NaNoWriMo 2012!!

Theme track for the post: 1667 words by Matt Guion (bandgeek8408) 

So. It's Halloween! Which means that NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow! I'm going to be working with my first novel idea from way back in 5th grade, which is tentatively titled "Campus Curse". 

As NaNo's going to be my creative focus for the next 30 days, everything else is being put on hold. (Knowing me, this might mean indefinitely. Hopefully not.) I have a few posts already mostly written and ready for posting (some Sun Dagger stuff, a little rant on a few roleplay characters and stuff on deviantART :P) but aside from those, the most I'll be writing aside from my novel are status updates, such as the lovely word counter here:



Again, idea of making status updates instead of trying to keep up with other posts (which I know I'd never be able to do) is credited to AshMac. XD 

So right now I'm waiting anxiously waiting for NaNo to start, finding plot holes that will need to be filled, and still deciding which weapons the characters have. XD

Thanks in advance for your patience with me this month! 

Ani's Cheat Sheet--Terms

Hi. Ani here. So I’m going to give you something that’s going to change your life—a cheat sheet. Yep. If you’re like me, you need a useful little dictionary—I mean brother—to define some of this wacky ancient lingo for you. And since I’m such a generous guy, I wrote down a bunch of the Tkalis terminology to share with you. Who’s your favorite character now? 

Life— a few terms that you might need that describe our world. 

Anasazi Xhihalla…the name of the land we live in. It literally means the Ancient Land Shines Ever Brighter. We share the land with other tribes.

Council…a bunch of old Wise guys that meet every few cycles to review and revise the laws of the Tkalis lands and the state of the tribe. They also talk to people from other tribes and negotiate treaties if needed. 

Gran Tkalis…The creator of all Tkalis people who lives in the Sun and produces light. He doesn’t have direct control over us mortal people once we’re alive, but offers his home of eternal paradise to us when we die, assuming we’ve led good lives. (Sometimes, I hear, very rarely, the Gran Tkalis exerts an extra effort to influence individual lives. The legends say that in the time of Ykali Xhihalla, the Gran Tkalis took the form of her horse so that he could guide and protect her and give her a mount worthy of her in battle.) Along with the other Great Gods, he weaves the destiny of mortals and protects the Anasazi Xhihalla from any aliens. (I figure he’s too old to be battling aliens, but Kaza says he’s got plenty of youth in him, whatever that means….)

Headman…the head of a city, who overlooks the daily operation of the city. He performs ceremonies and (with the help of the pharin) settles conflict in the city. He and his family receives any people from other cities or tribes and represent the city when traveling.  The title of headman can be bestowed upon a man or woman regardless of age, so long as they are master of his or her class. Oftentimes they are also one of the Wise on the Council. The headman has a consultant and friend in each class in the city. He must also have a pharin somewhere in his family to show his relation to Sun Tribe. He can appoint his successor at the approval of his consultants. A Y is added to the beginning of his or her name. (Best heads ever: My PARENTS. Tyeruinga and Yasuvide. :)

Manta…dress. For girls, obviously. The boys only wear breechcloths, or kilts for formal events, like Meets.

Meet…At the end of every week everyone in the city gathers in the central courtyard. The sahrea show off their work and the pharin tell stories and the weonat and hathai classes give reports. The headman conducts any ceremonies at this time. Generally, this is a time for people of different walks of life to gather and exchange news (and sweets!). At the meet, people sit in groups depending on their occupation; apprentices sit on one side and masters another. The headman sits between the masters and retired elders, If necessary, the headman can also call a Meet for emergencies, though this is quite rare (and not cool).

Otowa… city. So Otowa Hopa is the City of Hopa. 

Peaceful Nations…the tribes of Anasazi Xhihalla that live and trade in peace with each other. 

Sanctum…the ceremonial and prayer houses. The pharin live here as well.

Sun Tribe & Sun Spirits…Assuming they haven’t done something extraordinarily atrocious, when Tkalis people die they join Sun Tribe as a Sun Spirit. The Spirits live with the Gran Tkalis.

Spark…A magical gift. People without Sparks can also use magic, just not as powerful and epic spells. 

Tkalis…the united tribe name of the Akali, Ekali, Ikali, Okali, Ukali and Ykali family houses.

Vele Tribe…a nomadic tribe that’s been bothering the Tkalis tribe. (Kaza says their name means “ethereal energy” but I think it should just mean “annoying poo-chasers”)

Wise…also known as the Elderwise, they’re a bunch of old smart guys that populate the Council. There’s usually one or two from each city. (I used to think they were chosen for the length and whiteness of their beards, but Father doesn’t have a beard and he’s the awesomest one on the Council, so…I guess my hypothesis isn’t right.)

Note—Tribe, House and City

There used to be six tribes that made up the Tkalis United Tribe—Akali, Ekali, Ikali, Okali, Ukali and Ykali. Ykali Xhihalla (not related to the Ykali tribe) brought the six together and since then all six tribes identify themselves as a common tribe called Tkalis. The original individual tribes became known as “houses”, though Ykali house no longer exists. A city is usually about a hundred people and consists of people from all of the houses. People now identify with their city before their house, and since many houses intermarried, house doesn’t really matter besides as an interesting pastime. A child can be named after either the father or mother’s house. (So I am Ani, foremost a Tkalis, then a weonat of Hopa, then a member of Akali house. After that it can be noted that I’m technically also part of Ekali because of my mother. Beyond that no normal person really cares.)

Occupational Classes—the four paths that a Tkalis person must choose by the time they are 10 cycles old, though they can start as early as 5 cycles old. They can change their decision once, but it should be within a cycle of starting their last path. Sahrea and hathai are the most common roles for girls and boys respectively since the pharin and weonat classes must choose and accept their apprentices. (I have no clue why Kuresi accepted Kaza if she’s so mean to him…) After becoming a master of a class a person can go on and learn traits from the other classes as well (like my mom! :D)

Sahrea…The sahrea are the city’s weavers and cooks and are all girls. Their colors are red and yellow. Of course, everyone can cook something (aka porridge), but the sahrea are the best at it and make the afternoon and night meals for most of the city. (They also make sweets XD) They also make all clothes and blankets and door-hangings. Sahrea paint or perform the stories of the City so that other cities can see and be jealous of their city. At the weekly Meets some of their artwork is hung around the courtyard, and they will occasionally put on dances for the city. Along with the pharin, they also teach and care for the younger children. They also help the hathai, especially in the harvest times.

Hathai…The farmers, merchants and animal -keepers are all boys. Their colors are green and indigo. They can choose whether to stay in the fields or travel to the other cities trading goods or even work in cycle-long shifts. In addition to maintaining the fields and stores, they study numbers and how to build and repair buildings. 

Pharin…The mage-priest-medics of the city are traditionally girls, but after the time of Oru the Disfigured, crippled men are sometimes accepted into the work as well. Their colors are orange and purple. Their most important jobs are to heal and speak to the Spirits of Sun Tribe and keep the City in the good graces of the Gran Tkalis, though they also work in conjunction to the headman to resolve conflicts. Those with magical Sparks can also learn magic to help in various ways (like my uncle Tkaruanhe could shape the sand to help in battle or with construction and my cousin Tkawaqi could make it rain to hamper enemies or water crops in a drought). They study the history and legends of the Tkalis Tribe and those of the other Peaceful Nations. In planting season they help prepare the seeds for planting and may help in the harvest season. Along with the sahrea, they also teach and care for the younger children.  Their names begin with a K, though I’m not sure why they get a special distinction.

Weonat…I saved the best for last. The warrior-hunters are traditionally all boys, though in recent years a few girls have learned parts of the weonat way (most noticeably in Otowa Hopa, my MOM :D). Our colors are blue and black. Aside from protecting the city from attacks and hunting game, we also run messages for the headman to other cities. We train fighting with a bow, sword, spear and club. Since we ride, we also learn to care for our horses. We learn to repair equipment and draw maps. In peacetime the masters help out the other classes, especially the hathai, but we have to maintain sharp fighting skills at all times. Most headmen come from the weonat class; this makes sense in a way because the weonat of a city represent the city, much like the headman has to. The really good ones sometimes try to learn combat magic, but it’s a very dangerous art and not encouraged. The losses are greater than any gains we might reap. 

So…that’s it for this sheet. If Father doesn’t find out that I’m borrowing his ink then I’ll write up a list of characters for you soon. And a map. I don’t want you getting lost bringing me sweets, do I?

Sun Dagger--Acceptation

Hiii!
I'm late, but I bring the next part of Sun Dagger!

Sometime during the week I should post a guide to some of the terminology that's popped up in the story. It also includes random bits of info on the world :) Yay bonus stuff.
After that I believe the narrator of that guide-segment has another segment about proper nouns in this story. So look forward to those!

I struggled to make this part as brief as possible since I think everyone expected it from the start. While writing it, I looked to the Warriors series when I didn't know how to continue but hopefully didn't copy too much.. XD Unfortunately there's also the introduction of a lot of people, some important some not so much, in this part. I did my best to conciseify stuff without making it sound weird. Any tips of where I could trim stuff would be appreciated!

This part concludes the first "slate" of Sun Dagger too. Which means the next Sun Dagger post will be approaching the actual plot stuff! Finally done with all this setting up. XD

Comments are loved! I respond to stuff in the comments too! XD
~Minerva

At least once a week, all hundred-some residents of Otowa Hopa gathered in a circle around the central courtyard for the routine Meet. After the existing pharin and Yasuvide led the city in a short prayer, one of the pharin apprentices, Aza’s old friend Keri, told the story of Oru the Disfigured. Afterwards, Aza wondered if she had picked that tale in particular. Oru had been born ugly and missing limbs, but he had put forth his best effort and eventually found a place in the pharin’s sanctums as the first male pharin. 

The warrior-hunter weonat and merchant-farmer hathai gave their reports next.When everyone was assured that the game and crop were doing well it was time for any masters or apprentice ceremonies. After lovely 8-cycles-old Una was accepted to train as a sahrea in the arts as most women did, it was finally Aza’s turn.

“The pharin of our city are our spiritual guides. They communicate with Sun Tribe for us, heal us, and help us with magic. Today we welcome two new apprentices to join the path of the pharin.”

Aza fidgeted a little. He was older and would thus be presented first. The few seconds before his father called his name seemed like seasons. “Tkalis Aza,” Yasuvide said, using the formal name. “Please stand.” 

Aza stood from his spot between Ani and his friend Uzo and bowed, ignoring the whispers that sprang up around the ring. A healthy male leaving the way of the weonat for the path of the pharin? He had not shown any great potential in mage work. The elders grunted. They did not like it. It was a man’s work to hunt and defend or farm and trade. It was a woman’s work to weave and entertain or pray and heal. To go against that was to invite the disapproval of the Gran Tkalis and their Sun Spirit ancestors. Some of the young adults whispered that his mother had been Tyeruinga, the woman who rode like a man. They reminded their elders that she had saved Hopa time and again with her skill with a bow. This was strange, but not unheard of. Still they grumbled. 

His father waited until it was quiet again to continue. “Do you wish to train in the ways of the pharin and learn the mysteries of Sun Tribe and the Gran Tkalis to serve your city?”

“I do.”

“Then would the current pharin and apprentices please stand.” 

They did, bowing to the headman. 

“Mistress, do you accept this boy as an apprentice?”

Kuresi, the only master pharin of Hopa after Aza’s uncle’s death frowned. “I accept Tkalis Aza as an apprentice,” she said after a long moment. If her frown disproved of him, her voice did not.

“Apprentices, do you accept this boy as a peer?”

“We accept Tkalis Aza as a peer,” the three young pharin girls of their city said in unison. His father nodded to him and Aza bowed, first to the headman, then to Kuresi and finally to the apprentices. Aza walked to the center of the ring to where his father stood and was joined by Esuna.

“Tkalis Ani, Tkalis Uzo, will you stand to show support for Aza?” Esuna asked.

Ani got to his feet, his face as calm as he could make it. Uzo looked surprised at being asked to stand. He chanced a glance around the warrior-apprentices’s group. On his left, Oko rolled his eyes with a jeering taunt on face. Seeing no support anywhere else, Uzo glanced around him before looking sheepishly down, staring at the ground as though he did not hear his name. Around them a few children snickered and “oohed”. Adults bristled and grandparents shook their heads. Uzo had shown Aza disrespect by refusing to stand as his friend. 

Aza couldn’t get Uzo to meet his eyes. Part of him felt betrayed, but when he felt tears he pinched himself and watched Ani instead. He copied Ani’s mask of seriousness. If Ani can remain calm, so must I, he told himself. He didn’t know that his brother trembled with indignation and was thinking curses to Uzo.

The tribe waited. A few of the crowd sighed with relief. Even Tyeruinga had been a sahrea before she had proved herself a warrior. She had earned her syllable of mastery from the arts.  A fit boy training as a mage would be too strange. 

Yasuvide was about to announce a cancellation due to lack of support when a small boy in the back of the warriors-in-training group stumbled to his feet. He murmured something inaudible. A girl in the pharin-in-training group standing next to him nudged him a little. He looked to her with a half-pleading, half scared look and murmured something else. The girl shook her head. The small boy took a deep breath and opened his mouth but no sound came out. People chuckled. He tried again. 

“I- I am Tkalis Eli!” he squeaked, sounding younger than his 10 cycles. “I will stand for Aza,” he continued, a little more confidently. The girl nudged him again. “As his peer.” Eli added hastily. “And… friend.”

Ani shot a grin back to Eli as the ceremony continued. 

“Tkalis Eli, why do you stand for Aza?” Yasuvide asked, as was proper when a volunteer stood. 

Eli shivered, whether from the cold or nervousness, but replied firmly. “Out of duty and gratitude. Aza stood with me for Keri last season when she started training as a pharin,” he said. He paused but Yasuvide did not continue. More reason was needed to stand for someone than because they had done the same for their family. “Also, when we were six cycles old and I couldn’t climb down from the High Rock, he and Ani climbed up to rescue me. They walked me back home and stayed with me until Mother came back from the fields. I owe him my thanks.”

Eli looked directly at Aza as he continued. “Father always said that Tkaruanhe was no less a man than he was, even though Tkaruanhe wielded a spell and he a spear. I expected Aza to become a warrior as well, but if duty or sentiment compels him to follow the path of a pharin, I will support him.” Eli bowed to Yasuvide, indicating he was finished, and then to Aza, who gratefully returned the bow.

Aza’s apprenticeship ceremony continued. With Esuna, Ani, Eli and the pharin group standing, the headman raised his hands in the air and said, “With Gran Tkalis and Sun Tribe as my witnesses, I, Tkalis Yasuvide, by my authority as headman of Otowa Hopa, ask Aza to join the pharin of Hopa. I name you Tkalis Kaza. May you serve Sun Tribe and your city honorably in your new role.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the crowd greeted him by his new name; the newly named Kaza bowed to the headman and walked over to join the current pharin- apprentices. The girls didn’t seem particularly moved by his presence, but Keri made space for him between her and Kuresi. Everyone sat when the headman did.

“Tkalis Iwa, please stand.” 

Iwa had the gray eyes originally from Ikali but her straight hair was too light a brown to be pure-bred Ikali. One of her parents must have come from Okali or Ukali. She was short and petite, and walked on small, silent feet. Aside from her exceptionally sharp ears, she was quite ordinary-looking. 

Kaza looked back at the group where the children who had not decided their paths sat. At 9 cycles old, Iwa was the oldest child there; her ceremony had to take place soon, for she would be 10 by the first new moon of spring. Her mother was known to have a great magical Spark at an early age, but Imami had flatly refused to become a pharin and took the path of a sahrea instead. To have her apparently Spark-less daughter become a pharin- apprentice surprised everyone. 

Kaza stood along with the other apprentice shaman and accepted Iwa with them. Even though she had rejected this path, Imami blessed her daughter. “I accept your decision, Iwa. Use your head and bring honor to yourself, your family, your city and your people.” She made the mark against evil on Iwa’s forehead before releasing her. Una and Eli stood for her at Imami’s request. Iwa was named Kiwa and joined the apprentice shaman next to Kaza. 

When the Meet was over, Kuresi ordered Kaza and Kiwa to bring their belongings and bedrolls to the rooms adjoined to the sanctum. Yasuvide and Ani were still out talking to other members of the city, but Esuna had returned to the headman’s rooms and was rolling up Kaza’s bedroll for him when he got there. The young one slept in her basket next to the hearth. Kaza joined Esuna quietly, packing his few belongings. When he discovered his mother’s bow would not fit in the basket, he unstrung it sadly and tucked the regular hemp string with the silk bowstring his mother had left him. Ani would keep it safe for him. At the end, he realized he had very little: some clothes, two strings, a bedroll, a knife. 

He went to the small, secured box that housed their family’s most precious items: a curved knife decorated by braided string, a comb with nearly- transparent thread, a small slat of writing, and two bright red and orange feathers. He took out one of the feathers. His mother had come back from a hunt one day and given her two sons each a feather. She said it was from a phoenix, but everyone else had decried the idea as folly. It didn’t matter to the boys. They kept it safe with the other personal treasures, only occasionally taking them out for comfort. He stared at the other items in the box, treasuring his last few moments at home. 

“I know…that I’m not your birthmother,” Esuna said behind him. “I know that you and Ani don’t see any of my sister in me. But if you run into trouble or need someone to talk to, I hope you will still confide in me. I am still here to help you.”

Kaza smiled and tucked his feather back in the box before turning around. “We know you try. Ani and I…just aren’t used to having a mother that offers to wash and mend our clothes and speaks to everyone very formally and politely.”

Esuna smiled as well. “I was always covering up for Eru’s mishaps and remarks.” She touched the top of his head. “I think you will do well in the sanctum, Kaza. And…thank you, for volunteering.”

He shook his head. “It was my duty.”

“Nevertheless.” Esuna subtly indicated to the sleeping bundle. “It is traditional for a pharin to name newborns if the mother does not have a name prepared by the naming ceremony. Why don’t you think of one for her?”

“A name?” Kaza was startled by the offer. He blushed with the respect shown him. Usually only master pharin were asked to choose names for young ones. “I’ll do my best to think of one before the fortnight ends,” he promised. 

ECA 11-15

Hello there!

I'm back for my (slightly late) weekly update!

This week is ECA-related since I'm not liking how Sun Dagger is running along. The part after last week's "Family Discussion" was originally titled "Persuasion" but I think it's a useless 2,000 words, better suited as a "bonus" treat than as an actual continuation of the story. The next posted part will be "Acceptation" which I am currently messing with, trying to cut it down in size.

I also want to draw attention to the newly published "Index" page. This idea was inspired by AshMac, and what she did on Anima Spark. I shamelessly copied the organization idea and have filed most of the posts into categories. :) I also copy and get ideas for writing and life from her. :x So follow the link! Check it out! :D

Finally, if anyone remembers this guy from wayyyyyyyy back in March, he now has a surname and is Trevain de Corona. Yup. "Jerry de Corona" was a cafe owner and rebel group leader in one of my old writing projects from leik...5th, 6th grade and I happened to think of poor Trevain. This actually means nothing because I'm still not using him in any roleplays or writings, but I thought it would be amusing.

Ok! Let's talk about Elysia, Celestine and Arlin. When we last saw them, energetic, sometimes pensive Arlin was proposing the group join a "Campus Beautification Project". If you want, parts 1-5 and 6-10 can be found with their adjoining "comment blurbs" (that I'm still trying to think of a name for besides "comment blurbs".)

EDIT: The comment blurbs for this section are now posted at the end of this post! The next batch of ECA posts are planned to be up in a few weeks. :)

11. 33%

“I’m the only sane one of us three.”

Celestine flinched, overhearing. Not Arlin or Elysia, right?

“Anuna— crimson hair, pink eyes, and princess of the mythical Land of Dreams. Please.”

It wasn’t. Rhys Vesper, daughter of Chancellor Vesper was criticizing her odd roommates. 

Rhys spun on Fiana Tallwater. “You’re no better. Natural white hair and yellow irises. Demigod. Give me a break!.” 

Fiana almost sobbed aloud.

Celestine tugged her own cerulean hair. She’d always pretended it was magically altered. But what if she admitted it was natural? 

“99% on the group magic presentation. Sure. But our room’s only 33% sane.”

12. Dead Wrong

Elysia stood ankle-deep in mud. All around her smelled…damp. 

“Clear the weeds in the Western Farmland, sector 1? Shouldn’t take too long? Right Arlin.”

Wistfully, she envisioned her sword lying back in the dorm.

“Boring, and pointless?” She continued weeding. “Yes.”

Hours passed. Sweat, mud, hair and grass latched onto her skin and clothes and the setting sun spilled red over her. She was tired. But she was finished. The former swampland was weed-free and ready for planting.

“Finished here.”

Then in the corner of her eye the last ray of sunlight gleamed off a blade’s edge.

13. Running Away

“Hello?” Hello? Hello?

“Is anyone here?” Here? Here?

She blinked at the fog and stood cautiously. 

“Elysia?” Elysia? Elysia?

“Arlin?” Arlin? Arlin?

No answer. She was alone in this strange place.  Glancing fearfully about, she took a nervous step forward, radiating echos. She hugged herself.

“No one’s here. I’m ok. I’m safe,” she whispered. Safe! Safe!

“Are you scared?”

She looked up. No one.

“Don’t worry.” the wind said again. 

A moment of tension, then she burst into a run in any direction, tears streaking her face and steps echoing in the dreamscape. “No! I’m not crazy! Leave me alone!”

14. Judgement

Arlin leaned over the rail eagerly and Elysia looked asleep again. Celestine glanced around the box that was empty aside from the three of them, down at her partially finished homework and back at the Vesper Institute peer court for the verdict.

“Guilty.”

Arlin stifled a triumphant noise. 

“For stealing from the campus stores, he’ll… serve detention…” the Student Council President paused “…where?”

“Cleaning classrooms?” the ambassador suggested.

“Rhys’s campus beautification thing?” The historian turned to the vice president. 

“Sure. We don’t have many volunteers anyway.”

“50 hours with the campus beautification project then.”

The green haired thief only blinked.

15. Seeking Solstice

“We’re your friends, Celestine!” Celestine! Celestine!

“You’re not crazy!” Crazy! Crazy!

She could hear their voices speaking into her mind still, each utterance bringing back murmurs from her childhood. 

“She’s insane, Ms. Sesium.”

“Attention deficiency.”

“Aggressive. I’d even say she’s controlled by violent impulses.”

“Odd certainly. Dreaming or hallucinating, I can’t tell.” 

“Delirious.”

“.No. No. NO!” No! No! Before her the path broke into thin air and the land crumbled away. She’d reached the furthest point from the dreamscape’s heart. There was no more running. Celestine crumpled into a ball, pressing her hands against her ears. 

I”m not crazy!

Comment Blurbs

11. 33%

 I had an insanely hard time writing this segment and this is actually the super-edited third version. (Like with the old version of number 7, the original one will be featured in a "bonus" post later. Version 2 was basically the same scene as this, just described differently.)

Eventually though, I used it to introduce another triple in the story, the triple of secondary characters. 

Basically in this post, Rhys is criticizing her roommates and Celestine overhears. The 99% mentioned at the end was their group's (and coincidentally also their room's) score on a test. It isn't the giant history project that Elysia and Celestine were working on. 

So this is "F.A.R." as their initials would spell (not quite as cool as A.C.E., is it? >.<), consists of Fiana, Anuna and Rhys. Fiana is the same Fiana as Casayo's future girlfriend/ love interest in Spring Ball Trouble, though this is at least a year before the events of Spring Ball Trouble. She's got white hair and yellow irises and attributes these weird colorings to her being part seraph (angel). Fiana's story is actually currently being developed apart from this story, and gets pretty complicated; however, for the purposes of this story, she's just a white-haired, yellow eyed healing and summoning major who's best known for being too sensitive and always crying. 

Anuna has crimson hair and pink eyes and says it's because she's the princess of the "Land of Dreams," which Rhys quite frankly thinks is ridiculous. There'll be more on Rhys later in this post.

12. Dead Wrong

I made a diction mistake in this post. But I like the mistake because of the other effect it creates so I'll leave it be. Anyways, this is Elysia, talking to herself as she works for the Campus Beautification Project. She speaks a lot in questions, as I hopefully have been illustrating.

13. Running Away

This post is actually exactly how it was when I first wrote it. There was a small description of what she's wearing in the dreamscape, but I cut it out due to a the my self-imposed word count. The main purpose is to establish the scene of "Celestine's dreamscape," which comes up again a lot in the scenes we see Celestine alone. She's basically alone in a foggy flat landscape where everything echos except the voices that speak to her here. She tries to run, but the dreamscape apparently has an end and she can only go so far. More on her psychological conflict later. 

14. Judgement

This was definitely inspired by the peer court that was held in my high school once a semester--the awesome peer court...that I never was able to attend. Every time they held it I was already scheduled to go to something else at that exact time. It saddened be greatly to have never been able to see what it was like, but I imagined a little bit and put it into this. 

Anyways, ECA's schedule must be better than mine, because they're sitting in on one of the sessions. Going to this was definitely Arlin's idea. 

This also is our first glimpse of the Vesper University Student Council. Like the Alatus Institute from which this story was inspired, the Student Council is the main legislative and executive power at Vesper. This has nothing to do with anything, but your council members this year are:

President and Commissioner of Technology:      Zariah van Astira 

Vice President and Commissioner of Magic:      Rhys Vesper 

Secretary and Representative of General Ed Classes:      Emery Warni/ Yi

Treasurer and Commissioner of Weapons:      Wang Xue Tao

Historian and Commissioner of Healing:       Ethyn Archent

Ambassador and Commissioner of Summoning:       Ribelle Navynx

It mirrors Alatus...almost too much for my liking, but I really liked the concept so... XD

So Rhys is the chancellor's daughter, the student council vice president, commissioner of the magic department, and the organizer of the Campus Beautification Project. I'll let you form your own opinions on her. 

The green-haired thief...is pretty obvious because I only have leik 2 green-haired characters and only one that's a guy, but more on him when he shows up later. 

15. Seeking Solstice

I think this title is a typo and should be "Seeking Solace", since I can't figure out what "Seeking Solstice" is supposed to mean. But I followed the 100 theme title's spelling :P

So this batch's posts had a lot to do with introducing Celestine's psychological conflict: namely that she's nervous about any word like "crazy" or "insane" because it brings her invariably back to her childhood memories when she was declared crazy and insane and what not. 

I used this entry to continue the scene from Running Away because I liked the image of "running away" to "seek solace", but also because I like the irony it presents: running away from one thing and running towards another. If life's on a circle, then how do we know if we're running the right way? 

Celestine also gets the unfortunate touch of my own conflict with psychologists: Aside from the final "delirious", all those things said about her were once said about me. I didn't struggle as much with it as she does though, due in part to how our parents reacted to it. So Celestine's conflict here is kind of a hyper-exageration and partly created situation. 

Thanks for reading! The next batch of ECA posts are planned to be up in a few weeks. :) (Gawd passive voice =__=)

NEXT SET (16-20)

Sun Dagger: Family Discussion

Hiya!

I'll let this 2,000 word continuation of Sun Dagger speak for itself for now. Tell me what you think! Does it live up to any expectations you might have had? Does everything make sense? Are the names confusing yet? Without further ado, this is the continuation of last time's snippet: Family Discussion.

It was almost two entire seasons before a messenger came from the east road bearing news of Pharin Karuanhe and his band: they had been defeated at Tiwa after many moons of battles and failed talks; the headman of Tiwa had left none alive. Karuanhe himself had fallen in the end of the first month of the winter season, drained dry of his magical Spark by the enemy pharin. The remaining warriors fell soon after, without a healer and a pharin to work magic and speak with the Sun Spirits. 

Yasuvide, the chief of Otowa Hopa and one of the Wise on the Council that governed all of the Tkalis people, grieved in silence for his brother. If he said any words, good or bad, about his dead brother, only his second wife, Esuna, heard them. Two days after the news had come, he summoned his sons.

“Aza, Ani, Esuna,” he said when they were gathered and seated in a diamond-shape. “My brother Tkaruanhe left us more than the problem with Otowa Tiwa. Without him, our family no longer has a pharin. According to the laws of the Tkalis people, a member of the Council must have a family member that serves Gran Tkalis.”

“Is there no one in our family that is a mage-priest?” Aza wondered. “What about our brothers and sisters in the other cities? Cousin Kawaqi had been training as a pharin when we last went to Otowa Ataye four cycles ago. She could come here.”

Yasuvide shook his head gravely. “She is Tkawaqi now. She joined the ranks of the Sun Spirits after a fight with the Vele tribe. I sent messengers to ask the other members of our house. Tkaruanhe was the last.”

“Our family is spread thin and wide. Most of us are too old. It is time we came together again.” Esuna noted cryptically. She sat across from her her husband, between her step-sons, her loom set up in front of her. Her fingers worked quickly even though her mind was on other matters and in her lap the newest member of their family, a girl that had been born only a fortnight ago, slept peacefully. 

“Esuna has already borne children, and thus cannot start training as one. It is uncommon, but a son may also join the ranks of the pharin.”

“Like uncle Tkaruanhe,” Aza put in. 

“Tkaruanhe was only a pharin because he had a bad leg and arm and couldn’t run and shoot like all the warriors must,” Ani retorted.

Yasuvide continued quickly. “I understand that both of you want to become warriors and have already started training as weonats, and thus am willing to step down from my Council seat. I merely wanted you to know that this path exists, should either of you wish to take it.”

The two boys were quiet at this news. Finally, Ani spoke. “So Aza or I have to heal and talk to dead people for the Gran Tkalis or else Father has to resign from his post on the Council of the Wise.” He thought about this news, biting his thumb. “That would really change our lives,” his figured, no doubt thinking of the larger rooms they had now and the food and sweets. Ani was thinking of all the living people they met from other people and cities and all the news he heard when he realized something. “Father, if you resign, who will take your place on the Council? Who will lead Otowa Hopa and represent us on the Council?”

His father replied as though he expected the question. “Okunaro. He was good enough to remind me to speak with you on this matter today. ”

Ani was so alarmed he hardly heard the latter sentence. Okunaro was his father’s financial consultant, an intimidating though cranky retired man that kept careful watch on the stored trade goods and ensured the streets and houses of the city were polished and clean. Ani and Aza had oftentimes been caught by his sonorous voice, commanding them to clean up some mess or another, whether or not they were involved in the making of the mess. His son Oko had picked up on his bossy ways and pushed the other children around. He imagined that if Okunaro was headman, the children of Hopa would spend their days cleaning and polishing to perfection everything from a bow for trade to a pebble on the Great North Road. He shuddered.

Slowly Aza said, “Whether or not Father steps down, if the situation continues as is he would bring shame to Otowa Hopa. For hundreds of cycles no headman has had to step down because there was no pharin in his family while there remained eligible people.” He didn’t need to continue. Everyone in the room understood where Aza was going with this train of thought: Yasuvide would be likened to Yawesa, the infamous headman from many cycles past. Because Yawesa had not honored the Gran Tkalis and Sun Tribe with a pharin from his family while headman, he was said to have not joined the Sun Spirits when he died, and remained on earth as an evil spirit, haunting the Tkalis people to this day with tricks and evil doings. Otowa Na Zuspe, Yawesa’s city, had survived in shame for four cursed cycles after his death, before all the residents either died or moved. Even now Na Zuspe was left alone, its ruins left untouched somewhere between the North and West roads. 

The family was quiet for a moment, imagining that disgrace and shuddering. Esuna drew the mark against evil and Yawesa’s influence on her forehead. 

“But mage-work is for girls,” Ani whined. “Girls and cripples. People who can’t do a real man’s work as a weonat or hathai.” 

Yasuvidhe frowned at his son. “Ani, you will not speak of anyone with such a scornful tone, even if they are a girl and a cripple.” He turned to Esuna. “I apologize for his behavior. He should not have spoken as he did before you or the young one.”

Esuna nodded graciously, accepting the apology made on Ani’s behalf. 

“That’s it!” Ani said, suddenly elated though he had just been chastised. “The young one! We can promise her to Gran Tkalis once she is old enough to serve. That was what the headman of Ataye did three cycles ago, wasn’t it? He promised his two young daughters and all future daughters to the service of the Gran Tkalis when they became of age.” He pointed at the sleeping bundle in Esuna’s lap. “We can do as he did.”

Esuna stopped her weaving and laid a hand on her only daughter and stared at her step-son for a moment before turning to her husband. “We could,” she said, neither her expression nor her voice betraying any emotion. She could have been appalled or pleased by this suggestion.

Aza mirrored over his father’s position, thinking over the proposition. He did not like what the headman of Ataye had done, but Ani was right—it was an acceptable solution to all parties.

“I am not very much aged,” Esuna was saying as she passed the bundle to her husband for inspection.“If I do not die young from disease or war as my sister did, I can bear you many more children, and some may be girls. We could indeed promise her and her sisters to Gran Tkalis for our current lapse of representation in his temple.”

Aza watched the little girl in his step-mother’s arms. Her little fuzz of hair was a dark auburn, a mix of their father’s black and their mothers’ bright copper. She shared her step-brothers’ large almond-shaped eyes and when her eyes were open, they were a bright electric blue that swallowed everything like the sky. 

“What say you, young one?” Yasuvidhe said softly, gently stroking his daughter’s hair. She woke up crying. Esuna took the young one back and held her to her breast. Slowly, the baby quieted.

It’s not right, Aza thought. She looks too much like Mother. Maybe she’d be tame and docile like Esuna and work as a pharin without complaint, but what if she was a rare one like mother, born to ride and fight? Or what if she were like Esuna and was meant for weaving and the arts?

She could still ride and fight as a pharin, another side of his mind reasoned. 

But not as a sahrea. And could she? If she’s promised…then from the moment she sees 5 cycles she is bound to the temple sanctums, even if she doesn’t like the work. And pharin only ride with the warriors once they are masters. 

What Esuna said came back to mind. This is because we don’t have a pharin now. If we promise her to the service of Gran Tkalis now, we use her and any sisters she may have as a way to cover for “our current lapse of representation”. We would use her as a means to fix a problem that is ours. She is a person too. We should not meddle in her destiny. Only the Gran Tkalis may do that. 

He glanced at Esuna and Yasuidhe. He couldn’t tell what they were thinking. 

What are you going to do about it? The nagging voice asked. Volunteer yourself? Then you would be the one that would be forced to do the duties of the pharin. You would spend all day reading the histories of the people and communing with our ancestor- spirits in Sun Tribe. You would never feel the wind as you ride. You would never learn to use a blade…

Aza concentrated on the baby’s tiny foot to block out the voice. But at least I know what I’m walking into, he told himself firmly. He did not like what he was about to propose, but he knew his brother would not, and his parents would never ask them of such a thing.

“Father, Esuna… I could work as the family’s pharin. At least until the young one is old enough to decide for herself whether or not she wishes to follow the path of the temple. I can work in the temples in her stead until then.”

His parents mulled over his proposition.

“And if she chooses not to serve the temple?” Esuna asked quietly. Aza couldn’t tell what she felt from hearing this. For one of the Ekalis family, Esuna demonstrated a control of her emotions usually only seen from house Ukalis.

Aza gulped. Silence, he told his other side. “Then I would continue my service, of course.”

“It is a great dishonor to start an apprenticeship and drop out after more than year,” his father pointed out. “You will have to wait until the young one is five cycles old before you could leave. It does no good to save face now only to lose it later.”

Aza mentally kicked himself. He had forgotten that. Fortunately, his birthday was next week. If he had started warrior training any earlier, he wouldn’t even be able to do what he proposed now. At least his father had remembered. He swallowed his doubts and banished the dissenting voice from his consciousness. “I will continue then, whether or not she chooses to join me.”

“You would sacrifice your own freedom of choice for hers?” his father continued, watching him speculatively. 

Aza hesitated and Ani interrupted. “Father, Aza fell off while riding this morning. We can’t be sure he’s thinking straight. Let him have a few more hours to consider his proposition. Our family has until the Meet this evening to find a pharin.”

Yasuvide nodded in permission and dismissal. Ani bowed by wrapping his left palm around his right fist and bending slightly at the waist before dragging his brother out the door. He hadn’t thought Aza had hit his head that morning, but evidently his fall had been more serious than it looked.