"The threads of Fate glow brightest for those with great destinies."
Name: Alyosha Grey | "Oracle of the Seven Swords" | "Son of the Prophet"
Age: 49
Race: Elven/Uquii (3/4ths Elven, 1/4th Human)
Gender: Male
Affiliation: The threads of Fate
Appearance:
Personality: Haunted by the spirits of ancient elves that grant him foresight, Alyosha Grey bears the responsibility of his father before him. He is stern and serious, driven by the vast burden of parents to live up to their greatness. Despite his supernatural wisdom, the Oracle of the Seven Swords is possessed of a youthful naivety. Alyosha's isolation and strange circumstances make normal interaction difficult for him; he is prone to social faux pas with his powers and usually fails to understand most humor.
Class: Clairvoyant/Spiritual Spellsword
Equipment:
• A white mask, painted with cinnabar and gilded ink • The Seven of Eight: Seven swords, ornate and ancient, made of silver and folded steel, magical. They cannot be magically wielded by any other than Alyosha. • A set of leather and steel armor, black • A red velvet and silk cloak embroidered with gold and black thread • A Stone of Scrying used as an amulet • A kit for a scribe: an inkwell, a quill, many parchment scrolls, circle compass, and map • A traveler's bag • Trail rations
Abilities:
Ethereal Circle of Swords (Class/Racial/Personal) - Wielding The Seven of Eight, he allows the swords to encircle himself, floating. This stance is required for him to utilize most of his other sword spells.
Wrath of the Ancients (Class/Racial/Personal) (Requires Ethereal Circle of Swords) - The Seven of Eight spiral upward before falling point first on whoever is unfortunate enough to be the target(s) of his spell.
Wall of Bladed Souls (Class/Racial/Personal) (Requires Ethereal Circle of Swords) - The Seven of Eight form a protective barrier in the direction of Alyosha Grey's choosing. It can deflect mundane attacks or act as a moderate ward against many magical spells.
Piercing Triad (Class/Racial/Personal) (Requires Ethereal Circle of Swords) - Launches three from The Seven of Eight in a row, point first, to lance the Son of the Prophet's target.
Bladed Vortex of the Fallen (Class/Racial/Personal) (Requires Ethereal Circle of Swords) - The swords begin to spin horizontally, flying and slashing at those in their path.
Driving Nails into Their Coffin (Class/Racial/Personal) (Finishing Blow) (Requires Ethereal Circle of Swords) - The Seven of Eight hover ominously around the target before piercing them from every side and slashing their way out.
Guide My Hands (Class/Racial/Personal) - An alternative stance which permits the spirits to wield The Seven of Eight autonomously.
Light My Path So That I Might See (Class/Racial/Personal) - Causes The Seven of Eight to glow with a ghostly blue-white light.
Plucking Threads from a Peaceful Mind (Class/Racial/Personal) (Non-combat) - Reading the thoughts from a willing subject, hearing or seeing the memories, internal monologue, or feelings of a host. It requires great concentration and cannot be completed during combat. Eye contact and verbal permission is needed.
A Walk with Imaginings of Those Asleep (Class/Racial/Personal) (Non-combat) - If the host wills it, Alyosha Grey can share in his or her dreams, witnessing them as if he were strolling alongside them.
Divinations of the Seven (Class/Racial/Personal) (Non-combat/Passive) - Alyosha throws the swords and reads the way they land, granting him insight into the future.
Dreams from the nth Cycle (Class/Racial/Passive) (Non-combat) - On the rare occasion that he sleeps, Alyosha has a chance to receive a dream from another Cycle.
Whispers from the Tapestry of Fate (Class/Racial/Personal) (Passive) - The souls of those that inhabit the Son of the Prophet's mind murmur truths to him. It can be overwhelming at times, their voices drowning out his focus and bestowing to him a pounding headache.
Biography:"Divination is best used for the future, not the past."
Reiki took his seat in front of Mizushima-san wordlessly. He had no introduction for himself to the class, to the teacher, or to Rin. He instead stared gloomily out the window, letting the day drift by. He was half-asleep, anyway. School was the only time he could find truly restful sleep--dreams without the whispers of the dead. Reiki Tsukihasa sighed wearily as the bell for lunch rang, dismissing the class to eat either their packed meals or to convene in the cafeteria for food.
Instead, he put his face down on his desk.
No one talk to me. No one talk to me. No one talk to me. No one talk to me, he repeated mentally, like his own personal mantra.
It seemed to be working. Though his eyes remained closed and veiled, he could tell by the chatter and footsteps of students that many were leaving the room without paying him any mind. Soon the classroom was silent with the exception of the ticking clock and chirp of midday birds.
Finally, peace!
Slowly, he drug head up from his desk and instantly locked eyes with the one person remaining in the room. "Mi-Mizushima-san?" The name left his mouth with distanced curiosity. "I know what Yukimura-sensei said... But I don't babysitter." Reiki rested his chin on his hand, and his elbow on the desk as he turned back to the window. "I'll find my own way, so... Go eat lunch with your friends."
She had shattered his illusion of solitude. The transfer student closed his eyes and sighed heavily.
Griah Sandwysper stood in the center of a defeated camp, windblown sand buffeting her face; the wind always followed her where ever she went--a sun-warmed breezy reminder of her connection to the Great Worm. Bodies lay swollen in the desert sun, picked by vultures and a feast for the lesser worms. Many of them were half-buried in sweeping sand. Sandstone bricks were scattered, crumbled and burned. Whatever--or whoever--had passed through here surely had a great source of power. The Stormcaller and her followers--cultists of the Great Worm--began to search the bodies, but all of them had been looted. Only the rotting bodies themselves served as testament to their struggle.
She covered her mouth with a light linen scarf. "Create a funeral pyre for the bodies. Offer them up to the Great Worm."
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Brom had already supped his fill. He was drunk and over-full, and the young prince had grown tired of listening to his brother flirt with Seralle, his brother’s bride-to-be. His drunken haze had affected his manners, and Brom propped his head up on his hand, both of his elbows resting on the table.
“Mmfph, I thought the Southerners were supposed to be great entertainers,” Brom Arten muttered to himself. “But I’m tired of their songs and I’m sick of their honeyed foods.” He pushed his plate away and stood up. Brom bowed to Seralle, and then to Brogan. “I’ve grown tired from all this merriment… I think I’ll test out the craftsmanship of these Southern beds!” He laughed drunkenly at his own joke before excusing himself from the feast.
The younger son of the Kingbreaker stumbled through the castle, lost in his thoughts. ‘I can’t believe Seralle actually likes my brother!’ He sulked. ‘The way she laughed at his jokes… And she finds him smart?! Unbelievable! …If only I had the chance to spend time with her alone… I could convince her-… Convince her-…’ Brom shook his head, appalled with himself. ‘What am I saying? Brogan is rightfully king—my family, my brother! He deserves to marry Seralle…’ The sounds of hushed voices roused him from his lovesickness.
‘Is that… Grey the Stolen? Who is he talking to?’ The northern prince stopped and leaned against the wall, eavesdropping. He could barely make out what they were saying.
“You know as well as I do that he’s not fit to rule. Something has to be done. Talking to him isn’t enough; he’s far too thickheaded for that… You know how royalty is. So sure of themselves… So positive they’re right… He needs someone to… Remind him what the important things are.”