Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

It had been another trial of reviewing details uncovered by the Elements about the second cult chamber in Almund. Sephira was hunkered down in a spare office in the local Element’s hall reviewing paperwork and notes delivered that morning. The ceremony performed at the first site in Almund seemed to have been similar to that performed later in Scalvoris Town when she and several other women had been kidnapped. It seemed that the first attempt at the ceremony had failed, since the cult had simply sealed the chamber to cover the evidence. The woman needed to pay another visit to the site soon before making her report to the Militant.

Before she could make the attempt to leave, a small blonde haired woman turned the corner into the office with an apprehensive look on her face.

“Yes?” Sephira asked sharply, impatiently waiting for the woman to speak.

The blonde woman smiled nervously before nudging her head toward the entrance of the building.

“Do you mind speaking to a few recruits this afternoon? The other Assistants are out or on duty and the Deputies are in a meeting with the Militant. " Her squeaky voice sent a subtle frown across the soldier’s lips.

“I know that it’s not normally your job to do this, but we really need the help, just for a few breaks, please.” Stress reverberated through the small woman’s chittering voice.

Sephira put down the fountain pen she had been using and crossed her arms stiffly.

“I suppose, but just for to-trial.” She remarked begrudgingly. The mage huffed slightly before standing to unbuckle her saber Wyvern from her belt and set it on the desk. At least she could be comfortable while she was forced to speak with the new recruits. Wyvern‘s brass hilt gleamed beautifully in the afternoon light that was coming through the window behind her. Sephira also removed her crimson knee length coat and placed it on the back of her chair. She was left in angular black leather armor at her torso with a crisp long sleeve white blouse beneath it. The mage also wore matching black pants, gloves, and knee high leather boots.

Sephira waved the receptionist off with a flick of her left hand.

“Send them in.” She said with a laborious sigh. This was part of being an Assistant, being forced to deal with recruits and paperwork from time to time. Even if she was a Special Assistant to the Militant, Sephira supposed she would have to do this sort of thing eventually.

All that was left was for her to meet her first recruit.

The soldier across from Adam crossed her legs as he took a seat across from her at the desk. The mage reached across the desk with an open hand to take hold of his to give him a brief but firm handshake.

“I’m Special Assistant Blackwood.” The woman said sternly. “But you can call me Sephira for the moment.” The use of titles would come later if the man did indeed enlist with the Elements.

Sephira steepled her fingers as she rested her elbows on the surface of the desk. Her prismatic Attuner’s eyes regarded the man carefully. What she cared most about was getting a clear assessment of his abilities. Was he already a proficient fight, or was he gifted as a mage? The latter was far less likely since Sparks were so rare, but it was not an impossibility.

“So Adam, tell me a little about yourself. Why are you interested in enlisting?” The Rupturer sat back in her chair and watched him with an intense gaze that flared with hues of crimson and the occasional blush of blue.

“Do you have any skills that might make you of use to the Elements. We have four different branches and each specializes in certain skill sets.” Sephira continued to study him carefully as she explained the different divisions of the Elements.

“First there are the Land Troops, they are our city guard and infantry. Then there are the Water Troops who serve in as our navy, and the Air Troops who protect our skies.” The Element gestured toward the Flame Pin affixed next to the Onyx Special Assistant Pin on her lapel.

“Those of us in the Flame Troops like myself are specialists. We handle investigations that the other branches are ill equipped to deal with and we have the highest concentration of mages within our ranks.” A subtle frown crossed the mage’s pursed lips.

“Granted I believe we mages should be placed in our own division. It’s difficult to manage those with a Spark among those that are more...mundane.” There was no condescension in her voice. Sephira did not believe mages to be superior to Mundanes, only that mages required better care and management in order to be best utilized. The comment was mentioned in an off the cuff way, as if she was musing more to herself than to Adam, regardless she had intentionally allowed a small detail to slip to him. Sephira had made it clear that she herself was a mage, and was curious to see how he would react.

To test the waters, as it were.

His body language changed when he made hand and eye contact with Sephira as he slumped into his seat looked away momentarily breathing in deep and exhaling in such a way that his cheeks bubbled up as he forced air through his lips. Hed been smitten by powerful grief that resonated through his connection with Sephira. Adam sighed apologetically and started rubbing the back of his neck but he had to regain his composure even if his body language betrayed him as being guilt stricken, as he was connected on the same wave length.

He did what he did with the most effectiveness for himself in these situations and simply knot the emotion that was pounding on him with the most force. Hed empathically -attempt- to knot her guilt and push that overtly blue thread of Despair deep into her own tangle to try and make the turmoil within her subside before breaking his connection with the emotionally wounded soldier as he discontinued drawing in ether.

He knew better, then to play in that catastrophe long as he was slowly recovering his bearings. Assuring himself he was fine and good internally monologueing as hed been decked in the feels. He assumed she might have had to kill her friend or something, but her tangle was certainly traumatized and that was a can of worms Sephira had been hiding underneath her skin deep facade of calm discipline. But Adam could use this

It was both a blessing and a curse if Sephira hadn't resisted it. As despair and the emotional baggage that came with it disappeared in a way that people turned to drugs and alcohol. Being able to be freed temporarily was a high that not even ambrosia could adequately provide. Whether it was a whole minute, an hour or a day created the illusion as if the feeling of Despair could be melted away in the alluring presence of Adam Michaels.

A little psychological conditioning as he tried to boop those bad feelings away.

"Terribly sorry Blackwood I lost myself for a moment there, I'm afraid it would appear as if I've become so good looking that mortal woman cannot gaze upon my form.

I do not want to alarm you, but it would appear as though your eyes fragmented upon contact with my visage.

I did not want this to happen, please you must believe me!

Do not send me to jail for what I've done to you, I knew it was only a matter of time before I became too good looking. " on one hand he sounded apologetic on the other his ego beamed through the dimple of his cheek, was he joking?.

He smiled sheepishly still recoiling from guilt and remorse the threads of despair as he started getting into the swing of things, after all Adam Michaels was a professional dunse and this woman wanted to know what his ass-ets were as she evaluated him intensely like the delicious haunch of man meat he was, yes yes he thought drink him in. Although he did worry that if Sephira stared into the sun for to long her vision might become impaired indefinitely, irreparably damaged. But his ego could not blame her for wanting Adam to be the last thing she saw, it would be enough for satisfy even the immortals for a lifetime.

"Aside from being ridiculously good looking, I got some unarmed ability. I'm good in the mount for a ground and pound if you know what I mean." As he snapped both fingers pointing at the special assistant with a wink and click of his tongue against the inside of his teeth

Adam felt like this was going splendid, clearly this element could see the quality in the stock before her! That it was clear as the two suns that he was perhaps the finest in all the lands. His qualifications he felt were unprecedented! He was the pinnacle of human achievement afterall, what all men aspire to be when they gaze upon the stars as his brilliance stood perched in twilight to guide the way for those willing to ascend to greatness.

The conversation stoked the flames of hot air that inflated his insatiable ego. Or perhaps it was the sound of his own voice, but hed nevermind such trivialities as he admired himself in third person.

As she pointed to the pin on her lapel and how she spoke of the flame troops, clearly he could surmise the bias in the fair ladies voice. The other branches were shitty; clearly for lesser pleebs with there runners up trophies.

Adam Michaels was so diluted so absolutely bat shit crazy hed forgo the number one rule of empathy; don't tell people you got that shit. But he would not fall prey to the trap of mediocrity no hed clamor himself to this woman's level or be left in the dirt and his Ego found this unacceptable as it writhed within. No he would be recognized as her equal !

Hed of been scared if she had said this before hand, but there was no indication at the time she knew he was a mage unless perhaps she was so disciplined that he couldn't feel her emotions yet he did.

"Yes us mages, it's often sad and ~lonely "


Ooops, it was Vuda all over again although miss Blackwood was a welcome change in scenery. He wouldn't mind being underneath her heel for while. His ego felt adequetly confident shed be eating out of the palm of his hand in no time

Whether or not Adam realized it, Sephira Blackwood’s mind was less of an open book and more of a steel trap. The woman was at constant odds with her Rupturing Spark, and had taken to using the careful application of discipline to keep herself in a stable state of mind. Adam’s attempts at altering her Tangle were met with resistance granted he was slightly successful. Although that success was enough to send a strange niggling sensation through her that instantly sent her on edge. The guilt she felt as a result of her part in the collapse at the docks was a constant companion that dwelt quietly at the back of her mind. For it to fade or flicker for even a moment was enough to make the mage snap her eyes up to gaze intently at the Empath.

Almost instantly Sephira began feeding Ether into her Attunement Spark, and began employing Static simply out of reflex. At least with Static active, the Empath would have a more difficult time accessing her emotions again.

Sephira’s eyes flared, flashing from dark hues of black, to crimson and blue as she silently analyzed what had transpired within the last few trills. The recruit continued to speak, droning on about how terribly good looking he was, especially to mortal women. The Rupturer stared at him with a wild barely restrained fury in her eyes. Something had changed in her mind...in her emotions. She was disciplined and almost constantly aware of her emotional state. Finally after a bit or so of him mulling over how handsome he was a sentence exited his lips that confirmed her suspicions.

“Yes, us mages, it’s often sad and ~ lonely.”

There were only two things in Idalos that immediately set Sephira’s blood to boiling: Rowan and mages who selfishly and foolishly used their magic.
It happened quickly, ether sang into her Rupturing Spark as it awoke, setting her eyes alight with a crimson glow along with the strange markings on her skin beneath her blouse. The markings had been a result of her time in Sweetwine Woods last season and they shared the same radiance as her Rupturing witchmark. The soldier snapped to her feet and her hand was on her saber before she even realized it.

Ether parted with an ear shattering boom as she vanished in a flash of red light and reappeared just in front of Adam on the other side of the desk, kicking her booted foot out and pushing it against his chest to hopefully knock his chair to the ground and pin him there.
She angled her saber Wyvern toward Adam, intending to hover a foot or so from his pretty face.

“Lesson one...” She hissed through clenched teeth as she stood over him like a specter with glowing eyes and luminescent scarlet tattoos.


“Never abuse your magic! If you plan on being an Element you will only ever use your abilities to protect the people of this island!” The woman growled pitilessly. Sephira breathed sharply, she hadn’t been this furious in a long while. But for a mage to march in her office, and a poke and prod at her mind, she had never expected something like that to ever transpire.

After a few trills had passed the Rupturer seemed to cool off faintly, looking at him with a faint trickle of pity in her eyes. He reminded her of herself when she had been much younger. When she had treated her magic like a toy to be used for her own whims, and not a valuable and dangerous tool.
Sephira sighed and stepped back, giving Adam room to get to his feet. Wyvern clattered on the desk where she threw it wearily.
“Sit down.” she commanded in a severe tone.

Outside the office, the receptionist from earlier peeked fearfully around the corner, her legs shaking. Thankfully Sephira’s witchmark had dissipated, although her tattoos continued to glow softly as she maintained the use of Static to defend her mind.

“Is...is everything okay?” The thin woman asked fretfully. Obviously everyone in the building had heard the portal opening, which wasn’t surprising.

“We’re fine.” The mage replied sternly. “Close the door please.”

With that the receptionist bolted back down the hall after fearfully snatching the door closed.
Sephira leveled her gaze at Adam, her lips pressed into a thin cold frown.

“Tell me what you really are Adam, mage to mage. Maybe then, we can talk about your future.”

Other mages were the trickiest lot for Adam to try his hand on magic with. And while what should have been the most subtle technique in his arsenal it had been sniffed out as quickly as it had been applied, and it was assessed that he had In fact acted with malovelent intent as her skill in discipline the impenetrable shield it was had also detected a change in her emotions alerting her to magic intrusion. It couldn't have been the grand master seducers valueless charms that made despair melt away; no that bewitching facade was easily dismissed and seen through as the charade it was.

Thus as he admitted to being a mage it was clearly discerned as magical induced treachery as it was the work of an Empath the rarest spark on Idalos. As the imediate burden of proof of his wrong doing was his truthful admittance of being a sorcerer chastised and misunderstood much like herself.

It came suddenly and without warning as the irate flame element tapped into ether with a deafening boom that had shocked and disoriented Adam as Sephira had managed to teleport in front of her desk and kick the man clean over with his chair as he tried to be silly and charming. He was not prepared to be met with ruthless and violent force as the unveiled Empath had met his reckoning.

As Adam lay on the floor flabberghasted and in pain from being kicked in his chest he realize there was a saber pointed at him as hed finally collected his bearings, welp if one thing was to be said about blouses and glowing tattoos the view he had from his vantage point on the floor was impeccable. If Adam would go out it would not be without a smile, that was for certain.

Hed been verbally scorned but was pinned and didn't say anything in return as his ears were still ringing and he was still in a state of shell shock, Adam wasn't going to push his luck as hed thoroughly been had. His skill as a lack luster grand master was of no relevence, it was a no contest.

Although the statement seemed double edged from his point of view. Although his view consisted of a lovely pair of leather boots.

He could breath with a sigh of relief as her sword had been flung on the desk, and she told him to reclaim his seat as he did so visibly a bit shaken from his encounter and his misjudgment of the situation.

Sephira asked him what he was again? Shed acted so brash and brazenly he almost thought it was a trick question, but maybe he still had cards to play probably with the same fruitless result but still if she had to ask he could take advantage and explain it in his favor.

"I already did?

But it seems you know more about it then me, you said you wanted a place for mages and understanding them but clearly your actions seem counter productive. I am an intelligence gatherer and my magic allows me to feel the emotions of those around me, I can detect lies etc.

And you were assaulting me with your negativity so I put it away temporarily your emotional burdens shouldn't be slathered on me.

I'd of told you all that sooner, but it seems you couldn't resist keeping your hands well boot off me." being attacked changed Adams demeanor a bit but there was something accusatory and disingenuous in his tone.

Hed work what his mama gave him though, rubbing where she kicked him letting her know visually that shed hurt him pretty good it wasn't an act or deception the throbbing of a forming bruise a very real thing her take advantage of. As Adam was twisting this setting the stage, making the scene appear as though an Ill tempered hot headed bully jumped to unprovoked battery.

But Adam was banking on something as he created the atmosphere for a guilt trip.

Adam had drawn despair deep into her tangle and knotted it into her subconscious mind, and guilt and despair were being pulled back like a metaphorical bra strap waiting to snap back into her immediate consciousness. It was simply a matter of when, the question really unknown to Adam as he was unaware of what had taken place as he broke his connection with her to avoid her turbulent and dangerous emotions. But the knot was still planted there, and her emotional outburst should have been enough to release it.

After all if her emotional well being was guarded against external intrusion was it also guarded from something internal? It couldn't have possibly been him.

Could it?

The Rupturer fumed behind the desk, wringing her hands in her lap while she listened to Adam’s pathetic excuse for violating the sanctity of her mind. Her Rupturing Spark rippled with a reflection of her own wrath but Sephira kept a tight hold on it and her emotions, all while continuing to maintain Static.

“So you can be useful, when you aren’t being an idiot.” She snapped icily at his mention of being able to detect lies and sense the emotions of others. That could indeed be a valuable asset to the Elements.

“I understand the pull of a Spark, truly.” The Rupturer replied firmly, her fiery crimson and black gaze fixated on his overly handsome features. Although Sephira seemed to look past every attractive curve, as if she was seeking to make out the man underneath the exquisite visage.

“I understand the drive to use it. It can make our lives so much simpler, but we must take into account the lives of those around us, and how our power impacts them.”

Sephira’s expression grew dark, and for a brief moment those memories from Cylus reemerged. There was a subtle crease of her brow and a tensing of her lips that might give away the emotion beneath the frosty mask she wore to fool onlookers. But, perhaps Adam could pick up on such minute facial movements that implied emotion even if she was shielding her mind with Attunement.

“People are afraid of us, and rightly so.” The soldier stood and turned her back momentarily to Adam to look out the window where occasionally civilians would pass by. Sephira crossed her arms and continued to speak. “I can travel to anywhere within sight in an instant, see through walls, walk through the sky and open portals over vast distances. I can also attune to people and objects to glean information about their past...even track them indefinitely, no matter how far they run. How scared do you think they would be of me if they knew what I could do?” The woman said tightly before turning to meet Adam’s eyes.

“How afraid do you think they would be of you Adam, if they knew that you could walk into their minds...toy with their emotions and see through all of their lies?”

Placing her hand on her desk Sephira lowered her head for a moment. These were thoughts that she had mulled over for so long and now they were spilling out in front of a damned recruit.

After a few trills she glanced back up at him. “This is the world we live in. We are mages, and we are dangerous, but we can be so much more, but it starts with protecting them.” She spoke while gesturing toward the window where more people continued to pass by.

“We can show them that magic can be used responsibly and effectively, by highly trained and disciplined mages. You can be a part of that, if you learn to reign in your Spark and use your abilities only when necessary.”

The woman waited, standing with her arms crossed tightly against her body hoping that Adam would give her the answer she wished to hear.