Kyra
Maribel
Stellana
Gretchen
Sylvain
Leonie
Ebony
Thug 1
Thug 2
Thug 3
Roy
A young Kyra, around the age of 4, blinks heavily as she struggles to read from a textbook late at night. A large bedroom surrounds her lit only by a small candle at her desk. Though she preferrers staying at her father's forge, she often spends her time studying magic with Stellana at the large chapel in the city's center during the week. As Arch mage this was Stellana's home, but to her daughter it felt like a prison.
Kyra looks over to a pen just out of her reach and tries to pull it to herself using magic. Her strain emits a drop of sweat that trickles down her brow, but it is for not. Her eyes begin to water as she buries her face into the book, tears dampening the pages.
Kyra: It's no use. I can't do it.
She looks to the page entitled 'The Basics of Using Magic' attributed to Stellana Ortiz.
Kyra: I said I can't do it!
In a moment of manic sorrow, she begins tearing pages from the book. It's been a little over a year sense the students of Grimoire college showed up and ever sense then more and more come to Anvil each day. Crowding the streets, consuming supply, the mages were soon met with unwelcoming discrimination. Kyra once saw her mother as a hero as did Anvil, but the more students came to Stellana searching for answers the more hate arose and the more Kyra felt herself becoming just another student.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
Suddenly, there's a loud nocking coming from downstairs. Kyra creeps down the dark hallway with a candle to investigate. She slowly peaks from atop the stairs to find her mother forcing her posture upright as she approaches the door. Tall and stoic with a scare across the bridge of her nose and elven ears peak out from her deep burgundy hair that flows down her side.
Kyra watches quietly as she opens the door looking left to right and then down. Her mother turns cradling a blue haired human girl from the stoop as Kyra's eyes widen. The girl seems to be about the same age as Kyra, though unconsciously limp and covered in bruises. Stellana brings the girl inside as Maribel hurries from another room.
Maribel: My lady, you should be getting your rest.
Stellana: Oh Maribel, don't worry I was already up. This child though was left at our door step.
Maribel: Who is she?
Stellana: I'm not sure. I'll go draw a bath and get her cleaned up.
Maribel: Nonsense, allow me my lady. You should get some rest.
Stellana takes a moment looking at the child before agreeing and handing her over.
Stellana: You too Kyra!
Kyra shivers at being caught and is paralyzed in fear.
Stellana: (Looks to her) What have I told you about sneaking around? Go to bed and don't come out again. We have a lot of work tomorrow.
Kyra: Yes ma'am.
Kyra slowly returns to her room, puts out the candle and jumps into a large fluffy bed as the cushions bounce before everything goes still. Just as she begins to fall asleep though, she hears a loud scream a few rooms down. Kyra springs out of bed to peak around the corner again. She finds Maribel cowering from the bath as Stellana rushes to her.
Stellana: Maribel what's the matter?
Maribel: H-her neck, sh-she's cursed!
Stellana looks at the girl she retrieved from the steps, her blue hair pushed to the side revealing a small encircled pentagram with a ghostly flame in the center engraved on the nape of her neck.
Stellana: Maribel, go fetch my husband.
Returning to the present day, the clashing of iron is met by bursts of ember and the smell of smoke as the air sizzles over Sylvain's forge.
Gretchen: How's this? (holding a slab of iron)
Dressed in one of Sylvain's blacksmithing aprons and covered in ash and soot Gretchen feels a bit odd not hunting beast for once. Sylvain turns from his forge as steam rises from a weapon he holds in a nearby bucket, to inspects the iron ingot she presents.
Sylvain: Well you got most of it out anyway. Here let me help get the rest.
He holds the ingot out over the forge as dirt and molten rock start to drip from the bottom corner and the metal shifts, forming a polished brick of pure iron.
Gretchen: Incredible! How did you do that?
Sylvain: Ah, it's nothing. For years I've practiced using my mana to shift and separate material from an object. Essentially, I can refine anything I touch.
Kyra: (From outside) hey dad! (She barges into the forge with Leonie) Were heading out to get more screws and cords be right back.
Sylvain: Not so fast you two you're still grounded.
Kyra: But dad we need more material.
Leonie: We promise to come back eventually.
Sylvain: My point exactly. (Sigh) I hate to ask this of you Gretchen, but I don't have much choice right now. Truth is, Kyra's inventions sell for more than anything I make. Would you mind going into town to pick up supplies?
Gretchen: Of course, though I don't really know the city too well.
Sylvain: True your sense of direction is quite worrisome. I'll draw out a map of where everything is.
He covers a page in charcoal, then like with the iron, holds it over a bucket as the charcoal drips off the page revealing a detailed map of Anvil and specifically a shop labeled 'Ebony's Emporium' near the east side of the main city.
Leonie: And please be careful Gretch.
Sylvain: She's right, Orcs tend to have a bad reputation in the city. People aren't as open minded as Kyra and Leonie. So yeah, be careful, and here take this.
Gretchen takes the map, a bag of coins, and a silver medallion engraved with mystical spirals spinning around a sword.
Sylvain: It's the Ortiz crest. Show that to Ebony and he'll know what it means, (mutters to himself) I hope.
As she makes her way across the farmlands into the bustling streets and tall buildings of Anvil City, Gretchen is met with suspicious glares and tightly gripped guards watching her every move. Whispers emanate from the crowds as parents hurry their children along. She finally reaches a small building with the sign 'Ebony's Emporium' as she enters only to be greeted by yet another glare, this one a frightful scrawny man that hides behind a counter.
Ebony: No! Stay away! Whatever it is just take it and go!
Gretchen: (Gives a friendly smile as she shows the medallion) I'm actually just here to buy materials for the Ortiz family.
Ebony: Oh no! oh no! You killed Mr. Ortiz and now you've come to raid my shop. Oh no! oh no!
Gretchen: Calm down I'm actually friends with Mr. Ortiz. His daughters saved my life.
Ebony: I can't die like this. I can't die like this.
Gretchen reaches over the counter with her robotic arm and grabs him by the vest lifting him to eye level with her.
Gretchen: I'm just here to buy some screws and cords. Now take my money…please.
Ebony: (Inspecting the arm) Th-this arm it's one of Kyra's inventions. I can tell just by the sheer complexity. You really are friends with the Ortiz family. (He suddenly regains himself as if nothing happened) Welcome to Ebony's Emporium! I am Ebony Potts; how may I be of assistance today?
Gretchen: (Stares at him for a solid beat) Screws…and cords.
Ebony: Ah but knowing Kyra she needs more than that, here I already have a box of materials ready for her.
He places a wooden crate on the counter with several screws, cords, wires, powders and various medal plates.
Gretchen: (sighs) Thank you.
She drops the bag of coins on the counter with a loud thud and leaves with the crate as the shopkeeper stares at the bag in awe.
Ebony: I'm rich.
As Gretchen makes her way back through the streets three tough looking hooligans block her path. The main one wields a club that he rests on his shoulder as the others grin demonically behind him.
Thug 1: You orcs should go back to the woods like the animals you all are.
Gretchen: What was that?
The second is a frazzled woman with a manic look in her eye as she spins a dagger through her fingers.
Thug 2: You heard him. This city was struggling already, then you refugees come in and start causing problems like you run the place.
The third one stays quiet for some reason, his hands tucked inside a sleek dark robe with his face covered by the hood.
Gretchen: Look I was just buying supplies for the Ortiz family. I'm not here to cause any trouble.
Thug 2: Ain't tryna cause trouble she says. Helpin out the Ortiz family she says. Ha ha ha, like the 'Orc Slayer' would ever take one in.
Thug 1: We'll be taking those supplies now and dragging your body to rot outside the city. For an orc the guards won't even bat an eye.
Gretchen looks around to find the altercation all but acknowledged by the masses as the guards turn to look the other way. The first thug twirls his club and readies an attack. Gretchen slowly puts the crate down as she looks back at them the panels on her arm begin shifting in preparation.
As the three make their charge though, the air seemingly begins to shake in the rhythm of a heartbeat. The thugs drop to the ground simultaneously growing pale in the face as they begin to sweat profusely. Gretchen remains standing but suddenly feels ill herself as her legs tremble and begin to give way.
Bum bum! bum bum! It's as if the entire world is pulsing as Gretchen's sight begins turning red. Suddenly, a large figure appears in front of her wearing a large brown coat as a cape. In a flash his black leather boot implants itself onto the first tugs face pushing his head into the ground with a loud BUSHH! The air becomes still again as everything returns to normal.
Thug 2: Who the hell…?
Thug 3: That's Roy Vega. You two don't stand a chance. I however…
Sparks begin to form in the third thug's hand that had been quiet leading up until now. He looks to the large deathly figure in front of him, a teenager with blue skin, pointed ears and small tusks. His ragged black hair falls on eyes full of hunger matched only by an arrogant grin.
Gretchen: An orc?
Roy: (Looks over his shoulder) Half orc actually. (Leans down to the thug under his boot) You see the guards won't bat an eye at anything I do either, but I suppose it's for a different reason.
Thug 3: Lighting Bolt!
A burst of electricity shoots out of the hooded thug's hand as it strikes Roy's chest, leaving a rather inconsiderable burn that quickly fades away.
Roy: Ha that pain wasn't even satisfying.
Roy reveals to him a marking on his forearm. An encircled pentagram with a fist in the center.
Roy: You see this. This means you don't stand a chance against me. (Steps away from the one he was standing on.) Let this be a warning, don't mess with my kin.
The thugs scurry away as Roy turns to leave without a word.
Gretchen: Thank you, but I could have handled them myself
Roy: Ha oh I know, but a king's gotta make a point once in a while.
Gretchen: My name is Gretchen, it's hard to find other orcs around here.
Roy: (Holts in silence then turns around) Well Gretchen, I am Roy Vega. Any orc you find here follows my command. I am their king, and you'd do well to remember that. (Turns to walk away again) And just one piece of advice, stay away from Sylvain Ortiz.