Chartile: Prophecy (45 page)

“
Yeah,” said Jayson
pushing the dog off. “We had mac and cheese.” Jessica was still
staring at him. He tore his eyes away from her again, feeling more
uncomfortable by the minute.

“
Okay. Well, there’s
leftover meat loaf in the fridge if you’re hungry,” she said.
Jayson nodded and headed for his bedroom.

“
Oh, Jayson,” called his
mother. He stopped halfway down the hall and turned to look at her.
“I’m going to leave some money on the table tomorrow. I want you to
go to Cindy and get a haircut, please.”

Jayson nodded again. Turning and nearly
tripping over his dog, he walked into his room and shut the
door.

Character
Biographies

Jayson Hill:
Born July 22nd, Jayson is red-haired, freckled,
and clumsy. His family has lived in Swansdale for several
generations. He uses comedy and jokes as a way to hide his personal
insecurities about never being good enough at anything. His life’s
ambition is to become a fighter pilot.

Jack Mitchell:
Born May 10th, Jack is very tall and very
handsome with dark brown eyes and dark brown, wavy hair. At seven
years old, his family moved to Swansdale from Dover, Arkansas for a
fresh start when Jack’s father attempted to sober up for the first
time. Jack escaped into books as a child when his parents argued
and fought. Later, he began using poetry and writing as an outlet
for his emotions.

Leonardo DeHaven:
Born September 19th, Leo and his father, Reagan
DeHaven, moved from a small town not far from Las Vegas when Leo
was 10 years old. As the son of two NASA scientists, Leo approaches
everything in life with a sort of linear logic. Growing up close to
the tourist attractions of Area 51, Leo has secretly always had a
fascination with historical conspiracies, and the strange and
unexplainable events in world history. At the age of 12, Leo began
trying to learn Sanskrit in order to read and decipher the ancient
documents he heard about while on a trip to the art museum that
supposedly mention extraterrestrial encounters. However, shortly
after this, Leo received his first video game console, and rarely
looked back. Leo is the spitting image of his father from the messy
blonde hair, gray-blue eyes, and slightly pudgy
physique.

Piper Romilly/Eva
Ruani:
Born the 14th day of Ansalvar. Born
Eva Ruani, the second daughter of King Aramor and Queen Runa, Piper
was raised in a very small village called Outland Post by her
adoptive parents, Nevan and Paria Romilly, and her adoptive
grandmother, Kaytah Chaudoin. Growing up, Piper always felt
different. She looked different from the other elves in her
village, and her family required far more from her than the other
children she grew up with. Piper accompanied her grandmother on
trips across the Dwarvik and Elven territories of Chartile where
she learned courtly etiquettes, and even how to read and write the
fancy calligraphy styles of the nobles.

When she was thirteen, Piper began showing
her first signs of magic. Her parents and grandmother attempted to
keep her occupied with more etiquette studies and learning the laws
of the land. It worked for some time, until Piper accidentally set
half of her village on fire in an attempt to help her mother light
the hearth. Piper had stood up to the palace soldiers that came to
her village, but her parents forced her to return home, fearing she
would use her magic. Piper tried to use her magic to stop the fire
she had made that was spreading from the hearth, but only created
more. Many people were killed, including several of the children
she had grown up with, a few of the palace soldiers and her own
parents.

Piper fled to the mountain close by until
the villagers of Outland Post sent a messenger to the Palace.
Kaytah, Valar Marion, and Princess Taraniz returned to the village
with an armed guard, ready to take Piper away. Valar, disguised as
a knight, recommended casting Piper into the wild, as she might
destroy the forest or the palace on their return as she had Outland
Post. Taraniz reluctantly agreed, and Kaytah was able to continue
caring for Piper from a distance.

Piper has the same messy red hair and
brilliant green eyes of her mother, Runa. She enjoyed working with
her hands and making things in her father’s smithy. She also
learned that she enjoyed archery, and liked to collect pretty
stones she found.

Piper is tenacious. She doesn’t like to ask
for help, and doesn’t always work well in groups. Even though she
doesn’t show it, she cares about everyone, even those who have done
wrong to her.

Dimitri:
Born the 2nd day of Kalqar, Dimitri is the son of
Empress Nefiri’s youngest brother, Nahari, and Nefiri’s head
retainer, Dujanah. Nahari, who worked as a Dwarvik guard for his
sister, met Dujanah on a trip to Duneland to acquire more human
servants. Nahari insisted Nefiri purchase Dujanah.

Several years later, it was discovered
Nahari and Dujanah had been romantically involved for some time. As
this is prohibited by Dwarvik law, Nahari was put to death. Nefiri
refused to allow Dujanah be put to death while she still carried an
innocent child. The Council of Elders, however, would not allow
Dujanah to live, and did not remove her orenite cuffs during labor.
Dujanah died, and Dimitri was protected under Dwarvik law as an
innocent. Nefiri raised him as her own.

Dimitri met Piper when she was seven years
old while accompanying Kaytah on a trip to Mount Kelsii. The two
became fast friends. Dimitri was permitted to spend time with Piper
back at Outland Post for a few days at a time while growing up.
When he was seventeen, Dimitri took up the role of Head Retainer to
Nefiri like his mother just before Piper was cast out to live in
the mountain on her own.

Dimitri was both loved and hated by the
Dwarvik society. He was a constant, cruel reminder that even those
voted into power made mistakes. But his charm and exceedingly
handsome looks gave him an upper edge, especially with the Dwarvik
women. Dimitri was not afraid to use this to his advantage.

Secondary Characters

Valar Marion:
Born the 20th day of Pasalvar, and the first born
nephew of the Lord of Cannondole, Valar succeeded his uncle (who
had no children of his own) at the age of twenty-two. Before that
time, he lived with his parents in Harpy’s Point where his father
worked as a tax collector. Valar and Runa were friends as children,
but grew apart when she was sent off to marry King Aramor. Runa
worked to get her old friend appointed as the King’s Head Advisor
shortly after her marriage when Armor’s advisor at the time decided
to retire.

After Runa’s death, Valar attempted to be
like a second father to Princess Taraniz. When the soul of Duke
Noraedin overtook Taraniz, Valar was one of the only people who
could help Taraniz overcome Noraedin. As Noraedin’s soul grew
stronger, Valar soon saw there was little more he could do to save
her. Heartbroken, he began working to put plans into motion to help
Piper ascend to the throne and usurp Taraniz. His original hope was
that Piper might be able to help Taraniz better than he could as he
had heard rumors of her magic.

After his son married Piper and took the
throne, Valar returned to his role as Lord of Cannondole, and
attempted to remain oblivious to the greater political workings of
Chartile. He spent his time with Brock’s father and enjoyed vinting
various sweet wines.

Valin Marion:
Born the 10th day of Ansalvar, Valin Marion is
the only child of Valar and Aylin Marion. His parents met at the
age of 16, and were married shortly thereafter. Valin was born
exactly one year later. At only five years old, Valin took up the
position of Lord of Cannondole when his father went to work as the
Head Advisor to King Aramor and Queen Runa. Aylin governed
Cannondole until she passed several years later from The Five Day
Fever. Valin was seventeen when he officially became Lord of
Cannondole.

Valin had a string of lovers early on, much
to his mother’s dissatisfaction.

Valin is a lover of music (and brandy), and
would often join his fellows at The Glass Lantern for a drink and a
song. He is quite proficient at the lyre, and is said to have a
lovely singing voice.

Empress Nefiri of the
House of Auldfr:
Born the 3rd day of
Jenqar, Nefiri is the fourth born child of Nefara and her second
hasana (later Harasan of Nafara of the House of Auldfr), Madiri.
Nefara served as a council elder for 38 years. Nefiri was chosen by
the Council at five years old to train as a Princess of Mount
Kelsii. At twenty, Nefiri chose to be trained in Peace, and became
Princess when she was twenty-nine. Shortly after being chosen for
training as a child, most of Nefiri’s brothers decided to train in
the Royal Guard to protect their sister.

Nefiri knew of her brother’s affair with
Dujanah before she even bought the human girl for service in
Duneland. Being denied love as a Royal had never set well with
Nefiri. She was often disheartened by this, and didn’t want to deny
Nahari true love if he had found it.

Nefiri often found peace and harmony while
consorting The Oracle to speak to Rashiri. The Oracle is a tool
used by only specially trained priestesses – though Nefiri had
specifically requested to be trained in its use – to speak with the
Gods. The Oracle is a flat, highly polished piece of obsidian
surrounded by running water.

Princess Gemari of the
House of Jetari:
Born the 15th day of
Florinvar, Gemari is the second daughter of Nefiri’s second eldest
brother, Kehara. She was chosen by the Council at age five to train
as a Princess of Mount Kelsii. At age sixteen, Gemari chose to be
trained in the ways of Peace, like her aunt, the Empress. By age
seventeen, Gemari had succeeded Princess Thora as the Princess to
Mount Kelsii when Thora was involved in a tragic cave-in that
killed her and her entire guard. Rumor and speculation say it was
due to Thora’s involvement with the Black Diamonds. Some believe
several Council Elders planned the accident, and subsequently
blamed the Black Diamonds. However, there is no proof of
this.

Three years later, Princess Gemari had
worked with the Council of Elders to begin working to reconstruct
some of the old, abandoned mines for the safety of the Mount Kelsii
citizens, and the integrity of the mountain itself. Unbeknownst to
Gemari, these mines were later occupied by The Black Diamonds in
secret.

Having been thrust into her position of
power and responsibility at such a young age, Gemari never
experienced much in the way of a childhood. She felt rather naïve
and out of place being the youngest among her peers. Meeting Jack
and learning more about the Black Diamonds made Gemari see the
world in a different light. She felt the weight of her position in
a way she never had before, and went on to become one of the most
beloved and well known Princesses of Mount Kelsii.

Queen Una of the House of
Ulfra:
Born the 13th day of Rhidqar, Una
is the second born daughter of Ulfra and her first hasana, Bragrin.
Ulfra had miscarried her first daughter, and therefore, put many
pressures on Una to be the perfect daughter. Una had only one
younger brother who worked as an architect and helped to build new
mines and tunnels. At the age of fourteen, Una insisted on being
trained in both Peace and War. Ulfra did not believe her daughter
was up for the challenge. Una was determined to prove her
wrong.

Ulfra returned to the stone one year after
Princess Thora’s death from unknown causes, leaving Una with the
additional responsibility to care for her father and her mother’s
other hasanas.

Queen Isla of the House of
Arnkatla:
Born the 6th day of Torhirvar,
Isla was born the first child of Arnkatla and her first and only
hasana, Esjani. Isla’s parents had quite a different upbringing for
their children. They believed in equality and love above all else.
Secretly, Arnkatla and Esjani were two of the first dwarves to
begin working towards creating a coalition that advocated the
beliefs of the Black Diamonds. Arnkatla and Esjani groomed Isla
tirelessly in hopes she would be chosen by the Council for
Princesshood. When she was, they continued to influence her
training through her teachers and trusted Elders.

Though few ever knew, not even her own
parents, Isla taught herself the traditional ceremonial dances of
her people. She loved to dance. She met Kylani when she snuck away
to one of the abandoned mines to dance in secret.

Princess Faeridae of the
House of Gudvor:
Born the 12th day of
Pasalvar, Faeridae is the first born daughter of Gudvor and her
third hasana, Faerdir. Gudvor and Faerdir were friends of Arnkatla
and Esjani, and were soon recruited to the beliefs of equality they
upheld. Though they did not raise their children with these beliefs
as strongly as the House of Arnkatla, Faeridae and her brothers
were certainly aware of the underlying political issues in their
society.

Faeridae and Isla, though nearly fourteen
years apart in age, were good friends. Faeridae was one of the few
who knew of Isla’s love of dancing.

At the age of five, Faeridae was selected by
the Council to train as a Princess of The Tutarian Mountains.
Feeling the growing tensions of the Black Diamonds and the Council
of Elders, Faeridae felt being trained in War, like Queen
Carendeil, would be wise. Her parents, however, were not happy with
this decision, and felt they had failed their daughter by not
instilling a want of peace and harmony within her.