Young Writers Society

Chapter 1 - The Rumored Army

Notes for the group: Thea has her glider strapped over her back, but is not using it for the nighttime trek. Ani has her pet weasel Meanie-Mo uwu and he might pop out now and then pls, i need him (if your character would make note of it).

7. They've blown whatever cover they had and possibly whatever chance they had at surprising the army that they now know is very, very real. As they rush back through the mountains, hurried and hushed conversation takes place. They're going to have to decide what to do now, and they don't have time to consider all of their options. Eventually, they decide to take a longer (and fortunately, easier, but slower) way back to the guild. Mostly because the attackers are right on their tail and drive them into that direction and it's unaviodable at that point. It'd be harder to figure out how to turn around and face the attackers again.

After hurrying away and finally losing sight of the attackers for some time they stop to breathe. Vel heals Jay (his hip, mainly, because she can't heal all of him due to being very spent already), but as soon as she's done they get going again. It's another long, and this time, very quiet trek back to the guild. They go as fast as they can, but by the time they get there, the sun has begun to rise, and they can see smoke in the distance.

When they climb up to a point where there's no mountain obscuring their vision, they can see clearly what's up ahead: the guild is on fire, and burning to the ground. @AvantCoffee (Thea's POV) and @ScarlettFire omgomgomg this post aaaaaa

Chapter 2 - The Remnant and The Ashes

1. They hurry down to the guild, but they cannot see a single, living soul, and the building is blazing. They can only get so close before the smoke in the air starts making them cough and the heat of the fire becomes overwhelming. They have to back away - it's probably Jay and Vel who hold anyone back who tries to run in towards the fire, saying they'll die before they even get in the building from inhaling too much smoke.

I imagine they all retreat to some ledge, staring down at their home until the fire dies out. (Jay, who hasn't slept the whole night and was up the whole day prior, will pass out when they finally stop.) @Jaybird (Runi's POV)

2. When the fire and the smoke clears, they go down to what remains of the guild to assess the damage. All that's left of the main building is a shell of the lower two floors (the rest collappsed). They can't find a single living soul, but they will likely see remains of people, probably ones they know - but they will not see any signs of their master, Idina Lynn. They all wander around the remains of their home in silence (Jay would hang back, not that anybody would notice, and I imagine Vel might try to look for surivors, but after finding no one, do the same).

Eventaully, they all naturally gather in front of the main building w/out prompting, and there's a long silence. I... kind of want Han to break it, with a "...so what now?" if that'd be in character of him! If not we can figure something else out! But it'd stop there, at whatever he says. @Lael (Han's POV)

3. "I'm still trying to figure that one out," would be Jay's reply. In drawing attention to himself, I assume someone will aim a comment at him like "You led them here," and we can go from there. After accusations thown around and Jay explains himself, he'll eventually lift up his hands and be like "but I know when I'm not wanted," and try to ditch. I figure Runi might object, but in light of everything else it won't be a strong enough objection to keep him from leaving. As he turns to go Thea walks up and grabs his arm/shirt/something and tells him to stay. He's like fine, but Han has a point - what are we doing next, then? And thus, we hatch a plan. Thea mentions not finding any signs of Idina and Jay can express this knowledge I copy/pasted: Jay reveals that guild masters are being held prisoner so it’s likely their master is still alive. He heard a rumor of them having some kind of potion or poison that keeps people in a state where they're unable to use their magic, so that's probably how they manage that. That, and anyone who willingly decides to lay down their magic and pledge allegiance to the mage hunters is spared.

So they hatch a plan to somehow, some way, find Idina and/or other mages who survived. And that starts with climbing down the mountain.@soundofmind (Jay's POV) and @AvantCoffee

4. They pass a lake (tucked away in the mountain) thats water has started to glow an ominous purple-blue hue and fish are floating to the surface, dead. The trees around the lake look like they're starting to twist and deform, like they were shriveled and dead. It's disturbing, but it's also the closest and only viable place to camp out, and sundown is soon. As they settle down for the night and the others lie down to sleep, Vel and Jay have a short discussion about healing magic by the eerie glow of the lake, a little aways from the others. She offers to teach him, but he explains he's already tried, and she shares quietly that there might be a way to strengthen his magic, but it's forbidden by healers... and stuff we can get into in the post lol. They can just go to sleep after that if conversation doesn't develop elsewhere. @ScarlettFire (Vel's POV) and @soundofmind

5. In the midst of travel, a respite: Meanie-Mo gets into Runi's bag and starts eating some of the food and makes a bit of a mess. It's troublesome, because their food is already limited, but Meanie-mo is so cute Runi can't be mad for very long. Ani gets all chastizing-mother @ Meanie-mo. We need a "little meanie" pun in here because yes. Ani and Runi go out to find some more food to replace what Meanie-Mo nommed on. Some scavenging and/or hunting can ensure and maybe Runi opens up a little to Ani, who listens and offers meager, but hopeful advice/replies. It'd be refreshing to see a heartfelt and honest convo in the midst of food collecting. Note for setting: they're still in the mountains, but there are more flat places obviously if there's a lake, and there will be trees and plants and stuff. @Jaybird? (Runi's POV)

6. They're so close to getting out of the mountains but there's a difficult and unavoidable part they have to climb through. It doesn't require actual rock-face climbing but it is tricky. Jay leads the way (probably much to Thea's chagrin) and Ani and Vel follow. Thea struggles forwards w/Runi behind and Han in front of her. She ends up losing her footing and almost falling but Han catches her, both him and Runi help her to safety and stable ground, and Runi (mainly) helps calm her down. @AvantCoffee (Thea's POV) and @Lael and @Jaybird

7. They finally reach the bottom of the mountain. The rocky, steep terrain and the cliffs are gone. There's some rolling hills, but it's much more flat from here on out. When they reach the bottom it's close to evening. Velalis and Ani go out to find some food (Vel knows natural herbs and said she'd get something to make tea). Runi and Han go grab some firewood. That leaves Thea and Jay at the campsite and some things unsaid - Jay knows she doesn't necessarily want to send him off by himself, but now it's awkward. They're supposed to set up camp with their makeshift tents. Thea attempts friendly conversation - at some point compliments Jay's necklace and he just gives it to her, no take-backs. Maybe he takes off his poncho b/c it's warmer and that's how she sees it b/c usually it's underneath. He's not really attached to it so he's just like "okay take it." When Runi and Han come back with lots of firewood Jay, now with a slightly better rapport w/Thea excuses himself to go relieve himself in the woods but never returns. @soundofmind (Jay's POV)

8. Runi tries to get Han to open up a bit and talk. They end up talking a bit about their pasts and what they have in common and have a sweet moment around the edges of the campfire. Thea eventually interrupts with "We should really get some sleep" and convo dies down. Timeskip. In the middle of the night, Han hears a distant shuffling. Han is on watch and starts to wake Thea and Ani up, looking around but can't see anything in the darkness. There's a feeling of dread and like someone's watching before there's a sudden, sharp pain in the side of his neck. He can stumble and say a few things, but within 30 seconds, he'll fall down and everything will go black. @Lael (Han's POV) with @Jaybird

Chapter 3 - Thrown to The Wolves

1. Vel wakes up in a cell with Runi, cue convos and panic, confusion, all that. In the cell beside them, there's a young girl who tells them where they are and why they were brought there. That is, until Vel is taken out w/no explanation to another cell where a group of (human) healers who've been held captive at the games are forced to tasked with healing Vel's wing so that Vel can participate in the games - they don't have any harpies yet and they want to take advantage of that because of the "novelty" of it. Vel learns that the healers are tasked with healing injured and near-dead fighters to full health so they can go right back out into the games again the next day. It's very taxing, and Vel knows that more than anyone - especially since not all of the healers around her have as much experience or stamina as her. Vel gets healed and thrown back into her cell. @ScarlettFire (Vel's POV) with @Jaybird and @soundofmind

2. Thea wakes up in a cell with Ani and Han cue convos and panic, confusion again! They see what they assume to be guards walk by their cell, but they ignore them. They continue to talk until they hear a commotion outside - a barred window at the top of their cell opens up and light floods in. They can see into an arena, and two people walking out. An announcer shouts over the crowd, listing the magic of each mage stepping in, and it dawns on them what's going on. They may be able to tell that many of the observers in the stands are dressed like the army they saw in the mountains. @AvantCoffee (Thea's POV)

3. Runi is the first to get thrown into the games. She chops her long hair in the fight to escape from her opponent's grip and wins the fight. It's fight 'til knockout/'til the person can't get up anymore. (This is also when Runi finally snaps and there's a shift in her usual cheery attitude). @Jaybird (Runi's POV)

4. Ani's the next to go into the ring and is pinned against Kazimir, whom the announcer declares as their undefeated champion (he has electricity/lightning magic, which is considered rare). They have a fierce match, both putting up a good fight before Kaz gets knocked down. When on the ground he pulls Ani down to him and whispers to her quickly. First: "Pin me, or they won't buy it." Then tells her about a group of mages who escaped and are looking for people like her to join the resistance™. Kaz was trying to find them before he got dragged into this. Doesn't know where they are, but knows they're out there. Heard they might be in Gurak, somewhere hiding among the goblins but can't be sure. Then he says "this only ends if one of us gets knocked out" and Ani can clock him right there. Her victory would def cause a riot of mixed emotions in the crowd because Kaz lost (and technically let himself lose, so it's not as sweet of a victory, but also, Ani has important info now). @soundofmind (Ani's POV?)

5. Vel is put in the ring next as the only harpy, and the announcer definitely pitches it as something special: "see a harpy vs two werewolves!" One of them is Jay, but she doesn't know because they're both in their wolf forms. Her wings are bound so she can't fly away, but the moment the whistle blows to start the fight, he comes and instead of attacking her, snaps on the binds and breaks them and turns of the other wolf. He ends up fighting the other werewolf to keep Vel from getting hurt. Vel ends up flying out of the ring to attack guy in charge, gives others an opportunity to escape, she and Jay would hav to escape themselves - where Vel would swoop down in the ring, pick up Jay, and fly out. @ScarlettFire (Vel's POV) with @soundofmind

6. (at the same time as 5) The others are watching through the window as Vel is in the ring. When Vel attacks the announcer she creates a distraction, but the others still have to take advantage of it to get out. Han has an idea to create a distraction or something?... NOT SURE WHAT YET @Lael (Han's POV)

7. All of them are wounded/struggling, and Jay and Vel see the others (among other mages probably) and help them finish their escape? Don't know details on this yet but! More chaos - they run out but run into a big obstacle - a cliff, and the other way is blocked off by people chasing them. Vel is like "Hey, I can fly over it" and Thea can airbend but they can't carry EVERYONE out of there, so STRESS. Vel flies over, taking Han. Thea flies over with Runi. Ani has to hastily build a bridge of earth over the ledge but their pursuers are already on their tail and start to climb up behind them Ani and Jay (still in wolf form) make the leap as Ani makes the "bridge" crumble behind them and they roll over to the other side. @soundofmind (Jay's POV) and @AvantCoffee

Chapter 4 - If Only We Could Fly Above it All

1. They've been running for a while and finally stop. Everyone's still wounded, so Vel tries to heal everyone, but can't. This is where Vel has a moment where she kind of panics b/c she can't heal someone. She heals one of the group but can't heal everyone else, and cue sad harpy noises and reliving childhood trauma of not being able to heal little mouse. Ani gives her a pep talk and heart to heart while Jay tries to heal somebody and is only able to manage making like, some bleeding stop or something. Han steps in to help with taking care of wounds because he's knowledgeable of that stuff too. @ScarlettFire (Vel's POV)

2. Ani shares what Kaz told her. discuss how to move forward?

3. some rest between fighty things. bonding

4. more bonding

5. Almost get caught/killed again

6. Army of harpies swoop in?? i imagine that would make vel happy and i picture them only choosing to help b/c of vel and they save the others b/c they assume they are vel's friends

7.

EARTH BEING WACK
harpies are dealing with water being polluted and trying to find a way to filter w/their best water and earth mages

Chapter 5 - Goblins and Finding Their Guild Master (last one)

1. Run into Kaz and other mages from the arena/gladiator games that escaped

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5.

At some point in the final battle of rescuing Idina and others, Runi gets hurt to the point that she can't move (somewhere in a field). Jay is the only one who can reach her, and he uses the fobidden magic to heal her