Rules:
Keep it pg-13.
Make sure to stick to Mene's ToS and rule set.
Try to be literate or semi-literate.
Profiles are not necessary.
Setting is medieval fantasy.

DarkMoon Castle

For a millennium the immortal king Ausetra Aurelia ruled over the lands from his throne in this castle. A just king, a pure king. A man blessed by the gods and goddesses of the moon, his kingdom was plentiful and his loyal subjects were never in need or of want for anything. Until one day. No one is sure why it happened, but a darkness covered the land completely, and when it had lifted all the inhabitants of the castle and all the inhabitants of the villages and towns nearby were simply gone. The king had done something to anger the gods and goddesses, but what? The forest that had once surrounded the castle simply died and withered away to nothingness, the land rose up around the castle, so that it now sat upon a mountain surrounded by a barren landscape.

Rumors say that the treasure left behind in the castle is still there, and that a ghost wanders the castle halls. No one has ever actually ventured there, for fear that the curse would kill them once they set foot inside, or perhaps it would make them simply vanish. At night when the moon is up, the castle seems always bathed in moonlight and very nearly glows with the silvery light, during the day when the sun is up, the castle seems a little darker than it should in daytime.

My character(s):


Ashira Aurelia



Ashimu Aurelia

Starting Post:

The sun was out, with all it's bright light. It made the castle look a little darker instead of brightening it up. But this was land that was governed by the moon and moonlight. It didn't matter no one lived here in this castle and the towns and villages nearby had been lost when the land had changed. It had been over one hundred years since the land was cursed. At first there had been few explorers, but they had all run off before even setting foot beyond the castle gates. It mattered little to the only person remaining in this place, trapped in the castle by the curse. To set foot outside of those gates would spell instant death for the last of the Aurelia bloodline.

Ashimu wandered, practically flowed through the hallways, she was the only one here. Had been the only one here for such a long time. Still what did time matter to an immortal? A powerless immortal, forsaken by the gods and goddesses that had once watched over and protected them. Often she wondered what had become of all the people, simply vanished, with them her own parents, and why had she been left here? Ashimu paused by a large window and peered out of it. The landscape had not changed at all since the cursing. What had once been beautiful fields and lush forests were now nothing but mountains and barren cracked ground.

Ambrose 'Amy' Kaleo

Violet eyes peered over the area, taking in every detail as the mice summons in her hair formed from mist to solid form and began to speak to each other quietly. The spirits didn't like this place was one of the tiny creatures said but their purple eyed mistress ignored them. Amy was not one who easily gave up, and the stories about the castle had intrigued her. The spirit talker nodded then and simply started forward. She ignored the mice who continued to appear, ghosts long past who liked to go with her instead of moving on to the next realm. She liked their chatter better then most people's but they could be a little over cautious. Finally all but one disappeared as they gave up.

She soon began to carefully make her way up to the well lit castle, curious at that. Ghosts did not tend to turn on the lights too terribly much unless they were trying to scare you. She walked a little more daintily and carefully, keeping to the darkness slightly and peering in windows. She wasn't above filching an item or two when needed but first things first was finding out if there was anyone living here.

Ashimu stood there, leaning on the edge of the large window and staring down. She blinked against the glare of sunlight, though the sun shined all around the castle, the castle itself was rather dark. Ashimu didn't mind the darkness the sun brought to the castle, but all the lights were on, all the candles burning eternally, as immortal as the woman who stood in the window. For a moment she thought she saw movement, perhaps it was just some animal or something. Certainly it was nothing that would bother her. Ashimu moved from the window to continue on her way, she went down the hall, down a large set of stairs and came to the ground floor of the castle. Through another hall and soon she had come to the entrance hall of the castle. Ashimu often spent the daylight hours wandering the halls, there was little else to do. At night, hours were spent pondering the curse and how to break it. No hints had been left behind, at least none that Ashimu could find.

Amy paused as she felt the presence of another, standing behind a column as she peered at the woman. She looked like an old fashioned Japanese princess. She wasn't normal, her aura was off, but she wasn't dead. She was no ghost. The white haired woman shrugged at the idea and simply gazed at her a moment. She was pretty, but that black spot in her aura... a curse maybe? The land supposedly had one and the energy definitely matched. Strange, was she trapped perhaps?

A shiver ran down Ashimu's spine, and she felt as if she were being watched. That was ridiculous, no one came here. There was nothing here for anyone, save for barren landscape and perhaps the castle's treasure locked somewhere away in the treasure room. Though she had little use for the treasures here, Ashimu would defend them with her life. It was all she had really, the castle and whatever was behind it's walls. She moved gracefully as she swept through the entrance hall towards a door that led to another hall. So many halls and rooms in this castle, most of them Ashimu ignored. After all there was no one in them and really nothing in them she needed. With a soft sigh she wandered the hallways. Ashimu wasn't lonely, not really, or perhaps she was but didn't realize it because she was so used to being alone. She paused at another window, for a moment she scowled up at the sky. Willing the sun to set quickly, of course it wouldn't. It would set in it's own time, but Ashimu was often eager to return to her true form, even though Ashimu was used to the curse it did not mean that she liked it very much.

"Beautiful Princess, you really should pay more attention to what's going on around you" Said a soft voice as she followed only to step directly in front of the princess. Her voice was angelic, soothing, beautiful as was her smile. There seemed almost an ethereal power in her words, assuring the princess softly that everything was alright. Amy hoped her vila's power would be enough to keep the princess calm but her hand stayed loose at her side, ready to grab one of her hidden knives if necessary. She had no desire to hurt anyone but her curiosity had been peaked. Just why would the sighing princess stay in such a lonely place? There was a mystery here, and Amy had every intention of discovering what it was.

Still, she showed none of this inner thought and simply continued to give that warm innocent smile to the other woman. She had the face of an angel, it may as well be as much use as it got her in trouble she always figured. She did wonder if the princess would doubt her, no matter her power.... or perhaps because of it. She was usually able to talk her way out of things but how she had chosen to show herself was rather dramatic...

A blush crossed Ashimu's cheeks at the words and she had stopped completely in her tracks. Before she could look for the owner of the voice, the person had stepped in front of her. Ashimu still blushed, from embarrassment. She was calm, even though the sudden appearance of another person had somewhat startled her. Ashimu seemed to be mostly embarrassed. It was embarrassing for someone to see her like this, as a her, when her true form was that of a man. "I'm not.." That soft, almost delicate sounding voice faltered and she took a few steps back, looking away for a moment. Ashimu couldn't tell this person that she wasn't really a princess, well, she wasn't really a woman. She looked at the stranger. "No one comes to this place, everyone is afraid of it." Her excuse for not paying more attention to her surroundings, but it was true. "You should leave or you might disappear forever." It wasn't a threat, but for Ashimu that seemed to be all there was to say, and she expected the other to leave. So Ashimu began moving again, moving past the woman to continue down the hall.

"Who could leave a princess alone in such a place? We girls have to stick together. Besides, you started to say something. You're not what? And why would I disappear?" She returned with a slightly more saucy and less angelic air. She fell into step besides the princess, not too concerned with what the woman said about disappearing. Being neither of the living, or the dead, neither human nor fay, she was ironically immune to most curses. Almost every curse she'd run into focused on one or the other, this life or the next and she was of both. To this day she was not sure how her mother, being a type of undead fairy for lack of a better term could give birth. Some fay said she must have chosen to become mortal, but no one could say for certain. Even her father had not known.. simply found her on his doorstep with a love letter from his beautiful Vila.

Amy had tried to find the love letter but that was one treasure that eternally escaped her grasp. She was not too concerned with it right now, however. No the princess and her flat expectation of her leaving had challenged her and Amy was never one to say no to a challenge. So she walked at the princess' side with a warm, inviting smile and kept perfectly in step. She was never quick to press for answers, no matter how much she wanted to, she knew she would be answered only as the person desired. Those use to power rarely let her have answers easily with out something in return. Oh well, she didn't mind.

That blush of embarrassment was still there, only because of the other's words. Ashimu knew she was beautiful, in this and in her true form, but she was not a girl and this was very embarrassing for her. She glanced at the girl who fell into step next to her, and a soft sigh passed those delicate lips. Ashimu couldn't exactly tell anyone about the curse either, not really, at least not the part concerning herself. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." That probably sounded rather silly, but Ashimu didn't care, she couldn't think of any other way to cover the almost slip. "Anyway, the land here is cursed, when the curse first befell the kingdom all the people who lived here vanished and the land changed. There is only me and my brother and we cannot leave the castle, so I am not really alone, and the curse might make you vanish." Ashimu wasn't sure how long this girl intended to stay in the area or in the castle, so she thought it best to mention a male being in the castle, even though it was just Ashimu's true form. That form that was unattainable to her while the sun was up. It also meant that all of her magic was out of reach as well. Even if she were in her true form, she supposed she would be as weak and delicate as a girl with the sun up anyway. "The deities of the moon cursed us and our land because of something my father did." Ashimu hesitated for a moment, glancing at the other again. "My name is Ashimu Aurelia"

"My name's Ambrose but everyone calls me Amy or Rose, too boyish a name i suppose. And really? What did he do I wonder?" Amy responded innocently. She looked thoughtful a moment, rather curious but uncertain. She did wonder at the king, though at the same thing it didn't surprise her. Punishing the innocent for one man's arrogance and folly was not that uncommon among deities or their lore. They seemed to not care if it was only one man, all humanity who had seen it would suffer the price as would any land or animals in the way. She sighed and shook her head at the idea but then glanced over at the other apparent woman. She really did seem concerned she would disappear....

"As to disappearing..... I'm not really fully of this plain or any other, my mom and dad being as they were so its hard for even a deities curse to affect me. I wouldn't worry to much........ still you seem old enough to decide who you want to talk to" She responded with a laugh and a warm smile. Inwardly she really didn't buy it, though she supposed this brother could perhaps be that over protective. Still, where the brother was, that was a question. She really didn't sense anyone else in the castle... though it was always possible that some enchantment held the brother hidden. She would have to wait and see how this curse worked..... and why leave the two? this curse seemed to get more curious the more she knew.

"I'm not even sure what my father did, but it must have been terrible for the deities to react in such a way. He had always been such a good king though, always he had put the well being of our subjects and the land before his own." Ashimu continued down the hall, stopping at a room, she pushed the door open and stepped into the small kitchen. The kitchen the castle servants had used for their own meals, the larger kitchen where the meals for the royal family had been prepared was farther down the hall.

The food in here seemed fresh, and when Ashimu broke off a piece of bread from the loaf, it seemed to replenish itself. "It's been over one hundred years since the curse fell across the land, but the food in the castle never goes bad and whatever is taken always returns." She turned her eyes to Amy, watching the girl almost carefully for a few moments. "No one ever comes here, they are afraid, so I don't know if the curse would really make you disappear or not even if you were fully of this plane." Ashimu's curiosity was piqued though. "What were your parents then, that a deities curse cannot affect you?"

"Really? I suppose I can see why you and your brother stay here...." She responded, temporarily distracted by the food. She began to poke various foods, taking small pieces and watching them replenish themselves. She could sense the movement of spiritual energy but it still was an oddity. Most magic could not create something from nothing yet she felt no shift. As one who had once lived so poor they were always on the point of starvation it was both amazing and maddening. Why would a deity do this yet ignore the living things it had created? It seemed to her sometimes that deities, whether they existed or not, must be very cruel to so interfere yet do so little good....

"My parents? Oh my mother was apparently a Vila of some sort, a type of undead fairy belonging neither to this realm or the heavens. I wouldn't know for sure. Never met her.... while my father came from a long line of those gifted to see spirits...What about you?" She answered as she shook herself from the negative thought and glanced to the woman.She managed a warm smile, her darker thoughts as always buried and treated as if they had never existed. She saw no point in thinking of the bad, only the good. It was just her nature really. always see the bright side her father had taught her, and she did. She smiled a little more at that thought, absently playing with the cheap glass beads on her left wrist. They were her tie to him, her memento.

"My brother and I must stay here, if we set foot beyond the castle's gate we will disappear." Truly Ashimu didn't know that for sure, it was just a feeling she had deep in her heart. As if some thing else wanted her to know that she could not leave this place. As Amy spoke of herself, Ashimu listened, nodding slightly. She had never met a Vila before, or even really heard of them. Then Amy was asking about her, and Ashimu shrugged. "My family was blessed by the deities of the moon, they gave us immortality and magic because my father was such a good king. Just and kind, he ruled for a millennium or more before the curse took him and everything away." All this talking to one person. It made Ashimu realize just how lonely she really had been, with no one to talk to. It was rather nice, but Ashimu would not let herself get used to such company. She was sure that this girl would leave eventually.

"And you have no idea why or how it happened?" She asked quietly, turning from the food. Amy wasn't certain what she should think of that. Lunar gods had first gifted great things then took them away.... it almost sounded like some Faustian deal of some sort. She couldn't help but wonder just what had been done. She did shudder a moment, however, at the idea of being locked in place. It brought up the kind of memory one buries so deep they only see snippits in their dreams and quickly get rid of those as soon as they can once they wake. She frowned, uncertain a moment. Still she could see the girl was plainly lonely, it wouldn't hurt to stay a while.

Ashimu was frowning deeply and she turned from Amy. "My brother and I pray to the deities for an answer, but they are silent to us." She nibbled a little bit on the bread she had taken a few minutes ago, having forgotten it was in her hand until just now. Honestly she didn't have much of an appetite and wished the sun would set soon so that she could be her true self. Even this personality was a concoction of this female body. Besides, this was still a little embarrassing, she was a man, not a woman. To be seen like this. Ashimu sighed softly and turned back to Amy, a little more composed and she smiled sweetly at the other girl. "Come, I will give you a tour of the castle." It would help pass the time before she could be her true self again, and it would be an excuse for the girl to stay a little longer. Part of Ashimu wished the girl hadn't come, only because her presence made Ashimu realize how lonely she had been and how lonely she would surely be once this girl was gone. She reached out to gently take the girl by the hand, to lead her out of that room and around the castle.

Amy nodded, curious if the brother would be part of the tour. She still didn't sense anyone and the castle was one of the most silent places she'd been to. It was one of those places that sound seemed to bounce around and not quite belong... She was starting to wonder if the brother even existed or was the product of a broken, lonely mind. Isolation in a prison was not unknown to drive a person a little batty and a fictional brother to ease the pain would not exactly be the weirdest delusion out there. She said nothing, however, and simply held the other girls hand in her own gently. She absently wondered if a princess would be use to even slightly calloused fingers like hers were by now, betraying her own hard working background and constant adventuring. She even had one callous that likely came from her use of her bow...

As they walked she nodded and would ask about the occasional painting or similar question, as inwardly she focused her abilities. She cast her wind as a gentle breeze through the castle and unsurprisingly found no one but them. Yes, it seemed either something was going on or the dear princess had gone a little batty. Still Amy saw no reason to spill her new found knowledge, and simply waited to see what would happen next.

Ashimu was rather pleased when Amy would ask a question and she could explain or elaborate about the detail of paintings and what not throughout the castle. Ashimu didn't hold back in telling the girl anything, unless it involved the curse. Though none of the objects had anything to do with the curse, and Ashimu didn't bring it up at all during the tour. She happily pointed out this or that to Amy, seeming rather happy to have someone to talk to, someone to occupy her time with. She seemed to practically glide across the floor as she led Amy around the castle, she even showed Amy the door that led to the treasure room. Eventually they made their way to the entrance hall. The sun was just beginning to fall behind the horizon.

Ashimu could feel it in her entire being. "The sun is setting. I must go to my room!" She wouldn't give Amy a chance to respond, having released her hold on the girl's hand, Ashimu lifted her skirt some and turned to run off down a side passage. Soon Ashimu disappeared behind the door to a bedroom. The nature of the curse, it couldn't be revealed to anyone. It couldn't be spoken and it couldn't be seen or else the cursed person would disappear and the person who saw it or was told about it would either disappear or become cursed themselves.

It would be minutes after the sun had fully set that the young man would emerge quietly from the room Ashimu had entered. A hand on his head, all that girly giddiness had left him with nothing but a headache. "Tch." There was none of the happiness in his eyes or on his expression that had been obvious on Ashimu's face. He wasn't even sure how he could face Amy, even though the girl didn't know, it was still rather embarrassing for him. To be seen as a girl and now to be seen as his true self. He lowered his hand from his head, the pain slowly melting away as he just leaned against the door to the room for a few moments.

Amy waited for a moment, watching in thought before she followed. It was just her nature really and as the boy appeared she inwardly debated. Was the girl not a girl? A quick change artist? Or did one sibling get the day and the other the night? Such curses were not too unusual and were often used to keep people apart. She tilted her head to the side, watching as he leaned on the door. Again she would simply seem to appear with those mouse like silent movements of hers, the kind some thought meant you could walk on water as they left no sound or print. It had been a useful skill in a couple professions of hers, now it was merely habit more then anything.

"I presume you would be the brother. Is Ashimu alright?" She asked softly, still pretending to be fooled. If they, or the girl, wanted to play games she wasn't too concerned with it. Man, woman, gender meant relatively little to the bisexual, shape-shifting able woman. It simply didn't particularly play in her life, even as a prostitute being hired by woman was not too uncommon for her. Sometimes it seemed simply the allure of the vila, she honestly didn't know or care.

Ashira blinked looking at Amy with a mock surprise he hoped she thought genuine. It was for her own protection after all that the nature of his curse not be revealed, he wasn't entirely certain the deities curse couldn't affect her. Truly he was embarrassed but he hid that well. "People don't come here, this place is cursed." He stepped away from the door, eyeing her with suspicion. It was real suspicion, his true personality was not so trusting as that air headed female personality. "You spoke with my sister didn't you?" He looked annoyed at that. "That stupid air head." Those words were muttered under his breath and he was standing directly in front of Amy now. "Get out of my castle." He hoped the loneliness in his eyes was hidden behind contempt and arrogance. Ashira didn't need or want this girl to see he was just as lonely as his female counterpart. "Also, I forbid you from speaking with Ashimu, she is not allowed to speak to strangers."

"Not very welcoming are you..... but I can hardly leave now. She seems a sweet enough girl and I never obey on the first date, what's the fun in that." Amy responded almost teasingly, not seeming particularly surprised by his arrogance..... or fooled about his loneliness. No she was sure he was just as lonely in the girl, they both had that same look. It was the same look that some of the kids at an orphanage she passed wore, defying the world to adopt them and yet pleading at the same time. Wanting desperately to have someone just pay attention but afraid to want anything so bad. No she was staying put right here, no matter what he tried more then likely. Even if she wasn't a softie under all her silver tongued blarnie there was the mystery on top of that and his desire to push her away just urged on her curiosity.

"Besides, i really do wish to know if she's alright. I will take your word for it but I'd still like an answer M'lord." Amy said softly with a small curtsy. Of course judging by her words the submissive air of the curtsy was unlikely. Still, she could be the submissive at any time if it was needed. Power was all just an illusion or a tool depending on the situation anyway, as far as Amy was concerned.

"It's for your own safety, leave or be affected by the curse." He spoke the words matter of factly, and as if such a thing should already be obvious. Still that didn't explain why he was so bossy about Ashimu not speaking with strangers. Then he turned from her and moved back towards the door he had just left, he leaned his forehead against it and placed one hand on the door. "She sleeps a sleep similar to death while the moon is up, just as I sleep that way when the sun is up. Our fate is to always be apart, even when we are so close." Perhaps he was being a bit dramatic, but Ashira didn't care. Slowly he lowered his hand and turned, his back against the door. "There are rules, because I can't be there to protect her during the day, obviously she disregards my rules. Now, begone with you, don't bother me or my sister again." He made a shooing motion with his hand. It was true though, he wanted her to leave but at the same time wanted her to stay. He was too proud to ever admit such a thing aloud though.

"Isn't that more reason to have someone be around during the day... Who won't take her for all she's worth? I could have stolen half the castle earlier and i doubt anyone would have noticed. Besides, I doubt I'll be affected by the curse. I've evaded similar in my travels. " She said quietly with a slight bit of amusement. She found his arrogance rather funny really, a controlling prince without anyone to command. Or perhaps she should say princess? Even the dead had whispers of spiritual energy she could pick up and there had been none. She had a feeling if she checked again she'd find the same. No.. there was one occupant to this castle and it intrigued her that the person was trying so desperately to prove otherwise without her even indicating doubt.

"And what, My prince, would stop me from leaving tonight and coming back to your more cooperative sister? Wouldn't it make more sense to get to know me to protect your sister in what way you can? She inquired while looking appropriately innocently mystified. He would have to give in now or let go the ruse and she doubted very much he would. It amused her to play this game really, wondering what he would do next. Of course it would have been easier to leave, the only treasures here were of gold and she had plenty of those now a days, no matter how poor her start. Still, amy tended to resist the easier thing, just out of sheer stubborness.

"Tch. You're just trying to earn her trust so when you do betray her, the expression on her face will be that much sweeter for you." He crossed his arms across his chest, trying to look rather menacing and well, manly. Ashira didn't think this girl found him very intimidating and when she said things like 'my prince' he felt like she was mocking him. "Everyone is affected by the curse sooner or later, why should you be different?" Though now it seemed that his curiosity was piqued. Of course he already knew the answer, because Ashimu knew the answer. Still he wished that female personality wasn't so trusting of strangers, trusting and air headed like most noble born females.

This girl was right though, there was nothing to stop her from leaving and then coming back during the day when he was more vulnerable and without magic. The thought almost made him shiver, he really didn't like thinking of how helpless he truly was in that female form. "I don't trust you, I won't leave Ashimu in the hands of someone I don't know." He spoke the words the way any protective brother would, there was no arrogance in them, only truth. Even if the Ashimu personality could easily trust this girl, Ashira certainly could not.

"Well she's in my hands of her own free will so you're only choice is to get to know me then." Amy responded with a warm smile, seeming pretty much as un-intimidated as one could get. She found it amusing that he was playing protective older brother to himself... she was half curious if he was male or female truly in body. She was tempted to try to lure him into the bedroom but she saw little profit in such a thing..... or rather she was too soft hearted to do that to someone being harmed by such a curse, not that she'd ever admit that to even herself.

"As to why it wouldn't..... that's my little secret until you get to know me." She said with a soft chuckle, simply gazing at him. She knew she was pushing it now but that had never stopped her before, why would it now? She was curious what he'd try. Physical violence? Oh well, it wasn't as if this dress were new, if a few new blood stains got her what she wanted it wasn't that important. Sex? Well, a freebie now and then wouldn't hurt her either.

Ashira narrowed his eyes at her, she was being so stubborn. Part of him was glad that she hadn't just left yet, still. That didn't stop him from trying to push her away. Even so, she hadn't seemed like the bad sort when he had been with her earlier as Ashimu. Ashira kept his eyes on her. "Ashimu is far too trusting of others. The only thing that has ever come of that is pain and sorrow for her." Ashira clenched his fists and grit his teeth as if at some distant memory such words had dragged up, and it was. A very distant memory, a very old memory and it had been him. As he truly was, not as the female, that trust had only brought pain. Perhaps that was part of the reason why his true form, his true personality was so untrusting of this person, even if the female personality believed Amy to be someone who could be trusted.

She was right though, perhaps he would need to get to know her. "Well then, how about we get to know each other right now?" Ashira had nearly pounced on Amy, grabbing her by the arm and shoving her somewhat roughly against the closest wall. He pressed himself hard against her, so there would be no mistake about exactly how he wanted to get to know her. A predatory gleam in his eyes as he pressed against her, holding her body against the wall with his own. While his hands began to lift up her skirt. Truly his intention was to frighten and intimidate her, not to harm her, but she didn't need to know that just yet. He fully expected her to squirm and scream at him, then he would accidentally slip and she would run away. At least, that was how it played out in his mind.

He frowned, his body pressed against her's felt rather nice. How long had it been since he'd been so close to another person? Ashira growled deep in his throat, fighting back the sudden lust that sprang up in him as he tried to frighten Amy with his actions.