::Finding yourself on the floor of the Tower where all the younger Gemlords were housed during their "childhood", Di leads you down the hall to where the corridor takes a turn to the left. Stopping outside of the room around which the hallway turns, the blonde Author knocks on the door, then opens it, ushering you inside::

::This chamber has a romantic, flamboyant air to it; the decor is evocative of the Arabian Nights, with elaborate swaths of silver-embroidered black silk tenting a round, cushiony bed and draping the obsidian walls. Silver ornamentation glitters everywhere--pinning back the swags of silk over the walls, framing a three-paneled mirror in one corner, inlaid in the ebony shelves of the bookcase. A vanity table with a large mirror stands against one wall; sitting on the black-velvet-padded silver stool in front of it is the room's owner, a voluptuous female Gemlord wearing a low-cut, off-the-shoulder blouse and midthigh-length, frilly skirt, all in black silk. She pauses in combing through her shoulder-length, glossy dark hair and turns slightly to look toward the door; her large, kittenish eyes take on a faintly aggravated look, and her burgundy-tinted lips tighten just a bit::

Oh. It's you.

::Raises an eyebrow:: You did agree to an interview.

Well, I didn't think it would be now. ::With a put-upon sigh, she sets down the comb and turns a little more on the stool:: Go ahead.

::Frowns slightly:: Can you state your name and rank?

::Sounding bored:: Lady Schorl, leader and Center of the Nightmare Binding. ::she examines her nails, painted the same color as her lips::

::Waits until she pays attention again before continuing:: When's your birthday, and how old are you?

I stepped from the Mirror on November 10, about 2.25 billion years ago--though it doesn't show at all, does it? ::She turns on the vanity stool to preen a bit in the mirror:: Mmm. I look about twenty-three at most. A very attractive twenty-three . . .

::Rolls her eyes:: Of course. Height and weight?--if you don't mind answering.

::She stands up from the stool, striking a sexy little pose with one hand on her hip:: I'm 5'6", and weigh . . . hm . . . about 120 pounds, Terran standard. ::a slightly disdainful little sniff as she says the word "Terran":: Though it's all distributed quite well. ::she looks over at the trifold mirror in the corner, admiring her voluptuous figure again::

::Another roll of the eyes:: Color of your hair and your eyes?

Well, black, of course, on both counts. ::she reaches up to play with a short lock of baby-fine hair that falls down over her brow:: My soulstone's a black variety of tourmaline that happens to be rich in iron. ::a sly little smile:: Maybe that's part of the reason why Lord Hematite--my husband--and I get along so well together.

::Faintly giggles:: Might be. What kind of duties do you have?

Oh, that. ::She waves her hand idly as she sits back down on the vanity stool:: I monitor Nightmare, the dark reflection of Dream, to keep watch for any undue disturbances. ::She scowls a little:: Of course, Nightmare, by its very nature, tends to attract Chaos on a regular basis. It can cause such a mess, and I usually wind up having to take care of it. Well, at least I'm gathering the rest of my Binding now . . . just like Obsidian and the Elementals, and Diamond and the Tower Guard, I've got four others who more or less revolve around me. ::A self-satisfied little smirk at that idea:: Together, hopefully, we can keep Nightmare in balance.

::Rolls her eyes again and tries not to groan at the idea of Schorl attempting to keep anything in balance:: So what kind of powers do you have to help out with that?

Oh, the fun stuff. ::A wicked giggle:: Besides my totally natural sex appeal . . . ::She fluffs her hair a bit and inhales, causing her blouse's low neckline to strain:: I have some of the powers common to the other Gemlords. I'm telepathic with my own kind and most others, I can teleport--my field manifests as black flames that spiral out around me--and I can levitate as well. ::A sassy smirk:: You know the way Zoisite likes to sit in midair with that holier-than-thou look?

Only too well . . .

I think the little brat stole that practice from me. ::she tosses her head::

Maybe so. ::Giggles:: What else can you do?

I can fire bolts of dark electricity in an attack, or use a pair of crystal knives. Like any Gemlord, I can create a forcefield to protect myself--mine looks like a dark heat-shimmer. Then there's the powers that are more specific . . . like some of the other Dreamer types, I'm a very good illusionist, for one thing. ::A little smirk:: Once I convinced a few unsuspecting Terrans that I was Lord Schorl, just because I felt like playing with them. I can move freely through Dream and Nightmare, as well as transporting myself and others instantly from the Static--the "physical" plane--to either realm.

::She plays with that fine lock of hair again:: There are two powers that, so far, have proven completely unique--I'm the only one that has them. My pure attack is something I call a Nightmare Storm; I may not look terribly threatening in a fight, but there are quiet a few people who have learned otherwise. ::A wicked little smirk:: If I have to, I can unleash a mental torrent of images dragged up from my target's worst nightmares--and they seem very real, believe me. Usually when I'm doing that--and I can use it on multiple targets, by the way--I levitate up off the ground and hold my hands out in front of me, and little mirrored discs spin into view between my palms. Once I'm locked in on a given target, one of the mirrors takes up a sort of orbit around me; its surface shows the scenes in the victim's nightmare-stricken mind.

::Winces:: Sounds nasty.

Oh, it is. Very nasty. ::That smirk again:: The other unique power is tied directly into the mystic properties of my stone. Black tourmaline's said to be capable of reflecting negative energy and evil back to the source, and that's what I can do. Maybe only Lord Obsidian's battle armor can match my ability to turn an attack back on its user, but I can only stave off magical energy and mental attacks, not physical ones. I can shield anybody within about ten feet with that, and I glow with a deep silvery radiance. Rather attractive, really. ::She preens a bit at her reflection again::

::Dryly:: I'm sure it is. Do you have any hobbies--besides admiring yourself?

Let's not be insulting. ::She glares:: Or else we'll see how you like a Nightmare Storm.

::Sweatdrops:: Right. About those hobbies? . . .

Oh . . . I like to flirt a lot. ::Wickedly giggles:: It drives Heme crazy, and I love how demanding and possessive he gets--even though I never take it farther than just flirting. Mmm . . . I also like to sew. ::She waves a hand around to indicate the dramatic decor:: You can just do so many interesting things with good fabric. And, of course, I like playing with Heme. ::A sultry little wink to indicate just what kind of "playing" that might be::

::Another roll of the eyes:: Any likes or dislikes you want to mention?

Well, I love Hematite, obviously. ::For a moment, she drops the sex-kitten act, lowering her eyes demurely and nibbling on the tip of that little lock of hair:: He's always been very good to me, ever since we were children. He's really the only person who's stayed by me through everything, even the worst of times. ::There's a sort of haunted look deep in her eyes for an instant, and her voice is very soft:: I would go through hell for him, and he'd do the same for me.

::A soft smile:: Sounds like one of those things that were meant to be.

::She nods a little:: That's what I always thought. ::She leans back on the stool, regaining that sassy attitude:: I like pretty things--flowers and jewelry in particular. I don't like people who try to act as if they know everything and are determined to prove it.

Not many people do like those who act that way.

Then why do so many of them behave in that fashion anyhow? ::A delicate snort:: Well . . . if that's all, I really would like to get back to what I was doing . . .

::Rolls her eyes at the not-so-subtle hint and refrains from pointing out that she's acting just like the people she doesn't like:: All right, Schorl, we'll leave you to your own devices. Thanks for the talk.

Mm-hm. ::she waves a hand absently, picking up her comb again:: 'Bye.

::Steps out of the room, shutting the door behind her. After giving the door a slight look, Di turns her attention back to you:: So, where to next?