Given the choice of Nine Marks, each with their own Alignment, and with real-time consequences due to Alignment, most would choose from the Good, Neutral, or Lawful choices; sheer self-preservation, after all, is important to most people. Tabitha, however, has always rather fancied the idea of being a Witch, and when given the choice, it doesn't even cross her mind to choose something different. Enter Consequences, clad in a Suit of Armor and a perpetual Grimace, sent to decide Tabitha's Fate, depending on an in-depth assessment of her personality. Of course, it doesn't really help her case for being a good person when she's actively trying to take over the world the whole time... so she's got her work cut out for her.

A party of adventurers take in a wandering Healer... and get far more than they bargained for.

Sometimes, there really is just *one* person who should have been left alone. Sometimes, you find out the hard way who it is.

The Alchemist is considered the most useless of all the 5 classes offered in the Virtual World of 'Hell's Gates'(Warrior, Archer, Mage, Cleric, and Alchemist). Having little to no Combat Skills, and relying on real-world Chemistry Knowledge (a Lost art of sorts,) to make anything more than the most basic potions, they are very rarely seen past the first or second level, because most people change their class after seeing its uselessness. Still, this class allows Sam to spread her literal and proverbial wings as a Chemist and Inventor in a world where such a skill set is actually very valuable! Of course, with the rarity and value of their skills comes a plethora of problems, and most don't last very long at all, but Sam is determined, damn it! Hopefully, being stubborn and lucky in equal portions will be enough to survive and thrive in the world of Hell's Gates? (((Complete!!! Perhaps there'll be a Book Two if this gets enough attention???)))

Theodora was always the rough and tumble sort, to her father's chagrin, and being raised under the same roof as anywhere from six to eleven foster brothers at any given point certainly didn't do her any favors in that arena, but at the very least, she learned a healthy respect for Nature, and a perhaps unhealthy amount of Pride. But growing up has plenty of unforeseen side effects, like the removal of Naïvety, one harsh experience at a time, and the breaking of Pride, one failure at a time. In a way, getting lost was probably the best thing to ever happen to her.

Victoria Holborn has a shadow looming over her head. She was born with it. It's been there all her life, and it's never gotten any easier to get rid of. With a Blessed Healer for a Mother, and a Blessed Craftsman for the other Mother, the first child actually Born on the Half-Mountain, She's expected to be Amazing. Always. Extraordinary, Grand, Awesome, Powerful, that and more is expected of her. But she's not a 'Blessed' anything. Victoria is simply seen as a young woman with a knack for crafting Magic Items and Magic Crystal Relics like her uncle James, though her real talent is the War Magic her aunt Medea teaches her when her mothers aren't looking. And, like all young women when told she CAN'T do something, not only is she going to DO IT, she is going to be the VERY BEST at it.

One of the lucky(?) survivors of a supernatural apocalypse works quickly to use her newly earned abilities to reach two goals: Survive, and protect the few humans she managed to shelter during the Rise of the Grey Courts. In the shadows, however, wicked souls covet all she builds and grows.

Being given a chance to go to a different world doesn't happen often, (or ever, really,) so Alice isn't stupid enough to say no. Despite her relatively good life laid out ahead of her, (heir to a quite profitable mercantile family business, with one younger brother,) the promise of magic is too enticing. After all, no amount of money can buy you a Unicorn, you know?

Most people would leap at the opportunity to be competent, to be useful, to be powerful or smart. Most people are idiots with no concept of the pressures and pitfalls of society thrust upon those with 'gifts' of any kind. Irene has always had some sort of Competence, be it in studies or in athletics, but she refuses to call it a 'gift', no matter how others see it; having the power to alter society in any meaningful way is precious, yes, but it is a burden before it is a boon. To be sent to a new world, a new society, and *still* be burdened with Overwhelming Competence... to her this is nothing more than a Curse.

Flora Carnivoris, Mage Extraordinaire, stuns the world (and herself,) with her dashing, darling, and dangerous antics. And also punches fascists.