this is Salem, a land filled with magic and maladies. It is a place where witches and their elemental familiars gather, a home to legend and
lore that predates time itself. Yet of all the wicked and wonderful stories the past can tell us of, the most magical are the ones yet to happen.
This is Salem - this is the start of your very own journey. Welcome to starfall
Starfall is an animaga witch roleplay set in mostly modern times. Members play as witches in a world plagued by monsters, where the only safe spots are walled cities. Starfall strives to be a character-driven roleplay with expansive lore and a highly interactive plotline. We want to allow members to
create and look back on a magical journey, and mold the site and its plot as their characters grow.
Valencia assumed that being a Helios Knight would reward her with various missions protecting the people. However, her mother often told her that to run you have to start off with crawling and then walking. Being a fledgling wasn't exactly something that she was happy with and she did her best with studying. But she'd have to gain the trust of the people and others at large if she was going to further her station. With that in mind, the request that she had to fill today was something that she'd read about in one of her father's romance novels.
A young man who was looking for his lost love and only had notes to remember her by. It was poetic but also a little unreasonable considering that finding someone based on notes would be hard. Handwriting could change and the notes could've been written by someone else. Arion couldn't help but think of a million reasons to why this mission would be a waste of time and fail miserably but Valencia was determined to go through with it no matter what.
Did the request touch your inner romantic?
She scoffed and rolled her eyes as she pressed her back against the wall of the Sun Cafe. She was waiting outside in the early morning for her partner, a fellow Helios Knight, if her information was correct. In truth, she should've spent more time learning about her fellow coven members than studying but dealing with books was much easier than people. A soft sigh escaped her as she looked to the entrance of the cafe, watching the people who entered and exit with mild interest.
Perhaps she'd be lucky enough to spot their target before the mission even began.
But she wouldn't count her blessing or indulge in an unnecessary "what if".
[attr="class","nabody"]While not an avid visitor of coffee shops in the area, Julie at least made a proper note for herself to know her way around the streets of her new home, and the general location of the mission's meeting spot was no exception. Sun Cafe wasn't special, much less to her. It may have suggested the occasional interesting choice of dessert, but nothing worth mentioning beyond that, unfortunately.
What could be seen as a pretentious boasting was in fact, Julie's way of identifying herself effectively. Deciding to boldly wear the Knight's crest as a necklace, the girl chained it around her neck and reached the destined cafe soon enough. If she was correct, she would be taking this mission with a fellow member of the same coven, which would only add to the reason for boasting the symbol out in the open. Although she was a new addition, one unrecognized and certainly ridiculed at her current state, she didn't let the surrounding words get to her. This was more important.
Though, she'd hoped her partner would have done the same for easier recognition. As a mere fledgling barely even capable of communicating with her personal familiar, Julie couldn't remember any face just yet, that didn't directly deal with her business or with where she was planning to reach. What's more, several of the faces she did see around the coven did seem to spend their mornings around there. Luckily enough, one in particular seemed to be drawing no attention. A man, sitting alone at a table, indulging himself to iced coffee and staring into a small notebook.
Maybe?
Passing by a certain person awaiting by the entrance, the blond witch invited herself to sit by the man's table. Flashing the Helios Knight's crest, she asked a direct and simple question. "Are you Donnel Jacobson?"
[attr="class","natag"]000 ● @valencia ● notes: looking forward to working with you~
The anticipation for when her partner would arrive had steadily died. Valencia wasn't new to missions and planned in advance to carry a tome with her for some light reading. She hadn't forgotten the conversations she had in the Sun Cafe with Ambrose Bellamy, the words still swimming about in her mind. Her brother was an enchanter and although she didn't have the same abilities it would be wise to know what a potential enemy could do. Arion often told her that she was far too cautious for her own good and although skepticism was alright, it would only harm her in the end if she was cautious of everything that crossed her path.
Her response to that was that no one could be too prepared.
It was also why she chose to keep her pendant hidden unless in dire emergencies when she would need to show identification. Broadcasting which coven one belonged to wasn't the best idea, her mother often reminded her after her first year in the Helios Knights. There were many rivalries and individuals who held grudges against certain covens. By showing her hand, she was making herself vulnerable to them and what they could do to her. And if there is one thing that Valencia couldn't stand, it was allowing herself to be vulnerable.
So when she glanced up and saw a blond short-haired woman brush past with the insignia of the Helios Knights around her neck, a sigh escaped her. It must've been her partner which meant that the mission would start soon and she'd have someone to inquire about. Her tome snapped shut and was tucked away inside her purse as she made her way inside the Sun Cafe.
Her partner was busily talking to a young man sitting at a table with a cup of iced tea and a notebook. He looked up at her attentively as she spoke.
"Yes I am," he said. "I assume that you're here for my request."
He seemed rather hopeful, eyes lighting up, but as he looked around for a second person a look of bewilderment took hold.
"Pardon me, but aren't you supposed to have a partner?"
Valencia came forward and stood next to the blond witch.
"That would be me."
She opened her jacket to show the crest pinned on the inside of it.
"Valencia Godfrey, at your service."
He seemed relieved and nodded in understanding.
"Donnel Jacobson, it's a pleasure to meet you both." He said. "Please."
He gestured for them to take a seat and Valencia looked to her partner before sitting down.
[attr="class","nabody"]While silently taking in the man's features, Julie had come to affirm that he was a poet before he had approved of her earlier assumption. He'd been stereotypically dressed, whether for easier recognition or out of a fashion quirk; from the large and wide hat, to the white and frilly collar, and the puffy red shirt. Luckily, it was indeed the person she was looking for.
The party didn't need to wait too long. Juliet was saved from replying at the inquery as another voice came in abruptly, the presence making itself known by entering the scene. Standing next to the blond witch was a redheaded woman, flashing the same insignia as the one boasted by Julie's pendant. Honestly, she would have been fine hearing out the mission's details before her partner had arrived if need be, and perhaps fill them in later. But this was for the best after all. Their assortment was now complete.
Giving the stranger from the Knights a long stare, she examined her supposed partner's appearance as well, before lightly glancing to a white chair remaining by the table. An invitation, maybe. If they were to sit and talk through the details of this mission, it is best to save energy. As Valencia sat down and at the waiter's arrival, Juliet had requested a simple glass of water before sending the man to his way.
It occurred to her that she was the only one not to introduce herself. In these moments, this was in order, right? "My name is Juliet Tepache. I have recently joined the Helios Knights coven." She stated very matter-of-factly, looking to their client straight in the eye. Continuing to ignore (or remain oblivious to) the surrounding's opinion of her, or her coven.
"I understand that we are to track a certain woman."
[attr="class","natag"]298 ● @valencia ● notes: looking forward to working with you~
Donnel looked between the two women while trying to suppress the amount of questions that he had. Surely, he couldn't be too picky with his choices to find his beloved. The request was so unorthodox and possibly rather sad. No self-respecting person of higher ranking would take it on. With a heavy sigh and a weary smile, he opened up his journal to a pace which contained several scraps of paper. Each were a little worn and had a few crinkled spots, no doubt from where water must have touched them.
"Yes, I'm afraid that I don't have a name to give to you but I swear that this is not a trick."
The desperation in his tone was enough to pique Valencia's interest. She glanced at Juliet and then looked to the man in front of him as he presented the scraps of paper to them. There were seven in total and as his hand seemed to be hesitant to move from where they were lain, she'd say that they were rather important to him.
"Do you have any identifying characteristics of the missing person?"
Donnel's eyes widened by a fraction and then grew misty as the softest of smiles formed on his lips. He leaned back in his chair and removed his hand from where the scraps of paper were. Hands settling in his lap, he dreamily stared up at the ceiling.
"A goddess made flesh with hair spun from gold and eyes bluer than the mightiest of seas," he sighed. "She wore only the finest of clothes and seemed out of place among us. Truly a vision to behold."
Valencia looked to her partner. Either this man was entirely in love or he was a hopeless fool. She just hoped that the woman they were meant to find felt the same way. Or else this could become a rather tearful story indeed. With an interest in getting on with it, Valencia dragged the pieces of paper closer to them.
The first scrap read: The world is far too quiet without you nearby. I miss you terribly and the sound of your lullaby.
The second scrap read: Life never end when you are in it.
The third scrap read: Some of the simplest things in life are the most difficult to imagine.
The fourth scrap read: Be strong and all will be fine.
The fifth scrap read: I will love you even if I never see you again, and I will love you even if I see you every other day.
The sixth scrap read: Until death do we part, never will you leave my heart.
The seventh scrap read: You are the aria to which I sing in hopes of the day our paths will meet.
Each of the notes were written with swooping lines and curled letters. The i's were dotted and the t's were crossed. In honesty, she had the handwriting of a poet or a writer.
[attr="class","nabody"]Listening closely to what the client had to say, Julie allowed her thoughts to run through. If anything she could take from that description though, it was that she had never heard anyone describe a person like that, not in real interactions. It was like it was taken straight out of a poem of the sort. Perhaps he was this immersed in his work? --No, that's ridiculous. Was it... Acceptable to talk like that...? Regardless, the blond's expression had not changed, instead simply staring at Donnel through his words. "In your words--"
It might have not been a good idea to state this, but such were her thoughts, and the few she could assimilate from such a description. "we are to look for a blond woman with blue eyes and fine clothing." She collected. "If she stood out that much, she would surely have other characteristics as well. Just the general appearance would have us look for every single woman in town that looks that." Even Juliet herself could be applied with that. "--Mick."
The air around the young woman's shoulder distorted as a familiar materialized into reality, holding himself on her shoulder. "Aye!" On cue, the hyped red panda took notice of the notes. "Please see if you can get anything from these." Rudely enough, the red panda snatched two of the notes and began sniffing at them.
"If your description is accurate, she should be unique enough to have as much as a personal scent. I'm guessing, she would be of high class." Which means, perfume. And she bet that, if she was to be using anything to strengthen her own odor, it would certainly be left on these notes, even through the poet's tears. "Donnel, what else do you know about her? Anything can help. We need to narrow down the generalization as much as possible." She only hoped she could make anything significant out of his lines.
Because when it came to poetry... ...Juliet had no experience.
