Ericka and Elina

Ericka and Elina

Ericka the oldest of the magic using twins

Ericka and Elina

Elina the younger of the two magic twins

Nationality: Tenskien
Language: Kinuar, Magic
Age: 18
Appearance: 18
Height: Medium
Build: Slim inverted triangle
Shape of face: Oval
Eye color: Deep blue
Glasses or contacts: No
Skin tone: Fair
Distinguishing marks: Symbol of three staffs in a circle, with the initials of M in the middle.
Predominant features: build
Hair color: Blonde
Type of hair: Straight
Length of hair: long, mid back
Hairstyle: Parted on right with a braid around the top / Parted on the right, hanging loose
Voice: Soft
Physical abnormalities: None
Usual fashion of dress: Comfortable, bright colors
Favorite outfit: Purple smock with long green dress / Red bustier with black leather pants
Jewelry or Accessories: Each has a ring with a strange symbol
Appears: Books all

Ericka Personality

Ericka is the oldest of the twins. She has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, looking for ways to use it to benefit people. Ericka helps at the orphanage in her spare time and works doing odd jobs for friends and strangers. She believes in the goodness of people and believes in trusted friends. 

Elina Personality

Elina is the younger twin and is always trying to better her older sister. She believes money and power bring respect, something she craves. She learned early that beauty, charm, and guile are powerful tools. If it doesn't work, she would lie, cheat, steal or use blackmail.

Biography

Ericka and Elina are twins born to Einarir and Josefinnie, who died in childbirth. Einarir resented the twins for surviving and often wished Josefinnie survived instead. He worked as a Tinskie city guard, spending long hours patrolling the streets. Every evening he expected the girls to have the house clean and ohnmoj (the evening meal) ready when he arrived home. If neither were done, he would slap them across the backside before locking them in the cellar. Sometimes, they remained there for days with only a little food and water. As the twins grew older, they looked more like their mother, and his resentment became stronger.

In Jarve 218, an army of Duaneg, Nioby, and Suga moved down from the mountains. Like army ants, they cross the Lawvm scrublands, slaughtering any living thing in their path. Einarir, along with thousands of other soldiers, went to stop the approaching army, leaving the girls to fend for themselves. They didn't know when he would return and hoped he would not. Every day they cleaned the house and had Ohnmoj ready, in case he did make it back. Einarir returned several weeks later on a wagon with hundreds of other wounded soldiers. Losing a leg in battle but was expected to survive.

The Tenskie military gave Einarir an administrative job. He lost papers, was slow to processed orders, and soon was hiding stout around the office. He spent more time than usual at the gambling houses as the weeks turned into months. Several times a week, he would arrive home late, smelling like booze and tobacco. Some nights the girls had to fight him off before locking themselves in another room. The twins spent their mornings doing odd jobs for money and food. On several occasions, Elina got caught stealing by the employer. However, Ericka managed to find a solution to keep them from contacting the city guard. In the afternoon, they clean and cook for when Einarir returned.

It didn't take long for Einarir to owe the gambling house several thousand jades. They wanted his daughters for the brothel. In return, they would wipe out his debt. However, he received a better offer for the twins from Magdalenia, the Wizard of Shen Sherin. They became indentured servants for a term of five years. Magdalenia put a magic mark on their shoulder, symbolizing to everyone, they are her property.

Magdalenia treated them better, gave them better clothes and regular meals. They did the same as before, just more cleaning and more spying. Sometimes when she had guests, the twins serve food and drinks. Wearing an off-the-shoulder light veil short top and ankle-length silk skirt sliced into strips. When Magdalenia left the room, the girls stayed, keeping the guest company and their glasses full until her return. After the guest left, Magdalenia questioned them about the conversation in the room.

Elina learned house slaves she could move about without anyone paying her any attention. Allowing her to pick up bits and pieces of information and trade them for favors. One day before entering a suite, she overheard one of the guests repeat "nkaumic" several times. As ordered, they entered the empty room. Even though she saw no one, there was an uneasy feeling about the place. Before bed, she duplicated the word a few times facing a mirror, noticing she became invisible. If she remained motionless, it would be almost impossible to spot her.

About the same time, Ericka heard Magdalenia say "liab ljew nataj" while holding her hands like a person would hold a quarterstaff. Back in their room, Ericka repeated the same words Magdalenia used earlier. After several attempts, a red-bladed staff appeared in her hands. Surprised, she swung it around, hitting Elina with the blade-staff. Breaking Ericka's spell, Elina dropped the weapon, hitting the floor with a thud before vanishing. They stared at each other surprised. Without saying a word, they both knew it must be their secret. A passing guard poked his head in the door, asking if everything was all right. The girls giggled, telling him everything was all right.

The girls used the spells to hear more information than ever before, hoping to buy their freedom. One day Magdalenia put leather straps around their wrist and ankles with a leather choker, telling them their magic will no longer work. She sent them down to Tenskie to have a more permanent mark on the shoulder, downgrading them to slaves. Tears filled their eyes as they sat in the cage heading back to Shen Sherin.

Somewhere along the way, the wagon, they headed off the main road. After about a week, they stopped at the bottom of a cliff. In the middle of the night, the guards tossed three strangers into the cage. In the early morning, the guards ran around screaming and shooting arrows at the mountain. The twins buried their heads and waited for the commotion to pass.