conversations.from: system
conversations.value: "Only the dead have seen the end of the war." - George Santayana, Spanish-American philosopher. 
  
  “They wore their strange beauty like war paint.” 
  ― Holly Black, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
  
  ******************************************
  
  ‘Miss Brinley said that they were all in the same boat… you know, relatively, as us…’ Duncan said, flicking his eyes down and twisting his mouth to the side. ‘And she said we probably won’t have to actually speak to them or anything, they’re in the other wing of the house. That’s why all the beds were moved.’
  ‘Yes, I know!’ Dinah replied, more irritated than before. ‘It’s just that it’s always been us, just us, for so long… how can she even begin to imagine bringing *grown men* into this place?’
  Duncan looked over at the collection of children. 
  They were all shapes and sizes, from the smallest, Christina, who all the girls called “Kissy”, a child who was barely old enough to speak clearly and was currently balanced on the hip of another older girl, looking out at the bus that was arriving, all the way up to Duncan himself, who was now nearly nineteen. He even remembered some of the older ones who had been there when he was smaller, when he had arrived at Miss Brinley’s Institute for Children. Once they were adults, many chose to leave, and it seemed that Miss Brinley would never stop them, though Duncan often wondered what became of those poor souls. 
  
  ‘But they’re not just *any* men,’ he continued, remembering what they had all been told when they had been gathered into the large room Miss Brinley used for assemblies. There were only twenty-three children in the place, and they all sat in rows according to their size, neatly. 
  ‘They are war heroes, brave men who have suffered greatly in the horror of war. We owe them our freedom and our thanks,’ he parroted back to Dinah and she sighed, clearly not sure about any of it.
  ‘But what’s that got to do with *us*?’ she said, ‘I know the war was horrible, I know that lots of people died, but… that doesn’t mean we should turn into some sort of veteran’s hospital. Does it?’
  ‘But they’re not ordinary veterans,’ Duncan replied, quietly...
  
  The children were a buzz, long after the bus had pulled away, empty of its passengers. They sat around the recreation room and no one played games or talked of anything else. They were crouched in twos and threes, like birds on wires, chattering and fidgeting. It was well over an hour before the door finally opened and Miss Brinley entered. 
  She was a woman of a certain age, a woman who should have long ago been married with children of her own and yet was quite unexpectedly unwed. Her institution was a one of a kind and the knowledge of that burned brightly in her green eyes when she looked around the world that she had created for those who could never live elsewhere. She was a fierce creature, unafraid in the face of things that would make greater creatures shrink in fear. Her entrance to the room was accompanied by her raising her still gloved hands. She had been outside, her face was ruddy from the wind and she tried to quell the tide of excitable small people as she reached up to pull the pin from her hat and remove it. 
  
  'Yes,' she said, 'They're here.'
  
  ***************************************************************
  
  There is a house, an institute, where children who have been “supernaturally disturbed” are sent when their families are unable to care for them. Begun in 1890 by  Miss Brinley, a scholarly and intelligent spinster of some means. 
  
  The house has a collection of children who have all had some kind of run in with the supernatural with which their families are unable or unwilling to handle. They have any number of difficulties, including but not limited to- Haunted by ghosts, taken by fairies and returned, possessed, under the thrall of a vampire, infected with werewolf blood, possessing “powers” pyrokinesis and so on, children of spirits or some kind of supernatural affair…  
  
  After WW1-(1919) there is an influx of a new group of people, no longer only children. The house fills one of the wings with young men returned from the front with stories and scars of a different kind. 
  
  There are men who have seen ghosts of their comrades, seen horrific monsters feeding on the dead, ghouls and cult activity. These men have found themselves either sent to asylums or having to completely hide their experiences, something which has posed difficult. These men are unable to continue with the scars they bear in a society that might accuse them of madness, cowardice or both. 
  
  **EDIT- The Soldiers do not have to have any supernatural powers at all. They can merely have seen too much, or been affected by the supernatural. I thought I had said that somewhere in this VERY long intro, but I think it was missed! Sorry!**
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You were given blood by a vampire and you were/are in their power. 
conversations.prefix: Vampire Thrall :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are smart for your age, and you enjoy solving puzzles. 
conversations.prefix: Intelligent :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You think you are another kind of creature, well and truly above the rest. 
conversations.prefix: Arrogant :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You think you have a right to exist and people should just *deal* with it. 
conversations.prefix: Tell the world:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The House is on substantial grounds and features a main section as well as two wings. 
conversations.prefix: Miss Brinley's House :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: One of the many rooms of the House. Wood panelled and two stories high. 
conversations.prefix: The Oak Hall:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: One of the children's bedrooms, with two beds on one side and another two on the opposite wall. 
conversations.prefix: Bedroom :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: She seems to be under some kind of enchantment, perhaps? It's hard to know...
conversations.prefix: The Floating Girl :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The elegant and expansive dining room of the house. 
conversations.prefix: Dining Room:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: A large room, often used as a Hall for assemblies with the children. 
conversations.prefix: The Old Library:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Out in the garden, there is a small building where apples are stored from the orchard. 
conversations.prefix: The Orchard Store :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You need to move fast if you think you're going to catch the figure. 
conversations.prefix: The Chase- ROLAND:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Some of the children have decided to speak to their deceased guardian... 
conversations.prefix: The Seance- ANDREW:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Well, she's not loving having the men in the house, let's say that... 
conversations.prefix: Elizabeth - LILLIAN:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Well this is going well.... 
conversations.prefix: Chaos :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Not a place one would normally go in the big house. 
conversations.prefix: The kitchens :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Most of the children had presented as well washed, well mannered little people. It turns out... 
conversations.prefix: Urchins:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: An insistent young man. 
conversations.prefix: Chester Moore:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You are connected to spirits who have been trapped somewhere between life and death, and often hear them wherever you go.
conversations.prefix: Spiritual Medium:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are incredibly loyal to everyone who has had an impact on your life and you will protect them as best you can.
conversations.prefix: Loyal:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The voices from the beyond are constant, they never leave you alone, and sometimes they can get in the way of your life.
conversations.prefix: Plagued by Voices:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You've been fighting for so long that you just want to find some peace within yourself.
conversations.prefix: Find Peace:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: *But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” - Hebrews 7:21*
  
conversations.prefix: Chaplain:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: *The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
  He makes me lie down in green pastures.
  He leads me beside still waters.
  He restores my soul.
  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil,
  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23*
conversations.prefix: Faith:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: *He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. - Isaiah 59:17*
  
conversations.prefix: Earnest:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: *But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came. - Job 30:26*
conversations.prefix: Seek Grace:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The victim of a werewolf's bite. When the moon grows full, all bets are off.
conversations.prefix: Wolfbite:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You've got a knack for having the right tools on hand when it counts. If you don't have the tool with you, you make do with your own wits.
conversations.prefix: Resourceful:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The family curse... writ large every seven generations.  
  
  Is it "lycanhrope" when it's a cat rather than a wolf?
  
  Noone seems able or inclined to answer that question.
conversations.prefix: Lycanthrope:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Lillian has always been fit and active and as she's grown older she's started to truly excel in the physical arena.
  
  Fast, strong, dextrous.  She has no idea if it is the family curse or just natural inclination.
conversations.prefix: Atheleticism:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: She's usually fairly even-tempered but when she does start to succumb to her anger it can be explosive and unreasoning.
  
  
conversations.prefix: Anger:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: This cannot be the extent of the world for her.  There must be a place somewhere, a place without walls.
  
  There must be a place where people aren't looking at her like that. No matter how well-intentioned.
conversations.prefix: A place in the world:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are possessed by something, but you're not quite sure what it is. Just that it's *bad*.
conversations.prefix: Possessed:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You need to control whatever is inside you if you ever want to be a part of society again...
conversations.prefix: Control:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You don't have much faith in yourself. How can you with what you've become?
conversations.prefix: Self Doubt:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You have survived a lot of strife in your life, and you plan on continuing to do so. 
conversations.prefix: Survivor:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Something happened and someone gave you blood. You died. Next thing you know you weren't dead. 
conversations.prefix: Vampire :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You can do what most blanch at without batting an eye. 
conversations.prefix: Unflinching:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Some things require a leap of faith, you prefer measured steps.
conversations.prefix: Cautious:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You don't fit where you once did, but maybe you can make your place here.
conversations.prefix: Fit:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: ....
conversations.prefix: Filler :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: ...
conversations.prefix: Filler:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: ...
conversations.prefix: Filler:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: ...
conversations.prefix: ...:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You are much, much stronger than you look. In fact, you're much stronger than *most* people look.
conversations.prefix: Superhuman Strength:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: People like you, and you like them back. You are generally good-natured, laid back and capable of lightening up most situations.
conversations.prefix: Socially Adept:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're a good person, and you believe that everyone else is, too. You give your trust too easily, you expect that one good turn earns another and you know that the good guy always wins. Right?
conversations.prefix: Naive:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You want to help everyone who needs it, you're determined to use your gifts to further the greater good.
conversations.prefix: Serve and Protect:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Once, you were a whole person. But not any more. The you that remains is something else, made up of multiple someones.
conversations.prefix: Reanimated:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Optimism and curiosity go together to make you a person who wants to see and experience what the world offers. Where others stand in fear or doubt, you move onward.
conversations.prefix: Curious and Hopeful:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You don't remember your old life. But there are times when bits and pieces of the people who compose your new body come through...
conversations.prefix: Nightmares:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You need to figure out who you are, why you're here, and what your place in the world is. If that also means you need to do things like make friends or learn to care about others...
conversations.prefix: Who Am I?:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Hunger. Your body craves flesh, needs it. In the midst of the war, your body never went unsatiated, but the soldiers who found you insisted the warzone wasn't safe. If only they knew how little that mattered.
conversations.prefix: Ghoul:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You remember very little of your life before you died, you waited so long, wandering for what felt like an eternity, until finally, an opportunity presented itself. It's not body theft if the host was going to die soon anyways, right?
conversations.prefix: Spiritual Entity:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Years, trapped within that horrid building left you with very little entertainment. With years of practice, you harness telekinetic abilities. It just so happens that those abilities carried over to your new body as well.
conversations.prefix: Telekinetic:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Years of darkness, suffering, and isolation have earned you the right to be selfish. You're going to find out the meaning of it all, whether that means shoving others aside to get what you want. You have no time to waste worrying about hurt feelings.
conversations.prefix: Selfish:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Death is supposed to be a release, yet you remained, alone, for all those years. There's a reason you didn't pass on, and you're going to discover it before it the reaper can find you again.
conversations.prefix: Shatter these chains:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You want desperately to atone, both for things you have done and things you were unable to prevent. 
conversations.prefix: Find Redemption:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: At great discomfort to you, your hands have the power to heal any wound, and can even cure diseases.
conversations.prefix: Healer:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You have the classical education afforded by a life of affluence. 
conversations.prefix: Educated:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: The war took a part of you that you may never get back. You are still going through the motions of life but not really *living*. 
conversations.prefix: Lost soul:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You carry a deep sense of personal responsibility for things that happened during the war that goes beyond survivor's guilt. 
conversations.prefix: Remorse :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Your body is not just yours. You share it with another. 
conversations.prefix: Possessed:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You have access to knowledge far beyond your age and experience. 
conversations.prefix: Insights:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're quick to lash out. You're not afraid to pick fights, cause trouble, or make a scene. 
conversations.prefix: Agressive:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're at war with yourself. You need to find a way to calm the troubled voices in your mind.
conversations.prefix: Inner peace:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You have seen a lot. You keep you lip stiff and your chin high. Never let them see the fear. 
conversations.prefix: Stoic Soldier :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You will never give up. You will never surrender. Even under the harshest conditions. 
conversations.prefix: Determination :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: They go hand in hand, the thing that makes you strongest is also the thing that is your downfall. Never ask for help, never accept when you are hurt, or weak. 
conversations.prefix: Pride. :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You never really stopped being a soldier, you don't really know how...
conversations.prefix: Fight the good fight :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You don't know where you came from, but your memories are full of the time while you were away. Finally returned to Earth after who knows how long... and abandoned. 
conversations.prefix: Stolen Child :
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You adopted some of the magic of those who took you, and you can still sometimes receive flashes of things yet to come... 
conversations.prefix: Second Sight:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You were left here, alone. You crave the return of the magic that you miss, and you chase it wherever you can. 
conversations.prefix: Addicted:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Maybe it was a mistake and you were never meant to be returned... maybe they all miss you and want you back... 
conversations.prefix: Get "Home" :
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: After being here a few years, there's only so much that can really cause your any serious consternation.
conversations.prefix: Versed in the ways of the house:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The war may have left you with scars, but none of them are physical. You're still in quite fit and in good health. 
conversations.prefix: Fit as a Fiddle:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Your trust, once lost, is hard to regain. 
conversations.prefix: Fool Me Once:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: *Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. -- Proverbs 13:24*
conversations.prefix: Uncompromising:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: *But all things should be done decently and in order. - 1 Corinthians 14:40*
conversations.prefix: Propriety: