Draconis
"You finally agreed to an interview. Not to push my luck, but may I ask why?" Jill leaned forward, unable to contain the excitement of finally interviewing the quiet musician.
"I thought maybe you'd stop pestering me." Draconis's low, raspy voice held a hint of malice that sent a shiver down her spine.
She leaned away from his intense stare and rigid posture. "Right. So to begin, what inspired your love for music?"
"My mother."
"Care to expand on that? Tell us a little about your mother and how she influenced your music."
"No."
Jill cleared her throat and straightened herself, determined not to be intimidated out of interviewing the most mysterious member of the famous band. "What makes you such a great musician?" she asked, despite being unsure if he was paying attention, as his strange, reddish eyes seemed unfocused and aimed at the wall behind her.
He suddenly leaned forward, his unusual eyes piercing into hers, and hissed, "I listen."
Jill tried to swallow, but her throat had gone dry. Her heart raced, and her palms grew slick. She tried changing course. "Where were you born?"
"How old are you?" she asked when he did not answer the previous question.
"This interview is over." Draconis abruptly stood and left the room.
~ Interview between Draconis and Jill, a reporter for the Salaris Herald
An instrumentalist for the Enchanting Mesmers, Draconis is perhaps the band's most enigmatic and mysterious member. Little is known about this taciturn musician. The Enchanting Mesmers are famous throughout Imbria for their impressive ability to blend magic and music to create an immersive experience. The band is thought to contain an empath and an illusionist, along with its talented performers, though the band remains tight-lipped on all the talents each member individually possesses. The band prefers to play in secret bars in unannounced shows, and have turned down numerous opportunities to play in arenas and big events. The only event the band routinely plays is the annual Blood Fest gala in Rhovan's capital.
A Talented Musician
Draconis plays a wide variety of instruments, from stringed to percussion to wind instruments, and with great success. No one knows where he learned to play or how he has been able to master so many different instruments. Before joining the Enchanting Mesmers, Draconis could be primarily found playing at galas in Rhovan. These days, he rarely performs solo, excluding practice sessions.
Current Location
Age
Unknown
Date of Birth
Unknown
Birthplace
Unknown
Children
Eyes
Amber - some claim his eyes appear red
Other Affiliations
Band Member
Favorite Venue
Favorite Event
The Man
While Draconis enjoys the perks of his fame, he does not seem to form steady, lasting relationships or friendships with anyone outside of his bandmates. What we know about him is what can be readily observed:The Myth
Rumors follow Draconis everywhere he goes, and he makes no effort to confront or correct those rumors.He's got to be a vampire, or perhaps he's made some deal with a demon? Maybe it's blood magic?
The Legend
Many believe Draconis to be the best instrumentalist in history.His fingers fly across the keys faster than anyone else's! And he plays so many different instruments. He's definitely the best musician I've ever heard.
Jill blushed and returned Tom's contagious smile. The lead singer of the Enchanting Mesmers did not sit in the chair so much as he draped himself over it, leaning back as far as he could.
"I was hoping you could fill in some of the missing pieces. Draconis, that isn't his real name, is it?" she asked.
Tom laughed, a melodious, pleasant sound. He shrugged. "I suppose I don't know what his real name is."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
Tom laughed again. "Draconis can go by anything he wants, so long as he keeps playing the way he does. Dude can play any instrument we throw at him."
"He's so... intense. Do you ever feel this detracts from the band's success?"
"Draconis is intense. Absolutely. He's edgy and moody. Sure. But then, some people like that, yeah?"
Tom tilted his head and held up a finger, pausing her next question. "Before you ask, yes, I believe he would prefer darker music than our usual fare, but he really doesn't complain much, and he brings such depth to our ballads. He really is a vital part of our band.
"And what magic does he bring to the group, if any?" she asked.
Tom clucked his tongue at her and shook his head. "You know I won't answer those types of questions."
~ Interview between Tom, lead singer of Enchating Mesmers, and Jill, reporter for the Salaris Herald
The crowd cheered, and Draconis could almost taste the excitement, the anticipation, the lust. Their applause thundered in his ears. Far too loud. Always too loud. That was the worst part of his evenings.
He took a deep breath, wishing he could desensitize to the volume. He willed the pain to recede into the back of his mind and followed the band out into the main room of the Hideout and onto the stage, where an assortment of instruments awaited.
He pulled a wooden flute from the inside of his jacket, and put it to his lips. Strangely, it was his favorite instrument these days. His fingers flew along the finger holes, his music weaving a complicated tale to complement Tom's lyrics and the subtle influences of the band's combined magics.
Still, it wasn't enough to distract him.
Leena, a regular at the Hideout, walked in and plopped into an empty chair near the bar. The tension almost instantly melted from her as the group's magic worked its way into her. Leena. Poor, desperate, willing Leena.
Perhaps he would visit her later tonight. He was also desperate.
Salaris Herald
Imbria's best source of news
Tension in the Band:
Will the Enchanting Mesmers Break Up?
By: Jill HornbryWartime Initiation Approval Ratings
By: Dave LiLead singer Tom Caius says, “Draconis is…edgy and moody” and believes Draconis would rather play other music. Tom also confided that the band feels they don’t really know anything about the sulky instrumentalist, that Draconis hides his real name even from them! How much longer will the band be able to abide his secretive, reclusive ways? Are we witnessing the end days of Imbria’s beloved Enchanting Mesmers?
Witnesses describe Draconis's behaviors as erratic, and he is often the last on stage and first to leave, pointing at deeper issues.
This story continues on page 6.
In tomorrow’s article, we'll hear from someone who claims to have had a romantic encounter with Draconis and why their experience left them feeling “shaken.”
In tomorrow’s article, we'll hear from someone who claims to have had a romantic encounter with Draconis and why their experience left them feeling “shaken.”
A growing number of Salarians approve going to war against Necros and its corrosive influence in Imbria.
This shift in public opinion comes on the heels of the
Ooooo. The alternating boxes for dialogue in this interview is great, I love it. I love how blunt Draconis is with his answers, too xD It's already a great introduction to the kind of character he is. "He likes the colour black, he sleeps in late, he spends most of his free time alone" Mood :P I do really love the formatting of the article, too! It keeps it fresh and easy to read through everything. Especially the way the last interview leads us into that ending section of prose. Well done on that, and the entire article!
Thank you so much! :)