#studentalthea

[theportaraceli]

who? @studentalthea where? Aventia, near the evacuation lines when? A few minutes before the memories hit, because I love drama

A day after the odd exchange with the merchant, it haunted her still. Araceli knew not the reason, whether because she knew the little fox toy was infinitely important but remembered not why, or due to the inherent oddness of the whole exchange. She doesn’t understand why, but there is something missing. A whole on her chest, empty darkness where something else once stood. The thought lingers at the edge of her mind through the evacuation, worry heavy on her brow as she continues her tasks and pretends everything is alright as to not to alarm her people. 

She manages just fine, until she meets Althea’s eyes across the crowd and sees the doubt clear on them. It’s no surprise the Emissary notices, not when their entire relationship was born while they were both wearing masks. Long had they grown from that, but that doesn’t change the fact that they knew each other’s masks, and when they were wearing them. 

With a sigh, she steps away from the crowd and deeper into the crumbling streets of her once home. The sight sends off another pang of loss through her, the reality of her rotting home ever present and sharing space with her worry about her deal. 

“There is no going back, is there?” She asks quietly, as she hears Althea step closer, eyes flickering to meet hers with a bitter smile on her lips.

[ageofkarme]

who?: @studentalthea where?: emissary quarters when?: after she failed upward, don't worry karme won't tell anybody about that teehee

It wasn't edible and the addition of multiple wide-set, big-lipped magic mouths spouting blessings and affirmations in Celestial might've made the gift even less appealing, but Karme was happy to construct a cake-looking machine to celebrate Althea's success.   "I'm so proud of you! You stuck with it and it might've been hard at times but look! Now you know Celestial! Yay Althea, the greatest witch I know!" The "cake" fired of streamers and was equipped with colorful sparklers and mini firework canons to provide a celebratory atmosphere.  It had taken him years before he spoke the language at a proficiency Lady Juliana approved of, whereas Althea only needed a month or two to become fluent. Sure he was twelve at the time, Karme thought Althea's accomplishment was much more impressive than his. Borwyn was even there in the corner to jingle while strumming the dulcimer embedded into his abdomen, adding to the joyous ambiance. "I never thought there'd be something that I could teach you, and you calling on me to help was the highlight of my year—and I became a Slayer! I'm so lucky to have the smartest, most talented, and of course beautiful witch in the whole queendom as my best friend!"

[steadythora]

Her parents, like true Iskarans, despised magic in all its forms. Thora might've let their beliefs engrain themselves into the fabric of her being, but she internalized it only. She never felt the same about magic, which meant she had no experience fighting alongside witches until she arrived in Lysara. And honestly? Forces of nature like them made her realize how she'd been shortchanging herself for her entire life. Thora dedicated herself to the blade since she was first taught how to hold one. Still, after seeing Althea and Aradia in action, along with the arcana Freydis exhibited as well, Thora seriously wondered what else she could do.

Loathe to admit it, regardless of how she may have felt about the Legion, Joining had bound her future. If she wanted to protect what she deemed important, she'd have to get serious. Maybe then she could harness the full scope of the power that came with her black armor. "Your approval means a lot to me. I'm hoping I'll get a chance to put my strength to use, at least as far as Haven is concerned. Now that I understand the Blight, I'm resolute in my drive to prevent it from infecting any animal or person. What happened to us shouldn't happen to anyone else."

She'd come to terms with her Joining in her own time, but so long as her tongue could still speak to her conviction and she would not have to act dishonorably, then she'd be satisfied with her decision. Thora was a blademaster and her unique training made her perfectly resilient against whatever madness the Blight may cause for longer than most, but that wasn't to suggest she was perfect. Althea's question was indicative of her greater flaw, one that could potentially lead to her demise before madness even had a chance to eat away at her. "Back home I covered them for survival. My parents made me and they were right to. Now though, it's just become more of a habit I guess," she says, subconsciously checking that her hair covered them now as if the sight of them would ward trouble even here in Lysara. "I had enough of a target on my back in the Warrior's Guild. I don't exactly look like I can handle a greatsword, so the last thing I needed was a reason to be sent to the mines. It's a comfort I guess, in a way. I never really connected with my elvhen blood."

Althea listened to Thora, her expression thoughtful. She appreciated the other woman's straightforward approach. It was refreshing coming from a world filled with deceit and hidden agendas. Then again, Althea supposed that this was her life now. Brazen daylight and clear motives - that was a facet that Althea was still coming to understand.

It was clear that the young woman was misguided, but Althea could hardly fault the Iskaran because the Legion of the Dead was not known for its temperance. Iskaldrik had fallen to magi, Lysara warred with Astoria, and people hurt, and people killed, yet the wheel kept turning. The Legion understood better than anyone else that there was only one war worth fighting, one battle with dying for, and that was against the Blight. The Dark One would see the wheel broken and every war beneath him would be a trifle.

She watched as Thora drew her sword, noting the confident and practiced movements. There was a strength in Thora that went beyond the physical, a resilience that Althea admired.

"Strength suits you as well, Thora," Althea replied, her voice steady and sure. "And I'm glad to hear that you feel like yourself. The Joining is not an easy path, but it seems you've emerged from it with your spirit intact." She paused, her gaze sweeping over Thora once more. "As for the Legion, we're all here for different reasons." Althea had not wanted to drag anyone else into her decision, but now that they were here they stood together. "How long have you covered your ears, my dear?" Althea asked, straight and to the point, though there was a quiet comfort to her tone as she spoke, reserved, it seemed, for those she related to the most. Thora had demonstrated some affinity for her magic, but it was weak and untrained. It didn't take a stretch to understand why that was.

The world did not care if she was afraid or unsure, they each needed to be at their best. Althea did not intend to disappoint.

[shewolfaurea]

The Trouble with Wolves

Smiling, she offers a soft chuckle despite the fact that she is definitely still crying. Tipping her head back, she howls once more but the song is different this time. It is celebration but it is also a promise. The Feronia pack is still standing and so is she, so are her friends. The howl that echoes throughout the stone temple is a promise that they won't go down without a fight. @steadythora, @zelihatheflight, @studentalthea, @emissaradia, @freydis-freydat

[emissaradia]

closed starter for @studentalthea location: haven note: *cough* i trusted a twink brother eugh

That box had been nothing short of horrible for all parties involved. Aradia had tried to put on a brave face. She'd tried to move through it without second-guessing herself. She'd tried to be the best version of herself that she could be. And all it did in return was show her that she had never made an error a day in her life. Everything she had ever done had been given reason. There were devils that reared their ugly heads in the shape of a friend every day. And for what? To teach a lesson? Well, she thought that lesson sucked. Maybe she shouldn't have trusted someone she barely knew. Devils were awfully convincing though. They crept in when one least expected it and she had never thought she would be the kind of person to fall into such a trap. She'd been kind. She'd been...for fucking what? Everything that had been on the table crashed to the floor as her hands swept across it. And then she soon followed.

Aradia wasn't sure how much time had passed since, but when she awoke, it was with a scream. As if her nightmares hadn't already been a permanent mainstay, they were now increased tenfold. Maybe she would be better off being some demon's vessel. The door opened and she tried to scramble towards it to keep it closed. "Don't come in!" If it was her sister, she probably wouldn't listen. Maybe it was the unknown assistant though. He wouldn't be able to speak a word. Aradia had been holed up in here long enough though. She had to find a way to fix this. She couldn't let this control her. "I won't let you beat me," she muttered under her breath as she tried to lift herself up off of the floor.

[ramessesxwadjet]

@studentalthea Location: The Dreamscape

The dream was...dark. There were no erected pillars, no chaise where he expected Althea to be consorting with another Desire demon, or something wishing to possess the witch and move on with their life together. For Ramesses, he was already a nervous druid, but this? He clutched the staff in both his hands, the one he always used as he moved about the dreamscape. He thought that it made him look a little cooler, a little braver – anything when it came to facing Althea.

Yet still, he didn't understand. He'd waded through the dreams of the dying before, and it almost reminded him of that. A chill crept up his spine, the idea that he hadn't been quick enough, that his choice to move back towards the Silverlands instead of head towards Haven had come back to haunt him – that her dreams no longer existed.

"Althea?"

[vicoya]

when: the day after Vicoya arrives in Aventia; week 2 of the siege with: @studentalthea where: wherever the legion is camped out within the city notes: surprise starter for u jestie

Much had transpired, apparently, while Coya had been away from the fray. The Legion had three new recruits amongst their ranks, and had lost six other poor souls to the Joining. She only recognized Thora, from when they'd faced down the Aetherians long ago. At least it felt like ages had passed, with all that had happened since. Coya was eager to meet the other new recruits - a pair of sisters, she'd heard, and witches, at that.

They'd had little time to rest since the bombardments began, and thus she'd had trouble tracking them down given how thin their forces had been spread. She managed to find Althea's tent after asking around, and cleared her throat as she knocked on the cloth of the tent's entrance. Unsurprisingly, it didn't make a sound - she decided to announce her presence. "Althea? Apologies to bother you while you're resting, but I had a welcoming gift for you, of sorts." In her hands, she held a whisper stone, the only one she'd yet to distribute. She'd have to get Thora and Aradia a pair whenever she was in Eterna next, though she didn't anticipate that would be any time soon.

[hiddenvaldis]

“It is a common saying that women are delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did.”

@studentalthea

[adrianvoll]

starter for @studentalthea.

where: has to be in thee tower

when: like a good 3 weeks into his novice status

note: bully me thank yew

Piles of books sat before him, towering above the table really, as one sat cracked open with Adrian pouring through the pages. Often, he trained and studied secluded off in a quieter place of the Tower; back home, within the forge, Adrian spent hours upon days in solitary, he still hadn't gotten used to the large amass of people that frequented even the Tower. Outsiders seeking knowledge, various levels of Accepted witches, the five other novices who'd completed their audition the same time as he. The witch was capable, he'd shown them a spark of magic they could respect and appreciate, but he still had ways to go to hone the skills to their liking, to a precedent Adrian was still attempting to configure.

When one sat across from him, it took a moment to break his concentration, his fingertips following patterns described in the book but not outright navigating them with magic. He'd come to that when he was ready, but his eyes flickered upwards to address the other.

"Is it this demanding for any other?" It provoked the idea of prejudice against any latent Iskaran witch who'd attempted to prove themselves; but Adrian knew he was capable, he was just trash at making conversation. "And it weird to say I'm happy with said requirements?" He'd always favored a challenge, when crafting armor and weapons became routine, he'd become listless in his work, and it showed; a talent that was left to rust under boredom.

[ageofkarme]

Create his own? The thought had never crossed Karme's mind. His doing so would either be seen as a major insult or a non-event. Probably the latter since the ladies of his house regularly reminded him of his place beneath them. "Still, they were certainly displeased when he began his education "I'll think about it. Lady Juliana doesn't expect anything from me. She didn't seem to notice when I stopped visiting Genovia. Even so, they're my family and I want to make them proud."

Though, after talking to Althea, Karme began to wonder for the first time if worrying too much about his grandmother was keeping him down. His mother crumbled under the pressure and his father never stood a chance. Maybe, if he let go and used his mind freely, he'd actually achieve something in Lysara. After all, Althea's dreams weren't limited because she only worried about making herself proud, and she was amazing. "No no, I wouldn't want to trouble you. I think I should walk alone anyway. I get my best thinking done by myself," he said, knowing he had much to think about. Plus, looking at Althea's companions made Karme feel like he was peering into some bizarre mirror. Could he possibly be a kindred spirit to a goblin and a golem? "As always, I'm the one benefiting greatly from you bumping into me where all I've done is grease your clothes."

"Perhaps create your own then, it's something to consider. It won't do for you to continue to produce works without an insignia, otherwise anyone might take the credit that should be properly paid to you." Riding the coattails of the Golden Flower came with its benefits, but in Karme's case, they were something of a curse instead. Althea understood the struggle of building a life from nothing, a name consecrated from the dirt she'd been born in. Secrets, power, and leverage -that was her path to ascension. Karme had none of these but he did have... Something.

After this Althea would be sure to scour her skin to the very bone, but for now she settled for passing her hand over where he touched her to lift the grime that he'd deposited on her, flicking it into the dirt beside them. "A rising star if ever there was," Althea was sure to give his unnaturally wiry arm a bit of a squeeze before she looked from his paperwork to her own destination: Mercury's Bazaar. "this is as far as I go, will you manage the rest of the way on your own? I can have one of my companions join you if needed." Althea gestured to the earth elemental that had been lumbering behind him, beside the creature was a goblin toting many, many bags.

[shewolfaurea]

Person: @studentalthea Location: The Queen's Boudoir It's something she's sometimes wondered is uncommon, going over her daily schedule in her actual bedroom with Althea. Too personal perhaps, and yet it's not like Aurea thinks of herself as some conventional queen. It's something she thinks about as she sits at her vanity, looks at her own face in the mirror whose edges are wrapped in gnarled wood. A year of being Alpha, of being queen, and there's still these tiny moments that doubt creeps into her head. Would Ulric have opened Haven for the Iskaran's? She highly doubts it as she attempts to run a brush through her unruly hair. "Did you ever think you'd end up here?" Her eyes meet the woman's who is no doubt scoffing at the daily itinerary on the chaise behind her.

[shewolfaurea]

The Trouble with Wolves: Aftermath Mentions of @emissaradia, @studentalthea @freydis-freydat @zelihatheflight @steadythora

There really isn't a moment to herself after all is said and done, no time for all of the things she is feeling. Not until it's the end of the day and she's back in her quarters and taking her crown off of her head with shaking hands.

Althea sitting there in the middle of the room in chains, her hair untamed around her, what sounded like hundreds of voices echoing around the chamber. When she closes her eyes, even briefly, Aurea sees it, feels the fear and desperation that she and Aradia had shared. There had been no time for helplessness then, but it's there now as she sees herself in her vanity mirror. Not a queen, but a girl who had almost lost so many people important to her in a fell swoop. They were strong, the lot of them, but in that moment as they all scrambled to discern voices, there'd been one in her head feeling helpless, begging her to help them. She was their queen, why couldn't she help them? A single tear falls from her eye and she sniffles and shakes her head at herself. "It's not real." She said with confidence to the crying girl. "It's not true." Just as she'd told Althea, as she'd told all of them. That was the point of it all, that doubt would freeze them in place and get one of them killed. Taking a breath she looks down at her hands and despite the weariness and fatigue she feels right down to her bones, there's something else. To let loose a howl after everything was said and done, energized with the light of the moon. She closes her eyes and instead of seeing Althea in pain and the desperation on the face of her friends, she pictures the pool. A large round pool in the middle of the room that the moon shining from above illuminated, filling it completely. Stepping into it had been like slipping into the moon itself. It'd swallowed her up, regalia and all, and there's this twitching at her fingers that she only ever feels when she shifts. Opening her eyes and looking down, claws are extended where perpetually unmanicured nails once were. Control over your shifts. That's what she'd been promised. Flexing her fingers, the claws don't go away but she feels she can will them back. They're a reminder that the whole encounter had been real, that she's stronger now, they all were. And it would be easy to crumple and think about being banished as Thora and Aradia and Althea fought to jump into that pool and take the Blight into themselves. It is something she wants to do, the frustration is still there under her skin. The idea of losing anyone on a quest, especially those that had volunteered of their own free will with no ties to Haven, it terrified her. Freydis, Thora, and Zeliha had no reason to put themselves on the line and yet they had. Althea and Aradia had stood valiantly at her side as they always did and when it had come down to it, they'd protected her. She had to protect them now. Aurea had to make sure that those that had come to Haven seeking refuge wouldn't lose another home. Going to Aventia was what she wanted to do, what she felt she should, but she would remain to strengthen her borders, train up her wolves. This new control, she'd use it to defend home and everyone she loved. So all that went off to aid Aventia had something to come home to. So they knew that such a place wasn't just Haven or the Wildlands. That they had a home in the heart of their queen and alpha. Closing her eyes again, Aurea pictures the women around her joining in on her howl.

[shewolfaurea]

Person: @studentalthea Location: Thee Woods, Haven There had hardly been any time to process what had happened, they'd gotten back to Haven and Aurea had thrown herself into figuring out what new power she held. From there it was teaching the other wolves how to use teeth and claws without the full moon. Borders needed to be strengthened, the wall reinforced, squadrons sent back along the paths coming to and from Haven. A spell on an object that would confuse those who encountered it, she had several of them in a bag and where Althea pointed, she'd take one out and bury it into the earth, hide it up a tree, wherever Althea thought best. All of this planning, they hadn't actually had a moment to talk since what she was mentally referring to as "the moon incident". Which was probably for the best because the moment Aurea had a moment to herself she'd sat down in the middle of her bed and sobbed out of frustration and relief. "Where's this one going?" Taking another little jar from the bag over her shoulder, she looks to the witch scoping out the area.

[emissaradia]

closed starter for @studentalthea location: haven note: seestra

When they had been dealing with their wolf problem, it felt like so much was going on at once. Aradia and Althea were two very different people. As much as people would say that the former was the strong one, she always knew one thing to be true. Althea was always her better. People always saw her sister as someone who was just a mean girl. That was only on the surface though. Aradia had grown up with her though. She had been there through every battle they could have suffered. The two of them could have been closer, but maybe that was because of how different they were. She could claim to see her sister all she wanted. Yet, when it came down to it, when it was really needed, she was quiet. Aradia had always been the type to try and be the big sister. That was just who she was. But how could she do that for Althea? It felt like she couldn’t ever find the right words to say or how to comfort the woman that felt like she didn’t need comfort. Maybe she should’ve tried more. Even if it was met with resistance.

Anyway, that was what brought her here. That was what brought her to busting into her sister’s room and shutting the door behind her. “We need to talk.” She sat down at the table and waved a hand towards the chair across from her. “Come on.”

[emissaradia]

TASK 1. CHILDHOOD

It was just a ripped skirt.

Not to her though. Not to Althea. Aradia knew that already even at their young age. She had simply been carrying buckets of water up to their home while her sister did whatever she did in her spare time. She pretended that she didn't know, but the truth was that she was always keeping an eye out for her sister. She was always going to make sure that her sister was okay. When their father was gone and they only had each other, Aradia would be there.

It was just a ripped skirt though.

Maybe to Aradia. For someone like her, she didn't care about something like that. She dressed in those clothes that her father always put them in. What most would consider 'boy's' clothes. Althea hated it. Aradia didn't mind it.

It was just a damn ripped skirt.

But Althea had spent so much time on it. She had put all of her hard work into that because she felt like she wasn't good enough at other things. Aradia always thought the world of her sister though. She had never looked down upon her. And she never would.

It was a ripped skirt.

Aradia picked up her crying sister and carried her back to their home. The skirt unraveled just a little bit more as they walked, but she tried her best to make sure it could be fixed when they got home. "It's okay," she had whispered. "Everything will be fine." They wouldn't unravel. They were sisters. Nothing would ever be more important than that.

Even that ripped skirt.

@studentalthea

[emissaradia]

closed starter for @studentalthea location: haven note: oi miss u me sistah

If there was anything to say about the two sisters, it was that they were vastly different people. Raised by the same father and still they had ended up with interests that most certainly did not align with each other. Aradia could remember her sister sewing skirts and tending to little woodland creatures when they were younger. She herself had been carrying buckets back and forth to make sure that they were well stocked. She was the strong one. Althea was...well, she was sure that her sister would always say that she was the pretty one. Better in every way. She had that kind of personality that took some getting used to. Aradia didn't need to get used to her sister though. The two were damn near attached at the hip even though they never truly admitted it. Or maybe Althea was more attached to that damn goblin.

Speaking of said goblin, Aradia was currently staring at the guy as she waited for her sister to grace her with her presence. Who even knew what that woman was up to half the time. She squinted at the goblin and leaned forward slightly. "What was your name again?"