Jiri's First Sonnet

LionHeart stands at the heart of a door
Risking a life that's beyond its repent
Blessing a dignity that lies at his core
Waiting eternity at his descent
Bravery follows his sword and his shield
Pointing a path filled with darkness and light
Holding a power a hero could wield
Grasping for peace in the midst of his fight.
Desperate hands grasp the noblest of cause
Reaching together but always alone
Noble defiance without e'r a pause
Wishing the hand so that he might atone.
A door and a life is what keeps them apart
behind it she holds the last piece of his heart

Travelers Song

At the edge of the Uldrak region running along the three dragons river, there exists a small village known as Jiri. The village is a simple farming village, and is fairly prosperous with its crops and lumber trade, though like all villages it has had its fair share of tragedies as well. Not long ago the village ran afoul of a plague, a wasting disease that spread over the land and infected man, beast, and wildlife alike. The plague was very contagious, and those catching it usually distanced themselves from there peers in hopes to save friends and family. Within the village was a young man, one of eight sons of a distinguished farmer. The young man, like so many of his age, had dreams of leaving the village and traveling elsewhere, though he knew those dreams were only that. He had a duty to his family, and though he longed for a different life, he was born into this one for a reason. Unfortunately for the young man his dreams were cut short. He saw the signs of the plague within himself quite early, and with a heavy heart told his family he would be leaving the village to find a nice quiet place to meet his end. The young man walked for three days, following a stream connected to the Three Dragons River until he found a nice, cool shaded spot with good tree cover and flat stones for him to rest against. The young man had packed lightly, only enough food for a week or so, since he knew the plague would have claimed him by then, and he doubted that after a day or two he would have much of an appetite anyways. At first the young man thought that his last days would be lonely, except for a few hours of him arriving he was greeted with the beautiful song of a yellow tailed songbird. Across the stream, high atop a tree he saw it, and was comforted by its beautiful soft tunes. Time progressed slowly, and as the days passed the plague grew within the young man, slowly consuming him. It was painful, but he was always refreshed by the same, sad song every day. As the days progressed the land around him began to spoil, the plague either catching up to him, or exuding off of him to corrupt the surrounding land. It was hard for him to move at this point, though he did his best to scoop up some rocks and throw them at the bird. The thought of that song being the last thing he ever heard was a comfort, but such a kind creature deserved a better life than succumbing to such a fate. The bird flew away at the assault, but would always fly back, singing that song across the stream. It wasnt long before the young man could no longer move, and he knew by the tone in the birds voice that it too was infected, as the all the land around him had grown sick. He was saddened the bird had fallen ill, but was happy to hear its tune, even as it faded by the hour. Time passed, and the birds singing stopped. The mans heart was heavy, but his life was slipping away as well, his vision had become dark. As the last of the mans breath escaped him, he heard the bird sing one final, short song, as soft as the wind. The man smiled, and sighed out his last breath as the birds tune faded as well. The man found himself afloat in a sea of silver, shapes of the world moving past him, and he knew that he was being swept away to his final rest, but as he was swept along in the eternal river he heard that enchanting song, and he looked over to see the bird keeping pace with him. He smiled at the bird and said to it sadly. "I want to travel" the bird chirped cheerfully as if to say "I want to sing." The young man smiled. "Lets keep our dreams alive, you and I." reaching out his hand, he touched the small songbird. Jiri woke up upon the rocks and blinked. The land around him was barren and wasted, but the wind was clean, and the stream gave everything a nice fresh smell. Stretching his wings and arms he smiled. The world was a place to wander, and he had a song to take to everyone that would hear it. Sure there were alot of questions, but Jiri had but one answer. His Song. Chirping cheerfully the newborn hengeyokai took wing and sailed into the sky. His travels took him far and wide, and within a couple of days he passed over a small, destroyed village. Whatever foulness had came through here had taken the people of this land, and though he had never seen this village before, he felt he knew it somehow. Jiri circled it once, then twice, then lifted a song in the honor of the dead and began flying north.

Life of a Student

Premise -

College Life -

White Tower - An esteemed college for elite arcanists, the courses are extremely difficult and those graduating through the advanced course often have an extremely bright and productive future.

Novice - The novice class is a broad class of all newcomer students, classes are common to all students with a few advanced classes for those extremely gifted. Novice studies last up to 6 years, though all students must pass a base course.

Intermediate - The intermediate course is the primary course, a three year course where novice students are turned into 20 member classes. Those completing the Intermediate course can be considered graduates, though they recieve no guild ring. Graduates of this level can still expect a fairly good career in the study of magic.

Advanced - The advanced course is a two year course that can be made available from the remnants of the intermediate classes. The remaining students are given special training and assignment, and many of these tasks and quests set them up for there future jobs.
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Things of Interest in the Academy Sector of Alborine. - Students within the various colleges in this section of Alborine are expected to utilize the surrounding establishments. Room and board are usually taken care of by the individual academy or institution, though other businesses do make money off of the students. Some of the shops can be pricey, but they are all trusted and honest in there wares and goods, so they tend to be the go to establishments.

- The Timely Rose - A high end tavern and bar. They tend to be a bit pricey, but there foods good and the wine and ales are of a higher standard. The establishment is owned by an aged wizard named Eliriah the Gestalt, She's a human and said to be at least 60 years old or more, but appears to be in her 20's. She has red hair, is lively and energetic, and can always be found at her establishment.

- Paper Works - Paper Works is owned by a hill dwarf craftsman. He creates various types of paper, as well as book bindings and covers. Ambrose of the Tradestone clan owns and operates the business. Aside from paper goods he also sells various inks, quills, and other writing goods. In addition Ambrose buys and sells unique books, and has a nice little library tucked away in his shop, though he only sells his books in small numbers at a time, to keep customers coming back to check on his selections.

- Ellys General Store - This small general store is ran by Elly Summerwill, a young and energetic gnomish woman. Elly sells various general goods as well as a special stock of potions, scrolls, and other expendable magical goods when she can get her hands on them. The store is pretty small, and her stock is fleeting, but she can come across some pretty rare things once in a while and her prices are alot more fair than other shops in the area.

- Demons Pearl - This is a small, quiet bar. The Demons Pearl is a quiet place for those to come and drink, and they sell both alcoholic beverages as well as a number of exotic beverages that dont contain alcohol, including teas and rare juices. Demons Pearl is owned by a practicing warlock named James of the Burning Woods, an ex candomian soldier who ran into some trouble. He's a grim kind of man, and likes his bar quiet, but the atmosphere is pretty relaxing, and many students come to the bar to study and contemplate.

- Expeditious Retreat - This is a nice lively bar. The atmosphere here is usually cheerful and upbeat, and its the prime choice for students to let off some steam and have a good time. The Retreat is a two story building with a balcony on the second floor, a bar from the main floor serves both areas. The Retreat is owned by a middle aged human man named Alexander, though most just call him alex. He's an easy guy to get along with, and can always be found at his bar.

- Thorns Apothecary - This is a small shop in the center of the mages quarter, the apothecary sells various forms of poisons, drugs, and potions. True ownership of the place is unkown, and the attendants running the store change constantly. Thorns Apothecary has fair prices, and is known as an excellent source for potions and poisons.

- Arcane Oddities - Not an actual oddities store, the Arcane as most students call it, is a component, potion, and magical relic shop. The Arcane is extremely pricey, but rare items of all kinds can be found here, from wands and staves to the occasional magical ring and rare tomes. The stock varies constantly, and its a popular place for both students and mages in the quarter, though few enter its doors without a couple thousand coin on hand, at the very least.
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Set up for the white tower classes. -

There are three main classes in the white tower, as a new class graduates another set of students is accepted into the intermediate ranks, though there are usualy enough teachers on hand to elevate a group every year, though sometimes students are made to wait until suitable and available mentors are ready. The characters belong to Class 2, and the Teachers name is Master Surellacath, a dark elf generalist wizard. He is a calm and patient teacher, and is considered one of the wisest in the white tower.
Student Roster - There were more students, and most classes begin with 20 students, though they get weeded out with tests and exams, the following is a list of those that made it to the end of the intermediate term.

1 - Matts Character - Final test results and personal evaluation pending.

2 - Vics Character - Final test results and personal evaluation pending.

3 - Grim Well - Black Dromite Necromancer - Suprisingly good at magic, and bad at the academic aspect. He has struggled along and made little friends due to his odd nature and mannerisms.

4 - Nara - Wilder Elf Abjurer - Not very good at academics, but she has the best grasp of defensive magics of anyone within class so far. Specializes in warding and sealing magics, though she knows a few offensive spells to balance her out a bit. Wants to become a court spell duelist, and has already recieved some attention from various noble houses.

5 - Edward Sky Crest - Human Generalist - Tactical genius and power house in the academics department. Is a smart, social young human from candomia nobility. Is a fair arcanist, though his origin dealt more with academic training than magical training, still he understands magical theory better than most, and is an excellent researcher.

6 - Zui the Mirror - Human Illusionist - Supposedly descended from a renowned uldrak illusionist, Zui is a charismatic, friendly and popular student. She is very small, though her magic and academic standing has remained near the top during most of the classes existence.  Her honored name, The Mirror, is a name given to her by her family for following in the steps of her ancestor.

7 - Kurai - Hengeyokai Diviner - Another native of uldrak, Kurai is a Raven Hengeyokai. She is somewhat intimidating, but very beautiful. She is fairly studious, and has always maintained good marks. Kurai carries an odd sword with her, she says its a keepsake of a human ancestor. Most believe she has had martial training, though few know her origin for sure, as she's a very hard lady to approach.

8 - Kherathis Ice Drake - Human Transmuter - A native to Raven Spire, Kherathis is a tall, lean man, though he looks formidable with his broad shoulders and typical raven spire features. Kherathis has always gotten average marks, and is a fair user of transmutation magic. Kherathis studied with war mages from his homeland and learned a decent amount of magic before joining an the white tower.

9 - Rahjion - Shadow Elf Conjurer - Rahjion is an odd, but powerful conjurer. His academic studies have always been hit and miss, but his magical studies are fairly well rounded. He knows a good deal about his chosen school, as well as having learned some of his races secret magics. Rahjion has had extensive magical training in the past, though keeps much of what he has learned outside the school a secret. Even though he has an outgoing personality Rahjion has few friends, theres just something odd about him.

10 - Ur - Human Invoker - Ur was a human barbarian who found his way to alborine by the will of Yun, or so he says. Ur is horrible at academics, but seems to get by on his amazing talent for combative magic. Ur says he has been doubly blessed, by both K'vatch and Yun. Ur started off as a pretty rough character, but over the years his personality has calmed down, and he's beginning to take the lessons of Master Surrellacath to heart.

11 - Ellerahna - High Elf Enchanter - Ellerahna is an absolutely beautiful high elf, though she has her races normal aloof and arogant demeanor. Ellerahna is a capable arcanist, and seems to know a bit of defensive and offensive magics as well as her specialty magics. She may be hard to approach, but she seldom turns down requests for help, and is always quick to aid others who are faltering in there studies, be it academic or magical.

12 - Reila - Spirit Folk Generalist - Reila is an odd, dangerous Oceanic Spirit folk. She has a horrible temper, and her powers are formidable. She may not be the most powerful of the students in arcane might or academic prowess, but she has a number of useful abilities she's picked up over her years. Most dont know what origin she hails from, as she seems to have had no formal training. All that is known is that she came from volasia, spawned near the ley lines leading out into the great ocean. Many whisper that Weyleywin has blessed her, or more hopefully, the twin godess.
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The Fall of the Sky Tower

In its summer months Alborine, the City of Dreams, can be a scary place. Each year the ocean offers up endless storms, powerful and dark, that turn the sky a sickly shade of green like a strange dwemer, or an old bruise.  Off the coast, far above the waters below, there exists a floating city, tall white sand stone towers peaking out from a large island like cloud. On this day, on the eve of a hot summer night, a lone thief flies at the peak of a white tower, her pursuer, a high elf in flowing robes and wielding a sword of lightning and fire makes her escape all but impossible. 

Arel Alurian chased the thief through the sky, his spell of flight letting him pace with the powerful thief, though the woman was no mere thief, that much he knew now. Her escape had nearly gone undetected, and it was probably an accident that she passed over a sigil that alerted others of an intruder. Many had died in the battle that ensued, and Arel was fairly certain that his beloved students, and probably most if not all of his tower staff were dead or dying. The woman flew a bit above him and then stopped, staring back down at the man. Arel was not entirely sure of her true nature, for she was one of the changing folk of the east, one of the Hengeyokai. Her form was that of a tall hybrid black cat, piercing yellow eyes stared down at him, and she had an aura of power about her that he could not deny. She was powerful, he knew that, but she wasnt all powerful. Arel spoke to her as he flew a bit nearer to her, keeping his distance to the opponent. 

"You're a powerful adversary woman. I've met only a few that are your equal, but know that you have met your match. I cant promise you what will become of you, but i know that you must hand over what you have stolen. Those seals are meaningless. The temples they belong to have long been raided, those items are worthless, there purpose has came and went. All this damage, all this death, and your treasure is but a useless bauble." The two flew around each other in a circle as Arel talked. Both were on guard, and Arel could see that she was fixated on him, like a cat ready to pounce. When she spoke, he was suprised at how soft and feminine her voice sounded. "Arel Alurian, you are a fool. Seals designed by sheshensis, and here you think they have but one purpose. Are you so arrogant that you would lose your faith in the gods. The seals were created in the first age, and you think they were designed for temples built in the second age, that it was all some grand scheme. No Arel, even the priests of sheshensis have lost this secret, the fragments of it scattered so well that only a gods divinity could help mortals pick up the trail. For good reason too Arel, should you know the secrets of these seals, you would not rest until you had uncovered at least one of them for yourself. But my purpose here is two fold dear high elf, I certainly did come for the seal, as was my priority, but i also came for you as well." Arel narrowed his eyes, the grip on his sword was tight, and he mentally tested the magical ward the artifact was building around him. He would not underestimate this foe, he had seen the guardians she had summoned, all extraordinarily powerful, all sealed by his magics within the tower below him. He had not seen any of her personal power for himself, but he guessed she was more than some mere summoner, that she had far more tricks up her sleeve. She only payed partial attention to her words, though she had a soothing voice, he had a feeling it was one attuned to lies and deception, he knew the type, and would not be lured in. With a foe like her, he could not afford to lose any ground. He spoke to her curtly. "Foul Witch, whatever your plan is, whatever truths you tell with your lies is unimportant. You have made war against the high towers of Alborine, you have cast your spells against those of the most powerful courts, and you have murdered innocents under the direct protection of one of the Arch Mages of the White Tower. You wont survive this day, ill have that charm in my possession, and you'll lay ruined and smoking on the choppy waves below. I can offer you no leniency, it would be an error on my part. Prepare yourselves, ill let no more words slip past those lips." With that he gestured with his sword, Sky Fire, and blast of fire and lightning streaked out towards the witch, exploding in several cascades of crackling lightning with intermittent balls of fire. He was prepared when she appeared out of the blasts range, more than likely a teleportation or similar effect, and he was already upon her, a blast of lightning shooting from his hands and exploding over the left side of her body as he flew past her. The woman reeled from the damage, her leg and part of her arm were covered in burns, but she was surprisingly alive. She nursed her wound as Arel flew around her, he had taken some of the speed out of her, and more than likely she was incredible pain from the barrage. He kept up his attacks, blasting bolts of lightning towards her to engage her and not give her time to rest. He pointed his sword at her as he continued his attack and spoke. "Stop this now woman, continue this fight and i will seal and destroy your soul, surrender and i will make quick work of you. You will feel no pain and you may go on to your final reward. I give you my word. You cannot win, i sense your power, but I also sense your limitations. All your magic is back within the White Tower, your abominable demons chained by my spells throughout my domain. They cannot aid you, and no help will find you up here." The woman hissed through her pain and glared up at the man, but she spoke softly, and directly. "... This is true, all of my magic is back within that tower. But what else is in that tower I wonder..." Arel stared at her for a moment, he knew the ins and outs of his tower, and he had spells to scry upon it as he desired, there was little he couldnt find out about his property in an instant, and as he flew around he mentally scanned the tower, seeing everything he had expected, His dead staff and students, some dead guards, the bound demons all throughout the tower, and that was.. wait. Arel blinked, he hadnt noticed her before. How long had she been there? The woman smiled as she saw his expression change. She spoke softly. "Thats right, your daughter, tucked away and bound in an old closet. But safe." Arel's face reddened and he looked at the woman, quite ready to kill her now. "Enough! you do all of this and yet wish to sate my anger more by capturing my daughter and hiding her within my tower. Perhaps a trophy to pick up on the way out? Well you are finished Witch. Ill see you dead, ill see your soul destroyed, and ill see the world forgets of the pitiful Hengeyokai that  raised her magics against House Alurian. The woman grinned, more human than catlike now. ".. Oh Arel, I had no intention of keeping her as a trophy. I needed her for you..." Arel motioned, a slight gesture towards the tower. Arel couldnt believe what happened next, The White Tower, a creation of his and the Arch Mages of Alborine, exploded. All throughout the tower the witch's demons exploded with great force, each explosion rocked through the tower, destroying walls and blasting away parts of the tower in great flaming chunks. Arel blinked and flew towards the tower. "Essielle!!!" He screamed his daughters name, but it was all in vain, the explosions were absolute. Arel couldnt believe it, the witch had somehow caused her minions to self detonate, had she planned this whole scenario, but why? Those questions were some of Arel's last. A blast of green fire exploded through the right side of his chest, detonating out of his rib cage, and destroying that side of his body. Arel's vision dimmed as he fell, the remains of his body flickering in green fire. His eyes werent fixated on the victorious witch, but on the strange sight as he fell and his life escaped him. Off to the side, as he plummeted to the ocean below, chunks of fire and ruin fell with him. Today not only would house Alurian fall, but the White Sky Tower of alborine would fall as well. As the light faded from his eyes, Arel heard but one more sound, a soft whisper next to him. "You lose, high elf."