Welcome to Gaia! ::

A woman dressed in beige robes, adorned with bone armlets, anklets and wooden sandals sat in a meditative position under the glaring, hot summer sun. Her hood kept her bald head cool as she breathed in and out deeply, drawing in the essences of the world. She meditated upon a stone altar, fixed right before a heavily shielded palace - forever hidden from humanity. The Spirit Academy, a prestigious school for bright young shamans, founded on the principle to train and educate the ever eroding art of shamanism - especially after the rise of the Devourer. The letters had been sent to the most famous of families - and through the woman's prodigal scrying, the most lonesome of self-taught shamans. Her mind clear, pulsing with vibrations, she called to them.

Yes, it was that day. The day when the Academy opened once more, to accept new pupils. She could already feel them traveling, their footsteps sending goosebumps up her bare arms. Concentrating harder, she lured them forward, and opened her brilliant green eyes.

"Come children," she hissed.

She was assigned to greet and escort this year's arrivals, and though she had accepted reluctantly, she could already feel the brimming attitudes coming forth. Some where overconfident whereas others where shy... some where mellow whereas others eccentric. She could even feel their spirits. Nay, it didn't matter. She would whip them all into shape, and give them a taste of true power. If any of them thought they were so strong, they were in for a rude awakening.

And only after they discarded their foul, childish attitudes she would make them strong.

After all, there was a reason she and Evelyn got along well.



((Star's notes: The shamans that have been asked to enter the Academy are arriving to meet their first examiner. Please lead your characters to the entrance. While you walk towards cloaked figure in the distance, you may look around and notice the other shamans coming forth and greet them. Be creative but don't get out of hand. We're trying to lead a structured RP here. When you are assigned dormitories you can freestyle RP. smile Hope you guys have fun! ))

Richard and Roca walked in, Richard was confident, and calm. Steady like his rock companion. Roca dodn't bother examining the shaman's powers, he knew that Rich liked to find out in the heat of battle. It was a human thing. Humans don't do intelligent things any more... Richard looked around for his stupid, lazy, genius friend. He looked around hard until he noticed that the tall kid was right behind him... He couldn't understand how someone so tall could be so unnoticeable. He punched Jeremy in the stomach. He made an, "oof" sound with a grin. He looked apologetically and said, "Sorry I'm late. I kind of got lost..." Gailan tsked and Richard stared at him, and laughed. They walked on to find a creepy robbed lady...

Jeremy stopped laughing and looked around at the room. Gailan whispered, "They're strong. Do you wish to know how strong master?" Jeremy said back rather calmly. "No. I'm hoping we don't have to fight. At least out of sparring class." He then went back to his usual silence, stillness, and calmness. Jeremy didn't sweat about it much, if he got into a fight he'd just stick it out until either he was killed, defeated, or Rich would help him out. Death was the worst in the senario... or torture. It didn't matter he wasn't particullarly special. He wondered if he could be friends with these guys... And put his earphones back on, but on low so he could hear the teacher.

vexin walked up to the school and was in awe of how big it was. he had lived in the forist his entire life. "vexin do you really think you come here you have never been in the companie of other humans before and you don't know how to act." Ookami his spirt said. maybe not but i do want to become strong enough to make you a body of your own."

The strange woman glanced at the field around her where the shamans had gathered. She hopped off the altar and landed on her feet, slowly rising, her eyes darting from person to person. Headmaster sent these? Well, I suppose it could be much worse. But with the threat we've encountered, are these younglings really going to be useful? Time will tell... I'll have to make do with what we have. she thought to herself. Some might think she was underestimate the children, but her power level and rank was not a thing to be taken lightly.

Her pupils narrowed to slits as she inhaled sharply. It was time to lead the first arrivals in.

"Good morning," she said, her voice clearly strained. "...and welcome to the Spirit Academy. Each of you were picked out by one of the many spirits the Headmaster has patrolling the corners of the Earth, searching for young gifted shamans. I am Ayasheara, the head Diviner of the Academy. Some of you may find yourself in my class. But for today, I am your Examiner. I will lead you in, answering your questions and perhaps testing you... just to see which of you have their wits together. After I register you as pupils I will hand you off to the next shaman who will serve as your tour guide and get you all settled in, understood?"

She paused, continuing to scan the seven shamans and their respective spirits. After drawing another raspy breath, she continued, "Follow me to the courtyard. We are at the side gate of the Academy. When we reach the Courtyard, a spirit will be waiting for us to mark you all down as well as your basic statistics. Tread lightly."

With that, she swung herself, her robes swirling around her, and began to walk around the massive castle-like building.



((Star's notes: Alright, we're all set to continue. While you walk, you can talk amongst each other and get to know your fellow classmates. If any of you have questions you may walk up to Ayasheara and ask them. ^^ ))

Selgrette's eyelids fell down half-way, slanting her view of everyone. The small group following the hooded shaman was uneasy, but she herself felt neutral. Neither anxious or cowardly, she paced forward, walking increasingly faster than most. Njiesh... This one is soft... His faltering steps aren't going to make him too strong. It's not true that you cannot tell a person's personality by the way they walk, despite what you said earlier, Selgrette thought as she transfered her mind's saying to her partner. Njieshcovarn glanced at the nearby figures.

"Don't be quick to judge. There may be other things lingering in his heart," he replied. Selgrette gave a silent response. She needed to keep her neutral self intact.

Her arms strictly to her sides, she would've looked like a determined cadet if it weren't for her age, but she grew to learn that to use that to her abilities, making her appearance her opponent's great weakness. Many in her past mistook her for a young, childish pest or a baby yearning for its breast-milk. She was neither; capable of taking care of herself. She was not willing to freely make 'friends' with anyone here.

Becoming bored of the two closer shamans and the following spirits of rock and the marine mammal, Selgrette shifted her glance upward. She eyed the back view of the leading diviner, Ayasheara, in awe.

Selgrette had various mediums she found over her lives, and the one that hung around her neck as her most treasured of them all. The necklace was strung with pearls and an intact human skull, bouncing a little off her flat chest as she walked. With it, she learned that she could communicate with spirits that have passed on or had trouble with the phase. It symbolized death and gore for many, but it was a rather pleasing find to her. She had worm it with pearls ever since cleansing it.

Now looking up to Ayashera, she saw the same material on her: bone. She raised her head to examine them more carefully, tracing the designs with her sight. She decided that Ayahera had great power from the quick scan and physical actions.

Njieshcovarn noticed the attention being diverted to the adornments from the boys and their partners, but only smiled to himself.

He looked around, spotting the other shamans. Noting the majority of males than there were females, he cocked his head sideways wondering at the Headmaster's decisions and reasoning. Patrolling spirits sent from one Headmaster? Must be powerful is so many spirits agreed to do so, he thought. Barely any spirit would unwillingly be strapped to a shaman that commanded without respect.

Jeremy awakwardly walked away from the obviously uninterested shaman,he couldn't go near his old friend because he was already looking for women. Jeremy silently grinned: Rich had an interesting way to deal with women, he rarely spent too much time without trying to get a girlfriend, but he was actually very polite and friendly about and. As an added bonus whoever the kid fell for he fell for hard... He walked on with a relaxed look in his eye.

Gaillan looked at the girl one last time... He was disapointed. She was plenty strong and brave but all orcas understood the power of comrades. it was simply impossible to face every threat alone... alas she was still proud with youth and even if she didn't know it Jeremy had already decided to help herif she was in too much trouble... he didn't realize it either, but the hunter knew his Master was too nice to let the proud warrior-shaman die alone... Not counting her spirit, obviously.

Vexin got up slowly and followed her. He sped up to catch up to her. Once he caught up to her he said, "when do we start training."