Chronicla (Lorica)

This is my outline for a story to be set in Lorica, namely, Mage.

Characters

 * Qura Tranquilae, 18 (just turned) (so of marrying age; this being in Lorican years, so she is still adolescent at 14.5 Earth years), protagonist, who lives in Setila, daughter and only child to Teal and Sara. She is mellow, intelligent, inexperienced, and concise.
 * Altair Jatar, 21 (17), eldest prince, son of Emperor Jet Jatar, protagonist, who lives in the Citadel but wanders elsewhere. He is princely, intelligent, knowledgeable, and wise.
 * Tyl Aria, 16 (13), sidekick, who lives in the same town as Qura; daughter to Anthony and Christina. She is caring, philosophic, forward-looking, and practical.
 * Richard En, 20 (16), sidekick and tramp/hunter, who leads a gang in Oraganta. He is righteous, heroic, athletic, and talkative.

Part 1: At Odds With Her Destiny

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

Chapter 1: Turning of Age

 * We start with Qura and her long-time friend Tyl, both in a heated game of Magick (a magic-based card game).
 * It's also one of children's favorite games - but frowned upon by parents who are worried they'll get 'ideas'.


 * Just as Qura is about to win, their parents berate them for playing Magick and end the party early. Tyl leaves.
 * Qura returns to studying Prismatic; she already knows the material well, has even begun developing mana...
 * Prismatic is the main religious tome of Lorica which sets social rules and is required for using air magic (priesthood).


 * Qura's parents have a talk with Qura about Magick, which quickly heats into an argument about becoming a Mage.
 * Qura argues that her dream is to be a mage - and talks about how she already has "it all planned out".


 * Sara also states that no one (most people) knows just what being a mage entails, while being a wife is obvious.
 * Qura can't stand staying in the family anymore and losing her freedom, later takes her belongings, and runs away.

Chapter 2: Flight of the Clipped Bird

 * Now deep in the woods, Qura is at peace with nature, feeling utterly free from parental rules and confines.
 * She arrives at the edge of a lake and, while taking a late-evening bath, finds a Pulsphere and gets blinded.
 * It's been hours of trekking and dark, so she starts a fire and eats; looking at her map dismays her (no progress).
 * Then she hears the sounds of wolves - ill omen in wild areas - and panics, running off blindly without her stuff.
 * Qura, terrified, gets chased up a tree by a pack of wolves. The wolves take turns watching. Qura makes to sleep.
 * Qura realizes that being a girl in a male-dom. society means she can't fend for herself - her dreams are crushed.


 * Morning. The wolves are gone. She almost gets down - and they pounce back. A long wait ensues. Qura is hungry.
 * Qura vows that if the deity allows her to survive she will study avidly; or, serve whoever rescues her.
 * Seeing a campfire a long way off, she takes to constantly screaming for help until she goes hoarse.
 * Qura also uses the Pulsphere as a beacon.


 * Richard (at the campfire) hears and comes to her aid. He easily dispatches of the wolves via channeling.
 * Although Richard is on his way to Oraganta, he escorts Qura back to Bahasa, gentleman-like.

Chapter 3: Be Witch Or Warlock

 * Morning. Qura and Richard arrive at Bahasa but are diverted by the cries of a 'rain shaman' (target of a chant).
 * The priests won't stand for this, so high priest Old Randy takes the challenge, using air magic to bring a drizzle.
 * Qura and co. watch with awe as the 'rain shaman' brings a downpour out of clear sky, but also are suspicious of him.
 * Amazed, Qura and several others rush to ask the shaman questions, but the shaman acts like he's very secretive.
 * Priests convict the shaman a warlock. He is tied to the stake but the fire doesn't harm him.
 * Qura is frightened by the prospect of becoming a Mage only to be thus executed.


 * Since Protect From Fire is air magic, 'obviously' he is trusted by the deities. Then the priests chop his head off.
 * Teal is attracted by the commotion and goes there. He finds Qura and drags her unhappily home.

Chapter 4: Return to Hell

 * At home Qura tries to argue with her parents to justify why she left but they stubbornly won't listen.
 * Teal orders Qura to shut up, she won't listen so he flogs her into submission, forces a blood ritual upon her.
 * Teal says that Qura's free spirit has to be tamed; besides, he's already found Qura a husband.
 * Qura tries to resist. Furious, Teal punishes Qura via blood magic, then orders her to cook lunch and sew her skirt.
 * Qura finds such work denigrating and futile, and Sara shouts at her when she works carelessly (thinking of Maging).


 * Qura weeps, wondering why she had to have the bad luck of being a girl in a male-dom. society.
 * Shortly after lunch parents take Qura to the Elysants. She is afraid of being with strangers (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, Teal and the Elysants enjoy it.
 * Paul Elysant (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 Nick Elysant, as her brideshow.

Chapter 5: Brideshow

 * Noon. Qura (who can read a bit) pores over an algebra primer, teaching Nick Elysant something as she learns.
 * In the process Qura learns a lot about fundamental algebra - something only constructors/carpenters usually learn.
 * Brideshow: practice of showing that Qura is worthy of fetching a high bride-price, and Qura has to act wifely.
 * Qura had been ordered to do womanly chores around the house for two months, and she hates every moment of it.


 * Her parents come to escort Qura home. For the umpteenth time Sara tells Qura how she is to behave as a wife.
 * After having seen what Magick (the game) has to offer, it's impossible for Qura to be content as a submissive wife.


 * The Elysants cart in a sufficient bride-price and Qura's parents decide to accept the offer.
 * Her parents then set off for the Elysants to accept. Tyl is surprised, rushes to Qura to see if she's okay.

Chapter 6: To Leave Or To Stay

 * Tyl is shocked to find Qura chained, and rushes off to get a lock-picker, who quickly sets Qura free.
 * But Qura locks herself back up and startles Tyl by saying that her parents were right; there's only two paths.
 * Tyl then tries to reason with Qura, who knows there's few things a girl can become but wants to be a Mage.
 * Tyl tells her about the premier Academy at Invara (for channeling) and suggests they go there one day.
 * Qura knows she can't successfully run away, but the priesthood would offer her safety and welcome.
 * Qura runs to Bahasa's Temple and is welcomed by the priest at the gate.

Part 2: Striking Off On Her Own

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

Chapter 7: Nothing But Thin Air

 * Qura undergoes the priest induction ceremony in front of the other priests of the Temple of Bahasa.
 * She is given the role of gate watcher (greeting arrivals to the Temple). Teal, looking for Qura, finds her there.
 * In anger Teal strikes her down with blood magic - but is smitten by the head priest's (Old Randy) air magic.
 * Teal is told that while Qura is on Temple property she shall be protected by the priesthood - Teal backs down.


 * That night Qura is given a chance to meditate and study Prismatic (which slowly raises her 'mana' score).
 * The next morning Qura and a few others weed and water the Temple's gardens and clean its property.
 * Qura can't stand the labor required for this and starts to doubt whether this was a good idea.


 * There are also seminars by the priesthood regarding various passages in Prismatic.
 * These discussions only cause more questions in Qura's mind, and she finds herself debating the priests on them.
 * Two weeks later, Qura still hasn't made much headway resolving those problems and is less believing of the text.
 * Every day is pretty much the same and soon it has lost its excitement. Qura is bored - and tired from the labor.
 * Meditation and studies - which had seemed interesting - were now required and hence unsustainable.


 * Qura is finally assigned a mentor to teach her some basic air magic (blessings). They're very weak and draining.
 * Qura doesn't see how at this rate she can ever become a Mage as she envisions it, and brings this up to him.
 * The mentor (a priest) accuses Qura of wishful thinking - they argue and Qura realizes this isn't what she wants.

Chapter 8: The Journey Begins

 * Qura leaves the Temple, finds Tyl at her house, tells her her situation, and Tyl decides to leave to help Qura.
 * Tyl points out that Teal can easily scry Qura via blood magic, but Qura says Teal won't harm her.


 * They get supplies, then set off on foot on the road to the next village (they are headed for Invara).
 * Along the way Tyl teaches Qura what little she knows about channeling (which Invara is premier for).
 * Knowing the Teals and Elysants will look for Qura, they take no rest. By evening they have rode to the next town.


 * They get dinner and a spot at an inn. Inside, Qura practices her art some more.

Chapter 9: Interception

 * Night. The parents of all 3 families arrive on horseback. Teal uses blood magic to locate and stun Qura.
 * Tyl realizes who's here and quickly puts Qura on a horse, and leads it out of village to avoid pursuers.
 * She also knocks Qura unconscious so that pain won't cause Qura to scream out.
 * The pursuers comb the village and, upon finding them, take them captive. Anthony subdues Tyl to blood magic.


 * Qura returns to consciousness in a hospital as several healers pass healing diamonds over her body.
 * It was already afternoon. The parents tirade the girls, but Paul Elysant asks to have a talk with them.


 * Paul and Qura are put in the same room, and Qura is chained. That night Paul has a heart-to-heart talk with her.
 * (secretly) Hoping to win Qura's heart, next morn Paul frees them both and goes with them to Oraganta.
 * Shortly thereafter their parents catch up with them, and Paul convinces them he knows what he's doing.
 * Paul offers to cancel the marriage if Qura is able to support herself. She takes up the challenge.

Chapter 10: Fall Of Innocence

 * Arrival at another village along the way. The three go looking for jobs separately.


 * Tyl is too "fresh" or weak or amateur to find an entry level job as a tailor, farm hand, aide, herbalist, etc.
 * She realizes that getting a job is incredibly time-consuming and tedious, thinks her parents might be right after all.
 * Tyl finally comes across a restaurant and temps as a waitress, paying a ripoff 50g for a worthless uniform (IOU).
 * The restaurant work is just as hard, all tips must be given to the boss, and the boss ill-treats her as well.
 * Being a waitress is barely better than being a slave - Tyl is forced to be subservient to customers.


 * Tyl breaks several teapots by accident and is forced to pay 25g for them (IOU) and is fired without any pay.
 * Her uniform is confiscated. In protest, Tyl uses her channeling to attack the boss. The boss calls the guards.
 * The guards easily subdue Tyl and shut her in the same prison cell as other criminals. They abuse and terrify her.
 * Paul comes to the rescue, paying off Tyl's debts. Tyl realizes she doesn't have a path outside of marriage.
 * Qura returns, showing the money she earned from working as a governess. Tyl has a surge of hope.
 * Qura mentions the various things she taught (and learned) at her job (mostly algebra and geometry).

Chapter 11: Breaking Away

 * A week later, they get to Oraganta, sustaining themselves as tramps. They tour Oraganta's large Temple.
 * Qura enters to see if she can become a vestal virgin. Paul won't let this happen and scars her, ruining her chances.
 * This makes them sore enemies. Qura is distrustful of Paul, and with Tyl they run off to another tavern that night.
 * Their parents are notified by blood magic of their escape, and set out by horse once again to intercept them.

Chapter 12: Finding Friends and Family

 * Qura and Tyl find refuge in Richard's hideout and are welcomed and introduced to the gang.
 * Richard gives Qura money and an escort to go to a tailor's and get proper (better) clothes.
 * For the first time in weeks, Qura is treated to a feast (gang member induction) and eats like a pig.
 * While Qura massages Richard's back, the gangsters tell each other what they did or saw that day.
 * Qura then tells the others her story, says she's interested in magic. Richard mentions a friend who's an alchemist.
 * Richard decides to ride off with Qura to nearby Telia, making Michael his temporary lieutenant.
 * After packing their belongings and getting supplies (and healing gems), the trio ride north.

Part 3: Traveling With Her Friends

 * Planning: [[Image:25%%.png]] | Writing: [[Image:0%%.png]]

Chapter 13: Alchemy

 * Two days later the trio have arrived at Telia and stay over at Richard's friend Leonardo's house.
 * Introductions; they chat like old friends, and Qura and Tyl reaffirm their intention of studying at Invara.
 * Leonardo introduces Qura and Tel to what he's been working on: analyzing the properties of various stones.
 * Intro to faera-rocks such as Nethicite, Genicite, Ossilocite, etc., but not realizing their true meaning.


 * Being an alchemist, Leonardo spends a considerable amount of time teaching Qura and Tyl about chemistry.
 * They depart, but receive several vials of certain faera-rocks in case they ever learn more about magic.