Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Trick or Treat: 🎃Celebrating the Veil👻 [Open]

There was magic once, it was in the water that ran in the creeks and streams, in the air that gently shifted through the tree's, in every rock and every being. Myths of creatures exist to this day, of things had been long forgotten or become stories for the bedside reading of small children, of creatures with properties beyond the imagination. Even as the myths became stories, folk tales and hearsay, There were still those that could tap into the magic of the world, those that could commune with the beasts and birds, could move the water and still the air, even create fire in their palms, and some rare among them saw glimpses, glimpses of things that had not yet come to pass, others could heal festering wounds, sharing their magic to mend.

These people who were in tune with magic were known as the mages, people of old bloodlines from across the continents, each land having their own but all mages united in their gift to tap into the secrets of the earth beneath them. A magic that came from a place within our world but separate from it, a place they called the beyond the veil, a place they kept secret from all. If it is a physical place no man has ever visited it, and those who found out about its existence were not permitted to live to tell the tale, it was sacred to the mages, something they worshipped in their secret meeting places, something they gave silent thanks to in dance and song in a tongue known only to them.



It was these secrets that grew the heart of man hard to the Mage's, jealous perhaps of their power, or untrusting of that they did not understand they soon grew cold to the mages, those who were once treated as sages, healers and protectors became outlaws living in secret and hiding their trade. It was not until King Tor took the throne that magic itself became banned, anyone caught using or with knowledge of the mages was to be branded, imprisoned and executed after suitable confessions were made, confessions that came at the end of a heated iron or sharp implements designed to cut the answers Tor wanted from them.

King Tor was a dark man, twisted with hate and filled with a resentful rot against Mages he wanted the secret of the source of their power for his own, he waged wars against the Mages, creating elite hunters who tracked them to the four corners of his kingdom, almost obliterating them from existence. Those few that remained went deep into hiding and magic was all but lost to the world. Sickness spread, the crops suffered and dark times fell upon man, but as his war against magic waged on, despite his methods, not a single mage gave up the secrets of their power, each one taking it to the grave.


Now on the darkest night the remaining mages celebrate the night of the thinning of the veil, a night where the few scattered surviving members of different bloodlines come to meet in secret places, where they celebrate the passing of a year with food, the sharing of tales and the gathering of community, strengthening the bonds of their magic. In the deep dark of an old forest a fire is lit, old fallen logs stacked high which crackled as they charred, spitting small sparks into the stone circle around them. Caught between the embers of their light and the shadows cast by the thick canopy overhead to hide the old clearing is a woman, her figure hidden under the hood of her cloak, wrapped loosely around her to shield from the chill of the night air, open to the fire which lit her face up with an amber glow, waiting to see if any would stray across this old place, if any mages were left at all.

It would be hard to call her a mage, at this tender age, but perhaps there is some magic in her veins that calls her here -- a small child, dressed for the night as a yellow flower. She is trailed by a nursemaid, who stumbles in the dark and calls out nervously to know why the girl scampered so suddenly off the road.

"Hello?" calls the girl in her little voice, peering up at the cloaked woman she suddenly finds herself before.

Evelyn had expanded her traveling, visiting different lands and even different times this year with the help of her magic and a device she'd come across. It seemed she had found herself in a place and time where magic was no longer tolerated, but that was what she was accustomed to. It caused quite a lot of complications, but she knew how to make herself look and act 'normal.'

Luckily she had worn some sturdy boots and leggings beneath her skirt, which she often tucked to keep away from any branches or thorns. She had a lantern that she'd filled with a supernatural white flame. It licked along the sides of the glass and iron. The witch couldn't even explain why she was walking out here, only that these was some inner voice telling her it was the right thing to do. Something was calling to her. After some time, she saw a fire up ahead. Normally she'd douse her strange lantern and make it look more acceptable to those without magic. But she knew that up ahead, were more of her own kind.

When she did arrive, she smoothed her hair and skirt. Having given herself a quick look over for anything out of place, she did a quick bow to all in attendance. This child that had also just gotten here was the oddest she'd even seen. Evelyn only allowed confusion to color her features for a moment before she remembered she should smile in greeting. "Good evening," she called out to the others.

The abomination that could hardly be considered merely a mage would seek to slither through black shadows and tendrils of smoke that glittered and gleamed. Screaming faint horrors as a foreshadow of what tragic circumstances could rear in danger at any moment. - The cosmic entity in the form of attractive woman, pale skin and gleaming hair of black that held iridescent sheen like raven's feathers, framed her attractive face. Gliding through the forests, the energies captivated her and drew her in to investigate.

"Good evening," she crooned through full blackberry painted lips, each syllable crooning and haunting - yet somehow maternal. Eyelashes fluttered downwards to skim high cheekbones upon notice of childlike creature, Aria. "Are you lost?" An eyebrow arched high. The tone almost judgmental rather than kind.

Shan turned to Evelyn, "tell me - what energy have you conjured here? I am feeling it. It draws me."

Evelyn turned to see another woman approaching, but this one was certainly something more than human. She wondered what this woman really was but she wasn't going to give voice to the question. Being a mere mage herself, even if she called herself a witch, she still had countless generations of magic users within her bloodline. Evelyn replied, "I have not conjured this. That was her," and she nodded toward Nimue. Their 'hostess' looked powerful, standing there with the dark orange light dancing along her skin and cloak. "I was drawn to it just as you are."

She took a deep breath, almost as if inhaling the energy that was swirling through the air. It lifted her hair somewhat as the source of magic within her connected to what was already present, she briefly stood on her tip toes. "It's exquisite," she said with an appreciative sigh. "Or perhaps, there is something already flowing through the forest, especially this time of year. And she has harnessed it." She inclined her head, her manner deferential.

Normally Evelyn would have been much more concerned about a child of any kind being alone in the dark forest. But the presence of the nursemaid reassured her. It made the young woman mostly curious about just who and what this child was. She must be someone of importance. So many interesting variables were at play here. Choosing this 'exit' on a whim had been a good choice.

(Thanks for your patience everyone, I wasn't well for a couple of days catching up with you all now)


There at the fire she stood, her long dress flowing beneath the dark cloak that half obscured the soft features of her face, long dark flowing hair braided in places with herbs and silver trinkets woven into the thin braids, the rest of it flowing free beneath the hood, strands of it falling forwards with a light curl that gave it volume even under the weight of her cloak. The dress was a deep sage green, hard to see from behind but here as the fire crackled with its warm amber glow the dress was visible, peeking out from a slit down the front of the cloak, its hem showing at her ankles. Feeling a presence she turned, not one, not two, but three had felt the call, been drawn to this place of magic by the fire she created to call forth her own.

"Welcome, Welcome all ..... It is good to see my call reached others, this is a safe place, come, eat, rest and be merry, you are welcome here in my circle." Her hand gestured to the circle around the clearing, a line of stones and flowers, herbs and bones cast out as she had called in the power around her, woven it together to protect this place, for this night, to call others forth. Nimue looked across the three who had joined them, smiling at the young woman. "Come closer, there are honey cakes and sweet berries to enjoy." her eyes cast to the second to appear at her fires, the woman with the shorter crop of hair, there was something about her, she could feel her magic, her power, but also something else, a sense of displacement.

"You have come a long long way friend, warm yourself by the fire, perhaps share a tale or two if you inclined to do so." There was a knowing look on her face, a warmth to her smile that was edged with a knowledge in her eyes of the true distance this woman had travelled, not through space but time itself, a traveller of the likes she had never seen before. Finally she turned to look at the last of the guests her fire had drawn, A woman yes, but not just a woman, all were welcome here on this night, Nimue bowed her head in welcome. "To answer your question yes, I am the one whose power called you here, the same power that flows through this circle on this night, a power which i willingly share."

The little girl immediately starts toward the honey cakes, but pauses, remembering her manners at the last moment. She turns back to Nimue and bobs a teeny tiny curtsy, murmuring, "Thank you very much for your welcome."

That out of the way, she turns to grab up a honey cake, plonking herself down before the fire and munching. Normally, she is a very shy child, but something about this place puts her at her ease, and she finds herself making herself at home.

Shan had made an assumption based on whom seemed the most 'present.' Unaware of the ominous figure nearby that was motioned to as the culprit that drew them all in through unknown energy. Shan raised a singular eyebrow at Nimue's invitation. Immediately skeptical of her intentions. "It is uncommon for someone to draw my interest through energy. I suppose you are rather powerful." She croons vivaciously, resting her hands against her wide hips. Was that a compliment?

"I see." She returns, "and... you have done so for... festive purposes? All hallows even I suppose?" She inquires, glancing over the foods but seeming to turn her nose up at it. "They look wonderful, darling. But my appetites are a little... different this evening." -- Thus, she remains near and she turns towards Evelyn; "what do you suppose it is that drew us?" She picks her brain for ideas prior to outright asking the hostess.

Aria would be observed, frowning at her slightly. "Where are your parents? Are you alone? You should be careful accepting treats from strangers."

There was never a flicker on her face, never the slightest change from the welcoming and warm smile she gave them all to suggest that any action taken here in any way offended her, she of all people understood the importance of caution, a stranger in the woods was as much a potential threat as a friend and though she had opened her circle here to all tonight she knew too well that as she invited them in, they took took risk by coming to this place, accepting her food or company. But that was it, all she was offering was company, food, community, and the empowerment that came from the meetings of those with power on a night like this, a night where the veil thinned.

"Please if there is something else I can tempt you with, let me know, tonight I am but your humble host." Nimue knew not what this other apatite might be, but she was open enough to welcome and attempt at meeting it for the stranger. With a smile she turned her attention to the seeming youngest at their gathering for the moment, allowing the two others to muse and mull over the source of her gifts, the corners of her mouth still upturned slightly.

"Our friend here is right though, these woods are a dangerous place even for us, you should not wander so far alone. However you are safe here, as are the treats laid out by the fire. Nimue took a breath and the very trees seems to sway slightly as she did so, pulled by an unseen breeze with the inhale, and relaxing away as she let out her breath.

Aria looks up when she is asked if she is alone, looking around herself wide-eyed, and then visibly startles. She is so used to being followed by a nurse maid it never occurred to her that she might actually slip away. "Uhm," she says, her little voice quavering.

And then, finally, the nursemaid catches up with her. Perhaps it took her a bit longer to find her way through the wood, as it was not her that felt the summons. "ARIANNA ZAUVIIR RIVERTHORNE! What are you doing giving me a fright like that?" she cries out, rushing over to the child, and looks around nervously at the other women present. "She hasn't been any trouble, has she?"

Evelyn did help herself to some of the food as well, picking up a few berries at first. She was not one to turn down generosity whenever it was offered to her, lest she offend the one hosting her. She replied to Shan, "What I think it is specifically, is something from beyond the veil. It's thin, here and now. I've read of this before, and my grandmother had told me of it. Certain elements must be in play, the right time and place are often required. The barrier that keeps the realms of the dead and the living apart is more . . . permeable, I believe."

The feel of it made her break out into goosebumps sometimes. "It is good to see someone making a welcome space for those that are attuned to magic. Where I come from, it is not well tolerated. There are pockets of resistance and hope that give me strength. This is refreshing in more ways than one," she said, having found the berries to be very good. "Thank you for preparing all of this. I feel that I should gift you with something in return. A display of magic, or perhaps a tale from my travels, though I have some trinkets as well."

Her attention turned toward the child, who seemed very relaxed for someone in the middle of the woods at night, surrounded by strangers. Evelyn glanced about to see if the nursemaid was still about. "Perhaps you might use an escort later? There is safety in numbers," she offered to Aria. Not wanting to leave them walking about in the woods alone. She took a bite of the honeycake, "Oh, this is scrumptious," she observed with appreciation.

Nimue let out a soft chuckle, a little a the poor nursemaids expense it had been a long time since she was the one fleeing her own guardian to seek out some adventure. But she remembered his frustration, how fear and worry could manifest as chastisement anger or disappointment. Though this nursemaid seemed well versed in her young ward. Nimue offered her an kindly acceptance at her apology but shook her head. "Please there is no need to worry, she has been a delight, come warm yourself, rest, give your heart a moment to calm."

The smile didn't falter as she listened to them muse on the source of magic she had called around them tonight, the source that flowed through her, that she could pull and push like the tides though on this night it was as easy as breathing. "Too many fear the unknown, fear those with differences to themselves, this place is not just for those with magic, but to welcome all souls, living and passed. Though where I am from stories are the tradition of the evening, stories pass on our experiences, call back those once lost to us and share knowledge."