Anna was bundled up in a fluffy coat, thick gloves, and a hat. A wool scarf was draped around her neck. She didn’t like the cold. It was more fierce here than it had been in Chicago. Maybe they was why she was beginning to actually acclimate herself to it. It wasn’t that she liked the cold. She was just beginning to find it more tolerable. 

Elyse was doing well - even more so after going to Denmark to find some closure. It had also been a fun trip after Elyse had done what she had needed to do. It had been the first time Anna had seen a castle. She smiled at the memory. 

But her mind wandered back to Cade. It did quite often. They had remained in contact of course. Anna never pushed her crush, with the exception of an occasional flirty text. She was a little impatient even as she felt guilty for feeling that way. They hadn’t known each other that long, and she understood why it wasn’t moving farther. She knew he liked her too though, and that was sometimes enough to make the thoughts appear. 

Anna had decided to come to the carnival today, and maybe her thoughts about Cade were the reason why. Today she had come alone. Maybe that was a little sad to others, but she didn’t mind. As social as she was, she did enjoy time alone. She passed by the tarot booth and smiled. When she had come here with Cade, she had gone there to ask the woman advice about Cade. It reminded her of her patience. That was enough reason to come here. 

Anna pulled out the map of the carnival, thinking about what she could do here today. There was a magic show, a strong man, a haunted exhibit, some games of chance - all of which seemed fun.  Of course the scent of carnival food was around. She would definitley have a snack. For now she turned and began to walk aimlessly. She would see what struck her fancy in the moment.

The Brotherhood grounds lay hushed beneath winter. Snow pressed everything into gentler shapes: hedges softened to pale humps, bare branches etched like charcoal against a washed-out sky, stone paths reduced to suggestion. Somewhere beyond the walls, the modern world continued – traffic, signals, the electric thrum of a city that never truly slept – but here it was held at bay, muffled by cold and ritual and distance. Cali sat on the ground near the edge of the Celestial Gardens, a thick cushion beneath her, her boots tucked awkwardly beneath the hem of her coat. A knitted hat was pulled down over her ears, pale hair escaping in soft, disobedient wisps. Her breath fogged in front of her face, blooming and fading like a thought she hadn’t decided to keep.

She closed her eyes and hummed. It wasn’t a song with words, more a wandering melody, the kind her aunt used to murmur while turning the pages of her books. The sound vibrated low in Cali’s chest, steadying her breathing. The note shifted instinctively, adjusting to the space, to the cold, to the living things beneath the snow. She felt them instinctively. Not with her hands, though her fingers rested lightly on her knees, numb despite her gloves, but with something deeper, subtler. The plants slept, but sleep was not absence. Roots curled tight against frost, sap drawn inward, life banked like coals beneath ash. Shrubs along the garden’s edge leaned toward one another, sharing what warmth the earth would allow. Even the ancient trees, stripped bare, hummed faintly with patience.

Hello, she thought, fondly.

The response was not words. It never was. Just a sense of acknowledgment, a quiet rightness, as though her presence had been noted and accepted. She could help them if she wanted. The awareness came as easily as breath now. She could encourage the smallest stirrings, coax a whisper of green against the white, prove that the gift was real. That she was real. That she was chosen.

Her hum faltered.

No, she told them gently, the way one spoke to children who did not yet understand hunger or cold. Rest. Keep your strength. Spring will come.

The plants settled, content. Approval warmed her more than the coat ever could.

Cali exhaled slowly and turned inward, the way Seraphis had taught her. This was what she was supposed to be doing; why she was out here. The power was there, she knew that now. Vast and luminous and terrifying, like standing on the edge of the sea in a storm. You did not seize it. You did not command it. You opened yourself and let it take you, trusting it would not drown you. She tried to still her breath, to let herself outward, but instead distracted memory intruded. Moscow, grey with slush and exhaust. Her father’s voice, controlled and furious, when she said she was leaving university. Aunt Oleander’s laughter, bright and musical, and then the hollow absence where her name should have been. The box of books under her arm. Quillon’s smile. The Luminar’s gaze, heavy with purpose. The word Ascendancy, ringing like a bell she could never quite stop hearing.

And Samiel.

Her shoulders tensed. It all slipped away like water through clenched fingers.

She tried again. Let the thoughts pass. Do not push them away – accept them, release them. That was the trick. Surrender without losing yourself. Strength through yielding. Her hum returned, softer now, a single sustained note. She imagined roots, deep and dark and steady, drinking sparingly from frozen soil. The plants helped her then, lending their patience, their understanding of seasons. Of waiting without despair.

For a heartbeat – just one – she felt it.

A vast, serene presence brushed the edges of her awareness, cool and brilliant. The power did not rush her. It invited her. Wrapped her in the promise of endless motion held in perfect balance.

Her breath caught.

The world sharpened. Snowflakes seemed to hang, suspended. She could feel the shape of the garden, the slow turning of the earth beneath it, the sleeping green heart of the world.

Then excitement flared bright and unguarded – and the connection shattered.

Cali gasped, hands curling in her lap. The moment was gone. She laughed softly at herself, the sound misting into the cold air. “Soon,” she murmured, whether to the Power, the plants, or her own impatient heart. “I’ll learn. I promise.”

She closed her eyes and began again. The garden did not hurry her. Winter never did.

By Staff Correspondent

One of competitive archery’s most celebrated figures, Olivier de Volthström, is facing renewed scrutiny after a public accusation from rival archer Kael Vayron, who alleges that Volthström’s recent string of victories is less about skill and more about privileged access to high-end equipment.

Vayron, a perennial finalist on the international circuit, raised the allegation following last weekend’s Grand Meridian Open, where Volthström secured his fourth title of the season with a near-perfect score. Speaking to reporters outside the venue, Vayron said the playing field has tilted in favor of athletes backed by elite manufacturers and exclusive sponsorships.

“When one competitor shows up with prototype limbs and custom stabilizers that’s not just preparation—that’s an advantage,” Vayron said. “I respect Olivier’s talent, but tournaments are supposed to test archery, not access.”

The accusation has reignited debate across the sport, where technological innovation has long walked a fine line between progress and unfair advantage. Volthström’s bow setup, frequently highlighted during broadcasts, includes bespoke components that some competitors claim are unavailable to the wider field.
Tournament officials confirmed that Volthström’s equipment passed all required pre-competition inspections, a point emphasized by his camp in a swift response to the claims.

In a statement issued Monday, a spokesperson for Volthström dismissed the allegations as “baseless and disappointing.”

“Olivier de Volthström competes under the same regulations as every other archer,” the spokesperson said. “All equipment used has been approved by governing bodies and cleared by officials prior to competition. Suggesting otherwise undermines the integrity of the sport and the rigorous standards in place.”

The spokesperson added that Volthström’s success is “the result of years of disciplined training, technical mastery, and mental focus under pressure,” not technological shortcuts.

The International Archery Federation (IAF) declined to comment on individual athletes but reiterated that its equipment regulations are “designed to ensure fairness while allowing innovation within clearly defined limits.” An IAF representative confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed in connection with the Grand Meridian Open.

Reaction among fellow competitors has been divided. Some echoed Vayron’s concern that rising equipment costs could widen the gap between athletes, while others cautioned against equating sponsorship-driven innovation with cheating.

“Equipment can help, but it doesn’t shoot tens on its own,” said one veteran archer who requested anonymity. “At this level, consistency and composure still decide championships.”

Volthström remains scheduled to compete in the upcoming Moscow Winter Classic next month, where scrutiny is likely to follow every arrow he releases. Whether the controversy prompts tighter regulations or fades as another chapter in a heated rivalry may depend on what unfolds on the shooting line.

written by AI

Olivier found himself in Moscow before the new year. He had spent some time at the range, preparing for his tournament in January. He knew his talent, but he also knew practice was important. Olivier was also considering a proper move to Moscow. For what he was spending on rooms in the Radiance, he might as well find his own place. He looked over at his bow case and smiled. Archery was always something that brought him joy. He was both sad and not to be in Moscow instead of Zurich during the holidays. He guessed he could find his way back to Zurich if he needed to. If he did, it would be to see Elin. He hoped she was doing well, but despite loving his parents, he really wasn't in the mood to argue with them right now.

He pulled out his computer and began to browse the web. Olivier was looking for something new to do. His typical marks were fine and were already funding many projects. He couldn't explain it. There was something that just drew him to take what unethical wealthy corporations didn't need and give it to the ones they hurt. There was the thrill of risk added with the joy of helping those who truly needed it. Part of him disliked the anonymity, even as he understood it. 

It was mostly the same stuff. He noticed that Kael Vayron, an archery rival was throwing some shade at him in the public sphere.  He was saying his immense success was due to him being a Volthstrom. His PR team would take care of it. There was nothing to worry about there. He was just mad because he was going to lose in the upcoming tournament. But there was a post that caught his eye.  The poster had sent a few out.  It wasn't a name he was aware of.  Whoever it was was likely new. But the post spoke of bravery. He opened his messaging and sent a message to the poster, encrypting it of course.

Olivier de Volthstrom

Age: Mid 20’s

Origin: Zurich, Switzerland

Occupation: Professional Competitive Archer/Wealth “Redistributor”

Alignment: Chaotic Good

Psychological Description: Disciplined and calm, Olivier handles pressure well. He tends to be personable, but can retreat into himself at times. He prefers actions to words and enjoys a good prank. His humor is often dry and witty. He his observant and methodical.

Physical Description: 5’11” tall with dark hair and blue eyes.

Reborn God: Robin Hood

Hope everyone head a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

A cold snout shoving up urgently under her chin was what woke her. Tenzin groaned as Never’s excitement stamped all over her chest. Not that he wasn’t being careful, or as careful as he ever was. Shoving him off far enough to breathe, it took Tenzin a moment to unpick the dizzying train of his thoughts. He crouched close beside her, still wiggling amidst the blankets, tongue hot and lolling, and couldn’t resist the small nips of unrestrained joy and the demand to hurry! Hurry!

Sierra, and dream, and Wyldfyre all blurred together, but fortunately Tenzin understood enough.

“I go I go,” she groaned, resorting to just shielding her face now with an arm draped over it. “Stop jumping! Need a moment, pup.”

After the trials in Norway, His Holiness returned to Rome in solemn procession, though none but those closest to him would have called it retreat. Within the ancient stone of the Vatican, beneath gilded ceilings and the low murmur of sacred chants, Pope Patricus I found a season of stillness. It was Christmastide, and though the liturgical calendar ran on as ever it had, the weight upon his shoulders did not lift.

The memories of Norway and Siberia clung to him like incense after Mass. The Key of Cunning lay buried deep within the Apostolic Archives now, classified among relics whose natures were best left unquestioned. Yet it called to him. Not with words, not even with thought, but with the subtle allure of something unfinished. He resisted, as was expected of him and as was required. That such a temptation could arise at all was troubling. That he felt it was worse.

Armande had fallen into silence in the weeks that followed. The women who accompanied him spoke little as well, offering weariness as excuse and solitude as shield. Armande himself spoke often of patience, with all the gravity of a cardinal instructing a novice. Patience! To the Pope himself. One of the Fruits, he had called it. The absurdity of it sparked a glare had it not also rung true in some distant corner of Philip’s soul.

And yet, patience was no balm. The other keys remained hidden, scattered like seeds on unbroken ground, and Philip knew without evidence or reasoning that they must be found. That they must not fall into the wrong hands. Whether it was instinct or something more, he could not say. Only that the sense of purpose had not left him.

Rome swelled with celebration in those holy weeks. Chorales rang out beneath the dome of Saint Peter’s; pilgrims crowded the piazza like waves pressed against the shore. Then, as Epiphany gave way to Ordinary Time, the announcement came: the Pope would journey to Moscow.

Not a summons nor an obligation. A choice. It would be his first meeting with the Ascendancy; a public gathering, one announced with careful language and diplomatic tact. Many had asked for such a meeting before; all had been denied. Until now.

The Ascendancy could not know the truth behind the change. But Philip was ready.

It was late when Claude received a response to the text he sent to Nora earlier. She had been working on infiltrating the Brotherhood of the Ascendant Flame. Claude knew she was nervous about it and she could be fairly easy to read. He wanted to check in and make sure she was alright. It was hard to tell from her message if she was being serious, but he would trust her at her word. He really hoped she was okay. It was her first job in the field. 

Claude had to to chuckle a bit at her asking if he was at the safe house that they called home for the time being. He wasn't nearly so adventurous as she was, and it was hard for him to go out when she was out.  He was sure eventually he would relax more. He let her know that he was and asked if she was hungry. It didn't surprise him that she was. She had likely been too focused to eat. He had planned on it and prepared for it. There were chicken breasts marinating in the fridge already and had already chopped some vegetables to saute. 

Claude began to cook as soon as he got her response and let her know to plan on a hot meal when she returned.  Her response made him laugh too. Haha! I figured you didn't eat much today. Good thing you have a little brother that plans ahead

The chicken breasts were soaking in a lemon pepper marinade and he had preheated the oven as soon as she had responded. He had a snack to hold himself over and could eat as well. Thankfully the oven had finished it's preheat shortly after he started sauteing the vegetables. It gave the small apartment a great aroma as he worked. Hopefully the travel through the city would slow her down enough for him to finish before she got back. If she got back a little later, she would understand if she had to wait for a little bit, but he'd rather have it ready when she got here, but still hot.

The food finished and he just finished separating the food onto two plates as the door opened and Nora entered. He gave her a smile and placed the two plates on the counter. "Welcome back. Perfect timing," he said with a smile. Claude gestured for her to sit and got the appropriate cutlery which he handed brought to her. "Water, juice, soda, something stronger?" he asked, offering a beverage with her meal.

Muireann had the kind of face that drew attention even when she wanted to disappear. Her pale hair fell like poured light, her skin was almost translucent, and her eyes were the washed-blue gray of winter sea. She looked fragile in a way that invited projection and in that people saw in her whatever they wished: purity, obedience, vulnerability, or weakness. Muireann herself never felt like any of those things. She simply existed with the self-contained smallness of someone who had learned early that noise invited danger.

She remembered little of her parents, though she had been plenty old enough at 12 to hold real memories. What remained came as fragments: her mother’s hand tightening around hers, the low murmur of adult voices arguing in the next room, the hush that fell whenever she approached. And sometimes, drifting through the haze of recollection, the image of a well-dressed man with the type of face that made her shy when he looked at her. He was someone her parents called a friend but treated with a caution and respect she hadn’t understood at the time. He sometimes brought her gifts; his attempt to win her over perhaps, and they were beautiful things, trinkets or toys far beyond anything her parents could afford. Once there was a locket bearing initials that didn’t match her name, but she thought little of it at the time. She always wondered whose name those letters represented.

His fall from grace had been public and survived by his influential family, but the people that worked with him were ordinary, powerless allies like her Irish-born parents. They simply vanished in the time surrounding his arrest. The police informed her they had died, and with no relatives to claim her, she was placed into government custody and reassigned to an orphanage. The official record offered no further explanation, and whatever details existed were kept far from a child’s reach.

The orphanage depended entirely on outside philanthropy to function, which meant it was always one shortage away from collapse. Beds were crammed together in dormitories meant for half as many children while food came in unpredictable quantities. The staff rotated often, some indifferent, others cruel. Muireann survived the way quiet children often did by shrinking in, by drawing no attention, and by keeping her thoughts folded neatly where no one could see them.

Still, she was noticed. Older children marked her early. They sensed her quietness as weakness and her beauty as justification. She avoided them by slipping through hallways, staying in corners with a book, and memorizing the times the supervisors looked away. Most days, it was enough.

On the day she channeled for the first time, rain leaked through a crack in the ceiling, dripping into a metal bucket like a drum. Three older boys cornered her, shoving her back into the narrow space. Their taunts blurred, and her world shrank to the cold wall against her back and the rhythmic drip drip drip of water beside her feet. Something inside her flared bright, then a violent gust threw the boys backward, slamming them into shelving units and scattering boxes across the floor. They scrambled to their feet and ran.

She didn’t understand what she had done. She only knew that she must never do it again. And she didn’t in the years that followed. Her mind sealed around the memory, forming a block so complete that even the instinctive spark of channeling lay dormant. All she retained was the association: fear, and the sound of dripping water.

Of course, the boys told of what happened. They called her a witch, insane, and when she fell Sick, a threat. The rumors about Muireann and the threat she posed circulated among staff, eventually reported to the orphanage’s primary benefactor family. Months later, during an event meant both to generate good press and reassert civic virtue, Theron Finnegren arrived along with his parents. Cameras tracked them like celebrities, staff snuck glimpses, and children lined up to present memorized gratitude. Muireann stood among them, her pale hair bright under the lights, hands folded carefully as she tried to make herself small, but Theron seemed to peer through everything as if finding a needle in a haystack; only this time, he was looking for the needle.

Later she learned that he had already heard rumors of the “suspicious event” in the storage hall. Theron asked to speak with her alone. She had never been addressed so gently by an adult, although she later learned he was only 20 himself. She told him nothing of what she’d done, but he seemed to know regardless. He asked if she ever felt strange, if she ever sensed something stirring when she was afraid. She only shook her head, but he did not press.

The next week, papers were signed and she was adopted, not as a daughter in the ordinary sense, but as a ward. Someone he wished to guide, protect, and study. The orphanage staff venerated the story as a philanthropic success, though many whispered that a child like her was better off drawing no notice.

After leaving with him, Theron asked if Muireann desired a new name. That was when she picked Seraphis, a character from a beloved book, and with this new name, she entered a world she had never imagined: clean halls, orderly rooms, structured days, and luxury like she’d never known before. When Theron announced his intention to go to Moscow, it was without hesitation that he took Seraphis with him. She was with him when he took over the Brotherhood of Ascension, and helped to expand its influence. By then she was seventeen. In the privacy of the sanctuaries he introduced her to practices meant to calm the mind that would become the bedrock of the Brotherhood’s mystic teachings: breathwork, meditation, and structured reflection. He attempted to teach her the channeling he assumed she already understood, but something blocked her. The more she failed, the more confused he became, so he tasked her with mastering non-magical disciplines. He told her stillness mattered before power, and she believed him.

It wasn’t until she incorporated water into their practice, meditating alongside the fountains of the Sanctuary that something loosened. The sound anchored her, not in fear now, but in familiarity. She slipped past her block and touched the Source again, this time without violence. The relief in her expression lingered for days. The pride in his reaction filled her heart with joy.

Over the next two years, Seraphis became the first of the Veilwardens. Her devotion to Theron shaped everything she did. She saw him as both guardian and guiding star, not quite father, not quite brother, but the one fixed point in a world that had taken all others away. Theron treated her with fond distance, never unkind but never allowing closeness beyond his chosen boundaries. She accepted that as her role to be near him, to serve the Brotherhood he led, and to justify the second chance he had given her despite whatever plans he has for her future.

Personality

She learned to get by through observation before acting. Beneath her serenity lay a mind more independent than she let on. She valued her own counsel, even if she rarely voiced it. Her humor, when it slipped out, came dry and unexpectedly morbid, a small rebellion against the quiet veneer of her adolescence. She longed to matter in a world that kept dictating her circumstances instead of empowering the agency of self-made choices, and the tension between duty and private yearning shaped much of her current life.

Appearance

At a slender height of 5 foot 7 inches, Seraphis has the doll-like poise of porcelain. Her hair falls in long, pale strands, soft as light reflected on frost, and her skin has a delicate luminosity that makes her look almost sculpted. Her features are fine and symmetrical, with winter-gray eyes that appears both distant and searching. The contrast of her natural etherealness with the rich ceremonial clothing of the Brotherhood gives her an almost iconic quality, a look that hovers between innocence and quiet determination. Even in stillness, she draws the eye, as though she is meant to be part of a vision rather than a crowded room as is her destiny.

Other lives

1st Age: Seraphis Arden, Veilwarden of the Brotherhood

3rd Age: Tbd

5th & 6th Age: Leuce, Nymph of Oceanid

7th Age: Guinevere, Queen of Camelot