User:Grace Hemingway

Description
A thin, sandy brown furred doe with black hair down to between her shoulder blades, brown eyes. Wears a tan robe with a hood. Through much of her life, she wore mostly fight gear, even off the job, and her hair short, cut just below her ears.

History
Grace was born on Lhasa, and spent much of her childhood there, learning from the monks all the basics. Though she admired scriptures and lessons taught to her, through the various mission trips she took, she grew fascinated with planes and mechanics as well, and under the encouragement from her father (an engineer) and local priest, though to the slight disappointment of her mother (a priestess herself), she pursued aviations. Graduating with honors, she took a position as navigator on B. B. Whitetail’s plane while they helped rescue downed planes and go from place to place, running missions of mercy to skylands in need. She eventually struck out on her own, with limited success, till the call came out for a mission to the Barrens. Intrigued, and feeling a strange familiar calling to visit the birthplace of her faith, and help free it from the Fleet, she traveled with many others on the Vastille. There she did work as a pilot, running missions, to run supplies. Until one day…

Attacked and stranded in the desert by pirates, Grace feared for her life, and prayed, not only for rescue, but for peace if she would die there. At the end of her rope…the burning light of the sun was drowned out by another…

Vision 1: (In the Barrens desert, suffering from dehydration) A lioness in a white robe wrapped in light appeared to her. She didn't say her name, but Grace understood this to be Magnus. Magnus said: “Do not be troubled my child. I love you, and you will survive this, for there is much work for you to yet do.” She then said, with a tone of seriousness, “Listen to me: On the day when all people have become citizens of my Kingdom, I shall return, and you shall live in a new Kingdom, free of want for eternity. In the rock between my countenance and the scar my future will be made known.”

She was rescued from both the heat and pursuing pirates by Blake Spencer, Otto Oddell, and several others, but quickly collapsed from exhaustion. In a trance, while Blake Spencer carried her to the hospital, she related Magnus’ words to him, then fell unconscious again. Awaking in a bed in the hotel, she related the story to Otto Oddell. At first she had her doubts about its legitimacy. But she quickly began to believe the visions were real, and that she was a prophetess. She recalled the first part of the lioness’ words were from Alcuin’s first vision of Magnus, but the source and meaning of second half was a puzzle. That very night, while sleeping, her second vision came…

Vision 2: (in the hotel, in her bed, dreaming) Grace is walking through a forest, when she sees two figures in shadow: A man speaking to another in a cloud of smoke. As she approaches the smoke, the grass turns to sand and rock and the man in smoke turns to her, changed to her lioness before, and says one word: “Balance.” She then sees Alcuin in the distance, speaking to a statue, a giant earthquake, and Earthbreach crumbling. She then sees her lioness descending on a mountain, dressed in a Queen’s garb. She speaks, “There must be balance Grace, prepare them.”

Grace related the visions to both Otto and Blake, as well as a few others. She began to be convinced that the three places represented real places in the Barrens she needed to find. She also began to believe the vision of Magnus as a queen, not a king indicated that Magnus was soon to return, but as a queen. It was only fair, she reasoned. Men and women called Magnus “He” for centuries, the second time around, things would be balanced. The convoy stayed at the hotel for an extended period of time. While there, Grace began preaching open air in city square, gathering a crowd of eager listeners among the homeless, especially women. Two followers of note, Chanil-Lee, a 5’2” tan lizard lady and Chadris, a 5’11” strong camel woman became especially close to her. When the convoy left, Grace took 10 women, with 3 children, and 4 men from amongst the homeless with them. They packed into the back and listened to Grace’s sermons every night. During this time, she grew closer to Blake, wondering why she had related her first prophecy to him specifically. On one night, she, without recalling where she might have heard it before, told him that "Laurie" forgave him and still loved him. Laurie of course being the name of Blake's mother.

Vision 3: (Praying, in her room on the Convoy) Grace suddenly sees Alcuin, Magnus behind him, in a desert. He hands her a book, and a pen. “Write” He says. “ It is your turn. Your words must be added.” He vanishes. Then Mangus, standing in a desert pleads, “Find me, my countenance. That is your first task.” She then sees a vision of desert dunes, rolling over and over themselves.

Following this vision, she began writing her visions as well as other thoughts that she deemed inspired to pen, building an addition to the Book of Alcuin. Based on the vision, the group treked into the desert, finding the remains of a ruined statue. Grace climbed atop it, and was suddenly struck with her next vision:

Vision 4: (on the ruined statue) The Queen appears, watching Alcuin read, Grace by her side. Alcuin speaks, reading from the book. “The ground shakes in distress at man’s wickedness. The world is twisted and scarred. And the scar festers with vermin. Heal us, oh Magnus. Show us the way.” The queen nods, as does Alcuin. He turns and vanishes into the desert. She turns to Grace and speaks.

“Listen well to these words, but know that you, when you call for help, shall call me by my true name for this age.” She leans in, and whispers, “I am Maxima, prophetess.”

Enthralled that her Goddess had revealed her name to her, Grace called it out to the crowd, then led them to a scar like fault line in the Barrens, but not before grabbing a medallion embedded in the statue.

She found a robed figure, offering to take her to a shrine in the scar, which appeared hazardous, both due to scorpions said to kill all unworthy, and the fact that the robed figure was actually a spy for the Hidden Fleet. Due to Blake's interference, and the choice of the scorpions to favor the hooded ferret over them for their venom. They found a small shrine, which upon having the medallion inserted, gave her a key and pointed a beam of light at a mountain.

Returning to the convoy, Blake and Grace found a blood bath. The Fleet had attacked, only for the convoy to be saved by a mysterious group of warriors claiming to be the "Sons of Magnus," who have protected the mountain from which Alcuin recieved his technology centuries ago. They claim that upon the Great Upheaval, a few scientists grabbed as much technology and knowlege as possible and sealed it in a mountain behind a door. They set up tests to see if anyone could be worthy to open the door and the secrets within. In the centuries of waiting, only Alcuin,and now Grace, had passed.

Blake was skeptical, but Grace allowed them to lead the way.

Following them, they found a mountain community guarding a large door. Upon opening it, they found a library of ancient literature from before the Upheavel. But they were ambushed by Iago, hoping to take for himself. In the resulting fight, the library was destroyed, with Iago apparently vanishing, though his body was not found. She gave one tablet to Blake, then sent him on the way. She and her followers now live in a Barrens city, where their influence over the small community grows. In time, she plans to complete her book and bring her teaching to Skytopia proper.