Michael
Wisdom Serafina
Castle Grunewald Library

Serafina watched Anna's jaw clench and unclench as she considered the decision. This was what the Gods required, but Serafina wasn't sure if she would be able to give up the Southern Pantheon if someone asked it of her. 'I hope the gods would have mercy on my soul and kill me peacefully before someone ever asked me to commit treason against them.' She thought somberly. As the girl confirmed her dedication to the gods of the Southern Pantheon Serafina nodded, glancing at Kirk after his outburst. "It's not my way, my Lady. I am a vessel of the gods as much as you both are." She smiled gently at Anna. 

"I promise you will be in good hands, Lady Barrmount. The gods of the Southern Pantheon have always put their people first." She sat back in her chair and continued, adressing the couple collectively. "Before the marriage begins, you will publicly denounce the Frozen Gods and pledge yourself to the Southern Pantheon - and a particular God if you have a preference, Lady Barrmount. Once you have done so, I will perform the marriage rites under Auryn. Simply follow my lead during the ceremony. I must remind you that marriage rites under Auryn are strictly held and divorce is not an option. This marriage will be blessed by the gods and its disruption is an affront to them and may result in an extended Mourning." 

The Wisdom stood up and smiled at the engaged couple. "I have nothing else for you and I'm sure the food is growing cold. I will leave you both alone for now if you would like to spend time together and will collect you an hour prior to the ceremony for the Northern rites to be held in private. You may invite a witness to the ceremony, Lady Barrmount, if you wish. Do either of you have questions?"
Charles
Belladonna of Taemar
Just lost her mind, Taemar

A man approached her, the same man who had just devoured the neck of the Head Sorceress, the same man she had seen at the gates of the castle dragging the shifter. Blood covered his face, his mouth, dripping down his chin to his neck, staining his clothes. An strange magic emanated from him. 

The images of her past flashed before her eyes as she observed the scene before her, time stopping as the paladin reached her.

Noise reached her ears as he spoke. Was he speaking or growling? She couldn't tell, her mind couldn't register nothing else, only the massive murder.

Rage cursed through her, as magic ran through her veins. Her usually brown eyes shone a reddish tone as if ignited, as she lost the willpower to control her magic.

She grabbed the spear that was pointed towards her, the weapon scorching hot under her hand. A scream full of fury came out of her as she stood up, planting her hand on his face. The smell of burnt flesh reached her nostrils.

The palading fought back, but the combination of anger and adrenaline made her keep attacking like a raging bull.

Belladonna took out the hidden knife she stole from the Grunewald's dinner and sunk it deep in his shoulder, numerous times, until he staggered back.

The paladin barely showed any signs of pain as he took the knife out and threw it to the floor. This only worsened her contition.

Her eyes shone brighter in a red tone. What she was about to do was dangerous, way dangerous for her level, but at that point she barely cared.

A concentrated gust of wind sent the palading flying to the nearest bog with the force of a hurricane. She raised her hands and so did the waters of the swamp, clashing down full force on the paladin. He still was able to stand.

A growl scaped her throath as she sent another punch of wind his way, sending him against a tree this time. She kept on blasting him as she walked towards the creaking tree. Her movements weren't as swift, her muscles already aching. 

She had been warned by the Head Sorceress when Bella was nothing but a young apprentice. She knew well that if she kept abusing her powers like that, it wouldn't be long until she fainted, *Or worse* ;she was draining her own life force to get all of the power she was using, a much dangerous technique.

She launched a double blast, splinters flying from the tree as his body crashed harder against the tree. Belladonna got close to him while she caught her breath, muttering an incantation.

She was almost done with the incantation when the fire red shine of her eyes suddenly faded, her legs barely holding her and a sharp pain in her chest. She heard his voice again as her vision blurred and obscured, feeling how her body slowly shut down.

The sorceress spit at his face before fainting. Too much power, too much strength... The Head Sorceress was right, it was too dangerous, and Bella should have never done it.
John
**Lord Kirk Pinewood
Grunewald Castle Library**

"I don't have any questions." He said to the wisdom without getting up from his chair. He did have some but also knew that the answers would not make him feel any better.
Lawrence
Kallophon
Castle Grunewald throneroom, Vallen, Taemar

Kallophon stood from his windowsill perch. He held his handkerchief to level with his dark, contemplative eyes. He had kept it to himself the past while, pulling it taught or playing it between his fingers in a fidgeting manner. Perhaps he would soon be looking at diamonds this way. Perhaps soon he would be fidgeting with bejewelled rings. The taste of a whole new existence was teasing the edge of his tongue.

Some sage of the past once claimed virtue in discarding a possession when one is moving forward in life. This fine cloth had dried many tears, yet he had not even had it for last night's grief. This would be his offering to Time.

He put a curve in his walk across the room, and delicately returned the item to the Princess. "Please keep it, Your Majesty, as a token of my appreciation for your father's hospitality." He looked the king in his beady eyes. "Thank you for giving me the chance to show myself, Your Majesty. I shall hasten now to organize entertainment for this evening's wedding." He laughed a little, and gestured to Wilhelmina. "Remind your daughter to keep the gift close, lest this lovely ceremony brings her to tears. I suppose my cheeks will simply have to suffer." He shrugged, then departed with a bow.

Stopping on his way to the door, Kallophon took Rhetto by the shoulder. "I think you and I have quite the service to provide tonight." He treated the Islander with an ingratiating smile, his eyes full of anticipation. His arm tightened its grip around his lyre.
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Council Room**

Retto turned to the other musician at his mentioning of the wedding and their future performance for the ceremonies ahead. He returned with his own smile and rubbed his neck. "Aye, though i's quite a bi' sudden, innit?" 

While he loved to perform just like his kindred spirit, he wanted nothing more than to be back on his ship with a bottle of Greere Rum rather than performing for a wedding ceremony in which the guests would likely happier than the bride and groom. "Stabbin's, shifte's, witch hun's, an' a marriage. This 'as been quite a day. I suppose tha' drink'll have t' wait, though, I do wan' t' get ye t' try some real islander rum, an' no' this place's sorry excuse for alcohol." He mentioned lightheartedly to Kallophon as he gazed around the council room.