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Note: This entry is only a reference list of characters. It shouldn’t be necessary to understanding the story. It’s mainly here for my benefit.
Dramatis Personae
Gemfae, a species of fae folk, are the conscious, living essences of crystalline formations.Deep underground in Faerie was a tourmaline vein, perhaps the most populated of the various Crystal Castles. It was the ancient abode of House Tourmaline, which largely consisted of the raucous & colourful Elbaite Sisters, the stoic guardian Schorl Sisters, and the sagacious & cooperative Dravite Sisters, among various lesser-known Tourmalines.
The Elbaite Sisters
These colorful sisters react & reflect light, amplifying it as they do. They are the most eclectic & rambunctious house.Achroite: The eldest sister, sparklingly clear, is the natural leader with poise & grace who shouldered responsibility and acted as a model of virtue for her sisters. (Though they are as ancient as their mineral homes, each has an “age vibe.” Achroite’s is 27.)
Siberite: The next eldest is mystically inclined, radiating in magenta, purple, & violet. Even before she left home to study the arcane, she tended to do her own thing on the fringe of the group remaining emotionally unattached. (AV: 24)
Indicolite: Next was the calculating, intelligent one. A brilliant blend of blue, ultramarine, & azure, her mind is as sharp as her stone’s facets. She is known for her clear communication and honest expression of her thoughts and therefore often became the default psychologist & pacemaker of the sisters. (AV: 21)
Paraiba: The older middle child is a lively burst of capri, cyan, & seafoam known for her effective & accurate intuition. Nevertheless, she is undeniably the party girl and has a big imagination. As a free spirit, she left home to discover what fun Faerie has to offer. (AV: 18)
Verdelite: The younger middle child—in vivid malachite, pure green, & harlequin hues—has an edgy streak and a quick temper. She wants to prove her vitality and strength—especially when their cousin Schorl is around. Her capability despite lack of discipline makes her easily provoked by the other girls. (AV: 15)
Tsilaisite: The next younger sister glows in lime, yellow, & amber. She is imaginative, creative, & inventive. Both an artist and engineer at heart, despite the commotion of the household around her, she’s often obliviously daydreaming, sketching, or building some new idea. (AV: 12)
Rubellite (Player: ValĂ©riane): Younger still and glimmering in light-red, carmine, and rose. She has passion, energy, and the undue confidence of inexperience. She tends to rush in and take action rather than being frozen in fear or taking time planning strategies. In some ways she just doesn’t seem to grow up. (AV: 9)
Watermelon: The baby of the family. True to her name her colors are pink-reds & light greens. Cute & loving, she is often quietly observing. When she does say something, it’s often short and sounds laughably weird. But on second examination, her words often turn out to wisely connect dots others haven’t yet considered. Her presence helps keep the household hopeful & loving despite the playful squabbles of any bickering dramas. (AV: 6)
The Schorlite Sisters
Cousins of the Elbaites, every one of them known simply as Schorl, were quiet, stoic guardian of their underground realm. Light disappears into the deep blackness of these sisters and their crystals appear more like holes in the fabric of space.With their dark, mysterious beauty, they often seemed cool and aloof, though in truth, they were often simply navigating their own inner feelings of awkwardness around the Elbaite Sisters whose household was very different to their own. Despite no major threats against their realm for millenia, the Schorlite Sisters diligently trained, their fighting prowess legendary.
The Dravite Sisters
They are also cousins to the Elbaites & Schorlites. Though not nearly as wild & varied as the Elbaite Sisters, neither are they as uniformly precise & single-minded as the Schorlite Sisters. They are cooperatively-focused, well-grounded, emotionally stable, have mental clarity, self-compassion, and are physically adroit & fit. They are empowering gemfae, encouraging others to face their fears and confront challenges.Brown: Dark vermilion, dark orange, & brown-black in colour, she is strategic & prudent.
Honey: Amber, golden-brown, & dark brown in colour, she is observant & perspicacious.
Olive: Olive green, olive brown, & dark brown in colour, she is insightful & profound.
Chrome: Vivid, bright chartreuse & very dark chartreuse, she is quick-witted & clever.
Vanadium: Vivid, bright green & green-black, she is judicious & shrewd. -
Sceneâ…
A Day in the Crystal CastleThe heart of the Crystal Castle pulsed with the vibrant energy of the Elbaite Sisters. Light, refracted through countless facets of their shared home, danced across the cavern walls, illuminating their daily routines. Achroite, graceful and patient, guided the youngest, Watermelon, through a delicate shimmer-drift, teaching her how to navigate the gentle currents of pure quintessence that flowed through the crystal veins.
Watermelon, her little pink-and-celadon form shimmering, giggled, her attention already drifting. “Achroite,” she piped up, “do you think the darkness outside the veins ever gets lonely and tries to sneak in to cuddle with the light?” Achroite blinked, a soft smile gracing her form, momentarily thrown by the non-sequitur.
Suddenly, a dull shower of fine, black dust rained down from a crystalline growth directly above Verdelite. “Ha! Got you!” Rubellite’s gleeful voice echoed from a hidden alcove. Coal soot now coated Verdelite’s vibrant green hair in a dark layer, making her appear as one of the solemn Dravites, but for the outrageous look on her soiled face. “Rubellite! Are you trying to make me look like a subterranean troll for my training drills?” she shouted before giving chase.
Nearby, Indicolite sat perched on a crystalline ledge, glyphs of ancient wisdom spread before her blue glow. Her marine eyes, sharp and analytical, swept over the text, occasionally flicking towards the lively commotion around her. She was the eye of their playful storm, often the one whose clear, concise thoughts brought a squabble to an abrupt halt. Her calm voice always carried thoughtful wisdom.
An off-duty Schorl, usually a picture of silent, unyielding composure, cracked a rare smile, a fleeting moment of amusement crossing her face. Verdelite’s quick temper, always bubbling close to the surface, immediately ignited. “Oh, you think this is funny, do you, Schorl?” The Schorl pointed at Verdelite, her smile continuing. “The look on your face,” she said between silent chuckles, “You almost look like Vanadium. But, I’ve never seen her pull such a silly face.”
“Silly is it!?” Verdelite was now sparking in anger as she drew her sword. “Let’s see how silly I am!“ Unwisely, Rubellite dashed in front of the Schorl to try to talk Verdelite down while the unfazed Schorl’s tittering opened into audible laughter.
“Verdelite, dearest,” Indicolite interjected, her voice like a gentle chime that nevertheless cut through the rising tension. “No need to draw your blade over a dust up. Rather be glad. After all, you’re the first one to surprise a Schorl in decades.” “I don’t want to surprise her. I want to defeat her in single combat,” Verdelite seethed. “Well then,” continued Indicolite, “consider this training in the art of patience. You never see Rubellite playing tricks on Achroite or me, do you?”
“That’s cause you’re no fun for pranks,” piped up Rubellite. Indicolite simply looked from Rubellite to Verdelite with a warm smile, knowing the wisdom had been imparted—even if Verdelite, who was already storming away to clean up, was too proud to admit as much.
Then, her gaze turned back to Rubellite, who was presently attempting to look innocent and unnoticed. “Rubellite, true joy in play comes from shared delight, not from a reaction born of irritation. A moment of reflection might serve you well.”
Rubellite, her rosy hues brightening in childish defiance, scuffed a bare foot on the crystalline floor. “But it was delightful!” she insisted, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she glanced at the still-chortling Schorl. “And Verdelite will look back and laugh about this… eventually!” She then quickly ducked away, clearly unready for self reflection and probably already plotting her next escapade.
In a quieter alcove, Tsilaisite, in amber glow, was completely absorbed. Crystal shards, polished and unpolished, lay scattered around her as she meticulously tinkered with a new contraption, humming softly to herself. She was sketching a complex schematic on a luminous wall, her brow furrowed in concentration, entirely oblivious to the bickering and laughter that filled the chamber.
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Scene II
Counsel & ContemplationLater that day, the air in the castle’s main chamber grew stiller, a rare moment of collective focus. Achroite called a family meeting, a shimmer of concern in her clear depths. “Watermelon and I noticed a subtle shift in the deeper currents today,” she began, her motherly voice resonating softly. “It’s nothing alarming, but…it is very unusual,” added Indicolite as she gestured to a shimmering table of queer calculations. “These energy signatures pulse with an unfamiliar rhythm.”
From the stoic ranks of the Schorlite Sisters, a single Schorl stepped forward, her dark, mysterious form a stark contrast to the colorful Elbaites and muddy Dravites. “During training drills we felt a faint tremor,” she stated, her voice even and deep, “beneath the oldest foundations.” Rubellite stirred impatiently in her seat.
Olive, with her earthy green-brown hues, exuded calm as she spoke, “Indicolite,” she observed, her gaze fixed on the anomaly’s projections, “those figures indicate an instability we haven’t encountered before. Not quite hostile, but certainly unpredictable.”
Ever eager to prove her mettle, Verdelite declared, “We’ve faced our fears and confronted the deep.” She clenched her teeth and flexed her jaw as she looked to the dozens of Schorls in tight formation and added, “There’s nothing we can’t face!”
Chrome, nodded slowly, “Yes. Many of us have.” Verdelite didn’t know whether or not to take offense at the qualifier, while Rubellite missed the comment entirely, distracted by a mote of color she had never seen before dancing in the corner of the chamber. The chartreuse and brown Dravite continued, “But, change often introduces one to new fears.” “I’m eager to become newly acquainted,” Verdelite spat back, thinking this a clever retort to an insult only she had perceived.
Desiring to quickly bring the conversation back on course, Brown in her matronly tone opined, “It would be prudent to send out the Dravites to closely observe the light currents and collect more information.” “We would, of course, forward the data that you may compute and model it, Indicolite,” replied Chrome before Indicolite could even ask.
“Oh. Yes! Thank you, that would be…” Indicolite trailed off, accepting the gesture with a nod, her mind already turning over the possibilities. Rubellite, catching the general vibe of the meeting, finally piped up, “Aw! But, you Dravites take forever. This is something new. That’s amazing! There’s never anything new here. Let’s go look at where it’s coming from!”
Honey, her amber and golden-brown hues warm and steady, added, “To understand the threat, we must first understand its nature. This requires a steady eye, not hasty feet.” Brown chided the young, pink tourmaline fae, “We do not react to shadows; we illuminate them with gathered facts. The wisdom of measured steps is known.” A general murmur of agreement followed.
“Yes, of course,” Indicolite spoke up again. We could additionally send a scouting party of Schorls to gather immediate details. This would provide a wider distribution of data types for us to consider.” Her excitement for new data to work with was only slightly better hidden than Rubellite’s evident boredom with the meeting.
A party of three Schorls advanced. “We have trained for it,” the middle one stated, her excitement imperceptible. Vanadium’s green-black hues were nearly indiscernible in the chamber’s dim light. “Understanding a challenge completely means viewing it from multiple angles,” she mused aloud, her gaze moving between the excited Elbaites and the stoic Schorls. “While we observe and chart how these currents ripple, the Schorls can ascertain what is causing it directly. This would give us immediate context without sacrificing thoroughness.” Brown’s furrowed brow smoothed. “I see the wisdom in this, Vanadium.” Rubellite rolled her eyes at experiencing the slow, thorough, redundant ways of the Dravites in real time.
Achroite’s gaze swept over her sisters. “Then the course is clear,” she affirmed, her voice resonating with quiet authority. “The Dravites will delve into the currents’ intricate dance, and the Schorls will venture to the anomaly’s source. All findings will flow to Indicolite. Upon the consent of those present, let us begin.” A harmonious hum of agreement filled the chamber and a shared sense of purpose settled over the diverse members of House Tourmaline.
As the meeting dissolved and the gemfae headed to their relevant stations, little Watermelon stood and approached Indicolite’s chart of calculations. “The way the currents ripple,” her voice a soft, sweet lilt, “There’s a path forming.” She looked up to a now empty room. “For something to come here.”
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