Within the City-State of Uvelata's most reknowned building, the Hall of Stars, the annual Grand Star Ball has commenced. The continent of Vezatta has quite a few sapient races, and every year, the continent's greatest men and women unite for ceremony and pleasantries before a council.

  Angel Shela oversees the socializing of the high-class figures from near the statue of her master, the Goddess of Light, Diamond. Similar to Shela's own figure, the statue of Diamond is tall, beautiful, donning a white and gold robe with openings on the small of it's back, sporting wide, fluffy, feathered wings that, on Shela, emit a restrained but noticable amount of pure radiance. The golden accessories she wears, the bands around her wrists, the necklace with the a smaller version of the statue of Diamond on it, only serve to increase the elegance she exudes with a soft smile consistent upon her features.

  The first she personally greets with an inclination of her head is the Cardinal King Zeto, of the Holy Kingdom of Avento. She doubles his own height, as she does all others, but speaks with a voice that could comfort a crying babe. "Greetings once more, Cardinal Zeto. I pray your year has been fruitful and orderly."

  Cardinal Zeto is an aging Human, one with a voice frail enough to remind those who speak with him that he is soon to step down. His balding head glints against the radiance of Shela's wings, but he smiles nonetheless. The young lady next to him in the same red and white robes he wears bows fully to Shela as Zeto speaks. "It has been a blessed year, Lady Shela, and I thank your consistent wishes for Avento's health and Her Holiness Diamond's mercy for such."

  Shela hums with satisfactions then turns her focus to the young lady. "And how has the heir, Bishop Leona fared?" The girl, Bishop Leona, straightens herself at the address, her long, blonde hair flowing down her back. "I am doing wonderously, Lady Shela. I truly am blessed to serve as the successor to Cardinal Zeto's will, and we thank you for allowing us to announce it here.

  Shela extends her hand as she cranes down, and gently strokes her cheek. "But of course, child. Avento has served Diamond's will faithfully, and you have been touched by her grace more than most." She turn her head at a bit of commotion, the bolsterous laughter of the short and hairy Dwarven King Vet, who seems to be having wine with the tiny and bright Fairy King Acheviotapol.

  "You changed your own name again," Vet chuckles, quieting down a bit as he ignores the glances recieved, "just so you could try to see if King Avon will get tongue tied? You're a sadistic little bastard—pardon my Dwarvish." His own regal clothing bears the symbol of the City-State of Werzkdan, an economic and technological powerhouse run mainly by Mountain Dwarves.

  The Fairy King, who tugs at his clothing as if not used to wearing clothes at all, takes a sip from his own glass of wine, which he holds well despite it being comedically larger than him. His wife, a High Elf, watches him with a tinge of adoration as she speaks. "Be careful as to not drink too much again, my love."

  Acheviotapol puts the chalice down with a sigh. "Perhaps I have gone too far, Vet. My wife doesn't even call me by name anymore, not keen to recite a new one every winter." His tone makes it clear he's just teasing, but he gets a little peck from her anyways.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Vet polishes off the rest of the wine in his own cup, a passing servant collecting it and giving him another. "Aye, if you ever get that man to mess up a word like yer name, I'll owe you and your wife a reserved dinner from Chef Rodella."

  When a hand plants on his shoulder, the Mountain Dwarf doesn't tense, only smiling a bit more than before as King Avon III of the Human Kingdom of Elion jumps in. "It is considered unwise to speak of a man in the same room outside of his awareness, friends." His face is still of emotion, his tanned hand gripping Vet's shoulder firm but gently. "I trust you have been well?"

  Vet chuckles and rubs his chin as he speaks in a gruff tone. "Well 'nough, though hearing news of a new Hero ain't something to sit on like nothing. Heard they ain't coming to this one, but I doubt the Star Council we'll have tommorrow will ignore the implication of a Calamity." He takes another swig of his drink, tapping a finger on the table.

  The Fairy King huffs, their inflection a bit more serious now. "A Calamity, one that hasn't even shown it's face yet, unlike all the others who've ever formed. It's not the most comforting thought, certainly. Perhaps the Dragonlord's strength is keeping it in the shadows."

  King Avon nods, sitting at the table and accepting a glass from a servant. "Perhaps," he takes a sip, "but the most important thing is that the hesitancy of whatever Calamity has risen gives the Hero and his party time to prepare themselves. They are young, and they have much to do before they are strong enough to face a being as powerful as an Angel." He glances towards Shela, who's currently being bowed to by the Elven Queen Amarie and Beastkin Queen Chalala.

  The Wood Elf is tall when she straightens, eyes constantly narrowed, even as she accepts a chalice from a servant while avoiding even grazing his hand. "It's always a pleasure, Lady Shela." Chalala, a broad and muscular Boarkin, wipes away the crumbs on their snout from the delicacies they snatched from a table earlier, and straightens as well.

  Shela give them an light bow in turn. "I pray you're both properly enjoying yourselves tonight, as we've plenty to discuss in the morning. Vezatta has a busy year ahead of us, but as always, relax for the festivities." Chalala raises her chalice in agreement, the dark liquid splashing a drop on her deep green dress, though she doesn't seem to mind as much as Amarie does.

  "Thank you for always being such a gracious host, Lady Shela," Chalala starts while Amarie grabs a hankerchief and dabs at the wet spot on her friend's dress. "You never fail to sweat the details."

  Amarie furrows her brow a bit as she works, Chalala unbothered. The Angel simply chuckles in amusement, the glances towards the elegantly dressed Queen Eleanor, who patiently sits at a table in the corner, attended to only by her own two servants, two Vampires like her. They are paler than her, though perhaps that's simply the makeup she wears.

  Eleanor doesn't seem surprised by the distance the Grand Star Ball servants keep, the same amount of avoidance that everyone else does, including the other royals and such. She simply enjoys the wine, knowing well that none of them can openly complain about the undead in their midst when Diamond herself permits the Vampire Kingdom's continuance for unknown reasons. Still, Bishop Leona continues to glare discreetly from a distance, far more bothered by the presence of something naturally against their holy laws than her own Cardinal is.

  The night goes on, the festivities of the Grand Star Ball echoing through the city of Uvelata. And in the morning, they begin the Star Council with their most immediate concern: the selection of a Hero and the unknown Calamity that would warrant such.

  NAME: KINDLE

  SPECIES: LESSER SKELETON SPELLSWORD

  SEX: N/A

  XP: 2735/3600

  AP: 0

  HP: 480/480

  MP: 480/480

  SP: 480/480

  CON: 24

  AGI: 24

  DEX: 24

  PER: 24

  INT: 24

  SIMPLE ARCANIST (F)

  SIMPLE CRYOMANCER (F)

  SIMPLE SWORDSMAN (F)

  SIMPLE SPELLSWORD (F)

  ///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///

  ///WORLD EYE///

  ///UNIFIED FORM (F)///

  ///HEROIC POTENTIAL (F)///

  ///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (F)///

  ///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (F)///

  ///NATURAL ARCANIST (F)///

  ///NATURAL SWORDMAN (F)///

  ///HORDE BREAKER (F)///