Z is for Zenobia

Serena Jasior may be Imperatrix, but we provided the chains for her empire, along with the ones she used to bind the Serpent. We are the Empress of Kalanthia. If Kalanthia hadn’t taught Serena how to tame her Serpent-Born pets, she wouldn’t have them. She should have been more willing to share. We offered her an alliance. There’s only so long she can ignore our offers. Otherwise we shall take what rightfully belongs to Kalanthia. We are the cradle of civilization, on which all other civilizations in Ouroborous are based. Serena and her fragile empire will learn to respect that and bend knee to us, or we’ll show her what we can do.

Y is for Ylynessa

Trapped in darkness for so long, darkness became my home and mother. Monsters became my family. I learned to hide this, to adopt a simpering human mask. Other humans see and judge the mask, underestimating me. All the while, I watch and learn, how to manipulate other’s fears, aiming them at flashy targets, distracting them from my family. For I do protect my own. I will deal with all and any threats to them, no matter how little my loved ones appreciate it.

X is for Xylanthe

The light and my sisters denied me, so I wait in the darkness, my own Circle, a trap I’ve set to feed upon foolish heroes. Sometimes I dream of Aethyria, the laughter of young girls wrestling in the sunshine. I can almost taste their sweat, their hopes, their brash youth. I can taste it in their blood, when I’m fortunate enough to lure an Aethyrian into my lair. I can taste anything with the blood of the right victim. I spin my webs, hoping she’ll come to me, contenting myself with meager fear. Adventuring is no longer fashionable, so I’m feasting less and less. I have a plan to lure more victims into the Dark Circle. Spare the right shivering victims to tell tales of the riches lying waiting to be plundered, if you can slay the monsters. Sometimes the victims are themselves the bait. Some of them are unaware they serve my purpose while a few willing bring food to me. They spread my web far and wide, thinking they’re serving their own greedy little interests. These tools are delivering unto me what I truly desire. I just have to sit at the center of my web and wait.

W is for William

I’ve kept the peace in Caerac Keep for so long as its lord. I’ve become the embodiment of that peace; along with the heart and mind of this walled city. I feel traces of the life lived within Caerac Keep’s stones, hear the heartbeats of its current residents quickening with fear, or struggling with each breath. A predator walks within my walls, stalking my flock. I will not have it. Caerac Keep is mine. Its people are mind. I will not let this predator have them, no matter what I have to do, to stop him from hunting.

V is for Varwyth

I am a mask, concealing my true self. I am a master of magic, drawing upon the energies of an unwitting source.

Does he realize it? Does he sense the power I drink from him, fuelling my own?

I cam at his cry. I came to help, yet also to hunt.

All these rumours of vampirism are an insult, a childish prank in this walled city, a feeble attempt to disguise some very naughty behavior and blame another for it.

Time to teach this insolent child a lesson. Time to protect the source of my power as he is villified, for all his protests.

Time to be resurrected.

U is for Undine

Caught in a shell by a smiling foe, I am now trapped in armour. My watery spirit bound, I can only cry out in dreams to those I hope will free me. They are coming, both for me and the one who bound me. For I have taken what is most precious to them. The only way to get their loved ones back is to rescue me. Perhaps this is a predatory plan, but I have always had a darker side, no matter how much joy I spread when I was free. I will give my rescuers joy again, allow my victims to return to them, once I return to my true form. For as long as I am bound to armour, I must act accordingly.

T is for Thomas

Why should I worry about something so stupid as who I am? I’m Thomas, son of Jupitre and Juno. Only they’re not really my parents. Melyssa isn’t really my sister, either. She’s such a pervert. I’m not sure why I’m with these people, pretending they’re my family, or why we’re stuck in a boring place like Omphalos. I don’t like anyone here. I definitely don’t like Danyel and Tayel. They’re too pretty to be boys. Boys are supposed to be ugly, like me. I don’t know why I have webbed ears. Sometimes I like throwing rocks at squirrels. People, too, if I can get them. They all think I’m ugly. I’m supposed to be ugly. Why should I like anyone? Seraphix keeps whispering things to my talisman. I don’t know why I accepted it. I don’t know why I listen to it. I don’t understand what it’s saying. What if I wasn’t mean and ugly? What if I didn’t feel this way? What if I could change? I don’t know why I have to change. It’s everyone, not me. It could be fun to change, just to see the look on Danyel’s face. I can’t help being curious.