Riven Wight

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

“An injustice?” Anora interrupted heatedly, taken aback. She eyed him, a mixture of strength and frailness warring in him as he spoke. She was not sure if she felt like she should be more angry or concerned. He looked weaker than he had been even just moments before. If her own powers could drain her, she wondered, did his drain him, too?
She opened her mouth to respond with a firm, “Yeah, because they don’t!” to his question, but the words died on her lips at the emotion emitting from him, forming into a palpable sensation swirling in the air between them.
At his final words, Anora glanced back to the hospital, then to the road. Rather, to the direction of the approaching police.
She doubted “Blouth Slaying 101” was a class offered in police academy.
But what if it is? She looked to Darsby as he neared a black van. She stepped a bit closer to him and the vehicle, curious as he raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
She stumbled back with a surprised shout when lightning hit the car, bringing the inanimate thing to life. So to speak.
Catching Darsby’s half-turn toward her, she shifted her gawking gaze to him. She quickly tried to wipe the look away, replacing it with as good of a, ‘Yep, just another Monday,’ expression as she could. She succeeded only in looking like a child trying to not show enjoyment to a parent they were mad at.
She eyed him, her head tilting slightly as Darsby continued speaking.
“We talking like Men in Black or the Ministry of Magic's clean-up crew?” A hint of excitement tinged her words despite her attempts to keep it filled with a façade of healthy disbelief. No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible for her to doubt him. She did not want to doubt him. If there really were people trained for this off the books, it meant there were more out there like her and Darsby. More monsters—for better or worse—like the Blouth.
It meant she was not alone.
She blinked and inhaled when he continued despite yet another interruption. Somewhere… I need to go? Her heart pounded a little faster, questions swirling around in her mind in a noisy, infuriating jumblement, each one demanding to get an answer. Whoever this man was, whatever he wanted with her, he had the answers. And clearly no intention of staying to help those stuck in the hospital. Her staying to help meant losing the only person she knew who could satisfy her need to know more.
Her attention shot toward one of the parking lot entrances as the first flashes of red and blue from police cars dusted the buildings. The lights spurred her into action.
“Then get in already, Agent K!” She practically ran the last couple steps toward the open driver’s side of the van.
She hastily tossed her backpack between the open middle of the seats. “Places to go, things to see!” She hopped inside as the first of the police cars sped into view, slowing only to turn safely into the parking lot.
Anora frowned, panic at being trapped just outside the hospital, of being stuck without getting the answers she craved, tightening her chest. “Don’t suppose you have an invisibility spell handy, do you?” she asked, her voice rushed as she reached to close the door.

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

Sorry again. Got caught up in making Christmas gifts, then the last few days have been interesting with my insomnia. xD As a warning, it's likely going to be a bit crazy (in the best possible ways) because of the holidays and people coming to visit every other week. So exciting!

Alrighty! Saw that you put that the car started when reading through again to respond. Sorry for not noticing that! You'd think I'd learn to pay more attention. Thanks for the heads-up! Of course it's okay you wrote that up. As a GM, you're going to have to describe things that happen to other characters, including PCs. There's a difference between describing what happens to a character (like with what you have in that hider) and writing how that character feels about it or otherwise reacts to the experience(s). In this case, I don't know what Anora will see or experience when Darsby uses his powers, but you do! As a player, I'm reliant on my dear GM to describe the important, unknown parts of the world around my character. There will be times when all she can do is react to something without any chance of altering events, and others where her decisions can lead the story in different directions or make it take minor detours.

As an example, in a RP I GM, there was a scene in a forest where my partner's character reacted to something in a way I had not entirely expected, which led to a chain of events that made the character's lives more difficult than it would have been had her character reacted differently or if I had brushed it off and kept writing. It still got back on track to what my plot needed, even if the road to get there was different (and more arduous for the characters) than had initially been in my head. But that detour was a blast, and led to unintentional character bonding (in their own weird way), and even some foreshadowing that would not have happened if not for a fairly simple, unexpected reaction!

Moving on, then! To save time in affirming this your next post: so, it's not exactly a pleasant, painless experience for her, then? xD I assume you didn't write it out for me to put in my post this time, since Darsby is still outside the car in your last post, and that bit of info belongs to your post, not mine, in my opinion! So I'll have her address that after your response, and wrote for her like I normally would. That good with you?

Yessss. Can't wait to find out more! :-D

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

“No.” Drust’s gaze followed every move Ghent made with the staff. “He tested it in the palace’s training yard.”
Drust gave a snarling scowl and stepped back when the boy attempted twirling the weapon.
Elayra’s deadly glare bore into Ghent at being called out. She opened her mouth to snap a retort, but Ghent lost his grip and dropped the staff. It just barely missed the fire pit, landing unnervingly close to the flames. She smirked. More condescension rested in that single expression than what should have been possible.
“Jealous of what?” she snarked, glad for the distraction. Even if it did only strengthen her thoughts and wet her itch to rescue the weapon from him. “Your ineptitude, or your stupidity?”
As soon as the boy had straightened with the staff, Drust reached out and gripped the shaft immediately beneath Ghent’s hand, his massive and an unnaturally pale off-white compared to Ghent’s.
A snarl twisting his face, he leaned closer to Ghent, his grip impossibly tight. “Did you not hear what I said?” he snarled. His neck twitched and the veins at his eyes gave a quick pulse. “It’s a tool,” he continued through his teeth. “Not. A. Toy!”
Elayra’s attention snapped to Drust. Her smugness vanished from her face, her mind switching gears to react accordingly if Ghent triggered the Curse.
If you can even stand, she reminded herself resentfully, scowling. She did not yet feel much of a difference from what she had drank of her Curative-infused water. If it was working its magic, she could not say from sitting there.
Drust released the staff with a heavy, growling sigh and stepped away from Ghent. He gripped the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, leaving Ghent to abide by his final order. His head twitched toward Ghent at the gentle sound of the boy’s footsteps on the grass, but he kept his eyes shut for a moment more.
Elayra watched the two of them, her gaze flicking back and forth. Ghent with a weapon still unsettled her far more than Drust's unstable state.
Drust’s eyes opened as Ghent passed him. At his name, he turned his head to look to his charge. He gave a quick grunt and jerk of his head to indicate for Ghent to continue.
The giant of a man turned to face the boy, his dark eyebrows rising at Ghent’s questions.
“The human guards of Heart Palace began training around the age of seven,” he began. His eyes again followed Ghent’s every twitch with eerie precision and swiftness, half his face still visible in his angle to the firelight.
Elayra looked away, her jaw clenching, at the switch in conversation. A switch to what once was. To what she was expected to return, in some shape or form. Again focusing on tuning out his words, she took another drink from her water skin, almost draining what remained.
“They would train for nearly sixteen years. Devoting their lives to the art. Only the strongest and noblest became true knights. The commanders of my ilk—and occasionally myself—were often their judges.” The corner of his lips tugged upward.
Drust crossed his arms, making his muscles bulge slightly against the brown sleeves of his tunic.
“Your fate doesn’t lie with them. Your lot is to take your father’s place as palace vinifcium when the time comes. A title that earns a place in the queen’s council. The right-hand of the White Rule.” He sighed before answering Ghent’s second question. “Yes. The armor of our warriors was a sight to behold.” He snorted. “More importantly, it was practical. And prevented your insides from spilling out quicker in a real battle.”

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

I'm grateful for your patience with me and responses. xD

If she cooperates with me (because sometimes, characters gonna do what characters gonna do, right?), she will be getting in the car my next post (hope to get to it soon. Been either super tired or working on a couple other minor projects the last few days). Morals or no morals, there's no way she'd let her only connection to magic just walk away without her. Would Darsby's powers also have started the car, or should I possibly mention something about another method for starting it?

Side note: Oooh! Darsby's being tracked! The plot thickens. >:-)

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

Aww! Well, thank you. ^.^ I'm glad you think so. Thanks for not getting upset about me saying all that! xD And for the change as well as info. I understand how difficult being a GM can be, especially when you're used to writing by yourself. And one can't learn if no one points out possible errors! With that, don't be shy about pointing anything out with me. :-)

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

For a heart-wrenching moment, Darsby did not follow Anora. The inside of the hospital became a black hole lurking beyond the window in comparison to the sunlight blaring all around her. Sparks igniting over her tense fingers. She took a step toward the window, preparing to jump back inside to see what kept him, multiple grim causes for his delay running through her head in an instant.
She shouted in surprise and stumbled away from the window when tendrils of misty gray smoke rushed through the broken glass. Her sparks turned into glowing masses encompassing her hands, licks of sparkling purple, gold, black curling up her outspread arms in anticipation.
A solid figure quickly began to form out of the mist just beyond the spray of glass shards. Not knowing what to expect—the Blouth? An Alpha? Darsby?—the glow in both her powers and gaze intensified with the pounding of her heart.
“Darsby!” she breathed through a heavy sigh of relief. Her powers extinguished and she hurried to his side.
It took her a heartbeat to realize what he meant by ‘metal wagons.’ She blinked at him when it set in. “You want to steal a car?” She asked as he began hobbling away.
She glanced back at the hospital as the first hint of police sirens whispered through the air as they raced to the aid of their comrades. Comrades who had quickly fallen. None of them had any idea what they were up against. None of them stood a chance. With herself no longer in immediate danger, her conscious finally got a word in:
What about everyone else?
“Darsby, wait!”
She reached a hand out toward her backpack as she ran toward Darsby. In the blink of an eye, purple mist surrounded her pack and it shot into her open hand, Anora catching it by a strap. She quickly caught up to him before he reached the nearest parking lot. She reached out to his non-weapon wielding arm with her free hand.
She expected him to evade her touch as he had before. To her surprise, her hand closed on his upper arm, her grip gentle, yet firm. She stepped around him to stand in front of him, hoping to make him face her.
“I’m not going anywhere. We weren't the only people in there.” Releasing him, she gestured to the hospital, unwavering determination in her gaze. “They have no clue what’s in there, let alone how to stop them! We have to help. Or…” She paused, taking in his weak, tired form. He had definitely reached his limits. She took a deep breath. “Or tell me how to stop them, and I’ll help.”
Though the idea of facing those things alone made fear churn in her stomach, she refused to let it sway her decision. Her powers may not have worked on Darsby, but they had worked on the Blouth, which was enough for her. There was no telling how many people were in the hospital, how many potential victims those monsters had at their disposal to eat or take as hosts, or whatever else they did.

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

"Much less controlling." Don't be controlling with her, period. Give ME the chance to write for her. Otherwise, you may as well be writing the story yourself.

Anora will be rendering the events of your post temporary void after this paragraph:

"We're taking one of these metal wagons. You're piloting." Darsby speaks quickly, weakly gesturing with his gun towards the nearest parking lot. He begins to hobble in that ordered direction, his bare feet softly pattering against pavement and grass.

Mortim

Unless he wouldn't stop even if she reached out or stepped in front of him to stop him. Which is kinda my roundabout way of asking if she would actually be capable of touching/stopping him, or if he would do that avoidance thing he did before. xD Then it's after this one:

Should Anora need encouragement, Darsby would have likely shouted "We don't have time! Get in!" as sirens and other such emergency personnel begin closing in on their present location. Coughs start to rack his still-sundered frame for several seconds before both doors are presumably closed. [Strike-through would be void.]

Mortim

I think I've said it before, but please, stop at points where my character(s) decision could possibly cause a difference. So far, most of what you have put would have happened regardless of what Anora did and you added reactions for your guy in the event she followed, but this time, that's not exactly the case. Don't assume: Stop and post. Post lengths very. You're going to have times where 1000+ words are appropriate, and instances where 300 or under are what is required. Let me make and show Anora's decisions. Don't assume. Just means posting shorter posts. Which I'm good with. Heck, I prefer a variation of lengths. Only exception for me are auto-hits when my character is obviously (or intentionally) outmatched. If there's something the GM knows my character just CAN'T do or intends for them to be weaker and/or incapable of reacting, then so be it!

Suggestion: Copy/paste the rest of that post in a document/Google Docs, save that, then delete the rest from the post. That'll eliminate the controlling aspect. Trust me, play your (and Darsby's) cards right, and she'll get where you want her. Just yeah, give ME the chance to get her there on her terms and when I know she'd go there. You may have to alter some minor things, but that's kinda the point of a RP with someone, isn't it? The unpredictable aspect and the need of using your imagination and wits to get a feel for that other character not in your control. And working around their reactions/decisions.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Drust snorted at Ghent’s less-than-encouraging stammering to his miniature lecture.
“Veeery reassuring, Featherhead,” Elayra sighed out, voicing both her and Drust’s thoughts.
The man’s eye twitched in response to his younger charge. Ignoring the girl, his gaze followed the boy as Ghent stood.
He hesitated for just a moment when Ghent reached for the staff, but relinquished it to him. With the deadly weapon now in inexperienced hands, Drust took a cautious step back, placing enough space between him and Ghent to act against an idiot’s experimental swing.
The only one left sitting, Elayra watched the weapon exchange hands. She puffed out a breath through her nose and forced her gaze back to the fire. All the same, she kept Ghent in her peripherals, Drust’s worry of an ill-placed movement echoed in her expression.
A voice grumbled in her head against the fairness of it, of him getting such a blade. Sure, it made sense—a well enchanted weapon for the only true magic-user of their group—but still. He was more liable to cut his own head off than an opponent’s. She, on the other hand, could run circles around him, disarm him in a the expanse of a blink.
She grit her teeth. With an annoyed breath, she raised her water skin to her mouth as if its lukewarm contents could drown her woes.
Drust snorted at Ghent’s attempt at pulling the shaft apart.
“He fought with it once. To try it out.” Another smirking almost-smile ghosted his lips. “Your combat training begins tomorrow night. For now, try to connect with it. The magic stored in it has been long dormant. But you should be capable of drawing it out. Find it. As you did with the world’s magic.
“It'll be easier to command than the world’s magic. Once you connect with it. You’ll know you’ve made a connection when you can will it to pull apart. You’ll find its name when you’ve gained its trust. Find its name, and its powers will merge with yours.”
“It’s a vinifcium staff,” Elayra guessed, her words stiffer with envy than she had wanted. She scowled at her voice's betrayal.
Drust nodded. “Hatter’s enchantments played a part in its forging. Making it a vinifcium staff. Vinifcium weapons develop unpredictable abilities. And can grow along with their wielder. But worry about that later. Unless you have more questions, get to it.” He jerked his head toward the bladed staff.

My swimming instructors a dragon. [Mortim / Siaya Dragalorn]

Oh, man! Hope everything turned out okay. No need to apologize. I know you are busy, and to expect delays between posts. Plus I have made you wait plenty. There is no rush! :-)

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

In case you decide to check the OOC first, go read the IC post first. 'Cause this kinda has spoilers, otherwise.

The Rest of this Post

Have a picture reference:

Ghent's Weapon

I had fun editing that together. xD

Of course, if you don't like it or would rather something else, just let me know! And since he has that book, you're welcome to make up focus words! I've been mixing different Latin words for them and giving them a bit of my own twist for the others. The journal has mostly beginner stuff. Simple, low-level instructions and focus words that even a common Wonderlander could potentially use at one point in time. And everything that's written up in the information post about magic would also be in there. I will let you know if/as I update it! And of course, as Drust said, if you have any questions or want to know if something would be possible/work or not, don't hesitate to ask!