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Lightbringer
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Please do not post if you are not one of the packs listed above. Feel free to read along! As per usual, don't steal the concept, characters, etc.
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Lightbringer
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Name: Jabari Algarotti Age: 23 years Gender: Male Occupation: Advisor to the Queen Appearance: African He is about 6' 1", and he is large and bulky. He is larger around the shoulders, and he gets a little slimmer around his waist. His muscles are defined, because he doesn't have a lot of fat. He's gotten less muscular ever since he took the job. He has large thick hands and feet. He has dark bronze skin. He doesn't have very noticeable wrinkles yet. He does have a few scars on his legs and hands from being an immature child, but they have faded with time. His head is pretty large. The profile of his face slopes downward and out. It starts at his forehead and the further you go the further face juts out. His jaw protrudes and so does his large nose, which is wide and spread out. He has a medium thick goatee. His lips are medium, but they are full and rounded. His eyebrows are thick and bushy. His forehead is wide and smooth. He has defined cheek bones. His eyes are deep set into his face, and he has a protruding eyebrow bone. He has short dark brown curly hair. He is still used to wearing cheap material clothing, which is soft and comfortable like cotton, wool in the winter, or linen, but now he is allowed to wear rich materials such as silk. While he does often wear expensive fabrics, he doesn't have any intricate embroidery on them unless it's for formal occassions. He prefers wearing softer more natural colors like brown, gray, green, and blue. White stains too easily. He prefers wearing ankle high to mid thigh leather boots. He does wear a few large thick heavy rings on his fingers. Personality: He does anything for duty. He has been raised to respect authority. He will do anything to give the family more honor, and he thinks very well in terms of team work. He is always trying to work with others so that everything works out well. While he doesn't always like it, he is accustomed to putting others before himself. He is very good at keeping his rude thoughts and complaints to himself. He knows how to give advice without seeming offensive. He is a slow methodical thinker. He isn't known for his quick on his feet thinking even though he often has brilliant flashes of ingenuity. Some people might assume that he is dumb or slow at first, but his words soon prove your first impression wrong. Once you get to know him, many people stop and listen to what he has to say. He isn't a particularly loud person, so people will quiet to hear him. He is friendly and calm. Its hard to get him riled. He is very mild mannered and he doesn't provoke others. He has a high tolerance to annoyances, but if you press the right buttons there is a temper. Howeveer it takes a while to get him to that point. Generally, he doesn't get in arguements, because he difuses tense situations by not being aggressive or taking offense. He is able to take the initiative, when it is obvious that something needs to be done. If he sees the right path, he isn't afraid to push through and take it. While he does make friends and reach out to people, he isn't super talkative, and he doesn't have large groups of close friends. He does have many acquaintances. It makes him uncomfortable to have others depend on him even though he's pretty dependable. He is a steady person who isn't unpredictable. He always follows through with his word unless he has a good reason not to. He doesn't make promises lightly. He does like to have his belly fed and to sleep in a comfortable place, so he refuses to let himself fall to the bottom. He likes to have rituals and familiar patterns. It helps him to work faster. He's used to hard work, so he won't shrink from it whether physical or mental. He doesn't like public speaking, but he works well in small groups. He doesn't mind not getting the credit, which is a good thing, since the queen doesn't give it. History He comes from a lower born family. He worked really hard to bring honor to his family, and he got his position because of hard work and his temperament. Only those with a really patient nature can handle working with the queen. Other Honor to us all is his song. Family Kali - Mother Zeev - Father 18 years Zuri Sister 16 years Mandisa - Sister 24 years Jendaya - Sister 27 years Rajabu - Brother 20 years Taj Brother 16 years Horse Peregrine - medium horse, bay stallion Edited at February 25, 2021 08:38 AM by Sir Froggington
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Lightbringer
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Calien Loresaden Occupation: Diplomat and courier Age: 23 Gender: Female Sexuality: Heterosexual Ethnicity: Middle Eastern (Not specific, but I'll figure it out later) Appearance: Calien is tall, standing at about 5'7". Gracefully built and fit, her figure begins with broader shoulders and slightly narrower hips than what might be the normal. Her legs are muscled, strength having been built up from the constant horseback riding and walking that her job entails. She moves in an elegant manner, as she has been taught, with a tall posture - shoulders back, chin lifted, stomach drawn in. Calien's face round, ending in slightly sharper point at the chin. Her brows are straight, accenting rather short, dark lashes. Her eyes are a sort of grayish hue that change color in different lights. Her nose is straight and proportional to her face, while her cheekbones are slightly lower on her face. Her skin is olive in coloration, tanned from the sun. Her jet black hair is slightly past her shoulder and wavy from top to bottom. She most often wears in simple fashion - the strands framing her face tied back around her head together, fading into the rest of her hair at the back. Calien is used to the finest of silks - her preferance is a sage green dress, embroidered with gold accents. A thin gold band circles her left ring finger, and a simple citrine pendent hands on a silver chain about her neck. On both wrists are wire gold cuffs patterned like a tree. She has since had to give up some of her finest silks, only packing her sage green dress so that, when she arrives at whatever destination she is assigned, she can look nice. To avoid dirtying her nice cloths, she then must change back into her travel cloths - a long sleeved forest green dress-like tunic tied with a wide leather belt over dark leggings and tall leather boots. Her travel close are much more simple and similar to the clothing of a traveling commoner or peasant. If cold, and brown hooded cloak is worn over. From her new occupation, she has learned that it is alright to dress simply. Personality: Calien will settle for nothing less than being the best - and she's used to this title. Ambitious indeed, if there's a higher status she could reach, she'll reach it. If there's a better place she could be, she'll get there. An overachiever, everything she does is to the best of her ability - or, at least, one step up above everyone else. Calien has an extremely competative nature, and absolutely despises losing - then again, the loses in her life are minimal. When she doesn't succeed, she holds a grudge about it and will return with a vengence - nobody bests her, not if she can help it. From a young age, it was drilled into her brain that she absolutely must be perfect - no mistakes, no flaws, nothing. Expectations for her, as the only daughter of a noble family, were high - perhaps too high to be healthy. The resulting young woman is an ambitious perfectionist who will beat up herself over a failure, and everyone in her way to achieving a goal. She really doesn't care what obstacles stand in her way - she will overcome, no matter what, or who, she must sacrifice. Calien isn't neccessairily terribly self-absorbed, but there is no doubt that she does often prioritize herself over others - she's selfish, especially when strangers or those she is not close to are involved. She was raised in such a way. As an only child, she got all the attention, and has grown to enjoy the spotlight. The full brunt of her parent's love, frustration, and expectations fell upon her shoulders, and she knew nothing else. Being ignored isn't tolerable for her. Poised, witty, and charming, she has mastered the art of conversation, specifically with royals and those of a much higher ranking than her. Whip-smart comments and well-meant sarcasm are to be expected from her. She will only reveal the emotion required of her in the moment - Calien knows exactly what is expected of her, and will do whatever it takes to uphold her kingdom's honor. That being said, she does have a rebellious streak. Independent and critical, she is not one to blindly follow anyone. She's an excellent actress, almost alarmingly so. She's rather manipulative, and if bored, can find enjoyment in misleading and playing around with others. She often thinks herself superior, especially towards those with a lesser intelligence. Arrogance is natural to her, and has been a very difficult trait to overcome. Despite the blow that her occupation dealt, she still has retained her haughtiness (although it has been greatly diminished). She quite enjoys debate, and finds civil arguments, especially of politcal matters, a fine pastime if there's nothing else to do. She often assumes that her opinion is right, but if well-organized points are constructed by the opposing opinions, she may reconsider. After recieving her job assignment, Calien has learned a bit more humility, and is far more comfortable with lack of luxery. Backstory: Calien came from a well-off noble family. As an only child, she was expected to one day hold the noble title of her parents. She was groomed for success and perfection since a very early age, and is as well-educated as could be. She has a varying range of talents and skills, such as playing the lute (a skill she didn't particularly enjoy learning - it was on her parent's terms, not her own), singing (again, she took lessons by way of her parent's decisions), equestrian and horsemanship lessons, as well as combat classes. She's excellent with a dagger and throwing knives, but has never weilded a broadsword or mace in her life. After she finished the Academy for magicians, she was assigned to be a diplomat for her charming, witty, nature and gift for persuasion and manipulation (which often proved helpful in foreign interaction). This assignment infuriated her. Not only would she live a lesser-quality life on the road, with constant travel and little luxery, but the highest honor there was, in her mind - to be a council magician - was stolen away from her. Her parents were incredibly dissapointed, but not as much as Calien was. She has never let it go since. Edited at August 23, 2020 05:11 PM by Boundless
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Lightbringer
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King Lucan Chalinder The king shifted impatiently as he adjusted his crown, balancing the silver spires in the thick sea of auburn hair. Not all the council members had arrived yet - and so the ruler was resigned to remain in his quarters, finding any way to keep himself occupied until all the guests arrived. He was admittedly bored - the Queen had her own quarters where she prepared for the morning, and so there was nobody for Lucan to speak with on this rather cloudy, dull morning. Absent-mindedly, he fiddled with the soft silk of his crimson cloak, running the fabric through his hands. The information he was to announce today would be a dramatic shift in the routines of staff of the castle - no longer would the magicians be at the court's disposal. The guard rotation would shift as the magic wielders left their post, and everyday tasks performed by the magicians would be limited. Not would life change for the royalty of the castle, but elsewhere. They were involving themselves, as a kingdom, in the affairs of other countries. Though dangerous, if they were smart, a profit could be made. The neighboring kingdoms were desperate. It was rather worrying to the king that the magicians, indispensable members of the court, would be venturing out into enemy territory- but, unlike the messengers that often never returned, a magician could take care of his or herself, and carried authority through their magic. In wartime, all magic users must either be training in the army, or as diplomats and couriers - any other task wasn't as critical to the kingdom's function. A sharp knock echoed through his chambers - finally. "Sir?" The polite voice of a messenger. "The council has arrived, as have the requested nobles. We are still waiting on the returning couriers." The King heaved a sigh - he knew well that there would always be late arrivals for gatherings such as this morning's. He wasn't going to keep the rest waiting. "Very well. I will be there shortly." Adjusting his robes once more, the king turned and fell into the familiar route to the great hall. Not far behind, his guard, always posted by his doorway, trailed. He was rather hungry- he hadn't had breakfast yet, as the morning meal was scheduled for after this meeting. It was too early, anyway - just an hour or so after sunrise. With practiced confidence, King Lucan threw open the doors leading to the Great Hall. Seated at the main long table was the forty or so council members - sitting at the circular tables were the nobles, and magicians that were not personal assistants sat at another round table. Servants, guards, and others stood on the outskirts at the hall.
With swift steps and a poised manner, knowing full well all eyes were on him, the king made his way to the large, ornate chairs at the head of the table. A servant pulled out one of the two chairs, and the king sat, facing the rest of the council. The Great Hall was certainly an architectural feat for its time - high, vaulting ceilings supported by great beams of oak, a towering archway fitted with reinforced ebony doors, studded with decorative designs throughout. Candles were hung along the walls between tall, thin windows, and an elevated platform was set in the front of the hall for performers. The King settled himself more comfortably - he wasn't quite sure how long he'd be waiting for the Queen, but it didn't really matter. People were still arriving, so her late appearance would be considered fashionably late. Edited at August 18, 2020 08:46 AM by Boundless
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Lightbringer
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Queen Kylara Chalinder Kylara stood tall with the good posture that she had been taught. Her clothes were flowing around her in an appealing fashion. There was tugging and she could feel the slight ticklish movements as her ladies in waitings and maids went to work on her appearance. Nothing was out of place. They all knew what was expected of them, because Kylara made sure to communicate very clearly with them. Sometimes the best way to convince someone wasn't with words. Sometimes you could convince them before you had spoken a word, which was why appearances were so important to her. It was why seeing her when she did not permit it was worthy of capital punishment. Sometimes her husband or some lawyer was able to convince her otherwise, but people soon learned that she took her appearance very seriously. They learned that she was a dangerous queen. As she surveyed herself in the mirror, she felt a little hesitancy. Soon her flawless appearance would be much harder to achieve. All of the magicians were leaving. Many things would take longer and would take more effort. They would have to get used to a new way of living. They would have to learn how to work together. They would have to learn patience. They had come to rely on magicians so much that they would be crippled for a while without them. Some things might not get done. Was it all worth it? Many people had resisted this move, but Kylara had encouraged it. She was one of the main advocates to send the magicians on this mission. They couldn't afford to rely on one group of people so much. The kingdom needed to learn how to stand on their own. This was the perfect opportunity. The mission that all the magicians were being sent on was more important than the normal things they did in their towns. Only they could do it so well. During war unnecessary risks were never wise. They couldn't risk normal humans without magic taking this role. It would also help the country learn how to become independent once more. As Kylara considered her advisor Jabari, she felt worried. She had told him many things in confidence. Soon, he would be out there, and he would be at risk. She would be at risk through him, if someone managed to get him to open up about the secrets that he knew. However, if things went well, the whole kingdom would prosper and make a profit. It wasn't just about Kylara's petty details even though she knew many deep dark state secrets. With her ladies' help, she added a few finishing touches to her appearance. She stood up from her vanity, and had her robes straightened. She preferred to always be prepared at least before she was expected, but she often came on the late side of on time. The long awaited knock came at her door. She headed toward the door and had one of her maids open it. She gave a charming smile to Jabari. "Hello dear. Thank you for coming to escort me," she looked up demurely from underneath her thick lashes. Jabari said some sort of polite response before they walked toward the council room. She held onto Jabari's arm, and he escorted her into the room. With her most graceful walk, she subtly steered Jabari to her seat. Once she was safely seated, she nodded for his dissmisal to his own seat. She realized that she had been stupid. She was basically broadcasting her support and confidence of Jabari to everyone. That would make him more of a target, which she wanted to avoid if possible. She wished she hadn't been so dumb. However, she managed to keep her polite pleasant smile on her face. As she arranged herself in her seat, she turned to her husband. "Hello my dear," she gave him a more warm geniune smile, but it wasn't so intimate that it was inappropriate for the moment. "How did you sleep?" she asked into his welfare. She kept a careful eye as Jabari weaved his way back to his seat. She made sure that no one could tell that she was watching him from her peripheral vision. From some of their talks she was a little intrigued to see the courier that Jabari had mentioned. Normally, when he talked about her it was with little emotion. It was like he was trying to pretend he didn't care. She could see that something had happened, but she didn't pry to deeply. She preferred that he tell her when he was ready. That courier would have to be here with all of the rest of them. Her eyes roved the growing crowd. She doubted that she would be able to recognize her from such a distance. She hadn't realized that Jabari had had a girl before she chose him as her newest advisor. She normally preferred to choose unmarried men. They were easier to manipulate. However, he was now single, and he was more pliable than he realized.
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Lightbringer
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King Lucan Chalinder With poise and grace, the queen approached, advisor at her side. Lucan had always appreciated the young man - hard worker, agreeable disposition. The King was concerned for his welfare outside the city walls - he knew well that the courier's life in wartime entailed more risk than that of an adviosr. Ah, well, Jabari could look after himself. Kylara sat beside him, offering a greeting and pleasant smile. He was always more comfortable in these sorts of situations when the queen was with him. "Good morning. I fared well; it was a bit drafty, but I do sleep through most anything," he responded with a small smile. He was about to inquire how her own rest was, but it occured to him that most of the Great Hall had redirected their attention, awaiting the announcement. He straightened his posture, broadcasting his regal status (or, he hoped - the queen was much better at conveying messages through appearance). The couriers had not arrived yet - still. The rainfall had lightened since the pre-dawn hours from a torrential downpour to light precipitation, and it was plausible that the weather may have slowed the travellers. He drummed his fingers on the well worn wood of the long table. He ought to buy them time - if there was one skill he posessed, it was the knack for drawn-out introductions He inhaled, then began. "Ladies and Gentleman of the court, nobles, and guests - welcome. As you all well know, our neighboring countries are engaged in war fare. We have, in the past, chosen neutrality during conflict, and similarly, we will not choose sides; however, profits are to be made. We can supply weapons for resources - opportunities are endless." He continued on, eyes casually flicking to the doorway on occasion, estimating how much time he could kill. Most of the couriers had arrived already - but they were still waiting on the last group of four. ___________________ Calien Loresaden Finally. Squinting through the veil of rain, Calien could trace the looming outline of the castle. About time - it had only been two days of nonstop riding. Skahre, Dinau, Renn, and herself were all too exhausted for their constant bantering, which really was making a statement. Their projected time of arrival was about an hour or two ago - but Skahre's gelding colicked somwhere in the middle of the road, in the dead of night, and they then had to seek out the nearest stable. Of course, the only trade for their sickly gelding was an overpriced stallion, but their options were limited. The group then ventured out again. By that time, they were delayed by about an hour. But no, of course, Renn felt obligated to take a shortcut he claimed to know - turns out, four lone riders cutting through the large and notoriously rough city of Kandalow are excellent targets for bandits. They were held up, and Calien and Dinau had to spend about thirty more minutes creating spontaneous stories - that Calien was sickly and everything she touched had been contaminated, and that the disease was contagious, and that her siblings were escorting her out of the house, whatever. Another hour wasted. Then came the rain. So, yes, it was about time they arrived. Calien urged her blood bay mare into a canter - the equine, named Ankali, was a stunning mare - athletically built, graceful, and as opinionated and sassy as they come. "Hey! Slow down -" Renn called. Calien huffed. "You denounced that right when you decided to take a shortcut." "And what right did I lose?" "An opinion." Dinau snorted a chuckle and Renn twisted around in his saddle to glare at the rider behind him. They were a close-knit group; years of traveling together had really created (forced) a bond. The closer they came to the entry way of the castle, the more Calien considered her apperace. All of their mounts where stained with mud - as were the riders. The bottom of Calien's tunic was slashed (the doing of riding too close to a thorn thicket), but comparatively, Skahre, for example had lost her cloak. (She had decided that a rule of thumb didn't apply to her - when camping outside, always sleep on top of your outerwear and valuables, or else it's likely to be stolen). And so she was absolutely soaked to the bone, and had her blanket over her shoulder, clutched by white-knuckled hands. Definitely not a fashion statement. Renn looked fine, and that was insufferable to the group. His handsome features were always unblemished, and aside from mud caking his boots, cloak, and legs, he was unmarked. Dinau looked exhausted - and every single one of them was dripping wet. And cold. And they were about to be in the king and queen's presence, with no time to change. Calien wished nothing more for than for her fine silks and jewelry selection. Not a single necklace or bracelt was clasped on - she had learned the hard way that on the road, jewels were stolen. She could almost feel the gold teardrop earring being torn from her ear all over again. That must have been her third day in the job, on her first mission - the pickpocket had likely sensed her inexperience as she had strolled through the streets. And now she was muddy, exhausted, and looking worse for wear. When she would sweep in to the Great Hall, all eyes on her, instead of looking regal and stunnning, she would look like a peasant. Calien loved the spotlight - but not when she looked like this. Her appearance was fit for a commoner, not a magic-weilding diplomat and courier of the King and Queen. She didn't deserve this. In the presence of the castle, her entitled arrogance was returning with visciousness, but Calien found that it was easier to ignore it - even if she still was bothered. Life on the road had taught her a thing or two about humility. At the grand entryway doors, Calien dismounted, as did the rest of her small group. They had fallen silent, each occupied with their own thoughts. A young groom took the reins of Ankali, who then nipped at the boy. Calien paid no mind - it was the groom's job to deal with equines, and if he couldn't handle her mare, that was on him. Strolling ahead, Calien inhaled deeply, straightening her posture and lifting her chin. Let them all see her, and see that despite her clothing, she was just as much of a noble as the rest of them. She pushed the doors open, stepping regally into the Great Hall. It was just as she remembered. All eyes flicked from the speaking king to the couriers - how she missed this attention! However, in the time that had passed, she now found the many gazes on her rather unsettling, even if it was enjoyable. "My apologies for the late arrival. Traveling conditions were less than ideal," she remarked, voice echoing throughout the hall. She retained a certain poise and authority, despite her weather-beaten appearance and years away from court. The King nodded, then turned to the Queen. "If you may continue the announcement, dear?" Calien flicked her gaze through the crowd, subconsciously looking for someone, almost as though it was a habit. Her gray eyes swept across the room, and through the sea of faces - some unfamiliar, some familiar. Her attention was about to be directed back to the monarchs when her eyes locked on a familiar frame. He was far away, near the front of the hall, but Calien could have recognized him anywhere. She froze, mind launching itself into a hurricane of emotion - first, instinctively, there was joy - she had missed him. Then after sailing through a sea of every possible feeling in existance, she landed on fury. There he was, seated near the Queen - her advisor. Calien had known he was selected for the most honorable position a magician could have - a court advisor. But he hadn't just acheived that - he was now the Queen's personal advisor. Calien came from a noble family - she was groomed for success. And here Jabari was, practically a peasant, stealing what should have been rightfully hers. Calien willed herself to calm. A pleasant, attentive expression climbed onto her features, and she flicked her gaze away. Now was not the time for childish anger.
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Lightbringer
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Queen Kylara Chalinder Kylara knew she was valuable to the king for many reasons. Among one of the many reasons was her diplomatic skills. While he certainly wasn't ignorant, she possed the natural knack, which helped her surpass him. She was a necessary companion for him at any gathering to assist and aid him. Normally, he had a magician or some other representative to do the talking, but they were getting ready to be free of them. She expected he would begin to rely on his queen more. As he told her about his night's rest, she gave him an affectionate smile. He had very little time to tell her before it was time for the meeting to begin. Everyone was staring at them expectantly waiting for an announcement. She could understand why Lucan wanted to begin without further adieu. Even though not every single person was here yet, they couldn't wait for the last tardy person. Who knew if they were coming? Everyone had been informed of the exact time, so it would be their own fault if they were late. Their lives didn't revolve around them, so they must go on as scheduled. It had been raining all day, and she wondered how much that could and would slow down a courier. They should know how to counteract the rain. Had they encountered some miserable fortune along the road? What had possibly kept such experienced travelers and slowed them down? She kept her regal posture as she surveyed the crowd. She kept waiting for the tell tale movement of someone new enetering the crowd. She plastered her courtly smile on her face. From the distance that everyone was at it looked real, and would endear her to their hearts. You couldn't see the troubles on her heart. She looked like a kind benevolent queen. However, if you came closer you could see more wear lines and real concerns on her face. You could see that the smile wasn't quite genuine and it was there more for show. Hardly ever did people come close enough to see the difference. She had a different smile for the few times that she encountered those people. After a while she realized that her husband was stalling. Sometimes he could talk too much, but she had come to realize that he was normally waiting for someone special or important. She was glad that she had learned that tell. She realized as there was some movement at the other end of the hall that they had finally arrived. If she wasn't mistaken one of those in the group was Jabari's former fiancee or at least his sweetheart. She waited to see what would happen, as she settled more comfortable in her chair. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Jabari Algarotti Once Jabari had been safely seated he believed that he was in an obscure enough of a place where his eyes could rove and search for Calien. While as an advisor he could have a more public spot where he had more access to conversation, servants, and questions, he stayed where he had plopped down. It would be harder for people to stare at him where he had chosen to be. He always kept an eye out for Calien even though she would most likely bite his head off if he dared to approach closer than twenty feet. He was still upset that they had broken up. He couldn't quite understand why she had felt the need, but he didn't miss her obvious declaration. They weren't supposed to speak with her, and seeing him was an unwelcome sight to her. He didn't want to make her more mad, so he gave her space even though he always tried to set eyes on her. He heard some noise. He had been continuously checking the doors to see if she would enter. This time his hunch paid off and it was her. He was surprised by how mud worn and travel weary she appeared. She must have worked hard to get here at this time. Everyone turned to look. Many turned around to look at her, when they heard a disturbance. As a child he had never been used to the attention. He was in the middle of many kids, and he had to compete hard. He couldn't imagine having this many eyes staring at him without trying. All Calien had done was enter the room. To get that attention Jabari would most likely have to speak. She apologized and Jabari couldn't help but admire her. She was surrounded by people and one of the last, yet she was able to continue standing tall. He would have felt too awkward and bent to more people's whims. He turned to look back at his queen. He was a litlte intrigued the way his queen had taken a genuine interest in him. Since he wasn't the best at court politics he couldn't fathom all of her reasons, but he was amazed that his queen would want to know anything about his personal life. She had spent some time trying to comfort him after the break up, and he had opened up to her. It had taken several weeks and some hard questions before he would talk to Kylara about it. On accident he believed he made eye contact with her. How was it possible? He felt the need to squeeze down in his chair. He didn't want any attention on him, and he most certainly he did not want her to focus in on him. He expected her to go sit down in her designated seating area. Everyone had their own namecards somewhere, so they would know if they were in the correct place or not. He felt a little sad again and an ache in his heart, when he had her within view. He tried to ignore the mild pain, so that he could concentrate on the present. If they were so easily torn a part, were they were being together? Why did she feel like he had stolen it? He supposed that she probably had tried harder to gain the position than he had. That could account for some of the gathering bitterness. Anyway, he sat there waiting for the queen to speak. He had some idea of what was coming. Of course the queen had consulted with him. However, he was still nervous about how the magicians would take it. The queen stood up to speak. It made it harder to ignore her, when she stood and spoke. Her clothing flowed and attracted attention. Her voice was smooth and there weren't any awkward hitches or anything that said that she was under prepared. "Good day everyone. I am glad you were all able to make it. I have a few announcements to make and then I'll hand it back over to His Highness," she said in a genial conversational tone. "After today all magicians will be taking on a new job. No longer will they be doing their current jobs. They will all train to be courriers and diplomats. We have chosen to be neutral, but that doesn't mean that we will be ignorant about the war. We need the magicians. They can take care of themselves in dangerous situations. People will listen to you. We are trusting you with a very important job. As citizens it is your duty to follow through. We could do great things in this war." After that she began listing off a few of the groups. She had carefully placed Jabari with Calien. She believed that if they had been together at one time, they had to have some feelings for each other, so they would try to protect each other more even if it was awkward. At the very least they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, so they would work better together, if they could maintain a sembalance of professionalism. She turned to sit down after the announcements. She looked at Lucan expecting that he had something to say to conclude everything. She knew it would be a huge blow to everyone, but they would adjust and it would be for the best. This was very drastic measures, but she wanted to win and profit in this war. Edited at September 12, 2020 10:01 PM by ~Non Sequitur~
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Lightbringer
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Calien Loredsaden
The queen's words came as a shock to Calien. She might have expected some sort of shift in magician staffing, or else she would not have been required to attend. Perhaps it was a war conference, or a new alliance, she had thought. But of all the reasons the magic weilders had gathered today, this was not one she had considered. Calien thought it a wise decision; the kingdom could reap benefits from this war with ease, so as long as they were active and constant with foreign missions. The queen began to list off groupings, and Calien stilled herself. The pool of magicians gradually began to thin. Jabari and her own crew were still unassigned. The diplomat willed the pleasant smile to remain on her face - and then Jabari's name was called. Jabari. With Calien, Dinau, Skahre, and Renn. There was a silence. Was it a coincidence, or the doing of the queen or Jabari? It didn't matter. He had stolen her life's purpose away from her. He didn't even want the role, and it was just handed to him. He wasn't groomed his entire life for his job. And yet he got the job without a single apology, just going on with his career without a second glace. Calien was left with the humiliation and shame of letting her family down - instead of having the honor of working alongside royals, she was a diplomat. Traveling for miles upon miles, enduring the elements with no luxury, no fine clothing, no servants, nothing. Then she had to manipulate thick-skulled rulers into agreeing with everything she said. Which, admittedly, was rather amusing; and Calien excelled at her job. But still. Calien had not seen Jabari in years - and although Calien was growing to appreciate and almost enjoy her occupation, all the inconveniences and pain of her job had created a mounting frustration. Frustration towards Jabari. Actually, Calien really didn't know what he had done wrong. But she needed someone to blame - and he was blessed with the priveledge of being the unlucky scapegoat. Not losing her compusure once during the time she had stood in the great hall, Calien caught eyes with Jabari and flashed a practiced, dazzling smile - a curve of her lips that could halt nearly anybody, and smile she presented to foreign rulers she was to persuade, a smile of poise and elegance. Those who were close to Calien knew better - they saw the smile of a fox. Cunning, intelliegent, and foreboding - they saw a grin of a wolf, about to destroy an enemy. He was not going to make it out of training alive. There was a sudden light that seemed to flash in Calien's mind - a memory. She traced the outline of words woven into a sentence, and she grasped a vow from the depths of her memory, bound by magic. Any physical harm inflicted upon you by myself will be the exact harm delivered immediately to me. Something along those lines. The wording wasn't clear - but the message was. If she were to, hypothetically, maybe, send a swarm of magical hornets after him, she would soon find the same insects making a beeline for herself. Her jaw clenched, but her features remained poised and collected. You know what? Fine. I'll work my way around that. It only applies to harmful magic and direct physical harm. There was a break in Calien's stream of thoughts. Not that I would do that, of course. I can forgive. I'll give him a chance or two. Maybe one. Probably half. Doesn't matter - it's not like I would actually try to hurt another magician over something as petty as this. Right? Yeah. Maybe. Calien reminded herself to be composed - he had done nothing really wrong. He would train with her and her group, and everything would be alright. He just best stay on her good side if he wanted to survive to his next birthday. Actually, no - Calien would never murder anyone. That wasn't polite. But nobody said he would reach his birthday in one piece. The King left the court with some final remarks, nothing of importance. He announced that training would commence tomorrow, with each group assigned to a different area - Calien's crew was to assemble at the training yard by sunrise. The court was soon dismissed, and Calien turned to briskly leave to her newly assigned quarters (which she shared with Skahre - Renn and Dinau were to share their own room). It was going to be a long few weeks, wasn't it?
____ I believe we're now time-skipping?
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Lightbringer
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Jabari Algarotti Jabari's stomach was churning at the new turn of events. As he looked around measuring the crowd of magician's reactions, the astonished facial expression reinforced his hypothesis that he was less surprised than the magicians who had come from far away. He had been fortunate to be around the castle, and he had heard hints and guessed at what was to come. However, they had managed to keep this mostly under wraps, and not reveal it until they were ready. He was still stunned, because it was quite a bold move, and he was totally unsure if it was wise. He had a feeling that this was sa decision that the king and queen had made together. They had not conferred with him on the matter, but he knew there would be a lot of negative side effects, which he hoped they were aware of and had considered. They would have to recruit and find all of these magicians. Productivity would slow until the magicians could be replaced, and they found a way to get along without magicians. Would they siphon off the magicians slowly. They should do it in groups, so that each magician was thoroughly trained. The current diplomats wouldn't be able to handle such an influx of newbies. It could take years to accomplish, and the war might be over by then. It was stripping away their magicians. What would happen if most of them got killed off? It could severely cripple the economy. He supposed since they were going to get used to not having them around, perhaps it wouldn't be as bad. However, he knew that magicians would die, and there would be less of them for quite a while until they managed to repopulate. Not everyone was suited for diplomatic missions, which he believed would be a real problem. There were some skills that should have been taught at a much younger age. What was the age of those they would decide were too young for these mission? Normally, the younger they started the better. However, if this was war time, they would not want to send in young untested diplomats. Not everyone could learn how to ride comfortably in the saddle quick enough to become useful. How would they be used? Jabari winced a little, when he was assigned to Calien's group. Not only was he assigned to be in the same group as her, but he was assigned along with all of her friends, which meant he would be the outsider giving him another disadvatange. He had always wanted to show her how well he had done, and that he had deserved the position, but this was far too close. He was sure they would find little ways to torment each other, while still getting their work done. He remembered how foolishly in love they were, and the oath they had impulsively sworn. This was going to hurt. After he worried about the more practical things, he began to worry about additional things. Would she think he had purposefully gotten himself assigned to the same group as her. He would die if she thought he missed her. He hadn't expected to achieve such a high prestigious role, but now that he was instated, there was no way he was going to willingly give it up. He wondered how long he would be a normal diplomat. He reasoned that he would probably be put underneath Calien, which would be even more unpleasant. He hadn't realized the reasons why he had been given this position. He probably wouldn't be pleased if he knew. Simply put, Kylara was aware that Calien was a much better manipulator, but Kylara would prefer not to be manipulated. Calien tended to be more headstrong and harder to get along with. Kylara was looking for advice and not to be dictated on how to rule the kingdom. Normally, Kylara didn't need an instant reply, so Jabari's methodical thinking worked just fine. He could understand why Calien was mad that he got the job, but why did she have to be mad at him. He hadn't deliberately stepped in her way so that she wouldn't get it. He hadn't intentionally ruined her dreams. This was the first time he had seen Calien in years, and she seemed to be doing well with the vigorous life of the road. Perhaps, he hoped, she would have lost her bitterness and realized that she had been given a job worth her talents. He glanced in her direction to see how she was reacting to him being assigned to her group. She flashed a very familiar smile. It had always worked and made his heart pitter patter. However, he knew that it hide a lot of things underneath her skin. In retaliation, he sent a smirk in her direction telling her that her little smile was amusing and powerless. Perhaps the smile was a little condescending, which he had been practicing on his underlings. It would be sure to get under her skin. The king soon wrapped up the meeting. He wasn't sure if he should go talk to Calien's group. He was curious to see if she had mentioned him at all. Even if she had mentioned him with hatred that would have amused him. He supposed that not getting the job you had worked your whole life for was devestating, but he thought that she had loved him at one point. Why couldn't she be happy for him? Instead, he was sure she was taking delight that he had no power over her anymore. How would this work? Would he have to move up the ladder again? He had always thought this was where he would end up. He hoped that Calien's experience wouldn't make it impossible to work his way back to the top. He would have to assemble in the training yard the next morning. He wondered what kind of training would be required. He was already diplomatic, and he was grateful that he already knew how to ride a horse well. He was sure there were other skills a diplomat needed, but he wasn't sure what else they would teach him. ~~~~~~~~~ He went through his normal morning rituals. He prolonged them longer than he normally did, as he wasn't looking forward to who he was meeting in the training yard. He chose some green linen clothing with brown pants. It was comfortable, and easy to move in. He had awoken earlier than usual. He had had a hard time sleeping, as he was nervous about what trials he would face on the morrow. As soon as he had awakened, he had rung for one of the servants to bring up his breakfast. Now that he was dressed and ready, he heard someone knocking at the door. He was sure it was a hot meal. After he finished eating, he noticed from his window that the sky was beginning to become lighter. He would have to head toward the training yard now or he would be late. The sky was becoming a deep purple as he stepped outside. He looked around for Calien's group. Other than her, he wasn't really familiar with them. He might know a few of their names, because they were mentioned when discussing different mission, but he had never had to meet them in person. When he noticed them, he headed in their direction. He stood tall and proud, trying to hide his nerves. He was annoyed with whoever had assigned him here. He assumed it was the queen, because he doubted that the king would be devious about this. Unfortunately, he had not gotten an oportunity to speak with her, and he doubted that anything he said would make a difference. He could probably only accomplish more harm and have another enemy. He inclined his head politely to their group. Talking to them was almost worse than a small crowd, since he was certain that they were all prejudiced against him. Why hadn't the queen put some netreual magicians in this group with him? "Good morning," he inclined his head slightly. He doubted that he was in charge, so he waited their next move. He heard some loud clashing sounds. There were a few groups sparing. He doubted that he would ever be able to do that with Calien. They had made an oath, and it would hurt more than it was worth if they decided to take any kind of weapon against the other. In other corners, he noticed that the magicians were relaxing as if they had found acceptable groups. How much of a chance would Calien give him in her desire for revenge. He knew that Calien could hold onto those who had hurt her or offended her for extremely long impressive amounts of time. He preferred not to have such anger stored up, and he released it was soon as he could. It dawned on him, that the whole kingdom would be depending on them to keep the peace. They would have to find the information that would be the most helpful. Could he achieve that in this group? (sorry for taking so long) Edited at September 13, 2020 11:26 AM by ~Non Sequitur~
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Lightbringer
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(It's a really rough post, but it's something >.<)
Calien Loredsaden Leaning back into the cool wood of her bed frame, Calien rested, perched on the edge of her matress. She tugged at the faded blankets as she watched the silent world through the glass window - it was not yet light out. Calien had always been an early riser, but she blamed the pre-dawn awakening on an occupied mind rather than habit. Her thoughts buzzed, dashing across her mind only to be replaced by the next. Calien had always liked to think of herself as adaptable and prepared for change (untrue as the self-evaluation may be), but this had completely thrown her off gaurd. And, really, it wasn't neccessairily the change in magician staffing - it was that she had been assigned to the same group as Jabari. Jabari, the same one who had taken her court seat right out of her hands. And just because of that stupid oath years ago, she couldn't do a thing to exact revenge. Of course, she wouldn't have really harmed him if she even had the capability. Just maybe a minor spell to irritate him, or something along those lines. Probably, anyway. With a sigh, Calien stood, flicking through the few outfits in her closet. Unlike most days, there was no need for an admirable first impression - she knew everyone in her group. That didn't give her an excuse to dress poorly, of course - just not as formally as though she was to impress a king. Eventually, Calien picked up a deep burgundy dress, fashioned for riding and activity. She drew a brown leather vest over her dress, and benath she wore coal gray pants tucked into the worn leather boots she knew so well. A belt, upon which two small throwing knives were tied, and two golden cuffs were clasped around her wrists. The strands framing her face were pulled back, forming a crown around her head, and were tied off where the seperate strands met. Finding simplistic, yet convinient hair-dos was suprisingly difficult for curly hair such as her own. Calien had to wake Skahre up, because her friend seemed absolutely incapable to being on time, and two went in search of breakfast in the great hall. With their stomachs full enough for the morning, the pair left for the training yard. It had been a long while since Calien had walked these grounds, and with each step, a new memory seemed to be uncovered. She recalled walking these grounds to the academy - chatting with friends, convincing a teacher to up her grade, laughing with Jabari. She had been so foolishly in love with him, hadn't she? Now somewhat irritated at herself, Calien continued forward, refusing to dive back into the past that was held here. She made it to the training yard shortly, and the pair made their way to the far end of the yard, away from the other few groups that were arriving. Dinau and Renn appeared shortly after, looking much better than they had yesterday night. Now they were only waiting on Jabari. He was there soon enough - standing tall and proud. That wouldn't last long - or, at least, Calien was going to make sure it didn't. He can have his position. He can have the seat beside the queen. He can be good at what he does - fine. But he won't be good at what I do. I won't let him. "Morning," Calien responded briskly. She didn't bother to introduce the rest of her group - he could figure it out himself. "We'll be taking the horses out to the fields - practice some combat work and archery. Self-defense is critical to your success as a courier. Bandits don't take kindly to weaklings," she said, emphasizing the last word with a pointed glare at Jabari. Calien had known in advance their training schedule, so she had talked a stable groom into bringing their horses out to them. It was beneath her, as a noble, to fetch her own horse when she needn't do so. Two young grooms lead five large horses out to them - the largest being her own mare, Ankali, and the smallest being Skahre's stallion, Noan. She wasn't sure if the final equine belonged to Jabari or not - she had no say in which horses they were to be brought, only that they were to have mounts, prefferably their own, by dawn. Calien stepped forward, taking the reins from the groom - offering a practiced, gracious smile of thanks - before hopping, then pulling herself up into the saddle. She circled her mare around the others before turning to head off towards the direction of the training feilds. They would catch up if they weren't mounted up already. "So, Jabari. How has life treated you in the castle?" She called over her shoulder, a hint of insincerity in her voice. Edited at December 2, 2020 03:46 PM by Boundless
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