, she still considered herself a liability. She was more likely to scoop other Scions up in a storm than deal with the monsters they were sent to deal with. Going to Doumerc was also risky. Of course, not because she was a liability in investigating. Moreso, it was the people that had already declared their intention. Jannick's distrust of Renault had rubbed off on her. Not to mention, she didn't think her heart could take being beside Maya. Even though they had to form connections and bond, that didn't mean immediately. In true Hollyhock fashion, she'd push off that responsibility for later--preferably when Maya and Renault weren't together.

That left the final option being to converse with spirits. That option was much more reasonable and played more towards Hollyhock's talents.

With a nod to Jannick, she declared her intention.

"I'll speak to the spirits," Hollyhock said before adding a little joke, "I'm a little something of a gift specialist, you know."
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Hidden 9 mos ago 9 mos ago Post by Xiro Zean
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Interacting with @Hero as Lucas | @Raijinslayer as Justinian


There were many ways you could describe Theobald as he stewed in silence, observing the meeting from his chair without a word after the Templar of Gravity had rebuked him. Despite being the largest person in the room, it was as if he took up the smallest space, ignored entirely by the others aside from his former templar who had served him a plate before joining the conversation proper.

Of course, the former soldier had many things he wished to assert to the people of power within his reach, but just as apparent was how little anyone other than those few lofty members of society could do. Just as others had spoken, not a single person in the room would be responsible for what Veradis, and Estora as a whole, chose to do moving forward. All of them, whether they be a prince or a layman, mere figureheads to be displayed in a glass case while the rest of the world made all the real decisions.

Though that didn't change the fact that there were people who shouldn't have been in the room, his gaze narrowing at the arrival of the new Scion of Lightning. He'd read the newspapers, heard of the commotion that occurred, saw the sensational headlines speaking of an upstart who thought he could make a dent in the impregnable church. Were the council among soldiers and not civilians, perhaps he would've been asked to behead the man rather than simply watch as the criminal sat and spoke among them as if he was supposed to be there.

Theobald didn't understand what the goddess' thought process could be, how she could allow what was happening upon her soil. A transgressor as one of her chosen, a child as the world's savior... and then there was himself, who should've been in places more suitable for him than this. It was times such as these that he regretted not staying in Veradis rather than move to Rodion. If he were more pious, deeper in the goddess' word and had followed his mother's wishes than the dreams his father had instilled in him, would he have been better equipped to understand what the divine wanted of him?

But regrets did nothing. He was who he was, and thinking of what could've been was a waste of his time.

So when the prince finally got to the point of the meeting and began delegating tasks, the silent giant made himself known once more, standing to attention when those present were called to speak. "I shall lead the charge against the monsters that have settled upon the border if that does not trouble you, Your Highness."

There were scant few he would trust on this endeavor, yet Theobald began to survey the Scions who hadn't spoken yet. Though they didn't see eye to eye that day, he would've wanted Edmund by his side as someone he knew could watch his back during a hunt, but there was no doubt the Templar would be following his Scion to Doumeric. Were it not for the fortuitous moment of Ionna being delegated to his side, he would've similarly asked for the Scion of Metal to join them, but with things as they were he couldn't expect a Scion not even a year into their time as one to keep up with conflict.

Yet even with that thought, he had a mind to request the prince himself to join them on the expedition. That small conversation he had with Prince Lucas, more than anything, led him to believe that experience was what the Scion of Time needed more than anything else. While the newly minted Scion had spoken otherwise, he was certain that the power of Time could be molded into a powerful tool against this unknown enemy. But of course, he wouldn't dare ask a royal to place their life on the line, so he didn't think about it for longer than necessary.

Which led his gaze to settle upon one man in particular, all the other Scions too green to teach how to hunt in such a short time frame. Someone who had spoken more than he expected them to that day, whom he only knew of through cultural osmosis and called out to in a military-like command that bore no uncertain terms. "Gardner. You are coming with me."
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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by Abstract Proxy
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Dominika Kovač Pignatelli




A plan felt good. A plan felt right to Dom. Whatever the merits of splitting up might have been, Dom was grateful to have not one, but three tasks dangled in front of her. It was something to focus on. It was something to do. She had no tongue for prophecy, nor long education in the symbols of the faith to think too deeply about the prophecy that Lucas had offered. She believed him, of course. However, her mind shifted to pragmatic concerns. She saw a design, a blueprint like that of a great ship, faintly visible. They had to follow the design the Scion of Time had woven.

All three tasks laid before them seemed worthwhile and good. Yet Dom felt herself drawn easily. For all her training, she was still no true fighter. She did not relish the idea of facing monsters. By the same measure, she was no socialite, no student used to wandering the hallowed halls of an institution of higher learning. She had no great desire to venture into the world of academia. The choice was not hers alone though. She trusted Sara and she wished to hear her thoughts. Her Templar had as much of a right to choose as she did, experienced as she was.

Shifting in her chair, Dom turned towards Sara, speaking low, "What does your heart tell you, Sara? Where do you wish us to go?"

"I believe now, more than ever, the people need their faith strengthened. Bringing peace to lost souls is a fine duty for a scion."

"I agree! I completely agree! Let us go, let us be peacemakers," Dom said, a true smile appearing on her face as she placed a hand happily on Sara's forearm, practically jumping with excitement.

Offering an apologetic cough, as she summoned a more serious posture, Dom addressed the gathered Scions and Templars once again, "We will travel with the Scion of Air and her Templar to Croia. To restore the peace and convince the spirits to return to their well-earned rest is a fine task. I am not so talented in the matter of gifts as Her Holiness Hollyhock, but I am told I am quite the listener. And none can doubt Dame Sara's faith. Such strong faith will no doubt be vital when parleying with the spirits."
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Hidden 9 mos ago 9 mos ago Post by Raijinslayer
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addressing: Bianca and Lucas,@Hero Theobald@Xiro Zean, Ionna@Mcmolly Dominika@Abstract Proxy Hollyhock@OwO


Justinian stood before Lucas' tirade with barely a twitch, rubbing some of the fatigue from his eyes as he continued to use the dining chair for support. If the Prince wanted to waste time talking about hypotheticals, that was his choice, but the Scion of Earth had done his part in 'entertaining' the topic, and he just wanted the point of this meeting to actually be made. 

Thankfully, once Lucas had gotten his need to insult and berate off his chest, he finally got to the heart of the matter. 

The Scion of Earth kept his thoughts to himself as he listened to the prophecy in full, his brow furrowing as it went on from the well-trodden words he'd read a hundred times into something less comforting and much more concerning. His mind turned to the night in the snuggery, to Rosemary's talk of a 'golden lady', to the child's strength of character. . . but also to the horror of the events that had preceded it. No child should ever be witness to such things, yet given the ekusive nature of their foe, Justinina wasn't sure they'd be able to stop another attack like this from happening.  

The Incepta had chosen Rosemary for a heavy burden indeed, it seems. . . And a rather dim star for the rest of us to stand behind.

Justinian had not missed that part of the prophecy, and while he was not one to question the Incepta's words, he could not help but find Lucas a poor man for this job, especially when compared to what came before. This prophecy at least explained why someone as opposed to Scionhood as the Prince had seemed the day of his coronation, but Justinian couldn't help but find him lacking, even setting aside his own bias for a moment. His temper was on a hair trigger, and he seemed to treat most pushbacks with vitriol or dismissal in equal measure. Could he learn to overcome these deficiencies? Potentially.

But would they be given the time for that to happen? Justinian didn't think so, given that the last attack happened four months after Theodore's disappearance. Even if their next play isn't as explosive as the last, they hold the cards and secrets in this game, and all they can do is watch and wait.

Frustrating.

These thoughts and more swirled in his mind, especially in regards to this Termina figure mentioned, but he decided not to focus or share them. He did not like Lucas. He did not respect Lucas. What he could respect was that, even if it is due to duress and threats to those close to him, he is taking the duty of being a Scion seriously. So the least Justinian could do is not question his suitability for the role in front of the others, at least not now when everyone was calling for a united front.

When the topic moved from vague futures to the more actionable present, however, Justinian's eyes lit up at the talk of monster activity in Lorenzia, particularly around the Riva del Garda. Despite himself, a smug grin took hold of his face for a moment at the talk of the church needing the help of Scions to deal with such a task. Years of being told off for assisting in this very thing, and now they finally concede when he's 4 years out of practice. If not for the serious threat that a monster nest near the border posed, he might've started laughing at the irony of it. 

Once he'd restrained the feeling of schadenfraude, however, he focused his attention on the details the prince had provided and found himself in agreement with their conclusion. 

Harpies were not a particularly dangerous, intelligent, or subtle type of monster, so the appearance of a nest that could harbor enough to threaten a prepared Templar garrison seemed hard to believe, as they'd have gotten reports of attacks far before that point. If there was an Alpha or some variant of Harpy involved, they'd have likely reported that info as well so-

"I shall lead the charge against the monsters that have settled upon the border, if that does not trouble you, Your Highness." Justinian was shaken out of his analysis of the situation by the voice of the old giant, his eyes shifting towards the Scion of Fire at the same time that the soldier looked towards him.  "Gardner. You are coming with me."

Justinian felt his jaw tighten at the older Scion's tone, as if the psychopath had any right to command him to do anything. But he let the irritation wash over and through him, focusing instead on the future. The sound of trees rustling through trees, the rushing of the river current, and the feel of grass and soil beneath his feet. Freedom and nature, two things he had been craving for years, especially in the last few months.

"I was going anyway, gramps. No need for the gruff act." Justinian stepped away from the chair, his thoughts still running on overdrive, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, typing in some quick searches about the area in question to see what the rumor mill was churning in towns near the mentioned region. "If we pass by my home on the way back, I could potentially take a few specialized tools, though the Templar station should also have a stock Probably better maintained ones too; it's best to wait till we get there. Rope, harpoons, and weighted nets would be best, but those can be tough to drag around. . . " 

He paused, looking over both Theobald and Ionna with a quick once over before going back to his notes.

"We can probably afford the nets with you two."

The Scion didn't spend much time listening to anything else that was said as he mentally catalogued his knowledge of the monsters in question while digging through the notes he had on hand. Well, copies of his notes. He had several monster books and journals at home, but he had them digitized a while ago for occasions like this. It could probably do with some updates, especially if this turned into a more regular duty of his. A potentially fruitless thought, but one he was hopefull for if this excursion went well.

That said, he had not totally shut out his other Scion's, however, as he (with some difficulty) pulls himself from his studies to address Dominika and Hollyhock.

"I wish you both the best of luck with your on task. I hope the both of you stay safe and uh. . . Holly hock, I'll be sure to finish my piece of the Gift Ham on the way. Haven't had much an appetite lately, but gotta eat if i'm going monster hunting." Despite himself, Justinian couldn't help the grin that made it's way to his face as he grabbed the plate of ham that Sara had cut for him taking a quick bite as he went back to his notes. "I'll try to give you a gift when we meet up next? Maybe a necklace or a bracelet themed after whatever occurs?"

Giving a nod to the two Scions. Justinian suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion take him as he went back to leaning against the chair he'd been sat at. He managed to mask it well enough as just resting his arm against the chair as he searched the web, but he could feel his fatique really starting to get to him. Between the early frutration and now his almost giddy antipation, it was proving too much for what little energy reserves he'd had left today.

"Dame Bianca," Justinian addressed his templar for the first time since they'd arrived, though he couldn't bring himself to glance in her direction. "You're familiar with Harpies, right? Have you been to Riva del Garda before? Know any of the other templars stationed there?"  
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Hidden 9 mos ago 9 mos ago Post by Hero
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The day continued to get more and more interesting.

The weeks between the attack and today had been moderately monotonous; wake up, shadow Justinian, go to bed, repeat. Bianca decided that Justinian had set the tone of the relationship and she did not fight it. There wasn't a shred of pettiness behind her decision as she wasn't willing to entertain the possibility of him becoming a flight risk; she knew if she pushed, he would just dig his heels in further or end up trying to run away again. Even if he ignored her existence, at the very least she could perform her duty without problem. In a way, it was easier this way as she didn't lose her focus.

That said, the meeting was nothing like she expected. Well, she did expect talks of opinions on their next step, but as it was not her place, she was happy to blend in the background and simply listen. But nothing in life was simple, and with the meeting came a revelation and a concrete plan. She had to bite her tongue to keep herself quiet, to voice her opinion that she felt sneaking around was wrong, that Sonia's point on the church warranted further discussion. But it was not her place. Prince Lucas' choices were laid out and she wasn't even going to pretend she was surprised that Justinian desired to go where he could go wild with his magic. Again. Her words, again, fell on deaf ears and he would continue to do as he pleased. At the very least she was in a financially stable place so when Commander Fyodor would dismiss her, she would be alright until she found work elsewhere. Knighthood was out of the question, but she was certain there would be some manual labor jobs looking for workers.

Bianca was pulled out of those thoughts when she was addressed for the first time by her Scion in what was a very long time. She almost thought she was mistaken, but she wore the mask of neutrality like a second skin at this point. "Riva del Garda is a valley surrounded by perilous mountains. The harpies that inhabit said mountains are extremely territorial, but they're smart enough to know to leave the town alone. That people would petition the church for assistance is concerning," She admitted. "Ash--Templar Everett is experienced with slaying monsters of all types. If he is asking for help, there must be more to the situation."

The princess of Rosaria sat in silence as the rest of the Scions volunteered to go to several places. She eyed each one critically, and at the end, found herself staring at Lucas, who was actually looking at her. He didn't look expectant, as if he already knew what she was going to say. She stood from her seat, eyeing him warily. "My duties don't allow me spare time so suddenly. I will leave things in your capable hands," She replied to the room at large before turning back to Lucas. "May I have a word?"

Despite his reluctance, Lucas nodded, turning the map off and letting the sunlight pour back in through the windows. "That's all I had to say, anyway. As for those going to the academy--" He didn't seem particularly pleased about his companions, eyeing Renault. "We'll meet back here tomorrow and take my transport since I finally have an excuse to use it. Everyone else, feel free to enjoy the ham, not gonna kick you out if you want to stay but if you want to go, feel free."

Bianca watched as the pair approached the door, noticing Lucas stopping Belle from opening it. He placed his hand on the handle and said something she couldn't catch, and it was only then she noticed that something subtly rippled down the doors and walls. Had there been some sort of spell in the room? She did think she felt something when they walked in. Perhaps it was so there wouldn't be anyone to eavesdrop; the information presented was particularly sensitive. Whatever it was, the two royals stepped out of the room without another word, and Bianca turned back to her own plate.



March 13th, 1000





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Hidden 9 mos ago Post by Scribe of Thoth
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Tyler was not, as anyone even briefly acquainted with him could attest, at home in any institutions of higher learning. Academia was boring and composed of out of touch weirdos, who all said insane things you would never hear anyone in the real world actually say. And they'd look at you like an idiot for not agreeing. He didn't care how many slap-fights these nerds allegedly got into, he didn't belong here. The revelation that Lucas had been accepted here was just the cherry on top of the sundae; if they all acted like him, Tyler might be the one starting fistfights instead.

While not particularly threatened by the initial swarm of fans, he did his best to keep himself between any squealing sycophants and Lucas. Pictures were fine - he knew this venture wouldn't be able to avoid publicity - but why did they always feel the need to try and touch? He'd grabbed plenty of Scion over his career by now, and he'd yet to receive any blessings of good luck. Quite the opposite, actually, and he doubted a bunch of researchers and overeager students would enjoy always living in the midst of interesting times the way he did.

Once past the crowds, Tyler allowed himself to relax. A hoity-toity university was exactly the place heresy would spread, if you asked him, but none of the bookworms they passed struck him as particularly threatening. Not that he didn't openly stare at anyone that wandered too close regardless. When they arrived at their destination only to find it uninhabited, he sighed.

"Probably teaching a class, isn't that his job?" Tyler offered cluelessly. Lucas had probably told him the man's field of study several times already, but he couldn't recall for the life of him whether it sounded like something practical or if it was theoretical arcanodynamics or something equally made-up. Maybe he was in a lab or something. "Bit impolite to keep a Scion waiting, and a prince besides. Sacrelige, even. Do I get to start kicking down doors or do you have other ideas?"

At least, he hoped this tenured prick was just being flippant with his time and not kidnapped by the cult, because that would probably kill whatever sense of control the Scions had left, not to mention set a horrible precedent for any possible links to Theodore they had.


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Jannick probably wouldn’t have stopped Holly if she chose to go fight monsters, but he was glad nonetheless that the task she chose was one of the less dangerous of the three. Not as safe as Doumerc would have been (he presumed), but he could hardly expect Holly (or himself) to sit through academic lecturing without falling asleep.

The trip to Croia was tense, Jannick never quite able to relax as he watched out for threats, but thankfully, his concerns were unfounded. He made some small talk with Sara and Dominika, but kept it mostly short and shallow - fast train, nice weather, pretty landscape, that sort of thing. He had absolutely nothing to offer on the topic of pacifying angry spirits, so he’d leave it to the more theologically minded of the group.

Croia was shrouded in fog, which the mayor explained as a bad omen brought on by angry spirits, but it wasn’t the supernatural element that put Jannick on edge. The fog was thick as mud, and grew entirely opaque at the edge of what was supposed to be the forest. Anyone could be hiding out there, and Jannick was on high alert, scanning the fog as the mayor blabbed on.

But when a familiar voice rang out through the mist, Jannick’s tension melted into exasperation. He suppressed a sigh, his posture changing considerably as he moved to rub his temple. When he got that letter from Delilah, he did not expect it to lead here.

“Hold on, I’ll take care of this,” he droned tiredly, turning to Holly. “Stay put for a second, I’ll be right back.”

He shrugged off the mayor’s concerns as he approached the source of the argument, fighting the urge to groan when he saw that the voice did, in fact, belong to who he thought it did.

“Hey Renata, remember me?” He introduced himself, painting on a practiced diplomatic smile. He sounded like he was speaking to a child, or perhaps a confused elderly person. He put his hands on his hips. “What are you doing all the way over here, huh? Remember how we talked about not yelling at people?”


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The attention at l'École was welcome, especially since Maya had spent the entire trip resolutely refusing to speak to Edmund, Prince Lucas was a downer, and the new guy looked like a creep. She eased back into her old routine more readily than even she expected; likely helped by the fact that nobody here wore masks or hoods, but she’d also admit that the attention felt good after so long in the dark. She took lots of pictures and made lots of small talk, and only moments after gracefully taking her leave, her phone was dinging with Instagram notifications.

Not too bad for a day’s work, and they only just got here!

Similarly, while she couldn’t say she had much interest in the mana studies guy, the university atmosphere was kinda… nice. The hush that fell over the halls as they ventured deeper into the campus was reminiscent of her time in school, drowning out the entire world as she pored over astronomic maps and handwritten charts framed in equations that took up multiple pages. It was exhausting when she did it, and she’d never want to go back, but it was strangely nostalgic to recall those times.

When their initial search for Dr. Rhaveus failed, Maya’s reaction was similar to Tyler’s. “Impolite is one word for it,” she muttered, eyes flicking to a small group of students who were approaching down the hall.

“Excuse me?” she called sweetly to them, smiling and waving an arm. When none of the nerds looked up from their little nerd conversation, her smile faltered. “Hey!”

The second, louder call got one of the dweebs’ attention, the young man starting at the sound and then again when he finally saw the assembly of Holy Ones right in front of him. His cheeks turned red, and Maya’s smile resurfaced as sweet as honey.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where Dr. Rhaveus’ class is, would you?” she asked winsomely.

The student blinked, cleared his throat, and pointed back the way he came. “Oh, well his class is over now, but it was in room L105. He might still be there, if you’re looking for him.”

“Thank you very much,” Maya replied, promptly leading the group down the indicated path.

The hallway led to an intersection, where a plaque on the wall pointed them in the direction of L105. However, upon turning the corner, Maya let out a tiny yelp of surprise and leaped back behind the wall, peering hesitantly around the corner. She groped behind her, looking for Edmund.

“They knew we were coming,” she whispered, a barely-audible hiss.

Down the hall, a pair of uniformed men stood guard outside one of the classrooms - from the numbering on the unguarded doors, it was likely L105. They weren’t armed, but their dress and the emblem on their jackets denoted them as Kaudian. The hall was otherwise deserted.

From the open door between them, a conversation could be heard.

“I am so pleased to have finally gotten the chance to talk with you, Dr. Rhaveus,” came one voice, tinted with an accent Maya knew to be Kaudian. “Your theories of mana inheritance have interested me for a long time, but I never thought I’d get the opportunity to have my questions answered.”

“Oh, of course, Your Excellency,” said a second voice, thinner but more animated. Presumably, this was Dr. Rhaveus. “I’m afraid I don’t have the time for a more thorough dive, but you’ll be interested to know that one of Princess Consort Lilie’s journals on the subject is actually kept in the archives here. The original is under glass, of course, but they have some transcripts you can borrow if you’d like to learn more from a primary source.”

“I’ll be sure to do just that,” the first voice replied, getting clearer as it spoke. It seemed he was nearing the door. “I won’t keep you any longer. Good day, and thank you again.”

The guards straightened, and a shadow fell across the door.

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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Mcmolly
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Renault breathed deeply. There’d been no time to, after his release; the Church’s goons had thrown him on the first transport to the Prince’s castle almost as soon as they’d gotten the shackles off. Now that he was back—properly back—he was reminded of just how much sweeter the air in his homeland was. Like sugar, or antifreeze. Enough of either would kill you, and that, he thought, fit Doumerc just as well.

The academy hadn’t changed drastically, but like all things in academia, it had changed minutely in many ways. New rugs, brighter bulbs, nigh-undetectably-different hues of the same color paints. People saw scholars and imagined meek, doddering bookworms, but few minds worked faster than those of mages. These fields of study required a keenness, a decisiveness, that most would expect to find in Rodion duelists or Lorenzian gunslingers.

Rhaveus’s room was suspiciously empty. It was indeed strange for someone to stand up not one but three Scions, one of them being royalty. Renault smirked, he suddenly found the professor quite respectable. It didn’t surprise him to hear some of their group was impatient, and he was glad the madam of gravity took a more sociable approach.

They followed her to a hallway where, unprompted, she did her best impression of a startled cat.

Renault craned his neck around the corner while Maya snapped quietly at her Templar. His initial assessment was proving more and more correct, it seemed. The line between paranoia and cowardice was thin, and blurry, and she appeared to have crossed it from one direction or another.

Those were undeniably Kaudians, but they were also undeniably set dressing. Fancy uniforms, military attention, and a cleared hallway. This wasn’t an invasion, it was babysitting.

More than that, it was interesting.

Lets not embarrass ourselves, dear,” Renault said, throwing Maya an amused smile. He rounded the corner into the hall, clearing his throat and slipping into a more welcoming tone. “Dobar dan, gentlemen, hello!” he said to the guardsmen. “My friends and I were looking for a professor Rhaveus, would you happen to have seen him? We’re told he may be around here.
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Edmund Silvaine



One would think, based on his fondness for literature and poetry, that Edmund would be thrilled to have found himself in an esteemed location filled with the written word. It seemed, somehow, Doumerc had managed to find a way to spoil even the usual thrill that would come with such an excursion. He had done some reading on the way in, and had put Maya's security team to task in gathering some basic information regarding the location and any of its staff. Everything in the report reeked with self-importance that bristled his spine. Blowhard braniacs were not high on the list of Edmund's preferred company. Combine that with a pompous prince, an acquitted apostate, and a megalomaniacal model-to-be, and you had a personal hell designed only for Edmund.

Of course, their trip had to begin with a wild goose chase. Edmund remained quiet through the comments and questions, his head on a swivel as he stared down every passerby intently. He didn't like being this public and this open. He felt some level of safety when it came to castles, as royals tended to have a healthy paranoia. Edmund did not trust they would show the same caution. So he walked, two steps behind Maya the entire way. He followed her as she asked around about Rhaveus, up until she suddenly jumped back into him and clutched at his sleeve. Edmund's left hand instinctively reached for the holster of his revolver as he stepped beside Maya, taking his own brief peek around the corner. The site of Kaudians sent a flurry of thoughts in his mind. Even he had to agree their presence here was suspect, especially given they were expected here. Edmund's confidence in the doctor's reliability to relay accurate information was immediately tanked.

As Renault approached, Edmund instinctively lifted his other hand to press against the wall in front of Maya. He kept this guarded stance as Renault rounded the corner and made his presence known to the Kaudians. He sighed, looking down at Maya. Even he knew her enough to tell why she had suddenly been startled. He spoke softly in the direction of the other Templars, hoping to be drowned out by Renault's greetings. "It might be best if her holiness and I hold back and listen from here until the Kaudians pass... the last thing we need is an international incident." He turned his gaze to Maya, praying for once she would heed his advice.


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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Mcmolly
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Ionna spent the entire trip with her face pressed to the window. She couldn’t help it, she’d never seen anywhere quite like this, not in person at least. Rodion was beautiful in its way, of course; it was cold and harsh, but also statuesque and resolute, instilling a safety that was in itself a form of beauty. But Riva del Garda was breathtaking in a very traditional way, the kind that left her with starry eyes and mouth agape. Several times she pointed out pretty things that jumped out to her, be they forested mountaintops or colorful birds flocking into the air.

She was just as amused by the city itself, though they never stopped to see it. Quaint, lovely, she could imagine having a house on one of the cliffs, spending her days walking on soft, warm grass and watching the sunrises and sets. Maybe she’d keep a farm, or at least a little coop of chickens. Or maybe just one or two chickens, as pets.

The outpost was more familiar. She’d never been on a warfront, but rustic militarism was common all throughout Rodion, and uncle Dragomir’s home didn’t look much different from a command tent.

Asher!” she gasped, waving excitedly to the man in charge. “I would’ve made something, but the trip was a little long. Don’t you worry though, I’ll find an oven somewhere.

She couldn’t help smiling at the look he shot Bianca—and her reception to it. It occurred to her then that she didn’t know much about her fellow Templar outside of, well, the obvious stuff they all knew. Maybe this would be a good chance to start getting acquainted with her coworkers.

Hold on, did Asher just say the harpies were dropping monsters into the city?

Dang, and I left my umbrella back at the castle,” she said, resisting the urge to nudge Bianca with her elbow. Professionalism and all that. “But, uh, yeah—definitely weird that they just started acting all different. Hey Justinian, you ever see anything like that before?

She turned her attention to the Scion of Earth, who, among the four of them, doubtlessly had the most experience with monsters. Asher was probably the leading authority, but then again, the city had reached out to the Scions for a reason, right?
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Hollyhock

@Hero@Obscene Symphony@Abstract Proxy


Unlike Jannick, Hollyhock's experience as they travelled to Croia was quite pleasant. The fog was certainly something fierce, but she didn't let it bother her. Though, the cold weather would from the new year and fogged out sun did. Hollyhock's outfit was considerably more bundled up this time around. A big ol' white wool coat, a windbreaker above that, and multiple sets of pants.

She did have a nice talk with Sara and Dom with Jannick piping in to make some small talk. Though, the piety of everything felt a little stilted. While Hollyhock was devout, she was also much more insular than the other two about her faith. Of course, being 1/8th of Incepta's chosen whilst not being raised by the church afforded her that privilege.

Of course, she had brought gifts for the spirits. Any diplomacy required some gifts! While not as heavy as a gift ham--both physically and in a type of meal sense--she brought two mason jars filled with candy. One was filled with honey drops while the other was filled with candied fruit.

After all, spirits should have a sweet tooth! Or at least, that's what general media would tell her. Who actually knew--maybe the spirits were like butterflies and the sweet illusions were soon to be replaced by the grim reality of biology textbooks.

Arriving at Croia left Hollyhock stretching and hungry. While she did munch on a few meals on the train, she could still go for another. Still, there wasn't much time to rest. She had immediately been ushered to follow the old man. She couldn't blame the mayor for his panic; there was no telling what the fog meant. Well, there was telling. It just required the Scions to speak with the spirits.

The argument they approached was something new. Hollyhock couldn't describe it as anything but odd; the innate human sense of self preservation specifically screamed out "do not go into foggy, forested woods."

"An old friend of yours, Jan?" Hollyhock inquired. Though, his belittling words made it a bit obvious that she seemed more like a recurring nuisance than an old friend.
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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Xiro Zean
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Xiro Zean Redundant Writer of Redundantness

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Interacting with @Hero as Asher | @Raijinslayer as Justinian | @McMolly as Ionna


The ride through Riva del Garda was a fairly quiet one for the Scion of Fire, his attention turned inward even while his new Templar took in the sights as he began to mull over various strategies and potential problems in his mind.

Though hunting monsters was a paltry affair compared to what he’d grown used to over the years, a mission was a mission. For his first in a long while, he wanted to be certain that he was in peak condition, sound in both body and mind. While he had a mind to speak with the redhead hogging the window to get a better feel for his newest subordinate, by the time he was sure of his own acumen and prepared to address her they had reached their destination.

Theobald breathed in the open air, a bit of the constant tension that his body held seeping away as he exited the vehicle and entered the forward outpost. The sounds of preparation, the bustle of moving supplies, and the budding anticipation that bloomed in the hearts of those seeking to complete a mission might’ve brought a tear to the former soldier’s eye were he a weaker man. It felt like decades since he was able to stand at the forefront of a crisis, and though the company was with the knights of the church rather than his familiar battalion, he could hardly complain that he’d finally been set loose after so long.

There was no time to idle, however, as the group was led to the commander’s tent and brought up to speed, the problems slated by the leading Templar, Everett, shedding some light on the current situation.

“Theobald Gaumand. It is a pleasure.” Snapping a quick salute as the bare minimum courtesy required, the giant didn’t even hesitate as he began to request key information. “Sir Asher, I would like a sit-rep on the situation regarding these monsters. Their numbers, frequent spotting locations, and the nature of this aberrant behavior you have observed.”

There would be time to socialize later, though it seemed all involved but himself had previous ties before this meeting. He would need to speak with his Templar at some point for her to share her knowledge of the leading Templar at length. “We will need to know our current resources as well. Equipment, level of authorized force, presence of heavy weapons or anti-air artillery on site, whatever you have clearance to divulge. If we are to provide aid, it would be best to understand what we have at our disposal before coming to any pre-emptive conclusions.”

In the span of what seemed like a single breath, the Scion of Fire had spoken more in that tent than what most would’ve heard during the entirety of his stay and the church. But to him, it was simply what was expected. With no nobles to fetter his speech, the former soldier felt it imperative to get everything out of the way immediately.

The faster the strategizing could be done, the faster he could be sent to the battlefield. "Gardner. Any prior information about the behavioral habits of harpies you possess could be key to dealing with their new method of harassment. Speak."
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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Raijinslayer
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addressing: Bianca and Assorted NPCs,@Hero Theobald@Xiro Zean, Ionna@Mcmolly




The arrival to Riva del Garda was uneventful, though the Earth Scion couldn't decide if that was a blessing or just the calm before a coming storm. As they were welcomed by Asher, Justinian didn't immedieately respond, eyes fixated on the flock circling over head. He'd need some binoculars to be sure, but there didn't seem to be anything off about them physically. No Alpha either, and yet. . .

"Monsters working together is not unheard off, but Harpies are territorial by nature even amongst their own. That they're coordinating attacks upon a fortified settlement is also extremely unusual behavior for them." Closing his eyes for a moment, the earth Scion taps his foot as he feels a familiar unease creep into him. He remembered a similarly innocuous oddity all too well. "Sir Asher, was it? How long has this been going on for? And along with what Theobald has asked of you, I'd like to know if there has been nay non-monster related activity in the area, even if it precedes the attacks. Anything at all that you may be aware of, like potential fluctations in the mana of the surrounding areas, strange noises people here at night, odd lights. No matter how innocuous it seems, it is important that we have as many clues about what we're dealing with as we can."

While the earth Scion spoke, he reached up to fix his hair by the tightening the band that kept up his ponytail as well as moving any stray locks from his face. He wore the suit from yesterday as it was ll he had, though the blazer had been tied around his waist and the shoes were discarded, leaving him barefoot as he began to pace back and forth. Thoughts racing, eyes never leaving the circling forms overhead.
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Hidden 8 mos ago 8 mos ago Post by Hero
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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Mcmolly
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Renault watched the Kaudian man keenly as he went, noting how his interest seemed piqued when he saw Lucas. Scandalous theories flooded his brain on instinct, but he repressed them. No magic in the world could cover up a rendezvous between Estoran royalty and what was most certainly Kaudian nobility. Good. Affairs were pedestrian, boring. It baffled him to no end how brazenly powerful people would risk their careers over lustful impulses. Not that he doubted the prince wasn’t given to a plethora of vices, but he was not, despite what the tabloids might convey, that stupid.

But he had been right—this was interesting. He committed the red-haired man to memory, and determined that, given the opportunity, he would seek him out for conversation. For now they had business.

As the lot of them stepped into the room with Rhaveus, Lucas cocooned them in silence. Renault’s attention went to the chalkboard initially, eyes scanning the arcane arithmetic with a sudden, renewed academic vigor. He was no stranger to the scholarly pursuit of magic, and though his lessons had been cut short with his pivot into politics, he never stopped studying. The steady rise of his career had afforded him a generous salary, and he’d found no shortage of tutors eager to trade it for their knowledge. Rhaveus was, of course, advanced beyond his own measure, evident in the way he wrote. Shorthand, scratches, highlights; it was very much like peeking into someone’s diary, or the notes of a savvy journalist—which was to say, it was chaos. The sort of chaos that came with deep understanding.

He clicked his tongue when it was wiped clean. Shame. You could tell a lot about someone from the way they expressed their passions. As Rhaveus began an explanation of the basics of mana however, Renault’s attention wandered. He chose to peruse the room, keeping one ear in the conversation. He brushed the books left on the podium, were they materials for his class, or was there personal reading as well? With a man like Rhaveus, the two likely overlapped.

As the topic evolved, shifting to the ambush, Renault tuned back in. Mana negation. He was familiar with the concept, and like most he assumed it was merely the demesne of monsters. The idea that someone might be able to lock him out of using magic did not thrill him, as his capacity for physical violence had suffered greatly from his incarceration.

Oh, I wasn’t present,” he said, stepping aside to resume picking through the room. Time had been tricky in prison, he hadn’t even been aware of the day until his release. “But please, do share. Firsthand accounts can be so enlightening.
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Hidden 8 mos ago Post by Stern Algorithm
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Sara, Daughter of Aliya

Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony as Jannick, @OwO as Hollyhock, @Abstract Proxy as Dominick, @Hero as Renata et al


The train ride had been expectantly pleasant as, it seemed, the least abrasive people would be the ones to show concern for the souls of the deceased. But although Sara agreed with, and even suggested that they come to Croia to resolve this spiritual phenomenon, she had to admit to herself that, despite being a devotee of the church her whole life, she knew nothing about exorcisms. In her time as a wilderness patrol knight, she had fought monsters, but never encountered any spirits. She simply hoped that they could be convinced of Incepta's grace and willingly pass on.

The fog was oppressive, and despite Scion Isabelle's open antagonism towards Kaudians, Sara wished she were here to deal with the encroaching mist. Sara didn't know if this fog was natural or if it posed any threat, and could not see how earth or metal could effectively deal with it.

Upon being greeted by the mayor, Sara listened intently to his explanation. His mention of a ghost warning the people of danger made Sara wonder if the danger came from the other spirits or if they were working together. Perhaps this mist was just their way of trying to get the people to leave. That would, unsettlingly, imply that there was some greater threat.

However, Sara's attention was soon drawn towards the commotion coming from the edge of the forest. Something about the quaint old woman was endearing to Sara, but then again, Sara had always had a soft spot for the elderly.

At Renata's question, Sara smiled, "Yes. Friends...and colleagues. And Officer Weber is kinder than he looks." Sara joked slightly. "But why do you say that the spirits will not harm you? Do you harbor Incepta's blessing?" Sara asked, partly out of genuine curiosity, and partly to indulge the older woman, knowing that playing along with those who seemed unreasonable was one way to de-escalate. The more you insisted someone was wrong, the more they tended to dig in their heels.
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