Hey St when do we start?

…Wow. This got popular fast. One day at school and everyone's clamoring to start.

Okay, NO MORE CHARRIES PLEASE! I'm going to start with a list of them. Let me know if your name isn't there.

Aoife~ 10~ Selkie~ St.Owl

Kathryn Char~ 16~ Werecat~ South Dakota (Shadow Dragon)

Aether~ Very, very old~ Sphinx~ South Dakota

Fae~ Immortal~ Faerie~ Cho C.

Ming-xin~ Immortal~ Huli jing~ -insert Chinese name here-

Anemone~ 14~ Greek Naiad~ -insert Chinese name here-

Flamma ignis~ 15~ Half-Dragon~ Parker S.

Pathea~ 12~ Couatl~ Scylla

Nicohle Macheri~ 16~ Veela~ Indigo

Aithne~ 13~ Fire Elf?~ Indigo

Shasta~ 13~ Griffin~ Coconut the Dog

Saki~ 13~ Griffin~ Coconut the Dog

Teshio Ishikari~ 12/14~ Kappa~ Ruby M.

Jack Haast~ 15~ Part Phoenix~ Phantom N.

___

Ruby: I think, judging by the characters' personalities (at least that I can see), we're not going to have many secret-stealers, so would you mind making Teshio one? He seems quite fit for it. 

Is it too late to join? If not, here are my charries:

Name: Ulalia

Age: 12

Appearance: Long, white hair and super long side bangs. A pink streak in her hair. A horn sticking out of her forehead. Really, really pale perfect skin, and piercing blue eyes, the color of a summer day. Human body shape. Wears sparkly, fashionable outfits. A typicall outfit would be a sparkly white tight jacket over a pink shirt, and sparkly white skinny jeans with paint splatters. Also heels.

Personality: Due to her unicorn side, very easily frightened and angry with people, and she's not trusting, except for when around a fair maiden. She hates being a unicorn and wants to be all human. She basically ignores other unicorns and tries to fit in to the social human world. She's pretty jumpy and reserved. A little bit odd, and she doesn't trust anyone. 

Creature: Unicorn/human hybrid.

Powers: Amazing healing powers, as well as some magic, but she hasn't really tried that out yet.

Backstory: Her dad is a unicorn, and her mom is a human. One night, after a knock on the door, her mother just told her to run far, far away and never come back. It's against human and unicorn law to mingle-or worse-to have kids.

Other:…not really anything.

All righty. Here we go.

Aoife~

Tá mé níos mó eagla orm ná mar tá mé riamh i mo shaol ar fad.

I'm more frightened than I have ever been in my entire life.

I suppose I'm safer here. It may be naive, but I believe the nymph who told me what I was. I'd known, of course, because my father knew and he told me. But I didn't know that there was a special school just waiting for me to come. 

The nymph used fairy dust to create a temporary hole in the ground, and from there she just held me as we fell. She said she had magic of her own that slowed us down, and that's why we landed so softly. I was excited up until the point where I saw I was not the only one coming. Perhaps it's better this way, because I won't stick out as much as I would if I just showed up, but now there are lots of curious people looking at me. And I'm sure they'll be the same as at home: Why does she always wear that coat? Doesn't she get hot? How come it's so clean? Why is she always excused in swimming class?

The nymph said it wouldn't be like that, but I don't think I believe her. She says this is a school for special people like her and me, for werewolves and vampires and dragons and naiads, but doesn't that just single us all out more? I can already see the questions: What are you? How come you're excused in swimming class? Why do you always wear that coat?
And then, later, She doesn't go to swimming class. She never takes off her coat. She barely speaks and she's Irish.

And then, A thabhairt i gcrích. A conclusion.

I hope not. I desperately hope this does not happen. Because I feel like this part of me, this species that I am, should stay private if I want it to. It's like family members or surgeries; you can tell what you are if you want to, but you don't have to.

I don't think many people will see it that way.

—-

I stand next to the nymph– Agafya, her name is, I must remember that– as we file into the hall. It reminds me of Harry Potter, strangely; a gigantic dining hall with excess space and a large table for the teachers– except they're the Elders this time. Agafya says she's one too, if only a minor one.

A large, no, huge dragon steps up to a wooden podium. My mind struggles to host all the thoughts that suddenly pop up– A dragon at a wooden podium? Why is a dragon leading a school? Can it speak? 

Then it rumbles, a harsh sound deep in its throat, and everything– including my own scrambled mind– suddenly quiets.

"That's the Eldest," whispers Agafya. "He's a fantastic Eld if you get to know him. Can be a bit scary initially, though."

Right. Yes. Of course. A bit scary.

And he begins to speak.

His not gravelly like I expected. In fact, it's rather smooth, although low.

"Please welcome our newest students. If they are assigned to your dormintory, be sure to show them the school and explain the ups and downs. And DO NOT pester."

He looks down on the class rather fiercely, harrooms slightly in his throat, and returns to his… well, not really seat. More like patch of floor.

"That's the Eldest for you," says Agafya. "Very punctual and to the point. You won't see him getting into sentimentalities often. You'd think for wise, immortal creatures like dragons he'd be a bit more wordy, but nope! Not like he's in a rush, though, I've seen some speeches where he–"

I zone out as she begins to chatter. I'm not sure how nymph years work, but I'm pretty sure she's rather young by their standards. I must be like a baby to her for sure.

That arises a new problem. What about the immortal students? Won't that be awkward for people like me?

"Hey. Were you listening? I said I'd show you to your dorm."

"What is a dorm?"
"Oh. Right." Pulling out an English-Irish dictionary, Agafya flips through the pages. "Suanlios. Dórtúr. Mean anything to you?"
"Yes. Thank you."

She turns towards the door, and I follow.

___

Ahem. Disclaimer: I am using Google Translate, so the Irish may be a bit off (yes, I do not know it yet. I kinda gave up because Irish pronounciations are really weird and therefore it's going to be really difficult to speak it if I learn from a book).

Wait. Wait. Whoa.

Admin, this isn't fair. St. Owl is allowed to post in a different language and I'm not?

We posted this, I believe from you:

"Can we make more than one charrie? Because I can't decide between a Greek naiad and a Chinese Huli jing (Literally: Fox spirit).

Object of the game: Drag them into the water.

The rules: Ah, now the rules are important! Without rules, it isn't a game, and all the fun and challenge is gone; moreover, it's unsafe. Our mountain cousins, the oni, did not know of rules and caused such trouble that the humans hunted them to extinction. There are no oni left, but we survive in the bottoms of rivers and ponds. We play by the rules.

For example, the rules say that if my mother asked my father to bow to her, he would have had to, and all the water would have run out of his bowl and he would have to work for her forever. So he came at night, and pretended to be a little, lost child and thus he was able to pull her into the water.

Without the rules, it would have been so easy and not half as fun. I followed all the rules, too. My father taught me them all and I remember them still. Do not touch iron. Accept all challenges for wrestling and combat. Don't take the cucumbers that aren't in the water. The last one is the worst. I love cucumbers, but we cannot have them until the first harvest. The people write the names of their children on the cucumbers and toss them to us, so we won't drag their kids in the water. My mother always wrote my name on many, many cucumbers so I ate Tenshio, Tenshio, Tenshio cucumbers over and over. There always had a slight taste of salt, like the sea.

And I followed the rules. I never dragged any of the village kids into the water, except for one who kept on throwing in bits of junk, half-chewed carrots and used shoes, into the river. Cucumbers or no cucumbers, he made me upset. He didn't follow the rules ("don't bother the kappa"), so I got to play the game. He was dragged into the water. We didn't get cucumbers from his parents anymore, but that's okay. I'll always remember the taste of Kentaro's cucumbers- slightly salty, like the sea.

I live with more kids now, ever since I got seen by mistake and a big agency of people took me away. I tried dragging some of them into the water, but most of them swim and love water, like fish, so it's no good. What's the point of a game with no objective?

But some people got in trouble a few months ago for attempting to find out what kind of creature the others are. I don't see why it matters. You're a human or you're a monster. It's as simple as that. But some people really, really do care, and it looks like there might be something quite fun that I could do.

Some new students recently arrived. If I follow the school rules, surely I won't get in trouble. I can't drag them into the water, but I'll drag their secrets out of them. 

Cho: Forgive me, but can we please not have people guessing correctly what other characters are yet? I get it if later on in the RP, the deep-dark-secret-keepers start to have their secrets leaked, but in what is pretty much the second post of the RP, I'd prefer for these people to have their secrets kept from the other characters. The subplots just move a bit too fast that way, you see.

Ming: I did technically translate all of the Irish and it was in character. I'm sorry if it offended you; I thought it would be a fun idea to have a Selkie have Irish as a first language.

Of course, Cho. Also, l forgot to say that Kathryn is loose about her secret, she wouldn't say it out right but she doesn't take much of an effort to keep it hidden.

Kathryn~

l try to hold back my giggles. Nichole is a bit of a jerk, true, but she's not as idiotic as a peacock. She's a lot smarter then she looks. Still, amusing.

There was a welcome speech for the new students today, l did go, even though l've been here for a few months. A small, black haired girl which l had saw is sitting by Fae, who stares at her for a bit longer then normal. She finally mutters something under her breath, but the girl quickly looks away. i know she heard Fae, she's pretending not to have. Fae stares for a second longer, then looks away. I am a bit confused. Everyone has their secrets here, Fae. She is no different then anyone else. I feel sorry for her.

I turn my attention back to my food. I haven't nearly begin to meet everyone here, l'm one of the older, mortal students, which means that I will not stay here as long as some of them will. Which is disappointing.

I finish eating, and then explain to Fae that I want to go meet the other students, and get up.

In the hallway, I glance around before morphing into a cat. I like it better. People don't notice me as much as they would if l was a person.

Aether~

I don't like crowds. Too noisy, too full of people too full of themselves. With all of their emotions just swirling around. Confusing. But, as today we welcome more students, as l always do, l stay in the shadows, feeling each of their minds. Most are very nervous, some radiant pure terror, some are board others confused. I've been here for so long that I'm not really a student anymore, they have nothing left to teach me, l'm only here because l have nowhere to go. And so, like all sphinxes are supposed to do, l guard it. The Elders do not know of this, l'm simply another Eld-Blood, hiding from the world.

It happened once, long ago enough that np one talks about it anymore but not so far that it is forgotten. Somehow, a monster got in the Academy. It killed many students and many more were lost in the chaos. It was a dark day for the Academy. I so, I the lost sphinx, finally settled down on that day. Now I guard the Academy. Now I have a purpose.

For hundreds of years I have been doing so faithfully. There have been monster scares, but never has one showed up…..yet. It is my duty to keep this place and its secrets safe. The outside world is dangerous.

I get a few glances as usual, there are not many of y kind left, we're immortal but we're not invincible. Some day we will fall.

The Elder finishes his speech and the students start to break up, wandering around a bit. I catch the faint scent of something from one of the students, an older boy, who the over students avoid because fire keeps randomly springing along his fingertips. That is something that l haven't smelled in a long time. Something that l remember quite well. Monster. It's faint and old, but still there. This one has touched a monster and is living. Hardly anyone ever does that. I stand up and quickly step from the shadows, nosing my way through the crowd of students. The boy looks up as l approach him. I don't like to make a scene, but I need to find out who he really is. I lean back on my hind legs, preparing to jump. I wouldn't harm him that much, the Elders would not like that, however that doesn't mean that I can scare the truth out of him. No monster is getting in here.  

~Nicohle~

"Grandmére…" I whine. All magicless languages come easily to me after our travels; but French rolls off my tongue the finest, melting halfway down my throat like the fine chocolate of Switzerland. "They are foolish and jealous; the dullshine know nothing of sneaking or spinning, too wary of evil to know there is none between…"

"Cabqu!" The alpha Veela snaps. "Do you know nothing that I teach? The Academy is not a house of magic teaching… it will teach you nothing you do not know, for Thrall is Wild Magic. The Academy worries young Eld cannot break the hold of dorthkan; and makes a place for them to stay, and toys for them to play with; no, the Academy will teach how to play meniquen. And if you make them dance and play as well as even I, you are truly ours, not by birthright but in your own right."

I bow my head. "For this honor, I will endure the foolish dullshine."

Grandmére nods. "Go then, and make me proud."

~

Even remembering the great honor enduring this school will bring, it takes less than a day for cracks to begin in my resolve. The loud chatter of the nymph is abrasive on my ears; around me chatering dullshines wander, sloppily gobbling up food. I sit down, and am sooned joined by two dullshines; but they greet me rudely with a breif introduction, and then completely ignoring me. Shrieking with laughter at my expense, one dullshine even compares me to a peacock. Foolish, magicless animal. They believe that is my heritage. When my cold gaze falls on her, she finally realizes her mistake and shuts her mouth.

I barely touch the food. Even magicless food is better than this; dry sandwiches filled with clumpy tuna slathered with some sort of fatty white paste; it makes me miss the rich fullness of Persian food, the delicate taste of fish wrapped in moist rice; anything would be better than this.

Unsure of how to hold such a thing, I move it around it my hands for a minute before settling on holding one side in my hand and taking little bites of the crust that hasn't been touched by the canned tuna or odd white paste. No one seems to be watching me, so I put the sandwich the nymph offered to one side, half hidden. "Her taste in food is as bad as her chattering," I hiss under my breath. I add a thin layer of chocolate sauce to a piece of bread and take a bite. While nowhere near my usual standards, it is not as repulsive as the first dish. Eating quickly but neatly, I leave the dining room to go find my dorm.