A+Chosen+Religion+and+Sacrifices

"You don't have to do this, Nelle..." Lairesul laid a soft hand on Lorwyn's shoulder, "Are you sure?" She smiled up at his clear blue eyes and nodded, "I'm ready." She turned to Minaun and nodded again, "Go ahead." Her long dark red hair cascaded over her shoulders as she leaned her head forward. She felt the warmth of Minoa's soft feminine hands glide over her shoulders and brush the back of her neck as the young sorceress gathered Lorwyn's hair behind her in both of her hands, "Mind my hands, Minaun." Minaun chuckled, "I wont get your hands... do you think so little of your own brother's abilities?" "Let's not bring abilities into this... just do it," Minoa countered, holding her hands only inches apart with the arcanist's hair held in both, "I'm sure Lorwyn would appreciate not having my blood in her hair as much as I'd appreciate keeping my fingers." Lorwyn started to nod, but Minoa tugged on her hair gently, "That's not a good idea, Lorwyn... nice and still now." Lorwyn closed her eyes and felt Minaun use the sharp edge of his sword to slowly cut her hair short, slicing back and forth gently between Minoa's hands. The dark-haired sorceress tapped Lorwyn on the shoulder and handed her the length of silky red hair now separate from what remained on her head. The young arcanist opened her eyes and accepted it in one hand, reaching back to touch the short strands that still hung a little above her shoulders. "Does it still look okay?" she looked up nervously at the sorceress looking down on her. Minoa looked her over for a second, and used her hands to ruffle the arcanist's silky red hair slightly and then smiled genuinely, "I think it's perfect!" She nodded warmly. Lorwynelle smiled gratefully, her shoulders relaxing slightly with relief. She looked up at Lairesul who was smiling and nodding in agreement. The lovely elven woman nodded and dropped her hair into the fire reciting a ceremonial phrasing to Mystra, offering a piece of her physical being to the goddess in thanks for the magic bestowed on her. It was her first sacrifice. She watched the others in the circle offer other things... Seldana pierced a new stud into her brow, using a needle from the same ceremonial fire. Lairesul and Minoa added to tattoos on their faces. Minaun pierced the tip of his ear and Dane offered strands of his hair that he cut himself. Spark surprised all of them as he drew a slice across the palm of his hand and dripped his blood into the fire. He grinned at Lorwyn who was looking at him with wide eyes. He rarely spoke and his eyes were wild when he cast magic... he was the only one who occasionally made Lorwyn ill at ease... he reminded her of what she'd read about barbarians... slipping into a rage where they were no longer fully in control of their actions... Spark wasn't always "all there"... a little more on the other side of the edge of sanity. They all chatted far into the star sparkled sky of the evening after their ceremony... talking about magic and classes and other things. She wished that she could be a part of their classes with Master Embermoss... conjuring magic without books sounded fascinating! They practiced and they taught her how to keep a spell in her head that she had memorized... even after casting.

Afterward Lairesul walked her home. The moon was shining bright and the city streets were fairly quiet with only a few other elves coming and going along the path. The pale blonde mage was staring at her as they walked. Her cheeks were warm and pink as she smiled up at him, "What is it?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">He smiled and ran his hand through her short hair, pausing with his hand pressed gently on the back of her neck. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Her heart was pounding so hard, she could practically feel the beat in her ears and thought surely it must be so loud that even the sorcerer in front of her could hear it... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The young elven man smiled at her, brushing his fingers through the ends of her hair, "You look even more beautiful than normal," he nodded to her, "I think you should leave it short... it suits you." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Her eyes widened and she swallowed, trying to speak as her voice betrayed her, refusing to surface for a moment. Her cheeks were on fire and the echo of her beating heart blurred her thoughts. She averted her eyes to the ground, "Thank you." She nodded and smiled. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">His hand gently caressed her cheek down to her chin to lift her face to look into his clear blue eyes and the world vanished from her peripheral vision. He was smiling at her, "You don't need to look down, Nelle... not with //me//... not with anyone. Be confident. Know what you want and go for it." His hands were on the small of her back and he pulled her close. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The world was spinning around her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A voice interrupted them, "Lairesul... you're out late tonight." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The both turned to see an elven man with long golden hair with strands of bright green that matched his eyes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Lairesul bowed respectfully, "Master Embermoss, you have returned." Lorwyn followed his lead, curtsying politely... she stared a little in awe. She could feel the magic coming off of him. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"I see you've been busy in my absence," Valren nodded to his young student, and then nodded to Lorwynelle, "Lady Thaldain... you look so much like your mother." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">She curtsied again, pulling herself together, "Master Embermoss. I have heard so much about you from your students." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"All good, I hope," he winked at her, and she nodded emphatically. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Valren patted Lairesul's shoulder, "You'd better get some sleep... I believe we have a class tomorrow?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The young elf nodded to his teacher. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">"Until tomorrow then," he nodded farewell to them both, continuing on his way.