Tag: Rivalle Volcari

#Lore24 – Entry #338 – Sci-Fi Month IV #3 – Magical Arts, Magical Blood

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

 AG:  “How would you describe your time at the academy upon the Isle of Fang?”

RV:  “Tedious.  It was far from the silly little social clubs obsessed with their legwear that it is these days, teaching little more than what could be considered the basics of arcane theory.  The ancient arcanists were still quite full of themselves, though, convinced of their own superiority in many cases, or trying to hide their contempt of those not gifted with a mind for the arcane through their good works that would earn them praise.  The humans were the worst of course; other elves were at least tolerable because I knew what to expect.  But, having never been around the short-lived beings much at all previously, it was quite the learning experience.  I seem to recall having thoughts that I was actively watching them die at some points, growing older before my eyes. 

Honestly, I can recall feeling underwhelmed once I had settled in and began my studies there, almost as if I already knew all of what they sought to teach me, on a deeper…instinctive level.”

AG:  “Instinctive level?  Could you elaborate more upon that, please?”

RV:  “Magic is in the blood of elves, my dear Ms. Ganim, and most of us, at least in those days, could instinctively perform rudimentary spells that were of a primal nature, affecting flora or fauna.  Grasping the deeper arcane methods was a rudimentary task for those elves who were possessed of even a middling intellect.  When I say that my understanding came from a deeper level, I mean that my very blood, my very soul even, was attuned to the flow of magic in ways normal elves could only dream of.  For all the tedium I suffered at the academy, it did at least make me aware of my unique nature, that there was something quite special about me that others simply couldn’t possess or understand.”

AG:  “Fascinating.  Could you elaborate more upon what this is?”

RV:  “In time.  I believe you have already alluded to this in the research you’ve already shared with me, so perhaps we’ll continue with your timeline beyond my school days?”

Note:  Her tone of voice was quite steady and calm here, yet I cannot deny the force with which Rivalle Volcari spoke.  She may have phrased it as a suggestion, but I have no doubts it was a command.

AG:  “Yes, of course.  As the records I uncovered indicated, now that you’ve confirmed your full name, you completed your studies there in only five years.  The grading scales are certainly different now, but by what records still exist, you received top marks and nothing but praise for your talents.  I imagine there was no shortage of parties interested in attaining your considerable talents?”

RV:  “Quite right.  I was offered a place within the Praxium of Arcavarlon, but at the time tensions were rising between the nations, and I had no interest in serving upon a council of my lessers.  The kerryns were insisting upon being the negotiators of peace, while the elves, dawn and dusk, and the aerians were already engaged in multiple conflicts necessitating said peacekeepers, while the humans sought, in their infantile ways, to profit from all sides.  To their credit, the dwarves and drakonae had the good sense to keep to themselves, for the most part, though they too would seek to profit from their exceptional weapon and armor craftsmanship.  The other races would barely leave a mark during this time.”

AG:  “Where did you go during this time?”

RV:  “To war.  I was quite ready to test myself against veteran battle-mages that had been dealing with the aerian nuisance for some time.  I was young then, my blood running hot, what you humans would understand as a rebellious teenager phase, and I was quite ready to test my destructive magic in a practical setting.  And that would lead to my work to build up House Volcari and see the establishment of the Elvish Dominion.”

#Lore24 – Entry #337 – Sci-Fi Month IV #2 – Humble Beginnings Upon Andyllion

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

Though a storm rages outside, I cannot hear the thunder nor feel the force of the wind upon the building as I sit in Rivalle Volcari’s office, and barely notice the lightning due to the flash-hiding properties of the windows.  I can sense the arcane resonance in the air around me, mixing in nigh flawlessly with the technological systems that one would expect to find in a corporate office.  The enchantments are indeed of a warding nature, but are cloaked as to their full purpose, and I dare not probe them further with my arcane sight, for I can sense the power within them, lurking as if they themselves were some predators waiting to strike.  Even the plants inside the office make me wary, for though they are flowered and smell quite pleasant, I have little doubt that they are some kind of specialized breed of maidenbane vine, for they shift about as if following me.

The doors to the office opened within a matter of minutes after my arrival, and two people entered, Rivalle Volcari and her kerryn assistant, following dutifully behind her carrying a tray of food and drink.  I rose to greet her, steeling my nerves as the intensity of her gaze and mere presence slammed into me; there is no question as to the power present in her aura, and I could only begin to guess at the nature of the multiple enchantments upon her and her clothing.  I have never once seen someone with such a powerful aura of magic about them; this is something you would see hundreds, maybe even thousands of years ago, when magic was at its height, certainly prior to the wars that saw the collapse of the Great Elvish Imperium, at any rate.  Also, I can’t help but think I’ve seen her assistant somewhere before; she looks very familiar.

I shall begin the interview immediately, for her time is no doubt limited; any observations and thoughts will be noted as the conversation is transcribed; standard recording devices and handwritten notes will be taken as well.

AG:  “I am so very grateful that you have agreed to allow me to interview you, Ms. Volcari.”

Note:  Her perfume seems to be scented in a similar, if more concentrated, aroma as the majority of the flowering plants in her office.  Her grip is firm, skin smooth, tingling as my arcane sense picks up on the enchantments upon her.  She stands a few inches taller than me, in addition to the high heels she wears.  She makes no effort to hide her apparent amusement at our meeting, in contrast to the typically stoic or uninterested looks she typically gives during standard interviews.

RV:  “You’ve certainly done your homework, Ms. Ganim.  I daresay you’ve been the single most dedicated researcher I’ve encountered in quite some time.  Or would ‘stalker’ be more accurate?  No, I suppose not; you’ve not been that close, not until now, anyway.  Whatever could you wish to know from me that you’ve no doubt already uncovered?”

AG:  “There are several questions I have relating to various aspects of the history I’ve found, more often than not on details that are unclear or questions as to whether you were involved at all.  There are multiple times within our recorded history where the record is questionable at best, and one who has lived for as long as you have must surely have unique insights upon certain events.  Ah, forgive me if I’m a bit too forward in assuming your age, but you’ve reviewed the initial notes I’ve sent you.  Was I correct in my assertation that you are indeed of an age that precedes the Andyllion Demonfall and Great Cataclysm?”

RV:  “No, think nothing of it.  Though my reputation is rather infamous, I do respect the work you’ve done.  I daresay I’m rather flattered that I have become your obsession, Ms. Ganim; yours is certainly the healthiest such obsessive personality I’ve come across.  Most who obsess over me to this degree typically wish to see me dead.  Sit, Ms. Ganim; Lila, see to her comfort.”

Note:  Her assistant, Lila.  As she serves me tea and sets out plates for us as we take our positions in the chairs by the window, I know now why I thought her so familiar.  She is indeed the very likeness of Lila Darius, a fellow historian whom I’ve met many times during my years.  This could not possibly be her, though, for I know for a fact that Lila Darius is exploring the Demon Sector at this moment.  A curious observation indeed, especially considering we’ve brought up the subject of obsession.

AG:  “Might I inquire as to your origins, Ms. Volcari?  You are originally from Andyllion, but I am unable to ascertain the exact time frame.  And could you tell me of your early days?”

RV:  “Oh, I don’t have exact numbers, for I cannot be bothered with such trivial details.  Going by the current scale by which we track the passing of time, I would say that I was born approximately…five hundred years before the Demonfall.  Yes, that sounds about right.  My early life was nothing special; I was born amongst the dawn elves of long-lost Fyva Dorthore, though I knew early on that I was quite special even amongst their kind. 

I was, and still am, possessed of a most keen intellect, you see, and a remarkable affinity for the magical arts.  You’ve no doubt sensed the enchantments around us and upon me by now.  Oh, don’t look so surprised, Ms. Ganim, I’ve done my research on you just as you have done yours upon me.  If I thought you were a threat, I would have taken appropriate steps long ago, and you would either e in one of my private collections or dead.  Back to your question…my childhood and early development were rather unremarkable for the time, save that I excelled at the arcane arts.  At the time I was hailed as something of a prodigy in that regard and had already surpassed my mentors in my backwater little village before I had reached puberty. 

I would then journey to the great city of Arcavarlon, and from there enroll in the prestigious academy upon the Isle of Fang, the youngest dawn elf to have done so then, and now, if I’m not mistaken.  The Azalina Fang Academy as it is known now, such a droll name…it has gone through many names over the years; you can determine which one it was using during this time, I’m certain; again, I don’t keep track of such trivial details.  You may even have records of me being there, though I was, at that time, using my full name:  Rivaressel’alle’nara of House Voclari.  It had not yet reached the status of a Great House yet; that would come later, and with no small amount of work from myself to see it happen.”

#Lore24 – Entry #336 – Sci-Fi Month IV #1 – An Interview for the Ages

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

My many years of research have, it seems, struck paydirt at last.  Or perhaps this is to be my end, given who I’ve been researching.  I must admit to some amount of anxiety going into this interview…but can I really pass up the chance?  This could very well be THE interview for the ages, for if my research is accurate, and I have every confidence that it is, then my subject is amongst the most important and influential individuals in the entirety of the known galaxy!

Of course, I speak of none other than Rivalle Volcari, the nigh-mythical head of the corporate behemoth known as DSM.  What other names have staying power like that of Rivalle Voclari?  She’s been the head of the company for centuries, after all, and has driven DSM’s name to be spoken in virtually every inhabited system, their products, in some form or another, present in every home that is at least halfway modernized. 

My uncertainty about this interview stems from the darker side of DSM and Volcari’s reputation, which, to say the least, beyond being legendary, is rather terrifying, if the truth of even a fraction of the rumors are true.  To say that she is the literal boogeyman of the galaxy is not entirely unfounded, and some worlds (those that have suffered some calamity at the hands of DSM, allegedly) actually describe her in such terms.

Surely a single woman could not be such a power throughout the galaxy, could she?  But what if she was?  What would that mean?  And what does it mean that she has accepted my request for this one-of-a-kind interview?  I know that she is aware of my probing into her past, for I have ran afoul of her agents many times during my quest for the truth of the woman, the myth, the legend, what have you. 

I approach the landing pad of DSM’s headquarters even now and have a distinct discomfort growing within me the closer I get that has nothing to do with the storm outside.  One could wish for better conditions, but one must take the chance when the opportunity arises.  I know not what fate has in store for me in the next few hours, but I have already gotten my affairs in order and made certain preparations in the event that I do not return from this interview.  Supposedly Voclari’s temper can level worlds when the right nerve is struck, though hopefully I can avoid any such landmines, at least well enough to not suffer any lasting ill effects.

This is a story that must be told, and though many of my order have tried over the years, none have gotten this close.  I must not fail.

LORE24 ENTRY #30 – Saida Entoris

Category – Person

Saida Entoris is an elven arcanist and specialist in draconic lore who finds herself in the center of a very delicate situation, torn between competing loyalties with no easy way out.  Having worked for DSM for over a century, she has worked her way through the ranks and ascended to a position as a Tier-2 member of the Arcane Research and Development branch of the company through a combination of her arcane abilities and mastery of ancient draconic language and history.  Young and ambitious, she once dreamed of reaching the very top of the company, the legendary Tier 5 of the AR&D branch, perhaps one day even unseating the seemingly eternal Rivalle Volcari herself.

Such ambitions are often the purview of the young and foolish, however, and it only took a chance meeting with one Reina Pridewing, a human pilot whom Saida had hired to handle her personal travel needs (unusual in itself as Reina had no prior ties to DSM), for her carefully plotted life to spiral into chaos.  Saida would never have expected that she’d be so taken with the human woman, nor that they would develop a close, passionate relationship as Saida performed her various research duties, the long hours traveling between systems giving them plenty of time to explore their budding love for one another.  It came as an even greater surprise when Reina was discovered to know the draconic language as well, and was perhaps even more fluent in it than Saida herself, easily translating passages in the much more difficult High Draconic form of the language.  It was only with some reluctance that Reina revealed how this was to Saida, knowing that this particular event would put her directly in the sights of Rivalle Volcari should she find out.  

And find out Rivalle would, when, after retrieving an ancient dragon scroll, highly sought after by the head of DSM, something went awry when Reina and Saida were studying the scroll, some ancient magic laid within the document triggering upon a touch from Reina, the scroll somehow transferring its power into Reina, marking her with a distinct tattoo of a copper-colored dragon upon her back.  In a near panicked state, Reina fled, leaving Saida with her greatly split loyalties, unable to make herself simply tear herself away from the path she had chosen to walk, no matter her feelings for Reina.  instead, she would do what she could to protect Reina from within DSM, leaving out many details in her official report (which is reflected above) on the incident to Rivalle, while putting on a halfhearted show of tracking the missing pilot down.

Perhaps growing suspicious of Saida’s loyalties, Rivalle Volcari decided that she wanted the issue resolved immediately.  As such, Saida was given a simple command, to the effect of:  “Retrieve Reina Pridewing, intact, no matter the cost, before I lose my patience.”  Saida, feeling no small amount of terror under the gaze of her superior, would turn her full attention to finding Reina.  Rivalle, however, untrusting of Saida to do as commanded, sent along a security measure in the form of Murissa, the Crimson Blade, a ferakatian mercenary whom had been captured during a failed assassination attempt on Rivalle, and who possessed a unique psychic “scent” that made her a most effective tracker.  The fact that Murissa was likewise placed inside a newly developed cybernetic armor, developed by the Tier 5 group, and with the ability to be controlled directly by Rivalle if needed, sent a very clear signal to Saida.  

So, with her love for Reina on one side, and the might of Rivalle Volcari pressing down on her from the other, Saida set off towards the Demon Sector, specifically Aphelion Station, the last known location of Reina, her mind working furiously to figure a way out of the dire situation she found herself in.