(Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: shengami on 01-05-2016, 17:53:42</h2>
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				Title: <strong>(Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>01-05-2016, 17:53:42</strong>
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				The 13th dynasty of the Magocracy ruled over a world in which the place you were born, socially, was a lifelong sentence. Oh, in theory anyone who had 'magic' could rise to nobility by dint of it, but magic was a genetic trait and almost all the genetic bloodlines that could result in magic were already noble. Sure, the occasional by-blow might crop up but the real outliers were long since weeded out by selective breeding. The day and age of social mobility were mostly gone.<br><br>Thus, if you were born in the lower classes that was where you would stay. One might be born a slave, a worker in the vast factories, or get lucky and be born into the small, affluent middle class of merchants and artisans, but 90% of the world was dirt poor and would remain so. They toiled daily harvesting the resources of the world and feeding them into the vast manufactorum yards to produce products for the men and women who lived on paradise floating above. They might work fields or assembly lines but they could all look up to the floating isles: Elysum, Haven, Aurum, Idyll, and Adamantia. Each isle was ruled by one of the five royal families and was home to nobles and their servants. Servants: the lucky few peasants who served the noble families. The five royal families, though, were the sole owners of all property on the planet and that was the source of their great wealth. The noble families were given parcels to oversee for the royals, but it was all theirs. Each Isle floated in a long migratory path over the planet and along these paths, especially where they intersected, the world's cities had grown. Each of these cities played home to vast markets and red light districts where the various products of the world were acquired by nobles or their servants. Outside these cities, the world is dedicated to farming or vast wildlands. The cities are home to the world's middle class, small as it is.<br><br>The vast, complicated, system of nobles, royals, lord-mayors, counts, barons, and viscounts is known as The Game by the nobility and they play it to occupy their time. Lands and slaves are traded, favors are bartered, and deals are made. The only organization outside this Game is the Inquisition whose job it is to guard and maintain the Great Chain, the name given to the perception of the divinely mandated social order the world finds itself in. Rebellion is found, rooted out, and destroyed at its root even. These men and women's identity are never know as they wear black cowls when they do their work, but they are all masterful and powerful sorcerers and zealots at their work. Their fortress is located in the Great Central city which is the only city which lies in the path of all five isles' migrations and have grown to be the most important. The Grand Marshal of the Inquisition also serves as Lord-Mayor of the city and the market and red light districts here are both famous and well traveled.<br><br>Natanial sic'Malad Idyll relaxed his ears as he pulled his cowl tighter against his scalp and felt it brush gently along the fur there. His mane was cropped short and nearly indistinguishable from his fur except its darker coloration. A sharp wind rolled along the parapets as he walked in the early morning light. These walks helped serve to clear his mind. His work, his mission was his purpose but even he held doubts at times. Doubts were good as they tested faith and when they crept upon him he always walked these walls to clear them. He was due to go on a patrol of some of the furthest outlying communities in a week. It was a necessary routing to send Inquisitors to the furthest areas where Magocracy presence was minimal and dissent could grow if left unchecked. His pale tail swished behind him and he caught its lilac color and it reminded him of his purity. Natanial had the coloration long associated with his father's clan, the Idylls, with pale skin as well as the lilac fur on his ears and tail and the lilac birth marks on the back of his hands, tops of his feet, and the left side of his face. He even had the slightly crossed eyes associated with the Idylls. A trait developed after many generations of interbreeding. Luckily, it was not so bad in him as his father, who had terrible vision and had to wear corrective lenses, because of his father's marriage to a lesser noble family from the isle of Aurum, the Malads. From them, Natanial got his shocking bluish mane and huskier physique. He shifted and he felt the weight of his sword on his hip and the grip of his boots on the stone as he turned at the sound of running. A messenger form his order which had his eyes opening in shock and hurrying after the initiate.
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>02-05-2016, 20:31:35</strong>
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				Aria &nbsp;(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/videogames64/Characters/furries/tumblr_nkxewrFrN01r2000vo1_540_zpsnan7ijlh.jpg)had grown up in the countryside outside the Grand Central city, one of those citizens at the bottom of the totem pole that was their caste society. She had never known her father. Her family was her mother and her older sister, and they lived together in a tiny house with her cousins and her aunt and uncle. They all worked the river, fishing, diving for pearls and shellfish, scratching out a living in the mud. In some ways, it was not as terrible as it might seem – they had each other, they stuck together and supported one another. Sometimes she was hungry, and her clothing was never new, but she had a roof over her head and they got by. <br><br>But she was not like her cousins, or her sister. As she grew older, she looked at the system not with acceptance, but with disdain. As she grew, and learned, she began to question it, began to hate it. Why couldn't they become better? Why did they have to stay stuck as little more than slaves? She learned over time how to fix machines, how to improve the technology in their hut. She was smart and hard working. Why shouldn't she get to become something better than a fishers wife? Her family tried to calm these feelings, tried to reason with her... but by the time she was 18 she was chafing at this life, and it was making her angry at everybody, blaming them for things they could not control, hating them for accepting their lot in life.<br><br>She ended up doing something she would later regret- she had stormed out, left them, with a bag thrown over her back and a little bit of money in her pocket. She'd left them and set off for the city, hoping against hope that it would lead to a better life for herself, and maybe one day, for them. If she made it, she promised herself she'd send them the money, pay them back for the terrible things she'd said when she left. But of course, the city was more than she bargained for. It was loud, people were cruel, and there were rules and customs there she did not understand. For a year she struggled, eking out an existence working as a cleaner, then a barmaid. It was harder work than even the fishing, mostly because of how others treated her, and the fact that she had to do it alone. She missed her family, but was too proud to admit defeat. She kept working, kept trying.<br><br>Then one day, when she was serving some ladies in the tavern, one woman leaned over and spoke to her. The woman found her ice blue eyes gorgeous, and loved her soft white ears and tail. The woman offered her a job, in the entertainment district. At first, Aria was appalled by the offer. Sell her body for money? To men she barely knew? But the woman made her at least visit the brothel, made her see for herself. The way she spun it, it was a chance to gain power over men, to bend them to their wishes. And watching the woman, it was captivating the way she could make men beg for a night with her, the way a smile and a touch made them offer up their money and jewels to her. Aria accepted the job, and soon was dancing naked in front of men, earning more money than she ever had before. It was fun, and easy, and went well for a while. Again, she made a misstep, however. After another few months of dancing, and serving clients in private, a man had mentioned the money she could make at a much darker sort of brothel, a 'dungeon'. The money was so good for one such as her it seemed mad to turn it down. She'd quit that night, gotten a job at the dungeon...<br><br>Where she now found herself, with her very first client, letting him bind her down to a bed. It was, after all, a bondage dungeon as she'd belatedly found out. Her first client was overweight, with a wild red and black mane and a crooked set of front teeth. He was a lowly viscount of the Aurum clan, inbred several times over. He reeked of alcohol and kept petting her ears and tail, muttering to himself in a creepy way that made her skin crawl. Aria felt scared, her ears pinned back, her eyes wide. He had her arms tied back behind her back in a painful position, and her legs pulled open wide. She squirmed, yelping with a jerk as he suddenly spanked her too hard, his claws out leaving angry welts. She bit her lip, then winced as he suddenly pulled her tail hard. Why was he doing this? He laughed every time she gave a pained sound and seemed to be enjoying it. No, she hadn't agreed to this. <strong>”R-red.”</strong> She stammered out the safe word. But... he ignored it. He kept hurting her, hitting her too hard, pulling her hair- and she was trapped, trapped unable to get free. No no no no! She was breathing heavily, tears running down her face. A blinding redness and a surge of... something came over her as she felt his hard length pushing at her very dry entrance-<br><br>And suddenly he was roaring with pain. The red flash had been not within her mind... but outside it- and he was suddenly knocked back by a powerful kick of magic. He was knocked from the bed and a flare of fire burned away the ropes binding her. Aria didn't know what had happened, she just knew she was suddenly free. She didn't question it- she scrambled out of the bed. The man was curled on the floor, groaning, holding his stomach like he'd been kicked hard. He shouted at her, some terrible words- she ran past him, out the door, down the hall. There were sensors going off- magic alarms. Not from her, surely not from her. She didn't have magic. And yet... she felt a crackling around her hands that terrified her, a surging through her like a roaring flood. She ran to the employees lounge, grabbed her clothing - a black dress, red tights and boots- and got dressed. People were shouting now, freaking out. Heart racing, she grabbed her bag and ran out the back door, into the alley. It was raining and dark out. She ran from the club, into the dark, getting lost in the back streets as much as she could. She was not sure what she had done, but she knew it was bad. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>03-05-2016, 07:26:35</strong>
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				The master of the dungeon cringed and wrang his hands as he paced in the parlour. It might have normally concerned him that his entire staff was seated or standing in the display area, but there were no customers now. In fact, it was dubious if there ever would be again. He was already formulating plans to sell his contracts and the building and move to a new location. Visits by inquisitorial agents was rarely a good thing. Most agents were just law keepers or functionaries. They were the everyday people that he had to pay fines and fees to or just outright bribe to do business. Everyone dealt with them as they were part of the apparatus the regulated the peasants. But today had not been normal. He mentally cursed himself. He had sensed something wrong with that girl: too pretty, too hard-nosed, too... something. He was irrationally trying to make bringing her into his business not his fault. She had tricked him, yes? With.. with.. her magic! Why would a noble even consent to such work!<br><br>There was a rasp and then the door in the next room was answered by his bouncer. A low hum of conversation and then the door to the display room opened and a man in a black cowl stepped in. Blackclad Inquisitor: all inquisitorial agents had the hoods but most never wore them. The few who did were trouble. He glanced to the emblem on the man's chest and saw the crest of a Mage-Hunter, an Inquisitor tasked with dealing with violations of magical laws or magical criminals. HE could not see the man's eyes, but he felt them scan across the room before settling on him.<br><br><hr>Natanial was modestly upset he had to come to this place. When the messenger had notified him of a Section 13 violation, he had been shocked. It had been over a decade since the last occurrence. They were the most severe and urgent crises of magical law enforcement. A wild talent had appeared; magic used by a non-registered individual. Such was a threat to the order of the world, because the only magical talent that could be unregistered was a peasant talent. All nobility and royalty were registered at birth, their power levels and talents constantly monitored. He closed his eyes and concentrated even as his cadre of guards filed in behind him and spread out. He summoned his power up and worked it into a lens over his eyes. When he opened them again, the world was tinged blue as his senses were calibrated to detect magic residue now. His translator stepped forward and with a casual summoning of magic, he sent his words into the man's mind to be spoken. It wasn't that he wouldn't speak to peasants, he did so all the time, but keeping his voice unheard and his face cowled served to hide his motives and thoughts. Blackclads had a well-deserved reputation for being cold and merciless.<br><br><strong>"Take us to the crime scene... now!"</strong><br><br>The proprietor hopped at the barked order and made a motion for an employee to show them up. The translator chopped his hand at a mental command from his boss and spoke again, <strong>"Do you propose that he should be lead about by your.. servants?'</strong> The man made hasty and obsequious apologies but Natanial noted his tail flicking in annoyance and anger. The emotions were futile and the man would do best to learn to quash them. Anger with nobility was a poor decision to allow oneself. The man led them upstairs and to a small room. As soon as Natanial entered, he sent a mental command for his translator to keep the man outside, a mental command to his guards to secure the employees downstairs for questioning, and scanned the room. Immediately, his senses had noted a faint trail of magic leading to the room, but inside he saw more potent traces. A spell had been used, no.. two. But not spells exactly, they were the unfocused, undisciplined magics of a child. Fire... yes, and force? Sorcery.<br><br>He frowned and sighed. His translator spoke, <strong>'You and your staff will be coming with us to the Tower. You will be held for questioning. Your rights to this property are forfeit and they are seized by the Inquisition. Your Liege will be notified."</strong> And downstairs a ruckus erupted as the Inquisitorial soldiers rounded up the whores and pimps and marched them off to the dungeon... the real dungeons. If any of them saw the lights of day again, they would be lucky. A category 13 incident had to be covered up completely. No witness was to be allowed. Natanial bent down and picked up the remnants of the seared rope and hummed as he imagined the situation playing out. Stress, anger, and pain had awakened a power that should not have existed.<br><br>Natanial returned downstairs to a room all but empty and smiled as the Aurum noble was seated before him. The man still gripped his belly and his appearance was foul. The man had soiled himself in fear or pain? Natanial cared not which. "Viscount Alaine sic'Aurum Aurum?' The man was obviously inbred and his name suggested it. 'I am Inquisitor Natanial. Unsanctioned magic has been used here this day to assault your person. Can you describe to me the events and person or persons responsible? The man stammered and squirmed as he recognized both a person of higher noble rank, higher sate rank, and absolute authority. He recounted how he was a regular and favored customer here, trying to insinuate his importance and drop his liege's name as if Natanial didn't already know, and how he had been contacted by the pimp to try out a new hire. Things had been going normally and he was about to mount the peasant when a red flash had knocked the wind out of him and flung him against the wall. He had been burned and injured. Natanial listened and then nodded. He reached out casually into the man's mind with a thread of sorcery and isolated the memories. Recounting the story had brought them to the surface so isolating them was easy. He wrenched them from the man. The noble fell to the floor and convulsed as his mind warped and reeled from the violation but then stood and looked around confused. He had forgotten most of the last 24 hours.<br><br>Minutes later, Natanial had purged the magic taint from the building and was exiting as an Inquisitorial cleansing team entered. They would see the noble home and interrogate the peasants.. thoroughly. He scanned the street for residue and saw a trail of magical energies tainted with fear, panic, and anger. He smiled as he followed it; novices were rarely adept at hiding their trails. A wild talent was even less so; it probably didn't even know it was leading him right to it. He motioned for his translator to return to the Tower with the guards. This should be a simple capture. He idly wondered if the female was as beautiful as the noble had described.
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>03-05-2016, 13:11:54</strong>
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				Alleys, back streets, sprint across a main thoroughfare back into another alley, her heart racing in fear of discovery- Aria ran as if the demons of hell were nipping at her heels, her mind flashing back to that moment. She had felt something fall away inside her, then something hot and powerful surge to the surface- so powerful it had burst out through her without her control. It had saved her, protected her- but it still filled her with fear. It was wrong, disallowed. Peasants did not have magic. She knew what would happen now, as she ran. They would call in the Inquisitorial squad, they would investigate, and they would hunt her. And if they caught her....<br><br>The energy around her seemed to crackle and pop, a red arc of magic jumping between her hands. She ducked into an alcove and stopped, breathing heavily as she stared down at her open, pale hands. <strong>”No no. Please stop. Goddamnit. I don't want this. I just want to be normal.”</strong> She muttered to herself, tears dripping from her eyes to fall on her hands. Sure, she'd always tried to struggle against the system, to find a way up even a few steps in the caste system... but she had never wanted to upend things so thoroughly! This magic... this would ruin her. Nobility were violent in guarding their magic, and they let it fall to no one outside of their circle. They would throw her into the dungeons and she would never see the light of day again. More tears fell down her face, and for a moment she leaned against the wall, her shoulders shaking as she lost herself for a moment to her fear. <br><br><strong>”Oy what's wrong with ye?”</strong> A man had stumbled out of a tavern into the back street she was on, and began to walk towards her. <strong>”Um n-nothing.”</strong> She lowered her hands, hiding them behind her back, and sniffed back her tears, lifting her chin. <strong>”Eh you's a pretty one. Why you cryin darlin? Nothin to cry about, come ere let me give ye a hug.”</strong> He stumbled towards her, smiling and holding out his hands. She drew back, feeling the surging inside her. <strong>”Please- stay back!”</strong> She warned in a raised voice shaking with fear. He was drunk and stupid though, and came closer. <strong>”Oh darlin, don't be like that. Give ol Avery a hug.”</strong> He was right upon her, his leering eyes sweeping over her. <br><br><strong>”No”</strong> She told him firmly, bringing her hands back in front of her. This time, it was intentional when she let the surging feeling rush through her. She couldn't direct it, or control it, but she could let it happen. The red flash again struck him, knocking him back against the wall. He hit it, then slumped to the floor, groaning. <strong>”I'm so sorry.”</strong> She murmured, then ran past him, down more streets.<br><br>It was early dawn, and she had made her way all the way from the entertainment distract down to the warf, where the ships came in from outer provinces to deliver goods to market and supplies to the magifactories. Originally, she had set out for her apartment- but she knew if they figured out who she was, that would be the first place they would look. So in fear, she'd fallen back on instinct. Maybe she knew the warf was full of people, where she could get lost among the crowd... or maybe it had simply made her think of her family, her home where she was safest, being down near the water. All she knew was that by the time she reached the warf and the choppy shore of the harbor, her feet were throbbing and sore, and she could barely stay standing. She stumbled past work crews unloading ships, past quiet taverns where the inhabitants were still asleep after a night of drink, and found a staircase down off the street. She took it, finding it led to a little rocky shore only about ten feet wide, and the entrance to the sewers, a large tunnel covered by an iron barred gate&nbsp; with a side door that was also locked. It reeked, but the stone tunnel was recessed, hidden from view up on the street. It seemed the most out of way place she could find, and the crashing waves on this small shore made her think of home. She curled up&nbsp; in the corner of the tunnel, her back against the gate, and sighed tiredly, her head resting against the bars. She tried to will herself to stay awake, to stay alert- but her eyelids slowly worked their way closed as she passed out to recover from the night's events. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>03-05-2016, 18:34:35</strong>
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				The five schools of magic were Sorcery, Witchcraft, Alchemy, Arkaniks, and Channeling. Each school was a methodology and system that taught a magicrat how to invoke and shape magical energies into spell effects. Each school was unique and most only ever learned one, let alone mastering any. A sorcerer was able to use imagination and raw willpower to summon and shape raw elemental forces; Witches and Warlocks used mediums to channel energies into either curses or enchantments; Alchemists used magical equations to direct energies into transformative magics; Arkaniks built magical machines; and Channelers the Chi, or magical energies, or living beings. Across these five schools laid the 13 Disciplines of magic. Disciplines were broad categories of magical energies: fire, acid, water, ice, wind, wood, earth, metal, light, gems, dark, blood, and electricity. Most magicrats were competent with one school and a few disciplines; Natanial was a master of two and could work in all the disciplines, though eh was only competent with 6 or so and a master of two.<br><br>He stood where a side street crossed a thoroughfare and traced a finger thoguh the residue of a transportation spell and grit his teeth. It had no school or discipline to it. It was what the magicrats called Wild Talent. Undisciplined, uncontrolled, and raw. It was dangerous both to the user and to society. He cared about only one of those two things. He released a sigh and let a tendril of electric energy arch from his finger to the spell. Electric energy was best for tracing and tracking and it arched from this location to the terminus of the spell and Natanial grasped that location and pulled himself along it with a sorcery spell. Standing there he noticed yet more magic residue and then saw the downed civilian. He grunted as he moved like a stalking cat, his tail twitching like a predators, and he hunched over the man. He retrieved a small diamond from a pocket hidden in his sleeve and pressed it to the man's mind. He channeled through the gem using a different school and withdraw a small wire square from a pocket. He held the frame over the man's forehead and breath over it. A static erupted and he linked the diamond to the frame with a tendril of electric power and a scene began to play in the square. He watched for a second before grunting. The man was dreaming of a very unfortunate looking woman. He waved his hands and gently nudged the dreaming mind toward recent memories. He watched the scene with the target play out and sighed. It was growing both more scared and more confident rapidly. He pulled the now black and charred diamond away and threw it into a nearby sewer then folded the square and put it away. Casually, he reached out and snapped the man's neck.<br><br>He then stood and picked up his pace toward the quayside. The zig-zag path he had been following had been heading that way all night after all. he had learned a lot about his target from the paths she had chosen or avoided. What about the quayside was drawing the target? Surely, it had not thought to escape? Did it have contacts there? His tail twitched as his mind worked through the possibilities and his ears flattened against his scalp in annoyance. His features, what could be seen under his cowl, were icy though as he erupted from the shadows into the bright sun of the quayside. The sounds of boats and smell of fish and water assailed him. His nose wrinkled and he casually held a snifter box up and breathed in cinnamon. He scanned the streets wondering where she had gone then summoned his magical vision again and sighed as he noted the path.<br><br>His boots crunched as they left the smooth stone of the stairs and settled on the gravel of the stretch of beach. The stench here was overpowering his snifter. He coughed once and then approached the drain in a wide angle. At first, he could only see bare, dirty feet then calves swelled and pressed against thighs. The target was curled into a ball against the grate and he stood for a long, long moment watching her sleep. He felt his own fatigue rise in sympathy and he shook his head. "Excuse me. Please, I'd rather not have to chase you through the city again, so could you please be a good girl and put these on?"<br><br>He held up a pair of manacles meant to secure only the wrists. He repeated the question once she was more fully awake.
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>03-05-2016, 19:22:57</strong>
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				After casting several unrestrained spells in quick succession, not to mention running several miles barefoot and terrified through the city, Aria was understandably worn out. She ended up sleeping heavily for several hours against the grate. The smell did not bother her, not of the fish or the sewage- not after she had grown up in a small fishing village near the city. She had gotten used to all sorts of smells like that during her life. And unfortunately, with her exhaustion and the sound of waves, sound did not disturb her either- not even the eventual crunch of boots on sand.<br><br>In fact, she did not stir from her slumber until she heard a voice. With a groan her blue eyes fluttered open slowly, her head lifting as she focused on her surroundings. Her feet were throbbing in pain from the rough ground she had run on, and she felt the stinging welts on her back under her black dress where the noble man had clawed her last night. But none of that mattered right at this moment. What did matter was the tall figure before her. Robes.... oh gods. Her blood ran cold. The black hooded robes of the Inquisition, a male face hidden in shadows, the crest of mage hunters on his chest. He was what she had feared, what she had run from all night... and he had still found her.<br><br>She scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide with fear, her ears pinned back as her dress fell about her figure, hitting her knees. Instinctively she brought her hands up in front of her, palms facing towards him. It had worked so far- this sudden flash of magic that knocked down her enemies- but... it did not work now. As she pointed her hands at him and tried to conjure up that power, she found it gone- not even a charged feeling in the air. Either the power had drained away from use, or it was simply no longer right at the surface and easy to tap into. She had no understanding of her abilities, she just knew that suddenly she didn't know what to do- and she was defenseless. She was just a girl, barefoot and weak.... thinking she could face down a member of the Inquisition? <br><br>Lowering her hands, she shrank back against the wall behind her, shaking her head. <strong>"Please- I didn't mean to do any of it. I don't have magic, this has to be a mistake. Please don't kill me."</strong> Her voice was shaking and small, her eyes wide and frantic. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>04-05-2016, 17:05:05</strong>
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				Natanial stood like a statue as the target finally responded and let her protest. As its last words fumbled into the void between them, he let the air go silent and still. It was impossible for it to see his features beneath the cowl but the unmistakable tilting of his head to the side and the chortle of laughter he released to try to cut the tension. His sense of humor rarely worked; it might be that he always found it funny that they tried the exact same protests. He doubt that she was amused; he supposed she was terrified.<br><br>"Whether you meant to do any of it or not is irrelevant to what happens next. For one, I won't be killing you. That is not procedure. No, you must be questioned."<br><br>He let the manacles drop a bit and then considered her frightened posture. She had not scared him any as even if she looked to try and strike him, he had not felt any magical energies pooling. No, she needed to be arrested and questioned. They needed to learn as much as possible of her family. If she was some noble's by-blow, then that family needed to be notified and take custody as well as responsibility. It was one of the reasons that most nobles took great pains to assure that peasants did not bear them children. If some noble had been the target's father, then the family would be paying steep fines for this incident. More worrisome would be if the girl was a real accident, a aberrant expression. Then, it had to be covered up and the girl either silenced or conditioned. The fragile society could not be exposed to the truth of her kind existing.<br><br>One thing it said did catch his interest though. There was a remote possibility that she had been framed. Frowning, he moved the hand not holding the manacles and withdrew a thick, disk-shaped device. It looked very much like a clam shell and he opened it like one. Inside was revealed a small, platinum sphere orbited by thirteen rings, one for each discipline. He supplied a small spark of power to it and the rings began to spin. He held it out toward her and waited, "Let's get that pesky question out of the way then. This is an Aurometer; it will detect and display any affinities for the magical disciplines. IF you have no magic, it should register you as having no affinities."<br><br>He waited a few more seconds and the rings slowly began to still. One ring was stationary and pointing directly at her while most of the rest were waving back and forth in hesitation in the middle. Only a pair were facing back, indicating no affinity. "Sorry to say, not only do you have magic, but you seem quite potent. With training, you could be an extremely powerful magicrat. How does that make you feel?"<br><br>So, the questioning had already begun...
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>04-05-2016, 19:20:04</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The silence was deafening between them. Aria was sure that this was the end of her, that she was about to be murdered out of sight of all, forgotten so that the truth would never come out. Her family would never know what happened to her, she would just be gone. <br><br>And then.... he laughed. Ears flicking, she looked confused, blinking at him. Was something about her terror funny? Was he so evil that the idea of killing her thrilled him? A thousand terrified ideas ran through her mind, but then he spoke, telling her death was not in the cards today. With a sigh her shoulders slumped, and while she wasn't relaxed,&nbsp; she was less imminently piss herself scared. Still... questioning by the Inquisition was no picnic. It was still very bad. She'd heard the rumors- people locked away in cells for the rest of their lives, tortured for questioning. She wanted none of that... but of course she had no choice in this. She had broken the rules of their very society by being something she shouldn't be, and now they would want to find out way. <br><br>Gods, she just wanted to wake up and find out this was all a dream. She had never wanted magic. She had wanted equal treatment, and a life that wasn't full of such constant hardship and squalor.... but magic? She hated the magicrats- being one of them was her last desire. Not to mention it was impossible! Peasants just didn't have magic, it had to all be some sort of trick. Some noble playing a trick on her. Deep down, she just didn't believe it.<br><br>They were both silent for a moment, lost in their individual thoughts. But then he pulled something disc shaped from a pocket. Naturally curious and no longer facing immediate death, her ears flicked and perked forward, and she took a tentative step closer to try and see around the top lip to the inside contents of the disc. Inside she saw the shining sphere and the colored rings. Reds, blues, an acid green color and a darker forest green shade. They all began to spin and whirl, flashing prettily in the sun. The technophile in her was immediately curious how it worked, what it was made of, and what it all meant. Of course... once he explained fear flickered in her expression and she bit her lip, her heart racing. This would give them both the answers... condemning her.<br><br>Hoping against hope, she watched them move, hoping the rings would point away from her. But within seconds a red glinting one was pointed right at her, the same color as the flashes she'd caused earlier. The acid green and another were pointed away, and all the rest were somewhere in between. She swallowed, dread collapsing over her face as her shoulders slumped and her ears flicked back.The yawning uncertainty of her immediate future stretched out before her. <strong>"I don't want it. I don't want to be powerful or a magicrat."</strong> She told him, shaking her head as her eyes looked up to his hooded face, almost pleading. <strong>"Can't you take it away, make it never manifest again? I just want go back to my life."</strong> She told him. Well.... no, she didn't. She'd never go back to that brothel again even if she could. She'd never put herself in such a compromising, terrifying position again- but she didn't want this either. Honestly, if she escaped right at this moment, she would return to her fishing village and her family in a heartbeat. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>05-05-2016, 09:29:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				An invisible eyebrow arched beneath his cowl at her comments. For him, the only history she had was working in the dungeon and a potential as a noble bastard. Her comments about magic were also odd. He had tracked and arrested two other Wild Talents in his career, both had been bastards. Neither if them had been reluctant about a future as amagicrat. He could sense a palpable teluctance in this girl. It made him wonder at his second assumption about her. Was she really an anomalous mutation. He shook his head and chuckled. This time the laugh was good natured.<br><br>Her abrupt change in attitude toward the Aurometer was interesting. The girl was curious; curiosity was a rare attribute in the magocracy. Despite their feline histories, citizens of this world tended to keep their heads down and eyes focused on their places. He noted her ears and tail twitching and the look of dismay at the results but also the desire to know why. Arkaniks were the rarest of the schools as most people had not interest in the mechanical tools it required, but it was his favorite and he smiled at her, not that she could see.<br><br>He also noted the adversity with acid and ice and wondered if she was not of the same two affinities as him: sorcery and arkaniks. He pursed his lip and tilted the device for her to see more clearly. "Yes, you will be taught to control and even supress your talents as you like.. Among other things.. But you will never be allowed to return to your former life. Like it or not; accept it or not: you are a magicrat and must be taught how to be such." It was beyond Natanial to think of this as unfair. This was the way things were: the sun rose in the south, women&nbsp; birthed kits, and magical people were magicrats. He offered the girl the manacles again but held them so she could see the ruby locking mechanisms. "You will learn all about things like these manacles, which supress magic, or the aurometer during your training."<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>05-05-2016, 15:57:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria's reluctance might have taken him by surprise, but from her perspective the Inquisition was something to be feared, and Magicrats were entitled and, while not always cruel, they were at least completely indifferent and outright encouraged the plight of peasants around them. When she had worked in the taverns, Magicrats had ranged from bullies to flirts, but they had always acted like they owned her. Why would she want to join them?<br><br>But... the point was, it didn't really matter. As he said, accept it or not, this was happening. She was going to be whisked away to become a Magicrat, if they didn't decide somewhere between questioning and that happening that she wasn't worth it and decide to throw her in a cell forever. She took a deep breath, imagining all the ways she could fight or resist- and knew deep down that all of them would end in failure. There was no escape, no way out of this, at least right now. <br><br>Seeing him hold out the manacles a second time, she did not continue to try and beg or plead. Nodding quietly, her ears flicking low in resignation she stepped up to the lip of the tunnel, her soft features and silver hair, covered in grit, half in the light. As she did she saw the ruby glittering in the locking mechanism, and heard him tell her what they would do. <strong>"So the ruby in the manacles are charged with a spell?"</strong> She asked, her curiosity peaking through even as she hesitantly laid her wrists in the manacles for him to seal them shut. Aria had always had a natural affinity for understanding how things worked, fixing them, trying to improve them. She'd only ever messed around with technology of course, knowing that if she studied magical items in the same way it would have brought trouble. A small part of her began to think ahead to what she would learn- and it was the only part of her not filled with dread. She <em>liked</em> learning, discovering new things. Maybe that part would make all the rest ok.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>05-05-2016, 19:34:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial slowly clicked the manacles shut then fed a current of electrical power into the ruby. It glowed softly and then the manacles were heard giving off an audible click. Instantly, where she was in tune with it fully or not, the target would feel something deep inside her quell and settle. Natanial had been in these exact manacles as part of his designing and constructing them. It felt like his magic was the horizon and if he could go just a bit faster, he might reach it. He knew it was impossible though. The manacles charged one's power so that it was just and always beyond reach.<br><br>"Not exactly, but something like that. The manacles are Arkanik; that is, they combine a machine and a spell effect. Arkanik magic is like that, using both magic and machine to bolster and expand the effect of the other. It is not the simplest of schools and requires great study and artistry, but it can manifest far more complicated and specific effects with mastery." Natanial did not add that mastery was the only level that was worthwhile as most of the levels below it were hazardous or energy inefficient. There were many reasons that Arkanik magic was the rarest of the schools. Too, there was no academy dedicated to it. Each Arkanik master too a single apprentice at a time and trained them until nigh mastery.<br><br>Natanial pushed these thoughts aside as he pulled the target into the light and had his first good look. It was hard to see past the night's terror and the morning sleep in filth, but there was beauty in her form. Not every noble would see it as many found the mongrel blood of peasants unappealing. There was no predicting the shape of the ears, bone structure, coloring, or anything else. It was a grab bag of traits. The only part of Natanial's appearance that had not been predictable was the coloring of his points: lilac, chocolate, or seal. Every member of his family had the same patterns, ear shapes, fur length, and upright tail. Some called it purity; most called it selective breeding; a few called it inbreeding.<br><br>Silently, he turned and led her through the streets. Inquisitors arresting people wasn't a rare sight and most did not pay enough attention to see the Mage Hunter's seal. This time, he did not have to look to know the path. His feed moved silently and automatically. Each time he turned or moved down a street, it brought the spires of the Tower closer and closer. They were able to be seen from anywhere in Grand Central and they were at its heart. Eventually, he turned a corner and stepped into the vast courtyard surrounding the seat of magicrat power in the city and the massive fortress loomed over them. He paused and looked up at it. "For what it is worth, I hope this goes well for you."<br><br>Natanial was not a terrible being, he just had faith in the system. There were a massive set of ornate doors facing them, but he led her to a side entrance. This door was simple, spartan, and iron. It bore the Inquisitorial seal and no more. He led her through and then right into a passage that led down a set of hard, cold stairs. A long, dank tunnel right out of every person's nightmare's about the Inquisition was next. Passages, tunnels, stairs came one after the other. Finally, a steel banded oaken door loomed in front of them. Where there should be a handle was a larger version of the ruby locking device on the manacles. Natanial ran a hand down over the ruby and the door swung open silently. He pushed her forward. "Strip. You won't be allowed to keep anything from your previous life. No clothes, jewelry, any tattoos, anything... don't try to hide it from us. Finding it later would be very unpleasant."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>05-05-2016, 22:17:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria watched him snap the manacles in place, the way the ruby glowed, the following click. Her ear twitched and her eyes widened a little as she felt something inside her shift, an undercurrent to her emotions seeming to quiet like a bubbling pool inside her going still as glass. She hadn't expected to sense the effects of the manacles. Her powers had only awoken the night before, so she shouldn't be used to feeling them, should she? But, no the part that suddenly fell away inside her was something she was subconsciously so used to she'd never really noticed the sensation until it was gone. It was an unsettling realization, pinpointing the magic within her for the first time, even if it was nothing more than a sensation deep within. It meant it had been there all along, and she'd just never tapped into it before now.<br><br>Aria stared at the cold metal around her wrists, then lifted her gaze as he spoke, telling her about Arkanik magic. It sounded intriguing. She was surprised to hear that magicrats would want to work with machines, which were almost always seen as for the peasants- unreliable, cheap, dirty. Sure machines helped society function, but the people who worked directly on them were not seen as high class despite their importance, Well, except for the magicrats that turned the machines into art or something superfluous. She'd never understand the logic of it all. <br><br>Before she could ask further about it all, he pulled her from the tunnel out onto the sand. The sun made her squint and her silver ears and hair would have caught the light and seemed to shine if not for the layer of filth on her. She was skinny, not much meat on her bones, and the dress she wore was thin and fraying. Despite it all, she stood straight and met his gaze, noticing that he was looking her over. But then, without a word, he pulled her and made her walk with him through the city. Nobody watched, nobody cared, and they walked on in silence for many minutes.<br><br>Even before the tower began to draw closer, she knew it was their destination. Where else would he take her? Aria walked in silence, wincing a little as her feet were still raw from her flight last night. Eventually, though, they reached the courtyard, and the fortress rose before them, dark and foreboding. Aria craned her head back, looking up and swallowed nervously. Hearing him speak, she blinked to him, surprised to hear his sympathy. She supposed, in comparison to another Inquisition officer he had been very kind to her so far. He had not harmed her, had not been cruel- he'd talked to her in an even, fair manner, and explained things to her. She blinked up at him, realizing how lucky she'd been. <strong>"Er- thank you."</strong> She answered softly, before they circled the building to enter a smaller side door.<br><br>And that was when the fear began. A narrow, claustrophobic staircase down into the darkness- the hallway from society's collective nightmares of the Inquisition. As they walked she shivered, the cold of the stones numbing her feet, her gaze fearfully flitting about as they passed closed doors and twisting hallways. Down and down they went, seeming to lose themselves in the earth itself. The rest of society suddenly felt like a very far off place, and cold stone pressed in around her. As she walked with him, she also began to wonder what they would ask of her. Would they ask about her family, her lineage? She had not used a fake name when she had taken a job at the dungeon- she was a nobody before now, with no secrets to hide. It would be painfully easy for them to find out where she came from, to track down her mother and sister, her aunt and uncle and cousins. The dungeon work would lead to the tavern, would lead to somebody who she'd confided in about her past, would lead to her village in the south. As they neared the large doors she was filled with terror, realizing the danger those she loved might be in. She might move on to learn fascinating things, but what would happen to those she held dear?<br><br>As he pushed her into the opened room she stumbled forward- the chain between the manacles magically broke apart so she could do as he asked, but the individual cuffs remained locked around her wrists, continuing to bind her magic. Aria turned around to him with a fearful look. <strong>"Wait- before you go... will my family be in danger now because of me?"</strong> She asked, afraid and desperate to know at the same time.<br><br>He would answer, then leave her alone in the room... and she would slowly start to undress as instructed, blushing as she shed her dress and undergarments. She had no jewelry on her, no heirlooms. Those were back in her little apartment she rented out on the fringe of the city- an apartment she would never see again The little book of poems her older sister adored, the recipe clippings from her mom, the scraps and bits of machines she'd been in the process of playing with or breaking down. All that was gone. The room swam behind sudden tears, and she wrapped her arms around her chest to cover herself as she waited for what would come next. A silver finned fish- the main catch in her family's region, rippled along her hipbone. She had no clue how they would even remove a tattoo, but she was so caught up in thinking about what she was leaving behind she didn't reflect on it. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>06-05-2016, 08:05:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				And she remained alone for some time. There was no window or sun to track the time, but a few hours after she was brought, a different robed man came in and took her clothes. He left only a loaf of bread and glass of milk as well as a simple cotton dress that covered her from chin to ankles and wrists. It was white with gold trim and felt luxuriant compared to almost all other clothes she had ever worn. The bread was nutritious and high quality, a dark rye, while the milk was cool and refreshing. Then she waited again. Several hours later, it felt like, the same acolyte came and gave her another loaf and a gourd of milk this time. He took the glass and showed her a device on the wall which when depressed lowered a bunk from it for sleeping or sitting.<br><br>She was alone again for some time. The cycle of food repeated itself six more times. Each time she got a bit of bread and some milk. During what she assumed was the lunch meal, she received a fish as well. Each time now it was a different acolyte though and their cowls were always up. The manacles were not reconnected again and she was left to her own devices outside of the arrival of food. What was going on?<br><br>In fact, Natanial had spent the remained of the first day filing paperwork and then the next two digging into her past. He found the brothel, the bar, her apartment, witnesses. Each was interviewed and then one of his Arkanik devices used on them. Natanial was systematically removing all memories of Aria from existence. The peasant must be made to disappear; no memory could be allowed. On the second day, he gathered some of her belonging from the apartment and packaged them to be shipped to her family along with an official letter and certificate of death. Aria had been killed in a random act of violence, a mugging gone bad. He added a few bits of her jewelry to a man being tried's evidence and the charge for her murder was also added. The man was convicted and sentenced to death by drowning, the worst punishment in magicrat society. What feline wanted to die in water?<br><br>The third morning, around the time that her breakfast was due, if she knew what the time was, the door cracked and the original inquisitor came in carrying a tray of food. A simple wooden stool floated in behind him. He set the stool in the middle of the floor, folded her bunk up, then gave her a loaf of bread, refilled her gourd with milk, and motioned for her to sit and eat. As she did, he handed her copies of the letter and certificate, "These were sent to your family along with your belongings yesterday. The bits of jewelry that are serving as evidence against your murderer can be claimed by them in a couple months after the man has been executed. Don't worry, he actually killed two others and your case's addition did not change the verdict. It just allowed me to hide your existence. Now eat and contemplate."<br><br>Natanial then took his own chunk of bread with heavy amounts of fresh butter on it and leaned against a wall to slowly eat as she digested her breakfast and the news. She would occasionally get sneak peeks at bits of his face under the cowl as he ate, but never the whole face at a time. She'd note the lilac points on his face which matched his tail and that would probably tell her, if she knew enough, that he was from the Noble house of Idyll. They were mostly down south of here and distant folk even for nobles. Their cities were notorious for fairness and balance, as much as any were in the land. The Aurums that ruled the land surround Grand Central City were tyrants and bullies in comparison. It might explain his compassion; if faking her death and annihilating her existence were compassion.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>06-05-2016, 17:33:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria had anticipated being alone for only a few moments, for them to question her or... do something with her. But no, she was alone. At first she stood naked and waiting, then she began to pace, then eventually she sat down against the wall, resting her back against the cold stone. She shivered, and thought about how he hadn't answered her question. What would happen to her family? Were they safe? Were they being brought in right now? Were they just going to be killed? She put her head down on her knees and fought back tears as worry and anxiety gnawed at her insides.<br><br>Then the door opened. Lifting her head with a gasp, she looked to the man that walked in, blushing as she was naked before him. But he hardly seemed to care- didn't talk, didn't approach her. Just took her clothes, and left behind a white pile of fabric and food. She watched him leave, then got up and investigated the items. Might they poison her? She hesitated, the took a few gulping sips of the milk. There would be no reason to poison her after bringing her here, she realized. The milk was rich and delicious. She then tore into the bread- she'd been so anxious she'd forgotten about her hunger, but it had been almost 24 hours since her last meal. The food and drink were quickly consumed. Then she slipped on the dress. It slid soft and gentle over her skin, her tail flicking out a hole in the back. She'd noticed they hadn't given her undergarments, but at least the dress was something. <br><br>But then she was alone again. She returned to sit against the wall, wondering what time it was, and how long she'd been here. She wished she could see the sunlight, or trees. You didn't realize how much you enjoyed such a simple thing until it was gone. She rest her head back against the wall, the time dragging by slowly. <br><br>She must have dozed, because when the man returned she jerked out of a dream where she was back home, fighting Inquisition members from coming into her family's hut, trying to stop them from taking her sister. She was shaking, and the ruby on her wrist shackles was glowing a little. Blinking up at the man, she saw he'd brought more food and drink, and was lowering a bed from the wall. She remained quiet as he left, then got up, eating the food. After her dream she thought she might be too anxious to sleep, but with the day she had, she laid down and passed out fairly quick. <br><br>The next day and the day after that dragged by slowly and uniformily. The bread that was at first so deliciously soft and good became boring and plain, and she probably consumed more milk in three days than she had in weeks before that. On her first day, she spent a good part of time exploring the walls- after seeing the man lower a bed from one corner, she wanted to see if there were any other cracks or crevices of interest. Of course, there weren't. She eventually returned to the bed, losing herself once again to worry. <br><br>The second day, she turned her attention to her manacles. Not because she expected to get free of them- but in her boredom she tried to understand how they worked. She'd noticed when she woke from bad dreams and felt fear racing through her, the ruby glowed. She sat up and held her wrist up, glaring down at the gem as she tried to reach for her magic- not having a clue what she was doing, but at one point it started to shimmer again. Counteracting her attempts to cast spells? She frowned on concentration, her brows coming together as she tried to reach again for the magic in her... but after a few moments more of it shimmering and the magic feeling out of her reach she sighed, lowering her wrist. She turned her wrists over, seeing how the manacles locked, how they were constructed. She really was just bored and killing time. How long would they keep her here? Was this really the rest of her life? Why not just kill her?<br><br>Eventually, the third day came, and when the man came to deliver her food as usual she found that he was not a random member of the Inquisition, but the man who had brought her here. She'd seen a flash or two of lilac highlights under his hood that first day, as she did now. Getting up from the bed, she took a step or two towards him when he held out paperwork to her and set down a stool. She hesitated, then took the pages from him and sat down, staring down at the words in disbelief as he ate in the corner. <strong>"S-so they won't be harmed?"</strong> She asked as she stared down at the papers. They would think her dead.... her heart ached with sadness, imagining their reaction to the news, seeing in her mind her mother crying and her uncle and aunt trying to comfort her. Still... they would survive. That was what mattered. Aria swallowed around a lump in her throat, feeling relief mixed with the sadness. She wished she could have said goodbye, that her last words to them hadn't been as terrible as they were when she'd left years ago... but it was still better news than she had expected after nearly three days of silence.<br><br>After a moment, she sighed, setting the papers down, and took a small bite of bread. <strong>"Thank you."</strong> She eventually spoke, glancing up to him. <strong>"So what happens now? Please tell me I don't keep sitting in here by myself for days on end. I'm not a fan of staring at these walls much longer."</strong> She remarked dryly, almost with a sense of humor. Obviously, things weren't going great for her, but now that the shock of it had worn off she realized there wasn't much point in crying or carrying on. She was an adaptable sort, and usually focused on just moving forward when things happened to her. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>06-05-2016, 18:41:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial didn't respond immediately. As calmly as she was taking most of this news; he didn't expect the next part to go down smoothly. Instead, he watched her and waited. He had interviewed the acolytes who had been tending to her section of the dungeons carefully. The boys were constantly circulated to keep them from developing ties to the prisoners or revealing patterns of behavior to them, so he had to talk to half a dozen or so boys about how she had been behaving. For, despite her thoughts otherwise, she had been watched and monitored closely through hidden means.<br><br>It was one of the many steps of training that every inquisitor went through working in these dungeons. It was not official policy to spy on the prisoners down here, but every boy knew that having information to provide the gaolers about the captives was key to promotion from this task. So, each worked hard to develop ways and means to spy on captives and record it for people like him. Natanial had spent 6 months of his own training down here doing that himself. He still used the observation and monitoring spellwork he had devised and practiced down here. So, he knew how she had behaved in her two days of imprisonment and he knew that she was interesting to say the least.<br><br>He had made certain appeals and changes to his own plans in reaction to the information of just how intrigued she had been by the manacles. "90% of Wild Talents are bastard by-blows of noble men who did not take adequate precautions. A very few, extremely few, are children abandoned by noble families for... various reasons" Retardation, weak magic, or physical deformity were the most common, but sometimes financial straits and not wanting another mouth entered into it. "Most of these are returned to the proper family, protests or not. We can't be having noble brats running around half-cocked and untrained. I have been unable to locate any trace of this likelihood in your past. It seems that all divinations have revealed that your mother and father are exactly who you always thought they were. Pity."<br><br>He wondered if that would offend her; it would have been an infinitely easier life for her if it had been true. "Wild Talents is the term we use for those with magical talent who reach maturity without training. You'll recall the Aurometer's readings three days hence? You have a strong affinity for the Fire discipline and a disaffinity for Acid and Ice disciplines, but the rest of the disciplines wavered unsure. That is because you have not trained yourself. For nobles, your initial affinities will probably guide you into a School or two or drive you away from some, but the following training will bolster and decide the rest of your affinities." He pulled out the Aurometer again but trained it on himself and held it so she could see the spinning rings slowly settle. None wavered like her reading had. Acid, Ice, and Wood pointed away from him; Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Electric, and Gem all pointed toward him strongly. Metal and blood were slightly toward him while Light and Dark were mostly away. "My initial affinities were for electric and gem disciplines. These four developed later as I learned and mastered Sorcery. The others are... interesting variations mostly developed over the course of my training. Wood, Light, and Dark all started neutrally toward me, but the migrated to their current positions as I have never really studied them and I studied wood's antithesis. Metal started strongly against me but studying Arkaniks brought it this far."<br><br>He smiled at her and then put the device away. "Now you wonder why would I tell you? Because I want you to know your options. You are what we call an Anomalous Mutation; you seemed to have manifested magic for no heritable reason but spontaneously manifested the genetic talent. Contrary to Magicrat propaganda, it happens occasionally. Hmm, you'll learn more about that if you chose to. Still, as an mutation, you are forced into the second option that some of the bastards take. You will be joining the inquisition. There are many jobs you can do here and one will be selected for you based on your aptitudes and your attitude. They range from a mind-wiped servant to an actual Inquisitor such as I. We don't care where your talent came from as long as you are skilled, loyal, and keep our secrets. I am telling you this because if you resist... you will never tell another soul. A collar much the same as those manacles will be fitted to you and it will seal your mind much as those manacles seal your magic. So, your options are to accept conditioning and then training... or a simple life as a pack mule and breeder."<br><br>He shrugged as it wasn't pretty but it was her option and she was free to take the path she liked best. Some had cast tit as no real option, but few options were real that way. The choice laid in that they freely allowed her to decide her path, but once chosen she had to stick to it. "If it helps your decision either way, I have applied to and been granted rights to be your Conditioner and, should your aptitudes prove complimentary, your instructor in the magical Schools."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>07-05-2016, 07:06:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>He wasn’t answering. Oh no. She stopped eating her bread, blinking up at him as her ears flicked forward. She hoped he wasn’t going to tell her she’d be down here for the foreseeable future. She couldn’t stand this place. She felt like time just stopped moving, and the world had ceased to exist. All she was left with were her thoughts, her regrets, her fears. She had spent two long days worried sick for her family, her imagination coming up with terrible outcomes for them. But now that she knew they were safe she wasn’t even sure where her mind would turn to now, if he left her again.<br><br>But he did not tell her she was trapped here forever. Instead… well he began to talk about lineage. About noble men who couldn’t keep it in their pants, and the bastard children they left behind. Her breath caught. She had never known her father, it was true, and her mother didn’t talk much about him. Of course, with his investigation Natanial had already unearthed more about her family than even she knew, at least in this regard, that her father was simply a gambling addict who had left when she was 2 and never come back, how his body had been washed up on the shores of this very city, an unpaid dept costing him his life. And of course, her mother and sister were exactly who they seemed to be, peasant women with no special connections.But she didn’t know this, and for a brief moment she struggled to wrap her head around the idea of being given to a new family, of starting over with them. People that would probably hate her for what she was, and be so full of themselves. She would hate it. But… it might still be better than this cell. At least she would be free. <br><br>Just as she was starting to come to terms with the idea, he went on, admitting that this wasn’t even the case for her. <strong>”But… wait, if I’m not in the 90% what’s left?”</strong> She asked in confusion, her brows furrowing as she looked up at him, a frown on her lips from the way he’d said it was a pity she wasn’t a bastard, something that definitely did not escape her notice. What was he getting at here? Where had her magic come from if not genetics? He didn’t answer these questions, at least not yet. The Aurometer surfaced from his pocket, and as she watched he pointed it on himself. Even though she was caught up in her own concerns, curiosity briefly spiked in her gaze and she watched the readings, seeing how they were a lot more certain for him. She also saw, with some surprise, that the same ice and acid rings pointed away from him, just like they had for her, and fire was pointed right at him. So all the affinities that were decided for her right now they shared. Did it mean something? Did she care if it did? He was a random member of the Inquisition. She wasn’t interested in getting to know him or what he was like.&nbsp; <br>&nbsp;<br>With the reading explained, he went on to finally tell her why he’d brought it up. At first she just felt a gnawing concern in her belly, a hard to place anxiety. He had danced around the issue too much- it was too obvious he was keeping the bad news for last. And then he told her. ‘Anomalous Mutation’ he called it. She was a mutant- a freak. It sounded like a disease. It felt like one too, as he told her the only choice for one such as her. <strong>”The Inquisition?”</strong> She repeated softly in disbelief, her widened eyes staring down at her feet as it felt like a roaring was surging in her ears as her stomach dropped. The ruby on her wrists was glowing again, brighter than ever before. No… no she would never be one of them. The Inquisition were the attack dogs of the nobility. They suppressed peasants, crushed revolts from people who just wanted a better life, hauled away people like her, made people disappear. All her life she’d chafed against the system, hated its oppressive nature and institutionalized cruelty, and he wanted her to join them in enforcing it? To help support a system she hated? Skilled, loyal, willing to keep their secrets? She shook her head, struck speechless. Wouldn’t he know, just from the brief time he knew her, that she would never be loyal, never keep secrets for a place like this? Shooting to her feet she clenched her hands into fists and started to pace. <strong>”You talk like you’re giving me a choice. This is no choice. You’re telling me to choose between mindless slavery and willing slavery? I… no.”</strong> She shook her head, her eyes wide with terror and fear, her ears flicking back. She reached up, running hands through her hair as she was freaking out. She didn’t want to be a mindless slave- she didn’t want to lose herself. She wanted to live, and be free. Learn about magic, sure, but work for them? No she couldn’t. All she had done was be herself and this had happened to her, she didn’t deserve this. Gods, to become an Inquisitor…<br><br>As he tried to comfort her, tell her that he would be her instructor, she gave a harsh laugh and spun on him. If not for the manacles there was no doubt she would have lashed out in that moment with raw emotional forces. <strong>”Fuck you. How can you support this? You tell me this mutation happened to me through no fault of my own, and now because of random chance, I have to ‘choose’ between letting you people turn me into a mindless slave or join you in continuing this chain of cruelty on other people? I won’t do it. I will never be an Inquisitor.”</strong> She declared, tears in her eyes as she knew what it meant. Gods she didn’t want any of this. She was so scared, so helpless. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>07-05-2016, 07:42:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial gritted his teeth as she had her fit, the. He slowly reached up and pushed his hood back. This left only his masked face between them. He paused a second as he knew the acolytes were watching and would report it just as they had to him. He hesitated the. Grasped his mask with his finger tips and pulled it from him. The mask was smooth black metal set with garnets at the temples that looked like small horns and had black screens over the eyes. Once off, it revealed his slightly crossed and mismatched eyes, one gold and one purple. It also revealed his anger. He knew his gaze was dosconcerting due to the mismatched color and the cross.<br><br>He clicked his teeth together and stood to tower over her: "Please do not take my calm and informative attitude as one of permission. I do not know why people have to insist they are not given a choice when all that is really true is that they do not like the choices given. Bah!" He paced a time or two and turned his fury at her again. He stepped in close to her and allowed his height to loom. Unconsciously he sped his arms under his cloak which served to increase his bulk and profile. He glared steadily and directly into her eyes. " I never said the choice was fair. I never said it was kind. I said you had a choice. I did not have to present it at all. We could have chosen for you. I chose not to."<br><br>He turned abruptly and paced back to where he had waited then leaned against the wall and crossed his arms and visibly calmed, "As for the reasons and nature of the dynasties... You can learn about them later. The system is in place and we make no apologies for it nor will we change it. It is the way it is as much as the sun rises in the south. You ought to just accept it and the choice as presented."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>07-05-2016, 08:28:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>Aria had just declared her unwillingness to join the Inquisition when he let his hood fall back. She stopped pacing, froze, her eyes fearful as they watched him. It was the first time she had ever seen an Inquisitor without his hood up, and suddenly she was glad for that- the mask was even more frightening. The horn-like gems and smooth black metal giving it an almost demonic appearance. He wasn’t going to… surely he wouldn’t lock this collar he mentioned around her right now?<br><br>She stumbled back as he pulled off his mask and climbed to his feet. Rage had contorted an otherwise appealing face, the different colored eyes strange but striking. However, the way they crossed made her want to look away. She knew she should bite her tongue, but as he spoke she could not keep quiet -she never could. <strong>”Would you like either of those choices? Why do I have to work for this place? Why can’t I go elsewhere?”</strong> She demanded to know as he paced about in anger before striding right up to her, his cloak billowing, his figure towering over her. Her ears went back again and her heart was hammering in her chest. She wanted to shy back, to cower, but she did not, standing tall and defiant. She met his gaze with a mixture of fear and anger, smart enough to know she was in real danger but too stubborn to bow. <strong>”Well if we’re going with mindless slave, you might as well just kill me. It’d be no better.”</strong> She declared in a voice of ice, glaring at him as her hands clenched.<br><br>What was she doing? She didn’t want to die or become a mindless breeder or pack mule, but she really couldn’t bear the idea of giving her word to serve them. She just couldn’t. Suddenly, after their violent exchange, he suddenly spun and walked away. Aria blinked in startled confusion, watching him go, seeing him calm with surprising speed. She shook her head, looking disgusted as he told her the system couldn’t change and turned on her heel away from him. Going back to the stool she sat down- and tears started to fall, splashing on her lap, running down her face. Her hunched shoulders shook as she ducked her head. Begging was pointless, arguing too. She was trapped with no real choice at all and facing down the terror of it. Of course maybe that was because, from her perspective, she never saw any Inquisitors except the ones out amongst the people, doing the work she hated so much. She had no clue there were people that worked for the Inquisition as inventors, or researchers, or diviners or any number of positions where they hardly did any front line work at all. Based on what she knew, her choice <em>was</em> terrible- but she was acting on such laughably incomplete knowledge. She just didn’t know it, of course. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>07-05-2016, 12:06:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial leaned against the wall still but was not quiet for a long period. He was still struggling to contain his anger at her outbursts. He knew that peasants chafed under magicrat rule but he had always found their belligerence to be a thing of misplaced ignorance. They knew little of the nobility upon their floating island paradises or the inquisition itself but feared them. He tried to imagine their point of view but it was impossible. He knew what he did of the system and it was justified in Hus measure. The peace and prosperity of the magocracy was not perfect but it was stable and that stability benefited all. The inquisition worked tirelessly to maintain it. Yes, they used somewhat shadowy methods but for positive gains.<br><br>His frustration that she could not understand was irrational. He slowly made himself realize that because she did not know the facts. "You say that now? You would rather die than advance magical research or advocate for those on trial? You could be a mage hunger like me or a peace enforcer. There are also inventors, caretakers, librarians and so much more. But you would chose death over learning? If anyone is limiting your choice... It is you by not knowing what the choice is after I offered to teach you."<br><br>He said it all in a calm, even voice as he regarded her with flat eyes. He stood slowly again from his lean and walked to the door. He paused there and looked back. "I am going to send you a... loan. Rethink your position or I will consider your decision or I will consider it made by default." He then left the room abruptly and stormed back to his chambers high above. He spent some time perusing his various tomes before he decided on two. These arrived with her midday meal of bread and milk along side a piece of fish. The first was primer on Arkanik magics with a chapter bookmarked on her manacles; the second was a book no less used to teach children about the various departments of the magocracy and how the inquisition worked with and monitored each. She was left with these for three more days as he was called into the city for an investigation.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>08-05-2016, 00:48:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>All of this had been a lot to take in, and of course she had jumped to the worst conclusions on what a future with the Inquisition would hold. It just felt like her life wasn’t her own right now, like she had no control over anything happening to her. Natanial tried to explain, to calmly tell her about her other choices. Her ears flicked when he spoke of caretakers and librarians… but Aria had gotten so emotionally caught up in things that she wasn’t really listening, didn’t realize how some of those really didn’t sound so terrible. She sniffed, tears falling from her eyes as he got up and left her alone in the room.<br><br>And yes, she spent a bit of time wallowing in self pity, going back to the bed, pulling it down, and curled up in it for a while. It wasn’t really just the choice she had to make, that was just one part of it. But really it was just what pushed her emotions over the edge. But knowing that her family thought she was dead? Knowing she’d never see them again? Starting over in a new life, with new people and rules and… just everything. The wild shock of finding out she had powers, and it was entirely through luck. She took a while to come to terms with it all. When the food was delivered to her at lunch, she saw the acolyte, but didn’t move to eat. At least, not at first. But eventually her stomach started to growl, and she was pretty much all cried out. Turning over she sat up, blinking red bleary eyes as she saw a small pile of books next to the food. Aria hesitated, then got up from the bed and went to investigate, curiosity getting the better of her. She brought her food back to the bed and while eating flipped through the books.<br><br>For that first afternoon, she couldn’t really absorb what was written in the history book without getting angry, without seeing it as propoganda. But she flipped through the Arkaniks book with some interest. At first she just read a bit on the manacles, but it referenced other items, so before long she’d flipped to the very beginning and started to read from there. Hours slipped by and she was fully engrossed in the book. The pages explained different properties of gemstones, how they could be charged with magic and affected when incorporated into machinery and items. Emeralds could be used to change the appearance of something with the right spell charging it. The size of the jewel, the quality, even the cut of it affected how it would work with spells. She’d never realized there was such complexity, so much to learn. She continued to read until dinner that night. <br><br>The next day passed the same way- and at some point she did crack open the other book, started to read about the Magicrat society and how the Inquisitors were involved in almost every aspect. Shops that dealt with rare and dangerous magics had to be monitored by Inquisitors. There were researchers, practical technicians, administrators. The Mage Hunters truly were a very small branch. She came about to it slowly, at first too stubborn to admit she might be willing to do this. But… he let days pass… and by the end of that third day her anger at the injustice had calmed to rationale, and she realized she couldn’t just give up on life. It might go a new direction, but she’d make it work. She’d read the children’s book completely, and gotten through a good chunk of the Arkanik text, though there was a lot in there she just didn’t understand yet. It was a little bit before lunch and at the moment Aria was doing sit ups and other workouts next to her bed. After six days trapped in here, she was starting to go a little stir crazy. She hoped when she made her choice to join them that they would let her out of here for the next stage. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>08-05-2016, 15:06:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Natanial entered the room, everything in his demeanor spoke to exhaustion. It was a completely different side of him. Inquisitorial investigators had a reputation for being dauntless, tireless, remorseless trackers and enforcers. Natanial had been going the last three days on little to no sleep as he tracked down the source of a magical infraction in the city. A noble had been using magic to abuse peasants and, contrary to what some peasants thought, the inquisition did not stand for this. True, a noble could get away with more against peasants than other nobles and the inquisition interfered more on the grounds of misuse of magic, but it was still there. This man had made a jolly run of the whole affair but was not occupying a cell in another part of these catacombs. Natanial had come from there to here to check on her. His robes and cowl were dusty and unwashed and his posture was slumped and fatigued but he perked up a bit as he saw her and received her answer.<br><br>He searched her face trying to discern the impetus of her change of heart. He had not expected it quite so fast; he thought she would be more stubborn. The war of emotions on her face made it impossible for him to nail down just what reason might have changed her mind, but he doubted she was a loyal and dogmatic follower of the magocracy... yet. It would come with time; they always broke. The inquisition's track record was immaculate, formidable, and renowned. So, he simply nodded and stood aside to let her out. He then closed and sealed the door. The room would be cleaned and readied for the next occupant; there was no shortage of those. He turned left and led her into an alcove where a tight, spiraling staircase led up out of the dungeons. The climb was steep and his calves soon burned from it as the climb went on for five minutes before they emerged into a room.<br><br>The room was massive and circular with wood paneling and warm yellow colors everywhere. Shelves of books insulated the walls and large tables populated the open floor space. Sets of spiraling staircases set in each of the four cardinal directions and ascended to a floor high above them. Even more impactful, the room was filled with people moving to and fro on various bits of business. Most had documents or books tucked in their arms and ignored the duo emerging from the dungeons. Roughly 60% of the people were masked, robed, and cowled like Natanial was but many wore the same simple yellow robes as she and went unmasked while many more wore badges that declared them neophytes of the order.<br><br>Without speaking or looking back, Natanial headed for the large exit. Where would she run to? What could she hope to accomplish surrounded by inquisitors? He led her out of doors and into a massive courtyard. The tower they had come up from was at the north end of the large grassy park where various inquisitors, neophytes, acolytes, and staff lounged, talked, and went about their business. The library, for surely that was what it was, was a massive white tower with a few outlying subdivisions connected by skyways. To the east was a massive black and gold building that looked darkly official and had the Scales of Justice over the doorway while to the west was a building of blue granite with many subdivisions and what she now recognized as the badge of the Inquisitorial division of research and development. One of those subdivisions would house the Arkanik labs and libraries. Others would be dedicated to the other schools, more yet to the various more mundane areas of scientific research, philosophy, and the humanities. It was probably the single greatest institute of learning in the world: The Inquisitorial College.<br><br>Natanial, though, led her south towards the largest of the four quadrants: the living quarters. He led her toward a cluster of small, squat, round towers. She noted many neophytes and acolytes coming in and out of them. Natanial led her to one of the buildings that had veins of garnet gems running through the marble and stopped at the door. he turned to her and casually removed the manacles from her wrists then inspected her flesh for damage. He then took a small bracelet from a box next to the door and waved the garnet gemstones set into it over one of the garnet veins in the wall. He looked at her, "Ruby locks; garnet leashes. This you might know from the tomes." He snapped the bracelet over her wrist and touched the stone. The bracelet sized itself to her wrist so that it was comfortable but too tight to slide off. "This is your dormitory. It is for those who are not here of their own wills. Not all are like you, some have been... volunteered to us by their families against their wills a few are being punished for breaking the rules... etc. The bracelet leashes you to the building. You cannot go more that 150 meters from this buildings. Incidentally, that takes to to about the inside of the walls surrounding this place in all directions."<br><br>He led her in silently. The ground floor was a common area with couches, chairs, tables, several private toilets, and a commissary. He led her to a set of stairs that circle the inside of the outer wall and walked up past the first, second, and third floors. At the top floor, she saw a pattern much as each floor. A central area with a single table and some chairs with lanterns and eight doors. He led her to the south-most door and pulled a key from a small box next to it. This he handed to her, "Mingle, meet your dormmates. You are the only one on the floor but all the ones below are full. A servants will come by latter with neophytes robes, your books, and some paperwork. Get settled. Your education starts tomorrow."<br><br>He left and a short time latter a white robe wearing tabby arrived with a blank look, a golden collar on, and a package for her. It included her books from the cell plus a few more, clothes, and a packet of paper work she needed to fill out about her height, weight, physical features, personal data, and any preferences for Schools and disciplines. The man waited absently until she was done but never spoke or looked at her or moved or did anything. He never responded except to look expectantly at the papers and then wait longer. THe three additional books were primers on Magocrat Laws, Magocrat History, and Magocrat lineages. They were the three general subject all neophytes had to learn first. There was a also a small pamphlet that had a schedule of classes in it. Among these were two hour sessions labeled only as "conditioning." She was free until noon the next day for her first History lesson.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>12-05-2016, 01:26:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Seeing him enter, Aria had paused and stood up, an eyebrow gently arching as she took in his haggard appearance. For a moment she considered asking what had happened to him in the last three days, but she didn’t know him, and didn’t really think it her place to pry. It was clear he’d had a rough time of it, whatever had occurred. Taking a deep breath, Aria decided to just get it over with and come out with her decision. <strong>”So, after reading the items you sent, I’ll do it. I’ll join you all.”</strong> She declares without much fanfare. She didn’t give a reason, or mention her thoughts that this surely wouldn’t be a permanent life for her, she just let him know she was in, and waited for his reaction to her sudden change in tune.<br><br>It came much more swiftly than she had anticipated. When he stood aside from the open door, clearly wanting her to walk through it, she blinked with surprise and opened her lips- but no words came out. After a moment she shook her head and silently walked forward, past him and out of that damn cell that had housed her for nearly a week on the dot. She was not sad to leave it, not in the least. She just hoped the next place he took her was an improvement. She watched him close the cell behind her, then followed him silently as he led her away. They passed other doors like her own, other cells, and Aria couldn’t begin to imagine how many people were housed down here, or how long some of them might have been here, deep beneath the city. Soon enough they began to climb the stairs, and her hope grew the longer they walked, knowing it meant they were drawing closer and closer to the surface, to the fresh air and outdoors, to life. <br><br>Still, when the massive room greeted her she stumbled to a stop, taking it all in like she had come up for air. The room was filled with things she had not seen in a week, though it felt so much longer than that. Colors other than stone, sunlight streaming in through high windows, people with visible faces. Such simple, basic things for a moment captured her attention completely as they were reintroduced to her senses. She looked around at it all, taking it all in- and only noticed that Nathanial had left her in the dust when he was more than half way across the room. Aria blinked and scurried after him, her tail twitching behind her. She knew, just by seeing the number of masked men and women around, that now was not the time to escape, not yet. So she ran after Natanial and caught up to him when he reached the exit. <br><br>The exit to the outdoors. Warm sunlight on her face, the sounds of birds and people talking, fresh air. She wished that he would stop for a moment, let her just have time, but he was off walking and this time she kept up, following him south towards the dormitories. They approached one short tower in particular, and she noticed the walls faintly shimmering with veins of red. For a moment she thought it was ruby, like her manacles and thought how smart that was to house her in a dorm where she couldn’t use her powers. Annoying, but smart. However, it turned out to be worse than that, as he explained the red veins of ore were not ruby, but garnet. And that meant, from her reading, that she’d be bound to stay near the tower, as he confirmed. Looking down at her wrists she saw they were red, her skin looking rubbed a little raw, but no damage that time would not fix. And now, instead of manacles, she wore a small deceptively dainty looking bracelet on one wrist. She felt that sensation inside of her stir, freed at last, but … well what good would it do to use magic now if she couldn’t leave? Sighing softly she followed him into the tower, looking around as he gave her the tour.<br><br>Soon enough, they were at her door, and he was giving her a key. Then, just like that, he was gone and she was alone. Aria went into the room, finding a simple bed, a nightstand, a squat chest for storage, and a small window looking out over the grounds. She had barely settled in when a white robed man arrived. She noticed his collar and blank look immediately and frowned softly, feeling anxious and disturbed as she saw what she might have become. Taking the items from him, she filled out the paperwork rather hastily. Schools, she put down Arkaniks, then specified for discipline fire, electricity and metals. She didn’t really think anybody would listen or care, but they asked so she wrote an answer. When it was done she handed him the paperwork, happily watching him go, then sat down on her bed and picked up the schedule, frowning softly as she saw the label of conditioning. <strong>”Talk about ominous.”</strong> She mutters to herself. After a moment more she set aside the paper then got up, changing her cloths into something fresh. <br><br>Once she’d finished, she decided to get out and explore. Aria left her room, pocketed her key and headed downstairs. She liked that she was alone on the top floor- space from other people that were so unfamiliar to her would be nice. But, she didn’t want to be a total stranger to who she shared a living space with, so she wandered down to the bottom floor and kept an eye out for other inhabitants. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>12-05-2016, 10:40:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial walked slowly down the stairs and let scenario after scenario play out in his mind. Aria's future was not a far more certain thing, whether she knew it or not. The training and conditioning would see to whatever recalcitrance she yet possessed was exterminated. the magocracy had not perpetuated itself for centuries out of blind luck. It was with thorough ruthlessness and complete dedication that the inquisition had managed the feat. In truth, the emperor ruled from one noble seat of power or another, but the inquisition was the real backbone of the empire.<br><br>As he descended, he glanced through each of the floors at the various occupied doors. You could tell the occupied ones from empty by their decorations. On the floor below Aria, he saw a pair of orange tabby twin sons of the Jiuzi family. Roberto and Tomas were notorious dissenters and Roberto was, himself, muzzled to keep him from speaking. They would be in inquisitorial conditioning except their mother was a powerful member of the Elysum family. Minor noble families like the Jiuzi were not immune to the inquisition's reach, but the five major houses were. He eyed them and the brothers eyed him. He noted their Sorcery text books and wondered if Aria would study with them. At the same table was Ruby FitzGallik, a dark skinned and fiery haired Abyssinian girl with a long history of outspoken protest against the inquisition. Natanial knew for a fact the girl was taking conditioning classes. he also knew the inquisitor in charge and doubted inroad was being made. that girl would be a permanent neophyte for these reasons. Another group of six noble from various minor houses were seated around the area or spotted through open doors studying various texts. Ruby eyed him dangerously. Natanial had been the one who arrested her and brought her here after all. Her mother had been a peasant and her father had wanted nothing to do with her, so she was inquisitorial property. She ahd been found running the streets, attacking peace-keepers, in one the southern city of Abyssinia.<br><br>Natanial ignored the stare and moved down again. The next floor held several more nobles form various houses but only one was noteworthy: Giles sic'Elysum Idyll was a distant cousin to Natanial and from a minor branch family of the Idyll's with much property near the northern city of Himalay. The youths points were seal colored and his fur much longer on a much heavier frame. No one would suspect the boy was a consummate thief and had stolen important research from his superiors on several occasions. Another nearly permanent neophyte. Natanial knew this one, too, was immune to the more severe conditioning classes that Aria would be taking. He only had to endure the normal conditioning training all inquisitors did.<br><br>Finally, he descended to the main floor and looked around. there were three knots of neophytes. A group of three scions of the Adamantia house who tended to be insular and xenophobic. He eyed their furless and hairless albino bodies and wondered at such obvious signs of inbreeding that were rampant in the family. they were also the current ruling house as the family had a penchant to politics and shadowplay. Across from them say a pair of Havens with their black fur, bright green eyes, and stubby tails. Havens were known witches almost exclusively and crossing them was often a poor idea. Their enchantments and hexes were often mean-spirited pushing the boundary into cruel. These two had been arrested for maiming and crippling a female who had been perceived as a romantic rival. The last though was the real problem: Serah sic'Kelley. The minor house of Kelley had no major house patron and were seen as malcontents and oddities. Though marriages between nobles and peasants was absolutely forbidden, the Kelleys continued to "marry" peasants in private unrecognized ceremonies. Serah was herself a product of such a union and thus her bastard's name despite her mother and father having spent a long happy life together. She was here because she had left the campus without permission to attend her father's funeral. Aria would find strong sympathy from that Bengali girl. HE admitted her spotted fur, lithe build, and curiosity were all strong assets if it wasn't for her Kelley heritage and culture.<br><br>He sighed as she looked up at him and then stepped out the door and let the concerns slide from him as he went about his day.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>13-05-2016, 00:29:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br><br>Aria, a while after Natanial, had descended the stairs to the third floor, a textbook of her own tucked under her arm, along with some paper and writing utensils. Reaching the landing she let her gaze sweep over the study space in the middle of the room. The woman with fiery hair was gone, but Aria saw the two brothers and how one of them was muzzled, unable to speak. As she watched, he gestured to a page in the books before him, pointing to something for his brother to look into. Then he glanced up and she met his gaze. As he realized she was staring he immediately narrowed his eyes at her in clear hostility. Swallowing nervously she blushed and didn’t look around further, but turned and headed down the stairs to the next floor below, her ears flicking back. It took enough bravery to try and meet new people without realizing one of them was some sort of hostile criminal. <br><br>By the time she got to the second floor, she decided she’d rather just get out of the tower entirely, enjoy some time outside. There would be chances to mingle and meet people later… but she had spent a week straight cooped up in cell underground. She had grown up on a river, and always loved the outdoors, so honestly it was the thing she had missed the most in the last week of captivity. What was more, she now realized she was housed in a building full of people here against their will. Maybe there were other anomalous students like herself, but she was a rarity. No, it was more likely they were here because they had upset somebody, or broken a law, or been disowned. It did not sound like a cheerful lot. Honestly, right now, she wasn’t much in the mood to make friends with more misery.<br><br>As she headed down the next flight of stairs to the ground floor, a sight did draw her eyes however before she stepped outside. The table of all hairless albino students sitting on the first floor. She had seen broadcasts and news clippings of the ruling class and vaguely recognized these creatures as being a part of that family. However, their other features were clearly very wrong. She shook her head, amazed at how pretentious nobility was. They would rather breed within their own families to the point they created monsters before they would ever lay with a normal woman like herself. These people were mad… and she was to become one of them? But… not even that. She would never be part of the magocrat court. She would never be part of a major or minor house. She would have to live in their society, but she would be an Inquisitor, an outsider looking in. <br><br>Shaking her head she turned and walked out of the tower, not wanting to think about what her future would hold in that respect. Stepping outside, though, she saw that she was not alone in the immediate outdoor space in front of the tower. Between the southern dorms and the wall was a small gardens, including a large tree. A woman with spotted fur was sitting with a young man beneath the tree, their books open in front of them. Aria hesitated, adjusting her books in her arms, then walked over to them, walking across a short stone path near a fish pond, before crossing the grass to approach them. As she drew near, she noticed they both wore silver and garnet bracelets like her own. <strong>”Er, hi. I just got placed in the same dorm. Mind if I join you? My name’s Aria.”</strong> She introduced herself, her ears flicking forward and back as she tried not to fidget, looking between the two and somewhat holding her breath. She was a normally outgoing young woman… but she was used to other peasants and bar crowds… people that she understood, and that were naturally social. She did not even know where to begin when it came to talking with magocrats and students of the Inqusition. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>13-05-2016, 07:13:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The Bengali girl looked up through a thick shock of bangs and eyed Aria carefully. Students in this dorm could not be too careful. It wouldn't be the first time that a spy had been planted among them by the inquisition to explore their attitudes and thoughts. Garnet Dormitory was a bit of a rubbish bin in that many of the students who were placed here would never see the outside of the college. If they were lucky, they would spend their lives in Garnet Dorms; if they were unlucky and broke too many rules, they would be collared. Some rode the fine line between those two as a sort of dare like Ruby, but Serah wanted to graduate someday and take her place among the ranks. Only the incident with her father's funeral stood in her way.. and accidentally saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Her suspicion and paranoia were broadcast in her eyes.<br><br>Her companion was a boy with rose colored hair and fur and constantly swiveling ears. He eyed Aria with the same mix of emotions she had come to be used to from decent males. Yes, a bit of lustful interest as his eyes went from toe to ears, but also the appraising of another human that had little to do with sex. The boy spoke first <b>"Hi, I'm Leonir sic'Allum Vinter and this ravishing creature is Serah sic'Kelley. But please, call me Leo. Nice ta meetcha. Where you from?"</b> The boy's gaze was open and friendly with a bright smile beneath it. He extended his braceleted hand in greeting as his tail swayed peacefully.<br><br>For her part, Serah watched Aria with wary eyes and let Leo take the lead. She cast a small smile at Leo as he complimented her and tilted her form in just a bit more toward him in response, though Leo seemed not to notice, and cast a meaningful glare at Aria. The glare did not hide the continued suspicions though as Serah was a female with ambitions and goals. She kept a finger on her page but closed her book so that Aria could just see that it was a text called "Allomancy: Metals and Magic."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>13-05-2016, 17:24:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria met the other's woman gaze and gave a half way sort of nervous smile. She could tell the other girl was studying her closely and suspicious of her. Though she didn't know about the spying, she didn't blame her. From what she'd already seen, their dorm was filled with a troubled sort, and she was new. She could come from anywhere, have any sort of dangerous background. It made sense to be suspicious of newcomers. <br><br>Aria thought the girl might speak first, tell her to leave, or begin to question her- but much to her surprise that was not the case. As the boy spoke up Aria turned her attention to him, her smile becoming a little more natural and at ease as he exuded a warmer personality than she'd encountered so far. Her ears perked forward and her gaze swept over him, taking in the vibrantly colored fur. She couldn't recall ever seeing somebody with such bright red fur. As he extended his hand, she reached out, shaking his hand briefly. <strong>"Thank you for the introductions Leo. Nice to meet you too, and you."</strong> She nodded to Serah, hesitating a moment more before sitting down across from the two of them, her legs tucked to her side gracefully as her white tail flicked about. <br><br>She noticed the way that Serah turned towards Leo as he complimented her looks, trying to get a bit of attention with her body, and the intentional glare Serah offered up. The message was clear between the two women, even if Leo was oblivious- Serah was interested in him. Aria's ears lowered a little, before she turned her attention back to him and addressed his first question. <strong>"Well... until about a week ago when I was brought here, I was working in a tavern in the city. Before that I lived in a small fishing village south of here."</strong> She explained- perhaps more trusting than she should be by being so honest, but she figured the news would get out sooner or later that she was not of any noble house. She might as well make it clear she wasn't ashamed of her background up front and not try to hide it. <strong>"How long have the two of you been here?"</strong> She asked in return, glancing between them. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>15-05-2016, 13:07:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The boy gave a genuine but short laugh then shook his head, <b>"Well, that depends on what you mean by 'here,' doesn't it? On this planet? In this college? In these dorms? I'll just assume a general disinterest in my age, given the context of your situation, and admit that I have been in the college but a scant 2 years. I have been in these dorms just shy of a month now. Serah... well, best to let her describe her own situation."</b> He smiled at the woman and then gave her a gentle nudging, <b>"Go on Serah, don't be rude."</b><br><br>The girl cast a minute of panicky look at the boy and then turned the same panic at Aria. Aria knew the look, had seen it dozens of times in the tavern, had learned to master it at the brothel. The look of someone who wanted another person to approve of them but was obviously acting a part. Serah, Aria guessed, was trying to trap this boy with an act. Whether for good or for ill... only time would tell. As of right now, the girl who still didn't trust Aria spat out a few words in a very soft voice that reeked of being held back, "No, wouldn't <i>want</i> to be rude... I have been in the college for around three years now and have been in the Garnet Dorms for about.. hmm, my first anniversary is coming up in two months time."<br><br>The girl dropped back into discontent quiet and Leo picked up again, <b>"No one can really predict their time here. Some last just a month, some have been here all their lives like Ruby."</b> At the mention of that name, Serah got a furtive, suspicious look on her face and she glanced sideways at Leo as if to inspect his face. It was another look Aria had seen hundreds of times and mastered faking, jealousy. <b>"Anyway, new arrival and already here? Guess your lineage speaks to it. A bastard like the tohers then? Unclaimed?"</b>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>16-05-2016, 19:04:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Listening to his philosophical approach to her literal question Aria just stared at him blankly with arched eyebrows. She couldn't say he surprised her- she'd always thought Magocrats were a pretentious sort and this approach to answering a simple question was just one example why. He probably just liked to hear himself talk, or was showing off. But one thing he did say caught her interest, her ear twitching as he spoke. People could be at the school before ending up in Garnet dorms... Aria had assumed people were sent to Garnet for infractions out in the world, but it sounded like people could end up in the dorm after starting their education. For a moment she wondered what he'd done that had gotten him sent to the dorm- but then Serah was asked to speak.<br><br>Aria turned her gaze to the other woman, noticing the look of panic. For a moment she thought of offering her an out, saying it was ok not to answer- but before she could Serah spoke, albeit slowly and softly. Listening, Aria gave a quiet nod, until at last Leo turned the questions back her way, as she knew he would. At first she thought it was a mix of students in this dorm, but she still thought getting immediately sent to Garnet was the norm- apparently not, judging by his question. Aria smoothed out her dress around her legs and nodded. <strong>"I just always thought my pops ran off, but maybe he was one of you."</strong> She didn't lie persay, she really didn't know her father after all. But she was realizing quickly she didn't understand how things might work here, so maybe a small lie would be better than the full truth that she was a mutation. She had no clue how they'd react to that. Aria tilted her head, looking down at the book Serah had with her. <strong>"So what discipline are you two in?"</strong> She asked casually, figuring it was a less personal topic than the current one. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>17-05-2016, 10:43:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Leo smiled up at her and shrugged, <b>"Well, we are both Alchemists so that means acid, ice, wood, and metal. I've a solid focus in ice myself but Serah is an allomancer. That means she is heavily focused in the metal discipline. She even studied Arkaniks a bit, for whatever that is worth."</b> He then gestured to the allomancy text Serah was holding with a guffaw. <b>"But if you are too new, then you wouldn't know about each school's affinities, yeah? Like the oldest and most traditional school being sorcery which is associated with the classic elemental disciplines. Each school has a core philosophy and focus on four disciplines that encompass it. Like in alchemy how dacha discipline represents a type of Transmutational property: acid for en tropic effects, ice for changes in energy states, wood for life forces, and metal for physical properties like malleability or conductivity. I don't know much about the other schools though. I only have the one like most folks."</b><br><br>He looked up to see if this had been helpful. Serah had nudged a but closer to Leo but was bu tying her nose in her text. It was open to a page that was describing the various arcane affinities of various metals.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>19-05-2016, 17:10:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria listened, nodding, absorbing everything that he told her. She didn't want to be here, with the Inquisition... but she did want to learn. And she hoped learning well would bring her freedoms or rewards. It could only benefit her, or so she hoped. From what Leo was saying it appeared that disciplines and paths paired together. And some specific disciplines had names of their own? Aria glanced to Serah then nodded. <strong>"From what I understand... I think my own studies are going to focus on Arkaniks."</strong> She remarked, giving Serah a small smile as if to say 'hey look, we have something in common'. The other girl might seem to be hiding a lot, but Aria hoped they could be something like friends. She didn't push it, though, and after the small smile looked back to Leo as he continued to talk.<br><br>When he gave her this flood of information she laughed. <strong>"Yea, you're right I didn't know about any of that. I mean my magic only awoke about 12 hours before they caught me, so I've kinda been thrown headfirst into all of this."</strong> She explains, glancing to see how Serah seemed to be shutting them out in favor of a book now. Aria didn't mind and shrugging looked back to Leo. <strong>"So speaking of not knowing anything.... any tips for surviving this place? People I should be wary of or things of that sort?"</strong> She asked, thinking back to the boy with the muzzle she had seen in their dorm. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>19-05-2016, 18:10:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Leo paused for a few moments and smiled broadly at her, but before he could say a word Serah cut in sharply, &lt;green&gt;"Stop dearing every two fucking seconds how new you are, kitten. There ain't nothing this place eats faster than kittens and nothing that wets its pallet like naivete. Good grief!"&lt;/green&gt; Serah glared up at her but not the heat of a rival or arrogance but of frustration.<br><br>&lt;green&gt;"So would you stop playing the blindly innecent schtick? If you survived in the city uo until 12 hours ago, that shininess is just a show, armor you use to get people to trust you. I don't know but stop it."&lt;/green&gt; She got up suddenly and stomped away as Leo smiled an apology at Aria then gathered himself and dashed after Serah.<br><br>It had been a tirade of some heat but Serah hadd seemed to want Aria to.. Something? Above her, the shade of a maple tree stretched out and blocked the sun from beating against her hair and shoulders. It was a bright, clear day and there was a gentle breeze cooling her skin and a buzz of insects in the air as the last voices of their conversation died away. A moment of peace and a lull in time that provided her an opportunity to ponder where she was, where she had been, and where she was desiring to go.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>19-05-2016, 20:45:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				At Serah's outburst Aria looked startled and completely taken by surprise. Her mouth opened but no words came and her soft white ears flicked back, her eyes gently widening. She had tried to be friendly and open to get off on a good start with her fellow dorm mates... she'd just tried to make friends. Maybe with her captors she had been defensive and guarded, but she thought the students were trustworthy, on her 'side' so to say. Was her approach wrong? <strong>"Playing?"</strong> She repeated cluelessly, her eyebrows arching as Serah stomped away. Aria gave Leo a confused look, watching him run off after the other girl.<br><br><strong>"Well ok then... that didn't go so well."</strong> She muttered to herself, sighing as she shook her head and sat back. Except... well thinking about it she realized that Serah hadn't been angry at her, not in a terrible way, but more like trying to teach her. She'd just gone about it very abrasively. Aria cocked her head to the side and looked up at the trees, watching the leaves sway, and thought about it for a moment. In peasant society outside the city being friendly, helping each other, being open... those things were expected and the norm. In the city, she'd learned to read people as suddenly there were undercurrents and social cues to everything. She'd had to be more guarded and wary. She realized that Magicrat society was probably even more of a political game. Sighing softly, she laid back in the grass and blinked up at the sky. Talk about exhausting.<br><br>But... at least she was out of the dungeons. For a moment she just closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the sound of the birds. She thought back to everything that had happened so far, not with fear or sadness but simply reflection, then thought about the person she was now. After a moment she sat up and looked suddenly curious, a thought clearly striking her. She was no longer wearing her manacles. She was a new mage. So far, she had only used her magic in fear, to harm others on that night... and it left a bad taste in her mouth with her one memory of magic being such a traumatic night.... she looked around thoughtfully, then reached out to a barely budding flower and touched the stem. <em>Grow</em>- She thought the word to the flower, repeated it to herself as she tried to reach for the magic inside, biting her lip, her brows furrowing as she focused, her gaze on the closed petals to see if they'd open.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 02:11:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For better or worse, the manacles had taught her one thing unerringly; where to look inside herself for the magic. Being cut off from it had shown her it was there and exactly where.. somehow. The manacles had created an infinite space between her and it that she just barely couldn't reach across. It had highlighted the presence. Now, as she reached toward the same place inside, she found it felt different. There was something there. It felt like a balloon coated in stuff. Some of it was thin and hot, some of it felt cold and smooth, and there was a competition of other textures and sensations coating the flexing, warping thing. Instinctively, she knew not to reach to deep into the thing. When she flexed against it too hard, her vision blurred and she felt sharp pain in her chest.<br><br>She summoned the image of the plant growing, moving, enlarging.. but nothing happened. When she had used it before the sharp, hot feelings had leaped from her like lightning without though. Perhaps, that had been because of her natural affinity for fire? Focusing on the various feelings inside, she categorized each one. The thin, oily, hot one; the cool jelly-like one; a smooth, chilly one; one that felt like sharp pieces of sand; one that felt sticky and thick; and one that felt like minty whip cream. She also detected hints and whisps of others that were hard to determine a nature for as they were in small amounts.<br><br>After a second of frowning, she tried the plant again and focused on her goal of making it grow. She focused on the image of the plant growing and tried touching each of the substances one at a time. When she touched the oily one, the plant started to smoke; the smooth one seemed to do nothing; the sand made the plant dance and jerk but not grow; the minty one made the plant sway and dance; the jelly made the plant start to wilt; and last she tried the sticky one. As soon as she touched the plant while holding this substance something started to happen. The plant swelled and blackened then began to twitch and writhe. Slowly, the petals of the flower flexed and the flower bent toward her. A small pimple formed in the enter and grew then suddenly split horizontally and opened. An eye was looking at her. Were the petals splitting into fingers? Was the slower trying to rip itself from the ground. Another blister was forming a long line below the new eye.<br><br>Just as the new blister was slowly splitting and showing tiny needle-like teeth, something hot flashed past her face and the plant smoked and burned. The tiny thing screamed in agony as it died. "You really, really shouldn't do that~~" She looked around to see the midnight black Haven sisters. One's palm was still stretched out toward the plant and wisps of smoke still curled up. "Witchcraft is a pretty seriously dangerous school when used untrained. The Blood Discipline is not to be used without caution. It is the only discipline regulated by the inquisition heavily," the second sister said. "Not much of a problem as very few people have any talent for it at all, mind," the last sister finished and the trio all suddenly focused their gazes on her sharply. They then spoke all at once "You are very interesting. You are new here? Are you a Witch?"<br><br>Their personalities were interesting. She was still reaching out to the sticky substance and she felt their pressing curiosity and powerful envies. Each of them was always, constantly viewing the world through a film of envy. Still, the sisters had a powerful familial bond as well. She could sense how their emotions were flowing somehow but just barely.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 03:25:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>As she reached for the magic inside her Aria was surprised how easily she now knew where to look for it. It was because of the manacles, certainly, and the days of being kept in solitude with nothing to do but engage introspection and deep thoughts. In the city, in the bustling world of so many sights and sounds and smells there was never a moment of peace and quiet, never time to turn inward and think. She had never dug inside and felt that core deep in her that pulsed like a flame. She’d never had the reason to, nor the focus, nor a clue where to look. But during her time in the cell she’d felt it, realized it was there, and found just how to pinpoint if not access her magical abilities.<br><br>But now she could, and she did. It ballooned and grew as she reached for it, for a moment she felt a spark of excitement to touch it, a rush of heat and power. But… the part of it right on the surface, easy to access had that burning feel. It was wrong for what she wanted. She tried to push past it, to reach for something that felt like nature… but this was difficult. Magic she could sense, but the specific disciplines she realized were more elusive. Scowling softly she pushed hard into the magic, trying to make it just work. Immediately, pain seared through her arms and chest, and she winced back with a grimace. <br><br><strong>”You got this.”</strong> She muttered with herself, her jaw set in determination as she reached to the magic again, this time more gently. It had been so much easier before when it had been pure instinct. But at that time she hadn’t wanted anything specific. She’d just grabbed the power and let it fly, let it burst forth… but now she wanted to do something specific, something good and pure. <em>’Come on little flower, grow, show yourself…</em> She bit her lip. The magic confused her. Some of it felt obvious. Cold and slick was ice, hot oil was fire… but others made no sense to her at all, despite being part of her they felt strange and foreign, such as the sticky and thick sensation, or the minty one. She still tried to access those feelings and channel them, but their affects on the flower were unpredictable and gave no indication to what sort of magic she was tapping into. After all, what element made a flower dance? Or made it jerk? Was it in pain? She had no clue. She kept trying the next element, wishing one just felt like dirt and earth and made it clear it was the right choice. But then when she tried the sticky one, things started to happen. At first she smiled and pulled at the power, thinking it was doing something right.<br><br>But then the split opened and she saw an eye. Her ears flicked back, her expression looked panicked and scared. <strong>”No no no.”</strong> She was turning this flower into a nightmare! What was this? She tried to push the power back down, but the spell had taken hold and continued to unfurl with rapid speed. The petals were twisting into a pale wrinkled fingers and the flower was twisting in her grasp, more alive than any plant had a right to be. She felt her stomach pitch and twist, nausea rising at what she was doing. This was wrong. So wrong. She knew it, but could not stop it. Seeing the teeth she whimpered and shook her head when fire suddenly flashed past her face and killed the abomination before her. She watched it die and felt the power in her shut down. Sagging forward she panted and blinked down at her hands, then rubbed them on her legs as if she needed to rub off some sort of taint. <br><br>Of course, after she did, she turned to look and see who had helped her. She was not joyful or thankful, not this time. She was clearly shaken up and scared, and seeing these black Haven sisters approach her she felt an instinctive hesitation, maybe even fear. Witchcraft? But… no she’d just tried to make a flower grow. And blood magic? Her eyes widened in terror, before she shook her head quickly. <strong>”I- I didn’t mean to.”</strong> She stammered out when they mentioned the Inquisition regulations. She felt fear race through her. What if they reported her for this? What if she got kicked out? Gods all she’d wanted to do was try and make a good memory of using magic. She hadn’t known it would be so difficult, or cause such trouble. The image of that eye staring at her burned in her mind, unnerving and unsettling that she’d created such a thing. She bit her lip, but then as she pushed that magic down that was so terrible she realized she could sense their feelings… their curiosity towards her and their envy… of her? Her ears flicked. She also felt their connection, as if an invisible wire went from one sister to the other. She took this all in in silence, before pushing away that sticky magic completely, pretty sure she’d never want to use it again. <strong>”I was just put in Garnet dorm, yes.”</strong> She answered hesitantly, remembering Serah’s warning as she climbed shakily to her feet. <strong>”My name is Aria. Who are you?”</strong> She asked, looking between each of the three women.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 09:42:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The girls looked at her curiously and Aria could feel their green eyes, literally and figuratively boring into her. One traced the swell of her breast, the second eyed the line of her hip, and the last was inspecting her face. She could see the envy painted rather plainly on their faces, but it also didn't seem malicious. If anything, it just seemed to be how these girls operated. Haven was a family know for its oddities and eccentric behavior. Their strongholds were far in the west across a vast ocean and they had a very different culture there. People described it as hyperbolized sins without the sin. They were passionate and chaotic people when compared to the more orderly eastern cultures. Too, the east was the home region of witchcraft and its practitioners still largely came from that area. It was a very odd school with lots of rumor and theory but little concrete knowledge to outsiders.<br><br>The girls spoke in turns again, taking up almost automatically where one left off, "You really shouldn't.." "..apologize for witchcraft." "Witchcraft is a school of passions and emotions." The girls looked from Aria to one another and giggled. "I'm Lyvonah." "I'm Lysette." "And I'm Lydia" "We are all sic'Haven Haven! It's really quite nice. I'm sure your family is good too though. Oh, hey, we were wondering just now if you wanted to be a friend of ours? Most the other girls don't... like us." "Lyvona, we did cause a girl to die." "Lydia, she should have known better than to eye our fiance." "True, but they see things differently on this side of the ocean." The girls all suddenly shrugged and smiled at Aria.<br><br>The one calling herself Lysette stepped forward and crouched down in front of Aria glanced at the scorched flower, "He wasn't a badly formed haemonculi dearie. But I think it was your first time with Hemomancy, blood magic. We specialize in it.. well, I do. Lyvona likes curses and Lydia prefers enchanting, but I like blood magic. Though I think the western name, Hemomancy, is ever so much more charming. Anyway, all things have a potential to be all other things and you were awakening that in the flower, but it surprised you and you were horrified and blood magic is also empathy magic so... the horror transferred dearie. I hope you don't mind that we put it out of its misery. Things don't like to be reviled by their creators. Heh, Lysette is quite handy with fire too! Even though it is not typical of witches."<br><br>She smiled and then patted the dead flower remorsefully. They were definitely weird girls but... Suddenly Lysette held a hand out to Aria as she bounced back to her feet. The smile was friendly if still a bit.. envious? The other two were smiling broadly at her as well.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 17:24:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Under their intense gaze Aria found herself blushing and fidgeting, feeling suddenly shy and awkward. They had seen her try magic that was dangerous, restricted by the Inquisition. And now they were looking at her as if she were a choice piece of meat or some fascinating gem. She did not know what to do with such attention. Did they envy her white fur and pretty looks? Did they envy her natural abilities she had shown off on her first try at foreign magic? Was it something that she wasn't even aware of? She did not know, and that unsettled her.<br><br>As she swallowed nervously with flicked back ears the women spoke up again in their strange shared speech, as if one mind shared three bodies. They spoke praise of witchcraft. She tilted her head a little to the side, her ears perking forward. A long time ago a king was killed by a curse from a witch, and all of his daughters went mad as a result of the same curse. From what she knew it was one the darker magics out there. That sort of power...it did not sound appealing to her, or useful like Arkaniks. From what she'd just seen it seemed dark and frightening. And then the girls admitted with a shock to Aria that they had killed somebody over a fiance. Aria just barely hid her revulsion and coughed a little as they looked to her with smiling faces. These women seemed insane. Aria might have gotten away, but she was afraid in that moment of getting on their bad side.<br><br>As Lysette stepped closer Aria watched her warily, almost wanting to draw back as she crouched down before her. But then the woman turned her attention from Aria to the flower. <strong>"A homunculi?"</strong> She repeated in frightened disbelief, her eyes gently widening. She'd turned a flower into the beginning of a soulless human? How? She looked down at her hands again and felt sickness roll through her as Lysette continued to speak. Aria felt so disappointed. Was this all she could do? Hurt people or turn flowers into nightmares? She swallowed against a sudden tightness in her throat. <strong>"I'd just been trying to make it grow."</strong> She muttered softly, more to herself, as Lysette patted the charred, twisted remains of the creature she'd almost created. <br><br>Blinking up at her, Aria noticed Lysette was holding out a hand to her. These women were strange, their magic scared and upset Aria... but she did not want to make them dislike her. They seemed like dangerous enemies. Aria hesitated, then reaching out took the offered hand and climbed to her feet. <strong>"Well, thank you for disposing of it. I tried to stop the magic but I couldn't."</strong> She admits with a small frown, fidgeting as she looked between the women. <strong>"I- I guess I wouldn't mind being friends."</strong> She adds, hoping that she was not making a mistake in accepting their friendship. She knew the groups in the city, how they worked, who to avoid and who to engage... but she was realizing now in this place that she was completely in over her head. She just didn't want to make any waves.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 17:58:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Grow?!?" The girls said in unified shock and amusement. They looked at one another and spoke in a rapid fire foreign language. Aria had heard the western language before and it had always sounded romantic and suave then. That had been men, mostly, trying to get into women's petticoats though. Eventually, Lysette spoke again, "Yes, that would explain it. Trying to make it grow and not know how to evoke the disciplines? OH YES, that could do it.. if.. you were a Wild Talent. And you are.."<br><br>Lysette seemed to drop off into deep thought and Lydia spoke up into the the lull, "See, for those like us who have made considerable strides in mastering a school and trained ourselves in a discipline, that sort of random firing off of spells doesn't happen. Easterners say that we have "tamed" our magic; in the west, we claim to "train" it. Either way, with training magic settles down and doesn't rise in uncontrolled bursts as much. I am sure it will be the same for you once you start training."<br><br>The third girl stepped in and inspected Aria up close. Was there a swirl of blood red in the girl's emerald eyes, "She doesn't like witchcraft though; don't think she's going to study that. She's like all the other easterners, believes stories instead of research and practice. Probably thinking of kings and daughters and curses and such. Doesn't know that for a curse to work. I ought to know, love. I have made them my career. People say Witchcraft is the magic of curses and darkness... Witchcraft is the magic of passion and emotion. It takes strong emotions to power witchcraft. You have to shape, control, and direct that emotion. But in doing so, you learn to let your emotions flow freely without fear of them controlling you. It frightens other that way."<br><br>Lysette snapped to and scanned Aria then nodded, "Aye, doubt your convince though, eh dearie? A pity. Making Haemonculi is not an easy trick. Takes a lot to gift animals with human traits. Takes some kind of real power to gift it to a flower. Promise you'll give it some thought, dearie? But, please, don't go in for that Alchemist garbage. So, have you eaten yet? We just bought some lovely pies today. Wanna share?"<br><br>She indicated a basket that Aria had not noticed Lydia was carrying then motioned toward the no unoccupied bench.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>20-05-2016, 20:51:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With their shocked response Aria ducked her head, looking timid and unsure. <strong>"Er yes?"</strong> She frowned, wondering what was wrong or if she should say something else. She almost wished Serah and Leo were back here as she felt they'd at least explain. She felt so confused. And that was before they started to talk quickly in the western tongue. Sighing in exasperation she plucked at her bracelet, looking between the women. But then Lysette turned to her. ' that could do it.. if.. you were a Wild Talent. And you are'. Shit. Aria's mouth fell open as her ears twitched. <strong>"H-how did-"</strong> She shook her head, catching herself far too late. <strong>"I have no clue what that is."</strong> She hastily replied instead, looking down and away, fidgeting even more as Lydia stepped in to explain.<br><br>So that was it. Her magic gave her away, the fact that she'd tried to do one thing and ended up with something very different. Casting spells recklessly, even with good intentions was apparently ill advised. Aria lifted her gaze back to the women, watching the third girl step up closer. Actually, very close. Aria took a half step back, unnerved by the red in her eyes, pausing when Lyvonah spoke, the words shocking her into stopping. Because they were her thoughts, her feelings- things she hadn't said out loud. How did she know? Aria swallowed, meeting Lyvonah's gaze with a mix of curiosity amongst her fear and wariness. Magic driven by strong emotions... Aria thought suddenly back to the night when her magic had awoken, of how emotions had triggered her abilities. She had not been wielding magic so much as letting her emotions fly. <br><br>And now here these girls were... saying that's how witchcraft worked... and that she was showing real power in it. Again she looked down at her hands. It had scared her... but could she harness it? Control it so it didn't scare her? Understanding solved fear, she knew that from experience. Aria clenched her hands and lowered them back to her sides, giving a small nod. Maybe she would consider it... at least enough to stop fearing it? <strong>"Um... no I haven't eaten."</strong> She spoke half in realization of how hungry she was. Aria hesitated, then nodded again. <strong>"So how many schools of magic is a person allowed to explore before reaching a choice?"</strong> She asked, her ears perking gently, walking with the three over to the benches and taking a seat. She slid her skirts out gently , continuing to watch the way the three women acted. She'd noticed even though they spoke in tandem that Lysette seemed to lead the pack, while Lyvonah was the quietest. Curses, enchantments, blood magic. Their abilities filled her thoughts with wariness and curiosity. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>21-05-2016, 06:47:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The girls were quiet again as they opened the basket; there looked to be a dozen small pies in there plus napkins. Lydia smiled at Aria, "We have Cherry and Pork pies... hmm.. We also have lemon creme and... oh! apple!" Aria was given her choice and the sisters sat quietly eating the pies for several long moments. With the way they seemed to communicate though, who knew if they were actually being silent? Eventually, Lysette spoke, "Normally, you come to the college with a school picked out already. It isn't like most noble families don't have preferences and biases as part of their bloodlines after all. It has been ages... literally ages... hmm.. okay, not literally ages... since the Havens produced something other than a Witch or Sorcerer. DNA will show, the vast majority of the main branch of our family are like, 90% witches and sorcerers. Have you any idea what school your family practiced?"<br><br>Any worry about answering that questions was quashed when Lyvona added, "Outliers exist though. We have a cousin who studies Alchemy. The family has all but disowned him though. Word is he will be married off matrilineally and forgotten. That sort of thing has been going on in noble houses for generations and generations. It means that most talents have pooled in certain families and why some like to interbreed so much! Have you seen those Adamantians? Gross! Who'd want to fuck <i>that</i>?"<br><br>Lydia was chewing a bit of cherry pie and sighed with exasperation at her sister's crudeness, "Honestly sister, where did you pick up such crude manners? Our mother taught you better! Could you act like my older sister once? Anyway, as for trying schools, once you are here you can experiment some and even change schools if you feel like it once or twice. Generally, the nature of magic will have you settled quickly. Once you start to study a discipline from a certain perspective, it has the tendency to affect your affinities. Very few people are powerful enough to master two schools but that happens. For most, they begin to study a school and its associated disciplines and this starts to affect their affinities. The four traditional elements and the alchemical elements are opposed, so study sorcery and your affinities for alchemical disciplines will slowly wain, see? Sorcery and Alchemy are known as the two major schools as studying one prohibits the study of the other. No one has done it, though a few tried. Witchcraft, Atrkaniks, and Channeling are the minor schools as their inclinations are not as polarizing as the big two. Lots of those two school people train in one major and one minor or two minor schools. Not sure how it works. exactly."<br><br>They each seemed to favor a different pie. Lysette ate pork, Lyvona had cherry, and Lydia was nibbling a lemon creme. The girls chatter for a bit then about themselves and some of the juicier bits of rumor and gossip going round the college. What professor was fucking his students or his colleagues, what groups were popular and unpopular. Some gossip about the Royal Houses. It was obvious that they spent most of every day together but that they also had individual lives, mostly in their studies, and enjoyed catching up like this when they reunited in the evenings. They did their best to keep Aria up with the names and institutions they mentioned; but it was a dizzying crash course in Collegiate politics! The girls sighed and took a synchronous bite of their pies. Being this close to them for this long, Aria was already seeing slight differences. The girls were not triplets as some assumed but just shared a strong familial resemblance. Lysette was the eldest sister and seemed a bit more charasmatic, Lyvona was the middle sister but had a wide streak of rebellion, and Lydia was the youngest and most proud of the three. To hear them talk now, Aria found she had little trouble tracking who was who just by the way they spoke. That bite of command was Lysette, or just Lys; the voice with the flippant sarcasm was Lyvona, or Lyv; and the one with the notes of arrogance and condescension was Lydia, always Lydia! Their emotions really were a mile wide and worn on their sleeves, but they also seemed perpetually happy and positive.<br><br>They never pried or asked her too many questions when she seemed uncomfortable and were always willing to discuss something completely flippant like boys or makeup or fucking instead of heavy or important topics. Lyvona in particular loved talking about fucking and relationships while Lydia usually rolled her eyes and sighed even though both Lydia reminded her she was betrothed to a man she loved. She always responded, "Yes, I love Rudolphus, but what in the world makes that mean I cannot have a little fun on the side? Sheesh!" TO which Lys liked to remind Lyv, "We did cause a death because you were worried Ruddy would cheat on YOU lyv..." Lyv chewed her cheek and looked concerned then for just a second before she shrugged and said, "Meh, whatever." The girls giggled as their odd western morality showed itself again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>29-05-2016, 05:49:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria took out one of the apple pies when she saw it in the basket, then took a seat across from the other three women on a bench and started to eat. It had been a full week since she had tasted anything that was not purely bread, fish and water so for a moment she simply savored the rich flavor of the food. And gods when was the last time she tasted anything sweet and fluffy like this? She hadn’t had much money for sweets before, nor the lapse in logic to waste her money on it. She dug in almost ravenously, only slowing when Lysette spoke up and she lifted her head to listen, her ears perking forward. Of course she had known that magic was a genetic trait, but she had not realized that even the types of magic people were proficient in seemed to be based on family lineage. When Lysette asked her about her own family she shook her head and gave a blank look. <strong>”No families have claimed me so I’m a bit clueless.”</strong> She explained, giving a shrug before Lyvona piqued up with her own remarks.<br><br>Hearing how the fellow was disowned simply for charting a new path Aria raised her eyebrows and looked startled, before lowering her gaze and going back to eating, reminding herself not to look so naive and unexperienced about noble life, remembering the warning Serah had given her before. But she couldn’t believe nobles were so petty like that, kicking out their own family just for learning a different type of magic. <strong>”Those were the hairless people in our dorm weren’t they?”</strong> She asked at mention of the Adamantians, her tone making it somewhat clear that she agreed they did not look very attractive. <br><br>By now Aria was noticing how Lysette led the conversations and how Lydia was the more serious of the three. She wasn’t sure what to think of Lyvona yet. She finished eating her first pie and hesitated a moment, then leaned over and cut one of the pork ones in half, drawing out half to start munching on that one. She hoped it was not wrong to take more than one pie, but it was the first good meal she’d had in so long. She sat back, eating this one more slowly and listened as Lydia filled her in on the rules about trying major and minor schools. Maybe she could see about taking one or two classes on witchcraft… just to know enough so that she wouldn’t hurt anybody by accident and would understand it. She still could not believe how easily she had almost created a homunculi. Plus, the longer she sat and ate with these other girls she would admit the more she became curious about them. They were a strange mix of callously cruel, speaking of that girl they had killed over a boy, but then in another turn acting incredibly upbeat and pleasant. They gossiped like any group of young women she was familiar with, discussion topics even she was familiar with, seeming to put in an effort to make her comfortable and include her. She was thankful for it, and for a while they discussed makeup and boys and the season fashions. She also learned about which teachers were nice and which to avoid and other helpful items of that nature. <br><br>As Aria wrapped up eating she brushed the crumbs from her lap and looked between the three women. The other girls had just laughed together about the incident with the girl they killed- it was the one point they discussed that kept making her feel uncomfortable, but she tried to look past it. <strong>”Thank you very much for the pie. They were delicious. Did one of you make them or did you buy them locally?”</strong> She asked curiously once they had stopped laughing. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>31-05-2016, 07:10:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The girls laughed and gossiped and bemoaned whatever girls ended up married to the hairless ones, even as they admitted it'd probably be some hairless girl as the Admantians tended to inbreeding. They were a little less vicious on that topic though as it seemed that most of the royal families were prone to it at some level. The girls even had to admit their own parents were third cousins at the closest and probably related in a few other ways as well. Most houses kept careful and meticulous track of their bloodlines and married carefully. The girls smiled as if this was not a bother for them.<br><br>When Aria asked after the pies, Lysette looked down at them like someone who had never had to fight or think about food and money in her life. It was Lydia that answered, "The research building has a kitchen dear. They experiment with magical cooking techniques and fund it through operating a small restaurant and bakery. Hmm, there is also a canteen..." She looked around to get her bearings, "Over in that building. That is the one the students use most often. Beware though, it's a minefield of cliques and socializing. We tend to avoid it but the food there is free for students and faculty. The restaurant is a bit expensive, I'd guess." She shrugged to show she had little knowledge of what was or was not expensive.<br><br>A bit after that, the sisters gathered their things and said farewells to Aria. Lysette smiled and waved while Lyvona and Lydia both exchanged hugs after their own personalities. They promised to talk again soon and to take her to the restaurant if she wanted. They moved off chatting and fighting and making casually awful comments as seemed their normal mode. Aria was left to her own for a bit to wander and explore or retreat for the day as she wished. Would all nobles or royals prove to be as odd as the sisters? How much more was there to learn of magic? How much was there to learn of herself?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>31-05-2016, 16:35:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria noticed the way that Lysette looked down at the food, as if it had never occurred to her in her life to think about where food had come from or what it had cost, and it was definitely clear she'd had no hand in making them. Once again Aria felt the twing of realizing she had asked the wrong sort of question, asked about something that revealed her as different from them. She was always thinking about how much things cost, about where her next meal would come from, not like them. It felt dangerous constantly slipping up, like she was drawing too much attention to herself and how different she was.<br><br>Fidgeting, looking suddenly shy she glanced down before Lydia told her about the kitchens. She looked back up, following Lydia's pointing to see a building not too far away. She nodded quietly, absorbing the fact that food was just freely given out to students here. Well, this life apparently had some perks. Free food, free housing- she just had to survive the place. <br><br>A short while later, the sisters got up to depart. Aria got to her feet as well, brushing out her dress and gave a look of surprise as two of the sisters each hugged her in turn. <strong>"Er yes I'll see you around. Thank you again for the meal."</strong> She waved to them as they departed, her head cocked to the side. She was still not sure what to make of those girls, but they seemed to like her at least. Or maybe they just wanted to know about her magical abilities, a small part of her warned. They had said she was powerful. <br><br>Aria glanced back to the burned flower/ homuncili she had almost created and frowned to herself, before heading back into the dorm. She'd gotten into enough trouble this afternoon and taken in a handful of new experiences. Curling up with a book for the rest of the evening and trying to make sense of things sounded like a good idea to her. Walking back into the dorms she saw the first floor was filled with small groups of cliques still. She walked past them and climbed the stairs, heading for her fourth floor room. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>31-05-2016, 17:41:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&lt;&lt;OOC: Time Skip to avoid bogging down here.&gt;&gt;<br><br>He walked with quick, precise steps toward the building and felt the resentment of a fresh responsibility. His normal day was filled with responsibilities, so that was not altogether strange, but that his additional responsibility was proving unpredictable and time-consuming was. The night before, he had wanted to set about doing some of his own research or investigating a case, but instead he had spent the waning hours of the day working her case. Arranging her an income, securing a cover story, preparing the dossiers, and even talking to her professors about how to catch her up mid-semester. None of these details could be left or her to arrange as she had none of the requisite skills or knowledge to navigate the noble bureaucracy. He grumbled a bit and irrationally blamed her for this, though it was none of her design or intent. He doubted very much that she had been trying to make his life miserably inconvenient as she was trying desperately to survive in Central City.<br><br>He noted a few eyes as he entered Garnet Dorms. Many of them wary if he had come for them, most only idly interested, all of them tracking him. Inquisitors of the Mage Hunter's squad were notorious even among the future of that organization. The simple truth was that 60% of inquisitors found themselves in support, research, or manufacturing roles while the remaining were mostly in functionary or bureaucratic roles. Only 10% of the inquisition was a part of the Peacekeeping Division. Most cities and islands had their own militia and town guards after all. And of the 1 in 10 peacekeepers a further 1 in a hundred were Mage Hunters. They were the rarest of the rare. So, they attracted attention wherever they went.<br><br>He strode up the stairs to the fourth floor and noted whose eyes lingered too long. He would need to warn Aria of these individuals specifically. One or two he noted would try to get to him through her. Politics was a dangerous game and she was already playing it without knowing, which was triply dangerous. He strode onto her floor and then toward her door. He was about to barge in when he paused and stared at his hand gripping the door knob. He suddenly recalled that she had rights and privileges here. Or, at least, he had to act as though she did to keep up the facade until such time as she had convinced him that she deserved them for real. That meant not have male individuals violating the privacy of her rooms unannounced. he considered this and thought, briefly, of catching her nude. He flushed even though he had little imagination needed for her body. Somehow, violating her privacy when he admitted she had an expectation to it was illicit. He was just wondering at the philosophical ramifications of such a strange thought when he shook himself from it and stepped back to rap smartly on the door, "Aria, wake up. We have much to get done before your first lessons." She had a History lesson at noon, but there were things to sort first, so he had come around 9 in the morning.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>31-05-2016, 19:39:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After the day of meeting people Aria had retired to her room, read some of her new text books, then climbed into her new bed for sleep. By noble standards it probably left much to be desired, but compared to the bed she had slept in the last week, and some of her previous living situations, it felt comfortable enough to her. The pillow was oddly lumpy, but at least somewhat soft. She laid down and within short order had fallen asleep. She descended into dreams-&nbsp; she found herself standing in a ballroom, surrounded by nobility, and everybody was teasing her, whispering about her, pointing at her. She tried to talk with them, to make friends, but eventually she got upset and angry... and feeling a surge of magic through her she turned the bouquet of nearby flowers into impish demons. They took flight and began to terrorize the nobility in the hall... and the three Haven sisters stood in a corner, laughing in glee and cheering her on as she watched the imps chase the nobles from the room, pulling at the ladies hair and the men's ties. <br><br>Waking with a gasp she sat up in the bed, then blushed and frowned to herself, feeling the stirrings of magic in her fingertips before it faded away. She looked around, but all seemed normal. Weak sunlight was filtering in through her window and she could hear morning birds outside twittering and singing. She looked down, feeling ashamed at herself in her dreams for enjoying tormenting those people. She hoped the nobility she met here would not be like that, and that she would keep her emotions more in check. She supposed she was just nervous about starting a new life here, about trying to find her way in this new world. She remembered seeing those flowers twist and warp, and the Haven sisters laughing and shook her head before climbing out of bed. It was a bit past dawn, so she grabbed a towel and went to wash up before her first day of classes.<br><br>The baths had been empty and most people had been asleep. She returned to her room without encountering a soul. Sitting in her towel at her desk she brushed her hair and looked out the window- jumping when she heard the knock sound from the door. <strong>"Er, one moment."</strong> She called out, quickly grabbing clothes and pulling them on in a hurry. She slipped her simple dress back on then got up and answered the door, opening it and stepping aside. Her hair was still damp from her wash and her skin was probably the cleanest it had ever been in his presence. <strong>"Do I need to bring anything? What are we doing?"</strong> She asked, already forgetting that Natanial really didn't answer her questions or converse with her. Of course, maybe that had just been while she was locked up? Maybe things were different now? She was certainly being at least neutral towards him, trying to start off on a better foot than they'd been with each other before, when she'd told him to pretty much go to hell on more than one occasion. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>01-06-2016, 10:53:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It was a simple truth that as you went higher and higher in the ranks of the inquisition, you were allowed more and more personal freedom. Nobles had considerable freedom in the eyes of the peasant, though it was often deeply constrained in many cultural dynamics. The inquisition had no such stefeotype, but it had even more freedom. As long as he concealed his actual identity and wore the emblem of his office and rank, the rest of his costume was up to Natanial. He, like most of his order, wore very similar clothing so as to preserve and rely upon a certain mystique, but much of his outfit was highly personalized and adapted to his needs. As she answered the door a but frazzled in her neophyte's robes, he shspected it was a good thing she was not at the mercy of noble fashions and the people who enforced them. He just grunted and turned to let her see past him. "You will need your History books. You will be going straight from our meeting to that class. You may even be a bit late. We are going to my offices to arrange some sensitive matter."<br><br>In the future, her remedial classes' locations would be up to the individual tutors. He had planned to just use this space to save time, but that would not do for today's conversation. After she gathered the requisite materials he outlined for her, he led her down and out of the tower then around the central square toward the research building. Instead of the main entrance, he circled to the leff and round the side. They came in view of a long line of people in various dress waiting in a line. She could see a large patio area with several seated people and waitresses in acolyte's robes serving. Natanial did not wait in line but approched the maitre'd and spoke rapidly in a strange dialect. A few moments latter he handed over currency that would have taken Aria a week in the tavern to earn and received a bag. He then moved away. She noted many curious, angry, and jealous looks on people in the line. She also Lyvonne whi waved cheerfully as her tail twitched with curiosity and she eyed Natanial.<br><br>The Mage Hunter ignored them all and strode back to the main entrance then across a wide, navy blue room. He paused at a stairway and indicated a symbol above the frame, a circle that was half sapphire and half gear. The Arkaniks hall. He then led her up and through a series of hallways and further stairs; each time he stopped to indicate a shmbol when they turned: green eye, hall 4, red tornado, halls 3, 23, and 97. Finally, he temoved a key and entered room 9701. He smiled at her warmly as he let her in first.<br><br>The room was surprisingly warm in color for the cold professor. No wood or hot colors but a lot of windows and bright light. There was glass, artwork, and many machines set about in organized cubbies, cupboards, and crates. Natanial followed her in and moved to a device on the wall with a large sapphire and ran his hand over it. She felt magic flow from him but wasn't sure what then the room thrummed like a wave of electricity had moved through it. He then moved to a set of stools by a table with several stacks of books and paper on it, "Sorry for the silence. You are far more free to ask questions now. For all intents and purposes, you must be seen to behave like and have access to the rights of a noble. This includes a set of noble patents to prove lineage. We'll get to that. However, any topic related to your real parentage or lack of knowledge on certain topics needs to be only discussed or spoken about in this room. That device will prevent technological or magical eavesdropping. It is in this room that certain lessons will take place. Questions?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>01-06-2016, 16:47:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Sensitive matters? Aria arched an eyebrow at him and gave him a quizical look before shaking her head and turning away. She went to her desk where her books were stacked and grabbed the history book, then left her bedroom and locked the door behind her to follow him. She noticed when she walked with him that people showed a definite degree of interest. She felt various eyes on the pair of them. She was torn between not drawing attention to herself and walking as if it didn't bother her- in the end she just looked down and away but continued to follow Natanial at a normal distance, out of the tower. <br><br>The sun was up by now and the day was quite warm. Aria followed behind Natanial as he led her across the way, through a square and a fountain to the research building. As they rounded the corner and she saw the patio she remembered what the sisters yesterday had said about the restaurant. Was he taking her to breakfast she wondered? She couldn't even imagine really sitting down with him in a fancy restaurant and sharing a meal. But they didn't get in line- they made a bee-line for the host, drawing ire from the folks waiting in line. Aria blushed and started to look away when she saw a familiar smiling woman waving to her. Aria smiled and gave a small wave back to Lyvonne before Natanial had his things and was hurrying off again. But she knew from the look Lyvonne was giving them that the next time they spoke her new friends would probably have questions for her. Questions she would have no clue how to answer. <br><br>What followed next was a whirlwind of halls and staircases within the research building. He was leading her to the Arkaniks hall and curiosity swelled through her. Though as far as directions went she felt completely lost. Soon enough they had reached a room and walked inside, though, her leading the way. Aria gaped at the room, looking around in wonder at all the machines on display. She started to walk over to one of them, an orb held in a metal circle with various markers and spinning rings around it, somewhat like his magic reader but larger. Before she had gotten too close to it though, she felt magic behind her and turned just in time to watch him casting some sort of spell on the sapphire on the wall. Electricity rushed through the room- and then he spoke. Even before he explained she realized it had been some sort of spell to block eavesdroppers, based on his change in behavior and sudden openness to discussion. Aria walked over to one of the stools at the table and took a seat across from him, thinking a moment before nodding. <strong>"So we're to pass me off as a noble's bastard? Every group I've met so far has asked me about parentage... I've dodged the questions saying nobody's laid claim to me yet... but how am I going to pass this off? Is there a family that's going to participate in this lie?"</strong> She asked, uncertainty coiling within her. She frowned a little, thinking about this and the other questions she had for him. She was not sure if she should mention her bout of witchcraft the day before. On one hand, he might find out anyways... but on the other hand the sisters had said blood magic was the one thing the inquisition got upset over and she didn't want to get into trouble on her first day. And as for the sisters... should she mention them? It might be nice to at least hear an outside opinion on them. She felt overwhelmed with everything she did not know and everything that felt like it could be a landmine of a topic, frowning as she fidgeted while thinking these things over. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>01-06-2016, 18:32:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He smiled at her. She really was a quick study. He expected it had somewhat to do with her experiences: adapt or die. He nodded, {color=blue]"Yes, I spent most of last night contacting, cajoling, and outright buying you the right to call yourself a noble bastard. Hmm, in the end I relied on an old ally of this type of circumstance. A history lesson no one else would ever be able to give you outside of my specific order is that the patriarch of the Kelley family was... like you. An anomalous aberration. This was 200 years ago mind and there was less concern about hiding them back then so he just faked it until no one remembered noble life without him. Anyway, over the centuries, his family has been a close ally of the Mage Hunters, though only the leader of their family knows this. They have... incentives... to keep it secret. Anyway, you have been formally acknowledged as the bastard daughter of the current head of the family. A man in his seventies! Congratulations..."[/color]<br><br>He reached over and pulled a reef of papers out of one stack. He handed her a set of bios on what was now her closest kin including a father, his wife, and three legitimate children. He also had a plethora of grandchildren and great-grandchildren both legitimate and illegitimate. She recognized Serah among them as a bastard of Alister's youngest daughter; she was to be Serah's aunt it now seemed. Natanial then handed her a document that listed her noble patents. Her mother was the same, but in place of the unknown father was now listed Alister Sic'Aurum Kelley. Which made her noble name to be Aria FitzKelley. Included in the documents were her noble lineage all the way back to a man named only "Kelley" and the supposed primarch of her lineage.<br><br>"No one will expect you to know it yet, but learn it fast. Learn it like it was something you just found that validated your whole existence. Try to imagine what it would feel like if it were true. Okay? Only Alister is on the lie though, so expect ramifications. The man has been in a long, loving marriage to his true sweetheart and this jeopardizes that. He thought it worth it. I expect they will be in contact soon enough to begin introducing you to the family and society at large."<br><br>He leaned back and felt a bit of relief as the information now passed out of his hands. There was no taking it back, no changes to be made, and no turning back. This was the course they would take. He let the moment of peace waft past him but did not reach for it or want it too much. There was still work to be done. He reached for the bag he had brought with and extracted to bottles of milk as well as two wonderful smelling bacon, egg, and cheese croissanwiches. He passed her one and began to eat the other himself. "Eat, you have a long day. History class you can just dive in and catch up on the reading at your own pace. It is that kind of subject. But Heritage and Magical basics you need to be caught up on. I will be your magical tutor and I ahve arrange for a Lineage tutor of some renown. You meet with him after history class. You will be expected to still attend the other two classes as you also attend remedial instruction. It will be intense but worth it."<br><br>There was no reason for him to explain the ulterior motives he had for this grueling schedule. "So, tell me, anything new with your magic or thoughts on the disciplines or schools?" The larger Aurascope was situated behind her and he noted the machine as it scanned her. He raised an eyebrow as he saw the blood red ring seemed a bit more stable as it pointed more toward her now. Most of the rest were still as they had been before. "Tell me, what are your interests.."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>02-06-2016, 04:16:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>Everything he told her in the moments that followed was quite a shock to hear. From what she had seen so far of nobility they cared a great deal about lineage and marriages gone right and family lines. So to suddenly be told that one family had been talked into adding her, even illegitimately, to their family tree… well she might have reached the conclusion it was the easiest way for her lie to hold up, but she still hadn’t expected it to happen. She had no words- she just opened her mouth, then closed it again after a moment as he told her what it was about the Kelley family that made them open to doing this for her. An entire house founded upon errant magic being found in a peasant. She arched her eyebrows, finding that hard to believe in the current rigid society they lived in. But after a moment she shook her head, amazed. <strong>”Wait, his seventies?”</strong> She repeated. She started to ask why not one of the younger members- then she recalled what he said, that only the leader of the family knew… only he would have any sympathy or understanding for her cause. She sighed. <strong>”Great, hopefully I don’t break dear old dad’s hip when I give him a hug.”</strong> She mutters.<br><br>But that part, well that was only just sinking in. This wasn’t just a lie to stop questions from coming. This was a lie she now had to live. A magicrat family had taken her in. That was going to have very real repercussions. He handed her the papers and her gaze naturally fell somewhere in the middle- right on Serah’s name. <strong>”Oh shit… she’ll love this.”</strong> Aria muttered, running a hand through her hair as she traced the tree and realized she was now higher up on that tree than the surly woman she had met yesterday. Aria winced, hoping Serah didn’t flip out at her for the strange situation this now caused. She supposed it could be worse… she at least was acquainted with one of her new ‘family members’, and she wasn’t a part of that family of hairless cats. She felt conflicted about all of this however. It felt… wrong, like she was ruining the loyalty she still felt to her true family. But they thought her dead. She was dead, to them… and now she was given a new family, moving on, moving up. It made her stomach twist and emotion swell in her for a moment. Aria Fitzkelley. It was infinitely strange.<br><br>Then like an additional punch to the gut, he told her the impact it would have. The old man had a wife that would now believe he had cheated. Aria sighed, her shoulders slumping. A marriage on the verge of ruin for her? A man she had never met thought it worth it, after decades of a good marriage? <strong>”Fantastic.”</strong> She remarked. She didn’t think about the amount of time and effort that Natanial had put into this arrangement, how much trouble it had caused him- she was once again wrapped up in how her life was a constant storm of changing circumstances she could barely grasp. <br><br>He took the time while she reflected the pull the bag over that he had gotten earlier. Food emerged from its depths, and though her stomach growled she didn’t immediately dive in. She looked over her papers, clearly grappling with the news. But then he reminded her of the day ahead, and with a quiet nod she lifted the food to her lips and began to eat quietly as he told her the intense courseload ahead of her. As a peasant she had been self taught most of her life. Her mother had taught her reading, writing and her numbers, and her uncle had taught her about science as it pertained to the world. The rest she had learned from books. Now her days would be filled with classes and teachers and new family… she shook her head in bewilderment and continued to eat, barely tasting the food. <br><br>It wasn’t until he began to ask her about her day yesterday that she surfaced from her internal reflections and lifted her gaze to his. She was still unsure about mentioning the flower specifically… but she did have questions. <strong>”Er, well I was interested in arkaniks of course, but I might also be thinking about taking a class or two in witchcraft. Just enough to understand basics.”</strong><em>And control it so I don’t accidentally turn flowers into nightmare fuel</em> she thought to herself, a flicker of the fear she’d felt yesterday when that spell had gotten away from her. She took another bite of her food. <strong>”If I’m going to use magic, I want to do something positive with it… make things, help things grow… that sort of thing.”</strong> She explained, her ears flicking before she blushed and shrugged, looking sheepish to speak her mind so directly. She glanced back up to him. <strong>”From what I heard, families prefer their children follow certain paths. Is that going to happen with the Kelleys?”</strong> 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>02-06-2016, 06:28:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He raised an eyebrow at her and then chuckled, "And what royals have you been talking to? You'll need to learn that difference fast too. Royals and Nobles are different things. All royals are nobles but not all nobles are royals. Royals are members of the five families who have, at some point, produced an emperor. They control all the territories and properties of the world. Nobles families are lesser houses who are all allied, intricately, with the royal houses. All the royal houses have preferred schools and tend to produce offspring that favor that school, yes. Noble houses are less inclined that way as they cannot be as picky about their lineages as Royals can. So, no, the Kelleys will not be a problem even if they prefer Channeling as their school. They produce members of most of the schools. Heh, you'll even find that most of the students here are actually nobles and not royals."<br><br>He chuckled again and took another bite of his sandwich. he closed his eyes and enjoyed the taste of the food. Unlike many nobles, he spent considerable time on the surface and had tasted peasant foods while journeying or in disguise, so he appreciated good food. He knew that Yvonne, Alister's wife, was already on the way to inspect her husband's bastard. She was a powerful member of the house. He glanced at Aria and grinned. Yvonne had been a bastard herself, so he doubted it would be too much trouble. Then he drank his milk and pushed away from the table. He indicated the larger auroscope. "So, what happened to cause this?" He indicated the ring designated for Blood Discipline. "You'll find that I have few of the normal prejudices against witchcraft or Blood Magics. I have made a study, purely academic, of them as I was once assigned to and performed my duties in the far west. It is an interesting place and the magics are... strange... to our sensibilities about things, but not evil. As for Arkaniks, I figured that one and we will start today."<br><br>He moved back to the desk and fetched a book which he handed to her. The title declared it "Fundamentals of Arkanik Practice." The author was the very man standing before her. He had a note of pride in his stance now and seemed a bit puffed up. She couldn't know that his book was the standard for elementary Arkanik education and used as a textbook at the College. "So, all schools have four fundamental disciplines associated with th... I see you knew that already. Okay, for Arkaniks the disciplines are metal..." He indicated a steel colored ring, "Gems" he indicated a ring that seemed stained like an oil slick, "Electricity" He indicated a ring the color of the sky, "But is unique in that the four discipline is variable. Each practitioner of Arkaniks has their own fourth affinity that affects the school's fundamental use. Mine if fire, here, and I suspect yours may be as well... though this new inclination for blood is interesting as well. Chapter one of that text details the three cores and the typical affects of the various fourth disciplines. For instance, since I favor fire, I have a lot more control over red gems and certain properties of metals, mostly malleability. I also have a lot of control over lightning considering everything. Blood discipline is rare among Arkaniks but they seem to favor pearls and automata technologies. Questions?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>02-06-2016, 07:08:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><br>Royals? Aria looked startled at this news. The Haven sisters she had met… were royalty? Of course she knew the difference between nobility and royalty, at least in so far as what made one such and the other not. The every square is a rectangle bit but not vice versa. She hadn’t known, though that only royal houses had the rules about children attending specific schools. At least it meant she was not locked into a path by being a Kelley, but once again she’d given herself away by not knowing things. <strong>”Oh… er…”</strong> She fidgeted, thinking of how to mention the Haven sisters to him, since he’d asked where she’d learned this information from- but right then he got up after a chuckle and crossed behind her. She turned her head to watch him and saw the auroscope behind her had… well read her aura once more.<br><br>And she saw that it had changed since the last reading. Getting up from the table she stepped up to it with her eyes wide. <strong>”It changed just from that little bit?”</strong> She asked in disbelief, then shook her head, frowning as her ears flicked back. She didn’t even think she liked blood magic… and yet her affinity for it was stronger? Damn it all. She glanced to him, hesitating again as he told her in a very pointed way that he wouldn’t be prejudiced against blood magic or witchcraft. She shook her head and returned to the table, sitting down and finishing off her sandwich as he fetched her a book. Soon enough, it was placed before her, and she read the author’s name, Natanial Idylls. She remembered reading in the books on lineage about the Idylls and their lavender colored fur, their features that matched his, the occasional trait of being cross eyed. She’d put two and two together there. So when she saw the name, she blinked down at it, then blinked up at him, her ears flicking forward. <strong>”When did you even have time to write a textbook with your job?”</strong> She wondered out loud, before he delved into explaining Arkanik disciplines to her.<br><br>As he pointed to each of the rings in turn she nodded, cocking her head a little as she saw gems looked like oil. She remembered that sensation from when she’d tried to use her magic, and nothing had happened at all to the flower when she had tried to use it. Which… well that made sense. Gem magic probably couldn’t do much to a living plant, she figured. She flipped through the book a little, nodding as he told her about fire magic and the fourth discipline. But once again, he came back to the blood magic and her strange new affinity for it. Aria sighed, realizing at this point she might as well just be out with it. He’d figured out something was up already, and it was clear he was going to keep mentioning blood magic until she told him why her reading had changed. <strong>”No- well yes I think I’m going to probably have questions for the next five years… but … as for <em>your</em> question, about that-”</strong> She gave a general wave towards the blood stone <strong>”And who told me about the families preferring specific schools they both relate to the same story. I… I wanted to try using magic yesterday. Not where I was hurting somebody or in a panic. I wanted to try using magic for the first time in a nice way.”</strong> She fidgeted and looked down at her hands, feeling stupid and foolish. <strong>”I tried to just make a flower grow, that was it- but my magic warped and I couldn’t control things. Before I knew it the flower twisted and became this… <em>creature</em>. It had fingers and teeth, it was twisted and unnatural, but alive. Well, for a short while at least. Somebody arrived though and burned it before the spell was done, so it didn’t come to life. I couldn’t stop the spell on my own, so they helped me.”</strong> She explains, looking up to see his reaction- or as much as she could with the mask and hood he always wore. Which was to say, she was just watching his body language. <strong>”She was with her sisters. The Haven sisters were the people who told me about the noble families being in certain schools. They were asking about my lineage and encouraging me to take up witchcraft. I… I don’t really know what to think of them. They want me as their friend… but I think they scare me.”</strong> She finishes explaining, blushing as she admitted her feelings about the women she’d met. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>02-06-2016, 07:40:10</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				He frowned. There was no stopping it and he looked introspective for some time, "Those three, huh?" He stood and paced a bit as he considered the various ramifications and effects that friendship with the Havens could bring and eventually, she saw his shoulder relaxed and his tail cease flicking about. "The Havens are the royalty of the far west. When you are doing your remedial history reading, you'll find out that each of the royal families dates back to a time before the empire. Back then, each royal family ruled a large kingdom and fought. It was anarchy and destructive. Eventually, the Last War was fought between four of the kingdoms and ended only when they formed the empire via a peace treaty that united them. The fifth house, the Havens, were discovered ruling their western kingdom a few centuries after that. There were some conflicts but peace was negotiated. Westerners are a strange people though. They are passionate, chaotic, and wild people. They still live in far flung, remote villages close to nature and have a strongly matriarchal society. Heh, they tend to only send a few students to the college each year preferring and older apprenticeship style teaching for their preferred school. Like I said, I was stations in the Grand Western City for some time. The Idylls and Havens are close allies."<br><br>He finally shrugged and sat down, "Those three are pretty typical of Haven royalty. I am sure you noticed their cavalier attitude about some things we consider quite taboo in the east. Havens rule the west in a strange sort of cult; the peasants see them as manifestations of nature itself, which they worship. They can get away with murder over there. It translates poorly here. meh."<br><br>He eyed the auroscope again and then shrugged, "As a wild talent, your going to be in a state of severe flux for some time. Anything you do or try is going to affect your affinities drastically for now. Don't take it too seriously. If you focus elsewhere for a time, then that new affinity will fade. It is your magical system trying to settle and adapt. Magic is, my its nature, raw power without direction or definition. The disciplines and Schools are ways that people have found that magic organizes naturally, so the more you study certain aspects of it, the more YOUR magic will conform to the decisions you make about it and settle into a more stable pattern like mine. All magocrats start off as wild talents, most nobles are just wild talent around the age of 5 and settle by 7-8 or so. Adult wild talents are a bit more of a mess is all."<br><br>He didn't worry about the haemonculi because her magic was not set yet. Schools were philosophies of magic and were there to help a person settle and stabilize their magics. It was almost unanimously considered the best way to do it. Only a few lunatics and madmen attempted to remain wild talents all their lives. It invariably failed and produced disaster. Magic was about your belief and willpower controlling raw power after all. He stood and moved to a drawer to withdraw a device that looked like a key ring. There were thirteen keys, each was the same color as the rings on the auroscope. He shuffled the keys until the crimson fire key was single out and gave her the set with the fire key standing up. "I should have known you would want to experiment. This is a toy that most magocrats play with as children. Try to summon the fire discipline and channel it without form into the key. If successful, the key should add a bit of form to the raw power and manifest it somehow. It is different for each person for each discipline. After a while you can try and learn to control the manifestation's size, shape, and properties. Most masters use this to practice control all their lives. This should allow you to learn what each of the magics in you is and how to use it, except those you ahve simply NO affinity for." He sat back and let her try it a bit.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>06-06-2016, 19:10:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Aria watched his reaction the news of her meeting with the three Haven sisters. As she had expected, he seemed at lease somewhat troubled. While they had been kindest to her since her arrival, and the most accepting of her, making her feel as if she should return the favor... there was just a constant lurking suspicion that their friendship could turn dangerous at any moment. Their casual disregard for suffering and life was the main reason for Aria's concern... and after a few moments she saw him echoing that concern after providing a brief history lesson. While it did indeed help to explain things, it didn't help her at all in deciding how to handle her new friendship with the women. He didn't tell her to avoid them, as she might have expected, he almost seemed indifferent.<br><br>Aria hesitated, about to ask more clearly for his advice, but then with a shake of her head decided to let it go. At least as he spoke there was some good news. The fact that she would control, at least for a while, the way her affinities would grow and settle. She would not be locked into blood magic if she did not wish it. Part of her for a moment lingered on what the sisters had said, about how she was a natural talent, and she felt hesitation. Was it wrong to turn from something she was good at because it scared her? Should she try to control it and adapt to it instead of discard it? But... well at least she had the option. That was a comfort of its own, even if she was undecided at this moment. <br><br>With a small sigh of relief she relaxed, before he handed her the ring of different colored keys and explained what it would do. Aria looked surprised, looking from him to the rings and back. A safe way to experiment? She definitely wished he had mentioned this before, but now was better than not at all. Taking up the circle she looked down at the red keyring that was pointing up and nodded as her ears flicked forward. <strong>"Ok."</strong> She looked down at the crimson ring and furrowed her brow in focus as she reached inside herself. She was reaching for the magic that she had the most affinity for, the magic that always seemed to be right at the surface of the ball of magic inside her. When she'd tried to experiment before she'd had to reach past it, push it aside just to try and grasp the other affinities within her. But now she reached for the heat simering inside her and focused it into the ring.<br><br>The response was immediate- a spark several inches in the air above the key, then a ball of flame. Her eyes gently widened, the flame flickered, then she focused again, her eyes narrowing and the ball steadied, hanging over the key in the air in her first showing of controlled magic. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>13-06-2016, 16:03:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				He watched her experiment and smiled at the wonder in her eyes. Whatever might lurk beneath the surface; whatever psychological issues and resentment might manifest as errant behavior they would deal with in the future: the look of wonder on her features as she delved into her ability was priceless. Magic was a thing the desired to be used. It wasn't some force they were accidentally connected to; it was part of their very existence at a fundamentally genetic level. Watching someone learn to wield it was like watching a kitten discovering its tail. He chuckled and let her experiment with the keys for a bit more then spoke again, "I really should have thought to give you some such instrument earlier. Coming to the gift as an adult can be a very trying experience. Children tend to adapt to it much faster if in more instinctual ways. You'll need a lot of education though as experience will have set in stone many instincts you will need to relearn. For instance, no one will be able to tell you how to find each discipline you can wield. They feel and..." He waved his hand searching for words but they did not manifest.<br><br>"Some can taste them, smell them, see them, etc. For everyone it is different, slightly, There are broad generalizations of course, it is a fundamentally natural and ordered force. It has rules, but the flavor is different for each individual via their experiences. It is going to be even more so for you. Children brought up in a magical culture often find expectations drive their experience of magic... your expectations are... different." He grinned a bit mischievously. There were treatises on the topic he could get for her if she was interested in that field.<br><br>He watched her experiment a bit more then added, "Questions or concerns?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>17-06-2016, 03:32:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>She heard his soft laughter, but it was almost distant as she was so focused on the keyring, her eyes wide as for the very first time she wielded magic and felt in control. The flame flickered and danced but stayed contained as a floating ball above the ring. She smiled a little to herself. It was not out of control, it did not warp into a demonic form, it just floated there. She tried to make it grow bigger, and it did, flickering as it did. Smaller, she thought, and smaller it went. Her ears were perked and she was still smiling before he spoke up and she let the magic go for a moment to look up at him.<br><br>The flame flickered and died, and as she looked up he told her the difficulties she would encounter as learning as an adult. <strong>”Flavors?”</strong> She repeated, before shaking her head, at a bit of a loss from his explanations. But then she thought about it. <strong>”So like… fire doesn’t feel like oil to other people… I mean mentally at least?”</strong> She asked, though there was something almost ribbon like about fire as well. It felt malleable to her, but like it could lash out like a whip without warning as well. She reached inside herself, exploring the other sensations. There was another affinity that was smooth and like glass. She focused on it and the rings, seeing one of the blue keyrings glow. When she grasped it and teased it out, letting the power flow through her hands she realized it was water, as a film of water seemed to flow over her arms and the keys. <strong>”Huh.”</strong> She cocked her head to the side and played with this new discipline a little, seeing her own wide eye reflection in the water that danced about.<br><br>A few moments later she let that one go as well and shrugged at his question. <strong>”So are there any other major and easy to make mistakes I might stumble upon? Students I should avoid in that dorm, things I shouldn’t mention, magic I shouldn’t try?”</strong> She asked him with curiosity and maybe a note of concern. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shengami</strong> on <strong>19-06-2016, 19:51:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Natanial considered all of what she had asked for a few long minutes silently. It wasn't that any were hard questions, but most of them were big or conplex. The theories and philosophies of magical practice were some of the most tricky things to explain. It was, like all laws of the world, consistent but human understanding of the laws of nature were filtered by their biases and prejudices to color it. Magic was even more complicated as it was even less inderstood than mechanics and chemistry. He stood and paced a bit as he chewed his answer on it but then set it aside for her other questions.<br><br>"Ah, big mistakes? You didn't make any; they were mine. I should have known you would want to explore. It is only natural. We magocrats all explore through toys and games. Explore with the keys and be careful. Try to avoid strong emotion when you explore, too. As you gain more control and your talent solidifies your abilities will grow. As they grow you will be able to begin using stronger and stronger spells. As for people, avoid the Adamantians. They play politica like kittens with a new ball."<br><br>He smiled and settled on his stool again, "As for magics to avoid... Since you are fuddling with fire and water, aboid the Alchemical elements for now: acid and ice. Wood and metal are also alchemical but aligned to other schools so less so. Your association to fire is so strong that acid would rebel to your touch. That also makes you strongly aligned to sorcery so ice would also be resistant. Strong emotions and opposing disciplines will create bad admixtures. There is a lot of philosophy and science behind that which I hope you may understand some day, but..." He shrugged. That was his best advice.<br><br>As for her firsy question, "When I reach for fire I smell cinammon. Water is like sage. Mkst people experience them slightly differently yes. No one is sure why. Genetics or paychology or a combination. But let's focus on some things you can do. You are already meddling with sorcery through the keys. Sorcery's basic philosophy is that universe is made up of the four primary energies. Molding, shaping, and mixing them into an effect. It can be complicated, but once you are confident with fjre and water try mixing them in various shapes and percentages."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: (Shengami and Rayne) Changing Roles</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rayne</strong> on <strong>28-06-2016, 01:48:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Aria listened to his answers, not minding that they were out of order. When he mentioned being careful about strong emotions she swallowed and looked down, recalling the events of her first magical experience- of the fear and the pain that had triggered her to violently lash out not once but twice in that evening. She had seen first hand the results of strong emotions… and that was when her abilities had first awoken. Now, as she grew stronger, she realized there was even more danger. She took a deep breath and let the magic go, tucking away the key ring in her pocket so that she could play with it later when she had time to herself. She still had much she wanted to learn and explore of course. <strong>”I saw the adamantians in the dorm… they certainly stand out- so I guess that will make them easy to avoid.”</strong> She agreed with a shrug. She knew politics would be far too much for her to handle, so avoiding them sounded best. <br><br>The rest of his advice was interesting and she took mental note of it. Acid… gods she didn’t even want to imagine playing with that element. It seemed to her nothing good could come of that. <strong>”Sorcery is a major school right? And Arkaniks in a minor? So… do I take classes in both?”</strong> She asked when he moved on to tell her about her affinity in yet another discipline. She looked overwhelmed. Fire, blood magic, arkaniks… sorcery… she frowned a little, biting her lip as she fidgeted. She felt torn in so many directions by the sheer number of possibilities. For a commoner… where life only seemed to have a limited number of paths- at least to normal commoners who had not broken out like her… well the sudden amount of options was overwhelming. How would she ever know the right path, the right choice for her? She shook her head, at a loss, before he gave her advice to try something.<br><br>She hesitated, then reached into her pocket and brought the keyring back out. She held it up and tried what he suggested, reaching for fire- her eyes widening once again when the fireball burst into existence in the air with almost eager ferocity- then she reached for water as well. There was a moment inside where she felt resistance, an internal wall, like the powers didn’t want to mix. She took a deep breath and furrowed her brows. Then, quite suddenly, the fire roared up a foot before turning to steam that dispersed- but not before the steam hit her arm and made her yelp as she dropped the keyrings. It clattered to the floor, the lights going out as she grasped the reddened skin of her arm. <strong>”Goddamn.”</strong> She muttered, grimacing, her ears flicked back at the pain. 
			</dd>
		</dl>
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