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The Story So Far

In a time far to the future or perhaps far in the past, magic rules the land of Pengiaria. The ways of magic are divided in to three partitions. The creators, summoners that create entirely new beings from the fabric of magic. The engineers, magic users that use scrap metals, crystals, and other materials to create fantastic devices beyond the ken of most men. The manipulators, the most powerful of the magic users, they directly tap in to the flows of magic allowing them to shift the world around them as they please.

Of course there are those without magic, the commoners. Some have fealty to the magic users, others stand alone and have their own kingdoms. Many of the commoners train or develop their on unique skills. While the engineers developed airships, steam cars, and other such wonderful devices commoners normally pilot them.

In this land though there is an air of rebellion and a darkness that swallows even the greatest magic users. Many of the greatest magic users from all of the different races are gathering to fight against the darkness. Some are trying to quell the rebellion with little success.

The Different Races and Their Cultures

Elves
They are long lived and ancient race primarily Manipulators and Creators with very few engineers. They are forest dwellers that live as one with nature. Most have an animal familiar that they have had since birth. The elves have a greater level of strength, speed, and grace than any of the other races, unfortunately their near immortality make them a slow in reacting race their emotions seem cold but when roused they are fierce enemies. They dwell in a country known as Mare Arbores the capital city being Lignum Vitae.

Dwarves
They are a race of mostly engineers they are a clever and fast thinking race. They live in mountain halls building elaborate kingdoms, and are some of the greatest forgers. Their armor is beautifully intricate and their jewelry is the most beautifully unique. Their race has a great strength and an intelligence far greater than all others. While they have long lives they are much like humans given to intense passion. They live in the mountain land Montibus Caelum the capital city of their country is Cor Ferro

Humans
A short lived race with a variety of life styles. Their mastery of magic is the most diverse with nothing consistent. The humans have their own unique skills they lack the grace, strength, and wisdom of some races but make up for it by being able to adapt and learn faster than other races. Adept at learning to use weapons of all sorts they make great allies and dangerous adversaries. Their country is a varied land known as Tenuis Ossa it's resplendent capital is known as Aurea Turris.

Vivere Materiales
A race created by engineers of living machines. Given intelligence by being both closely connected to magic and in some cases gifted by their masters they have created their own nation. They are unique in that they do not have skills gifted to all of their race. They are as their makers intended them, some are dangerous war machines, while some were created to make music. Even though they are capable of thought they are much like the elves, difficult to truly understand. Still much like creatures created by creators they are fueled by magic. So, while they have no direct magic skills themselves, they can perform random acts of magic. Their country is a land as varied as the creations many creators Sapiuntium, most live in the capital city Medietas.

Rules Governing Magic

-What Magic is: Magic, or as it is known to magic users Fluxum Virtutis, is the basic source of all life. It surrounds everything and is in the very air you breath. Magic users can open themselves up to this flow of energy and bend it to their will. Long ago, it is believed there was no division of magic users and anyone could bend the world to their will. But, three great sorcerers rained in this chaos. Sator, an Elf, the first master of creation magic, Cunicul, a dwarf, a tinkerer of sorts and the first engineer, and Pengiaria, a human, the greatest manipulator and form whom the great island is named.

-Creators: Essentially you are governed by your imagination but even then that has it's limits your control of the flow of magic when creating can be limited by concentration you could desire to create a terrible ten armed monster that can breath fire and can't be killed with any man made weapon when suddenly a thought of bunny pops in to your mind. I hope your enemy is afraid of rabbits is all I can say to that. Also if your connection to the flow of magic is severed your creation will disappear. This though can't be sad of all cases the unicorn, pegasi, and even dragons are examples of magical animals made by creators

-Engineers: They're magic is the least controlled for their magic is stored in their creations and used until burned or constantly uses the Fluxum Virtutis around it. They are builders tinkerers and forgers at heart and seldom use their magic. But when used they could make robots that could tear down castles or machine guns of simple revolvers. Some simply make objects beneficial to many kind the popular Air ships, electric trolleys, and even steam powered boats were all made by engineers. Some though built great machines of war and death Tanks, turret guns, and robotic suits are just a few of the many dangerous creations of some power hungry engineers.

-Manipulators: Similar to creators but they shape only certain things. A manipulators abilities can be trained in a certain talent or governed by the individuals personality. For example a sailor may be able to manipulate the sea's currents and waves more to his liking, or a black smith could manipulate the steel to be harder than diamond and never rust. A persons personality may be timid so they can hide more easily by manipulating the minds of the people around them or they may be a great lover and have no trouble manipulating the minds of people to fancy them. Manipulators magic unlike other magic users develop according to skills and what they most need making it a more indefinite magic; because what you think you need and what your magic thinks you need may be two completely different things.


Rules

Spoiler

-Some drug and alcohol references nothing to intense.
-Minimal amount of swearing only if absolutely necessary and no I repeat no F-bombs
-Please no boring names like Sam, Bob, or Joe unless it is a nickname
-No Sex scenes I will not less this become smut.
-Minimum 500 characters per post no single sentence post.
-Any technology please think Steam-punk meets magic technology.

Character Profile Setup

Spoiler

Name:

Race and Appearance:(be descriptive a picture is not necessary nor is it needed but it is welcomed and appreciated)

Personality:(please be as detailed as possible a well understood character is easier on your fellow writers.)

History:(I'm going to steal something from a fellow Storybooker Redfang and say details, details, details. None of this they don't remember stuff if they don't remember tell us why they don't remember.)

Magic User/ Commoner:(Are you a magic user or a commoner) if you're a commoner what skills do you posses if you're a magic user what kind of magic do you use?)

Social Standing:(Are you a lowly apprentice or a master of your craft a serf or a noble, also if you are a magic user you are either a noble an apprentice to another magic user or master.)

Home Village:(describe it and it's people make it your home village as unique as possible.)

Up for Love:(this is simple please spend little time on it simply put yes or no.)

Other: (if you feel I forgot anything in the template please put it here.)

Name: Rowland Montgomery
Nickname: Monty
Age: 29

Race and Appearance: Human. Monty doesn't look like much. He's five foot nine and a little on the round side, probably from all those cakes he's always nibbling on. He has medium brown hair that's curly and unruly and his eyes are a dark blue. His face is soft and round, looking younger than he is but the freckles and pale, blotchyness of it prevent him from approaching attractiveness. He looks like a guy who should be funny and that's a bad assumption to make because Monty is actually pretty dull. He comes up with a clever comment every now and again but for the most part he defies the stereotype.

Personality: There are two layers to Monty's personality, the visible one and the inner one. On the outside, Monty is a bumbling fool. He'd forget his own mother if she let him, except that's a little difficult when you're living next door to her. That aside though, Monty seems to be the most unobservant person you'll ever meet. He doesn't pay attention to where he's going and you half expect him to trip over his own sword and skewer himself on it one of these days. He also comes across as unintelligent and boring. He has a tendency to come out with random facts that are dull and probably not even true.

On the inside, Monty is a bit of a genius. He's observant like crazy and he's just a little OCD so that every part of his performance - that of a bumbling idiot - has to be just perfect. Why does he do it? That's something you'll have to work out for yourself.

History: Monty was brought up by just his mother and he didn't enjoy it one bit. She's a reclusive, nervous, intelligent woman with a lot of energy and all that energy got focused on young Monty. He didn't go to school but was instead given lessons by her and he struggled to form normal relationships withh other children his age and instead took to watching them. Whether that led to his observannt behaviour or it was innate, it's hard to tell but the bumbling idiot act was his choice. He started to realise that nobody wants an intelligent, socially awkward boy around but a curly haired fool who seems pretty much harmless? Eh, why not.

There isn't much more to tell. Monty started learning magic from a young age, also taught first by his mother, then a master, and he recently moved out into a house a whole door away from his childhood home! That's about all the progress he's made.

Magic User/ Commoner: Magic user - Manipulator. Monty isn't the best at magic but he knows enough to be able to manipulate people's perceptions of him just slightly and add to his bumbling idiot look. If he tried really hardd, he can manipulate it enough that they see him but don't see him so they decide to forget that he's there. It's a very useful skill for spying. He can do other things as well but hhe doesn't actually use it very much. Monty believes that brains are better than magic.

Social Standing: Apprentice to a Master magician.

Home Village: Monty is from Avelon, a small village that works mostly as a fishing town and prospers quite well for such a little place. It has a single wise man who is also the master magic user which Monty is apprenticed to and the reason for the village's prosperity. He manipulates the surrounding area just enough that they always have a good harvest and that the winds in the bay are fair and never wreck a ship against the shore. Due to this, the village has been nicknamed 'Fair Wind' by outsiders.

Village life is very easy going and children grow up knowing that they will take on their family's trade and then marry, have children. Build a house of their own, possibly on land owned by their parents. It's a simple life and one that Monty is fast growing bored of.

Up for Love: Yes

Name: Aerituis Elpariur

Race and Appearance: Aeritius is an Elf of roughly 27 almost a child by Elf standard's. He is tall roughly 6' 2" and fair skinned with long raven black hair. He has a thin moon-shaped scar going down the left side of his face. Aeritius has two different colored eye one is a startling light bright green and the other a sky blue. He has a somewhat lanky build but with well toned muscles. His body is well built for his skills in grace, and his strength. He wears a knee-length black bodied leather jacket with grey sleeves and black cuffs over a thick grey leather vest and thin shirt. Aeritius wears pantaloons and knee-high black leather boots. He also wears a shoulder to waist leather belt to carry what to many would seem an odd assortment of trinkets.

Personality: Aeritius has spent most of his time at the edge of the forest and has spent quite some time around humans. Because of this He responds more like a human in several situations. He is passionate and caring with his friends and forgiving of all but his greatest enemies. Aeritius is both clever and a dangerous tactician making him dangerous on the battlefield.

History: Aeritius was raised as a warrior training in several different weapon styles before discovering his skills in magic. He was immediately taken into training deeper into the woods. His instructor was harsh but firm and helped him to learn to use his manipulator's magic as would best suit him. Aeritius lived among humans and dwarfs as well and learned their songs and stories. While he is a fierce and dangerous warrior he also works as a bard.

Magic User/ Commoner: Aeritius is a manipulator type magic user. He uses his magic to summon different weapons in combat and shift the field to his advantage. His magic also makes him faster and strong than most any other elf.

Social Standing: Aeritius is actually the head of a guild simply known as La Volpe de Linum Vitae. A group of adventurers and mercenaries.

Home Village: Cantu Ligna is a part of the forest full of music. Aeritius's parents were singers and warriors and trained him to be the same. It was a peaceful land and situated in at the very edge of the forest they often would travel among humans and dwarves making the village a blend of culture.

Up for Love: Yes

Other: Around his belt aside from a pouch for his coins he carries a pouch full of random pieces of metal. While his magic may allow him to shape any item in to a weapon even thin air this pouch gives him material to add some variety.

Claiming the engineer

Name: Belen Atzaria

Race and Appearance: Belen is a 23-year-old human. She is shorter, about 5' 5'', and slim, but strong, not skinny. She has fair skin and curly dark brown hair that falls to the middle of her back, and her eyes are bright amber. Her face is angular and stately, and she has a few scars on her arms.

Personality: Although she's normally quite passive when it comes to people, Belen can be very charismatic when she chooses to. She's calm, and quietly confident, and this can sometimes rub off on those around her. She is secretive with her emotions and difficult to read, but she never lies unless she has to, and values honesty very highly. She's very brave and very loyal, and although she doesn't often show it, she cares deeply about her friends and comrades. She is able to make snap decisions, and has taught herself not to question her instincts. When it comes to death, her only fear is the well-being of those she leaves behind, and this makes her dangerous on the battlefield.

History: As a child, Belen was curious, and would go out of her way to learn new things. She was particularly close to her father, a soldier, and he taught her how to fight with a knife. As she grew older, she started to wonder about the world outside of Tenuis Ossa, and she left home and began to travel. She visited Mare Arbores for about a year, where an elf trained her in archery. She continues to wander between lands.

Magic: Belen is classified as a manipulator. Her magic is very subtle, and manifests itself in the way she perceives and moves through the world. Although her skills are too vague for anyone to pinpoint the nature of her magic, in essence, time is not linear for her. She has an incredibly fast reaction time, which she describes as "being able to move swiftly while everyone else is slow," and the uncanny ability to predict the outcome of battles, down to individual events. This makes her a very dangerous warrior.

Social Standing: Being a traveler, Belen is often seen by the locals as a commoner. She is a little more well-known among adventurers, though.

Home Village: Belen doesn't have any single home, but she grew up in Aurea Turris.

Up for Love: Yes.

*Let me know if this is okay. I was kinda unsure on some of these things given the nature of the race.*

Name: North No. 2, "Gestalt"

Race and Appearance: North No. 2, known as Gestalt, considers himself male and is a Vivere Materiale. He was created as a weapon of mass destruction and looks eerily human from the neck up. His face is very androgynous in a pleasant, almost serene way. He has full control over his facial features which are fair in complexion and very appealing to look at. However, from the neck down he is fully metal and possesses six arms, each containing various machinery. He is mobile by way of hover technology, so no part of him will touch the ground. He conceals his body with a flowing navy blue cloak that covers all signs of his mechanical condition. He does this to prevent from scaring people.

Personality: Though he is a weapon of war, he has developed pacifist views and has become extremely ashamed of what he is. He is humble and kind and always appears to be apologetic in a distant way. He does not speak much but prefers to convey his emotions through subtle facial expressions. He is easy to get a long with and will not antagonise any situation. He is down to earth and has great respect for all living creatures. However, though he does try to convey a cheerful front, he does look extremely sad. Many people attribute this to his self-hatred and disgust for what he is, though he will insist otherwise. He is not aggressive but he is very passionate and displays more emotion than the average living creature. He is very logical and analytical and values knowledge and wisdom.

History: He was created by an engineer contracted under the Human army. He has taken part in many of their wars is an honored veteran. Taking after his name, "Gestalt," meaning "wholeness," he was created as a counterpart for another Vivere Materiale, North No. 1 aka "Rubrik," who was destroyed in a war. This, and other events he saw unfold in those wars scarred him almost irreversibly. He retreated into himself and sunk into a deep depression, allowing him military leave for a certain amount of time. During this period he hired himself as a butler to a Human composer and, though the composer treated him as simply a machine at first, they grew very close and created a powerful bond. It was through this man that Gestalt developed a love for the more peaceful, artistic side of humanity. Gestalt, trying to destroy his built in weapons, accidently released a thermobaric explosive in the composer's house killing the composer instantly. He was never able to forgive himself and currently wanders the land searching for a way to redeem himself.

Magic User/ Commoner: I wouldn't classify him as either. Though he doesn't use magic, he was created with a great deal of it and much of his existence relies on the magic his engineer created him with. He does perform spontaneous acts of magic that are random and unintentional. His other skills happen to be that he's a walking weapon of mass destruction though he won't willingly use himself as such. Additionally, he is very intelligent and logical and has a unique point of view.

Social Standing: He is still technically the property of the Human armed forces though he is on "Medical Leave." However, he can still be called back into service at any time of need.

Home Village: He was created in a very industrial district called Hinewai, on the water. Much of the power needed for industry was created by hydraulics such as dams and water wheels. It was a very clean, very efficient district that worked hand in hand with Aurea Turris to provide fish/sea products, oil, metals, and weaponry.

Up for Love: No. Though he enjoys the company of many races, his feelings are never of love in this sense of the word.

Race and Appearance: Cuncicul is the dwarf engineer, forefather of all engineers, and by rights the most powerful. He managed to extend his life through mechanical meddling, though this, now that ages have passed, left him more man than machine. He's around 1'22 meters, with a thick, flowing black beard that reaches his knees. His face is further obscured by whiskers and a bushy eyebrow (the left half of his face being made of titanium, his eye red and glowing). He has a crested helmet encrusted with precious stones, and wears ornate silver-and gold chain-mail. He wears a leather, jewel-studded belt with a dwarven broadsword and war-hammer hanging from it (he's capable of wielding both, as his mechanical parts increase his strength by tenfold) and his right arm is metallic, extendable and spiked along the elbow. It also has several cool features such as steam-powered scalding rays. The same goes for his left leg. He can also make androidic wings sprout out of his back.
However, because of his history and beaten down personality, his expression is usually sad and/or brooding.

Personality: In his past, when he was but a 'boy' in the dwarven capital, he was like any other dwarf, laughing, brawling, and merrily quaffing the days away. However, after developing his engineer abilities to the point that -like what he became- he had complete mastery of machine and all related, he chanced upon the secret of immortality. As yet young and rash, he immediately experimented on himself, and he succeeded. But only later did he discover the drawbacks: all his friends and loved ones dying, not being able to settle down, and so on. This slowly but surely beat his personality down into a sad and brooding wretch, although, once more time passed, he began to appreciate jokes and merriment again (albeit tempered by a thick veil of depression). This is how he is now. He also learned the value of patience and diligence, and once he commits himself to something, he'll never back down, never surrender. Also, though it's hard to sway him, he'll always keep a given word.

History: Cunicul was born in the dwarven capital, and, like his forefather before him, Cunicul was raised to be a miner and a jeweler. He was modestly good at it and has some reputation, but only after chancing upon a religious text about mystical engineering buried deep in a dry vein of rock deep underground did his true passion reveal itself- engineering. Being, at the time, the only one that knew about this art, this was treated with skepticism by the other dwarves, but, after much pressuring, his parents (being only fifty- I assume that's not much by dwarf years) allowed him to travel the world in search of others that might help him. Cunicul met the best human tinkerers and alchemists in their shining capital, and ventured to the elvish forest, where he met their best scholars and philosophers.

Spoiler

this is what he looked like at the time http://www.google.com/imgres?q=fantasy+ ... man.292321

Now aged one-hundred-and-ten, Cunicul returned, with great trepidation, to the dwarven kingdom. He showed the other dwarves how to work metal and materials with magic, and also how to create items. Years later, he started developing war machines, and the dwarves set about to conquer more land.
And yet, his first apprentice, Tito, backed by an eager cabal of dwarves, turned out to be greedy and power-hungry, and experimented upon himself using techniques Cunicul had been experimenting with to turn himself into a war-machine. He caused much destruction and panic, until Cunicul took it upon himself to stop Tito. A great battle ensued, and Cunicul, though gravely wounded and heartbroken, defeated Tito

Spoiler

The epic quote he spoke at the time"Tito. My one apprentice... you were my greatest joy. And now, I see I was wrong to put my trust in the living. I must retreat from this corrupt civilization

and fled to his secret laboratories underground, where he quickly perfected his formula for immortality and then fled to a land beyond the seas.
There is where he started a new civilization of robots and machines, though after centuries, he and other denizens of the land traveled to the now 'mended' continent, where he once again met with the greatest scholars and engineers. From them he was given the titles 'The Sorrowful One', and, for having created the first sentient robots, 'The Creator'. Many of the living traveled back with Cunicul, and his land is now a mechanical, perfect utopia.

Spoiler

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=technological+city&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=vM3PN4FG_LEPDM:&imgrefurl=http://kenyans411.blogspot.com/2011

There Cunicul remains, perfecting himself and his creations, writing books and creating yet more wonders, observing the living world from afar.

Spoiler

Hope this is enough

Magic User/ Commoner: Cunicul is the most powerful engineer the world has and will see. 'Master' is an insult to him, if you will. He can create the closest approximations to life a machine can get at, he can craft cities with his imagination, nothing that is mechanical eludes him.

Social Standing: Cunicul is the leader of Techna- his word is law. He is exempt from taxes, however everyone else pays them. He is the head of the Great Council of Techna, composed by the representative(s) of each race that lives in the empire, and before passing any law, the whole council must be in favor. However, Cunicul does have the power to override the Council. The Council resides in a great mansion somewhat outside the city, and is the home of all the judges and functionaries in Techna. The other cities are governed by a delegate that answers to the Council (and, of course, Cunicul himself), and the cities have some degree of liberty in their decisions.

Home Village: Cunicul used to live in the ancient dwarf capital, all splendid jewels and gaping caverns, tunnels and crevasses. There were even underground streams

Spoiler

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=underground+city+fantastical&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbnid=t8Tr9w7_X0AMjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.architecture.com/Li

.However, once the aforementioned series of events ensued, he moved to his new capital, Techna. Cunicul lives at the top of a huge needle-like titanium-and-chrome 1000 m. tower, which also stretches underground for many kilometers; surrounded by lush meadows and an ornamental lake. All around rise imposing (but not quite as tall) skyscrapers. The city is nestled in a bay, with island-resort style archipelagos dotting the seas. Techna is an industrial hub for weaponry, mining, literature and the arts. There's a gigantic port with many fishing boats, proud sail-ships and even a trans-oceanic steamboat (the only way to get to Techna via the sea), the 'Queen Techna'.

Spoiler

Of course Cunicul's city would be more technologically advanced than others, he created technology

Up for Love: No.

Other: (if you feel I forgot anything in the template please put it here.)

Name: Cassandra (Cass) Burke

Race and Appearance: Human. 22 years old. A life of hard physical labor has given her a lean physique, along with the muscle-power of a small horse. Her skin is deeply-tanned from working in the sun. Pale blond hair and eyes the color of amber. Has a small round birthmark on her right temple. About five feet, nine inches tall.

Personality: Tough. She loves a good fight, but her quick temper sometimes gets herself and others into trouble. When nervous, she tends to become overly-cheerful and use large words incorrectly. Distrusts magic, to a certain extent, simply because she doesn’t understand how it works; she fears the thought of being turned into a stone statue.

History: Raised on a small farm, she was the youngest of five children. What her family lacked in money, they made up for in love. When she was fourteen, her father was killed by bandits as he traveled to the city for supplies. Ever since, she has had a deep hatred for thieves of any kind. She left home at the age of twenty, longing to see the world.

Magic User/ Commoner: Commoner, fairly skilled in fighting.

Social Standing: Peasant, aspiring to be a warrior.

Home Village: Her farm is on the outskirts of Prohyl, a city far to the south of the capitol. She used stand at her window and gaze over the treetops at the tall spires of the city buildings. Prohyl is known for its rich trade industry, specializing in the manufacture of weapons and armor; a nearby mining encampment has produced the necessary materials for decades.

Up for Love: Depends on the person and the circumstances.

Other: Her weapon of choice is her club, which is made of stout wood, but she will use almost anything as a weapon, if need be.


(I'll probably think of something else to add later, but I'll try to do it before the actual RP starts; I'm braindead right now.)

Spoiler

I hope this is ok

Name: Elona Scartul (Pronounced- El-oo-na Scar-tool)

Race and Appearance: She is a dwarf, since her husband died she has lived in near poverty so her clothes look like rags, she is very skinny and works very hard for money and food, she use to have beautiful long blonde hair, but a visiting human rapist cut it all off saying that it would probably make a heap of money. She has huge feet, almost exactly thirty centimetres long and is strangely tall for a dwarf, being one and a half metres tall. Her nose is strangely hooked and straight at the same time. Her mouth is usually set in a grim line. Her eyes although slanted with a slight elfish look about them, are her most dominant feature because of their strange colour, which is a strange striking purple.

Personality: Has a very bad temper and most people who know her don’t want to get on her bad side because she makes one hell of an enemy, but she makes a good ally, beneath her fiery temper, she is sweet, kind, caring and very loving, but only one person brought that out in her.

History: She is a dwarf woman who is 31 with a dead husband and three children named Varcity, she is 10 years old, Kartull, he is 7 years old and is named after his dead father, last is Darzalyn, he is 4 and was conceived a little while after his father’s death, two days to be exact, his mother had an affair with an elf, though he doesn’t know about that, most people say that he was just a little late, his father doesn’t know that he made the dwarf woman with whom he pleasured himself pregnant and doesn’t know a thing about Darzalyn, his brother and sisters father, Kartul, was killed by an earth quake in which many stones and boulders fell, he got squished by a boulder. Her mother and father were killed in this same accident.

Magic User/ Commoner: Commoner

Social Standing: Lowly Apprentice to a master maid.

Home Village: Lives in a small underground dwarf village very far away from the dwarf capital, not many people live here because it is far away from civilization, but there is a baker, a smith, a few nobles and a few commoners.

Up for Love: Yes

Other: very skilled with the dagger/knife.

Cunicul ~ at the top of his tower

"Balance and chaos," I mused, stroking my beard. "Eternally intertwined, always struggling for power." Wind whipped at me, and I could smell the sea-spray all the way up here. "And yet, I sense a disturbance in the flow of magic... the Seal has been broken."

I gazed out at the twinkling sea below me, metallic ships glittering in the sun. The bustle of the city was quiet. Peace reigned, disturbed only by the howling winds.

I snapped my finger, and a metallic eagle soared downwards from the sky and alighted onto my outstretched hand. I would have to act quickly if I wanted to preserve the balance, lest all will be lost.

"Go," I commanded the eagle. "Find the Masters. Bring them to me."

With that, I launched it into the air. I observed it's spiraling ascent until it became a speck, then I could see it no longer.

"Hurry, Masters," I muttered. "For we have much to discuss. The fate of the world is in our hands."

Gestalt | The Capital City of Techna

Having sailed from Hinewai, it was only a matter of time before Gestalt found the bay of Techna. Having negotiated with the Captain of the Queen Techna, Gestalt boarded the ship after fastening his own vessal, considerably smaller, to the stern of the craft. He was not an unknown presence on the craft and found himself there for the second time in 25 years, though under significantly different circumstances. As he sailed through the calm waters, he remembered his experience from the quarter century past. The Queen Techna, being a converted battleship, now powered by steam as opposed to coal, was one of the main targets for the aggressors during a civil war that raged between islands in the sea that lay between Hinewai and Techna. Gestalt, sent for "Damage Control" by the Human military, remembered the coasts in flames as sulfur based explosives burned under water and through the keels of boats that held refugees attempting to flee the tight circle of islands. The ship had made considerable recovery since, and he marvelled in how quickly it had forgotten its past and embraced its future.

"Travel safely my friend," the Captain stopped him, offering Gestalt a handshake as he drifted off the ship. Gestalt rejected the outstretched hand, and instead bowed deeply to him, pulling his navy blue cape tighter around him with his metal appendages to prevent his cold titanium frame from being exposed. Gestalt saluted quickly before turning away, remembering the old Dwarf as being one of the few Captains to turn back around and rescue those trapped on the shore during the raging war 25 years ago. "And Gestalt, do watch yourself. With my age comes not only wisdom, but a sixth sense for danger. I can feel it in these old bones that something's amiss, and you would do well to tread carefully."

"Thank you," Gestalt replied simply, allowing his synthetic features to twist into a subtle smile.

In fact, the reason for his arrival in Techna was not for leisure like the tourists that thrived on the beaches. He had hoped to rendezvous with a Dwarf he had met at the beginning of his life, a Dwarf then introduced to him as Cunicul, but now known as "The Sorrowful One," to those Gestalt questioned. His own creator, a contracted Human engineer exploring the limits of artificial intelligence for the sake of warcraft, had pooled his knowledge with Cunicul, offering the underdeveloped Gestalt as an example of his work. Though it had been almost 60 years, and Gestalt had been upgraded and improved with the advances in technology, he hoped that their connection was not forgotten, and that Cunicul, a Dwarf of impressive reputation, could shed some light on the rumours of rising conflict that were whispered across the continents. Cunicil, of all creatures, could tell him whether he needed to brace himself for an abrupt call to arms, something Gestalt regretted to consider.

As he floated through the city, blending in easily, and listening to the words spoken around him by the denizens, he hoped to discover the whereabouts of Cunicil in a city that was unfamiliar to him. He was startled by the cry of a fabricated Eagle, turning it's head that was laced with gears in a convincingly lifelike motion as it rested for a second on the top of a railing before flying off again. However, it was not hard for Gestalt to see the maker's stamp on the surface of the metal, nor was it difficult to remember that it matched the one Cunicul had used when Gestalt had first encountered him.

Tracking the flight path of the bird, easily calculating the trajectory and flight pattern, something he had learned to do while fighting aerial battles, he figured the origin of the path to lie at a tower that rose from the tangled city skyline.

After navigating his way through the streets, he found himself at the base of the tower. It had not been hard for Gestalt, owner of a Diplomatic Clearance Pass, to access the residence of the Leader of Techna, as he knew Cunicul to be.

He rang the doorbell, an intricate snake of tubes, gears, and levers, and waited patiently.

Aeritius Elpariur - In a large Carriage travelling to Techna

Aeritius strummed on his mandolin as he rode along with his most trusted team. Daniel the Less than Wise an actor with a silver tongue and his apprentice manipulator, Jacob the Crimson a sword master and a master creator, and Justin Eagle Eye the worlds best Archer and Jacob's apprentice. The last two of his team David the Ever Dark a master engineer and explosives expert, Dayson Steel skin David's apprentice and wielder of a robot suit, sat outside driving the carriage, preferring not to listen to Aeritius play.

"So, Aeritius why do you think Cunicul is gathering magic users?"

I started playing more softly and turned to Daniel, "Your guess is as good as mine Daniel. But, Cunicul wouldn't just summon every master magic user and his apprentice for no reason."

Jacob looked at me questioningly, "You know something more don't you?"

"You have the most elaborate team of informants of any guild in any of the realms you know more than your telling." Justin looked at me quizzically.

Aeritius laughed, "You gentlemen have never questioned me before so why start now." I set down my mandolin put my elbows on my knee and looked at all of them. "Cunicul is the most ancient engineer he does as he pleases and seldom relays it all to us. I wouldn't question him even if I could you know he seldom leaves his tower."

"We're going because he says he needs us. I trust him and if it's a trap, well how could I resist the chance at a good brawl it's not like they could beat us."

Belen Atzaria|On the side of the road

At last, after days of walking, I had something interesting to look at. I could see the city now, its great towers rising majestically into the sky. When traveling, I always found it rewarding to finally see my destination, and although this particular journey was one of the longest I'd ever made, this view was worth it.

I contemplated the dwarf engineer's tower as I walked. Several days ago, as I was looking for something interesting to do, I saw Cunicul call throughout Pengiaria on those gifted with magic. I had immediately set out, glad to be starting a new adventure. I had, however, been quite far away when I heard Cunicul--too far to pinpoint exactly when he sent out his message. I hoped I wasn't about to arrive early.

I shifted my bow to my other shoulder. Although I preferred my longbow, I was glad I'd brought the short one. Without a horse to carry my extra things, a longbow would quickly become heavy. My short bow was lighter, as were its arrows, and it took up much less space. Because of my short stature, I always had to be careful not to scrape my longbow against the ground as I walked with it. Carrying a shorter bow eliminated that problem, as well.

Behind me, I heard a faint rumble--the wheels of a carriage. I turned around just as the carriage appeared over the hill, glimpsing two men sitting on the outside. I stopped, sensing four more inside, one of them an elf.

As the carriage approached, I waved a hand, to get the driver's attention. He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped next to me.

"Do you need something, miss?" he asked.

"Yes, if you don't mind," I replied. "You are going to Cunicul's tower, yes? Might I have a ride?"

Aeritius Elpariur - In a Carriage on his way to meet with Cunicul.

As I sat in the back of the carriage playing cards with Daniel, Jacob, and Justin, even though Justin, Jacob, and I knew we would lose because Daniel cheated, i felt the carriage come to a stop. I got up and went to the window that was in between Dayson and David, "What seems to be the problem gentlemen why have we stopped?"

Dayson turned to look at me, "another traveler to see Cunicul, Aeritius she wishes to ride in the carriage."

I ran my fingers through my hair."Who is the impetuous youngling that seeks to join us?"

I heard a female voice yell from outside the carriage, "I'm hardly younger than you Aeritius now stop acting all high and mighty and let me in."

"Bellen of all the people to run in to on this road it would be you." I let out a sigh of frustration I had met Bellen on many occasion, she was the only person I'd ever met that could hold her own against me. "Fine you can tag along but you simply must regale us with the tale of one of your more recent exploits. I've been so busy running a guild I never get time to go out in the field and slum it."

Rowland Montgomery; Fair Wind (Avelon)

The cake was good, a little on the dry side but still good and the elderberry wine helped with that. I brought the pewter cup to my mouth and drained off some more of the liquid.

"We should go," I said as I lounged in the armchair. It wasn't the first time I'd stated this opinion, not even the first time today. Unfortunately, Master Fitzgerald was too wrapped up in his own thoughts to take notice. He stood at the window of the small, stone hut and gazed out across the bay.

"A storm is coming," he said.

"I know, I felt it too. That's why we should go." Master Fitzgerald was the only person I was myself around: he'd quickly seen through my bumbling idiot act and had insisted I leave it at the door. In this house alone I was myself.

"No, not that. A real storm." The Master turned to face me, a weary expression on his face. "I must move the winds," he mumbled.

"But what about Cunicul?" I wanted to go. The village had been my whole life and I was tired of it and if I stayed there much longer, my mother would finally find someone to marry me off to. I didn't want that. Even with my abilities, it was difficult to keep the girls from falling in love with me because I was that good looking.

Okay, so it wasn't. But I still didn't want to stay.

"Yes, Cunicul. But what about our village, does he think of that?" Master Fitzgerald moved to the window again and raised his arms. I watched th clouds shift and dispense. I stood and moved to observe him more closely, it truly was fascinating to see the Master at work. "If we leave who will keep the winds fair and the harvest rich? Who will see that Mrs Parkin's baby is not still born?"

"So we stay and defend a single village while everyone else gets to defend the world?" It was a dirty trick but the man was crazy if he thought I was going to stay home and miss out on the adventure of a lifetime. The man was crazy if he thought I was ever going to be like him. So I used my magic to push him, just a little. I felt his mind bend even as he turned his eyes to the distant shore.

"There's no need for that," Master Fitzgerald said sternly. "We were always going to go." I stared at him, open mouthed. Playing the fool. It had to be done sometimes, even in here.

"We were?" I made my tone sound incredulous, but inside my head, I knew that was not the case. Without a push, Master Fitzgerald would never have decii=ded to leave home: it was part of my genius plan, to make him think the idea had been his all along.

"Pack your bag. We sail with the storm."