Karanda is old. Older than anyone else in Moorj. She's lived literally centuries. How? Magic. Karanda is one powerful sorceress. She knows much about the ways of the world, and has a billion spells up her sleeve. She's the closest thing you'll ever get to a "god- like" character without actually being one.

Unfortunately, her years of life have given Karanda a very cynical view of the world, and an even worse one of people. She hates people with a vengeance. To her, people are sheep. They're dumb, slow, and easy to manipulate. Even the smart ones are dumb. Even the extra, extra, extra smart ones are dumb.

That's right. Karanda is also a bitch. Prime class bitch. She doesn't care much how she affects others emotionally (though she doesn't believe in physical harm).

In fact, because she hates people so much, Karanda used her powerful knowledge of magic to create a separate realm from the realm of people to live in. This realm does slightly touch the normal realm, otherwise she wouldn't be able to move between the two, and looks much like it as well to the normal eye. It basically just looks like the inside of a house � her house, and it is where she spends her time in the depths of intense research. Disrupting her could have vile consequences� she might even be willing to put aside her usual beliefs regarding physical harm�

Unfortunately there's one drawback. Karanda will honour her debts� and she owes one to the ancestors of Karl, therefore giving him the right to ask her of it� and he knows this. On the other hand, Karanda's not much bothered by her current quest. Maybe because it might actually be a challenge, but most likely she became more enthused about it the moment she saw her travelling companion. One of Karanda's favourite pastimes in life is attempting to torment alchemist's�.

Anyway, if you asked her, she wouldn't admit to it. She's profess the only reason she's completing the quest is to have one less debt she owes. She hates owing anything to anyone.

Rhonan is, and always has been, a good fighter. He is dangerous with any type of sword, though he usually uses a broadsword and also always carries a dagger. He rides a large black dragon � a very rare type � and not one usually to be dominated. No mortal could possibly beat a black dragon into submission, a red dragon is, after all, hard enough, so it is generally accepted that the black dragon chooses to be with Rhonan, though no one really knows why (except, perhaps, Rhonan himself). Unlike most dragons, it never speaks (that is not to say that it can't).

Recently Rhonan made an agreement with the Dark Lord that, as long as they left Koptamland alone, Rhonan would not interfere with the Dark army's plans of invasion. However, this pact soon proved to fall apart, as Rhonan realised the Dark Lord had absolutely no intention of honouring his side of the agreement, but using the agreement to take over the rest of the continent before finally taking Koptamland. Now Rhonan's only choice is to make up for his mistakes in life, in an effort to convince the Princess Andri of Moorj he has changed, and that she fight with him against the Dark Army.

Andri has no problems with fighting the Dark Army, but she isn't sure how much trust she should place in Rhonan.

Andri, knowing this full well, decided to take the youth with her on her recent trip to Efferton, and when things turned nasty, sent him with another trusted heroine, northward bound. There, Lucas became separated and ended up captured by the Dark forces.

In the grips of the Dark forces, Lucas underwent a miraculous change. In but a few weeks, he became a man, no longer the boy he once was. He was subjected to tortures and horrors no youth should, leaving him much scarred now.

Somehow, he has become a more worthy fighter, though still frequently overestimates his power. He also has become more withdrawn, and more easily tempered. The wide-eyed, excited, friendly youth he once was is gone.

Lucas doesn't really know much about weapons, but he carries a sword anyway. He never had one before, so he must have gotten it whilst in captivity somehow (perhaps procured in his escape). He does, however, know a few feeble moves with a dagger. He is also a fast runner, and extremely efficient worker.

He has not told Andri how he managed to escape the Dark. He does not seem willing to talk about any of his experiences with them.

Karl, however, is running out in his adventuring days. He's in the midst of his fifties and beginning to slow down. He never was much of a fighter, but he is an expert in politics and will do his best to help Andri in that department.

Having a few years behind him means Karl also has a few special contact's up his sleeve.