SpicyMeatball

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: Lord Coswain and Persephone @PrinceAlexus}

Katherine couldn’t help but smile listening to the couple’s story, her eyes flicking between the two of them as they spoke. It had been a while since she’d seen true love. Not married together for political reasons or power, but for actual love.

A slight tightness rose in her chest for but a moment, but long enough for her to recognize it; envy. Not out of malice or ill-intent, but envy nonetheless. Katherine had spent most of her life so far away from any sort of relationship and only in recent years had enjoyed some more carnal desires. It was fun, sure. But there was an emptiness to it after her partner was gone the following day. A longing for more than something casual. A longing to wake up to someone every morning that she could give her unconditional love and trust.

She returned her attention to the conversation once more, the warm smile never having left her face. “It seems like you two have been through a lot together. It’s truly admirable to witness such love and devotion to one-another, our Lady of Silver would be proud.”

Katherine stood from her chair and paced over to one of the open crates in her quarters. She gently moved a few things aside and placed them on her bed before letting out a content hum. The priestess retrieved a surprisingly humble, leather-bound book branded with a crescent moon on its front. There was no title upon its cover nor any indication of its author. Returning to her seat, Katherine flicked through the pages while remaining present for the bride-and-groom-to-be before her.

“I will be the first to admit that I have not performed many wedding ceremonies in my admittedly brief time as a priestess, but I will do my best to ensure that everything under my control is executed to the best of my abilities.”

Her heart fluttered nervously at the admission. She hoped that the Lord and Lady wouldn’t mind her inexperience in such matters.

“I also understand if you wish for me to send for a more experienced clergy-member to perform your wedding rites. However, if you will have me, it would be my greatest honour to arrange such an important day."

Katherine briefly returned her attention to the book in her hands. Her eyes scanned over the words before her, in her own hand-writing. Notes of Lunarian wedding customs and several different prayers to Seluna filled the pages in an organized manner, a manner fitting of a student in study. The notebook had been her entire world during her studies at Moonrise Sanctuary. These notes would be instrumental for this wedding; It had easily been a year since she’d participated in a wedding ceremony, and longer since she’d been the one to organize one.

“As we are reminded daily, our Lady’s light and blessing is not limited to the temple. Is this wedding something you want all to witness, or would you both prefer a more private ceremony? As well, I can see if the tavern would be willing to prepare food and drink for after the wedding.”

“Please do not feel pressured to make these decisions right now. You can let me know of your desires at anytime, the temple is always open to you.”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: Lord Coswain and Persephone @PrinceAlexus}

There was nothing quite like the silence of being beneath the waves. Especially in the icy waters of Selunite temples, it offered almost total isolation from the outside world and at the same time, invigoration that could only be had through sub-zero temperatures. No other place on the continent made Katherine feel so alive.

Many years of training under the clergy of Seluna in the capital had allowed the priestess to fall into a near meditative state within seconds. This was where she came to contemplate important decisions, to commune with her goddess, and most importantly, isolate herself from whatever blood magic kept her tied to the Inquisition. Whether it was the frigid waters or the protection of her goddess, something kept her protected from the voice inside her head and the invisible collar around her neck.

"Y o u r s e r v i c e s a r e n e e d e d"

A gentle smile spread across Katherine’s lips. It had been many moons since she’d heard anything from Seluna herself. It was a mere whisper, but it was enough.

She was still worthy, despite her faults.

With a practised thought, she produced a small tendril of pure shadow that raised from the water and picked up her thick, fur coat. It held it suspended between the priestess and the two new arrivals that had just entered, blocking their view momentarily. Katherine had very quickly become aware that wet, white fabric left very little to the imagination. As she stepped out of the pool, she slipped into the long jacket and wrapped it around herself before turning her attention to the newcomers.

“W-welcome to the t-temple of S-s-seluna.” Katherine smiled, her words shaky as she trembled beneath the fur. “Apologies f-for m-my lack of… p-p-preparation… I didn’t expect v-visitors s-so soon.” She buttoned up her jacket tightly before wringing out her long blond hair, now undone from it’s usual braid.

“A marriage c-ceremony? Of c-c-course! C-come with me to my chambers… I n-need to warm myself.” She paced around the pool of icy water, the open door of her bedroom letting out the dim light of a roaring fire.

“Please just wait here a moment while I compose myself.” She let out a nervous laugh before disappearing into her room and closing the door gently. Within a few minutes, the priestess dried herself off and changed into her usual casual-but-still-definitely-a-priestess attire. Just as quickly as she’d left, Katherine re-appeared at the door and greeted the couple with a warm smile once more. Her shivering was less pronounced than before but still ever-present.

“Please come join me by the fire.” She said softly before gesturing towards the chairs behind her.

Katherine took the seat closest to the fire promptly; it was a selfish decision but surely her current guests would understand. She then waited for the couple to take their seats before looking between them. “Lord Coswain and Persephone, welcome to the humble temple of Seluna. I’m honoured to have guests this quickly, and looking for a marriage nonetheless.” She smiled, her voice still slightly but much more controlled with presence of the fire next to her.

“I would be happy to arrange such a ceremony. What can I, and our Lady, do for you?”

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: Anyone in the Eye of the Beholder}

The small Aurelian village’s tavern was especially lively this evening. A group of recruits from the local guard-force had just finished their probation and had come for a small celebration. It had quickly turned into a full-fledged party and most of the village had crammed themselves into the relatively small building.

Aldrick wouldn’t have it any other way. He loved these nights more than anything else in the world. Nights where no one questioned his appearance, where alcohol flowed like water and where he could play his heart out without a second thought. It certainly helped that he hadn’t properly fed in weeks and a crowd like this would sustain him for the foreseeable future. His violin sang as if it had a mind of it’s own and the crowd danced like it was the end of the world. Pure merriment and joy.

As the night began to slow, Aldrick put down the fiddle and retrieved his lute. His songs became slower as the crowds grew smaller, still filled with his usual hope and joy. Occasionally the barkeep would bring him a drink, no doubt bought by one of the patrons as a tip.

Aldrick did not accept gold for his performances.

The crowd’s emotion was more than enough for the Blight-Born.

* * *

Unlike the presumed nobles that had travelled this route before him, Aldrick did not have the benefit of a horse drawn carriage for the days-long trek from Aurelia to Dawnhaven. Footstep after aching footstep, the musician carried himself through the forests and hills before him and camped the nights with nothing more than a bedroll and something that could barely be called a tent. Truthfully he wasn’t even sure that he was going to finish the journey alive given that the snowstorm seemed to worsen each day he awoke.

It was only the promise of a campfire in the evenings joined by the absolute serenity of silence that the calms of the storm afforded him. The snow dampened any echoes and made the outdoor acoustics absolutely incredible.

The hours on the road were also spent either singing to himself or playing a soft violin tune when the weather permitted. It was one of the few ways he could keep himself sane for the otherwise very lonely and quiet trip. The storm had clearly dissuaded any scheming bandits from their usual antics, which was partially a shame because the bard was very much out of practice with his sword.

As Dawnhaven finally came into view, the bard let out a foggy sigh of relief. At last, my destination.

A few moments later, he was safe within the village. A realization came to him however, that he had no idea where he’d been resting his head each night. I suppose that the worst case scenario is that I spend a few nights in my bedroll… he pondered. It also wouldn’t be the first time I’ve slept on the tavern floor. A smirk came to his face, brief memories of many nights of celebration and revelry entering his mind.

There’s also the possibility of exchanging performances for room and board…

Either way, a solution is always in sight.

The bard continue to make his way through town, drawing a few wary looks occasionally from the common rabble but nothing he hadn’t seen many times before. Not nearly as frequently, he would notice a more inquisitive look as if someone was trying to recognize him. It had been a few good years since his...murder? His death, demise, accident? Whatever the title, though some people knew that the famous-made-infamous Aldrick Corveaux was alive and well, he suspected that most people inside of the Capitols were clueless that anything had happened to him. To most, it would have likely seemed as if he was yet another name that had come and gone, that he had risen to fame and fallen from it just as quickly.

Not that it mattered anymore.

This is a new start. A chance to fix my mistakes and a chance to bring smiles to people’s faces once more. I will not dwell on the past.

A smile spread across his face as a crowd came into view. So this is why the streets are so empty. As he observed silently from a distance, it crossed his mind that one of the guards had mentioned something about a feast. This must have been exactly that.

And what better time for song and dance than a feast?

* * *

Aldrick stepped inside the tavern right behind an all too-familiar looking head of dark hair, his eye’s lingering on the back of Nyla’s head for just a moment before shaking the feeling away. There was no way that was actually her. It had been too long.

Pushing the thought completely from his mind, the bard slipped through the crowd and into one of the few remaining empty spaces in the tavern. As he found the spot he would call his stage, Aldrick slid a chair over from the nearest table—receiving a dirty look from it’s occupants—before unslinging his lute from it’s place upon his back. He then let his pack slide from his shoulder before retrieving his violin from within. Finally, he also retrieved a small drum with a makeshift foot-pedal which he strategically placed on the floor.

With a deep breath, Aldrick raised his violin up and tucked it beneath his chin as he’d done a thousand times before. This is it. This is how I make an unforgettable first impression. And with that thought floating in his mind, he raised his bow to the strings and placed his foot on the kick-drum’s pedal. Deep breath, eyes closed. You’ve done this more times than you can count.

Something light-hearted, lets remind them what the Corveaux name stands for.

Let’s make this a real party.

The sound of a violin and a subtly-strong kick drum would fill the tavern over the voices of it’s occupants as Aldrick lost himself in the music. His hand guided the bow across the instruments fine strings with a masterful level of precision, only faltering for a heartbeat as the bard blew a lock of hair from his face. His passion slowly built as he progressed through the song, building slowly and steadily in volume.

And as he hit the apex [3-minute mark in the song], his eyes shot open with a stunning yellow glow to them as he gazed across the faces before him. Any observers may have sworn that they could see a burst of faint fire around him. A warm, hearty smile grew across his face as he swayed into the music. By the goddesses did this feel good.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: Gadez @Dezuel and Dyna @Queen Arya}

The Eye of the Beholder was quickly turning into a very eventful place to be.

Katherine’s lips spread into a wicked little grin before she gently bit her own lower lip, her eyes dancing up and down Gadez for a few moments. A shiver ran up her spine as he took her hand in his before she looked down at her feet in attempt to hide the developing redness in her cheeks. My stay in Dawnhaven may be more entertaining than I initially thought.

Katherine opened her mouth to respond to Gadez’s well-wishes and stole once last glance at Gadez as he began to turn his attention elsewhere.

“I hope so as well, Gadez the gardener.”

Her attention then turned to the two Aurelian ladies standing nearby once more. She watched the Champion with un-trusting eyes before nodding in reply. “Seluna is the only reason I still live and breathe.” Katherine started, her mind still thinking on Dyna’s theory of mutual benefit. “I do believe that despite our goddess’ hatred of each other, that mere mortals such as ourselves can work together and serve the people alongside one-another. Sure we may not agree on all fronts, but in the end I would think that we want mostly the same things for the people of this town.”

“We need not let our differences get in t--”

Before she could get the last of her words out however, she turned her head to see a certain researcher headed right towards her on a collision course. The priestess braced herself a moment before the impact and managed to keep herself upright, much to her own benefit and Eris’ downfall.

Katherine’s eyes followed the woman’s tumble, raising a single brow at the event. She watched as the woman seemed to be mentally spiralling more and more as everything seemed to be going more and more wrong. The priestess would have stepped in as well, were it not for the few other patrons who already were. I’m not even sure I’ve been that much of a hot mess on my worst days. Katherine grinned a moment to herself.

Now no longer the center of attention, Katherine’s mind moved elsewhere from the goings-on of the tavern. I should probably go see what my living situation is going to be like.

The priestess waved a casual goodbye to the few within eyesight that would see before stepping outside once more and being abruptly reminded of just how cold it still was. After retrieving her coat from the carriage she arrived in—now empty, it seemed her escort had already unloaded her belongings—Katherine walked over to the Seluna temple where she would be residing.

As it came into view, a smile spread across her lips. It was beautiful. Definitely more humble and quaint than the sanctuary, but beautiful nonetheless.

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The blizzard had clearly prevented most people from visiting the temple as there was still a significant amount of snow in front of the main entrance, but it was nothing that Katherine couldn’t handle. She looked over both shoulders—no one in sight—before raising her hands and closing her eyes. The doors of the temple were enveloped in a thin wall of pure darkness for a moment before Katherine drew her one hand back as if drawing a bow. The shadows responded in turn, moving the snow away from the doors before being tossed aside with the flick of the priestess’ wrist.

Much better.

Katherine picked up the single crate of her belongings that had been left nearby before proceeding inside, being met with a very dim interior. She paced through the darkness with relative ease before making it to what had to be her intended chambers. They were simple enough—a bed barely big enough for two but adorned with warm reindeer fur blankets; a simple desk and chair topped with quills, inkpots and a few rolls of parchment; and a stone fireplace that took up most of the far wall.

Well I know what’s first on my to-do list... Katherine laughed to herself, her breath fogging in front of her.

After retrieving some firewood that had been stacked in a nearby storage room, Katherine had a fire going within a few minutes that lit up the room and already began filling her with warmth. Moments after that, the priestess had gathered a pair of candles that she lit in the fireplace before carefully passing the flame to the remaining candles and lamps in the temple. A gentle glow now filled the main hall and shimmered on the surface of the sacred pool.

Perfect. Only one thing left to do.

The priestess then disrobed down to a simple white gown before turning her back to the icy pool of water and letting herself fall in. Years of training and similar practice were the only thing that prevented her from hyperventilating and kept her breathing almost completely unchanged from normal. The water pierced through any remaining wariness from her travels and stripped all of the aches and pains from her body. With an exhale, she let herself sink deeper into the water while still facing the open dome that let in the dim starlight above.

And with not a single word uttered, no breath taken and no sound made, Katherine began to recite Seluna’s prayer in her mind. From the few times she’d heard a reply, the priestess knew that Seluna would know her every thought and emotion without the need for speech.

My Lady Seluna... ... ... she who guides... ... ... our Lady of Silver... ... ...

Let all on whom your light falls be welcome if they desire to be so.

As the silver moon waxes and wanes, so too does all life.

We trust in your radiance, and know that all love alive under your light shall know your blessing.

Turn to the moon, and it will be your true guide.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: Syraeia @PrinceAlexus, Gadez @Dezuel, and the Soleil Sisters @Queen Arya}

”Thank you kindly” she nodded her head to Sya with a warm smile “I will pass on the shine and I believe I should be able to find accommodations at the Seluna temple, but I will happily enjoy a few of your tasty treats.”

Her mind wandered back to the crowd around them. She no longer kept focus on individual conversations among the dull hum of chatter, instead choosing to calm the strings of anxiety playing at her chest. It was a side-effect of her upbringing. Socialization had been secondary to her training, and now she was faced with a sea of unfamiliar people. The rational side of her brain told her that no one here would hurt her.

Katherine’s training told her otherwise, and she became all too aware of the daggers sheathed just below her ribs.

The sound of a deeper voice pierced through her thoughts and came closer with every step. Katherine turned her head towards it’s source and for a moment, her breath caught. Well aren’t you just delicious. Her own soft, brown eyes meeting with the piercing blues of the blonde man approaching them. The corner of her mouth briefly lifted before she bit her tongue.

She remained silent while he bowed before her and the few new faces that had slowly began to join them.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Gadez Paladice, gardener” she couldn’t help but smirk as he continued to speak. Her eyes wandered down him for a moment. I won’t mind the wood at all. Katherine extended her gloved hand towards the man “Katherine Sorrowind, Priestess of Seluna. Here to serve the people of Dawnhaven.” She sent him a warm smile.

It was not to last however, as her internal musing was interrupted by yet another blight-born with a tail. Katherine raised a brow as Ranni yelped, tilting her head slightly at the small scene developing before her. Kat’s eyes glanced between the two new ladies standing before them and took in their features one by one. “It seems there’s never a dull moment in this tavern.” she laughed gently, her warm smile ever-present on her face. She could feel the magic of her goddesses opponent practically radiating off of them both, but she suppressed her inner teachings however uncomfortable it was to be in the presence of Aelios’ energy.

We’re here despite our differences, to work together. She repeated in her head.

Trying—insert failing—her best not to show her nerves, Katherine clasped her hands behind her back and squeezed them tightly. She’d never been in the presence of one of Aelios’ chosen let alone two at the same time. Kat would do her best to be friendly and diplomatic, but was ready if they didn’t chose to do the same.

With a shaky breath, she looked between the sisters before settling her gaze on Dyna. “I hope Aelios is treating you well despite the ever-present darkness?”

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The Pasta Bowl, where you can find all of the Spiciest Characters~

Roleplay:

Realms of Sun and Shadow

Katherine Sorrowind

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"Only when you've been betrayed by your own father, wasted away without food for days and had your very skin set ablaze... Only then will you know the pain I suffered to save my mother's life."

Priestess of Seluna Kingdom of Lunaris Twenty-Eight Years Old ________________________________

This is my story... Growing up in the shadow of Master Sorrowind of the King’s Eye certainly left Katherine feeling like she was always coming in second place to her father’s work. The time that he did spend with her, was spent building her into a weapon of espionage and interrogation. From the age of three, Kat was constantly tutored by some of the brightest scholars that Lunaris had to offer. It was not her father, however, that began to corrupt her. Not directly. Katherine’s innate abilities in psychic and dark magic had not gone unnoticed by other members of the King’s Eye and in particular, the well-hidden Lunarian Inquisition. An organisation long thought to have been dismantled shortly after the last war, the Inquisition forced Katherine through the trials of learning the forbidden art of necromancy. Constant study and painful trials of Katherine’s developing abilities filled her teenage years, and much to Katherine’s surprise, all of it had been endorsed--and ordered-- by her father. She learned to despise the man. Throughout the years, Katherine was almost never present at home due to her teachings, and it had become obvious to her that the few days she was able to spend at “home” were always absent of her mother. It was not until the final trial of her abilities that she found out why. Katherine was presented with the lifeless body of her mother in an interrogation chamber beneath the castle. It was an ultimatum disguised as a trial: resurrect her mother or be charged with her murder. Never had Katherine known so much hate. Second to the physical stamina needed to sustain a resurrection, hate was the only reason she succeeded the trial. Hours of focus, days of pleading for Seluna’s favour, and every minute of it filled with pain. Necromancy was not a refined form of magic like many others. It was relentless in the power it demanded, and it was brutal and unforgiving in its consequences. By the end, her mother gasped breath anew, but Katherine’s father had finally broken her. For no other reason than to preserve their investment of time and knowledge, Katherine was brought before the clergy at Moonrise Sanctuary. She was barely alive, barely breathing. It was only by Seluna’s choice that Katherine’s heart kept beating. Over the course of the following years, Katherine stayed with the clergy and lived under Seluna’s protection at the sanctuary. The goddess had forsaken her father and exiled him from the grounds. Were he to step foot inside, he would surely feel her wrath. Katherine slowly began to heal both physically and mentally, learning the more peaceful ways of Lady Seluna. She would eventually grow to become one of Seluna’s chosen, the goddess having recognized the pure heart that had developed underneath almost two decades of hatred. Now she makes her way to Dawnhaven by decree of the Inquisition. Despite her best efforts, they still had her on a leash through what she could only guess was a form of blood magic. By their order, she would remain in Dawnhaven to protect Lunarian interests from any Aurelian unrest, or any threat of the Blight. * * *

Magic Abilities

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* Psychic * Dark * Necromancy *

Though very capable, Kat has only ever resurrected a person once--and it almost killed her. Her talents are used more for communication with the dead, be it ally or enemy. It is incredibly draining for her, and normally she can only sustain up to a minute of light interrogation before needing to stop, at risk of consuming her own life-force.

Katherine’s psychic and dark abilities feed from Seluna herself and mostly consist of concealment and the physical manipulation of objects. Katherine’s necromancy however, is fed solely from her own life-force. Seluna refused to provide her power for such abilities and therefore unless provided additional power through another caster, Katherine’s necromancy can and will kill her if pushed too far.

Seluna may not approve of her abilities, but they were not learned by choice. Similarly, her single resurrection was also done against her will, by threat of her own life. It is for both of these reasons that Seluna still allows Katherine as one of her chosen, and will remind her of such should Kat ever stray too far over the line.

^{Color: 19CACA}

Aldrick Corveaux

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"Words hold power, mine more than most."

Bard / Mercenary / Wanderer Kingdom of Aurelia Thirty Years Old "This night may become darker and darker, but that only means the stars shine brighter and brighter." _________________________

Not a single person left alive knows the true story of the famous Aldrick Corveaux. Many a traveller had heard the stories directly from his lips, but they found that when confronted with others who had heard his tale, each and every story was different. A spy for the Aurelian court? Potentially. A mercenary in a travelling caravan? Conceivably. But a bard who’d captivated the hearts and souls of thousands throughout the years? That was for certain. In truth, Aldrick was a man of many titles and talents. He grew up as a commoner of Aurelia where he worked the fields with his family and received a passable education. He grew older and joined up with the city’s watch, wanting to serve the people he had grown to love. His life was every bit as mundane as the next guardsman’s. But it was during these years living in the barracks that he discovered his love of music. A night at the tavern had him intoxicated by the velvety sound of the performer’s violin. He had to learn to play like that. To absolutely entrance the people like he’d seen the bard across many nights of revelry. To control the crowds without a single lick of magic, without the slightest thought of malice. And after many nights of begging the man, Aldrick finally won. He gained his teacher. * * * Years later, the Corveaux name held much more meaning than simple farmers and field-hands. It held hope for the future, it held joy throughout long nights of music and drink, and most of all it held no judgment for any walk of life. Aldrick drank, played and eventually sang his way through the cities of both Aurelia and Lunaris alike, and all of the small villages that lay between them. Eventually, Aldrick would come to be a reliable source of information between the kingdoms as well. People of both nations learned that he would speak the unadulterated, unfiltered truth that did not hide behind the editors of the local news parchments. His performances and songs would carry his tales and fables across the lands, but approach him afterwards and he would speak of the happenings of the continent. Never written on parchment but the information spread like wildfire nonetheless. Not everyone was content with his truth-spreading however. Especially not after the blight began. It was unknown as to their origin, but someone wanted him dead. Someone was unhappy with Aldrick bypassing the scribes and censors. And what better way to dispose of a wandering bard than to have him disappear in the very blight that he had informed the people of? A bard who regularly passed close enough to the blight-infected lands that no one would question his disappearance. A bard that would be mourned, but would not be looked for. * * * He awoke in the darkness. His head pounded as if it would explode and his heart threatened to leap from his chest. Blood soaked his garments. Surely I am dead. His burning lungs and aching muscles disagreed. I feel so different. And as he walked through the darkness of the wilds, unassisted by any torch or lantern as he would normally have, Aldrick began to piece-together everything. Catching his reflection in a pond only confirmed his suspicions. He’d been taken by the blight, but had come out on the other side. The subtle changes in his appearance—horns like a devil with a tail to match, and a dusky red appearance to his skin—he could handle. But there was a sickening hunger present in his mind as well, and he hated it. * * * The once famous bard was now infamous in a way. Shunned by the people he used to call friends. Distrusted and disowned by the commonfolk. Disallowed entry to the taverns by their owners. Whoever had wanted him dead hadn’t fully succeeded in their endeavour but damn they’d certainly made sure that his life was lifeless. He was still accepted in the smaller villages, primarily those that didn’t see a bard for months otherwise. They were uneasy at first but grew to realize that the famed bard’s heart had not been changed by the otherwise vicious and unrelenting blight. But he needed to do more. He needed to be the difference in people’s daily lives like he once had been. Whispers of a new settlement that welcomed blight-born began to spread to the common-folk. Surely he could return to the life he’d once known, there. Or at least something similar.

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Magic Abilities

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* Fire * Healing * Light *

A practiced user of fire magic as many Aurelian-born are, Aldrick does not use the magic in the same manner as most. Of course the common uses are shared; Lighting candles and lanterns, warming himself during the cold winter nights. But Aldrick uses his fire magic as an extension of himself, most prominently during performances. He's refined his control of the flames so that he can sustain even the smallest, most controlled fire. With this precision in mind, he shapes the flames in thread-like vortices that he can use like his own hands to play another instrument, adding more depth to his music.

His healing magic is limited but practiced. Smaller wounds and breaks are mendable with time, taught to him by a mender of similar skill during his time with the Aurelian guard. Anything bigger than that would serve better from a more skilled healer or a doctor.

See blight-born section for light magic.

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Blight-Born

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Type: Emotional
Weaknesses: Psychic and dark magic especially, they drain his very soul. He feels physical pain through his instruments, now seemingly attached to him through the blight. If one were to be destroyed, he would feel extremely physically and mentally drained, taking days or weeks to recover.

Aldrick has taken on a devil-like form after succumbing to the blight. Two horns protrude from his head and a long, slender tail extends behind him. Parts of him, notably the neck, forearms, calves and tail, have developed a thin sheen of scales that are visible at the right angle. His eyes, once a soft and welcoming hazel, have now become piercing yellow orbs floating in a sea of black. Some swear they can see stars in the black depths of his sclera.

He did not develop the resistance to cold as many blight-born seem to, much to his disappointment.

He feeds through his performances now, seeing it as an exchange of goods and nothing more. He feeds off of the emotions of the crowd as he entrances them with music. Though it may leave them feeling a bit worse off in the morning, he tries to limit himself as to not harm anyone. He will refuse any monetary tips that are offered to him for his music.

Since being affected by the blight, his lesser knowledge of light magic has been honed. He can't wield it offensively but uses it to protect his instruments with a ward of magic. His instruments give off a gentle warm glow for the same reason.

^{Themes: Main Theme and Violin Tavern Music}

^{Color: 6A0891}

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{Interacting with: @PrinceAlexus}

Dawnhaven was certainly a bustling little town for one that just survived a week-long blizzard. It was truly a sight to behold, with what appeared to be the entire town surrounding the inn. This must be that feast the guards mentioned. Her personal escort pulled the wagon to the side of the main road through town and the light ring of chainmail pierced through the gentle wind as he jumped down from his seat. “Welcome to Dawnhaven, Priestess.” He sent her a warm smile, though Katherine knew better than to think that smile was anything more than a remnant from their few cozy nights together. She nodded in reply, a small smile crossing her own lips. It’s truly a shame you’ll be returning to the capital in a day’s time. Her gaze looked up to the stars and moon, the first clear sky since they’d departed, and Katherine was reminded of just how incredible her goddess truly looked.

* * *

After taking a moment to retrieve her pack from the carriage, Katherine returned her sights to the crowd before her. A flicker of anxiety caught in her breath for a heartbeat but passed as soon as it came. This would be the first time in many years that she would be walking side-by-side with Aurelians, and the first time ever that she would get to see a Blight-born up close. Remember, this is a peaceful village. The inquisition sent you here in-case something goes wrong, but that doesn’t mean something will. Breathe Kat.... breathe. The priestess shed her heavy coat and hung it on the carriage she arrived on before letting down the hood of the light cloak that lay beneath it. Her curly, shoulder-length blonde hair was currently tied in a tight bun—a precaution for the road in-case her casting talents were needed to dispatch some ne’er-do-wells—but thus far her talents had not been required.

Finally after a veritable eternity of procrastination, the priestess made her way into the crowd of now mostly-fed citizens and her mouth watered at the thought of real food. Anything would be better than dry rations at this point. She retrieved a bowl of what appeared to be a stew before sinking to the back of the crowd and leaning against the wall. The stew warmed what few chills remained in her body and relief washed over her. No longer would her father control her life, not directly at least. And with her invisible leash barely a whisper in her mind, Katherine felt like herself again. It had been far too long since she’d felt this way.

Now, her eyes gazed across the inn, an invisible thread of her psychic magic floating through the crowd like a feather on the air. Whispers once again filled her mind, but this time it was the conversations of the patrons. Kat closed her eyes as her mind floated from one conversation to another and a real smile, though small, spread across her lips. It feels incredible to feel... ... ... normal again.

Capturing her attention however, was the snake-like whispers that now entered her mind. Her eyes opened to search for it’s source and were greeted by a figure that certainly matched the voice. Oh I just have to see you up close, she mused to herself, a blight-born in the flesh.

Her steps were almost silent on the wooden floors of The Eye as she approached Syraeia. It was a practice from her years of training that had now become second nature, and one that had now become her normal way of walking. Katherine’s eyes examined the being as she approached, filled with intrigue and curiosity. Her breath caught for a moment as she caught a glance of Syraeia’s singular eye, but her steps did not falter. You are incredible. She stopped a short distance before the snake—the blight-born? A second more of observation. The woman.

Katherine could barely contain the subtle excitement in her own eyes as she extended a hand to Sy-a, once the woman had finished her prior conversations. “From my observation I’m gathering that you must be the owner of this fine establishment? I’m grateful for the warm food, you have my gratitude. My name is Katherine, priestess of Seluna.”
My gratitude? What are you, fourty? Katherine smacked herself internally for the overly proper speech. This wasn’t the halls of the castle, she could breathe and be herself.

“If I may, and I mean no disrespect—quite the opposite actually—but you are magnificent.”

* * *

Realms of Sun & Shadow

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_{One week after the Queen's death}

The unrest in Lunaris in the month following the Queen’s death was palpable.

It was to be expected of course. A major political figure’s death would surely spark change in the kingdom’s leadership, and with it, changes that would ultimately effect everyone in the city.

Katherine wasn’t watching the unrest from the streets however. She had a front-row seat to the event as a ranking member of the Selune clergy, much to her dismay. It wasn’t that politics bored her; quite the opposite was true. She loved being in a position where she could make an actual difference in the lives of all Lunarians. No, it was the fact that now she knew. She knew that the Inquisition pulled strings from the shadows, unknown to the King or late Queen.

The Queen is dead... ... ... Long live the Queen.

Even now from her position in the court, Katherine’s eyes nervously glanced between two council members sitting opposite from her among the other nobility. Eyes towards the King, Sorrowind. Don’t get any ideas. The icy voice pierced her mind as one of their faces cracked a smile for a singular heartbeat.
I will never get used to that. Katherine’s heart raced, fear lacing her thoughts. The blood-magic leash that they’d put on her weeks ago was ever-present. She was powerless against them as long as it remained in place. Blood magic was forbidden for a reason, and Katherine was learning exactly why that was, first hand. Her only current hope was that leaving for Dawnhaven would put enough distance between herself and the Inquisition to render the spell powerless.

I wouldn’t count on it. The voice whispered in her head, slivers of pain causing the young woman to clutch her head and drawing the momentary attention of the nobility seated next to her.

I’m so fucked.

* * *

_{One week before current date.}

The road to Dawnhaven was going to be a long one. According to the castle scribes, a blizzard was setting in in a day’s time and would become a problem about halfway to Durnatel. Katherine had braved her share of cold nights during her survival training, but the thought still didn’t give her any comfort as she rode atop the carriage next to a single Lunarian guard tasked as her escort. Like he’s going to be any help in a real fight. Katherine mused in her head, though he may come in handy during the long winter nights. Her cheeks flushed a bit at the thought, glancing to the clueless guard for a single moment before returning her gaze forward.

The first night’s camp was setup quickly between the two travelers; it consisted of a medium-sized fur teepee with more furs lining what would become the floor, along with a few oil lanterns to provide light and warmth, and finally a pair of bedrolls. Though if I have my way, we won’t be needing two.
With the horse tied up and blanketed, Katherine and her unlikely roommate closed into the teepee for the night just as the storm began to brew. Dinner this evening consisted of cheesecloth-wrapped military rations and Aurelian tea; even the Queen would admit it was one of the few things that the southern nation did better. In contrast, the biscuits left much to be desired. Only by dipping them in the tea did they become edible, and even then there was more flavor to be found by eating a raw potato.

As the priestess awoke, her cheeks flushed as she felt the furnace of a man still peacefully asleep behind her, his arms across her torso in a gentle embrace. The night before would remain nothing more than a blissful memory with a nameless stranger in a few hours. But for now, you’re all mine. A grin spread across Katherine’s lips, before turning herself to face her temporary lover and cuddling up tight against his chest.

* * *

_{Present date.
Location: Northen entrance of Dawnhaven.}

The wagon wheels struggle to move in the deep snow and the horse is clearly not having a good time as they crest the final hill and Dawnhaven comes into sight. Katherine rolls her neck back and forth, the feeling of the invisible blood-magic leash much weaker now but still ever-present. Don’t you worry Sorrowind, I’m still in your head. Fucker.

Her mind wanders to her companion sitting to her right and warmth fills her body once more. Seven days of consequence-free, commitment free fun with a man she will likely never see again. What a tragedy.

Katherine hops down from the wagon into the knee-high snow as the single-wagon caravan approaches the gates, and she swears she hears a sigh of relief from the horse next to her. Looking back to the gates, the guards have clearly seen her and while they don’t look alarmed, they’re clearly alert and watching her every move. “Traveller, identify yourself. State your name and purpose.” Her eyes glance to the voice with a nod, closing the distance a bit more before producing a document from her coat. In her hand, a letter with the Lunarian court seal adorning it’s front. “I am Priestess Sorrowind of Lunaris, sent by the Qu—” Katherine’s voice falters for but a moment “Sent by his majesty the King.” The letter reads the same, and the guard returns the parchment to it’s owner. “Head on in Priestess, warm yourself at the inn. The Prince has organized a feast in celebration of the blizzard ending. You’ll find the temple of Seluna inside as well.”

“You have my thanks.” Her voice is warm and gentle despite the frigid air, and the caravan officially takes its first steps into Dawnhaven. And in crossing those next few steps, her leash is only the slightest sensation in her mind and the voice falls quiet. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Katherine Sorrowind

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"Only when you've been betrayed by your own father, wasted away without food for days and had your very skin set ablaze... Only then will you know the pain I suffered to save my mother's life."

Priestess of Seluna Kingdom of Lunaris Twenty-Eight Years Old ________________________________

This is my story... Growing up in the shadow of Master Sorrowind of the King’s Eye certainly left Katherine feeling like she was always coming in second place to her father’s work. The time that he did spend with her, was spent building her into a weapon of espionage and interrogation. From the age of three, Kat was constantly tutored by some of the brightest scholars that Lunaris had to offer. It was not her father, however, that began to corrupt her. Not directly. Katherine’s innate abilities in psychic and dark magic had not gone unnoticed by other members of the King’s Eye and in particular, the well-hidden Lunarian Inquisition. An organisation long thought to have been dismantled shortly after the last war, the Inquisition forced Katherine through the trials of learning the forbidden art of necromancy. Constant study and painful trials of Katherine’s developing abilities filled her teenage years, and much to Katherine’s surprise, all of it had been endorsed--and ordered-- by her father. She learned to despise the man. Throughout the years, Katherine was almost never present at home due to her teachings, and it had become obvious to her that the few days she was able to spend at “home” were always absent of her mother. It was not until the final trial of her abilities that she found out why. Katherine was presented with the lifeless body of her mother in an interrogation chamber beneath the castle. It was an ultimatum disguised as a trial: resurrect her mother or be charged with her murder. Never had Katherine known so much hate. Second to the physical stamina needed to sustain a resurrection, hate was the only reason she succeeded the trial. Hours of focus, days of pleading for Seluna’s favour, and every minute of it filled with pain. Necromancy was not a refined form of magic like many others. It was relentless in the power it demanded, and it was brutal and unforgiving in its consequences. By the end, her mother gasped breath anew, but Katherine’s father had finally broken her. For no other reason than to preserve their investment of time and knowledge, Katherine was brought before the clergy at Moonrise Sanctuary. She was barely alive, barely breathing. It was only by Seluna’s choice that Katherine’s heart kept beating. Over the course of the following years, Katherine stayed with the clergy and lived under Seluna’s protection at the sanctuary. The goddess had forsaken her father and exiled him from the grounds. Were he to step foot inside, he would surely feel her wrath. Katherine slowly began to heal both physically and mentally, learning the more peaceful ways of Lady Seluna. She would eventually grow to become one of Seluna’s chosen, the goddess having recognized the pure heart that had developed underneath almost two decades of hatred. Now she makes her way to Dawnhaven by decree of the Inquisition. Despite her best efforts, they still had her on a leash through what she could only guess was a form of blood magic. By their order, she would remain in Dawnhaven to protect Lunarian interests from any Aurelian unrest, or any threat of the Blight. * * *

Magic Abilities

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* Psychic * Dark * Necromancy *

Though very capable, Kat has only ever resurrected a person once--and it almost killed her. Her talents are used more for communication with the dead, be it ally or enemy. It is incredibly draining for her, and normally she can only sustain up to a minute of light interrogation before needing to stop, at risk of consuming her own life-force.

Katherine’s psychic and dark abilities feed from Seluna herself and mostly consist of concealment and the physical manipulation of objects. Katherine’s necromancy however, is fed solely from her own life-force. Seluna refused to provide her power for such abilities and therefore unless provided additional power through another caster, Katherine’s necromancy can and will kill her if pushed too far.

Seluna may not approve of her abilities, but they were not learned by choice. Similarly, her single resurrection was also done against her will, by threat of her own life. It is for both of these reasons that Seluna still allows Katherine as one of her chosen, and will remind her of such should Kat ever stray too far over the line.

^{Themes: Death May Die and Night Queen}

^{Color: 19CACA}

Aldrick Corveaux

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"Words hold power, mine more than most."

Bard / Mercenary / Wanderer Kingdom of Aurelia Thirty Years Old "This night may become darker and darker, but that only means the stars shine brighter and brighter." _________________________

Not a single person left alive knows the true story of the famous Aldrick Corveaux. Many a traveller had heard the stories directly from his lips, but they found that when confronted with others who had heard his tale, each and every story was different. A spy for the Aurelian court? Potentially. A mercenary in a travelling caravan? Conceivably. But a bard who’d captivated the hearts and souls of thousands throughout the years? That was for certain. In truth, Aldrick was a man of many titles and talents. He grew up as a commoner of Aurelia where he worked the fields with his family and received a passable education. He grew older and joined up with the city’s watch, wanting to serve the people he had grown to love. His life was every bit as mundane as the next guardsman’s. But it was during these years living in the barracks that he discovered his love of music. A night at the tavern had him intoxicated by the velvety sound of the performer’s violin. He had to learn to play like that. To absolutely entrance the people like he’d seen the bard across many nights of revelry. To control the crowds without a single lick of magic, without the slightest thought of malice. And after many nights of begging the man, Aldrick finally won. He gained his teacher. * * * Years later, the Corveaux name held much more meaning than simple farmers and field-hands. It held hope for the future, it held joy throughout long nights of music and drink, and most of all it held no judgment for any walk of life. Aldrick drank, played and eventually sang his way through the cities of both Aurelia and Lunaris alike, and all of the small villages that lay between them. Eventually, Aldrick would come to be a reliable source of information between the kingdoms as well. People of both nations learned that he would speak the unadulterated, unfiltered truth that did not hide behind the editors of the local news parchments. His performances and songs would carry his tales and fables across the lands, but approach him afterwards and he would speak of the happenings of the continent. Never written on parchment but the information spread like wildfire nonetheless. Not everyone was content with his truth-spreading however. Especially not after the blight began. It was unknown as to their origin, but someone wanted him dead. Someone was unhappy with Aldrick bypassing the scribes and censors. And what better way to dispose of a wandering bard than to have him disappear in the very blight that he had informed the people of? A bard who regularly passed close enough to the blight-infected lands that no one would question his disappearance. A bard that would be mourned, but would not be looked for. * * * He awoke in the darkness. His head pounded as if it would explode and his heart threatened to leap from his chest. Blood soaked his garments. Surely I am dead. His burning lungs and aching muscles disagreed. I feel so different. And as he walked through the darkness of the wilds, unassisted by any torch or lantern as he would normally have, Aldrick began to piece-together everything. Catching his reflection in a pond only confirmed his suspicions. He’d been taken by the blight, but had come out on the other side. The subtle changes in his appearance—horns like a devil with a tail to match, and a dusky red appearance to his skin—he could handle. But there was a sickening hunger present in his mind as well, and he hated it. * * * The once famous bard was now infamous in a way. Shunned by the people he used to call friends. Distrusted and disowned by the commonfolk. Disallowed entry to the taverns by their owners. Whoever had wanted him dead hadn’t fully succeeded in their endeavour but damn they’d certainly made sure that his life was lifeless. He was still accepted in the smaller villages, primarily those that didn’t see a bard for months otherwise. They were uneasy at first but grew to realize that the famed bard’s heart had not been changed by the otherwise vicious and unrelenting blight. But he needed to do more. He needed to be the difference in people’s daily lives like he once had been. Whispers of a new settlement that welcomed blight-born began to spread to the common-folk. Surely he could return to the life he’d once known, there. Or at least something similar.

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Magic Abilities

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* Fire * Healing * Light *

A practiced user of fire magic as many Aurelian-born are, Aldrick does not use the magic in the same manner as most. Of course the common uses are shared; Lighting candles and lanterns, warming himself during the cold winter nights. But Aldrick uses his fire magic as an extension of himself, most prominently during performances. He's refined his control of the flames so that he can sustain even the smallest, most controlled fire. With this precision in mind, he shapes the flames in thread-like vortices that he can use like his own hands to play another instrument, adding more depth to his music.

His healing magic is limited but practiced. Smaller wounds and breaks are mendable with time, taught to him by a mender of similar skill during his time with the Aurelian guard. Anything bigger than that would serve better from a more skilled healer or a doctor.

See blight-born section for light magic.

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Blight-Born

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Type: Emotional
Weaknesses: Psychic and dark magic especially, they drain his very soul. He feels physical pain through his instruments, now seemingly attached to him through the blight. If one were to be destroyed, he would feel extremely physically and mentally drained, taking days or weeks to recover.

Aldrick has taken on a devil-like form after succumbing to the blight. Two horns protrude from his head and a long, slender tail extends behind him. Parts of him, notably the neck, forearms, calves and tail, have developed a thin sheen of scales that are visible at the right angle. His eyes, once a soft and welcoming hazel, have now become piercing yellow orbs floating in a sea of black. Some swear they can see stars in the black depths of his sclera.

He did not develop the resistance to cold as many blight-born seem to, much to his disappointment.

He feeds through his performances now, seeing it as an exchange of goods and nothing more. He feeds off of the emotions of the crowd as he entrances them with music. Though it may leave them feeling a bit worse off in the morning, he tries to limit himself as to not harm anyone. He will refuse any monetary tips that are offered to him for his music.

Since being affected by the blight, his lesser knowledge of light magic has been honed. He can't wield it offensively but uses it to protect his instruments with a ward of magic. His instruments give off a gentle warm glow for the same reason.

^{Themes: Main Theme and Violin Tavern Music}

^{Color: 6A0891}

Palm Beach Royals: Reunited At Sea

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“One more song! One more song! One more song!”

The crowd’s chant gave her such a rush, and as Charlotte looked between her fellow band-mates a smile spread across her face. Her eyes flicked between Ben Miller, their vocalist; Stefan Beaumont, their drummer; Joaquin Hernandez, her partner in crime and secondary guitarist; and then finally Damian Smith, their bassist. In that moment it was as if they all shared a collective brain, further reinforced by the fact that their drummer began playing the rhythm of the exact song Charlotte had been thinking of starting. A song that truly fit the mood of the amazing day that it had already been, and that it was going to be when she arrived at the reunion. One More Time.

This feeling never got old. From the days she had toured with Bring Me the Horizon all the way through to today, seeing the crowd absolutely enthralled with their music was nothing short of intoxicating. The feeling was only ever dwarfed by the demand for just one more taste of the music before the show came to a close.

Charlotte looked out across the crowd of almost 20,000 people that stood before them, cheering them on. Then, as if an automatic response, her fingers began to strum the opening notes of One More Time when the drummer stopped the beat. For those brief moments, only the sound of those notes was heard in the Kaseya Center as the crowd went silent. And then as if on command, the crowd went wild as the remaining members of the band took up their roles once more following Charlotte’s lead. The characteristic fast-paced kick-drum beats, upbeat vocals and heavy guitar riffs once again filled the stadium through enormous speakers that flanked the band on all sides.

Sometimes you gotta go down swinging
Get up, get up feel the kick drum beating
One more time
One more time, tonight
Sometimes you gotta fight that feeling
Get up, get up feel your heart still beating
One more time
One more time, tonight

Charlotte’s fingers flew a cross the fret-board of her guitar with the precision of a military sniper and the speed of a first-time meth-user, now playing face to face with Joaquin as they entered the chorus. The two of them matched each other’s energy, staring each other in the eyes with shit-eating grins on their faces as they mouthed the words to the band’s favorite song to play.

As the song came to the bridge before the last chorus, Charlotte paced up to the very edge of the stage playing directly to all of the cheering fans in the front row, singing harmony into the tiny headset as she did.

I don't wanna feel down down down
When nobody's around round round
I don't wanna feel down down down
When nobody's around

For the final chorus she moved alongside their vocalist and once again sang in harmony as her heavy guitar notes rang out across the crowd. As the final lyrics came to end she jumped up onto the speakers in front of them, hanging precariously off of the edge of the stage as she played the final notes of the song. Her right hand picked the strings effortlessly as she closed her eyes. A brief silence fell over the stadium as the song ended, before the roar of the crowd’s cheering returned once more.

“THANK YOU, MIAMI!!!”

Ben Miller’s voice rang out over the crowd’s cheer as Charlotte removed the guitar-strap from her neck and rested the instrument on its stand. Her heart pounded in her chest as she paced to the front of the stage, sweat running down her forehead. She ran a hand through her hair before calling out across the crowd once more.

“THIS WAS THE PERFECT END TO OUR INTERNATIONAL TOUR, RIGHT AT HOME!”

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An hour later, the red-head flew down the interstate on her Yamaha R6 sport-bike. They had finished a bit later than she had expected and Charlotte was now a fair bit behind schedule. In the short time since the end of the show, she had managed the time for a very brief shower and redoing of her makeup, before grabbing the bag she had pre-packed and rushing out the door once again. Donning her favorite white jeans, a matching white crop top and a white and red leather jacket overtop, she almost matched her bike’s color scheme perfectly. All be design of course.

A light ringtone rang through her helmet, answered with the tap of her finger on the Bluetooth module on the side of her helmet.

“Hey Dad, what’s up?”

“Hey honey, just wanted to congratulate you on yet another incredible tour! I was able to catch the last 20 minutes or so after finishing up at the studio and once again you nailed it. The sound techs also did yet another fantastic job with your audio, you could really feel the kick drums.”

In the background, Charlotte’s mother could faintly be heard yelling out a congratulations.

“Thanks dad—and thank mom for me, I heard that!” Charlotte stifled a laugh.

“Anyways, I know you’re occupied for the next little bit. Have fun and we’ll see you around the studio to start working on that next album. Love you kiddo.”

“Love you too guys.” Charlotte smiled under her helmet before hanging up the call.

Charlotte mulled in the comfort of her parents’ words for a moment, smile still ever present on her face.

“Hey Siri, play Running Miles by Hippie Sabotage.”

Charlotte backed off the throttle as the calm song began playing through her helmet speakers, enjoying the evening sun as she cruised down the interstate towards Miami harbor. The warm breeze blew across her sending a subtle chill up her spine. The polarity of her evening began to dawn on her now, going from a high-octane performance in downtown Miami to a calm, gentle cruise where she felt completely at ease. Charlotte felt like a different person off-stage, but not in a bad way. It was almost like living two different lives. Being famous enough to have recognizable face on stage, but being also being able to change clothes and makeup before disappearing into the background. Sure, a few superfans had seen past her guise in the past, but it had been many years since the media had followed her around.

As she left the interstate, Safe with Me began playing and she couldn’t help playing a gentle air guitar with her right hand as she guided the motorcycle with her left. The harbor quickly approached, the backdrop a beautiful scarlet sky with some easy-going clouds to provide a bit of drama. The perfect night, truly.

She pulled her bike in next to an unfamiliar F-150 before dismounting and removing her helmet, taking a moment to straighten her hair in the truck’s side mirrors before removing her jacket. After all was packed into her bag—and her helmet ever-present under her arm, she walked out onto the dock to the only boat that could possibly be The Thousand Sunny. A deep breath and a minor heart flutter, Charlotte’s nervousness about this reunion suddenly reared its head. All she’d hoped was that at least Beckett would be present. Barring that, she had brought her Les Paul guitar and a mini-amp through some precarious packing on her bike. Then maybe she could provide some vibey tunes and give her ex-classmates a new impression of her.

Another woman had beat her to the ship, it seemed, as Charlotte paced up behind Priscilla. Something was familiar about her face, but more as a deja-vu type feeling. A stranger met in passing many years prior, kind of feeling. She paced up next to Pris, placing her bag, guitar, and helmet down on the dock before staring out to the water.

“I feel like I’ve met you before, but my brain’s giving me some mixed signals about that thought. Are you here for the King’s reunion?”

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