Name: Aileen
Full Name: Aileen Grimsbane
Pronunciation: eye - LEEN GRIHMS - baen
Nickname: None
Race: Human
Birthday: April 24
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Class: Witch
Deity: Annir, God of Change
Pets: None
Current Residence: Wanderer

Height: 5'1"
Build: Curvy
Skin Tone: Fair
Eyes: Dark Gray
Hair Color: Dark Blonde
Hair Length and Style: Chin Length with a Slight Wave
Clothing Style: Plain Traveling Clothes

Parents: Raised by Aunt
Siblings: Several
Spouse(s): None
Offspring: None
History: She was born to a large family and recalls having at least two older brothers and an older sister. Beyond that, she does not recall much of her childhood as she was sent to live with her aunt when she was only four years old once she had started to exhibit an affinity to magic. Her aunt was a witch while her mother had missed out on the magical genes and assumed that none of her children would inherit her mother's abilities. So, she grew up with her aunt and her coven. Her aunt oversaw her education, taking care to train her on how to survive in the wilderness from an early age so that she could more easily complete her search for her own coven members. It was her aunt who also taught her how to sew and weave, using magic to enchant the items she created through the threads, and how to use those same threads to cast various spells. When she was fifteen she left on her journey to search for other witches with which she could form a coven. She spent four years wandering the wilderness before finding the others she would join at an inn called The Raven's Nest. Thus the Sisters of the Raven were born. Since that time, she and the others have heard rumors of dragons and have travelled across dimensions to Isla.

Abilities/Skills: Weaving, Sewing, Thread Magic, Hunting, Archery, Fighting with Daggers, Survival
Personality: She is the unofficial leader of her coven. She is rather practical but not cold. She is a good listener and considers all options carefully before making a decision or giving her opinion on a matter. She is confident and charming when she needs to be. She rarely loses her patience with the others in the coven, but she does have quite a temper when provoked.

Aileen bonded with Tanarith!

Name: Tanarith
Bonded To: Aileen
Gender: female
Species: medium-length
Color(s): shimmer winged tanzanite
Size Class: green
Suggested Length: 40'7"
Suggested Height: 6'3"
Clutch: 34i
Sire: brown Prabeth
Dame: cream-white Annuath
Notes
Abilities
telepathy: can speak mind-to-mind with other sentiant beings
teleportation (between): can travel to a different location on the same world instantly (includes time travel)
assisted fire-breath: can breath fire after digesting a phospherous-bearing rock such as firestone
telekinesis: can move objects with their mind as per the spell telekinesis
dicern lies: can divulge truth from lies while they are being spoken. The dragon or rider be within the vacity of the speaker for this to work.

Genetic Code: XgWDF[p] XgWDF[P] RR BB cxGR|cxB t|t EE/EE IIKK PP OSs|oSs'-R A1|aE U*u h'sh m+m+
Species Rules: Pernese
Genetic Base: green

Story: Aileen sat upon a rock as she paused in her daily journey. It was midday, and she wanted to rest for a minute since she had been up since just after sunrise. She ate her meager meal, the rest of a rabbit she had managed to snare the previous day, and took some time to think through the last four years of her life.

At fifteen, she had left her aunt's home and her aunt's coven to begin her own Search for fellow witches with whom she could form her own coven as all witches did at fifteen, at least those that were truly part of the Sisterhood. There were, of course, witches that existed outside of it, but Aileen's aunt had been the traditional sort. So, off Aileen went.

In those four years, she had travelled all over the land. She had seen many different towns and kingdoms, many different cultures and ways of life. She had learned how to survive on her own and when to ask for assistance from others. She had met several witches on similar journeys and others who already belonged to their own coven, but no one's magic had resonated with her own. Not that she knew what that felt like, but her aunt had insisted she would understand when she finally found her kindred spirits.

Her thoughts were interrupted as a cold wind startled her back into the present. Winter was coming on, and it was best to keep moving south. She had found that, unsurprisingly, winter was the hardest season to get through in the wilderness. Game was often scarce as was shelter, and her magic could only do so much, no matter how many warmth and protection charms she had weaved into her winter blanket and sewed into her winter clothing. So, it was best to keep going. Movement generated warmth and would help her escape the snows of the northern countries.

With that thought in mind, she stood from her rock, picked up her pack, and began to walk once more. As she walked, she kept her eyes and ears open for threats as well as for game and shelter. However, as the hours passed, she was met with little to disturb her. This part of the land was open and flat, not very good for rogues and thieves to hide in. So, she had little worry for that. It also meant, though, that there was little in the way of game. There were certainly no deer this far from the shelter of the trees she had left behind days before. Rabbits or other small animals was all she could hope for. The mountains on her left might provide shelter for an evening, but they were too far away for her to reach even their foothills before nightfall. She had also found that the best shelter was usually already occupied. So, she supposed she would be spending another night off on the side of the road she was following.

Another option presented itself as a town came into view on the horizon. She didn't usually stay in towns due to lack of funds and sometimes the lack of a warm welcome for one of her kind. Still, she felt compelled to consider the option. She paused for a moment as she looked through her supplies. She was running low on a few things that she could probably find in the town's market tomorrow, and she did have a bit of extra money from the reward she had earned in finding a noble's lost child a few weeks before. It would be nice to sleep in a proper bed and have a nice warm meal tonight. She hadn't treated herself to such things in quite some time.

Aileen weighed her options for a few moments longer before finally nodding. It was decided. She would enter the town and stay at the inn. She tried not to get her hopes too high. The town may not have an inn, after all, but given the fact that she could see it from so far away, it must be a sizable one. So, it most likely did. With renewed energy at the thought of a comfortable evening, she set off towards the town in the distance with the hope of reaching it before the sun had fully set.

She entered the large town just before it started to grow well and truly dark out, and without even having to ask for directions, she found herself outside of a large inn called The Raven's Nest. The name amused her, and with a small smile she entered, already looking forward to a warm meal, a fire, and a comforatble bed. She was momentarily distracted, however, as she entered by the sight that met her eyes.

One corner of the large room was taken up with a platform, and on the platform was a woman dancing. She appeared to be around the same age as Aileen with long white hair that was partially pulled back and amber colored eyes that seemed to reflect the candlelight back on her audience. She was stunning to say the least and graceful as her lithe form effortlessly moved through the dance, but what struck Aileen the most was the magic pouring off of her person. She was a witch, and she was weaving her magic into the dance to promote calm, goodwill, and peace to the customers.

"Close the door, woman," one of the patrons loudly complained, and Aileen quickly complied as she shook herself from her reverie. She moved to the counter to ask for a room and dinner before making her way to a table in the corner away from the stage but with a clear view of it and the door as well. She continued to watch the performance with interest until her stew, bread, and ale arrived. Then she turned her attention to her dinner.

Aileen was vaguely aware of the dancer's performance ending from the hearty applause she was given, but she didn't pay much attention to it, instead concentrating on her meal, which was strangely delicious for such plain fare. She could only imagine it was due to the fact that someone else had cooked it, and she savored every bite. Her meal was interrupted, though, after a few moments when a silhouette fell across her table, and she looked up into the amber eyes of the dancer, now wearing a much plainer dress than before.

"May I join you," she asked in a quiet tone that did not seem to suit one that had been performing before an entire inn.

"Of course," Aileen answered as she gestured to the empty chair in front of the dancer, curious as to what the other witch might have to say to her.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you," the dancer stated with a small smile.

"Pardon? Finally," Aileen repeated in some confusion, especially since they had not exchanged names yet.

"Oh, forgive me," the other returned with a light blush. "I am doing things out of order again," she stated with a shake of her head before holding out her hand. "I am Opalina Shade. You may call me Lina if you like."

"Aileen Grimsbane," she returned as she shoook the other's hand. She paused for a moment. "Shade? As in the family of seers?"

Opalina's blush deepened. "Yes, though I am not a seer myself. I only get flashes now and then, and I usually cannot make sense of them."

Aileen nodded her understanding. "But, you knew that I would be here tonight," she surmised.

"I knew you were coming, but I did not know exactly when," Opalina explained before adding, "The others should be here soon as well. Though, soon could be in a few hours or a few months. The time is difficult to pinpoint."

"Others," Aileen questioned, feeling a bit overwhelmed by this strange woman's calm declarations.

"The other members of our coven," she answered with a tilt of her head. "You are a witch on your Search, aren't you," she asked with the first hint of hesitation in her voice.

"I am," Aileen confirmed with a nod as the door to the inn opened, and two more women stepped in. The first was thin with platinum blonde hair and ragged bangs that she may have cut herself. The second was a bit shorter and heavier than the first with shoulder length brown hair and unremarkable features. As she looked the newcomers over, she could feel their magical auras. They, too, were witches.

"Ah, here comes two more," Opalina commented as the blonde bounded over to their table followed at a more sedate pace by her companion.

"See, Josie! Here are some more sisters for us to meet," she declared happily as she stuck her hand out to Aileen. "Alexandra Wraith. Call me Alex. This here is Josie. We met ouside the town!"

Her companion rolled her eyes. "Josephine Cromwell," she introduced herself with a polite nod and warm smile before turning a frown on her companion. "I told you earlier not to call me Josie."

"Josephine is too long," the girl complained as she plopped down into the seat next to Opalina. "Besides, Josephine sounds like the name of some old woman in her seventies. You may be older than me, but you're still too young to be called by an old lady's name!"

Josephine shook her head before turning to glance at Aileen and Opalina. "Do you mind if we join you," she asked politely with a pointed look at the younger woman whose manners she clearly did not approve.

"Why would they mind," Alexandra asked with obvious confusion. "They're going to be part of our coven, aren't you," she asked as she turned to them.

"I believe so, yes," Opalina answered quietly with a twitch of her lips.

Aileen shook her head. "I am unsure how this will go," she admitted truthfully. "Perhaps, we should simply get to know one another first. The two of you must be hungry," she added with a glance at the remains of her own dinner which had gone cold.

They nodded and quickly ordered their own dinner. Opalina assured them that she had already eaten, but Josephine gave her half of her bread anyway, stating that she was much too thin. They then began to talk of their journies through the land, and Aileen quickly began to pick up on their various personalities.

Josephine was 23 and a rather caring motherly sort of woman. She'd grown up with her mother and father, neither of whom was magical, and had started her Search rather late when the tug of finding her coven sisters became too much to bear. She specialized in healing magic.

Alex was only 17, and she could not remember ever meeting a more chipper optimistic individual in her life. She was from a more recent family of witches, the Wraiths, who were a bit uncoventional, and she specialized in light and holy magic.

Lina was a year younger than Aileen and, of course, from a long line of witches from a well known family, the Shades. She, unlike the rest of her family, only possessed a smattering of future sight, and what she did have was rather uncontrollable. Instead, she had focused her abilities on mind magic, specifically influencing the moods of those around her. She was quiet and preferred to watch the others, but she easily was able to smooth over any ruffled feathers between them as time passed. She was clearly a natural peacemaker.

After more than an hour of talking with the three women, Aileen was feeling much more comfortable with the idea of forming a coven with them. Before she could speak these thoughts, however, the door opened once again, and a hooded figure stepped in. They paused and turned towards Aileen's table, and all she could see of the newcomer was strawberry blonde curls peeking out from the hood. A moment later, a strong wind slammed the door shut behind them, causing them to jump.

"Sorry," she, Aileen was guessing the individual was female, called out with a stutter before stumbling a bit towards a small table near the door and taking a seat. She lowered her hood, and Aileen could see a rather plain but feminine face.

"I really did not expect all of you to arrive the same night. It seems that we may be in luck, however. Perhaps the others will appear as well," Lina commented in a soft voice, and Aileen wasn't sure if she was speaking to herself of not.

"Well, if she's one of us, then we should go greet her," Alex stated as she moved to stand, but Josephine stopped her.

"I do not think she will appreciate your exhuberance. I will go to speak to her," she said before moving unobtrusively towards the stranger.

Aileen watched as Josephine approached the lady, who seemed extremely startled at being approached but eventually motioned for Josephine to join her. The two began to converse, and the newcomer seemed embarrassed and awkward but friendly.

"Josephine will convince her," Lina commented, drawing her attention away from the other table.

Aileen simply nodded but remained silent.

"I don't see why I couldn't go talk to her," Alex complained with a small pout as she crossed her arms.

Lina patted her arm and smiled at her. "Your heart is in the right place, Alex, but you would have frightened her. Cannot you see how nervous she is," she asked gesturing to the other table. "That's why Josephine went."

Alex nodded. "Alright, but I hope she hurries up and convinces her. I want to meet all my coven sisters!"

Josephine did eventually return with the unknown witch trailing behind her. The poor woman had knocked over a chair as she'd left her table, and in her attempt to right it, she had nearly upset her bowl of stew, which had been delivered moments before. Luckily, Josephine was able to save her dinner and placed the bowl in front of the seat next to her own.

"I'm Gwen... Gwendolyn Redwood," the witch introduced herself as she fidgeted by the chair. "Are you sure... I mean... you don't mind if I sit here... with you," she managed to ask.

"Of course not," Alex greeted her happily. "We're all going to be in a coven together, so make yourself comfortable!"

Gwen froze and looked at the younger girl in astonished terror.

"Nothing has been decided yet," Josephine assured her. "We're merely talking and getting to know one another."

Gwen took a stuttering breath before taking her seat and turning her attention to her meal. Her shoulders hunched forward, and she stared resolutely at her dinner as if waiting for them to change their minds about her joining them while she ate. As she did so, Josephine shared what Gwen had told her about herself. She was 23, the same age as Josephine, and was from a family of woodland witches, so her strengths lay with communicating with animals.

"I'm not as good as the others are, though," Gwen stated quietly. "I have trouble with smaller creatures. They speak rather quickly."

"I'm surprised you're eating that if you are a woodland witch," a voice said, startling them all. They had been caught up in the conversation and hadn't noticed another woman approaching their table.

Aileen looked up into dark brown eyes that belonged to a tall slender woman with long dark brown hair that was pulled back into a high ponytail. She had lovely features and a rather blunt, no nonsense air about her.

"Malise Le Rouge," she introduced herself as she set her pack down and joined them. She then turned to Gwen. "So, are you going to answer my question about your dinner choice? Most woodland witches I've known only eat vegetables, can't stand the thought of eating a creature they might have spoken with."

"Oh... well," Gwen stuttered a moment. "There are some like that, yes. I was like that a while back... I mean it was several years ago, and I don't really hunt myself. I prefer fish, but I had a rather enlightening conversation with a wolf once that changed my perspective. Humans can't really help the fact that we need meat to live healthy lives, so it's not very practical to avoid it, especially in the winter when vegetables and herbs are nearly impossible to find."

"A practical woodland witch? Now, I've seen everything," Malise stated with amusement as she signalled the barmaid to bring her a bowl of stew. "So, are we all here, or are there still more?"

"There is one more," Lina stated with a smile as the door opened again. "There she is," she said standing immediately and moving towards the hooded stranger that had just entered.

"That's a woman," Alex asked with a considering look at the stranger while Josephine put her face in her hands before glaring at the younger witch.

"That's Rosina Winter," Malise stated in a tone that Aileen couldn't quite place, but she certainly recognized the last name.

"Winter? That family of dark witches," she asked with raised eyebrows.

Malise nodded. "Don't let that fool you, though. She's alright. I met her many months ago," she said as Lina approached the table with Rosina behind her.

As Aileen took in the new comer, she could understand Alex's bafflement at Rosina's appearance. She looked almost elven with her pointed features, but her rounded ears, clearly visible from the fact that her brown hair was braided, said otherwise. She was very androgynous in appearance with a rather muscular frame, and the impressive sword strapped to her back certainly did not lend itself to her appearance as a witch. Her appearance was certainly striking, though. It was not a face one would easily forget.

"Whatever it is you are offerring, I want no part of it," she stated with finality as she reached the table.

"Now, Rosina, are you really going to brak your promise to me," Malise asked with one raised eyebrow.

Rosina's head snapped in her direction, and she paled slightly. "Malise," she greeted neutrally.

"You gave me your word that if fate dictated that we meet again that you would seriously consider forming a coven with me. Now, see how fate has already done all the work for us! Her are the rest of our members," Malise declared as a waitress brought her her dinner. She moved the chair that sat between her and Aileen out with her foot. "Sit and at least chat with us."

Surprisingly, Rosina did as she was bid, and a few minutes later, she had her own bowl of stew to eat.

After a few moments of silnce, Aileen gathered her courage to address the imposing witch next to her. "So, what type of magic do you specialize in, Rosina?"

"Why ask a question you already know the answer to," the other returned with an unimpressed glance.

"So, you're really a dark witch," Alex asked with wide eyes.

Rosina rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to curse you," she stated in annoyance. She then took a closer look at the younger woman. "You're a holy witch, aren't you," she asked before moving to stand. "I've already had enough," she said to Malise, who grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving.

"At least finish your dinner and let them all introduce themselves," Malise argued. "I haven't gotten their names yet either."

Rosina muttered something under her breath but turned her attention back to her meal. After a few seconds of silence she groused, "Well, get on with it. Introduce yourselves if you're going to."

"I'm Aileen Grimsbane. I'm a thread witch," Aileen replied stoutly, refusing to be intimidated further by the tall, slightly menacing woman next to her.

Lina went next, and each of the others followed until they had all introduced themselves. "So, what is our coven going to be called," Alex asked in her usual chipper tone.

Rosina stood. "Thank you for your company, but I am not looking to join a coven right now or ever," she stated before turning and stomping away.

"Don't worry. I'll convince her," Malise said with a wink.

Aileen was too flustered by the comment and the innuendo behind it to reply. Luckily, Gwen seemed to suffer no embarassment. "We'll leave it to you then."

Once Alex had stopped giggling, she turned to the rest of them. "Seriously, though, what are we going to call ourselves?"

"The Sisters of the Raven, of course," Lina stated as if it were obvious. "We all met at The Raven's Nest, so it suits us."

Aileen simply sat in silence as the others seemed to agree with the somewhat practical name. She had come here to enjoy a warm, hearty dinner and a real bed for the night and instead found six other witches mostly willing and ready to form a coven with her. Just what had she gotten herself into?