Alchemy

Evokers are by nature a powerful force, and that is tenfold when their magic is combined and strengthened by their bond with one another. Possibly because of the power in their veins, the family early on established themselves in positions similar – politicians, lawyers, judges, military. It is not uncommon to find an evoker calling the shots from higher up, though doing so does not always mean that they are on your side. They are known for considering family above the rest, looking out for themselves and doing things only if they care for it.

Samuel Byrne had grown up close with his two siblings and his parents – both judges – and served in the Air Force. He joined as soon as he could, signing up for his initial enlistment and seeing it years beyond. When he left, he accepted a position running the intelligence department in the Pentagon, which brought him to Washington, D.C. His parents, his father retired and mother refusing to give her work up, relocated with him. He had never been the favorite child his parents had, though he’d been the eldest to them – when his mother passed, it was his responsibility to step up as Head of the family.

Alison Byrne did not have the same closeness with her parents, whom she lost as a child. She was placed in an orphanage until she was taken in by a middle-aged “couple” – they claimed they’d found her after years of searching, and began quickly teaching her what was her birthright. She found out the reason behind her parents’ deaths: the Shadowkind. Because of the blood in her veins, she had been taken in by the Conclave. Alison did not make friends easily, though she bonded with one Evelyn Ward. That bond was the reason she met her husband after graduation, and the basis for the kinship between evokers and enchanters, as holidays and vacations were always spent with their combined families.

Alison, as an Arcane Protector, made it her mission to train her children just as she’d been trained growing up, so that they would not only rely on their magic in the fight against the Shadowkind. She made them train daily, just as Samuel did with their magic. Some took their studies more seriously than others, even though Alison had a protector training them no matter where they were – Zach was more relaxed in sparring, due to his fascination with his own magic (a spot of concern for Alison). Perhaps because of the bond she’d made with Evelyn, as well as the fact that both of them had important duties, the children were sent off to school for their education. In Zach’s case, this meant the same boarding school as Emma Ward.

The Byrne family mostly keeps to themselves, with the exception of their closeness to the Wards. When the enchanters walked out on the conclave, Samuel was offered the position of the Centurion, though he denied due to his allegiance with James. The evokers are also supportive of the illusionists, the Vargas family. While Samuel and Alison did not discourage friendships with the other families, they did not seek them out. While they are amiable with the conjurers, it is more so for business purposes than pleasure – however, they have been known on occasion to speak with the Cains, the necromancers, possibly in part to the mutual support of the Wards during the Fall.

→ Male Cousin (Byrne-Malone): age 24-25. Older brother to Joseph Byrne-Malone (malonely). Was living in DC with family prior to the shift to Seattle. Likely continued in the family business of being a ridiculously rich and famous lawyer. As the eldest, he tries to keep his younger siblings in line but the two often make him throw his hands up in frustration. Nonetheless though, the siblings are still reasonably close. And even though they often pretend to rebel against him, it's an unspoken agreement that what he says in the family goes and the two younger siblings respect him a great deal.

→ Female Cousin (Byrne): age 24-25. Cousin to Zachary, Cody, Jake Byrne, and Joseph, Jenn Byrne-Malone. Her father is the brother of Zach's dad.

→ Female Cousin (Byrne): age 20-23. Younger sister of (Female) Byrne, cousin of Zach, Cody, Jake Byrne, and Joseph, Jenn Byrne-Malone. Her father is the brother of Zach's dad.

→ The Byrne family spent most of their free time with the Wards, due to the close relationship between their mothers, who both bonded in sisterhood during their time in-training as Arcane Protectors.

→ There are only two sibling positions available, and I’d love for those to be filled first. Once those two fill up, I’m open to discussing lines for cousins! I left it open, so that Samuel isn’t the sole bloodline for the evokers, so this is a possibility!

→ The Byrnes are wealthy, but not braggingly so. They stressed a strong sense of family to their kids, which bleeds into their relationships and friendships. While evokers typically hold high positions of power because they see it an extension of their powers (and perhaps a way to balance it out), they do not view the money that comes with it as their reasoning, motivation, or focus. No one would be frivolous, but would go out of their way to help someone in need (whether it was welcome or not).

→ Zach went to boarding school with Emma Ward. This does not mean that it had to be this way for the other children, but was possibly encouraged because of the demands of both Samuel’s (intelligence department) and Alison’s (Arcane Protector) jobs. But again, there was a strong sense of family, so every chance the parents got, they were flying in, to, around, whatever to be with their kids (and the Wards, at that).

→ Sam and Alison are rather accepting, even with the Byrne’s somewhat conservative background. Zach is gay, and it has never been a problem with his parents. Nor has his choice in jobs (event planning/organizing), though he graduated with multiple degrees because he couldn’t decide what he truly wanted to do.

→ The parents left without saying goodbye to their kids because there wasn’t time. This is very unlike them to disappear, so the evokers should be worried/alarmed. Both went together, and Alison was not at with the other Arcane Protectors because she’d been taken without warning (not by Shadowkind, but by the other elders).