Welcome to Gaia! ::

Returning to a seat by Lorelei Gently tapping her shoulder and pointing off to the side in a distracting manner Leif slid a bit of his food on to her plate . before acting like nothing had really happened before offering up a what fixings were around would you like to dig in? normally id be a bit more graceful but id say were both at the point of borderline starvation so lets dig in. He said softly flushing a rose shade of pink as Lief gently cut up his food before eating what was left on his plate.

As promised, Charm came out with the last plate of pancakes, or at least she hoped, and set it near the winged young man she hoped to get the name of soon. Tired already after trying to feed the manor with pancakes, she felt like she needed caffeine and as the imp equivalent of a college student, she knew the wondrous power of the coffee. So she then flew over to the coffee pot, hoping someone would allow her a cup.

Seeing Lunette, Charm felt a small pang of concern. After all this girl was one of the people Charm knew had been attacked by a dopple. The main reason why she wanted to feed these people, because of the dangers still awaiting them not but outside the mansion. "Oi, you look a tad tired this morning, did you sleep okay? You should've been the one to walk in on shirtless Caelen this morning, it was completely wasted on Prim." Then she turned to Cel "Oh Miss Celestine, good morning, you should've seen his face, getting to tease him woke me right up. He didn't know I was joking until said "at least you had pants on". Charm flashed a very un-angel like smile at the two women. "Cute bunny ears. Well is it okay if I get some coffee too?"

Meanwhile at the table Yin was conflicted with eating and keeping the token near him, and put it on the table with the pancakes Charm had given him. He was eating an awfully large amount for such a little dragon.

Ayel

From the broiling mist, she heard the young girl speaking. She moved forward, the mist creeping out ahead of her. Her voice was distorted by the mist as it had been in the square. "And indeed I shall." She said coming out of the shadows. The mist roiled as she emerged from it walking into view of DV in her casual outfit. The soft clap of her foot falls echoing in the room. She stopped looking over DV through the lenses of her sunglasses. She kept walking until she was just a few feet from the young warrior. As she came to a stop she moved her right hand to her hip, pushing back her a bit. She let there be a moment of silence before she addressed DV once more.

"As I'm sure you've guessed I received your message." She said glancing at the little dragon. "I suppose the next logical step is to find out why you invited me to this place." As she spoke, the mist began slowly creeping toward the guard who was asleep. Her eyes darted toward him a moment and then returned her focus to DV. "You speak of trying to remove the people of Barton because they cannot survive after whatever happens happens. Though, I am understandably curious why you don't simply eliminate them. It should be easy enough to do; even with senshi interference. Whatever that thing is below the town, it must be powerful enough to do this. So I'm left to ask why it's--what did you call yourself, it's gatekeeper, isn't more proactive about removing the cancer infesting this place."

"A foothold." DV responded, trying to pique the curiosity of the one she'd managed to summon. "To run rampant and to merely slay those in the streets with no regard is messy and really unnecessary at this point. After all, it doesn't suit my purposes to run amok and leave corpses for those to call martyr to. This town sits at the heart of more forces than those that stand inside the town's gates. I prefer not to kick up a hornet's nest only to get stung.

“So I want to get ahold of Barton with as many leaving of free-will as possible. Over flood the surrounding with refugees, those usually unwilling to fight and strain their resources to enter Barton after it is the fortress it will become. Besides there are worse ways of attack your enemy than the simple sword. You can make very air cold, and light untouchable, and find no way within to change the world those would find themselves in. Yet they would stay at first, because that is their home and their way. It’ll turn them slowly, where those would see smiles would become scowls and once friends become foes and then once family become enemies and it turns and spirals down leading demise at the helm or leaving for your own sanity. Because they do not see the sword, they don’t fear the attack.

"Simply put, one does not try to kill what they still hope to attain.*

“Also, I felt some knowledge of my enemy wouldn't go to waste. Right now most of them to seem to be huddled together, fleeing from my dopples. However, I do wish to ascertain how this town is responding to these instances. I figured a little bit of eavesdropping could go a long way. I would like them to see the next energy spike, and I’m sure you’d like to get up close and personal to that.”

"If you want any more answers from me, at least give me something I can call you by? I am the senshi of the Dark Vortex, if you please," she slightly bowed. "Or if you don't." She stood back up rigid awaiting response. “I don’t know if you wish to be acquainted and I can understand standing alone in the world. I don’t see the need to be cruel to you and not even call you by name, however.”

*yes this is a line stolen from Hunger Games

Terra dug in as soon as Aylin finished blessing the food and thanking those responsible for cooking. She was so absorbed in her meal that she hardly paid any attention to anyone else. It wasn't until Seren's sudden and unexpected outburst that Terra looked up from her food. What Kai said last night raised serious questions, and Seren demanded answers. Not long after she raised her concerns, the young woman who accompanied her last night chimed in as well. Whereas Seren felt shock with regards to being targeted by those doppelgangers, Lunette simply didn't believe she should have been targeted anyway. Terra shared much of the same feelings of the two. Seeing how she just moved to Barton, she saw no reason for those things to target her at all, let alone almost kill her. But there was one major difference between the girls, at least as far as Seren and Terra were concerned. Lunette was one of the magical warriors, like Prim and Aylin. Terra and Seren were not, or so they thought.

Aylin soon explained that the magical abilities she possessed allowed her to sense magic of all kinds, including the transformational magic Terra and Seren were thought to possess. She told the legend of ancient magical warriors who warded off evil as servants of Gaia. These warriors' souls and power were preserved upon their defeat, waiting to be awakened in a time of need. And that time of need was now. A dark force was rising in Barton, but ancient forces of light were emerging to defend it. As Terra looked down at her faintly-glowing Topaz necklace, she was all but convinced now that she was one of these girls. There were just a few more questions she had regarding the matter.

"So those things came after us because they could sense this magic that we have..." Terra started fiddling with her necklace as she thought things over. "You said something about transforming, but," she paused as she looked up at Aylin, "I-I've never transformed before... How do you know for sure I can?"

"I have an answer to that," said a voice from the kitchen doors. Chef had been standing there unnoticed for quite some time, leaning against the door frame as he listened to Aylin's explanation with great interest. "Now, Terra..." he started, turning his attention to the young girl. "What do you remember about yesterday, before you arrived at the Manor, before I found you."

"I... I don't remember much," she replied. "I remember being chased by one of those creepy copies of myself. It backed me into a corner, I-I thought I was done for! But then there was this bright flash, and... then, everything went black. Next thing I know, you're standing in front of me." Terra was still fiddling with her necklace as she finished speaking. She wasn't quite sure of where Chef was going with this.

"Well, allow me to fill in the blanks for you," Chef said, as he entered the kitchen. "As I was returning to the Manor from town hall, there was another minor earthquake. This one did not come from the square, as that shaking stopped well before. There were several flashes coming from an alleyway, but the closer I got to it, the more intense the shaking became. It was enough to destroy the surrounding buildings. There was one last flash before the dust settled and that was when I saw you. These flashes... They were the same color as that necklace you have there. Perhaps that is the key to your abilities, like Aylin's broach."

Chef left his conversation with Terra at that point. That was about everything he felt Terra needed to know about yesterday's events. He walked to the table and took a seat next to Aylin, wanting to talk to her personally without others hearing.

"Hey, Aylin," he whispered. "Can we talk about what went on last night? I feel the need to explain my actions, and we both need to come up with a plan for dealing with these girls."

**brief necessary reply that should have been done first thing. Sorry for the belated intros**

Now that challenges had been made, questions asked, and answers given to a degree, Caelen finally came back into the present, one lingering issue on his mind.

Pardon my interruption everyone. I do apologize. I feel it is necessary to point out that there are many new people here who do not know each other, let alone any of the people in this manor. As butler it is part of my duty to make sure residents and guests alike know each other at least on a cordial basis. I would like to quickly introduce each person so that we no longer have that hanging in the air.

Caelen did not wait for a response. He began with the guests, naming each as he indicated them in turn. Next up were the actual members of BFAA. For each of them he told a small little detail if he knew enough about them. The whole ordeal took about three minutes, but it did serve the purpose of finally letting everyone know who was who.

Now that that is out of the way, I believe we can safely continue this discussion, hopefully with a bit less anxiety. Again, I apologize most sincerely for not taking care of this sooner.

Aylin let out a soft sigh as she let herself be yelled at by the Imp. Looking down to her left she had noted Chef was now seated next to her whispering that they needed to discuss the night before. It was something that Aylin herself wanted to do. She had left things very abruptly as she was in shock over seeing Seren again. They did need to discuss how to deal with the threat outside the walls and they needed to figure out a course of action concerning the girls. That was the immediate concern they both appeared to have judging by the look on Chef's face as he looked up at her. Letting out another soft sigh Aylin let the ball of light fade before sitting back down next to her BFAA counterpart.

"You read my mind. I do need to better discuss last night with you as well. When we have a free moment we can talk. And thank you for answering Terra's concerns she now makes us four in number if we can get her to learn to control her abilities," Aylin whispered back to Chef as Charm continued to explain and berate.

As Charm went on about a young woman named Hydro and how she was the same person as the one who sent forth the doubles, Aylin replayed the events that lead to their current situation over in her mind. By the time she arrived at the square it was too late to save Hydro from being pulled in by the pillar of pure dark energy. Aylin did not have a clear look at the face of the young woman and with the face of the new player in the war covered by the mask she did not know she was the same person as the one taken by the dark energy. It was an honest mistake anyone who had not spent any amount of time around Hydro could make. Aylin did not want Charm to think ill of her and was going to have to rectify things with her.

And then there were the things said by Seren shortly after Aylin finished her speech. What she had said brought Aylin back to the moment her grandmother found out her oldest grandchild was indeed the heir to their ancestor's great power. Why me and not someone else Aylin had wondered that day. It was very similar to what Seren was now asking of Aylin. Why her when she did not exhibit any signs of magic at all. The answer came back to what her grandmother had said. Everyone connected to the line started by their ancestor, or the soul of the first Senshi, carried within them her unique magical light. It was this unique magical light that had the potential to unlock the power contained within her broach. Only those with the strongest of this light inside them was destined to unlock the power contained with the broach or other transformation item, or object of light as Charm called them. And because that spark was very strong Aylin was able to feel it as the spark of light was very similar to her own.

Facing Seren with a smile while letting out a small held breath Aylin tried as best she could to answer her question, "Seren you wonder why you and not someone else. You wonder how you could have magic when you've never shown that power. When the first magical warriors, or Senshi as I've heard some legends call them, died their power was sealed in the Objects of Light, or transformation items, like my ancestor's broach. Then their light based magic was either passed down into their children, like my ancestor's baby boy, or contained in their soul to be reborn into a new generation of Senshi. In my family every generation possesses the light magic and it stays dormant within them to be passed on to their children. However, only the one who's light magic is strongest will be able to unlock the power of the Object of Light. That is why my grandmother's broach knew I was destined to inherit my ancestor's power. Sometimes a line will produce more than one individual with that spark over the generations and sometimes only in times of great need will that spark from a reborn soul be awakened. I'm not entirely sure but I do think our Objects of Light are intelligent objects that know when that spark is near and I do think that because our magic is so powerful these objects help keep it contained and controllable. Otherwise, were I to use her power without it I might accidentally destroy part of another town again. I think you might have that spark, that light so powerful you could unlock an Object of Light. Because I can sense magic from other people and objects I can feel any familiar piece of magic in someone. Since I know what the spark feels like I can tell when that potential is in someone. That's why I believe you have that potential because you carry that spark. It can remain just that, a potential and never used, or it can be activated and become something amazing. The choice is yours and yours alone."

Aylin hoped what she had said would be enough of an explanation for Seren to make an informed choice. While she hoped Seren would choose to find her Object of Light and transform Aylin didn't want to force her to do anything she wasn't ready for. Letting out a sigh Aylin had one final person in the room to address. She felt she owed Charm an explanation no matter how small it was and hoped it would be good enough for her.

"Charm," Aylin said trying to gain the imp's attention, "I didn't know your Hydro and the woman in the mask were the same person. I wasn't there when Prim first found her and possibly spoke to her. I came just as the darkness took her. I never heard her voice and barely saw her face so I just didn't know. I didn't know it was the same person because of the mask. I promise you we'll stop her from doing something she might regret for the rest of her life because right now the dark energy has a powerful influence on her. If that's who the masked woman really is. Like I said, I barely saw her face so I wouldn't know."

Charm nodded at Cae, and he led the way. After shuffling those who were willing into the Wine Cellar, the angel imp looked at everyone and waited for any objections. There were none. The room was suitable, and Charm was confident this time she wouldn’t light the ground on fire.

Charm produced a clear vial, and probably expected some future questions about exactly how she carried the things she did, readying herself for the unpleasant task ahead. She was accepting that even if she had been lax in her role, the event of late were far too much for her or any solitary person to handle.

She flew in a circle, dripping the vial's contents into a large circle on the floor. It seemed to only make a mess until the clear liquid turned into a shimmery substance started drawing lines long the ground, forming a magical circle and a figure within it. Far away, yet his shape and voice were clearly seen and heard by the occupants in the room. He was standing there with them, but actually thousands of miles away from the Barton Mansion.

"I am guessing you do not have a good news." Said the figure, whose form was coming into view. Still, it did not start as much of a view, as the figure was cloaked. "If you're surrounded by so many, Charm." The figure with the deep voice raised his arms, lowering his hood. Noticeably, the stranger's hands appeared armored, each finger joint with a curved edge, with scales running up both arms. The movement also parted his cloak, showing his silvery scale armor traveled to his boots, which had plating. His face contained many small scars, striking lighter against tanned skin. Bright green eyes observed the angel imp and bright silver hair stuck out in spiked ends. This person appeared to be all edges and stern expression. He did not look as old as a normal person who would have silver hair, but there was presence that explained age in the double, even triple, digits would be quite wrong. He made a sound that was a very un-human like snarl or growl. "Talk."

Charm launched into an explanation. Thanks to the information she'd acquired from Prim, Alyin, and her general overhearing within the Manor, she explained about the pillar, what had happened to Hydro, and what was chasing certain persons. Also her assumption that this person she spoke to had once told her of a danger to Barton, but wouldn't elaborate and forcibly teleported her to find Hydro. "I know you know something about this."
“THIS?” He scowled, the figure muttered a few snarling curses in an ancient language that only Caelen could fully understand, and would never, never repeat. Instead of yelling, he scathingly but quietly addressed Charm, "And why is it I'm saddled with you?”

"Everyone else in the clan threatened to eat me." Charm said deadpan.

"Oh yes, that's it. Nothing to do with your punishment from your elders. That they suspended your training to become a scribe and made you come serve me, their last choice of a political ally, to redeem yourself. I don't know what you did to nearly cause the death of one of your own, but I have to think it was your lack of competence." He growled, and cloak whipped from the burst of energy around the figure, but naturally left the room of Barton Manor untouched.

Charm's guilty look switched quickly to rage. "You don't speak of things you don't know about!!" She snapped. "That was not my fault," she said, voice breaking. She knew he was throwing this in her face because he was angry, and had every right to be.

"Regardless. This is a War, Charm, and I've seen a few to know. I now see your servitude under me is worthless.” The words were more snarls coming from his mouth, and were still littered with ancient language curses. “I will reassign you to the only other person who might possibly take you on, though, you'll have to convince her since she's fallen under negative energy. You couldn't have just gotten her that damn locket when I asked, when the move of energy in the world took a plunge for the worse. It might have been the only thing that could have prevented this mess. Those who wield those objects are the only ones for certain that can they will be the only ones immune to that witch’s influence.” Charm sighed, relieved that her concern was for naught for the warriors in the room, but then realized he meant she was now made to serve Hydro, which she could not do while the girl remained a dark senshi.

She would have to process that later. "These people are involved. They have abilities and have become targets, unfortunately. None more so than Hydro. They seem to have this kind of thing" Charm summoned the notable trinket with the faint blue glow. “As well.”

“Wielders of the Objects of Light?” He said, his whole face lighting up with awe. “This is welcome news,” The man in the armor observed the room more closely now. His eyebrow went up at the sight of Caelen, who he thought he might have recognized from somewhere. The rest in the room were very young. He paused, taking a breath to calm himself. Charm hovered to the outside of the group, trying to hide her emotional state, as she was shaking, though intent on listening to the cloaked man still.

“Good evening warriors of Barton, it is an honor to speak to you all. As much as I would like to address you in person, it is for the very same reason that I cannot enter the walls of the city that I am speaking to you now. I believe my name translates to Zephyros in your common tongue.

"A member of my clan, a sorceress by the name of Melinda, conquered the land on which you stand now, many years ago. Early Barton, as it is even now, was a hub for the different kinds of life that resides in a spiral outward from it much like the gentle pull of the sun upon the planets. Those of light, those of positive energy are drawn to it even if they do not know of Barton’s lore. Melinda is likely trying to drive out any strong positive energy beings not only out of spite but to increase her influence. She is not only going to target beings with positive energy as Wielders of those transformative objects, she’ll target any other person with similar power.

To topple Barton is to sentence a great many people to pain and suffering from the loss of positive energy. I do not know how much you all know of what’s going on outside the walls of that city, but the noble great beings of old, the gods, are being targeted by dark forces. Old beings like myself might not be up to their caliber but have not known a dark time such as this for many, many years. In fact, it is the last dark time that I must speak to you about.

Melinda, the former leader of my clan, knows how to manipulate those with our blood. This is why none of us are able to enter Barton, a powerful spell along the bloodline keeps this promise, in fact casted by a Warrior of Light. None of us would though, for Melinda would puppet any one of us. Worse, as I mentioned, a darker power has apparently shaken our entire world, and it seems to have weakened the seal on Melinda.

The problem is someone of my clan has managed to enter Barton……

And I must ask of you, please.” He bowed to the warriors, “I beg for your help on her behalf. As one of the penances for my part in the old war, I was charged with the protection of an Object of Light. It should have been passed to her much sooner, as it began to glow after so many years, the day when the girl was born.

This is the item Charm has. But it is not the only one of its kind, and surely the others have traveled down sacred lines, their inheritors are surely within reach of Barton. I do not know much about this, however. The ….losing side is not usually rife with knowledge.

I cannot be of much help you, but I implore you to ask any questions. I answer whatever it is within my power to do.”