The peaceful Kingdom of Pichion has always been quiet and isolated, nestled between the Forested Mountains and on the edge of Lake Ice. The people here are fat from their content lives, not knowing hardships, war, poverty or true suffering...

What they don't know, is that their secluded lives are about to be changed. These disgusting mortals that banished me all those years ago, humiliated me, stripped me of my inheritance...

With one swift movement of my Armada, we will bring war to the State of Eyrth. We will strike fear into the hearts of every mortal in Terra. We will destroy every Kingdom in the land. Then who could stop me? I, Queen Bayella, will rule the entire of Terra until the end of days...

A Fantasy RP by Tachigami, NekoLen and PapillonCameo

Spring had come early in the ancient land of Terra, bringing new life to the wilderness and countryside. Birds that had returned from their journey to warmer climates, sung from the newly leaved treetops. Small animals foraged in the undergrowth, and run in the sunlight, glad to be out of hibernation. The Kingdom of Pichion, which was found built on the side of a mountain range, were already getting prepared for the Spring Festival, a time to say good-bye to the cold winter months and welcome in a new year.

The large, stone buildings and homes were decorated with the Kingdom's flag, and children ran through the brick streets. The market was open once more, with sellers crying out their wares to passers-by, and the allure of freshly baked bread drew many crowds. The festival started with the opening of the markets, with a small carnival at night-time. Then the King himself would open the docks again, and the fishing boats could finally leave their resting places and get back to work on the large, salt-water lake. The festival always ended with fireworks, something the children always looked forward to and dreaded. School started the day after all the festivities ended.

Sitting by the markets, a strange white cat watched the people go about their business. If you were to look away and then glance back at it, it seemed to disappear.

Magic wasn't too strange in the land of Terra. Some of the other States were more magical, the State of Draconis had dragons that served their King. Some would say that it was fading, as science and technology took hold of the land. Pichion was only a small Kingdom, with less advances in science and hardly any magic to speak off. Some would say that it was a boring place, but Pichions would disagree. Their city was safe and a great place to raise their children, even if it did freeze completely over during the winter. They didn't need magic or science, as their giant cathedral would tell you as soon as you saw it. Pichions were people of religion.

Near the outskirts of the city, where farmlands met the wild forests, a white owl flew, again disappearing into the ancient trees with a soft hoot.

-

In the far East of Terra, in the barren wastelands of Gech, a strange sight could be seen. A castle, dark but grand, stood on a piece of rocky land that was held in the air by many glowing fans and propellers. A whole city in the clouds could be seen next, kept afloat by various propellers. The buildings were black and purple, and every one seemed to be full of activity. Banging of metal and roaring of steam powered engines buzzed like a hive of angry bees. A definite evil hung in the air, causing any that came near to run for the hills.

His house wasn't exactly at the highest end of fashion, but his clothes were. It was strange to some to see a demon---who wasn't a demon---wearing such elegant clothes, while at the same time living outside the city, near the timeless forest, in a relatively small cottage. A five-room thing built under the shade of an absolutely massive tree, the largest on the edge of the forest. Zazni liked the quiet that served as a cloak, though, and the mystery of the trees. He often entered the forest with little problem, finding plants or animals that served as food or ingredients to certain potions as needed. But today his clothes didn't ask for the nature offered in those trees, the dirt and water held within those branches and heavy green leaves and mysteries in the shadows. Today he simply left the house, dark skin soaking up the sun as it would in Gicoss, his desert home, wearing royal blue and white, clothes that were professionally tailored and fitting his frame perfectly. It was a beautiful day, the sky bright and blue and pushing away the chill of winter, and it made Zazni bring up a hand to shield his yellow gaze.

Stepping down onto the cobblestones in front of his small porch, he started to the city, which wasn't far away. Pichion's palace stood atop the rest of the city, like a beacon upon the mountain, shining marble and metal and intricate spires and stained glass windows shimmering in the sunny shards of light that beamed down from the sky. Just a few days ago Zazni had acquired an invitation to the palace's largest spring event, a huge party that took place before the Spring Festival. This was for the high-born and influential. Zazni was high-born, just not here. In Gicoss, his family was quite influential, though he kept that quiet. They didn't care much here. They only cared about how good he could look among those that also looked good, how he could keep his composure in difficult situations, what he could say when it mattered. And he could step up with the best of them.

Over the bridge that spanned a small stream, Zazni approached the city and shook his head a bit to get his hair out of his face. Though most in the court and at social gatherings had perfectly pressed clothes and combed hair, they seemed to like his more disheveled appearance, though it was hardly calculated, as many though. He smiled a bit at the people that glanced his way, and they returned it familiarly. One held Zazni's gaze, though, a woman standing properly outside a tailor shop. She nodded at him as he passed, and he returned the look with a slight inclination of the head. She wasn't allowed at any gathering of the palace. But she did know many people there. She had come to Zazni just a week ago with a forged invitation that perfectly resembled the real thing. It would get him in without a hitch, and he would be free to find the right target.

Zazni never killed---not directly, and not where anyone could see him. No, it wasn't his style, which was swift and impossible to see. Shadowy, like his kind. A demon around here, though? It was hard to accept for some, but those that knew him were aware of his differences. His natural aversion to 'evil', as demons were so accustomed to being. No, he was't evil. He was smart, and used those smarts for the benefit of others, as well as himself. He stepped onto the main road, not making eye contact with the open-market vendors calling to anyone that might pass.

Calla sighed. The servants kept bringing dress after sumptuous dress before her, and yet none pleased her. This night, for this ball, she wanted to make an impression. The blue eyed woman closed her eyes briefly as she waved away yet another confection of fashion. None of them would do... Still, there was no time to commission yet another piece.

Soft silk and velvet finally adorned her slender form. She brushed a hand against the soft skirt of her dress, finding satisfaction in the gentle folds, the brilliant blue color that matched her eyes. Glancing down, the dark haired woman marveled at how it accentuated her every curve. This would do indeed.

The young woman swept from her room, and commanded a servant to prepare the carriage quickly. There was a ball tonight, one she had to attend. Calla represented her family now, and the duty weighed heavily upon her shoulders. Decisions she made affected everything while her father and brother were away, while her mother flitted about concerned only with clothing and jewelry without taking care of the affairs of the house.

The thoughts followed her as she slipped into the carriage, colored in green and gold. Though she wore not her house's colors, Lady Everglade still held her status. It showed in how she sat, regal and calm despite all the bumps on the road on the way to the mansion.

Zazni walked slowly now, on the sturdy footpath above the main road. While most would take a carriage to the manor, feeling it a bit of exercise that he liked to add to his day. And it worked up a bit more energy to spend on the event itself, walking from person to person and hearing what they had to say, or returning to his roots and using shadows to move into areas that guests weren't allowed. The high-class often wrote their sins in places they didn't think they'd ever be found, or hide away important documents or secrets in drawers that were never opened, even by the maids.

Below the slightly raised footpath, carriages rode by pulled by stately white steeds. Their manes were kept long and beautiful, as were their tails, brushed and often threaded with silver and gold. Their hooves polished, sometimes capped with the same color as what was in their hair. Zazni regarded these passively, not making eye contact with the lovely men and women behind the ornate carriage windows. He glanced upward, at the hill that rose above the road and the small trees that were just beginning to bud green. Only now it was too early to see any of those sprigs of life from Zazni's position. Though he did see another sheer streak of white, an owl perched on one of the thicker branches and staring at him. Its red eyes were odd, though that wasn't the strangest thing: It was daylight. Owls were extremely rare in the daylight, and one of such rare color was exceptionally odd.

Zazni kept his feet from scraping the ground, defacing the shining black of his shoes. He couldn't appear at the ball in a disheveled state, that would be ridiculous, and he'd stick out in a negative way. The turn in the road had the white owl vanishing from sight quickly, and the manor in a direct line of view. Zazni put his hand in his pocket, fingering the thick envelope.

The carriage pulled to a slow stop within the castle walls. The woman inside waited until the door of her carriage was opened by one of the royal footman. Nose in the air, Calla slid from the carriage elegantly, without paying mind to how it swayed about because of her movement. One dainty foot followed another with the clicking of heels as she walked across the cobbled ground, and stepped up the stone stairs leading into the palace.

Many of the dazzling floating globes of light lining the entrance were products of the Everglade family skill with light magics. The blue eyed woman looked up at them critically for a few moments, before returning her eyes to the carpeted floor. It's bright red color clashed with her dress, how horrible. Shaking her head, Calla smiled a little as she heard strains of violin and piano sweep towards her from the ballroom.

The moment she crossed the doors, it felt like she was finally where she'd always belonged. Hopefully someday her abode would be just as amazing as the castle, gilded with gold and filled with the laughter and smiling faces of nobility. There were games played here too, for power of all kinds, but that she was already used to. It was why she was there after all.

Like the rest he was stopped to be asked for his invitation. Zazni handed it over while the standing mage at the door studied him hard. The young man was used to this, considering his odd appearance. Demons were common in Terra, though few were of any credence. In fact, most lived up to their namesake of 'demon'. Zazni wasn't necessarily a demon, but sticking with that was better than explaining himself a dozen or so times each day. When he was given the invitation back with a nod, though, Zazni smiled lightly and breezed through the door, lifting his head as any high-class partygoer would. The light feather of music drifted on the air and drew him to the ballroom through talking and swaying, and he swiftly made his way to a rather inconspicuous-yet-not-suspicious corner where a couple seats were and he sat, keeping upright and watchful.

So many beautiful humans, of pale to tan to dark skin, laughing and meandering and sitting and drinking. Already drinking? This would certainly be an entertaining event, though Zazni would miss a good deal of it. In fact, he was already searching. What to do...? Where to be hidden? Here where shadows were rare? Oh, he would find one. If he had to reach outside the ballroom and to a quiet little corridor, he would find one. His eyes graced the floor again, catching sight of green. Black. Bright, brilliant blue. She looked like a high-and-mighty princess type. One that didn’t like getting her pretty little hands dirty. Zazni chuckled to himself as he glanced at his own hands. One couldn’t see the dirt that stained his---they were far too dark.

He stood from his position, accepting from a nearby server a small glass, blending in with the rest of them as best a demon could. But he was respectable enough, not like those that the present individuals knew. They had surely never even seen a demon in reality, so much as reading of them or hearing about them elsewhere. And his civil tongue kept him welcomed as he slipped flawlessly and with practiced grace into conversations already in flow. His movements were coordinated to get him a little closer to the closed double doors across the floor.