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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SSS-Druid" data-source="post: 276631" data-attributes="member: 613">Ashes & WormwoodChapter One: Of Jade & GhoulsScene One – Sovereign Council ChambersThe air was heavy in the small room; Anjelika had really thought that these chambers would be somehow...bigger. More opulent perhaps, like her father had said the pasha’s palace was.But no, the room was just inside the ominous Third Gate, the entry in the Underfaust. It sat beneath a low ceiling and was draped in white tapestries. At a black table sat four men, two women and a seventh slim figure that might have been male or female beneath its shroudings.She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other under the weight of their gaze as one of the men, a pudgy man wearing the greatcoat and scarf that marked the necromancers of Hollowfaust appraised her. The small flense drake – its small black eyes regarding Anjelika intensely – shifted as the man turned from speaking with the older woman that didn’t walk but rather rode in a strange animated contraption made up of skeletal hands that bore her gently when she needed to move.    “We have considered your petition closely, Anjelika Cass. We have some small concerns about your...manifested powers,” he said, a frown creasing his brow where his hairline had already retreated far past. “Our first concern is the safety of our populace, as I’m sure you understand.”“Tell us again how these powers came to be,” the older woman next to him said, encouragingly, smiling a smile that understood Anjelika’s frustration at having to tell the story of the night her parents died yet again. Anjelika told the story nearly by rote, watching the faces of the gathered necromancers (at least, the face of those she could see, looking quickly away from the darkness in the hood of the seventh necromancer).She finished her story yet again, and the pudgy man and older woman looked to the second woman, an attractive lady in fine black lace and velvet. She pulled her intense gaze away from Anjelika’s face and looked towards the others at the table with her, nodding slightly.“Understand,” came a chill voice, issuing from the dark hood of the seventh necromancer. “Your father was asked to depart the city because his wealth – and thus, his influence – within the city grew great. None may threaten the balance of power in Hollowfaust. This is our first goal.“The powers that you wield are unique, Cass. All of the children in Hollowfaust who show such strong signs as those you bear are claimed early,” he said, referring she knew to the large outspread birthmark that looked like nothing so much as a pair of outstretched raven’s wings. “The powers that have come upon you suddenly would have been harnessed and trained carefully had your family remained in Hollowfaust.“It is, then, the decision of this council that you be permitted to take possession of the property owned by your parents within the city of Hollowfaust.” It looked down at the notes littering the table before it. “A medium-sized dwelling consisting of two street-level rooms, a second floor room and a roof-top garden, as well as myriad household furnishings and effects. All these we return to your family.” Anjelika smiled. This was much easier than she’d anticipated it might be.“However, we must ascertain whether or not you will be a threat to the populace of this city. Therefore, you are hereby remanded to the care of the Disciples of the Abyss, the guild that oversees projects dealing with the energies of entropy and death, energies which you seem to have manifestly learned to control. These are dangerous energies, not just to the wielder, but to those around her, and we would be remiss in permitting you to dwell among our citizenry without the assurance that you held proper control over those powers.“As such, you shall be placed in the Darsinthe household within the Underfaust.” He gestured, and a beautiful woman stepped forward, with long black hair and pale skin. Her hands, with the nails lacquered black, were folded primly and deferentially before her. She smiled a quick, reassuring smile at Anjelika before directing her gaze at the Sovereign Council.“Master Baryoi, I have already discussed this with my husband. He is in full agreement. Our household already harbors one apprentice; we welcome another who is looking to master her talents.”“It is settled, then,” sighed the man on the far left, a man with his head shaven save for a long queue that chimed merrily with small silver bells woven into the braid. “Welcome to Hollowfaust, Anjelika.”Anjelika just barely remembered to bow as her father had taught her before being whisked off by the well-dressed woman and the man with long blonde hair that accompanied her.The trio left the confines of the Sovereign Council Chambers and entered the hallways that led deeper into the Underfaust. The walls were rough-hewn stone, with occasional clay pipes running along their base. Condensation formed along the ceiling and occasionally dripped onto Anjelika’s head, much to the mischievous delight of Drendos, her raven familiar perched on her shoulder.Quiet, you she chided him mentally, and was rewarded with a squawk and mental chuckle for her efforts.“Well, my dear. I am truly glad to have you among us. I didn’t get to hear much from the Council about you, though old Baryoi said he’d send along a detailed report. My name is Clemana Darsinthe, and this is Branlin Voraxis, my guardian.” She spoke quite quickly and with some measure of distraction – she was obviously in a hurry to get home and only barely murmured greetings to those necromancers they passed in the halls.She stopped at a door crafted of nightwood and set with silver accents. From around his neck, Branlin drew a silver key on a chain and unlocked the door, holding it open and standing aside. Clemana placed one hand on Anjelika’s shoulder, and gestured into the darkness beyond the door with the other.“Welcome to the Darsinthe household, Anjelika. I’m sure you’ll be very happy here.”</blockquote>

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