Open Chronicles A Festival of the Lights

[Wesley Argent]

The young warrior continued to wander around taking in everything, he watched couples and companions dance. Heard bards sing with strange accents and light shooting elegantly from their instruments. It was not at all what he was expecting, then again Wesley had not been expecting anything bad , but more-so less then mediocre. He was pleased to be proven otherwise, the festival was turning out rather enjoyable, now all that was left to do was get a memory stone and tomorrow Mr. Argent would be on his merry way back home to Routè. Everything was going smoothly until...oof .
"Hey mate! You made me spill 'm dri-
Wesley knew that smooth, carefree voice all. to. well.
"Hello Killian." His eyes narrowed at the sceevy pirate who had encountered many a time before, much to his displeasure. "And yes, I am still serving her Majesty The Queen."
The red head avoided eye contact and looked past Grey, anywhere to dissapear to - not out of fear though, but pure displeasure of his company.
"Now if you will excuse me," Wesley moved to walk past him and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head slighty, and politly stated; "If you do not remove your hand by the time I count to five you wont have a hand left."
The pressure left Wesleys shoulder and both ment continued on in opposite directions.

 

[Ophelia Tirion]

Squire Ophelia showed up, and Arko squeaked happily. You want pie too?

"I would love one," Ophelia replied. This had been her first time officially meeting Arkoboldn. "I am Ophelia Tirion, nice to meet ya." The elf stuck out a hand at the creature. She was extremely intruged by him, more so by herself for such a polite interaction right from the go. Must be spending to much time around Hector, I'm going soft! The irritating thought sprung into her mind.
Ophelia took a knee next to Arkoboldn, hopefully making it easier for them to shake hands..paws? Anyways, she also intended to come across less hostile this way, apprently she could be rather stand-offish from time to time...


Arkobold

 

[Margot Triss]

Margot had taken a pause from enjoying the festival music, a sip of red wine gracing her throat. She was happy to see old faces and new, it brought her so much joy to see the smiles upon everyone's face. This was truly home.

In that quiet moment of reflection, a brief encounter caught her eye. Two men seemed to almost square up, but the redheaded one strode away, the look of disgust on his face. Interesting..

She took a few steps towards the two, curious and hesitant all at once. She did not know either, but she was so very curious as to what it could have been about. Margot grabbed a spare glass, and brought it to Killian. She offered him the drink with a smile. "To replace the one you lost "

 

[Vardan]

Elinyra Derwinthir

Vardan cackled shortly. Prevented! What prevented anyone from dying? "Bah. Such prate. I am as I am because I will it so."​

​

So far as Vardan was concerned, it was all a matter of willpower - and he had that in spades. That and terrible magicks, but plenty of people with terrible magicks had a tendency to stay dead. Rank amateurs if you asked him. Vardan rubbed his jaw, considering the druidess.​

​

"Hnnh. What's this? The stench of blight is upon thee... Piteous lambkin! Thou hath surely come to seek my aid."​

 

[Melgan the Unready]

Roebin Featherwind

Uninspired? Melgan gave a sour scowl, clearly just offended enough to forget himself. What, was he supposed to just make up something stupid? Tell him there's three spriggans at the bottom having a nice tea party? Damn all these dead people he kept running into. Never could tell what they wanted, even when they asked for it.​

​

"Well, what's your bloody guess then?" Melgan snapped, propping himself up a little on his elbows. "You just said you haven't even looked."​

 

[Innis]

Innis sat some ways apart from the bustle of the festival crowds, and the sound of the dance floor. She was in front of a tent that had been designated a rest area for children and parents. A slew of kids laughed and ran about in the grass nearby, playing some sort of chase game. She idly watched them, to make sure nobody tripped or pulled someone's hair or got in an argument.

But her attention was focused on the piece of amber she held in one hand. This piece was not new, nor had it been made by her. It was something she'd had on her person since as long as she could remember, from before her time at the monastery. One of the relics of her past. The image projected on the snow between her feet, the glittering white giving the memory a soft, crystalline look.

It depicted an apple orchard on a sunny day, rows of squat green trees laden with the brightest gold apples she'd ever seen. The scene felt familiar to her, but far away, and looking at it always filled her with a sense of loss. It was a place someone hadn't wanted her to forget, and yet she had, time and distance wearing away the memory.

One of the kids shouted, and the image faltered as Innis's concentration was interrupted. She covered the amber with a hand and looked up to see what the commotion was about. "Aye!" She shouted back at the kid. "Play nice!"

By the lights, babysitting duty was the worst. She'd rather be doing almost anything else - even serving drinks. At least then she'd be talking to other adults.

 

[Josai]

Josai was one of the knights working alongside the caterers, helping organize those squires and workers who helped carry out orders of hot pie popping out of the magicked oven, and personally, pouring up drinks when empty steins appeared on the countertop or new drinks were ordered.

But the night was running late, and a familiar sheen of technicolor mist settled across the expanse of the near-invisible shield that protected the Monastery.

"Well," Josai said as she looked up at the clock with the serpents body. Saw in its hand the key it held. A flaming heart. She laughed. "Not quite sure how to take that one," she added and finished pouring the last drink before the serpent trailed away, fading into the wash of shimmering prism of lights that danced across the haze.

"Alright!" she called out. "Last call! Show's about to start, and the kitchen's closin!" Josai hollered. Startling one of the halfling cooks that hurriedly worked on some food stuff. "You all deserve some rest too," she assured them. And took the sack of potatoes out from a handsome stranger's hands. She had watched him work himself into a tizzy all night, but never quite gave up.

With a soft grunt, she put them down, and smiled at the stocky fellow, winked. "Maybe even a dance under the lights?" Clapped her hands to grab everyone's attention. "Alright people, get out of here, go enjoy yourselves! We'll get to cleaning up after the magick!" And she made away from the Monastery's kitchen service, leaving one ruddy faced drinker stupefied, his mug still empty.

Elis Chares

 

[Abrielle Huxley]

"Abri!" a voice rose above the cacophony of the festivities. Abrielle spied Hector, who mouthed forget the drinks! Come dance!

Abrielle glared at her frenemy for a brief moment before turning away to continue serving drinks with a small "hmph!" Where the hell did Hector get off thinking that she would want to dance with him!? Lorinna was already over there. Did he really need two women to dance with? she thought as she set down her tray of drinks and grabbed a small mug of ale for herself.

Hoisting herself up onto the corner of a table, Abrielle began nursing her drink, all the while watching Lorinna and Hector out of the corner of her eye. Out of all the people who could've invited her to dance, why did it have to be Hector? Sure he was one of the most handsome Squires, but he was also part elf which lost him points in her book. But as she watched him and Lorinna dance, she couldn't deny that they two squires seemed to be enjoying themselves. With an annoyed sigh, Abrielle chugged the rest of her drink and stomped her way over to them.

She was soon found herself singing along and dancing to the music. Despite wearing a smile to rival Hector's, she did her very best to convince herself that she really wasn't having fun.

 

[Elis Chares]

He had been working all night, almost non-stop as request after request flooded in his direction. He ended up helping the kitchen staff and was carrying a sack of potatoes to the kitchens when a woman hollered about a show starting and the kitchen closing.

The sack of potatoes was pulled out of his arms by the kindly woman. She gave him a smile and a wink, making him shyly look towards the ground which suddenly appeared so interesting. He walked out of the monastery and towards the lively music and shimmering mists. Elis spotted the woman from earlier and rushed up to her, wanting to know more about this show that was apparently about to start.

"Excuse me, Mam." He said politely, "Um..."

His words suddenly failed him. They were on the tip of his tongue and yet he was unable to speak properly. Perhaps it was the constant work or the fact that he was surrounded by strangers that made him feel like he couldn't talk properly.

"Sorry. Um, what did you mean by magick? And a show?" He asked nervously.

Magick... wasn't something he had available much in his small town farms. He didn't expect anything bad by it but it was something he was unfamiliar with. Like people. Or crowds. Or large festivals. He was wondering even more why his grandparents didn't just go themselves.

Josai​

 

[Eternity]

Her arrival to the festival of lights was nothing special, Aurora was new to this place and had been getting herself acquainted with the area prior to the festivities. The very setting of the festival itself was very intriguing to Aurora, the natural forest that had taken over the ruins of the monastery were thriving at incredible rates. She could feel the essence of the plant life, it called to her natural gifts. As she walked further into the event, the plant life seemed to stand taller, glowing brighter as her fingers lightly brushed a leaf here; a branch there.

It seemed it had been quite the gathering for the event, from what she understood it was something they did every year. These special stones were mined, a magical property in the mineral gave it the ability to store memories. It was quite fascinating to Aurora, it reminded her of the crystals they used in her home.

Aurora came dressed ready for the light shows, her deep green eyes moved between each set as the performers gave their all in the performance. The dress she wore was white with an iridescent tone, with each stride it would spark and give off a myriad of different colors; one would say a light show of its own. Her long fiery red hair was left down except for one braid that traveled from one ear around the crown of her head pinned neatly in place.

The further she moved into the event the more she could see people enjoying drinks and food, others conversed among tables each with a stone of their own. Others stood in line waiting to be given the amnesic amber, some in thought about what memory they would bestow upon the orangish stone. Aurora had come to this place alone, the idea of a stone holding a prized memory had drawn her to this very monastery.

 

[Lorinna Astarel]

It was rough and ready compared to the formal event Lorinna had been brought up to enjoy. There was no formal style to the dance, no steps to follow. Everyone just did whatever routine they felt like doing to the music.

She joined in with Hector in giving Abrielle Huxley a wave, but the other squire seemed determined to finish her drink.

"This was a good idea," he admitted to Hector, during a break in the music.

It started up soon after and then the other squire decided to join them.

"Abrielle!" Lorinna laughed.

She offered both hands towards her, wanting to spin the other squire around to the music. It felt freeing to Lorinna to shirk her responsibility and turn her back on her family for a little while.

 

[Josai]

Josai had ventured into the crowd and giggled at some of the looks on folks faces. The ruddy cheeks, the belly-full laughs, and the kisses shared beneath bouquets of mistletoe and holly.

It helped ease the tiredness she felt after a long days work, and filled her with an inkling of pride, and she was about to snag herself a piece of unattended pie when she heard a voice come from behind her, she turned, and found the man from the kitchens, formal, and all kinds of shy.

It made her smile, and she stood there and listened to him, rocking some on her heel and toe as the singing roared on and the laughter carried loud. He was a handsome one, wasn't he? Broad shoulders and square jaw made all the more pleasant by his bashful demeanor. Like stone and lilies.

"It's part of the festival," she said cheerfully, and pointed up with a bob of her nose.

Above them, hedge wizards and errant magi wove displays of tales long told. Of castles and dragons and the winged heroes of old. There for but moments, of spectral array.

"A show of lights and spells," she said easily with a long breath out, and held out to him two open palms. Cupped there between them, two figures danced in starlit blue. A pair of lovely phantoms, twirled and stepped and held. "I can show you more," she said, teasingly, and clapped her hands together. The two figures faded into silvery mist. "If you ask me for a dance," she said with impish smile.

Elis Chares

 

[Roebin Featherwind]

Well, whats your bloody guess then? Melgan snapped, propping himself up a little on his elbows. You just said you havent even looked.​

Roebin looked up at the sky above, through the shattered roof that once covered the well. He would have rolled his eyes at the young man's attitude, if he'd had them.

"Is this how you want to bring the new year in, talking to a dead man about stuff that doesn't matter?" The Master of Loch responded, and his voiced dragged. Melgan wasn't the only one who could be insolent.

Roebin kept looking upwards, long enough that he hoped it made the boy uneasy. The snow continued to fall. Above them, lights crackled and music danced in the air. The festivities must've been starting in full. But here below, the meadow was silent, cloaked in cold as those creatures that slumbered below waited for the new year. Finally, Roebin leveled his ghostly gaze back at the young squire and spoke.

"This well contains the wishes of thousands of hearts, made over the centuries. It was not magic when it was first built, but perhaps it is now." He waved a hand, gesturing towards the open mouth of the well. "You've come to give an offering to the old gods on this most hallowed day, isn't that right? Go ahead, then. Make your wish. Maybe it'll be the one that comes true."

Roebin smoothed a hand across his clean-shaven, ethereal chin. "Or you can go back to the monastery and enjoy a dance."

Melgan the Unready

 

[Empyrean]

From the great being Khali came the Daiki—the many gods of the Yosei Pantheon. With no one to worship their beauty and light, they sought to create a race that would worship them.

The gods each contributed something to this creation, so that their people would be grateful for having been given life. The Yosei were given seeds for eyes, mounds of earth for their cheeks. Their hair was long and dark like seaweed. Baked like clay in ethereal fires and given the breath of life, their skin could be as bright and fair as a seashell, golden as the desert sand, or as rich and dark as the earth they were born from.

The Gods decided they would tell stories of the gods through song, dance and weaving—and so Vanakara was born—the ability to weave magic suffused with the elements.

Or so Sabine had once told her. Her knowledge of the culture was unparalleled and though the dark truths of her childhood slowly peeled back to reveal darker things, Sabine was kind enough to teach her.

Ganzaya watched Raea in comfortable silence. She was musing over a stone to choose, and dwelling so deeply on what memory one could suffuse with it that she was drowning in her own thoughts. She could not think of a truly pleasant, happy memory, not when her entire life was fraught with struggles.

But then she thought, it could have been the day she met Garrod and Rysorian.
It could be the day she met the kind farmers who took her in and put her on Roen's trail.
It could be the day Sabine came back into her life.

Raea thought these things, deeply turning over each moment in her life. In reality, she recognized she was extremely grateful for the friendships she acquired as she set out on her journey to find the mysterious Lord Roen.

But was she happy? Did she have a truly happy memory?

She was learning more and more about the world around her. All evening, the Knights of Anathaeum inspired her. Their comraderie and ability to protect and serve the realm was nothing short of remarkable. The air was rife with joy--the exubrency palpable as her fingers itched with ethereal power.

I want to choose a memory I can weave into my heart, not just my mind...

Perhaps she would weave something later. Something the Knights could keep and hold dear. They had stories to tell, their names etched into the hearts and minds of others. There was so much light, laughter, love and joy filling every inch of the monastery

But the only thing Raea could thing of engrained in her heart, was a sort of darkness that would never leave her--not truly. Despite the light she radiated--sometimes literally--and sweet disposition, the words of the old woman seer came back to her again and again and again.

You were made for monsters, girl.

I’m just a young woman desperate for answers she’ll probably never receive…​

A glimmer caught the corner of her eye and Raea was startled--and then, she was enamored.
And then she was struck with the oddest sense of familiarity she had never known.

She was red and ethereal
She was a beautiful phantom

Raea was reminded of the fair Elves--but no. It was somehow more--somehow exponentially more. Did her mouth fall open? Raea thought to close it, but she wasn't entirely sure that she did.

"Y-you're VER-RY p-pretty!" She stammered, before she could even think to stop herself. Tall, imposing, gorgeous--everything Raea certainly was not. She was only strange and avoided. Strange, golden-eyed girls had no place next to someone like that, or so Alliria had taught her. All thoughts of choosing a stone was forgotten.

Blood rushed to Raea’s ears with embarrassment. She felt the proud, pounding beat of her heart in her ears. It gathered loudly, a dull roar grating at her senses. She even thought she could hear it again—that ancient whispering of something arcane and old.

Something old.
Something else.
Something familiar...

Eternity

 

[Kaige Severos]

Lifting the honey-hued stone up to the illuminated sky, Kaige examined his newest possession. Bound in cord and yet to be charged with any recollection, the memory stone reflected and refracted the light dancing over its surface in a truly breathtaking display. The tiny kobold that had given the stone to him had explained it as something rare and beautiful. While doubtless a dazzling piece, Kaige was skeptical. Given so freely at this aptly-named Festival of Lights, it was likely not so rare. Nevertheless, it was pretty; he tucked it away in one of his many compartments.

The monastery was a elegant show of architectural talent, mingling wild, beautiful nature with the stern, organized manner of mortared stone and carved rock. There were delicate gardens and statues of fierce visages. Artwork and magic thrummed through the air. Today, brilliant lights lit the sky and flashed over the stonework. Ribbons of red and gold, blue and purple and endless more colors flared in fantastic acts. Music played unobtrusively in the background – flutes and harps and various other instruments tuned by skilled hands. Laughter and general enjoyment eased the usual tension in Kaige’s muscles as he walked among the festivities. He found himself smiling slightly.

Most had come in their best dress, but a few, including himself, had come in normal attire or battle garb. He had arrived in the leather body armor he usually wore, but he had taken care to polish it to a reflective sheen. He had added a modest but elegant silver chain to the black plates and padding to make it seem less like he was headed into a fight, though otherwise that was about all. His only companion, a blue-dappled horse, feasted on oats and fresh grass in the stables. His lonely friend, a masterworked spear, was at rest strapped to his back with a decorative pair of red tassels tied to its crossguard. A flashy accessory intended to make it seem harmless with zero intent of being drawn.

Everything else was left with his horse. He wasn’t here to prepare for the next assignment, after all.

Kaige wandered around for a good half hour or so before finding a quiet spot amidst a secluded garden. He sat on a bench and breathed a silent sigh of relief, glad to be given a chance to relax. He felt the shimmering aura of strange beings and the occasional fierce glimmer of demonic energy… but little of it was truly hostile, and so he relaxed, ever so minutely, his guard. He tilted his head, watching the lights blazing into the sky.

 

[Killian Grey]

"Always Mister dramatic ey?" Killian teased as Wesley strode off.
He looked into his empty cup, hoping for atleast a drop left but alas - nothing. Ready to head in the direction of the bar once more, the dark haired pirate heard a feminine voice. He turned to meet a gorgeous blonde with beautiful eyes.
Greys famous grin on his face once more. "An angel from the seas, how did you know?" Killian took the glass and sipped at it, never breaking eye contact. "Mmm, I see we have similar tastes."
He took her now free hand and kissed it lightly, "Captian Killian Grey."

Margot Triss

 

[Wesley Argent]

Still on the prowl for a stone, Wesley eventually spotted Syr Guernot and headed over to them in hopes of getting a memory stone for his ruler.
"Excuse me Sir, but I was told you were the a," Wesley took in the kivrens apperance and had to stop himself from saying  man. "...one to find when one is looking for a memory stone?"
Wesley had never encountered a Kivren before, naturally he had heard of them. His home being on the coast and many of his fellow countrymen being sent out to see then returning home and telling stories. But see one with his own eyes? His imagination had illuded him. The Kivren did not look like a flesh eating monster that would turn into a gigantic cracking and swallow an entire fleet in one foul swoop. It... he seemed dignified and not monsterly at all.
Syr Guernot

 

[Eternity]

Aurora moved like liquid, her dress flowing easily around her legs as she moved into the people. Suddenly she stopped to the words that were shouted by another woman.

"Y-you're VER-RY p-pretty!"

Stopping the movement of her feet didn’t stop the movement of her dress, the colors still shimmered around her as she looked around to locate the woman who eagerly shouted to Aurora. Green hues found the redden face of Raea, a smile forming on her lips. “Thank you!” Throwing her hands up into the air a moment to twirl the dress, she spun around allowing the colors and lights to dance off of her.

Allowing her hands to come to rest at her sides once more, she grinned at the woman. Staring at Raea for a long moment, Aurora was hit with a moment of familiarity. It felt as though she had met her before, that they’ve shared words before. As the thought floated through her head, her smile waivered.

“Hello! My name is Aurora, have we met before?” her eyes stared at Raea hard, as if they were trying to breach some sort of invisible shield.

Empyrean

 

[Valborast Valchek]

Valborast placed his hands into a triangular shape, with thumbs forming the base as he said, "I'd be glad to learn more from you." As he did so his eyes shimmered with white light as revelations concerning the nature of his own work, his own mind, his own perception, his own attitudes towards the living and bereft of life, they danced in front of his vision. His mind was purified, made whole out of the fragmented parts that were floating in the essence of his soul. The healing vats had done much. But the image of Selene with a sigil of Death upon the palm written in black, that was a moment he had come face to face with a practitioner of the domain of Death who might just consume him should he step out of line. It haunted his instincts. Yet, his heart was open in this moment.

In being so receptive to another who was of the domain of loch, as far as Valborast could tell, he had to raise what little guards he knew in that domain. The mind was a terrible thing to waste. And he had so recently tied his own to the guardianship of Riven. That blade of blood, still yet untested in battle.

Riven sang a low note of it's own name. RI-VEN. RI-VEN. RI-VEN.

"I attend what information you deem fit to render unto me," Valborast said, a typical platitude he had offered to dark lords underground. He stood nearby, his defenses lowered. For Riven was not near to council him of his usual bitter cynical false manliness. Valborast was receptive to the universe, and all that Selene might impart. His mind was still sharp, yet a faint smile etched itself across his features. He smoothed his beard, and let out a chill exhalation.

 

[Hector]

"Thanks," Hector smiled, as they both watched Abri scowl at them and down her drink. "I have one, every once in a while," he admitted with proud grin, and he cheered Abri on as she joined them in the dancing.

It was all smiles and cheers and a fair bit of blushing as the magick lights sizzled and painted both Abri and Lori in dazzling light. He was surprised to hear Abri sing, to be honest, and not just sing, but sing well. Beautifully really. Made him blush. No less to see Lori twisting and turning and flailing about. Elegantly, of course. Nobly. Least, as noble as one could be in a revel in the wilds.

Hector laughed so hard it hurt his cheeks, and threw his voice into the song, hot and loud as the three squires howled to the moons and the stars. The fiddles whined and the lutes did sing, as drums beat proud to stir on the festival crowd.

 

[Empyrean]

Raea had had dreams before. Unbidden, deep-sleeping dreams where she was both aware and comforted by the fact it was both a dream and reality.

A woman, with long dark hair--darker than hers, and lovely golden eyes--sadder than hers. There was a deep sense of kindness. And when they tried to touch hands they could never quite feel the other's touch; some forsaken barrier keeping them at bay. There were never words. Only the strange sense of familiarity. The silent understanding that they were confronting something--someone--the likes of which they had never known before.

This felt like that.

Aurora felt like that.​

Sabine felt like that.

Artamese felt like that.​

The Yosei felt like that.​

Everything felt like deja-vu.

"No," Raea replied slowly, too enamored to properly pay attention to the woman's words, though her earlier embarassment subsided, if only a little so she could speak more clearly, "I...I don't think we have? Are you..." She paused, shifty-eyed as if she weren't allowed to ask out loud, "...are you fae?" She asked quietly, for surely someone that lovely couldn't possibly be human. The same was once said of Raea--that her queerness was that people could ultimately sense she wasn't human--not entirely, not truly, despite how mundane she appeared (though her eyes were often a dead giveaway). She was not disguised as one or the other. She was neither human not fae.

She was just...other.

Raea clumsily dipped into an informal courtesy, as her manners somehow--someway--clumsily made their way back to her, "Aah--I mean! I'm Raea Knight. You are just so very lovely!" She said again, then quietly cursed herself for how stupid she surely sounded rambling about the same thing again and again. "A-apologies. I spent most of my life in Alliria. I am only just now seeing the world--one m-moment at a time, at least. I think." Raea laughed nervously. "Are you here to choose a stone?"

She thought about suneater in that moment. Would he eat someone's sun like this? What if their most precious thing was a memory? She then wondered if forgetting things would be easier. What if she never learned of Roen or Hilde's madness in pursuing him? What if the woman in her dreams was her mother?

Was that a memory, or a fabrication?

Her gaze turned on the stones, the craftsmanship and magick swathing each stone, cradling it like a warm hug. Ready for the right trigger to make its wonder work. She turned back to Aurora with a smile, though it did not quite reach her eyes. She was struck again by the strange familiarity of the woman--but also the burning desire to know: Who made that stunning dress and how could she get her hands on one?!

Eternity

 

[Bebin Theros]

"Innis," came a stern voice that seemed to diffuse from the cold mist and shadows. Tall and broad, with a child carried in the crook of his arm, Bebin stared coldly down at the squire. "You are relieved of your duties for the evening," he huffed a strong breath, and the sleeping child stirred against him, Bebin's eyes fell to him, and he tenderly pat the boy upon his back with solid, steady thumps as he rocked him back and forth and tut his tongue in the rhythm of a song.

"Go..." he told Innis. "Dance, or... have a drink," he smirked, and looked back down at the squire. "Get up to some mischief," he flicked his nose forward to the crowd, and the dancing lights that shimmered above, and set the sleeping child to rest upon one of the woolen bed mats. The child was snow burned and shivering, but it was nothing a warm blanket wouldn't fix.

Babysitting duty could be a grim responsibility at times.

"Less you rather help me put on a light show for these wiggly grubs," he grinned sharply at the squire, half expecting her to be gone.

Innis

 

[Ophelia Tirion]

Time was ticking and the show about to begin. Ophelia had now just gotten her memory stone from one of the assigned knights handing them out and placed it into her charmed, seemingly depth-less knapsack. She was tired, most of her work had been completed before the starting of the festival - a lot of the set up and manual work. Not that she minded, but she was most definitely tired. The kitchens would be closing soon, hmm one last piece of pie or find a good seat for the show? Her stomach let out a small groan and she had her answer.
Ophelia headed over to where the last of the pies were, she spotted Syr Josi as the rest of her helpers shuffled off. "Syr Josi," she offered her a polite nod, "see I missed my opportunity." Ophelia stated, scanning the trays for a forgotten morsel.
Josi

 

[Makou]

"Shame. Maybe if I wasn't such a coward, I would participate."

The Devil hides from the prying eyes of what he thinks are the ones who will wrong him if he did not do so, clearly trying to enjoy the festival, but without the social requirements. Yet, a coward he was not, just someone paranoid by the peers of his past, and his peers' guardians on top of that, If only he knew.

He wears his robe up, including the hood, the slight purple hue of the glow from his horns showing through the cowl of the clothing, his eyes the same glow, which he covers with his arms only so that nobody would notice upon first glance. This festival is only the second time he's been near others without experiencing the worst of the worst, that being hatred. The hatred he hadn't thought to release calmly, leading to his currently veiled scarred skin. The skin which is now shaped into an upright fetal position in the shadows.

"I've not eaten in... in days, I must overcome my..."

He pauses, not wanting to hear himself say something so informal, even if someone weren't to come, he feels that he needs to judge himself for his own actions, despite their pureness and innocence. His wild, widely opened eyes intently stay focused on any passerby, they then switch to something moving directly next to him.

"Dammit."

He thinks to himself, quickly standing, the cowl falling as he begins to slowly step backward, away from his dark hiding spot as his paranoia takes over. A natural reaction for this broken man when sensing a presence nearby.

 

[Seluria Estel'Narqua]

She paused. Turned to face him with an airy movement that always seemed to evoke the image of her moving through water. The Seer's gaze for a moment left the Blood Knight, and flit to the sky above. At the near-absence of the two moons, and the vibrant light of the stars past the ward that shielded them all.

Seeming to decide on something, Seluria gently laid her hands beneath Valborast's as he made the triangle symbol. Despite being such a simple touch, having opened his senses to the Loch, her hands would feel both like ice and burn like fire at the same time, tingling at the edges of his senses. It was not a physical pain he could feel, even if it was pain at all, no-... and so the differences between the two became pronounced. Where Valborast would be more than capable of defeating Seluria in single combat without the use of magic, he could now feel the depth of her magic at its height in contrast to his own power.

Her fingers curled, and the Knight felt a tug at his senses. The sounds of the festivities faded around them, and for a moment, even Seluria's image blurred and faded as she imparted to him the first of many fragments that made her what she was.

A young girl, pale as snow and dressed in the plain gray robes of a squire in training, having fallen asleep amidst a pile of books at her desk in a small room with a bed, a rug, the desk, a chair, and a window, left open to the elements. Just beneath her hand, a pile of cards lay scattered in disarray, and Valborast would see two laying face up; a Dove, and a Torch emblazoned upon each in shimmering golden illustrations.

The wind tugged at her, and she stirred. Clouded red gaze opening, the child froze in place- for a ghostly creature sat staring at her, perched on the sill. A bird with no eyes and six wings, and a guttering ember clasped in its talons. A far cry from the massive serpent he witnessed just minutes before, it looked... almost fragile.

Slowly, fear turned to curiosity, and the girl moved to the window, cupping her hands and scooping up the bird, ember and all, and looked at it more closely. Yet, the bird stayed for only a moment before it flit from her palms and out the window, leaving the ember behind. Confused, the pale girl darted to the window, and watched as the bird circled around the pond and landed near it.

Looking down at the ember in her hand that glowed with a tingling, cold fire, the child turned to dart down the stairs and outside. The grass was the wrong color- a deep blue now even under the silver light of the stars. The buildings turned hazy and gray, and she found herself focusing naught on anything but the bird. A child this young, somehow guided into the planes of the Loch itself. A Knight's worst nightmare, should they have a student in such.

And yet, somehow she belonged here, and took sanctuary here. Kneeling in the grass beside the bird, the pale child offered the ember back to it. The creature shook its head as if it could sense what she was doing, and looked to the water beside them. Her own gaze followed, and the child blinked in confusion and surprise as she saw her reflection- the ember in her hands blazing far brighter with a white energy. The stars reflected in the crystal waters below and chaining together to form an image of a creature far larger than the small bird beside her.

Much like how Valborast was watched by the symbols of Patience and Knowledge, so Seluria was watched by the symbols of Peace, and Hope.

Slowly, the girl reached down into the pond, the ember still in her hands, and felt the same heat that scorched Valborast's senses sear through her hands, up her arms, and into her core. A heavy weight seemed to suddenly burden her, and the child nearly fell into the pool- barely pulling back in time, and pulling with her a large object out of the water.

The mask, gem, and draping shawl that she was so well known for being seen in.

It was then, the images blurred, and faded- Valborast's senses refocusing once more as the sounds of the revelry rose back to the forefront, as did the image of the Seer in front of him.

"It is an old, old magic... long lost and forgotten." she murmured. "The height of the Astral is when the moon is at its weakest. When the sun has turned away, and no light overpowers that of those in the beyond. In and of themselves, from what I have come to understand, these beings are simple observers. Concepts that are bound to the psyche of all life and representatives of those perceptions. By understanding these concepts and accessing their power, I can then apply them in counter to whatever evils I face. Such is the nature of my ability to purify. And, if focused, it can be as potent as sunlight. Though access to such is limited even for me, and I am a fragile shell to be utilizing such singular intent." she chuckled.

Valborast Valchek