NPC Name: Rikki Heine
Link: Here
Year: Second
Abilities: Sixth Sense - 413 words

Reducio

I talk with Lin in my bedroom.We sit on the bed and talk about the school year. We haven't talked like this for a long time. And to be honest, it is really cool. At school, we don't really have time to talk, especially since Lin had her O.W.L. this year. At home, we don't usually talk because Nico is always there to bug us. Today, I don't know what he's doing, and I think it's weird. I feel it's weird. I'm aware that it's there somewhere. Not far away. I answer Lin absentmindedly. She must have noticed because she asks me if I'm okay. I answer her that I am, smiling. I can feel Nico in the area, listening to us. Where is he? No idea. So I resume my conversation with Lin. Someone has stepped on the carpet in front of the door. I don't know how I heard it. Not very tall, this someone tried to be discreet. Nico. I get up and suddenly open the door. It's Nico looking at me, stunned. He asks me how I managed to hear him, Lin too, and I reply that I don't know.
A few days after this episode, Lin and I try to see what I can do. The idea is that Lin goes somewhere in the big living room and I (blindfolded) have to try to figure out where she is. With my eyes closed under my blindfold, I feel that she is on my left, sitting at the foot of the bookcase. I smile when she tells me it's true. We try again to see if it was just a fluke. Lin is now standing near the window and Nico has taken his place in front of the bookcase. My brother shouts in surprise, asking me how I knew he was there. I reply, "Sixth Sense" with a malicious look on my face. It's convenient since Nico won't be able to try to test my fear (which doesn't exist, by the way). He never startled me but it was boring. Now I'll see it coming!
After that, my brother and sister try to surprise me but I see it all happen. Nico hiding behind the door, my books placed in a different way on the shelf, Lin's fringes shorter by less than a centimetre. I even open my eyes before Lin and Nico have time to catch me sleeping. After three weeks, we're sure, I have a sixth sense.

Extracurricular: Broom racer
Trunk Coding:

Code: Select all

[quote][quote][center][font=big caslon][size=175][color=#0A1357]Trunk[/color][/size]
Sta • 6 | Eva • 7 | Str • 4 | Wis • 8 | Acc • 8 | Arc • 7[/center][/quote]
[quote][center][size=125][font=big caslon][color=#0A1357]Abilitie Year 1[/color][/font][/size][/center][reducio][font=big caslon][center][size=115]Fearless[/size]
_________________________[/center]
I'm not afraid of much. It's weird, my sister and my mother are freaks about life. It's a problem when I get the hiccups. They don't scare me. Some people say I have no reflexes. I think stupid boys who clap their hands in front of people are stupid. I can't help it, it doesn't scare me.
And of course my parents don't know why. So one day they took me to see a specialist. A specialist in fear. First he tested my reflexes: I didn't move. He showed me some pictures that my sister would call creepy: I found them weird. Verdict: I am almost insensitive to fear. If the specialist said "insensitive", it's because according to him, there must be something that will scare me. I don't think so. I think I'm more like my great-great grandmother. I heard she was fearless. I believe in that. But not the others. Well, they're not sure. I am sure and I know it. Like an intuition.
One day we visited an aquarium. There was a long gallery with a glass roof so you could see the fish. My sister was terrified. Even though she is 4 years older than me, I reassured her. Personally, I found this gallery magical. Just because I'm not scared doesn't mean I don't have emotions!
Some people think that when you are fearless, you want to scare everyone and have fun. This is not true. For me. On the contrary, I try to help others to face their fear. Sometimes, it's long and annoying but most of the time, it's conclusive.
There are those who say that fearlessness is a strength. Others say it is a weakness. I think it's a bit of both. It can be useful. In stressful situations for example. But it's also annoying. You can't exactly understand the fear of others. It's annoying sometimes. But it can also help. Not feeling a fear allows you to take a step back and realise that in the end it is an absurd and unjustified fear.
I understand that some people think my fearlessness is strange, impossible. But it is real, whole and I can't help it. I'm not complaining, of course. But still, it's not my fault that I'm not afraid of anything. When I think that my sister is afraid of almost everything. It's beyond me. How is it possible to be afraid of the sound of a tennis ball hitting the floor?[/font]
[quote][center][font=big caslon]473 words[/font][/center][/quote][/reducio][/quote]
[quote][center][size=125][font=big caslon][color=#0A1357]Abilitie Year 2[/color][/font][/size][/center][reducio][font=big caslon][center][size=115]Sixth Sense[/size]
_________________________[/center]
I talk with Lin in my bedroom.We sit on the bed and talk about the school year. We haven't talked like this for a long time. And to be honest, it is really cool. At school, we don't really have time to talk, especially since Lin had her O.W.L. this year. At home, we don't usually talk because Nico is always there to bug us. Today, I don't know what he's doing, and I think it's weird. I feel it's weird. I'm aware that it's there somewhere. Not far away. I answer Lin absentmindedly. She must have noticed because she asks me if I'm okay. I answer her that I am, smiling. I can feel Nico in the area, listening to us. Where is he? No idea. So I resume my conversation with Lin. Someone has stepped on the carpet in front of the door. I don't know how I heard it. Not very tall, this someone tried to be discreet. Nico. I get up and suddenly open the door. It's Nico looking at me, stunned. He asks me how I managed to hear him, Lin too, and I reply that I don't know.
A few days after this episode, Lin and I try to see what I can do. The idea is that Lin goes somewhere in the big living room and I (blindfolded) have to try to figure out where she is. With my eyes closed under my blindfold, I feel that she is on my left, sitting at the foot of the bookcase. I smile when she tells me it's true. We try again to see if it was just a fluke. Lin is now standing near the window and Nico has taken his place in front of the bookcase. My brother shouts in surprise, asking me how I knew he was there. I reply, "Sixth Sense" with a malicious look on my face. It's convenient since Nico won't be able to try to test my fear (which doesn't exist, by the way). He never startled me but it was boring. Now I'll see it coming!
After that, my brother and sister try to surprise me but I see it all happen. Nico hiding behind the door, my books placed in a different way on the shelf, Lin's fringes shorter by less than a centimetre. I even open my eyes before Lin and Nico have time to catch me sleeping. After three weeks, we're sure, I have a sixth sense.[/font]
[quote][center][font=big caslon]413 words[/font][/center][/quote][/reducio][/quote]
[table][tr][td][quote][center][font=big caslon]Broom racer • yes[/center][/quote][/td][td][quote][center][font=big caslon]Quidditch player • no[/center][/quote][/td][td][quote][center][font=big caslon]Duellist • no[/center][/quote][/td][/tr][/table][/quote]

PENDING - September 27th (edits due by October 18th)

Sixth Sense application - The first and last paragraphs of your application correctly describes the ability - it is like an extra sense to tell you when something is out of place. It is a matter of observation and just having a natural sense for this sort of thing. However the second paragraph of your application goes a little off base, and talks about being able to close your eyes and tell what object gets picked up by your character's sister or be able to tell what position she is in, which sounds more like being psychic rather than having a natural sixth sense for things being out of place/abnormal. Rather than practicing with objects right in front of her or closing her eyes and trying to guess what position her sister is in, try to elaborate on the parts about asking her siblings to sneak up on her - that she naturally notices when she is being watched/sneaked up on, or she is super observant of something that is out of place.

Also please remove the spells/potions section from your iNPC trunk coding. We don't include spells/potions in iNPC trunks to avoid confusion, as they should always match what the PC uses.

Mods done.

APPROVED - just remember that this ability only gives you a 25% chance to notice someone or something out of place.

PENDING - September 28th (edits due by October 18th)

Stats - you actually have an additional 5 stat points to distribute, to align with the fact that this character is human (as opposed to Koko being part-Veela)

Trunk coding - the trunk will need to include the actual ability applications as well, so please edit those into the code

APPROVED - new stats and new abilities, and extracurricular, added to trunk

PENDING - October 7th (edits due by October 18th)

Rapid Reviver application - currently checking with the team to make sure that the flavor of using plants is acceptable, will edit in more feedback when I get an answer

Potion Mastery application - brewing potions requires the use of magic, so you cannot say that your character was brewing potions outside of school before they even started attending Ilvermorny. However, you can say they studied potions a lot (they just can't be brewing them before/outside of school).

Follow-up 10/13
Approved Potion Mastery
Pending regarding Rapid Reviver due to use of herbs.

APPROVED (partially) - everything approved EXCEPT rapid reviver application, we received an owl asking to leave that out. an iNPC page has been created

NPC Name: Everett Brooks
Link: Shazam!
Year: 3rd Year
Extracurricular: Switching to Quidditch, Beater
Content Changes: None
Trunk Coding:

Reducio

Code: Select all

[quote][img]/images/upload/2u43fs.webp[/img][/quote]
[quote][center][b]|| Stats ||[/b]
♢ Stamina 10 ♢ Evasion 8 ♢ Strength 6 ♢ Wisdom 9 ♢ ArcPower 8 ♢ Accuracy 7 ♢
[revelio]+2 Points for Quidditch Win, +1 Point for Duelling Win[/revelio]
[b]|| Extracurricular ||[/b]
♢ Quidditch ♢[/quote]
[quote][quote][b]♢ 1st Year Ability ♢ Charmer ♢[/b]
[reducio]It was no secret in the US that the South was known for their charm and hospitality. This didn't stop when it came to Everett. In his pureblood family they had raised him from an early age to be an exemplary practitioner of this. There was no lady that would open her own door around him, no person to be left unescorted if they needed assistance wherever they needed to go. He was quite the, well... charmer. 

His smile left grandmas pinching his cheeks, and girls his age developing the cutest of young crushes on him. Although, he always had to politely turn them down due to his early discovery of his gayness. It really didn't come as surprise to anybody around him and he was lucky to be in a supportive environment, but generally he was still in the closet for the most part in his town. This almost added to his charm, the unattainable preppy boy. People tried to get him to crack, to be his first girlfriend, but they never succeeded and they always seemed to leave feeling dazed by his soft words and silver tongue. He was a horned serpent after all. 

In addition to his training in politeness and grace, he also spent unending hours in his families library, reading anything that he could get his hands on. Which wasn't hard, his library was huge and he was lucky enough to have the wealth that could get him any additional book at the snap of his fingers. This only lent a hand when it came to Everett's smooth talking and expansive vocabulary. Romance novels taught him to be suave, how to pull a girl in. Granted, they were adult tactics that he had to mold to suit his childish desires. A signature of his was greeting someone new with a kiss upon their hand if they let him. No gender was safe from this greeting, he believed anyone should get the joy of being pulled in by him. Not just the ladies.

Everett already had a pretty big ego for someone his age. Growing up with people around him giving him such high praise for such little things gave him the confidence he needed to glide through life without a care. Granted, he was learning the hard way that he could definitely trip up and fail in making relationships with others. Learning how to interact had been a slippery slope, but even then he managed to charm his way out of nearly every awkward situation. Or, if all else failed, just never spoke to that person again.
[right][i]Word Count || 432[/i][/right][/reducio][/quote]
[quote][b]♢ 2nd Year Ability ♢ Perfectionist ♢[/b]
[reducio]Everett felt lucky that he grew up in a household that always pushed him to succeed, but not to any degree that caused him an unneeded amount of stress. He was allowed to still be a kid, to mess up every now and again, with constant encouragement to try better the next time. It felt right that he ended up in the house of the Horned Serpent, the house of the mind and of scholars. It was a continuation of that encouragement to succeed, to always be doing better. 

While studying by the book was more his speed, his essays and speeches alike being his specialty besides spellcasting, as a wizard he knew the importance of doing well in his practical studies too. When he wasn't reading or writing, he was practicing. He took diligent notes in class about everything about a spell. While some saw the etymology of a spell as useless in casting, he saw it as another bit of information to help him perform the spell perfectly. Sure, he did love learning etymology in general, but he approached spell learning with a type of respect towards the craft. 

If anyone were to catch him, he would vehemently deny giving his wand a little pep talk before practice session. But his wand was his instrument of success, and his parents emphasized how important keeping a good relationship with your wand was, as if it was its own sentient entity. Every part of his spellwork took patience and dedication. There was no part that was undervalued, no part that was skipped. If he was in a rush to practice he didn't practice at all, for a rushed practice was practically useless to him. There was a mindset that was involved, a deep breath, and practicing the components separately. The incantation, the wand movement, the concentration, then all together. 

By no means was he a particularly naturally gifted spellcaster, it is why he practiced so hard outside of his studies. Something many of his friends didn't really even know about him. It wasn't something he was ashamed of, but it was something that he cherished in his private life. 
The countless hours of practice he would put into spells made backfires rarely happen. A well practiced headspace of his craft, muscles that had memorized every wand movement he had learned so far. To his classmates he seemed like a flawless natural, but he and his family knew just how much work he constantly put into his studies to succeed and fly above the rest of his class.
[right][i]Word Count[/i] || 427[/right][/reducio][/quote]
[quote][b]♢ 3rd Year Ability ♢ Paragon of Health ♢[/b]
[reducio]The young Horned Serpent was a keen people watcher. He quite enjoyed relaxing in a public area by himself to watch the others around him. His mom and himself quite enjoyed doing it during the hot Georgia summers, either at cafes or the occasional beach trip. While they did talk, she taught him how to notice different things about people. To look at a whole person, their movements, the way they stood, the look in their eyes, where they were looking. He valued his time with his mom and felt like that time with her helped him now in Ilvermorny. While he was absolutely a novice at reading people since he was still... well a child at heart. Sometimes he believed the best in people when they would later lead them astray. 

This keen skill of observation had turned into something else in his time at Ilvermorny. An aura of control over a situation, of calm and assuredness, surrounded him. Even in a group of Hogdorks during a Wizard Chess Combat, he stayed calm and alert as the [s]Princess[/s] Queen.  Despite one of his compatriots being constantly set on fire. He had taken the role of firefighter, putting her out as needed. Staying aware of who needed assistance. Who was moving as if they were injured, did someone need just some emotional motivation. He certainly was not winning any awards for extraordinary kindness, but when he was with people he knew he needed to take care of he would. It was something that always made him wish that he had younger siblings, people to take care of from a young age so he could've harnessed this skill at an earlier age. With parents by his side all of his life there was really no need for it. But Ilvermorny had changed him for the better, and going into his third year he was getting better and better at being competent for others.

In times of stress or strife he was there for the people that he cared for, they could trust him to be the one that was hypervigilant, in control. Inside he would be stressed out of his mind, panicking at trying to maintain a collected composition to lead everyone to safety, or to victory. But it was a burden he happily took upon his shoulders. It was something that made him feel capable, like the leader that he was meant to be. 

If you were by his side you were taken care of and that was a fact.
[right][i]Word Count[/i] || 421[/right][/reducio][/quote][/quote]

APPROVED - trunk code updated with new extracurricular, position preference noted

[center][/center]
[quote][center]Stamina: 9
Evasion: 8
Strength: 6
Wisdom: 8
Arcane Power: 6
Accuracy: 9
[revelio]Total: 46 Stat Points[/revelio][/center][/quote]

[quote][center][b]Broom Racer[/b][/center][/quote]

[quote][quote][center][b]Ability 1: The Muggle Condition[/b][/center] [reducio]
[b]Why does it fit my character?[/b]
Theo had no idea of magic before he was told of it and it had opened up a new world to him. He does not longer waste time on muggle abilities, which he can easily replace with magic, but he had to for eleven years. 
The young boy grew up in the muggle world, visited a muggle kindergarden and a muggle pirmary school. Whe he had still visited school, his only target had been to get to the best possible secondary school. And then magic got inbetween. But since he had never expected it, he acquired the skills that one just learns when one is young and spends a lot time with other boys. Not to mention simply loves to provoke others. And just can't resist to put a toe across the boarder, as soon as the consequences become acceptable.

Theo knows how to throw punches. He knows how to physically fight. He even learned how to do it secretly, after it got him and his parents in front of the principal a few times. 

Although he doesn't necessarily need those skills anymore, now that he learns many very interesting spells, he has noticed, that thisseems to be exactly what all those purebloods are thinking. They didn't think it would be necessary to acquire certain skills that might be more important in the muggle world. Theo simply loves to get them by surprise through easy muggle tricks. 

Just before he went to Ilvermorny, he even took his time to learn simple muggle card trick to brag. It works perfectly and he is extremely proud of it. 
Through simple muggle games, Theo has made himself a name at Ilvermorny, used his bloodline for his own advantage. 
Sometimes he questions it. Sometimes he thinks that something might be wrong with him, as there are only very few muggle borns at Ilvermorny, secretly of course, Theodore Duncain has no insecurities. 

But in the end he is a creative and optimistic boy. He can see opportunities in almost every bad situation. Theo knows a lot about muggle technology as well and he just likes to show off the aditional knowledge he has. Of course he made sure to inform himself about the magical world before he started to  show his knowledge off, it would have been embarassing if someone could have shut him off with one seemingly simple question about the wizarding world. No, Theodore Duncain, the muggleborn would not stop trying until his circumstances helped him go up in the 'hierarchy' of students.[/reducio][/quote]
[quote][center][b]Ability 2: Calming Presence[/b][/center][reducio][b]Why does it fit my character?[/b]
Theodore grew up, always carrying the responsibility one automatically carries being the oldest kid amongst a bunch of younger siblings. It was him, who was responsible for looking after the three others on their way to school, him, who made it his task to be there for his little sister, the only girl, as much as the two other boys, as hard as it was for a while. He always valued the bond he had with his siblings, and it was undenyable him, who convinced the three that they were invincible as long as they stuck together.

That dream image didn't quite work like he hoped it would. Theo's siblings would stick with him- but seperately. Amongst themselves the twins and Anabelle were almost indifferent about one another. It was Theo then, who tried to be the counterpart for Anabelle, that the twins were for one another, and at the same time to be the cool older brother for the twins.
That on the other hand did work. Where other siblings might have tried to avoid there siblings in public, even pretended not to have one, out of puberty embarassment, Theo was a cool older brother for them, who they went to when they had issues in school, with other children or were scared of something.

As the oldest, it was mostly him, who his parents asked for help or shared their worries with. Even after entering puberty, he was still the least troublesome of the siblings and took a great deal of stress off his parents' backs. The boy was pretty much carrying the whole family on his back, and while it might have stressed out other childre, Theo was happy to make his family happy, or at least make things easier for them. While on the outside it looked like they were simply a family that could work perfectly well together, the family knew that it was Theo, who was keeping it together. It was visible when he was in school longer than his siblings were. When he came home, he would often walk in to his mother yelling at the twins, but it would most of the times stop immediately. At home it always seemed like Theo was radiating calmness. It was a place he knew, he felt safe at, a place where he always had things under control.

Things changed after he went to Ilvermorny. He exchanges owls with Ana, but although her vague responses never include any negative things, he is sure, that there is a lot of chaos at home. After he got used to the school, he went back to his rather calm self. At least when he is not provoked. If one doesn't know him, he can seem a little intimidating, as he likes to tease and joke around with people, but when it is serious, danger or simply the need to talk, he would not let anyone down. In one on one conversations, one would feel that calming presence particularly strong.
One thing, that his sister Anabelle said before he went to go to Ilvermorny, made him think for a long while.
[i]"Theo, you are the anchor of ship Duncain. We'll be drifting away for a while, without a doubt. But we'll get back on course. If there is no anchor, we have a steering wheel. If it gets serious, we can all navigate this ship."[/i][/reducio][/quote]
[quote][center][b]Ability 3: Blindvision[/b][/center][reducio][b]Why does it fit my character?[/b] Sometimes Theo himself cannot quite believe how sharp his own senses are, especially in the darkness. He is a person who enjoys colours, naturally he is more wary in the dark. Perhaps it has something to do with his family. The young boy is muggleborn and when he got his invitation to Ilvermorny, his dad sat at his bed and had a long talk with him. He had told Theodore that he always knew that his eldest son was different, that he always had a feeling that eventually something like this would happen. But in the first place he had warned Theo. Although Virgil Duncain had no knowledge of what would await Theo in the magical world, he had told him to be careful, to watch his back. For the muggle man, magic was a word that belonged into fairytales and stories, not into the real world- His Theodore was going to a place neither of them could imagine, a place that was separate from the world he knew. Maybe his father's words had made him be more careful.

Maybe it simply came with being an older brother. Steve and Elias are Theo's two younger twin brothers, and while he loves them, they have always given him a reason to watch his own back as well as theirs. It was quite possible that the two boys got the joy from playing little pranks from their older brother, Theodore learned very soon that it was a bad idea not to watch whatever he touched, ate or put on. Once they had collected some beetles and put them into his bed. Theo had hesitated to go to bed on that evening, all his senses telling him not to and so he found the insects und his blanket. 
After some years he had developed something like a sensor for dangers in the dark. Sometimes, although he probably only imagined it, he just almost smelled it, like a bad sent in the air. The hairs on his arms prickling for seemingly no reason. 

Theodore always got along with his younger Sister Anabelle very well, the two of them could as well be the same age, they would hardly be any closer. While the young boy enjoys every minute of his time in Ilvermorny, he promises his sister and himself every year to come back to her. That his father was right and things really tended to become dangerous in a way that... simply wasn't from this world was something he had especially noticed in Hogwarts. He didn't get into dangerous situation himself so far, but he had heard stories of murderous dolls, things he would prefer to stay in horror movies and not come to life. All that added to the slight paranoia he developed in the dark. Who was to say that the shadows wouldn't come to life?

It is not like the young Thunderbird could really see in the dark, while he was magical, he was certainly not Magic Mike. But since he had set foot into the magical world, his senses were sharp like they had never been before, he simply had a feeling. He didn't always need his eyes to know what was happening in front of him.
[/reducio][/quote][/quote]

APPROVED - new trunk code used

NPC Name: Phylicia Stanwood
Link: x
Year: 4th (created before the new rules for years, so she's listed as a 3rd year)
Stats: Updating for the new year as I haven't done that yet
Stamina: 11 > 13
Evasion: 9
Strength: 10
Wisdom: 7 > 8
Arcane Power: 2
Accuracy: 11 > 14
Total = 56 (Bridget's stat count is 54 as a 4th year with 4 wins, Phyllis has +2 from Statistically Relevant)
Abilities: Applying for 4th year ability - Catch (WC: 441/400)

Reducio

Phyllis loved sports, and broom sports in particular. She loved winning, and even just playing, flying; the feel of wind in her hair and pushing her broom faster and faster still. But here was the thing: things like broom racing and Quidditch? They were brutal. You were playing one minute and the next you were plummeting to the ground below. A lot of the time, you didn't get back up after that. The brutality itself wasn't really Phyllis' problem with it; Merlin knew she got a little too excited to roughhouse. No, what she didn't like was losing a teammate. It happened, but no one wanted to see a teammate sprawled on the grass. No one wanted to win and then watch a teammate grapple with the delivery of the news and the fact they hadn't been able to finish the game out, and of course it was only worse when it was a loss to report. The redhead's philosophy, not that she was entirely sure what philosophy meant, was that no one should get left behind.

She lived it. In her first broom race, despite the buzz of nerves and itch to speed ahead, she hung back because her friend and teammate had a slower broom and she wasn't going to leave him in the dust. When things had gone wrong at that first Masquerade Ball, the thought of leaving without her friends never once crossed her mind. She'd never let a prank partner take the fall; either they both got out of there or they took their punishment together. Simple as that.

Maybe that was why she ended up leaving the broom racing team. It was too individual of a sport. Yes, you had a team, but the whole point was for someone to race out ahead to cross the finish line first, not so much to work together. If someone was attacked, too bad, let them be targeted so you could slip by. Combine that with the fact she'd been in love with Quidditch since she knew what it was and she had her mind made up.

As she took to the skies in a different sport, she had a new way to keep up her code. If ever a teammate was to be knocked off their broom and it was remotely possible, she'd swoop down, getting a little faster in her rapid decline each time, and tug them out of their fall. It was a lot of fun riding together, anyhow; you could hear each others' jokes that way! The team was what counted to her, rain or shine, win or lose. No one left to fall.

Extracurricular: Quidditch Player
Trunk Coding:

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Code: Select all

[center][size=125][b]Trunk[/b][/size][/center]
[b]Stats:[/b]
- Stamina: 13
- Evasion: 9
- Strength: 10
- Wisdom: 8
- Arcane Power: 2
- Accuracy: 14

[b]Abilities:[/b]
- Calming Presence
[reducio]Phyllis, even though she didn't realize it, had a presence about her that set people at ease. Despite her reputation, which wasn't the best and would normally lead someone to be unsettled when first meeting her, she just had this easy-going nature that lent others a sense of calm. Yes, her family had associations with Dark Magic, and, yes, she was known as a troublemaker, but be it her smile, relaxed posture, or something else, perhaps intangible, she had a calming presence.

The presence first became apparent when she was four. Her family, being wealthy Pure-bloods, had a number of house elves working for them. On that day another family high in status was visiting and one of the house elves spilled tea on one of the guest's dress. Naturally, he was kicked from the room and told to go punish himself. Phyllis, feeling badly for the creature, followed. She couldn't stop him from banging his head repeatedly against the wall, but she was successful in calming the poor elf down.

Such instances came up throughout her childhood in similar manners. When she moved with her mother to Canada, Phyllis became the peacemaker in the ring of friends she found in a magical urban area. The kids she hung around were far from well-mannered and had a tendency to get into fights even amongst themselves. Phyllis was the one to break those fights up and help everyone calm down.

And in situations where Phyllis and a friend were setting up a prank, she made it easy to relax. Sure, they were in the middle of doing something that could get them into trouble, which could be a bit stressful, or one might be overly excited, but with Phyllis around they were able to execute their prank without blowing their cover.

The same carried over to Quidditch. As a first year, Phyllis hadn't made the team but even just when playing for fun her teammates found it easier to play. Even when they were down, the girl was unflappable, never getting frustrated or giving up. In her mind, so long as you kept trying there was always a chance of coming back, of winning. They just had to focus and around her doing just that was much easier.

Even without each and every situation that made it clear her presence had an effect on people, her personality alone lent itself to helping others relax. Phyllis could be intense when she wanted to, but most of the time the redhead was laid-back, carefree. Grades weren't a concern; in fact, not achieving top marks aided her goal of irritating her mother. Plus, the way she saw it, things just [i]happened[/i]. You couldn't always do anything about it, so why not just go where things took you?

To those she cared about, Phyllis was solid, unchangeably loyal. In every other aspect of her life she was unpredictable, but when it came down to her friends counting on her she wouldn't let them down for anything. It was another aspect of her that helped her friends, her allies, not worry and instead focus there energy on succeeding.

It was true that Phyllis wasn't the smartest, hence the reason she hadn't identified the aura of calm she possessed. But she didn't have to know about it for it to be there. Without a doubt, Phyllis had a calming presence.[/reducio]- Fearless
[reducio]No one was truly fearless. It simply wasn't possible for a human to not be afraid of [i]something[/i], be it spiders, the dark, losing a loved one, or one of the other numerous things there were to be scared of. All that considered, Phyllis was as close as you could get to fearless.

Growing up the way she did, Phyllis [i]had[/i] to be fearless. It was that or be scared out of her wits of what her mother might do with all her Dark Magic next. Not letting anything get to her was probably not all that smart, but Phyllis wasn't exactly known for sharp intellect. Her sometimes reckless bravery led to many a not-so-great circumstance. For instance, climbing a tree too high without checking if the branches could hold her weight. That had been a painful day, what with tumbling to the ground when the branch under her snapped and breaking her arm. It was a good thing indeed that she'd grown up with magic to fix such accidents. Or, another time when she'd jumped into an icy lake to save one of her friends even though she had no clue how to swim. She'd been awfully lucky to survive that.

Still, not being scared of just about anything had its benefits. She didn't dread big occasions, didn't have to deal with stage fright, and wasn't afraid of just walking over to someone and striking up a conversation. In relation to that calming presence she possessed, the fact she wasn't scared made it that much easier for the people around her to relax.

When the Ilvermorny students had been invited to Hogwarts and fights had broken out at the Masked Ball, she'd charged straight into them. It was far from the smart thing to do, especially since she had next to no spells under her belt and all, but that didn't mean it hadn't been proof of her lack of fear. Maybe it was just the sort of bull-headed bravery you'd expect out of Gryffindors. Maybe it would get her killed someday. It wasn't as though she were scared of the potential repercussions, so what did it matter?

There were, of course, the things she was scared of. Being in the dark alone, for instance. Her childhood had taught her full well the horrors that hid in the shadows. Water, too--when she'd tried to save her friend, she'd learned just how terrifying it felt to drown. Neither of those fears would stop her from anything, though. Phyllis would still plunge into the shadows, still jump into water if it meant saving a friend or if it needed to be done. Perhaps that was the most important thing about her, more important than being mostly fearless in the first place: when she did get scared, she faced her fears anyways. Between the fearlessness and the bravery, Phyllis would not be stopped by fright.[/reducio]- Statistically Relevant [+2 Stamina]
[reducio]Phylicia Stanwood was tough. It was apparent even when she was a toddler; if she fell down, she was going to get back up. Throughout a childhood full of often reckless pursuits of excitement, scrapes, bruises, and the occasionally broken bone were common. She was quite the adventurous little thing, and when she played, she played hard. She was always outside, running around, climbing trees, doing cartwheels, flying her toy broom, and generally looking for any way to have fun.

Over time, her outdoor activities strayed away from simple playing and more into improving her physical abilities. Her endurance was possibly the only thing she admired about her family; Stanwoods were known for never giving up. Granted, the things her parents worked at until they got what they wanted were hardly admirable, but she was going to be different. Better. And that started by being the best broom flier out there.

Zipping around the grounds surrounding her family's manor brought a whole new set of dangers. See, when Phyllis flew, she only had one speed: fast. The little girl didn't know how to go slow; she was in it for the rush of adrenaline, the feeling having the wind streak past you. Instead of the occasional tumble out of a tree, now she was running straight into them, along with boulders and the occasional fence. Perhaps the resulting head trauma caused her to become even more reckless and stupid, but she never once cried. Instead, she always got back up, grabbed her broom, and walked back to the house to get fixed up.

This resilience wasn't just physical, though. Sure, she could take her fair share of hits and keep going, but getting up required a mental aspect. She knew how to shake things off. She chose to be optimistic, to believe even through growing up with parents that mostly ignored her that things could and [i]would[/i] get better. And if she believed there was always a light at the end of the tunnel, it was easier to get back up.

In addition, over the course of her first year she took to running in the morning. It wasn't as amazing of a feeling as zipping through the air on her broom, but it still felt good, feet pounding on the ground, propelling her forward. By the end of the year she could go a pretty long time without having to stop or slow down. She felt ready to face whatever came her way. Felt ready to keep pushing through.[/reducio]- Catch
[reducio]Phyllis loved sports, and broom sports in particular. She loved winning, and even just playing, flying; the feel of wind in her hair and pushing her broom faster and faster still. But here was the thing: things like broom racing and Quidditch? They were brutal. You were playing one minute and the next you were plummeting to the ground below. A lot of the time, you didn't get back up after that. The brutality itself wasn't really Phyllis' problem with it; Merlin knew she got a little too excited to roughhouse. No, what she didn't like was losing a teammate. It happened, but no one wanted to see a teammate sprawled on the grass. No one wanted to win and then watch a teammate grapple with the delivery of the news and the fact they hadn't been able to finish the game out, and of course it was only worse when it was a loss to report. The redhead's philosophy, not that she was entirely sure what philosophy meant, was that no one should get left behind.

She lived it. In her first broom race, despite the buzz of nerves and itch to speed ahead, she hung back because her friend and teammate had a slower broom and she wasn't going to leave him in the dust. When things had gone wrong at that first Masquerade Ball, the thought of leaving without her friends never once crossed her mind. She'd never let a prank partner take the fall; either they both got out of there or they took their punishment together. Simple as that.

Maybe that was why she ended up leaving the broom racing team. It was too individual of a sport. Yes, you had a team, but the whole point was for someone to race out ahead to cross the finish line first, not so much to work together. If someone was attacked, too bad, let them be targeted so you could slip by. Combine that with the fact she'd been in love with Quidditch since she knew what it was and she had her mind made up.

As she took to the skies in a different sport, she had a new way to keep up her code. If ever a teammate was to be knocked off their broom and it was remotely possible, she'd swoop down, getting a little faster in her rapid decline each time, and tug them out of their fall. It was a lot of fun riding together, anyhow; you could hear each others' jokes that way! The team was what counted to her, rain or shine, win or lose. No one left to fall.[/reducio]
[b]Extracurricular:[/b]
Is your character a Broom Racer? No
Is your character a Quidditch Player? Yes
Is your character a Duellist? No

APPROVED - new stats and new ability approved, new trunk code used

NPC Name: Henrietta Montagne
Link: Link
Year: Second
Stats: Allocating 1 stat point (Strength: 0 --> 1)gained from broom racing win as Levi Drakos
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 1 | Wisdom: 9 | ArcPower: 9 | Accuracy: 8

APPROVED - stat point updated

NPC Name: Theodore Duncain
Link: Theo
Year: Third Year
Stats: Stamina: 9
Evasion: 8
Strength: 9
Wisdom: 8
Arcane Power: 6
Accuracy: 9
(Total: 46 +3 due to Chess Combat Victory + first two stages of duelling won this year)
Extracurricular: Signing up for First String Beater
Trunk Coding: 

Code: Select all

[center][/center]
[quote][center]Stamina: 9
Evasion: 8
Strength: 9
Wisdom: 8
Arcane Power: 6
Accuracy: 9
[revelio]Total: 49 Stat Points[/revelio][/center][/quote]

[quote][center][b]Broom Racer[/b][/center][/quote]

[quote][quote][center][b]Ability 1: The Muggle Condition[/b][/center] [reducio]
[b]Why does it fit my character?[/b]
Theo had no idea of magic before he was told of it and it had opened up a new world to him. He does not longer waste time on muggle abilities, which he can easily replace with magic, but he had to for eleven years. 
The young boy grew up in the muggle world, visited a muggle kindergarden and a muggle pirmary school. Whe he had still visited school, his only target had been to get to the best possible secondary school. And then magic got inbetween. But since he had never expected it, he acquired the skills that one just learns when one is young and spends a lot time with other boys. Not to mention simply loves to provoke others. And just can't resist to put a toe across the boarder, as soon as the consequences become acceptable.

Theo knows how to throw punches. He knows how to physically fight. He even learned how to do it secretly, after it got him and his parents in front of the principal a few times. 

Although he doesn't necessarily need those skills anymore, now that he learns many very interesting spells, he has noticed, that thisseems to be exactly what all those purebloods are thinking. They didn't think it would be necessary to acquire certain skills that might be more important in the muggle world. Theo simply loves to get them by surprise through easy muggle tricks. 

Just before he went to Ilvermorny, he even took his time to learn simple muggle card trick to brag. It works perfectly and he is extremely proud of it. 
Through simple muggle games, Theo has made himself a name at Ilvermorny, used his bloodline for his own advantage. 
Sometimes he questions it. Sometimes he thinks that something might be wrong with him, as there are only very few muggle borns at Ilvermorny, secretly of course, Theodore Duncain has no insecurities. 

But in the end he is a creative and optimistic boy. He can see opportunities in almost every bad situation. Theo knows a lot about muggle technology as well and he just likes to show off the aditional knowledge he has. Of course he made sure to inform himself about the magical world before he started to  show his knowledge off, it would have been embarassing if someone could have shut him off with one seemingly simple question about the wizarding world. No, Theodore Duncain, the muggleborn would not stop trying until his circumstances helped him go up in the 'hierarchy' of students.[/reducio][/quote]
[quote][center][b]Ability 2: Calming Presence[/b][/center][reducio][b]Why does it fit my character?[/b]
Theodore grew up, always carrying the responsibility one automatically carries being the oldest kid amongst a bunch of younger siblings. It was him, who was responsible for looking after the three others on their way to school, him, who made it his task to be there for his little sister, the only girl, as much as the two other boys, as hard as it was for a while. He always valued the bond he had with his siblings, and it was undenyable him, who convinced the three that they were invincible as long as they stuck together.

That dream image didn't quite work like he hoped it would. Theo's siblings would stick with him- but seperately. Amongst themselves the twins and Anabelle were almost indifferent about one another. It was Theo then, who tried to be the counterpart for Anabelle, that the twins were for one another, and at the same time to be the cool older brother for the twins.
That on the other hand did work. Where other siblings might have tried to avoid there siblings in public, even pretended not to have one, out of puberty embarassment, Theo was a cool older brother for them, who they went to when they had issues in school, with other children or were scared of something.

As the oldest, it was mostly him, who his parents asked for help or shared their worries with. Even after entering puberty, he was still the least troublesome of the siblings and took a great deal of stress off his parents' backs. The boy was pretty much carrying the whole family on his back, and while it might have stressed out other childre, Theo was happy to make his family happy, or at least make things easier for them. While on the outside it looked like they were simply a family that could work perfectly well together, the family knew that it was Theo, who was keeping it together. It was visible when he was in school longer than his siblings were. When he came home, he would often walk in to his mother yelling at the twins, but it would most of the times stop immediately. At home it always seemed like Theo was radiating calmness. It was a place he knew, he felt safe at, a place where he always had things under control.

Things changed after he went to Ilvermorny. He exchanges owls with Ana, but although her vague responses never include any negative things, he is sure, that there is a lot of chaos at home. After he got used to the school, he went back to his rather calm self. At least when he is not provoked. If one doesn't know him, he can seem a little intimidating, as he likes to tease and joke around with people, but when it is serious, danger or simply the need to talk, he would not let anyone down. In one on one conversations, one would feel that calming presence particularly strong.
One thing, that his sister Anabelle said before he went to go to Ilvermorny, made him think for a long while.
[i]"Theo, you are the anchor of ship Duncain. We'll be drifting away for a while, without a doubt. But we'll get back on course. If there is no anchor, we have a steering wheel. If it gets serious, we can all navigate this ship."[/i][/reducio][/quote]
[quote][center][b]Ability 3: Blindvision[/b][/center][reducio][b]Why does it fit my character?[/b] Sometimes Theo himself cannot quite believe how sharp his own senses are, especially in the darkness. He is a person who enjoys colours, naturally he is more wary in the dark. Perhaps it has something to do with his family. The young boy is muggleborn and when he got his invitation to Ilvermorny, his dad sat at his bed and had a long talk with him. He had told Theodore that he always knew that his eldest son was different, that he always had a feeling that eventually something like this would happen. But in the first place he had warned Theo. Although Virgil Duncain had no knowledge of what would await Theo in the magical world, he had told him to be careful, to watch his back. For the muggle man, magic was a word that belonged into fairytales and stories, not into the real world- His Theodore was going to a place neither of them could imagine, a place that was separate from the world he knew. Maybe his father's words had made him be more careful.

Maybe it simply came with being an older brother. Steve and Elias are Theo's two younger twin brothers, and while he loves them, they have always given him a reason to watch his own back as well as theirs. It was quite possible that the two boys got the joy from playing little pranks from their older brother, Theodore learned very soon that it was a bad idea not to watch whatever he touched, ate or put on. Once they had collected some beetles and put them into his bed. Theo had hesitated to go to bed on that evening, all his senses telling him not to and so he found the insects und his blanket. 
After some years he had developed something like a sensor for dangers in the dark. Sometimes, although he probably only imagined it, he just almost smelled it, like a bad sent in the air. The hairs on his arms prickling for seemingly no reason. 

Theodore always got along with his younger Sister Anabelle very well, the two of them could as well be the same age, they would hardly be any closer. While the young boy enjoys every minute of his time in Ilvermorny, he promises his sister and himself every year to come back to her. That his father was right and things really tended to become dangerous in a way that... simply wasn't from this world was something he had especially noticed in Hogwarts. He didn't get into dangerous situation himself so far, but he had heard stories of murderous dolls, things he would prefer to stay in horror movies and not come to life. All that added to the slight paranoia he developed in the dark. Who was to say that the shadows wouldn't come to life?

It is not like the young Thunderbird could really see in the dark, while he was magical, he was certainly not Magic Mike. But since he had set foot into the magical world, his senses were sharp like they had never been before, he simply had a feeling. He didn't always need his eyes to know what was happening in front of him.
[/reducio][/quote][/quote]

[center][quote][img]/images/upload/6iyu7i.webp[/img][/quote]

[quote]Extracurricular ✶ [b]None[/b][/quote]

[quote]Stamina [b]5[/b] ⟡ Evasion [b]10[/b] ⟡ Strength [b]4[/b] ⟡ Wisdom [b]10[/b] ⟡ Arcane Power [b]11[/b] ⟡ Accuracy [b]10[/b][/quote][/center]
[quote]Year 1 ❖ [b]Perfectionist[/b]
[reducio]It all started with upbringing, and perhaps ran a little in the genes as well. Nature or nurture, Jayden had been imprinted with ideals of perfectionism since she was a toddler. Not so much by her own parents, but from relatives and extended members of the Holt and Speirs clans - particularly those of elite and upper-class circles - who saw it best to educate Jayden in all refined, classy, and “respectable” aspects of pure-blood wizarding society. Table etiquette, ballroom dancing, attire, and tactfulness of speech… Not a step, frill, or hair out of place. With these rigorous lessons came the instillation of self-discipline, as well as the more inspiring notion that one could become anything so long as they set their mind to it. Practice did make perfect, after all. 
 
Her parents, while more lenient and less demanding of what their daughter ought to pursue for her future, never failed to stress the importance a clean room (for “A clear space is a clear mind”, and the road to perfectionism first began with tidying up one’s quarters), along with high grades - once Jayden arrived at Ilvermorny - for nothing short of excellence would guarantee to unlock as many doors as possible for Jayden’s future, even if she never opened any of them, at least the opportunities would always be there for her to consider later on. 
 
Unfortunately, the boring and monotonous task of reading and writing - the basis upon which academic success was hinged - did not come so easily enticing. Jayden was a stubborn physical learner, to no fault of her own genetics. Yet she was determined to succeed, and to make her parents proud. Through many tutors (some begged for, others bribed for), and though it often took twice as long for her to absorb words on paper, Jayden forced herself to “enjoy” studying and achieve high marks. Being a perfectionist in the academic sense did not come natural at first, but through hard work and self-discipline, Jayden adopted the mentality and accomplished that which she set her goals on. And with her newfound reputation to keep as being a “smart” student, all the more pushed Jayden to reach the top of her class.

Hands-on activity, however, was a different story. Books could only achieve so much, and luckily were not so important in the long run, compared to one’s skill with a wand. 
 
[i]That[/i] was where Jayden’s perfectionism really came into play.


[quote][center][b]Word Count:[/b] 408[/center][/quote][/reducio]Year 2 ❖ [b]Perfectionist 2[/b]
[reducio]Feeling the instant spark of connection flow through her from her wand, was a moment long dreamed of by Jayden, the day she arrived at Ilvermorny at the start of her first year. All Jayden wanted to do at school was practice spells, excelling at Charms and DADA right off the bat, as far as the actual performance of spells was concerned. While Jayden only devoted enough time to books in order to “get by” with acing the next assignment, pop-quiz or test, words on paper hardly registered in her mind long-term, not without some physical accompaniment to sear it into memory. She was a true tactile learner, enrapt by the grandeur of spellcasting. Books were all fluff. Spells were real substance, not only in which all the fun was to be had, but the only thing one could depend on to save their life when facing an enemy. Nothing excited Jayden more than to put her spell work to the test, to hone her skill with the wand and build up practical experience. Books, she could force herself to endure, but spellcasting was where Jayden’s zeal for learning truly lied.
 
Dueling was to prepare her for those worst case scenarios, an activity that her parents strongly encouraged, and which Jayden felt immediately drawn to participate in. No surprise, considering both of her parents and a majority of the Holt and Speirs clans were also Wampuses, many of them pursuing Auror careers in light of their potential. Living up to the “warrior” stereotype of her House, Jayden found thrill in the Dueling arena and dedicated herself to the sport. Whenever she wasn’t occupied with schoolwork, Jayden would train in the Dueling ring every chance she got. Winning was always the goal. Still, it was only practice, no matter how heated and competitive the matches got. Jayden wasn’t a sore loser, nor did she boast about her victories. Rather, she viewed Dueling as a chance to teach and to learn from others. If she failed a match, Jayden bore no shame in asking the winner for lessons on their strategy. Regardless of House or blood status, wizardkind was a team (according to the “traitorous” beliefs of her parents). In fairness of teamwork, Jayden wouldn’t withhold from sharing her own Dueling techniques with her competitors as well, despite being aware of every Duelist’s underlying motive to one day use an opponents’ techniques against them. All the more, this prompted Jayden to stay on top of her game, to perfect every spell and constantly strive for better, keeping one step ahead of her opponents.


[quote][center][b]Word Count:[/b] 431[center][/quote][/reducio]Year 3 ❖ [b]Fearless[/b]
[reducio]Fear of heights was never an obstacle for Jayden, growing up in the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. Part of her family’s house was built along the side of a steep mountain cliff. Poking her head perilously out of a window or over a balcony, Jayden could stare down from the miles-long sheer drop, admiring the beauty of the valley below, without feeling a heart drop in her chest. Not as dangerous as riding a creature with a mind of its own, from the same height in mid-air. Jayden was on the back of a hippogriff before she could walk, wrapped in the protective arm of her father for her first joyride through the sky. Freedom and bliss. The caress of wind brought smiles and giggles to the infant’s face, unfazed by the reality of falling distance below her. Riding hippogriffs and winged horses proved to be Jayden’s introductory course in mounting a broom for the first time at Ilvermorny, which she adjusted fairly quickly to. At least brooms didn’t have [i]half[/i] so much a mind of their own. Aside from Charms and DADA, Flying became second nature to her, though Quidditch didn’t call so much to her competitive interests than Dueling.

There was no shortage of adventures and dangers to be found in the remote wilderness surrounding the Holts’ homestead. Both magical and non-magical alike lurked in the woods, requiring no small amount of bravery for Jayden to step in and protect her loved ones from an attacker. From an early age, Jayden learned to mask her fear in tending to the family’s menagerie of magical creatures. Animals often reflected a person’s emotions, and a calm and quiet mind was necessary to be able to tame and handle most of them. Hippogriffs and winged horses of note.

It wasn’t until she stepped foot in the Dueling ring that Jayden really learned how to [i]control[/i] her fear. Where fortitude and mental strength was put to the test, in a battle of wands. Stage fright was easier to overcome than her opponents, who came in all walks of life (some more naturally [i]intimidating[/i] than others). Over time, Jayden learned to hone her focus and sharpen her concentration to a spear, in order to pierce the veil of illusion of fear intended to distract her. Even if it was “only a game”, Dueling was preparation for the real-world thing. Jayden wouldn’t allow any fear to get the best of her, in learning to stand strong on her own.


[quote][center][b]Word Count:[/b] 415[/center][/quote][/reducio]Year 4 ❖ [b]Blindvision[/b]
[reducio][i][b]"Yeah, right,"[/b] Jayden scoffed, stuffing her precious few belongings in the leather drawstring bag to be slung over her shoulder in the morning when she left her grandparents' New York apartment for the summer in Wyoming. At the end of her first year, she had already made a friend and house guest of Hadrian Zuheir, whose ego had bluffed the skills and moxie to "vacation" with her, to which she sneered. [b]"You wouldn't last a day without a toilet and a mirror. [i]And[/i] a wand."[/b][/i]
 
It was a challenge she led by example, wand forgotten within the folds of her deerskin dress as she stood at the threshold of the secret entryway, the dim interior light of the cabin against her back, lapping at the wall of abyss before her.
 
[b]"Scared of a little dark?"[/b] Pearly whites flashed, detecting a twinge of apprehension from Hadrian beside her. Moccasins padded their way silently as she stepped forward, enveloping her in shadow. [b]"Need me to hold your hand?"[/b] Her chuckle echoed, transitioning from wood to stone. [b]"[i]Relax.[/i]"[/b] She teased, body disconnected, separated by a veil of pitch black. [b]"It's only one way, you know."[/b] 
 
If Hadrian thought it couldn't get any worse, being in a dingy old cabin, [i]boy[/i] had he been in for a shock when he realized that [i]wasn't[/i] where he'd be sleeping tonight.
 
[i][b]"Don't be a wimp,"[/b] Mr. Zuheir stated flatly, before taking the portkey himself to the end destination. Thus marked the start of "boot camp" for his eldest son.
 
Twenty miles was a hop, skip, and a jump away – provided Hadrian's whining and heavy feet didn't give her a migraine and slow them down.[/i]
 
[b]"Shut up, keep up, or I'll leave you!"[/b] She growled irritably.
 
Stripped of his own wand, at the dictation of his father, Hadrian didn't really have a choice but to follow, unless if he wanted to [i]permanently[/i] stay entombed in here.
 
She knew the main highways like the back of her hand, those tunnels that made up the Village labyrinth. Calling the whole thing a "house" was an understatement, though the complex of caves and cabins was communally inhabited and Jayden referred to it all ambiguously as such. Since toddlerhood, her hands and feet had felt over every pebble and crevice in the tunnel that connected her family's cabin to the Village proper, until she no longer relied on torchlight to navigate each bend, legs measuring out each pace with a preprogrammed sense of direction, and fingertips brushing the air and stone where instinct wavered, after a whole school year since she last trod this path.
 
Her eyes adjusted swiftly to the familiar dark she had been accustomed to since her youth, imprinted by the Village. Owing to her Fearless nature, she and other children had made a perilous game of who could venture the farthest from the beaten paths, deeper into the belly of the mountain, where ghost stories abounded of those who had wandered off and disappeared, never to be seen again. Magic was not a crutch for the Villagers to lean on at the slightest discomfort. Neither was fire, for sight. Mother Nature knew best, as it had taught her ancestors to embrace the elements around them. Darkness included. Whether it be under a moonlit sky or in the shadowy depths of a cavern, Darkness was not something Jayden craved, but a force she learned to work with, to respect, to accept, and to be prepared for. 
 
Darkness taught her to be [i]calm[/i], first of all. To be stripped of sight, panic and irrational fear of the unknown lurking within the shadows were the first to sink in, paralyze and disorient a victim, and the first she learned to gain control of. Once fear of the dark was conquered, a clear mind could focus on honing the other senses. Not just the immediate hearing, smell and touch, for even those could be deceiving. Whether she be blinded by rain, fog, snow, mud, or underwater depths, [i]trust your instincts[/i] was the most difficult to master, bolstered by a heightened awareness to her surroundings, sharpening a photographic memory to her terrain and whereabouts, so in the blink of an eye, whenever the light switched off or weather shifted, she would be able to map her way forward or retrace her steps. Or at least not have a mental breakdown in the middle of wherever she was.
 
A skill which followed her to the New York City nightlife, and the Dueling arena beyond…
 
[i]Darkness.[/i] The great even playing field. For the world would not be so full of greed in lust for the visual, if everyone were blind. She and Hadrian were simply two lonely souls in the void as she kept up a steady pace, Hadrian calling out every minute or so to complain, if not to keep track of where she was in front of him. 
 
Until the faint orange glow of torchlight appeared over the slope; the ache in her feet nothing compared to her relief that they had made it to the Village just in time for supper. 

[b]"We're here,"[/b] she breathed.

She couldn't wait to show Hadrian the sunrise view from the summits in the morning. If she could drag him out of bed, that was.


[quote][center][b]Word Count:[/b] 878[/center][/quote][/reducio][/quote]

Approved