The soft glow of the rising sun cast itself through the window of the carriage you resided in as the train swept through a gentle curve in the track.
Pink, orange and red were cast about the inside of the well decorated carriage, bathing it in soft hues as one hand reached up to pull the lace curtains to a close. While it did little to stop the invading light that roused you from your slumber, it spared your eyes as they protested against the sudden influx of light into your world.
Across from you there was the figure of Anne, curled up awkwardly atop the opposite bench, one wing draped over her body lazily as she used it unintentionally as a blanket. To your side Joy sat, already awake as she gazed at the far wall, as she watched light dancing upon it, scattered patterns dancing where they were cast by the window and curtains.
It was a new day, a fresh day, one in what you had awoken feeling better than you had the prior day. It was one that you greeted feeling well rested, despite how you could only have had five hours sleep up until this point.
But that didn't matter, you'd slept, you'd slept well and you had no lingering sensation of exaustion to contend with. Your body protested less as you moved today, too, telling you that while you slept a fair amount of damage had been healed. It left you feeling somewhat stiff, but that was nothing that moving around wouldn't rectify.
Your sleep had been untroubled too, that you were uncertain if you should be worried over, as you knew that there were at least a thousand things to concern you at this point. Additionally, there were at a number of voices that mirrored your own, that you had expected would have made themselves known in your sleep.
Perhaps those other selves had some decency after all.
"I'll be back with you shortly Joy, I'm going to stretch my legs and see if the staff are awake, see if we'll be able to aquire breakfast soon."
Joy's lips parted, yet no sound came from them, though you passed this off as her being startled by the sudden movement and sound you made.
It wasn't until you had reached the end of the carriage that something about this entire scene struck you as wrong.
The door was locked, that as you hurried to the other side, you found was repeated on the other end.
And then there was pain focused upon your neck, brief, sharp and stabbing before warmth flowed from it. Warmth, that as you brought you hand up to touch upon it was revealed to be blood.
You spun about, looking for your assailant, yet there was no more than a tiny silver pin resting upon the carpet, bloodied.
Your blood.
It was your blood upon the pin, your mind screamed as you sank down against the door, clutching the wound from what you could feel your very essence pouring from.
"No," you whispered, suprised by the sound of that unbidden word as you started to draw a deep breath in. "No!" you thundered as you rose to your feet.
Your hands balled and swung outwards as the carriage buckled, then shattered about you, metal sheared and wood splintered as you lashed out at the world about you. Your anger and rage bubbled up as you slammed your foot down, smashing the bottom of the carriage out as you launched yourself from it.
With the force you had put behind that action you soared through the skies, skies that slowly went from rosy pink to blue.
Blue that faded into black as you closed your eyes, drawing in a deep breath as you prepared yourself to open them again, to view the stars that you knew would be there.
Your eyes opened once more, though the silvery glow you expected to see dotted through the heavens was not there.
Instead, you opened your eyes to the rose glow of mornings light cast into the carriage, to Joy's bemused expression as she offered you a hand.
"You were dreaming, I presume," came her words as she assisted you in climbing to your feet.
"I'm... I'm going to go stretch my legs and... I'll be back shortly," you mumbled awkwardly as you rubbed at your eyes, stepping from the room into the main carriage as you hurried away.
A quick glance was stolen towards the far end of the carriage as you entertained your fears, looking to ensure that there was no silver pin sat upon the carpet.
There was not, thoughthere was a trail of straw leading to the door from the compartment nearest to it.
You were uncertain you could bring yourself to care about someone elses mess before breakfast.
You felt different this morning, as if you had changed, as if you had grown in some manner.
As you pondered over this, flexing your fingers testingly you once more considered if you should concern yourself over what could be nothing, or simple go for breakfast.---
As I suggested that the characters may be permitted growth, one last time, here's their latest stats along with a point each, suggestions for use, etc.
Earth: 6 - (Resiliance)
Fire: 5 - (Marksman)
Air: 7 - (Tactics)
Water: 7 - (Reading People)
Powers:
0 - Ageless.
You have all of eternity to complete your tasks, forever in your prime.
1 (f) - Quickened Healing.
Seven fold is your natural recovery rate increased.
2 (fm) - Unkillable.
Death cannot claim you. Injury, poison, disease and the like still have their effects however, along with their associated downtime.
2 (fv) - Presence of the Immortal.
The presence of eternity can be an awe inspiring thing, yet you are able to inspire more than simple awe.
Points Pool: 1
Earth: 3 - (Long Distance Running)
Fire: 4 - (Sprinting)
Air: 5 - (Creature Lore)
Water: 3 - (Masking Deception)
Powers:
0 - Ageless.
With enlightenment came eternity.
2 (fm) - Pretender Immortal.
Few know the only methods capable of killing you. Fewer still are able to apply them.
4 (fmmv) - Tainted Flesh.
You rapidly recover from all manner of ills, though there are still substances that your body cannot process. A side effect is, that your bodily fluids are toxic to others.
3 (fmv) - Carrion Crow
Nocturnal blight, capable of flight.
Points Pool: 1
Earth: 7 - (Resisting Toxins)
Fire: 7 - (Anticipating Hostile Action)
Air: 3 - (Creature Lore)
Water: 1 - (Tracking)
Powers:
0 - Ageless.
With enlightenment came eternity.
2 (fm) - Pretender Immortal.
Few know the only methods capable of killing you. Fewer still are able to apply them.
4 (fmmv) - Tainted Flesh.
You rapidly recover from all manner of ills, though there are still substances that your body cannot process. A side effect is, that your bodily fluids are toxic to others.
3 (fmv) - Jötunn
Body of stone and spirit of fire, gluttonous hunger with legendary ire.
Points Pool: 1
Euro could get +1 to any of his basic elements, with fire being one that would make his already stellar marksmanship ability hit the point where it's the stuff of legends. Water on the other hand would make his already exceptional talent at reading others ascend to greater heights.
Alternatively, he could combine Unkillable with Quickened healing and add a point for...
4 (fmmv) - Phoenix - permitting him to awaken each day completely renewed, as well as permitting anything that completely disables him to be recovered from by literally sleeping it off.
The downside is, that he cannot access such quickened healing outside of sleep any longer.
Anxiety could boost Carrion Crow in one of two ways.
+1 point to it, making her nature twist her further, though somewhat purified as she is, she'd gain talon like nails, greater agility and sharper sight most notably.
Alternatively, Pretender Immortal and Carrion Crow could be combined and given the point to make...
6 (ffmmvv) Erinys - removing much of her vulnerability to "elixers of immortality" being used to kill her, as well as making her presence more intimidating, although this may come with downsides.
Joy could boost any of her statistics, or upgrade Jötunn in one of two ways.
Adding a point to it would make her nature start to show visibly, but it would also give her increased physical strength.
Alternatively, it could be changed to...
4 (fmmv) - Brass Giant - once more making her nature show visibly, though it would emphasise much of the guardians nature becoming entwined with the Jötunn's.
As always, these are suggestions, you're free to ignore them, counter suggest with other things (within reason - you only have one point per character) or even suggest that they shouldn't change at all.