brokndremes

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

Go phone post!

As far as a stats system goes, I'd be fine with it as long as we could have a bit more variance with starting stats as well. I wouldn't expect Shara to be of equal strength to any soldier, even later in the RP. At this point, she has a lot of magical ability but no finesse, and is inexperienced, and that is where I mainly see her growing. It really depends on how it's implemented whether it would work well or not.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

Shara woke to a shift in the calming aura of the glade. It seemed to invigorate, to call "Wake up! There will be a meeting in the central chamber!" In fact, given how they were called here, it could just as well have been a similar message. Reluctantly leaving the marvelous bed that seemed to be some sort of shaped moss. Shara marveled at the room once more as she gathered her possessions. She had never dreamed that magic could be used for such things. Most tales of magic seemed focused on it's destructive powers, and the evils wrought by them. Likely had something to do with centuries living under Grinnoc. An author writing the merits of magic and the wonders it could make - like this haven in the forest - would likely be treated rather harshly by the Inquisition.

The meeting didn't seem to have started yet, but there were still quite a few mages seated at the large tables in the center, eating or chatting or reading or practicing whatever magicks they had. Suddenly hungry, she sat at one of the tables and began enjoying the strange fruits until the lord - evidently it really was Deliah Eternus, harboring a centuries old grudge - gave his ultimatum. Many mages eyes lit up at the proposition of citizenship. The power and protection alone would likely turn most of the mages here into his willing servants. As the daughter of a noble, even an obscure noble, Shara had that protection already. What won Shara over was the aspect of the hidden knowledge and artifacts. The fortress they were headed for couldn't have had it's libraries purged of magical thoughts either, which seemed good enough reasons to go along.

As a queue formed and people began joining Deliah's cause, Shara thought of the other things the lord had said. It was also meant to be a fight, and while the end result was desirable, what unintended consequences would there be? Deliah had mentioned that he had underworld connection, what had they been promised for their aid in making this new Meldiniar? So when Shara came to the front of the queue she gave her name as Danicia Alera, hoping to prevent becoming beholden to Deliah Eternus. Having two conflicting citizen documents could cause issues if searched, but she could worry about that later.

---

Shara entered the portal to Velstrach fortress in the middle of the line of mages. They were quite excited as they surged through, but then the crowd hushed at some motion towards the front. The cry of 'Demon' came and was echoed through the crowd. Then it seemed as if the ground itself was rising up to fight them. Shara stood rooted to the spot watching with a mixture of amazement and horror as the beast rose. As it reached its full height, a massive rocky humanoid sporting occasional shrubbery, it was restrained by the Witch who had called them here. The two locked in a power struggle, magic against magic.

"Destroy the husks so I can destroy the demon. I can hold it in place, but it requires my full attention."

The call shook Shara from her reverie, and she now noticed other things rising. They were smaller, looking almost human but deformed, and seemed to be feeding the larger one. The battle was already raging, the mages throwing their might at the beasts. A brown haired mage flew past her, the remains of spectacles dangling off his face as he hit the ground with a sickening crunch. What an odd detail to notice, spectacles. Yet she could recall the image so clearly.

It's just a cadaver. She thought to herself, breathing quickly to try and calm her rising panic. Heavy impact to the upper torso, multiple ribs and neck appear broken. At least it was a quick death.[i] Someone screamed in the distance - it seemed miles away, yet so close - and then suddenly stopped. [i]That was not a quick death.

Something roared to her left, and Shara turned to see one of the husks charging towards her. Someone screamed again. Very close this time, as instinct took over. She felt herself channelling her power, far more than she had ever dared tap back at the university, and a blinding light shot outward in a cone towards the husk's head. It reared back, blinded by the light. When it came down, an unnatural darkness was covering it's face. Shocked by the sudden light and now blinded with an illusion, the beast flailed around, attacking madly at the air, or sounds. Eventually it found itself attacking another husk - it's victim was blinded in a similar fashion. A mage was fighting a husk with a rapier, - that had always been Jerem's favourite weapon - a gash in her shoulder. That husk was blinded as well. Then another after that, until blinded husks raged on all sides.

Finally, that drive fled Shara, and she was left standing, her hands shaking uncontrollably and a horrible, burning taste in her mouth and throat. Odd, she didn't remember puking. And why was the world spinning? The ground shouldn't be that close. It seemed almost like it was rising up to meet her.

Then the cool embrace of unconsciousness took hold of her, and all worries melted away.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

That was...impressive, Laue. I'm glad the mages will be a little more active this time around. I'll do my best to get something out today, but I'll be heading out of town for the fourth, so I'm sorry if I'm late on that.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

The black forest seemed to loom above Shara, yet despite that, she felt oddly at ease. She was far from home, in a place that seemed to leak magic from every pore. The journey had taken some time, and left Shara exhausted with little coin left. And if I ever see another horse it will be too soon. Thankfully, she had been able to sell the mount at the last village - brining a horse into a supposedly dense forest hadn't seemed wise, and the money had granted her a brief reprieve from the weeks travel. The roads had quite safe, likely due to the exorbitant number of paladins that seemed to be milling about, especially near the capital. They were both a comfort and a source of fear for an unarmed mage like Shara.

Not yet a day past Liria however, she had seen a large company of Paladins camped beside the roads. That they were gathered in such numbers - it had seemed a massive host at the time, yet couldn't be more than a few hundred - was somewhat worrisome on its own. Shara had quickly taken alternate paths. The sight of so many had spurred her to hurry to the forest and it's promise of safety. So many Paladins couldn't possibly face all the mages of Meldinar, even if they knew where they were. And if that was their objective, certainly more force would have been used. The inquisition wasn't known to take many chances. Still, the safety of the forest would be welcome.

Now, no longer smelling of sweat and horse, with the sun beginning to set, that safety seemed far less guaranteed as the shadows lengthened in the already dim forest, dancing eerily in her illusory lights. There were lights in the distance as well. They almost looked like eyes, and stories of will-o'-the-wisps guiding people to their doom in the dark places of the world seemed far less ridiculous. This was a magical forest, after all. Thankfully, the path Shara had been following - strange, it only seemed obvious as a path after she'd left it - lead her into a clearing, lit by elvish lanterns and housing a large tree in the center, that appeared to also be a building. Shara looked back at the path she'd taken to find it was no longer there.

Amazing. She thought, looking at the dense forest she had come out of. These paths must be magical. Guiding mages here and unwelcome ones... She remembered the eyes she had seen in the forest, and shuddered. Anyone who isn't invited likely wouldn't make it far. The fear she had once held gradually subsided, along with the exhaustion of the trip as Shara took in the wonders of the grove. She eventually began sketching some of the wonders she saw - strange plants, which seemed unique to the forest, the elvish lights and the tree, which on closer inspection appeared to be many trees somehow grown and shaped into rooms. Little seemed to be going on at the moment, but that suited her just as well. Eventually though, tiredness set in and she took to one of the rooms in the tree. As she passed through the central chamber, she noticed an old lady, with two other men beside her, one of whom looked oddly like..but it couldn't be, and so putting the thoughts from her head, she slept.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

Sorry, something came up and I was out of town for a few days. Will post before I sleep.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

Shara startled as the voice began speaking in her head, looking frantically at the other students in the gardens. They all displayed a peculiar calm, considering the disembodied voice that was speaking to them. She searched for whomever the prankster may be until the voice mentioned heresy, and she realized that the others in the room could not hear it as well. Calming, she listened - if it could be called that - as the voice called her to a meeting of magi within the Black Forest. Promising freedom and life for mages, promising a better future, shouting blatant heresy to the world. While freedom to practice her magic would be wonderful, the allure of meeting other mages in safety was almost intoxicating. The opportunity was too great. She simply had to go.

Oddly enough, Shara knew how to get there as well. The message had to have been magic. There was simply no other explanation, especially given the new knowledge of how to reach their meeting place. The message itself seemed burned into her memory, and she was able to recall it with amazing clarity. If only I could find out how to do such things with my studies. Imagine having a whole library available at an instant.

The thought brought Shara back to reality, and the world seemed to come back from a standstill. Ambient sounds she hadn't noticed leaving had returned, and life appeared to be going on as if nothing at all had happened. Looking down, Shara scowled. In her surprise, she had jerked her hand, tearing the sketch of the gardens Loria flowers. She had been utterly engrossed in the sketching earlier, and it had been turning out quite well, but now it was most definitely ruined. Shame. She crumpled the paper and shoved it in her satchel, heading back to her rooms. She would need to make some excuses for her sudden absence. While the magic at the Black Forest was alluring, she would be foolish not to plan some means of returning to Tiena without being murdered by Paladins.

---

The next morning, Shara left Tiena university, which had been her home for the past few years, with doubt plaguing her mind. Will I ever be able to return? She wondered. What about my family? Will they still welcome me home? Will I even survive this....this? She had dispatched a note to her family, notifying them that she would be gone for some time researching something. She hadn't been specific about what. Another note had been left to her friends and teachers, telling how she had received word of illness in the family, and would be returning home for some time. She had left orders that any mail should be left in her rooms until her return, and specified such to any she thought might send her something, yet there hadn't been time to cover much, and there were so many holes in her ruse it felt like a sieve.

Still though, she trudged onwards towards the Black Forest. The fastest route would be to go through Lidia, yet she feared the Paladins would find her there. It would also be an unnecessary drain on the funds she had managed to retrieve on such short notice. As she looked at the city fading in the distance, brilliantly silhouetted by the morning sun, Shara doubted she would ever return there again.

Then she faced forward, and began the journey to the Forest of Magi.

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

People! Yay! Think we have enough to start?

[Reboot]The Witch Hunt

Largely the same as my old CS. Would it be ok for me to bring in a Paladin as well? We seem to be somewhat lacking in those.

Shara Vey

Name: Shara Vey

Appearance:

Shara stands taller than most other women, able to look most men in the eye. She keeps her brown hair above her shoulders, a style originating of rebellion, and continued through habit. While she is no pampered statue as so many other noblewoman, it is obvious Shara is no warrior.

Gender: Female

Age: 20

Alignment: Mage

Covenant/Affiliation: Member of Vey family, University Student

Personality: Shara is inquisitive to a fault. Her curiosity often lead her into places and subjects where she is not welcome. She can become easily distracted when working with something she considers dull, welcoming any excuse to move to something more interesting. She enjoys the company of others, and abhors fighting with others, preferring to find a diplomatic solution. Although usually kind, Shara often peruses her goals with a single-mindedly, unwittingly hurting and using those around her to reach those goals.

Shara is a very trusting individual, almost naive. She is quick to forgive as well, though those who have hurt or scared her lose the implicit trust she grants most people. Although open about all else, Shara is very shy regarding her magic.

Biography: Shara is the second daughter of a minor noble, with three elder brothers. The early years of her life were spent in ease, running through the Vey family's manor and the surrounding gardens. Being the youngest child of five, she was not burdened with the responsibilities of the others. She would not need to inherit and manage the estates, as her eldest brother Gregor would, nor did she have to face the trials of becoming a paladin as Jerem would. With Elana as her elder sister, she didn't even have to fear an early political marriage to some nasty lord, far away. She and Alend, the youngest brother, were the two who had their lives open. At least that was how she thought at the time.

Yet, things were fated to change. In her tenth year, her brother Alend discovered he was a mage. Dutifully, and blissfully unaware of how terrible the consequences would be, he turned himself over to be purified. When he was released by the paladins, he was not the same. He had great difficulty bearing the pain, and would often spend days paralyzed, occasionally breaking into convulsions and screams. A year later, he vanished, only to be found floating face down in the Vey's decorative fountain. So when Shara discovered she was a mage herself, she was very cautious in keeper her powers hidden, determined not to go through the torment that ended her brother's life.
Years passed, and Shara managed to keep her powers hidden, very rarely using them, despite how the magic seemed to call to her, to want to be used. It frightened her how it burned inside of her. Jerem went off to the mainland to become a paladin, Elana was dutifully betrothed to some other lords son, and sailed away shortly after. And while time passed, Shara learned, and that learning made her hungry for more. Her parents hired her a tutor, and she was taught to read and write, the basic history of the land, and of math and natural philosophy. Eventually, with the help of her tutor, she convinced her parents to send her to learn at Tiena University, for they could not afford to send her to the capital.

And so Shara left the island that had been her home for most of her life, and ventured out into the mainland. Tiena was a fairly small town, and it seemed to have grown up around the University, rather than the town existing first. She felt an odd sense of safety in the town. Perhaps it was the lack of paladins, or that it distanced her from the memories of Alend's torture and death. But finally, in her seventeenth year, she began to try using her powers.

Power Description: Shara is a deceiver. An illusionist. She can manipulate light, and eventually sound, smell, as well creating perceived touch. However that is far away, and she can currently only perform simple manipulations of light.

Spells/Abilities:

Illuminate: In it's current form, this spell creates a heatless flame to light up an area, however with more skill, it can be refined to create varying degrees of brightness, or can be controlled to only shine in certain directions, and create various colors.

Darken: A complement to illuminate. Unlike illuminate, which creates a point which eminates non-magical light, darken acts like a coating, sucking in light and making things seem darker. Darken can be used in conjunction with illuminate to create illusions. Things that aren't really there, but appear to all as if they are. At her current skill, these illusions are either small, or lack detail. Shara cannot yet control darken on its own, and only knows how to use it with Illuminate to create illusions.

Noise: The ability to create the illusion of sound from a given point. Shara does not yet know she can do this.

Scent: The ability to create the illusion of a smell. Shara does not yet know she can do this.

Other Skills:

Education: Having spent three years at the University before the call was sent out, and having spent time learning prior to that, Shara has a wide range of skills and knowledge. She knows basic healing and anatomy, surgery, and basic alchemy. Shara also has some knowledge of history, literature, architecture, and natural philosophy, although these will not likely be helpful in times to come. She is decent at sketching, though art is hardly a strong point of hers. Although she has a wide breadth of knowledge and skills, she is not specialized in any of them, and any who have specifically been trained will be able to outperform her.

Other: Shara is by no means a warrior. She has no fighting skills, and little experience surviving out in the world.

The Witch Hunt

What do you think of doing a reboot? Start over with whoever will stay from here, try and grab a few new people as well?

The Witch Hunt

Sorry about not posting. I've had troubles getting onto the guild earlier, and it's been far too hectic of a day to write anything worthwhile. Tomorrow's my goal, and should work assuming no surprises.