Chronicla/2/1 (Lorica)

=Aspirations Block=

Chapter 1: Turning of Age

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * The story begins in Aeutaril. Qura's birthday party - Tyl, Intael and the boys introduce Qura to Magick, a card game.
 * It's one of boys' favorite games - but frowned upon by parents who are worried they'll get 'ideas'.
 * It's Qura's "18th" birthday (though she's more like 14). The Loiras are good friends of the Aurias.


 * Meanwhile, the adults are talking about Qura’s age, quality, and suitability - marriage is on their minds.
 * From this we can tell that Teal has an alpha male view toward women and that Qura’s brother Jitta had set off on his own.


 * Go over the playing of the game, first few rounds, show what the game implies that magic is like.
 * Fast forward (FF). Just as Qura gets the hang of it, their parents berate them for playing Magick and end the party early.
 * Everyone has to leave. Qura keeps thinking about the colorful world hinted at by those cards.
 * Qura's parents have a talk with Qura about Magick, which quickly heats into an argument about becoming a Mage.
 * This argument includes a lot about disobedience, respect for authority, childish dreams, authoritarian parents, etc.


 * Qura argues that her dream is to be a mage - and talks about how she already has "it all planned out".
 * Sara says it's just a dream, that she's out of touch with reality – and certainly not fit for a lady.
 * Qura recalls a beautiful, recurring dreamscape - a general state of the world - where magic was pervasive.
 * Teal tells Qura to shut up, punishes her for disobedience, and says that Qura's free spirit must be subdued via marriage.
 * Qura is subserviently bonded to her father via blood magic. Flashback to several years ago when the ritual was first done.
 * Qura goes to sleep weeping over her powerlessness of being a girl in a male-dominated society, and being unable to escape.
 * Qura pours her pent-up fury into her diary ("dear diary...").

Chapter 2: As Bride and Bondslave

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * Teal comes home, saying he's found Qura a husband, and the Loiras begin carting in bride-price.
 * At that time Qura was reading/memorizing Six Set Classic and developing her mana – her parents are okay about this.
 * However, this is air magic, and it includes the priesthood - an escape route for women who don’t want to marry.
 * It’s already a week later. The arrangement is already settled, and Qura and Sara had no say. Neighbor marriage is common.


 * Qura tries to resist, but ceases the moment she sees Teal's angry face. He orders her to cook lunch and sew her skirt.
 * A skirt is a symbol of delicateness and Qura hates being forced to wear it. (In reality it is also a symbol of the nobility.)
 * After having seen what Magick had to offer when she had been awake, Qura can't be content as a submissive wife.


 * Qura finds such work denigrating and futile, and Sara shouts at her when she works carelessly (thinking of spellcasting).
 * Shortly after lunch parents take Qura to the Loiras. She is afraid of being with this new family (and her future masters).
 * Qura had been told by Teal to behave or she would be punished, which is at odds with Qura's 'free' personality.


 * They start off by having Qura sing and dance for them. While Qura is embarrassed, she is great at it and the others enjoy it.
 * Qura recalls all the humming, singing, dancing that the did at home, and performs impromptu based on those memories.


 * Intael Loira (the husband-to-be) tries to court Qura (who isn't responsive); her parents say she will adjust in time.
 * Then Qura is told to look after and teach the family's youngest, 8-year-old Real Loira, as her brideshow.
 * Qura knows only the most basic math (thru division), so this is an opportunity for her to learn math as well.
 * This takes the form of teaching basic algebra - something Qura has to teach herself before teaching it to Reala.
 * Anything beyond arithmetic are called various types of "mathemagic" (but isn't really magic at all).


 * FF. Night. The wedding takes place. The ritual is performed whereby Intael mixes some of his blood with Qura’s.
 * Now Qura is effectively slave to both Teal and Intael. Qura wonders if she should run away but realizes she’s likely to fail.


 * Fearing she'll escape, Judicad chains Qura to her bedpost in the Loiras' house. Qura goes to sleep, robbed of her diary.

Chapter 3: A Taste of the High Life

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * Dreamscape
 * It's apparent to the Loiras that Qura doesn't enjoy her status as wife, but Tyl doesn't want to harm her.
 * Instead, Intael challenges her to try surviving on her own after an argument about what women 'should' be able to do.


 * Qura goes around looking for a job but doesn't qualify for any of them, b/c she's female, has no experience, and is weak.
 * The only job that works for her is as a local waitress. After a crash course she starts handling customers.


 * Qura lands herself an assignment to look after Darryl (a local admin and kleptocrat with bad tempers, and a womanizer).
 * Overhearing the customers, Qura handles herself very well and soon is tending after the officials (and learns their ways).
 * The officials play a game of chess. Qura, being very attractive, soon gets them teaching her how to play and learns quickly.
 * Qura is also made aware of the vestal ceremony happening in just one week, and decides to convince Intael to attend.
 * Next day her parents come in and immediately realize what she's up to. They tell bad lies about her to the boss, Qura protests.
 * Qura is fired for 'lack of filial piety'. She returns in defeat to Intael and for the moment the Loiras think it's settled.
 * Qura spent only one day at the restaurant. Looking back she realizes that she can't be satisfied as a commoner either.

Chapter 4: To Leave Or To Stay

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * FF 3 days. A chained Qura is still in the Loira's home. Tyl chooses this time to set Qura free w/ a key.
 * This is after all Tyl’s house. She’s not in a rush to get Qura free. All the adults have already left; Tyl is sewing.
 * Qura has been downtrodden, and it’s only because of Tyl’s suggestion that they haven’t used blood magic to harm her,
 * Tyl also intends to venture out into the world. At this point Qura doesn’t know Tyl’s unusual experience.


 * Qura asks Tyl why she’s interested in leaving. Tyl says that she wants to seek out magic (not specifying which kind).
 * Qura at first assumes that Tyl was, like her, given a dream to strive for by that game of Magick the boys introduced.


 * But Qura locks herself back up and startles Tyl by saying that her parents were right; there's only two paths.
 * Qura reveals to Tyl the dream that she had 3 nights ago (“taste of the high life”), says that girls can’t survive on their own.
 * Tyl then tries to reason with Qura, saying that everyone is entitled to pursue their own interests and explore the world.
 * Tyl says this with such conviction that Qura really wants to believe that running off is right for her.


 * Tyl shows Qura her collection of faera – little creatures (often bug-sized) that do magical things. Qura is fascinated.
 * Tyl tells Qura that she’s so interested in this that she’s been collecting them for a while now – whenever she gets a chance.


 * Qura is persuaded. Tyl and Qura agree to leave Aeutaril and seek out Iutarru Academy, where channeling is taught.
 * Tyl takes her collection of faera, including a create-light faera (pulsphere), which can be used to light the way at night.


 * After stealing everything they need from the Loiras' home, Qura makes it look like the locksmith set her free, heads to forest.
 * Tyl stages her own death by drowning (although she can swim) and meets up with Qura in the forest.

Chapter 5: Flight of the Clipped Bird

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * Now deep in the woods, Qura is at peace with nature, feeling utterly free from parental rules and confines.
 * They’re in equatorial Lorica so it’s generally warm or hot all the time, which means they can travel lightly.
 * They brought enough food with them because neither knows how to hunt or even what to forage.


 * They arrive at the edge of a lake and, while they are taking a late-evening bath, Tyl is looking at her pulsphere.
 * At that moment another faera attacks the pulsphere, causing it to suddenly brighten up. Tyl manages to catch it in her hands.
 * This is caused by a spell initiator that causes it to go off uncontrollably. The attack was to weaken the pulsphere.


 * Realizing the significance of what they saw, Tyl traps the new faera in a glass vial.
 * Tyl explains to Qura the reasoning behind her actions: each of these faera provide a clue as to how magic works.
 * Of course, she doesn’t have the “key” connecting the faera to how their particular magic works.


 * It's been hours of trekking and it’s dark, so they start a fire and eat; looking at her map dismays her (minor progress).
 * Then they hear the sounds of wolves - ill omen in wild areas - and panic, running off blindly without their stuff.
 * Only now do they remember that there are dangerous creatures in the wild – possibly more dangerous than on Earth.


 * Qura and Tyl, terrified, get chased up a tree by a pack of wolves. They can barely hold on but manage to get into position.
 * Qura starts thinking that this was a really bad idea. Who knew adventuring could be so dangerous?
 * The wolves take turns watching. Qura can't fall asleep for fear of falling. An hour later they finally leave.
 * Tyl gets off the tree, the wolves come back, and the wolves can still sense them.
 * Tyl only gets slightly bitten but feels very weak. Qura helps drag Tyl back up the tree. They finally manage to fall asleep.
 * The wolves are symbiotic with create-ethanol moieta. Qura realizes this immediately.


 * Morning. The wolves are still around. Promising that she will owe her life to whoever saves her, They scream for help.
 * White Wolf leader Andar hears and comes to their aid. He easily dispatches the wolves with his bow.
 * The girls thank Andar profusely for his aid. Tyl collects the "weakening" faera on the wolves' teeth.
 * Qura vows to herself that she will uphold her promise and dedicate herself to Andar.


 * Introductions. Tyl explains why they’re here and Qura tells Andar about her desire to become a mage.
 * Qura suddenly feels her body warm up, but doesn’t really know what it means. They set off.

Chapter 6: Vestal Virgins

 * Planning: [[Image:100%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]


 * 
 * Qura arrives at Iutarru for the vestal ceremony along with Intael (who wants to see belles). She hasn’t revealed her intention.
 * The vestal position is a third alternative for women to take (after wife hood and priesthood) and smiled upon.
 * Both it and priesthood are related to air magic. The nine vestal virgins are granted significant air-magic powers.
 * Only young ladies that are totally unmarred can become one. Any young female can apply, though selection is rigorous.
 * The position requires perfect beauty and devotion to air magic. Qura has both and wants to escape marriage this way.


 * They walk through an air of festivities. It’s the first time Qura has visited the city (which is different from the city in reality).
 * Once they get there Qura tries to abandon Intael (whom she doesn't have much interest in) and participate in the ceremony.
 * Qura participates in the test of air-magic abilities, going through a troublesome test, and yet passes it.
 * Inteal meanwhile bets on who will be chosen. He is startled out of gambling when he sees Qura’s name.
 * Inteal asks the guards questions meant to determine if Qura could pass, and realizes that it’s what Qura is up to.
 * Inteal learns that even though they are married, he can’t do a thing to stop Qura should she become a vestal virgin.
 * Inteal tries to stop Qura but is stopped from entering for the virgins' safety. He protests to the guards, but to no avail.
 * Qura's exceptional beauty stands out as she lines up for the second (beauty) test. They are in plain view of the public.
 * The candidates are called upon to individually perform a song-dance combo on stage in front of the massive audience.
 * Intael throws a rock at her, it bruises her, and Qura is disqualified. The guard fines Intael a lot of money, but that’s it.
 * Intael berates Qura for trying to abandon him and making him lose so much money.
 * Inteal inflicts so much pain on Qura using blood magic that she is shocked awake.