#anna lacoria

Anna,

I really hope that Callais took my advice and came to see you on the leave I sent her on. I apologize if she’s been away longer than you would like, it appears my replacement is a little more like me than I suspected. In the future I’ll make sure to keep closer tabs on her and make sure she doesn’t spend a month out in the field like that again.

How have you been enjoying the Eskara Estate? I hope you’ve found something to enjoy about Ebonhawke, and I can’t apologize enough for departing so shortly after arriving. Too many things have been going on and I was needed closer to the front lines to help handle constantly arising issues. Thankfully, the original issue I was called out here to help investigate seems to be a benign issue.

Now then, onto the business part of my letter; if Callais is there with you, can you ask her to meet me out in Garenhoff two days from now? We’re hoping her expertise might be able to help us handle a project that Adriwyn had been working on for a while now. If you’d like to, you can come out too, it’d be good to see you. If not, I hope that maybe you can still get this message through to her.

I hope to see you soon my dear sister.

Love, Alexandria

@rising-ember

Pressing her seal into the wax that sealed the envelope, she stared at the symbol. Slanted at a forty-five degree angle, the symbol of the Shining Blade was crossed over with the key symbol of the Durmand Priory, forming an X. Setting that to the side, she’d drop it off when she went to the Desert Rose for lunch.

Scattered on the table in front of her was a stripped down plated gauntlet, the aetheric monitor unit that Naxxa had sent, a few spare wires, and a copy of ‘Magitech for Bookahs’. Just like it said in her letter, there was a never-ending series of issues for her to help deal with. Since the minor anomalies seemed to be harmless, she would continue compiling data anytime they appeared in the Refuge, she was able to focus on her three current projects. First, the aurillium and Bloodstone weapon that Naxxa had delivered to her. Second, determining what was going on with Renita’s magic. Lastly, helping Adriwyn conduct the first stages of experiments on her own project.

Alexandria had been expecting the delivery of the aurillium samples the next day. What she hadn’t been expecting was that it would be delivered by the newest member of her team, Callais Tyrconnell. Perhaps it was their limited interactions, but the Arcanist seemed thinner; her eyes were sunken and dark circles stood out from already dark, olive skin.

“Magister LaCoria,” the Arcanist greeted in her usual short-spoken way, her deeper almost masculine voice quiet even in the stillness of the morning.

“I wasn’t expecting you Arcanist,” dabbing the sweat from her forehead with a towel, she offered a hand out to the much taller woman. Even Callais’ grip felt weaker than the last time they had shaken hands, and the Magister’s brow furrowed in concern. “Not to be rude Arcanist, but you look like you’ve been through the gauntlet a time or two. Is everything alright back at the outpost?”

“Yes ma’am,” a short nod was all that came with her terse response. “I’ve been helping with the Bloodstone crazed creatures.” Taking her hand back, she turned and knelt, withdrawing a small journal traditionally used in the field to record findings, and to document progress on assignments until a full report could be written up. As she rose, the woman offered it to her superior who took it with a smile and flipped it open.

“Lyssa’s tits, Arcanist!” Not trusting her eyes without her glasses, she flipped back through the journal, not reading any of the entries, but simply noting the dates. “You’ve been in the field for over a month straight? Okay, I’m officially ordering you to take a week off and rest. I don’t care what you do, go to Southsun, go visit my sister, but you need to give yourself a chance to recover.”

“What of the current operations in the south?”

“What operations in the south?” Closing the journal, she debated giving it back to Callais, then figured that if she did, the Arcanist would simply use her week of leave to write a proper report. Holding the journal up, she shook it to make her point. “Consider this your officially filed report Arcanist.”

“Yes ma’am. Several contingents have deployed to the southern tip of the Ring of Fire Islands. Increased Destroyer, Jade Armor, and volcanic activity have been detected.” Eyeing the journal, something in those teal eyes showed that she wanted to argue with her superior. However, she held her tongue and the usual, impassive look on her face.

“I hadn’t heard anything about that yet, but I’ll be sure to look into it.” Of course there was something else chaotic going on in the world, why wouldn’t there be? Sighing, a shake of her head cast those thoughts from her mind for the time. “Knowing our luck, all of those things will still be there in a week, and if Commander Nightrend wishes to deploy there, I will personally assign you to the team. But, that comes after your leave, understand?”

“Yes ma’am.” Saluting, the woman took a deep breath before speaking up again. “Is Anna still in Ebonhawke?”

“She is,” Alexandria grinned at seeing just the hint of actual emotion in the woman. “Go see her, and tell her I say hi. Maybe the two of you can take a trip somewhere quiet or something, I dunno. I’d ask if you needed to return to the outpost before I sent you to Lion’s Arch,” a quick glance showed that Callais likely had most of her belongings in the large sack that her journal had been in, “but it doesn’t look like it. So, as of right now, you are officially on eight days leave.”

“Eight ma’am?”

“Well, I’m counting today too. By the time you get to Ebonhawke, half the day will be gone, so fine, seven and a half, happy?”

“Yes ma’am.” With another salute, Callais lifted her pack and silently turned to head for the airship.

Loremaster LaCoria-Eskara,

The following is my report following the reconnaissance operation in Bloodstone Fen on 34 Season of the Scion 1329 AE.

Initial findings: Upon arriving in Bloodstone Fen, the functionality of the aetheric scanner was immediately compromised. With the chaotic nature of the magic in the area, it is possible that the magitech was overwhelmed and that data can be gathered from it by Scholar Naxxa. Several other samples were obtained including: the remains of one of the warped, Bloodstone creatures in the region, bloodstone fragments, rubies harvested from the base of crystalized Bloodstone outcroppings. Warmaster Valsiter has ordered that all samples and data be studied immediately and a report delivered to you upon completion.

Observations: In addition to the red hued environment caused by the particles of Bloodstone dust and magic from the explosion, there are also several ley-line streams in the region. Several of the elementals in the crater of the explosion also exhibit the same signs as the elementals located in the ley-line hub in Dry Top.

Setbacks: During the operation, several incidents occurred which resulted in an emergency rescue of Warmaster Valister and myself from the crater rim. Not including the failure of the scanners in the helmet that made it impossible to see, the Mist Enhanced Armor was heavily damaged. A particular type of construct, formed from Bloodstone shards, frequently detonates when the magic holding it together becomes unstable. This resulted in heavy shrapnel damage to the armor which could not withstand the force of the shards. During an engagement with members of the White Mantle, a spell was used that flung me over the crater edge and upon impact, the already weakened armor cracked in numerous places. Enough damage was sustained that I was forced to power down the armor to prevent further damages. All armor was returned to Scholar Naxxa and Magister Vere for study and repairs.

This concludes my report. Arcanist/Researcher Callais Tyrconnell

Loremaster LaCoria-Eskara,

There have been minor delays in our departure, as Warmaster Valister has notified us that we will be engaging in a joint operation with High Exemplar Cristian Eskara of the Shining Blade. Judging by his last name, I can only conclude that there is some relation there, though if not then I apologize for jumping to such a conclusion. By the time this report reaches you, our joint team will likely be in Bloodstone Fen.

Scholar Naxxa and Magister Vere have finished fitting and constructing a set of Mist Enhanced Armor for my field use with the assistance of several members of the Engineering Corps located here at the Outpost. Despite their affiliation with Vigil, their skills have proven to be quite useful in the short span of time that we’ve been given to finish assembling the unit. I’ve been informed that my inability to lend a hand in construction is not an issue, and that my duty is solely to put it to the test in the field. While these assurances are helping, I wish to confirm this with you before settling into that mindset.

That is all I have to report at this time. Researcher/Arcanist Callais Tyrconnell.

Personal Note – I feel it important to inform you that I have also entered into a relationship with your step-sister Anna LaCoria. I am unfamiliar with regulations regarding personal relationships for our unit which is why I am informing you of this. If this proves to be problematic or affects my position with Noesis, I wish to resolve it with all due haste.

 Reading over the report, she sighed. Between Evienne, Morgan, Mirex, and Adriwyn yesterday, most of her foul mood was gone now, replaced by a determination to regain her strength and contribute to the current research as best as she could. It was still annoying that Cristian was throwing himself into such a dangerous area after all his complaining about her own recklessness. But, that was something she could save for use against him later.

For now, she was focused on the personal note that the Arcanist had included in her report. There weren’t any regulations against relationships, romantic or purely sexual; something she had learned quickly in Orr with the various companions that kept her company each night at camp. That didn’t mean however, that she couldn’t tease and mess with her newly found little sister some.

Folding the report back up, she took a deep breath and resumed the serious expression and air that had been common for her the past few days, and walked down the hall to Anna’s room. Knocking firmly on the door, she called out. “Anna LaCoria, open this door right now. You and I need to have a talk.”

Of all the applications that had been submitted, very few had stood out as much as Callais Tyrconnell’s, the one who easily seemed to be the best candidate. Compared to the others, Callais’ file was much more checkered, and there were several points that needed to be covered before any official decision could be made.

Alexandria looked up at the stern looking woman with turquoise hair that sat across from her. Due to her injuries, Alexandria had been forced to do the interviews at her family’s manor. Callais had been her first requested interview, for several reasons outside of her skillset.

“It says here that you’re often sent into the field solo because of your ability to summon powerful constructs. I’m curious about your ability to work with a team however. This position will require you to work with both a Priory team and a Pact team.”

“I will work with others if required,” Callais’ voice was deeper than most women’s, and her expression was completely unreadable, not a single movement in her olive skin to hint at her thoughts. Even her turquoise gaze showed no emotion other than a determination and focus.

“That’s good to hear,” Alexandria herself grew unusually serious as she flipped open the file in her lap, to the most checkered part of Callais’ file. “Eight years ago, it says that you were charged with the murder of a member of the Ministry Guard. You served five years at a prisoner work camp in Kessex Hills until you escaped after saving several Seraph and fellow prisoners when the Toxic Alliance attacked. It also shows that you received an official pardon several months later in recognition of your actions. May I ask about the circumstances of the charges?”

Sitting up straighter, Callais touched the welded manacles that were still around her wrists. Closing her eyes, she seemed to consider her words carefully before speaking. “He was assaulting an unarmed, helpless woman and child. I asked him to stop, he refused, drew his weapon. In Kessex I fled to distract Toxic Alliance forces, ran into Priory forces who saved me.”

“That explains why you joined the Priory so soon after escaping.” Alexandria smiled at Callais’ response, finding her manner of speaking a bit odd, but the woman herself very agreeable. “I’m guessing that’s also why the Seraph you saved were so willing to grant you parole. As for the charges, I’d have done the same thing in your shoes most likely.” Closing the file, she looked at the Arcanist, “may I ask why you decided to apply for this position?”

“Anna gave me an application,” speaking flatly, she once again touched her manacles. Turning her eyes towards the bookcases filling the room, she spoke up again. “I also met Noesis. They aided me in Blazeridge. Four of them, they were skilled, coordinated.”

“They are indeed,” Alexandria beamed proudly. “Callais! I thought your name sounded familiar. You know my step-sister, I know because she mentioned you the first time we spoke. The two of you, you’re pretty good friends then?”

“I believe so,” speaking quietly, Callais turned her gaze back towards Alexandria. “Anna is one of few I enjoy being around. It’s too quiet when she’s not around. I think she considers me a friend too.”

“She does, I can tell you that much.” Folding her hands over the file, Alex watched the woman across from her speak. When she was finished, she spoke up once more. “So you have an idea of what to expect from Noesis then I guess. As for the Mist Energy Research and Application Team, are you comfortable with field testing experimental armor and weapons? Equipment that is enhanced with controlled Mist Energy in an attempt to enhance your own natural magic.”

“If failsafe’s are in place,” responding with a nod, Callais was still as unreadable as she had been since her arrival.

“Of course, I wouldn’t put myself at unnecessary risk.”

“I’ve heard contrary tales Magister.”

“Seriously,” groaning, Alexandria flopped back against the couch. “Yes, I have a history of getting injured, but I wouldn’t ask someone to do something if I thought it was dangerous. Naxxa and Vere, my colleagues, have taken every precaution to make our experiments as safe as possible. I have three more interviews today Callais, but I’ll be sending any potential candidates on to speak with the leaders of Noesis. After that, I’ll be making my decision.”

“Very well,” Callais rose and gave a slight bow of her head. “I shall await your message.” Turning, she strode from the room, her black and turquoise skirt swaying with the movement of her hips.

Being trapped inside your own mind is far from the most desirable thing in the world. Left to endure an endless assault of thoughts both conscious and unconscious, there was nothing to do but sort through them until your body decided it wanted to wake as well. All of this was what Alexandria had endured for some period of time during the four days that she had been laying there nearly lifeless, worrying everyone around her.

Within twenty minutes of waking to the face of her beloved Mirex, she was grateful that her mind was functioning normally. It seemed the universe wasn’t quite done throwing surprises at her, and all she could do at this point was accept them and try not to worry.

First, was Adri’s condition; according to Mirex, the assassins had launched an attack on her just outside her shop in the city, injuring her again. Looking her over, her injuries didn’t seem too bad, but she wasn’t awake which caused her a little concern. Since she was breathing though, Alex would keep watch over her between physical therapy sessions and hope she healed quickly.

Second, was the matter of Anna. The young woman had shown up at the manor shortly after she woke, and presented herself as Anna LaCoria, another daughter of Lord Orlandu LaCoria. It was a little strange, not only was she another daughter but apparently she was also a member of the Durmand Priory. They had hit it off well enough, and she seemed less than fond of her father, something that would be easy to bond over.

Finally, was something that had been weighing on her mind since she had first been able to think straight back at the Noesis Outpost. Knowing now that her body wouldn’t be able to handle field assignments for a few seasons, she resigned herself to the fact that a replacement would need to be enlisted for several reasons. Not only did the Mist Energy Research and Application Team need a field tested for the M.E.A. and the M.E.W., but Noesis needed an able bodied replacement for field work as well.