The carriage rattled as the remnants of the Saronieth family continued their travels from Summervale into the central city of Serendipity. It had been a lengthy journey from their small estate by the sea, with plenty of stops in between for Lady Saronieth to stretch her legs and for Lord Saronieth to disappear for a few hours on "important business," which Miriel knew was to find some tavern to spend what little money they had on some drink or another.

This was a big, important trip, she had been told. It was going to change everything! Her great Uncle Erilon had personally requested an audience to see his great niece in person. Elesar felt like his hard work was finally paying off and there would be important hands guiding their future from here on out.

You just can't ruin it, Miriel. he had said, Smile, be pleasant, get that dull look off your face and act like the high born lady you were always meant to be. Your sisters all married up, so can you.

Sure. She wasn't stupid. She knew what he had been up to these past months, years even. She had seen the copious amounts of letters he had written and overheard the conversations her parents had about their simple daughter who was their last hope at advancement.

She also knew that, no matter how he schemed, Elesar would never rise in society, not after all of the horrible financial and social decisions he had done over the years. Frankly, she was surprised her great uncle had even agreed to meet with them. Besides some distant family ties, he owed them nothing. Even being associated with Elesar and his family could have potential negative results. Which lead her to one question: what kind of information did her father have against the man? It had to be good, she knew that in her bones.

"Are you listening, Miriel?" Her mother's sharp tone cut through mindlessness and Miriel blinked up, not even bothering to speak in reply.

"Elesar, this is pointless." She snapped at her husband, "Erilon is going to take one look at that and send us away."

"Miriel, you do know what to do, do you not?" Elesar asked in frustration.

In response, Miriel smiled pleasantly, as was expected, and nodded like the good little noblewoman she needed to be. No one cared what she thought or what she said as long as she was pretty and compliant.

Her father sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed.

Miriel didn't care. She didn't want any of this and knew that, as their last ditch effort, she had more control over all of it. If she was lucky they'd just stop this pilgrimage and turn around so she could live out the rest of her spinster life in peace.

"How did you grow up like this?" He sighed, "What did we do wrong? You had everything. You had six sisters to teach you properly. They all learned how to act, how to be proper. Not that you even understand what that means." He turned towards Riae, his wife, and shook his head. Miriel's hope started to rise. She knew that look: they were beginning to realize this was all most likely folly and should just turn around and go home. Perfect. In a few days she would be back staring off the cliffs at the sea while the sun rose to the east.

"Why are we stopping?" She asked suddenly as the first one to realize the carriage had begun to slow. They didn't know it, but she was the brightest one in this caravan.

"I don't know....we can't be there yet." Her father replied while sticking his head out the window to look at the driver.

"Road's blocked, My Lord." Came the muffled reply, "Looks like a storm downed a tree. Could take a bit to get the debris moved."

Muriel sighed again and rested her chin in her hand against the windowsill.

Great.

"We could always just go home?" She offered.

Name:

 Miriel Saronieth

Race:

Serenian

Age:

 24

Appearance:

Miriel is a small, lithe woman who wears the Serenian heritage starkly on her features. She is just under five feet tall and has often been mistaken for a teenager rather than a full grown adult. Her features are sharp and pointed, with high cheekbones set within alabaster skin that accent eyes that look like sunrise. She has dark brown hair that is nearly black and fades to a deep violet at the ends. Even when she cuts it, the color shifts so maintain that ombre effect.

Personality:

Miriel is quiet, but not because she has nothing to say, more that she takes in everything around her and plans her every move. She has mastered the art of observation and will not take action without a well thought out plan in place first. As such, many have written her off as slow or nothing special which often means she is overlooked and even forgotten. She has, in the past, snuck off and blended into the shadows to just exist in society around her family and was neither noted as being missing, nor remembered by locals as someone present in shops and on the streets.

Family:

Elesar Saronieth – Father – 67

Riae Saronieth – Mother – 62

Atrina – Sister – 42 – Married – Estranged

Allana – Sister – 41 – Married - Estranged

Amarian – Sister – 40 - Married

Alessarina – Sister – 38 - Married

Athaena – Sister – 36 - Married

Amorath – Sister -36 - Married

Miriel – 24 – the surprise!

Magic:

Miriel is a siphon, though she doesn't really understand what she's doing or how she's doing it. All she does know is that telling people about it is not an option.

History:

Miriel is the youngest of seven daughters of Lord Saronieth, a lesser noble from Summervale, she is also the only daughter still unmarried as her family used many of their coffers to pay for the six other weddings in the past decade, not that she cares – marriage had never really appealed to her anyways. Each of her sisters were married in an attempt to raise their family's station, but even with so many familial connections they were never quite able to rise higher than their current situation. Her eldest sister cut off all ties after their father, Elesar, attempted to blackmail her husband in a desperate attempt to acquire more land which resulted in a visit from law enforcement. Now the guards keep a close eye on her father and he has been labled as "untrustworthy" in the community. As such, despite his uncle being quite a high ranking noble, Elesar and his family have been kept at an arms length and only get invited to big family events when appearances make it necessary.

It is rumored that Elesar has been attempting to marry Miriel off to someone from his uncle's house – but distant enough in relation to not raise alarm.

Name: Li Mingzhu

Race: Shengu

Age: 36

Title: Lady of Beauty

Appearance:

Mingzhu is 5'4" and of a lithe, graceful build. Her dark hair is kept long and usually worn half-up with twists that are adorned with flower petals from blossoms of her own crafting that are not only unique in appearance, but also never seem to fade thanks to a mix of her own making. She also adorns her antlers with precious stones laced through gold and silver chains. Her lavender eyes are surrounded by thick, dark lashes that are painted perfectly before showing her face outside of her own private chambers. She is always impeccably dressed, soft spoken, and the epitome of grace and decorum.

Family: Small and unassuming in one of the outermost provinces, the Li family works as farmers and, while not poor farmers, they are also very clearly a working family. Mingzhu's mother passed when she was a young girl after the birth of her 3rd brother. She has six siblings – 4 sisters and 3 brothers.

Zheng Ailun (18) – Mingzhu's child, Prince, Son to His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the World. Lord of Countless Years

Zheng Daiyu (16) – Mingzhu's child, Princess, Daughter to His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the World. Lord of Countless Years

Magic: Nature centered alchemy – especially gifted in horticulture. Her art is subtle and with the prowess of a master she can grow any plant imagined and is even able to create blossoms that are completely unique. She also has a personal recipe, that she does not share with others, that causes the blooms to remain as they are indefinitely. These skills have allowed her to create a unique style that are the envy of many both in and out of the royal inner circle. Though she would never state it out loud, she is incredibly proud of her achievements on this front and guards the secrets of her craft. Not even her children have been given the instructions.

History: When Mingzhu was born, her family and her entire village knew she was destined for greatness. Her beauty was beyond compare to the rest of the girls her age and, because of this, the entire community worked together to make sure she was well educated with the sole intent to present her to the emperor when she came of age to become one of his concubines. Instead of working in the fields, she learned the art of Alchemy and found she was especially skilled in creating draughts that caused flowers to bloom and has even created her own form of blossoms with her skills. She felt quite lonely growing up in seclusion, learning proper etiquette, and learning the more regal arts necessary to impress the Emperor, but she also understood the sacrifices her community made for her. Her parents went hungry for quite some time to afford proper clothes and the best flowerpot shoes for their daughter. When she eventually was old enough, she was sent, alone, to the capitol, to seek the Emperor's favor.

Luck was on her side, it would seem, as when she arrived she was able to submit herself as an applicant to the Lady of Beauty and not just a concubine. Between her diplomatic skills, her abilities with potions, and her appearance, she won the application and was married to the Emperor shortly after at just 17. Her immediate family was raised in status and moved closer to the Capitol where they were gifted a small estate outside of the city.

Jin slammed another drink on the table and grinned at his group of friends, "And then, they all just ran away like I was the scariest boss on the street! It might have been the bees chasing me, but I'm a pretty scary person. Buzz buzz bitch!" He lifted his cup as they all gawfawed and poured its contents into his mouth. A big foam mustache was building steadily on his upper lip.

Baller!

"You ain't scary, Jin!" Clive slapped him on the back, "Unless people are smelling you!"

"Hey hey hey," Jin argued, "I'm so scary. Why you think I'm generally left alone? Because I'm making folks afeared of me."

"You mean afraid?" Another chimed in.

"Naw, afeared. A fraid is less scared than fear."

"Yeah, well prove it! When's the last time you did something big. Like real big?" Another round of drinks hit the table.

"I'm a big bad. Gotta lay low sometimes. Big Thief is my middle name." Another drink, another layer of foam. Gods he looked so good. Nobody had nothing on him.

"Can't be a thief if you don't steal nothin!" They chided him.

"Just wait! I'll go find something real special. Jin Big Thief gonna show you all up, just wait." And with the urging of his friends, Jin stood from the table and sauntered into the street looking for something big to steal. That would shut them up and pay for their next week's worth of drinks.

@MorningStar

Fallial was known for fae bloodlines and it reflected heavily in its people both noble and not. It wasn't unusual for the city centers to be filled with a rainbow of different hair colors and even those with more "standard" hair often colored it to blend in. Being Fae was in. It was treasured. It was lauded.

And yet Elowyn still felt singled out at these damned social requirements. Most people were still distance relatives to their fae neighbors and while they clearly resembled them in coloring and being ultimately more lithe than your standard breed of human, Elowyn's direct connection made her just...different. Her cheekbones were higher, face more slender, her eyes were both unfathomably dark and light all at the same time, her hair wasn't wild with color but it shimmered as if with its own life. Compared to her family she was wraith-like in her build and even children's clothing often hung from her.

And people noticed. They always noticed. And that meant she couldn't be invisible. She couldn't just exist. No. She was an artifact. On display. A status symbol for her family that the fae had chosen them. Though, her not-mother didn't exactly feel the same way about it seeing as the fae procreated the same was as humans and she and Elowyn's father had been married at that point...

"That's fascinating." She replied automatically as some nobleman talked her ear off. She'd tuned him out long ago, but still needed to appear to be listening. He was a right proper bore, but he had money and could be a terrific match if you give him a chance - Liliana's voice echoed in her head.

Fat chance. El wouldn't go anywhere with this man.

"Cristorial," she said his name, "I do believe you have other guests to entertain."

He blinked and then nodded vigorously before bowing out and disappearing back into the ballroom to mingle. She should feel bad using her influence on him but...

She didn't. He'd been fool enough to literally give her his name. She wasn't supposed to...it really wasn't nice...but now she could slip into the garden and sit on the ground to see how still she could be and how many critters would come out to join her.

__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Elowyn

Age
23

Gender
Female

Species
Fae - mother's side

Ethnicity
Serenian

Height
5'0"

Occupation
Noblewoman - her job is to run the house and uphold the family name.

Residence
Serendipity - area tbd

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Elowyn has long white-blonde hair that is almost silver in nature and has often been described by others to be like moonlight itself. Her eyes, in contrast, are deep ember to the point they are almost black, but they are flecked with silver upon closer inspection. She is petite, lithe, and an embodiment of her fae heritage if ever there was one.

She looks almost nothing like her father or her other siblings as she is not the offspring of him and his wife. Elowyn is the result of his dalliance with a fae woman who has not been seen since dropping the baby on his doorstep 23 years ago.

Personality
Elowyn has always wanted more. More knowledge, more excitement, more life, just more. She is exhausted by court life and is often found shirking her duties to examine some force of nature or another. Once she was caught standing on the roof in the middle of a storm, coaxing the lightening to hit her so she could try and capture its light in a bottle. The servants about lost their lives dragging her down from the slick rooftops.

Her appearance has always stood out amongst the more diluted blooded Serenian's and as such she has been both a precious commodity as well as something other that simply can't be explained. As such, she has learned to be shy and even wary of others while still yearning to be swept away.

Magic/Abilities
Elowyn has an extremely close bond with nature and can coax life from things otherwise dead, or even bring death. She can sense the essence of all living things and then manipulate them within reason. Like quintessential fae...she is constrained within the realm of permissions for conscious, intelligent living beings. She is also granted a stronger hold when provided names.

Relationships
Reginald - 58 - father
Liliana - 45 - "mother" - by law only
Millinea - 20 - half-sister
Jemmyn - 15 - half-brother

History

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__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Aikaterini – Nickname: Kat

Age
27

Gender
Female

Species
Uncertain – assumed some kind of human/fae combination, but she doesn't rightly know.

Ethnicity
Unknown

Height
5'5"

Occupation
Sell sword/Protection for Hire

Residence
Wanderer

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Aikaterini is of average height but is well toned and muscular compared to average women – think gymnast in terms of build if you will; athletic. She has curly sandy-blonde hair that borders on strawberry blonde, but she will deny any red to her hair vehemently. Her hair is often thrown into a quick plait, but she ultimately doesn't care about it and it is typically an untamed mess. Her eyes are an unnatural shade of blue – almost like the brightest teal you've ever seen – and they glow when she's feeling particularly strong emotions of any kind.

Personality
The best way to describe her is feral. She doesn't play well with others and has spent most of her life surviving by herself. Aikaterini is quick to question, and quicker to make snap judgements that are (according to her) in her best interests.
 
With that said, she is also fiercely loyal to the few who have earned it, but will never forgive betrayal.

Magic/Abilities
Kat is a shapeshifter. As long as she is able to absorb the essence of another living creature she can then turn into them. Her abilities are limited and she can only remain as something/someone else for 48 hours or she will be permanently stuck for the rest of her life.

Relationships
Yurim – deceased – the last person she trusted with her whole self.

History
Kat was abandoned in the woods at a young age. She discovered her abilities around the same time and was able to become part of a bear family to survive. They even began to accept her in human form, though she rarely remained that way for long. As a teenager she was found by Yurim – another orphan who was five years older than her and more experienced in life. He brought her back into the human world and she was able to assimilate thanks to his tutelage. At this time she didn't even know what her given name was, and chose her name herself after hearing stories and liking the name Aikaterini.

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__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Faraji Achebe

Age
30 years old

Gender
Male

Species
Human

Ethnicity
Essryni

Height
6'0"

Occupation
Heir to the Achebe Estate – old money

Residence
Essryn


__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Faraji is average height for an Essryni, but he is considered especially handsome with prominent cheekbones, deep olive skin, and a mass of curly black hair that frames his face. His most striking feature are his bright amber eyes that are often describe as the color of the desert itself. He is muscular without being bulky, and highly prized among the community as an extremely eligible bachelor (though if this is truly because of his appearance or his family, it's hard to say).

Personality
Faraji is incredibly well learned and was taught by the best tutors that money could buy. He is charming, polite, and knows all of the proper etiquettes necessary to run a large estate. He has a strong sense of family values and weighs every decision against its inevitable effect on his family – which is a large one!

Despite his strong familial bond, he is also a dreamer. Through all of his studies, his favorite thing to do on his free time was read folklore from other countries and imagine life where he would be able to travel the world to see all of the places from his stories. Even as an adult, he still finds himself imagining a life outside of his duty.

Magic/Abilities
None

Relationships
Hakalia – Mother – 52
Faisal – Father – 56
Imani – Sister – 27 – Married – 4 children
Yalam – Sister – 25 – Married – 2 children
Hakene – Brother – 22
Vihaan – Brother – 21
Arav – Brother – 21
Navya – Sister – 16

Ibra Koh'lesh – friend – ex

Saanvi – Fiancé - 22


History
Faraji's family has been close with Ibra Koh'lesh's family and Faraji and Ibra were in a relationship together for many years. Unfortunately, Hakalia never believed that Ibra was good enough for her eldest son and did everything in her power to sabotage the relationship. In the end, the two fell out and moved on with their lives separately.

This was partially due to Hakalia and Faisal presenting with a signed and sealed betrothal to Faraji that lead to the ultimate disintegration of their relationship. For the past five years, Faraji has been traveling to "better the family," but in reality has been using it as an excuse to escape from actually marrying the woman his parents chose for him. He is rarely in Essryn anymore, and when he is he completes the duties necessary to keep his fiancé happy and murmurs the promises of the wedding she's waiting for, but he has no plans to go through with them.


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1. Racial Description


The Bloodmoon Elves are usually tall with males averaging 6'5" and females averaging 6' (with a few exceptions in either direction). They are extremely fair in all aspects of their appearance with varying shades of silver, gold, and red for their hair, skin that is nearly translucent, and extremely light eyes. It is most desirable to have red hair as it is seen as a blessing from the Bloodmoon Herself. Red-haired Bloodmoon Elves typically are blessed with stronger magics. They are slender with sharp features and prominently pointed ears. Their hair is stick straight no matter the weather and it will refuse to hold a curl (not that they want it to curl. That would make them appear human) and it is unusual for any of their kind to cut their hair ever.

When the Bloodmoon Elves find themselves in moonlight, their entire bodies are encompassed with an ethereal glow that almost rises off them like mist. In fact, they often look like wraiths under the light of a full moon. The fuller the moon, the more obvious these effects. Their magics are also much stronger, and their overall abilities enhanced by moonlight.

2. Society

Theirs is a secretive and selective society that is shrouded with mystery. This is partially due to the inherent blood magics that are built into their society and their belief system. Blood offerings are presented in every official ceremony, though this is only through the use of animals when full sacrifices are presented. Sacrifices that use human/elvish blood rarely results in killing and even animal sacrifices are done so with complete reverence and respect for the life that is being offered.

They live deep in the Northern Draconi Forest in the shadows of the Terrin Mountains and often forage for special plants and specimens near and around The Fell before the curse overtakes the land.

Their entire city - there is only one - is protected by strong illusion magics sustained by the Clan Elders and others gifted with strong magic. Houses are built around nature without hurting it in any way. Stairs spiral around ancient trees that lead up into canopy houses just as frequently as houses are built on the ground – it is purely personal preference of the elf that lives there. Upon first glance, many of these homes look like actual pieces of nature rather than something made by hand.

They are incredibly suspicious of any outsiders and will not reveal themselves or their home to people they do not fully trust. If an outsider is brought into the city, they will be blindfolded and their journey will be masked with the strongest illusion magics available to ensure no one will be able to find their way in. All "guests" are given a permanent guard during their stay as well. This wariness stems from humans seeking to slaughter them because of blood magic. Since the slaughter (thousands of years, most likely), they have near completely isolated themselves from the world

3. Names
They are often given two names – one by family choice, and one provided with special consideration to the Bloodmoon Goddess. Names are chosen during a Naming Ceremony where the rune is carved into the shoulder of the child being named. If it is accepted, the wound will heal and turn into a permanent silver scar – almost like a tattoo.

4. Gender and Sexuality
There are two distinct sexes in the Bloodmoon Elves, but they are accepting of all. The moon has many faces and thus so do Her creations. It is encouraged for men and women to procreate, but this is often for the continuation of their bloodlines and not necessarily for love (both do happen, of course).

5. Diet
Despite their relationship with sacrifices and blood, Bloodmoon Elves do not eat meat unless absolutely necessary. Their diet is strictly leafy greens, nuts, berries, and whatever else the forest can provide. They are particularly fond of Mushrooms and much of their medicines involve special ones that only grow under the light of the moon.

6. Views on Magic
Bloodmoon Elves are imbued with illusion magics or magics of foresight, but not all will be blessed. Some are magic-less, while others are extremely powerful. It is believed that those with magic have been called for a greater purpose and are often strongly encouraged to give their lives for the betterment of the clan – though they are never strictly "forced."

All magic is acceptable to the Bloodmoon Elves, including the Blood Magics usually outcasted by other cultures. However, they do not condone murder or sacrifices without good cause and will punish crimes swiftly and permanently.

7. Style
Their clothing is usually very flowy for both males and females and often the fabrics they use are extremely thin where light can shine through and reveal their figure underneath. They are not a modest people. During festivals it is common for them to discard their clothes completely and allow the moonlight to wash over them. The only members who will be fully clothed are those protecting the boarders. These elves wear clothes more commonly found in Human countries, though they are typically a bit hodge-podge and never quite look "right." Leather armor is used along with steel that is polished so extensively it's like looking into a mirror.

Bloodmoon Elves are often marked with silver runes and designs that look like tattoos, but are placed on their skin during rituals throughout their lives. Each marking represents something very specific. Illusion magics are marked with runes and lines across their shoulders while seers have intricate lines around their eyes (the larger the markings, the stronger the magics). "Bonded" elves have matching tattoos. Warriors have their own sets around their wrists like bracers. They do not alter their bodies in any other way than these runes/lines/tattoos. To achieve them, they are carved into their skin with a ceremonial dagger made of clearest crystal and then, under the light of a full moon, these wounds are healed and turn into pure silver that glows when touched by moonlight.

8. Religion

As their name suggests, their Goddess is the Bloodmoon herself. She goes by many names, but they often just refer to her as The Lady. She is an active member of their society (angel-esque for the SotE Lore rather than a true Goddess of the land) and will come to them in dreams and during certain ceremonies when evoked, and looks like a beam of light surrounded by billowing robes with a warm, motherly voice. They believe in rebirth, though not strictly reincarnation. Upon death The Lady uses their essence and bodies as needed to sustain life and enhance her people. It is possible for an elf to sacrifice themselves and give their essence to another in the ultimate form of martyrdom – this is not common practice and reserved for dire circumstances.

Rituals:

Fertility Rituals: Female Bloodmoon Elves are not born with the ability to procreate. They are barren until they perform a Fertility ritual under a full-moon to ask the Goddess to open their wombs. This ritual requires a sacrifice of blood from the elf seeking children. The elf begins by sitting, alone in the forest where the moon can completely encompass her body. She carves runes into her wrist and between her breasts and then sits and waits. If the blood stops flowing, she must reopen the cuts. Her sacrifice is waiting until she herself is close to death from blood loss in order to prove to The Lady that she understands the permanence of motherhood and is willing to give herself for her children.
a.    Upon completion, when she is too weak to stand, the runes will heal with the same silver lines as all of the other tattoos and a doe is sacrificed to replenish the blood that she lost.
b.    It is not recommended this ritual be completed alone and many have died in the attempt to do it in secret.
c.    Interference before the runes appear will immediately stop the ritual (this is often at the fault of the partner who is waiting and panics)

Male elves are encouraged to complete this ritual as well. It is not easy for them to have children and when both parents-to-be complete it, the survival rate of the baby increases dramatically. Males who want children but do not bare the runes are often seen as cowards.

Bonding Rituals: Bloodmoon elves do not get married. Marriage is a purely human ceremony in their eyes and means nothing. Instead, they practice the ritual of bonding which is much more permanent. Bonding is often done in two capacities:
1)    For Couples (like marriage)
2)    For warriors

Both rituals require the same things. The two elves bonding will begin by carving ceremonial runes onto the palms and the backs of their hands (love bonds) or onto their wrists (warriors) and then they will clasp them together to allow the mingling of blood. As the moon rises, they will proclaim their intentions to each other and offer a part of themselves to their partner. If The Lady accepts their bond, a part of each elf will be gifted to the other (these "gifts" do not diminish abilities, but simply grant additional skills to their partner. For example: if one is a terrific aim and the other has great stamina – their partner will be granted a piece of those gifts to enhance their own skills. If an elf and a human bond, the elf gift could be a longer life for the human, or perhaps immunity to illness). Like all other rituals, it is completed once the wounds heal and are replaced with silvery tattoos marking their bond. While there are generic runes that can be used for this ritual, it is not uncommon for the pair to create their own and these are often incredible works of art that are completely unique to the pair.
1)    The bonding ceremony for couples always ends with sex after the runes are completed. A couple of this nature is not considered fully bonded until they have "connected" three times. This requirement has often been met even before the bonding ceremony even occurs.
2)    The bonding ceremony between warriors can end in sex, but it is not a requirement. It is personal preference by the bonded pair. Some claim that this extra step makes the bond stronger.

Bonds link the souls of the two individuals which makes a warrior pair work seamlessly together in battle to the point where verbal cues do not need to be uttered because they just know what needs to be done. This is also the case with love bonds, though they are typically not used in a battle capacity (though they can be! Some bonded pairs are both warrior AND love bonds).

NOTE: Bonds have been, and can be, denied by The Lady if intentions are not pure. Once bonded, betraying your partner creates a curse that will follow your until your doom (final destination style).


Un-Bonding Rituals: These are rarely done and are only attempted in the most extreme circumstances. The Lady does not break bonds lightly and if your petition is denied, it very often results in death of the petitioning party. The steps involved in this are not widely known.


Naming Rituals: These are also not done often, but only because having children is rare amongst the Bloodmoon Elves. This is when the parents of a child are introducing them to The Lady and carve their Moon-name into their skin. If the name is accepted, it will turn into the child's first tattoo.

Coming of Age Rituals: When Bloodmoon elves turn 100 they are sent on their first hunt. They are required to bring back any large predator where they then sacrifice it in the name of The Lady (it is then cooked and eaten in a large feast – one of the few times in their lives that they will actually eat meat). A rune will be carved onto the elf's skin which will, of course, turn into another silver tattoo. The ritual is completed by the one coming of age drinking the blood of the animal slaughtered and eating a special kind of mushroom harvested specifically for this one-time event.
•    This triggers a vision from The Lady herself. Each elf when they come of age are presented a glimpse of their future and offered words of advice or words of warning. These predictions always come true, though many have tried to outrun them to their doom.
•    Elves are not required to share their visions. It is a gift from The Lady.

@DragonSong

Idris wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of an arm as he placed the horse's hoof back on the ground with a fresh shoe snuggly in place. He hated shoeing horses, but that was his job and Herald didn't seem to want him advancing in his career at any point in this lifetime. Horses brought in money and Idris was young and spry and more likely to survive if the horse spooked and kicked him in the face.

He stood and sighed. That was the last one so he was finally finished and could go back to doing the little side projects at the forge he was allowed to work on once the jobs for the day were done. He was working on a bracelet that was giving him a run for his money. It made his eyes strain to look at all of the tiny engraving details he had decided to etch into it. Not to mention the tiny interlocking chains that wove into designs that looked like swirling wind. It was a piece of art and had taken him months to figure out.

But he needed to be finished today. Marigold was going to come by and he needed it to be ready. He needed it to be perfect. Why? Because she was perfect. And once she showed it off to all of her friends, he was bound to get a influx of orders and then Herald couldn't keep him an apprentice. He would finally get out of the horseshoe business and into jewelry.

For now, he jut had to finish it.

So he packed up his tools and stepped out into the sunlight before starting the twenty minute walk back to the shop. They were on the outskirts of the town which was safer if a fire ever took their business, but it was also more dangerous because bandits and thieves liked going after people on the outskirts. Thankfully their worst encounter so far had been a man stealing a dagger or two. Since then, they put their more expensive work in their storefront deep within the city and only kept the working items in the forge.

Idris usually kept his head down and his feet quick on these walks back, but today was different. He breathed in the crisp afternoon air and smiled. Today she'd see him. She'd really see him. He'd be more than just an apprentice - he'd be an artist. The sun made his dark hair glimmer blue and his eyes were a stunning light violet today and really glittered with excitement.

Everything would change today.

And that's when he noticed Adrianna. The flower girl. And he stopped.

"How much for the whole basket?" he asked her excitedly.

__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Idris Lemaeal

Age
25

Gender
Male

Species
Human with fae ancestry

Ethnicity
Serenian

Height
5'10"

Occupation
Apprentice blacksmith - shoes horses mostly

Residence
Selevea

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Idris is very lithe and sinewy, which is indicative of his fae heritage. He has black hair that looks like a deep blue in the sunlight. In contrast, his eyes are an extremely light violet that will change on occasion to a deep stormy gray for no apparent reason. Despite his appearance, he is not a weak person and he does have a good amount of muscles from his time apprenticing as a blacksmith.

Personality
Idris is a bit of a hot head. Not in an outwardly aggressive way, but he is very prideful and gets extremely angry when his opinions aren't valued. He tends to have big sweeping emotions in all directions but has learned to keep them bottled up for the most part. That doesn't always work, however, and he does have some explosions after things have bottled up for awhile.

Magic/Abilities
Idris can imbue light into pure stones. If they are cut and faceted they will hold light longer than raw materials. It is extremely helpful for his employer because he can light the entire workshop without adding extra heat from lamps or other light sources.

Relationships
Herald - Blacksmith master. Has been apprenticing with him for the past decade. By all means, Idris has the ability to be his own smith at this point, but Herald has not approved his promotion yet - this is a point of contention between the two.

Marigold - A young noblewoman who stops by the smithy on occasion to request intricate trinkets with some light-gems included. She always asks for Idris and is always a bit friendlier towards him than one would expect from a customer-artisan relationship.

History
Has been working at the Smith with Herald since he was 15 years old. He has started delving into more jewelry type smithy work, but his employer prefers him to stick to shoeing horses because it brings in the most amount of money.

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@wandering_giraffe

It was just past dawn and Jelani was already out of bed and seated cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom with scrolls and papers spread out before her. A colorful robe made of loosely spun cotton rested around her shoulders to help chase away the night's chill, but she knew soon enough the sun would beat down on them and she would trade the garment for something more fitting for the day's heat.

A lamp flickered beside her as she studied the map, a frown deepening on her features. Something wasn't making sense. But no matter how long she studied it, she couldn't quite place a finger on why. What was she missing? Too many good fighters were losing contact recently out on missions to ensure the Never King would remain in his slumber. And yet, after centuries, they still could not locate the one piece of information that would keep him locked away for good.

Where in this dammed world was the artifact that was said to raise him? It had never been in their possession. Yes, they had the priest who slumbered in stone deep beneath their compound, but was that enough?

Previous leaders seemed to think so, but her? No...something wasn't sitting right with her. Something was wrong...

She rubbed a hand over her haggard features. Bags were under her deep brown eyes and she was thankful that her deep complexion helped to hide just how tired she felt. When was the last time she had slept properly? Years, probably. After taking over the Mtetezi at the age of 20 she had basically agreed to never sleep again.

A soft knock came at her door.

"Enter." her voice was deep and melodious, but that too was laced with years of worry; years of duty.

A woman entered and pressed her fist to her heart before giving a curt bow, "We have a missive."

Jelani motioned for her to come forward and reached up to accept the small envelope. It was thin, not much was written here she knew well before she even used a small, jeweled letter opener to slice through the top. A small card slipped from its wrapping and she glanced down to skim the words.

"Nuru." her eyes snapped up and she jumped to her feet, "Fetch Pyla to me now. Quickly."

Nuru's fist touched her heart and she bowed once more before disappearing back into the hallway. Jelani shrugged the robe from her shoulders and hastily donned her day-clothes. Much like her robe, they were brightly colored with blues and yellows which were woven in a pattern to distinguish her rank. Like all Mtetezi, it was a cropped, loose bodice and matching skirt with slits to her hips. But these were just for color and comfort. The real attire was the leather armor that strapped on top and held everything in place with belts and loops. She slipped circlets of gold around her upper arms which rested between black tattoos that wove in circles around her biceps. Even these each held a meaning. One was for her family. Another for her rank. More were added over the years and would continue to grow as her deeds increased.

Leather sandals were the last thing she donned before sweeping up her work from the floor and depositing it onto her desk.

Then, ready, she sat and waited.

__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Huojin, but he goes by Jin because someone told him it meant Gold and he thought it would bring him good luck.

Age
21

Gender
Male

Species
Human

Ethnicity
Adelan (father) and Rulastinian (mother)

Height
5'9"

Occupation
Professional Mooch

Residence
Here and there...with friends...in a park...wherever he can score a bed. Don't matter!

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Huojin is not much to look at. He is very slight of build and many would consider him scrawny and maybe a bit lanky without being a tall person. He has black hair, light skin with warm undertones, and dark eyes courtesy of his Rulastinian heritage which is incredibly clear across his features. All in all, he stands out in Adela as "other" but he would also stand out in Pangzhong with his more Adelan build.

Personality
Jin is a go with the flow kind of guy. He has big dreams, but many would view them as mundane at best. His idea of a good night is scoring a free pint by rolling a pair of sixes and spending time with friends. He is loyal to a fault, but is definitely not brightest bulb.

Magic/Abilities
None. Pure 100% human.

Relationships
His BFF (insert partner in crime here)

History
Jin's father, Mathias, was a merchant who traveled around the world seeking lost treasures. He stumbled across his mother and was so taken by her "otherness" that they built a very quick and fleeting romance that resulted in the birth of Huojin. When the romance ended, Mathias returned to Adela with his infant son in tow but no wife or partner to be seen. Huojin's mother has not been spoken of and he knows very little about her or her Rulastinian culture - only that his coloring favors her and people instantly recognize that he is "other" in some fashion, though they can't quite figure out why or how.

Jin is often asked "where are you from?" and "What race are you?" but he hasn't been able to tell them much else besides being Adelan. Overall, it doesn't bother him and he rarely thinks about his looks at all really. Instead, he grew up traveling with his father and became good friends with one of his father's client's child and together they have been practically inseparable when they are around each other (which is often, since her father keeps Mathias on retainer as his own personal merchant).

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@Nightcrawler

Fuck me. he thought bitterly as he pulled the collar of his fur jacket higher on his neck in an attempt to keep out the biting wind. How had he ever managed to pick up a gig in the literal worst country in the entire fucking world.

Fuck.

Fucking shit fuck me. He tried to pull the jacket tighter, but the toggles were already closed and he was as encompassed as he could possibly get.

The wind whipped through the trees and even the little hut of a house Snarg leaned against did nothing to keep it at bay.

He glanced up at the sky to judge the moon's location. She was late. He didn't like that. At all. He'd be making sure they paid him for every minute he worked, per his contract. He wasn't a damn servant and he would prove it in blood if he needed to. No one fucked with him.

The moon shifted a few more inches and he sighed heavily before lifting two fingers to his lips and repeating the bird-like signal that he had been taught.

Now where the fuck was the girl.

__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Jelani Emam



Age
27

Gender
Female

Species
Human

Ethnicity
Essryni

Height
5' 4"

Occupation
Leader of the Mtetezi - and ancient organization of all women who work to keep the Never King from rising.

Residence
Essryn

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Jelani has deep ebony skin with light amber eyes that seem to glow in comparison. She is neither tall nor short, but definitely shorter than average, but even still she is incredibly imposing. She keeps her hair in small, tight braids that are wrapped around her head like a serpent and adorned with small cuffs of gold and natural stone beads.

Her right arm is adorned with scars that are clearly works of art and not from any battle wounds. The scars are raised and represent great deeds to her name as well as those of her family.

She is always seen in thick leather armor with dual swords at her hip and a bow on her back.


Personality
Jelani is a no-nonsense type of person. She has a job to do and she takes it incredibly seriously as she understands failure could mean the end of the world. She is intelligent with numbers and strategy but is not so prideful that she won't seek aide when needed. Her group was founded on the family principal- everyone has their place and is necessary.

Magic/Abilities
Jelani can control sand - an extremely useful skill for desert dwellers (especially ones who live outside the main cities) - and one of the reasons she rose so quickly to lead the Mtetezi despite being young. She has been able to help calm sand storms (with great cost to herself).

Relationships
Her mother and father - both deceased
Her older sister - scout in the Mtetezi
Winston's family - his father saved her parents and so they are owed a blood debt.

History
Jelani is the youngest of two daughters and her mother was the leader of the Mtetezi before her. As the Mtetezi are predominately female run, all of their warriors and head members are women while the men remain behind and keep camp. It is believed that women can carry water within themselves better than men and thus have the superior advantage in the desert. Some men had risen through the ranks as advisors, but it is incredibly rare for them to become field agents.

After Jelani was discovered to be able to calm the sands, she became the instant first choice to lead the Mtetezi, or to lead their military units, upon the death/retirement of her mother. The Mtetezi are not lead by a single family, but rather the highest ranking members vote. Anyone is able to lead, and no one is allowed to decline if they are elected. Truth be told, Jelani did not wish to lead when she was elected at 20 years old, but she knows her place and her duty and understands the importance of her job.

The Mtetezi consist of a network of spies who work throughout the world (though mostly in Essryn and very close neighboring towns/villages/cities). There is an elite guard whose primary objective is to find and collect any written text where the Never King is mentioned in order to keep him a secret. As such, the Mtetezi library is the only place in the world where knowledge to defeat him still remains.

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@DragonSong

Traveling by sea was always a dangerous endeavor even for the most seasoned sailor. Between unexpected turbulent waves and weather, you never really knew what you were going to get once leaving port.

Unless, of course, you had an uncanny knack for knowing the weather. Maybe more than a knack considering Nik was never wrong, but he still just looked at it as a string of good luck.

And Gods did he need some good luck today.

After....the event....the ocean was no longer a safe place for him and, though he did his best, living in port towns did kind of throw a wrench in his plans from time to time. Especially when the city watch caught on to the strikingly handsome man who was borrowing peoples purses...

Well....then it was time to bounce.

But ships were obvious and he needed to be silent. Discrete. Ghostly.

And he was broke.

But mostly phantomly!

So he did what any sane person who needed to get off of an island to avoid prison did. He commandeered his own boat! Sure, it was modest and only had just enough space for his captain and crew and a few precious belongings, but people wouldn't miss it.

"Oy, Captain!" He called over his shoulder, "Should be clear sailing for the rest of the night." He paused, "Those clouds you say? Ah, naught but little wisps, nothing to worry yourself over."

"Thanks, Nik!" He responded back to himself, "You're the best first mate a captain could ask for."

"Awww...shucks, Captain, you're making me blush!"

And with that the strange conversation ended and a single figured pulled at the oars of a tiny rowboat into the vast open ocean with the stars as his guide.

Here are Fenways's former stats. They are still relevant in as such that they happened to him a loooong time ago.

That said....he is no longer the same person (dun dun duuuuuuun)

__________________Quick Stats
Name
Fenway Dumorai
Nick-names
Fen
Age
28
Gender
Male
Orientation
Straight
Species
Human
Height
5'11"
Star Sign
Pisces
Occupation
King of Serendipity
Birth Place
A small town called Herric
Current Threads
In the Dark of the Night Terror Will Find You
Finished Threads
All He Needed Was a Break

__________________In-Depth Stuff

Physical Description
Fenway has an average height, but years of military work have sculpted him quite nicely. When he's not wearing the dress befitting a king, his toned muscles prove that he still trains with the sword daily, despite being king. Without his shirt he is lightly tanned from working in the courtyards during his free-time. His brown hair falls to his shoulders in slight waves, which he normally ties back at the nape of his neck. Similar to his hair, his eyes are a deep chocolate brown that can be found pensively gazing into the distance whenever he's lost in thought.

Considering Fenway has years of military training on his hands he also has a few not-so-pleasant scars on him. One, in particular, is from a knife wound he received to the back tendons on his right left which extends from his mid thigh to the top of his calf. He also has a thin scar extending from the back of his ear which sweeps across his back and ends near his spine from a battle wound he received during the last attack on Serendipity when he was still the Lord Knight Commander. Both of these he can keep hidden from sight if he so chooses, and is a large factor into why he keeps his hair approximately shoulder length.

Personality
Fenway is a people person, through and through. He prefers hanging out with friends than sitting in his courters by himself in the evenings. However, this does not mean that he enjoys court life where he is required to be charming and witty to every noble who passes through the halls. He tends to tire of the large crowds rather quickly, but understands that it's his duty to entertain and support his subjects. He loves to sneak out of the palace for a bit of "free time" whenever he can escape his advisors. In the end, he does have a big sense of duty and always finishes up important issues before succumbing to pleasurable activities.

Fenway is also no fool. He has been trained since he was a young boy in the military, was knighted at 18 and joined Serendipity's army about a year later. He quickly moved up in the ranks, especially after proving his loyalty to Queen Dawn before him. He is immensely loyal when push comes to shove, and helps those he trusts. However, it takes a lot to get him to trust people, especially after becoming king. He takes his job seriously and does his best for his country, as well as his subjects.

This doesn't, however, mean he doesn't put his foot down against treason and uprisings. He is, first and foremost, the King and any signs of trouble will be quickly quenched.

Weaknesses
The King tends get himself into some nasty situations, completely accidentally. In this regard, he finds himself in compromising situations where quick thinking is necessary to escape.

Strengths
He is dedicated to every endeavor he attempts to tackle. His training as a knight also aids him a lot. He has an extremely keen eye for battle and can generally read the person he is fighting well enough to win in a battle.

Likes
Fenway enjoys being outdoors and training others in combat. He also loves chilling with his close friends.

Dislikes
Being cooped up in the castle for too long without a "fun break." He also dislikes anyone who harms another living creature that is not strong enough to fight back.

Magic/Abilities
He has a connection to animals. He can't speak with them, but it's almost as if he can "charm" them to an extent. Animals seem drawn to him as well, as if they can sense his connections to them.

Relationships
Taich - A little more than friend *eyebrow wiggle*
Chailyn - Friend

History
Fenway came from a small town called Herric where he was the youngest son in a noble family. Since his eldest brother would inherit his family's estate, he had to make a choice for his future at an extremely young age. Instead of waiting around for some good fortune to befall him, Fenway decided to enter training to become a knight. After many years, he soon reached his goals and, with his newly gained title, traveled the world in search of adventure. These adventures led him to Serendipity where he made his permanent residence as a soldier for the kingdom.

His talent, however, was quickly noted by Queen Dawn and he became the Lord Knight Commander shortly after arriving. While he held this position, he proved himself again and again both through his own actions, as well as the training and leading he provided on the battle field. At one point, he even saved Dawn's life in an assassination attempt. This fight almost cost him his leg, and his career as a knight, but fate had other plans for this courageous soldier. Due to his unfailing loyalty, and noble background, Dawn named him her heir before disappearing from Serendipity.

Nearly five years have passed, and Serendipity has had years of peace under the reign of their new king. Unfortunately, peace can never last for long....

Commentary
My ikkle aristocrat!  I enjoy playing Fen a lot. He's generally a good guy, with a good heart, and it's always nice to have one or two of them without a horrible past hindering their future!

@Draconian

Ketra was busy today. The sun was high and grinning while a nice cool breeze helped stave off the heat. Anxious folks bustled about haggling over everything from fruit to more expensive jewels that were probably all fake. No one in their right mind would keep their expensive stuff out in an open market setting where anyone worth their salt could just....slip it into their pockets.

Áine's pockets were much heavier now than they had been when she started her day. Mostly junk, she knew, but just like her unknowing suppliers she knew how to run a con.

The shop owner with the spiced nuts hadn't even looked up from his ledgers when she passed by, walking away with a warm bag and a handful already in her mouth.

No one seemed to notice her.

And who would? A young girl, no older than 16, walking through the square with a sensible basket clearly meant to carry a loving family meal back home. She had carrots, potatoes, a cut of lamb, some fresh bread and butter.

All for the low low price of free.

Her homespun dress was covered in a cream apron that had been mended a few times along with some stubborn stains that wouldn't budge after many different washes. Áine was perfectly....

Forgettable.

The fruit stand was next. It was the last stop she needed to make for her list of errands. It was her most important stop some might say.

She stared at the fruit and bit her lip.

"Ya got money, girl?" The shop keep asked her, "We don't do charity."

"Oh..." her eyes widened in innocent shock, "oh, yes sir. Yes I have some coin left. Let me just--" she fumbled with her purse strings and the few coins that remained spilled onto the ground. She quickly stooped to retrieve them when a young boy bumped into her and all of the contents of her basked spilled onto the stones.

"Oh no no no no!" She sobbed, trying desperately to pick up her items. People didn't stop moving however and her bread was trampled, her carrots broken, and even her lamb had fallen out so hard that the wrapping split and dirt crusted the meat.

Tears filled her eyes as she tried desperately to collect the items that had fallen in the hopes that something could be salvaged

She looked around and noticed her coins were gone.

"No!" She turned to the other shopper at the fruit stand, "please, sir! That boy! I think that boy took the last of my coins! Please sir. Please. Did you see him? You're so tall, you must have seen him!"

__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Winifred (no last name. She's like Madonna)



Age
47
Gender
Female
Species
Human (but with prestigious elven lineage)
Ethnicity
Serenian
Height
5'6"
Occupation
Librarian
Residence
The Library that her ancestors had built and she inherited.

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Winifred, or Ni, is a comly woman with blonde hair and a ruddy complexion. Her nose is too small for her face, but that is made up for by the sheer size of her ears which, she claims, are evident of Elvish heritage diluted by human blood. Some have likened her to a mouse in appearance, though they would never say it to her face.

Personality
Ni takes immense pride in bloodlines. Some might say too much pride. She treats those with obvious fae markings in much higher regard than those who are clearly "plain" humans. She even turns her nose up to Serenians who don't outwardly show signs of fae blood.

Mages earn the utmost respect from her as it is clearly a manifestation of the fae.

Magic/Abilities
Ni has the ability to absorb knowledge with her hands. A book held is a book read.

Relationships
Her great great great great great great and then some grandfather was an elf with the largest ears - a representation of his social status.

Otherwise, she doesn't really keep friends. And her family is off living separate lives from their...odd...sister/neice/aunt.

Mostly she just has assistants.

History
Ni's family did indees build the library and spent generations increasing their inventory until it became one of the grandest in the area. Mages from all over are encouraged to add their own publications and, in return, are given unlimited accessto the library's resources.

Ni has practically lived there for her whole life and took over after her great aunt Ulma died.

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__________________QUICK STATS
Name
Áine (Awn-ya) Silvertongue
Age
38
Gender
Female
Species
Human, mostly
Ethnicity
Unknown
Height
4'7"
Occupation
Assassin
Residence
Wanderer

__________________IN-DEPTH STUFF

Physical Description
Áine is a very small, very petite woman who looks half her age. She has dark black hair and emerald green eyes set in slightly almond shaped eyes and lightly tanned, skin with yellow undertones.

She is often mistaken for a child.

Personality
Áine is calculating, manipulative, and disturbingly intelligent. She uses her looks to ensnare and entice her victims and is usually successful due to the sheer fact that she is often underestimated.

Magic/Abilities
Áine has a silvertongue (figuratively) and her words can ensnare when she so chooses. She is almost siren-esque in her abilities and they work the most against those caught unawares or the weak willed.

Relationships
It would not help her profession to give away this kind of information.

History
TBD but also wouldn't you like to know?

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