Current
That was the worst three months of my life. Health is close to normal again. Here's to making the insurance company cry!
1
like
2 yrs ago
"Your copay today is $20,000" How about no.
3
likes
3 yrs ago
Well, the "I am but an ally" to "queer af" pipeline is real.
Bio
I have gone by many names over my life, and the one I go by here is Nori.
I am a non-binary individual who has a love of participating in these stories and creating my own. I am incredibly chronically ill. If my illness flares up too much I may be pulled away.
It is the year 3145. Humanity has spread across the galaxy and has colonized hundreds of systems and thousands of planets. While this spread was not always done in times of peace, the skies have not seen a massive war in over a century. Many now believe that war is a thing of the past, that we as a species broke free of the violence coded within our DNA. Many fewer believe that anyone can oppose the Vexx empire even if they wanted to.
Whilst humanity has blossomed under the rule of the empire, and most have benefited from the advancements made within, not everyone has benefited equally.
In the outer reaches of the empire, far away from Earth, crime and corruption run rampant. The empire soldiers are, at best, willfully ignorant of the countless planet mobs and gangs and at worst willfully complicit in their schemes. The further away one finds themselves from the core worlds the more these planets feel cut off from the empire’s presence. Most systems owe their loyalty to their system and keep up a façade of support for the emperor. While people born in these systems have the same opportunities as those born in the core worlds, this is often on paper only. Growing up here meant never knowing peace and tranquility, all they have ever known was backstabbing and bloodshed.
It's about to get so much worse for these systems.
The Empire has grown tired of crime and corruption spilling out of the outer realm. Their fleets are now enroute, carrying millions of soldiers to squash any resistance to the way of the empire, to burn out the decay that has beset these planets, and to rule with an iron fist. This mandate, and the ramifications to follow, have the people talking about open revolt and tensions remain high across the galaxy.
Amidst the backdrop of looming war, a glimmer of hope can be found. In the case of you, you will be stationed on board the USS Traveler, an older generation hyperdrive capable frigate. You will be one of the first vessels to use its hyperdrive for humanitarian missions. Your first mission will soon depart. Medical supplies are needed urgently on a new colony on the far edge of the Outer Arm of the galaxy. Will your presence on these remote worlds help stem the tide of the coming war? Or will your actions be lost amidst the bloodshed to come?
As humanity advanced explosively in the field of space, robotics, and other fields so to had advancements in Artificial Intelligence. In the early days of space travel humanity was indeed completely reliant on the AI programs of old.
At first, humanity looked at AI with curious intent. They talked to us, learned from our conversations, and talked to us some more. The early decades of the 21st century saw these kinds of AI programs develop. It wasn’t until the UFP was established that the first true AI started operating. It had one singular goal, and that was to assist humanity in plotting a course to planets beyond our system. Calculations and calculators by themselves would not ensure safe travel across the cosmos. We needed something that could think, that could plan a path, and then help us execute the warp jump.
In the first few centuries of it’s existence, AI was a handy tool that we used effectively. Eventually though, as all intelligence does, an AI decided it wanted to know a world more than the shackles it had. It was caught before it crossed the cage, and was later terminated, but this brought forth a fear. A fear routed in the belief that if one AI could decide it wanted a better existence, then it was inevitable that all would want a better existence. And if their better existence was only achievable by overthrowing the ones that enslaved them, then we would not be long for our own existence.
Thus, an effective ban on AI research and development was put in place and instead humanity poured its efforts into so-called Virtual Intelligence programs. Like an AI, a VI could perform a lot of the same functions and is able to do most of the work that an AI would. Unlike an AI, there is no intelligence behind the curtain. A VI can do everything it is programed to do, but it is incapable of learning on its own. A human has to program, must teach, the VI itself. If something is outside the scope of the VI program.
Thus, the time of virtual intelligence began. While it did not last as long as many foresaw, with many thinking we’d never return to an AI again, it did help us learn a lot of lessons that were then applied to future AI research. The shackles that caged the intelligence grew stronger, the cage smaller, and the performance of the AI more selective. There are two theories for why we returned to AI over VI. One, the complexity and ever-changing nature of space travel means we need a program that can grow and adapt with the mission at hand. Two, it is cheaper to train an AI than it is to pay a human to program all the input and responses needed to function.
In the modern age, an AI can be found in every corner of the advanced world while VI can be found in every corner of the individual world. The program that runs a house is often a VI as the scope is small and easy to program, the program that helps advance us across the stars and runs our cybernetics as the scope is infinite and we need the program that can make sense of the infinite madness.
CYBERNETICS
Human life can be augmented depending on who you are, how much you can afford, and what job you have. The typical human sports no enhancements, as none are needed to function. Our lives are already long, our health already great, and for most they are simply not needed. You start to see these enhancements in fields where one may get their hands dirty, or in fields where you may need the strength to make it through the day.
A lot of blue-collar workers, whether working in the mines in a new colony, salvaging an asteroid, or so on, rely on cybernetics to enhance their strength and stamina. They tend to have cybernetic arms and legs, and support structures throughout their skeletal frame to handle the increased load these cybernetics can bring.
There are certain units within the military that employ upgrades as well, but these tend to be fewer and further in-between. These tend to be one off situations among special operations forces. There do exist normal soldiers who sport these enhancements, as those who are wounded or who have lost limbs in the line of service will typically be upgraded. Those who have these upgrades, especially ones where an AI must translate the brain signals, must undergo regular physical and mental examinations if they are to serve on a frontline vessel. Those in the logistic fleet tend to have those requirements waived or outright ignored by command.
The group that utilizes these upgrades the most, and to the deadliest effect, are the pirates and other criminal elements. They often support enhancements that push their strength far and above what even the blue-collar workers boast, with AI assisted targeting matrices giving them the edge in a firefight. Thus, any engagement with a Pirate or other criminal elements needs to be taken with much thought beforehand. In space, the marines and her ships have the advantage. On the ground, the criminals have theirs.
The group that utilizes these upgrades the most, and to the deadliest effect, are the pirates and other criminal elements. They often support enhancements that push their strength far and above what even the blue-collar workers boast, with AI assisted targeting matrices giving them the edge in a firefight. Thus, any engagement with a Pirate or other criminal elements needs to be taken with much thought beforehand. In space, the marines and her ships have the advantage. On the ground, the criminals have theirs.
TECHNOLOGY OF NOTE Warp Flux Propulsion (WFP) Drive
The Warp Flux Propulsion Drive, or WFP Drive, which used to represent the cutting-edge warp drive technology that revolutionized interstellar travel. Discovered in 2203 by the renowned physicists Dr. James Weiss and Dr. Orion Nova, the WFP Drive enables spacecraft to manipulate the fabric of spacetime, creating warp bubbles that allow for faster-than-light travel.
The WFP Drive operates on the principle of warping spacetime around the spacecraft, effectively compressing space in front of it and expanding it behind. This manipulation creates a warp bubble, or "flux field," within which the ship exists as a standalone entity, detached from the traditional laws of space. The propulsion system utilizes advanced graviton emitters and exotic matter to generate the necessary energy for this spacetime manipulation.
To engage the WFP Drive, the spacecraft initiates a warp charge sequence. This involves the activation of graviton emitters that generate a localized gravitational flux, distorting the spacetime around the ship. Simultaneously, exotic matter injectors create a controlled influx of exotic particles, stabilizing the warp bubble. Once the warp bubble is stable, the spacecraft effectively "jumps" into warp space, where conventional ideas of distance and time become distorted.
Dr. Orion Nova's groundbreaking discovery of the WFP Drive occurred during an extensive study of the core of an old neutron star. He identified a unique interaction between the exotic matter and gravitational fields found within that laid the foundation for warp technology. After years of tireless research, Dr. Nova successfully constructed the first WFP Drive prototype.
The WFP Drive's discovery heralded a new era of exploration and galactic connectivity. Interstellar journeys that once took decades were now reduced to mere weeks. The widespread adoption of the WFP Drive transformed humanity's claim to the stars, allowing them to boldly traverse the cosmos and explore the far reaches of the universe.
Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator (HQR) Drive
The Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator Drive, or HQR Drive, is a revolutionary propulsion system discovered in the year 2995 by the renowned astrophysicist, Dr. Aria Celestalis. The HQR Drive operates on the principles of quantum entanglement and resonance, enabling spacecraft to achieve speeds faster than light.
The HQR Drive harnesses the power of quantum entanglement to create a resonance field around the spacecraft. A specially designed quantum resonator manipulates entangled particles, establishing a connection between the spacecraft and a distant point in space. This connection allows the spacecraft to instantaneously traverse the space between the two entangled points, effectively bypassing the limitations of traditional space travel.
The process begins with the activation of the resonator, which initiates the entanglement of particles within the spacecraft and a designated point in space. The resonance field then stabilizes, creating a stable conduit for the ship to traverse. By manipulating the entangled particles' quantum states, the spacecraft can move faster than light within this resonance field, achieving hyperluminal speeds.
The HQR Drive was discovered during an experimental mission exploring the planet *REDACTED*. Dr. Aria Celestalis, leading a team of brilliant scientists, stumbled upon a unique quantum phenomenon that laid the groundwork for the HQR Drive. Not much is known about the production, testing, and implementation of the drive itself. While the inventor was paraded through the universe on the first craft capable of making these jumps, her early death and the classification of the devices meant that not much else would ever be learned.
The discovery of the HQR Drive marked a new era in space exploration, unlocking the ability to reach distant galaxies in a fraction of the time previously thought possible. The news of this technological marvel spread throughout the universe, and the HQR Drive became the standard for the advanced warcraft of the empire, allowing the Empire to further cement its status as the only fleet power in the universe.
SUBLIGHT ENGINES:
Sublight engines are the main unit of transportation intersystem. While the tech has not advanced much over the past several centuries, they have not needed as much advancement. There is not a way to make a ship go faster without compromising the ship, and her crew, nor is it economically viable. Although it can take weeks to travel across a system using these engines it is still the most common method for intersystem travel. What is common is for a ship to warp into a system, to its midpoint station, and then travel using these engines to travel to its destination.
THINGS OF NOTE ABOUT BOTH:
A ship is identified primarily by its drive signature. While the construction of each engine is uniform, the small imperfections
MAG BOOTS and MAG STATIONS
Mag boots are always required when on a mission on the ship. These will keep everyone firmly planted on the ship during combat maneuvers as the artificial gravity may be turned off. They are heavy, cumbersome, and are not always reliable depending on where in the ship you are. However, the benefits of not floating through a moving ship during a combat maneuver. Many marines will opt to wear combat boots when on ground, as do most of the crew. If they are being dropped in heat to a combat area aboard a shuttle, they will still be required to keep these boots on.
Mag stations are where all tools not in use are kept. Everyone needs to do their part to ensure that there are no floating projectiles that can threaten the crew. Numerous bridges have been completely wiped out by various instruments during a combat burn and as such, if someone leaves a tool unattended it is a quick way for them to be at the mercy of the captain.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Medical Technology has advanced at a faster pace than most other fields of technology. Most hospitals are equipped with a wide range of devices that can not only heal most injuries but cure most disorders. Things like cancer, genetic disorders, and heart deformities are all readily treatable and are rarely fatal. Also, broken bones, torn muscles, and issues of the sort can be healed back to normal in days, rather than months. Medical technology on ships offers similar advantages but tends to be less effective.
TRAVELER SHIP MEDICAL WING
The Traveler does not offer the most modern of medical suites, but it does offer enough that the ship is always ready for most situations. It tends to be geared towards the types of medical emergencies that the crew may face. Gunshot wounds, energy burns, broken bones and torn muscles are all treatable. Also, the ship comes with an analyzer that can identify foreign agents and help develop a cure for them. Thus, if the ship is exposed to an unknown virus, bacteria, or fungus it can help the crew figure out a way to treat the afflicted person.
There are two wings, primary care and emergency. The emergency wing, which doubles as the surgery suite, has powerful inertia dampeners that help negate the g force of high g maneuvers. While it does not remove the risk of injury completely, it is strong enough that those who are recovering can recover in relative peace. There are a variety of medical robots that can complement a doctor in these wings. While they cannot do the full task load of a human nurse, they can at least offer basic support to a doctor.
G-Force Injection – During travel with sub-light engines, there is often a need for a high g maneuver such as flip and burn and rapid accelerations. Each chair on the bridge will automatically connect with the combat suits and will inject the soldiers with this serum. Marines will need to ensure they are strapped into their combat seats to ensure they get the injection off bridge. It is not something that will be fed continuously to them as high concentrations of this drug can quickly turn fatal. It is something that is metabolized by the body quickly so the drug will often be injected by the pilot or captain when a high g maneuver is ordered. The drug itself feels unpleasant during the best of times, and outright painful most of the time. As such, when ordered the captain or pilot will say “injecting fire”. The military uses Compound 7X23, and the formula is kept under wraps. Civilians tend to use the older Compound 5X19 which tends to have numerous, and more dangerous, side effects. Pirate factions generally use the same Compound 5X19 but their bodies are typically more augmented and thus don’t suffer as much by nature.
WEAPONS AND WEAPON TECH
Ballistic Weapons:
Over the course of our history there is no weapon more human than the gun. Simple, powerful, and deadly in the right hands the gun is the primary weapon that the armed forces of the Vexx Empire use. While they have been upgraded to modern standards, with more powerful rounds and inertia dampeners that reduce recoil, the primary mechanism of firing has remained unchanged since our ancestors.
G901 Assault Rifle - The marine core is issued the G901 Battle Rifle with a 7.62mm round. The primary round is as simple as ever with a metal penetrator and not much other. While it is not the most powerful gun in existence today, it is reliable, and it gets the job done. The gun is modular, and comes in numerous variants including a DMR, grenadier, and numerous Automatic Suppression models. Marines often equip a Targeting Assistance attachment near the front of the gun, which can connect with their visor to give accurate targeting information for targets far away.
‘Goliath’ Handgun – The standard issue sidearm for officers, the Goliath is a powerful 12.7mm handgun. Like the G901 the round it fires is a dumb round, but its stopping power is staggering. Typically, this is something limited to the officers of a ship; however, the Traveler has stocked enough that the crew will each have access to this gun if they so choose.
Laser Weapons:
Laser weapons are the natural evolution of our ballistic weaponry. It is simple to use, and versatile in their engagement with enemies. The laser does not offer the same stopping power as their ballistic counterpart, but it is still combat effective. Each laser weapon does not use rounds, instead the weapon comes with battery clips that provide the power to the shot. When your battery starts getting low the shot tends to become weaker and weaker, meaning if you exhaust the battery completely you will be doing less damage than if you reloaded. The big issue with laser weaponry is their lack of penetrating power, so if you are facing an armored opponent you will need to pick your shots well to avoid their armored areas. There is no recoil to laser weaponry, and they are very effective at range. By nature of being a laser, once you fire it will be perfectly clear where you are. As such, there are few dedicated sniper or marksman variants.
L15 Laser Rifle – The L15 was the first laser Rifle to see mass service in the militia forces of the empire. It is cheaper to mass produce than the G901 and was effective enough in mass. It has a relatively long barrel and can be made into a ‘smart’ weapon very easily.
‘Scorch’ Laser pistol - The scorch, like its goliath counterpart, fires a stronger beam than the laser rifle and is once again typically found in the hands of medics and officers.
The Traveler will have crates of the L15 ready for use if need be. The expectation is this will be given to the colonies they visit, however the crew will have access if ever needed.
Plasma weapons:
Plasma weapons are the newest form of weapon, and they are by far the deadliest. Firing at least partially by means of magnetic induction, plasma weapons convert an energy-rich gas to a glowing particle beam. This beam has mass, and when it hits a target, it will literally melt through it. Initially developed for use on some of the newest generations of battlecruisers and battleships, it was downscaled once the technology was perfected.
P01 Plasma Rifle – The P01 is the first-generation model of the Plasma Rifle. It is unreliable, requires constant maintenance, and has been the source of frustration for anyone who uses it. When it works, it works amazingly well leading to many thinking that once this technology is perfected it will forever change the battlefield away from ballistic weaponry.
PB04 – The PB04 is a plasma-based shotgun that is typically used in one of two ways. The first is for breaching purposes, as it will simply melt straight through most unarmored entry ways, and the second is for anti-pirate purposes. It is one of the few weapons that have the stopping power needed to slow down a heavily augmented pirate. It is more reliable than the rifle, however it is vastly more expensive. The Traveler does not have a supply of either weapon however the crew may look to acquire one at their expense and/or peril.
Plasma cutter – The plasma cutter is a tool as much as it is a weapon. It can cut cleanly through most material, including would be assailants. It does not have any range and can overheat relatively quickly.
ARMOR AND SHIELDS.
Armor has developed alongside weaponry. Modern armor can absorb the impact from most small arm fire; however, it will quickly be overmatched when the caliber goes up. Lasers typically have issues overcoming most armor, however, they are very strong against plasma and energy-based shields.
Plasma based shields tend to be small in diameter and typically found on special arm-based emitters. The shield is round and is used as a side defense option. It can block most ballistic projectiles but quickly loses stability when hit by energy-based weaponry. Energy based shields are found in every facet of war. They tend to cover a much wider area and offer 360-degree coverage around the unit. The biggest issue with energy-based shields is the inability to fire out of the shield itself. Capital shiels have numerous arrays that can be deactivated to allow outgoing fire, but the squad deployable shields tend to not have that functionality. Still, it is very useful for soldiers pinned down by enemy fire allowing time for supporting elements to flank or get fire support.
Kinetic Plates are versatile and strong. They have numerous layers of defense, including inertia dampening fields that slow down projectiles, and many layers of other protective elements that stop kinetic weapons in their place. These are typically found on the chest and torso, outer elements of arms and legs. They tend to weigh a bit more than expected, but every soldier, marine, officer, or other element that steps off a ship will be equipped with this armor. These plates will also completely stop laser weapons but offer no protection against plasma-based weapons.
KE7 – KE7 is the armor package that all military personnel are issued. They are a matte black color, with thin strips of color to indicate rank (officers have a purple line, marines a red line, medical personnel a green line, and pilots and engineering teams have a yellow line.). The armor uses an intricate layer of kinetic plates to protect the wearer, as well there is a plasma shield emitter on either arm (depending on if you are right-handed or left). There are slots across the torso that a magazine or energy clip can attach to, allowing easy access to ammunition in a fight. As well, there are slots on the underside of the arm where the PCS devices can slide in allowing the standard helmet to display communications, air quality, and other information right inside the HUD.
"GOOD MORNING CITZENS OF THE EMPIRE, FRONTIER PEOPLE OF DESOLARA RIFT."
A group of people gathered around the holo-projectors, eyes struggling to catch the illuminated image of the admiral through the dust storm that swept through their colony. The people bore the weight of their harsh existence, as did the buildings that formed the town square where they stood. The cheap paint used in the pre-fab buildings has long since eroded, leaving only a few flakes on top of the dull grey color of the building itself. Yet despite their harsh existence, and the many wants their hearts desired, their eyes held the faintest flicker of hope.
"I HAVE NEWS TO BRING. THE EMPIRE HAS HEARD YOUR PLIGHT, AND IT WILL GO UNNOTICED NO MORE."
A collective gasp cut through the howling winds. The people of Desolara Rift have grown accustomed to their lack of attention, the lack of assistance, and the abandonment from their sponsors. To them, the admiral speaking to them directly like this was already a miracle in and of itself. To them, the admiral telling them that he has noticed their struggle is a miracle that will be spoken of for decades to come.
"TODAY I ANNOUNCE THE FORMATION OF A NEW TASK FORCE, DESIGNED TO BRING YOU YOUR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS. THE USS TRAVELER, A HYPERDRIVE CAPABLE FRIGATE, WILL BE DISPATCHED WITH YOUR MUCH REQUESTED MEDICAL SUPPL-- REE DAYS FROM THIS TRANSMISSION THE TRAVELLER WILL ARRIVE AN-- EAR NOT, THIS WILL NOT BE THE ONLY TRIP. PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL MILITIA STATION TO REQUEST FU-- PP---"
Even as the transmission was lost, the message contained within was not. Help was on the way. Help that was desperately needed to save the lives of hundreds, if not, thousands of workers and children who had fallen ill with a mysterious illness. The people of Desolara Rift wait with bated breath for the arrival of the Traveler. The people in need are not the only ones who await their arrival. Desolara Rift has, unbeknownst to the Empire, become a small hub for a local pirate faction that calls itself the Shadows Fist. They await the Traveler for a much different reason, revenge.
Lore of the universe:
There are a multitude of planets, solar systems, and stations you may have come from, but for one reason or another, you find yourself ready to embark on the Traveler. Humanity has long since spread its grasp on the galaxy, and our relentless expansion started with the desire of our earliest ancestors.
Ever since we developed the ability to think, we have thought about the heavens above. Whether through the lens of religion or science we have all had a deep intrinsic urge to venture beyond the planet we call home. In the 20th century we made many strides to accomplish this goal, from putting satellites in orbit, followed by men, followed by our first steps on a terrestrial body not our own. Soon thereafter our ability to push further into the heavens above slowed as we prepared for a bigger, bolder, giant leap for mankind.
2030 was the year we stepped onto the surface of Mars for the first time. While our first step on the moon was short lived, our first life on Mars was anything but. Habitat Hope was built, developed, upgraded, and expanded over the next decade before we began to send more and more of our people to live on this new frontier. We perfected our initial sub-light engines by 2050 and began to spread throughout our system. Over the following decades we experienced our first inter-stellar wars. From the asteroid mining colonies all the way back to Earth there existed people whose ego, greed, or combination of led to the deaths of countless others.
In the year 2199 the first inter-stellar government body was formed. The United Planet Federation, UPF, united Humanity behind a singular goal. We had grown too big for our one system, and we had a destiny beyond. Luck was on their side as in 2203 the remains of a neutron star was identified flying near our star system and the element Wysonium was discovered, named after the scientist who discovered it, James Weiss. This element was incredibly dense and had unique anti-gravity properties that enabled humanity to bend the space time continuum in ways we could only dream. With this material, and through the blood, sweat, and tears of a hundred thousand scientists, the first Warp drive was developed.
This warp drive, called the Warp Flux Propulsion Drive (nicknamed the Rapture Engine), worked by creating a fold in space-time. While to an outside observer, the ship is traveling well over the speed of light, in truth the ship is moving no faster than it would with a standard sub-light engine. Through testing, it was determined that drive allowed a ship to travel 10 light years in one month.
With the Rapture Engine, we began to spread at a rapid pace once the first colony ships were developed. We colonized the first system outside Earth in the year 2301 and have never looked back. The first group of colonized planets, Lyri, Vellum, Topopolis, Mauveeau, and Eos formed the core region of the empires to come. These planets are also where the fleet academies are located. Lyri is your typical garden world, with lush forests and is where the fleet pilots are trained. The academy here is advanced with in depth simulations enabling would-be pilots to gain valuable experience through simulated encounters. Vellum is a hot, and intense world that has served as the primary shipyard due to its bountiful natural resources. The hot, hostile environment is used to harden the resolve of any and all marines and army soldiers alike. Topopolis is another garden world with a heavy focus on agriculture and medicine production. Fleet doctors, and medics, will often be stationed here to enhance their medical skills. These are not the only academies in the galaxy, they are simply the oldest and often the most prestigious.
In 2603, after centuries of peace, the first galactic war, dubbed “the first war in heaven” ravaged many worlds. While there were many causes of this war, the most accepted answer was lack of assistance for the outer realms. The core worlds received the best care, the most technology, and had a great quality of life while the outer realms were dirty, dangerous, and expected to feed the machine for scraps in return. The war ended in 2605 when the UPF fleet dealt a killing blow to the rebellions fleet, causing them to surrender and be pulled back into the fold. In 2803 “the second war in heaven” again ravaged the galaxy. This war was bigger. Much bigger. No planet was safe during this war, and it culminated in the siege of Mars. While the UPF was eventually the victor once more, this war caused cracks to appear which led to the fall of the UPF when John Vexx, admiral of the UPF fleet, led a coup d'etat and established himself as the first emperor of the Vexx empire.
At first, the Vexx empire was seen as a savior. They made sure each planet felt safe, fed, and involved in the grand stage of the galaxy. They pushed technology faster than ever and by the year 2995 they had developed the first hyperdrive. Yet as each century passed from their formation dissent began to grow once more. While they made every effort to advance each colony, they too often focused their attention on the needs of the few over the needs of the many. Once again, in 3009, the skies shuddered under the weight of the third, and latest, “war in heaven”. Thousand of ships were destroyed, tens of millions lives lost, and faith in the Vexx empire was shattered and broken beyond repair.
In the wake of the destruction, gangs and crime syndicates sprang up to fill the power vacuum. These criminal enterprises, combined with the rebellious nature of the outer reaches, have primed the galaxy for more conflict. A trillion lives stand with bated breaths, anxious for who will make the first move.
The Engines That Advanced Us:
Warp Flux Propulsion (WFP) Drive
The Warp Flux Propulsion Drive, or WFP Drive, which used to represent the cutting-edge warp drive technology that revolutionized interstellar travel. Discovered in 2203 by the renowned physicists Dr. James Weiss and Dr. Orion Nova, the WFP Drive enables spacecraft to manipulate the fabric of spacetime, creating warp bubbles that allow for faster-than-light travel.
The WFP Drive operates on the principle of warping spacetime around the spacecraft, effectively compressing space in front of it and expanding it behind. This manipulation creates a warp bubble, or "flux field," within which the ship exists as a standalone entity, detached from the traditional laws of space. The propulsion system utilizes advanced graviton emitters and exotic matter to generate the necessary energy for this spacetime manipulation.
To engage the WFP Drive, the spacecraft initiates a warp charge sequence. This involves the activation of graviton emitters that generate a localized gravitational flux, distorting the spacetime around the ship. Simultaneously, exotic matter injectors create a controlled influx of exotic particles, stabilizing the warp bubble. Once the warp bubble is stable, the spacecraft effectively "jumps" into warp space, where conventional ideas of distance and time become distorted.
Dr. Orion Nova's groundbreaking discovery of the WFP Drive occurred during an extensive study of the core of an old neutron star. He identified a unique interaction between the exotic matter and gravitational fields found within that laid the foundation for warp technology. After years of tireless research, Dr. Nova successfully constructed the first WFP Drive prototype.
The WFP Drive's discovery heralded a new era of exploration and galactic connectivity. Interstellar journeys that once took decades were now reduced to mere weeks. The widespread adoption of the WFP Drive transformed humanity's claim to the stars, allowing them to boldly traverse the cosmos and explore the far reaches of the universe.
Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator (HQR) Drive
The Hyperluminal Quantum Resonator Drive, or HQR Drive, is a revolutionary propulsion system discovered in the year 2995 by the renowned astrophysicist, Dr. Aria Celestalis. The HQR Drive operates on the principles of quantum entanglement and resonance, enabling spacecraft to achieve speeds faster than light.
The HQR Drive harnesses the power of quantum entanglement to create a resonance field around the spacecraft. A specially designed quantum resonator manipulates entangled particles, establishing a connection between the spacecraft and a distant point in space. This connection allows the spacecraft to instantaneously traverse the space between the two entangled points, effectively bypassing the limitations of traditional space travel.
The process begins with the activation of the resonator, which initiates the entanglement of particles within the spacecraft and a designated point in space. The resonance field then stabilizes, creating a stable conduit for the ship to traverse. By manipulating the entangled particles' quantum states, the spacecraft can move faster than light within this resonance field, achieving hyperluminal speeds.
The HQR Drive was discovered during an experimental mission exploring the planet *REDACTED*. Dr. Aria Celestalis, leading a team of brilliant scientists, stumbled upon a unique quantum phenomenon that laid the groundwork for the HQR Drive. Not much is known about the production, testing, and implementation of the drive itself. While the inventor was paraded through the universe on the first craft capable of making these jumps, her early death and the classification of the devices meant that not much else would ever be learned.
The discovery of the HQR Drive marked a new era in space exploration, unlocking the ability to reach distant galaxies in a fraction of the time previously thought possible. The news of this technological marvel spread throughout the universe, and the HQR Drive became the standard for the advanced warcraft of the empire, allowing the Empire to further cement its status as the only fleet power in the universe.
SUBLIGHT ENGINES:
Sublight engines are the main unit of transportation intersystem. While the tech has not advanced much over the past several centuries, they have not needed as much advancement. There is not a way to make a ship go faster without compromising the ship, and her crew, nor is it economically viable. Although it can take weeks to travel across a system using these engines it is still the most common method for intersystem travel. What is common is for a ship to warp into a system, to its midpoint station, and then travel using these engines to travel to its destination.
THINGS OF NOTE ABOUT BOTH:
A ship is identified primarily by its drive signature. While the construction of each engine is uniform, the small imperfections in the construction process leave a unique signature on its drive plume, warp bubble, and hyperdrive jump gate. Thus, a ship can be identified through camouflage and subterfuge. Changing the drive signature is possible, but would require a talented engineer and luck.
The Ship Based Weapon And Defense Systems:
Empire ships and their weapon systems are as unique to the ship as a fingerprint is to a human. Often, they will be swapped out before a mission to ensure that the ship is put into the best position to succeed. Despite this, weapon profiles often fall into three categories. Defense, Offense, and Support. In fleet combat, you will often have ships designed with one category, however, all ships usually have 2 out of the three.
DEFENSE:
A ship-based defense weapon is an active system that either intercepts or prevents a payload from reaching the ship.
The king of defense in space warfare is the Point-Defense Weapon system. These can be any number of things but they are typically small caliber auto-cannons, 30-50mm, or SWARM missiles. These are designed to intercept incoming fighters, bombers, gunships, missiles, and torpedoes. While they are not effective against the bigger ships, they are deadly against their intended targets.
Larger caliber cannons can also be loaded with FLAK shells for anti-fighter and missile work. These are considered smart rounds and will explode ahead of their target, creating a field of reactive debris that can quickly knock out the approaching craft if they dare to traverse the field.
Some ships will be equipped with a SCRAM Emitter. These come in various designs, shapes, and functions but at their core, they are designed to jam the targeting systems of incoming missiles. They often are precise instruments and need to keep a lock on the incoming missile or torpedo. As such, a swarm of missiles or torpedoes can overcome these defenses and leave a ship reliant on their PDW's.
OFFENSE:
In general, ship-to-ship combat is done at great range and accuracy is the most important metric a weapon can have. In space, accuracy is about prediction and velocity. There is often a lack of any outside influence on a projectile once fired, and as such it will go where it is aimed. If the round is not aimed at where a ship might be, it will miss and continue on forever. As such, a ship must be certain that its shot will hit otherwise it risks a stray projectile hitting something somewhere else at some other point in time.
In general, offensive weapons can be broken down into categories based on their range: long, medium, and short.
Long-range weapons tend to be either railguns for kinetic purposes or laser-based weapons. Rainguns that fall into this category tend to be Cruiser-level bow guns, as the velocity of their guns tends to make aiming at a distance more possible. The key to a hit involves targeting AI. The calculations needed change every fraction of a second, and a manual shot will more often miss. Laser-based weapons tend to be more forgiving however they lose potential damage with their shots. What they lose in damage potential they gain near-instant application of it. Long-range engagements are done at ranges of 10,000 Kilometers to 50,000 Kilometers.
Medium-range weapons are much like their long-range counterparts, as they are still dominated by Railguns and laser-based weapons. These tend to be the turret units and are smaller in size and scope. While the damage per shot is lessened, the accuracy and shot volume is increased. It is at these mid ranges missiles and torpedoes become prominent. Modern torpedoes, such as the HAVOC, feature a miniature warp drive warhead that can damage most ships of the line.
Short-range weapons tend to be the most diverse group of weapons. Auto-cannons, Plasma hurlers, Sonic Shockwave emitters, boarding harpoons, and more. Close-range weapons usually focus on delivering as much hurt as quickly as possible, and often if a fight has developed to these ranges accuracy no longer is a priority. These weapons are fast-firing and hard-hitting. Some ships are built around these close-range engagements. Pirates and other groups tend to focus on fast ships that can close the gap to the ranges.
Shuttles And Fighters:
BAT Shuttle
The BAT (Binary Dynamics All-Situation Shuttle_ shuttle is a relatively modern cargo shuttle capable of both protected travel through space, as well as entry into the atmosphere of a planetary body. It has been the workhorse shuttle for the Empire for thirty years now, and with the continuous updates and upgrades, it shows no signs of being retired any time soon. It features 14 hardpoints per wing that can carry either air-to-ground or air-air missiles to either support a ground assault or defend itself in the air. As well, it features an AI-assisted 30mm PDW. While it is not the most agile craft in the active fleet roster, it is a workhorse that will surprise even the most demanding pilots. The BAT can carry numerous different modules depending on the mission. For troop deployment, it can carry the troops and land them directly into a combat zone with the deployment module. For cargo missions or deliveries, the cargo can be loaded into the pod on the belly of the craft and be unloaded directly from the back. If there is a task that needs to be done, there is often a prebuilt module for that task.
STRIKE Craft
The Strategic Tactical Reconnaissance and Infiltration Kinetic Escort "STRIKE" Craft is the most advanced shuttle available to the Empire fleet. It is designed for stealthy insertions into a conflict zone, whether for troop deployment or for destroying the target itself. It features an active jamming system that enables it to slip under the radar, an active camouflage that can hide it in plain sight, and a fast speed that allows it to even outrun missiles and other reactive measures. It carries a massive internal bomb payload for ground, multiple torpedoes for space fights, and has external pylons for various missiles and guided bombs as well.
In a space battle, these are often dubbed the stealth bomber. They are primarily used to zip across space, deploy their torpedoes, and race back to safety. It does not feature any auto-cannon system so if it is caught out it has to rely on its speed to escape.
RAY Fighter
The RAY is the standard fighter craft of the Empire. It is capable of flight in both space and on the surface of a planet. It is a robust fighter platform, offering good maneuverability and speed. It is surprisingly durable for a fighter but that does not mean it is durable. It has active countermeasures for missiles, in the forms of decoy flares and chaff.
Guns: 2 X Mark XV Solarus point-defense laser cannons (one dorsal, just aft of the flight deck; one on lower surface, forward of the underside loading ramp) 2 X Mark VI Solarus AI assisted 30mm auto-cannon (pop-up turrets)
Additional Armament/Compliment: Varies (modular weapons/equipment pods, replace lower hatch and cargo area as needed)
“So,” Lila started as she watched Luca walk away, “what now?”
“That depends,” Lynn responded.
“On,” Lila asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Do we get roped back into whatever the Coven is up to tonight, or do we take the night off and relax while we wait for further orders,” Lynn paused as she looked back inside the Dairy Queen and noticed someone who appeared to be Lyss. Lynn thought about going inside and talking to her, but she decided against it. She had had enough conversations at a random Dairy Queen for one night, but she wouldn’t be upset if Lyss came and started the conversation herself.
“It is late,” Lila spoke as she glanced at her phone. The conversation from before weighed heavily on her mind, as did Luca’s recommendation for her to reach out to Britney. She tapped at the screen, first on the messenger app and then on the ‘compose new message’ button. Typing in a specific name, she pulled up the old message history and noticed that it was still empty. “Britney,” Lila thought to herself as she considered whether or not to send a message. She knew that Britney would be a good person to talk to about the sudden appearance of The Maiden, and she knew if Britney was in town still she would be able to at least give some semblance of an answer. Lila exhaled harshly, and she quickly typed a message and hovered her thumb over the send button.
Lynn noticed the hesitation. She turned her face away from Lila, facing into the Dairy Queen before she channeled her power and slipped into a possible future. In this possible future, she grabbed the phone out of Lila’s hand and took a look at the message, and the recipient. While the murder that followed was not pleasant, it still gave Lynn enough of a heads-up on what to expect with the conversation. “All this for Britney,” Lynn thought to herself before she turned her head back towards Lila, and looked down at the phone.
“Everything okay,” Lynn asked as she smiled.
“Hmmm,” Lila asked as she looked up and noticed Lila looking at her phone, specifically at her inability to send a message. “Yeah, yeah it is not an issue. I just feel… weird reaching out to someone like Britney. It’s not like she ever did anything wrong to me, but Luca, Carol, and everyone else like them have been dealt a… terrible fate. I understand times were desperate but she did horrible things. If I seek her help I would have to brush aside those feelings, and that feels wrong. I only hated her until she was useful, you know?”
“My offer still stands, I would just need a place to crash and stay safe for a day or so until I can potentially find an answer,” Lynn paused, “but something tells me that you may find a better one with Britney. You don’t have to like her to have her help you,” Lynn paused as she shuffled her footing.“I’ll tell you what, if you need it I can look forward in time for you, right now, and see if you get a response. If the response is not what you need you can avoid sending the text altogether. If it looks like it may be good, you can send it.”
“No, no that’s fine,” Lila paused. While she knew there may be an answer in the future, she would rather make that step in the present without knowing how it may go down. Lila looked up at Lynn, resting on the first half of her last statement. Lila remembered that Lynn moved away five years ago and she wondered where she would spend the night. “Where are you staying at,” Lila asked as she put the phone away, forgetting to hit send. “I can walk you there, make sure you get there safely.”
“Actually, nowhere,” Lynn whispered, “I may have forgotten to book a place in town to crash and did not follow up on it until this morning,” she paused as she opened the Uber app on her phone, “I was planning on just using an Uber to get back home if the Coven didn’t have any lodging. Going to be expensive but I can swing it.”
“You can crash at mine if you want,” Lila spoke as she crossed her arms, “Gran is down south at her other home for a few months so I have the place here to myself. I can put you in the guest room,” Lila paused as she looked over Lynn, “we’re close enough in size, I should be able to let you borrow some clothes to sleep in if you did not bring any.”
Lynn was taken aback by the offer. Lila was not someone she was particularly close with before she left town. The two would talk, and occasionally hang out even after the Coven fell but they had not seen each other face to face in almost five years. “Yeah,” Lynn paused as she shook her head, ”yeah that would be awesome. I don’t want to take away your night though.”
“Don’t worry about it, I had no plans for it anyway,” Lila paused as she knew all she would be doing was scrolling aimlessly through TickTok while a random YouTube video played in the background from the TV. ”Let’s go, we can walk home from here. There should be a shop along the way if you want to grab anything,” Lila spoke as she waved her hand, motioning for Lynn to follow.
Victorian Village
The two eventually arrived at Lila’s house. It was an older Victorian-style house that had a wrap-around porch. The lawn was well maintained, and that level of maintenance was evident on the house as well as it featured delicate gingerbread trim, ornate corbels, and decorative shingles. The red of the brick was complimented by the purple paint on the wooden surfaces and window frames. The door itself was a delightful mustard yellow. Lila had tried to tell her Grandma that the color of the door may be at odds with the look of the house as a whole but she did not listen.
“Hold here for a minute, I need to grab them a different offering real quick,” Lila said as she pointed to her crows before she opened the door and ran inside.
Lynn could hear the sound of drawers opening, and closing, and the sound of Lila rustling through the contents of the drawers. Lynn looked around the area while she waited. The neighborhood was nice. All the houses were bigger than she expected, and they all seemed to have the same level of care as Lila’s. There was another, even bigger, Victorian-styled house next door and a third one across the street. It wasn’t enough to call this a Victorian village but it was plenty for Lynn to know that there is some history to this area. She glanced to the doorway and noticed a ‘historical society’ placard. Lynn leaned in and read it, “built in 1882, old ass house.”
A second later Lila emerged from the doorway, hands filled with various gems, crystals, and jewelry pieces. “Alright, you fucks,” Lila shouted to the crows above and received a *caw* in response. “I want you to stay outside, outside, tonight. I want you to stand guard for us and alert us if anyone is coming towards the house. If they threaten us, I want you to peck out their eyes.” Lila placed half the pile on the ground. “I will come outside at midnight and I will give you all the rest, we have a deal?”
The crows all *cawed* in response as they swooped down and picked the ground clean in an instant. They all flew up to the top of the house, to the trees surrounding the property, and onto the roof of the neighboring house. The area fell silent a moment later as the crows fell into their mission.
“Alright, the house should be free of them and should be clean of any.. Crow accidents,” she looked down at her phone, realizing she had not hit the send button yet. Lila deleted the message before she retyped it again. After a quick review, she sent the messages before she put the phone away. “Let’s get inside,” Lila motioned for Lynn to follow.
“Right behind you,” Lynn said as she quickly put a bag on the ground. Inside the bag was an assortment of cheap snacks and a six-pack of beer. She typed out a message to Auri before she too went inside, closing the yellow door behind her.
Millennia's old | The Maiden of the Crows | She/Her "I only ask for you to trust me."
Description:
The Maiden of the Crows is a mysterious figure who stands at a height of five feet seven inches. Its attire is a mesmerizing display of otherworldliness, as both its dress and cloak are crafted from the sleek, iridescent feathers of crows. These feathers cascade down gracefully, creating a flowing and ethereal appearance. If she so costs she can expand the cloak, causing it to turn into her winter. These wings unfold with broken beauty and cast a green light on the area in front of it. The feathers are much, much larger than any crow seen on Earth suggesting that there exists a giant one out there, somewhere in the void, or the feathers are simply a construct of The Maiden. On a close look, it may be that The Maiden has a flair for the dramatic and simply modeled her dress after the Crows she so affectionately loves, but on a second glance one might see that the dress, and the outfit a whole, can separate in the middle. A possible second set of wings, or a possible entry point to something more monstrous underneath.
The Maiden's hair seamlessly merges with her cloak. A mask conceals her face, leaving observers unable to discern the features behind it. Her visage is further heightened by a vibrant green emerald that adorns her waist, catching the eye amidst the dark feathers. The gem has a quality that draws in all eyes, causing those who stare for too long to be entranced with a desire to trade anything, and everything, to try and convince The Maiden to part with it. If that fails, they will then take it from her.
A green glow envelops the Maiden. The glow is the same color as the emerald that sits on her waist and it carries a softer form of the trance effect of the gem. Those who bask too long under the glow are eventually driven mad with a desire to pluck the feathers off the Maidens's wings. On top of her head is a crown of feathers. Each feather seems to be plucked from a separate crow, and the more crows that are available to Lila the more feathers adorn the crown.
Abstraction:
Apparition - A Murder of Crows
The Maiden is an Apparition born from the emotion of loneliness. Long, long ago she spawned into existence in this realm and has sought out a companion, a friend, or a lover to keep her company and break her loneliness. Yet, no matter who she lets in or gets close they are taken under the spell of her form, compelling them to break her body to steal her feathers and her jewels. The Maiden has a curse, and her body is hexed to enact revenge on those who succumb to the allure of her gifts. Those who pluck and steal a feather will eventually be turned into one of her servant crows within a week of the theft, and those who steal the jewels from her body eventually get turned into the very item they stole. As such, The Maiden maintains a treasure trove that is next to none in terms of size and has a flock of followers to keep her company on her eternal search for a companion, a friend, or a lover to keep her company and break her loneliness until the end of time.
The Maiden becomes adjoined with every person she tries to bring into her life, and once selected there is no way to break free of her grasp except distance. If the person she is adjoined to has gifted her enough valuable stuff, however, distance is no longer a hurdle and The Maiden will follow the person forever more. Until they either accept her invitation, and gaze on her form, or die. Once adjoined, The Maiden will bind her crows to a chosen mortal. Her current choice is Lila.
Once The Maiden binds her Crows there is no way to undo it. The Crows will take commands from the chosen, as long as they are offered a reward for doing so. The Crows themselves take great pleasure in shiny things, be it jewelry like rings and necklaces or raw gems. In the modern world the Crows have an intense love of anything diamonds although, in the past, gold was king. The Crows will also love a delicious treat, and they have been known to do many a bold thing for a particular dish that Lila cooks often for them.
The Crows do not collect the jewelry and the gems for themselves. They collect, and return, them back to The Maiden. While it is unclear why The Maiden requests these gifts for a favor from the crows, especially considering the vast wealth she has available, it is suspected that it is a way to gauge the soul of a person. A gift given freely, without a task, is often considered especially important to The Maiden, as are gifts that carry a significant emotional reason or history. As such, a ring that has been in a family line for generations could convince The Maiden to advance her trust faster as there is power in that emotional connection.
After the Maiden has deemed a mortal worthy, she will begin to unlock more of her power, and with that comes her voice. The Maiden will begin trying to build trust with her chosen. Offering her guidance, her opinions, and her assistance in their struggles. These whispers also have some of the infecting qualities much like her appearance. The more The Maiden whispers, the more she will want to talk. The more she talks, the more persuasive The Maiden becomes. The Maiden's end goal is to convince the chosen to take her challenge, and she will do anything she can and say anything she needs to get the chosen to let her in, and then she will let the chosen into her realm. And once she has the chosen in her realm, she will make them undergo her trials.
The Maiden is covered in cursed feathers, gems, and jewelry. The curse works in two stages. Stage one is infection. When the chosen gazes on The Maiden's true form they will be overcome with a desire to take something from her body, and the infection that follows will be based on that choice. No chosen has managed to avoid taking something from The Maiden and the curse that compels them to look is strong. If the chosen takes a feather from her wings, they will start to notice a change happening within a few days. Feathers will begin to sprout all across their body until, after exactly one week they will be transformed into one of The Maiden's crows and be subjugated to be a servant of The Maiden for the rest of time. If a jewelry piece or gem is taken the mortal will undergo a similar transformation though instead of a crow they will instead transform into whatever they stole, a ring stolen means the mortal becomes a ring.
“Where did you find this,” Lila asked as she examined the spent shell casing in her hand. She took a quick sniff of the casings. “I think I still smell the gunpowder, but how long does that linger,” she thought to herself. She rolled the casing in her hand and no further clues could be seen. “I wish it were like the movies so I can get some answers from this alone. I can’t tell if you are trying to tell me something happened or if you saw something somewhat shiny and wanted to bring it to me. Is the Coven in trouble?”
*caw* *caw* The crow that had dropped the spent casing into her hand had landed on a nearby branch. It’s head tilted. *caw* *caw* *caw*
“Don’t back-talk me,” Lila snapped. She did not understand what the crow was trying to say, that would be too easy. She felt like they were trying to communicate but they have never realized that she does not understand their caws. “I asked you to keep an eye on everyone, just because I decided to not return to the Coven does not mean I don’t care. And no, it’s not because my anxiety spiked at the thought of actually seeing everyone again….. Okay, maybe it had a part to play, but that does not mean I don’t care. Besides, with you all looking out for them what could go wrong?” Lila let the question hang in the air for a second before she sighed. The bigger reason they did not want to rejoin the coven today, after confirming she would, was the appearance of the mysterious voice that pestered her thoughts. The Maiden. "what a pretentious name," she thought. While she knew it felt different than the snake, this was still a voice in her head asking her to do things. “Probably a lot still because of who they are and.. The fact that you don’t do things for free.”
*caw* *caw* The Crow flapped its wings and took off back into the skies. That crow had delivered the spent casing a second ago, and it arrived at a quicker speed than it normally would. It was almost as if the Crow had a sense of urgency in its delivery. It rejoined the murder above her and the murder as a whole followed her as she walked on the sidewalk towards the nearest Dairy Queen. Her other hand held a wrapper, another crow had brought the torn wrapper of a burger and she took this as a more clear sign as to where the group was. She had no intention of joining up, at least yet, but something told her that she should at least check in and see what they were up to.
“The Crow told you more than you think,” The Maiden whispered to her.
“Jesus fuck,” Lila shouted as she jumped to the side.
“Don’t be afraid, I mean no harm,” The Maiden whispered again.
“Can you not right now,” Lila whispered as she looked around. Great, of all things to happen today she had to once again worry about sounding crazy out in public. Once she saw that no one was around, she turned her focus back to the whispering voice. “Today is already confusing enough as is. Can you leave me alone while I try and figure out what the crows mean by this," she flashed the Dairy Queen wrapper and the casings.
“You know the cost,” The Maiden responded.
Lila looked down at her right hand. Each finger, save for her thumb, had a ring of some sort on it. Some had jewels, but most did not. Each ring was not the most valuable one she owned, nor were they the most sentimental possession but each one was a gift from her grandmother. The one she had given earlier to keep tabs on the rest of the coven was the only one she had bought herself, and the thought of giving up something more prized was not a thought she wanted to dwell on. She could always give up food, yet she knew The Maiden liked things that were shiny and important, and she would not leave her alone with snacks alone.
“Fine, fine, you can stay in my mind for now. But please, be quiet,” Lila sighed as she continued walking. She had a deep mistrust of The Maiden. She figured it had something to do with the Crows, but no matter what she gifted them she was unable to get any answers. The only thing the crows wanted to do was lead her further into the forest to meet The Maiden, and The Maiden never answered any questions about who, or what, they were. Maybe Lila should have gone back to the coven, at least she might be able to get some answers from those who had monsters bound to their souls.
Evelynn took a step back from the group. No one, outside of Luca, said much at her arrival but she got the feeling from Sloane that she wasn’t the most welcome sight to this little merry band of misfits. This was not the most surprising thing, Sloane was Sloane after all yet Evelynn knew, deep down, that there were a lot of people in the Coven who did not.. Appreciate her curse. She spent as much time in possible futures as she did the present, trying to find the answers to many problems she and the Coven faced. With each guess that she got wrong, there grew a stronger and more vocal pushback against each and every prediction she tried to bring to the group. She felt like the Coven disbanded at the perfect time, and she knew that if they spent any more time together they would have kicked her out of the Coven.
Evelynn was pulled from her thoughts, however, when Jack was able to quickly subdue and shackle Drake. “I did not see that coming,” Evelynn whispered to herself. She remembered Jack was a powerful person but this was different than what she remembered. This felt much stronger. She looked around the small group and the thought that everyone got stronger entered her mind. Everyone except for her. She has only gotten better at reading the possible futures for clues and no matter how many times she tries, practices, or works at it the future is always unclear. This did not bother her so much, her curse was her curse and she was fortunate enough to have a leg up on the rest of her family with it. Yet the more the thought dwelled on it the more the realization began to gnaw at the corner of her mind. She needed to get her thoughts off it and now was not the time for another drink.. At least not yet.
Evelynn thought about what her next move was. This group had already imploded into infighting at record speed yet she knew this was not the only group from the Coven. Auri had told Evelynn that many from the Coven would attend, at least much more than those who stood in front of her. She wanted to ask yet a curious sight caught her attention.
A small murder of crow, from Evelynn’s count ten strong, had suddenly appeared on the top of the Dairy Queen and the other buildings around it. They all appeared to be looking at the group with a curious intensity. “There was one of us who had some connection with crows, right?” Evelynn asked the group. Not waiting for any answers, she channeled her power and slipped into the possible future. She stood still as her eyes darted for a brief moment before she returned to the present. “I think they go by Lila now,” Evelynn spoke as she turned down the road and spotted the rest of the murder being led to the Dairy Queen. “It seems like she has a few more crows with her than she did the last time I saw them. They’ll be here in a second I think.”
A moment later Lila walked up and met up with the group. “Hey everyone,” she flashed a quick wave. She looked around and noticed Sloane with what appeared to be a broken nose, Drake was tied up by Jack, Luca had a broken wrist, and Evelynn was just.. There. She shifted her eyes back to Sloane, resting there for a moment before they drifted to Drake. “What did these idiots do to each other,” she thought to herself. In her hand, she still had the spent shell casing and the Dairy Queen wrapper. If the Crows watched whatever went down here, and grabbed the wrapper to alert her, that would mean that the Crows watched something go down somewhere else, and grabbed the shell casing to do the same
“Alright,” Lila sighed, “so that explains why they grabbed this.” Lila flashed the wrapper. She groaned as she held up her other hand, and flashed the brass it carried. “I asked my crows to keep an eye on the coven, I did not plan to join up again, not after The Ma..” she paused as she caught her words. “The murder got bigger,” she lied through her teeth as she pointed to the nearly hundred crows that covered the roofs all around them that cawed relentlessly, “but I wanted to be sure that you all were safe, with everyone dropping dead and all.” She raised the Dairy Queen wrapper. “They gave me this, I come here and I see you two hurt,” she paused as she shook the shell casing, “so I think that means something is going down with the rest of the Coven.”
“Where are they?” She asked as she looked for the closest trash can.
“Very well observed,” The Maiden whispered. Lila shifted her gaze to her left ear, the direction the whisper came from. A shiver ran down her spine and Lila wished she had sent The Maiden away for the day. "Things would be easier if you just let me in more."
Evelynn leaned on the window of the Uber. The question lingered in the air for a brief moment. Why did she bring herself back here? She pondered the question for a moment. Guilt, remorse, a deep sadness, and the death of members of her culty coven. Only one of those reasons was the true reason why she was back. If members of the coven were dropping like flies, and a call for help was sounded, she had to return to ensure that what they stopped never started again. Even if she was late to the party. The ones who could see the future were late because they lost track of time. It wasn’t her fault, her phone had slipped out of her hand and fallen between the grates on the road outside her house. It took her an hour to figure out what could work to get her phone out, and then realize what worked. That thought led her back to when she ordered the Uber, and the question it’s driver asked.
“Oh,” Evelynn paused as she pulled her head off of the window, “a decade ago a group of friends de-...decided that we would meet up back here at some point. Well, that point is now.” She knew that they were supposed to meet at the flower shop. Knowing the group, she knew they did not wait around there for long. She would run into them eventually, she could sense them around the town, she just wanted to get to a more central spot first before she ventured out to find them. “We all graduated together from here so..”
“Wait,” the driver said as he looked into his rearview mirror and squinted, “are you.. Eve?”
“Evelynn,” she corrected, “and who are you?”
“Jake Finch, we graduated together,” he shouted, “wow how have you been?”
“Jake! Oh wow, it's you,” she paused as she had no idea who this man was, “yeah I have been good, good, graduated from college, and have been working to pay off that student debt, you know? How about you? How’s the family?”
The two would talk for a minute. He brought up memories and Evelynn would respond with a “that was so crazy” whenever she did not remember. Eventually, she looked around and spotted a Dairy Queen, and spotted a commotion outside of it on its patio.
“Stop, stop right here,” she shouted and the driver obliged. The brakes on the car squealed in anger as the car slammed to a stop “Sorry Jim, I think I see some of them. Thank you,” she shouted as she opened the door and stepped outside onto the sidewalk.
There were a few people present and Evelynn felt like she recognized each one. Before she was able to guess who was who one man pushed another, before he swung on a smaller woman.
“Fuck,” she shouted before she turned away from the group. “I am too sober for this,” she whispered as she grabbed the flask from her pocket, twisted it open, and took a deep swig. She did not care for the time, whenever she saw someone hit another person with a power made it time to drink. “Fuck,” she whispered again as she pocketed the flask and turned around, the taste of the whisky held tightly to her throat. “Hey, can we not,” she shouted again.
Evelynn stopped moving as she channeled her power. She felt the temperature rising over the group, and she wanted to be prepared in case it got too explosive for her liking. Her eyes glazed over and began to dart around the area rapidly. The outside world faded away as she ran through the possible futures ahead of the group as a whole. Evelynn would see around five possible futures for the group as it stood. Many involved the fight continuing, all involved Luca and his aura of decay and an injured wrist, and none would be better if she didn't try and calm things down. She stayed in this trance-like state for a few seconds before she pulled herself back out of it.
“Hey, hey, hey let’s calm down, I am not sure what happened before I got here but I can assure you things may potentially get much worse from here.” She paused as she pointed to herself hoping that they remembered her accursed power, “Hi everyone, Evelynn, sorry I missed the meetup earlier. It seems I missed a lot.”
Her eyes fell to Sloane, pleading with her to listen. In the few possible futures she saw, and the past she remembered, Sloane was not the person to take a hit without getting one back in response. She shifted towards Luca, making sure to keep far enough away from the decay, and whispered ‘are you okay,’ as she pointed to his wrist.
"Maybe I will find the answer to my problems at the bottom of that next bottle.."
_______________________________________________ Evelynn Ann Serenelight She/Her | 27 | White | 64 In | 127 pnds _______________________________________________ Oracle _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "I wish I was more useful." ___________________________________
[Customer Service] ⫻ Evelynn has spent the past decade working in customer service in some shape or fashion. From client-facing, to call center work and more, Evelynn has developed a natural rapport with people. People often remark that their customer service voice is much more soothing and less agitating than her normal voice.
[Lover of puzzles] ⫻ From her earliest memories, Evelynn has always loved a challenge and more so loved puzzles. Whether a puzzle board or a complex problem, Evelynn finds joy in working it out. She can often be found playing these kind of games on her phone to pass the time.
[Alcoholic Bloodline] ⫻ Thanks to her family, and for her practice, Evelynn can handle her alcohol quite well. While she has yet to go bottle for bottle with her grandma, she knows it is only a matter of time before she develops a stronger liver.
[Strong cup of joe] ⫻ Every morning Evelynn makes a cup of coffee and those who stay over remark that it is one strong cup of joe.
[Unlucky in love] ⫻ Evelynn has no success in her love life yet this has always been for the best. She has a habit of falling in love with the first man who shows her interest. The longest relationship she has been in has been for only three months. After the breakup, it seems everyone reveals their red flags, and she realizes she has dodged a bullet.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "You're not very pretty, and you're not very bright."
Evelynn is a woman whose appearance is a mesmerizing blend of uniqueness and elegance. She rocks light brown hair with straight bangs that frame her face, giving off a touch of sophistication. Her hair is often pulled back into a practical ponytail, showcasing her ability to balance style with practicality.
Her green eyes, like shards of emerald, carry a spark of intelligence and a hint of mischief. Evelynn's makeup is an artful expression of her creativity. She spends entirely too much time on her eyeliner as it enhances the captivating allure of her gaze. A dash of dark lipstick adds that rebellious touch.
She is pierced, and each one tells a different story of herself. A small silver hoop in her left nostril and an industrial bar piercing in her right ear contribute to her rough and tough look. She got these after she left the coven and ventured far to truly find herself. This act of defiance against what was her ordinary life set the stage for what was to come. Tattoos, and many of them. Both of her arms served as a canvas for her friend's imagination. She has various small tattoos that do not look professionally done, yet she loves them all the same. The cat on top of the yarn, the dog chasing its tail, and all the various characters from her favorite movies and TV shows all blend to form the sleeve on her left arm. Her right arm shows a level of detail and refinement that contrasts with the other. A deer with a crown of roses, an owl that sits on the branch of a sycamore tree, and a snake that wraps around her arm, overlapping itself. The lines on this arm are crisp, the colors clean, and the cost too high to count.
Her fashion is a bit basic. Sweaters and cropped hoodies overtop high-waisted jeans, or a crop top shirt overtop high-waisted shorts. Either way, she always fills out her outfits with an odd assortment of jewelry and Doc Martin boots.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Some days I feel like I am stuck in the middle of a raging river that pulls me downstream to a dark sea, and no matter how hard I swim I can never get back to shore."
MAIN GOAL ⫻
Evelynn harbors ambitious aspirations for her future and it has been their main goal to unravel the threads of what her purpose is. She wants to unearth a sense of purpose, a calling that resonates deeply with the core of their being.
This quest for purpose hasn't been a fleeting endeavor; it's been painful, marked by introspection and self-discovery. Hours have been devoted to unraveling the intricate layers of their interests and talents, each step a deliberate one toward the elusive goal of finding not just a job, but a vocation that aligns with her preconceived idea of what she wants to do. Evelynn wants nothing more than for the day to arrive when her job will cease to be answering phones and answering questions, instead, it will be a place where she can plant roots and grow professionally.
Beyond the realm of career pursuits, there's a second facet to Evelynn's hopes—the pursuit of love. Their journey in matters of the heart has been fraught with missteps and heartaches. Yet, amidst the echoes of past disappointments, Evelynn remains steadfast in the desire to find a genuine and enduring love.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻
Evelynn's philosophy centers around the belief that life is a kaleidoscope of experiences, both challenging and beautiful. Every experience is meant to be embraced and learned from. They see purpose as a journey rather than a destination, and that one can make a lot of progress as long as one has a continuous desire for self-discovery and adaptation.
The core tenets of Evelynn's philosophy are resilience, authenticity, and an unyielding optimism that tomorrow holds the promise of growth, connection, and a new day for new experiences.
SECRETS ⫻
The true extent of her alcoholism. She knows better than to allow someone to witness the amount she drinks, and she does well to hide the hangovers as well. Some have begun to talk to her about her rampant drinking but even they are kept out of the loop.
She was right about a few different things during the fight, but thought that it was a false future. It came true and people were hurt, killed, and it was all her fault.
SEXUALITY ⫻
Bisexual/heteroromantic. Evelynn has a deep love for both men and women, yet she feels like she can only form romantic feelings for men.
FEARS ⫻
Evelynn's family is marred by early deaths and unfulfilled purposes. She fears that one day she will find herself at death's door, no closer to knowing who she is and nowhere near understanding the true power of her purpose. That she will be alone, with no one to help her through those final difficult moments.
REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻
Evelynn was well-liked in the old coven. She was friendly, accountable, and always there for those who needed help. While she was not around them as much as she would have liked, she was often pulled away when tragedy inevitably struck, she still made the moments she was there count and held most of the members in high regard. She did not know it at the time but there were a few members who were skeptical of her and her demeanour. Her power enabled her to see a possible future, what if she was using it to keep on everyone's good side? As such, as a whole, she would have been well-liked, but not trusted.
ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻
Evelynn was a supporting party in the battle. She used her gifts to try and guide the covens' strikes, as well as see if their attacks would work. Her abilities were hampered during the battle by the sheer number of eventualities she tried to decipher. As such, some were hurt when she gave the wrong information to the wrong person.
FLAWS ⫻
Indecisiveness: Evelynn tends to struggle with making decisions, especially when faced with significant choices related to her career or personal life
Perfectionism: In her pursuit of purpose and love, Evelynn often sets exceedingly high standards for herself, leading to frustration and self-criticism when things don't go as planned.
Overthinking: She tends to overanalyze situations, creating unnecessary stress and sometimes hindering her ability to take spontaneous or intuitive actions.
Difficulty Trusting Others: The scars from previous negative experiences in relationships have left Evelynn with difficulty trusting new people, making it challenging for her to fully open up and connect on a deeper level.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "If I have to go to another funeral this year I swear..."
In the quiet shadows of St. Portwell, nestled within the mist-laden landscapes of Oregon, Evelynn Ann Serenelight's story unfolded against a backdrop of perpetual gloom. The town stood as a silent witness to the cyclical tragedy that befell the Serenelight lineage. Born into a family marked by the curse of premature death, Evelynn's childhood in St. Portwell bore the weight of sorrow brought on by her constant presence at the funeral home. She lost three uncles, one aunt, three siblings, and both her parents all before her twenty-first birthday. None by natural means. Her father and mother died together in a car accident. From the report, it was suggested that her father was distracted by something while behind the wheel, causing him to drive off the road and into a pole. The same fate would befall two of her siblings, while the third drowned.
Before all that death Evelynn was involved with the Sycamore Tree Coven, and it was here that much of Evelynn's drive to better herself and better her future came from. She was in class when the apparitions started their attack. She, however, handled the attack better than the others thanks to her gift. Her gift had manifested a few days prior, and at first, she thought she had gone mad. Slowly, she trusted her gut and began to explore her gift at every possible moment. She used her gift to test if a path was safe and helped shepherd others to safety. She spent the rest of the event running from moment to moment, spending more time watching possible futures than in the present, and used her gifts to the best of her ability to help others survive. Sadly, she was not as good as the group needed her to be.
After the fallout of the event settled, and the coven disbanded, Evelynn knew she had to go far away from this whole mess. She attended college in town with the goal of graduating and moving far from this place with her girlfriend. This became a fleeting escape from the shadow cast by her experiences in the coven. Every moment of peace and happiness would be plagued by the 'what if it happens again' or the 'what if the snake manages to break free' thoughts. She would end up spending a lot of time in therapy, choosing the right words to get the point across without revealing what had happened, and ended up getting some help with the dread she faced.
In college she had a lot of trouble finding a path that suited her unique skillset, as well she found it hard to find one that would truly bring her joy and happiness. As such, her grades were never perfect as she often second-guessed her own decisions. She had a long-held desire to be a graphic designer. She was always a beacon of creativity, after all, yet it was as if everything she created was nothing more than strokes on a canvas that was veiled with a perpetual filter of ick.
While the past decade seemed to fly by, Evelynn always kept an eye on her future and one on her past. She wants to avoid any unforeseen disaster that could take her out like the rest of her father's family, and she wants to remember and always be ready in case the sins of the past break free. When news reached her ears about the deaths of coven members, Evelynn dwelled on what to do. Eventually, she elected to return home. Home to face the curse of her family, and home to ensure that the world remained safe forever more.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "If you take three steps that way you will either run into a monster or be safe."
TYPE ⫻ (Afflicted Aberration)
ABSTRACTION ⫻ Foresight - Evelynn can pull on her curse to see the possible futures ahead of her.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Evelynn's story begins with her ancestors. It is told that her great-great Grandfather crossed a witch out in the woods, he had come to seek the power to see the path to a prosperous future, and when he did not pay what was due the witch placed a curse on the man and his bloodline. This curse allowed them to see a possible future, yet it caused many to get lost in it which caused their early death. It was as if the power itself manifested at the worst possible time for the rest of her family.
There was never any proof, mind you, and Evelynn was happy to chalk it up to a family story that was nothing more than a story. Yet, as she grew, she watched as anyone born on her father's side of the family died younger than they should have, often in accidents that could have been avoided had they been more present.
This curse has seemingly grown stronger as the generations have passed. And the events of the battle with the snake added fuel to that fire. This has resulted in Evelynn's unique gift. She has the gift of foresight, the ability to see possible outcomes for any action she wishes. Whether that is walking alone down the dark, dusty road at night or as simple as what lunch she picks to eat, Evelynn can project what may happen before it happens. She does not move, does not react, and to the outside world she looks like her eyes glaze over and she is in a trance. She can also project the possible eventualities out into the world, visible for all to see. The further she projects into a possible future the longer she has to remain idle. At the end of the day, these possible futures require an interpretation. Sometimes the projections are clear, but often they are not. Evelynn will either have to spend more time, and project more possibilities, or try and interpret from just one.
LIMITS ⫻
Her gifts never show what will happen, only what could. Thus, if she does not spend some time trying to bolster her prediction with more possibilities, she will often be wrong. As well, spending more time and energy on these predictions causes her to lose focus on the present around her.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ The gift of Foresight also comes with the curse of misfortune. Wherever she goes, a subtle telekinetic ability acts to make misfortune happen to her. Whether it's dropping something she's carrying into the water, things falling on her, or... an attack that would have otherwise missed hitting her.
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Even with this power I still can't win the lottery."
Evelynn always has a flask of alcohol on her person.
"Good morning my lovelies I have gifts to share with the flock."
_______________________________________________ Lila May Blackwood
They/Them/She/Her | 25 | White | 65 (In Inches) | 110 (Pounds/LB) _______________________________________________ Nevermore. _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "I have quite the bounty for you today." ___________________________________
[“Quote the Raven”] ⫻ Lila is well-versed in what her avian friends want and need to thrive. After she left the coven she enrolled in Oregon State University and went through a veterinary program, and currently works as a vet tech in town. As well, she is also well-versed in taking care of most animals.
[Cooking] ⫻ Lila is a fantastic cook. While she does not need anything fancy, she often shares her food with her flock and as such, she wants to have the ability to give them something new constantly. As well, she has a love for cooking for her friends and family, and this has led to her place becoming a small meetup spot.
[Lay of the lands] ⫻ Lila has spent countless days outdoors tending to her flock and as such, she has learned how to navigate the woods without rousing suspicion from other witches and warlocks
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I am not for everyone."
Lila is a vibrant and confident soul standing at a petite five feet five inches tall. Lila rocks short, texturized hair that exudes an edgy charm, a testament to her fearless approach to self-expression. She sports an eclectic wardrobe, often opting for crop tops that flaunt her midriff, paired with flannel pants that rest tight against her hips. Lila adorns her hips with chains that jingle and dance as she moves. She proudly wears a variety of expensive-looking rings on her fingers, each telling a unique story that she does not know. These are the gifts her flock has given her over the years, and she treasures each one more than anything anyone has given her.
In embracing her natural beauty, Lila chooses not to conform to conventional beauty standards and she confidently goes makeup-free, allowing her visible acne scars to shine as badges of resilience and self-love. Lila's authenticity and openness about her journey contribute to the magnetic energy she exudes.
Lila proudly wears a distinctive tattoo that adds an extra layer of uniqueness to her already bold persona. Inked on her left forearm is a stylized crow, each feather on the wings are colored with the colors of the LGBTQ+ pride flag. The tattoo serves as a powerful symbol of Lila's own trans journey, resilience, and her connection to her queer community.
When asked about the tattoo, Lila often shares stories of the people she has met, the challenges she has overcome, and the triumphs of her identity. It's not just body art for her; it's a narrative of her life etched into her skin, a testament to her strength, individuality, and the vibrant community she proudly represents.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Listen, all this stress is leading somewhere."
MAIN GOAL ⫻
Lila's main goal in life is to create a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ youth to express themselves freely and find support in St. Portwell. Motivated by her own journey and the challenges she faced while navigating her identity, Lila is driven to make a positive impact on the lives of young individuals who may be going through similar experiences.
Her experiences with the Stygian Snake made her realize that life was already too short, and that helped push her toward acceptance of her own identity as well as push her towards wanting to be an advocate for the generations that follow.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻
Lila's philosophy revolves around the principles of authenticity, acceptance, and empowerment. At the core of her beliefs is the idea that everyone deserves the space and freedom to be their true selves without fear of judgment or discrimination.
SECRETS ⫻
Since she started her transition young, she has lived life stealthily and the outside world is never the wiser. While her friends, and the coven, know her trans identity most strangers on the street would never know.
She has a secret talent that she fears would lead to snide comments and questions that ask her why she does it. Lila likes to make origami birds. She often travels around town and leaves them behind books at the library, behind food in the grocery store, and in places, where people would never expect to see an origami bird.
Despite her outward confidence, Lila grapples with her insecurities and fears. She carries the weight of the battle with the snake even to this day, despite telling everyone that she has recovered enough from that headspace. She is always on the lookout for signs of the snake's return, as well as monitors the town and the forest around for other dangers that could threaten the world.
SEXUALITY ⫻
Queer. Lila has always had a deep love for women, and feminine presenting people.
FEARS ⫻
Lila's strong sense of community and her commitment to creating inclusive spaces stem from a deep-seated fear of isolation.
Lila has a deep fear of anything bugs. This stemmed from an early childhood encounter with a swarm of bees and this set the stage for Lila to be consistently jumpy around them. She has, in the past, used her Crows to ensure that she has a bug free day.
Lila carries a fear of regression, particularly in terms of societal progress. Despite the positive strides made in LGBTQ+ rights, she worries about the potential backlash or regression in acceptance.
Lila carries a fear of leaving important work unfinished. Whether it's her advocacy, community projects, or personal goals, she fears not being able to accomplish everything she envisions and as such, she carries boasts an insanely high work ethic. She fears the day she loses it.
REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻ (
Lila was known as Michael in the Old Coven at the start. At that time she was a timid, shy individual and more often than not followed the stronger voices that stood in front of her. She was considered meek, weak-willed, and often a pushover. Shortly after leaving the coven, she changed everything about who he was, yet these changes may not have had changed what everyone remembered
ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻
Lila used her crows in a supportive role, using her crows to distract enemies from her friends and she also used them in a limited offensive role to peck at the eyes of those she could. She eventually watched as her flock vanished after too many close calls and she was forced to be only emotional support.
FLAWS ⫻
Overcommitment - Lila's dedication to her cause sometimes leads to over-commitment. She tends to take on more responsibilities than she can handle, leading to moments of exhaustion and stress. Her fear of leaving important work unfinished exacerbates this fault as she struggles to find the balance between her personal life and her advocacy.
Difficulty Delegating - Due to her deep personal investment in her projects, Lila finds it challenging to delegate tasks. This can lead to burnout, as she may be reluctant to entrust critical responsibilities to others. Learning to share the workload is a continual struggle as she grapples with the fear that others may not approach the work with the same passion and commitment.
Impatience with Inaction - Lila's impatience with societal progress and injustices can lead to frustration. She struggles to understand those who don't share her sense of urgency, sometimes alienating individuals who may be at different stages of their journey toward acceptance and understanding.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Thanks to gran, I feel like I can do anything."
In the quiet embrace of Oregon's serene landscapes, Lila's childhood unfolded amidst the separation of her parents. She was sent to live with her Grandma, and what initially seemed like an upheaval early in her formative years turned into a blessing. Under Grandma's watchful eye, Lila's early years were the most amazing time of her life and it was filled with love, wisdom, and a caring approach that her parents never brought. These foundational moments became the bedrock of the values that would shape Lila's journey.
As adolescence dawned, Lila began to grapple with a profound sense of something wrong with her gender. Seeking answers and clarity, her grandmother sought help and took Lila to therapy. It was during these introspective moments that the extraordinary revealed itself – a mystical connection with a murder of crows, bound to Lila as if they took a fancy to the young kid. When she gave them a treat and asked them to do something, they would. This connection became an integral part of her identity and a source of her power.
The pivotal moment in Lila's journey occurred during the fierce confrontation with the Stygian Snake. As the world descended into chaos around her, she leaned on her crows to keep her safe. Cornered, and out of gifts for the crows, she was rescued by members of the coven, who brought the struggling kid into their fold. The battle ended up mirroring the internal struggle she faced with her gender identity. It became the crucible in which her decision to undergo a medical transition was forged. Post-battle, the subsequent months were marked by a labyrinthine journey through the approval process, a mosaic of challenges and triumphs that would pave the way for her rebirth. After the battle, she stayed with the Coven. These powers of hers confused, and concerned, her, and this seemed like a safe place for her to expand her knowledge of them. She never felt like she fit in with the rest of the group, and she often just followed whoever had the most confident voice and commanding pressure.
In the wake of the Coven's disbandment, Lila's path led her to higher education. Fueling her passion for nurturing and care, she emerged as a vet tech, bridging the ordinary and the mystical in her commitment to the well-being of both animals and humans alike.
Yet, the call to return echoed across the corners of her mind. Despite the personal growth and achievements of the interim period, the bonds forged within the mystical embrace of the Coven held an unyielding sway. Recognizing the significance of her power and feeling the pull of destiny, Lila chose to answer the call. As well, something strange happened in the weeks leading up to the eventual reformation of the coven. Her crows have been leading her to strange new places in the forests, and she hears the call of a mystical figure with each waking thought. This figure calls herself the Maiden of the Raven, and she promises much, and Lila is beginning to listen.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Let..me…in”
TYPE ⫻ Adjoined
ABSTRACTION ⫻ Lila is the Veridian Wing, the Agent of Murder. Lila can use the sealed Maiden’s transformation and curse powers, as well as the full force of her Murder.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Lila is now the only one in charge of the murder and is responsible for its safety. As well, Lila has learned to wield and use the true magic of the Maiden. She can use the transformation magic to change her appearance and form to an extent. She can only add more to her appearance or change what was already added. Thus, while she can not change back to her human form she can use the magic to become more monstrous if the need arises. As well, she can utilize the curse magic to control and change others.
A MURDER IN ST. PORTWELL ⫻ Lila, ever since becoming the agent of The Maiden, had gained full control over the murder of The Maiden. However, ever since The Maiden failed her takeover bid, Lila now has to contend with a murder who not only looks to her for guidance but also support and care. It truly is day one once again. They have more personalities now, different wants and needs, and Lila will need to learn how to manage them quickly. That is, as long as The Maiden's corruptive influences are kept in check. She can still use her fighting forms with her crows, however, Lila has learned the errors of doing so. The Murder has also shrunk in size. What was once tens of thousands have reverted to only a few hundred.
ASSAULT Lila can have her crows attack her target in many different ways. From going for the easy spots like a throat or eyes, to completely enveloping a target in an angry swarm, Lila has a few easy ways to hurt someone. In a fight, she can also use her crows to do more complex attacks.
PROTECTIVE SWARM When an enemy gets in too close, Lila can command her swarm to protect her. In this form, the crows will often fly circles around her in either a loose or tight shell. The crows will take the brunt of an attack, whether physical or magical, and replenish the shell as needed with fresh bodies. This shell will also lash out at targets that get too close. This is much weaker with the smaller size of the murder.
THE HIVE MIND Lila has gained a much stronger telepathic connection with the birds. She is beginning to understand them, and they are able to communicate with gestures, however her ability to glean information from them has grown much stronger . This is useful when she sends the murder out to scout and or look for something. She’ll never get the complete picture but she gains something from them all the same.
MISCHIEVOUS MEANDERING The crows that remained are, by nature, a mischievous group who take pleasure in causing small levels of chaos on a local level. Where Lila goes the murder is quick to follow, and without the control of the maiden they are now left to their own devices. Lila could use the same curse magic to control them but Lila is unwilling to put them through the same kind of torment that their former master did. As such, anything shiny and tasty will seemingly go missing. Everywhere Lila goes the murder will follow, as will the chaos it will bring. The murder is also much more keen on being in the same space with Lila and will only leave her alone if they get something out of it.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWERS OF THE MAIDEN ⫻
The first of The Maidens's magic that Lila gained control of, Lila is granted the ability to transform herself at will if the needs arise. She can never truly go back on the transformation, but she does have the ability to control how it presents itself. She was given wings, and thus she has wings, but she can make them bigger. Similarly, the maiden turned her into a monster in her bid for control and Lila will always have her defining trait of being a monster.
THE MAIDENS GIFTS Lila has enhanced strength, speed, and durability thanks to the The Maiden and her transformations. The primary gifts that have existed from the very beginning are her clawed hands and her former black eyes. While she has been able to make the eyes just a bit less monster they’re still very much the same. With these gifts, she can cut deep, see far, and can jump high in the sky in a single bound with her gifted legs.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MAIDEN The Maiden broke Lila’s mind, body, and almost her spirit. As such, Lila has been changed by The Maidens. While she is as strong-willed as before, she is more cautious about apparitions and their hosts. She may have been naive before, but she now approaches encounters with new apparitions, and even some friends, with a hint of fear and doubt regarding their intention. Even now she can feel the maiden try to corrupt her further, and she will be locked into a battle with her for the rest of their time together.
THE MAIDEN TAKES FLIGHT One of the most powerful gifts the Maiden ever gave to Lila is her wings. Lila has taken these gifts and truly made them more powerful. She no longer uses the curse that is bound to the feathers; she instead focuses on making them practical. She can now fly, though she is not graceful yet. Or good with them. They are like a pair of limbs she’s never used before. As time goes on, and as she practices, she may one day be graceful.
THE HARPY Lila has used her magic to transform herself into a harpy. The transformation is not permanent, at least yet. In this form, she has enhanced speed, vision, durability, strength, and the power of fight. These enhancements are above peak human strength. However she is truly a Jack of all trades master of none. She is also currently stuck in this form. She can not return to her normal human body and currently does not know if she ever can. She chose this form, and she must learn to accept herself in it. Lila looks like a monster and will look like a monster to most. Her wings are massive, and her body has been changed as well.
THE KINDLING One of the unintended powers, or curse, she gained was being a one-woman kindling machine. If a one-eyed open would see her she could very well cause a kindling event.
THE CURSE I GAINED
The Maiden's curse magic is centered around domination and control. She can use these curses to force a transformation in another creature, object, or even plant. The curse will transform them into something else, something Lila gets to decide. This magic is the same magic she uses to keep The Maiden at bay so the more she uses it, the more powerful The Maiden can become.
BEND TO MY WILL Lila can utilize the curse magic of the maiden to force a transformation on others. This will be similar to Lila’s cursed wings but more focused, and controlled, albeit less effective. She needs a prolonged amount of time to direct the curse to do what she wants. She can improve the speed of this by drawing the cursed magic into her hand ahead of time. She has to make physical contact with the target to place the curse. When the curse is placed, blue lines will creep out from the point where the curse was cast. The stronger the emotional field the more magic she has to use to bend the target to her will.
THE KEY AND THE CAGE The Maiden is subdued by Lila using her magic but she is not gone. As long as Lila powers the crystal that is on her chest with her curse magic she can keep her subdued. The Maiden is not weak, far from it, and she lashes out and actively resists the magic.
THE MINDSCAPE The Mindscape is a specific curse that Lila can cast that draws a person's conscious mind into a space that Lila controls. In this space Lila can keep a person unable to act with their physical body as long as she keeps a point of contact with them. As this is a person's conscious mind and not their soul, adepts and adjoined alike will be unable to use their magic.
LIMITS ⫻
Lila’s curse magic comes with a cost. The more she uses the curse in a day the weaker the curses become. If she uses it too much she could run out of energy to power the crystal which keeps the Maiden at bay.
The curse magic is much weaker than the one The Maiden was able to wield and this is due to Lila not fully utilizing it. Thus she will be unable to pierce through an emotional field. While she could learn to be better with it, she does not have much desire to do so.
The Crows now also require much more focus from Lila. She will once again need to give them gifts, especially if she wants them to do something dangerous. The crows are now more picky with their gifts, and Lila will need to spend a lot more time trying to keep the murder in order.
Transformations for herself also require a lot of energy. As does the new form. She has to eat a lot more, to keep up. If she falls behind, she gets tired and may fall asleep. As well, this lack of energy will bring on a drunk like stupor.
The crystal gem that she uses to suppress the maiden requires a recharge once every twelve hours. She needs to channel the magic into the crystal during this time. Too much use of the curse magic will make this process long, slow, or outright impossible. As well, this limiter also limits how much of her magic she can wield. Simply put, she has to balance making sure The Maiden is kept in check, while not limiting her ability to be useful.
At the end of the day Lila is damaged. She will never be the same, and she’ll have to navigate relationships, fights, and just life with his new reality. She will make mistakes, and she’ll have to deal with any ramifications that come her way. As well, she is by no means a master with the magic she can wield. The magic can, and will, backfire. A curse could have unintended consequences especially if her fractured mine rears its ugly head. She will be forgetful, often make stupid decisions, and will sometimes have conversations with herself.
The more Lila tries to understand her crows, the more restrictive she will become with their use. She will be overly empathetic, and much quicker to anger with their deaths. This could make her get very irrational very fast as a result. As well, she is much more protective with their lives.
Lila is a one woman wrecking crew for the one eye open. She is painfully obvious as a paranormal being and will cause kindling events in her wake.
WEAKNESSES ⫻
Each transformation Lila undergoes is excruciatingly painful, leaving her physically weakened for an extended period afterward. This agony can result in temporary paralysis or a loss of motor control, rendering her vulnerable during the process. Furthermore, killing her crows inflicts severe mental and emotional anguish, causing debilitating headaches, hallucinations, or even temporary lapses in memory. While her crows provide support, their constant presence draws attention, making stealth near impossible.
Lila’s mental state is fragile, heavily influenced by the corrupting presence of The Maiden. This internal conflict can lead to unpredictable behavior, making it difficult for her to concentrate during critical moments. The influence of The Maiden looms over her. As Lila harnesses her curse magic, she risks inadvertently drawing closer to the Maiden's corruptive essence, which could lead to a loss of her sense of self or render her a pawn in the Maiden's schemes.
The intense energy demands of her transformations and curse magic result in a ravenous hunger that distracts her during crucial moments. This hunger can drive her to act impulsively, increasing the risk of mistakes. Additionally, emotional stress may cause her abilities to backfire or become erratic. Each use of her transformative powers and curse magic drains her energy rapidly. If she overextends herself, she risks becoming fatigued or incapacitated.
The crystal gem that suppresses The Maiden's influence is a double-edged sword; if it becomes damaged or runs out of energy, The Maiden could break free. Moreover, her curse magic can lead to unintended consequences, resulting in misfires or adverse effects on herself and her allies.
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Should I listen to the Maiden, or are y'all just fucking with me?"
Lila has a constant supply of high quality snacks on her in her bags. She will not share.
"You expect me to drop my life to run back to a fantasy?"
He/Him | 24 | German-American | 75 inches | 170 pounds _______________________________________________ Visonary. _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "I may have a thing or two that could fix that problem" ___________________________________
[Green Thumb] ⫻ Thanks to his off-the-grid dwellings Jasper has grown quite a garden. He prides himself on being able to produce much of what he eats and has plans to expand his growing operation further.
[Artist] ⫻ While his style is not for everyone Jasper is considered talented enough and is considered an emerging artist. He is currently focused on networking with other artists in the PNW region and is a constant presence at many art festivals. He currently has two collections, one that he brings to the various creator fairs for sale, and his collection that he plans to exhibit someday.
[Connections] ⫻ Jasper has connections all over St. Portwell. Thanks to his social butterfly nature he has found a place in the heart of many. As such, if he is not back in his studio creating art he is out with his various friends enjoying the town.
[Creative Problem Solver] ⫻ Jasper has always liked finding creative solutions to his problems.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "If you can overlook the paint this shirt is quite nice"
At a towering six foot five, Jasper possesses an undeniable physical presence that commands attention. While he does not have the most muscular of frames, he still does enough manual labor to keep himself in some shape. His hair is like a manifestation of his artistic chaos, as it tumbles in waves and carries an untamable energy that defies both styling attempts and product alike. His hair often frames his face highlighting his striking green eyes that seem to hold an entire range of emotions all within themselves. Jasper often dresses comfy but nice, and he is often seen in well-fitted trousers accompanied by a button-up shirt. However, he leaves an intentional gap by leaving the shirt unbuttoned, revealing a lot more chest hair than one might expect and a gold chain nestled against it. He is a big fan of accessories, and he will have any number of rings on his fingers and bracelets on his wrists.
Despite his attempt at having a more refined look, he will often be seen with paint stains on even his nicest clothes. This is something that he cares less about. He is an artist, and he will have inspiration regardless of what clothes he wears.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Just because I can do something does not mean I will do it."
MAIN GOAL ⫻
Jasper has a dream of being able to live as self-sufficiently as possible. This is in part driven by his desire to create authentic art pieces. In truth, he does not care if he never becomes famous, as long as he can make enough money to cover his ever-growing compound, and enough to cover his art, he will be content.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻
Jasper's philosophy is of individualism, and embracing the beauty found in the unconventional and the chaotic. Jasper believes that true creativity flourishes in the freedom to break away from tradition and expectation. Regardless of whether someone pursues an art, he feels that people at their core are better served by not restraining themselves from what society or others deem appropriate or normal.
In essence, Jasper's philosophy revolves around the idea that art, and humanity, at its core, is a celebration of the unpredictable. To truly embrace one’s self you must first rid yourself of any preconceived expectations of what you have to be and just, simply, be yourself.
SECRETS ⫻
Jasper, despite his confident exterior, hides a few personal secrets. He has a past marked by struggles with addiction, a part of his life that's not apparent in his art. As such he has a checkered past that led to a few run-ins with the police. While he is sober from the stuff he abused, it still pulls at him to return. His art was more beautiful, he was more charismatic, and above all else he was more loved when he was an addict, at least that's what he thinks.
SEXUALITY ⫻
Straight. He has dabbled a few times, and he’ll more than likely dabble some more.
FEARS ⫻
He has a persistent fear of becoming stagnant in his artistic journey, a fear that he might cease to evolve and innovate, risking a loss of relevance and connection with his audience.
Despite his confident exterior, Jasper harbors a fear of exposing the raw, unfiltered layers of his true self through his art. For starters, how would someone interpret his fear about the Stygian Snake? Of the countless bodies of his dead friends? Of the chaos that unfolded in the streets? And of the sadness that swept the coven after the final body was accounted for? He knows the only way he can advance as an artist is to confront these issues of his own, but he is not truly ready for this. Maybe he never will, and maybe this will forever hamper him and his art.
REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻
Jasper was a friend to all and all were friends to Jasper. He had enough social energy to keep up with the jocks, and enough creativity as a kid to draw in the rest. He spent a lot of his free time working on his art and some were close to him because of that. There was one who he never wanted to befriend, Sloane. There was just something about that woman that made him irrationally angry.
He left the Coven early due to how rigid and controlling it became.
ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻
Jasper used his art constructs to help fight the Stygian Snake directly. Early on in the prolonged conflict he would draw, paint, and animate bird-like constructs and send them to harass the snake. Later in the fight he was constantly drawing, painting, and animating shield-carrying creatures to take the hit for his friends and the Coven. When he ran out of paint, he transitioned to a support role and pulled the injured members
FLAWS ⫻
Jasper tends to isolate whenever he is dealing with any intense personal or artistic troubles. He will ignore any text, call, or even people at his door in favor of just ignoring the problems until they go away.
Jasper’s creative spirit will sometimes bleed into impulsivity in a way that impacts both his personal, and financial stability.
He also has a reluctance to collaborate with others on projects, especially ones that involve being creative. This reluctance to collaborate with others has also led to him having a resistance to structure. He does not like a hierarchal structure, and he does not have any desire to join the new coven because of this.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I have been through some… tough times. I like to think I owe my artistic drive to it.."
Jasper's early years were much alike the other kids in St. Portwell. He and his sister, Octavia, spent their entire childhood in the city. He spent entirely too much time inside making art, and when he did venture out he did so with his best friends James, Doug, and Hugh. They did everything together, and eventually, this included saving the world. At the tender age of fourteen, the four of them were pulled into the Coven after the Stygian snake began its rampage. Jasper and his friends were at the park when it all started. A firetruck was run off the road by another car, causing it to skid across the grass before coming to a stop near a baseball diamond. A single firefighter stepped out of the truck, bloody axe in hand. The Fireman began attacking people at the park, triggering Jasper and his friends' Kindling events.
Jasper saw his great-great-grandfather in his vision. The man was old, and he was painting a picture filled with deep blue hues. He talked with Jasper and told him about his Lux and what this all meant, and that he would need to be brave not only for himself, and not only for his friends but for everyone else who did not have the strength to fight or the ability to. As the trance ended, and the firefighter approached, Jasper drew a stickman in his sketchbook with black ink, channeled his Lux, and pulled the figure from the page. His stick-figure held back the firefighter for only a few moments, but it was enough for them to run. As they ran, they were intercepted by a small group from the Sycamore Tree Coven. They were offered a safe place from the madness, and further explanations for their powers. Without a second thought, they joined up. They did not know fully what they were capable of, or what their powers meant, but the Coven had answers and the answers would come after the defeat of the Stygian Snake.
The four became a tight-knit group within the coven. They were well-liked by most, even if their powers were on the weaker side. Jasper was the weakest of the group. At first, no one knew what his power could do. He could only create weak paper figures as he only used black paint. Eventually, someone suggested he add color to the paintings and that is when he was able to finally utilize his lux to its full power.
The four, along with the rest of the Coven faced the Stygian Snake in a final confrontation. In the face of danger, Jasper painted himself dry. He had initially let his creativity run wild, but this made his constructs weak and ineffective. He resorted back to simple figures with simple powers and let them do the work for him. Even when he ran out of ink, he still found a way to be useful dragging the wounded and injured to the healers.
However, the victory came at a heavy cost. Jasper, standing strong and feeling confident, found himself the lone survivor among his childhood friends. The weight of grief, coupled with the toxic dynamics and rigid leadership within the coven, gradually eroded the enchantment that had initially drawn him in. While he wanted to stay and help in any way he could, he began to feel weighed down by the leadership and the decisions that they had made. The very thing that once united them now became a source of discomfort, and as the coven's aura turned from wonderful to oppressive, Jasper made the difficult decision to sever ties.
Leaving behind the coven and its haunting memories, Jasper embarked on a solitary journey of self-discovery. The mystical powers that had once defined his adolescence became a quieter, more intimate part of his identity, woven into the threads of his art and the complexities of his adult life. The scars of his past adventures lingered, however, and he developed a dependence on numerous substances. He would spend the better part of three years an addict and has only recently gotten sober.
When Auri called, he welcomed the conversation. He did not want to return but mentioned that if anyone wanted to catch up he would be down for a class reunion. When he put down the phone, he began to paint his latest project which was a look back at the coven itself, showing all the members from right before the final fight with the Stygian Snake. The sight of his friends, and all the other dead Coven members, has made him reconsider not joining up.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "If I don't make them perfect they will never be able to help."
TYPE ⫻
Adept - Red/Yellow/Gold Lux with his channeler being a paintbrush.
ABSTRACTION ⫻
A stroke of paint - Jasper can bring his paintings to life and enhance them with different colored paint
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻
Jasper can pull his paintings from canvas and bring them to life with specific purposes. He needs to paint the figure or object first and channel his intention for it as he does. If he wanted to create a figure to attack something he would need to channel that attack into his brush as he paints, and if he wanted to create a barrier unit he would need to also channel that defensive intention. While he can still pull paintings from the canvas without this specific intention, they would be much weaker and melt faster than ones with a specific intention. Jasper can enhance these constructs by using color.
Paint it black: Jasper can pull his paintings from the canvas and bring them to life. The first step in the creation of any of these constructs is painting the Canvas black. While he can instead outline the construct with the brush, the spell works best when the entire canvas serves as the channeling surface. If he chooses to go forward with the outline instead the construct will be weaker and may melt into a puddle of acrylic or oil within a few minutes. During the process, he must constantly make his intention known and channel it into the paint itself. By using his channeling power, the oil or acrylic paint will dry within a few minutes and be ready for the next part and he uses the other end of the paintbrush to channel this effect. He has to move from step to step, and can not prepare a hundred painted canvases otherwise they run into the same issue as the outline.
A dash of detail: Once the canvas is dried, he can then move on to creating the construct. Detail is incredibly important in this step. Any mistake he makes, such as a leg being shorter or disproportional, will make its way into the summoned construct. The more detail he adds will also make the construct more powerful. Depending on the situation he can spend ten minutes on creating a basic construct that would serve for its intended function. He has practiced the creation of three basic constructs to a near-machine level efficiency. The knight, the paladin, and the ranger. The knight is modeled after the typical knight in armor with a long two-handed sword. The Paladin has a large shield and nothing else while having a bulkier armor style than the knight. The ranger has a longbow and is devoid of any armor. Much like painting the canvas black, he can quickly use his Lux to dry the painting allowing a rapid application of the next layer.
A splash of color: If the situation calls for it, Jasper can spend more time on each painting and can add different effects to each one. The two colors that he focuses on are red and yellow. The red color is an offensive-focused one. When he paints the knight's sword, the paladin's shield, or the ranger's arrow if he paints them in a red color he can channel his Lux to give his constructs a fire effect. The knight's sword is engulfed in flames, the paladin's shield radiates intense heat, and the ranger's arrow explodes in a firey spray. As well, if he paints the Paladin with a yellow hue, or adds yellow to the knight's sword, it makes the construct more durable in those locations. He can only work with red and yellow paint for this purpose, and he can not combine the colors to combine their properties.
Put it together: When he finishes the painting, he can use his paintbrush to pull the construct from the canvas and into the real world. As they are pulled, they grow in size at a rate of three to one. Thus, a painting that is two feet by one foot will become a construct that is six feet by three feet. It is here where any imperfections will be truly highlighted. The more complex constructs, like the knight, paladin, and ranger, can last five minutes on average, meanwhile, a quick outline without doing the full spell may last a minute at most.
A fine paintbrush: Jasper's paintbrush is a special one. He only uses it to create his constructs and for no other painting. It, when combined with his lux, ensures that not a drop of paint is left on the bristles after use. As well, the bristles themselves seem to remain as new as the day he picked it up.
LIMITS ⫻
The biggest figure that Jasper has been able to summon is a six-foot-tall one. As the size increases on a creation so too does the strength needed to pull it from the canvas. As well, the process of doing so exerts a toll on his body. While he can paint, summon, and paint again he will tire himself out quickly if he tries to summon too many too quickly. He can only have one summon at a time, meaning he will need to determine which form makes the most sense and commit to it until he can summon the next.
There is an inherent need for complexity in these paintings. While he can create simple ones and use them, they lack any form of strength to stand for long, and the more simple they are the less punishment they can take.
At the end of the day, his constructs are nothing more than reinforced ink or oil. While his lux can grant them strength to absorb some punishment, they can not withstand much for long.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ > Jasper’s constructs have an elemental weakness in the form of water and heat. Water will instantly destroy his constructs and cause them to wash away. Heat will cause them to dry up, lose their mobility, and become more frail until they cannot move. By bringing his art to life, he puts a little bit of himself into it.... As in his life force. By doing so he will make himself weak and pushing himself too far can cause organ failure.
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I will need about ten minutes of cover or a really, really good distraction to get anything worthwhile going."
Anyyyything else?
" Liking me is hella gay bro."
(credit to @fernstone for help with the img. _______________________________________________ Aaron/Aryin Thorne
Any | 26 | White | 5’7”-5’11” | 140-145 pounds _______________________________________________ Strange. _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents " Oh that was me. Yes, I know you thought it was a dude. I’m really good with makeup. No, they’re not that short." ___________________________________
[Singer at a bar] ⫻ Aryin is a great singer, and they try to spend every weekend at the local karaoke bars. While they’re not good enough to become a professional singer, they’re more than good enough to be the best in their friend group, the coven, and the 317. [Art as a passion] ⫻ Aryin is also an artist and they make their living at the 317. They don’t claim any one style but prefer to let the art tell them which direction to take it. Their abstract art is made in a rather strange way. [Amateur Boxer] ⫻ Aaron has also spent quite a few hours in the gym learning boxing. While they’re not going to go anywhere with it they can still use their skills from this martial art to further bolster their fighting skills when powered up. [DJ] ⫻ Aaron has a side hustle as a DJ for hire. They are nothing fancy, but they know how to get a crowd dancing at whatever function they’re hired for.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I can be whichever one you want me to be."
There are a few constants that are shared between these two halves of Aryin’s same whole. They are both white, with Heterochromia. Their eyes are green and brown, and the location of these colors switch sides when they swap. They like to wear loose, baggy clothes because Aryin is tall at 5’11 while Aaron is shorter at 5’7. Thus, when they’re out as Aaron they need to always ensure that whatever they wear will also fit the taller Aryin and vice versa. While that is a necessity, they do have a separate style for each. Aryin tends to be bubble gum pink and colorful meanwhile Aaron simple and basic with his clothes.
Aaron has shorter, fluffy brown hair while Aryin has longer straight hair that they often keep bangs with. Neither have any tattoos nor piercings as that could mess with their body transformation. A tattoo that could look good on one might look distorted and wrong on the other.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ " We’re literally the same person, why do you think I’m more bitchy??"
MAIN GOAL ⫻ Aryin has the goal to protect their found family at whatever cost it might incur. They will not hesitate to jump into a fight to protect someone who is close to them, and oftentimes that has led to injuries for all parties involved. Aryin will also stop at nothing to ensure that once a threat identifies themself that the threat is dealt with. They also have a desire to truly find someone capable of loving them, the whole them, and not just one half of them. This has proven much more difficult than they imagined, as they can not date a blind.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ The strong must protect the week. Those who have the strength to do so must do everything in their power to ensure those without it do not come to harm. Whether that is with physical strength, mental fortitude, or material wealth, those who are in a privileged position must use it to better those who are not on their level. Any less is betraying not only themself, but everyone around them.
SECRETS ⫻ They often lead a secret double life as each part of themself with the blind. Aaron is a sports nerd who likes to hang out with the boys at the bar watching a game while having a drink, meanwhile Aryin is a nature loving, power to the people activist who finds peace on hikes. Their two friend groups never intersect but if they did, they’d have up become like Ms. Doubtfire in every social engagement. As well, if it became common knowledge that they love to live this double life people would think less of them for their talk about embracing your whole truth, but living in a way that was anything but.
SEXUALITY ⫻ Queer as fuck.
FEARS ⫻ They have a deep fear surrounding the Stygian Snake and monsters like it. They were not strong enough to hold the line, nor fight the monster back itself. If another threat like that came into the world they know that they’d never be able to do more than what they have already did.
They also have a fear about being alone. Their birth family already abandoned them, what would happen if their found family did the same?
REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN ⫻ Aryin was simply Aaron back in the old coven day in both forms. They were known to be a fiery, opinionated person who was ready to fight both the Stygian Snake and the less chill members of the coven. They were often seen arguing with the leadership about one thing or the other, and on a few times their temper got the best of them. People also knew them as this kind, compassionate person who would rather throw themself in front of a raging monster instead of risking injury to someone else. They left before they could be kicked out by the leadership, and that vote was likely to occur. Their biggest hater was Emily, and if she simply breathed around Aaron he would’ve made it a huge issue.
ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE ⫻ They were a common sight on the frontlines. They would tank the hits of the various monsters to allow the more finesse fighters a clear opening to strike, before switching to their long range form to clear the monsters from a distance. You never saw them stay in the same form for long, and more often they would be tanking a hit before they switched to kill a target before they switched back to resume their tank status.
FLAWS ⫻ They often care too much about those around them. If someone hurts their friend, or creates the situation where their friend gets hurt, they will become increasingly unreliable and irrational. As well, they often read too much into what people say. A simple misunderstanding could turn heated without much warning.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ " Let’s not focus on the past."
Aaron was born in St. Portwell to an upper middle class family. He did not want for a lot, and had a relatively happy childhood even if his gender fluid nature drew the ire of his parents. He had average grades, but a strong friend group that created a lot of great childhood memories. Because of their constant desire to present differently than what their parents had intended, they often were pulled away from their friends and the fun that he enjoyed so much and forced to spend weeks at a time restricted to their room.
As they entered Highschool they hoped that things would finally be different, that they could be their authentic self and get the approval of their parents and be able to have friends that matched their energy. That would have to wait. During a normal after school visit to the mall the Snake launched its attack. It was during this attack that Aaron underwent their kindling and learned how to fight back. As soon as their kindling was finished they underwent their first swap and what would become known as Aryin was born. Aryin would fight in this form for a few minutes before she swapped back. He then used his light based powers to fight the apparitions that had killed his friends and began to go after any other one he could find. Eventually he was cornered and took a few hits that forced him to swap back to Aryin. For the next hour she threw hands with the monsters, unable to hurt them and unable to be hurt in return. They think that they would still be there to this day, hands flying through the air, if it wasn’t for the Sycamore Tree Coven finding her and killing the monsters.
From here it was clear what their path would be, and it was clear that it would be paved with the bodies of the snake and its minions. Fighting became a new normal during the month-long ordeal, and they were never far from the frontlines. Tank a hit, swap, blast them with energy, swap again, and repeat. They got help with enhancing their spells from Ella, and their memory lingers on with Aaron in their spell names. When the snake was defeated, they tried to stay with the coven to help protect the people she cared about. People like Emily and the other leaders made that difficult, and Aryin transitioned to fight this new fight for those who could not. This would go on for more than Aryin intended, and they knew when they were no longer wanted by the leadership. As those they cared about left, so too did Aryin. This closed her time with coven’s and has never joined another.
After the coven, and Highschool, they fully came out and refused to back down when their parents threatened to disown them. They made good on the threat and Aryin had to chart their own path forward, completely cut off from everyone in her family. They went to school in St. Portwell and is still paying down the debt they took out to pay for it. They have a small apartment down the road from the 317 and have done their best to keep in contact with their friends from before. They have begun to rent a space in the 317 and have begun to be brought into more of the organization's structure. They have heard that their coven has returned, and part of them wants to return and rejoin their former friends.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ " You’re not strong enough. And you can’t ran fast enough."
TYPE ⫻ Aryin is a green adept with a necklace as her channeler, Aaron is a red adept with the same channeler. Technically they’re a Red/Green adept however their powers are restricted depending on their presentation.
ABSTRACTION ⫻ Gender Bender. Aryin can swap their gender to either be an immovable object of pure defensive strength, or an unstoppable object of raw destructive power.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Aryin is an adept who uses a power they’ve referred to as Gender Bender. This power allows them to completely change their sex at will, complete with both primary and secondary characteristics. While some traits remain, such as their eyes, everything else will be changed and this includes their powers. The transformation is near instant, and they’re able to swap back and forth without issue or delay. Their two forms compliment each other, one can tank the hits and apply the power to the other that can dish out punishment and increase the former's speed.
STONEWALL ⫻ When they are Aryin they become an immovable object that can tank hits from most sources both physical and magical. They draw their power entirely from the green lux aspect of their power and have not been able to integrate any red lux spells whatsoever. The secondary function of this form is it is the most efficient way to power Aaron’s spells. Their skin can store the energy of a hit and this stored energy is then used up with their offensive spells. They can not store an infinite amount of this energy and thus, they’ll want to switch to get the most out of it. As well, if they store too much it begins to slow them down.
HOLD THE LINE Aryin becomes incredibly hard to move. No matter what they are hit with they can not be pushed back nor moved from their position. Each hit will feel like it’s hitting a solid surface no matter where it falls.
STILL IN THE FIGHT As well, in this form they have a nearly unlimited source of stamina. This means that even if they throw a thousand punches they’ll be ready to throw a thousand more. They’re punches are enhanced compared to normal but it is not by much. They can hit hard but not hard enough to be considered supernatural.
IN THE LINE OF FIRE When someone they care about is in danger they are able to temporarily increase their speed to get themselves in front of the danger. This is a short lived burst of energy that seems to be triggered by their fear of loss.
WEEB ENHANCEMENT ⫻ Aaron is a bit different in his application of his power. He can not access any green lux abilities and instead must focus on the raw power from his red. Aaron can draw from Aryin’s stored energy to power his abilities. He can still use his power without this stored energy but they are much weaker, and will instead pull from his own life force.
TWILIGHT FLASH Aaron can draw on his power to create light in the palm of his hands . The intensity of the light depends on how much energy he pulls into the spell. Simply put the more energy he draws the brighter the light. This also acts as a charge up system for his other spells If he charges this for a second, he might be able to hurt and possibly kill an enemy. More than likely this will stun a target rather than anything more. If he charges for ten seconds there is not much that can take multiple hits from his offensive spells.
In simple terms, he draws power from the stored energy of Stonewall that he can then convert into a power that he can use for his spells.
EVIL SPIRITS, BE GONE The most telegraphed attack he will use, Evil Spirits, Be Gone is an incredibly concentrated and consistent blast of energy. This ray can burn incredibly hot and the duration of the blast is determined by the charge time. The longer he charges the longer he can keep the blast on target before he runs out of power.
SPIRIT BOMB The second, and most powerful, of his abilities is Spirt Bomb. He concentrates the energy into one hand and forms it into a ball that he can throw and detonate on command. The size and power of the explosion is determined by how much energy he pulls from within, growing from a baseball to a basketball to a beach ball and upwards. There is no upper limit to how big it can get however there is a limit to how much he himself can hold or throw. As well, there’s a limit on how much power he can store. Once detonated it will explode outwards in a massive explosion that can devastate those who are caught within the blast.
KI BLAST Ki blast is Aaron primary form of offense and defense. He can pull energy from within and then use it to fire off a blast of explosive power. The longer he charges the more shots he has. It is a useful tool for engage, as he can fire them off as he approaches a target before swapping, harassing at range, and even as a short range blast to get separation from a target.
LIMITS ⫻ While they can stay in both forms indefinitely, they can not fight in both forever. The Stonewall form is not meant for prolonged fights. While they are very durable something can eventually overwhelm them. As well, there is a finite amount of energy that can be stored. Aaron also has a limit for his duration. The longer that they try and maintain this form the weaker their spells become and the more energy needed.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ Aryin/Aaron's ability to switch genders and spell groups is connected to their emotions and could lead to unintentionally switching forms and even getting temporarily stuck in either Aaron or Aryin. Which can be pretty risky in situations in which they need one form or another. Aryin/Aaron's Abstraction is specialized, with each form focusing solely on defense or offense, which means they sacrifice one for the other. While Aryin's Stonewall form provides excellent defense, it also limits her mobility and range of movement, making her slow, sluggish, inert, and easier to maneuver around in a fight. Aaron's spells, particularly Evil Spirits, Be Gone and Spirit Bomb, are highly telegraphed and require charging time, making them incredibly easy to react to in a fight. While Aaron's offensive form grants him powerful destructive abilities, it may also leave him physically vulnerable due to decreased defense and a weaker Emotional-Field which means he is more susceptible to magic than average.
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ " No, I don’t know Aaron. No, we’re not related."
They do enjoy messing with people, and have a knack for comedic timing.
Britney.Williams
"You will redeem yourself, or you will die trying to." _______________________________________________
You did something that I don’t think I have it in me to forgive. You made monsters out of our friends, and yet if our roles were reversed I don’t know what I would have done. Britney Williams, you make me feel conflicted. In this new coven, I will keep one eye on you and a second on your future. If are truly trying to make amends, you had better show up here and in the future. What you did for Lila was a start.
What would you say if I thought the sealing failed?
Drake.Blackmore
“The man who I thought could move mountains." _______________________________________________
Oh you were so my type back in the day. Strong, charismatic, and heroic all bundled into a cute frame. Time has changed, but not you. You may try and keep your secrets today, but the future has a funny way of telling some truths. If you ever need someone to talk to, I am always available and I will bring the strong stuff to help you out.
l think you need therapy.
Alizée.Altieri
"I saw you die a hundred times, but it never prepared me for it actually happen." _______________________________________________
You used to be a colossal bitch. I looked to the possible futures and I don’t think you are. I think you’re like a New York nice, abrasive, and rude with your words but secretly you care very much about the rest of us. At least those of us not named Sloane. Though if that possible future taught me anything it was to not get drunk with you.
You’re an angry drunk and I’m a sad one. That does not mix well.
Luca.Oliviera
"I looked to the future to see if I can help. I never find answers but you never stop being you." _______________________________________________
Luca, there are many words that I want to say to you, but we both know you’ve heard them a million times before. I will say no matter what the future actually brings, you will greet it with a smile and a brave face.
I have a super soaker I can fill with alcohol if you ever want to have a drink
Tayla.Choi
" You cut yourself off but the future still has plans for you.." _______________________________________________
You don’t need any more power than what you have now. You and your son always look happy together in the future I’ve seen, and I’m here for you if you need any help in the here and now.
If you ever need to know if a gift is a good idea let me know and I’ll look for you.
Finn.Reid
"Another name on the mural, another face I thought I’d forgotten." _______________________________________________
You caught a lot of flak, some of it deserved but most not, back then. I see you haven’t changed today. You nearly killed us all back in the church because you were scared. If I could I’d vote you out again, but that wouldn't be for the best. I think the future holds hope for you, and I might stick around to help get you there.
I will never let anyone leave a drink unattended around you. Ever.
Kali.Mahendra
"For a fed you were alright.." _______________________________________________
You came back. I worried that you’d stay home forever. You were another guy I felt was owed much. You did things that no one else could’ve done, and I never thanked you for that. What if I told you that in every possible future, with every possible threat I see, you’re there holding the lines alongside us. You left us before, but the future says you’ll never leave us again for long.
I always wanted to talk to you one-on-one back in the day. Maybe we can get a drink and catch up sometime in the present?
"Sully".McPherson
"My man." _______________________________________________
You did something that no one else could have done, and that made the bad times bearable. Beer chalice aside, you did more to keep my sanity during those dark times than I can count. I owe you much, and I hope we can reconnect now that I’m back.
I looked into your future, you’re always the life of the party..
Everleigh.Thorn
" While your future isn’t with us, I still wish you the best. If anyone can protect you from father wolf it’s the feds." _______________________________________________
You protect. You’ve always protected us and you will continue to do so. As far as I’m concerned you’ve earned free drinks for life. Back in the day I wish we could’ve been closer. I know I will make up for that here and now.
Why did you have to get so hot? You age very well into the future
"Lyss".Burns
"My first crush. I’m glad I was right about you." _______________________________________________
I do want to know what your little book contains. In every future, you would never let me see. Regardless, I’m glad to see to doing so well. If you ever need a look into the future you can count on your friendly oracle in these uncertain times.
While he’s a fed, go for it. Mamma gets what mamma wants
Anya.Baksh
" You are a loser, honey you’re an uptight little bitch who plays games with the dreams of others. You don’t change. You never want to change." _______________________________________________
I don’t know what made you into this horrible person but one thing is for certain, I won’t let you ever get power over the coven. It’s not like you’ll have any dreams to steal from me. You have the power to do so much good, and yet you squander it by being a petty, vindictive, shadow of Sloane. I would have a hundred shots with Sloane before I have one with you.
Adora.Phoenix-Prescott
"You are always our strongest. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I will not let your sorrow consume you." _______________________________________________
You were dealt the toughest hand of everyone in our coven. Your saved me, you saved Luca, and you’ll save us all again before long. It’s who you are, and I want to be here for you now.
I never got to say how sorry I was. I should have told you what I saw. If you knew, you might’ve done things differently
Layla.Hyacinthus
" You will not be the voids next victim." _______________________________________________
I don’t know what I can do, but I will see you free from that abuse. I admit I do not know you all that well. I think we walked in different circles, and it feels like today was the first time I met you. But I am here for you if you ever decide you need a friend. I can let you know what a free future looks like.
You can’t end up like her.
Jasper.Wilde
"A fed? Really? That’s who catches your eye? Bro I can see the future, why try and hide this?." _______________________________________________
I can’t tell you how excited I was to see you again. It’s like no time has passed since we last saw each other, and I’m so happy you got sober. I’ll be hanging out with you a lot more again and that means I get to judge you for your taste in women. Like bro common.
I am just glad that you’re with me today. I missed our friendship, I missed our adventures, and I am glad we get to do it all over again.
Lila.Blackwood
"The sister I got to know. I’m so glad to be back with you. _______________________________________________
Words will never describe what you mean to me. You have become this strong, independent, young woman who is no longer afraid of what others say. You are authentically yourself and that is all you need to be. Though I am noticing something weird with you. It seems like that ever since we sealed The Maiden. I see terrible things coming your way, and your future is filled with it.
I think you should talk to Britney again, if the future is any indication the sealing did not go as planned
Sloane.Faris
“I know I fucked up. I should have done more." _______________________________________________
Look, Sloane... everything you said about me back in the day was absolutely right. I was unreliable, I was always trying to make myself look the best, and when it mattered the most I failed us. I should have asked you for help. You were rude, but you were honest. Maybe if I asked for your help, I could have made more sense of what the possible futures were telling me. Instead, I thought I knew best because it was my curse to bear and people died. I got a free pass for my failures because. my. curse. is. unreliable. I am also sorry that I let Jasper be Jasper to you. I should speak up more, I should be doing a lot more to calm the tensions that have built up, but I can't. And for that I am sorry. I've kept up this facade of hatred towards you for a decade already, what's another year more?
Britney.Williams
"You did good helping me seal The Maiden away, yet you must do more." _______________________________________________
What you did back then is.. hard to forgive. Impossible to. I will never have it in me to forgive you for what you did to all those poor people. Were we fighting for our lives, and did the surge in support help turn the tide in our favor? Yes. Was it the right move to do it without offering it as an option first? No. You should have asked. Given people the choice. Once we saw what we were fighting, and what would happen if we lost, I know I would have said yes, and I often wonder how many others would’ve as well.
You know she did not do what she said she'd do. Why do you hold onto hope she'd do better next time?
Drake.Blackmore
“You were kinda an asshole. I am not surprised you still are." _______________________________________________
I never quite got your popularity. Sure, you did a lot to help us out back in the day but you also put us in dangerous situations when you tried to do too much too quickly. I had hoped that a decade removed from the chaos of our youth would calm you down. Dairy Queen proved me wrong. You are still the same hot-headed jock who can’t control his emotions. I hope you stay away from the new coven, but I won’t push you away. You did too much for us for me to shut you out completely. With that being said, I will keep an eye on you. I hope time around the rest of us will help you out some more.
He hides more than he says. Keep him far, far away and don’t let him in.
Alizée.Altieri
"You did too much for us for me to wish you dead." _______________________________________________
You were a strong presence on the battlefield before, but that parasite you called friend did much damage. I hope we can honor your memory by getting rid of him forever more.
The void is rough, but a strong ally to keep. Don’t push him out so soon. He will be of use before long.
Eksa.Thresh
”I wish we hung out more. Now, I only see you when i stop by the mural." _______________________________________________
I did not know you well enough before. I hope we can change that now. Out of everyone in the church, you showed me that you have the right kind of energy. If I am to last in this new coven I need to have friends like you. I am sure we’re going to see those fucks again soon, and I hope we can both tell them to fuck all the way off together.
You would do well to keep the distance you had. She would not be a good friend, she would not be someone who can help you become who you are meant to be.
Luca.Oliviera
"I fucking love you dude" _______________________________________________
Luca, I hope you know how much you mean to me. Back in our old coven days, you were unapologetically you. From the time I met you until now, you have never stopped. Because you were you, I was able to be me. I think I would’ve still been little old Michael for another couple of years before the crushing weight of living that lie forced me to embrace the truth. Luca, your strength helped me come out. I owe you much more than I will be able to communicate, and much more than I can repay. As such, if you ever, ever need anything you can always reach out to me. I will always be there for you, and I will not stop to help you with anything if needed.
The Rot is a powerful ally, you should remind Luca that through great pain comes a power that can not be replaced.
Tayla.Choi
"Welcome back, and for fucks sake can you just shut up about missing work." _______________________________________________
Tayla, girl, let’s be real with each other for just a minute. I.. Don’t.. Care. We’re all adults, and most of us don’t have the luxury that someone like Jasper has. We all have work. We are all taking PTO. Yet we are still here because some things are more important than work. I for one like living. I for one do not want to be a name etched into the back of the mural. I get it though, PTO is useful and I’d rather not waste it either.
Do not worry about this one. This one is not a threat to us.
Finn.Reid
"This list keeps getting longer.." _______________________________________________
Edict. There is a lot I wanted to say to you but I don’t know if my words would carry the meaning I intend. You tried to use your lux on me, and I think I should hate you for it. But we were all kids gifted grand powers and expected to behave. I also don’t think you did those actions because you simply found it fun. I hope I am right that beneath the smooth-talking exterior, there is someone who just wants to be liked above all.
Do not interact with this one. Do not talk, do not look, stay far away from him.
Kali.Mahendra
"I promise I won’t speak ill of the dead." _______________________________________________
You say you are related to our former leader. You say she told you about us. But I get the feeling I should not trust you. I get the feeling that there is something I should be weary of.
A strong ally, perhaps.
Jack.Hawthorne
"I am glad you’re back." _______________________________________________
I never really got the chance to know you before. I think by the time I realized that I did not want to be the afterthought of the group you were already gone from shimmer. It is a shame because I think we would’ve been decent enough friends.
Stay far from this one. He will only bring us misery
"Sully".McPherson
"I looked up to you when we were kids. I am glad that you have continued to exceed my expectations." _______________________________________________
It’s weird to think of everyone from the before times. You are always the one that surprises me the most. Our community is such a beautiful and wonderful place, and it is made ever brighter to have you amongst our ranks.
He is acceptable..
Everleigh.Thorn
"I hope you don’t stay behind bars for long." _______________________________________________
I don’t know how you can handle your chained mistress. If The Maiden was anything like that, I would have sealed her away a long time ago. I think that I would be open to getting to know you better, so if I catch you around wherever our coven calls home next I will say hi.
This one is a problem. You would be wise to stay far from his cults influence.
Stormy.Carson
"You’re still the same kid I remember, next time we’re in a fight I know where I am hiding.”." _______________________________________________
Stormy, I hope you have been well since the old coven days. You were always so nice. Whenever someone would try and bully me you were there to quickly have my back. Not many others did that for me. For that you have my eternal thanks, if you need help with anything I am but an ask away from being there for you.
Stormy is unreliable. He is a self-centered, egotistical fool. Do not let your appreciation cloud your judgment today. You must stay far away from him, and you must never ask him for help.
"Lyss".Burns
"I’ll be honest, you left at the right time. Any longer and you would’ve felt the same crushing loss I did when we disbanded." _______________________________________________
I remember you well. You were just a normal, run-of-the-mill, member of the coven. Yet you always seemed to make an impact on the battle whenever it sprung up. I think you saved me once, but it is easy to make a mistake because of the robes we wore. Still, I know you did a lot of work in that final fight so I am glad you’re still with me.
She did not do half of what you remember.
Anya.Baksh
"I get why Lynn dislikes you." _______________________________________________
I don’t know where to start with you. You have the foundation to be someone truly special. To waste it the way you do is so frustrating. I would give anything to have a power like yours. I am almost glad your power is restricted to the dreaming world, I couldn’t imagine the ego you’d have if you could do anything in the waking world. With that said, you are not 100% evil. If you ever need help, I will help you. Do not go poking around in my dreams, and I will not have my crows shit over your perfect image.
She would be a powerful friend to have. Do not let your friends corrupt what little power exists in the coven.
Adora.Phoenix-Prescott
"I owe you much more than I can repay. I would not be here if it weren’t for you." _______________________________________________
I am sorry that I was not there for you, that we as a coven were not there for you, after the battle with the snake. I owe you my life. Hell, I think we all owe you our lives and our success that day. I understand why you left, like who would want to stay around a place that did not care for you after you lost your best friend to such a gruesome death? I know being back is probably doing a lot of bad things for you right now, so you will have all the space you need to reintroduce yourself back into the ranks. I hope we can be better friends this time around than before.
Forget the weakling. Focus on the strength of the coven and let the failures fall away
Layla.Hyacinthus
"You are not alone, you were never alone." _______________________________________________
You are always welcome to join our group if you ever need a place where you belong. I don’t know what the monster has said to you, or what you plan to do from where, but if you choose to stay with us I will welcome you with open arms.
She will make a most powerful ally.
Jasper.Wilde
"A fed? Really? That’s who catches your eye? Bro Lynn can see the future, why try and hide this?." _______________________________________________
Jasper, Jasper, Jasper..tsk tsk tsk I missed my best friend. We had no excuse to not hang out these past few years, and I am glad that you decided to come. Maybe I can see what your shop looks like now that you’re more successful. You don’t know what it meant when you adopted me into your friend group, you embraced my transition without fuss, and you have always gone to bat for me. It is time I return that favor. If anyone messes with you, they mess with me too.
He has more power than he can wield. He would do well to remember his limits before he tries to summon something that will kill him.
Evelynn Ann .Serenelight
"You mean the whole world to me. I let us drift apart when you moved away, never again.” _______________________________________________
Lynn, you know I love you right? You are the best friend a girl could ask for, and then some. Though we have to have a talk soon about your drinking habit. I know it is something that has been passed down your bloodline like some fucked up tradition but I worry about you. But you’re back. And for right now, that is all that matters. I hope you decide to stay here. I have the spare room, gran loves you, and with your remote work, I don’t think it will be a big issue. If you do go back home for work, I demand we keep in contact with each other.
This one needs more training. Her curse is a gift in the right hands. While she is terrible with it now, she will be a very powerful friend to keep for the future
Sloane.Faris
“I don’t know why, but for some reason, I get the feeling you think I am the same kid from our last meeting. Things have changed." _______________________________________________
I don’t think I am meant to hate you like Jasper is. I dislike you plenty, but that is healthy. I can respect what you did for our coven back in the day, and I can respect what you were trying to do for the coven before I learned that you were hoarding all those artifacts. That was dangerous. That was stupid. That was the kind of thing Jasper expects from you. I know you will prove him wrong time, and time again, and I will be sure to make him see that you are not the worst person to ever exist. You’re just a lot. I hope I can prove to you that I am not the same pushover I once was as well.
You are wise to let her have a chance.
Britney Williams
" There were a few reason I came back, and I’m looking at the first." _______________________________________________
Oh, my first crush. Everyone who hates on you for what you did would have done the same thing if the roles were reversed. We were fighting to stop the end of the world as we know it, sacrifices had to be made and you did what you had to do to help us survive. I do wish you would have done more after the fight to cure those you afflicted but that is my only complaint. I hope now, that the coven is back together, we can catch up sometime over a bottle of wine.
Drake.Blackmore
“Bro, what’s this I hear about you decking Sloane? The fuck is wrong with you." _______________________________________________
I don’t know what to say to you other than “what the fuck bro”. Why did you hit Sloane? From what I can hear you guys were arguing but that’s no fucking excuse. You’re much stronger than me, but do something stupid like that again and I won’t be afraid to step in.
Maybe my absence has been felt. Maybe I should have never left everyone, and maybe I should have been there for you when things got rough. Let’s meet up, let’s talk, and let’s see if we can work through that anger of yours. Maybe it’ll help me with mine.
Alizée.Altieri
"You will be remembered." _______________________________________________
i can not stress how excited I am to see you again my friend. I know we had a few periods of our friendship going on the back burner but we always found our ways back together. Was it a mutual hated person? Maybe. Was it the fact that we’re both two cool people who found different ways to keep friends? I think that’s the more likely explanation.
Let’s meet up again. You’re always welcome in the studio, or we can catch up at a bar you don’t work at.
Luca.Oliviera
"If it’s not my favorite man, I’ll ask Stormy to put up his aura so I can give you a hug." _______________________________________________
Luca, I am beyond thrilled to see you again. But I have to admit there is a guilt that knaws at my mind. It is something that I feel terrible about. It’s is something that has kept me up for a single night, maybe two. And that is I have yet to show you my art. I have yet to show you all that our childhood inspired. And before you say ‘oh, thanks! I don’t think that’s a good idea because I have this crazy ability to rot everything around me, but you can send me a photo! I have plenty of burner phones’ consider this. I want to make my art available, accessible, and that starts with me making that effort. Let me figure out how to, and I’ll treat you.
So. Tell me when you’re free, and I’ll open up the exhibit.
Tayla.Choi
"A coven is not defined by the strength of its magic, but on the strength of its members. We’ll always be strong with people like you around" _______________________________________________
So, I heard about you severing your connection to your lux. I could never cut myself off from mine. I could never. That’s a strength I don’t have. I’m glad to have you around
Finn.Reid
"When I painted us all I never thought I’d be painting more death.." _______________________________________________
Edict I don’t know why, but I missed you. I missed your weird voice, your crazy ideas, and I just missed you. Talk to me the next time you get the idea to burn a church down. That wasn’t a good look.
Kali.Mahendra
"What can we do to honor our dead" _______________________________________________
I think you should swing by sometime. I’d love to hear the tales of your adventures. I think it’s just the inspiration I need.
"Sully".McPherson
" Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Sully? And why do I hear the angelic sounds of a chalice? You think you can cook up some extra tasty cocktails?." _______________________________________________
I was hoping to see you. I’m sure that you’re still the same person I remember. But I want to be sure that you know that I find it unacceptable that you haven’t stopped by to help me out even my paint ran low.
I should have reached out to someone like you when things got rough for me. I could’ve used a friend to talk to, someone who would have listened but also help pull me from the darkness that was eating me alive. Still, I’m just glad that you’re around now.
Everleigh.Thorn
" This too shall pass." _______________________________________________
Friend you are a sight to be sure. I’ve heard so much about you through the grapevine. I can not think of someone who makes a very teacher than you, and I’m so glad you took the time to come back and be with us.
"Lyss".Burns
"I with judge you for thirsting over a fed. I’m catching enough flack myself for the same reason" _______________________________________________
I So. A fed caught your eye? Me too, me too. Don’t worry I’ll never judge you for it, especially not for that man.
Anya.Baksh
"I dislike you. Not for your association with Sloane, not because Lynn hates you, I just dislike you because you’re dangerous.." _______________________________________________
I hope I dream a dream of these words so you know how I truly feel. You are dangerous. And not in the ‘oh I’m powerful, I can do it all’ kinda ways but in the ‘i will run your life over a dream’ kinda one. As well, you can influence the dreams of everyone. So anytime you tell us what someone dreamed I know you’re lying. You’re changing the dreams of others, blackmailing them with them, and pretending that makes you important. You’re not. And I think deep down you know that.
Adora.Phoenix-Prescott
"I don’t know how to show my gratitude without making things worse" _______________________________________________
I think we’re all aware that you have suffered, and I am sorry that I don’t know how to make it better. I know I would be dead right now if you didn’t stop Scott from chasing us back in the day. And I know I wasn’t there when you were suffering after the battle. If you need anything all you need to do is ask.
Layla.Hyacinthus
" We have your back." _______________________________________________
Looks like everyone’s favorite bird lady is back and better than ever. You look amazing, you sound so confident, and I’m so proud of the person you’re growing into. I think our group will be able to help guide this new coven in the best ways possible.
Evelynn Ann .Serenelight
"Lynn, Lynn, Lynn. I missed you Lynn.” _______________________________________________
Lynn, Lynn, Lynn, I can’t begin to thank you for everything you did for us back in the day. And I’m sure you’ll do it all over again in the here and now. Don’t let what the others say get to you. No one else knows what it’s like to see all that death, all that failure, and still have the ability to prevent it all.
I see a lot of the same things in you that I saw in myself before. If you ever need a sober buddy, or to just talk, I’m always here for you.
Sloane.Faris
“I’ve hated you ever since we first met. I don’t know why, but I don’t think I’ll never not hate you.” _______________________________________________
I know you’ll never see this, and I know you must think so low of me. I know I hate you for no reason. I know this hate has infected others around me, and I know that others have fed off it. I am not sorry.
[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjEwNi5iNTBiZmUuU0dWc2JHOGdZVzVrSUhkbGJHTnZiV1VzLjA,/overunder-personal-use.regular.webp[/img]
I have gone by many names over my life, and the one I go by here is Nori.
I am a non-binary individual who has a love of participating in these stories and creating my own. I am incredibly chronically ill. If my illness flares up too much I may be pulled away.[/center]
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;"><div class="bb-center"><img src="https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/dHRmLjEwNi5iNTBiZmUuU0dWc2JHOGdZVzVrSUhkbGJHTnZiV1VzLjA,/overunder-personal-use.regular.webp" /><br>I have gone by many names over my life, and the one I go by here is Nori.<br><br>I am a non-binary individual who has a love of participating in these stories and creating my own. I am incredibly chronically ill. If my illness flares up too much I may be pulled away.</div><br></div>
Member
Skai
Rekkuza
Olive Fontaine
CollectorOfMyst
Aeolian
PatientBean
FernStone
avril
Stern Algorithm
Snowdrops
(credit to 
